NOVEL WEB Chapter 56
Chapter 56. Dragonkin (3)
TL: xLordFifth
ED/PR: The reader
[Status Window]
Title: Pioneer of Alchemy (and 3 others)
System: Magic
Level: 42
Affiliation: Republic of Korea
Strength: 11 (+4)
Agility: 11 (+4)
Stamina: 17 (+4)
Alchemy Energy: 52 (+4)
-Demonic Energy: 28
-Dragon Force: 28
Remaining Stat Points: 12
Owned Traits – Philosopher’s Stone (D), Stigma, Odin’s Eye
Achievement Points – 7,500
The first thing that caught my eye is the stats.
The Alchemy Energy that has just increased by 10 from 42 to 52.
‘It seems I forgot to invest my remaining stat points.’
The 12 remaining stat points caught Shimun’s attention.
‘I did a 12-level up and didn’t even raise it.’
It would be a jaw-dropping scene for other players. But it couldn’t be helped.
‘I didn’t have the leisure to check the status window.’
From stopping a bomb terror attack, eliminating terrorists, being summoned by the association, to suddenly getting a house. Wasn’t there no opportunity to open the status window since completing the last arena?
Shimun invested all 12 remaining stat points into his Alchemy Energy.
“Does this make my Alchemy Energy 64 now?”
My level is certainly 42. But my main stat is 64.
Considering that the starting highest stat per level was 10, it amounts to an increase of 54 stats. Moreover, thanks to the title ‘Chosen by the Constellations’ newly added with Odin’s blessing, the +3 stat bonus has turned into +4.
The total Alchemy Energy is 68. Satisfied with that staggering number, Shimun turned to the status window.
“Hmm. Dragon Force.”
The newly added stat – Dragon Force.
Shimun, who had battled dragons in his past life to the point of shaking anger, was well aware of this Dragon Force.
“It must be the unique energy of the dragon kind?”
Like the demons’ Demonic Energy and the celestial beings’ Divine Energy, Dragon Force was unique to dragons. Although players could also use Demonic Energy or Divine Energy depending on their job.
As far as Shimun knew, no player had been able to use Dragon Force. At least, until now.
‘Well, Tiamat is a dragon god, so it’s not that strange.’
It would be ridiculous if he, who absorbed the blood of the dragon god, couldn’t use Dragon Force. Sneering lightly, Shimun opened the title window to check ‘Pioneer of Alchemy’.
[Pioneer of Alchemy] – Growth Type
A title given to an alchemist who has alchemically synthesized all mythical products of alchemy.
-Receives a very small bonus in alchemy-related activities.
-The Alchemy Energy consumption decreases by 15%.
“Hmm. The decrease in consumption rate of Alchemy Energy has grown from 10% to 15%.”
Even when it was 10%, it was somewhat noticeable, but 15%?
Although there is a ‘related to alchemy’ limitation, it was very good news for Shimun, whose main focus is alchemy.
Shimun took out a small piece from his inventory.
‘With this, I should proceed to a special arena.’
The entrance item obtained after handling the hidden boss ‘The Mad Gardener Murié’.
A fragment of the World Tree Seed. Having leveled up explosively to 12 levels in the last arena, and now with the growth from Tiamat’s blood.
Even for him, who had just entered the Gold rank. He should be able to clear the Gold rank limited special arena without trouble.
‘Truthfully, I could have cleared it even without this growth.’
A sort of compulsion that necessarily comes with being an alchemist?
Preferring a 100% success rate, Shimun smiled contentedly as he fiddled with the [Corrupted Seed Fragment of the World Tree].
Just then. Ding.
The cellphone on the table let out a small sound.
Upon checking the screen:
[Park Jinwook: Shimun-ssi, the sales of the mana petrification cure just finished.]
Simum’s smile deepened further.
* * *
Sizzle.
As the meat hit the heated pan, as usual, the delicious sound tickled both ear and nose along with the heavy scent of meat.
One.
“Ah, shit! Is this piece even cooked? Or is it burnt beyond recognition?”
The woman in front of the grill merely furrowed her brows irritably. Like a skilled artisan, she rapidly tapped on her phone screen. It was only natural. After all, she had done this hundreds of times.
Soon, with her eyes barely needing to be open, a string of rapid touches brought up a message window on the screen.
[Go Malsuk: What happened? A terrorist attack? Are you okay? Huh?]
[Go Malsuk: Hey! Say something. The address is exactly where you sent. Right? Isn’t it?]
[Go Malsuk: Ah, damn it! Say something! Are you alive?]
[Go Malsuk: You better be alive. If you dare die… Truly, just…]
[Go Malsu……]
A total of about fifty messages.
Unsure if the whispered numbers had been correct given the barrage of messages that went unanswered. Go Malsuk bit her lip hard.
‘No way he’s really dead, right? No, no! They said it’s still under investigation.’
After catching a terrorism report on TV, internet articles had covered the terrorism in Sillim extensively. And hadn’t Go Malsuk, uncharacteristically, painstakingly read each one of those?
‘Damn paparazzi bastards! Spewing articles without knowing a thing properly!’
Many articles consistently mentioned ‘still under investigation’ and ‘waiting for the association’s statement…’
The terrorist incident in Sillim seemed to be shrouded in a haze of unknowns. It wasn’t entirely incomprehensible.
After all, those reporters were merely in a position to report. However.
‘At least they should report whether there were casualties!’
With another explosion not far away and the detection of Awakened beings fighting, the association had begun an investigation, but accurate details of the damage were not disclosed.
And with Kim Shimun’s contact completely cut off.
“Ah! Damn it! It’s driving me crazy, crazy!”
All Go Malsuk could do was thump her chest in frustration. And just then, her head.
“Oh dear! My insides are burning up too, you thing!”
Whack.
“Ah!”
With a crisp sound, she staggered.
“Damn! Who the……”
Go Malsuk glared furiously at the source of the hit on her head. A neat black nun’s habit. Underneath the uniquely long veil that covered her head, Go Malsuk could see a wrinkled, stern face.
“Ah, erm!”
Swoosh.
Quickly removing the now completely burnt meat from the pan, she also averted her eyes subtly.
“You! I told you to cook the meat, not cremate it.”
“Ah, we can just grill more meat.”
“And match it to what century’s schedule? The kids are practically sucking on their fingers from hunger.”
“Well, if only the side dishes were a bit more palatable. Granny’s cooking is so bad……”
“You brat!”
Whack.
Following another crisp sound, Go Malsuk, clutching the back of her head, yelled.
“Ah! Why do you keep hitting me!”
“Just because you deserve it! Stop your whining and hurry up and grill the meat. If you burn it again, I’ll burn you along with it!”
“Ah, fine…”
At the fierce words of the old witch, Go Malsuk pouted and picked up the tongs. Just then.
Ding.
The phone lying next to her rang.
Go Malsuk quickly snatched it up and touched the screen.
[Kim Shimun: Sorry. I’ve been so busy I haven’t been able to check my phone.]
As the awaited reply came in, her mood instantly brightened, though only for a moment.
‘Couldn’t check his phone? Seriously! Is this his excuse now?’
How busy must one be, in this day and age, to not check their phone?
The unacceptable excuse made her blood boil, but…
[Kim Shimun: You’re right. The explosion happened at my place. But it’s still under investigation by the association, so please keep it a secret.]
With the following message, the heat boiling inside her quickly cooled off. Letting out a sigh of relief, Go Malsuk typed her response.
[Go Malsuk: Got it. Are you hurt anywhere?]
[Kim Shimun: Nope. Wow, you sent a ton of messages. Were you worried? Kind of makes me feel thankful.]
The heat that had been welling up inside her now spread to her face. But the content of her next message was entirely contrary.
[Go Malsuk: Whatever, don’t flatter yourself. Why would I worry about you? I was just freaking out thinking I couldn’t learn that technique from you.]
[Kim Shimun: Ah… yeah, sounds like you.]
‘What’s with this response? What’s wrong with me?’
Go Malsuk’s eyebrow raised at Kim Shimun’s reply. How does this jerk really see her?
[Kim Shimun: Don’t worry. I’ll definitely teach you the technique. Just moved into a new place. I’ll call you once I’ve settled in.]
[Go Malsuk: Fine. Just don’t die on me. Take care.]
[Kim Shimun: Yeah, yeah, will do.]
Yeah, yeah, will do. Although it was a phrase she often used herself…
‘… Why does it irk me so much?’
Why do her lips pucker and eyebrow raise?
Then.
“Look at this girl.”
“Eeek!”
Startled by the whispering voice of the devil-witch in her ear.
“Jeez! You scared me!”
“You’re usually crazy about meat; to see you burn it… Is it because of a guy?”
The old witch’s words trailed off with a sly laugh. Go Malsuk crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.
“It’s not like that. Don’t start with your weird talk.”
“So that’s why you’ve been glued to your phone these days. Who’s the guy?”
“Ah! Really, it’s not! What’s with you today, granny!”
Now, Go Malsuk even turned her body away.
But like a high-ranked assassin player, having viewed the contents of the phone conversation.
“Is the sudden trip to Seoul also because of him?”
“Well, that… Yes, but! It’s not what you think, granny.”
“Kim Shimun, huh? I like the sound of his name.”
“Granny, ah!”
Go Malsuk finally erupted, unable to hold it back, but the old witch remained unfazed.
“What does he do? Is he handsome? Strong shoulders? Does he have skills?”
“Ah… Let’s just drop it.”
Go Malsuk hung her head and rubbed her forehead, as if inserting imaginary earplugs, and picked up the tongs again.
Sizzle.
The pleasant sound pierced through the imaginary earplugs. In between that sound.
“If you’re going to Seoul, better hurry up. You only have so much time left.”
The voice of the old witch seeped in as well. Go Malsuk continued to move the tongs, ignoring her. Or at least, she tried to.
“And while you’re at it, you might as well see your father’s face.
“Before the last words of the elderly nun reached her, “…Granny, why is that story coming up here?”
“Are you asking because you don’t know? Is it so wrong for a grandmother to want her child to at least look after their parents?”
“That’s not what I meant!”
Eventually, turning around to face the old nun, Go Malsuk spoke.
“We’re already done. Don’t you know?”
“Oh, dear Insuk. The bond between parents and children, it’s not something that can be easily broken.”
“Ridiculous! So, what is that person even doing? Huh? What is he doing leaving you here all alone?”
“At least he’s doing what he’s supposed to.”
At that, “…What do you mean by that?”
Go Malsuk’s expression hardened.
“Granny, don’t tell me you’re taking money from him?”
“You girl! What kind of way is that to talk about your father!”
“Stop beating around the bush and answer me! Are you taking his money? Huh?!”
As Go Malsuk’s voice grew increasingly tense, Eventually, the grandmother raised her voice too.
“Yes, I did! So what?!”
“Are you crazy? Why would you take it!”
“Then how are we supposed to live? Huh? The orphanage’s operating costs? What about these kids!”
Go Malsuk bit her lip hard at the old nun’s words.
“…I’ll earn more. That should do it. I’m an awakened too.”
“I know it’s tough for you. You’ve done enough at your age. You should stop trying to do more and stop relying on whatever you earn from the Arena.”
“Granny!”
“Listen to me.”
The elderly nun sighed briefly and gently clasped Go Malsuk’s hand.
“Malsuk, stop it now and live your life. I can manage here on my own.”
“Granny, how can you manage on your own at your age? Don’t speak nonsense.”
“We can hire someone.”
“Ridiculous. People cost money, don’t they?”
“If we need more, we can just squeeze your father for it. And that money is mine, not yours, why are you getting worked up?”
The old nun chuckled teasingly. At that, Go Malsuk smirked and shook her head, but that was all. She no longer displayed the anger she had before.
“Such a devilish old lady. So venomous.”
“You’re just the same, taking care of things here at your age, you fool.”
“Granny, it’s in my blood, right?”
“Shush! Stop your nonsense and go lay out the spoons. Even just opening the cutlery drawer makes my joints ache these days.”
“Got it.”
Go Malsuk smiled faintly as she left the kitchen. Behind her, the old nun’s voice followed.
“Malsuk, you’re going up to Seoul, right?”
“I have to. But it’s not to see him.”
“Then where will you sleep?”
“Do I look like a child? I’ll figure it out.”
“At that Kim Shimun or whatever his name is, at his place?”
“Why does it always go there?”
Go Malsuk’s eyes narrowed again.
“Oh, dear! Raising a daughter seems to be a thankless job… I was just asking where you’d sleep.”
“No, why make it sound weird! Fine. Yes, I’ll stay at his place. So what?!”
“Alright, good choice. I’m more open-minded than you think.”
“What is this old lady trying to say now?”
“Today’s world is great, isn’t it? With medicine or devices, as long as you don’t get pregnant before marriage, I won’t worry…”
“Granny!”
Go Malsuk finally screamed.
“I can’t live like this, really!”
Fuming, she stormed out of the kitchen.
“Tsk tsk. Who did she get that temper from?”
The old nun clicked her tongue and moved towards the stove.
Sizzle.
“Damn it. Burned the precious meat again.”
The old nun scraped off the burnt meat, A warm smile filled her face.
TL’s corner:
You’ve first heard it hear. I am shipping Malsuk and Shimun.
Also, I like that her granny is very supportive.