Declaration Of Extra Strike

Chapter 83



 

I watched proudly, but the situation unfolded differently than I expected. As soon as Han Seo-jin drank the potion, he staggered violently and threw the bottle aside.

 

[Seo-jin ah!!]

 

“What, what’s going on with him? Seung-yeon, zoom in on that.”

 

At my command, Yeon Seung-yeon zoomed in on the screen. Han Seo-jin, who looked like he might collapse, barely managed to support himself by gripping the desk. His face came into focus, revealing a single tear streaming down his pale cheek. I widened my eyes in surprise.

 

“What… why…?”

 

[What’s happening? Are you okay?]

 

[Is it because of the potion? Is there something wrong…?]

 

Han Seo-jin slowly lifted his head, his gaze straight and intense as if he could see beyond the screen. 

 

Startled, I took a step back, feeling as though I had locked eyes with him, even though it was impossible. I stood there in a daze, not even feeling Yeon Seung-yeon shaking my arm next to me, until I snapped back to reality from the worried voices of the others.

 

“Ask him what’s happening. There shouldn’t be any major side effects.”

 

“Yes, Ho-hyun nim. I’ll do that….”

 

Yeon Seung-yeon turned back to the microphone, his voice steady despite the tension in the air.

 

[Is it a side effect? Are you okay?] 

 

[No, it’s not that. Just, because of…]  

 

[How’s the potion?]  

 

[It’s trash.]

 

I was stunned by Han Seo-jin’s voice clearly calling my potion trash. What? Trash?

 

“That disrespectful bastard!”  

 

“Gasp…!”  

 

“Hey, get out of the way. He called my potion what? Trash? Garbage?”  

 

Yeon Seung-yeon looked at me with a drained expression. My face flushed with anger as I pushed Yeon Seung-yeon aside and approached.

 

“No! No! Ho-hyun nim!!”  

 

Yeon Seung-yeon, with tears brimming in his eyes, blocked me with all his might as I tried to grab the microphone.  

 

“Hohyun-nim! You’ll be caught by the center for sure. You absolutely can’t!!”  

 

“Move. I won’t let them know it’s me.”  

 

“There’s no way you can do that!! I’ll handle this. Hohyun-nim, please…”

 

Finally, after Yeon Seung-yeon’s desperate pleas and efforts to stop me, I reluctantly stepped back, fuming. He repeatedly warned me not to speak as he took his seat, then cleared his throat, putting on a fierce expression like a squirrel robbed of its acorn.

 

“What did you just say?”  

 

[I apologize, Potion Maker. Our Esper was so shocked he misspoke…]  

 

Han Seo-hyun bit his lip, looking troubled, while Han Seo-jin, still wearing a defiant expression, spoke up again.

 

[This potion is unusable. For most Espers, it acts more like a poison. Am I wrong?]

 

“…….What do you mean it acts as a poison?”  

 

Han Seo-hyun and the doctor also turned to look at Han Seo-jin. Han Seo-jin, glancing at the potion bottle he had thrown to the floor, continued.

 

[It has effects similar to guiding, but the power is too strong. For Espers below S-rank, taking it might instead limit their abilities or cause backlash reactions that could lead to rampages. I think calling it a guiding potion is a misnomer. Poison might be more accurate.]

 

[That’s…]

 

‘So the problem is that it’s too strong? Well, it’s over 5000 RP. It must be because of the high-grade ingredients. But creating a new power required that choice. I can’t downgrade it overall, even if I could adjust a few.’  

 

Yeon Seung-yeon looked at me, seeming to ask what to do, but I was too lost in thought to notice.

 

‘Wait, right…. There are existing guiding potions now, aren’t there? I can use them as a basis for further research. If dilution is possible…’  

 

“…Ho-hyun nim, Ho-hyun nim!”  

 

“Oh, yeah?”  

 

“What should we do? Look at that!”  

 

While I was momentarily distracted, the center people had shown a revised contract. Our proposed terms were slightly altered. The support funds and expected transaction amount were reduced, and the sample quantity doubled!  

 

[Considering the risks, it seems challenging to proceed with the contract as it is. We’ve adjusted the contract to a more reasonable level. How about this? Of course, we’ll provide ample support, so there’s no need to worry.]  

 

That’s why you can’t take your eyes off dealing with higher-ups. Let your guard down, and they’ll rob you blind.  

 

“Damn it, those sly bastards.”  

 

“What should we do…?”  

 

“Let me talk. I’ll handle this.”  

 

“No! You have a connection with that Esper. He’ll recognize your voice immediately.”  

 

“Fine, then wait a second.”  

 

I ran out of the booth, grabbed a pen and paper, and quickly jotted down a note for Yeon Seung-yeon to read.

 

Yeon Seung-yeon read my hastily written note aloud, trying to sound authoritative.

 

“We need to discuss this further. The proposed changes are unacceptable given the potency and importance of the potion. A mere reduction in support funds and an increase in sample quantity do not align with our initial agreement and the potion’s potential impact.”

 

“Do you want to die? Do you think I’m a pushover just because I’ve been kind?”

 

“Ho, Ho-hyun nim…”  

 

“If you’re not going to read it, hand over the mic.”  

 

Yeon Seung-yeon clenched his eyes shut at my words. After letting out a long sigh, he pressed the button and spoke.

 

“We’re truly disappointed to receive such a response to what was meant as a gesture of goodwill. You must understand the significance of offering a recipe instead of production rights.”  

 

[Potion Maker, that’s not our intention. As responsible parties, we cannot subject Espers to serious and fatal risks. Rather than shouldering it all ourselves, we suggested that we collaborate. This is just the first step, and not a formal contract yet. Please don’t misunderstand.]

 

The doctor spoke well. Watching Yeon Seung-yeon, who was already captivated and restless, I clicked my tongue and moved my pen.

 

“Who was the one begging as soon as the quest appeared? If you don’t trust us, then get lost. Do you think there’s only one country willing to lick my feet for the recipe?”

 

Seeing the note, Yeon Seung-yeon swallowed hard. At my urging kick, he finally spoke, albeit with some hesitation.

 

“Our potion’s value is already proven by the quest, but if there’s no trust, we’ll consider this deal off. There are plenty of countries willing to take the risk and be the first to benefit.”  

 

***

 

[We will consider this deal off. There are plenty of countries willing to take the risk and be the first to benefit.]  

 

The determined voice on the screen left no room for negotiation, and Han Seo-hyun had no choice but to back down completely. The deal was a non-starter from the beginning.

 

“We are prepared to accommodate all the conditions requested by the Potion Maker. Please trust us and leave it to us. We will accept all the terms of the proposed contract.”

 

[We will contact you. So…]

 

With a strange distorted sound, the screen went dark as the video feed cut off. As soon as the connection was lost, Han Seo-hyun burst into laughter and jumped with joy. Her demeanor was now a complete reversal from the cautious approach she had taken earlier.

 

“This is a total success!! I never would have imagined that there would be another potion maker in our country as skilled as Kang Eui-jin!”

 

“They seem even more kind and polite than Kang Eui-jin. I can hardly believe they are willing to release the recipe. Director, you did great.”

 

“And thank you, Doctor.”

 

Han Seo-hyun reflected on the shock of seeing the quest come up a few days ago. The success of the Guiding Potion, which had seemed almost hopeless, was a miracle. 

 

Han Seo-hyun was prepared to travel to any deserted island to secure the contract if necessary. Yet, things had turned out to be so straightforward. Though she had carefully played along with the Potion Maker’s whims, fearing they might suddenly back out, she had never doubted their sincerity for even a moment. Han Seo-hyun wiped away the tears that had formed in the corners of her eyes.

 

The excitement of having secured the recipe before any other country was overwhelming. The thought of how many Esper and Guide lives could be saved once the Guiding Potion was perfected was exhilarating. Trying to contain this overwhelming joy was difficult as Han Seo-jin glanced back at the contract with a sense of pride.

 

“Seo-jin ah, are you really okay?”

 

“…Yeah. I even got the quest success notification.”

 

“What? That means it’s a perfect potion, right? You didn’t lie about it just for the contract…”

 

“No. It’s true that it’s not fully completed yet. While it does work as a Guiding Potion, it’s so powerful that it can almost feel like an attack. A lot of adjustments will be needed for it to be commercially viable.”

 

Han Seo-jin replied with a stiff tone and then stared at the folder Han Seo-hyun was holding, filled with documents.

 

“Where is it?”

 

“What?”

 

“The location of the Potion Maker. You must have done background checks, right?”

 

“No. I couldn’t find it. Everything, including the lines and the location it was sent from, is concealed…”

 

Han Seo-hyun pulled out a document from her folder and showed it.

 

“They were so thorough that they even made me sign a non-disclosure agreement, swearing not to trace them.”

 

“So?”

 

“Even if it’s you, I can’t pass on any information about them now that I know they are the creator of the Guiding Potion. I have to protect them.”

 

Han Seo-jin, who had been listening expressionlessly, gave a slight nod and then turned away.

 

“It’s fine. I’ll handle it.”

 

The matter was settled with Han Seo-jin taking responsibility for the situation. The focus now was on the successful contract and the future development of the Guiding Potion, with the promise of protection and confidentiality intact.

 

***

 

As soon as the meeting ended, the first installment of the funding—2 billion won—was deposited into the account. 

 

Within a day, it was all spent on labor and materials. Lim Cheong and Zero set out once again with the newly prepared list to various dungeons, while Jin-myung visited the workshop three times a day to handle the endless orders. 

 

With the pantry fully stocked, I retreated to the basement to continue my research. Perhaps due to the successful contract for the Guiding Potion, Yeon Seung-yeon, who had once been bound by the confidentiality agreement, also came down to assist with the research.

 

Adjusting the amount of Guiding essence in the potion was no easy task. No matter what method we tried, all results pointed to one thing: an empty fragment.

 

“I need the Crystal of Solstice…”

 

My gaze naturally drifted towards the pile of mail stacked on a nearby table. At the very top, a glossy piece of paper caught my eye, adorned with elaborate illustrations and large, bold letters:

 「<World Atelier Expo>」Flo here!

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