Chapter 15: Mandrake (2)
dkpZㄴAdult?JYC
0BhVakㄴSo that means it’s a fully developed mandrake?7BoEK5b
GrCRDYxㄴAllFather) Yes. When a mandrake completes its growth, its body turns red. I even wrote an academic paper about it.lQjQX8V
kQYㄴSo the mandrakes we’ve known until now were incomplete?6IdbN
rMbgwXㄴAllFather) According to my past research, that is correct. Did you notice that it didn’t scream immediately when you pulled it out?zcIVNX
QruㄴWildGrills) Yes. When I pulled it out, it had its arms crossed. It screamed afterward.WQgi
omnMpBSㄴAllFather) 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.LCbU
WJdqAllFather’s explanation was more or less this.YeUoGU
Dp4IyS5For a mandrake to grow to adulthood, it needs soil so saturated with mana that it overflows, and there must also be no threats around.oTwgasm
k5QThe problem is that mana-rich soil is extremely rare, and even if it exists, the competition is brutal.hkxhA9
B3SRG5wIf the requirement level drops, the mandrake ends up being eaten by humans, monsters, or beasts before it can grow.Xd37
CzbIn other words, only under optimal and very specific conditions can a mandrake reach adulthood.F9MhR
B1ekRaising them artificially is practically impossible, since you would have to constantly feed them enormous amounts of mana.8QZNBg
1mgrgjCㄴAlright, we understand it’s an adult mandrake, but is it more effective than a normal one?kLx
NP2VGㄴAllFather) 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.PcV4MnE
C8nㄴYou hit the jackpot hahaQBsm
B3UㄴGrills is going to get rich again lolDy0K
uJcNㄴAre you planning to sell it?0pae1zh
b5EGtjEI don’t know.tKN2
magAt the question of whether I planned to sell it, I looked at the mandrake.Rp9b
PYdwAfter smashing it against the wall several times because it was so noisy, it had calmed down.slDUr
6pRWell, more than calm, it was almost unconscious.9RBS9
XhQI wasn’t sure if I should sell something like that.t4dnwTq
jgAa5Qk‘Maybe it’s easier to think of it as a hundred-year-old red ginseng.’G5Dpi
R4ZDtiJI researched the mandrake a bit more.0rq1
Xx8qJKAccording to what I found, it is one of the main ingredients for elixirs and is used in countless potions.t3iw
aBqKeFrom the root to the leaves and the stem, everything serves as a medicinal ingredient.D5q
pCv5It is, literally, a plant born to become alchemy material.pDNm
5FGWOf course, to use it properly, alchemy is indispensable.NJ5fqX
U02hh‘Should I give it to SwordTasteMaster?’uHxbRR
BHkMa16She had already given me an elixir before, so it would be a good way to return the favor.ZCe
7419FTbIf I get more, I should also give some to HeavenlyDemon and the other users with fixed nicknames.hRt0k
kGBZTEspecially HeavenlyDemon, who is already older. It would surely suit her very well.K9vN8ch
dLZmrBesides, SunForEver gave me a shield for free, so I also want to return the gesture.P0pt
zxFVLHFirst I will repay my debt to SwordTasteMaster.zcJRs
Q8jZI can gather mandrakes again.hH8
F7z2ㄴWildGrills) 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.JedIknV
409dLㄴSwordTasteMaster) I don’t need it.kPA6vWh
G2eIMㄴWildGrills) Think of it as a healthy supplement.cSXAQI
1YIPㄴSwordTasteMaster) I am already healthy.fvpTvFs
W7ExxㄴWildGrills) There’s nothing wrong with being even healthier, right?1tf
ZBkㄴSwordTasteMaster) I don’t want to be healthier than this.uTC
qKsㄴWildGrills) But… if it’s good for your health, why…?bPwAsP
0w9ㄴA person who doesn’t want to be healthierBh8zF
CnFㄴWhy doesn’t she want to?IrVfD
4gGㄴAh, anyway, she says she doesn’t want to be healthierenp
fJtxjㄴI really don’t understandnhkMMI
qOfHSzUㄴAllFather) Even simply boiled, an adult mandrake greatly increases mana.jxe
LwOㄴSwordTasteMaster) After hearing that, I want it even less.PUHuU
guMㄴWildGrills) But why…?Tf5fj
jwmgWKI didn’t understand.O3W7e
3WlDoes someone in this world really exist who doesn’t want to be healthier?oXpA
e78fNTAlthough she doesn’t reach HeavenlyDemon’s level, SwordTasteMaster is also practically an older adult.drFpIAT
n4tShe has her quirks as a gallery user, but overall she is quite decent.qu9uJs
VAgoaEz‘If she refuses like this, I can’t force her either.’IpYUO2
mvcDPThe remaining option was HeavenlyDemon.CmR
i2D5DGJust 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.UkV
HnNgㄴStarlightLady) Excuse me, could you give me that mandrake? I will give you an appropriate reward.wZ70eiC
ZjtVIt was StarlightLady.ynOiv8n
d5lGsoThe person who every day posted messages wishing for her full recovery.Qh72C
syTC8sThinking about it, she was the one who needed it the most.B7iZB
p4DcjMiㄴWildGrills) You gave me a compass before, so there’s no need for a reward. But can the mandrake treat illnesses?MCMm
7j2ㄴStarlightLady) At least it will help improve the condition. The mandrake is a plant that contains positive energy.2DqH
7UrpktThen I remembered.uXe50A
B1HAHLWhen we were looking for the new moon herb, she had said she needed positive energy.JSMxJ4
UMpODThe fact that her recovery-wishing messages had been appearing for so long indicated that her illness was serious.ZUO4
m3N3HeavenlyDemon seemed to have reached the same conclusion.PeH
NQ6zㄴHeavenlyDemon) If you need positive energy, is it oral meridian obstruction?Ji6
YumpEsㄴStarlightLady) That’s what the doctor said. Are you also familiar with it?03Dla
mutㄴHeavenlyDemon) Of course. It is one of the best-known obstructions.TPuT4MQ
OpXzㄴStarlightLady) Then you also know the symptoms.A1IY5Md
h3FclㄴHeavenlyDemon) How unfortunate. Stay strong.ZRM9n
8VFcw0ㄴWildGrills) Is it such a serious illness?lRSVw
PZmgㄴHeavenlyDemon) It is a disease that exchanges talent capable of reaching the heavens for lifespan. Even if you live long, you do not surpass youth.NtBstV
78QdVaㄴStarlightLady) 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.V4s4
ELAclㄴWildGrills) …u8RtYI7
AMRAdI had to give it to her immediately.60NlY
74lIt was much more serious than I had thought.EEn
8EcYnI didn’t know if it was because there was no effective treatment, but the recovery-wishing messages kept appearing day after day.Vxw6sVx
qr13S5gThey said that only a herb at the level of the New Moon Lunar Herb could cure her completely.5fr6v
XGt6kThat was practically like asking for a star from the sky.wzx3
QF1xHㄴWildGrills) I didn’t know it was that serious. I’m sorry.U9LP
scNzㄴStarlightLady) It’s fine. You’re also living day by day, aren’t you?1NQQEs
IknwaZㄴWildGrills) Excuse me?gu8B
JHHrㄴStarlightLady) It’s a joke.Fogos
NzKㄴThat didn’t sound like a jokeeZwi
hLDrn5ㄴAre we going to die together or what?jBNxZDG
jPIwIIgㄴNow that’s dragging someone down with youaaeuW
R46ㄴWho’s going first? Now I’m curious2axQNf
ciqDMkㄴThat was out of linecyYsK9A
guPDMUI was a bit taken aback, but when I realized it was a joke, I smiled bitterly.NysDv
8stZ4She probably said it to lighten the mood. It was a kind of self-deprecating humor.Bxmyj
CSUWhenever I saw something like that, I realized that health is everything.c4W9F
BmytAr6It is a good that cannot be exchanged for anything.XJnyNwW
4KBbㄴWildGrills) So the adult mandrake could help with meridian obstruction?AE9IUb
WMPcJㄴAllFather) A common mandrake, I’m not sure, but an adult one should have an effect.6wxCC
yiZtㄴStarlightLady) Even if it only helps a little, that’s enough. Mandrake itself is already an extremely rare plant.eX8S6
V7hrXjㄴHeavenlyDemon) It seems it is not enough to cure her completely.cXWR
c41ㄴIsn’t there a definitive treatment?NLuX2Z2
uc6jaGdㄴYes, 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.MpTPd7
e0M8ㄴEverything was fine until the last one. Is it what I think it is?1XAlEyP
lTvdKP9ㄴYes. But that man also has to be strong enough.HUT4
k26qJㄴOh. I’m strong, would I work?58eTT
sWAacㄴHow strong?fPbN
FaoㄴI beat everyone in arm wrestling in my townS1r
qGnxbㄴ…FlaTy
vw2This idiot had just dropped sexual harassment on a patient.PzdH0Yq
J5Z0TI put on a completely cold expression.kvcXkD
k9RWnIHThe gallery, being anonymous, often attracts this type of obscene comment.eIAx
auCIn another context maybe, but in a situation like this it was especially unpleasant.cHP
cBl9gㄴStarlightLady) If you’re that confident, come. But if you don’t meet the conditions, I’ll cut something off, make that clear.ebvgl59
UlonweㄴCut? What, the penis?hEsz
9l2aㄴStarlightLady) What did you think I was going to cut? If you don’t like that option, would you prefer I cut your throat?BHgB
9naL9beㄴ…B5JiW
yUpSaTㄴI’m sorry. I won’t act smart again.k4wLQMY
fgVh9UApparently she was used to these situations, because StarlightLady responded without hesitation.Y2m
Dju4TPiThe third method was ruled out for obvious reasons.bebaN
iecVThe second was basically surgery, and at an absurdly high level of difficulty.Bs5M
UO2VTrEven with modern Earth medicine it would be an almost impossible operation. Here, not even worth mentioning.X3k
saYfIn practice, only the first method remained.Wcll
7gyM9DAnd even that was extremely difficult.87P0M6N
OFhsvㄴHeavenlyDemon) To treat meridian obstruction, spiritual entities such as the Blazing Solar Flower, the Millennial Blazing Flower, or the Solar Herb must be consumed.avDbCL
XdK8PㄴWildGrills) I’ve never heard those names. Are they that rare?tPu6Gna
XmBaㄴHeavenlyDemon) It is comparable to the New Moon Lunar Herb you gave me.QnlkY
NqPVJdㄴWildGrills) Then that means it is absurdly rare.FQXNC
75YPㄴHeavenlyDemon) This woman had extraordinary luck. That is why you are both my great encounter and my benefactor.XAG1V
81OcㄴWildGrills) I was lucky too, I suppose. Anyway, not even with an adult mandrake can she be cured completely?MNA0R
mjpQQㄴAllFather) It is not completely impossible. The problem is the quantity.sGnia
qKjlGQㄴWildGrills) The quantity?QK3v
NgyㄴAllFather) 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.kXPf8K
IYD03Six or seven? That is actually feasible.OMzW
3C8ePDI remembered the place where the adult mandrakes lived.FkrNvyK
BbP4teI couldn’t count them properly because I fled in a hurry, but there were a huge number.IyLi6o
NFaG4Not even close to ten. There were dozens.9Svj9
UQPB‘And if you beat them after pulling them out, they stay quiet…’lGFjn
iDngnI turned my head and looked at the adult mandrake I had with me.tF5F
Ju5PIt was still completely limp, unconscious.tES7VQ
6RfI had heard that even if it seemed dead, simply planting it again would make it revive.OEx
IWbgOf course, I wasn’t planning to plant it. I would give it to someone else.8HWg2
8bcYNPulling it out again would be a headache.phKL
26gbXNvIt was best to discuss it directly.E5g
jKWsqBZAnd at the same time, I could obtain what I wanted from StarlightLady.ZHzC0T
LTYqㄴStarlightLady) Is such a large quantity really needed…? Getting them all will be difficult, won’t it?gCHSiC
OLoㄴAllFather) In my entire life I have only seen three. Even if you found them, someone would have already eaten them.BslA
kRVkㄴStarlightLady) What a pity… Ah, besides, you didn’t even say you would give them to me. I think I was too greedy.mYD
Ckx4nwQㄴWildGrills) There are a ton here.YtEQR02
rrulI meant exactly that—there are adult mandrakes everywhere here.Cizb
BvipsMFor quite a while, no comment appeared.uNh
TuyPI thought maybe they had closed the gallery to do something else.P6SvJHx
bBjㄴStarlightLady) …What?MUW5
wJH91mHNo, she was simply speechless.21UVxw
whWcRr6ㄴStarlightLady) Are you lying? If you’re just teasing me, it’s pointless.HrW
bxczmkㄴWildGrills) It’s true. Earlier I said that all the mandrakes started screaming at once.1VQqJ
RYVuㄴStarlightLady) And they were all adults?Lh0
2V6ㄴWildGrills) They were all red.uYjx4Z
VM5KOrYㄴStarlightLady) I won’t believe it until I see it with my own eyes.zsWXT
4qHvPㄴWildGrills) One moment.hMU
Cv08A photo wouldn’t hurt.pUwGSbZ
9opz4I gathered my things and headed back to the area where the mandrakes lived.D9MB3Gr
eFg4CEven though it was nearby, I didn’t forget to be careful in case beasts appeared.dN4R
ieWk“Huh?”3YOT
SKUydWhen I arrived, something was different.ozRfU88
58eMThe place hadn’t changed, but several adult mandrakes were out of the ground.Fhl
7MyhXThey were looking around as if standing guard.woHqr
n9Or9YBeing adults, it seemed they had even developed a certain intelligence.89z
StaR8m‘This is problematic…’JRNj
hFcNJIf they detected me, they would start screaming, and I would get hit by another sound attack.kLLJ
uOVHd7RThere was no choice but to wait until they buried themselves again.FUJuhRO
m5OtPKcThat would be enough.sBpFpx
IdPogTitle) Adult mandrakes standing guard5pSFlyC
DhfJWildGrillsCMvOak
sAupy(video of adult mandrakes standing guard)6fu7bVe
f1kI didn’t lie.HSlvAD
6WhX4eStarlightLady, watch the video and answer me.mvv3
WkTlqㄴWhy is this real?rVS8P6a
NE6xㄴWhy does it turn out to be true?j0rJ
Ap5DㄴHave mandrakes always been like this?WtRFDIN
ydcQ6ㄴNo wayestj
g2RlqLㄴAllFather) Oh! Adult mandrakes standing guard…? This is worthy of a thesis! Are all those plants mandrakes?PW1is8
BAHIㄴWildGrills) Yes. I think since I took one, the others are on guard.CI8sYak
Gs5ㄴAllFather) Could you observe them for an extended period of time?OV4d
tHE2ㄴWildGrills) I’m sorry. I don’t have that kind of margin.6RT473b
kYjㄴAllFather) What a pity.hw60Uq
esarNWhile AllFather spoke excitedly, StarlightLady commented.nJE6zgp
KjWㄴStarlightLady) Then… are all of those adult mandrakes?zNKj
9HrㄴWildGrills) Yes.dzxhr9
O6u9suㄴStarlightLady) Just the ones buried already look like more than several dozen.1m5wmR
nITㄴWildGrills) That’s right.pHGmAZN
PnXDPrxㄴStarlightLady) What the hell are you?5cqs
6MpXI stopped to think.Ku0
TiwWould saying I’m just some ordinary guy serve any purpose?aok
fb6RVI didn’t even know myself why I was here.5umrmoO
CyzWhile I hesitated, the comments exploded.8Ur
LKMFㄴCorrect answer: mayfly lifeYKcpW
yRs8qㄴCorrect answer: castaway of the Forest of Four SeasonsAOOIYG
Kak8ㄴCorrect answer: poorSuy1
BukDㄴCorrect answer: orphanb8gkaC
BZbㄴHeroDontThrowAway) Correct answer: weird guy!K5yK
EvYVoFlㄴWildGrills) Hey, why is the moderator joining in too?5ULv9WN
vTvi5ㄴHeroDontThrowAway) Because I was bored! By the way, the one who insulted your mother is banned for an hour.JJg
VtxㄴBut Grills really doesn’t have a mother, right?l9IbP0
IlYHㄴHeroDontThrowAway) That sounds awful! Saying that to someone without parents also hurts!gkVVacY
3DdHㄴWildGrills) You’re worse.Kw9S4
57sMeㄴHeroDontThrowAway) Ah! Sorry!UTt43yD
fm4wㄴhahahaqZWblpX
h8aWㄴLolJC0Od
I2UqㄴhahahalpTLC
ssenAs always, a bunch of spicy bastards.Igc
T53gOI smiled and spoke again with StarlightLady.tlEBAyN
o23IuㄴWildGrills) So, should I give them to you? I can gift the first one, but the next ones won’t be free.iOa
c6prpNㄴStarlightLady) What do you want in exchange? I will give whatever I can obtain. Money?EtBEw
Pcic8MSㄴWildGrills) No. I’m fine with money right now.HN2396
kuHudOAllFather had already given me enough.j1kxe
3zpI would only ask for food in an emergency.SMKaoUZ
Z70lRight now, I needed just one thing.3KgTSM
jILh6ㄴWildGrills) Your family is rich, right?xxn
ERsx2IjㄴStarlightLady) You could say so.8Iu9R
39wjqㄴWildGrills) Then, if I send you mandrakes, can you turn them into elixirs immediately?NKFtxnC
MhzㄴStarlightLady) It will take time, but it is possible. I have extensive knowledge of alchemy.Z9ODJ
AV9KwHㄴWildGrills) Then I will ask you for one thing.Iu6A
tLpjkPerfect.Tkl3
TwiStarlightLady could give me exactly what I needed most.cgsLqUF
5KTGdㄴWildGrills) 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.B908OY
QLAYㄴStarlightLady) Every time we trade mandrakes, I will give you elixirs. If I recover, I can offer you my title, my fortune… even my body.DNA1og
43lL6NHㄴWildGrills) Do you want to come to where I am?yoYw7x
bIcwobVㄴStarlightLady) Ah… not that.wQXokG
lMFHWuㄴWildGrills) Bad person.eVp2m
x0Vo8w6ㄴThe Forest of Four Seasons is scaryd5zCj
5gBglㄴCure her just so she can commit suicideLQC
oLlfzㄴIf she promises elixirs, she must be really richhi7kE
kyLBVㄴThey’re not potions, they’re elixirs. She must be a noble.goI
jGOThat was enough.wtDb5G
Hh1mAll that remained was to capture the mandrakes.VF6XCv
xSHI looked at the ones standing guard.UMLl
S0fP‘It’s not that strict a watch.’7GWXfCl
7gQZ6In the end, they’re still plants.3jURh
w6tXCxoAnd they were already lowering their guard.k4nQRP
mOgk2PI waited until the last one prepared to bury itself.Xq1Wn
6J1rUSlash! Slash!vBeYBc
Gyfm8When the last one was about to go underground, I ran at full speed.IFccz
xl5IZVeWhen it saw me, the mandrake opened its mouth wide.Q6S7Lvo
TGFMI had to catch it before it screamed.RjSEP3
7tHiThat’s why I had prepared something.qN4mik
vxLIlhA large stone I had just picked up.5nXA6
njFZ“Uah…!”R290wK
UhH71GFwoosh!66i
8ZLyuBI threw it just before it screamed.ZdVq1
59rFXnWThanks to my years playing baseball, it flew straight.dzYb4l
l8IbThud!IKoCpM3
fNRYtO“Kuak!”YPGA
senSRcSI hit it in the head.hLL
gLUxRNow all that remained was to grab it.GjIwc
lL59I seized it with both hands.0Af
l3KxA4VThud! Thud! Thud!4MuJbyW
TvpYQjvI punched the stalk so it wouldn’t be able to scream.jWUD6
RFxBmHUI also shoved dirt into its mouth by force.cy5bRiV
xt3PghRWith its mouth full, it couldn’t make any sound.ycHI
8mKBecause of that, the mandrake went completely limp after a short while.yY5
Ec6Kc81Unconscious.I1PLgMB
zT3w‘Is this really how you’re supposed to capture this?’KV6Cg
ME2Well, as long as it works, it doesn’t matter.PrEExT
LWNAqoWA perfect hack isn’t that different from the proper method.j3c
VoLMlb‘I’ll give one to StarlightLady and then distribute a few more.’hPdul
s2E1zsWith this, I had already repaid quite a few debts.1Mf
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