Lee Jaeyeol — Part 1
The aftermath hit me like a wave.
“Ugh, g-gahk!”
I scratched the ground, drooling uncontrollably.
Just moments ago, the world had been painted red.
Now, it felt as though I had been swallowed by darkness.
Everything was pitch-black, save for some faint, blurred outlines. The ground swayed beneath me like it wanted to drag me down.
I didn’t have much time.
I crawled forward, feeling the floor with my hands, inching toward the exit.
By some stroke of luck, my hands and feet caught the holy sword and magic gun.
These were important.
I hugged them close with one arm and barely made it to the exit.
Gurgh!
I coughed up blood.
A sharp ringing sound pierced my ears before silence fell, as if the world itself had cut off all noise.
The quiet engulfed me like a predator swallowing its prey.
My whole body felt like it was burning.
It was like I’d been hit by the fever debuff again.
I took a breath and threw myself down the stairs.
Crash! Crash!
I tumbled down dozens of steps, but felt nothing.
Even my sense of touch was slipping away.
The aftereffects of the frenzy.
The only reason I hadn’t collapsed completely was because I was still holding onto my mutant traits, but it wouldn’t last long.
If the aftermath hit me at full force, if even the last fragment of my sanity was consumed…
That would be the end.
Even if my body survived, my mind would be lost. I’d become a complete monster, a perfect mutant.
“Aaaaaah!”
I bit my tongue.
Instinctively, I pressed the holy sword to my chest and slashed at myself wildly.
An icy pain shot through me, as if my heart had been cleaved in two.
“Huh, huhh.”
The holy sword normally strengthens and protects its wielder.
But it also possesses the power to repel corrupt beings.
And that purging power was now aimed at me.
From the wounds, a sharp white light flickered.
Light that should’ve felt warm, but instead turned hostile.
It was exactly what I needed.
That cold, oppressive light snapped my mind back into focus.
“Huff, huff, huff.”
I descended the stairs in giant leaps, three, four, almost half a flight at a time.
My knees throbbed, and my calves were aching, but I didn’t care. I didn’t even notice the muscles tearing and the blood spilling from them.
If I slowed down even for a second, every muscle in my body would rupture, and my bones would be on the verge of shattering!
Bang!
I threw open the door.
It was the door to a secret underground chamber.
Ignoring the pain that made it feel like my legs had snapped, I forced my massive body through the narrow opening.
“Huff, huff.”
I drank the high-grade holy water I had prepared in advance.
But it wasn’t enough.
Not even close.
Somehow, I managed to switch my traits and throw myself into the magic bath before losing consciousness.
…
…
When my submerged consciousness resurfaced, quite some time had passed.
There was a strange commotion outside.
“Huh… this is insane, just insane.”
“He took care of all this by himself?”
“I knew from the Dagger Gang incident that he wasn’t ordinary.”
“When I first saw him, wasn’t he just Level 1?”
“This guy’s at least Level 4 now…”
“Better not mess with him.”
I rolled my eyes to survey the situation.
I was lying sideways in the magic bath.
Not even properly submerged. Only my upper body was barely immersed, with one leg sticking out entirely.
At least my head wasn’t underwater.
I had fallen in such a way that my nose and mouth stayed just above the surface, allowing me to breathe.
‘Ughhh.’
I tried to groan, but no sound came out.
I couldn’t move my fingers, either.
Actually, the moment I tried to, a wave of pain shot from head to toe, and I had to swallow a scream.
Despite trembling from the pain, I felt immense relief.
‘I’m alive…’
A profound sense of relief washed over me like a river.
I had survived. I was still alive.
I rolled my eyes, checking my body.
It was back to normal. No longer the grotesque body of a mutant.
The gamble had paid off.
Though the side effects were immense, the holy water and magic spring were slowly healing me from the inside.
“Hah… hahahaha.”
I let out a stifled laugh.
I wanted to laugh out loud, but I couldn’t.
All that came out was a faint, shaky breath, barely 20 decibels—like the sound of leaves rustling.
But it felt exhilarating.
I couldn’t remember ever feeling more elated.
A sense of victory flooded me, lifting me high.
Was this what it felt like to spread your wings and soar?
Was this what it was like to jump off a towering platform in a bungee jump?
The wide-open sense of freedom filled my chest with a refreshing lightness, and the sense of accomplishment made my head buzz with excitement.
After laughing to myself for quite a while, I finally calmed down.
The first thing I did was swap my traits.
[Regeneration], [Wound Recovery], [Vigor]
[Purification], [Einherjar Cultivation Technique], [Mana Recovery]
Now that I had removed the mutant traits, I optimized my body for recovery.
That’s when I noticed something odd.
Despite using every possible trait to accelerate my healing, my body still felt heavier than expected.
It felt like I had missed something.
‘Wait, could it be…?’
A hunch hit me.
I summoned a new trait.
[Resurrection]
Similar to regeneration, but the more severe the injury, the greater the recovery. However, it has less effect on minor wounds.
This was probably the fifth or sixth time I’d been on the brink of death.
That made me more than qualified to unlock this trait.
I used purification a few times to cleanse myself, then slotted Resurrection into the empty trait slot.
I mentally tallied up my progress.
‘How many more until I unlock Immortality?’
Among physical recovery traits, Immortality was undoubtedly top-tier.
Only superhumans of the warrior class could acquire it.
The base requirement was regeneration, and you had to either combine five additional recovery traits or complete a special, rare quest to unlock it.
Or, of course, you could just pour tons of money into obtaining a character with Immortality as an inherent trait, or draw an Immortality Memory Chip and inherit it.
‘I have Wound Recovery, Vigor, and now Resurrection. If I master Healing through equipment proficiency… I just need one more.’
It wasn’t just Immortality.
Traits like Giant’s Strength, Diamond Body, Unyielding Will, Combat Expert, Sword Master, Gunner—those top-tier warrior traits were all waiting for me.
Wow, Blank Body and Trait Swap really are broken mechanics.
When I was raising Warrior Kim, I had to grind endlessly just to get a single top-tier trait.
“Superhuman! Superhuman! Where are you?”
“Superhuman!”
I could hear voices calling for me outside.
I gritted my teeth and tried to move my fingers.
It felt like sleep paralysis—moving even a single finger was an uphill battle.
After several deep breaths and gathering every ounce of strength, I finally managed to twitch a finger.
And just like that, the paralysis faded.
I managed to painfully turn my aching body, fully submerging it in the magic bath.
Sploosh!
With a splash, my whole body sank into the water.
The magic spring embraced me completely, its cool energy seeping into every pore.
For the first time, a refreshing vitality flowed into my body.
Clang!
I grabbed the holy sword with my left arm and dropped the magic gun outside the bath.
The gloves followed suit.
Even with my left hand barely functional, that insane glove was still sucking up my blood.
My right hand was mangled beyond use.
I bit the glove with my teeth and yanked it off, tossing it aside. Finally, my mind cleared enough to think straight again.
“Superhuman… Oh, crap!”
“What’s wrong? Oh… ugh!”
“S-Superhuman! Are you alright?!”
The Iron Fist Gang members finally found me.
Their faces, toughened by countless battles, twisted into expressions of shock and horror.
I submerged my right hand into the magic spring and weakly raised my left hand, giving a small wave.
“Heh, hey.”
“You… You there! Call 119!” (TL Note: Equivalent to 911)
“119? Are you nuts? The cops’ll be here in no time!”
“Then call 129 at least!” (TL Note: For medical emergencies)
“Superhuman! You need to get to a hospital right away!”
“I’m fine. Really. I’ll heal up after some rest.”
“‘Rest will heal you’? You can still make it to a hospital now! Even if it’s not an official one, there are plenty of doctors who can regenerate your body for a price!”
I really didn’t need to go.
With Regeneration, Resurrection, Wound Recovery, and Healing, I had everything I needed.
Even now, my necklace was working its magic, shining brightly.
Sure, it would take some time, but eventually, everything would heal. Even my mangled hand and severed fingers would be restored perfectly.
“Ha…”
Kim Chulkwon and Manager Choi rushed in, having heard the news.
Kim Chulkwon was speechless, while Manager Choi’s jaw practically hit the floor.
“Superhuman… Superhuman! What on earth happened here?”
Manager Choi trembled as he approached, looking like he was about to collapse to his knees in a fit of sobbing.
I quickly raised my left hand to stop him.
“I took on the entire Cleaner Association alone. Honestly, for this level of damage, I’d say I got off easy.”
“But… but… this is too much…”
Too much? I glanced down at my body to check the extent of my injuries.
There was no need to even mention my pulverized right hand. The rest of my body wasn’t any better.
My left arm was twisted at an unnatural angle.
My chest had over ten deep sword wounds slashed across it.
My abdomen was swollen with internal bleeding, blue and black with massive bruises.
My right shinbone had broken and pierced through the skin at some point, though I couldn’t remember exactly when.
But the final blow was my face, reflected in the surface of the water.
My entire face was burned, the skin horribly disfigured.
My lips were torn, exposing my teeth, and my nose and ears were practically gone, leaving only faint traces behind.
I looked like a monster straight out of a horror film.
Still, I twisted the remains of my mouth, flashing a smile with what was left of my teeth.
“For what I faced, this isn’t bad. It’s a lot better than dying, wouldn’t you agree?”
I repeated what I had said earlier, and I meant it.
These injuries could all be repaired.
Manager Choi looked at me with an expression of awe, utterly speechless.
“Superhuman… you’re truly something else…”
Kim Chulkwon, having regained his composure, examined my body thoroughly before asking,
“You’re regenerating, aren’t you? Is self-recovery possible?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Even your hand?”
“Yes.”
“Hahaha.”
Kim Chulkwon let out a laugh, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Turns out you’re even more of a big shot than I thought. With talent like yours, it’s no wonder.”
“Wait… sir? What talent are you talking about?”
“There’s something like that.”
Kim Chulkwon said, cutting Manager Choi off before he could dig any further.
His gaze shifted meaningfully toward the magic bath I was soaking in before he asked,
“Shall we escort you home, Superhuman? We could bring more water from your house, but that might be a bit of a hassle.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
Home definitely sounded more comfortable.
Soon, the Iron Fist Gang members arrived in droves.
They placed a cover over the magic bath to prevent water from spilling, gathered my belongings, and carefully loaded everything into a large minivan.
I was carried home in that rumbling minivan.
Once we were back, they moved the magic bath into its original spot, cut open my abdomen to drain the blood pooling inside, and replaced the water. Only then did they finally leave.
All except for one person.
Manager Choi stayed behind.
“Superhuman, are you sure you’re alright?”
It seemed like he couldn’t bring himself to leave. He paced nervously around the magic bath, casting anxious glances in my direction.
“I told you, I’m fine.”
“Should I at least call a maid? You need someone to care for you…”
“I’m really fine. But if it makes you feel better, just leave some meat and vegetables nearby. Look, haven’t I already recovered quite a bit?”
I waved my hand at him.
Not my left hand, but my right hand.
The same hand that, back at Geonwoobong, had been reduced to shattered bones, with all my fingers ripped off, leaving it looking like a blunt bone dagger.
Now, veins, nerves, and muscle tissue had started to regrow.
Though I hadn’t regrown any fingers yet, I figured I’d be fully healed in about two weeks.
Manager Choi swallowed dryly as he stared at the grotesque sight.
“It’s definitely much better than it was before.”
“See? Just leave me alone, and that’s all the help I need.”
“Well… if you need anything, don’t hesitate to let me know.”
“You’ve already been a big help. I’m grateful.”
“No need to thank me. It’s my duty to help a superhuman like you.”
Manager Choi stacked a large amount of grilled meat, fresh vegetables, and high-calorie drinks on the table beside the magic bath.
That wasn’t enough for him, though—he even went upstairs to bring down a refrigerator, placing it within arm’s reach.
That way, I could grab anything I needed without moving much.
“I’ll take my leave now.”
“Thanks for your hard work.”
“You’re the one who’s been through a lot, Superhuman. I mean, taking down the entire Cleaner Association by yourself… Tomorrow, our office phone is going to be ringing off the hook.”
“That’s a good thing.”
“Absolutely.”
Manager Choi bowed deeply before leaving.
“Take care of yourself, and contact me if you need anything.”
“I will. Take care.”
Finally, I was alone.
Thanks to the protection of the sanctuary statue, there was no need to worry about any danger.
“Phew.”
I sprawled out in the magic bath.
I hadn’t bothered stitching up my abdomen, so blood was still flowing freely, turning the water a deep red.
Glug, glug, glug.
It didn’t matter.
The half-open drain was letting the old water flow out while fresh magic spring water was constantly being piped in.
Combined with my stacked recovery traits, the magic necklace around my neck, and the holy sword clutched in my arms, my body was healing rapidly.
At the same time, this was burning through my energy reserves.
Suddenly famished, I devoured the meat, vegetables, and drinks beside me.
Then I slept.
When I woke, I ate again.
Aside from the occasional trip to the bathroom, I spent nearly 24 hours a day in the magic bath.
The results were remarkable.
My body was healing at an incredible rate.
My skin had fully regenerated, and my fingers were starting to grow back.
The internal bleeding had stopped, and my internal injuries were healing, making the pain in my gut much more manageable.
I lost track of time and dates.
In what felt like a coma, I drifted through the days, the calendar flipping forward unnoticed.
In a game, these injuries would have healed in just one day.
But reality was different.
According to my smartphone, it had taken exactly 15 days for me to finally return to normal.
“Huh…”
It felt strange.
When I lifted my head, my body felt so light.
It was as if I had been reborn.
The dimly lit basement seemed oddly bright, and the mana flowing through the air felt incredibly clear to me.
Especially…
The new mana circuits that had etched themselves into my body.
The few strands of mana that I’d had at Level 1 and Level 2 were now part of a complex, spider-web-like circuit centered around my mana core.
I instinctively infused my mana into the circuit.
I hadn’t even thought about it consciously.
But the impact was immense.
Boom!
The water exploded.
The magic water reacted to my mana and shot up in all directions.
The table fell over, and even the refrigerator took a few hits, making a thud-thud sound.
Meanwhile, steam billowed up, writhing like clouds.
It was like detonating a bomb underwater.
It wasn’t until I saw this scene that I fully grasped what had happened.
I had become a Level 3 superhuman.
–TL Notes–
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