Ding!
“Hm? Ah! A photo has arrived.”
“What is it?”
Leaving the excited team members who had successfully completed the interview behind, Lee Seon-ah checked her message.
Before Kyu-seong left, Seon-ah had asked him to send her the photos and videos he took with Ara.
“…Amazing.”
Seeing the huge pile of photos and videos, Seon-ah started feeling a rush of dopamine.
“He took so many and kept quiet about it all this time?”
“What is it? Let me see.”
Seon-ah’s friend peeked over her shoulder at her grumbling.
Seeing the countless photos of Ara, her friend’s eyes widened.
“Wow, is that the girl from earlier?”
“Yeah.”
“She looks like she’s in a photo shoot. Where is this?”
“I know, right.”
Most of the photos and videos Kyu-seong sent were taken in the Dungeon of Gluttony, so the background was fantastical.
The photos of Ara, taken against a beautiful backdrop, made anyone who saw them feel happy.
“What’s with this bear? Oh, and that’s a slime.”
“I don’t know.”
Pretending not to know, Seon-ah realized that the bear in the photos was the teddy bear Ara brought home last time.
‘It wasn’t a doll?’
She had been completely fooled before, but seeing the photos and videos, it was clear it wasn’t a doll.
“Ugh.”
She couldn’t forgive Kyu-seong for enjoying this cuteness alone.
Seon-ah clenched her fists, making a resolution.
Ara’s cuteness shouldn’t be known only to their group.
Cuteness will save the world.
Seon-ah genuinely believed that.
“Alright.”
“Huh?”
“I’m going to make a vlog.”
“A vlog?”
“Yeah. I’m going to closely document Ara’s daily life. Then, I’ll let the whole world know about her cuteness!”
“…”
Seon-ah’s friend shook her head, thinking, ‘Here she goes again,’ as Seon-ah started talking nonsense.
“I’ll start with the photos and videos I just got. Then I’ll take photos myself… Oh, I’ll need a camera for that. Or maybe I can just use my phone?”
As Seon-ah started mumbling to herself, the team members began to slowly distance themselves from her, moving naturally as if they were used to it.
“Seon-ah is really something. We just saw and interviewed those famous awakened ones, and now she doesn’t even care.”
“My heart is still pounding. Did you see that? It’s going wild online too.”
“Hey, hey. I already got a text from the professor. Asking if it’s true. Haha.”
It seemed like the whole school had heard the news, as people kept staring whenever Seon-ah’s team passed by.
Anyone who recognized them tried to strike up a conversation to ask about the interview.
But Seon-ah, the person who initiated all of this, was distracted, so the team members’ reactions were understandable.
“Oh, it’s the professor.”
“He’s coming out quickly.”
“The interview is already over…”
Leaving the murmurs of the team members behind, Lee Seon-ah was still lost in her own world, busy planning.
“First, I need to create a blog… No, maybe it’s better to just upload it to my YouTube channel? Then, should I edit the photos separately? I need to get permission from my brother too.”
* * *
“You are registered. By the way, your familiar is really unique. Oh, so cute.”
Thanks to Hanul and Jeong So-yeon, who came along to help, I was able to quickly complete the familiar registration at the Government Awakened Management Department.
Ara was happily sucking on a lollipop given by a government employee and receiving compliments.
“I am, lick, cute.”
Ara’s serious expression while licking the lollipop in her hand was comical.
However, this made her even more captivating, as everyone, from the passing employees to the one who handed her the lollipop, couldn’t take their eyes off her.
“Kyu-seong, you are truly blessed.”
“Haha…”
Even Jeong So-yeon looked at me with a face full of envy, leaving me speechless. It was true, after all.
“Anyway, I’m glad it went well. Thank you both for your help.”
“Haha! For Kyu-seong and Ara, this is nothing! Besides, we were on our way back to the guild anyway, so it worked out perfectly!”
“Oh, and I have something to give you both.”
At my words, Jeong So-yeon and Hanul couldn’t hide their excitement. I was glad because I had something worth their anticipation.
“It’s nothing ordinary. But I can’t give it to you here. Let’s move to a place without people.”
“Oh! It’s the first time Kyu-seong has spoken like this! If I get too excited and get disappointed, it’ll hurt even more.”
“You can look forward to it. This is something special that I can’t grow.”
“What? You can’t grow it? That actually makes me less excited.”
Hanul looked puzzled.
Well, my crops are usually quite extraordinary. But the World Tree Mushroom, even if it wasn’t one of my crops, had an exceptional flavor and aroma.
We said goodbye to the staff of the Management Department and headed to the guild. Since Hanul had driven his car, we arrived quickly.
“I’ll give it to you here.”
“In the car?”
“Yes. Oh, do you mind if it smells inside the car?”
“I don’t mind.”
With Hanul’s permission, I took out the mushroom entrusted to Bokkeum. Even though it was in a container, the moment I took it out of the bag, the aroma started to spread.
“What is this…?!”
“Wow, what is this smell?”
The reactions I had hoped for came, and I carefully opened the container. Inside were two halves of the World Tree Mushroom.
The rich scent of the mushroom filled the air. Before we knew it, Ara, Hanul, So-yeon, and I were all trying hard to swallow our saliva.
“Sniff. This is a new mushroom I discovered. But it’s not an ordinary mushroom.”
“Gulp. It definitely doesn’t look ordinary.”
“I can feel a strong mana presence.”
As expected from high-level Awakened ones, they immediately sensed the mushroom’s effects. They were amazed.
“Mana recovery?!”
“This is unbelievable!”
Hehe. Their reaction was justified.
Mana recovery items have existed before. However, they were extremely rare and only found in potion form.
Finding a complete potion means it can only be obtained from treasure chests inside dungeons. Since treasure chests are hard to find, such potions are never common.
“I’ll give you each a piece. I was lucky to find it.”
In truth, I harvested a whole basket full.
But it wasn’t a lie. Without Gomgom, I couldn’t have obtained these mushrooms, so I was indeed lucky.
“Is it okay to give us something so precious?”
For some reason, Hanul seemed to be overwhelmed. It was surprising, considering he usually charged ahead with an iron face.
“This is really quite burdensome. I just saw the name now—World Tree Mushroom? Where on earth did you find something like this?”
Jeong So-yeon also hesitated, looking as if she was afraid to touch it.
At that moment, Ara, who had been staring at the mushroom while drooling, whined.
“Kyu-seong Kyu-seong, I want to eat it.”
“Ahem.”
I had no choice.
I took out the extra cut mushroom from Bokkeum and gave it to Ara. Without any hesitation, Ara started eating the neatly cut mushroom.
“Mmm! It’s delicious!”
Watching Ara eat with satisfaction, Hanul and So-yeon were left speechless.
“Is it really okay to give that away so casually?”
“Haha…”
Enjoying their reactions, I nodded.
“No matter how precious it is, it’s not more important than our Ara. Besides, both of you are precious to me as well. Please, just accept it.”
“Wow, Kyu-seong, your heart is as vast as the ocean. I’ll gratefully accept it!”
With his large hand, Hanul picked up one piece of the mushroom.
Then, he took a small bite right there.
“Hmm?!”
The shock on his face was immense.
I was starting to worry about him.
“Brother, are you okay?”
“….”
Since Hanul couldn’t speak, So-yeon hesitantly picked up her portion of the mushroom.
“Thank you, Kyu-seong. I feel bad for always receiving.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. So-yeon, you’ve always helped me too. This is nothing.”
“Puhaha!!!”
Finally, Hanul came back to his senses.
When he opened his mouth, the mushroom scent, which was already filling the car, became even stronger.
“This is insane! It’s a culinary revolution! We have to tell everyone!”
“Brother, please calm down.”
I didn’t want to widely publicize the World Tree Mushroom since I had no way to grow it myself. I only wanted to share it with people I knew.
“And this! It says it restores a small amount of mana, but it holds much more mana than I expected! It’s incredible!”
“Is it that much?”
So-yeon tilted her head in curiosity.
She then carefully nibbled on a small corner of her mushroom.
“Mm!!”
Her reaction was similar to Hanul’s.
Seeing them bicker and get along, I realized there was a reason they got along so well.
“Hmm. I know it’s a lot, but it’s still a shame. I’d like to send it to the research department…”
“Oh! Don’t worry about that. I brought separate samples for the research department. I also brought some for the guild master.”
“You really think of everything, Kyu-seong!”
Haha. Isn’t that obvious?
It seemed the mushroom had overwhelmed their brains. Seeing their more intense reactions compared to mine, I gained a certain confidence.
‘Indeed, those who have experienced a lot of gourmet food can appreciate it more.’
Just as even the finest wine tastes bitter to someone who doesn’t drink much or enjoy it, it seemed the same applied to gourmet food.
Hanul and So-yeon likely experienced more diverse tastes and aromas from this mushroom than I did.
“Kyu-seong.”
“Yes, Brother.”
“Could I ask for a favor?”
“Oh, what is it?”
Today, Hanul seemed unusually cautious.
“Well… this might be an odd question, but can you grow beans?”
“Beans?”
I wondered why he was asking about beans all of a sudden, but it was possible.
“Of course. I haven’t planted them yet, but I can.”
“Oh, could you please grow some then? I know it’s a bit much to keep asking you to plant this and that, but I really want to get some beans.”
“It’s no problem. Farming is my job, after all. It’s no big deal.”
But Hanul’s request seemed a bit strange. Normally, he would say he wanted to try something, but this time he said he wanted to get some.
‘Is there a reason?’
First, I needed to know what kind of beans.
“There are many types of beans. Does any kind work?”
“Soybeans, please. You know, the ones used to make meju?”
“Ah, for doenjang?”
“Yes, the beans used to make doenjang.”
“Are you going to make doenjang?”
“Well, I’m not sure.”
His answer was vague. Is something going on?
Anyway, I was interested as well. After all, I had already planted peppers in the Dungeon of Gluttony. Naturally, the next step would be soybeans.
As a Korean, isn’t doenjang and gochujang essential?
“I’ll plant them as soon as I get back today.”
“Thank you, brother.”
Now I’m curious too.
What will Korean food made from the beans and peppers I harvest taste like?
Cliche Novel 