Chapter 583

〈Chapter 583〉 Part 2, Chapter 1, Section 13

“Still, nothing beats a bed.”

I sprawled out on the bed tucked in a corner of the Office. Though my side felt a bit chilled, just having this plush bed made me feel like I was in heaven.

“I should increase the number of beds every time I recruit a new Heroine.”

Pretty soon, there’ll be more beds than desks in the office—but that’s fine. If I need more space, it’s no big deal to expand. During my overseas deployment sometime between July and August, I’ll just get Huan’s approval to add another floor upstairs.

“Hmm…”

I pressed around on the mattress, inspecting it. Thinking about how even the smallest details like this bed could be bugged, there’s a pretty high chance some sort of surveillance device is installed.

“Let’s feed them tomorrow morning.”

Anyone listening for juicy intel right now is probably having a panic attack. Simultaneously, they might be briefly disappointed upon realizing the true nature of this golden-boy Western dude. Turns out, he’s not as grand as imagined—just a guy pulling women into bed left and right.

“Hmph.”

I opened the System Window for a moment.

“Ah, there’s a bug under my bed. But keeping the System Window open fixes everything. We’ll only talk when the window is up, and listen only when magic power is supplied.”

– 19+ ASMR Nerd Moment lol

“The criminal who put the bug here is at fault. Hehe.”

Setting up a bed in the office concludes the tutorial. From tomorrow onward, I need to personally scout and recruit talent to build our Squad.

***

<Important Quest> Recruit Comrades!

You’ve been dropped alone in Korea. To survive until the upcoming “War” on March 1st, you must recruit comrades to work with you in Korea.

# Deadline: Until February 28th.

# Conditions: Secure at least 7 comrades (1/00).

***

“To progress the story, I need to secure at least seven comrades.”

The requirement of seven doesn’t have any specific narrative reason; it mainly signifies gathering enough strength for the major event happening on March 1st.

“A Dimensional Gate will open on March 1st.”

– NonsanGate lol

– My condolences to the trainees in advance.

Regardless of who causes it, a Dimensional Gate will open on March 1st. For now, what matters most is recruiting these seven comrades, especially which Heroines to bring onboard.

“If only I could recruit all Heroines, but that’s tough.”

– It didn’t make sense from the start when Yuna joined lol

– I did the same thing, but Yuna got suspicious and left… sniff…

– I tried too. When I revealed myself as the Commander to Yuna at the airport, it was Game Over. Explain that.

“They were assassinated by a stalker following behind. If only they had evaded the assassination… Hehe. Anyway, know that I’m building a harem of female characters.”

Recruiting Heroines early on is already difficult, let alone doing it seven times over—it’s quite the arduous task. Therefore, it’s better to recruit Sub-Heroines among the Heroines’ acquaintances and tackle them together.

“Preferably someone capable, attractive, and related to a Heroine.”

For instance, Kim Nori’s older sister Kim Gaon, or an Xroid female character controlled by Yun Yuhwa.

“Just thinking about it makes my mouth water.”

Who should I seduce so rumors spread about me being good at it? No dirty male characters needed. Even if someone has S-Rank potential, if they’re XY chromosome types with loose morals, they’re less valuable to me than a rock lying on the road.

Therefore, I aim to recruit Heroines or those related to Heroines. I’ve roughly planned out a blueprint.

Yuinah.

Park Ra-on.

Kim Nori.

Kim Nori’s older sister, Kim Gaon.

Yuinah’s friend, Su Ri.

One Xroid doll sent by Yun Yuhwa to monitor our team.

And lastly, ‘Seok Harang’.

“Though I worry about the strict conditions for recruiting Yuna at the S-Rank level, if she insists, there’s nothing I can do.”

There may come a situation where we need to consider financial, political, or personal issues, but I’ve already laid down breadcrumbs that Seok Harang must join our team.

“Hmm…”

The item listed on the auction is already skyrocketing in price. Some people are mocking three individuals engaging in a chicken race over the clearly labeled item known as Fengyuhuan, which lacks divine properties.

– If this turns out to be fake, won’t the seller be buried socially? lol

The audience reaction is no different from reality. Actually, there’s no such item called ‘Fengyuhuan.’

“It would only be buried if it turned out to be fake.”

Fengyuhuan actually exists—it’s just that I haven’t made it yet.

“Not exactly Fengyuhuan.”

To be precise, it’s a far more valuable item—a strange candy… no, a Magic Power Up Potion.

“An item that increases a person’s magic power by 1. You know about it, right?”

– Oh!

– lololol

– Fengyuhuan. Possible side effect: magic power may increase by 1.

An item that only Commanders can create, anyone who consumes the pill simply gains +1 magic power. Without special buffs, it purely adds 1, so its usage isn’t common, but having it ready ensures there’s always a use for it someday.

So why does this more valuable item act as Fengyuhuan?

“When magic power rises and triggers the next-level awakening, the body balance also adjusts.”

With increased core magic power, the body gets proportionally adjusted. Especially the AAA battery trio, whenever they ascend from S-Rank to SS-Rank, their bodies change so much they need to buy new underwear.

“What if someone bought Fengyuhuan and their magic power increased? What happens then?”

– Whoa, gotta buy this!

– But wouldn’t revealing oneself as the <Commander> expose your identity?

– How do you tell others you reached SS-Rank after eating Fengyuhuan? lol

“That’s right. So I plan to meet them directly. Find out how they made it and whether it can be purchased again.”

Two birds with one stone. Whoever the buyer is, they’ll be frantically searching for the seller. Then I’ll arrange a face-to-face meeting with top buyers, reveal my identity, and recruit her.

“Better to prepare ahead.”

The method is simple. I casually laid out tools bought outside on the desk. Once the item sells, I’ll start production immediately.

<Notice> The cooldown for Magic Bestowal has ended. It’s usable again now.

“Drat, what a shame.”

If Yuna were here, I could have increased her magic power by 1, but unfortunately, Yuna isn’t leaving her house right now. I checked the last text message Yuna sent before sleeping.

[As soon as I’m ready tomorrow morning, I’ll head straight to the office!]

“She’ll wait outside starting at 8 AM.”

No doubt, she’ll wait at the entrance until I open the door. I’d love to meet her at dawn and boost her magic power.

“How to handle the time loss?”

Since it’s been 24 hours since my session with Yuna, we’ll lose approximately 9 hours before we can do it again. The system applies a 24-hour cooldown based on the timing of each magic enhancement, so it’s inevitable that each session slightly delays things.

“So, folks, enjoy your pancakes while quietly making potions—it’s the way to go.”

– Starting from Week 2, items ignored due to cycle bonuses are used this way wow

“Because everyone’s too busy chasing efficiency with pancakes.”

After Week 2, directly supplying magic power increases stats by at least 2~3. With full buffs, it can rise by 5~6 per session. Why bother creating pills when direct magic supply works?

“Same 24-hour cooldown applies. Moreover, if the method is worse than doing it directly, what’s the point? There are plenty of women around anyway.”

– Tap tap tap

– Is Qinghua left-handed or right-handed?

Nothing to hide. The method involves solidifying ‘bodily fluids.’ I took out drinks ordered earlier from the fridge.

“One espresso. One blueberry ade. Last one, Boram green tea.”

Each drink corresponds to the preferences of the heroines, and I’m about to commit an act they’d despise if they knew the truth.

“The buyer has arrived, so let’s check… Oh, done.”

Sure enough, an alert came saying the auction item was sold. Among the three, who’s the most desperate?

“Let’s see, 50 million won? …Wait.”

The number of zeros seems off. For a moment, I thought I misread.

“5 billion? Spending 5 billion on one Fengyuhuan…?”

While money is irrelevant to me, spending 5 billion seems excessive. I don’t understand why they’d pay that much for Fengyuhuan.

“But if it’s a magic potion, 20 billion wouldn’t be unreasonable…”

Still, I don’t understand why they’re so desperate for Fengyuhuan.

“Who bought it? Let’s see… <TtaldakGwanggeom>?”

– lololol

– Ah, that’s a pad….gulp

– Ttaldak confirmed

“It’s Seok Harang.”

Among the three, Seok Harang is the most desperate. Even though the chest size competition is negligible, it’s clear Seok Harang is the most desperate for some reason.

“…I originally planned to start with Yuna tomorrow morning, but this can’t be helped.”

Snap. I stood up. Since the buyer has appeared, I must produce the item.

“Where’s the ice tray?”

I pulled out a plastic tray from the plastic bag. Filling the empty spaces with liquid and freezing it should produce sturdy ice pieces. Now that the case is ready, it’s time to prepare the liquid to fill the gaps.

“Ugh.”

I lightly pricked my fingertip with a heated needle using a lighter. Blood started pooling at the tip, and I squeezed it out.

Drip, drip, drip.

The pill requires the player’s blood. Mixing another bodily fluid allows the consumer’s magic power to increase.

“…Time to take one out.”

I sprawled back on the bed. Beneath the sleep pants I changed into, the object was already hard and ready to produce bodily fluids. I accessed the <Recall Mode> through the System Window and grabbed it.

“While rewatching my session with Yuna, I’ll take one.”

Tap, tap, tap.

A while later.

A blueberry ade-flavored candy was completed.

* * *

<At that moment, somewhere near the West Sea—an unmarked island [White Phoenix Isle]>.

“Master, the investigation is complete.”

A man dressed in period drama attire knelt down and reported. His gaze fell on the shadow of a woman sitting cross-legged nearby.

“How did it turn out? Were they pawns of the Round Table as we suspected?”

“No. Their relationship with Oracle appears to be akin to a friendly superior at work. CCTV analysis indicates they are part of <Oracle Studio>.”

“…Trying to cast Korean ability users in Hollywood films? Hmm.”

The woman tapped the table with the hairpin she held like a pipe, deep in thought.

“Cooperate discreetly without drawing attention. Yes, the child of a senator who cooperates with our family would be ideal. Investigate them.”

“Yes. Regarding the Academy student who has already fallen prey to that foreigner—”

“Fell…?”

Smack!

“Are you saying a Korean woman has fallen for a Western man at first sight?”

“My apologies. That was inappropriate.”

“…No, perhaps you’re right. To lure an Academy student into submission after merely meeting once at the airport—this man is terrifying. Clearly, his purpose for coming to Korea is to mess around with women. Hmm…wait. Didn’t someone say the daughter of Seong Seki is a vain ability user?”

“Master?”

Even hidden in shadows, the woman seemed to be smirking.

“They say necessity is the mother of invention. Hmm, let’s test her resolve. If her daughter wants to go to Hollywood, surely she won’t sever ties with America now, will she?”

“Master, are you suggesting Seong Seki’s daughter…?”

“Hehe.”

The woman unfolded her black fan and laughed brightly.

“If the girl raised in luxury ends up beneath a blonde Western man, exclaiming ‘Whites are amazing ohhh!’—what do you think Seong Seki’s expression would be? Hehe.”

“Oh, by the way, how did that go?”

“Someone bid 5 billion. At 2 billion…it was hopeless.”

“……Summon the senators soon. I cannot sit idly by while scam items appear on the auction site.”

It’s not because she failed to purchase it herself.

“Tsk tsk, I was trying to catch a scammer and arrest them immediately. Unfortunately, there’s now a victim who spent 5 billion…”

That won’t happen.