Chapter 14: Popo (1)

Swishhh

Particles of light mixed with dirt, falling.

‘This is… magic?’

They were particles of mana.

“What did you do to the dirt?”

“Popo!”

At my words, Popo came closer, hopping excitedly.

The little guy spun around me, repeatedly shouting “Popo.”

“Yeah. I don’t know what you mean, but it’s like making the soil more fertile right?”

“Popo!”

At that, the little guy started hopping in place.

It seemed like a gesture of affirmation.

“Hmm…”

Definitely.

I thought it was because of the guy’s bodily fluids mixing in.

But it feels like the dirt particles themselves have become finer.

‘Should I plant some spirit herbs here?’

A fleeting thought crossed my mind that maybe higher-quality spirit herbs could grow here.

“So, your ability is to make the soil fertile?”

“Popo!”

The guy spun its body in circles as if answering.

Does that mean no?

“What else can you do?”

“Popo-!”

At my words, the guy started wriggling.

Then it suddenly turned its body in one direction.

Huh? That direction is—

“Popo!”

The guy wriggled frantically and moved.

“W-Wait a second!”

I hurriedly called out to stop it.

Because Dania was in that direction.

Thankfully, the guy stopped at my words.

“What were you trying to do?”

I quickly stepped in front of Dania and asked.

“Popo! Popo!”

Then the guy wiggled and spread out flat on the ground.

No, what the heck does that mean?

“Popo! Popo!”

“Hmm.”

I still don’t know what it’s saying.

But it feels like it’s trying to do something to help Dania.

‘Right, it’s a guardian.’

The master of this lair is Dania.

So, that means this guy’s master is also Dania.

Logically speaking, it wouldn’t do anything to harm its master.

“Finish what you were trying to do.”

“Popo!”

The guy wriggled again and approached Dania.

“Popopopo!”

And then it swallowed Dania whole?!

“What, what the?!”

I blinked in panic.

I could see Dania, swallowed inside the guy’s translucent body.

“Popo-!!”

As the guy shouted,

A glow of green and brown burst forth.

[Wooong. Warm…]

Dania’s sleepy, murmuring voice.

[<Popo> grants <Dania> the <Blessing of Growth>.]

[For <24 hours>, <Dania>’s growth potential is greatly increased]

“Wow.”

What’s this?

Blessing of Growth?

Huh.

I didn’t see that coming.

A gasp of amazement escaped me.

“Like a nanny, huh.”

Wooooooong!

From Popo’s body, which had swallowed Dania, a glow of green and brown continued to flow.

As I thought of Dania growing rapidly with that halo of light, a smile formed on my lips.

“Then I’ll leave Dania in your care.”

I entrusted Dania to Popo and sat back down in front of the herbs.

Now it’s time to make Tai Yin Yang Essence again.

“One bottle of Public healing oil and one root of White Sun Herb.”

I placed both into the <Alchemy Furnace>.

And synthesized.

[The <Alchemy Furnace> is now operating.]

Paaaat!

The result?

Of course, success.

[Congratulations. <Public Healing Oil> and <White Sun herb> have been successfully fused.]

[Tai Yin-Yang Essence, Lv 99]

If there’s anything different from last time, it’s that this time, a Lv 99 Tai Yin-Yang Essence came out.

Wow

Long live the <Elixir Mater>!

“Might as well take a sip right now.”

Gulp.

The moment the Tai Yin Yang Essence slid down my throat, fireworks exploded in my mouth once again.

The ecstatic sensation of feeling both cold and hot at the same time.

My spine tingled as the magical power spread throughout my body.

[Your mana capacity has greatly increased.]

[Your level has increased.]

[Your level has increased.]

[Your level has increased.]

[Your level has increased.]

[Your level has increased.]

“Ke”

This time, I went up 5 levels again.

Last time, I drank it at Lv 4 and became Lv 9.

This time, I drank it at Lv 10 and became Lv 15.

This is the power of a Lv 99 Tai Yin-Yang Essence!

‘This is insane.’

Gaining 5 levels from a single sip of an elixir.

If I eat another one later when I’m hungry and then one more tomorrow, I might break through to Lv 20 in no time.

Seriously.

Does this even make sense?

Going from Lv 1 to over Lv 20 in just three days.

There’s never been a leveling speed like this before, and there likely won’t be again.

‘No wonder it’s EX-rank.’

The corners of my mouth twitched upward.

What’s the fastest leveling speed from Lv 1 to Lv 10 so far?

I got curious.

A quick search on SuperNet.

……….

Title: Who was the superhuman with the fastest leveling from Lv 1 to Lv 10?

Content: Everyone knows that the superhuman with the fastest early leveling is among the Ten Heavens.

It’s none other than the strongest superhuman, <Eden Carter> .

They say it took him just 28 days to go from Lv 1 to Lv 10.

A record like no other.

Will there ever be a superhuman who can surpass his record…?

……….

Yes.

That superhuman has appeared.

And that’s me.

“Haha.”

I let out a laugh as I held the Tai Yin Yang Essence and moved.

Right in front of Popo and Dania.

“Still a long way to go?”

As soon as those words left my mouth,

Pop!

<Popo> detached from <Dania>.

“Popo-!”

The little guy shouted its name with all its might, sounding slightly tired.

“You can tell just by looking that it’s overflowing with the energy of life.”

Thanks to Popo, I could feel fresh vitality emanating from Dania.

[Kyuuung… It’s warm!]

Dania kept exclaiming about warmth.

I quietly asked the little one.

“Dania, aren’t you hungry? I brought some Tai Yin-Yang Essence. Wanna try it?”

[Kyuuu! I wanna try, I wanna try!]

The response was immediate.

It’s only natural, considering how excited it was last time, saying it was delicious.

“This time, it’s gonna taste even better.”

Trickle trickle trickle

I poured the Tai Yin Yang Essence over its head.

[Kyuuuuu! Delicious!!]

Dania savored the taste of the Lv 99 Tai Yin-Yang Essence, enraptured.

Just hearing its voice made me feel happy too.

And with that,

Wooooooong!!

A golden glow radiated from Dania’s body once again.

‘As expected!’

I now knew what that glowing radiance meant.

Dania is leveling up too, huh.

Alright.

Even though a dragon, the mightiest of creatures, is just a hatchling, there’s no way it would be only level 1 right after hatching.

It probably hatches with a certain level already.

“What level does it hatch at?”

I don’t know.

Naturally, no one on the Superhuman Network knows either.

“No way it’s something like level 100 right after hatching, right?”

“Pfft.”

I burst out laughing.

Nah, no way.

Then what, an adult dragon would be level 500 or something?

…No way, right?

Well, whatever.

No matter what level it is, just hatch safely and healthily!

[Kyuunnggg-]

Leaving the delighted Dania behind, I approached Popo this time.

“Popo…!”

It definitely looked exhausted.

Probably because it shared its <Life Aura> with Dania.

“Can you eat this too?”

I waved the Tai Yin Yang Essence in front of Popo.

At that, the little guy perked up and bounced excitedly.

“Popo popo!”

“Yeah, got it. You can eat it, huh.”

I could tell just by looking.

I poured some for Popo too.

This time, unlike before, I used a whole White Sun Herb and added a proportional amount of Public Healing Oil to make it.

The quantity was plenty.

Drip drip drip.

“Popo-!”

Hop hop!

With its eyes curved like crescent moons (^_^) instead of the usual flat expression, Popo bounced around everywhere.

“Looks like you really liked it.”

Can it actually taste it?

I’ll have to give it more often from now on.

Since I can now make as much elixir as needed.

Just then.

An unexpected system message popped up.

「Guardian <Popo>’s level has increased! 103Lv → 104Lv」

“…Wow…”

Seeing a level-up from over level 100.

What a rare sight.

“Popo!”

“Popo~!”

“Popo!”

After leveling up, Popo’s joy seemed to reach its peak.

It spun around me, calling out its name like it was singing.

Its eyes were still curved like n_n.

‘This little guy. So cute.’

I gave Popo’s soft body a gentle pat.

It reminded me of Boksil, the dog I used to have at my countryside home.

Boksil would wag its tail and circle around me whenever it saw me.

Thinking of Boksil suddenly made me sentimental. Boksil, who crossed the rainbow bridge. I miss you after so long.

“Ahem. Let’s get along well from now on.”

“Popo!”

I chuckled, shaking off the sentimentality.

Then I patted Popo’s head.

It’s as soft as Boksil, with such a nice texture.

Then I stood up.

Next thing to do.

“Let’s sprinkle some Tai Yin Yang essence on the spirit herbs.”

Maybe something special will happen?

With a bit of anticipation, I immediately sprinkled the Tai Yin Yang Essence.

Drip drip drip on the Lunadria!

Drip drip drip on the White Sun Herb!

Drip drip drip on the Clear Water Herb!

Drip drip drip on the potatoes and sweet potatoes too!

Just in case.

The Tai Yin Yang essence might end up being toxic.

So I only sprinkled it on a few for now.

“All done.”

I stretched and got up.

Later, I’ll plant new spirit herb seeds in the soil Popo tilled.

“And I need to get more spirit herb seeds.”

Bangbaedong Gourmet.

I’ll sell him some more spirit herbs and crops.

And ask if he can get me other seeds.

“Speaking of which, Hong Seolhwa…”

Any news about the Immortal Peach?

Well, it’s not something you can get right away.

Just as I was thinking that.

……….

[Spicy Nuclear Punch]: Lord Archmage Emperor! I got the Immortal Peach seeds!

…..

Whoa.

Speak of the tiger, and it appears.

Perfect timing. Perfect.

…..

[Archmage Emperor] : You got them fast.

[Spicy Nuclear Punch]: I pulled all my connections, haha. Got lucky and found the seeds quicker than expected.

[Archmage Emperor] : Great. Then let’s trade right away… Oh!

[Spicy Nuclear Punch]: Is something wrong?

[Archmage Emperor] : Well, it’s not a big deal, but it might be meddling.

[Spicy Nuclear Punch]: It’s fine, just tell me.

[Archmage Emperor] : I heard that you, Spicy Nuclear Punch, have a physical imbalance due to an energy imbalance.

…..

Yo.

Am I correct in what I know?

Hmm.

I hesitated a bit when asking this question.

Not only was it a bit nosy of me,

but it could also feel rude to Hong Seolhwa, as it was like pointing out her flaws.

…..

[Spicy Nuclear Punch]: Yes… you’re right. It’s a well-known fact, too.

…..

But her reaction was calm.

From that calm reaction, I could vaguely sense that she had truly suffered for a long time because of this issue.

That kind of reaction only comes when someone has built up some tolerance to pain.

…..

[Archmage Emperor]: Then, for healing your condition, you might need Yin Yang Essence instead of Lunadria, right?

[Spicy Nuclear Punch]: That’s right, haha. I’ve actually been looking for Yin Yang Essence instead, but… the top-grade needed to heal my body is incredibly hard to come by. It’s practically priceless.

…..

Her words sparked a glint in my eyes.

As expected.

She really did need .

I glanced at the I had made and used earlier.

About a third of it was still left.

‘This much should still have some effect.’

Let’s try selling it.

…..

[Archmage Emperor]: I have some high-quality . Instead of searching far and wide, would you like to buy it from me?

[Spicy Nuclear Punch]: Huh…? Yin Yang Essence instead?

[Archmage Emperor]: Yes, .

[Spicy Nuclear Punch]: I-I’ll buy it! Please sell it to me…!

…..

Hong Seolhwa was surprised and visibly excited.

After a bit more conversation, we finalized the deal.

***

「Private transaction completed.」

“Ah.”

Hong Seolhwa gasped as she held up a transparent bottle filled with pink liquid.

It was obvious at a glance.

It was truly .

…..

[Archmage Emperor]: The seeds of the Leading, and… I’m a bit short on coins right now, so please include plenty of coins.

…..

Hong Seolhwa immediately offered the 500,000 coins she had on hand.

500,000 coins equate to 5 billion won in Korean currency.

For ordinary people, that’s an enormous amount, but compared to the price of Tai Yin Yang Essence, it was practically negligible.

It wasn’t even enough to buy the she had sent along with it.

Even so,

…..

[Spicy Nuclear Punch]: I’m sorry. This is all the coins I have right now. It’s too little, isn’t it? If you give me a bit more time, I’ll do my best to prepare more…

[Archmage Emperor]: No, this is enough. If you think it’s not enough, you can send more later when you’re feeling better and have the means.

[Spicy Nuclear Punch]: Ah… thank you. Thank you so much, Archmage Emperor.

…..

She felt a surge of emotion.

What an angel!

Could this person be an angel sent by her late mother?

For a moment, that thought crossed her mind.

‘I’ll definitely repay this kindness.’

She barely held back tears as she looked at the glass bottle in her hand.

[Tai Yin Yang Essence, LV ???]

Once again, a level of ???.

The moment she confirmed it,

she realized with certainty.

This would definitely heal her body.

Gulp, gulp.

Without hesitation, she drank every last drop of the liquid in the bottle.

And shortly after,

Whoosh!

A brilliant golden light began to radiate from behind Hong Seol-hwa, who was sitting cross-legged.