Chapter 11:
‘Could this be the dungeon master’s egg?’
He might have a human form, but he was still a monster, so laying an egg wasn’t out of the question. But why would he abandon it?
She gently touched the egg; it was warm. It was still alive, being a monster’s egg, but it might die if left alone.
“I can’t just leave the potential offspring of my benefactor, who extended my life.”
Taking it with her was the only option.
Seo Jae-yi carefully placed the egg in her bag, which also contained the tranquilizer gun.
Since she couldn’t find the dungeon master, it was time to go back.
As she exited the cave, the lush forest came into view.
“Ah.”
This was a forest dungeon, home to all sorts of peculiar plants.
Vines that entangled and dragged anything that came close, strange flowers that emitted intense heat despite being plants, and giant carnivorous plants that devoured monsters.
She used to see them all as monsters that needed to be eliminated, but… her perspective had changed.
“It’s thanks to them that I opened a flower shop.”
She might be considered crazy for having such thoughts after seeing things like carnivorous plants, but it was the truth.
She was accustomed to seeing forests burn due to her ability, but this was the first time she had witnessed them slowly recover and sprout new life.
She vividly remembered the sight of plants, reduced to ashes by her power, regaining their original forms as they drew energy from the dungeon master when he appeared.
It was beautiful, awe-inspiring. She, who had only ever destroyed life with fire, craved that sight, yearned for it.
That’s why she opened a flower shop. She had always taken life; now, before she died, she wanted to nurture it.
‘The dungeon master has done so much for me.’
She felt a tinge of regret at not being able to see him today.
“…Huh?”
Just as she was about to leave, lost in nostalgic memories of the dungeon master, a brilliant idea struck her.
Seo Jae-yi stopped and looked around the forest.
“Come to think of it, there’s no rule against selling dungeon flowers in a flower shop, right?”
And her flower shop had the advantage of making any plant thrive.
Suddenly, the forest seemed like a treasure trove.
“As long as they’re not dangerous…”
Not the poisonous ones or the ones that could harm people, but the unique flowers not found on Earth!
Seo Jae-yi stealthily ventured deeper into the forest. Although she knew she was alone, she instinctively glanced around before reaching for a flower with a greedy expression.
***
Seo Jae-yi quickly exited the dungeon. The staff members guarding the entrance were still unconscious.
Despite leaving them magic stones as gifts, she still felt guilty, so she carefully laid them down and scattered fragrant flowers around them.
“I feel a bit better now.”
She smiled, satisfied with the sight of the staff members lying side by side amidst a bed of flowers, before leaving.
Her destination wasn’t home but her flower shop, specifically the greenhouse connected to the back of the shop.
“You’re beautiful even at night, my babies!”
The spacious greenhouse, much larger than the small shop, was filled with colorful flowers. All sorts of flowers bloomed vibrantly in the flowerbed, infused with Kim Yoo-sung’s life force.
Seo Jae-yi crouched down in front of a patch of bare soil and took the egg out of her bag.
Normally, eggs needed to be incubated in warmth to hatch, but she couldn’t carry it around all the time. Besides, human body heat might be sufficient.
But she figured that soil teeming with life force might be able to hatch even a monster’s egg, so she placed it on the ground and covered it with soil.
Then, she pondered again. Warmth was good for eggs, so simply covering it with soil might not be enough, right?
Her contemplation was short-lived, followed by swift action.
Seo Jae-yi stretched out her hands and blasted fire at the soil covering the egg.
“I’ll take good care of you in your mother’s place. So don’t worry and grow big and strong!”
In a corner of the dimly lit greenhouse, Seo Jae-yi looked incredibly happy as she roasted the egg, presumably laid by her benefactor.
Fortunately, no one witnessed this bizarre sight.
***
As expected, the egg was extraordinary.
Of course, Seo Jae-yi had regulated the temperature, but the egg had withstood the flames of an S-rank Esper.
And not only had it endured, but it seemed to be quite pleased. If she touched the surface, she could feel a pulsing sensation.
She had been slightly unsure if it was truly the dungeon master’s egg, but its resilience to S-rank heat confirmed her suspicions.
‘Even with a human form, a monster is still a monster.’
He might have a male form, but as a monster, his anatomy must be different from humans!
Seo Jae-yi thought simply.
Engrossed in the joy of caring for the egg, she finally left the shop the next morning.
Today was the day for the actual Matching Rate assessment with Baek Joo-won.
“You’re right on time.”
“Good morning, Unnie!”
As soon as she stepped out of the shop, two people greeted her as if they had been waiting.
Kim Yoo-sung and Seo Won-yeong stood in front of the shop, their eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep. They seemed more nervous than Seo Jae-yi, the one undergoing the assessment.
“I need to see with my own eyes that that bastard Kwon Yi-soo isn’t up to something.”
Actually, judging by Seo Won-yeong’s reaction, she was more worried that Kwon Yi-soo would try to spirit Baek Joo-won away.
“Alright, let’s go!”
There was no reason to leave them behind, so the three of them headed to the Guiding Center together.
The Guiding Center building was always impeccably shiny. It rivaled even the buildings of large, profitable guilds.
“This place always makes me feel uneasy.”
However, both Kim Yoo-sung and Seo Won-yeong grimaced as they looked up at the magnificent building, which had even received an architectural design award.
In Korea, all Awakened Guides were required to serve for five years at the Guiding Center. While they were free to quit after this period, they couldn’t join guilds.
Of course, there was an exception: if they formed a Pair with an Esper who belonged to a guild, they could naturally join that guild.
Otherwise, all Guides were affiliated with the Center, and Espers without paired Guides had to visit the Center in their respective regions to receive Guiding.
Any harm inflicted upon a Guide by an Esper during these visits resulted in severe punishment.
While it was a law that prioritized Guides in many ways, it was enacted after several incidents where guilds kidnapped and exploited Guides, so there was no room for opposition. And it was Kwon Yi-soo who had pushed for this law.
This law elevated Guides above Espers in terms of legal protection, but not all Espers hated the Center.
After all, the Center provided effective Guiding and even dispatched Guides upon request for dungeon raids. Despite the slight inconvenience, Espers and Guides coexisted peacefully.
However, Kim Yoo-sung and Seo Won-yeong’s aversion to this place stemmed from one person: Seo Jae-yi.
“Wow, this place gets shinier every time I see it. Are they making a lot of money?”
Seo Jae-yi, oblivious to their feelings, casually observed the Center.
They hadn’t wanted her to be afraid, but how could she be so relaxed after seeing this dreadful place?
Ten years ago, before Kwon Yi-soo pushed for the new law, before he became the Center Head, before Kim Yoo-sung and Seo Won-yeong awakened as Espers…
…Seo Jae-yi had been confined to the Guiding Center under the pretense of protection.
Deprived of freedom, treated like a lab rat.
It was a horrifying experience, so much so that it was a wonder she could smile so brightly now. Yet, Seo Jae-yi’s gaze remained indifferent as she looked at the Center.
“Huh? What’s that?”
She pointed to a corner of the lobby on the first floor. A cafe had been set up, something she hadn’t seen before.
“It feels like it’s been a year since I last came here. They’ve added all sorts of things… Huh?”
<New Seasonal Menu! Try our Strawberry Chocolate Frappe!>
Just as she was about to walk past the cafe, a flashy sign caught her eye.
Such incredible marketing! By the time she came to her senses, she had already ordered three Strawberry Chocolate Frappes.
“Wow, this is delicious.”
The advertisement wasn’t lying. The icy slush with tiny chocolate chips and the refreshing tang of strawberry!
It was amazing. So delicious that she wouldn’t mind coming to the Center just for this drink.
“…It’s good.”
“…Not bad.”
Seo Won-yeong and Kim Yoo-sung, after trying the drinks Seo Jae-yi bought them, had to admit they were tasty.
They had been ready to criticize the cafe, located in Kwon Yi-soo’s building, but the taste was impeccable.
How did that bastard Kwon Yi-soo, who didn’t even eat sweets, find such a fantastic cafe?
Just as the three of them were engrossed in their drinks…
“Hello, Ms. Seo Jae-yi. We’ve been waiting for you. I’m Researcher Kim Hyun-hee. I’ll be in charge of the Matching Rate retest with Guide Baek Joo-won today. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
A woman with long brown hair neatly tied back, wearing a white lab coat, greeted them. They finally remembered the purpose of their visit.
Oh my. They had forgotten something so important. It must be the devil’s drink. Seo Won-yeong stared at her drink with a serious expression, wondering if it was drugged.
Kim Hyun-hee led them to the assessment room, saying Baek Joo-won was waiting.
Seo Won-yeong whispered quietly, just loud enough for the three of them to hear.
“You don’t recognize her, right? Knowing that bastard Kwon Yi-soo’s personality, I expected him to assign someone unpleasant, but this is unexpected.”
While Seo Jae-yi seemed oblivious, Kim Yoo-sung agreed.
Seo Jae-yi had endured unpleasant experiences here during her childhood. And Kwon Yi-soo, who later became the Center Head, hadn’t exactly looked after her, so those who had been here for a long time tended to subtly disregard her.
They had assumed Kwon Yi-soo, who disliked Seo Jae-yi, would assign someone disagreeable, so this was a surprise.
It was a good thing, but it was still best to remain cautious.
“Ms. Seo Jae-yi has arrived.”
Contrary to their concerns, only Baek Joo-won was present in the Precision Assessment Room. Seo Won-yeong and Kim Yoo-sung, who had been tense, inwardly sighed in relief.
“Hello.”
Seo Jae-yi approached Baek Joo-won and bowed politely.
Baek Joo-won, once again clad in a high-quality suit, had an aura that drew attention. It was different from Kwon Yi-soo’s, yet equally, if not more, intense.
Perhaps that was why a shiver ran down her spine when a cryptic smile appeared on his handsome face.
“I hear you’re an Esper, an S-rank, no less.”
“…I-I apologize.”
“For what?”
“Because of our encounter, you were identified as a Guide, and now you’re stuck in this situation.”