Chapter 07
[Are you truly satisfied with such paltry sums of money?]
His words made my entire body freeze.
It wasn’t a small amount to have earned in one night,
but as Cheonhwi said, compared to what I needed to earn, it was barely pocket change.
Still, what could I do?
“Would a large sum of money just fall from the sky if I sat around? I have to earn even this small amount.”
[Then instead of that shoddy plaster, why not make a real elixir?]
*’If he means a real one, is he talking about a grade 4 potion?’*
Was it that easy to make such a potion?
“I’d love to make a grade 4 potion, but I don’t know the recipe.”
[Do you mean to say that one who makes elixirs knows only one type?]
“Then, Cheonhwi-nim, do you happen to know the recipe?”
[This Venerable One is the master of Cheonmagyo. I know dozens of alchemical formulas.]
“Eh? Dozens?!”
At Cheonhwi’s words, my voice unconsciously rose.
“What?”
“Is he crazy?”
“Why is he shouting?”
I’d forgotten for a moment,
but the place I was talking to Cheonhwi was right in front of the Association building.
Shouting while looking at a cat…
I couldn’t blame them for thinking I was crazy.
*’First, I need to hide somewhere.’*
*-Tadadak.*
Avoiding people’s stares, I ducked into a narrow alley between buildings.
“This should be fine.”
Letting out a sigh of relief, I asked Cheonhwi.
“Do you really know that many potion recipes?”
[Do you dare think this Venerable One would speak falsehoods?]
Cheonhwi’s firm tone.
Of course, I didn’t think he’d lie.
*’But grade 4 potion recipes are treated as top secrets by each guild…’*
Did he really know them?
“Can you teach me that recipe?”
[You’re only polite at times like this.]
“Well. It’s my way of surviving.”
[A man without principles. Fine. I’ll teach you.]
“Really?! Thank you. I’ll take you home right away.”
[No. First, go to the medicine shop.]
“Medicine shop? What’s that?”
At my question, Cheonhwi sighed through his tiny mouth,
pressed me gently with his blunt front paw, and said.
*-Kkuuk.*
[Such a foolish one. You don’t even know a medicine shop. Do you think you can make an elixir without medicinal ingredients?]
So the medicine shop he spoke of was a herb store.
*’He didn’t have to call me foolish for not knowing.’*
“That’s because you use unfamiliar words. If you mean medicinal ingredients, are you talking about a herb store?”
[Do you dare tell this Venerable One to bother with the local terminology?]
“Of course not. A lowly one like me should understand the words of someone like Cheonhwi-nim by intuition.”
[…Sly bastard.]
“Thank you for the compliment. Well then, I’ll head to a place where we can buy ingredients.”
Holding the grumbling Cheonhwi in my arms, I headed to the bus stop.
—
*–*
[This stop is Suwon General Agricultural Market.]
*-Ddingdong.*
*-Kkiiik.*
*-Tadadak.*
As soon as I got off the bus,
a market so large it didn’t fit in my line of sight spread out before me.
[Is this the place you spoke of?]
“Yes. It’s the largest market nearby.”
[Would there be ingredients for an elixir in a place like this?]
“There’s a street of herb stores inside. You should be able to get most ingredients there.”
[Most ingredients, you say.]
“You’ll be surprised when you see it.”
And so, I walked into the market with Cheonhwi.
From the entrance, countless shops lined the street.
Starting with the greasy, savory smell of pancakes,
the spicy, pungent scent of tteokbokki, and the porky aroma of sundae,
and the various smells of soup stocks from different stews.
*-Kkoreureuk.*
*’Did I not eat breakfast? My stomach is growling…’*
I unconsciously looked down.
Cheonhwi had his eyes closed,
his pink, moist nose twitching.
*’He’s so cute. Should I buy him something to eat?’*
“Would you like something to eat?”
*-Pareuk.*
At my words, Cheonhwi quickly turned his body and shook his head.
[No. Hurry and go see the ingredients first.]
Despite his firm refusal, his nose kept twitching.
*’What are you going to do about that twitching nose?’*
“Yes. If we stay here much longer, I won’t be able to resist either.”
We pushed through the appetizing smells and walked further into the market.
*’I’ll buy some stuff on the way back after I get the ingredients.’*
Passing by the sweet and sour scent of fruit and the fresh smell of greenery,
a bitter herbal scent greeted us.
*’We’re here.’*
Soon, we arrived at a street.
Long rows of shops displayed countless medicinal ingredients.
“This is the herb store street.”
[It’s not as shabby as I thought.]
“It’s the largest in the surrounding area.”
[Stop taking pride in things that have nothing to do with you and move. Look around and get going.]
“Yes… Would it kill you to praise me once in a while?”
[What? Do you dare grumble at this Venerable One?]
“No, I wasn’t. Shall we start with that shop over there?”
[Aish. How am I supposed to make a proper person out of this one?]
Holding the sighing Cheonhwi, I headed to a nearby shop.
“Hello.”
A woman who appeared to be the shop owner came out to greet me.
“Just let me know if you need anything.”
Cheonhwi raised his small front paw and pointed to one side.
[Hmm… I’d like to see that.]
“Can I take a look at that?”
“Agarwood? Here.”
*-Tok.*
I received a small, dark, lumpy piece of wood.
*’Agarwood, huh. It just looks like a piece of wood.’*
The texture was brittle like tree bark, and it felt quite light.
*’Is it good? I can’t really tell.’*
Carefully holding the agarwood so Cheonhwi could see it, he sniffed at it with his nose.
Seeing this, the owner shouted in surprise.
“Hey! What do you think you’re doing?!”
“Yes?”
“Do you know how much that costs?! What if your dirty cat licks this premium agarwood?!”
The shop owner got angry.
Cheonhwi bristled all over, hissing.
[Kyaaak! How dare you treat this Venerable One like a beast! And you call that trash a premium product?!]
The shop owner called it premium.
Cheonhwi called it trash.
*’One of them must be lying…’*
If so, the choice of who to believe was obvious.
“You call this premium? It’s clearly a low-grade product.”
“Wha… what?! How would you know that!”
At the owner’s words, I glanced at Cheonhwi.
Since he’d said it was trash so confidently, he’d have the answer.
Noticing my gaze,
he snorted and explained.
[Hah. Cut it in half. The inside will be hollow.]
Hollow inside?
*’It looks dark on the outside too, though…’*
Would my doubts change anything?
“We’ll know if we cut it. If it’s white inside, it’s a low-grade product.”
“Wh… why would I cut such a precious thing! I’m not selling it. Go away!”
The owner’s reaction proved
Cheonhwi was right.
*’As expected, he’s trustworthy in matters like this.’*
“Okay. I’ll be going. Sell proper goods next time.”
“Aish. This is bad luck!”
Leaving the angry owner behind,
I moved on to another place.
[You’re quite the sly one yourself. Stirring things up there.]
“Doesn’t he deserve it for treating Cheonhwi-nim like some dirty cat that might lick anything?”
Cheonhwi was so cute.
Calling him a dirty cat was just wrong.
[Yes. How dare they treat this Venerable One like a beast. Scolding them isn’t even enough. It seems you’ve finally come to your senses.]
Look at that.
That small cotton ball looking so proud.
*’He’s not just cute. He’s someone who helps me too.’*
If someone disrespected someone precious to me, they deserved to pay the price.
“Let’s go to another shop.”
[Proceed.]
We passed several shops.
When we reached one,
Cheonhwi abruptly stopped me.
[Stop for a moment.]
“Here?”
[This place is decent.]
Had Cheonhwi ever given such a positive evaluation?
*’He always had at least one grumble…’*
He seemed to like it, carefully examining the shop.
*’Are we buying here? What will we buy? It’s bound to be something revolutionary, right?’*
Even with grade 5 potions, he’d cut the material cost in half.
Then it must be the same for grade 4 potions.
*’It’s time for the scale of my earnings to change!’*
With a happy heart, I looked for the shop owner.
“Hello?!”
An elderly woman came out from inside the shop and said.
“Oh my. A young man has brought his honored guest.”
“Hello.”
[This old woman has a good eye.]
“What are you looking for?”
[Bring me that item first. I need to examine it.]
Pointing to what he indicated, I asked.
“Can I take a look at that?”
“Agarwood? Of course.”
*-Tuk.*
A piece of wood the size of my pinky finger was placed in my palm.
It had a light dark brown color and felt as heavy as a stone,
so much so that I couldn’t believe it was a piece of wood.
*’It’s completely different from the last one.’*
I carefully showed it to Cheonhwi.
He nodded in satisfaction.
[This is definitely good. This is genuine agarwood. The piece you’re holding will be sufficient.]
“How much is this?”
“That? Just give me 1 million won.”
“…Huh? How much?”
“One! Million! Won! Are you deaf, young man?”
No way.
A piece of wood this small cost 1 million won?!
My total assets were 2.1 million won.
*’You want me to burn half of that on a piece of wood?!’*
The average price of a grade 4 potion was 1 million won.
If the ingredients cost over 1 million, then the tail was wagging the dog, wasn’t it?
*’This isn’t revolutionary, it’s a shortcut to bankruptcy!’*
My hand, holding the agarwood, trembled.
Without paying me any mind, Cheonhwi pointed to another ingredient.
[I should examine that too. Hurry and show it to me.]
“…I’m sorry. I don’t have enough money. I’ll come back next time.”
[You fool. Why are you doing this?]
Ignoring Cheonhwi’s reaction,
I put down the agarwood and left the shop.
*’1 million won…’*
After rushing away, I finally reached a quiet spot.
*-Poljjak.*
Cheonhwi, who had been in my arms, jumped onto my shoulder.
*-Pok.*
He immediately swung his front paw and hit the back of my head.
“Ow!”
[You fool. Why did you make such a fuss and rush off like that?!]
“Do we really have to buy that?”
[To make the elixir, it is necessary.]
“No. If a grade 4 potion sells for 1 million won, and just one ingredient costs 1 million, who would make it?”
[What? Grade 4? Do you dare compare the Small Rejuvenation Pill, a treasure even in Sorim, to your shoddy plaster?]
“Small Rejuvenation Pill? What’s that again?”
[Ignorant fool. You don’t even know the Small Rejuvenation Pill, one of Sorim’s three great elixirs?]
“You were trying to make something that great?”
[Did this Venerable One not say he would teach you the alchemical formula for a true elixir?]
“I thought you were going to teach me the recipe for a grade 4 potion.”
[No matter how great this Venerable One is, how could I know the formula for an elixir I have never even seen?]
“Ah…”
That’s right.
Cheonhwi had never actually seen a grade 4 potion.
The only potions he’d seen so far
were the grade 5 potions I’d made.
“Why did I mistakenly think it was the recipe for a grade 4 potion?”
[Hah. ‘Same bed, different dreams’ – that’s exactly the situation.]
*’I was so excited thinking the scale of my earnings was about to change!’*
They say the greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment.
All the strength drained from my body.
[For you to presume this Venerable One’s will with your paltry knowledge…]
“I’m sorry. I was short-sighted.”
[There is no more time to delay. Hurry and acquire the ingredients first.]
“I don’t think that’s going to be possible.”
[Do you dare block this Venerable One’s path?]
“It’s not me blocking your path, Cheonhwi-nim, it’s money.”
[What?]
“You were going to buy more ingredients besides the agarwood, right?”
[Of course. A fine elixir like the Small Rejuvenation Pill requires dozens of ingredients.]
“I don’t have the money to buy the ingredients for that fine elixir. Let’s just make grade 4 potions.”
[Did this Venerable One not make himself clear? Even the Venerable One cannot…]
“I know. You haven’t seen it. But then, wouldn’t you know if you tasted it yourself?”
Cheonhwi, who had identified the problems just by watching me make a grade 5 potion once.
If he could taste a grade 4 potion,
he might be able to deduce the ingredients and method used.
*’Then I could make it!’*
If it’s ‘same bed, different dreams,’
then I just need to make my dream the reality.
