The orphanage event ended without incident.
There was a bit of commotion midway, but thanks to the quick response of the Terror and Iron-blood guilds, as well as our own guild, we were able to handle it swiftly.
Even after the event ended, we stayed at the orphanage for another day.
Ara had a wonderful time at the orphanage where she hadn’t stayed for a while, and she slept with the children.
Ryu Cheon and Yu Bihong from the Skyscraper Guild also stayed with Ara.
It was amusing to see them ask for permission cautiously and then get all nervous when they were actually beside Ara.
The next day, we managed to head back to the guild, avoiding the reporters still camped around the orphanage.
“This building might be modest compared to the Skyscraper Guild, but it’s something we’re proud of,” said Han Seok-jun as we entered.
The sociable Yu Bihong responded appropriately, but Ryu Cheon remained expressionless, silently watching Ara.
“Are you hungry?”
“No.”
“Then why are you staring like that?”
“Cute.”
It seemed Ryu Cheon was not very interested in the Ara Hongryeon.
Seeing this, the group awkwardly smiled and then moved to the top floor.
Even as we passed by, Ryu Cheon’s striking appearance caught the attention of the guild members.
I took the opportunity to ask a question that had been on my mind.
“I didn’t get a chance to ask yesterday, but how are you feeling?”
“Uh, it varies. Sometimes good, sometimes bad.”
“Maybe it’s the fresh bell pepper. But don’t worry, I prepared some vegetable juice in advance.”
I thought we’d have more time for liquid synthesis after the Avarice Dungeon Break ended, but that wasn’t the case.
We’ve been continuously making vegetable juice for
Ryu Cheon’s treatment.
We even recently created something new with freshly harvested white soybeans.
[Magic-Infused White Soybeans LV.1]
[Contains faint magic.]
[When consumed, it significantly lowers blood cholesterol levels and breaks down unabsorbed fats in the body.]
Mixing it with bell pepper resulted in a unique taste, but its effects were excellent.
Thus, we ended up with bell pepper soy milk.
Seon-ah had criticized me for making such a concoction, saying, ‘Another bizarre creation after mint-chocolate milk!’
For the record, I’m a fan of mint chocolate.
Seon-ah looked at me like I was a monster for that.
When we arrived at the top floor lounge, we enjoyed some light refreshments.
Ara was happily munching on snacks, and Ryu Cheon watched her fondly, handing over his share of snacks to her.
“Ryu Cheon is kind.”
“Cute.”
It felt like watching two AIs having a conversation, and
Yu Bihong finally spoke up.
“We received word that our legal team and trade staff will arrive soon. Also, our guild leader will be joining us.”
“……”
The guild members, who had been listening quietly, tilted their heads in confusion.
I was also listening intently to Yu Bihong’s words and scratched my head when I heard the last part.
“Guild leader…?”
“Do you mean the Skyscraper Guild leader?”
“Skyscraper Guild Leader Ryu Wang-jin?!”
The reactions grew step by step, and I joined in.
“Ryu Cheon’s grandfather?”
“I’m sorry I didn’t mention it earlier. It’s a delicate matter that requires careful handling…”
Amid the confusion, a guild staff member came in to inform us that the guests had arrived.
We had to meet the Skyscraper Guild members without much preparation.
“I’ll go out to greet them first.”
“Brother, let’s go together!”
As we awkwardly stood up to follow, Han Seok-jun assured us it was fine and went out with only Jung So-yeon and Kang Hanul.
Sitting back down in the awkward atmosphere, Yu Bihong apologized again.
“Please excuse us. We should have informed you, Mr. Kyu-seong, in advance…”
“Oh, no. I understand.”
The person in question was none other than the owner of Skyscraper Guild.
In the vast expanse of China, this guild was one of the top ten.
Even on a global scale, Skyscraper Guild ranked within the top 50 guilds.
In reality, aside from Johann Rothschild’s terror guild, no other guild in our country could match up.
‘…It does make me a bit angry.’
Our neighboring countries, Japan and China, were both strongholds of awakened individuals.
Although our country was also considered strong, we were always seen as lagging when compared to the two neighboring nations.
Awakened individuals are a human resource, and being outnumbered meant we couldn’t compete.
While both countries maintained friendly relations with us, there was always a sense of rivalry.
Being the last among the three, does that make sense?
Shouldn’t we at least be in the middle?
“Um… Mr. Kyu-seong?”
“Yes, yes?”
“Once again, I apologize. Please forgive us.”
“Kyu-seong is angry! Ahhh!”
My expression must have been stern.
I quickly managed my expression and smiled to defuse the situation.
“Oh, no. I’m not angry. I was just steeling myself.”
“Steeling yourself?”
“Yes. It sounds grand, but I was just thinking that if we keep working hard, our Ara Hongryeon Guild might also gain a reputation like Skyscraper Guild. Haha.”
“As someone from Skyscraper Guild, it might be odd for me to say this, but I believe it’s entirely possible. Mr. Kyu-seong’s abilities are exceptional.”
Yu Bihong’s eyes sparkled.
“Do you know why our guild leader decided to come personally this time?”
“Well, because Miss Ryu Cheon, his granddaughter, is here…”
I answered, but the thought that it might be something else briefly crossed my mind. No way, would the Skyscraper Guild leader come just to see me?
‘Considering the people who gathered the previous day, it makes sense.’
Although I knew President Baek, it was surprising that Johann, the guild leader of the terror guild, attended the orphanage event just to see me.
Due to Johann’s aggressive mergers and investments, Han Seok-jun, who was usually lenient with others, was especially cautious with Johann, not allowing him to speak with me alone.
Thanks to that, we only exchanged names lightly and greeted each other from a distance during the event.
“You’re half right. Our guild leader is very fond of Miss Ryu Cheon. But do you know why?”
“Because she’s his granddaughter…”
“Because she’s strong.”
Ryu Cheon suddenly interjected.
“He likes me because I’m strong. Because I’m beneficial to the guild.”
“…”
Her cold, almost ruthless words left me speechless.
Why did President Baek, who had always run solely for the guild, suddenly come to mind?
“It’s safe to say that none of the guild leaders in the top 10 guilds in China, or even worldwide, are normal. Our guild leader isn’t normal either.”
“Is it alright for you to say such things?”
“He’s not here, is he? This much is fine.”
I glanced at Ryu Cheon as Yu Bihong winked.
She nodded as if agreeing that it wasn’t wrong.
How can you agree when she’s insulting your grandfather?
“You should be careful. My grandfather, being not normal, might do something strange if he likes you.”
“Hmm, I’ll be careful.”
I decided to stay as inconspicuous as possible.
As we were talking, it became noisy outside.
Thinking they must be arriving, I stood up, and the door suddenly burst open, letting in a thick fog.
…Fog? Why fog?
“Ohhhh!”
Ara saw the thickening fog and ran toward it. She waved her hands, trying to catch the fog.
“Cute.”
Ryu Cheon, like an automatic responder, said this, and soon, a voice was heard.
“劉乾!!”
Clear Chinese.
Judging by the pronunciation, it seemed to be calling
Ryu Cheon.
Soon, a man emerged through the dense fog with a very peculiar appearance. He looked like his body was wrapped in clouds, with a ring of cloud around his head.
‘This person….’
The owner of the Skyscraper Guild and an 8th-level awakened individual.
Ryu Wang-jin, the Celestial Sage of the heavens.
An awakened person who could manipulate clouds, he had a characteristic of adorning himself like Sun Wukong using clouds.
“Oh?!”
“Hm?”
Ryu Wang-jin, who had run into Ara, looked at her quietly. Then Ara raised her hand and greeted him.
“Hello?”
“……”
Watching Ara, Ryu Wang-jin rubbed one of the many rings hanging from his fingers. When he spoke, his voice was immediately translated.
“Ah, can you hear me?”
“Oh!”
“Nice to meet you. You must be the child that our
Ryu Cheon likes.”
“I’m Ara!”
“Yes, Ara. I am Ryu Wang-jin.”
“Ryu Wang-jin!”
Though Ara didn’t need the translation, it was fortunate for me as I could understand now.
Following him, people rushed in, looking flustered as if they had hurried to keep up with Ryu Wang-jin.
‘Their expressions….’
I wondered if something had gone wrong.
Not only our guild members but also the people from Skyscraper Guild seemed to have uneasy expressions.
“…So, Kyu-seong made this much!”
“Is that so? It seems you have some sense.”
Ryu Wang-jin was having a conversation with Ara, and at some point, Ryu Cheon was carefully holding Ara in her arms, watching them cautiously.
“Mr. Kyu-seong, a moment please.”
“Yes? Yes.”
Han Seok-jun called me cautiously.
As I approached, he whispered.
“When the conversation is over and they leave, quietly exit through the back door.”
“Yes…”
“They said they’d come secretly, but now they’re openly advertising it. Be careful, as it might cause trouble for you too.”
Apparently, they hadn’t informed us in advance about his secret arrival, but now that he was here, he was making a big show of it.
Indeed, as Ryu Cheon and Yu Bihong said, he wasn’t normal.
“What are you discussing?”
“We were talking about the items for today’s trade.”
“I see. Shall we have a look at the items first? I heard you brought an amazing antidote during the recent dungeon break.”
Hoo-!
Every time he exhaled, smoke-like clouds puffed out. It gave a strange sense of intimidation, but I remained unfazed and pulled out Bokkeum.
“Slime?”
Ryu Wang-jin watched with a puzzled expression as I took out the bell pepper soy milk. It was stored in a plastic container for convenience, and it looked just like regular soy milk based on its color.
Slurp.
Ryu Cheon, still holding Ara, approached. She clearly wanted to check the soy milk.
“Here it is.”
“It’s different from what I saw last time.”
Ryu Cheon’s mumbling piqued the curiosity of both
Yu Bihong and Ryu Wang-jin.
“Soy milk!”
“Soy milk?”
Soon, our guild members also crowded around to check the plastic bottles filled with soy milk. It was the first liquid food we presented since the vegetable juice and strawberry potion.
In reality, the previous two liquid presentations were more like processed juices rather than actual food. However, this time, what we made was real soy milk, not just a rough juice extraction.
‘Even though all we did was soak, peel, boil, and blend it with bell pepper juice.’
Besides that, it also contained some Goso-Goso (a roasted grain powder).
The taste could have been peculiar due to the bell pepper, but the Goso-Goso maximized the nuttiness.
Tap, tap, tap.
“There’s a lot!”
“Isn’t it just one?”
Bokkeum continued to produce bottles of soy milk from its mouth. I handed one to each of them.
“Would you like to try it?”
Cliche Novel 