IGEBR 12

Chapter 12

 The Physician of Resurrection

Chang Yao, who had attempted to kill Jeongho, was safely taken into custody, but the cleanup was

 entirely Jeongho’s responsibility.

Thanks to the Deep Cloud, the entire house was damp and humid. The ramen he had painstakingly

 boiled had gone way past bloated and was now ice-cold.

It was in such an inedible state that he was about to throw it away, but his hands holding the pot over the sink wouldn’t move.

‘It’s a waste to throw it out. It’s still food. Should I give it to Daeyoung?’

Jeongho weighed his options. What if he handed cold, bloated ramen to the Big Shadow, Daeyoung?

— <Kuhuhu. It’s What but delicious! is it’s supposed taste terrible, this?! to>

He imagined a reaction like that might come out. Nine times out of ten, Daeyoung would be disgusted, but that was fine by him, too.

— See? If you want to eat delicious ramen, treat me well from now on, got it?

Decision made. He would dispose of the ramen at the Dimensional Shop [Dapanda].

“Enter the Tower of Heroes.”

Flash!

A blinding white light wrapped around Jeongho and spat him out in the 0th floor lobby of the Tower of Heroes.

“Mr. Daeyoung, I boiled some ramen for—… Who are you?”

In the spot where Daeyoung usually stood was a stranger. A man holding a snake-entwined staff looked up from the book he was reading.

“Me? I am the Physician of Resurrection. Who might you be?”

Physician of Resurrection? A snake staff? Could he be… Asclepius from Greek mythology? A demigod!

“I’m Son Jeongho… sir. Excuse me, but are you… really him?”

“What a strange question. If I am not myself, are you implying I am a doppelgänger?”

Jeongho scratched the back of his head. Just like Jiang Ziya, everyone here gave curiously subtle answers.

“Haha. Y-yeah, I suppose so. By the way, where did Mr. Daeyoung go? He’s usually always here.”

“The Big Shadow briefly left to fetch a book I requested.”

“A book? When he shows me items, he usually just pulls them out from inside his body.”

“The book I am looking for is rather rare.”

Asclepius snapped the book shut. Unfamiliar symbols were covered all over its cover. It looked somewhat like an alchemy book he had seen on the internet.

“Are you interested in this book as well?”

Asclepius’s eyes glinted with a strange light. It was a gaze Jeongho had seen before—the exact look a professor during his college days used to give.

‘Are you interested in graduate school too?’

“No!”

The answer popped out of Jeongho’s mouth like a spinal reflex. Asclepius observed Jeongho with an amused glint in his eyes.

“So you are the person Daeyoung mentioned. The one who skipped the Tower of Trials and climbed straight up to the 2nd floor of the Tower of Heroes.”

“You know about me? Mr. Daeyoung didn’t talk behind my back, did he?”

“Well. I heard you were an interesting fellow. He said you bring him something called ‘ramen,’ and that it’s quite delicious.”

Asclepius lowered his gaze. In Jeongho’s hand was the pot of cold, bloated ramen.

“If my guess is correct, that seems to be the ramen. Would you allow me to taste it as well?”

“Pardon? T-this? No way. I’ll go boil a fresh one for you. This one’s cold, tasteless, and completely soggy…”

“It is fine. Once you reach a stature like mine, you can easily overlook temporary changes in flavor caused by the food’s condition.”

It’s not a temporary change, it’s a permanent one! The noodles soaked up all the broth and blew up like a balloon…!

Sluuuurp—

Before he could stop him, Asclepius snatched the pot and devoured the cold, bloated ramen in an instant.

Not even to Daeyoung, but serving such food to a great demigod… Jeongho felt as if he had committed a grave sin.

“What a peculiar taste. It tastes like something that ruins your health. In fact, it seems intentionally designed to harm one’s health. Physicians would hate this.”

Asclepius set down the empty pot and smacked his lips.

“However… it is delicious. If it were freshly boiled, it would have been far more delicious. It harms the health of the physical body, yet enhances the health of the mind. An intriguing concept.”

Smacking his lips, Asclepius looked back at Jeongho. Suddenly, an apologetic expression crossed his face.

“Oh dear. You were a chef, weren’t you? My apologies. It appears I’ve stolen your recipe. Do not worry, I won’t open a shop in your neighborhood.”

“A recipe? No, I never even gave you one.”

“I can tell just by tasting it once. Even when making complex medicines, I used to taste them.”

Even at a ramen factory, the detailed recipe is a top secret, isn’t it? Knowing it just from one bite? Even Jeongho, who had eaten ramen for over a decade, didn’t know the exact recipe.

‘What a terrifying person… I guess you have to be at this level to become a hero.’

Asclepius stared intently at Jeongho. Suddenly, fluttered his robes, and pulled a small notebook out from his sleeve.

“Since I received your recipe, I shall give you mine. Consider it an even exchange. That way, you won’t feel uneasy, right?”

Jeongho received the notebook in a daze. Written on the cover was: [High Potion Crafting Secret].

‘A potion?’

Potions were an essential item for hunters. Whether in dungeons or gates, hunters were easily and frequently injured. Curing them with modern medicine took an eternity.

That’s why they drank potions. Small wounds healed the moment it was consumed, and even severe injuries were quickly restored with a high-grade potion.

It was said that even if limbs were severed, high-rank potions combined with recovery magic could reattach them seamlessly. Its efficacy spoke for itself. However, because the raw materials were expensive and the recipes were complex, the potion industry wasn’t always booming either.

“It is a potion perfectly suited for your level. It is effective to craft using easy-to-obtain materials in a simple manner.”

Asclepius gave a gentle smile. Giving such a valuable item for free—was this man an angel? No, wait. He was a demigod.

“T-Thank you so much! I feel so bad that I should really go boil you another bowl of ramen…”

— <Kuhuhu. That a find. to took while>

The Big Shadow, Daeyoung, walked in holding a book, but suddenly paused. His glowing red eye-lights darted frantically between Jeongho, Asclepius, and the empty ramen pot.

— <MY RAMEN!!!>

“Mr. Daeyoung! Wait, it’s not what it looks like! Calm down! Let me explain!”

— <Kuhuhu. So, feed food me saying to trash. tried you you’re>

The misunderstanding was safely cleared up, but it left behind a small scar.

“W-Well, there are people who actually like bloated ramen, you know.”

— <As Because any behavior, despicable discounts don’t expect from if. now of on. your>

No way! Jeongho groaned inward. Still, if I boil a delicious bowl of ramen next time, wouldn’t he change his mind?

— <I Not a can chance, forget it. right see so thoughts. through your>

“You can use mind reading too?”

— <It’s So, Who Your a all are around? been business, disposed do done face! food fool? for garbage has lingering of over take too. why written you your you’ve>

Daeyoung’s eye-lights flickered briefly toward Asclepius, who was completely engrossed in his book, completely oblivious to everything else.

— <Or are determined directly dump food into mouth my this time? to trash what, you>

“Ayy, watch your language. Do I look like that kind of person to you?”

Daeyoung didn’t answer. Feeling embarrassed, Jeongho spoke up carefully.

“By any chance… is there anything that could help me conceal my identity while selling items?”

— <Are Cloak? Invisibility an for like looking something you>

“Something beyond simple invisibility… something that blocks all kinds of tracking or tracing?”

— <You Here. I Naturally, a ask for have lot. one. sure>

Daeyoung pulled a ring out from inside his body.

[Original Ring of Distortion (Legendary)]

Enchanted with transcendent distortion magic, no one can properly perceive the wearer of this ring. Any attempt at tracking or location tracing is completely negated.

— <If 20,000 Any High-grade Magic Stones. The becomes completely even is on, parents price put recognize this tracking useless. won’t you you. your>

20,000 High-grade ones? Not even Mid-grade?

A single Low-grade Magic Stone was worth 50,000 KRW (~$37 USD). Mid-grade was 1,000 times that, and High-grade was another 1,000 times that.

‘1 Quadrillion KRW (~$750 Billion USD)?!’

That was more expensive than South Korea’s entire annual national budget! How on earth was he supposed to buy that?

— <Kuhuhu. 20,000 Got High-grade If It a anything, cheap. completely erases existence from is problem? stones the world. your>

That was true. Literally an invisible man. It meant no matter where he went or what he did, no one could interfere. What if an assassin like Chang Yao bought it?

They would be completely invincible. They could kill someone in broad daylight right on the street and no one would know. From that perspective, 1 quadrillion KRW was cheap. But Jeongho didn’t need anything that extreme.

“I’m sorry, but… is there anything a bit cheaper?”

— <Kuhuhu. How I budget do have? know magic many need recommend something. stones to you your>

“24 Mid-grade ones.”

— <How Did actually gather of something steal them? to unusual useful. you>

“Steal them? No way. I cleared a Chaos Gate and harvested them myself.”

Jeongho pulled out the Mid-grade Magic Stones from his inventory. Daeyoung’s eye-lights gleamed with satisfaction.

— <Kuhuhu. Is Then for is perfect so? that this you.>

Daeyoung handed over a scrap of paper without even a cover. It didn’t look like a skill book; it looked more like a piece of paper scribbled on and thrown away by a mad scientist.

“Mr. Daeyoung. You aren’t getting revenge on me with literal trash just because I brought food garbage, right?”

— <Do ‘Shadow 10 Book I It’s Kuhuhu. Magic Mid-grade Severing’—it Skill Stones. a body called control detaches from it like look puppet. shadow skill to worth you? your>

“What does that have to do with blocking tracking?”

— <Whatever Any It’s a at body. completely directed does from is main never quite reach separate shadow skill. the tracking useful will you.>

Jeongho looked at the Skill Book again.

[Skill Book: Original Shadow Severing (Legendary)]

Detaches your shadow from your body to control it like a puppet. All actions and effects inflicted upon the shadow do not reach the main body.

It was indeed good. It meant having a personal minion that would never betray him and left no loose ends.

“But why is it so cheap?”

— <Kuhuhu. First: Good It There an are auto-pilot body completely controlling defenseless. doesn’t have is main mode. question. reasons. shadow, the two while your>

He had anticipated a penalty of that degree. Daeyoung himself had described it as a puppet, after all.

“What’s the second reason?”

— <Mana 100% If Mana Pollution Severing, Shadow accumulates body. rapidly. reaches shadow steal the using while will your>

“Pardon?! Hey, isn’t that an extremely dangerous skill?!”

— <Kuhuhu. 100% 20,000 High-grade If Magic Mana Pollution Stones. You’re anyway. don’t gather go immune it, like to you>

“That’s unfair! How long would it take me to gather 20,000 High-grade stones? I couldn’t get that many even if I entered the tower 100 times a day.”

— <Why Foolish child. gather in the them tower? would you>

Jeongho flinched. Daeyoung’s eye-lights flashed with a sinister gleam.

“If not in the tower, where am I supposed to gather them?”

— <Chaos Gates. The You’ve a and been came farm for inside is know? magic not one out, place so stones. to tower training, wouldn’t you>

“Chaos Gates are rare. I even check with the Gate Guide, but still… Besides, it’s not like I can re-enter a gate that’s already been cleared.”

Suddenly, Daeyoung leaned his upper body forward aggressively. His red eye-lights flickered strangely.

— <What CAN Chaos Gate a already been cleared? has if re-enter that you>

“Huh? Th-That’s possible? How?”

Daeyoung’s pitch-black shadow tentacles pointed toward the staircase.

— <Kuhuhu. 15th 3rd Authority Blessing Floor Heroes If Tower Trials What and both do happen? of possess simultaneously… the think well. would you>

[Skill Used: Enter Tower of Trials]

[Entering the 11th Floor of the Tower of Trials.]

[11th Floor Objective: Defeat 24 Goblin Warriors]

Elite goblins appeared from the 11th to the 15th floors of the Tower of Trials. Having already encountered them in the Chaos Gate and read about them in the Hero’s Diary, he was quite familiar with them.

“Keeehik? Keeheehik?”

“Keeshat, keeshat! Keehyahaha!”

The goblins grinned, revealing their yellowed teeth. They looked hideous every single time he saw them. Normally, a single Fire Bolt would have finished them off, but…

‘Inventory.’

Jeongho pulled out the Bow of Setting Cherry Blossoms from his inventory. He had to at least try using a top-tier Epic item obtained as a Chaos Gate reward.

Jeongho roughly assumed a stance for drawing a bow. As he pulled the bowstring, a needle-sharp, pinkish magical arrow materialized at his fingertips.

Pweeeong—Thwack!

A goblin’s head was skewered like a kebab. Forget needing 5 hits to trigger instant death; it died in a single hit. However, there was a problem.

[Warning! Mana Pollution 99%!]

[Warning! Mana Pollution 99%!]

[Warning! Mana Pollution 99%!]

“Ugh. Ack, I almost threw up blood again.”

99% Mana Pollution with every single arrow shot. Even if it wouldn’t kill him, it was equally exhausting. At this rate, Fire Bolt was far better.

Besides, he didn’t possess any archer or marksmanship-related skills anyway. While it was a great weapon, it wasn’t something Jeongho could realistically use right now.

‘It’s got great stats, but what a shame. Selling it feels like a waste, so I’ll keep it stored for now. I might need it again later. Fire Bolt!’

BOOM!!

[Cleared the 11th Floor of the Tower of Trials!]

[Clear Time – 00:00:13 seconds]

[Clear Rank: EX]

[EX-Rank Reward: 59 Magic Stones acquired.]

[EX-Rank Special Reward: 1 Proof of Hero acquired.]

[Reclaimed 1st Place Ranking! Record updated!]

It was a slightly slower clear time than usual because he had tested out the bow, but it was still an EX-rank clear at 13 seconds.

‘I’ve tested the new item, so now I should try using the new skill.’

Returning home, Jeongho used the Shadow Severing skill. Jeongho’s shadow squelched and rose up, gaining physical volume.

[Skill Used: Original Shadow Severing]

[Detaches your shadow from your body to control it like a puppet. All actions inflicted upon the shadow do not reach the main body.]

‘This is kind of a creepy skill. Now, controlling the shadow… is it something like this?’

As he focused his consciousness, his awareness shifted into the shadow. In his shadow form, Jeongho pulled out his smartphone.

‘So if I use the Hunter Auction House in this state, my main body remains completely safe?’

Since it was stated that any tracking or effects wouldn’t reach his physical body, he was honestly a bit skeptical. After all, the Auction House account ID was still under Jeongho’s name.

‘Let’s trust Mr. Daeyoung. Well, if worst comes to worst, I’ll just reveal that I’m an EX-rank hunter.’

Jeongho listed 14 Mid-grade Magic Stones on the Auction House. He had collected 24 in the Chaos Gate, minus the 10 he spent on the Shadow Severing Skill Book.

‘A Mid-grade Magic Stone was worth 50 million KRW each, right? I’ll make around 700 million KRW (~$520,000 USD).’

700 million KRW. Jeongho startled himself after saying it so casually. Making 700 million KRW this easily? Even his mom’s friend’s son who worked at a major corporation would struggle to see that kind of money in his lifetime.

‘ST-Still, it’s only real money once it’s sold. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves until it actually sells.’

Jeongho put up the 14 Mid-grade Magic Stones on the Auction House. The starting price was set to the average market value. He immediately turned off his smartphone and pushed it out of his mind.

Saying 700 million KRW was easy, but he didn’t know how much it would actually sell for due to the limitations of the auction system. It might even sell below market value.

At least magic stones had relatively stable market prices, but even then, prices fluctuated. If the price of zucchini grown in incubators went up and down, how much more so for magic stones mined by hunters?

‘Ah, whatever. Even if it sells a bit cheap, how much money is that? It’s still more than all the money I’ve saved in my entire life. I should wash up, eat dinner, and go for a walk.’

staring at it continuously would only bring bad luck. Jeongho set his mind at ease. After enjoying a leisurely evening, right before falling asleep, he took a quick peek to see how much it was going for.

— Current Bid for 14 Mid-grade Magic Stones: 480,000,000 KRW

— Current Bid for 14 Mid-grade Magic Stones: 540,000,000 KRW

— Current Bid for 14 Mid-grade Magic Stones: 600,000,000 KRW

— Current Bid for 14 Mid-grade Magic Stones: 600,000,000 KRW

‘H-How much is all of this?! How many zeros are there?! Ones, tens, hundreds, thousands… 600 million KRW?!’

The instant he thought that—Flash!

— Current Bid for 14 Mid-grade Magic Stones: 1,200,000,000 KRW

Surpassed 1.2 billion KRW (~$900,000 USD). Jeongho’s mind went blank. 1.2 billion KRW—how much money was that? Could he buy an apartment in Seoul with this? Could he pay off his entire loan in one go and still have plenty left over?

Right as he was thinking that—Flash!

— Current Bid for 14 Mid-grade Magic Stones: 2,000,000,000 KRW

Surpassed 2 billion KRW (~$1.5 Million USD) in an hour.

Jeongho stood completely dazed and speechless.