Chapter 24: I can solve it.

The community, once buzzing with excitement over how “Lumina flowers made mana recovery so easy,” shifted dramatically within a week. Posts lamenting strange symptoms began surfacing, and the euphoric mood plummeted.

[Marbly’s screwed. No matter how many mana potions I chug, my mana won’t fill…]

> Been binging those Lumina flowers for easy mana gains,
> but at some point, they stopped working…?
> Problem is, even potions don’t work now…
> Is this that “resistance” the troll was talking about?
> Am I seriously screwed? I can’t focus on anything…
> Anyone else experiencing this, please comment.

—

[Since yesterday, I’ve been bedridden, mana completely drained, can’t move… I’m done for…]
[It’s not just potions. Normally, mana should recover a bit when resting, but I’m getting nothing.]
[?? You too? I’m screwed too… I’m the breadwinner, but I can’t raid gates or do anything, just lying here…]

—

Amid the chaos, those who heeded Healer Lee Chorok’s video and avoided the Lumina flowers breathed quiet sighs of relief.

[Saw Healer-nim’s video, got bad vibes, and tossed all my flowers… Thank goodness.]
[Dumping them right after the video was a godsend. Almost got wrecked.]
[Her eyes didn’t look like they were lying.]
[Where are the clowns saying she was stirring panic for profit?]
[Thank you for saving us, Healer-nim… 😭]
[Why’s no one mentioning PlantPangin? They kinda saved us too.]

Among them was Saebyeol, PlantPangin’s “first disciple.”

‘Master’s warning was real…’

Saebyeol had been planning a YouTube video about the trending Lumina flowers when she stumbled across her master’s post. Unlike PlantPangin’s usual aggro antics, the post’s serious tone felt off.

The title was provocative as always,
but it held no taunts, no bait—only a desperate plea to save lives.

The urgency in every word hit Saebyeol hard.

She immediately trashed the flowers gifted by fans,
called everyone she knew,
and spread her master’s post to other communities.

Cold, biting responses came back,
but an unshakable gut feeling told her she had to act.

As Saebyeol stared blankly at her phone,
notifications flooded in.

Ding, ding—

[Hey, Saebyeol… the awakener community’s going nuts over the Lumina flowers…]
[Thanks for telling me to ditch them. You saved me.]
[Things are a mess right now. I held off thanks to you and survived on potions. You saved a life, Saebyeol.]

‘…It’s not me, it’s Master who saved them.’

Her mind reeled.

How did Master know to post about this?
And how did they find the Healer’s video so quickly?

Saebyeol’s eyes narrowed with questions.

—

The situation grew graver.

Awakeners who consumed artificial Lumina flowers not only became unable to recover mana but started showing hallucinations and addiction symptoms.

Some mistook teammates for monsters during gate raids, stabbing them in the back.
Others collapsed, mana circuits fried, teetering on the edge of death.

The awakeners’ conditions spiraled into catastrophe.

Finally, the agency issued an emergency alert.

—

[Urgent Notice] Advisory Against Consuming Artificial Lumina Bells

Recent reports confirm severe side effects among long-term users of the circulating Lumina Bells (henceforth “artificial flowers”):
▷ Inability to recover mana
▷ Hallucinations and cognitive impairment
▷ Coma and seizures due to mana addiction

Please cease use immediately and seek medical attention at the nearest center if you experience these symptoms.

The artificial flowers are being tracked and recalled, and an investigation into their distribution channels is underway…

—

It was South Korea’s first large-scale crisis since the world’s upheaval.

—

The news anchor’s voice rang clearly through my phone.

– Over 1,200 individuals nationwide have reported symptoms.
– Some long-term users have sustained severe mana circuit damage, rendering them permanently unable to use magic.

The screen showed awakeners being wheeled into hospitals.

Unable to bear the grim sight, I covered my face with my hands.

‘…Could I have done more?’

Should I have begged on my knees at the PR office?
Spread a rumor that I poisoned the flowers?

Guilt, helplessness, regret—emotions swirled chaotically.

Ding—

A message notification snapped me out.

—

[National Mana Medical Center]

– Request for Urgent Healer Support

Due to a surge in patients with mana addiction and circuit damage, we urgently need healer assistance.

Participants will receive 1,000 contribution points.

Location: National Mana Medical Center

—

‘Contribution points?’

What were those?

A quick search revealed it was a system rewarding those who made significant contributions to the nation. Higher points granted benefits like reduced trading fees, priority access to top-tier gates, and eligibility for awakener-exclusive housing.

‘Didn’t know this existed…’

Apparently, contribution points were typically earned only by clearing gates—a tough prospect for gate-averse me. The chance to earn them through this was far more appealing than cash.

‘Awakener housing would have solid security, right?’

I’d have volunteered anyway to help,
but with contribution points as a reward, there was no reason to refuse.

—

Next to the agency, a towering glass building buzzed with activity, shadows moving ceaselessly.

At the medical center’s entrance, exhausted awakeners slumped in long lines.

Stepping inside—

“Healer-nim?!”

A frantic medical staff member, mid-call, spotted me and rushed over, grabbing my hands with a “we’re saved” look.

“You came… I don’t know how to thank you…”

Her face screamed she had a million things to say, but with no time to chat, she pulled me inside.

Including me, only five healers had volunteered.

‘Only single-digit healers for a disaster like this?’

It hit me again how rare healers were.

Then I saw a healer collapse into a chair, panting.

“Purification done… Huff, huff… Next patient…”

A staff member thrust a large mana potion at her.

“Healer-nim, your mana’s drained! Drink this!”

Everyone was giving their all.

Taking it in, I sat at my assigned spot.

“…”

My eyes met another healer’s, who’d been staring.

Her neat appearance and refined aura were striking—her beauty naturally drew attention.

For some reason, she didn’t seem thrilled about my arrival.
Her gaze carried a subtle edge.

“Haha…”

I gave an awkward smile and greeted my first patient.

An awakener, staggering with fully depleted mana, bowed weakly.

“I saw your video… I should’ve listened… I’m sorry…”

“It’s okay. I’ll fix you up.”

Smiling, I focused mana at my fingertips.

A glowing mist enveloped the patient softly.

His labored breathing stabilized, and life returned to his unfocused eyes.

‘Huh? That took barely any mana.’

Purifying a person used so little mana it was almost unnoticeable.

‘…The mana expansion potions?’

The spirit-blessed potions must’ve boosted my mana capacity.

Lifting my head, I saw a long line of waiting patients.

‘At this pace, maybe ten minutes per person.’

Calculating silently, I spoke calmly.

“Purification done. Next patient, please.”

“Already… done?” The staff member holding a mana potion gaped.

—

From then on, the hospital’s atmosphere shifted noticeably.

Purification, a mana-intensive task done slowly,
sped up dramatically thanks to a small girl facing patients tirelessly.

Her purifications took mere seconds.

“Purification done. Next patient, please!”

Her clear, concise voice echoed, and the long queue shrank visibly.

“Already done?”

“How’s she so fast…?”

Stunned staff scrambled to keep up,
reorganizing rooms, adjusting queues, and fetching more patients.

A whirlwind of time passed.

Finally, the staff had a moment to breathe.

In the quiet, someone spoke cautiously.

“Could she… maybe treat the isolation ward patients too?”

A strange silence fell.

The severe cases in the isolation ward hadn’t improved despite the other four healers’ best efforts.

But this girl…

Maybe she could help?

With cautious hope, they tried,
but the results were no better.

“Hm…”

“Ugh, sob…”

Even her skill couldn’t reach the deep-seated damage.

Heavy silence filled the isolation ward as everyone bowed their heads.

Then, the girl, lost in thought, suddenly looked up, eyes gleaming.

“This problem… give me a little time. I think I can solve it.”

Despairing gazes turned back to her, hope flickering anew.