Chapter 123:
Indeed, the sheer volume of plants had become too much for a shop in the middle of the city, and the influx of non-Awakened individuals had deterred Awakened individuals who actually wanted to buy dungeon plants.
They likely felt it was too risky to openly purchase dungeon plants in front of non-Awakened individuals.
“Sniff. I guess I have to close up shop here…”
Seo Jae-yi sniffled and entered the shop. Airok, who had witnessed the whole ordeal, fluttered over.
“Are we closing down, Master?!”
Airok’s face was crumpled with sadness.
“I’ve grown attached to the shop!”
“Me too. But what can we do? They brought out the big guns, something even I can’t refuse.”
Sighing, Seo Jae-yi looked around the shop.
It had only been eight months since she opened this precious shop. It pained her to part with it.
“You can still run a regular flower shop, without the dungeon plants.”
Kim Yoo-sung suggested, but Seo Jae-yi shook her head.
“When my lifespan was short, flowers were enough, but not anymore. Dungeon plants have made dungeon raids much easier and safer for Awakened individuals. I can’t just stop.”
“……Wait, what are you saying? You’re going to keep selling them?”
“Of course!”
“But you’re closing the shop?”
“I just won’t sell them here.”
Seo Jae-yi blinked, as if asking why he was stating the obvious.
“If you don’t sell them here, where will you sell them?”
“Hmm. Maybe I’ll sell them directly in a dungeon.”
What in the world was she talking about? Sell them where, do what?
“Don’t be ridiculous!”
Kim Yoo-sung yelled.
Of course, Seo Jae-yi knew how absurd it sounded.
“But think about it. Dungeons are off-limits to non-Awakened individuals, so there’s no risk to the public. And they can’t just wander in and out like here. But Awakened individuals can visit anytime!”
“Dungeons are dangerous! Even Fixed dungeons periodically spawn monsters. How are you supposed to cultivate dungeon plants in a place like that?!”
Kim Yoo-sung’s point was valid.
Cultivating dungeon plants in a dungeon would be a burden even for Seo Jae-yi.
That is, if it were an ordinary dungeon.
“…….”
Seo Jae-yi’s gaze shifted to Airok and Baek Joo-won.
A slow smile spread across her face.
Oh dear. Immediately understanding her intentions, the two facepalmed.
Seo Jae-yi was planning to set up shop in Baek Joo-won’s dungeon.
It was a plant-type dungeon, she had already taken many plants from there, and the dungeon master was on her side.
Wasn’t this a sign from the heavens to set up shop there?
“You crazy woman…”
Baek Joo-won muttered in exasperation.
It was a crazy idea, but the problem was, it wasn’t impossible.
“See, even Baek Joo-won agrees. Give it up, Seo Jae-yi.”
Only Kim Yoo-sung, unaware of the situation, was still trying to reason with her.
But unfortunately for him, Seo Jae-yi had already made up her mind.
“Then I’ll clean up the shop and start looking for a suitable dungeon! Hmm… I’ll need a dungeon for my exclusive use, but I can’t buy one. I’ll have to negotiate with the Association.”
“Seo Jae-yiiii!”
Kim Yoo-sung finally roared, exasperated by her single-mindedness.
But what could he do? No one in this world could change Seo Jae-yi’s mind once it was made up.
She would do exactly as she said.
The news of Seo Jae-yi’s shop suspension spread as quickly as the news of her public appearance.
Even Grayson, all the way in the US, sent a barrage of laughing emojis, and Joo Seon-min, who had entered another dungeon after the Pohang raid, sent a message of consolation.
Of course, the biggest reaction came from the Awakened individuals whose dungeon raids had become much easier thanks to Seo Jae-yi’s dungeon plants.
They came to the shop to confirm the suspension, and seeing her packing up, they left disappointed.
“That’s the seventh team already.”
Shin Woo-hyun, the potion maker, who had also come after hearing the news, clicked his tongue at the sight of the dejected Espers leaving.
The dungeon plants Seo Jae-yi cultivated were incredibly useful, so he could understand their disappointment.
“Hee hee. I had so many regulars. I’m so proud.”
Seo Jae-yi smiled with satisfaction as she cleaned up.
“With this many customers, they’ll surely follow me even if I set up shop in a dungeon, right?”
Shin Woo-hyun’s expression turned dubious at her cheerful question.
“A-are you really going to do that?”
As her potion co-seller, Seo Jae-yi had shared her plan with him.
Shin Woo-hyun had been worried about losing his supplier of Blue Drop Flowers and other ingredients, and he was stunned when she said she would cultivate and sell plants in a dungeon.
“I’m going to try. I might fail, but I might also succeed.”
Seo Jae-yi declared confidently.
Shin Woo-hyun wondered where her endless confidence came from.
“But I don’t know, Unnie. Are you sure about this?”
Even Seo Won-yeong, who had come to help Seo Jae-yi clean up, expressed her concern.
She usually went along with Seo Jae-yi’s ideas, but she couldn’t support this one.
Setting up shop in a dungeon, of all places? Even if she chose a relatively safe location, she didn’t want her precious sister to go to such a place.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. I’m not being reckless. I’ll be with Baek Joo-won, so I won’t go anywhere dangerous.”
At the mention of Baek Joo-won’s name, Seo Won-yeong and Shin Woo-hyun’s worried expressions eased slightly.
As fellow Espers, they understood the instinct to protect one’s paired Guide.
Especially Seo Jae-yi, who had been terminally ill until Baek Joo-won saved her; she was even more protective of her Guide than other Espers.
So, she wouldn’t do anything dangerous with him by her side.
“So, when are you going to start looking for a dungeon?”
Seo Won-yeong, completely unaware that Baek Joo-won wasn’t an ordinary human, asked in a resigned tone.
Seo Jae-yi, cleaning her waterproof gun from the flower vase, hummed thoughtfully.
“The sooner, the better. Soon?”
At that time, Seo Won-yeong and Shin Woo-hyun didn’t know.
That “soon” meant tonight.
They had greatly underestimated Seo Jae-yi’s impulsiveness.
Actually, even Seo Jae-yi hadn’t planned to move this quickly.
It was just that a problem had arisen.
Late at night, after Seo Won-yeong and Shin Woo-hyun had left, only Seo Jae-yi, Baek Joo-won, and Airok remained in the shop.
Seo Jae-yi and Baek Joo-won looked down at Airok with grave expressions.
Airok had fallen ill two days ago. His usually low body temperature spiked, his body flushed red, and he was breathing heavily. He was also unresponsive.
It was the first time Seo Jae-yi had seen the dragon so sick, and she was deeply worried.
“Do dragons normally get this sick?”
“Even monsters are living beings. They get sick.”
But unlike Seo Jae-yi, Baek Joo-won didn’t seem too concerned. After examining Airok, he said calmly, “It’s growing pains.”
“Growing pains? Like a baby turning into a child?”
“He’s not a baby.”
Baek Joo-won sighed at Seo Jae-yi’s selective hearing.
“Didn’t Airok tell you? I sealed him in an egg, and he was trapped for a long time, which weakened him considerably.”
“I think I heard that when I first met Logi.”
“His lost power is starting to return. Probably thanks to all the magic stones you’ve been feeding him.”
Ah.
To relieve her stress from being treated like a spectacle, Seo Jae-yi had single-handedly cleared several dungeons.
Since she was alone, she didn’t have to share the magic stones with anyone, so she gave them all to Baek Joo-won and Airok instead of selling them.
She had noticed Airok seemed to enjoy them more than Baek Joo-won; it must have been because they were helping him regain his strength.
“So, will he get better if we just leave him like this?”
“He’ll recover, but we need to move him.”
“He needs a safer place?”
“No, when he fully recovers his power, there will be a large energy surge. It’s better to change locations, just in case.”
“Your dungeon?”
“That’s the best place. He originally lived there.”
“Will it take long for him to recover?”
“I’d say about a week.”
Seo Jae-yi nodded at Baek Joo-won’s words.
“Then let’s go to the dungeon. I should take a look around your dungeon while we’re at it. Check out the land for growing plants.”
“Seo Jae-yi, are you really going to do that?”
“Of course. Have you ever known me to go back on my word? Why, do you think it won’t work?”
Baek Joo-won didn’t answer. Honestly, it wasn’t impossible.
Knowing that silence meant consent, Seo Jae-yi grinned at his reaction.
“Then I’ll be in your care, Joo-won.”
Baek Joo-won simply sighed in response.
That night, Seo Jae-yi loaded some of the dungeon plants from the greenhouse into her car and headed towards Baek Joo-won’s dungeon.
She called Kim Yoo-sung on the way to explain the situation.
—So you’re going to a dungeon right now?
“Yeah. It won’t be a problem. It’s not that dangerous. And I have to go to a dungeon for Logi anyway.”
When she explained that she wasn’t just going to scout a dungeon for cultivating plants, but to ensure Airok’s comfortable growth during his growing pains, Kim Yoo-sung couldn’t object.
—Can you handle it alone? Should I send some guild members?
“No. We don’t know what will happen when Logi’s growth spurt is over, so I’ll go alone. His power will be close to S-rank once he fully recovers.”
—A dragon is a dragon, indeed. Tell me where you’re going, so I can visit later.
“I’ll have to make several trips to move all the dungeon plants, so let’s go together next time.”
Kim Yoo-sung readily agreed and hung up.
“How do you feel about returning home after almost three months?”
Baek Joo-won hummed thoughtfully at Seo Jae-yi’s question before answering, “The thought of all those Awakened individuals coming and going in my house is already tiring.”
“…….”
Seo Jae-yi looked visibly flustered. He hadn’t seen her this surprised since she proposed they become paired.
“Um, so…do you hate it that much?”
“Would you stop if I said yes?”
“Of course.”
Her quick reply was sincere.
“It’s your home. And even if it wasn’t, I wouldn’t do anything you truly hated.”
Baek Joo-won stared at her lips.
If they weren’t driving, he would have kissed her right then and there. He licked his lips in frustration.
“It’s fine. If I really hated it, I would have said something. Having humans traipsing around is a bit annoying, but… I like the rest of it.”
If Seo Jae-yi started selling in his dungeon, she would undoubtedly spend most of her time there.
Since it was quite a distance from her house by the Han River, she might even move closer, or perhaps even live in the dungeon.
Seo Jae-yi living in his dungeon…
‘More than fine, it’s perfect.’
It was a chance to have her closer, so what did it matter if a few humans came and went? It was a small price to pay.
“Really? That’s great!”
Unaware of Baek Joo-won’s ulterior motives, Seo Jae-yi beamed.
Baek Joo-won smiled with satisfaction.