Chapter 60 â Expedition without hopes or dreams (2)
Translator: WH Editor: Sasha
2.
The Hunters cheered.
âOhh, whatâs this. So all four spots are filled?â
âBut who exactly is that woman?â
âThatâs what I want to say. The elder, Medicine King, as you knowâŠ.â
The Sword Saint also had a puzzled look on his face.
âIsnât that the girl I saw last time?â
âHikkkkâŠâ
The Alchemist tried to hide herself behind me.
Back when the Sword Saint mistook me as a mass-murderer, she had tried to stop the number 1 ranker alongside the Crusader. The pressure the Sword Saint had emitted that time was so chaotic that it looked like she was recalling the memory of that incident as soon as she was able to see him from up close.
Perhaps the Sword Saint also was also thinking the same, so he cleared his throat.
âHmmm. You donât have to be so scared. The misunderstanding between me and the Death King has been resolved.â
âIs-, is that soâŠ?â
âYes, thatâs right. WellâŠâŠBut just because of thatâŠ.â
The Sword Saint looked at me with an awkward face.
âDeath King. Where weâre headed now is a very dangerous place. Didnât the Constellation also say so himself? If you die in the Apocalypse, you also die in reality. Is it okay to take that lady to such a dangerous place?â
âYes.â
I nodded confidently.
âSheâs the best alchemist I know.â
At the same time, she was probably the greatest Alchemist in existence.
-UghhhâŠâŠ
Did the Sword Emperor also disagree?
Even though they used the same ingredients, she produced 15 times the quantity than the store he had originally introduced me too, in other words, it was the store of the Medicine King or whatever that was standing over there.
-That guy makes pretty good elixirs, butâŠâŠ Itâs not the best. Now. Since we have that ladyâŠâŠ.
âYes.â
However, the Sword Saint eyes had a subtle feel in them.
âThe best alchemist you knowâŠâŠâ
I pulled up the character window to get a handle on the Sword Saintâs psychological state.
ăUmmmmm. Itâs a remarkable young manâs recommendation so there must be something special, but thereâs a bigger ocean in the worldâŠâŠ. I see, Sword Emperor. Itâs been a long time since you said the right thing. Even a king carp whoâs been living in the open water all this while, when it goes to a river, it will find out that it isnât the smallest carp. Alright, I think we should take this opportunity to build a relationship with those two young people and the Medicine King.ă
[T/N: bigger ocean in the world: it means that there are always people that are better or more skilled.]
Wow.
Iâve built some connections all this while, and perhaps it was because Sword Saint had made a promise with himself, so he didnât say anything out loud, and I knew his words held good intentions behind them, butâŠâŠreally, he still had an old-fashioned mindset.
And he said, Sword Emperor, so it was probably the other Sword Emperor by the side of the Sword Saint, meaning that he also looked down on the Alchemist just like he did last time.
Not surprising as there was another figure here that laid down his old-fashioned mindset brazenly, and spoke without any good intentions.
âHuh?! What do you mean the best you know?!â
It was the Medicine King.
âThis is why theyâre greenhorns! Huhu, oh, my, my. Itâs laughable that you think youâve crossed a mountain when you have really just crossed a stone. Geez, I hate it because I have to feel like this youngling as my rival. Ugh.â
Hoooooh.
âMedicine King, please be understanding. Death King is an outstanding man. Itâs just that his life experience is a bitâŠâŠâ
âThat experience! That experience is what Iâm talking about! Experience is the most important thing! But you donât even know that and pretend you know the entire world. Iâm the one whoâs ashamed of it all. Heâs acting the same as when I earned about a billion dollars in Silicon Valley when I was in my 20s. The same rotten, corrupted mind! But youâre the only one who doesnât know.â
âCalm down a littleâŠâŠâ
âHuhu, my, my, my. Iâve been calming myself down all this while. Itâs a sin to say and do whatever they want, even if theyâre just greenhorns, Marcus, Iâm holding myself back for your sake. And what? What did he say just before? He was saying he wants to bring along this low-key girl who turned up from nowhere. Itâs just like a young billionaire carrying a trophy around at the Silicon Valley.â
âDeath King is not that kind of younglingâŠâŠâ
âWhat do you mean heâs not? You brat! Look me in the eye and tell me! Are you sure heâs not?!â
ImpressiveâŠâŠ
What was impressive was that there exists a man who could make THE Sword Saint flustered. It looked like it was a food chain of the oldieâs version where an oldie was being dragged around by an even greater oldie.
It was hard to shut up my brain which was thinking about the mysteries of this newly discovered ecosystem
Maybe that was why I was not the one who talked back to that oldie of all oldies.
âI-, I donât mind you calling me a kid, butâŠâŠâ
The Alchemist grabbed my collar tightly and gritted her teeth.
âDea-, Death King-nim is absolutely not a greenhorn! Heâs an incredible man! Ro-, what do you mean a rotten mind.âŠâ
âHuhu, see, Marcus. Doesnât it look like sheâs defending her own man? This is what itâs like to be young. Eyyyh. When I was young, I thought that was what youth was all aboutâŠâŠâ
âWh-, what do you mean defending my own man.âŠâ
The Alchemist puffed up her mouth. She had heard such absurd things that it seemed like her brain couldnât process it.
Crusader took a step forward and defended the Alchemist.
âStop. âAlchemistâ is undoubtedly an excellent pharmacist. Although I learned of her existence because of the introduction from Death King, my Civil Militia has also received countless excellent medicine from the Alchemist.â
The Medicine King snorted.
âOnly the Civil Militia standard would be able to accept that.â
ââŠâŠWhat did you say?â
âYou should say the right thing. Have you ever stopped by my pharmacy with your financial conditions? You think the ceiling is high because you donât know the sky. And you donât even know that itâs a box lid, not a room ceiling. Even your ridiculous look is just like that of a young rival, tch tchâŠâŠâ
The Crusader bit her lips hard.
Although it was listed as one of the top five guilds, the Civil Militia was always suffering from financial difficulties. She was brutally pricked in her sore spot.
The Medicine King shook his hands like he was chasing away a junkie.
âEyyy, whatâs the point of talking? Letâs just stop. Youâd just be tired of listening to me ramble.â
Well.
That was right.
âMr. Sword Emperor.â
-Uhuh.
âIs listening to this nonsense good enough?â
-More than enough. Why are you suffocating yourself?
I glanced around the library.
âIâm not suffocating myself.â
As Iâve said many times, this scene was being broadcasted live to the hunters in Babylon Square.
In other words, this timing was optimal for both [Debut] and [Retirement].
I said to the Medicine King.
âWould you like to duke it out?â
If what the Sword Saint had was an awkward look, then the Medicine King was literally on our throats.
âHuhhh! Look now. Marcus. Because he couldnât reason it out, he really immediately pointed his âknifeâ at me, that, that rotten expression! It reminds me of when I became the boxing world champion in my 40s.â
âNo, not with me.â
I took medicinal herbs out of my bag.
âIâll provide the medicinal herbs. You two can make one elixir with it. Then, weâll compare the performance with the elixirs youâve both made, then wouldnât we be sure?â
âEeeeekâŠâŠ.!â
The Alchemist jumped.
âDea-, Death King-nim! That old manâŠâŠ Iâm very upset that he insulted Death King-nim, butâŠSt-,still heâs a person called the Medicine King though? Heâs a big name that all the Hunters know aboutâŠ. In comparison, itâs only been a week since I received my Title, -kyaaaat,â
The Alchemist shuddered.
I held her shoulders.
âAlchemist-sshi.â
âHuh, ye- Yes!?â
With her glasses in between, I made direct eye contact with her and said.
âI believe in you.â
ââŠâŠ Dea-, Death King-nim.â
âSo you need to believe in yourself, too.â
ââŠâŠ.â
The Alchemist took in a deep breath. Beyond the glasses, I could see that her shaking pupils had regained light.
With clenched fists, she nodded vigorously.
âYes, Death King-nim! Iâll do my best! No,â
She immediately shook her head, and the Alchemist corrected her words.
âIâll win!â
The Medicine King looked at us as if it was ridiculous.
âHuh.â
The Medicine King shook his head.
âThere are always things like this. You have to dip it and try to see if it was ketchup or blood so that theyâd know their place. Itâs the same as when I was about three years old. Tch tchâŠâŠâ
âYouâve been blabbering for too long. Are you trying to run away?â
âAlright. Youngin. Be prepared to see that girl shed tears. I donât know how to go easy on young people.â
Medicine King vs. Alchemist.
An extraordinary match had begun.
3.
The Huntersâ reactions were cynical when the match began.
âOf course the old man Medicine King will win.â
âThat old manâs drugstore is so expensive, but it still takes almost a month for reservations.â
âDo the two of them really have something going on? No matter how much I look at it, Death King is being too irrational.â
âDeath King and Medicine King. Theyâre both Kings, but thereâs still a difference in the years of experience.â
In a literal sense, their reactions were normal.
âNow, those that think Medicine King will win, come here! Those that think Alchemist will win, here!â
On the other hand, there was also the Count, who didnât miss out on the chance to make money and opened a gambling table.
Out of nowhere, two bookmark maids were holding a collection box.
âDeath King, will you be all right? The betting odds right now are 1.08 to 47.â
The Witch came close and whispered to me.
âThatâs great. Why do you think about making some pocket money and betting on the Alchemistâs side so that the betting odds wouldnât drop too much?â
ââŠâŠDeath King, this is all being broadcasted live. You were the one who said it.â
The Witch looked as serious as she could be.
âIf that Alchemist you recommended breaks down horribly. If that happensâŠâ
âItâll all be broadcasted live to Babylon and to the world. No, the viewers on the internet must really be in an uproar right now.â
If it were me in the past, what comment would I have been writing?
Something like I want to become like Medicine King too, would I be posting comments like that?
While I was having such idle thoughts, the Witch touched her forehead.
âThatâll damage your reputation if it happens, Death King. âŠâŠAre you sure itâll be alright?â
âIâm a little sorry for the old man Medicine King.â
No. Honestly, I wasnât sorry at all.
If you spouted rough words, you should take responsibility for your actions, right?
Isnât that the true spirit and reason behind ârespect for seniorityâ?
The witch stared at me and the Alchemist in turn with an odd expression. I was wondering what she was thinking, so I was thinking of pulling up the psychology state window of the Witch to see. It was then.
âIâm finished, greenhorn!â
Medicine King.
He bellowed while lifting up the elixir he had made.
âBow your head before my great creation!â
+
[Unique Recovery Potion]
Rarity: Unique
Producer: Medicine King
Description: Although it is a little bitter, drinking it will heal even the deadliest of wounds. Needless to say, as itâs a recovery potion, it has to be taken in a safe location to take into consideration the aftereffects of healing. Anyway, itâs an amazing feat to be able to produce a potion of this quality!
+
Cheers resonated throughout the library.
âItâs a Unique Recovery Potion!â
âOh my God. Pulling out a Unique Recovery Potion. Heâs indeed the Medicine King. It really is âA King Never Dies.â â
âOld man Medicine King! Would you like to sell it to me?â
âHow dare you cut in line! Medicine King-nim! Iâm at the top of the reservation list! Iâll buy it!â
The Medicine King raised his chin and looked at me and the Alchemist in turn. He had a face that was saying âThe two of you dare to touch a tigerâs nose, so now you will get to properly and completely know what it means to be humiliated.â
[T/N: Dare to touch a tigerâs nose is like a slang that means to mess with the wrong person.]
It was then.
âUhhâŠâŠ Iâm done making it, too.âŠâ
The Alchemist showed everyone the elixir she had made.
+
[Soma Strawberry]
Rarity: Quasi(æș)-Myth
Producer: Alchemist
Description: Huh, it tastes like strawberries! Why does it taste like strawberries when there are no strawberries in it? And whatâs with this effect?! As long as the preservation state is good, it can graft the severed body parts without any aftereffects! What on earth was just made!?