Nectar — Part 1
Crack!
A bolt of lightning struck.
A blinding flash of blue lightning surged through me from head to toe, searing everything in its path.
The world turned pure white, and a sharp ringing pierced my brain.
Then came the fiery pain shooting up both arms.
They were definitely broken.
“Grrrkk!”
But I had blocked it.
Somehow, I managed to withstand that incredible strike—a blow from the level of Sword and Spirit as One.
“Huff, huff…”
When I came to my senses, I found myself crushed against the wall of the secret training hall.
As I lifted my head, the ringing in my ears intensified. I struggled to stay focused and gazed straight ahead.
There, in the center of the secret training hall, Seo Woojin lay unconscious.
He was already out cold.
Even so, he clutched the wooden sword in his arms as if it were a sacred relic. Moreover, a faint aura was emanating from the wooden sword, enveloping him in its glow.
The black flames around Seo Woojin flickered and writhed, but they evaporated instantly when they came into contact with the energy radiating from the sword.
I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.
‘Geniuses are different.’
That’s what it means to be born with privilege.
One thing was certain.
Seo Woojin was undoubtedly born with the SSR rank.
He might even be comparable in skill to Baek Sorin, Carly, or Janet—three of the top warriors in the game.
“Urgh!”
I gritted my teeth and forced myself to stand.
A Mana Barrier spread around me, pushing away the feverish heat.
The black flames began to flicker and burn again, but the pain that had been tormenting me vanished completely.
Well, except for two things.
The unbearable pain from my broken arms and the relentless ringing in my ears were still as sharp as ever.
I somehow managed to reset my arms and activated [Wound Recovery] and [Regeneration].
Luckily, I still had two empty trait slots.
With my low mana reserves, I had to invest in at least four mana recovery-related traits just to sustain the Mana Barrier.
Ignoring the pain, I pressed the red button next to the door.
“It’s over. You can come in and check.”
Thud, thud, thud!
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor.
With a loud crash, the iron door swung open, and Seo Woojin’s parents burst into the room.
“Woojin!”
“Are you alright?!”
I stepped aside slightly.
So they could get a clear view of Seo Woojin.
He lay on the floor, still cradling the wooden sword. And from that wooden sword, a sacred energy was flowing, wrapping around Seo Woojin protectively.
If someone didn’t understand what this scene meant, they couldn’t call themselves a level-6 superhuman, especially not a warrior.
“Sword and Spirit as One!”
“Oh my god! Woojin!”
Seo Woojin’s father stood there, dumbfounded, his mouth agape, while his mother’s eyes welled up with tears.
Without realizing it, they reached out and held each other’s hands.
Laughter and tears spread across their faces at the same time.
It was a heartwarming scene, but I couldn’t just let them bask in it forever.
Rubbing my aching arms, I spoke up.
“Are you just going to stand there and watch? You need to give him the Nectar.”
“Oh! Right, of course! What was I thinking?”
“Yes, thank you. I completely lost track of myself for a moment.”
The two of them rushed over to Seo Woojin.
I glanced at the open door and said,
“One thing I’d like to mention: it’s better if you say Seo Woojin recovered on his own, without my involvement.”
“Why would we do that…? Ah, it’s because of the Church, right?”
As expected, they understood immediately.
I nodded deeply.
“It wouldn’t be good if the Church found out about what happened today. I’d be wiped out with just a puff of their breath.”
“Because of the Westphalian Covenant, the Church can’t wield its power directly.”
“Honey, I think it’s better to do as he says. His level is still low, and we don’t know what might happen.”
“True…”
“Tell Manager Choi outside. If you give him a little something to keep quiet, he’ll handle it.”
Honestly, I didn’t trust that guy at all, but what could I do?
The fact that he had facilitated today’s events was proof enough of his capabilities.
For now, it was better to go along with it.
Seo Woojin’s father nodded in agreement.
“Very well, we’ll do that. The truth will come out eventually, but we won’t be the ones to reveal it.”
“Thank you. Now, I think it’s time for us to put on a bit of a performance.”
“A performance?”
I mimed a punch in the air.
Of course.
Imagine it.
A mere level-1 superhuman shows up, claiming they can cure their precious son, but ends up failing spectacularly.
Yet I walk out without a scratch?
That wouldn’t make any sense. Even if they don’t break my legs, at least I should end up with a black eye or two.
Seo Woojin’s father looked conflicted.
“I don’t know if I can bring myself to hit you…”
“You can go easy on me. And if you really feel bad about it, just give me some extra spending money. I’ve been strapped for cash lately.”
“Haha, alright. I’ll make sure you’re well-compensated. I’ll give you the Nectar and the Mountain Breaking Sword Art right away.”
With that, I left the secret training hall, leaving Seo Woojin and his mother behind.
It seemed they would tend to Seo Woojin for now.
Just before stepping out, I took a moment to glance back at Seo Woojin.
[SSR Seo Woojin]
The next time I meet him, he’ll be a warrior-class superhuman.
What level will he be by then?
At least level 3, or perhaps even above level 5.
‘Take care of yourself.’
For some reason, I felt satisfied.
Maybe it was because I had dealt a blow to the Old Father’s Cult, or maybe it was because I had finally started building my own connections.
Or maybe it was the simple satisfaction of having saved someone’s life.
“Shall we begin?”
Seo Woojin’s father spoke as he reached for the door to the hallway.
Instinctively, I focused my Mana Barrier.
The barrier around me solidified just as the door burst open.
Then came a booming roar, as if someone had swallowed a megaphone.
“This punk dared to mock me?”
Seo Woojin’s father grabbed me by the collar and flung me with all his might.
“Guh!”
Crash!
I flew across the grand living room and smashed into one side of the room.
Unfortunately, the spot where I landed had an expensive-looking vase perched on a display shelf.
The vase shattered, sending fragments raining down on me.
I had flown nearly 10 meters, but I wasn’t in pain.
The energy Seo Woojin’s father had infused into me was protecting my body.
But from the outside, it must have looked like a complete disaster.
The house staff, who had been milling about in the living room, screamed in shock.
“M-Mr. President!”
“Stop this, please!”
“Mrs. Vice President! Mrs. Vice President, where are you?”
“You can’t do this!”
“You bastard!”
Seo Woojin’s father, now in full swing, leaped the 10 meters in a single bound and kicked me hard.
“Ugh!”
Once again, I wasn’t really hurt.
Instead, the internal energy in his kick twisted my stomach.
Smash!
This time, I was flung through the large glass windows, crashing into the garden.
Vomit spewed out of my mouth like a fountain.
As I lay in the garden, practically painting the ground with rainbow-colored puke, I had to admit it felt strange.
I had asked for this, but it still felt off.
Just as I started to feel indignant, Seo Woojin’s father leaned down, grabbed my collar, and whispered in a tiny voice, barely louder than a mosquito’s buzz.
The words were delivered directly to my ear—Sound Transmission.
[How about 1 billion won for spending money? I’ll launder it and send it to you through Manager Choi.]
Oh…
Well, that changes everything.
Absolutely, sir.
Feel free to keep beating this worthless body of mine!
It’s not like I’m actually getting hurt, so this is practically a win-win!
Wham! Bam! Thud!
Seo Woojin’s father continued to land blows, but amidst the flurry, he discreetly slipped a small bottle of Nectar and a memory chip into my pocket.
By the time my face was swollen and covered in bruises, the door to the drawing room swung open, and Manager Choi burst in.
“Mr. President! Mr. President, please stop! You’ll really kill our superhuman!”
He was in on it, clearly.
Well, of course. With Seo Woojin’s father being such a skilled superhuman, using Sound Transmission from that distance would have been no problem.
Seo Woojin’s father snorted and threw me aside with a final push.
“Gah!”
I tumbled out the front door, rolling onto the street as I let out a perfectly timed scream.
His eyes blazing, Seo Woojin’s father turned his gaze to Manager Choi.
“I’m greatly disappointed in you!”
“W-why, sir? What did I do wrong?”
“What? You call this ‘Super Rookie’? A prodigy who defies common sense? Damn it, I must have been out of my mind to believe such nonsense. My wife is bedridden because of this! You frauds!”
Seo Woojin’s father raised his fist in fury.
As the current head of Jaegumun, a martial sect famous for its swordsmanship, and one of the strongest superhumans in Jaelboan, he wasn’t just limited to sword skills. His fist gathered an intense energy, and in the blink of an eye, the energy condensed like a drill, then surged forward, transforming into the form of a galloping horse as he punched.
Boom!
“Hic!”
A blue bolt of energy ripped through the air, grazing the ground between Manager Choi and me with precision.
The earth quaked violently, leaving a massive fissure in its wake. Even before the dust could settle, the tremor hit us, causing Manager Choi to hiccup and fall to the ground, trembling.
It looked like he’d wet himself, judging by the dark patch spreading across his trousers.
I, on the other hand, stood my ground, barely able to maintain my balance. Despite the incessant ringing in my ears, I managed to endure the overwhelming pressure with sheer willpower.
Seo Woojin’s father gave me a hard look, impressed by my resolve, and then let out a lion’s roar.
“Get out of my sight, you frauds! Don’t ever set foot in my house again! The next time I see you, it won’t be the ground that cracks—it’ll be your skull!”
“Hiiik! S-superhuman, let’s leave now!”
“Let’s go.”
The car was parked just outside the estate.
As soon as Manager Choi reached the driver’s seat, he pulled out a bottle of cologne from the glove compartment and liberally sprayed it on his groin.
“Ugh… What a mess.”
I slumped into the back seat, sinking into the plush leather.
“You did great.”
“Yeah… whatever.”
Manager Choi started the car and pressed a hidden button on the dashboard.
Ziiiing.
A subtle hum filled the car as a magical shield enveloped the interior. It was an anti-eavesdropping spell.
It wasn’t high-level magic, considering I could sense it, but it would be effective enough.
“So, it looks like you succeeded?”
“Of course. Everything went according to plan.”
I pulled the small Nectar bottle and the memory chip from my pocket and dangled them in front of him.
When Manager Choi caught sight of the memory chip, his eyes widened in surprise.
“A memory chip? Didn’t Mr. Seo ask you to use it in front of him?”
“I guess he forgot.”
“That’s unlikely. Mr. Seo may look like a bear, but he’s extremely meticulous. That’s why the Church has to play such a complicated game with him.”
“So, are you saying he just gave it to me?”
“Probably means he trusts you. I doubt he’d care even if you sold it.”
But that wouldn’t sit well, would it?
As Manager Choi drove towards Sillim-dong, I casually tossed out a baited question.
“What do you think? Should I sell it?”
Manager Choi glanced at me through the rearview mirror, his eyes calculating.
“No, in my opinion, you should use it to learn the Mountain Breaking Sword Art.”
“Yeah, I was thinking the same.”
“As a warrior-class superhuman, selling it would be foolish. You need to grow stronger, and that chip could help you do that.”
“Exactly.”
Warriors grow through their own training, drawing power from within.
Reinforced superhumans grow stronger through external modifications and enhancements.
Selling away a future of potential strength for short-term profit would be a fool’s move.
“I’m planning to lay low for a while.”
“Good idea. It’s best not to attract the Church’s attention. What about the Nectar? You’ll take it soon, right?”
“Of course.”
Nectar is a treasure.
It’s not something you can just buy with money.
If it appeared in an auction, the price would skyrocket into the hundreds of billions.
If word got out that I had it, I’d be swarmed by people looking to rob me—enough to fill a convoy of trucks.
I needed to consume it as quickly as possible and be rid of it.
“Do you know how to take it properly?”
“How to take it?”
“As you know, consuming an elixir requires following the proper steps. That’s how you maximize its effects and minimize side effects.”
He was right.
If you rushed it, you might only reach level 2 when you could have been level 3. Or worse, fail to break through entirely.
At the very least, I needed something like a Mana Spring to help.
“I’ll track down the necessary herbs and equipment to refine the Nectar. If possible, I’ll find an alchemist to assist as well. Please wait a little while.”
Wait, huh?
I mulled over the decision.
Would it be better to take the Nectar properly?
Or should I risk the side effects and focus on getting rid of the Divine Fever immediately?
While I was lost in thought, Manager Choi concentrated on the road.
“We’ll get started right away. It won’t take long. You can think it over in the meantime.”
“Thanks. I’ll give it some thought.”
Manager Choi dropped me off at the hotel where I was staying.
“Take it easy. I’ll let you know once the funds are transferred.”
“Thanks. I’ll be waiting.”
With my hands shoved deep into my pockets, I made my way up to my room.
The hotel staff looked alarmed as they caught sight of me.
“S-sir! Are you alright?”
“Should we call a doctor?”
“Your face, sir…”
Their reactions weren’t unwarranted.
When I’d checked my reflection in the car earlier, my face had been swollen like a dumpling, bruised all over.
But I didn’t have time to explain. I mumbled something vague and hurried into the elevator. Once inside my room, I locked all the doors before finally pulling my hands out of my pockets.
Nectar.
And the memory chip.
The order in which I used these was crucial. I grabbed the small crystal USB-like memory chip with both hands and snapped it in two.
A pure light erupted from it, forming a rainbow that swirled around me before being absorbed through the crown of my head. An image flickered through my mind, like a video being played in my brain.
A man wielding a short, blunt sword, performing precise and powerful movements.
[Mountain Breaking Sword Art]
The techniques were simple yet forceful. It was a solid and efficient sword art.
But for today, the Mountain Breaking Sword Art was just the appetizer.
The main course was yet to come.
With reverence, I picked up the Nectar bottle.
The transparent crystal vial shimmered with rainbow hues, and inside, golden liquid glittered like the Milky Way.
Manager Choi had told me to wait before consuming it.
But you know what they say—if you hesitate, you lose.
When I thought about my Trait Switch, I realized the Divine Fever was wasting four of my trait slots. Getting rid of it had to be my top priority.
Even if it was just a few days sooner.
Who knew what could happen?
I could end up being ambushed again, like when Roe Deer tried to sell me out to a mage.
I made up my mind.
Pop.
I carefully opened the bottle.
Trait Switch.
[Mountain Breaking Sword Art] [Mana Barrier] [Mana Core]
[Mana Absorption] [Potion Dependency] [Potion Addiction]
I selected three traits to guide my growth.
And three traits to maximize the effectiveness of the Nectar.
Even though I couldn’t formally refine the elixir, this would ensure I got the most out of it.
Side effects?
I’d just have to deal with them.
Gulp.
Without hesitation, I swallowed the Nectar in one go.
–TL Notes–
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