Chapter 15: Mandrake (2)

ㄴAdult?

ㄴSo that means it’s a fully developed mandrake?

ㄴAllFather) Yes. When a mandrake completes its growth, its body turns red. I even wrote an academic paper about it.

ㄴSo the mandrakes we’ve known until now were incomplete?

ㄴAllFather) According to my past research, that is correct. Did you notice that it didn’t scream immediately when you pulled it out?

ㄴWildGrills) Yes. When I pulled it out, it had its arms crossed. It screamed afterward.

ㄴAllFather) Then it is almost certain. Just as humans in infancy only cry, mandrakes also go through a similar process. Their grotesque appearance is due to the fact that they have not finished growing.

AllFather’s explanation was more or less this.

For a mandrake to grow to adulthood, it needs soil so saturated with mana that it overflows, and there must also be no threats around.

The problem is that mana-rich soil is extremely rare, and even if it exists, the competition is brutal.

If the requirement level drops, the mandrake ends up being eaten by humans, monsters, or beasts before it can grow.

In other words, only under optimal and very specific conditions can a mandrake reach adulthood.

Raising them artificially is practically impossible, since you would have to constantly feed them enormous amounts of mana.

ㄴAlright, we understand it’s an adult mandrake, but is it more effective than a normal one?

ㄴAllFather) Yes. With a single adult mandrake, a supreme-grade elixir can be made. Normally ten common mandrakes are needed for that, so imagine how extraordinary it is.

ㄴYou hit the jackpot haha

ㄴGrills is going to get rich again lol

ㄴAre you planning to sell it?

I don’t know.

At the question of whether I planned to sell it, I looked at the mandrake.

After smashing it against the wall several times because it was so noisy, it had calmed down.

Well, more than calm, it was almost unconscious.

I wasn’t sure if I should sell something like that.

‘Maybe it’s easier to think of it as a hundred-year-old red ginseng.’

I researched the mandrake a bit more.

According to what I found, it is one of the main ingredients for elixirs and is used in countless potions.

From the root to the leaves and the stem, everything serves as a medicinal ingredient.

It is, literally, a plant born to become alchemy material.

Of course, to use it properly, alchemy is indispensable.

‘Should I give it to SwordTasteMaster?’

She had already given me an elixir before, so it would be a good way to return the favor.

If I get more, I should also give some to HeavenlyDemon and the other users with fixed nicknames.

Especially HeavenlyDemon, who is already older. It would surely suit her very well.

Besides, SunForEver gave me a shield for free, so I also want to return the gesture.

First I will repay my debt to SwordTasteMaster.

I can gather mandrakes again.

ㄴWildGrills) I don’t plan to sell it. I’m going to give it to SwordTasteMaster. She gave me an elixir before and I want to return the favor.

ㄴSwordTasteMaster) I don’t need it.

ㄴWildGrills) Think of it as a healthy supplement.

ㄴSwordTasteMaster) I am already healthy.

ㄴWildGrills) There’s nothing wrong with being even healthier, right?

ㄴSwordTasteMaster) I don’t want to be healthier than this.

ㄴWildGrills) But… if it’s good for your health, why…?

ㄴA person who doesn’t want to be healthier

ㄴWhy doesn’t she want to?

ㄴAh, anyway, she says she doesn’t want to be healthier

ㄴI really don’t understand

ㄴAllFather) Even simply boiled, an adult mandrake greatly increases mana.

ㄴSwordTasteMaster) After hearing that, I want it even less.

ㄴWildGrills) But why…?

I didn’t understand.

Does someone in this world really exist who doesn’t want to be healthier?

Although she doesn’t reach HeavenlyDemon’s level, SwordTasteMaster is also practically an older adult.

She has her quirks as a gallery user, but overall she is quite decent.

‘If she refuses like this, I can’t force her either.’

The remaining option was HeavenlyDemon.

Just as I was about to request a trade, since she had promised me an antidote and excellent medicine for tinnitus, a comment caught my attention.

ㄴStarlightLady) Excuse me, could you give me that mandrake? I will give you an appropriate reward.

It was StarlightLady.

The person who every day posted messages wishing for her full recovery.

Thinking about it, she was the one who needed it the most.

ㄴWildGrills) You gave me a compass before, so there’s no need for a reward. But can the mandrake treat illnesses?

ㄴStarlightLady) At least it will help improve the condition. The mandrake is a plant that contains positive energy.

Then I remembered.

When we were looking for the new moon herb, she had said she needed positive energy.

The fact that her recovery-wishing messages had been appearing for so long indicated that her illness was serious.

HeavenlyDemon seemed to have reached the same conclusion.

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) If you need positive energy, is it oral meridian obstruction?

ㄴStarlightLady) That’s what the doctor said. Are you also familiar with it?

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) Of course. It is one of the best-known obstructions.

ㄴStarlightLady) Then you also know the symptoms.

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) How unfortunate. Stay strong.

ㄴWildGrills) Is it such a serious illness?

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) It is a disease that exchanges talent capable of reaching the heavens for lifespan. Even if you live long, you do not surpass youth.

ㄴStarlightLady) Exactly. Lately my body can no longer endure and I can’t even get out of bed. I suppose I am entering a dangerous phase.

ㄴWildGrills) …

I had to give it to her immediately.

It was much more serious than I had thought.

I didn’t know if it was because there was no effective treatment, but the recovery-wishing messages kept appearing day after day.

They said that only a herb at the level of the New Moon Lunar Herb could cure her completely.

That was practically like asking for a star from the sky.

ㄴWildGrills) I didn’t know it was that serious. I’m sorry.

ㄴStarlightLady) It’s fine. You’re also living day by day, aren’t you?

ㄴWildGrills) Excuse me?

ㄴStarlightLady) It’s a joke.

ㄴThat didn’t sound like a joke

ㄴAre we going to die together or what?

ㄴNow that’s dragging someone down with you

ㄴWho’s going first? Now I’m curious

ㄴThat was out of line

I was a bit taken aback, but when I realized it was a joke, I smiled bitterly.

She probably said it to lighten the mood. It was a kind of self-deprecating humor.

Whenever I saw something like that, I realized that health is everything.

It is a good that cannot be exchanged for anything.

ㄴWildGrills) So the adult mandrake could help with meridian obstruction?

ㄴAllFather) A common mandrake, I’m not sure, but an adult one should have an effect.

ㄴStarlightLady) Even if it only helps a little, that’s enough. Mandrake itself is already an extremely rare plant.

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) It seems it is not enough to cure her completely.

ㄴIsn’t there a definitive treatment?

ㄴYes, there is. Normally there are three methods. One is to consume medicine. Another is for a doctor to manually unblock the meridians. And the last… for a man to directly inject his energy.

ㄴEverything was fine until the last one. Is it what I think it is?

ㄴYes. But that man also has to be strong enough.

ㄴOh. I’m strong, would I work?

ㄴHow strong?

ㄴI beat everyone in arm wrestling in my town

ㄴ…

This idiot had just dropped sexual harassment on a patient.

I put on a completely cold expression.

The gallery, being anonymous, often attracts this type of obscene comment.

In another context maybe, but in a situation like this it was especially unpleasant.

ㄴStarlightLady) If you’re that confident, come. But if you don’t meet the conditions, I’ll cut something off, make that clear.

ㄴCut? What, the penis?

ㄴStarlightLady) What did you think I was going to cut? If you don’t like that option, would you prefer I cut your throat?

ㄴ…

ㄴI’m sorry. I won’t act smart again.

Apparently she was used to these situations, because StarlightLady responded without hesitation.

The third method was ruled out for obvious reasons.

The second was basically surgery, and at an absurdly high level of difficulty.

Even with modern Earth medicine it would be an almost impossible operation. Here, not even worth mentioning.

In practice, only the first method remained.

And even that was extremely difficult.

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) To treat meridian obstruction, spiritual entities such as the Blazing Solar Flower, the Millennial Blazing Flower, or the Solar Herb must be consumed.

ㄴWildGrills) I’ve never heard those names. Are they that rare?

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) It is comparable to the New Moon Lunar Herb you gave me.

ㄴWildGrills) Then that means it is absurdly rare.

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) This woman had extraordinary luck. That is why you are both my great encounter and my benefactor.

ㄴWildGrills) I was lucky too, I suppose. Anyway, not even with an adult mandrake can she be cured completely?

ㄴAllFather) It is not completely impossible. The problem is the quantity.

ㄴWildGrills) The quantity?

ㄴAllFather) Yes. Although an adult mandrake does not reach the level of a sacred spirit, it is just below it. If about six or seven adult mandrakes are used to make a single elixir, it should work.

Six or seven? That is actually feasible.

I remembered the place where the adult mandrakes lived.

I couldn’t count them properly because I fled in a hurry, but there were a huge number.

Not even close to ten. There were dozens.

‘And if you beat them after pulling them out, they stay quiet…’

I turned my head and looked at the adult mandrake I had with me.

It was still completely limp, unconscious.

I had heard that even if it seemed dead, simply planting it again would make it revive.

Of course, I wasn’t planning to plant it. I would give it to someone else.

Pulling it out again would be a headache.

It was best to discuss it directly.

And at the same time, I could obtain what I wanted from StarlightLady.

ㄴStarlightLady) Is such a large quantity really needed…? Getting them all will be difficult, won’t it?

ㄴAllFather) In my entire life I have only seen three. Even if you found them, someone would have already eaten them.

ㄴStarlightLady) What a pity… Ah, besides, you didn’t even say you would give them to me. I think I was too greedy.

ㄴWildGrills) There are a ton here.

I meant exactly that—there are adult mandrakes everywhere here.

For quite a while, no comment appeared.

I thought maybe they had closed the gallery to do something else.

ㄴStarlightLady) …What?

No, she was simply speechless.

ㄴStarlightLady) Are you lying? If you’re just teasing me, it’s pointless.

ㄴWildGrills) It’s true. Earlier I said that all the mandrakes started screaming at once.

ㄴStarlightLady) And they were all adults?

ㄴWildGrills) They were all red.

ㄴStarlightLady) I won’t believe it until I see it with my own eyes.

ㄴWildGrills) One moment.

A photo wouldn’t hurt.

I gathered my things and headed back to the area where the mandrakes lived.

Even though it was nearby, I didn’t forget to be careful in case beasts appeared.

“Huh?”

When I arrived, something was different.

The place hadn’t changed, but several adult mandrakes were out of the ground.

They were looking around as if standing guard.

Being adults, it seemed they had even developed a certain intelligence.

‘This is problematic…’

If they detected me, they would start screaming, and I would get hit by another sound attack.

There was no choice but to wait until they buried themselves again.

That would be enough.

Title) Adult mandrakes standing guard

WildGrills

(video of adult mandrakes standing guard)

I didn’t lie.

StarlightLady, watch the video and answer me.

ㄴWhy is this real?

ㄴWhy does it turn out to be true?

ㄴHave mandrakes always been like this?

ㄴNo way

ㄴAllFather) Oh! Adult mandrakes standing guard…? This is worthy of a thesis! Are all those plants mandrakes?

ㄴWildGrills) Yes. I think since I took one, the others are on guard.

ㄴAllFather) Could you observe them for an extended period of time?

ㄴWildGrills) I’m sorry. I don’t have that kind of margin.

ㄴAllFather) What a pity.

While AllFather spoke excitedly, StarlightLady commented.

ㄴStarlightLady) Then… are all of those adult mandrakes?

ㄴWildGrills) Yes.

ㄴStarlightLady) Just the ones buried already look like more than several dozen.

ㄴWildGrills) That’s right.

ㄴStarlightLady) What the hell are you?

I stopped to think.

Would saying I’m just some ordinary guy serve any purpose?

I didn’t even know myself why I was here.

While I hesitated, the comments exploded.

ㄴCorrect answer: mayfly life

ㄴCorrect answer: castaway of the Forest of Four Seasons

ㄴCorrect answer: poor

ㄴCorrect answer: orphan

ㄴHeroDontThrowAway) Correct answer: weird guy!

ㄴWildGrills) Hey, why is the moderator joining in too?

ㄴHeroDontThrowAway) Because I was bored! By the way, the one who insulted your mother is banned for an hour.

ㄴBut Grills really doesn’t have a mother, right?

ㄴHeroDontThrowAway) That sounds awful! Saying that to someone without parents also hurts!

ㄴWildGrills) You’re worse.

ㄴHeroDontThrowAway) Ah! Sorry!

ㄴhahaha

ㄴLol

ㄴhahaha

As always, a bunch of spicy bastards.

I smiled and spoke again with StarlightLady.

ㄴWildGrills) So, should I give them to you? I can gift the first one, but the next ones won’t be free.

ㄴStarlightLady) What do you want in exchange? I will give whatever I can obtain. Money?

ㄴWildGrills) No. I’m fine with money right now.

AllFather had already given me enough.

I would only ask for food in an emergency.

Right now, I needed just one thing.

ㄴWildGrills) Your family is rich, right?

ㄴStarlightLady) You could say so.

ㄴWildGrills) Then, if I send you mandrakes, can you turn them into elixirs immediately?

ㄴStarlightLady) It will take time, but it is possible. I have extensive knowledge of alchemy.

ㄴWildGrills) Then I will ask you for one thing.

Perfect.

StarlightLady could give me exactly what I needed most.

ㄴWildGrills) If you recover, can you supply me with elixirs? I don’t know when I might get injured. In exchange, I will give you mandrakes from time to time.

ㄴStarlightLady) Every time we trade mandrakes, I will give you elixirs. If I recover, I can offer you my title, my fortune… even my body.

ㄴWildGrills) Do you want to come to where I am?

ㄴStarlightLady) Ah… not that.

ㄴWildGrills) Bad person.

ㄴThe Forest of Four Seasons is scary

ㄴCure her just so she can commit suicide

ㄴIf she promises elixirs, she must be really rich

ㄴThey’re not potions, they’re elixirs. She must be a noble.

That was enough.

All that remained was to capture the mandrakes.

I looked at the ones standing guard.

‘It’s not that strict a watch.’

In the end, they’re still plants.

And they were already lowering their guard.

I waited until the last one prepared to bury itself.

Slash! Slash!

When the last one was about to go underground, I ran at full speed.

When it saw me, the mandrake opened its mouth wide.

I had to catch it before it screamed.

That’s why I had prepared something.

A large stone I had just picked up.

“Uah…!”

Fwoosh!

I threw it just before it screamed.

Thanks to my years playing baseball, it flew straight.

Thud!

“Kuak!”

I hit it in the head.

Now all that remained was to grab it.

I seized it with both hands.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

I punched the stalk so it wouldn’t be able to scream.

I also shoved dirt into its mouth by force.

With its mouth full, it couldn’t make any sound.

Because of that, the mandrake went completely limp after a short while.

Unconscious.

‘Is this really how you’re supposed to capture this?’

Well, as long as it works, it doesn’t matter.

A perfect hack isn’t that different from the proper method.

‘I’ll give one to StarlightLady and then distribute a few more.’

With this, I had already repaid quite a few debts.