30 Years After Reincarnating, It Turns Out This World Was A Rofan?! novel Chapter 80

"-I removed the demonic energy from the heart but kept the venomous properties intact. You mentioned having poison resistance, so this will actually help build up your tolerance," Derek explained, his voice filled with exhaustion.

After spending half a day laboring intensely, he looked utterly worn out, as though he’d competed in back-to-back triathlons. Yet, despite his fatigue, a spark of life lingered in his eyes.

"The medicinal energy is too potent to blend evenly, so I also prepared three separate elixirs infused with water, earth, and wood qi. You’ll need to consume them in sequence."

"...Thank you," Ihan responded simply, acknowledging Derek's effort with a plain expression of gratitude. He could have launched into a lengthy speech to convey his appreciation, but that wasn't Ihan's style, and Derek would probably find it uncomfortable anyway.

With a subtle smile, Derek replied, "You’re welcome. I’ll take care of the rest... just give me a moment..."

Thud.

Before he could finish, he collapsed right where he stood.

"Looks like he might need the medicine more than me," Ihan muttered, catching Derek and laying him down on a hammock tucked into a corner.

Then, Ihan turned his attention to the vials of medicine lined up on the desk.

Glimmer.

"They’re pretty extravagant," he murmured, his voice neutral, though his eyes held undeniable surprise.

He had expected a straightforward refinement, but what Derek had produced was far beyond his expectations. Anyone could tell at a glance that these were supreme elixirs.

Despite being mere potions, a hazy aura rose from them. The three elixirs Derek had told him to take shone with colors of water, gold, and green, like iridescent pearls, looking as though they would melt the moment they touched his mouth.

"Water to nourish earth, earth to cultivate wood, strengthening the body’s defenses... Was Derek studying traditional medicine in a past life?"

The elixirs seemed to form a harmonious blend reminiscent of the five elements, their potency beyond ordinary comprehension. But even these extraordinary concoctions paled in comparison to the final potion.

"This... this isn’t just an elixir. It’s an infernal concoction."

He brought the vial to his nose.

If a radiant red sapphire could melt like liquid, it would look something like this. The vibrant red fluid glowed like fluorescent ink, and he couldn’t help but wonder if it was even safe for human consumption.

But—

“This one first, right?”

Without hesitation, Ihan drank it. The potion held Derek’s full dedication; the least he could do was consume it with due respect.

‘Not a drop left behind.’

He downed the three elixirs. Contrary to his expectations, they didn’t dissolve in his mouth; only as they slid down his throat did he feel the impact.

Boom!

“!!!”

An intense shock coursed through his entire body, unlike anything he had felt before. There was no explosion, but the sensation was powerful enough to feel as though one had erupted within him.

‘It feels like it’s drawing out all my internal energy.’

The three elixirs not only drew power from each other to amplify their presence but also devoured his energy, including the vitality he had painstakingly regained through those painful healing sessions with the priestess. Someone might have wondered if this was an attempt at poisoning, given the sensation of his life being drained.

Though he felt an overwhelming urge to expel the potion, a voice in the back of his mind whispered—

‘Maybe I should let it do its thing...?’

Ihan decided to let the elixirs continue consuming his energy until he felt his life force dwindle precariously low. He trusted that So-Shim had no intention of harming him, and besides, the energy didn’t seem life-threatening. Strangely, as the elixirs absorbed his vitality, he felt his body becoming lighter in a different sense.

It was as if unnecessary, residual energy—things he could do without—were being purged from within, as though the elixirs were forcing his body to empty itself to make room for something greater.

For several long minutes, he let the three elixirs work their way through his system, sapping his energy at their whim.

“...Ugh.”

Eventually, Ihan lost even the strength to speak, and his vision blurred as dizziness overtook him. He felt ready to pass out.

If there had been a mirror, he might have been horrified by his appearance. His once powerful frame now looked gaunt, almost skeletal. Thankfully, he couldn’t see himself in his current state, with dimmed vision and no mirror nearby.

Without being able to assess his own appearance, Ihan reached for the vial containing the red liquid with a trembling hand.

Even though it weighed less than 250 grams, lifting it felt like a monumental task. Pain, exhaustion, hunger, and thirst all clawed at him, his body wracked with conflicting desires to eat and sleep simultaneously.

If his sexual desire hadn’t been sealed, it was likely his behavior would have taken an embarrassing turn as well.

In this state, Ihan relied solely on sheer willpower to keep himself in control, restraining all urges and discomfort.

"Shut up. Quiet... quiet!"

He commanded his uncooperative body to obey him. He willed every part of himself to follow his intent, demanding complete submission.

Gulp.

Ihan forced the red liquid into his mouth.

Gritting his teeth.

It felt less like drinking and more like chewing. Although he was downing a liquid, it writhed in his mouth, like eating a stubbornly squirming octopus or tough pork skin.

“──”

But Ihan didn’t let a single drop escape his lips. He kept chewing and swallowing, determined not to let any of it go to waste.

Finally, he swallowed it all.

And that’s when the real ordeal began.

Boom—!

Crackle.