Declaration Of Extra Strike

 

Lim Cheong tilted her head, staring at the man shouting at me. Quietly, her hand slipped behind her back, and when I glanced, I noticed a dagger already in her grip, ready for action. Realizing she was on high alert, I waved my hand dismissively.

 

“I’m fine. But what is he talking about? Kang Eui-jin…?” 

 

I mumbled and started scanning the surroundings. Suddenly, I started to notice things that had been hidden before—pickets stacked in piles, red scraps of cloth draped over some people’s shoulders and heads, and the unmistakable hostility in their eyes, all directed at Kang Eui-jin. 

 

This place… It looked like the headquarters of the protest group I had seen earlier. I had planned on investigating them at some point, but I hadn’t expected to stumble upon them like this. Maybe this would work in my favor.

 

Jeong-hyuk, who had finally managed to shake off the detective, wiped the sweat from his brow and spoke apologetically.

 

“I’m so sorry. Everyone’s on edge because of the prolonged standoff… I’ll apologize on their behalf.”

 

“Are all these people here sick for the same reason?”

 

“Yes. That’s right. It’s all from a potion called Illimital. Everyone here is suffering from its side effects.”

 

That expensive potion? So many people drank it? Pushing aside my skepticism, I turned my back and spoke.

 

“Let’s start by checking on the patients. Lead the way.”

 

I followed Jeong-hyuk into a tent where a woman lay asleep. A child was curled up against her waist, and Jeong-hyuk’s eyes widened in shock before he rushed over.

 

“Ha-jeong ah!!”

 

“Hmm… Dad?”

 

“I told you it’s dangerous to get too close! What are you doing sleeping here?”

 

“But Mom looked so lonely…”

 

Jeong-hyuk hurriedly lifted the child and gently pulled her away from the woman. The woman’s body was bound with restraints meant to suppress her mana, and near her head were discarded syringes and empty potion bottles. The conditions were rough—dirt floors, a flimsy tent, and a makeshift bed that looked far from comfortable. 

 

I grimaced and glanced around the room before speaking.

 

“What kind of side effects are we talking about that require restraining her like this?”

 

Jeong-hyuk hesitated, holding his daughter close as if trying to shield her from the dark reality. Finally, he answered, his voice heavy.

 

“She experiences bouts of madness, unable to control her strength. She only collapses when all her mana is completely drained. Then, when she recovers just enough to use her skills again, she goes on another rampage, destroying everything around her. The only way we’ve found to stop it is by forcibly suppressing her mana and draining it continuously.”

 

“Madness, huh… Is she conscious during these episodes?”

 

“…I haven’t been able to have a conversation with her since the side effects started.”

 

It sounded somewhat like the effects of Illimital, but something wasn’t adding up. A potion I created wouldn’t cause such severe side effects. That was impossible. 

 

I glanced around at the scattered potion bottles, likely used in desperate attempts to save this woman. Picking one up, I examined it closely.

 

“So you’re telling me everyone here got these side effects from drinking Illimital?”

 

“Yes, that’s right.”

 

“Bring me one of those potions. I need to take a closer look at the exact product they took.”

 

“I, uh… I don’t have one on me right now, but I’ll ask around to see if anyone does!” 

 

He rushed out of the tent.

 

I gestured to the little girl who had been standing quietly nearby, telling her to come over. But before she could move, the tent flap suddenly burst open, and the same detective from before stormed in, fury evident in his eyes.

 

“You think I don’t know what you’re really up to? Get your dirty hands away from her! Ha-jeong, come here, now!”

 

The little girl ran to the officer, clinging to him tightly.

 

‘Do they think I’m some kind of criminal?’ 

 

I scratched my head as the detective, holding the little girl, glared at us like we were the villains. Beside me, Zero chuckled, wearing his usual mocking grin.

 

“You’ve been trying to pick a fight since earlier. We’ve got no business with you, so why don’t you just leave?” Zero said with a smirk.

 

“W-what did you say?!” The detective sputtered, visibly angry.

 

“I said get out. Don’t test my patience,” Zero continued, completely unfazed.

 

“You arrogant punk!”

 

“Cheong-ah. Could you stop this guy from doing something stupid like attacking Zero?”

 

“Yes, understood.”

 

Leaving Lim Cheong and Zero to handle the situation, I shifted my focus to the system window that had popped up in front of me:

 Please select the skills you want to activate:

(Maximum of 2) ►Touch of the Divine Healer(醫神) (S) ►Born to be Star (S) ►Master of the Burial Mountain (S) ►Flamel’s Insight (S) ►Heaven and Earth Compendium (S) ►Mental Guard (S)   

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‘I’d planned to hold off on activating these until the next quest, but…’

 

With a tinge of regret, I selected “Touch of the Divine Healer(醫神)” for diagnostics and “Flamel’s Insight” for potion analysis. As soon as the skills activated, I felt a subtle shift in perception. Approaching the woman lying on the bed, I spoke again, more firmly this time.

 

“Everyone, clear the room.”

 

“Are you kidding me?! How do you expect us to trust you and just leave her alone?”

 

“Yeah! We’re not going anywhere until Jeong-hyuk comes back! We’ll protect Ha-yan, so don’t even think about touching her!”

 

I rolled my eyes at their outbursts but remained focused. These people had no idea what they were dealing with, but I wasn’t about to waste time arguing.

 

People rushed in to protest as if they were eavesdropping outside.

 

Thud!

 

 

“Leave if you want to talk!”  

 

“Coward!”  

 

Everyone fell silent, Lim Cheong summoned her weapon and slammed it down. Nevertheless, I approached the small figure among those who stood their ground, knelt down on one knee, and said,  

 

“Shall I see where your mom is hurt?”  

 

“Yes….”  

 

“Good. Wait outside.”  

 

I patted the child’s head, and she nodded and left. As soon as the child exited, Zero, with a smiling face, threatened the remaining adults with just the right amount of force and enough curses to drive them out.

 

After confirming the tent door was closed, I approached the bed and pulled back the blanket. I clicked my tongue at the sight of the grotesque restraints and chains binding the emaciated body.

 

“Turn around.”  

 

I grabbed the woman’s hands overlapping on her stomach and used my skill.  

 Use the Touch of the Divine Healer and examine <Yoon Ha-yan>.   Please do not remove your hands until the examination is complete.   Progress 30%   

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Light burst forth from my hands and gradually enveloped Yoon Ha-yan’s body. A gasp came from behind me.

 

“Wow, this is amazing. Golden light? I can’t help but be curious about what skill this is.”  

 

“…Aren’t you being a bit too obvious about peeking? I told you to turn around.”  

 

“Haha, I’m embarrassed.”

 

Although I had signed a final pact when entering into the mercenary contract, I still couldn’t trust Zero, even with the strongest oath.  

 

‘Don’t react as if you’re being praised…’

 

I grumbled inwardly while checking Yoon Ha-yan’s condition.  

 <Yoon Ha-yan – Hunter> – Attribute: Electricity   – Comatonic state: Skill use unavailable   – Bound by uncontrollable forces.   – Mana suppression impossible  – Mortality rate: 25.8%   

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 <Treatment Methods> ► Emergency: Mana Potion 1000% ► Complete Cure: (Unknown)   

Fortunately, it wasn’t an incurable disease. As expected, I would need to create a new potion for treatment. Just then, the door opened, and Jeong-hyeok rushed in, holding potions in both hands.  

 

“Here…!

Hah, huff

. I brought these!”

 

They were definitely identical to Ilimital. I took the bottle and used the ‘Flamel’s Issue’ I had just obtained to appraise it.  

 

“The skill effect has gol, golden light…!”  

 

I could hear Jeong-hyeok’s astonishment.  

 

‘Damn it. Caught again.’

 

Caught up in the urgent atmosphere, I hurriedly started to appraise it as well, but I hadn’t anticipated the skill effect. Seeing the golden light erupting once again, Zero snickered wickedly.  

 <Ilimital> It can gather your mana to unleash explosive power.   

An alarm appeared alongside the item window.

 「You are a suitable candidate. Would you like to see the hidden settings?」   

‘Show me quickly.’

 

The item window spun around as the hidden information appeared.  

 <Ilimotal> A knockoff that imitates Ilimital. Stability is not guaranteed due to lack of skill.   It can gather your mana to unleash explosive power.   

But…  

 Side effect activation rate: 0.2%   

‘Damn it!! It’s definitely fake! Who the hell made this counterfeit…’

  

My head hurt. There were plenty of people who imitated my potions to make fakes, but it was the first time I found myself in such a hopeless situation. To tamper with a dangerous potion like Ilimital’s with such poor skills was absurd. It was strange that no side effects had occurred.

 

While I was staring at the potion, Jeong-hyeok cautiously asked.

 

“Um… Do you think there’s a way?”  

 

“A way?”  

 

I glanced at him. To create a complete cure, I would have to invest more of my time. If I had a recipe skill, it would have been finished quickly. However, I had already activated the Touch of the Divine Healer and Flamel’s Issue, so the opportunity to choose a skill was lost.  

 

‘Shit, I don’t even have time to deal with this counterfeit.’

 

I turned my head in annoyance and caught the gaze of a girl who had come in and was hiding behind her dad, watching me.  

 

“…Well, I know how to delay the situation.”  

 

“Really? What method is that?”  

 

“In exchange, you will have to make a final pact. Let’s return to my workshop first and establish the final pact.”  

 

As I was about to move, Zero pulled out a piece of paper and waved it around.  

 

“Just so happens, I have it with me.”  

 

“Why on earth do you carry around the final pact document?”  

 

“It’s a trade secret.”  

 

Seeing his nonchalant demeanor, I regretted not listening to Song-ah noona. I shook my head and turned back to Jeong-hyeok.

 

“What will you offer in return?”

 

“…Although it’s lacking, I will stake my life. I’ll do anything to save my wife.”  

 

“You talk a good game. Then I’ll take your life.”  

 

I filled in the blank on the contract. I was the first party, and Song Jeong-hyeok was the second. The collateral was his life, with the stipulation that “the second party will not disclose the identity of the first party to anyone and will make every effort to protect the first party’s personal information.” It was a contract with only that single clause.  

 

As I folded the contract and put it away, I said.

 

“I should show you first, right? First, take out all the stabilizers, sedatives, and mana integration agents you were supplying to Yoon Ha-yan.”

 

“Y-Yes? But if you do that…”  

 

“And then go get all the mana potions you can find right away. We need to create mana high symptoms.” 

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