Chapter 35: Taesung’s Chairman, Jeong Chan-ho

Right after the message about the weapon’s growth stage increase appeared—

Lines of text filled my vision, densely packed and sprawling.

[Breath of Groa]

• An ancient spirit staff imbued with life, healing, and the flow of cycles.

[Rank] Legendary (Growth-type)

[Growth Stage] Stage 2 – Bloom (0%)

● [Sustained Recovery II]

Healing skill effects persist for a set duration, with additional recovery every 5 seconds. (Total duration: 15 seconds)

● [Area Healing]

Creates a healing field in a designated area, granting recovery effects to all allies within. (Duration: 10 seconds / Recovery occurs every 1 second within the area)

● [Sustained Enhancement II]

Buff skill effects apply to all allies within a certain radius. (Increased radius / Duration +20%)

I barely registered how the healing or buff skills had changed.

My attention was entirely captured by the weapon’s final ability: ‘Nature Sense.’

● [Nature Sense II]

• Resonates with the flow of nature, detecting ‘rare gatherables,’ ‘ancient plants,’ and ‘relic-grade resources.’
• Detected gatherables within a certain distance emit subtle waves to guide the user.

※ Low chance to unlock a secret quest based on nature’s will, granting special rewards.

On top of rare gatherables—

It could now detect ancient plants and relic-grade resources?

Just hearing the names made my heart race with anticipation.

Plus, gatherables within a certain range would emit subtle waves to guide me.

In other words—

‘No more wandering aimlessly in the forest?’

I wouldn’t have to roam endlessly searching for elusive gatherables anymore.

I quickly checked the next growth conditions.

[Growth Conditions]

• Purify 3 polluted areas (0/3)
• Meditate in nature for 6 consecutive hours (0/3)
• Bloom a seed discovered via ‘Nature Sense’ (0/3)
• Overcome the ‘Trial of Nature’ (0/1)

※ Next Stage: Stage 3 (Final) – Full Bloom (Progress 0%)

As expected for the final stage of a growth-type weapon, none of the conditions seemed immediately achievable.

The only one I could try now was ‘Meditate in nature for 6 hours’?

But since I might get hungry mid-way, I decided it’d be best to prepare thoroughly—eat well, sleep deeply, and optimize my condition before attempting it.

“Alright, then.”

Time to hunt for ancient plants and relic-grade resources!

“Zzz… Meow…”

“Zzz… Meow…”

The cat, likely exhausted from searching for Harnella flowers without sleep since I left the forest, was still in a deep slumber.

Careful not to wake it, I quietly stood and began walking through the forest, following the waves emitted by gatherables.

How long had I walked?

Shiver—

A chilling cold hit me, making my body tremble.

“…Huh?”

The scenery before me transformed entirely.

Snow blanketed every branch.

Snowflakes drifted slowly overhead.

Breathing in, icy air filled my lungs.

Startled, I stepped back.

Warm air enveloped my skin again.

The snow-covered landscape vanished, replaced by an ordinary forest.

“What…?”

Thinking it might’ve been a dream, I stepped forward again, and the snowstorm-laden, white forest reappeared.

Stepping back, the ordinary forest of green trees returned.

I stood frozen, stunned by the surreal situation.

Was it possible for seasons to change with a single step?

“…”

Whatever this was, I couldn’t venture in now.

With the weather getting warmer, I was only wearing a thin t-shirt and shorts today.

‘To explore a snow-covered forest thoroughly, I’ll need thicker clothes first.’

And since I didn’t know what was in there, I decided it’d be best to return fully prepared.

Deep underground, in a place called ‘GenAke’—

Isolated from the surface, this was a strictly sealed zone, unreachable by outside eyes or ears.

Countless wires and conduits tangled along cold metal walls.

Under artificial light, glass capsules hummed with low, steady vibrations.

In this place, untouched by even a ray of sunlight, all life grew in a controlled environment.

At the top floor of this massive facility—

In a control room accessible only to one person, a snake-like woman stared at a hologram, letting out a low groan.

[Field agents lost contact during operation – all missing without a trace]

A large viper slithered from her neck, down her shoulder, and along her arm, but she didn’t flinch.

Just then—

The panel flipped, and a delayed additional report appeared.

[Verification of residents near target’s location—]

[Confirmed: Gaehwa Guild Leader and Manyeol Guild Leader reside in adjacent houses]

Realizing the situation, the woman’s expression twisted.

“…This is annoying.”

Everything was supposed to go according to plan.

Starting with maximizing the growth of ‘Lumina Bells’ and embedding a toxic genetic code within them.

The side effects would spread slowly, imperceptibly.

By the time lethal symptoms swept the world—

She’d control humanity’s survival with a special ampoule only she could produce.

If it had gone as planned, the world would’ve naturally fallen into her grasp.

But—

Her grand plan crumbled because of a girl with emerald eyes.

• Thanks to my unique ability, I can keenly detect an item’s dangers or status abnormalities.

As long as that girl, who could sense danger, existed—

All future plans would surely go awry.

That’s why she’d tried to eliminate that nuisance before starting the next project…

“With those massive guilds guarding her on both sides.”

The chances of her plans failing again were high.

Why, exactly?

Why were those powerhouse guilds so protective of a seemingly insignificant girl?

“Because she’s a healer?”

It made sense for Gaehwa, which hadn’t secured a healer yet.

But Manyeol already had a dedicated healer, so why…?

Whatever the reason—

That healer had to be eliminated.

Only then could her plans proceed without a hitch.

‘I wanted to avoid appearing in public again…’

But there was no choice now.

Using the ‘benevolent influence’ she’d built in the past, she’d infiltrate the girl’s life slowly.

Pretending to offer help, staging chance encounters, and gradually earning her trust.

Building a bond, then quietly striking from behind.

“Time to prepare for a move.”

The woman’s eyes narrowed like a snake’s.

As I entered the café to prepare for opening—

The spirits, usually scattered and wandering, were gathered in one place for once.

• Squeak, squeak!
• Squeak! Squeak!
• Squeak.

“What’s going on? Why’re they like that?”

They were raising their voices with serious expressions, so I hurried over, thinking they might be fighting.

[‘Lily’ confidently claims mushrooms are plants.]

[‘Lumina Spirit’ strongly insists mushrooms are animals.]

[‘Pristine’ corrects that mushrooms are fungi.]

Their conversation appeared verbatim above their heads…!

‘…Huh?’

How could I see what the spirits were saying in text?

Until now, I’d had to guess their intentions from expressions or actions, so this change was both surprising and fascinating.

‘Oh, could it be—’

• The blessing of the ‘Forest Guardian’ increases spirit affinity.

Was this why?

The increased spirit affinity must’ve let me see what the spirits were saying.

‘By the way, I didn’t even know their names. So that one’s Lily.’

As I eavesdropped on their ongoing conversation—

Pristine, spotting me, floated over with a welcoming message and landed lightly on my palm.

Pristine’s brief info appeared.

[Pristine]

● Type: Nature Spirit (Snow/Ice)

● Attribute: Cold

● Special Ability: Blooming of ‘Glacie Bloom’ ice flowers

● Preference: None

Next, Lily, the newly named spirit, pushed past Pristine to stand on my palm, not wanting to lose.

[Lily]

● Type: Nature Spirit (Forest)

● Attribute: Life / Purification

● Special Ability: Ecological Purification

● Preference: Sweet Desserts

The two glared at each other on my palm, then started bickering with message windows.

[‘Pristine’ claims this is her spot.]

[‘Lily’ argues there’s no such thing.]

“Hey, no fighting.”

Whoosh—

I lightly flicked the bickering spirits off my palm.

• Squeeeeak!

[‘Lumina Spirit’ strongly insists again that mushrooms are animals.]

I approached the Lumina Spirit, throwing a tantrum alone, and gently petted its head.

[Lumina Spirit]

● Type: Special Creation Spirit (Lumina Bell)

● Attribute: None

● Special Ability: Grants ‘Spirit’s Blessing’ exclusive to Lumina Bells

● Preference: Purified Water, Aged Mana Potions

The Lumina Spirit spread all five fingers toward me.

[‘Lumina Spirit’ demands purified water for being petted.]

Ignoring it lightly—

I continued preparing to open the café.

The customer who’d once been kicked out of the café for staring at the spirits with crazed eyes was now—

“Look! It’s her!”

“Does that guild have no work? She’s here every day.”

She’d become a well-known regular at the café.

“LUMINA!!!”

At some point, she’d fallen hard for the least popular Lumina Spirit, openly showing her intense fandom.

• Squeeeeak!

[‘Lumina Spirit’ recognizes its diehard fan and is delighted.]

The Lumina Spirit didn’t seem to mind her either.

While it was cold to other customers, it was noticeably friendly to her.

Well, that makes sense—

[‘Pristine’ openly displays disgust.]

[‘Lily’ barely suppresses her anger.]

For some reason, the other spirits didn’t just dislike her—they seemed to despise her.

‘Why, though?’

Was it because she stared at them creepily at first?

‘Or did she do something shady when I wasn’t looking?’

Now that I could understand the spirits’ thoughts, I’d have to ask them later.

For now, I started washing the piled-up teacups.

‘Ugh, so busy.’

I really need to hire a part-timer soon.

After finishing the dishes and turning to take orders from new customers—

[‘Pristine’ sighs deeply, pitying someone.]

[‘Lily’ bursts into tears, overwhelmed.]

[‘Lumina Spirit’ touches its reddened nose.]

The spirits were in an uproar again.

“What’s wrong?”

Startled, I asked, and they silently pointed to one spot.

There, a new customer sat at a table.

Despite his unfamiliar face, I recognized him instantly.

Jung Chan-ho, chairman of ‘Taesung,’ one of Korea’s top conglomerates.

‘I owe him a lot from back then.’

When I was broke, Taesung Foods, a Taesung subsidiary, released ultra-cheap ramen for low-income households, which helped me survive starvation day by day.

He’d always been someone I was grateful for, and now he was here as a customer.

It made me oddly happy.

‘But…’

He’s rich and famous.

So why were the spirits pitying him, even tearing up?

As I approached the customer scanning the café, I checked on him while pretending to take his order.

“Welcome, sir. What would you like?”

“Oh… Yes. I’ll have your most popular item.”

But I didn’t sense anything unusual from him.

‘Asking too much on a first meeting would be rude, right?’

Tilting my head slightly and turning back to the counter—

“Um… If it’s not too much trouble, could we talk for a moment…?”

The customer called out to me in a desperate voice.