“First, let’s leave the medicine as it is. Who should I give the rest to?”
Inside the red jar, there were nine precious pills left.
It’s strange that such valuable elixirs are carelessly placed on a shelf in the storage. Perhaps, during ancient times, medicines of this caliber were not that surprising.
“It’s useless to take them more than once, and they can’t be placed in space. Plus, I can’t just take them outside…”
It’s as if this item was designed to be used nowhere but in this environment.
“When I took them out in my previous life and lost all nine, how heart-wrenching that was…”
Even then, I had several in my mouth when I left.
As memories of my failure briefly flashed by, a nostalgic feeling arose.
Just to be sure, I waved my hand over the other items on the shelf.
Rustle—
However, all the nameless items that were densely packed turned to dust at my touch.
“If they had even a little value, they would’ve preserved their shape.”
I turned away without regret and returned to Yeon-hee with the elixir in hand.
“Huh? What’s that?”
“Clap, Clap, Clap!”
As I pretended to take the elixir out of the jar and put it in my mouth, the faces of my companions, including Yeon-hee, gradually shifted from confusion to excitement.
“… No way, is that… is that an elixir?”
Artifacts and elixirs are like lottery tickets for hunters exploring dungeons.
Quick-witted Joo-ah, bubbling with excitement, asked first.
“Clap, Clap, Clap.”
“Uh… Y-yes, that’s right.”
“Oh my!”
“Ahhh! Really?!”
“Is… is that all for us?”
“Clap, Clap, Clap.”
As I handed an elixir to each of my squealing companions, they took it with trembling hands.
“Can I really eat this?”
“Uh… Am I allowed to take this…?”
“Ahh— So, I can’t take this outside.”
“Clap, Clap, Clap.”
The colleagues, who stared intently at the dark red elixir, gazed at Yeon-hee, who nodded vigorously and gave permission to use it.
I pretended to sit down and encouraged everyone to get into a steady position.
Thump— Thump—
Everyone comfortably sat down and took the elixir, soon shaking their bodies and sweating profusely.
With elixirs of this quality, it would take considerable time for their bodies to accept it. At least 30 minutes, perhaps.
“I’m jealous. If I eat it in my disguised state, the reaction would hit me right away.”
But I couldn’t change my appearance now, so I had no choice but to wait a little longer, even if it was inconvenient.
Although my skills were now gradually revealing themselves, it was still too early to disclose my ability to transform into a human. Honestly, it would be better to keep that secret as long as possible.
While my companions digested the elixirs, I pondered what to do with the remaining four.
– The item cannot be stored in space.
I tried again just in case, but naturally, it couldn’t be stored.
While contemplating how to use these well, two people came to mind.
Hyeon Joong-gil, Kang Yeon-su.
They are the most trustworthy hunters I know, and their abilities are outstanding.
Especially since the elixir could bring out unexpected strength if consumed by someone whose body matches it, it might positively affect Hyeon Joong-gil’s deteriorating health.
Leaving just two in the jar, I returned them to the hidden space.
When the dungeon’s balance completely collapses, those two might enter this place.
“Just a contingency for the future.”
Now, only two pills were left.
While I was 고민하는, a cute little creature caught my eye.
“Um… Can that guy also consume it?”
Ham Eun-young was sweating profusely, struggling, while a mackerel-patterned cat looked at her with worried eyes.
“… Hey. Azra.”
(… I told you not to shorten my name—)
“Here.”
As I tossed one elixir, the cat caught it precisely with its fluffy paws.
(… What is this?)
“You must know what it is. Just to make sure, why don’t you try eating it?”
(Are you going to experiment on me?)
“It’s an item that increases mana by 300. In all my life, I’ve never seen anyone go wrong after taking an elixir. Even if you’re a demon, it shouldn’t be that much different.”
An elixir designed for a powerful energy to permeate the body naturally.
It was an elixir that had withstood the test of time and preserved its form.
“It will definitely help. You don’t plan on staying in that form forever, do you?”
(…………)
Azra gazed blankly at the elixir resting on a pink jelly in the center of its palm before finally gulping it down.
Swallow—
(Cough— Well, if you truly wanted me to eat it like that, I suppose I’ll help just this once.)
“How thoughtful of you.”
(Hmm— Not bad.)
As expected of a formidable creature, it showed no signs of struggle even after consuming it.
The cat lightly jumped onto the ground from Eun-young, who still seemed to be in a daze.
Swish— Swish—
It waved its front paws a few times with excitement, nodding its head in satisfaction.
(A proud demon will return what it receives. Look forward to it.)
“Oh— Sure, that sounds reasonable.”
I casually replied, keeping my eye on the creature.
Although there were no significant changes yet, I felt a vast energy slowly branching out from its core.
Purr— Purr—
The cat seemed very content with the elixir’s effects, making purring sounds and swinging its tail from side to side.
“What to do with the last one… Should I give it to the Sword Dragon? I don’t think I can give it to Castle.”
Just then, ‘Ddung-i’ had come close and was staring at the elixir in my hand.
“Hey— move away. You’re not even combat type.”
I can’t just give something valuable to that bumbling creature.
But Ddung-i’s eyes were filled with desire, and soon, it placed a bundle down on the floor and started rummaging through it.
“What are you up to now?”
It rummaged for a while, looking to fit inside the bundle, then handed me a capsule that resembled the elixir.
Ancient underground race’s elixir
– One of the many items created by the mysterious race that ruled the underground world.
– Health +250
“Oh?! Crazy!”
Although the stats were slightly lower than Gus Pawl’s elixir, Ddung-i handed me an item that raises health by a whopping 250.
“… Is this an equivalent exchange? But since this is lower in stats than mine, don’t I need to offer something more?”
But I, being the cold skull I am, wanted to keep my calculations precise.
Hearing my thoughts, Ddung-i shook its head vigorously and told me to read the item’s options again.
“Now this is quite articulate.”
Ddung-i seems to have improved its communication skills after constantly participating in battles.
I read the description again as it instructed, and soon realized what Ddung-i was trying to convey.
“Huh? This… can be taken more than once?!”
Nod—
This meant it was a much higher-level item compared to Gus Pawl’s elixir, which could only be taken once.
“Dduung?”
Ddung-i smiled like a merchant, asking if I wanted to trade.
“Sure. Let’s switch.”
I immediately consumed the elixir Ddung-i had given me.
“I’ve been feeling a bit short on health, so this is perfect timing. Oh, wait. Can I also swap those two I placed back?”
Seeing Ddung-i not needing Gus Pawl’s elixir, it declined.
“Can’t you trade something else in between?”
Ddung-i shook its head firmly and, before long, set the elixir down and sprawled out on the ground, falling asleep.
Aww— This guy really lives according to his own whims.
“Well, I guess it’s not easy to change items of this quality frequently.”
Thinking of the merchant-like nature of the creature, I figured it wasn’t a matter of not doing it but of not being able to.
I waited for the ownership of the elixirs to shift as I rolled them around in my mouth until everyone recovered.
Then, when Noh Ha-yoon was the first to recover and stretched, the awaited message appeared.
– Mana +300
– Health +250
– Your mana has reached 1,000. Achievement [Master of Mana] acquired!
[Master of Mana]
– Reduces mana consumption by 10% when using skills.
“Hmm, nice. Considering [Meteor], this is the best achievement.”
Even though it was something I had obtained before, I felt very pleased. A beneficial achievement that reduces mana consumption by 10%.
With a surge of energy flowing through my body as if I couldn’t control it, horns sprouted from my forehead, and a sturdy tail extended from behind.
Fully regaining her senses, Noh Ha-yoon sparkled her eyes at the changes in my appearance.
“Wow… so cool.”
Such admiration isn’t something she’d usually show, indicating just how fascinating my appearance must seem.
Honestly, I thought I might even say something similar if I saw myself in the mirror.
“The others are still recovering. Il-wol’s mana increased too, right? Can you consume elixirs in that body?”
Ha-yoon asked, stretching her arms skyward.
“Clap, Clap, Clap.”
“Wow… that’s a fascinating form.”
You shouldn’t say that right after regaining consciousness in less than ten minutes.
But I understood why she was able to benefit so much from the elixirs since she likely had eaten the best things since childhood.
However, Noh Ha-yoon watched me carefully and then suddenly approached me, blurting out something unexpected.
“Ah, by the way, that dagger you made… do you have one that’s a bit bigger?”
“……”
I concentrated to confirm that Yeon-hee was still deeply immersed in her thoughts and then replied.
“Clap, Clap, Clap.”
“Oh? You have a bigger one? Can you give it to me just for me?”
I didn’t even need to ask what she intended to do with it.
However, I fell a bit tongue-tied asking someone who could so readily ask for a tool to be used for sexual enjoyment.
“I never anticipated you wouldn’t be satisfied with a dagger.”
Frozen like a statue, when I stood there, Noh Ha-yoon suddenly burst into laughter, clutching her stomach.
“Puhuhuh— Il-wol, talking to you is really fun, you know? I couldn’t even think of having this kind of conversation with others.”
“……”
Guess my status as a skull means anything I say feels safe.
I pretended to think for a moment, then retrieved something I had painstakingly crafted from my space.
“Whoa…?! Th-that’s.”
Noh Ha-yoon gasped, covering her mouth as she looked at the object resembling a man’s member.
“Th-th-th- that! Give it to me! Okay? Hurry!”
“Clap, Clap.”
I shook my head firmly and extended my hand.
“Oh— So you’re suggesting a trade?”
“Clap, Clap, Clap.”
“But I don’t have anything I can give you right now…”
As much as I wanted to seize this rare opportunity to exchange, I hesitated.
Such moments don’t come by often.
As if she could read my thoughts, she rummaged through her space for a while.
A moment later, she pulled out a small statue engraved with the image of a woman.
“Hmm?”
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