Swen crossed her arms and grumbled, looking at Shinju.
> "So you're immortal, huh? Good. Then maybe we still have a chance."
Shinju raised an eyebrow.
> "A chance for what?"
Swen nodded seriously.
> "If we can restore your Yin energy, we can increase your cultivation."
Shinju sighed.
> "Small problem… there's no Yin energy left anywhere."
Koharu cut in:
> "So we're completely hopeless?"
Swen exhaled sharply, then suddenly lifted a finger in the air.
> "Actually, the Yin energy problem is easy to fix!"
Koharu blinked in surprise.
> "Really?"
> "Of course! I'm Swen, the smartest alchemist in the universe!" she said proudly, then reached into her pocket.
Her face grew serious, and then… panic set in.
> "Where… where did I put it?
No— no way! Am I an idiot?! How could I forget that?!"
She turned her pockets inside out — a few cracked crystals and… half a bitten cookie fell out. But no teleportation talisman.
Koharu covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing.
Shinju raised an eyebrow.
> "Something wrong, genius alchemist?"
Swen forced a stiff smile.
> "No, no, nothing. Just a… minor lapse of memory."
Then she quickly changed the subject.
> "Uh— give me that orb that detects Mikail's Spear."
Shinju crossed his arms.
> "What do you want with it?"
> "Just hand it over!"
Shinju took a deep breath, then handed her the crystal with a cold expression.
> "Here. Go knock yourself out."
Swen snatched it, rubbing her hands together.
> "Now watch… and be amazed."
She activated the orb. Light expanded outward, forming a floating golden map.
Swen pointed and began explaining:
> "This yellow dot here is you, Shinju — our charming cursed hero.
And this bright spot in the center is the heart of the world — the Elisyum mine, source of Mikail's Spear."
She rotated the orb, revealing another glowing point far across the map.
> "And look here… there's another one on the opposite side of the world!"
Koharu leaned closer, eyes wide.
> "Wait, there are two Mikail's Spears?!"
Swen smirked.
> "Exactly. The world's Yang energy is so dense that it makes sense they'd place a second spear."
Shinju narrowed his eyes.
> "And you want us to go there?"
Swen shrugged, spinning the orb.
> "Unless you'd rather sit here and collect moss?"
The orb dimmed as she finished her plan.
Koharu, however, was still staring at Swen — but… differently.
Her gaze drifted down Swen's chest and hips.
She whispered to herself:
> "No way… were they always that big?"
Shinju turned his head.
> "Did you say something?"
> "N-no!" Koharu blurted, straightening up quickly. Her tone turned oddly firm.
"So, are all three of us going?"
Shinju looked confused.
> "Yes, who else would go?"
Koharu frowned.
> "I don't want Swen coming."
> "Why not?"
Koharu put her hands on her hips, face slightly red.
> "Did you forget, Shinju? I can see people's hearts.
And hers is… a little too lively."
Shinju scratched his head, then chuckled softly.
> "You might be right.
She's not a fighter — she'll just slow us down."
A vein popped on Swen's forehead.
> "Did you just call the great alchemist Swen… dead weight?!"
She rolled up her sleeves, squatted down furiously.
> "Fine! I'll show you who's slowing who down!"
Grabbing a handful of swamp moss, she scraped some salty deposits off nearby rocks and sprinkled them on top.
A faint light circle shimmered under her fingers.
Koharu and Shinju watched, intrigued.
Swen handed the moss to Koharu.
> "You couldn't eat this earlier, right? Try it now."
Koharu hesitated, then tore off a piece.
She chewed once— then her eyes lit up.
> "Hmmm… this… this is delicious!"
She started devouring it.
> "It's salty— but a little sweet too! How did you do that?!"
Swen crossed her arms smugly.
> "I'm Swen. I balance flavor itself."
Shinju barely contained his laughter as Koharu continued eating.
Koharu looked up between bites and yelled:
> "I take it back. She's definitely coming with us!"
Shinju smiled.
> "Agreed. Talent deserves a place in the team."
Swen grinned victoriously.
> "Ha! Told you — Alchemist Swen always delivers!"
Shinju's tone grew thoughtful.
> "Actually… even if there's no Yin energy left in the air, there might still be a way to gather it."
Swen immediately perked up.
> "You mean you have a plan?"
> "Yes," Shinju said calmly.
"We'll hunt down the creatures that have absorbed the essence of the void along our path — and collect their cores."
Swen froze.
> "Did you say creatures? I'm an alchemist, not a hunter!"
Koharu tried to hide a smile.
> "Don't worry, Swen. At worst, only a few of them will eat you."
> "Very funny…" Swen muttered, clutching the crystal tighter.
Shinju stood up, gazing toward the horizon.
> "Get ready. Yin energy won't come to us — we'll go find it."