Chapter 153:
The news was already spreading like wildfire through the Awakened community, even without his help.
“I’ll be a regular customer, so please don’t move. And don’t go overseas either. I can’t subjugate dungeons without your dungeon plants anymore.”
“If I were going to leave, I would have left already. I’ve grown attached to this place; I’m never leaving. So don’t worry and please keep visiting the Flame Dungeon!”
“…The Flame Dungeon? Is that what you’re calling this place…?”
“Of course! I can’t call it Bulkkotgil again since this is a dungeon. So I decided to call it the Flame Dungeon!”
The Esper looked around blankly at Seo Jae-yi’s bright smile.
A neatly arranged greenhouse, a jungle beyond it, the clear blue sky. There was nothing resembling flames, and yet she called it the Flame Dungeon…
‘Firestarter has no naming sense.’
The Esper nodded to himself. Of course, he didn’t know that this place had actually been ablaze like a fire dungeon once.
“Thank you! Come again!”
Another customer entered through the gate after he left.
Customers kept pouring in, as if they had been waiting for this day. Even though the prices were lower than before, the increased volume of sales made up for the difference.
The Association, which received a portion of the profits in exchange for granting her permission to use the dungeon, would be pleased.
“But this is tiring, with so many customers.”
Three days after the start of sales.
Airok, who had been tirelessly tending to the plants, sighed.
He wasn’t exhausted from this level of work, having regained his power, but it would eventually take its toll if it continued.
“You’re right. I think we need to hire some staff.”
The most disgruntled one was Baek Joo-won.
He was happy that Seo Jae-yi was staying in the dungeon with him, not returning to her apartment. He was even happy that her energy was slowly permeating the dungeon, the longer she stayed.
The problem was that they barely had any alone time together because she was so busy and there were so many people coming and going.
What good was sleeping together at night? He had even built a few tree houses nearby, hoping for some privacy, but they were useless, as she was always busy.
‘And I can’t control myself around Seo Jae-yi after what happened a few days ago.’
The day his transformation had partially unravelled, unable to contain the intense heat that had been consuming him.
That night, he and Seo Jae-yi had been more passionate than ever. It had been a night of scorching intimacy, despite her protests.
He hadn’t been able to control himself around her since then.
He wanted to touch her more, be with her more.
But he was surrounded by distractions, not Seo Jae-yi. He wouldn’t have allowed anyone near this place if she hadn’t insisted on selling dungeon plants.
“Hire some staff. You can focus on cultivating the plants here, and they can handle the sales.”
He had to find a way to spend more time alone with her.
Baek Joo-won made the suggestion, suppressing his frustration.
“Hmm, hiring staff…”
Seo Jae-yi, oblivious to the true motive behind his suggestion, started pondering it seriously.
She had also been feeling overwhelmed by the increased number of customers.
And Airok had to hide, and Baek Joo-won had to maintain his human form because of the constant stream of visitors.
‘It must be inconvenient for him.’
He had already made a huge sacrifice by allowing people into his dungeon for her sake; she didn’t want to burden him further.
“Set up a shop near the gate. The staff can take orders there, and we’ll pack and deliver them.”
“Oh, that’s a good idea.”
Seo Jae-yi nodded in agreement.
Then the question was who to hire. The most trustworthy candidates were the Haeil Guild members, but they couldn’t hire them, as they had an agreement with the Association that Haeil wouldn’t be involved in the dungeon plant sales.
Seo Won-yeong was too busy crafting equipment.
“I’ll have to contact the Association.”
They were collaborating with them, so it was only natural for them to help.
“I’ll call the Basement Dweller right now.”
Seo Jae-yi took out her phone and left the dungeon.
Baek Joo-won, pleased that his plan was working, smiled. Airok, seeing his smile, asked anxiously,
“…You’re not going to leave all the work to me and go off to have fun, are you?”
“I’ve been thinking that a lot lately. You’re so perceptive, Airok. Is it because you’re a dragon with keen instincts?”
Airok yelled at Baek Joo-won’s ominous words,
“No! You can’t do that! I’ll tell Master!”
“Do you even realize how smitten Seo Jae-yi is with me these days?”
Baek Joo-won smiled sweetly. Just like the old Seo Jae-yi, Airok’s greatest fear was his smile.
Airok, utterly defeated, slumped to the ground and started sniffling.
“What? Why is Logi crying?”
Seo Jae-yi, returning after her call, was surprised to see Airok crying, but Baek Joo-won, who had long ago sold his conscience, just shrugged.
“Did you take care of it?”
“Yes. They’ll send staff in shifts starting tomorrow. They said everyone would be happy to work here with the extra pay. But is Logi really okay?”
“He’s fine. He’s just a sensitive dragon who cries easily. So, Seo Jae-yi, we’re done for the day, right?”
“Yes, it’s until eight.”
“Then let’s relax. You’ve been working all day. Let’s take a bath in the hot spring.”
“A bath?”
Seo Jae-yi, who had been looking at Airok with concern, her face brightened at his suggestion.
“Yes. I made the water extra hot. Let’s go.”
“But Logi…”
“I made a separate hot spring for Airok, so leave him be. Come here. I’m tired, so I’ll wash you today.”
“I’m not tired.”
“I am. I’m mentally exhausted from not being able to touch you all day because of work.”
Baek Joo-won, spouting ridiculous logic, lifted Seo Jae-yi into his arms and carried her towards the cave.
Seo Jae-yi, seemingly pleased by his words, wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Then I’m at fault. I shouldn’t have kept you from touching me when you like me so much.”
“Right. So let me touch you all I want today.”
Seo Jae-yi, forgetting about Airok, kissed Baek Joo-won at his teasing words.
They disappeared into the cave, and Airok, left alone, stared blankly at the empty space where they had been.
“They really left…?”
She used to comfort him when he cried and even scolded Baek Joo-won sometimes! But ever since they became closer, he had been neglected!
“Sob… This is so unfair! It’s all Hae-wi’s fault! Bad Hae-wi! He stole Master away from me!”
The betrayed Airok burst into tears.
They could hear his cries, but Seo Jae-yi couldn’t go to him, completely captivated by Baek Joo-won.
Airok would have been furious if he knew.
The next morning.
Whether it was thanks to Jeong Joo-hyung’s swift action or Kang Sung-yeon’s intervention, two staff members were dispatched from the Association.
Seo Jae-yi recognized them.
“Greetings. D-rank Esper Kim Sung-hyun.”
“D-rank Esper Kwon Ho. Pleased to meet you!”
Kim Sung-hyun and Kwon Ho.
They were the Association officials who usually guarded the forest dungeon gate.
The very ones Seo Jae-yi had shot with a tranquilizer gun and then given a fist-sized magic stone out of guilt.
The two, still unaware of her identity, looked at her with respect.
“We’ll be in charge of Esper Seo Jae-yi’s dungeon plant sales from today!”
“We’ll be working in shifts, but we’ll be the main staff, so please treat us well!”
Seo Jae-yi asked at their enthusiastic declaration,
“Did you volunteer?”
“Yes! We were mostly monitoring this dungeon anyway, so it’s not much different. And they’re giving us extra pay, so there was no reason to refuse!”
It was a mercenary answer, but also a very practical one. Seo Jae-yi, easily convinced, nodded.
“And actually, my grandparents live in a nearby village. The one where the dungeon breakout occurred recently.”
Seo Jae-yi was surprised by Kwon Ho’s words.
“Are your grandparents alright?”
“Yes, they weren’t seriously injured, as they live on the outskirts of the village. They’re still in the hospital, as they were quite shaken, but they’re grateful to be alive.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Yes. All thanks to Esper Seo Jae-yi. Thank you so much. I wanted to thank you personally.”
Kwon Ho bowed deeply.
“It was my duty. Well, the village was destroyed because of my overload…”
Seo Jae-yi smiled sheepishly, and Kwon Ho shook his head firmly.
“No, it wasn’t your fault. You overloaded while trying your best to protect us from the monsters. Who could blame you? And thankfully, your overload was quickly contained, and there weren’t any casualties. The villagers didn’t want to return to the village anyway, after the monster attack.”
And the government had promised to compensate them for their losses, so the villagers had no reason to resent Seo Jae-yi.
On the contrary, they were grateful for her bravery in confronting the monsters.
“So don’t worry. They’re all happy that you’re safe and unharmed.”
Seo Jae-yi smiled, knowing his words were sincere.
Yes, she had fought because of people like him. She would continue to fight as long as the world needed her.
“Thank you for your kind words. I’ll continue to do my best. And I’ll be counting on you for the dungeon plant sales.”
“Don’t worry! I had many part-time jobs before awakening as an Esper, so I’m used to this!”
“I can do it too!”
Kim Sung-hyun and Kwon Ho clenched their fists, determined.