Yoo Baekjun returned to his family.
He had spent a lot of money, but no one said anything about it. After all, the other successors spent just as much.
"A never-drying fountain of money, huh."
The problem was that there were many items in this world that couldn't be bought with money.
Especially items rated A-class or higher rarely even showed up in auctions. When such items did appear, they were promoted heavily.
"I'll just have to go out and get them myself."
Yoo Baekjun sighed.
In front of him were the medicinal ingredients he had acquired from Straggler. With Joo Joongwon's help, he had removed the side effects and maximized the medicinal properties.
Now all he had to do was mix them well.
"This looks horrible…"
The herbs from Straggler were all related to magic. Things like thunderbird feathers, moonlight herb, a drake's heart, and mana crystals.
"I'll make a tonic out of this. Ugh."
He poured a liter of water into a large pot and added the herbs. Then, after waiting for an hour, he began boiling it over a low flame.
"Once this boils for three hours…"
Ta-da! Yoo Baekjun's Special Tonic was complete.
Yoo Baekjun poured the finished tonic into a large container and checked the item description.
[Yoo Baekjun's Special Tonic (B+)]
A tonic made by mixing various ingredients related to mana. It smells terrible and tastes just as bad.
– Option: Mana Activation
*Mana Activation: The body is activated, making it easier to absorb mana for a while.
The option had a condition of "for a while." It would probably last about two weeks.
He'd have to squeeze all the benefits out of it during that time.
"Alright, time to unfold the magic circle."
Yoo Baekjun spread the scroll on the floor. After hesitating for a moment, he shouted loudly.
"Master Han Seonga! Come to my room!"
"Yes, you called, young master."
"Ugh!"
The moment he called her name, Han Seonga burst through the door as if she'd been waiting.
She was so fast it gave him goosebumps.
"Uh, where were you that you came so quickly?"
"I was waiting in the hallway."
"I thought I gave you a room…"
"I didn't have much to do, so I was reading a skill book in the hallway."
"I-I see."
Yoo Baekjun cleared his throat.
"The reason I called you, Master Han Seonga, is because I need you to infuse some mana here."
"Mana, understood. That's not difficult."
Vmmm! As Han Seonga infused the scroll with mana, a massive magic circle appeared on the floor.
Yoo Baekjun sat down on top of it.
"Mm, good."
"Young master, what is this?"
"A magic circle that helps with mana cultivation. You can use it too when I'm not."
"Hmm, thank you."
Yoo Baekjun took a swig of the tonic he had prepared in advance and immediately activated his cultivating method.
Hoooh! He could feel more mana than usual surrounding him. And thanks to the tonic's effects, he could absorb all of it.
'Two hours should be enough.'
Yoo Baekjun closed his eyes and focused. Han Seonga leaned against the wall silently and stayed in place until the cultivation was complete.
And exactly two hours later—
– Concentration is better than usual. Due to the effect of the Heaven-Surging Mind Technique, Mana stat has increased by 2.
– Due to the effect of Yoo Baekjun's Special Tonic, Mana stat has increased by an additional 1.
– Due to the effect of the cultivation magic circle, Mana stat has increased by an additional 1.
His Mana stat increased by four at once.
Yoo Baekjun opened his status window.
[Yoo Baekjun]
Strength: B (33/100) Agility: B (30/100)
Stamina: B (44/100) Mana: B (37/100)
[Innate Ability: Martial God's Book (EX, 2★)]
[Trait: Heavenly Martial Physique (S), Energizer (C)]
[Skill: Oriental Medicine Formulation (B), Mobility Technique (C, 1★), …...]
The rate of stat growth was still slow.
His skills hadn't improved at all. That was natural, since he hadn't done any real training yesterday or today.
'To raise my stats, I either need to train or go hunting.'
Yoo Baekjun looked at the bag holding the corpse of the Snow Tiger.
It seemed like it was finally time to start the
'Hmm… It might be a bit much to handle alone.'
He glanced at Han Seonga.
Since arriving yesterday, she'd been completely absorbed in reading skill books. It looked like she still hadn't learned any magic yet.
To clear the Tears of Snowfield quest, having someone who could use magic would be a huge help.
"Hmm, what to do…"
Should he wait until Han Seonga finished learning?
Creeeak.
While he was hesitating, the door opened.
In came Choi Seungmin, holding some snacks, apparently thinking the young master would be hungry.
"Young master, you must be hungry. Please eat."
"Oh, thanks."
Yoo Baekjun absentmindedly chewed on the fried tofu sushi that Choi Seungmin had made.
As he poured tea, Choi Seungmin suddenly brought something up like he had just remembered it.
"Oh, young master. Did you hear?"
"Hear what?"
"About the people arriving from the Magic Tower today. Among them is your ex-fiancée."
"… What?"
"Your ex-fiancée."
Yoo Baekjun's mouth dropped open. He couldn't hide his shock and shook his head in disbelief.
Ex-fiancée?
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You know, engagement. When a man and woman agree to—"
"How does that even work?"
"…Pardon?"
Choi Seungmin looked baffled.
But the truly baffled one was Yoo Baekjun himself. Ex-fiancée? A fiancée, period?
'That can't be right.'
He had played the Yoo Baekjun route more than once. This guy never had a fiancée.
There wasn't even a backstory about him ever being engaged.
But an ex-fiancée?
"Uh, hey, w-wait. What's her name?"
"Young master, isn't it a bit much to forget your ex-fiancée's name?"
"Just tell me! Who is it?"
Choi Seungmin chuckled.
"Jin Seoyeon. Jin. Seo. Yeon."
"Ji-Jin Seo…"
The name made Yoo Baekjun reel.
Han Seonga, who had been watching, rushed over in surprise, but he waved her off.
Jin Seoyeon? Could it really be the Jin Seoyeon he knew? Surely not. Maybe just someone with the same name.
But there was only one Jin Seoyeon in the Magic Tower.
"Haa…"
Jin Seoyeon.
Successor to the Magic Tower, and alongside Han Changwoo, one of the game's main protagonists.
She had tremendous magic talent and breathtaking beauty.
Even in TV ads for Heroes Road, she appeared as the main character with Han Changwoo.
'Since those two are the actual protagonists.'
There were five playable characters.
Han Changwoo, Jin Seoyeon, Paeng Soyoung, Kang Yijun, and Yoo Baekjun. But the last three were more like supporting roles.
The real protagonists were the first two. Even the developers pushed them as the stars.
'She's cold and prickly. Takes great pride in her own abilities and the Magic Tower she's to inherit.'
In her own route, she appeared weakened due to difficulty balancing, but in others, she was a monster.
She started off with S- and A-rank traits. But the problem—
'She becomes a villain.'
Jin Seoyeon's storyline was unusual.
In her own route, she was a hero, but in others, she often turned into a villain.
The reason was simple.
'During the second major event—the Magic Tower Collapse—she loses her mind.'
The Magic Tower she took pride in crumbles, and most of its members die.
Unable to cope with the loss, she falls into darkness, seeking revenge.
She reappears during the third major event, and when she does—
'Mad Witch Jin Seoyeon wipes South Korea off the map…'
Yoo Baekjun trembled.
In the game, you could just shrug it off. "Oh well, couldn't stop Jin Seoyeon's fall. Let's try again next run."
But now?
'If I don't stop her, I die.'
He had to stop her.
In a way, it was actually fortunate. Having the title of ex-fiancée might make it easier to approach her…
"…Would it, though?"
"Excuse me? What do you mean?"
"How would you feel if an ex-fiancée suddenly acted friendly? Master Han Seonga?"
"I'd feel horrible. All clingy and slimy."
"Direct and clear. I like that. Thanks for the input."
Hmm. Yoo Baekjun let out a low hum.
He needed information. He had never seen this "engaged to Jin Seoyeon" plotline before.
'To prevent the collapse of the Magic Tower, I need a status that lets me come and go freely.'
Being engaged would be perfect for that.
But how was he supposed to get engaged again to someone he'd already broken off with?
"Hey, Seungmin. What was my relationship with Jin Seoyeon like? Did we break up because we hated each other?"
"No, not exactly. The clan head just, um, well…"
"Just say he was disappointed."
"Yes, he was disappointed and gave up on you completely. That's when the engagement was called off."
"What did he say?"
"He said a woman with that much talent didn't suit such an incompetent son…"
Thanks a lot, Father.
Yoo Baekjun held his aching head.
"So it wasn't a fight. Just broken off because of the adults."
"Yes. I believe you were in middle school then. And, uh, personally, I think Jin Seoyeon did like you."
"..."
Yoo Baekjun gaped in shock again.
"…You sure that's not just your imagination?"
"No, sir. Jin Seoyeon isn't the type to care only about talent. You two got along well when you were engaged."
"Now that I think about it, I remember seeing that too."
Even Han Seonga chimed in.
"When she visited, your expression would brighten. You'd even go out to play together."
"Goodness…"
A bitter laugh escaped him.
That cold and prickly Jin Seoyeon, hanging out and laughing?
Was that even possible?
'No, actually… This is great.'
If he could somehow rebuild their relationship, he might be able to prevent the Magic Tower Collapse.
Not only that, but it'd also be useful to have ties with such a major organization.
There was a lot to gain.
"Jin Seoyeon, Jin Seoyeon…"
"Are you feeling regretful, young master?"
"No, not like that. Just, hmm…"
Yoo Baekjun gestured at Choi Seungmin.
"Go get me some sweet red bean jelly."
"Red bean jelly? You don't usually eat that."
"Craving it today. The expensive, handmade kind if possible. You know, the ones sent as gifts to the clan."
"Not in our residence, but I'll check with the clan."
Choi Seungmin rushed out. Yoo Baekjun sat there groaning and deep in thought.
Han Seonga said she'd wait in the hallway again and followed Seungmin out.
'Now that I think about it, what happens to Yoo Baekjun in routes that aren't his own?'
He dug through his memory.
In routes where he wasn't the main character, Yoo Baekjun lost the succession war and died.
Even if the player tried to save him, there was no way. He just never left the Sword Saint Clan.
Yoo Baekjun sighed.
'Poor bastard.'
Anyway, Jin Seoyeon.
This is a good opportunity. If he could get her help, the Tears of Snowfield quest would be much easier.
She said she was exploring Seorak Mountain, right? He could use that as an excuse to ask her for help with his own task.
'In that case, maybe I should learn the trait now.'
To fully benefit from the Tears of Snowfield event, there was one necessary trait.
Yoo Baekjun opened the Martial God's Book.