Chapter 29:
Seo Jae-yi had been in a fantastic mood lately.
Her overload level had plummeted after receiving Guiding from Baek Joo-won, even if it was just for practice, and her condition was the best it had been in a while.
Of course, her level was slowly creeping back up since she hadn’t received any additional Guiding, but it was still much better than before.
‘It’ll be perfect if the dungeon plants sell well too.’
Seo Jae-yi smiled slyly, looking at the significantly increased number of dungeon plants.
“Master, your smile is creepy.”
“I can’t help but smile like this when I think about all the money I’ll be making soon.”
Ignoring Airok’s disapproving expression, Seo Jae-yi pointed at a cluster of dungeon flowers that had grown up to her knees.
The blue, bell-shaped flowers looked ordinary at first glance. However, they were quite familiar to Espers.
They were flowers used as potion ingredients.
Potions were essentially healing solutions. While they couldn’t lower overload levels like Guiding, they could heal serious injuries.
Espers favored them because they were useful in emergencies when Guides were unavailable or too exhausted to provide Guiding.
However, potions were expensive because they required special ingredients that only grew in dungeons.
And now, Seo Jae-yi had those ingredients in her possession. Kim Yoo-sung had brought them back after finding them during a dungeon raid.
“Imagine how much money I’ll make if I cultivate and sell these precious potion ingredients! Potion makers will be lining up at my door!”
She could practically smell the money already.
Seo Jae-yi smiled happily and shook Airok, who was perched on her shoulder, as if he were a spray bottle. Water sprayed from Airok’s mouth, showering the flowers.
“And these flowers are grown with the power of a, uh, I’m sorry, a dragon, right? We can make incredibly potent potions with them.”
She could vividly imagine potion makers begging her to sell them the ingredients, forming a long line in front of her shop. It was a perfect future.
Ah, she had to witness this before she died!
“But how are you going to sell them?”
“I’ll sell them through Won-yeong. She’s an equipment crafter, but she knows a lot of potion makers.”
Seo Jae-yi couldn’t resist bragging about her talented sister.
Airok, who was already accustomed to her boasting, simply ignored it.
And her prediction was spot on.
As soon as Seo Won-yeong announced that she would be selling blue bellflowers, a potion ingredient, potion makers clamored to buy them.
It was a huge success. The value of the blue bellflowers, grown with dragon water in soil infused with the energy of an S-rank Esper who possessed the dungeon master’s power, was immense.
If healing potions made with bellflowers found in dungeons were A-rank, the ones made with Seo Jae-yi’s bellflowers were S-rank.
—So I’m getting calls from all sorts of potion manufacturers. They’re begging me to sell them as much as possible. There’s even a bidding war going on; the prices are skyrocketing.
Seo Jae-yi’s grin stretched from ear to ear as Seo Won-yeong relayed the news over the phone. Airok, who was listening, was equally ecstatic.
“We’ll be rolling in money soon! It’s all thanks to you, my precious sister!”
—Of course. Who else cares about you as much as I do?
“That’s right. Won-yeong, you’re the best!”
Ahem, ahem. Seo Won-yeong’s happy giggles could be heard through the phone.
—How about Kim Yoo-sung? Are the plants useful for dungeon raids?
“He said it was a bit awkward at first because it was his first time using them, but he got used to it and found them quite helpful. More importantly, he said they’re less hostile towards humans.”
As Airok had mentioned before, the dungeon plants grown by Seo Jae-yi were less likely to target humans.
Seo Jae-yi, who had been worried about that, sighed in relief.
“He said they completed a Rank 4 dungeon raid with only six Espers and two Guides, without using a single potion.”
—Really? That’s amazing.
“He said the plants were effective against the piranha horde because they were infused with heat. They might even be useful in fire-attribute dungeons.”
Fire-attribute dungeons were among the most dangerous dungeon environments. The higher the rank, the more dangerous they became, eventually even challenging Water Espers.
In Korea, only Seo Jae-yi could effectively subjugate high-level fire-attribute dungeons.
If dungeon plants became widely available, the subjugation rate might increase.
—That’s good. It’ll lessen your burden, Unnie.
“Right.”
—Anyway, I’m glad to hear good news. I’ll manage the supply of blue bellflowers carefully. Don’t worry about it.
“Okay, thank you!”
Even after the call ended, Seo Jae-yi couldn’t contain her joy.
However, there was one thing missing from her perfect life.
“I want to use the dungeon plants myself in a dungeon.”
“What are you talking about?! You’re at risk of overload!”
Airok jumped up, overhearing her mumbling.
“Absolutely not until you’re stable! I’ll be watching you! If you sneak into a dungeon, I’ll tell Kim Yoo-sung everything!”
“I’m your employer! How can you do that to me?”
“It’ll be a disaster if my employer dies! I can’t live without you now! So don’t even think about doing anything dangerous!”
Seo Jae-yi pouted at Airok’s threat.
You think that will stop me? Just you wait.
She would find a way to officially enter a dungeon, with everyone’s approval.
Tinkle.
The bell on the shop door chimed. Seo Jae-yi rushed out to greet the customer.
“Welcome…! Huh?”
“Hello, Jae-yi.”
A striking woman with black and red two-toned hair, even more striking heterochromia, a muscular physique, and a scar on her face stood at the door, waving.
It was S-rank Guide Joo Seon-min, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time.
“You finally emerged from that dungeon!”
“Earlier than expected. I heard some interesting news.”
Seo Jae-yi opened her arms wide and hugged Joo Seon-min. With a height difference of almost 20cm, it was more like being engulfed than hugging.
“I heard you found a Guide. Stateless and incredibly capable.”
Joo Seon-min held Seo Jae-yi’s chin and examined her face.
“Hmm… I was worried because I heard you weren’t doing well, but you look better than the last time I saw you.”
“My overload level has decreased a bit.”
“Really?”
Joo Seon-min leaned down and kissed Seo Jae-yi’s forehead. It was a brief touch.
“…Yeah, you’ve definitely improved.”
“You’re still so provocative, Unnie.”
Assessing an Esper’s condition through contact Guiding.
It was Joo Seon-min’s greatest ability, and the reason why many Espers were drawn to her.
“The problem is that my provocation doesn’t work on you. Now, tell me everything that’s happened. I’m dying to know who managed to claim you, the one I couldn’t even have.”
Joo Seon-min urged her, saying she had even left the dungeon early for this.
Seo Jae-yi sat at the shop table and briefly explained the recent events.
“I was surprised to hear that his Matching Rate with all Espers, regardless of rank, is over 50%, but to think it’s also potent enough to make them lose control… That’s incredible.”
Joo Seon-min’s gaze fixed on Seo Jae-yi.
“And you, an S-rank Esper, almost lost control as well. The effect might have been stronger because your Matching Rate with him is so high, but it’s definitely a powerful ability.”
“He’s not ordinary, that’s for sure.”
“Just like I can quickly assess an Esper’s condition with my ability, Baek Joo-won’s ability seems to be easily influencing Espers.”
People often had a misconception.
They believed that Espers had unique abilities, while Guides only possessed Guiding.
That wasn’t entirely accurate. Guides also had innate special abilities, like Espers, although they were usually only manifested in S-rank Guides.
“It’s a bit troublesome. It would have been better if it was like Kwon Yi-soo’s ability, which makes Espers submit to him.”
The reason Kwon Yi-soo had been able to consolidate his power and become a dictator wasn’t simply because he was the first S-rank Guide in Korea.
It was because no Esper could defy him.
As if he were their sole savior, they instinctively treated him with deference, unable to harm him.
Joo Seon-min’s description of “making them submit” wasn’t an exaggeration.
While the effect was weaker on S-rank Espers, Kwon Yi-soo’s ability was still incredibly powerful, considering it could influence them to some extent.
“And Kwon Yi-soo wants to keep him at the Center instead of letting him go to Haeil, despite his ability…? Isn’t that reckless? It could lead to a chaotic orgy.”
“Unnie, your language is too vulgar.”
However, Seo Jae-yi couldn’t deny her statement.
The more physical contact between an Esper and Guide, the stronger the Guiding became, as the Esper could absorb more of the Guide’s energy.
Mucous membrane contact was the most effective. So what was the best form of Guiding?
Naturally, sexual intercourse yielded the best results.
That was why Espers losing control was so dangerous. It wasn’t just about overload; it was about their instinctual desire for the Guide.
‘But I doubt the Center will let go of an S-rank Guide with such a rare ability.’
Kwon Yi-soo, as she knew him, would undoubtedly find a way to conveniently utilize Baek Joo-won’s ability.
An idea came to her mind, one that Kwon Yi-soo must have already considered.
“…What are the chances of that Guide choosing you?”