[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 9: You, Beco My Alchemic Slave (1)
The Draconian's corpse lay sprawled on the ground.
An inconcealable glint of greed shimred in Yoojin's eyes.
〔This is the real deal, I see.〕
Sssst!
Dense spirit power seeped into the corpse, perating its skeletal structure and key areas like bone density.
Yoojin ticulously examined the fallen Draconian.
'Excellent. It's even better than I expected.'
A chuckle escaped his lips.
The hardness of the bones, the toughness of the muscles, the mana contained in the blood... not a single flaw. It was the perfect material for an undead.
〔Didn't you say the strength of an undead is determined by its level in life?〕
'That's right.'
〔But this dragonkin had its abilities restricted to match the test. According to that theory, it won't be strong even if you turn it into an undead.〕
'The important thing is the dragon's essence contained within its body.'
Dragonkin.
A race that occupies one of the 'realms', also known as the world of the gods registered in the Pantheon.
The six dragon legions were a force that even the constellations couldn't ignore.
This was no half-baked monster created by a Gate.
This Draconian was the real deal, imbued with the essence of a true dragon, having made a formal contract with the Pantheon and undergone the trial with its abilities restricted.
〔Then what kind of undead can you create with the Draconian's corpse?〕
'At most, a Dragon Warrior.'
Dragon Warrior (Σπαρτοί).
An undead warrior wielding a sword and shield, powerful enough to challenge even a Doom Knight.
Not only did it possess the innate magic resistance of a dragon, it could also emit dark energy for several ters and had regenerative abilities.
'But even a Dragon Warrior seems like a bit of a waste.'
The corpse of a dragonkin was a rare find.
It was a race rarely seen even in Gates, so his greed was piqued.
The Draconian's corpse was imbued with an essence even stronger than Yoojin had anticipated.
Yoojin stroked his chin, his brow furrowed in thought. Suddenly, his eyes widened as a realization struck him.
'I think I'll try creating an Eldritch Dragon.'
〔An Eldritch Dragon?〕
'It's like a Lich.'
Eldritch Dragon.
A dragon of death that becos undead by binding its life force to a phylactery.
It was the equivalent of a Lich for humans.
You might ask, aren't there already undead created from dragon corpses, like Bone Dragons?
'Even if they're both undead, they're different.'
A Bone Dragon could never surpass the original dragonkin.
It lacked the dragon heart, the source of its mana.
And because all the flesh was stripped away during the creation process, its physical abilities were also diminished.
Even after processing the dragon's corpse with expensive reagents and inscribing all sorts of spells onto its bones, the best it could do was match the physical abilities of the original.
It was a half-baked imitation, incapable of wielding Dragon Tongue, let alone their imnse mana.
'It's just mimicking the original, at best.'
The essence of a dragon.
And the imnse power emanating from a dragon heart.
These two things are difficult to revive, even for Yoojin, who has reached the pinnacle of necromancy.
On the other hand, an Eldritch Dragon, a being that becos undead by sealing its own life force, can beco far stronger than it was in life.
‘What if I start with this Draconian's body and raise it to the level of an Ancient Dragon?’
Wow.
Just the thought of it is incredible.
'It won't be easy to create, though.'
The reagents alone for crafting an Eldritch Dragon would cost tens of billions.
‘I need to infuse spirit power into the bones, muscles, and scales, and engrave each individual spell.’
〔But it's strange. If it's similar to a lich, it should have a soul.〕
'It doesn't have to be a dragon's soul.'
Strictly speaking, a Draconian isn't a perfect 'dragon', is it?
Half-human, half-dragon.
Since it's half-human, I just need to infuse it with a soul strong enough to handle the Draconian's body.
'I have the perfect candidate for that.'
The strongest subordinate Yoojin commanded in his past life.
That soul should be compatible with the Draconian's corpse.
Yoojin placed his hand on the Draconian's corpse once again.
"Store."
A whitish stream of energy seeped out from the Ring of Darkness, enveloping the Draconian's body.
With a sound like rustling silk, it was sucked into the ring.
[Storing the corpse in the Ring of Darkness.]
[Storage limit: 1/1]
Now that he had collected the Draconian's corpse,
There was no reason to stay in the ancient testing ground any longer.
As he turned to head towards the passage shimring with white light,
〔Contractor. Stop for a mont.〕
'What is it?'
〔Your exploits have accumulated as my karma.〕
The sole follower and Saint of the [Heaven-Defying Giant].
Yoojin's exploits in defeating powerful enemies were directly reflected, increasing Kronos's presence.
〔If my star is officially registered in the Pantheon, I will be able to bestow more divine spells upon you.〕
Interesting.
Just how useful was Life Drain alone?
If he accumulated more karma, new divine spells would be added.
Even Yoojin couldn't easily guess how much his abilities as a priest would develop.
'I'm gaining too much.'
Yoojin's lips curved into a crescent moon shape.
＊ ＊ ＊
As soon as Yoojin exited the Gate, he checked his phone.
[KS Bank - Balance: 52,741,700]
His account was overflowing.
It hadn't been long since he regressed, yet he had received more money than he had saved in the past three years.
'And I spent 2 billion on that ring.'
Yoojin habitually fiddled with the Ring of Darkness.
The Draconian's corpse stored within the ring. He would need to invest countless reagents to process it into a powerful undead.
Even if I poured all my assets into it, I'd barely et the minimum requirents for an Eldritch Dragon.
'And I haven't even factored in the cost of the tools to make the reagents.'
That part didn't worry him too much.
He already had soone in mind who could provide the alchemy tools.
Resting his chin on his hand, Yoojin recalled mories of his past life.
'Around this ti, he should still be in Paju, ssing around with his alchemy workshop, right?'
The sun began to set in the west.
He had to reach Paju before nightfall.
No ti to rest. Muttering to himself, Yoojin imdiately hailed a taxi.
＊ ＊ ＊
Paju was classified as a frontline area even after the Great Cataclysm.
The Kim regi in the North had collapsed after failing to respond to the chain of Gate Breaks.
But the monsters that settled in that region frequently crossed the old Demilitarized Zone and headed south.
'And the public safety is terrible.'
Parts of Paju, devastated during the Great Cataclysm, remained unrestored even decades later.
Instead of the original inhabitants, those who dabbled in illegal activities had seeped into the concrete tombs.
As the sun set, western Paju transford into a lawless zone.
That was why Yoojin was in such a hurry.
"Young man, are you sure this is the place?"
The taxi driver, who had been following the navigation, asked while scratching his head.
The only noticeable building was a bus stop that looked ready to collapse at any mont.
The rest was a small town with old houses made of plate material clustered together.
Jeokseong-myeon, Paju-si.
This countryside town, seemingly untouched by the passage of ti, was Yoojin's destination.
"Yes, thank you."
After paying the fare, he stepped into the quiet rural town.
'This place is the sa whether it's 10 years later or now.'
Yoojin had first visited this place 10 years after his awakening in his past life.
Alchemy was essential for strengthening the undead.
It was possible to process corpses to make them exert power beyond their original state, or to create powerful undead using reagents.
'This is where the best alchemist in our country resides.'
He's still up-and-coming, but...
He will be soon.
Since the village had remained unchanged for decades, finding the workshop wasn't difficult.
A quiet road stretched behind the bus stop.
After walking for about 10 minutes, he ca across a side road, half-abandoned and overgrown with weeds.
'The lack of maintenance is the sa as ever.'
With a pleasant sense of deja vu, he was about to push aside the weeds and enter when—
Kwaaaang!
A deafening roar tore through the air, rcilessly shaking his eardrums.
Black smoke billowed up a mont later, rising into the sky to form a pillar.
"It's a bit much for even this to be the sa."
He chuckled.
A sense of deja vu, similar to his past life, brought a smile to his face.
The source of the black smoke was a large abandoned factory with a slate roof, similar to the other buildings in the area.
"Cough! Hack! Cough!"
"Hey there. Are you alright? You're not hurt, are you?"
"Excuse . Whoever you are, shouldn't you be asking that the other way around?"
"Judging by your response, you seem fine."
The man who erged through the smoke appeared to be in his early thirties.
A small scar under his cheek, a slightly hunched back.
His salt-and-pepper hair was greasy and matted, as if it hadn't been washed in days.
'I didn't know he could make such an innocent face.'
Yoojin stifled a chuckle.
The Great Alchemist, Shin Joonseok.
In his past life, he was the most skilled alchemist in Korea.
He was the first in the world to establish the formula for [Mass Production of Interdiate Potions], and a skilled individual who developed countless other drugs and magic spells.
'I ca to him for advice on strengthening corpses.'
As Yoojin smiled fondly, reminiscing, Shin Joonseok's eyes narrowed.
"I don't know why you've co to my land, but if you're going to spout nonsense, get out."
"Ah, I do have so business."
"At the workshop?"
"My na is Cheon Yoojin. I've co to use your alchemy tools."
Shin Joonseok stared at him, utterly bewildered. It took a mont for Yoojin's words to sink in.
Then, as if he finally understood Yoojin's words, his face turned red with anger.
"That's insane!"
"Ah, I'm not just asking to borrow them."
"I don't know who you are, but if you're going to talk nonsense, get out."
Shin Joonseok growled, dropping the honorifics.
Right.
This was the venomous expression that Yoojin rembered the Great Alchemist always wearing.
'This is a bit better.'
Alchemy tools.
From beakers like those seen in middle school science classes, to scales that asured minute weights, and even a furnace that produced magic fire.
Equipnt that could be considered the entirety of an alchemist.
It was like asking a necromancer to borrow their corpses.
It was natural for him to be furious.
'I've used your tools before, so I know how to handle them.'
In his past life, Yoojin frequently interacted with Korea's No. 1 alchemist.
To enhance his necromancy, he needed to be proficient in alchemy, and there were few people who could help him.
Therefore—
"Interdiate Healing Potion."
"...What?"
"You're researching a potion formula that allows for mass production."
"How did you..."
Yoojin knew what Shin Joonseok was developing at this ti.
He even knew which catalyst was lacking in the process.
Because he had heard it all from the man himself.
Yoojin strode into the abandoned factory where the explosion had just occurred.
"That's my lab."
"Stay put if you want to see this potion completed."
In the original tiline, this potion formula wouldn't be perfected for another year.
Yoojin planned to speed things up.
'Even back then, his obsession with tools was remarkable.'
The Witch's Cauldron.
The Guard Cylinder.
The Darkness Everstone.
And a plethora of other specialized alchemy equipnt difficult to obtain in this era.
Equipnt that seed out of place within this shabby, abandoned factory.
Valuable catalysts and herbs were scattered everywhere.
Yoojin surveyed the factory, his steps halting before a bubbling, reddish liquid.
The Interdiate Healing Potion.
Judging by the rising bubbles, it looked ready to explode at any mont.
'Increase the mana stone concentration by 4% and neutralize it with 5g of Odram's Grass.'
As Yoojin reached for the Odram's Grass, Shin Joonseok erupted.
"That's for stabilizing mana! If you add Odram's Grass when the potion's effects aren't even properly established—!"
"Maintaining a consistent magic level aids in amplification and enhances healing. Are you an alchemist, and you don't even know that?"
"..."
It was understandable that he wouldn't know.
This was alchemic knowledge not yet discovered in this era.
'But you're the one who figures it out.'
Yoojin focused on crafting the potion without a change in his expression.
Swish, swish, swish—
With practiced movents, he processed the leaves.
Without hesitation, he added the crushed mana stone powder to the potion.
Shin Joonseok watched with wide eyes, his gaze darting back and forth.
'Is this actually going to work?'
It was unbelievable.
It was strange enough that this man knew about his research project.
But the way he used the workshop tools and materials as if they were his own was even more suspicious.
Even so...
'Odram's Grass had that kind of effect?'
The man's unwavering confidence...
Shin Joonseok had a hunch that there was a 'reason' behind Yoojin's actions, so he simply watched in a daze.
How much ti passed?
Gurgle—!
The bubbles subsided, and the reddish liquid stabilized.
"Shall we test it?"
Yoojin calmly scratched his forearm with a crafting knife.
"Y-You! The blood!"
"I know. Wounding myself is the best way to see the effects, isn't it?"
Blood flowed freely, but Yoojin rely furrowed his brow. Without a single groan, he applied the Interdiate Potion to the wound.
A pale white smoke rose.
Fresh flesh blood over the gash on his forearm.
Shin Joonseok blinked, his gaze shifting between the potion and Yoojin's arm, his jaw agape.
"Success! It's a success!!!!"
With bloodshot eyes, he rushed over and grabbed Yoojin's hand.
His voice was filled with ecstasy.
Now, he was ready to talk.
"Aren't you curious?"
Shin Joonseok nodded rapidly, the initial displeasure long gone.
To elevate his alchemy, this man would consider any ans, any thod.
That was the essence of Shin Joonseok, the alchemist.
"Hey, let's work together."
One corner of Yoojin's lips curled upwards.
[Translator - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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