An Elixir Farm, filled with all kinds of flowers and herbs. It almost feels like being in a well-kept garden.
The scent is fragrant too, so just watching makes me feel healed.
But what really lifts my mood…
Are the Elixirs growing somewhere over there. The problem is, it takes a hundred years just to properly grow one Elixir.
But if I level up the Elixir Farm, the growth rate will increase, so it won’t really take a full hundred years.
‘Still, that’s ridiculously long.’
I wonder if the World Tree Seed will solve that problem, at least a little.
[Did you call?]
“Let’s plant this together.”
I handed the World Tree Seed to Fryra. She held the seed and peered at it closely, then parted her lips slightly.
[The energy inside is amazing!]
“It’s the World Tree Seed.”
【Whaaaaat?!】
Startled, Fryra dropped the seed. The seed hit the ground with a soft thud and burrowed straight into the earth.
【Uh… huh?】
“Oh. So if you just set it down, it plants itself?”
[Is that alright?!]
“I don’t know either.”
I’ve never planted one before.
But it seems like it’s been planted correctly.
[You have planted the World Tree Seed.]
[The seed absorbs abundant mana and begins to sprout.]
Pop!
A tiny green leaf sprang out from a slender twig.
I checked the detailed information with my Golden Dragon Eyes.
[World Tree (SSS)]
– The World Tree has just sprouted.
– If you use the Power of Fairies and Touch of Nature, it will grow even faster.
– Blesses a certain area with the Blessing of the World Tree.
– Crops blessed by the World Tree grow extremely quickly.
– There is a chance to obtain special crops.
– As the World Tree grows, the blessing’s effects will improve.
I had a rough idea, but I didn’t expect this to actually be the solution.
Crops will grow faster.
To boost its effects, I need to nurture the World Tree. For that, I need the Power of Fairies and Touch of Nature.
“Aren’t Dryads also fairies?”
[That’s right.]
“If we use the Power of Fairies, it’ll grow faster, apparently. Want to give it a try?”
【Power of Fairies… hmm.】
Fryra crouched down by the sprout and gazed at it intently. She placed her small hands over it and closed her eyes.
I have no idea what she did.
But a new message popped up.
[The World Tree absorbs the energy of the Dryad. Growth speed increases as it takes in the Power of Fairies.]
“How did you do it?”
[I used everything I had.]
“Really? Could we try with the other Dryads too?”
【I’ll try.】
Fryra called over the other Dryads who were working, and tried the same thing, but no new message appeared.
‘So it’s once per fairy race, huh.’
That means I need several different fairy races.
“Fryra, do you know any fairies nearby?”
[I know a few. But we weren’t that close.]
“Who are they?”
[Fairy of Sunlight and Dwarf of Steel.]
“Do you know where they are?”
【Not exactly. But I know likely places they’d be.】
The places Fryra mentioned were all out of reach for now.
I’d have to descend to at least the Labyrinth 15th Floor to get there.
It seems meeting other fairy races right now is out of the question, so it’s best to look for the Touch of Nature.
“Do you know what the Touch of Nature is?”
【Yes. It’s the dew that forms at dawn on nights with a blue moon. It contains the moon’s energy, and it’s used when cultivating special herbs or flowers.】
“When does the blue moon rise?”
[Last night. So I collected two drops to use for growing Elixirs.]
“Let’s use that.”
[Okay.]
Fryra went into the hut and returned with a tiny cup made of leaves.
Inside the cup was a single drop of dew.
It wasn’t ordinary dew—there was a shimmering silvery light, beautiful and iridescent.
She dropped it where the World Tree was.
A gentle light flowed out and soaked into the earth. The sprout quivered, trembling faintly.
Whoosh!
The twig grew to a hand’s length.
The leaves grew larger, and it gave off a strange, comforting warmth.
[The effectiveness of the Blessing of the World Tree increases.]
I couldn’t feel anything directly, but Fryra was reacting differently.
[Woooow! To feel such intense natural energy… Huh? Huh?! Huhhh!]
Fryra seemed to have discovered something and dashed over to the Elixir field.
Curious, I followed Fryra and saw her pulling something from the earth, shaking the dirt from its roots.
[Look at this!]
I used the Golden Dragon Eyes on the herb Fryra held up.
[Frozen Intermediate Flower of Ice (A)]
– A flower infused with cold; the more petals, the stronger its chill.
– Used to craft cold-attribute items.
– Used for upgrading cold-attribute Guardians.
– When consumed, greatly boosts understanding of the cold attribute, and significantly increases cold resistance.
Normally, an Intermediate Flower of Ice would be grade C. But with “Frozen” in front, it was ranked A.
“Wow.”
[You should eat this, Master.]
“Thank you.”
Fryra seemed intent on feeding me herself, opening her mouth wide as if to say I should do the same.
【Ah, say ah.】
When I opened my mouth, Fryra put the Flower of Ice right in. The chill swirled around my mouth. I bit down lightly and it crunched.
It was like chewing on sweet, cold ice.
After a few bites, it melted and slid down my throat.
[Your understanding of the cold attribute increases.]
[Your power over cold magic increases.]
[Your resistance to cold increases.]
Lately, I’d been eating the lowest-grade Attribute Grass to raise my attribute understanding.
But this was on a whole other level.
【Here. Eat these too!】
Fryra returned with her hands full of attribute-related items.
Right.
It’s time I invested in myself, too.
Besides, I’ll be getting more in the future anyway.
And it felt wrong to ignore Fryra’s enthusiasm as she proudly offered up the things she’d cultivated.
“Ah.”
[Your understanding of the fire attribute increases.]
[Your power over fire magic increases.]
[Your resistance to fire increases.]
[Your understanding of the wind attribute increases.]
[Your power over wind magic increases.]
[Your resistance to wind increases.]
I’m stuffed.
The Korean community was in an uproar.
-Hidden Piece, two in a row. Isn’t that just insane?
-Seriously, my heart is swelling with pride.
-Drink up! It means Korea is getting back on track.
-You gotta balance the memes, that’s just forced.
-Still, Korea has no future. Not a single S-rank Hunter. All the A-rank Hunters went nuts and can’t even clear Dungeons.
-This is it, huh? Gonna steamroll with logic?
-Ugh. Smells like a real one.
-But does that mean there’s more than one Hidden Piece Discoverer? Can a single person find two in a row?
-It’s real.
Seems like it. Last time, the Association President said there were five, then dodged the question. There’s definitely more than one.
-Can’t we have just one of Korea’s Hidden Piece Discoverers? Damn, did you really have to take them all?
-Stop roleplaying, please.
The heated discussion about Hidden Piece Discoverers raged for a while.
Then, someone’s post changed the topic.
-Did you all hear? My friend in China told me—all the Purification Sect guys on the 11th Floor got totally thrashed today. Apparently, the Jeonghwa Leader is furious.
-Prove it.
-That’s nonsense. Who in their right mind would mess with the Purification Sect? Weren’t they lying low lately anyway?
-Nope. They got wiped today. Those bastards. I went down the Labyrinth with my girlfriend today, and got totally wrecked.
-Me too.
-I died too.
-I saw it too. It’s been a while since the Purification Sect goons were out in force. They were targeting only Koreans.
-I’m an Association employee. They’re telling the truth. Got a ton of complaint calls today.
The rumor spread rapidly and even reached the news.
The Association, already overwhelmed with calls from victims, was paralyzed by another flood of phone calls.
Hunter Association President Lee Changgeon, upon reading the report, rubbed his face with his hand.
“Is this what it feels like to ride a roller coaster?”
“It doesn’t even compare, sir.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s a statement released by the Jeonghwa Leader.”
Lee Changgeon checked the message his secretary showed him.
[If you don’t bring me the one who messed with our people in Korea, I’ll make sure no one ever clears the 11th Floor.]
The Purification Sect isn’t a major Guild in China.
They’re more like thugs running wild on the Labyrinth 11th Floor.
Most of them are C-rank at best.
You get stronger the deeper you go into the Labyrinth, but they’re stuck on the 11th Floor, so there’s no way for them to get any stronger.
Even so, they could say such arrogant things because the Jeonghwa Leader is the Floor Master of the 11th Floor.
The Labyrinth 11th Floor is the starting point for new Hunters.
It’s where those who’ve finished the tutorial begin their true descent into the Labyrinth.
“If the Purification Sect blocks the way, new Hunters can’t descend further.”
Not everyone would be blocked.
Those with high-level skills awakened, or those equipped with top-grade gear, or those with talent or money, could still get past the Purification Sect’s interference.
But those people are the minority.
The vast majority of new Hunters aren’t so lucky, and that’s a big problem.
“Who started it?”
“The Purification Sect. They needed an excuse to assert control, so they brought up the Korean Hunters as a pretext.”
“Didn’t the World Hunter Association warn them and quiet things down?”
“Yes, but starting today, they’ve suddenly become very active again.”
Lee Changgeon recalled what the Hidden Piece Discoverer had told him.
‘He said a third party was involved.’
Was it the Chinese who stirred up the Red Dungeon?
Since things weren’t going according to plan, are they using the Purification Sect to apply pressure?
Lee Changgeon’s head was spinning.
“Sir, the Chinese Association President is on the line.”
“Put him through.”
After a moment, the voice of Chinese Association President Joo Wonseong came through.
“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”
“I don’t think we’re close enough for pleasantries.”
“So sharp. I always told you, just take it easy.”
“Enough. Just get to the point.”
“Give up the Red Dungeon. Otherwise, we’ll withdraw all Dungeons currently supplied to Korea.”
Lee Changgeon’s fist trembled.
Currently, a third of the Dungeons Korea is conquering are supplied from China.
After the Guildmaster of Immortality moved to China, Korea’s own Dungeon output dropped, and if the Chinese-supplied Dungeons stopped as well, things would get truly dangerous.
Several industries barely holding on would collapse overnight.
Lee Changgeon couldn’t open his mouth easily.
“Just hand over the identity of the Hidden Piece Discoverer. I’ll take care of the rest.”
“Oh, come on. Is this really something to be stubborn about?”
“Is the Purification Sect your doing too?”
“Do I look that idle to you? I don’t have time for such things.”
There was a strange chuckle in Joo Wonseong’s voice.
Now everything was clear.
The Purification Sect, the Red Dungeon—
It was all China’s doing.
“Just give up everything and come under us.”
“Korea’s always been a vassal to China, hasn’t it? History repeats itself. This is just the natural order.”
“Just because you have a mouth doesn’t mean you can spew anything.”
“I’ll give you three days. Think carefully. Will you lose everything, or come join us?”
Click.
The call ended.
“Sir, are you alright?”
“Maybe I should quit and go to China to smash Joo Wonseong’s face in?”
“Should I book a flight?”
At his secretary’s dry joke, Lee Changgeon shook his head.
“Your jokes aren’t funny.”
“I was serious.”
“That’s even worse.”
“What do you plan to do?”
Lee Changgeon answered more calmly than expected.
At this point, I have no choice. Let’s wait and see. There’s another who made an offer.
The one who offered to sell the Labyrinth.
The Hidden Piece Discoverer.
If he truly becomes the Floor Master…
Then everything will change.
“I should go see some old friends for the first time in a while.”
I slept in for the first time in ages today.
After breakfast, when I entered the Dragon Lair, the building I’d been waiting for had been completed.
[The Dimensional Tavern has been constructed.]
[Try using the Dimensional Tavern Pass.]
Phew.
“Shall I go in?”