Chapter 48: The Supreme Elixir for Fatigue Recovery

I crossed the portal following the Orcs and Goblins.

Inside the cave, a Golem was diligently mining gold.

Watching the gold pile up steadily, I stepped out of the cave.

[Master. The distance is a bit far.]

“Let’s take it easy.”

I used Fly magic, taking the Orcs and Goblins with me. Rising into the air, we moved along the path the Orc pointed out.

Increasing our speed slightly, we arrived at the destination quickly.

A massive mountain range appeared before us.

In the basin nestled between the peaks, there was a settlement that looked like a village. The Orc pointed to it with his finger.

[There it is.]

We descended slowly and arrived at the village.

From a distance, it had been hard to make out what it was, but up close, everything was clear.

A giant forge sat at the center, with smaller forges lined up on either side.

In front of them, rusty anvils and broken hammers were scattered across the floor, along with what appeared to be discarded minerals in disarray.

“A mess.”

[Follow me!]

A Goblin led the way.

Following behind, we came upon what looked like a cave entrance. Nestled beneath the towering mountains, it had the feel of a secluded refuge.

Entering inside, I sensed many presences.

A bit further in, I found Dwarves who looked exactly like those from the Rare area.

Their skin was grayish,

Their height similar to Goblins.

But their bodies were thicker, built from solid muscle.

Men and women, young and old alike—these Steelon Dwarves huddled together, eyes sharp and wary as they stared at me.

[This is the new Lord of the Forest!]

At the Goblin’s introduction, someone stepped forward from among the Dwarves.

A frail figure leaning heavily on a staff.

“Are you the new lord?”

“Who are you?”

[I am Steelon, the one who leads the Steelon Dwarf tribe, though I am but humble.]

I used the Golden Dragon’s Eye to confirm his information.

[Steelon, the Steel Anvil (S)]

• The only elder of the Steelon Dwarves.
• Currently fatigued.
• Overall stats: S
• Potential: S
• Equipped item: Staff (D)
• Skills: Hammering (S), Crafting (S), Ore Sorting (A), Delicate Hands (S), Master (S), Baptism of Fire (S), Legendary Weapon Smith (SS).

His impressive skill list was fitting for an elder.

“My name is Cheon Yongje.”

“Is it true that Redoc is dead?”

“Yes.”

[They say you saved our children. Might we meet them?]

A portal was created to Dragon Rare.

“Orc, go bring them here.”

Not long after the Orc crossed through the portal, the Steelon Dwarves followed.

[Elder?]
[Linton!]
[You’re alive! That’s a relief.]
[Mother!]
[What? Everyone’s alive?!]
[Thank goodness. Truly a blessing.]

I quietly watched the tribal reunion.

Tears, laughter,

The joy of the Dwarves.

I had heard the young Dwarves had been dragged to the mines, forced into slavery for a long time.

They had despaired, believing they would never see their families again.

‘Let’s wait a moment.’

I allowed them time to reunite with their families and share the joy of meeting their elder and former teacher.

They were still wary of me.

I needed to ease that suspicion just a bit.

[He saved us and built us a home.]
[I saw Redoc die with my own eyes at the hands of the Lord.]
[Witches, Dryads, and Fairies are with him, so you can trust us.]

As expected, the Dwarves who had been with me helped loosen the others’ distrust.

Steelon approached and knelt before me.

[My apologies. Let me properly introduce myself. I am Steelon, one of the five elders of the Steelon Dwarves.]

“It’s alright. But what happened to the other elders?”

[Redoc killed all the other elders except me, fearing rebellion.]

They were capable of crafting legendary equipment.

If they had chosen to, they could have created weapons to bring down Redoc.

That made the situation all the more tragic.

“What are your plans from now on?”

[We will teach the children who have forgotten hammering from years of mining to hear the clang of flames and iron again.]

Steelon looked up at me.

[Regarding that, I’d like to ask a favor. The children said you have a large stock of minerals. Could you lend some to us? We can mine ourselves, but if it helps the lord, it’s best to teach hammering as soon as possible.]

“Yes. Take as much as you need.”

They want to help me, so there was no reason to refuse.

Besides, minerals were in surplus anyway.

Selling them raw was less profitable than crafting them into equipment and selling those.

[Thank you. We will repay this kindness with crafted weapons.]

“May I keep the equipment made during practice?”

[They will be of poor quality… probably useless.]

“That’s fine. Also, please make the practice equipment wearable for humans if possible.”

All equipment items acquired in this world, except for artifacts, came with race-specific options.

So, they couldn’t be sold or used elsewhere.

Even the leather armor set obtained after defeating Redoc was Lycanthrope Slope-specific, so it was just gathering dust in the warehouse.

[Understood. We will do so.]

“I look forward to working with you.”

At the cave entrance draped with a red cord, a large group had gathered.

Everyone wore crimson uniforms.

The man standing at the front folded his hands and stood still by the entrance.

Those behind him knelt and bowed their heads.

Time passed.

Rumble—

The red cord hanging at the cave entrance trembled, snapped, and fell to the ground.

“Prepare yourselves.”

At the man’s command, two women who had been bowing removed the packs from their backs and took out clothes.

Uniforms dyed a deep scarlet,

Garments touched by a craftsman’s delicate hands.

Holding the clothes, they faced the cave entrance.

Step. Step.

The sound of footsteps grew louder as someone slowly emerged.

“Greetings, Blood Fiend.”

The man at the front knelt and shouted, and those behind repeated the call.

“Greetings, Blood Fiend.”
“Greetings, Blood Fiend.”

Though slender, his body was tightly packed with lean muscles.

His gentle face framed by a long white beard gave him the appearance of a sage.

The Blood Fiend made a casual gesture, and the women approached to dress him.

“Your Achievements have risen. Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

A leisurely voice flowed from the Blood Fiend.

“But why does your foolish disciple not show himself?”

“He failed his mission… and became a ruin.”

“That boy failed?”

The sage-like Blood Fiend’s mouth curved into a faint smile.

“What kind of fellow is he?”

“He is a Hunter active in Korea, though his identity is unknown. He is called Dokkaebi.”

“Is that so?”

As the Blood Fiend moved forward, the Blood Pavilion’s warriors parted like waves, making way.

Following that path down the mountain, the Blood Fiend’s gaze fell upon the red pavilions.

Blood Pavilion.

A sect founded by the Blood Fiend himself.

One of the top three strongest martial groups in China.

Descending into the pavilions, the Blood Fiend gave orders to the man beside him.

“Bring that foolish disciple before me.”

“Yes.”

The man dashed off swiftly.

When the Blood Fiend reached the Blood Pavilion’s entrance, his foolish disciple was lying collapsed on the ground, a broken ruin.

The Blood Fiend approached him.

“Pitiful wretch. Did I teach you this way? I told you, if you have no teeth, kill your enemies with your gums.”

“…”

“Tsk, tsk. You’ve lost your touch.”

With a wave of his hand, the disciple’s head exploded.

The Blood Fiend showed no change in expression.

When the warriors nearby tried to wipe the blood from his body, he raised his hand to stop them and looked at the man.

“I’m going to Korea. Prepare.”

“Korea, you say?”

“Yes. I must repay the grudge my disciple owes me.”

The doctrine of the Blood Pavilion.

You need not repay kindness, but you must repay grudges.

“Yes.”

“Depart as soon as you are ready.”

I woke up in the morning and moved to Dragon Rare.

[Master! This way!!]

Chewing the herbs Fryra handed me, I checked the research completed yesterday.

All three studies had been completed.

[Elixir cultivation time reduced.]
[Understanding of trainees at the Training Center slightly increased.]
[Dryads can now be created.]

Along with this, a brief message appeared about Yoo Seolha’s condition.

[She is extremely fatigued.]
[Rest is necessary.]
[Additional research cannot be conducted.]

Climbing the tower continuously and undertaking high-level research meant for multiple people all by myself had taken its toll.

‘Did I push her too hard?’

Feeling a bit guilty, I wondered what to do when my eyes landed on the herbs in my hand.

“Fryra, could you bring me a few more of these?”

[Yes.]

While Fryra headed to the Elixir Field, I took a portal to the Witch’s House.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

I arrived to find giant cauldrons with ladles moving on their own.

A manufacturing facility mass-producing lowest-grade potions.

On one side, finished potions were being bottled, while on another, packed into boxes.

And yet another cauldron was being installed to expand production.

“Master, you’re here?!”

“Have you come to see the Queen?!”

“It’s not necessary to meet her, but if there’s a potion to relieve fatigue, I’d like to take one.”

“There’s something good for fatigue recovery. Just a moment, I’ll bring it right away.”

One of the witches went inside and returned carrying a bottle filled with violet liquid.

[Highest-grade Fatigue Recovery Elixir (S)]

• Upon consumption, all fatigue disappears.
• Effects last for one week.
• Can be used again one week after effects end.

Incredible.

“Thank you.”

Back at the Rare, I gave Yoo Seolha the Attribute Grass Fryra had brought and the fatigue recovery elixir from the witch.

She took the elixir immediately, it seemed.

[All accumulated fatigue has disappeared.]
[Research can now proceed.]

A new message appeared, so I assigned fresh research at once.

[Tracking Magic for Apostles Stage 1]
[Elixir cultivation time reduction Stage 2]
[Blacksmith proficiency speed increase Stage 1]

Then Fryra and I moved to where the World Tree stood.

The World Tree reached waist height now.

Its trunk was already as thick as my thigh, and branches stretched out with abundant leaves.

“Let’s start with this.”

I plucked a single green leaf from the World Tree and handed it to Fryra.

“Would you try infusing it with the energy of the Fairies, like last time?”

[Yes.]

With eyes closed, Fryra infused the leaf with fairy energy, causing it to glow brightly.

I placed my hand over it.

Completing a magic circle engraved with the Dryad Creation Stage 1 spell from my latest research, I infused it with mana.

Wooosh!

The green leaf transformed into a small seed.

[Dryad Seed has been created.]
[If planted where mana is abundant, a Dryad will be born.]

Perfect.

“Plant it and nurture it well.”

“Wow. Can’t you make more?!”

“I’ll do it later.”

[Yes!]

Watching Fryra rush off to the Elixir Field, a delicious aroma caught my attention.

I walked toward Balak’s kitchen.

They had slaughtered a cow from the ranch and prepared a dish with it.

“Today’s meal is Special Prime Beef. Eating this will boost your strength and stamina for a while.”

“I’ll eat well.”

After breakfast with the Guardians, we prepared to ascend the Labyrinth.

• Ropenheim wearing the equipment once belonging to Small Blood Fiend Mujin.
• Buffs from Balak’s cooking.
• Various potions provided by the witch.
• An Orc whose stats had been raised to S through Guardian subjugation materials.

Everything was fully prepared.

“Let’s go.”

We entered the Labyrinth through the rift in the fissure.

[Entering the Labyrinth of Bahart.]