Chapter 02 - The Spring of Elixir (1)

It had now been 20 minutes since we entered the Abyss.

This damn body was already starting to get tired.

Back when I was Johan Raven, I once fought for three days and nights without even stopping to shit.

Wouldn't living in a body like this be like playing chess without your queen, rooks, bishops, and knights, left with only pawns?

It was a body that made you want to forfeit life itself.

“Ho-joong.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“How long has it been since you first held a sword?”

“Since I was seven, so I believe it has been about 16 years.”

“16 years……”

“I believe I still have a long way to go.”

“Yeah, it looks that way to my eyes too.”

Choi Ho-joong’s eyes wavered slightly, as if my response had perplexed him.

Slice!

Of course, even in the midst of that, Choi Ho-joong was steadily cutting down the charging goblins.

The cuts were clean, proving that his fundamentals were certainly well-established.

His mana management was also worthy of a passing grade.

However, his inefficient footwork was a bit grating.

It didn’t matter now since his opponents were goblins, but if he fought a master that way, it would create an opening.

And that one small opening is bound to grow larger as the fight drags on.

It could even decide the outcome of a match later on.

This was driving me crazy.

I wanted to point it out so badly.

This shitty habit of mine, where I couldn't just let even the tiniest flaw in swordsmanship slide, was something I needed to fix.

Hmm…….

Thinking of Choi Ho-joong as my man made it even harder to hold back.

“Ho-joong. Before you swing your sword.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

It seemed this damned habit of mine wasn't going to be fixed so easily.

“That little preparatory movement you make with your left foot, can't you just skip it?”

“……Pardon?”

“It seems to be a habit you’ve developed unconsciously, but it’s an eyesore.”

“I don’t quite understand what you mean……”

Slice!

At that moment, another goblin’s head fell to the ground.

“See? You did it again just now.”

The problem was that Choi Ho-joong himself was completely unaware of what I had pointed out.

Well, it was a minute detail that perhaps only I could see.

“If it bothers you, I will correct it.”

Correct it, my ass.

I could tell just by looking at his expression.

That he wasn't listening to a word I said.

“By the way, are you really alright? With the smell of blood, I mean.”

Look at this guy, changing the subject.

Well, it couldn't be helped since my words carried no authority.

I just wanted to soak my body in the Spring of Elixir as soon as possible.

***

The Spring of Elixir finally revealed itself amidst the thick fog.

The sight that unfolded before my eyes far exceeded my expectations.

It was called a spring, but its scale was nearly that of a lake.

It was so unbelievable, even seeing it with my own eyes, that the Elixir, which was so precious on the Kalia Continent, was overflowing in this place called the Abyss.

It seemed I would have to immerse myself in it to know for sure.

Whether this was the Elixir that I knew.

“Aren't you getting in?”

“I’m fine. I have no injuries.”

“Alright. Then wait here.”

Choi Ho-joong nodded and handed me a gown.

“Weren’t you supposed to take everything off before getting in?”

“You can’t see them from here because of the fog, but there are female hunters as well. They usually treat their wounds or status ailments in the spring on their way back from conquering the Abyss.”

“What does the presence of women have to do with getting in naked?”

“You’re joking, right?”

I'm not joking.

On the Kalia Continent, mixed bathing in public baths was the norm.

But seeing as there was a changing room someone had set up, it seemed the rules on Earth were a little different.

“Give it here.”

Without another word, I took the gown Choi Ho-joong handed me.

I changed into the gown and, leaving Choi Ho-joong behind, walked toward the spring.

Elixir was originally a colorless and odorless substance.

I wouldn’t know if this was the Elixir I wanted until I came into direct contact with it.

Swoosh.

From my ankles, past my knees and waist, up to my shoulders.

This sensation seeping into my skin was definitely familiar.

Bingo!

It was the very Elixir that I knew.

If so, it would be possible to heal my illness much faster.

I found a spot to sit and hurriedly drew up the speck of mana that existed in my dantian.

It had doubled in size since I first came to Earth, but a speck was still just a speck.

From now on, I planned to circulate this thing through every nook and cranny of my body to purify the contaminated flesh.

It was something I had done every day, cooped up in my room since coming to Earth, but today, its efficiency would be incomparably greater.

Thinking about it now, my entering Seo Ji-han’s body felt somewhat like destiny.

Seo Ji-han would overcome death because of me, and I, too, would live a second time because of Seo Ji-han’s body.

I originally had no great lingering attachment to life, but through my final exchange with the dragon, one thing I wished to achieve had emerged.

To reach a higher state.

In truth, before I met the dragon, I wasn't even sure that such a state existed.

I had always thought that I was the strongest being in the world and that I had seen the ultimate form of the sword.

But at the moment of my death, I knew for certain.

That had been my arrogance.

Anyway, this was good.

I learned that there was a path to go further, and I was fortunate enough to live a new life, so I could only be grateful for this astonishing fate.

‘It’s definitely different today.’

The Elixir greatly increased the efficiency of the process.

The speck of mana currently wandering inside my body poked at every corner.

The pain was much greater than usual, but this was proof that the healing process was occurring more actively.

By the way, this body was a mess, practically a corpse.

As if that thing called dungeon radiation was at all friendly with Seo Ji-han's body.

It was several times harder to operate the mana heart technique than it had been on the Kalia Continent.

“Hoo!”

At some point, I felt my concentration reach its limit.

I didn’t know how much time I had spent in the spring, but this was it for today.

My body wasn't something that could be fixed in a day or two anyway.

“Are you coming out now?”

Choi Ho-joong stood like an old tree in the same spot he had been.

Was it just my imagination? His posture also felt exactly the same.

“How long was I in there?”

“You spent approximately six hours.”

“Less time than I thought.”

Even though I was relying on the Elixir, the amount of time I could concentrate at once had shortened considerably.

A poor-quality body indeed.

“Still, it seems the spring was to your liking. Six hours……”

“Thanks to it, my body feels much more refreshed.”

“That is a relief.”

“By the way, you said it’s useless to scoop this Elixir out, right?”

“That is correct. It has been confirmed that this spring loses its efficacy the moment it leaves the Abyss.”

“What a troublesome setup. To have to come here in person every time.”

“Don’t tell me you’re thinking of coming again?”

“Why? Are you bored of waiting?”

“N-no, sir.”

Not bored, my foot.

This guy might seem to have a poker face at a glance, but he was the type whose expressions gave everything away.

Though it was also true that I was able to see through it all.

“Let’s head back then.”

“I understand, Young Master.”

“Oh, right! Do you have another sword in your inventory?”

“Yes. I always carry a spare. Its performance is inferior to my dedicated sword, however.”

“Give it to me.”

“The sword, you mean?”

“You always have to ask twice even when you heard me perfectly, don’t you?”

“It’s not that, it’s just that you’re suddenly asking for a sword.”

“I plan to take care of at least one goblin on the way out.”

At my words, Choi Ho-joong’s expression turned serious.

He looked both flustered and scared.

“You’re not thinking of asking twice this time as well, are you?”

“Th-that is……”

“Hand it over. Quickly.”

Choi Ho-joong handed me a sword with a look that said, ‘This isn't right.’

Then he let out a deep sigh and firmed his lips, his expression looking as if he was resolving to handle things himself should I fall into any danger.

Even without mind-reading, my guess was probably right.

“For now, you take the lead.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

In my current physical state, I could properly swing a sword exactly once.

My body wouldn't be able to handle a second swing, and I might even lose consciousness after that one strike.

Still, I could just leave the aftermath to Choi Ho-joong, so it wasn't a huge burden.

It was truly absurd that Kalia's greatest swordsman was making these calculations against a single goblin.

Slice!

Slice!

Choi Ho-joong defended me like an iron wall the entire time we walked the forest path.

The charging goblins were invariably killed by Choi Ho-joong’s sword strikes, and the path we walked on was filled with the reek of blood.

No matter how many goblins there were, or from where they charged, Choi Ho-joong displayed incredible concentration and did not obstruct my path.

It was as if my comfortable hike was his paramount mission.

Only one thing, Choi Ho-joong’s bad habit that I had pointed out on the way here, was still grating.

He said he would correct it, but I knew this would happen.

“Ho-joong.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“I will take care of the next goblin that appears.”

At my words, the man bit his lip.

“I too will be fully prepared to cover you, Young Master.”

His expression was truly solemn.

“Watch carefully.”

“Yes.”

“Not just that, I want you to burn every scene of how I use my sword into your mind. The subtle hand movements, the footwork, and even the breathing. Don’t miss a single thing.”

Of course, I knew it was an unreasonable demand.

There was probably almost no one in the world who could do it.

If it were as easy as it sounded, all the swordsmen in the world would have become like me, Johan Raven.

“……I understand, Young Master.”

Kerrrrk!

At that moment, a goblin shrieked.

9 o’clock direction.

The monster was charging toward me.

My senses sharpened.

Choi Ho-joong momentarily flinched, then corrected his posture.

Zzzzing.

From the longsword in my hand, a speck of mana resonated.

It was still faint, but it was a leap in progress compared to before I entered the Spring of Elixir.

Kerrk!

The goblin rapidly closed the distance.

I could only execute a single move.

If I messed up even slightly, it could become dangerous.

Of course, only third-rate fighters made such mistakes.

“Young Master!”

Choi Ho-joong looked anxious.

Since I still hadn’t even prepared to extend my sword with the goblin this close, in his eyes, I might have looked like I was spacing out.

But I was waiting for the perfect timing to create a flawless strike.

And that time was now.

Swoosh!

A clean, concise sword path was drawn.

Slice!

A neat cutting sound echoed.

As all the energy in my body was exhausted, I staggered and fell to my knees.

But what hit the ground before my knees was the goblin’s head.

Thud!

It was funny to say this about a mere goblin, but the line my sword had created was truly a beautiful, straight line.

And then I lost consciousness.

Just as I had expected.