“The, the light just now! Did you see it? Huh? Everyone saw it, right? No? Did I see it wrong?”
Hearing that everyone had seen the sparkling light, the Association President rested his chin on his hand and muttered.
“But then, why isn’t the curse lifting? Is the effect too weak? Or is it non-existent? No, this isn’t the time to hesitate. I need to go check again if any usable items have come in.”
“Even if you do that, items won’t just appear out of nowhere. Stop bothering the staff and just wait quietly.”
A middle-aged man tearing the root into small pieces tried to stop the Superhuman Association President, but the President ignored him and dashed out of the ward.
‘Since it glowed, there must be some effect… How can I amplify it? Maybe…?’
Minjun recalled a conversation with Baek Seonwoo, who had suggested that adding the flower’s healing effect to the Porti leaf’s recovery effect might create synergy and produce a potion.
The flower, leaf, and root of Porti originally belonged to the same plant.
Each had a different effect, but the effects weren’t completely unrelated.
So…
What if the purification effect of the root was combined with the flower and leaf? Wouldn’t the effect be maximized?
Instead of using only the roots with purification properties, it was decided to use the flowers and leaves as well since they had already been gathered.
‘The flower that aids self-recovery. The leaf that heals wounds. And finally, the root that holds the power of purification.’
They plucked the petals and brewed them in warm water, then crushed the leaves and roots separately.
“Minjun, let’s try this together.”
Minjun’s anxious expression, worn from seeing the hunters’ bodies hardening more and more over time, was briefly crossed by a flicker of hope.
“What? Did you come up with a good idea?”
“We can’t just stand by doing nothing. We have to try everything. If this doesn’t work either, next time I’ll mix them all and pour the mixture directly on the cursed spots.”
“What can I help with?”
“First, I’ll have them drink the petal tea to increase their recovery ability while treating the cursed areas with the leaf. Meanwhile, the root will purify the curse absorbed into their skin. You apply the root juice on the skin, and I’ll spread the leaf juice on the affected spots. And the petal tea…”
Wait, that means one hand would be free.
At that moment, the middle-aged man who had been quietly watching stepped forward.
“I’ll help. We don’t have enough hands to do it all at once. Mind if I assist?”
“Of course. Thank you.”
The middle-aged man brought the warm petal tea and moved toward the patient’s head.
“Are you ready? Let’s begin!”
The target was the healer ‘Han Suyeon’, who had been cursed the longest.
At the signal, we all simultaneously attempted our roles on Han Suyeon’s stiffened body.
The middle-aged man focused intently as he gently poured the petal tea, not letting a single drop fall. When he saw Minjun rubbing root juice onto her cursed leg, he muttered a vague comment.
“The Association President would probably freak out if he saw this.”
We finished our parts and waited a moment, but nothing changed.
“Another failure, huh…? Then this time, let’s mix everything together.”
Then—
Crack, crack!
The dull gray stone-like skin on the cursed area began to split and crack, and from the gap, a brilliant light seeped out.
“Huh?”
The sudden effect startled us.
We watched as the stone skin peeled away and crumbled into dust.
Han Suyeon’s chest rose and fell with steady breathing.
“It worked…!”
As Han Suyeon returned to her original form, Minjun, who had been quietly observing, let out a joyous exclamation.
“Thank goodness. Then shall we quickly free the others from their curses as well?”
Finding the method had been difficult, but once found, treating the other two went smoothly.
Spear-wielder Park Janghyeon and swordsman Bae Jinsu’s breathing steadied just like Han Suyeon’s, signaling their cures were complete.
“Is it true that they’ve been healed!?”
The moment Minjun’s shout was heard outside the ward, the Superhuman Association President burst through the door.
“Ha ha, quiet down. Aren’t the patients sleeping right now?”
“Hmph!”
The President, as if holding his breath, silently walked toward Han Suyeon’s bedside.
He gazed at her with a wistful expression, seemingly worried for the unconscious woman.
A single tear fell from his sharp eyes, which usually looked as cold and ruthless as stone.
“Thank goodness… thank goodness…”
He grasped Han Suyeon’s hand, whose complexion had returned as the stone-like patches on her skin disappeared.
What Superhuman Association President would shed tears just because hunters affiliated with the Association survived near death?
Even if they were promising talents within the Association.
“Let’s introduce ourselves properly. Apologies for the delayed greeting. I am Kang Daehan.”
“Ah, yes. I am Do Minho.”
That name sounded familiar.
Kang Daehan extended a large, thick hand like a pot lid, matching his imposing build.
As I reached to shake it, a memory flashed through my mind.
– Chairman Kang Daehan of the Kanghan Group announced the group’s new vision at a press conference held this morning at Kanghan Tower in Seoul. Chairman Kang said…
Kanghan Group.
Known for maintaining the undisputed number one position in Korea’s business hierarchy, yet famous for neither wasting wealth nor squandering resources.
In particular, it uses its power to solve social issues, support the nation, and care for its employees’ welfare, earning it the top reputation among domestic corporations and becoming a dream company for job seekers.
Could this be… Chairman Kang Daehan of the number one domestic corporation Kanghan Group?
I’d heard he also invested heavily in making Korea a superhuman powerhouse.
And now seeing him, there was no doubt—this was the same person.
So that’s why he was here with promising hunters.
“Are you Chairman Kang Daehan of Kanghan Group?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Ah…! I’ve been in the countryside without watching TV…”
“That’s all right. I’ll have to work harder if I want the whole nation to know me. Though I’m starting to feel a little embarrassed with all this attention.”
“Ah… yes!”
Meeting someone I’d never even imagined meeting in my lifetime, smiling and extending his hand right in front of me.
Shaking hands with Chairman Kang Daehan…
It still didn’t feel real.
“I don’t know if you’re aware, but Kanghan Group supports the Superhuman Association, especially Do Minjun’s team. So you don’t have to be so formal. They’re not the only ones you owe gratitude to, but also me.”
“I only did what was necessary. It was also Minjun’s request!”
My voice grew louder due to nervousness.
Just then, the Superhuman Association President approached as if to calm me.
“Thank you. Although she hasn’t woken yet, there’s no doubt the curse has been lifted, so she should awaken soon. I don’t even know how to express my gratitude properly.”
“In that case, you just have to grant a wish, right?”
“A wish? Of course! Did you say your name is Do Minho? Is there anything you desire? I swear on the honor of the Association President that I will do my utmost to grant it. No, I will grant it unconditionally. Tell me anything.”
Living a modest life, I’d never really thought about having a wish, so nothing came to mind immediately.
As I pondered, Kang Daehan, standing beside me, added a word.
“It doesn’t have to be related to superhumans. The Association President is a man capable of that much.”
I was conflicted…
What do I wish for?
Money is already earned sufficiently through crops and will continue to be.
So seeking power’s help might be better, but things that are hard to solve directly intertwine with my abilities, making it difficult to decide what to reveal.
‘Especially regarding other races. Is it okay to mention the elves?’
No matter how much the government hides the elves’ existence, rumors have spread quietly.
Just as Baek Seonwoo recognized Kasia as an elf.
The Superhuman Association President, who would have been briefed back then, and his close acquaintance Kang Daehan obviously knew about elves.
But they wouldn’t know about the elves’ plan to migrate to Earth.
I wanted to ask about ways to welcome them to Korea, but I hadn’t fully judged how much to trust them.
“It’s okay. You can speak freely. The President has a surprisingly tight lip. Chairman Kang Daehan is the same.”
Minjun’s words left me unsure whether they were praise or criticism of the Association President.
Of course, I’d seen Chairman Kang Daehan on TV quite often.
Maybe it was because of Minjun’s unofficial endorsement.
“I am a combatless superhuman. I have the ability to communicate with other races, and they want to migrate here. The Porti I used for purification also came from them. Is there any way to support their migration to Guro District?”
“You have a rare ability. But migration of other races… What kind of races and how many?”
“They are elves, about a thousand in number.”
“Elves… I recall a report from a few years ago. It was a dungeon where all hunters except one survivor died. Ah, yes, now I remember. That survivor was your brother, Minjun said. It must have been tough. One thousand isn’t a small number.”
The President paused as if calculating, then answered promptly.
“First, we need to draft laws concerning other races. And… is there anything else?”
I worried if it was even possible, but the President spoke as if it were simple.
“Don’t worry. That much is definitely feasible. And I always keep my promises, no matter what. Ha ha ha.”
Kang Daehan, standing nearby, added to the atmosphere of trust.
The President only slightly frowned but said nothing further.
“Then could you expand support for combatless superhumans?”
“Combatless? Ah, of course. That is already underway. However, the opposition from hunters who feel their positions threatened is strong, so it’s still in progress. But I will push for it more actively.”
He answered so straightforwardly that it felt like meeting a genie from a lamp who grants every wish.
“Well then, I will repay you with my wealth. If those 1,000 elves settle in Korea, I will take responsibility for their food, clothing, and shelter.”
Providing the three essentials of life for a thousand people.
For a conglomerate head, it might be a drop in the bucket, but it would still require a significant amount.
“Are there other races as well? If so, I will take responsibility for them too. But…”
Chairman Kang Daehan made a generous offer to support not only the 1,000 elves but other other races as well.
There were no other races, though.
But I was curious about what would follow the word ‘but,’ so I waited.
‘They must have everything. Is there anything I can offer?’
“How about commercialization? Before a sponsor of the Association, I’m a businessman. I believe in fair trade based on the value of Porti.”
“Then…!”
“Yes, it means you are worth more than enough for Minho to receive such things.”
He didn’t know I could produce stat-enhanced agricultural products?
His sharp eye for people was impressive.
No wonder he had risen to the very top domestically.
Though I was dazed by the overvaluation of my worth, I felt good.
But as he continued speaking, Baek Seonwoo came to mind, along with the sense that this judgment was accurate.
You never know what might happen inside a dungeon.
Hunters often get seriously injured exploring dungeons, and sometimes, like now, become cursed.
Rarely can they find recovery potions, and with few healers working as dangerous hunters, many die within dungeons.
“I pity those hunters. In dungeons where a small mistake can mean life or death, I want them to carry an emergency lifeline.”
“Then how do you plan to proceed with Porti research?”
Before answering, I had to ask Baek Seonwoo, who was already researching Porti, for her opinion.
“If a deal with Minho is made… we will immediately organize an R&D team and begin research. Many hunters are dying even as we speak.”
“There is already a researcher studying Porti. I believe she should be part of this.”
Kang Daehan pondered deeply before speaking again.
“But what is her research goal? If it doesn’t align with ours, it won’t be good. We need a contingency plan as differing goals could cause major issues.”
“That won’t be necessary. From what I’ve heard, her goals align with yours.”
“That’s good. Thanks to that, we can save time.”
I kept the details brief since there was no need to reveal others’ personal affairs, but fortunately, he seemed to understand.
“But almost all the Porti plants we have cultivated were used this time, so it will take some time to grow more.”
“That’s fine. Since this is a new attempt, we can start fresh.”
Kang Daehan smiled kindly.
I’d seen that smile once on TV.
A smile that inspired complete trust, like someone who could do anything.
At that moment, a faint groan was heard.