565

 [Chapter 153]

[The Price of Changing Life]

The Elixir, a miracle drug that could cure any condition as long as there's life, seemed like something that could only exist in legends.

The miracle drug named Elixir that Alice Group's chairman Jeong Seokhun disclosed to the world that day excited people.

"There was such a medicine? Is that even possible?"

"Chairman Jeong Seokhun developed it, they say. So we should believe it, why doubt?" "Oh? This guy used to grumble that all chaebol families are the same, but now he's adding 'nim' to the name?"

"Hey, isn't it okay to add 'nim' to Chairman Jeong Seokhun? He's achieved something worthy of it!"

Centered on Alice Pharmaceuticals, the stock prices of all affiliates within the group recorded a high streak day after day since that day.

Even companies not affiliated with Alice Group showed an upward trend if they just had the name 'Alice' attached.

That's how enthusiastic people were.

The Elixir of immortality that Emperor Qin Shi Huang of ancient China craved!

Of course, it was far from true immortality in the real sense.

But in that humans could overcome all life-threatening diseases and injuries,

What else could it be if not the elixir of immortality?

"They say even people without legs will grow new legs if they drink it?"

"How does that even work? It's too unbelievable..."

"Apparently among the ingredients for the Elixir, there's a flower that copies human genetic information. Based on that, other ingredients interact to create the most ideal body for the consumer."

"Wow, amazing. Can't anyone live as long as they're breathing?" "That's why the medical community is in an uproar now." "In a world where magic can do anything, it's strange for people to deny something like this exists."

"It's not a scam, is it? You know, there was that doctor who scammed people with embryonic stem cells before." "Would Chairman Jeong Seokhun announce it himself if it was a scam?"

Until just recently, people felt disillusioned with the political and business world due to the human experiments conducted by Yeongwon Pharmaceuticals.

But when Jeong Seokhun disclosed the existence of the Elixir to the world, people quickly forgot about past events.

Moreover─

"─There's no entrepreneur in this era who does as much good as Chairman Jeong Seokhun! To think he'd freely disclose the method to manufacture such a potion to the world! How can a person be so unselfish?" "If it were me, I would have monopolized it or sold licenses to other groups to gain profits for the group... He's truly a good person." "Isn't it because of people like this that we find meaning in living in this world?"

"He's a true business leader. Other people in the political and business world should learn from Chairman Jeong Seokhun."

Alice Group's chairman Jeong Seokhun even went so far as to freely disclose the manufacturing method of the Elixir to the world that day.

People couldn't help but praise Alice Group and rejoice.

If Alice Group had wanted, they could have hidden the existence of the Elixir and monopolized the manufacturing method.

It would have been possible to turn this country into Alice Group's empire.

But Jeong Seokhun moved people by saying money shouldn't be involved in saving lives.

"So what are the ingredients for the Elixir? Hey, couldn't we make it too?"

"The main ingredients are Star of Purification, Ghost Door Honey Flower, Snow Fairy Essence, and Silver Wolf Flower? The rest of the ingredients can be easily obtained, but these are the problem." "Star of Purification? I've never heard of it, what is that? I've heard of Ghost Door Honey Flower but never heard of the others."

"If you go to Alice Pharmaceuticals' website, they say it's written in great detail what each ingredient looks like and what effects it has."

"Wow... they even disclosed that? That's amazing."

Of course, looking into Jeong Seokhun's actions, he had no choice but to freely disclose the method to manufacture the Elixir to the world.

Because all the main ingredients for the Elixir were difficult to obtain.

The supply of ingredients is not smooth enough to monopolize in the first place.

So Alice Group decided to only receive a nominal patent and release everything about the Elixir to the world.

"Ah! I think I've seen this flower somewhere before! Didn't we see it when we went hunting that time?"

"Huh? Where? Let's go right now!" "Since Ghost Door Honey Flower can be obtained probabilistically when made in ghost door areas... The problem is how to get Snow Fairy Essence and Silver Wolf Flower..."

"Snow Fairy Essence isn't impossible if you have effort. If you wait in mana purification areas, snow fairies will appear someday."

"What about the bottle needed to contain Snow Fairy Essence? Can the ingredients used for that be easily obtained?" "The biggest problem is Silver Wolf Flower. Its natural habitat isn't listed. Where on earth do we get this?"

"Hey... only you should hear this. I heard Sirius Group is recently researching how to cultivate Silver Wolf Flower." """"What?""""

"What do you think 'Silver Wolf' in Silver Wolf Flower means? Don't you know Sirius Group's symbol is the silver wolf? That flower symbolizing their group is Silver Wolf Flower!"

As the manufacturing method for the Elixir spread,

Players set out to find ingredients for the Elixir from that day.

The era could be said to have entered a second pioneering period after <Fin de Siècle Destruction> from that point.

"Uijeongbu! It might be in Uijeongbu!"

"There are many unknown things above Uijeongbu."

"It's a gold mine, but the Fairy Lady government won't say they're pioneering Uijeongbu, right?"

"After shedding so much blood a few years ago, they wouldn't dare mention pioneering Uijeongbu?" "You never know. If the ingredients for the Elixir are really there, the government might draw their sword again." "Come on, if they did that, the Fairy Lady wouldn't end with just a public apology this time. Her political life could end." "It's all or nothing. What if they succeed? Then the opposite situation would occur." """"..."""""

In some quarters, excited people even started talking about recapturing Uijeongbu, which is currently taboo among citizens.

But it was still just a very small minority.

The issue most citizens were interested in was─

"─So who did they end up using the Elixir on?"

"That... they said they couldn't reveal it to protect personal information. So it will be written as 'Mr. E' in the paper." "Ah, the paper on the results of using the Elixir? Well, it is necessary. For now, the effects of the Elixir are just theoretical." "But well... it's as good as proven. They said Mr. E had the disease that was said to be the hardest to cure among mana depletion." "Was it cured?"

"They say it was completely cured."

"So who is Mr. E?"

"Don't know, no one knows." "I know."

"What? Who is it?"

"I heard rumors it's a direct descendant of Luminous Group..."

"Well, if it's a group's direct descendant, the possibility of using the Elixir is high. Who else could afford that price..."

"Huh? That's strange. I heard it was someone from a group too, but I didn't hear it was Luminous Group."

"I heard it was a different group."

"No. I heard it was a retired actor. They say he got younger after drinking that. You know, the actor who said "A secret makes a woman woman" in an old movie! They say he's become 20 years old again and will be active under a new name!"

"I heard it wasn't a Korean person?"

"What's the truth here?"

""""..."""""

Meanwhile, nothing was revealed about the person who first used the Elixir.

There were only rampant opinions.

No one knew the truth.

People just called them Mr. E and arbitrarily thought it was a man.

☆

Lee Yoojung received treatment with the Elixir.

According to Alice Hospital doctors, her mana depletion seems to be cured.

Currently she is under strict security to monitor her progress.

"─Thank you so much. I heard earlier she's much healthier compared to before. It's thanks to you."

"I'm glad if she's healthier. But can't you visit her?"

"It's absolutely forbidden even for family for the time being. They say there might be side effects from the Elixir, and to closely examine the effects of the Elixir, contact with the outside must be cut off as much as possible." "Then there's nothing we can do."

Jeong Seokhun consulted with Eunha and spread information about the Elixir to the world.

The world was in an uproar now.

As such, Lee Yoojung's identity as the first subject to use the Elixir had to be thoroughly protected and hidden.

Even among Alice Hospital staff, only a few knew she had absorbed the Elixir.

So it seems visits to her are prohibited for the time being.

It's fine as long as Yoojung is healthy.

Eunha nodded to Lee Yucheon who had a bright face visiting the hospital room from the morning.

"So about that, when Yoojung is discharged from the hospital this time..."

A repetition of previous conversations.

Nevertheless, Eunha didn't get tired of Yucheon's stories.

He just felt satisfied thinking about what kind of life she would live after being discharged from the hospital.

Of course, Jung Hayang who came to nurse Eunha seemed bored─

"─Puu."

Eventually Jung Hayang who was playing with Fire Chicken puffed up her cheeks.

The two stopped talking.

"─Sorry, were you bored?"

"Sorry, I guess I talked too much about myself. I've been in such a good mood lately..."

Eunha held Jung Hayang's hand.

Lee Yucheon who realized his mistake made an apologetic expression.

But Jung Hayang's gaze was directed at Eunha from beginning to end, not him.

She narrowed her eyes.

"No, it's not that..." "..."

"I was wondering since when you've been so interested in Yoojung..." "...Of course I'm happy that Yucheon hyung's sister got better. Aren't you happy?"

"I'm extremely happy too. I am happy, but hmm..."

"..."

"Why do you seem happier than me?" "...It must be your imagination."

"Hmm..."

Eunha poked Jung Hayang's cheek with his finger.

But her cheeks puffed up again.

Jung Hayang looked at Eunha with a very suspicious gaze.

"Hoo..."

Then she stopped glaring.

Jung Hayang sighed.

"Well... Since you're the one who brought the Elixir, I guess it's understandable to be curious. I was just teasing. It's strange that you reacted so seriously though..."

"Ahaha..."

Jung Hayang withdraws her suspicious gaze.

Eunha tried to hide his flustered feelings and hugged her from behind.

She climbs onto the bed and occupies Eunha's side.

Lee Yucheon saw that and smiled.

"─When the visitation ban period is lifted, let's go see Yoojung together. Yoojung should know who saved her too."

"I'm fine..."

"Yoojung will surely want to thank you. Don't say that and make some time soon." "...Alright."

After learning that Lee Yoojung is a direct descendant of Luminous Group,

Eunha decided not to meet her as much as possible.

Lest she get caught up in his life and live an unfortunate life.

Nevertheless, when a suitable pretext arose, Eunha gave in to his emotions.

He knew it was foolish even to himself.

─If we just don't get close... it should be fine. I want to see her even from afar.

I shouldn't meet her, but I want to meet her.

Contradictory emotions.

Eunha took an ambiguous attitude.

"Then I'll be going now. I should leave so you two can spend time alone cozily!"

"Tsk, it's already too late? I'm going to tell Yoojung everything later!"

"Hahaha! Have a good time!"

Not long after, Lee Yucheon left the hospital room.

Hayang giggled while leaning on Eunha's chest.

Then she looked up at Eunha.

She opened her mouth.

"─I don't know if it's just my imagination, but when Yucheon oppa said he'd introduce Yoojung earlier, you seemed strangely happy..." "What? Me?"

"Yes! I was leaning on your chest, remember? Your heart was pounding then?"

"...It must be your imagination." "Suspicious..."

Eunha gently averted his gaze.

Jung Hayang pouted her lips.

☆

While the world was in an uproar over the Elixir,

On Taeyang's insides were burning.

Noh Eunha, that bastard...!

Noh Eunha, Jeong Seokhun, Lee Yucheon.

On Taeyang couldn't help but harbor feelings close to hatred towards them.

But the world was in a situation where they were hailing Jeong Seokhun who created the Elixir as a hero.

On Taeyang wanted to tell them Jeong Seokhun wasn't such a great person.

What? A chairman who favors commoners?

That's all lies! If he really favored commoners, would he have given it to Noh Eunha!? If it were me, I would have persuaded Noh Eunha to use it for the public good!

Everyone is being deceived.

So he wanted to borrow Dangun Group's power to denounce Jeong Seokhun, Noh Eunha, and Lee Yucheon.

He wanted to tell the media who the first subject to use the Elixir was.

But neither Dangun Group nor the media listened to his voice.

Damn... Yehwa noona hasn't been in contact much since the gathering... What's the point of me receiving sponsorship if she says no to everything!?

After being severely scolded by Hong Yehwa, On Taeyang's relationship with her became distant.

In the end, he only exchanged formal conversations with Dangun Group.

In that situation, when On Taeyang conveyed the truth he knew to her, Hong Yehwa sighed over the phone and told him never to bring up such talk again.

The media's reaction wasn't good either.

That was because of Hong Yehwa too.

─Now that I see it, Hong Yehwa noona is no different from people in the political and business world!

To prevent him from making reckless moves,

Dangun Ilbo's direct descendant Hong Yehwa tipped off the media in advance not to publish On Taeyang's story as an article.

It was a matter of turning Alice Group as well as various business groups and the Fairy Lady government into enemies if they made a mistake.

Originally, On Taeyang didn't even have proper evidence.

"Oppa... Will mom be okay?"

In the end, while On Taeyang couldn't do anything and was aimlessly swinging his sword,

His mother passed several critical moments while suffering.

Today was the same.

On Taeyang who came after receiving an urgent call from Taehee entered the hospital room and couldn't hide his irritation and anger.

"Sob..."

"Stop crying. Mom will be fine."

His younger sister who only looks for him every time a problem occurs.

His mother who always says sorry while not providing any help and only giving a burden.

On Taeyang tried hard to suppress his anger seeing his younger sister who suddenly started crying as soon as she saw him.

 "Hey, Taeyang... Don't you think it would be better to stay at the hospital for a while, even if you have to take a leave of absence?" "What?"

In that situation,

Ara, who had been comforting the sobbing Taehee, cautiously spoke up.

On Taeyang asked back in disbelief.

But Jo Ara, as if she had to say what needed to be said─

"─I heard Taehee hasn't been able to go to school lately because she's been taking care of your mother alone, did you know that?"

"That's why Alice Group is providing a caregiver, isn't it? But why is she skipping school?"

"That's true, but your mother's condition is very bad..."

"Hah... Ara."

"..." "Do you think our mom would want that?"