Chapter 137

Chapter 137. Sprout (6)

In that memory, it absorbed the vast amount of mana cascading towards me.

Given how bright the sight was, it meant I was outside the mother’s body, perhaps right after being born.

‘Why am I being shown this?’

As I looked at it with a peculiar eye, a thought blinked across my mind.

To confirm that thought, I first examined the corpse of the dead mother.

Just as I suspected, there were no teats.

“Could it be a male?”

No, that can’t be, because the condition of the offspring was too raw.

The umbilical cords weren’t even cut, and the blood smeared on their bodies had dried as it was.

‘Well, whether it’s neuter or hermaphrodite, there could be various variables.’

However, the fact that the dead one gave birth to the offspring couldn’t be denied.

But without teats? How did it originally feed them, then?

‘Could it possibly eat mana?’

So, did it pour mana before dying?

Indeed, the way it squirmed resembled pleading for food.

I released attribute mana to verify.

As I did, my mana flowed into the living offspring.

After a moment, I pulled the mana back as if gathering it, and the flow stopped abruptly.

“Whimper, whimper, whine!”

A reaction came almost instantly.

The newborn started to whimper and thrash around sadly.

When I let the mana flow again, it calmed down, but when I stopped it, it whimpered and cried.

“Clearly.”

Unlike most mammals and beasts that grow by nursing from their mother, this one seemed to consume mana.

As long as providing some wouldn’t cause me any significant loss, I let the attribute mana flow continuously.

The little thing, smaller than my fist, eagerly swallowed the mana.

It gulped down the mana with such vigor that I could feel its will to survive.

Then, at one point, it stopped taking in mana, as if its belly was too full to eat any more.

It no longer whimpered, either, signifying its hunger was sated.

I quietly watched the little one wriggle on my palm as if it were a bed.

“It’ll die if left here.”

It’s a newborn, unable to walk properly.

Left here, there’s a high chance it’d become a one-bite snack for monsters.

“Should I take it?”

I was curious about what the white spot signified and considered absorbing its mana.

But if it’s an unidentified type of mana, there’s no need for me to be the test subject.

“And it’s not big enough to be a threat.”

Observing until I discovered what it really was might not be a bad idea.

“Tsk.”

I clicked my tongue briefly and picked it up to stand up.

The unexpected company wasn’t entirely welcome.

“Since it’s a baby, it will require a lot of attention.”

I already barely had enough time for training and hunting, and now I had to spend it elsewhere.

Even though I wasn’t too thrilled, I took out an extra towel from my inventory and wrapped the newborn.

“I have no choice.”

My curiosity about its identity was enough to endure the immediate inconvenience.

Once I discovered what it was, I’d decide whether to absorb or not.

I held the newborn close and left.

* * *

“It’s done.”

As I signed the last contract, Jordan said with a smile.

Only then could I stretch my limbs.

“Real estate transactions are tedious here too.”

While not particularly strenuous, it left one feeling tired and bothered upon completion.

Transferring the title of a two-story building to be used as the party’s headquarters was exactly that.

Especially as my party members and I was considered outsiders, making the procedure a bit more complicated.

However, since it was a decided matter, we proceeded despite the hassle.

Thanks to that, by the fifth day after the main scenario ended, all legal procedures were completed.

In areas dependent on the laws of the Ferrell Kingdom, there were no problems.

As the contract concluded, the realtor and building owner stood up.

While Jordan saw them off, I looked around the interior.

“The scale is ample enough.”

The space was obtained with the idea of increasing party members, providing ample room.

Due to the funds diligently gathered from the safe at Vellego and the loot from a mission recommended by the system, no expense was spared.

“The location is good too.”

It’s close to the path leading to the temple and not far from the city area where shops are concentrated.

“Though the lighting is a bit lacking.”

But I wouldn’t be spending much time here during daylight anyway.

Satisfied with the new base, I nodded in approval.

In the meantime, the realtor and building owner left, and Jordan approached.

“I hear you plan to go back for a bit starting today.”

His words made me nod readily.

“Yes, I plan to go before advancing.”

Among the three divided fronts, a decision was made to advance further from the south, where Habon Castle is located.

The destination was Bilea Castle, two weeks to the west, and the final confirmed date was fifteen days from now.

“Two days have already passed since the internal decision was made…”

That left thirteen days until the next main scenario began.

With a clear date set, it made planning afterward much easier.

Amongst these, the first decision was to return to Earth.

“I’ll tidy up all remaining personal schedules this chance.”

In Yang Taeho’s case, he needed to donate a liver to his wife.

That’s why the return schedule, beginning today, was generously set for a week.

“Anticipating surgery the day after tomorrow, with five days for recovery.”

For players, that’s plenty.

A week after, I planned to return to Bihar and continue preparing to join the fight.

“Additionally, I should visit once as well.”

Over five months had passed since the server was connected.

If alive, I had promised Jonghun to return once every half year.

The decision was made because I likely wouldn’t be able to visit after the next main scenario started.

There were already plans to advance to Habon after Loborre.

In large-scale wars, participation would probably increase.

So now was the perfect timing for me to visit.

Yang Taeho and Kim Yul had already gone to Earth.

I was starting a bit later due to the building contract.

When I suggested my return to Earth, Jordan rummaged through his bag.

“Then, take this…”

Curious, I noticed it was a rather thick stack of papers.

“This is the result of the investigation into the shelter discovered earlier.”

“Ah.”

The underground bunker near the city Vimeta, that investigation result was what he referred to.

“I’ve added annotations for elements you may not recognize. I don’t think you’ll have difficulty examining it, but… if there’s anything unclear, please leave a comment. I’ll reply promptly after verifying.”

“You’re very meticulous. Thank you always.”

“I should be thanking you.”

Pushing his glasses up with a gentle smile, Jordan continued.

“The shelter discovered by Mr. K will be used by the Order army under our management. It’s in a very suitable position for use as a supply warehouse.”

This meant Palao would own it, and the Order army would use it.

“They wouldn’t have given it away for free.”

After all, other orders receive fees or compensation when helping Palao.

There weren’t any gratuitous acts among the Orders.

Knowing that fact, it was evident from Jordan’s uplifted mood that the Order gained significant benefits from that bunker.

“They seem to have gained a decent fixed income.”

That was its purpose when handed over to the Order, so it turned out well.

If Palao’s influence grew, gains would return to those affiliated, including me.

“That’s great.”

I calmly responded while stowing the stack of papers Jordan handed me into my inventory.

I planned to examine them later on Earth.

“I’d like to see you off, but I have to leave immediately to meet with the blacksmiths…”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll see you when I return.”

To return to Earth, I had to head to the temple.

Though it seemed unnecessary to bring the results personally, it was something I guessed.

It appeared as though he had other schedules lined up.

“Thank you for understanding. Have a safe trip.”

Since I never intended to have someone see me off, the farewell was brief.

After Jordan left.

I grabbed the bag I had prepared in advance and headed for the temple.

Standing before the gate I’d used several times while staying in Biharin, a map appeared as usual.

Though more colorful than the first time, the map of Bihar still had mostly dark areas.

Typically, I’d now choose Viceta or Loborre.

But today, my gaze drifted elsewhere.

「Return to Earth」

The button was at the bottom left of the map, at the very edge of my field of view—a button I’d never pressed since the connection to the server was established.

I consciously ignored that button all this while.

So as not to want to return so strongly that I’d never want to come back.

I’d ignored it to focus as much as possible on life there.

The rare decision to finally return made it a bit nerve-wracking, and a bit awkward, too.

As I stood, gathering my breath before the return, I pressed the button before it was too late.

「Do you want to return to Earth? (Y/N)」

Yes.

As I clicked the button consecutively, the view brightened.

「Returning to Earth.」

I closed my eyes to the unfamiliar yet familiar effect and then reopened them to find a new system log.

「Congratulations on your safe return!」

Through the bold letters, modern furniture and a computer came into view.

I had returned to Jonghun’s laboratory.

As I scanned the slightly unfamiliar room, I opened the second drawer of the desk.

Inside, items I left behind before going to Bihar were neatly placed.

I retrieved the phone, waiting for it to power on while approaching the window.

Under a grey sky dimmer than what I saw in Bihar, cars and asphalt roads, alongside densely packed buildings, filled the view.

Having watched the scene for over twenty years, it felt strangely unfamiliar.

Gazing at the cityscape to adapt, I noticed the people’s attire had grown thicker in layers.

The time passed in my absence hit me profoundly.

“Five months….”

Leaving in June when the heat was about to peak, I returned to find November ending.

After confirming the date on the phone, I stood frozen, rooted to the spot.

The usual reality had become unfamiliar, requiring time to acclimate.

Around ten minutes had passed.

I managed to re-enter my world, which I had distanced myself from, and finally called Jonghun.

However, speaking with him proved challenging.

『Ah… Professor Seo is in surgery at the moment, so it may not be possible to speak right now.』

“I see. I’ll leave a message instead.”

Hearing that Jonghun was in surgery, I decided to let him know of my return through a message.

Realizing I couldn’t dawdle here endlessly, I packed my belongings and left Jonghun’s laboratory.

Once I exited the hospital entirely, I retrieved another phone from my belongings.

I called the only number saved on that device.

“I wonder if they’ll pick up.”

As the signal tone grew longer, the thought became more prominent that they might not answer.

“Perhaps they changed their number?”

In that case, I’d have to find them again and teach them a solid lesson.

The longer the tone rang, the faster my strides became across the hospital corridor.

Fortunately, I didn’t need to go through the trouble of revisiting.

Shortly thereafter, the tone stopped abruptly, and a hardened voice resounded.

“Hello?”

Damned System