Chapter 48
The Arrow That Left the Bow (7)
“This… this is….”
The wolf and eagle beastmen stared blankly at the shabby bed before them. Their faces were dazed, as if they couldn’t believe what they were seeing.
Inside the barracks, crowded with warriors injured on the front lines, Han Romi’s weapon—a dark green book gilded in gold, The Book of Life—hovered in the air, scattering mysterious characters around.
With this one verse of song, I shall save you.
Once again, Han Romi’s voice echoed through the air, and the unknown characters began spreading over Onak. Soon, Han Romi’s green energy seeped into the large hole in Onak’s abdomen.
Onak’s pale face, as if ready to high-five the King of the Underworld, began to regain color. His labored breathing gradually returned to normal.
Seeing Onak revived from the brink of death, the wolf beastman could barely cover his mouth.
“Truly… thank you. Truly.”
“Could you… heal the other warriors too?”
Hmm… these beastmen are getting a bit more polite, huh?
“That’s not possible… my mana is limited…”
Technically correct, but it seemed the beastmen didn’t care about that. Well, Han Romi, an S-rank Hunter overflowing with mana, could probably heal a few more seriously injured.
But this is the 51st floor—the heart of the scenario. I couldn’t let emotions drive me to overuse my magic when the future was so uncertain.
‘Not that I’m one to talk after abusing gold…’
I scratched the back of my neck with a reluctant expression.
The eagle beastman rubbed his head impatiently with his massive wings. Han Romi, quietly observing, rolled up his sleeves and spoke.
“We have potions. You can use these for the other seriously injured…”
Han Romi produced three bottles of pale green liquid floating in midair. They must have come from their inventory, but the beastmen would think they appeared from nowhere.
As the beastmen gratefully accepted the potions, I felt a pure curiosity arise.
‘Shall I appraise them?’
I was curious to see how good the potions carried by the guild master of Shinrok really were.
[You use the “Appraise Item” skill on ‘Essence of Shinrok’.]
[Insufficient gold.]
“…?”
I felt instantly deflated. I currently had 836G. Not a huge amount, but enough that I should have been able to appraise the item.
An A-rank health potion by Kang Yeon-hee sells for 100 gold, so I assumed an S-rank potion would be around 1,000 gold. The appraisal fee should have been about 100 gold, maybe.
‘Does the potion’s grade depend on the alchemist’s rank…?’
A potion I couldn’t even appraise after spending 8 million! Only then did I realize who I was with. I had let my guard down because Han Romi seemed indifferent to me, but he was the guild master of Shinrok and CEO of a major company dominating South Korea’s potion market.
“Do you have more? I mean potions.”
“Hmm… the rest are carried by Younggun…”
Younggun must refer to Oh Younggun, the Shinrok alchemist. Han Romi probably only brought the others as backups. He wasn’t the type to carry potions around just for skill purposes.
‘Now I’m curious just how high-grade those potions are…’
The wolf beastman, Wanda, answered my curiosity.
“How much can this potion heal?”
“Um… it can even reattach severed limbs.”
“What?!”
“Is it okay for us to use such a precious thing? Do we need to pay anything?”
“It’s fine. Using it will at least remove your suspicion toward me…”
Someone rich can freely give away precious potions without regret? If it were me, I’d have laughed devilishly and demanded they hand it over.
Han Romi didn’t seem interested in such antics. Once done, he simply stared blankly outside the barracks.
Left were the dazed me, the wolf and eagle beastmen, and dozens of injured warriors. The potions Han Romi provided were clearly the best available, but there were too many injured to use them all at once.
“There are too many injured warriors…”
“Can’t we divide this among them?”
“No… that would reduce its effectiveness…”
The eagle beastman sighed heavily at Han Romi’s calm voice.
Wait a minute.
‘Is this the perfect timing to attract new customers?’
Even the best potions would be a distribution problem if limited and expensive. Luckily, I had an excellent potion maker whose products weren’t too expensive and could compete with quantity! That’s why Kang Yeon-hee is called ‘Potion Lady of Bamanjang’!
I even secretly had a stash of potions for sale in my inventory. I quickly rummaged through it.
100 A-rank health potions, each selling for 100G.
‘Better reserve about 20 for later…’
You never know when another customer might appear, and I might die if I poke the wrong place right now.
With my thoughts organized, I pulled out the potion bundle and approached the indifferent wolf and eagle beastmen, thrusting it forward.
“For those with minor injuries, you can use these.”
“This… this is…”
The wolf beastman’s eyes widened at the sheer number of potions.
“There’s plenty, so you can use it all.”
“Wow… were you a merchant?”
Their sudden politeness was a little annoying, but I answered smoothly.
“Something like that, I guess. Originally, anyway.”
“Then… shouldn’t there be a payment for this?”
Ah, I wanted 8,000G… well, maybe 7,000G if I bargained. But Han Romi had said the only thing he needed was to remove suspicion, so I had to pretend to be generous too.
“Originally 8,000G, but I’ll take just 2,000G.”
I didn’t say I wasn’t taking anything. I wasn’t digging the ground for profit.
The wolf beastman blinked, bewildered.
“The rest can count as removing your suspicion.”
…Maybe my attempt to look cool failed. Still, I needed the gold I’d spent on the ‘Mansang Mask,’ so this was fine.
The wolf beastman finally nodded reluctantly.
**[> Trade Notification: 1 transaction completed
80 A-rank health potions sold. Buyer: Wanda (Dimension–Earth | Region–South Korea | 51st Floor Performer)]**
Hmm, very satisfying.
[Gold held: 2,836G]
With 2,000G gained, my gold returned to four digits.
‘Now maybe I can appraise Han Romi’s potion?’
It was funny—I had just earned money after claiming to save it, only to immediately want to appraise. But honestly, I was curious. How amazing were the S-rank potions made by Han Romi? Could Kang Yeon-hee even compete?
[You use the “Appraise Item” skill on ‘Essence of Shinrok’.]
[1,000G has been deducted.]
[Essence of Shinrok (S)]
Health recovery potion crafted by Han Romi (Dimension–Earth | Region–South Korea).
/Potential Ability/: Grants permanent regeneration and creates a life-link network. Through this network, the user can restore others’ health using their own. The potion user’s health is affected by permanent regeneration.
‘Kang Yeon-hee can’t match this…’
…This is basically an infinite energy battery. The potential ability was absurd. How did Han Romi even make this?
‘And he’s not even an alchemist.’
Having seen three S-rank awakenings, I understood their greatness. Weapons of Ihwa-yeon or Chae Geun-dam were impressive, but this S-rank potion was Han Romi’s own creation with insane potential. Even his white hair looked mysteriously elegant.
As I watched Han Romi’s back, suddenly:
“From now on, your suspicion toward them will be lifted.”
The eagle beastman declared solemnly to Han Romi. At least he didn’t say ‘the two humans.’
“Still, always be careful with your actions.”
“Uh… yes…”
“Understood. Have a lovely romance.”
I dodged the eagle beastman’s glare and strode toward the barracks entrance. Finally, suspicion was gone!
Even though I hadn’t been imprisoned, the sunlight flooding in felt incredibly welcome.
Ah, and…
“Unni…?”
A small figure waiting outside the barracks. My long-awaited witness.
“Echo!”
The tiny yellow-eyed cat beastman leapt into my arms with a bright smile.
“Unni, I think something’s changed.”
“Really?”
I brazenly replied, but it was brave of Echo to recognize me. I was currently disguised as my brother to hide from Han Romi. Though my features resembled him, my present form was taller (183 cm), broader, and had a deeper voice.
“How did you recognize me?”
“You smiled so happily when you saw me!”
‘Me?’
“Guess I was just happy.”
“I’m so glad to see you again too!”
Echo’s tail twitched happily, and I scratched the top of his head.
“But… Unni,” Echo whispered, “why does that human keep following us?”
A pure white human walked slowly behind us. Of course, it was Han Romi.
‘He must like me.’
I ignored Han Romi, who followed silently. Up close, I noticed he was barefoot, his white hair and robe slightly stained. He looked exactly like a madman. No wonder Echo’s pupils dilated vertically.
“Humans can’t be trusted.”
“But he healed Onak.”
“Onak was hurt?!”
“Yes, badly. He almost died, but this human saved him.”
I spoke honestly; Echo was anxious as a beastman who cared about Onak.
“Is he okay now?”
“Yes, he’s fine. He’s in the barracks, probably sleeping.”
Holding my left hand, Echo kept glancing behind him. I smiled like an adult and patted his head. Of course, Echo was glad to see me again, but worried more about Onak’s injuries.
“Go check on him. I’ll stay at Turtle Beastman’s house.”
Echo hesitated but nodded after seeing my reassuring smile.
“Clara unni said she’ll be waiting. I’ll be quick! Really!”
Echo dashed back along the path we came. Fast, as expected from a cat beastman.
‘You can take it slow.’
Was he worried I might leave again? Cute.
Then suddenly:
“I thought it was a man, but it’s a woman…?”
Startled, I froze. Han Romi looked at the direction Echo had run off with an indifferent gaze.
“He’s a man.”
“But why does the little one call you unni…?”
Answering would be troublesome. I shook my head calmly.
“More importantly, why are you following us?”
“We’re headed in the same direction…”
“…Huh?”
Did I hear that wrong? Han Romi emphasized it weakly but clearly.
“Turtle Beastman… I’m going there too.”
Oh. That I didn’t expect.
