Chapter Nineteen: 2nd Monster Ability and the Legendary Grade Potion
He also chose a second monster ability.
These were the options:
Cockroach's Tenacity (5,000 MP)
Meteoric Drops (10,000 MP)
Swallow (1,000 MP)
He noticed a change.
The two abilities he had seen the last time he selected a free monster ability from the Livelihood Dungeon were still there—and back then, he had chosen Self-Regeneration.
However, there were also new abilities coming from his pets, both new and old.
The problem was that not all of them appeared in his selection list.
There was a particular ability that did not show up at all.
That was the one he could not find.
...
Lay
Lays an egg per day.
...
It was obvious that this wasn't compatible with someone like him—a human, classified as a mammal according to science.
...
Then there it was. The new monster ability choice.
...
Swallow
An ability that lets the user feast on anything. The user uses what it devours as nourishment to efficiently grow stronger.
...
"Swallow" was the newest ability of the Regeneration Slime after it reached adulthood and was promoted to D-rank.
It looked promising. You only needed to eat to become stronger.
Peter almost twisted in envy.
Because of that, he decided to obtain it—whether now or later.
...
Just like the reason he chose his first monster ability, he would select what he believed was most suitable—not what he wanted, nor what was the most expensive or the coolest.
For now, there was only one skill he was truly inclined to pick.
He had already witnessed its effect firsthand. Just the thought of it left a deep impression in his mind.
It was the time when Ichiro appeared, severely injured from head to toe. Fortunately, Kawaii-kun was able to rescue him immediately; otherwise, he might have succumbed to the severity of his injuries across his entire body.
At the time, Peter thought that anyone who suffered such severe wounds would die immediately. However, the wolf who was previously just an ordinary creature still managed to gather enough strength to move and position itself better—a place where it could be seen and rescued.
Peter was certain that this was the effect of the Terrestrial Wolf's passive ability.
Because of this, he confidently chose Cockroach's Tenacity.
...
Cockroach's Tenacity (passive)
Cockroaches have the most tenacious survivability. And the one who possesses this ability is just as tenacious.
...
Name: Peter Bulalakaw
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Age: 23
Lifespan: (40–90)
Titles:
Master of the Livelihood Dungeon!Passionate Tamer!
Status:
Stats:
Strength: E
Resilience: D
Agility: E
Spirit: D
Main Ability:
Livelihood Dungeon!
Sub-ability:
Appraisal
Monster Abilities:
Self-regeneration (passive)
Cockroach's Tenacity (passive)
...
Satisfaction.
That was the current emotion of the dungeon master.
At the moment, he was more than happy with the current set of abilities he possessed.
It goes without saying how broken his literally god-given ability and title, Master of the Livelihood Dungeon, were.
His sub-ability, Appraisal, also had excellent synergy with his other title, Passionate Tamer, especially in his life as a farmer and caretaker.
Meanwhile, his new monster abilities were focused on increasing his chances of survival.
Self-Regeneration granted him an extremely high level of bodily healing.
While Cockroach's Tenacity strengthened his ability to cling to life even in critical situations.
...
It had been eleven days since the Silkie hen first hatched the eggs.
Peter arrived at the dungeon a bit early today because he planned to contract a dozen Silkie chicks.
...
Name: ---
Race: Silkie (infant/normal)
Gender: Male
Age: 11 days
Lifespan: 5–20 years
Status:
Stats:
Strength: E-
Resilience: E-
Agility: E-
Spirit: E-
Ability:
Lay
Lays an egg per day.
...
Name: ---
Race: Silkie (infant/normal)
Gender: Female
Age: 11 days
Lifespan: 5–20 years
Status
Stats
Strength: E-
Resilience: E-
Agility: E-
Spirit: E-
Ability:
Lay
Lays an egg per day.
...
Name: ---
Race: Silkie (infant/normal)
Gender: Female
Age: 10 days
Lifespan: 5–20 years
Status:
Stats:
Strength: E-
Resilience: E-
Agility: E-
Spirit: E-
Ability:
Lay
Lays an egg per day.
...
Name: ---
Race: Silkie (infant/normal)
Gender: Male
Age: 1 day
Status:
Stats:
Strength: E-
Resilience: E-
Agility: E-
Spirit: E-
Ability:
Lay
Lays an egg per day.
...
Name: ---
Race: Silkie (infant/normal)
Gender: Female
Age: 5 minutes, 13 seconds
Lifespan: 5–20 years
Status:
Stats:
Strength: E-
Resilience: E-
Agility: E-
Spirit: E-
Ability:
Lay
Lays an egg per day.
...
In just a few minutes, he managed to contract and turn a dozen tiny Silkies into pets.
"Easy," Peter said casually.
Before he had even named them, he already had a concept in mind for how he would name all his Silkies—both present and future.
For now...
He paid attention to one detail while initiating the contract: the male-to-female ratio of the chicks.
2:10
Two male chicks and ten female chicks.
Imbalanced, yes. But Peter was actually pleased with it.
Having more female chickens would make reproduction much easier. In total, he now had eleven female Silkies, including the hen Cotton.
"We're off to a good start," Peter said cheerfully while looking at his new pets.
"About time," he added.
"You're Silva," he said while pointing at the silver-colored Silkie chick. It was one of the older chicks and also the most troublesome.
...
Name: Silva
Race: Silkie (infant/normal)
Gender: Male
Age: 11 days
Lifespan: 5–20 years
...
The name Silva sounded cool—like a slang variation of "silver," matching its feather color.
"Very witty name," Peter thought proudly of his naming sense.
He then turned his attention to the second chick he planned to name.
The dungeon master smiled wryly as he looked at the gray chick.
He still remembered their strange first meeting.
"A girl is not supposed to hug a guy you just met. People will think you're loose," Peter mentally lectured.
He covered his mouth with a clenched fist, trying to hold back laughter.
"Silly buffoon," he thought, amused, referring to the gray chick.
It had tripped on a wooden beam back then.
"Nothing but trouble," he added, shaking his head.
"You're Grey," he suddenly said.
The gray chick tilted its head curiously.
It seemed to like the name too.
Gray. Grey.
Same sound. Different spelling. Different meaning.
A clever wordplay using homophones.
He then named the remaining ten chicks.
But this time, he became a bit lazy—like a certain slime from a comic he once read.
He remembered a scene: a genderless, harmless-looking slime lazily naming its many new companions, who later became powerful and reliable subordinates.
"Just like this," he chuckled, recalling Earth and the Asian web novels he used to read.
Both of them based names on characteristics.
In Peter's case, the main basis was feather color.
He also used gender-neutral-sounding names when possible.
Some might criticize: "Silva isn't gender-neutral. That's masculine."
But he had an answer for that.
Silva was also used as a surname, meaning females could technically carry it too.
Winks. ö ~ ö
"No way, right?"
He suddenly paused at a realization.
"I'm not going to become something like a demon lord feared by people... right?" Peter laughed.
Of course, no one answered him.
He forced himself to push that thought away.
...
Shadow 2
Cotton 2
Cotton 3
Cotton 4
Shadow 3
Cotton 5
Cotton 6
Shadow 4
Grey 2
Was this parallel scene a true foreshadowing?
Will Peter really become an existence akin to a demon lord?
Or will he become something that easily surpasses even a demon lord?
"They're too many. Hard to remember even with appraisal. This will do."
Depending on feather color, a Silkie's name would be shared with others of the same color who had already been named.
Thus, rare-colored Silkies—those without existing matches in the Livelihood Dungeon—would receive unique names.
In other words, they would have their own namesake. They would be the originals.
"Counting the paired Silkies, we have four Shadows, seven Cottons, two Greys, and of course one Silva," Peter listed in his mind.
...
"Good news for you, my friend," Thomas greeted excitedly the moment he stepped into Old Man John's tavern.
"I'm listening, Thomas," Peter replied as he walked toward the returning peddler.
Peter had entered after spotting the familiar carriage and horses outside the establishment—clear signs that Thomas had just returned from his journey to Seaham.
"The reception in Seaham for your corn was excellent—especially among the aristocratic families," Thomas revealed with a grin.
"Tell me the details if you can," Peter requested.
"Gladly," Thomas answered.
Peter nodded with a slight smile.
"As soon as I arrived in Seaham, I wasted no time. I went straight to the Merchant's Guild to report the potential of the products I brought—especially your corn and Regeneration Potions," Thomas began.
"The moment I presented the golden corn, I immediately saw the guild master's eyes light up. It wasn't surprising—she didn't become guild master by chance. She knows value when she sees it."
"We cooked the corn using the methods you taught, under the guild master's strict instructions," Thomas added, sounding both amused and slightly exhausted at the memory.
"Some were grilled, others boiled," he continued.
"We shared them among the guild staff."
He let out a short laugh.
"They loved it so much they almost forgot it was meant for evaluation. They kept asking for more."
"Eventually, they calmed down and confirmed it—this would definitely sell. There's nothing like it anywhere in the kingdom, not even on aristocratic tables."
"We all reached the same conclusion: nobles will love it because it's a perfect way for them to display wealth and status."
"Now, word about your corn is spreading among the aristocracy of the Terragon Kingdom. But don't worry—the guild ensured your identity as the supplier remains hidden," Thomas added, tapping his chest lightly.
"So, Peter... could you provide me with your famous corn again?"
Peter couldn't help but blush at the word famous. He never imagined that, as the master of the Livelihood Dungeon, he would ever be described that way.
"No problem, Thomas. It's you, after all. I owe you a lot," Peter replied.
"Thank you," the peddler said happily.
"How are my alchemist's Regeneration Potions doing?" Peter suddenly asked.
He made sure to mention the "mysterious alchemist"—a deliberate move to keep suspicion away from himself.
Peter understood that he couldn't afford to fully trust this world. Every detail about his identity could become a weapon against him.
At the same time, the idea of a "legendary alchemist" served as a protective shield. If anything happened to that figure, access to such valuable potions would disappear as well.
A faint smile formed on Peter's lips.
And it remained there as he faced Thomas.
He had arrived at just the right moment—right as the conversation shifted toward Regeneration Potions.
In Thomas's mind, the discussion with the guild master about Peter's "legendary-grade potion" resurfaced once again.
...
"Madam Bridgette," Thomas called out to the female guild master.
"Do you have anything else to add, Thomas?" the guild master asked her former apprentice.
Thomas looked around and noticed that the Guild staff were watching them closely. The scene between former master and apprentice had clearly drawn their attention.
"What are you hesitating about, you foolish student of mine? Everyone here is trustworthy to both of us," Bridgette lectured when she noticed the hesitation on his face.
"I didn't teach you to be a coward," the guild master added, shaking her head.
"Just say it," she urged, in a tone that allowed no refusal.
With no choice left, Thomas took out three bottles of Regeneration Potion. He had been cornered—resistance was pointless.
The guild staff curiously examined the three vials containing green liquid.
"What are those, Thomas?" one of the Guild staff finally asked, unable to suppress their curiosity.
It was obvious they could already sense the potential profit behind those bottles.
As members of the Merchant Guild, they were naturally drawn to business and profit. The Seaham branch was no different.
In most cases, people entered an industry to make use of their skills and abilities—something true in this world as well as in Peter's original world.
"These three bottles are potions," Thomas said with a teasing smile.
He paused his explanation, just as expected, immediately drawing frustration from his colleagues.
"Don't keep us waiting."
"We already know they're potions."
"We're not blind, you know."
Complaints came one after another.
"Healing potions," Thomas finally clarified.
"Guess their grade," he added, a hint of teasing in his voice.
"If they were low-grade, you wouldn't be acting like that," one of them remarked.
Others agreed.
None of them considered the possibility of Thomas being embarrassed.
A vein nearly popped on his temple.
Calm down, Thomas. Calm down, he repeatedly told himself.
"Maybe they're advanced grade," one said.
"Intermediate, probably," another added.
"Could they be legendary grade?" someone joked.
They all turned toward him, as if they had just heard the funniest joke of the year.
"You're not wrong," Thomas suddenly replied.
"Huh? Come again?"
"Yeah, repeat that," they said almost in unison.
"I said... all three bottles in my hand are legendary grade," Thomas repeated slowly and clearly.
A collective gasp filled the room.
The staff exchanged glances, silently searching for confirmation that it was a joke.
But none could be found.
"You don't need to look at me like that. It's like you want to devour me," Madam Bridgette said with a light chuckle, bringing them back to their senses.
"Madam Bridgette..." they all murmured, regaining composure.
They lowered their heads in embarrassment.
"Don't worry. I'm curious as well," the guild master said.
In that room, she was the only one—aside from Thomas—with a high-level appraisal skill.
Bridgette inhaled sharply after examining the bottles.
The staff held their breath, waiting for her reaction.
"Excellent. Excellent work, Thomas. Where did you get these?" she asked seriously.
To her, they were not yet confirmed 100% legendary—but according to her appraisal, the potions were at the very least advanced grade.
...
Regeneration Potion
Restores one-tenth of the user's health points per second.
...
"As a merchant, and without disregarding our relationship, I can only say this, Master—it is a trade secret," Thomas declared, carefully imitating the way Peter used to speak.
"You're not wrong," Bridgette agreed, nodding at her former student.
"I only have one question. Can you supply this continuously?" the guild master asked directly.
"Of course, Master!" Thomas replied confidently.
"Good."
Bridgette then turned to her staff.
"Listen up! From this moment on, the Guild's operations are temporarily suspended until we finish planning what to do with these legendary potions! Is that clear?!" she commanded authoritatively—perfectly fitting her position.
Everything proceeded according to her plan.
The Guild staff temporarily halted their operations.
Naturally, some merchants complained—time, for them, was equivalent to money.
As an experienced leader, Bridgette quickly silenced the unrest, though not without promising compensation to the affected merchants.
The Merchant Guild suddenly fell into an unexpected temporary silence.
Deliberations began, lasting several hours.
Their plan focused on Thomas's return schedule to the Village of the Beginnings.
One of the three potions would remain in the Guild's custody for further analysis.
The remaining two would be handed over to the Adventurers Guild as part of an inter-guild collaboration.
The two suspected legendary-grade potions would be used by elite adventurers in high-risk dungeon expeditions.
A month passed. One day before Thomas was scheduled to return to the Village of the Beginnings, he reviewed the results of their experiment.
According to reports from high-ranking adventurers, the Regeneration Potion had saved their lives in critical dungeon situations.
Some had lost their eyesight or had their arms severed, but after drinking the potion, their bodies immediately returned to normal—as if no injury had ever occurred.
They also reported that the potion alleviated severe exhaustion and blood loss.
At that point, they were about 50% certain it was a legendary-grade potion.
Shortly after, the remaining vial was tested on an adventurer on the brink of death—and once again, it saved his life.
That was when their belief solidified: it truly was a legendary-grade potion.
The difference between advanced and legendary grade was not only in effect, but in its long-term efficacy.
Both could restore damaged body parts, but advanced-grade potions quickly lost potency after a few days.
Meanwhile, legendary-grade potions could retain their effectiveness for more than a year with almost no degradation.
Only a month had passed, but they decided to stop further testing due to Thomas's impending return.
Both guilds also began preparing for a potential continuous supply of legendary-grade potions.
For adventurers, earlier access meant more lives saved.
It also allowed for more aggressive dungeon exploration, leading to a rise in high-ranking adventurers—including the rare Rank S.
For merchants, however, delaying such a massive transaction was almost a cardinal mistake.
Thus, Madam Bridgette herself led the push to accelerate Thomas's return to Seaham.
...
Thomas couldn't help but smile at the memory.
"There's a change in our arrangement, my friend," the peddler began, making Peter frown slightly.
"Don't worry. As I said, I only bring good news."
"The quality of your potions has been confirmed through careful deliberation between the merchants and adventurers," he added.
Peter smiled at the praise for his product.
"Because of that, the agreed price has changed. Instead of one gold per bottle, we will now pay three gold per bottle," Thomas said with a grin.
Peter's eyes widened.
"Thank you! Thank you!" he responded enthusiastically.
"It's nothing. Now then—do you still have Regeneration Potions?" Thomas asked.
"Of course. How many do you need?" Peter replied.
"As many as your alchemist can produce," Thomas answered.
"Understood," Peter said.
"Well then, my friend? Looks like we'll be meeting more often because of this new arrangement," the peddler added.
"Yeah, you're right. I'm already getting tired of your face," Peter joked.
"For another successful transaction," they said, shaking hands.
Peter accepted with a wide smile.
Thomas did the same—wearing a sincere smile.
On the surface, it was a smooth and trustworthy transaction between two merchant friends.
But beneath that peaceful scene lay subtle strategies.
Peter knew he might be underpaid compared to the true value of his products. He also knew merchants often doubled or tripled prices.
He chose to pretend ignorance. In doing so, he could better control the situation and make use of their network.
He also knew that as long as he remained amicable, they would be more inclined to protect him—and his "alchemist." For Peter, it was a form of insurance while he was still establishing his position in this world.
In truth, the Merchant Guild was not merely doubling the price.
It was tripled.
That had been their intended price from the beginning.
Their basis was the highest known market price—in the capital of the Terragon Kingdom, Providence City, where a legendary-grade health potion sold for ten gold.
Based on Thomas's observations, the Seaham Merchant Guild decided to test Peter's market knowledge by setting the price this way.
And in their eyes, he had no idea about the true market value of a legendary-grade potion.
Five gold would have been the "proper" price in their calculation—but they lowered it to three gold as a compromise and test.
Thomas, meanwhile, was delighted. He believed they had gained a temporary advantage.
And if Peter ever discovered the true price, they would claim ignorance due to their lack of experience with legendary-grade potions.
If that failed, they would gradually compensate the difference—as long as their relationship with him and his "alchemist" remained intact.