Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: [Secret Clinic] Where Did My 0.2cm Go?
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Hidden annex tucked away in a dim alley outside the palace walls.
Kim the Eunuch, who should normally be holed up inside the palace, had snuck out solely to pick up this medicine and was waiting impatiently.
"This... is the medicine made by Physician Heo?"
"Yes, my lord. Physician Heo poured his heart into it all night long."
He bowed politely and handed over the medicine box.
But inside, I was barely holding back the urge to smash my fist into that slimy face of his.
Kim the Eunuch eyed the dark red pill suspiciously from every angle.
"The color's all dull, and the smell... kinda fishy. Does this really work?"
"It's an elixir made with Physician Heo's secret formula. He spared no expense on the finest ingredients, and that fishy smell? Proof he didn't skimp on the materials."
"Hmph, smooth talker, aren't you? If His Majesty shows no improvement after taking this, neither you nor Physician Heo will get off easy."
Kim the Eunuch glared and issued his threat.
'Fucking asshole.'
Saved his life, and now he's demanding the goods like it's tribute.
True, you don't feed a black-hearted beast.
"I've gotta get back before dawn, so scram! Don't stand there stinking up the place!"
His hand-waving dismissal was a sight to behold.
Does he not fear the outside world after a lifetime in the palace, or has he always been this much of a prick?
'Should I just snatch it and eat it myself?'
The impulse hit me for a second.
I could grab it, swallow it, and bolt—no one in this world could catch me.
'Hold it together. Hold back.'
Master's face flashed in my mind, and more importantly, that pill needed to reach the palace for the Empress to survive and for me to pave the way to the [Royal Physician] trait.
Think big picture.
You gotta know when to yield for the greater good.
"Then I'll take my leave."
The moment I ducked into the alley after leaving the annex, the pent-up curses exploded out.
"Ah, that motherfucker. One day, I'll pay him back."
Eunuch without balls acting all high and mighty.
That's when it happened.
"Oh!"
It was finally here.
My inventory flashed, and a slot filled with a shimmering, iridescent pill.
I finally had it.
My 5cm.
The light of my life.
The flame of my loins.
"Hahaha! Fuck yeah!"
The frustration from Kim the Eunuch melted away like snow.
Pop this, and it's 5cm bigger.
3.4 plus 5 is 8.4.
"Finally... I can call myself a man."
My chest swelled with emotion.
Some might say 8.4cm ain't much, but to me, it's a revolution.
Evolving from thumb-sized to sausage-level.
I glanced around.
Empty alley, no soul in sight.
No reason to hesitate.
"Bon appétit."
Gulp.
I tossed the pill in and swallowed.
The instant it hit my throat, it burned like straight liquor, scorching down my esophagus, through my stomach, and dropping straight into my dantian.
"Urgh...!"
My dantian felt like it was melting from the blaze.
Then the heat zeroed in on one spot.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
It pulsed like a heartbeat right in my dick, swelling with heavy pain.
The wriggling sensation of it expanding in my pants.
"It's... it's growing...! It's really growing!"
No doubt.
Part of my body— the most important part—was physically growing!
The full-body rush from getting [Steel Body] was now laser-focused on my cock.
I leaned against the wall, sweating bullets and panting for what felt like ages.
Eventually, the heat subsided, leaving a warm afterglow.
'Is it done?'
I undid my pants and checked.
"...!"
It was there.
Bigger.
The old pathetic little nub was gone, replaced by something substantial rearing its head.
Not brag-worthy, sure, but small-dildo sized.
At least now I could claim manhood anywhere.
"Hahaha! Fuck! It's big! It grew!"
Tears welled up.
Not Korean average, but a monumental leap from before.
No more desperately hiding with a towel in the baths!
No more shielding it while pissing so no one sees!
That's when the system pinged.
"...Huh?"
Wait a sec.
8.2cm?
I rubbed my eyes and checked again.
[Current dick length: 8.2cm]
"Hey, hold up. The math doesn't add up."
3.4 plus 5 is 8.4.
Why 8.2?
Where's my precious 0.2cm?
That's cm, not mm!
"Hey! Where's my 0.2?!"
I jabbed at the air.
0.2cm.
Seems trivial, but for a micropenis guy like me, even 0.1cm matters.
Where the hell did my precious 0.2cm evaporate to?
But the system stayed silent.
"What kinda bullshit is this."
The system scammed me.
No point arguing—no refunds anyway.
Still, 3.4 to 8.2 ain't bad.
Almost 2.5 times bigger.
But I'm fucking pissed anyway.
Some hidden penalty I didn't know about?
Fucking system bastard.
I'd always been grateful since awakening, but this scam left a sour taste.
Then another message popped up.
"Oh?"
Charm went up.
By a whopping 10 points.
From negative life to positive at last.
'Dick size affects charm too?'
Makes sense. The body wash from Ji-ah bumped it up with cleanliness and scent.
"Confidence restored" suggests not just size, but my swagger improved too.
Charm seems holistic, not just looks.
Good enough.
"Fine, screw the 0.2cm."
Once I make the [Divine Pill: Vital Yang Pill], +10cm makes 18.2cm.
18.4 or 18.2, still a monster.
Plus charm stat? Net win.
I'm big-hearted like that.
Then another message.
[Warning: Same-type elixirs have no effect on repeat consumption.]
[Resistance to this drug acquired.]
"...Ha."
My mind blanked.
No repeats?
No effect?
So what the fuck.
Since I ate this, the [Divine Pill: Vital Yang Pill] later won't work?
18.2cm dreams down the drain?
"Hey! Hey! System! Wait! That can't be!"
Cold sweat poured.
If true, I'm fucked.
Stuck at 8.2cm forever.
Better than 3.4, but a thunderbolt to my 18.2 aspirations.
'No, calm down. Read it again.'
I slowly reread the floating message.
[Same-type elixirs...]
[Resistance to this drug...]
'Same type, this drug.'
This was the quest reward [Elixir: Vital Yang Pill].
A knockoff of the original from the story, made by Master.
What I'll craft with real ingredients: [Divine Pill: Vital Yang Pill].
Different name, different rank.
One A-, one S.
'Even games treat low/high potions separately—separate cooldowns, stackable effects?'
Yeah, that's it.
Just prevents spamming same-rank pills infinitely.
Like, no 50cm from ten [Elixir: Vital Yang Pills].
'Damn... was gonna stockpile later.'
Expensive, but time would get me to 30-40cm.
No free rides in this world.
Like how Erika was set for [Hakunakiri Maru] in [Abyss Miner] but I couldn't use it—items have restrictions.
"Eh, I figured."
I cranked positive thinking and headed back to the apothecary.
One thing left.
Master Heo Seol's technique perfectly mastered, craft the [Divine Pill: Vital Yang Pill].
Back to the apothecary.
The unfamiliar heft swinging in my pants felt strange yet good.
Brushing my thigh with every step brought a smile.
This is man's life.
"Master, I'm back."
"Good. What'd Kim the Eunuch say?"
"Snatched it gratefully. Total dick attitude though—no proper thanks. Totally different vibe with you versus me."
"Heh, that's just his temperament. Good work."
Master Heo Seol resumed prepping herbs and asked,
"Anyway, your complexion's glowing. Something good happen on the way? Face all oily, looking sharp."
"Huh? Nah, just in a good mood."
I flinched.
Charm at 8 doing that?
I cleared my throat and changed subjects.
"Master, got a request."
"Request?"
"That Vital Yang Pill recipe you showed. Mind if I practice? Even scraps are fine—I wanna get the fire control and kneading feel."
"Ho."
Master eyed me with interest.
"Eager one. Reviewing without being told? Fine. Warehouse has low-grade leftovers—practice with those."
"Thank you!"
I bolted to the decoction room the second he approved.
Practice.
Endless practice is the way.
Only one set of real ingredients.
Fail, and it's over.
Burn the qilin horn or spill dragon tears, and my 18cm dream says bye forever.
Must nail it first try, perfect.
Failure means suicide arc.
From then, nights were fire-wrestling in the decoction room.
Practiced fire control with subpar deer antler and ginseng, honed pill-forming with flour dough.
Master, touched by my zeal, tossed tips passing by.
"Fire's too hot. Gentle, like dying embers."
"Not force—infuse qi, round and round."
Bought cheap market herbs with my cash, practiced endlessly.
Fire, water, timing control.
[Mana Sense] on, reading energy flows inside the cauldron, etching Master's perfect timing into muscle memory.
Dozens of fails, burns, and bland batches.
Finally, I got it.
Even got a skill.
'I can do this.'
Now, the real deal.
But not yet.
Still prep left.
[Reward 1: 'Skill: Hand of God (C)']
📍 Condition: Alleviate symptoms for 10 VIP patients.
⏰ Progress: 9 / 10
VIP progress hit 9 somehow.
Satisfied the ladies who trickled in with flashy hands and sweet talk.
One more to go.
Looks hand-skill related, so it'll boost crafting.
Always prepare for the worst.
And in a few days, full moon.
Meet the thief Cheon Bong-i and guard Jang Tae-su.
'Get intel on Kim the Eunuch from them, fill last VIP, craft Divine Pill, eat it.'
Time flew by like an arrow.