I'll Save You
I'll save you.
He'd made the drug himself, but even Kim Taeju hadn't imagined this.
It wasn't some high-end luxury elixir, yet a single pill had raised an existing awakener's rank and awakened a mana compatible.
What kind of reaction would people have when this hit the market?
Especially the power brokers, the rank-hungry awakeners, and the mana compatibles who'd staked their lives on awakening.
They'd swarm like bees.
'The military can't find out either.'
Not out of fear, but because it would be a hassle.
He'd already drawn attention with the mosquito poison and spore poison antidotes.
If he released an elixir that far surpassed those?
'Even the mosquito antidote is bringing heat—'
The ingredients were another issue.
There wasn't even 0.000001g of elite mana crystals in it.
Just a quarter of giant moon bear bile, regular mana crystals, and common herbs.
Anyone hearing that would faint in shock.
It was on a whole different level from the antidotes.
So it couldn't get out yet.
'No selling the elixir, then.'
What choice did he have?
He'd have to develop something else.
There was another drug he'd thought of while making the elixir.
'First, let's raise these two...'
Taeju had a good eye for people.
Some might scoff at a 29-year-old kid—who wasn't even a physiognomist—judging others, but surprisingly, Taeju was skilled at it.
Because he was also Dang Gunak, the Absolute Poison Demon who'd ruled the martial world.
In Taeju's judgment,
Baek Changhoon was innocent and soft.
Jang Suncheol was sly and sharp.
But their common point? They were trustworthy.
"From today, you two stick with me."
"Do we live together at your place?"
"Nah, you're hired by me now. Starting today, I'll teach you how to make drugs. I'll pay your salary too."
"Yes, sir!"
"And about what happened today..."
"We won't tell a soul. Trust me. Just watch out for Changhoon hyung."
"Hey! I've got a tight lip too!"
There were still ingredients left.
Time to make something actually sellable.
What Taeju had in mind was Yosangdan—a healing pill used for internal injuries in the martial world.
The ingredients and process were similar to the elixir.
Crank up the main ingredient ratios for top-grade elixir level; tone them down for a recovery drug.
He'd slashed the bear bile and mana crystal amounts drastically.
In exchange, he'd massively increased the mana sanjigu leaf, variant ma-huang, and mana barley.
This turned it into a recovery drug, not an elixir.
Using the leftovers, he worked through the night making pills.
Pill-shaped recovery drugs emerged.
How much giant moon bear bile was in each one?
A pinch between thumb and index finger?
Maybe even less.
'How to test the effects?'
Ever since eating the elixir, Baek Changhoon and Jang Suncheol had stuck to his side like glue.
'Gonna need more giant moon bear bile for production anyway.'
Taeju eyed the two standing blankly and flashed a wicked grin.
"H-Hyungnim, why're you smiling like that?"
"Did we do something wrong?"
"Nah, no mistakes. We're going hunting now."
"Sounds good! We'll get ready right away."
Jang Suncheol lit up.
Made sense—he'd just awakened.
But Baek Changhoon felt uneasy.
That creepy smile from Taeju hyung lingered in his mind.
"...But what're we hunting?"
"Giant moon bear."
"Ah, got it... Wait, what? Giant moon bear?"
"It's fine. You won't die. Trust me, right?"
"W-Well..."
Taeju pulled a recovery pill from his coat pocket and pressed it into Baek Changhoon's hand.
"If you get hurt, pop this."
"Uh, is this the elixir? Doesn't look like it."
"Recovery pill."
Only then did Baek Changhoon realize.
"...So we're the test subjects?"
"Pretty much."
"Y-You're gonna keep us alive, right?"
"Don't worry! You absolutely won't die! ...Might hurt a bit, though."
"..."
Time to focus on hunting for a while.
Gather recovery ingredients, train Changhoon and Suncheol, and stabilize his poison core on the side.
Now he could handle a giant moon bear no problem.
Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong 5th stage, peak realm, and the ever-changing hidden weapon Blood Butterfly.
In an instant!
Bzzz!
His smartphone vibrated.
'Who is it?'
It was Oh Jinhyeong the colonel.
Why did this guy keep calling?
"Hello?"
- Taeju, Chairman Taeju—no, Lord Taeju. One more favor, please.
A favor?
Had to be the spore poison antidote.
"I told you to wait on the spore antidote. Mosquito one's more urgent right now."
- I know, I get it, but...
"Once the factory's done and mass production's up, I'll deliver smoothly. If you want meat that bad, come here. I'll hook you up plenty."
- Sigh, it's not about the meat. Calls are pouring in from everywhere. They want just a bit of spore antidote, say they'll buy it.
"I made you 100 sets last time. Share a few."
- We're short too. Half our stock got swiped by some thief anyway.
"Thief?"
- Yeah, some shameless bastard. Well, thanks to that, the imperial family bumped our military budget big time.
Not a thief, then—some big shot strong-armed it. Higher than Oh Jinhyeong? The general maybe?
Whoever wanted to buy the antidote...
"I have to make them by hand. Takes time and it's a pain. Can't sell cheap."
- How much?
Last time delivering 100 sets to the Jirisan monster legion, he'd priced each at 500,000 won.
Baek Seoyeonn said it was too cheap; Baek Hongpyo argued antidotes weren't just for hunting—they were essential for civilians during waves—so keep it affordable.
Taeju sided with Hongpyo.
Retail price for spore antidote: 500,000 won per set.
"If they wanna pay rush fees for spore antidote, tell 'em 10 million won per set minimum."
- Whoa.
"Or wait a few months."
- Alright, got it. Tough negotiator. Might call back soon.
Time to prep for hunting.
While he's at it, stock up on moon bear bile.
Pack the cooler bag, ice packs too.
'After this call from Colonel Oh.'
Honestly, he hadn't expected buyers.
Wait three or four months, factory done, cheap prices—yet burn 10 million on one set?
But they existed.
People willing to pay 10 million per set.
- They're lining up. Asking when they get it, offering prepayment.
"...For real? Even at 10 million?"
Hunting spore-poison camel deer, maybe.
Or trying to reverse-engineer copycats before launch.
'Good luck copying.'
Like the mosquito antidote, couldn't replicate via analysis alone.
Ingredients altered via Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong—machines would read same components, but they weren't.
Anyway, time to make some.
100 sets alone was 1 billion won.
"Got it. I'll sell."
- Haha, smart choice.
"Tell 'em stock ready in three days. Sales at Jirisan Monster Defense Legion HQ."
- Nice! Call when ready. I'll send a chopper.
Maybe make 1,000 sets?
10 billion won haul.
Buy more land, gear up.
"Kids!"
"Yes!"
"Hunting later. Help make drugs instead..."
"Use us however!"
"Just teach us how."
"Grab work goggles, masks. Rubber gloves too."
Ninety percent of antidote hassle was prepping ingredients.
With two lackeys now, way easier.
Baek Changhoon and Jang Suncheol donned goggles and masks, sorting herbs per Taeju's orders.
"This one's root, not leaves, right?"
"Yeah, don't touch bare-handed. Gloves on?"
"Yes!"
"Juice that in the extractor. Dry those herbs two hours."
Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong only for final tuning.
Still, prepping topical and oral versions took time.
Then.
"Taeju."
Baek Hongpyo entered the basement lab, face grave.
Taeju paused and approached.
"President Baek."
"Ahem, fix the title? Call me hyungnim."
"...Then Changhoon calls you uncle? Messes up the family tree."
"Pfft, what family tree we got!"
"So, what's up?"
"Right! Someone wants to see you, won't leave even when I say scram."
Who?
"Someone I should meet?"
"Dunno. Name's Park Jeongtae, Gurye vigilante and Nogodan deputy guild master. Lee Jeonghak's right-hand."
"Ah..."
Figures.
"Why? Griping again?"
"Doesn't seem hostile. Looked real bad."
One guess.
During the clash with Lee Jeonghak, one of his poison leaves had grazed the guy's hand.
"Wanna meet?"
"Yeah, I'll handle it."
"Call Changhoon?"
"Nah, solo."
Taeju headed outside.
A black luxury limo parked in the lot clearing.
A burly man by the door.
Approaching slowly.
"Hello. Nogodan deputy guild master Park Jeongtae."
"Think we met here before."
"...My rudeness then. I apologize."
"Accepted."
Nodding,
"Guild master Lee Jeonghak's in the car, right?"
"You knew. Yes."
"How's the condition?"
"...H-How'd you know?"
"Bad?"
"Sigh, real bad."
Time to check.
Click. Taeju opened the door and slid in.
"Cough, cough."
Lee Jeonghak coughing into a handkerchief.
Bloodstains on the white cloth.
"Ah, come in. ...Sorry to bother you."
Lee couldn't speak properly.
Pale face, trembling hands.
Taeju sat opposite, facing him calmly.
He knew why Lee summoned him.
Detox the poison.
But he wouldn't speak first.
Why bother?
If he really wanted to live, he'd beg.
Long silence.
Only deep coughs.
Finally.
"...P-Please, save me."
Surrender.
"N-Nothing works. ...H-Hospital detox, clean blood transfusions, even dialysis—no improvement."
Of course.
Not one poison, but layered toxins of varying natures.
"...Even Mirinae Pharma's top elixir was useless. Cough cough, the elixir's energy scattered the moment it entered."
He looked serious.
Could drop dead in the car.
"What do I gain saving you, Guild Master?"
"...I'll cooperate fully. Use me as your blade."
"Blade? Don't need one."
"A-Ah... p-please!"
"Promise one thing, and I'll consider it."
Positive words from Taeju—Lee's eyes gleamed.
Last gasp?
"Anything."
"Focus on Gurye security. Stick to vigilante duties. No pointless power games."
"Cough, cough! O-Okay..."
He'd planned to save him anyway.
No grand schemes—just his own way of fixing things.
Taeju just hadn't liked it.
Lee dying would cripple the vigilantes.
Gurye security at risk.
"Want revenge? Come find me anytime. Don't hassle my people. Touch President Baek or the orphanage..."
Killing intent rose in Taeju's eyes.
Before, to avoid losing; now, I can kill you easy.
"I can take your life anytime."
"..."
Lee just nodded, speechless.
Taeju grasped his wrist, checking the pulse.
"Relax."
Humm! 5th stage Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong began drawing out the poison qi.
"Urk..."
Lee slumped.
Tension released as poison vanished.
Sleepy now.
Lee's eyes closed.
Taeju slipped a pill into his pocket.
"Aftereffects linger. Eat this recovery pill at home."
"Th-Thanks..."
Lee passed out.
Good call.
Gurye council standing committee member, right?
Mended ties could help later.
I'll save you. End
© Kuccikucci