Children of the Holy Emperor - Chapter 443



Only Noblemtl

443. Reunion (5)

What is the product that people are half in doubt about, but absolutely cannot pass up and stop at?

‘It’s a panacea!’

Just by taking it, it kills parasites, blocks electromagnetic waves, improves your skin, prevents hair loss, treats hemorrhoids, and even improves your vitality!

If you advertise just this much, eight out of ten people on the street will turn around and look.

‘But what if it’s sold as a tea that’s easy to drink?’

Maybe they don’t know, but for a while, people here will be drinking only panacea instead of herbal tea day and night.

Yeah. If there is no way to clearly prove the harmful effects of a weak drug, why not just push it out of the market with a better product?

[… But it’s a panacea? Isn’t that a total scam?]

The demon king asked worriedly, but Seongjin answered confidently, tapping the lamp.

“Don’t talk nonsense, Demon King. In this world, there is a tremendous phenomenon called the placebo effect.”

Even if you drink plain water, if you have the belief that it is medicine, you will see some improvement in your condition.

[So what I’m saying is that it’s a scam-]

“Shut up! It’s just respect and belief in the infinite potential of the human spirit!”

Think about it, Demon King. It’s all for the greater good. We can drive out the weaklings, free the people from the dangers of the Grey Plague, and most importantly, turn a simple country boy into a self-made businessman. It’s no exaggeration to say that this is killing three birds with one stone!

And if the car sells well and Oliver becomes fully established? We will be contributing greatly to the economy of the North!

‘If things go well, I’ll have to ask Oliver for a generous guarantee later.’

Money will start rolling in. Just imagining it makes me happy.

As Seongjin smiled happily, the demon king blinked the lamp urgently.

[That laugh! Lee Sung-jin, please don’t laugh like that! Are you plotting some evil scheme again? Are you?]

“No, what do you think of me? I am the prince of the Seonghwang family, and I only have a selfless heart that seeks to benefit the continent!”

[Don’t make me laugh!]

And so, the work of manufacturing Sungjin’s panacea began.

First, Sungjin ordered Oliver to boil all the herbs that could be used as tea. In order to make the best drink that could replace the herbal tea, he had to first properly understand the properties of the ingredients he had.

The innkeeper frowned, but soon changed his attitude after seeing Seongjin’s generous financial offering and gave him a large part of the kitchen.

So, after a while, bowls of grass water with hot steam rising from them were prepared in front of Seongjin’s eyes.

“This is a digestive, that is a headache remedy, and this is an herb mainly used for skin irritations. But, except for teosinte, there are none that are particularly suitable for drinking as tea… … .”

Leaving Oliver behind, who was hesitating, Sungjin began to taste the dishes himself.

[Eek? Lee Sung-jin! Do you know what all these are and are you drinking them?]

“Oh, it’s okay, it’s okay. My stomach is strong.”

[Ugh! There won’t be any bothersome escort knights by your side. Are you going to leave right now? Huh?]

Ignoring the Demon King who was spitting out sparks, Seongjin took a sip of the herbal water one by one and rolled it around with his tongue.

“… … .”

Unfortunately, most of them were bitter or rancid, as expected of herbal medicine.

‘I guess it’s not usable by car.’

Fortunately, there was one thing to salvage: teosinte, which Oliver had originally intended to sell as tea.

‘Hmm, it looks exactly like a barley ear, but why does it taste like corn tea?’

Seongjin nodded his head as he felt the aftertaste rising steadily.

“This is passable. The taste is pretty good. The aroma is also relatively passable.”

“Yes, right? I thought it would work! In our village, when we draw water from a well, we always boil it thoroughly with teosinte and drink it.”

“however-”

Seongjin frowned slightly.

Yeah, everything is fine. But it’s too ordinary. Why doesn’t it have a strong enough impact to push out the weaker car all at once?

The color was also a problem. It was a dull, dull brown color. To put it nicely, it was the color of beer. To put it badly, it was the color of concentrated urine. It didn’t look appetizing at first glance.

“hmm…….”

Do you think it’s possible to revive this by diluting it with water? Then the rich flavor will be greatly reduced.

‘I’ll need some additives that I can use as food coloring, or maybe some other herbs to make cocktails.’

However, other herbs also have a dull color. In addition, because they have such a strong taste, no matter how you mix them, they end up being inedible as tea.

Seongjin, who was thinking for a moment, mixed the red petals, which seemed less bitter and had stronger pigment, into the tea.

“Oh, wrong. It just turned into severe hematuria in the urine.”

“…Why can’t the tasting notes ever get beyond the boundaries of urine? Aren’t you being too picky about food?”

Ignoring Oliver’s complaints, Sungjin tried adjusting the number and ratio of herbs. But as expected, the results weren’t very good.

After all, most of them are medicinal plants, so they taste bitter and are cloudy in color. Compared to the clear pink-colored medicinal tea, I can’t say that they are attractive teas, even in vain.

However, Oliver, a young man from the countryside, did not understand Seongjin’s efforts to somehow produce good results.

“Why is that necessary? Teosinte tea is just like that. Shouldn’t it just taste good?”

Seongjin clicked his tongue. He seemed like such a pitiful and naive friend.

“Oliver. You know what the most important rule for being a… great businessman is?”

“Huh? You just said it was a scam?”

“No, I must have misheard.”

“No way! I heard it clearly just now! I clearly said it was a scam!”

Sungjin smiled kindly at the foolish being – at this point Oliver’s face turned pale for some reason – and gave the innocent young man a precious lesson he would never hear again in his life.

“First! As a merchant, you must first know how to stimulate the essential desires hidden in the human heart.”

The desire to keep up with others and acquire valuable products. The sense of belonging and security gained by using the items that everyone else buys. The excitement of anticipating the best value for money for an incredible item that is not easily available!

“…yes?”

“And secondly! What you say to others in order to sell the item, you yourself must first firmly believe it.”

Believe that even the most mundane water will become holy water. You must believe that you are not a simple fraud… a merchant, but a good person who is willing to share the profits for everyone! Only then can you pull people out of the swamp of distrust and convince them properly?

“Huh?”

“So, don’t get worked up over useless things. Don’t say things like “scam” or something like that before you even set up your table. Do you understand?”

Then Oliver’s eyes became extremely rude. Seongjin ignored him and continued his explanation.

“And thirdly! Most importantly, it’s a product that looks good to everyone!”

Just looking at them makes you want them, makes you want to have them, and makes you want to hoard them, but when you actually buy them, they don’t really have any use. You know those flashy, empty items?

We need to make something like that now!

“… What on earth are you trying to sell to people?”

Yeah, I want colors that look like they’re good for your body. Like the potions in Pangea Chronicles, for example.

They look mysterious at first glance, and you can vividly feel what effect they will have even before you eat them, right? Without such vivid visual effects… … .

“Wait a minute, potion?”

Yeah, potion!

Seongjin jumped up from his seat with his eyes sparkling.

‘Why didn’t I think of this sooner?!’

Some of the potions from the Pangea Chronicles can be used here, right? They are quite dark in color, not too spicy in taste, and quite effective… … .

Seongjin unconsciously tried to look through his inventory.

But as expected, it won’t open. The last time I logged into Pangea Chronicle, it said my account was deleted or something, and it’s been like this ever since.

then-

“Owen!”

Dadadadada!

Seongjin ran straight to the room where Owen and Sir Marsain were resting and opened the door with all his might.

Boom!

“Huh? Newbie, why-.”

Owen was startled and his eyes widened at the palm suddenly thrust in front of him.

“Give me the potion!”

“ok?”

“You know those small-capacity bound potions? You know, the junk that you can’t sell and is too small to consume?”

“Uh uh uh… … ?”

“Quick! Quick! Everything in the inventory!”

After clearing out Owen’s inventory, Sungjin started mixing and matching Teosinte tea and potions.

‘HP potion… rejected for now.’

I don’t like that red color at all. When mixed with teosinte tea, it doesn’t produce anything other than a cloudy liquid that reminds me of blood urine no matter how you look at it.

Moreover, the effectiveness is also a problem. If you show that you can heal wounds in real time without any divine power, you will be branded as a devil’s work and will be sent to the heresy trial.

‘MP potion is also rejected.’

When blue and brown meet, it becomes an indescribably murky color of sewage. No matter how hard you advertise, it’s impossible to put something like that in your mouth.

The effect is the same. At best, it might just make your mind a little clearer. That’s just a weaker version of the drug.

Now all that was left was the yellow stamina potion.

“… … .”

Hmm, I have a feeling this will work out well. That brilliant lemon color, doesn’t it seem like it will enhance both the brightness and saturation of the teosinte?

The instant effects are needless to say. You will feel your energy boost immediately, so there is no better product to spread word of mouth!

Clank!

And so, finally, a new, brilliantly colored Teosinte tea was born.

Fresh urine that glowed bright gold, inheriting the clear yellow color of the stamina potion… no, a honey-colored drink!

[In the end, it’s urine… … .]

No, that’s not true. Shut up!

“But there is still one problem.”

Oliver opened his mouth, staring in amazement at the incredible results Sungjin had created.

“Can this really be called ‘Teosinte’ tea?”

“huh?”

“Is this something that can be made sustainably by growing teosinte?”

The result was so different from what I had expected that I was now more afraid than happy.

“I need to use this sales performance to start a proper business. But what if it is revealed that Teosinte tea is not this color and actually has no efficacy? The business will be finished!”

“Hey. Do you really need to worry about that before you even start?”

Seongjin shrugged his shoulders.

It’s okay, Oliver. I have a feeling everything will be okay.

“No, it doesn’t end with the business failing. You’re even defrauding the palace to get investment. If you keep doing this, you’re really going to die! You’re going to die!”

“…There’s a way to do that too. Oliver, just trust me.”

“Hey, wait a minute? What was that moment of hesitation just now! Huh?”

* * *

So, after completing all the preparations, Sungjin confessed his plan to Owen and Sir Marsain.

Of course, if you leave out the truth about the medicine and the story of Dacianus’ secretary, it might have sounded like he was just trying to change his mood and do some business.

“So, you are setting up a stall and selling the goods yourself? Your Majesty? Did I hear you correctly?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

When Seongjin responded brightly, Masain rubbed the back of his neck and stared into space for a moment.

“… So, what are you going to sell?”

“Yeah, it’s really good for your health!”

Seongjin spoke confidently and lifted the clinking golden teacup.

“This is teosinte tea! Just drink it and it will give you energy and it is a miracle cure-all that is effective against all kinds of diseases!”

The more he listened to the explanation, the more distorted Masain’s expression became. Of course, he was still firmly accepting the items Sungjin was handing him with both hands and placing them on the table.

“… … .”

Between the deep furrows of Sir Martha’s eyebrows, one can sense the fierce inner conflict that arises from the mismatch between his emotions and actions.

Seongjin, who had been looking at him with pity for a moment, turned his head towards Owen.

“Oh, and Owen. You stay by my side, and if necessary, put on a show of force. You’re going to give off the impression that you’ve become stronger thanks to the effects of the potion. Got it?”

“Huh? Why?”

“It’s all for promotion. And you, for the time being, are prohibited from using the Imperial language in public.”

“Wait a minute, newbie, that’s-”

Owen, who was about to refute something, suddenly opened his eyes wide and looked into the empty space.

“Oh, another urgent quest has appeared?”

“Really? What are you saying this time?”

“You want me to help the party? The reward is still 5 cash. How petty.”

Owen scratched his unkempt hair with a look of resignation.

“By the way, Mr. Status Window, why are you so insincere these days, both with the quest content and the rewards?”

Well, I guess I’m being careful because it might clash with Sungjin’s opinions to a significant degree, but I don’t think there’s a need to explain that to Owen.

Leaving Owen behind, who was looking so bewildered, Sungjin handed the wooden planks he had prepared in advance to Martha.

“Sir Marsain, please hold the plank here next to Owen.”

“No, your Majesty, what is this now… … .”

This time, too, Masain accepted the wooden planks obediently, contrary to his words. Of course, his expression was terribly rotten.

So, after giving the innkeeper another gold coin, Seongjin started a noisy promotion by putting on a fire show with the Demon King.

* * *

“Oh, this is really inspiring!”

“Hey, look here! Here! Here, give me one of the Teosinte!”

“Wait a minute, wait! I have to go first!”

The promotional event that had been prepared with such care was more successful than expected. Oliver looked very dismayed as he watched the teosinte disappearing in an instant.

“Well, that’s strange. I know better than anyone that this is a scam, but why does everything he says sound so plausible? It even made me feel like it was a waste to sell the herbs.”

Seongjin twitched the corners of his lips.

How is it? Have you seen it? The true power of Lee Seong-jin, the last hunter of humanity?

[… You swindler. What does business have to do with hunters?]

Shut up! You stop talking and get ready for the final fire show.

Finally, all the items on the table were gone, and the long-awaited climax unfolded.

‘Sir Marsain!’

When Seongjin sent a small signal-

Whirlyrick!

Now, with a calm expression on her face as if she had completely lost her mind, Martha Kyung threw the rags she had prepared in advance into the air with force.

‘Demon King!’

[okay!]

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The red flames spread quickly.

The light rags scattered all around, upon being touched by the Demon King’s flames, soon began to bloom into red, gorgeous flower petals.

“… … !”

The fireworks that suddenly appeared brightly lit up the area in front of the inn as if it were broad daylight.

People were completely captivated by the overwhelming spectacle, each clutching a small bundle of teosinte in their hands.

Brightly burning sparks rain down from the dark sky. In the midst of this unrealistic spectacle, a boy with a noble appearance, as if he had stepped out of a myth, declared.

“Don’t be sad and just wait! Teosinte tea will come back here!”

Woohoooooooooo-!

People cheered wildly, without really knowing why or what they were excited about.

Meanwhile, Sungjin’s pupils began to emit a strange light. At first glance, he looked no different from the audience, who had red flames filling their eyes.

After disguising his face like that, Seongjin diligently scanned the faces of the people gathered.

‘Salt crystal, salt crystal where… … .’

Then suddenly, he spotted some familiar faces in the midst of the gathered crowd.

Edith is looking this way with wide eyes. Bartoza is rolling his eyes anxiously with his mouth shut. A young man who looks somewhat lost.

and-

‘…father?’

He was covered with thick priestly attire all over his body. His face could not even be seen clearly because of the hood pulled up to his head.

Nevertheless, Sungjin was able to immediately recognize the familiar gaze sent by the mysterious new figure.

‘Father, he’s here now!’

Click!

At that moment, it seemed as if the sound of two worlds that had been spinning out of sync was coming into perfect alignment was heard in Seongjin’s head.