ALL NOVEL chapter 40
40
The ancient Eternity elixir.
When it was made, and by whom, no one knows.
What is known is that this ancient elixir has significantly superior effects compared to any existing potion and that it can no longer be produced due to the discontinuation of the recipe’s transmission.
Han Seul knew that even though there might be many ancient elixirs remaining in the world, they would not exceed ten.
And all of them were securely stored in the strongholds of giant organizations like the British royal family, the White House, or the Association of Extraordinary Beings.
Therefore, the occasional claims about ancient elixirs in the world were all fake, and it was almost impossible to determine their authenticity.
If there was no chance to see the actual object, how could one tell if it was real or fake?
But the moment Han Seul looked at this “red potion” in front of him, he was convinced.
‘This is… This is real.’
There was no other possibility.
The aroma resembled that of ‘Adam’s Sin,’ the fragrance that had captivated him into alchemy, created by the lineage of the British royal family.
When the British royal family sought out the black market’s top alchemist, a witch of darkness, secretly to restore the recipe for Adam’s Sin, one of the few who witnessed it on-site with his grandmother was Han Seul. Therefore, Han Seul knew.
“All ancient elixirs are simply dan-yak (丹藥).”
Since what he saw of the ancient elixir was all Adam’s Sin, it was mere speculation, but Han Seul was confident in his conjecture.
The more solid the elixir clumped together, the more potent its effects became.
Ultimately, the red dan-yak offered by the man was undoubtedly an ancient elixir.
Hence, Han Seul was momentarily swayed by the man’s statement of being able to create it.
The ability to produce an ancient elixir was equally as fatal and tempting.
However, Han Seul soon shook his head with regret.
“I’m sorry, but that would be difficult.”
“Why?”
“My skills are not at the level to create this.”
Han Seul, who had spent ten years attempting to solidify the elixir to no avail.
He knew better than anyone that obtaining a sample would not change anything.
Instead, it seemed evident that the samples would only be used to investigate the recipe.
In a moment of caution, Han Seul advised, “It is impossible to restore the ancient elixir with current alchemical techniques. If someone claims they can restore the recipe elsewhere, it must be a lie.”
However, the response he received was utterly unbelievable.
“We have the recipe. You just need to make it.”
“······You, you have the recipe?”
Han Seul blinked, thinking it was a joke, as he gazed at the man.
But the man’s expression did not seem like a jest at all.
No one would joke with such a serious expression.
In the end, Han Seul could only stare at the man in astonishment.
***
In truth, I did not possess the recipe for the elixir.
If I had it, why would I ask someone else to make it instead of making it myself?
‘Well, I might have asked someone else to make it because I was too lazy to do it myself.’
Regardless, I wouldn’t have disclosed the recipe.
Anyway, there was a reason I could be so sure.
[Encountered Replication Alchemist Han Seul!]
[Replication Window Opened.]
——–
▶ List of Replications Available
+ Red Dan-yak
——–
[Replication Cost: 500 SP]
[You have sufficient SP for replicating the elixir. However, the replicated elixir will have 10-20% lower efficacy compared to the original. (The reduction rate is not fixed.) Would you like to replicate it?]
‘Yes.’
······Han Seul was the method itself.
Han Seul, the only reproduction alchemist in Eternity.
That was the reason I went out of my way to find Han Seul, leaving behind the other two alchemists in Eternity.
“Shall we go inside and talk for a bit?”
“···Yes, let’s.”
I walked into the room that looked like an office, taking the lead as if it were my own room.
As I sat down on the chair, a piece of paper appeared frighteningly above my hand.
And then, a notification popped up above the paper.
[Red Elixir Manufacturing Method]
─When handed over to Han Seul, the replication of the Red Elixir will commence.
‘This wasn’t in the game.’
Is it about plausibility? Interesting.
With a wry smile, I decided to discuss the contract before handing over the manufacturing method.
Since this wasn’t a game, I couldn’t just entrust the production with a verbal agreement.
Naturally, I had already drafted the contract terms before coming to the black market.
‘Well, it seems fine even without writing it.’
I glanced at the notification above the manufacturing method.
─This manufacturing method is only valid when producing the elixir for the player Yi Hwasol.
In other words, it couldn’t be used to produce for others.
After all, paying 500 SP and having it go to someone else would be absurd.
“The conditions are as stated on the paper.”
“Yes, understood.”
As I handed the formal contract to Han Seul, he quickly skimmed through it and stamped it without hesitation.
Faced with his eagerness to produce the elixir right away, I chuckled and handed him the manufacturing method.
“Here is the manufacturing method.”
“Yes.”
The paper was filled with a list of incomprehensible black ink.
However, Han Seul’s reaction upon seeing it was different.
“T-This is…!”
Han Seul trembled as if he had discovered a tremendous treasure while holding the paper.
To him, the ink scribbles that looked nothing like a spell seemed like the method to create the elixir.
[Replication of the Red Elixir commences.]
[Replication progress 0.01%]
[Estimated time required: 72:00]
‘Oh, it’s quick, just three days.’
I had expected it to take at least a month, so I was satisfied with the much faster replication time. Suddenly, a question popped into my mind, and I voiced it.
“The method is as written there, but should I provide the elixir as well?”
“Oh, no. The manufacturing method seems sufficient.”
Without averting his gaze from the recipe, Han Seul raised his head.
“Great value.”
I smiled satisfactorily, exchanged numbers, and got up from my seat.
Han Seul, who stood up facing me, took the lead.
“Shall I escort you to the main hall on the 1st floor?”
“No need for that.”
“The area around here is quite dangerous, so please be careful.”
As Han Seul was about to open the office door, his body stiffened.
“Why are you acting like this?”
Perplexed, I looked outside the door and realized there was an unresolved issue.
“Oh, I forgot about them.”
Inside the shop, there were intimidating men with a mountain goat mark on their shoulders. They were the Bazard Guild that dominated the northern part of Downtown. Simultaneously, a status window popped up.
[Sub Quest: Protect the alchemist ‘Han Ul’ from the threat of the Bazard Guild!]
[Reward: 1000 SP]
***
As Han Seul was poised to become one of the top three alchemists of Eternity in the future, he already possessed remarkable skills in the present.
However, despite his exceptional abilities, Han Seul was an unknown and nameless alchemist.
The reason? Nothing special.
He was holed up in his workshop under the pretext of research, which prevented his name from becoming known.
Han Seul wasn’t abnormal.
According to Eternity’s statistics, 8 out of 10 alchemists were recluses.
Even the potions sold in the shop were all mass-produced.
However, some had noticed his exceptional skills. Specifically, the Bazard Guild that controlled the northern part of Downtown’s 1st floor.
The Bazard Guild had tried to manipulate Han Seul in any way possible, but he had rejected all their attempts under the guise of potion research. This led to the current pressure.
Buying potions, then complaining that they were faulty, demanding a commission, or threatening to close the shop…
Such deadly and obvious hindrances.
“Haesol, would you mind stepping inside for a moment? These visitors are here to see me, I will talk to them and send them away.”
“No, it’s perfect timing. Let’s wrap this up quickly.”
“Excuse me?”
Passing by the puzzled Han Seul, I left the room.
“Wow, this tastes amazing. Huh? Who are you?”
A man who had grabbed a potion from the shop shelves looked at me and tilted his head. I passed him by without a word.
“Hey! Kid! If someone asks you a question, answer it… Oof?!”
My energy struck his jaw. His head spun, and he fell to the side.
“W-what?!”
“This guy!”
Surprised Bazard Guild members rushed in. From the front and the sides. Three in total.
Swish!
Before they could even attack, a split energy whip struck like a whip.
The sound of joints snapping as the guild members fell.
“What, what in the world is going on…”
In the swiftly organized situation, Han Seul was bewildered as to what had happened.
Drinking a potion, turning pale and collapsing alone, and rushing to help only to see the Bazerd Guild members falling. It felt like being possessed by a ghost.
“Seul, do you know where their guild is?”
“Yes? Yes, I do.”
“Then let’s go.”
“Um… okay?”
“If we’ve started, we need to finish cleanly.”
After all, there was something to tidy up. We had to finish quickly without wasting time.
I glanced at my watch.
4 p.m.
Three hours left until the auction.
There was more than enough time to wreck a guild on the first floor.
***
The place Han Seul led me to was a luxury residence located in the northern part of downtown.
“This is the headquarters of the Bazerd Guild.”
I marveled at the grandeur of the three-story luxury house reminiscent of a conglomerate.
“They must have a lot of money.”
“Yes, because they bleed the rich on the first floor.”
As we entered the alley leading to the building, three men who were chatting turned to look at us and furrowed their brows.
“What, who are you guys?”
Their reactions were far from friendly.
Well, was it natural considering the appearance of a man in a dark coat in April and a pale man who seemed like he hadn’t seen the sunlight?
Swish! Swish!
I used my strength to knock the heads of the two men leaning against the alley, causing the attitude of the remaining man to do a complete 180.
“W-what are you… who are you guys?”
“We’re here to see your guild leader.”
***
The headquarters of the Bazerd Guild, which controlled 30% of the first floor of the black market, the guild leader’s office.
Guild leader Ha Jae-myung, chewing on an apple while leaning back in his chair, chuckled at the words of his employee.
“Han Seul came to see me?”
“Actually, it’s not Han Seul, it’s the guy he brought.”
“Who’s that?”
“…The guy who wrecked our guys sent to Han Seul’s workshop.”
“Ah, let him in.”
“Yes?”
“Couldn’t you understand? Grind him up and bring him in. Check him out in the market too.”
“Yes.”
As the employee left, Ha Jae-myung lay back in his chair and licked his lips.
“Hah, those first floor kids must have lost their minds. Who do they think they’re dealing with.”
Ha Jaemyung, he was a prodigy who had achieved access to the third floor of the market.
Once a talent mobilized even for witch hunts, now he was seated on the first floor of the black market.
He wasn’t the type one could meet just by asking the alchemist Naburyangi on the first floor.
Of course, there was no doubt that Han Seyul had come looking for him.
Seeing his remarkable skills in alchemy, Ha Jaemyung had pressured him into revealing his workshop. It was like a cornered mouse baring its teeth.
“Quite presumptuous.”
Tilting his head, Ha Jaemyung gazed out the window. In the alley, a stubborn fellow who had come to meet him was facing off with guild members.
“Why are there ten people facing off against one guy?”
Although it didn’t sit well with him, there was no need to worry now.
At his command to grab and bring him, the guild members had thrown a few ‘Mah-tan’ beads over the man’s head. If hit properly, Mah-tan beads, which contained magical energy, would be fatal.
Although it was a small one, it should be enough to take down a single person.
Boom!
Confirming the explosion of Mah-tan, Ha Jaemyung turned his gaze away from the window.
And the employee who had left a while ago came back into the room.
“Well, did you figure out who he is?”
However, the employee’s face was pale. When Ha Jaemyung cocked his head, the employee stammered and spoke up.
“T-The thing is… I can’t access it.”
“What do you mean? You can’t access it in the market?”
“It’s rated as inaccessible. It seems like you need to be at least on the fifth floor.”
“What!?”
Ha Jaemyung snapped his head towards the window.
His eyes widened. Where Mah-tan had been, a perfectly fine man stood.
Followed by guild members falling down one by one.
“N-No… Noblesse?”
Ha Jaemyung’s trembling voice echoed in the room.