Chapter 51: Leaves, Rings, and Pine Cones

I asked Yoo Jae-yi to make me a ring.

It was crafted from a stone imbued with World Tree mana, but since it was made in a hurry, its performance isn’t that great.

It only slightly enhances the original property of attacking magic and boosts its power a bit.

She seemed like she wanted to add more features, but I told her that was enough.

The purpose of making the ring was to maintain the passive that enhances my physical abilities.

Afterward, not wanting to waste the remaining time until night, I headed to the Crystal Workshop.

I got out of the car and immediately knocked on the green iron door.

There was a doorbell next to the iron door, but I didn’t press it.

Based on my last experience, pressing the doorbell was useless.

“Ms. Soo-jeong Hong, Ms. Soo-jeong Hong!”

“…I’m coming!”

Only after I called her name and knocked did Soo-jeong Hong’s voice ring out.

Then, the exact same scenario as before played out.

There was a crashing sound as a pile of books tumbled down, followed by her irritated voice, “Ugh, how annoying!”

She had no one to blame for not cleaning up.

Even if she got mad at the pile of books, nothing would change….

Just when the rustling noise behind the iron door grew the loudest, the door swung open.

Soo-jeong Hong saw me and made an “O” shape with her mouth in surprise, tilting her head in confusion at the same time.

“Oh, hello! What brings you here? The inspection isn’t finished yet!”

“It’s not about that. I have another favor to ask.”

“Something else?”

“Yes. Can we talk inside?”

“Ah, yes! Of course!”

With that, Soo-jeong Hong headed inside the building.

Following her in, I saw the same chaotic scene as last time.

The hallway was a mess of all kinds of books and potion-making tools.

The piles of books from last time, plus the ones knocked over just now, were scattered all over the floor.

Soo-jeong Hong stacked them up haphazardly to clear a path and walked through.

Perhaps because I’d been here before, I moved more comfortably this time, and didn’t drop any books like last time.

“Do you not plan to clean up?”

“Ehehe, I should tidy up, but, well…”

She trailed off at the end.

She probably just found cleaning bothersome.

I understood. I’d always found cleaning to be a real hassle myself.

I was the type to pick a day every few weeks and finally get around to it.

Soo-jeong Hong seemed even less diligent than that.

I spotted the makeshift pile of books she’d used as a chair by the workbench last time.

“This is still here, too.”

“Ah, hahaha.”

I sat down on it, and Soo-jeong Hong gave an awkward laugh.

I couldn’t see her eyes behind her thick lenses, but judging from the way her head tilted to the side, she seemed to be avoiding my gaze.

She sat down and got right to the point.

“What’s up? I’m busy with the commission you gave me, you know.”

She gave a happy smile as she spoke.

It wasn’t a complaint, but genuine gratitude.

“I managed to get another World Tree leaf.”

“No way, really?”

“Yes.”

When I told her the reason for my visit, she clenched both fists in excitement.

Then she held both hands out toward me, politely urging me to hand over the World Tree leaf.

I pulled it from the mailbox on my phone, clicked to receive it, and watched as the World Tree leaf slowly appeared on the screen.

But—

“Huh?”

“……!”

What came out of the screen wasn’t a conifer leaf.

[Previous Generation World Tree Leaf (ver. Broadleaf)]

It was a broadleaf, shaped wide like an open palm.

The overall size wasn’t like a hand, but more like a parasol.

Confused, I tilted my head.

“What on earth…?”

I expected another conifer leaf to come out.

Even a pine cone had appeared last time.

I’d thought the previous generation World Tree was entirely coniferous.

Who would’ve guessed a broadleaf would show up.

Previous generation World Tree, weren’t you from the polar regions?

“Wow…!”

While I hesitated to hand over the leaf in my confusion, Soo-jeong Hong came right up to me.

She pressed her face into the leaf in my hand, sniffed it, and even licked it, just like the first time.

As I’d thought back then, her method of appraising items was truly unique.

“It’s a real World Tree leaf.”

“Did you think I was lying?”

“No! It’s not that, just— Why is it a broadleaf?”

Good question.

I was surprised by that myself.

I’d never seen the previous generation World Tree in person, so I could only guess.

Given that it gave me both conifer and broadleaf types, maybe the World Tree can freely change its form.

“The one I brought last time was a conifer, wasn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

“Don’t tell me… you have two World Trees…!”

Soo-jeong Hong trailed off.

She stared at me, wide-eyed.

She seemed to be misunderstanding something, but it felt awkward to clear it up.

I’d have to explain how I got two kinds of leaves.

So I just brushed it off.

“I’d rather not say.”

“Ah, r-right! Sure!”

She agreed with obvious fluster.

She looked like she was worried I might just leave with the leaf.

I’d already made the request, so of course I wasn’t planning to take it back.

“……”

“Ehehe….”

She gave an awkward laugh, then set the World Tree leaf down on the workbench and began her appraisal.

I could understand why she was so anxious.

Now that I’d brought a World Tree leaf, I held the upper hand with potion makers like her.

Just having used it would elevate her status and experience with rare materials as a potion maker.

Well, Soo-jeong Hong seemed interested in the leaf itself, regardless of rank or career.

A few minutes later, she finished her appraisal and spoke.

“It’s similar to the conifer, but there’s a clear difference.”

“A clear difference?”

“Yes. The World Tree leaf you brought last time had a healing effect, remember? That’s why I suggested making a healing potion.”

“That’s right.”

“But this World Tree leaf seems to be much better at recovering mana, not stamina.”

So, conifers are for healing potions, broadleaves for mana potions?

Then it’s only fitting to make a mana potion with this leaf.

If it’s not for cosmetics, but potions.

“How’s the current potion market these days?”

“It’s the same as ever. There aren’t any high-grade potions coming out. I thought it was just Korea, but it doesn’t look good in Japan either.”

“What about America and China?”

“There’s some impact, but it’s not as bad as in Korea.”

So, it’s not just a problem with the healing potion market in Korea.

The whole world is, in some way, struggling with healing potions.

With so many countries desperate for healing potions, how could it be like this?

And why aren’t these stories making it to the news?

“High-grade healing potions were always sold in small quantities.”

When I asked about it, she answered right away.

“So far, only industry professionals like me or A-rank hunters have felt the effects directly.”

“I see….”

I guess she was right.

I wasn’t an industry professional, so I hadn’t known anything about it.

And Dohee’s presence probably helped obscure that fact, too.

Baek Uncheon had a lot of healers who joined because they admired Dohee.

With so many healers, there was no need to buy healing potions, so for Baek Uncheon, potions were never really a concern.

“Speaking of A-rank hunters, did you know these days they’re going into gates with mid-grade healing potions?”

“It’s gotten that bad?”

“Yeah, I think it’ll be on the news soon. Something like ‘A-rank hunters hoarding mid-grade potions.’”

“Isn’t that twisting the issue?”

“It’s sensational, isn’t it?”

“……”

She was too right for me to argue.

People everywhere, throughout history, love sensational topics.

Maybe to lighten the mood, Soo-jeong Hong clapped her hands.

“Oh, right. Would you like a sample?”

“A sample?”

“Yes, the healing potion made with the World Tree leaf.”

“You already made it?”

It had only been a day since I put in the request.

Did she really make the healing potion already?

Soo-jeong Hong shook her head.

“No. I mean, it’s not complete.”

“Then?”

“I made a kind of… guideline?”

So it’s a prototype.

Still, that’s pretty amazing.

To have made a usable potion in just a day.

A healing potion made with a World Tree leaf.

Now that’s something to look forward to.

“Sure. I’m curious what it tastes like.”

“Alright, just a moment. I’ll bring some cups.”

With that, Soo-jeong Hong left the workshop.

She only said she’d get some cups, but for some reason, I felt a wave of anxiety.

I glanced around the workshop.

Books thicker than my forearm and all sorts of work tools were tangled up in a complete mess.

She… did clean those cups, right?

Thankfully, when she came back, she was holding two paper cups.

I let out a sigh of relief.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothing. I’m just nervous about the taste.”

“Why would you be nervous about the taste?”

Soo-jeong Hong set the cups on the workbench and walked over to the icebox.

She reached into the icebox and pulled out a clear glass bottle.

Healing potions are usually red, but the liquid in the bottle was clear.

Maybe because it was a prototype?

“Can I try some too?”

“Go ahead.”

As soon as Soo-jeong Hong opened the cap, a cold mist wafted up.

She poured some into the paper cups.

She handed me a cup half-filled with the transparent potion.

“Here you go.”

The coolness from the cup seeped into my hand.

She poured herself the same amount, then put the glass bottle with two-thirds left back into the icebox.

Her movements were so smooth and efficient it was like watching a factory machine.

I reached out my hand with the cup to her.

“Hm? Ah! You mean, a toast?”

“Yes.”

“People might think this is alcohol. Cheers!”

She clinked cups and took a drink.

I immediately threw back the potion as well.

Even though it was my first time trying it, the taste was oddly familiar.

I think I first had that flavor back during my alternative service.

After training, while resting, I drank a beverage that tasted just like this.

A drink with the distinctive scent of pine resin….

That’s right.

The healing potion tasted—

“This is, how should I say, ‘Solx Noon’?”

It tasted like Solx Noon.

Huh, this one’s really going to split opinions.

I stared at Soo-jeong Hong.

She tilted her head.

Rather than dislike it, she just seemed confused by the unfamiliar taste.

I’d been the same way when I first tried it.

I hadn’t hated the cool, refreshing feeling.

She put her cup down and asked,

“Um, should I… change the flavor?”

“I don’t know. Do you really need to?”

“…Really?”

“Yes.”

“…Alright.”

Soo-jeong Hong nodded.

But why did it feel like there was a little less friendliness in her gaze now?

“Anyway. I’ll make a mana potion with this leaf, then?”

“Yes, please.”

“Alright!”

She replied brightly and gazed intently at me.

Whew, what am I going to do with this enthusiastic friend.

“I’m not done here yet.”

“Oh, really?”

I stepped back a few paces from the workbench to make some space.

Holding out my left hand, I muttered about the pine cone.

From my palm, a pine cone larger than my whole body appeared.

“Kyaa!”

“What is it?”

Startled, I looked at her.

She stood there with both hands trembling, right after letting out a scream.

She wasn’t scared.

She just looked so happy she didn’t know what to do.

“World Tree! This is from the World Tree, right?!”

“Yes, but?”

“You—who are you, really?!”

With a beaming smile, she ran up to the workbench.

Then she circled around the pine cone, examining it from every angle.

“Can I take a look…?”

“That’s why I brought it.”

“Thank you!”

With my permission, Soo-jeong Hong began scrutinizing the pine cone.

Of course, sniffing it with her nose pressed against it came first.

She rubbed it with both hands, tapped on it, even put her ear up to listen to the inside.

She wore a blissful smile as she said,

“It’ll take a while to appraise this one.”

“Will it?”

“Yes. The outer shell is as hard as a Gwisu Mountain turtle shell, so I’ll need to prepare thoroughly to examine the inside.”

“…How long will it take?”

“Hmm. At the earliest, three days, at the latest, maybe four.”

That won’t do.

I need the pine cone right now.

“I’ll bring it back next time.”

“Huh? But why?!”

Soo-jeong Hong yelled.

Realizing her voice was too loud, she quickly covered her mouth.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound angry….”

“Don’t worry. I’m not taking it somewhere else.”

“Oh….”

Maybe because she thought I’d seen through her feelings, her face flushed slightly.

To cool down her burning cheeks, she waved her hands in the air.

“Then why are you taking it back?”

“I need to use it.”

“What? Use it? You haven’t even appraised it yet?”

I smiled kindly at the flustered Soo-jeong Hong.

It must have sounded strange to use it without appraisal.

But she’d told me exactly the detail I needed:

“The outer shell is as hard as a Gwisu Mountain turtle shell.”

“I’m going to throw it.”

“Throw it?”

“Yes.”

“…??”

Really fast, and with a spin.

Our little sprout.