Chapter 90. What Are You Doing?

[Skill: Fragment of the Heart of Flame Level 1]

Kim Do-Joon stared at the glowing ember in his hand, a fragment of the Heart of Flame that Vulcanus had given him. The small, flickering flame danced lightly, radiating warmth. Just then, something unexpected began to happen.

[The Fragment has resonated with the surrounding energy.]

[Your skill level has increased.]

[Your skill level has increased.]

[Your skill level has increased.]

[Your skill level has increased.]

...

Messages scrolled rapidly before his eyes, which widened in shock. Although Vulcanus had explained the nature of the Fragment, he hadn’t anticipated such an outcome. According to the Fire Spirit King, this fragment wasn’t just a shard of the true Heart of Flame, but something else entirely.

Vulcanus, born from the primordial flame, wasn’t made entirely of Heart of Flame. The Heart of Flame was his core, while this fragment was a residue. Rather than the core at its purest form, it was the fire of Vulcanus, altered by the influence of the Heart of Flame.

This particular flame had a unique characteristic: Resonance. Kim Do-Joon had been told that the Fragment could resonate with the energy around it, and now he was witnessing it firsthand.

[Your skill level has increased.]

[Skill: Fragment of the Heart of Flame Level 61]

The flame in his hand grew, not just in size but in intensity. What started as a small ember, no larger than a fingernail, had expanded to the size of his fist. Moreover, the power it now held was incomparable to what it was moments ago.

Level sixty-one means...

Kim Do-Joon murmured to himself, trying to comprehend what was happening.

Stat Rune

- Mana Level 61

His current mana stat was at level sixty-one, the same as the flame’s level. It seemed the level of the fragment was growing to match his mana stat exactly.

Though it feels... different from the mana.

The energy Kim Do-Joon sensed from the flame was not like the mana he was accustomed to. Mana felt more neutral, like a calm river, steady and unchanging. This flame, however, was wild and dynamic, like turbulent waves.

Is it because it comes from a spirit, rather than the ambient mana in the air?

Controlling it with precision would likely require some training, but that didn’t concern him much. Whether it was mana or spirit energy, it was still a power he could wield.

And unlike his usual cold mana, this was a fiery, passionate spirit energy—a new tool at his disposal.

Two attributes at once...

Kim Do-Joon whispered in amazement. It was incredibly rare for a Hunter to wield more than one elemental attribute. Usually, only those with ‘neutral’ mana, which had no inherent attribute, could channel different elements through specific skills. However, to have two different attributes coexisting within his very being was unheard of.

Is it possible because this energy isn’t mana?

Kim Do-Joon now possessed both mana and spirit energy. This was unprecedented. Spirit Summoners usually summoned spirits, rather than absorbing their power directly.

However, Kim Do-Joon had done just that—embracing the spirit’s power within his body.

Therefore, his theory was simple yet convincing: if spirit energy was fundamentally different from mana, then it made sense that the two wouldn’t conflict, even if they had different elemental attributes.

Well... maybe not...

It was just a theory, after all, nothing certain. The only thing he knew for sure was that he could now control both forms of energy.

If I give this flame to So-Eun...

The thought lingered, but he quickly dismissed it. Actually, there were two possibilities. First, the fragment wouldn’t grow at all because of Kim So-Eun’s zero mana stat. In that case, the fragment would be wasted, rendered useless.

The second, far more dangerous possibility was that the flame resonated with the overwhelming yin energy inside her, causing it to expand uncontrollably. Neither option was ideal. Either the fragment was squandered, or exacerbated her condition to the point of no return.

To cure her Absolute Meridians, she didn’t only need a massive amount of yang energy, but also energy she could control with absolute precision.

Unlike Jecheon Seong who was sixteen and much stronger at the time, So-Eun is too young. Moreover, being a girl, she’s more vulnerable to yang energy.

If the yang energy began to rampage within her six-year-old small body, it could be disastrous. Even Jecheon Seong might struggle to keep Kim So-Eun safe under those conditions.

But I have a better way.

He realized there was no need for such a risky gamble when a safer, more reliable method existed. He thought back to Jecheon Kang, Jecheon Seong’s elder brother, who had successfully cured a similar condition.

In Jecheon Seong’s memories, Kim Do-Joon had seen the treatment for the Nine Yin Absolute Meridians being effective. However, he couldn’t use that exact method because of his ice core, rendering it impossible.

But now, things were different. He had the means to replicate Jecheon Kang’s treatment. If he could nurture this Fragment to the level of an inner elixir of the Ten-Thousand-Year Dragon, he could use its energy to unblock all of Kim So-Eun’s meridians.

Unlike Jecheon Kang, Kim Do-Joon wouldn’t have to worry about dying in the process. Even if he exhausted the flame’s energy, his mana would remain intact.

So... to grow this fragment...

The method was straightforward: to increase his mana. Since the Fragment grew alongside his mana core, he should elevate it to the level of an inner elixir of the Ten-Thousand-Year Dragon.

From now on, I should only copy-paste mana stats unless there’s a special reason not to.

However, that was only part of the plan. The higher his stats, the less efficient the gains became. Going from level one to five provided much more gains compared to moving from level fifty to fifty-five, where the progress was almost negligible.

The breathing techniques he had learned from Karlish and the consumption of rare elixirs didn’t help with this stat efficiency. The more he trained, the more mana he accumulated, regardless of his current stat level.

By copy-pasting stats to raise the level, consistently training, and seeking out elixirs, Kim Do-Joon could grow stronger.

I just need to become stronger than ever before.

Such was the way to cure Kim So-Eun’s Absolute Meridians. As the plan solidified in his mind, a smile spread across Kim Do-Joon’s face. Finally, he had found a clear path forward. It wasn’t a dark and uncertain road, searching blindly for the Golden Divine Elixir or the Ten-Thousand-Year Dragon. This path was simpler and more direct.

Now, all that was left was to walk it, without faltering or falling along the way.

***

"Here, take this," Sallyon grumbled as she struggled to carry a large sack, eventually tossing it toward Kim Do-Joon with a huff.

The effort of lugging it over with a small body was evident, as she panted heavily, clearly exhausted from the task.

"

Ugh

, making me do this kind of menial work. How arrogant for a human!" Sallyon complained, glaring at Kim Do-Joon with irritation.

Kim Do-Joon caught the sack and opened it to check inside. It was filled with herbs infused with yang energy.

"Thanks," Kim Do-Joon said calmly.

"

Hmph!

I only did it because the king ordered me to!" Sallyon snapped, turning her head away sharply as if to dismiss any notion of gratitude.

Kim Do-Joon chuckled softly as he inspected the herbs. While they did contain traces of fire energy, the amount was minuscule, barely a fraction of the fragment within him. He put one in his mouth, chewing thoughtfully.

Chewing and swallowing, Kim Do-Joon paid close attention to the energy within the herb. However, the fragment remained unresponsive. The energy from the herb didn’t absorb into his mana core either. His core, aligned with the ice attribute, was fundamentally incompatible with the fire mana in the herb.

In the end, the energy dissipated into the air with his exhale.

Just as I thought, no effect.

The Fragment wouldn’t grow with fire-elemented elixirs. To nurture the Fragment, he needed his mana core to grow, which required ice-elemented elixirs, not fire-based ones.

Confirming this, Kim Do-Joon tied the mouth of the sack securely. While the herbs were useless for him, they might still have some benefits for Kim So-Eun.

"Are you... really leaving?" Sallyon asked hesitantly.

"I have to," Kim Do-Joon replied as he stood up and pushed aside the tent flap. "Why? You want to follow along?"

"Follow you?

Ha!

I'm just relieved you're finally leaving!" Sallyon shot back, albeit her voice wavered slightly.

With that, she flew off quickly, as if fleeing from the conversation. From her flight path, it seemed she was heading back to Vulcanus' fortress.

Kim Do-Joon waved as she glanced back mid-flight. Startled, she sped away even faster.

Maybe I'll bring her something tasty if we meet again.

Kim Do-Joon thought, smiling to himself. After all, thanks to Sallyon, his journey had been much easier. A small token of gratitude would not hurt.

With light steps, Kim Do-Joon made his way toward the village entrance, where his companions were already gathered, prepared for departure. Naiyel had apparently convinced the other elves to return home, leaving no one to cause trouble in the village.

"Human," called Elena with a stern expression, who was standing off to the side. "As I mentioned earlier, I’ll stay behind for a while. I intend to help Mr. Dien persuade Mr. Vulcanus."

Kim Do-Joon nodded in understanding. For a dark elf like Elena, convincing the Fire Spirit King to lend his power was a critical mission. Therefore, it made sense for her to remain.

"What about your plan to destroy the roots?" Kim Do-Joon asked.

"I’ll come back for that later. I’ll need your help then," Elena replied.

The promise she had made, which was to assist in removing the roots of the World Tree in exchange for his guidance within the Stem, would have to wait.

Kim Do-Joon wasn’t particularly concerned. He didn’t feel strongly one way or the other about her absence. He’d continue exploring the dungeon regardless.

But, it’s probably best not to mention that I’ve obtained the Fragment of the Heart of Flame.

Kim Do-Joon decided not to mention it to anyone. He knew that if word got out, it would bring him nothing but trouble. Even though the Fragment's energy was different from the true essence of the Heart of Flame, others wouldn’t necessarily see it that way.

Just the fact that he’d received something from Vulcanus would be enough to make the Dark Elves relentlessly pursue him, just like Dien constantly pursued Vulcanus. The elves, on the other hand, would do everything in their power to kill or kidnap him, just as Naiyel had once pressured Vulcanus.

As he was mulling over these thoughts, he noticed someone approaching from a distance. It was Naiyel.

"Stop right there!" Elena shouted, noticing Naiyel’s approach, but her words went unheeded.

Naiyel ignored Elena’s warning and walked straight up to Kim Do-Joon.

Everyone in the group knew that Naiyel had fought Kim Do-Joon in an underground cave in the mountains. Kim Do-Joon had told them as much. Elena had been especially shocked to hear the story. It was one thing to have killed the knight Eldora, but to have fought and defeated a contractor of the Spirit King was beyond her imagination.

However, Kim Do-Joon had kept some parts of the story a secret. He didn’t mention his deal with Vulcanus, nor did he reveal the relationship between Vulcanus and Naiyel. He only told them that Vulcanus had taken responsibility for Naiyel and was keeping her in check.

"What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be in prison...?" Elena muttered, her voice filled with suspicion as the group tensed up, ready for a fight.

Elena and Dien looked ready to kill her on the spot. Despite the hostile glares, Naiyel focused solely on Kim Do-Joon. Paying no heed to everyone else, she bowed to him.

"My deepest apologies," she said, her voice sincere.

Naiyel didn’t care about the others’ opinions. All that mattered to her was Kim Do-Joon’s reaction. After all, her future treatment depended on him, and in a way, he had saved her from being a puppet of Nereid.

Still, Kim Do-Joon's gaze remained cold. He had little reason to spare her life. If it weren’t for the debt he owed Vulcanus, he would’ve killed her already.

Seeing his cold expression, Naiyel smiled bitterly. She knew full well that Kim Do-Joon’s mercy wasn’t for her sake but for Vulcanus.

"I plan to stay here for a while," Naiyel continued. "But I’ll need to go to Lake Brianna to take care of some matters. If you ever find yourself needing to go there, please let me know. I’ll guide you and ensure you face no harm."

"I’m not sure if I’d ever go there," Kim Do-Joon replied flatly.

Naiyel bowed again, then turned and walked away. Only after her figure disappeared from sight did the tension finally ease. Even Elena, who had been seething with anger, gradually relaxed.

Once Naiyel was out of sight, Elena turned to Kim Do-Joon with a bewildered expression.

"What did you do to her, human? That Naiyel Rackade looked so... defeated. And what’s with her hair color?" she asked, clearly confused.

"Who knows?" Kim Do-Joon shrugged, playing it off.

To explain Naiyel’s current state, he would have to reveal the existence of the ability that reduces spirit affinity, which led to Nereid abandoning her, resulting in her current weakened state and change in hair color. Of course, he kept that information to himself. It was always best to keep some cards hidden.

Then a thought suddenly crossed Kim Do-Joon's mind, causing him to frown. Didn’t Luin return to the lake after his contract was broken? If Naiyel had not interfered, he might have been able to finish Luin off properly.

Lake Brianna...

Kim Do-Joon mused to himself, making a mental note of the place. Whether he would need to go there or not was still uncertain.

***

— We’re back!

Kim Do-Joon and Siwelin entered the shop with energetic strides. After several days away, they had finally returned from their expedition. The group had unanimously decided to discuss any rewards later, and instead focus on resting at home. Having seen off Hwang Hyun-Woo and Seok Dae-Kyung, the two were now back in the shop.

Siwelin waved a card she had prepared for a warm welcome, but the shop was surprisingly quiet.

“So-Eun?” Kim Do-Joon called out, his voice filled with concern.

It was already past the time when kindergarten would have ended. There was no reason for Kim So-Eun not to be home. Not just Kim So-Eun, Jecheon Seong was nowhere in sight either.

“...”

With a worried glance, Siwelin tugged at Kim Do-Joon’s sleeve. He nodded and they stepped outside, determined to find the two of them.

Moments later, they stumbled upon an unexpected scene in an unexpected location.

“

Hyah!

” a small voice shouted.

“Yes, yes! Extend your sword from there!” Jecheon Seong encouraged her.

Behind the shop, on a small hill where Kim Do-Joon often practiced, they found Kim So-Eun and Jecheon Seong facing off, wooden swords in hand.

Siwelin's eyes widened in surprise, and Kim Do-Joon's mouth fell open in disbelief.

“What... what are you doing?” Kim Do-Joon exclaimed, his voice tinged with panic as he rushed over and pulled Kim So-Eun into his arms.