Chapter 20: Contact (6)

The Collector’s physical abilities were beyond imagination.

Not only could it leap dozens of meters in a single bound, but when moving on all fours, it could even climb up the exterior walls of buildings.

Han-seong muttered with a surprised face:

“This thing is a complete monster, isn’t it?”

At the same time, he understood. The reason why controlling the Collector consumed so much mana.

Upon reaching its destination, the Collector took out the prepared sketchbook and began communicating with Ha-eun. Fortunately, the conversation concluded within the expected range.

“Then I’ll gratefully accept it. Thank you.”

Ha-eun hugged the skillbook preciously.

Having finished his business, Han-seong moved the Collector back towards the rear entrance of the officetel.

There was still work to be done.

‘Alchemist Lee Ji-hye.’

The creator of the mana recovery potion.

Han-seong intended to make contact with her.

To negotiate directly with Ji-hye without going through Tae-min. Now that he had secured her location, it was only a matter of time before bringing her.

‘And…’

There was also something that bothered him a little.

When he looked earlier through Detection and Precise Observation, he noticed that Ji-hye was currently staying on the top floor of the shopping mall.

But there was something strange.

Zombies controlled by Tae-min were stationed on all the stairs leading to the floor below.

‘…As if keeping watch.’

All the zombies’ gazes were directed towards the top floor. If they were preparing for potential intruders, it should have been the opposite.

This meant that Ji-hye was being confined to prevent her from escaping freely.

‘Then he’s no different from that man.’

Bae Hyeon-seok, who had seized control of the underground mall through violence.

Han-seong narrowed his eyes.

Though he’d need to observe a bit more to be sure, if this assumption was true, then Tae-min would need to be guarded against just like Hyeon-seok.

Crack! Crunch!

While Han-seong was lost in thought, the Collector arrived at the rooftop. Soon after, Ji-hye’s figure came into view, but her condition seemed a bit strange.

“Huh? Why is she in a place like that?”

Ji-hye had climbed over the rooftop railing to the outside.

It was a precarious sight, as if she would fall at any moment if she took one more step forward. At this, Han-seong manipulated the Collector’s arm to snatch her up.

Whoosh! Whoooom!

The Collector safely arrived at the center of the rooftop with Ji-hye. After a brief check, Han-seong used precise control to place Ji-hye inside the Collector’s stomach.

‘It’s a bit rough, but can’t be helped.’

Since direct contact was necessary for negotiation.

Also, for the Collector to climb down the exterior wall, it needed to move on all fours. With no spare hands, this method was unavoidable.

Anyway, the objective was achieved. So he called the Collector back to the officetel.

But then.

“Ugh!”

A sudden headache struck Han-seong.

A phenomenon he was quite familiar with by now. A signal that his remaining mana had fallen below half.

Han-seong let out a bitter laugh.

“I only controlled it for about 10 minutes…”

To think it would consume half already.

The fuel efficiency is bad, too bad.

Feeling the need for mana recovery potions once again, he had the Collector come to the front of the room.

Thud! Thoom!

The sound of the Collector arriving was heard.

Afterwards, he took out Ji-hye, who had been stored in the Collector’s stomach. Seeing her eyes rolled back and motionless, it seemed she had fainted.

Well, that worked out. Han-seong laid Ji-hye down in the hallway, then decided to recover his mana first.

[Entering Rapid Meditation.]

A special function of meditation that can recover 1.5% mana per second for 30 seconds. If only the cooldown wasn’t so long, it would have been good.

As he was inwardly lamenting, around that time.

[Recovered 45% of maximum mana.]

[Exiting Rapid Meditation.]

The headache that had been plaguing him disappeared.

Han-seong pulled his wheelchair to the entrance and opened the door leading outside. Then he reached out and lightly tapped the Collector’s back.

“Auto mode, switch to defense stance.”

[Replica: Collector]

[Switching to Auto Mode.]

[Stance Change: Defense]

The Collector hunched down.

It used its large body to completely block the front door. Then it stretched its arms and legs to the walls, restricting Ji-hye’s movement.

A measure to prevent her from screaming and running away as soon as she woke up. Just then.

“Ugh, uugh…”

Ji-hye regained consciousness.

Then she suddenly started vomiting.

“Urgh! Bleurgh!”

What’s this? Is she feeling sick?

For a moment he wondered, but soon realized the cause. The Collector’s excessive movement probably caused motion sickness.

Some time later, Ji-hye barely managed to come to her senses.

‘What’s going on? I, I was definitely…’

On the rooftop of a building?

On the other hand, the scene that entered her current view was a dark corridor with all the lights off. Then she saw bizarrely shaped arms blocking the escape route.

The elite monster Collector.

At that moment, her memory came back.

The memory of being kidnapped by the Collector that suddenly appeared while she was on the rooftop. As Ji-hye’s complexion turned pale, suddenly an unfamiliar voice was heard.

“It seems you’ve regained consciousness.”

A voice coming from beyond the Collector.

Though somewhat low and muffled, it was clearly a human voice. Ji-hye was startled and spoke towards where the voice came from.

“Wh-where is this? And you are…”

“First, calm down and have some water.”

At that moment, one of the Collector’s arms bent grotesquely and reached behind. Then it brought something and handed it to Ji-hye.

A 1-liter water bottle.

Seeing the bright blue liquid inside that looked like windshield washer fluid, Ji-hye’s eyes widened. It was something very familiar to her.

‘Mana recovery potion!’

At the same time, she seemed to know who the person beyond the Collector was. Currently, there were only two people who could have this.

Ji-hye grasped the potion with trembling hands.

Even though it was a potion, it was still made with water, so it should at least quench her thirst.

Gulp! Gulp!

As she drank, she felt the tension in her body ease just a little. Meanwhile, hearing the sound of Ji-hye drinking the potion, Han-seong narrowed his eyes.

‘Seems there’s no poison.’

The fact that she drank without hesitation, knowing it was a potion she made herself, was proof.

After waiting a while longer, there didn’t seem to be any changes in Ji-hye’s body.

Well then, shall we get to the main point?

“I am the Mage.”

First, a self-introduction.

Ji-hye wasn’t surprised or flustered.

She had already guessed Han-seong’s identity to some extent from the mana potion.

Han-seong briefly explained about the Collector, then revealed why he had brought Ji-hye here.

“The reason I brought you here is because I have a proposal to make. I apologize for using rough methods out of necessity.”

“A-a proposal?”

Ji-hye asked back in a trembling voice.

Han-seong nodded and replied.

“I’ll provide room and board, along with a safe zone where you won’t be attacked by monsters. In return, please make mana recovery potions for me.”

At those words, she couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.

The speculation she had briefly entertained on the rooftop had become reality.

‘As expected, he’s the same type.’

Though he called it a proposal, it was essentially coercion.

In the end, just like Tae-min, he intended to confine her and use her as a tool for making potions.

Ji-hye let out a faint sigh.

“…What if I refuse?”

It didn’t matter anymore.

Rather than feeling the pain of making potions every time, it would be better to die. She also hated being treated like a tool.

With a half-resigned expression, Ji-hye thought of the Mage who would be beyond the Collector.

‘I wonder how he’ll react?’

Threats? Torture? Or will he try to tame her through gaslighting like Tae-min?

Whatever it was, she was tired now.

Ji-hye slumped down lifelessly, waiting for the Mage’s answer. But a moment later, an unexpected response came back.

“Ah, then I’ll send you back.”

“…Pardon?”

Ji-hye asked back blankly.

He’ll send her back? Just like that?

Her voice trembled faintly. On the other hand, Han-seong spoke in the same tone as before.

“I have no intention of forcing you. I don’t have the right to order you to make potions against your will. So if you’re not willing, you’re free to go back.”

No particular response came from Ji-hye.

She was probably considering it. After waiting for a while, Han-seong spoke again.

“However, if you still have room for consideration, I’ll provide additional conditions that are much better than your current situation.”

“Better conditions…?”

“I’ll pay a small amount of Coins as compensation every time you make a potion. Of course, I’ll provide all the ingredients needed for potion crafting as well.”

Ji-hye was surprised.

“Y-you’ll give Coins even though Coins are used in making potions, separate from that?”

“Huh? Coins are needed for potion crafting?”

“Ah! Well, 10 Coins are used as an ingredient for each potion. So you’re saying you’ll give Coins separately from the Coins used as ingredients…”

“Yes, I’ll pay you.”

It was the first time he learned that Coins were used in potion crafting, but 10 Coins wasn’t a problem.

Currently, he had about 5,000 Coins.

This was the result of sweeping away the zombies in the area. Since he could always earn more Coins anyway, Han-seong spoke nonchalantly.

“Next, if I obtain an Alchemist’s skillbook or equipment from loot, I’ll give you the first right to purchase it.”

Alchemist is a rare job.

Probably as few in number as Healers.

Because Han-seong had never seen any skillbooks or equipment related to Alchemists so far. Not even in the auction house.

In other words, the drop rate itself is extremely low.

So even if one does appear, it’s a problem.

‘Skillbooks for jobs with few numbers are likely to remain as bad inventory.’

Like the Healer’s skillbook, Turn Undead.

That’s why he proposed this condition.

It’s good for Ji-hye because she can buy new skills, and it’s good for Han-seong because he can quickly get rid of bad inventory. It’s a win-win situation.

Meanwhile, around that time, Ji-hye was lost in thought, mulling over the conditions Han-seong had set.

‘These are certainly good conditions.’

Just the fact that he would pay Coins in exchange for making mana recovery potions was groundbreaking, not to mention providing priority purchase rights for skillbooks.

It was truly worlds apart from Tae-min, who had only tried to exploit her. For a moment, light returned to Ji-hye’s eyes that had been lifeless for so long.

‘However…’

There was one thing that bothered her.

It was about concentration.

If he demanded a large quantity of potion production like Tae-min, nothing would really change.

“C-can I add one more condition?”

Ji-hye, who had been pondering, opened her mouth.

In the most careful tone possible.

“I know I’m not in a position to set conditions, but actually, the potion crafting skill consumes a lot of concentration…”

She explained the various side effects and penalties that come when concentration drops, and Han-seong, who had been listening silently, nodded.

As if understanding what she meant.

‘It’s exactly the same as when mana is consumed.’

If there was any difference, it was that concentration couldn’t be recovered with potions? Han-seong grasped what Ji-hye was trying to say.

“S-so when my concentration falls below half, I need to stop production and rest, and I was wondering what you thought about that…”

“Then of course you should rest before working again. There’s no particular benefit in overexerting yourself.”

Han-seong replied nonchalantly.

As if asking why she was inquiring about something so obvious. At those words, Ji-hye was startled and asked again.

“R-really? Is that okay?”

“Of course. If your concentration falls below half, make sure to rest without fail. For your health, if nothing else.”

Han-seong understood Ji-hye’s difficulties well, having experienced the mana depletion penalty himself. Also, there’s a limit to how many potions one can drink in a day.

‘The limit would be 2 to 3 liters at most.’

One could drink a bit more if pushed, but still, it’s not like you can drink 10 liters a day.

We’re not water-drinking hippos here.

So for now, receiving about five bottles a day should be sufficient. Having made his judgment, Han-seong silently waited for Ji-hye’s answer.

Meanwhile, around that time.

Ji-hye kept mulling over what she had just heard.

She can rest. Those words kept echoing in her mind, and suddenly her vision began to blur.

Soon, tears flowed down her cheeks.

“…Huh?”

Why am I suddenly like this?

For a moment she wondered, but after a while, she could understand why the tears were coming.

If it’s hard, take breaks while doing it.

The moment she heard those words, she felt her exhausted and worn-out spirit being comforted.

Tae-min, who had treated her merely as a tool for making potions. In contrast, Han-seong saw her as a fellow human being and showed respect.

Receiving this warm treatment for the first time since the Upheaval, she finally couldn’t hold back her tears.

“Hic! Uwaaaaah.”

Ji-hye burst into tears like a child.

As if pouring out all the resentment she had endured.

Meanwhile, Han-seong was quite taken aback. He couldn’t understand the sudden emotional fluctuation. Then suddenly, a possible reason occurred to him.

‘Did they not give her time to rest over there?’

Judging by her reaction, it seemed so.

Tae-min, who had confined Ji-hye to the top floor.

He must have overworked Ji-hye for the sake of trading with Han-seong. Otherwise, there’s no way Ji-hye would show such a reaction.

‘I’m glad I brought her.’

If he had accepted the deal with Tae-min, Ji-hye would have continued to suffer afterwards.

As he silently listened to the crying, suddenly a person came to mind. It was his younger sister whom he hadn’t met for 10 years.

‘Yuna.’

His sister seven years younger, Kang Yuna.

When he was diagnosed with lower body paralysis and shut himself in his room, Yuna was about ten years old, so she would probably be around Ji-hye’s age now.

Thinking about that made him feel strangely concerned.

“Sniff! I’m sorry. For showing such a sight…”

At that moment, Ji-hye spoke again.

Her voice trembled less, having somewhat composed her emotions. A moment later, she carefully explained why she had suddenly burst into tears.

This wasn’t much different from Han-seong’s guess.

After silently listening to her story, Han-seong suddenly asked Ji-hye an unexpected question.

“Do you have family?”

“Huh? Ah, yes. But why…”

“Have you been in contact with them since the Upheaval?”

“…No. I haven’t.”

Her voice turned gloomy.

Ji-hye revealed that she had lost her smartphone while fleeing after the Upheaval. At this, Han-seong pondered for a moment before speaking again.

“If your home isn’t too far from here, I can check if your family is safe.”

“R-really?! But how…”

“I have a skill that makes it possible.”

Ji-hye’s eyes widened.

Honestly, it was hard to believe, but there was nothing to lose anyway. She revealed her address without hesitation, and Han-seong immediately unfolded the map.

‘Gunja-dong, Gwangjin-gu…’

Fortunately, it’s within the observation range.

Having grasped the detailed address, Han-seong pinpointed the exact coordinates and used the Precise Observation function.

“You said it was Building 110, Apartment 1602, right?”

“Yes, yes…!”

“Is it the house with a golden cuckoo decoration hanging inside the front door?”

“…! Th-that’s right! How did you know?”

“Because I’m looking at it now.”

Han-seong answered calmly.

Afterwards, he mentioned the house structure, and Ji-hye’s eyes grew larger with each description.

This wasn’t a level of detail that could be made up.

So he really was seeing everything.

Ji-hye felt all her doubts disappear and unconsciously squeezed her eyes shut.

‘Please, please…!’

Praying that all her family members were safe.

Meanwhile, Han-seong moved his observation point and thoroughly searched the house. There were no signs of life, and no zombies visible either.

As he was heading towards the living room.

Something caught his attention.

‘A letter?’

To Ji-hye.

We don’t have time to write in detail.

First of all, we’re safe. And we’re about to leave here soon to go to Uncle’s unit.

If you come home and read this letter, call Uncle’s number. If it’s difficult to make a call, come to Uncle’s unit.

I pray you’re safe.

Love, Dad

‘Is her uncle a soldier?’

It seems so, given that they mention coming to the unit. Anyway, the content of the letter itself was hopeful, so he told Ji-hye about this.

“Your parents don’t seem to be here, but instead there’s a letter on the living room table.”

“A-a letter? What does it say…”

“I’ll read it to you.”

Han-seong relayed the contents of the letter without missing a single word. As soon as the whole story ended, Ji-hye collapsed to the floor.

“Ah, aah…!”

Her legs gave out as the tension released. Knowing that her family was safe, Ji-hye burst into tears once again.

“Thank goodness. Really, thank… Hic!”

Some time later.

Han-seong was able to hear about Ji-hye’s family situation from her, having composed her emotions.

The fact that it was a military family since her grandfather’s time.

And that her uncle was serving as an active-duty general. As she explained her circumstances, Ji-hye soon carefully added:

“Um, could you possibly look at the military base too?”

“If it’s not too far from here.”

“Well, it’s in the Suwon area…”

Then it’s impossible for now.

Han-seong explained that it would only be possible after achieving a higher grade than now, and Ji-hye nodded as if understanding.

“Then, going back to the main point, I’d like to ask you to make potions under the conditions I mentioned earlier. Of course, it’s not coercion, so feel free to…”

“I’ll do it.”

“…Pardon?”

“I’ll cooperate with you, Mage-nim.”

An immediate answer came back without hesitation.

Han-seong closed his mouth, and Ji-hye’s eyes shone.

‘There’s no reason to refuse.’

The Mage is different from Tae-min or Hyeon-seok.

The conditions and treatment are much better than Tae-min’s. Moreover, he even checked if her family was safe without being asked.

‘This person is alright.’

She can trust him.

Ji-hye was convinced of this.

Soon after, with a much brighter face, she asked:

“What should I do first?”

It was the moment when the mana shortage crisis was resolved.