Chapter 27:
“Yeah. I need to know if they’re really effective so I can sell them with confidence. But if I say I’m going to test them myself in a dungeon…”
“Absolutely not! Your body hasn’t fully recovered yet. You can’t go into a dungeon!”
“That’s right! You can’t, Master! We have to stay together for a long time!”
Kim Yoo-sung and Airok shouted in unison before she could even finish her sentence.
“See, that’s why I can’t test them myself. Guild Master, you have to do it for me. Logi will tell you how to use them properly.”
Kim Yoo-sung looked at the dungeon plants with a dubious expression.
He hadn’t thought much about it when he used dungeon plants for improvisation, but now that he was consciously going to use them, he was worried.
‘But if I refuse, Seo Jae-yi will try to use them herself.’
She was more than capable of doing that.
“Sigh, fine. I’ll try them.”
“Yay! Thank you, Guild Master. A detailed report would be appreciated!”
“You ask for a lot.”
Seo Jae-yi smiled brightly. Kim Yoo-sung couldn’t say anything more.
It was her usual innocent smile, but it reflected genuine joy, a sense of contentment with the present moment.
Nine years ago, when he first met Seo Jae-yi, who was living in a sterile, almost laboratory-like room with only a bed and no other furniture, he had hoped she would one day be able to live like this.
He hadn’t expected it to take nine years, but it didn’t matter. As long as she was happy now.
He sincerely wished she could enjoy this freedom, this happiness, for a long, long time.
***
“Guild Leader! Monsters sighted ahead!”
Kim Yoo-sung immediately went on alert at the guild member’s shout.
Haeil Guild’s main raid team, which included the Guild Leader, was currently subjugating a Rank 4 dungeon that had emerged in Gangwon-do.
The monsters themselves weren’t particularly strong, but the dungeon environment was problematic. The water level reached their knees, making it incredibly energy-consuming to move.
Normally, even Haeil’s raid team would have struggled.
But today was different.
“Monsters approaching within 20 meters!”
Kim Yoo-sung activated his ability at the guild member’s shout. As life force filled his body, the plants he had planted on the bottom of the water surged upwards.
Kyaaagh! Kyaagh!
Thick vines, as thick as ropes, rapidly grew, entangling the giant piranha-like monsters. The sharp piranha teeth tore at the vines, but these were plants that had fed on Seo Jae-yi’s fire. As soon as the vines were bitten, intense heat engulfed the piranhas.
Even monsters were still fish. They began to burn and die, unable to withstand the heat, which was much higher than their body temperature.
“Wow, this is incredibly effective.”
The monsters were dying without him even lifting a finger.
The guild members watching from behind Kim Yoo-sung gasped in admiration.
The plants that had fed on Seo Jae-yi’s fire were as fearsome and powerful as she was.
“We could even use this in fire-attribute dungeons.”
Moon Soo-hyun, who was recording the events to report back to Seo Jae-yi, spoke.
While the plants that had fed on Airok’s water were also durable, the ones that had fed on Seo Jae-yi’s fire were even more impressive.
They could serve as a useful barrier even in fire-attribute dungeons, where plants couldn’t survive.
“You’re right. We should test that as well. Ask the Association to notify us if any fire-attribute dungeons emerge.”
“Yes, sir. The Association will be surprised.”
Seo Jae-yi, with her heat manipulation ability, was usually the one who handled fire-attribute dungeons for Haeil Guild.
It would be strange for Haeil, without Seo Jae-yi, to request to subjugate a fire-attribute dungeon.
“All monsters eliminated.”
A guild member, who had been monitoring the piranha horde, reported. Some were entangled and crushed by the vines, some were roasted, and some were crushed under the weight of their dead comrades.
Their causes of death varied, but it was convenient to eliminate them all at once.
“Let’s move on. The dungeon boss will appear soon, so get Guided in advance.”
Two Guides began Guiding the six Espers at Kim Yoo-sung’s command. Despite the slightly demanding situation, the Guides’ expressions were bright.
“It’s great that we don’t have to Guide as much because the Espers’ energy expenditure is low.”
“We only have to focus on the Guild Leader, who used his ability. This is manageable.”
“It’s all thanks to Raid Leader Seo Jae-yi.”
“Right, right. We should buy her a bouquet when we get back. She prefers that to other gifts.”
“Her bouquets have been looking better lately, haven’t they? Did her skills finally improve?”
“…There’s no way they could improve that quickly.”
Everyone nodded in agreement with the last statement.
They were still unaware of Airok’s existence. Even though he was a sentient baby dragon, it wouldn’t be good for the public to know that a monster was roaming the streets, so only Kim Yoo-sung and Seo Won-yeong were aware of him for now.
Kim Yoo-sung didn’t reveal the truth and changed the subject.
“Is everyone Guided? Let’s head inside.”
“Yes, sir.”
Only the boss remained.
Kim Yoo-sung led the raid team towards the dungeon master’s lair.
***
Baek Joo-won, who had just finished firearms training, stared at Seo Jae-yi, who appeared before him with a bouquet, as if it were a natural occurrence.
She seemed particularly cheerful today.
“Is it a special day today?”
“It’s a very good day.”
“What kind of day?”
“The day I had a strong feeling that my new business would be a huge success.”
Seo Jae-yi had been ecstatic since hearing from Kim Yoo-sung, who had returned from the dungeon raid the previous day, that the dungeon plants had been quite helpful.
She had been so happy that she even danced with Airok in the flower shop that morning.
“Ah, you mentioned a new business idea before. Have you started it?”
“I’m about to. Aren’t you curious? Don’t you want to know? It’s something truly unique.”
Unable to contain her excitement, Seo Jae-yi tried to pique Baek Joo-won’s curiosity.
“I’ll listen if you tell me.”
“That’s not how it works. I’ll only tell you if you come to my flower shop.”
She was dying to tell him, but she endured. She had a mission to befriend Baek Joo-won.
Of course, at this point, she just wanted to show him her greenhouse filled with dungeon plants.
“Hmm. Is that really necessary?”
Baek Joo-won, who had been silent for a moment, subtly tried to back out, pretending to be disinterested.
Seo Jae-yi looked devastated, as if the world had ended.
“Uh, uh…”
This wasn’t going according to plan…
“No, no, please be curious. Please? I’ll tell you everything if you just visit my flower shop.”
Changing tactics, Seo Jae-yi pleaded with him desperately. She looked like she would kneel and beg if he refused again.
Baek Joo-won barely suppressed a laugh at her teary-eyed expression. It was surprisingly fun to tease her.
“But is it okay to tell anyone about it? What if it gets leaked?”
Baek Joo-won asked, voicing a concern that would horrify others.
“I don’t tell just anyone. I’m only telling you because you’re special, Mr. Baek Joo-won. And even if it gets leaked, it’s not something others can easily replicate.”
Seo Jae-yi smiled confidently, her previous distress forgotten. Her mood swings were quite dramatic. It made her even more fun to tease.
“You’ve made me curious. Alright, let’s go.”
Seo Jae-yi, having finally secured his agreement, pumped her fists in the air and cheered.
Fearing he might change his mind, she quickly dragged him to the parking lot and got him into her car. They sped away from the Center.
“Ah, right. Are you afraid of lizards?”
As they arrived at the flower shop, Seo Jae-yi suddenly remembered something and asked urgently.
Baek Joo-won, who had been following her, shook his head.
“I’m not afraid of anything in particular.”
“That’s a relief. My new employee is a lizard. I forgot to ask you beforehand.”
“…I think I just heard something strange. Your employee is a what?”
“A lizard. Don’t worry. He’s incredibly capable, even if he doesn’t look like it. You’ll be surprised when you see him.”
He would be surprised. Who wouldn’t be surprised to find a lizard working at a flower shop?
But instead of answering, Seo Jae-yi opened the shop door and entered.
As the bell chimed, Airok, enveloped in a floral scent, rushed out from the back.
“Master! Welcome back! How did the bouquet… Gasp!”
Airok, who had been welcoming Seo Jae-yi with open arms, froze mid-air. His blue eyes, like sparkling jewels, were fixed on Baek Joo-won.
He seemed startled to have been seen by a customer.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. He’s a customer, but not really. I told him about you, so it’s fine to show yourself.”
Seo Jae-yi gently cupped Airok in her hands and presented him to Baek Joo-won.
“His name is Logi, and he’s a baby. Logi, this is Mr. Baek Joo-won. You might see him often, so say hello.”
“…”
“…”
Seo Jae-yi smiled brightly as she introduced them.
However, they just stared at each other silently. Airok was stiff with shock, while Baek Joo-won, also seemingly stunned, couldn’t take his eyes off Airok.
Assuming they were surprised by the unexpected situation, Seo Jae-yi gently patted Airok’s back.
“Logi doesn’t bite, so you don’t have to be afraid. Well, he doesn’t bite; he sprays water.”
“…Water?”
“Yes, he’s a monster hatchling. I think he might be the dungeon master’s offspring. He’s a baby who lost his mother, so please be kind to him.”
“Master! He’s not our mother!”
Airok, who had been staring at Baek Joo-won, jumped up at Seo Jae-yi’s outrageous explanation. He then started babbling frantically, as if terrified.
“I told you! I was just sealed! Don’t misunderstand!”