Chapter 327: The Future, Twisted
As I pushed open the door, a sharp, pungent aroma of mixed herbs hit my nose. The workshop, bathed in a deep amber glow from the ceiling, was a chaotic mess, as if a storm had just passed through. Herbs were strewn everywhere, and the materials I had bought in bulk for this project were scattered haphazardly.
Vivian was still using a magical circle for her alchemy, evident from the red glow beneath the bubbling cauldron. Despite my entrance, she didn’t turn around. She seemed deeply engrossed in a critical process, her right hand clutching the Order of Chaos, which flashed repeatedly. Magical circles appeared and vanished in the air around her. Without looking, she reached out, grabbed three roots of Tabrosia, and tossed them into the cauldron.
Boom!
The roots melted into the cauldron, releasing a faint explosion and a plume of purple smoke. Vivian glanced at the cauldron and nodded, satisfied. That was all. She resumed her work with renewed vigor.
I briefly considered offering my help but quickly dismissed the thought. Instead, I cleared a spot on the floor and sat down.
Vivian took great pride in her work as an alchemist. It was evident not just in her words but in her actions. That’s one of the reasons I respected her.
Her dedication was admirable. Her hair, damp with sweat, clung to her cheeks. Her robe, stained with herbs and ingredients, looked like it hadn’t been changed in days. And then there was the way her plump backside wiggled as she worked. Wait, what?
I chuckled to myself, rubbing my nose. I must be seeing things from exhaustion. I watched her with a fond smile.
Time passed, and as night turned into the early hours of the morning, Vivian’s work neared completion. The cauldron, once overflowing, now held a much-reduced liquid. Vivian stirred it carefully with a long stick, then ladled the liquid into empty bottles. She repeated this three times, then raised her arms triumphantly.
“Done!”
I didn’t say anything, just clapped lightly. Vivian turned to me with a proud smile, brimming with confidence.
“Thanks for waiting, Kim Soo-hyun.”
“Great job. So, is it all finished now?”
“Yes. I could have finished earlier, but I took some time to refine the plan. Just wait a moment.”
Eager to show off her results, Vivian gathered the bottles. She had made four bottles of the purple potion, but that wasn’t all. She also presented potions in three other colors, each with four bottles, making a total of sixteen.
Dark blue, black, pink, and purple.
I glanced at the neatly arranged potions and then at Vivian. Sensing my curiosity, she cleared her throat and began to explain.
“You know about the rotten fruit of Yggdrasil, right?”
I nodded. The original fruit clears the mind and aids the flow of magic. But the rotten fruit has the opposite effect—it’s a deadly poison.
Vivian continued, “All four potions share the same basic effect of the fruit. I divided eight pieces into halves, making sixteen bottles. Initially, I thought of splitting it into four pieces due to its potency, but considering the time, halves seemed better.”
“I see. So, they have differences too?”
“Exactly. Marvolo’s book is a comprehensive collection of all kinds of concoctions. I selected the ones that had the most impact on the Fairy Queen. The differences focus on that. Each potion is designed for a specific situation to create a synergy effect.”
“What kind of situations?”
“Simply put, the dark blue potion heightens all senses. The pink one is an aphrodisiac—my specialty, so expect great results. The black one induces pain. Lastly, the purple one clouds the mind. These four make a set, usable four times.”
Vivian’s meticulousness impressed me. She wasn’t just relying on the potions. Though I’d have to see them in action to be sure, I felt confident. I spoke with satisfaction.
“Got it. So, we’re ready to proceed?”
“Yes, but I’m a bit worried.”
Vivian crossed her arms, looking serious.
“What’s the concern?”
“The fruit of Yggdrasil is incredibly rare. Its effects are potent, but the problem is they’re too strong. Especially with the synergy effect… Maybe I should have divided it into four pieces.”
“You said the Fairy Queen endured it. We could also try giving only half.”
“I’m not underestimating human willpower, but it’s incomparable to the Fairy Queen’s centuries-old spirit. And now that it’s made, I can’t just change it. Do you know how much calculation went into this?”
Vivian replied with a hint of frustration, then looked at me intently.
“Anyway, let’s hope Baek Seoyeon’s mental strength is strong enough to withstand these potions.”
I chuckled inwardly. Vivian was already worrying. I was curious about the potions’ potency, but it didn’t matter much. As long as they didn’t die before spilling the information, it was fine. After all, the end for these vagrants was death anyway.
I spoke to Vivian, who still looked concerned.
“They’re all dead men walking once we get what we need. Even if something goes wrong, as long as they don’t die prematurely, it’s fine.”
”…Right.”
“The most important target is Baek Seoyeon. As long as we can break her, I don’t care how you use the others. Vivian, I’ve entrusted you with full authority on this matter. You know that, right?”
Vivian was silent for a moment, but only a moment. Her eyes glinted with a cold light before she smiled slightly.
“Are you sure about that?”
I nodded deeply. Vivian spoke again.
“Really, no matter what I do?”
“I don’t like repeating myself.”
Vivian finally seemed at ease, her usual lively expression returning. She grabbed a bottle filled with dark blue liquid and took my arm.
“Great, let’s head to the underground prison.”
“The underground prison? Right now? I’m fine with it, but don’t you need to rest?”
“The real work starts tomorrow. I’ve planned everything. The first step is just giving them this, so it’ll be quick. You’ll come with me, right?”
I nodded at Vivian’s words. Together, we left the workshop and walked down the moonlit corridor to the underground prison.
This was the first step in a butterfly effect that would later unleash a storm across the northern continent.
The next day, at Vivian’s request, I headed underground after finishing my afternoon tasks.
The once expansive training ground had been transformed into a rather impressive underground prison due to renovation work. The structure was simple enough to be dismantled at any time.
If you imagined the training ground as a large rectangle, there were two cells on each side, making a total of eight. Seven of these cells held vagrants, while the last one was a multipurpose room specially requested by Vivian.
The dimly lit underground prison, with only a few light stones glowing, was dark and oppressive. It was filled with a stifling heat and a stench so foul it made me want to pinch my nose.
The underground passage felt more foreboding than before, and as I crossed it, a steel door came into view. This was the prison next to the utility room, where Baek Seoyeon was being held.
Inside, I could hear faint groans and sensed the presence of two people. It seemed Vivian had arrived before me. I pushed the door open and entered. The groans became clearer, and the stench intensified.
“Ah… ah… it hurts… it hurts…!”
“Oh, Kim Suhyun, you’re here?”
Vivian greeted me as soon as I stepped in. She was crouched down, watching Baek Seoyeon, who was sprawled on the floor, sobbing. To an outsider, it might seem like Vivian and I were the villains, and Baek Seoyeon the victim. Not that I considered myself a hero.
But more importantly, I needed to assess Baek Seoyeon’s condition.
Vivian had given her a blue potion last night. Its effects were undeniable. The potion’s primary effects—mental corruption and magical disruption—had worked perfectly, causing her to scream until the prison walls shook. Eventually, she had twisted and writhed so violently that she attempted self-harm, forcing us to restrain her against the wall. According to Vivian, the potion heightened all her senses, making the pain unbearable.
Whether Vivian had released her today or not, Baek Seoyeon lay on the floor, her arms and legs bound. She looked utterly defeated, having suffered from the potion’s effects for a day. Unwashed since her imprisonment, she reeked, and the floor was soiled with waste. It was clear what it was without needing a closer look.
The potion’s power was evident; the defiant glint in Baek Seoyeon’s eyes had dimmed since yesterday.
“Now that Kim Suhyun is here, shall we try the second potion?”
Vivian, who had been observing Baek Seoyeon, pulled out a pink potion from her pocket. It was said to have aphrodisiac properties.
Vivian uncorked the bottle and forced it into Baek Seoyeon’s mouth, holding her jaw. Despite her feeble attempts to resist, it was futile. Just like yesterday, a gentle stroke to her throat made her swallow the liquid with a “gulp.”
“Ugh… ugh… phew! Ha… ha… haaa…! It hurts… it hurts…!”
After swallowing the potion, Baek Seoyeon began to tremble, her breath ragged. Vivian’s potion took about a minute to spread through the body and take effect.
Vivian wiped her hands on Baek Seoyeon’s clothes, then stood up and turned to me.
“So, Kim Suhyun, what do you think?”
“Hmm? About what?”
Vivian pointed at Baek Seoyeon with her finger.
“Yesterday was just a taste. From today, the real training begins. She’s quite pretty, don’t you think? Interested?”
“No.”
I answered immediately. Baek Seoyeon was indeed beautiful. Even missing an arm, her face and figure were as alluring as Go Yeonju’s. But getting involved with her felt wrong, not just to Go Yeonju and Jeong Hayeon, but to myself as well.
I wondered if I had been too blunt, but Vivian’s expression was unexpectedly pleased.
“Oh… really?”
Vivian smiled, her voice bright.
“Well, if that’s the case, could you open the other prison door? The one with the male vagrants who applied to join you.”
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
I fell asleep while writing the afterword. I had to leave early this morning, so I guess I was more tired than I realized. The problem is, I have to leave at the same time today. Still, my body is gradually getting used to it, more so than on the first day of the semester. I think I’ll be more adjusted by next week.
The training part will be largely omitted. It’s uncomfortable for me to write, and I imagine some readers might find it uncomfortable to read. It should conclude by the next chapter at the latest.
Oh, and just a heads-up: the next chapter might be delayed. Fridays are my worst schedule, as I leave early and return home the latest. Even at the earliest, it won’t be up before 7 PM. If you’re waiting until midnight and it hasn’t been posted, I recommend getting a good night’s sleep and checking in the morning.
『 Reader Comments (Episode 325) 』
UsainBolt: Congrats on being first. Haha. In Lee Hyoeul’s case, Kim Suhyun might have had other reasons to kill him.
Devaran: I apologize for the slow pacing, but I believe maintaining a daily update is the least I can do unless unavoidable circumstances arise. :)
MadHorse: Once the Baek Seoyeon part and the conscription order are done, the stage will be set. From there, only war remains. Consider it the beginning of the first act of the war.
hohokoya1: Thank you for your continued support. The equipment summary will be released as a breather before the resolution after the conscription order.
SunsetS: I read a review on a blog and almost had a mental breakdown. It was scary. Oh, and “congratulations” was flagged as incorrect by the Korean spell checker. I was a bit surprised. I asked others, and opinions were divided. Haha.
『 Reader Comments (Episode 326) 』
LonelySolo: Congrats on being first. Your username pierces my heart. ㅜ.ㅠ
podytop: I’m currently contemplating. I plan to continue at least until the end of the first part.
Cheetos: The e-book revision is progressing slowly. That part will definitely be removed.
Frittez: Correct. The events occur within the two-year gap in the novel, and I’m considering how long the break should be. Is a week too long?
Lea: Thank you for saying that. Haha. It gives me strength. :)
Thank you for always reading. I hope you enjoy the story with a relaxed mind.