‘Sip’
A sweet, syrupy night flavor.
Not the rich, nutty taste typical of bone broth—this was something unexpected.
Who would’ve thought it would be this sweet?
As someone with a sweet tooth, I couldn’t help but widen my eyes.
It was so sweet that I thought it might become overwhelming.
But only for a moment.
Immediately after, a refreshing fragrance spread through my mouth. The clean and crisp energy of the Ten Thousand Year Mushroom and White Sun Herb slowly began to expand.
“Huh.”
That fresh flavor gently seeped in, washing away the syrupy aftertaste, like the scent of fresh moss in a forest, bringing with it the essence of nature.
Soon, the deep meaty flavor of the bone broth revealed itself—not as a nutty taste, but with an earthy aroma and a subtle, lingering sense of vitality.
It didn’t feel like eating food—it felt like drinking a mystical elixir that clears the mind and purifies the body.
“This is… refreshing.”
The mysterious mix of herbs and nature created a surprisingly complex flavor.
Aside from the initial surprise, it wasn’t a taste that caused dopamine to explode, but it had an oddly addictive quality.
「Due to the effect of <Elixir Master>, the <Ten Thousand Year Mushroom> and <White Sun Herb> have achieved perfect harmony.」
「You have created the first ever perfect <Heaven & Earth Restoration Soup>.」
「Your <Regeneration> has permanently increased slightly.」
“Oh!”
My first achievement bonus.
It felt like stumbling upon unexpected cash.
I took a few more spoonfuls.
I filled up quickly.
「Mana capacity has significantly increased.」
「Level up!」
「Level up!」
「Level up!」
And then—level ups!
Already Level 23.
That’s some exhilarating leveling speed.
Right after leveling up, I checked the <Guardian> and <Second Passage>.
Both still locked.
But I had a hunch.
‘Something will probably unlock at level 25.’
Since making the oath with Dania, my intuition has been weirdly sharp. This time too, I had a strong feeling I was right.
‘Still… if I put this up on the exchange or auction, it’d cause a huge stir, wouldn’t it?’
I checked the info on the Heaven & Earth Restoration Soup I made.
「Heaven & Earth Restoration Soup, LV 99」
Perfect harmony achieved.
Upon consumption: Regeneration increases by +1,000% for 60 minutes.
Afterward: Permanent slight regeneration boost.
“As expected.”
Level 99, with both a buff effect and a permanent stat increase.
Even selling one bowl could net at least 500,000 coins, easy.
I couldn’t help but smile proudly at the <Heaven & Earth Restoration Soup> I had made.
「Kyuwoooong. Me too! I wanna eat too!」
“Popo!”
Dania and Popo were clamoring beside me.
“All right, all right. I’ll give it to you right away, just wait a sec.”
First, I scooped a generous spoonful and drizzled it over food for our precious Dania.
「Kyuuuuu! So tasty! So tasty!」
A golden light burst forth behind her.
Nice! Dania leveled up too!
“One bite for our hardworking Popo as well.”
“Popo!!”
I spooned some for Popo too, and he danced around with a smiley-eyed grin like >_<.
「Guardian <Popo> has leveled up! 105Lv → 106Lv」
Whoa.
At this rate, Popo might hit 110Lv soon.
“Popo!! Popo!!”
Still thrilled, Popo bounced around.
But… how strong would someone be at Level 110?
Although, I don’t think Popo is combat-oriented.
He clearly seems like a utility-type Guardian.
However—
There are likely plenty of combat-type Guardians in the <Guardian Room> too.
‘They must all be at least over Level 100, right?’
If so, that place is practically a storage of nuclear bombs.
Just one of those combat Guardians stepping outside could probably lay waste to Earth.
Whoa.
Realizing that sent shivers down my spine.
I was reminded—once again—just how immense the power I’d gained really was.
“Well… though for now, I am still stuck in here.”
However, the moment I step out into the world…
The history of the Superhuman Realm will be rewritten—with me at its center!
“Popo—!”
[Seojoon, more food!]
“Uh… alright.”
Right now, I might just be a glorified housekeeper serving meals to the kids…
As I was handing out some <Heaven & Earth Restoration Soup> to the little ones—
A sudden system message popped up.
[<Public healing oil, Lv???> has been sold.]
[The sale proceeds will be paid after a 10% auction house fee.]
“Huh? It’s already that time?”
I quickly checked the amount I had earned.
“One, ten, hundred…”
“…What the heck. Is this number real?”
I rubbed my eyes in disbelief at the price.
Why?
Because the amount was over 3 million coins.
***
Just a while ago—
When Seojun listed the <Public healing oil> in the auction.
Someone happened to show interest right away.
“Transparent Public healing oil?”
That man was a towering figure with silver hair, standing at 190cm—
The Grand General of the Northern Front:
Aleksei Volkov.
After the dawn of the superhuman era, the northern front had been designated a forbidden zone.
The entire northern hemisphere was overrun by dungeon breaks, where ferocious monsters claimed the land.
Arthur Bennett, a member of the Ten Heavens and revered as an archmage.
If he hadn’t cast the massive <Domain Barrier>, humanity might still be waging an apocalyptic war against the monster waves from the north.
And—
Aleksei Volkov was the one guarding the only gate to the <Domain Barrier>.
He was called the Guardian God of the Northern Hemisphere.
“I need it.”
The moment he saw the transparent spirit oil, he understood.
It was Public healing oil condensed with extreme yin energy.
How did he know?
Because of the trait he possessed:
“Heart of the Arctic (SSS).”
Aleksei’s heart had adapted to the <Arctic’s Energy>, making him nearly invincible in extreme cold.
The colder the environment, the stronger he became.
Because of that, he had an unparalleled understanding of yin-based elixirs, including those not widely known.
He even knew that <Public healing oil> turned transparent as it absorbed extreme yin energy.
“I must have it.”
And he had a reason.
He was currently Level 79.
Level 80—the so-called Wall of Wailing—was where many of the Ten Heavens had once stood.
But he had failed to reach that level for years.
The problem?
The monsters pouring in from the northern hemisphere were becoming stronger.
Even with the <Heart of the Arctic>, he was starting to struggle.
If he wanted to continue protecting humanity as the Northern Guardian…
And if he wanted to fulfill his own dream of reaching Level 80…
He had to get that Healing oil.
So—
He jumped into the bidding war.
The auction started at 500,000 coins and quickly surpassed 1 million.
With one hour left, the price had climbed to 2 million coins.
This was already far beyond the market price for standard Public healing oil.
With 10 minutes remaining—
It exceeded 3 million coins.
“I’m running out of coins.”
He had 3.2 million coins left.
That was everything he could scrape together.
The final sale price?
3.35 million coins.
“Ah…”
A sigh escaped him.
He didn’t know who it was,
But someone had outbid him at the last moment.
“I can’t let this go.”
SuperNet.
Desperate, he reached out to the Archmage Emperor.
If fate hadn’t abandoned him—
They’d get in touch.
The dice of destiny had been thrown.
***
[3,015,000 coins have been paid to your account.]
3.015 million coins.
More than I expected.
All I did was sell a bit of Public healing oil I had in abundance.
“Well, that’s great.”
Especially since I had plenty of other things to spend on besides buying a <Platinum Badge> anyway.
Tools to help Popo cultivate the land more easily.
New spiritual herbs.
And magic skills I’d be learning additionally.
Now that I’m over level 20, I can even learn 3rd-tier magic, so it was kind of ridiculous that I had only learned the 1st-tier <Fire> spell until now.
“No need to worry about money anymore.”
Realizing that I was almost financially free brought me a sense of peace.
Well then, should I go ahead and purchase the Platinum Badge?
Just as I was about to navigate to the badge purchase tab on SuperNet—
[Taesan of Northern Hemisphere]: Archmage-nim. If you still have more Public Healing Oil, I’d very much like to purchase it.
May I ask to have a conversation?
A comment on the post I had made.
And beneath that comment were countless replies.
[PAMap]: Whoa, no way. Is that really Taesan?
[Appetizer]: OMG, it’s the real Taesan??
[Seoirae]: Wow!! Insane. The Grand General has appeared!!!
[Epokuta]: This is wild; I never thought I’d see a comment from the Grand General while browsing SuperNet 😭 Thank you for your tireless efforts. Respect!
[FireDuckRamen]: Gasp… Even the Grand General is reaching out to the Archmage Emperor? That’s some next-level class.
[Koorong]: Saluting the Grand General!! Loyalty and respect!
[RimeHigh]: Looks like the Grand General needs the Public Healing Oil you’re selling, Archmage-nim 😅
[Anonymous(1)]: If you have any leftover Public Healing Oil, I hope you’ll sell it. He’s someone who could be called humanity’s pillar of support 😢
And the replies kept going.
He seemed to be incredibly famous.
I looked him up, and it made sense.
He’s been guarding a key route where monster waves might erupt—for over ten years.
He might not be as strong as the top-ranked “Ten Heavens,” but he’s perhaps even more revered as a hero.
There were only rumors about him.
He rarely used SuperNet, and even then, only showed up occasionally in the <Gold Badge> channel.
So for someone like him to appear on a general board? Of course, people were going wild.
“So this Taesan guy is the guardian deity of the Northern Hemisphere, huh?”
Even I, a total outsider to the superhuman world, had heard of the name.
He’s called a hero.
I couldn’t just ignore him.
[Archmage Emperor]: Hello, Taesan-nim. This is the Archmage.
[Taesan of the Northern Hemisphere]: A pleasure to meet you. Thank you sincerely for responding.
[Archmage Emperor]: Not at all. You always work so hard. I heard you need Public Healing Oil?
[Taesan of the Northern Hemisphere]: Yes. The transparent Public Healing Oil you recently put up for auction. As far as I know, it becomes transparent when extreme Yin energy is condensed within it. I believe it’s an extremely high-grade version. If my guess is correct, I absolutely need it.
I was a bit surprised by Taesan’s words.
This guy has some serious insight.
No wonder people call him a hero.
[Archmage]: Yes. Your assumption is correct. If you want it, I’ll sell it to you. But may I ask why you need the Public Healing Oil?
Suddenly, I was curious.
Because in Taesan’s tone, I could sense a subtle desperation.
[Taesan of the Northern Hemisphere]: I need an elixir infused with extreme Yin energy to reach the next level. It’s becoming harder and harder to hold back the increasingly powerful monsters in the Northern Hemisphere. If I am to remain as Taesan—the guardian of the North—I need an opportunity to break through my limits.
I had already planned to sell it.
But hearing that?
There was no way I could refuse to sell it to him.
[Archmage Emperor]: Understood. How much do you need?
[Taesan of the Northern Hemisphere]: The amount you put up for auction will be more than enough. As for the price, give me just a little time, and I’ll match whatever you need. May I ask how much you had in mind?
[Archmage Emperor]: I don’t really feel like doing business with Taesan-nim. If you insist on paying, 10,000 coins will be fine. Just think of it as a donation to support the Guardian of the Northern Hemisphere.
When I said that—
Taesan’s reply paused for a moment.
What was that? Did I say something wrong?
—Just as I thought that, Taesan’s reply returned.
[Taesan of the Northern Hemisphere]: …That won’t do. I will purchase it with the 3.2 million coins I possess. As for your offer of support, I won’t forget it—and I’ll gratefully accept the sentiment alone.
Taesan paid 3.2 million coins and took the Public Healing Oil.
Since he insisted on paying full price, I added about 10ml extra instead of the original 50ml.
“To break through to the next stage, huh…”
I wondered if he really could pull it off so easily.
Seeing how Hong Seolhwa broke through to level 80 using the Taeumyang Elixir I gave her, it didn’t seem impossible.
Anyway, I silently wished him well.
Just as he said, I hoped he would continue serving as the guardian of the Northern Hemisphere.
‘But if monsters keep getting stronger… could the <Domain Barrier> collapse entirely at some point?’
Nah, surely not.
Even if something like that happened, humanity wouldn’t immediately fall into danger.
By then, not Taesan—but the Ten Heavens, or rather, Eleven Heavens—would take action.
Still, humanity would go through serious hardship.
After all, it’s not like just eleven people can protect the entire globe.
But that’s a problem for later.
[Purchase Platinum Badge.]
My coins had surged past 6 million in an instant.
I spent 1,000,000 coins to purchase the <Platinum Badge>.
Even after spending a million coins, it barely felt like my balance had gone down.
Wow.
Spending coins actually feels good now.
Feeling excited, I waited for the Platinum Badge to arrive.
This was the legendary Lounge Channel I had only heard rumors about.
I’d heard it allowed use of a far more detailed <System> than even the SuperNet.
For example: access to tier-based system shops, skill shops, top-level training facilities, and commission boards.
You could also closely network with superhumans of the same rank.
The Lounge Channel had many advantages.
They say it’s well worth the cost of the badge—and then some.
Now then.
I was the only one with a Platinum Badge.
How would I be assigned?
「Entering Lounge Channel.」
「Platinum Badge confirmed.」
「You are the first to enter the Platinum Lounge.」
「First Entry Bonus Granted.」
「You have received an <EX-Rank Special Skill Selection Ticket>.」
「Current number of Platinum Lounge users: 1」
「No exchange partners available.」
「You have been granted access to the Gold Lounge as well.」
Oh.
Seeing the messages pop up one after another in front of me—
A gasp of admiration escaped my lips.