“Then, I’ll see you next time in Shanghai.”
“Yes. Take care.”
We saw off the Skyscraper Guild members at the airport.
Sweating profusely amidst the flashing cameras and the surging crowd, I wondered why they had come in secret without any prior notice.
Nevertheless, meeting Ryu Wang-jin in person made me somewhat understand; he was a bit of an unconventional person.
“Ara…”
Usually expressionless, Ryu Cheon showed a rare sad expression and couldn’t take a step forward.
Seeing her like that, Ara also made a sad face and waved her hand.
“We’ll see each other again! It’ll be soon!”
“I’ll wait.”
“Okay!”
Since I had received an invitation, I thought I might visit, but I wasn’t sure when.
Maybe after making some doenjang and gochujang first.
‘Chinese people might like jang dishes too, right?’
I might as well take some meju to make soy sauce as a gift.
I’m curious about their reactions.
After parting with the Skyscraper Guild, the crowd then surged towards us.
“What does the Skyscraper Guild’s visit signify…?”
“It’s known that Ryu Cheon, called ‘the White Snow Princess,’ was very interested in Lee Kyu-seong’s familiar. Can you share any details of your conversation…?”
“Ryu Wang-jin, the Skyscraper Guild Master, rarely travels abroad. What is his connection to Ara Hongryeon…?”
Leaving the curious crowd behind, we hurried out of the airport.
Only Guild Master Han Seok-jun and his secretary remained to deal with the journalists and people.
Being a guild master must be tough.
“Phew, that was tiring!”
“You did a great job too.”
We rode back in Hanul’s car.
Since the vehicle was spacious, everyone who came to greet us, except for the guild master, sat comfortably inside.
We couldn’t stop talking during the ride.
“Wow, I never thought I’d see Ryu Wang-jin in person.”
“Yeah, who would have thought he’d come to Korea?”
“My phone is blowing up. It seems every guild I know has called at least once.”
As we laughed and chatted, someone pulled out something from their pocket.
It was Deputy Team Leader Lee Hae-sol.
“Huh?”
“Deputy Team Leader, you saved that to eat later?”
With his inscrutable smile, Lee Hae-sol raised the soymilk he had pulled out, making eye contact with me.
“Cheers!”
Then, he gulped down the soymilk, filling the car with its savory scent.
“Who’s eating something delicious in my car?!”
“It’s me, Team Leader.”
“Lee Kyu-seong?”
“Lee Hae-sol.”
“Lee Hae-sol! How dare you eat something delicious while I’m driving?!”
“That’s why I offered to drive.”
“My car, my driving!”
Annoyed, Hanul turned to me as he continued driving.
“Kyu-seong, my brother.”
“Yes, Brother.”
“Are you going to start making meju as soon as we get back?”
“Yes, I think so. But before that, I want to check something through the guild…”
“Tell me now.”
The funds sent from the Skyscraper Guild took some time to be deposited.
Given the amount and the fact it was transferring from China to Korea, it couldn’t be done immediately.
“I’m thinking of buying all the land around the dungeon I live in.”
“Oh! That’s not a bad idea.”
Hanul nodded in agreement, and Jeong So-yeon, who had been enviously watching Lee Hae-sol, joined the conversation.
“I’ll contact the guild operations team right away. Where is the location again?”
I had planned to discuss it slowly after returning, but things proceeded quickly.
Jeong So-yeon, who made the call, soon informed me of the results.
“It’s land that can be purchased. I’ll send you the land information to your phone; could you check it?”
“Thank you.”
Since we were on the topic, I asked if she could also procure some necessary items.
Jeong So-yeon, still on the call, said it was possible and immediately requested the items I needed from the operations team.
“They said they can deliver it by tomorrow.”
“That’s fast! Thank you.”
“No problem. Compared to what you do for the guild, it’s nothing.”
The transaction with Skyscraper wasn’t just a personal deal for me; it was registered as a guild-to-guild transaction.
There were several legal issues, and I had joined the guild to handle such matters, so it was resolved without problems.
Thanks to this, Ara Hongryeon also gained some benefits.
Not only did we receive a ten percent down payment, but we also added clauses to strengthen cooperation between the guilds.
Jeong So-yeon’s words were no exaggeration.
“This contract is more complex than it seems. When you consider all interests involved, it’s very intricate.”
“Right. If it becomes known that our guild has signed a contract with Skyscraper, our stock will rise.”
“Ha ha ha, bonuses will rain down!”
The guild members seemed in good spirits.
Given that other guilds were already contacting us, the impact was evident even without saying it.
Ring ring!
Just then, I received a call too.
The caller ID showed it was Seon-ah.
“What’s up?”
“Hey, Brother! Is it true that Ryu Wang-jin was there?!”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“Not just the White Snow Princess, but even Jecheondae-seong came? They came because of you, right?!”
“Right?”
“When did you become so successful? Don’t forget about me, okay? And don’t get all high and mighty.”
“What nonsense. Is that why you called?”
“Well, partly. Mom wants to know when she can come over to make meju.”
“Hmm, I was thinking of doing it right after I return, but tomorrow works too.”
“Then I’ll bring mom and dad over tomorrow, okay?”
“You’re coming too? Why?”
“I’m hanging up now.”
I stared at the abruptly ended call for a while, contemplating whether to use pocket money to make this cheeky one kneel, when Ara tilted her head.
“Are you making meju?”
“Yeah, Grandpa and Grandma are coming tomorrow. Let’s make it together.”
“Is Lee Seon-ah not coming?”
“Seon-ah will come too.”
“Hehe, that’s good.”
Ah, our Ara is too kind-hearted. She even takes care of that cheeky girl. I shouldn’t spoil her.
“Kyu-seong, we’ve arrived.”
“Thanks for the ride. See you all next time!”
We arrived near the dungeon where I lived.
I felt both grateful and apologetic that they didn’t just drop me at the guild but brought me home.
“Take care, Kyu-seong! Goodbye, Ara!”
“Goodbye! Come visit our house next time!”
“Can I really? Then I’ll visit sometime!”
“Okay!”
Now that I think about it, I’ve never brought Hanul or Jeong So-yeon over.
I should invite them sometime.
Maybe we could even have a guild dinner at my place, setting aside a relaxed two-day schedule.
“Sounds good.”
People who want to enjoy the hot springs can do so, and since it also offers fishing and camping, it’s perfect for a getaway.
If desired, there’s even an option for a farm experience.
Honestly, my crops are delicious any time, but eating freshly harvested produce is something special.
“Next time, let’s invite everyone over to hang out, Ara.”
“Wow! Can we really do that? Can Hongjun and the others come too?”
“Oh? The orphanage! Yes, let’s invite everyone from the orphanage separately sometime.”
“Wow! Let’s play together!”
Alright then.
Until then, let’s make some meju!
***
“Hmm.”
On the Skyscraper Guild’s private jet back to Shanghai, Ryu Wang-jin, holding a candy in his mouth and exhaling as if smoking a cigarette, made a sound of contemplation.
In front of him, Ryu Cheon sat with her usual expressionless face.
“That child.”
“Yes?”
“He’s extraordinary.”
At Ryu Wang-jin’s finally spoken words, Ryu Cheon slightly reacted, a faint blush appearing on her white cheeks.
“Ara is cute.”
“She’s Lee Kyu-seong’s familiar? Where did he tame such a familiar?”
“I don’t know.”
“The items he makes are also remarkable. Our team compared his early antidote to the one used during the Avarice Dungeon Break. The efficacy improved significantly in such a short time.”
At Ryu Wang-jin’s serious demeanor, which was usually playful, the guild members around him listened intently without moving.
Seeing this, Ryu Cheon finally spoke.
“Can I tell them to sit?”
“Huh? Ah, everyone, sit down. Why are you all standing so uncomfortably?”
Only after Ryu Wang-jin’s permission did everyone take their seats. Then Ryu Cheon spoke to her grandfather again.
“Lee Kyu-seong. We must recruit him within a year.”
“I’ve already looked into it. His contract with Ara Hongryeon is only for two years. There’s just a year and six months left.”
“His ability is highly versatile, not just for my treatment. The detailed data on Ara Hongryeon shows a significant difference before and after Lee Kyu-seong joined.”
“I agree. Ara Hongryeon will probably rise to rank 3 in South Korea before the end of the year, just because of
Lee Kyu-seong. And then there’s his familiar…”
Ryu Wang-jin recalled meeting Ara, the familiar his granddaughter cherished so much, and the inexplicable chill he felt when Ara’s eyes shone.
“It seems Ara Hongryeon doesn’t fully understand the potential of Lee Kyu-seong’s familiar yet. Despite having such a powerful familiar, they aren’t fully utilizing it…”
“Exactly. Ara’s cuteness is unparalleled. Utilizing that cuteness, conquering the world is not a dream.”
“…Huh?”
Ryu Wang-jin’s gaze shifted to Ryu Cheon at her oddly skewed comment.
Ryu Cheon, already dreaming of meeting Ara again, clasped her hands tightly in anticipation.
“Anyway, securing Lee Kyu-seong would make being one of the top five guilds in China a realistic goal. Maybe even aiming for the world’s top 10 guilds is feasible.”
“Conquering the world with cuteness…”
The grandfather and granddaughter were each lost in their own thoughts.
***
Rustle.
“Wait, what is this…?”
“Wow!”
Just two days.
I had only been away from the dungeon for that short time, but what on earth happened here?
The whole world had been blanketed in white. The already dreamy landscape of the Gluttony Dungeon had turned even more mystical.
“Pant, pant. Woof!”
Woffy that came out to greet us rolled over and wriggled in the snow. Golgol, with Gomgom on its back, seemed excited by the snowy scene and was bouncing around differently than usual.
“Roar!”
From atop Golgol, Gomgom clung on precariously like a rodeo rider, eventually getting flung off Golgol’s backside.
“Whoa.”
I hurriedly caught Gomgom, feeling the chaos of the situation.
“Gomgom, are you okay?”
“Growl!”
“Then let’s run together!”
“Roar!”
“Wow!”
Watching Ara and Gomgom play energetically brought a smile to my face, but I began to worry.
Maybe I should check the field.
The condition of the crops was crucial.
‘Should I build a greenhouse?’
I had thought about it when I first heard there would be winter, but now it seemed necessary. I’d have to ask my father.
Despite the snowfall, it wasn’t that cold. It was chillier than usual, but not freezing.
Riding Golgol to the field, I saw a fairy-tale village blanketed in snow. Even the slimes were having fun in the unfamiliar snow, rolling around and making paths.
“Squish?”
One slime was covered in snow, looking like it had a snow beard. Are you Santa?
The Kkumuris were their usual selves. Most were just staring blankly, while a few chased the falling snowflakes like fools.
“Oh?!”
The field was in better shape than I expected. The slimes had been diligently clearing the snow and protecting the crops.
Upon closer inspection, none of the crops looked withered or in poor condition. However, I couldn’t leave them like this indefinitely.
‘Thank goodness I had the storage built with the Kkumuris’s help…’
Otherwise, it would have been quite a struggle.
Still, this was a bit troublesome. To have this happen so suddenly without any warning.
Flap, flap.
“Oh! Grand Lord, you’ve finally arrived!”
“Ah, Frey.”
The starlight bug’s glow was hard to see against the white snow. What was going on? Had they been waiting for me?
“Grand Lord! Finally, winter!”
“Yeah, real winter has come.”
“The season has come for me to gather the materials for my awakening!”
“What?!”
It can only be done in winter?
Cliche Novel 