I Became an Academy Overpowered Growth Genius

I Became an Academy Overpowered Growth Genius – 16

EP.16 Friends (1)

Kang Seo-jun left the security team behind and walked towards the place where the Ghost Buddha had collapsed.

– Squirm, squirm.

–

On the dark floor, red flesh wriggled like insects.

Their name was ‘Hell Fungus’.

They were parasitic organisms attached to the body of the Ghost Buddha, the hidden piece Kang Seo-jun sought to obtain in this dungeon.

“Ugh.”

Kang Seo-jun bent his creaking knees and looked closely at them.

As parasitic organisms, they rapidly lost vitality the moment they lost their host.

Several of them were already dead, stained gray as if their power had exhausted, and even the ones still alive seemed to be on the verge of meeting their fate.

Kang Seo-jun quickly opened the lid of a glass bottle filled with green liquid.

This green liquid was the ‘Experimental Nutrient’ purchased from the dimensional shop, intended to extend the life of the Hell Fungus.

Using iron tongs, Kang Seo-jun carefully picked up the Hell Fungus one by one and transferred them to the nutrient-filled glass bottle.

The dying Hell Fungus, upon entering the nutrient solution, regained vitality and swam like dragonfly larvae.

“When I get home, I need to start the process right away.”

To safely use the Hell Fungus, several essential processes were required.

Originally, the essence of the Hell Fungus was a monster, a highly harmful creature to humans.

Just as trees exhale oxygen with each breath, the Hell Fungus exhales magi with each breath.

Magi becomes a powerful force for demons, devils, and ghosts, but for humans, it is a fatally harmful energy.

Therefore, if these creatures were transplanted into the body without any process, it would only add another carnivorous parasite.

No matter how strong Kang Seo-jun’s willpower was, continuous exposure to magi would inevitably corrupt his body and mind.

Bit by bit, his human identity would be eroded, ultimately reborn as a complete demon.

In essence, it would be tantamount to death, as his self would change involuntarily.

Regardless of how powerful the force gained might be, that was not what Kang Seo-jun desired.

However, by purifying the Hell Fungus into Mana Fungus through a special process, its utility completely changed.

‘It becomes a living mana generator.’

It produced effects no different from implanting an infinite supply of regenerating mana elixir into the body.

Kang Seo-jun watched the fungi swim with anticipation in his eyes for a while and then carefully placed them in his pocket.

Now that he had obtained what he desired, it was time to return home.

After successfully completing the dungeon conquest, the group scattered to their respective destinations.

====

***

====

Seo Eun-ha was immediately transported to the hospital, and the security personnel escorted Kang Seo-jun home before clocking out.

The only ones left with unfinished business were Manager Go and Jin Se-rin.

They visited the research facility under the control of the Seongjin Group.

Their purpose was to verify the stability of the crystal received from Kang Seo-jun and record the data.

Late afternoon, after the evening hours had passed, the silent research lab, deserted as all employees had left.

The doctor spoke while observing the crystal through a large microscope.

“It’s truly an intriguing object.”

Manager Go asked.

“What makes it so?”

Jin Se-rin, standing beside Manager Go, swallowed nervously, clearly tense about the results.

The doctor raised his eyes from the microscope, wiped the moisture off his glasses, and spoke.

“Well, we’ve confirmed the composition, but it feels like there are more questions than answers.”

Manager Go wore a frustrated expression.

“Could you please explain in more detail?”

“First, have a seat.”

The doctor gestured for Jin Se-rin and Manager Go to take a seat and then retrieved the crystal from a large analysis machine.

“Externally, it appears to be a hard gem or glass artifact, but its properties are not of the material world.”

“Can you simplify that…”

“Well… metaphorically, you could say it’s a form where intangible energy has taken on substance. In the case of this crystal, it’s closer to the crystallization of a spirit.”

Jin Se-rin blinked, not fully grasping the meaning, and Manager Go furrowed his brow.

“Crystallized spirit…? So, you mean it’s alive?”

The doctor faintly smiled.

“Yes, it’s alive. It’s not a common occurrence, but occasionally, spirits crystallized in this manner are found in dungeons or gates. This case is particularly unusual, I’ve never seen one so solidly crystallized in the data.”

The doctor, seeming intrigued, examined the purified shard of the soul under the fluorescent light.

Manager Go tapped the desk with his finger and asked.

“Are spirits crystallized in this way used for any specific purpose?”

“Well, it varies from case to case, but typically, they are attached to equipment. Since it’s not an item infused with a spirit but the spirit itself, if you manage to tame it well, it can become a good partner.”

“Hmm… So, are there any cases where crystallized spirits are kept as pets or… anything like that?”

“..…………Yes? Ah.”

The doctor, unable to grasp the intention behind the question, blinked for a moment before explaining as if recalling something.

“Well… since it’s a living being, there might be instances where, for the sake of increasing affinity, it’s kept somewhat like a pet… I think.”

The doctor seemed uncertain, and he even faltered in the middle of his sentence.

“Well, it’s hard to consider it common, I suppose.”

“Then, is there a possibility that it could harm a person?”

This was the crux of the matter.

Despite the increased trust in Kang Seo-jun while conquering the dungeon together, it was necessary to check, especially since his true identity had not been completely clarified.

“Um…”

The doctor smiled with an ambiguous expression.

“No, the possibility is low. Especially with this friend, even more so.”

The doctor stroked the crystal with his finger, speaking as if fondling it.

“This friend is alive but almost devoid of self. Also, its mana waves are quite friendly to humans. It’s a rather gentle creature.”

He then handed the crystal back to Jin Se-rin.

“Thanks to the young lady, I had a good view after a long time. To find its appropriate use, more research is needed, but it seems you’re not particularly curious about that.”

“Yes…”

Jin Se-rin accepted the crystal with a puzzled expression.

With its stability verified, all that remained was its effectiveness.

“Thank you for your time, Doctor.”

“It’s nothing. It’s what I enjoy doing. Feel free to bring anything fascinating next time you find something.”

The stability verification concluded in a warm atmosphere.

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***

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That night.

Having heard directly from the doctor that ‘this object is harmless’, Jin Se-rin, as Kang Seo-jun had suggested, held the crystal in her hand and fell asleep.

Given the numerous events in the dungeon, Jin Se-rin, tired, quickly slipped into the world of dreams.

“Ugh….”

And so, the nightmare began.

It wasn’t the first time she had dreamed it.

Two years ago, when the process of growth began to stagnate, she started having this dream occasionally.

“Ah….”

It was the apocalypse.

There was no land, no sky left untouched by flames, no place unboiling.

The sun turned black, the moon shattered into pieces, and the stars concealed their traces.

From the rifts in the empty space, strange creature continuously overflowed and poured out.

Mountains shattered, storms relentlessly raged, sulfur tainted the world with a yellow hue.

The territory of humans had long been seized, becoming nests of insects and corpses.

Blood never dried, screams never ceased.

Jin Se-rin felt all of this with every sense she possessed.

Fire, blades, insects, corpses, stench, storms, filth, disease, screams, fear.

Even forcibly waking from sleep couldn’t escape it.

Her trembling legs moved, but everywhere she went, it was hell.

Ultimately, as always, Jin Se-rin chose to crouch down and huddle in that place.

Closing her eyes, blocking her ears, stopping her breath until the horrifying figures distanced themselves.

Waiting like this for a while, it appears.

– Waaaah.

–

Soon, a brilliant light revealed itself from the sky.

It was what she had been waiting for. This was also the same flow as always.

The dreadful heat, the tearing screams, the nauseating stench subsided, and a warm aura enveloped Jin Se-rin.

She lifted her head and looked up at the sky.

In the sky, a gigantic hand shining brightly was visible.

As always, that hand pointed directly at Jin Se-rin as if she were the chosen one from this hell.

But it wasn’t a choice of salvation.

Rather the opposite.

Chosen as the savior to rescue the world from this hell.

Even without anyone teaching her, the meaning was conveyed to Jin Se-rin as if it were self-evident.

“Ah… Ah….”

Therefore, even as all the dreadful figures around disappeared, the fear in her heart did not diminish at all.

There was no way she could save the world from this hell.

She was just an ordinary person, one among many in this world.

Nothing about her was special or outstanding.

Even if she shed tears and appealed to the shining hand, the hand merely continued to point at Jin Se-rin impassively.

In this nightmare’s flow, she would appeal until exhaustion and then wake up from sleep. However…

“Huh… Huh…?”

For the first time, the nightmare changed.

The hand that had silently pointed at Jin Se-rin slowly began to move, and soon, it raised its thumb.

Only then did Jin Se-rin realize that her right hand was glowing.

More precisely, the crystal she held in her right hand was shining brightly.

The Fragment of Purified Soul left Jin Se-rin’s hand and gradually rose into the sky.

The glowing hand, with the thumb raised, moved away along with the crystal, and the world fell silent.

For the first time, she felt the fear in her chest gradually subsiding.

– Tweet, tweet.

–

– Swoosh.

–

So, for the first time, Jin Se-rin opened her eyes to a different conclusion.

Outside the window, birds were chirping.

“Oh…”

The crystal she had surely been holding while sleeping was now gone.

However, Jin Se-rin was not perplexed.

For some reason, it felt natural.

Instead, she tightly clenched her own hand.

A noticeably different power now resonated in her hand.

“Huh, huh…? Huh huh…?”

After two years, finally,

It was the moment Jin Se-rin felt her growth.