Chapter 46: Exploration (1)

‘What is that?’

I peered once more into the hole at the Spring Public Healing Oil.

Nothing was visible.

‘There’s definitely something there.’

It wasn’t my imagination.

That light was certainly mana.

At the same time, I’d felt the gaze of… something.

‘A monster?’

Goosebumps prickled along my arms.

I still hadn’t fought a monster before.

No wonder my flesh trembled.

‘Arkeron!’

I called for Arkeron in my mind.

「Guardian <Arkeron> has been summoned.」

Ziiiiing!

Arkeron pierced through the dimensions and appeared before me, dropping to one knee right away.

“Did you call for me, Master?”

“Yeah. That Spring Public Healing Oil over there…”

I explained everything I had just seen, sensed, and felt.

[Understood, Master. I will begin the search immediately.]

A subtle fire flickered in Arkeron’s eyes.

Was that… anger I saw in them?

Maybe I was imagining things.

「Precision Search」

Wuuuuung!

Arkeron stretched out both arms, and faint mana waves rippled out like water, enveloping not only the Spring Public Healing Oil but the walls connected to the spring as well.

Gulp.

Watching it unfold, a nameless tension made me swallow hard.

“Chu!”

“Ppo!”

“Awooo—”

@Grrroar—!

Before I knew it, Chuchu, Popo, Fenrir, and Mandrian had gathered by my side, watching with anxious faces.

「Master—」

When the mana waves from Precision Search faded, Arkeron spoke in a puzzled tone.

“What is it? Did you find something?”

[My apologies, Master. Even with my detection, I cannot determine anything for certain.]

‘Huh.’

I blinked in surprise.

Even Arkeron’s detection couldn’t catch it.

[However, it does seem that something exists. There are traces of someone deliberately scattering detection mana.]

Arkeron continued, explaining that even though he’d had continuous scans running, nothing was caught—which meant the entity was probably undetectable from the start.

“This is unsettling.”

[If you command it—]

Creak. Clack.

[I will destroy the spring.]

Arkeron revealed six cannons, locking them onto the Spring Public Healing Oil.

“No, stop! That’s not it.”

Creak! Clack-clack!

At my words, Arkeron retracted the cannons.

This guy…

He’s always been hypersensitive about my safety.

[Above all, your safety is my first priority, Master.]

“Yeah… That’s reassuring.”

Still, it was a problem.

Something was lurking there.

But I had no way to resolve it for now.

“Master! Should I set up a barrier?”

Vellerin, who’d been working on the Exploration Drone, turned her head and called out.

She’d been listening to our conversation even while working.

“You have something like that?”

“Yes!”

“Oh, then please do.”

“Yep!”

Vellerin dashed over and pulled something from her pocket.

A small disk, just the size of a palm.

She set them around the Spring Public Healing Oil at intervals.

Ziiing!

The disks resonated, and a surge of mana responded.

Crackle, crackle-crackle!

A mana barrier spread above the spring like a web.

“Wow.”

“Popo!”

“Chuuu!”

Everyone gasped in awe at the sight.

“Hehe. This barrier isn’t something you can break through in one go!”

“How do you disable it?”

“Oh! Just place your hand on the side of the disk and channel your mana!”

Vellerin demonstrated, placing her hand on the disk—mana reacted.

Crackle!

The barrier vanished.

“Oh, that’s nice.”

I nodded, patting Vellerin’s head.

“I’ll get back to making the Exploration Drone now!”

“Alright. Good work.”

Tap tap.

Vellerin hefted her hammer and headed back to the Exploration Drone.

Such a versatile kid.

“Thanks for your help, Arkeron.”

“No need for thanks, Master.”

“Ah, how are the Shadow Wolf Clan settling in? Did they find a place?”

“Yes. We’ve prepared a residence among the Elatrium.”

“Good. That’s great.”

I should welcome them by sharing some food.

“Take these to the Shadow Wolf Clan for me.”

I handed over potatoes, sweet potatoes, and cherry tomatoes.

The Shine Muscat and kiwi were for our own use, so I kept them.

We had more than enough potatoes, sweet potatoes, and cherry tomatoes to share.

‘They wouldn’t fetch much at the Auction anyway.’

With the prices of White Sun Herb and Lunadria skyrocketing, there was little point in selling crops at Auction.

From now on, I’d use our crops just to keep everyone here well-fed.

“Understood, Master.”

Ziiiiing!

Arkeron grabbed a basket of produce, opened a dimensional gate, and headed out of the lair.

‘Maybe I should send some to the orphanage kids, too.’

Love Orphanage.

Whenever I visited as a child, Director Kim would always press some food into my hands.

Strawberries, apples, corn, and so on…

‘Ah, now I’m craving strawberries and apples.’

I glanced around the lair.

There was plenty of space.

Lots of crops I could plant.

I’d plant anything I wanted to eat as soon as I got my hands on it.

After all, to leave this place, Dania needs to reach Level 500.

Until then, I’d make sure we could eat anything we wanted, worry-free.

“Haaam.”

First, a nap.

I was tired.

After I slept, I’d harvest some crops for Director Kim and the orphanage.

“Popo!”

“Chuuu.”

“Awooo~!”

When I lay down next to the sleeping Dania, the Guardians all crowded in, snuggling up to me.

“Sleep well, everyone.”

At my words, everyone drifted off to sleep.

“Haaam!”

Even Vellerin put down her hammer for a moment, dozing off against the wall.

The lair grew quiet, and everyone was lost in dreams.

At that moment—

Ripple!

A presence peeked out over the Spring Public Healing Oil.

Covered in blue-tinted, glimmering scales.

Each scale reflected light like a jewel, radiating a mesmerizing glow.

“Whi-whi, whiii—”

The creature let out a faint whistle-like sound, then ducked its head back into the spring.

And then—

Wuuuuung!

A soft blue light shimmered over the Spring Public Healing Oil, then faded away.

***

At that very hour, public interest in the <Mithril> listed by the Archmage Emperor was only growing.

……….

[Malatang]: They say the Archmage Emperor’s mithril is estimated to be grade?

[Tanghulu]: Huh, Supreme grade?

[Malatang]: All the herbs and crops the Archmage Emperor has listed so far have been Supreme grade, right? This mithril too—

…..

Mithril is also rumored to be Supreme grade among minerals.

Typically, anything exceeding the highest grade was called Supreme.

People were beginning to suspect the Archmage Emperor’s mithril was Supreme grade.

…..

[Tanghulu]: Whoa. If you make an SSS-Rank Weapon with Supreme grade mithril, wouldn’t that be the endgame weapon?

[Malatang]: ㄹㅇ. That’s why the bids are skyrocketing right now.

[Tanghulu]: Wow. If even mithril is Supreme grade… Just what kind of person is the Archmage Emperor, TanghuluWhere does he even get all this crazy stuff?

[Malatang]: There’s already talk that he’s the unofficial #1 in the rankings. Some say he might be over Level 90. Malatang. That’s the rumor.

[Jjapagetti]: No way. Over Level 90?

[Malatang]: No, it’s possible. Li Wei checked the recently auctioned Lunadria and White Sun Herb, but the level still shows as ???.

[Tanghulu]: Wait, isn’t Li Wei one of the top Ten Heavens?

[Malatang]: ㅇㅇ. She’s probably mid-80s level at least.

[Tanghulu]: Whoa, insane.

[Jjapagetti]: ㄷㄷ

[Tanghulu]: Then Lunadria and White Sun Herb must be mid-90s level or higher?

[Malatang]: That’s why people are saying he’s the unofficial #1, lol.

[DaepaPopcorn]: There have been rumors that Lunadria and White Sun Herb are over Level 90. But now it’s basically confirmed, so their value has soared even higher.

[Tanghulu]: Man, if even mithril is Supreme grade…

[DaepaPopcorn]: It’ll be the Archmage Emperor’s era, lol.

……….

As the Archmage Emperor’s name spread rapidly, even Rainbow Potion Kim Jeonghwan, who was immersed in Mana Potion research, heard the news.

“As expected of the Archmage Emperor.”

He nodded, as if he’d always known this day would come, seeing the Archmage Emperor’s reputation skyrocket.

‘When I finish the final version of the Mana Potion, I’ll contact him first.’

Thanks to the Archmage Emperor, the urgent crisis had been resolved, and the Mana Potion’s development was progressing smoothly.

The warm breeze blowing into Love Orphanage had all started with the Archmage Emperor’s generosity.

“Hello, Director!”

“Hello!”

Clear, innocent voices.

It was Junho and Sua.

The two I’d taken to the Bangbaedong Gourmet last time.

“Director! We want the potatoes and sweet potatoes we had before!”

“Me too!”

The kids were livelier than ever.

Ever since the Bangbaedong Gourmet’s visit, everyone at the orphanage seemed unusually energetic.

“Oh my, Sua and Junho. If you keep eating so many potatoes and sweet potatoes, won’t you get tired of them?”

“No!!”

“Hehe. I’ll never get sick of sweet potatoes and potatoes!”

Kim Jeonghwan couldn’t help but smile at the children’s bright faces.

Yes, this is why he ran the orphanage—to see expressions like these.

The children’s innocent laughter was like starlight shining through the darkest night, warming the deepest part of his heart.

“Alright, you little rascals. This uncle will do his best soon.”

“Wowww!”

“Director, you’re the best!!”

Looking at their pure, beaming faces, all the hardships and struggles he’d endured melted away, and a warm fullness welled up in his chest.

This laughter alone was enough.

That was everything.

Once again, he resolved:

‘If you can smile like this, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.’

Kim Jeonghwan knew it wouldn’t be easy, but he was determined to get the Archmage Emperor’s potatoes and sweet potatoes, no matter what.

***

“Haaam.”

That felt refreshing.

After a deep sleep, my body felt light as air.

Ugh. Seojun! I’m hungry!

Dania, as always, was clamoring for food the moment she woke up.

“What do you want to eat today?”

『Dania wants Ice Cold Fruit! I want Ice Cold Fruit!』

Still obsessed with Ice Cold Fruit, as usual.

“Alright. But eat this first.”

I handed her some Shine Muscat.

『Shine Muscat is good too!』

Chomp chomp.

She gobbled up the Shine Muscat right away.

Then, when I handed over an Ice Cold Fruit, she happily sucked on it, blissfully content.

‘I’ll have to feed her Mandragora later.’

It wasn’t ripe yet, but the Mandragora had grown again.

Since Dania didn’t have much resistance to Mandragora, I wanted to use it to raise her level past 160.

‘I’ll probably break through Level 50 myself today.’

The wall at Level 50.

It wasn’t as steep as Level 80, but it was still a hurdle.

But I wasn’t worried.

I had a feeling I could just leap over it with the power of the elixirs.

“Everyone hungry? Here, have some Shine Muscat for now.”

“Popo!”

“Chuuuu!”

“Awooo!”

They chirped back at me like baby chicks. So cute.

@Grrrrroar—!

…Uh, I still don’t have enough inner strength to find Mandrian cute yet.

I’ll try harder to see you as adorable too.

‘I should check the effects of Blue Cabbage and Blue Carrot later.’

If I grill Blue Carrot with Nagattara Meat and wrap it in cabbage, I bet it’ll taste amazing.

Just thinking about it made my mouth water.

“01?”

I turned my head and was startled.

Why?

“What the—?”

Spring Public Healing Oil.

I was checking to see if the barrier was still intact.

「Spring Public Healing Oil, Lv 101」

The Spring Public Healing Oil’s level had gone up.

Yesterday, it was 100…

‘Huh.’

How bizarre.

It must be the influence of that mysterious being beyond the hole.

Was this… the work of a benevolent spirit?

If it meant us no harm, maybe we could coexist.

The moment I thought that—

Vellerin’s voice rang in my ear.

“It’s done!”

With soot on her cheek, Vellerin threw both arms up to the sky.

She turned to me with a radiant smile.

“It’s finished! Exploration Drone No. 1!!”

At last.

The moment had come—the Exploration Drone that would venture outside the lair was complete.