Chapter 112
[Translator – Pr?ks]
[Proofreader – Pr?ks]
Chapter 112: Cocktail of the Dead
The Cocktail of the Dead
It was one of the items in the shop that had always intrigued him.
‘The timing is perfect.’
The unsealing of the Legion Commanders had inflated their stats. The stat boost from the Cocktail of the Dead would be even greater.
Plus, the sensory enhancement.
‘That’s a big advantage.’
Kim Minwoo had experienced it himself.
In the game, the sensory implementation rate was 50%.
But now, it was a 100% implementation, just like reality.
The resulting difference in performance was significant.
Merhen and Cedric would definitely benefit from it.
‘As for the skill…’
He didn’t have high expectations since it was a low probability.
It would be nice if it happened, but it wasn’t a big deal.
The stat boost and sensory enhancement alone were worth the price.
‘If the skill was guaranteed…’
It wouldn’t be sold for a mere 100 achievement points.
It would have cost at least 300.
He summoned Merhen and Cedric.
“You two, want to try something good?”
—…What’s good?
“I’m in.”
Cedric questioned immediately, while Merhen nodded without hesitation.
“Cedric, don’t you feel anything when you look at Merhen?”
—She’s mindless. How does she know what the master will give her?
—Silly. He said he’d give us something good.
—…Every time I see you, I’m amazed. You really seem to live in a world of your own. Was this always your character?
—Cedric, don’t you trust Minwoo?
Cedric was speechless at Merhen’s innocent question. Humans and animals couldn’t communicate.
It felt something like that.
Kim Minwoo sighed.
“I’m sorry, Cedric.”
—…What are you talking about?
“I’ve just realized, I’ve still been lacking. In mental training.”
—Wait…
Flash!
Resistance was futile.
Cedric, who had been unsummoned in an instant, was dragged back out.
“You two, want to try something good?”
—I like it.
—…I want to try it.
[Purchasing 2 Cocktails of the Dead!]
He took the cocktails out of his inventory.
Black liquid in glass cups.
Bubbles popped in the boiling black liquid.
The shape of the bubbles resembled human faces. Perhaps like the figures in Munch’s The Scream.
‘Well, it’s not like I’m drinking it.’
It might taste like honey to the undead.
But still.
Merhen, who resembled a human, might be able to drink it.
‘But can Cedric even drink it?’
His entire body was made of bones.
He had no muscles or flesh.
It felt like if he drank it, it would just spill on the floor.
‘…Probably not?’
It was an achievement shop item, so it must have some amazing effect.
Maybe the liquid would cling to the bones and be absorbed.
He handed each of them a glass of Cocktail of the Dead.
“Give it a try.”
—…It’s gross.
—Hmm…
Even the usually compliant Merhen showed reluctance this time.
Cedric, with his arms crossed, hummed in addition.
Honestly, it was a rather disgusting liquid.
But what could he do?
He had to make them drink it.
“Gulp. It’s good for your body. Drink it all up. It might taste good.”
Merhen, with a slight frown, accepted the glass and drank the cocktail first.
Gulp.
[Merhen consumes the Cocktail of the Dead!]
[Senses are amplified!]
[All stats increase by 10%!]
Merhen’s eyes widened.
—Oh? The taste feels sharper!
—No. It doesn’t taste good.
“…Is that so?”
—Yeah. But my five senses feel much clearer. It’s really strange.
Merhen stared blankly at the empty cocktail glass with wide eyes.
—Minwoo, do you have any food?
“Just a moment.”
He took out an energy bar from his inventory. Storing food inside was a basic skill for Awakened.
Merhen received the energy bar and chomped on it.
Soon after.
—…I can feel it, the taste.
“How is it?”
—Nutty and sweet. Although it’s faint…
Then she looked at Cedric and said,
—Cedric, try it, quickly.
Cedric, who had been staring at the cocktail, poured the contents into his mouth.
Normally, it should have all spilled onto the floor, but the Cocktail of the Dead was different.
The liquid flowed smoothly down his throat, past his neck bones.
‘What’s this?’
It was as if Cedric had transparent internal organs.
Soon, the liquid in Cedric’s abdomen began to evaporate.
[Cedric consumes the Cocktail of the Dead!]
[Senses are amplified!]
[All stats increase by 10%!]
—…So this is what it feels like. Master, could you give me something to eat?
“Here.”
Cedric received the energy bar and chewed it with his teeth.
Soon, his eyes lit up.
—…How strange.
“Can you taste it?”
—…Yes. It’s been a very… long time.
Cedric stared at the energy bar he had taken a bite out of, as if it were unfamiliar.
Strangely, the moment he swallowed the energy bar, it seemed to disappear as if evaporating.
—This is… unique. Normally, when I put food in my mouth, it all spills onto the ground.
“Have you tried eating before?”
—…A few times? The act of eating remained a pleasant memory. Of course, I always failed…
“Well, you’re all bones.”
Merhen, who resembled a human, could eat because of her structure.
But Cedric was completely different.
[Translator – Pr?ks]
[Proofreader – Pr?ks]
His body was made up entirely of bones.
He had teeth, so he could chew, but…
He didn’t have a tongue, so he couldn’t taste anything, and his structure made it impossible to swallow food.
Cedric nodded.
—Indeed. In any case… thank you, Master. It feels like I’ve reawakened a long-lost sense.
With that, Cedric finished the energy bar.
Since drinking the cocktail, the food seemed to vanish every time he swallowed it.
“Do you feel full or anything?”
—No, not at all. It’s just that my sense of taste has returned somewhat.
“Isn’t that awesome?”
—What do you mean?
“You can taste but not feel full.”
—That’s right.
“And since the food evaporates halfway, it probably won’t be cheap either.”
—…Is that really something to call awesome?
“Of course it is. Merhen, do you feel any sense of fullness either?”
—I think I have the same structure as Cedric.
“The food evaporates halfway?”
—Yes. I don’t feel like I’ve eaten anything.
“How much taste can you sense?”
—Hmm…
Merhen frowned as if recalling a distant memory.
—About 10%?
10% seemed like the level where you could only say that you could feel the taste.
‘Well, it might be a big deal for them.’
They probably hadn’t been able to taste anything for a long time.
Not only their sense of taste, but their other senses must have recovered as well, increasing their combat power considerably.
It was worth the 100 points.
Just then.
Knock knock.
There was a knock at the door.
Soon after,
“Oppa, can I come in?”
A familiar voice was heard.
When he opened the door, Naye slipped into the room.
“You even knocked. Our Naye has grown up.”
“Hee hee. I learned it at kindergarten yesterday.”
“Really?”
“Yes!”
Originally, Hyungseok, Naye, and Mrs. Choi lived in the United States.
But things were different now.
Hyungseok, a college student, had returned, but Naye and Mrs. Choi remained in Korea.
‘It must be because of the warning I gave them.’
After telling Chairman Kim about the Shadow, Hyungseok, who was quite old and had Awakened, returned to the United States, but Mrs. Choi and Naye decided to stay in Korea.
From Kim Minwoo’s perspective, it was the right decision. This way, the bodyguards sent to the United States could fully focus on protecting one person.
No matter how much the Shadow had become a global organization, it would be difficult for them to reach Korea.
This was the heart of Ilsung’s territory. Moreover, the members of the Korean branch had been wiped out.
In any case,
That’s why Naye was staying at the main house instead of returning to the United States. Naturally, she was sent to the best kindergarten in Korea.
Soon, Naye, who had been looking around, said,
“Whitey!”
—Coo.
Whitey appeared and perched on Naye’s shoulder.
“Hee hee. Whitey is so cute.”
—Coo.
“Oppa, can I play with Whitey?”
“Of course.”
Her face brightened as she hugged Whitey and said,
“Oh, right. Dad told me to call you.”
“Father did?”
“Yes. He said he has something to tell you.”
Kim Minwoo nodded and left the room.
“You’ve come.”
“What’s the matter?”
“There’s something.”
Chairman Kim, looking troubled as he rubbed his head, stared at Kim Minwoo and said,
“Minwoo.”
“Yes.”
“…About the Ilsung Guild. Do you intend to keep using it?”
“What’s been said?”
“Guild Master Nam wants to meet you.”
“I’ll meet him.”
Chairman Kim nodded at his words. Soon, he was able to meet Guild Master Nam Cheolmin.
“Nice to meet you. I heard about it from the Chairman.”
“Yes. After the guild battle, many guild members are feeling uneasy. So I’ve come as a representative to ask you a question.”
He nodded.
It was understandable for them to be anxious.
It looked like the Money Talks Guild was rising to the top.
“…Will our Ilsung Guild be able to continue?”
“Of course. Guild Master Nam knows better than anyone that the guild still has its uses.”
Originally, the ways small elite guilds and large guilds were utilized were different.
Small elite guilds focused on conquering high-level Gates.
On the other hand, large guilds with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd divisions,
‘They’re for farming.’
Their purpose was to gather various items like materials and magic stones by going around different Gates.
They were essential for companies.
To put it bluntly, if the Money Talks Guild continued to level up, why would they bother going to low-level Gates to gather materials?
They would rather run a high-level Gate one more time.
“…Sigh. That’s why.”
“That’s why what?”
“To be honest, yes, there might be some use for them as a farming guild. But who would like that?”
“Ah, you don’t want to be relegated from a lead role to a supporting role? Is that what you’re saying?”
“…To be frank, yes.”
“Then you should have done better.”
“…Yes, that’s true. That’s why I’ve come to ask you a favor.”
“What is it?”
“Could you… train us?”
“…Train you?”
“Both the vice guild master and I were shocked by the results. We realized how lacking we are. We’ve been complacent.”
Nam Cheolmin, who had been staring at the floor, lowered his head and said,
“Guild Master Kim Minwoo. Please help us. We would like the Money Talks Guild to guide us.”
“Do the other guild members agree?”
“…Yes. There are still some guild members who haven’t come to their senses, but it doesn’t matter. I’ll weed them out.”
Nam Cheolmin raised his head, his eyes filled with determination.
“If you help us, we will never forget your kindness.”
Kim Minwoo nodded.
Guild Master Nam was 40 years old.
The other guild members were also not young. In such a situation, even if a successful guild appeared, it wouldn’t be easy for them to lower their heads and ask for guidance.
Especially from the Money Talks Guild. Two out of the three guild members were newbies to Awakening.
But they did.
That meant the defeat in the guild battle must have been that shocking.
Perhaps this moment could be a turning point for the Ilsung Guild to take a new leap forward.
If the Ilsung Guild grew,
‘It wouldn’t be bad.’
Ultimately, it would benefit Ilsung. The effects would indirectly reach the Money Talks Guild as well.
“Alright.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I’ll ask the guild members as well.”
“…Thank you.”
Nam Cheolmin bowed deeply.
He had already acknowledged the skills of the three.
Furthermore, as the best archer in Korea, there weren’t many who could teach him. The only ones who could were the top-ranked players overseas.
But receiving instruction from such individuals wasn’t easy.
Who would readily share their know-how?
However, Seo Yerim was different.
Her archery was overwhelming.
By persistently learning from her, he would surely gain something.
It would become nourishment for his growth.
“I’ll ask them now.”
Kim Minwoo opened his smartphone screen. As he started typing in the group chat,
[Park Siwoo]
—Did you guys see this? An SS-rank Awakened has appeared in China!
(Link attached)
Kim Minwoo tilted his head and clicked the link.
[(Breaking News) Official Announcement from the Chinese Government: The World’s First SS-rank Achievement Awakened Has Appeared! Occupation Likely to be Necromancer!]
“Huh?”
The appearance of an SS-rank wasn’t surprising.
He had seen the message about increased potential.
What was surprising was,
‘Necromancer?’
The fact that someone would choose such a peculiar job instead of a common one.
Could it be that these guys had also decided to switch to being Ddong Sommeliers?
[TL/N: “????” (Ddong Sommelier) is a slang term that combines “?” (ddong, meaning poop) with “????” (sommelier, a wine expert). It is used to humorously describe someone who has an unusual or absurd job or hobby. In this context, it implies that Minwoo is wondering if other people are choosing to become necromancers, which is considered an unusual and unconventional path.]
[Translator – Pr?ks]
[Proofreader – Pr?ks]
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