I Became an Almighty All-Master with EX-Rank Spirits - Chapter 32

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 32
Episode 32
The alchemist stood with his mouth hanging open, unable to speak for a long moment.
He kept alternating his gaze between the mountain of materials scattered before him and me.
I was caught off guard by his reaction.
I wondered why he was making such a fuss.
“You want me to use all of these materials?”
“That’s correct. As you can see.”
“No, there’s no way I can process all this by myself! There’s simply too much! And I have previous orders waiting!”
I had gathered quite a lot, it was true.
Even without visiting many Gates, I’d managed it thanks to Nature’s Blessing, Efficiency, and the pickaxe of Fortune.
Still, I’d assumed this quantity would yield only a few hundred potions.
‘Ah, but a few hundred is nothing. Fire’s ruined my sense of scale entirely.’
Fire alone consumed thousands of Magical Stones per day.
Add food to that equation, and I was essentially raising several elephants — the result was inevitable.
“I’m sorry, but I think I can manage about 100 at most. Perhaps you could take the rest to another alchemist——”
“I’ll pay double.”
“Oh my goodness! Sir! In that case, of course! I’ll make them all for you! Just process the payment and I’ll get right to work! I’ll send them to your address as soon as each batch is finished!”
As always, what was lacking was money.
One might worry that I was spending too much on Lowest-Grade Health Potions.
‘Since the materials I can currently gather are limited to Lowest-Grade Health Potions, even paying double is cheaper than buying them elsewhere. There’s no getting around it.’
Hunting down other alchemists one by one would be difficult besides.
This arrangement was best.
The total order was 1,201 bottles of Lowest-Grade Health Potion, each 500 milliliters.
They’d be completed at a rate of 100 per day.
The total cost, with a discount, came to 600 million.
‘What?! 600 million?!’
I’d roughly expected the bill to be substantial.
But I hadn’t expected to burn through everything I’d earned today.
After sending 600 million, my remaining balance looked like this:
[Seoul Bank: 12,155,748]
The more shocking part hadn’t even begun yet.
A single F-Rank Magical Stone filled my hunger meter by 10.
Converting to potions meant I needed 100 Lowest-Grade Health Potions to level up.
No buffs, just straightforward math.
This settled it beyond all doubt.
‘I absolutely have to find a way to obtain an Alchemy Skill!’
At this rate, going completely broke would happen in the blink of an eye.
“Payment confirmed! I’ll have everything sent to the address you provided as each batch finishes!”
“Yes, thank you for your hard work.”
-Squeak?
[Water (EX) is concerned, wondering why his contractor looks so gloomy.]
-Squeak! Squeak!
[Fire (EX) says this is obvious, asking why you’d even question it!]
[Fire (EX) says he’s exhausted from keeping you fed!]
At Fire’s accusation, I let out a hollow laugh.
“That includes you.”
It was absurd hearing this complaint from the very creature eating through my money the fastest.
Especially since the next level-up alone would require 100 million in hunger points.
The moment I narrowed my eyes, Fire hastily averted his gaze.
Then he urged me to head to the Market already.
Fair enough. A promise was a promise.
I arrived at the Market and mulled things over while eating.
“Here’s your tteokbokki for ten people.”
“Thank you. But how exactly am I supposed to get an Alchemy Skill?”
I could potentially obtain one through leveling up Water or Fire.
But the odds were far too low.
The Skills gained were random.
Even with Water, I saw no reason to expect it would be different.
‘This is driving me insane. Alchemy Skills aren’t as common as crafting materials.’
The Awakener community had no information whatsoever about alchemy skills.
It meant I’d have to search on my own.
Complicated business.
Let me think this through carefully first.
If all else fails, I can always negotiate with the Awakener Association.
That said, there was one more thing I needed to check.
Fire’s next skill unlock condition.
[To unlock the next skill, you need a Highest-Grade Magical Stone (S)!]
[To unlock the next skill, you need to clear a Gate of C-rank or higher!]
[To unlock the next skill, you need a Low-Grade Fire Spirit Stone (B)!]
[Highest-Grade Magical Stone (S) : (0/50)]
[C-rank or higher Gate : (0/5)]
[Low-Grade Fire Spirit Stone (B) : (0/5)]
“……”
I went rigid the moment I saw it.
For levels 5 and 10, there was only a single unlock condition each.
Even that one had been brutally demanding.
But now there were three conditions.
When I first awakened, I thought I’d be rich in no time.
In the beginning, I’d actually made good money and could afford beef fairly often.
But the reinvestment costs were no joke.
‘The Magical Stones and Spirit Stones—I should be able to manage those somehow.’
I’d gathered quite a bit and obtained plenty so far.
A lot came from clearing the Trial Tower.
The real problem was the C-rank or higher Gate.
Clearing one itself isn’t difficult.
The hard part is finding one.
Even if I found one, there was no way I could enter it when E-rank was my maximum.
‘I’ll need to work something out with the Association.’
It was the most realistic answer.
I couldn’t rely on stumbling across a Gate by chance like last time.
Especially not a high-rank one.
‘The Association gets to dispose of a C-rank Gate, I get to complete an unlock condition. Win-win.’
Since they said they’d treat me well, I should use them to the fullest.
It was just past noon now.
I’d have more than enough time today.
Just as I reached for my phone, I noticed Water in my arms making a pouty face.
-Whimper. Mewl.
[Water (EX) pouts and lets out a small whine.]
[Water (EX) says that even tteokbokki tastes bad.]
I’d suggested it on the off chance she might enjoy it, but it clearly didn’t suit her palate.
What could I give her that she’d actually like?
She’d said she wasn’t fond of drinks either.
The only thing she seemed to enjoy was plain water.
Should I try something like Evian?
I’d heard that in Korea, with its abundant minerals, it wasn’t really necessary.
I set my phone down and was still pondering when a refrigerator in the market caught my eye.
Among countless bottles, one bright green bottle stood out distinctly.
“Soju.”
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Besides, other than potions and elixirs, I couldn’t think of anything else anyway.
“Auntie! One bottle of soju, please! The one that doesn’t sell well!”
The kind of soju that sits in front of food stalls.
When no one was looking, I carefully held the soju bottle out to Water.
-Mewl?
[Water (EX) tilts her head and asks what this is.]
“Just try it. If it tastes bad, spit it out right away.”
In the meantime, I sent a message to Jin Arin.
The moment I called, the phone rang and her voice came through immediately.
“Yes! Chan-yeong! I’ve got your call!”
The conversation began with greetings about the tax exemption being confirmed and processed.
Then it moved swiftly to the main topic.
Five Class C Gates were needed—did the Awakener Association have them? Could he enter if they did?
The answer came quickly.
“Of course! We actually have a few troublesome Gates we’ve been dealing with.”
Asking had been the right call.
It had resolved so easily.
But that wasn’t all.
The real prize was the compensation.
If he cleared them well, he could request whatever reward he wanted.
Getting both the pheasant and the egg.
He should also ask about the Alchemy Skill.
He declined their offer of assistance without hesitation.
Five Gates in a row—what help could he possibly need?
He was more than sufficient on his own.
“Okay. The locations aren’t far from each other, and since all the Gates are clustered together, I just need to go clear them.”
He was about to leave immediately after Fire had finished eating as well.
-Uh, wah! Wah?
[Water (EX) says soju is incredibly delicious!]
[Water (EX) asks if there’s any more soju!]
-Wah!
[Fire (EX) expresses surprise that such a thing could taste good!]
“It really tastes good?”
Soju was hardly a delicacy—just alcohol, sweetener, and water mixed together. The taste itself was abysmal at best.
It was made as a cheap way to get drunk, yet the Water Spirit King found soju delicious?
Fire spat it out the moment the liquid touched his lips.
He hadn’t misheard.
-Wah!
[Water (EX) asks for more soju!]
It was fortunate that Water had found something he enjoyed.
But something felt uneasy about it.
Surely the Water Spirit King wouldn’t actually get drunk?
* * *
-Wah!
[Water (EX) cries out for ‘one more bottle’!]
-Wah. Wah?
[Fire (EX) says Water seems to have lost his mind.]
[Fire (EX) asks if he should stop him.]
“I probably should.”
Already on the twelfth bottle of soju.
Not sixteen degrees—the cheap stuff.
The Water Spirit King was visibly becoming intoxicated.
But for the first time, he’d found something Water actually enjoyed.
Fire alone seemed sufficient for where they were going.
“It’ll be fine. Go ahead, drink slowly. There are only five bottles left that I bought.”
-Wah!
[Water (EX) cries out ‘Woohoo!’!]
His temperament had grown noticeably more boisterous as the alcohol took hold.
A boisterousness that even burdened Fire.
As long as he didn’t get belligerent, it would be manageable.
They arrived at their destination before long.
Association staff were present, but since they’d already been notified, entry was unrestricted.
This Gate was unlike ordinary ones.
“Five Gates are clustered in one location. Due to the monsters fighting among themselves, the total count is lower, but it’s been assessed as Class B or higher when combined. Please exercise caution.”
The surrounding staff members’ reaction was familiar.
An unknown Awakener attempting this alone?
As if he were walking to his own grave.
Unnecessary concern.
Just him alone, they said.
When he had two Spirit Kings with him.
Since there was no one around, what needed to be done upon entering was the same as always.
[Fire’s held Skill, ‘Hellfire’, activates.]
[Fire’s held Skill, ‘Meteor’, activates.]
With these two, it was finished.
There was nothing more to do.
The Gate composed of forest was laid waste in a single moment.
[You have annihilated 5 Orc Rider settlements.]
[Orc Settlement: 5/5]
[Ugly Orc Mask × 165 has been obtained!]
[Orc’s Tough Sinew × 445 has been obtained!]
[Orc’s Tough Hide × 98 has been obtained!]
[Giant Wolf Fang × 211 has been obtained!]
[Giant Wolf Claw × 211 has been obtained!]
[Giant Wolf Skull × 121 has been obtained!]
[Lowest-Grade Magical Stone × 636 has been acquired!]
[Low-Grade Magical Stone × 411 has been acquired!]
…………
…………
“The rewards are insane!”
With five C-Grade Gates alone, it was like striking a goldmine.
There was nothing more to see.
The clear was definitely complete.
What needed to be done now was something else.
I supplied the remaining materials needed to meet the opening conditions.
[Highest-Grade Magical Stone: (50/50)]
[C-Grade Gate or Higher: (5/5)]
[Low-Grade Fire Spirit Stone: (5/5)]
[Condition achievement successful!]
[You acquire the Skill, ‘Infernal Sanctuary’!]
<Infernal Sanctuary>
Description: A barrier of the infernal abyss unfolds, where none can enter or escape.
“Infernal Sanctuary? Is it the opposite of Divine Baptism?”
I wouldn’t know for certain until I used it.
Not that I needed to wonder.
[Gate condition achieved!]
[With 5 C-Grade Gates cleared at once, a Hidden Gate to the Tomb of the Dead appears!]
“A Hidden Gate! Why is my luck so good today?”
It was a Gate that appeared upon meeting specific conditions.
Rewards doubled, and it dropped items like Hidden Monsters would.
It was my first time with a B-Grade, so I felt a little nervous.
‘But I just gained a new Skill, after all!’
A newly acquired Skill had to be tested right away.
Among monsters rising as the dead, Fire thrust both arms forward.
That thing woven densely from blood-red Magical Power was hurled ahead.
Something smaller than a fingernail swelled to enormous size in an instant, filling the entire Gate at once.
[Fire’s held Skill, ‘Infernal Sanctuary’, activates.]
The moment scorching heat was felt, a deluge of infernal attacks poured down from all sides.
Hellfire, explosions, spears, magma itself.
Not a single monster could endure it.
In mere seconds.
[You have annihilated 1 Legion of the Dead.]
[Legion of the Dead: 1/1]
…………
…………
[The Gate will vanish in 72 hours!]
[If you do not exit before it disappears, you will vanish with it!]
The Hidden Gate was cleared.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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