From the early morning, I escorted Mammon and Ras to Gnoll Village, checked the fields, and returned, only to find Ara and Cheong stirring awake in a daze.
As I cautiously observed them from the doorway, Ara lifted the whining Cheong to his feet.
“We need to wash our face…”
Ara, her eyes still half-closed from sleep, mumbled as she spoke. Yet, a faint smile lingered at the corners of her lips, refusing to fade.
Taking the stumbling Cheong by the hand, Ara headed somewhere. Curious about their destination, I quietly trailed behind them.
Step by step.
The place Ara brought Cheong to was a familiar stream where I often bathed Ara. It was just nearby, and soon, Ara splashed water onto Cheong’s face with her clumsy hands.
“It’s cold.”
“It wakes you right up!”
Splash splash.
At Ara’s remark, Cheong, who had obediently let Ara wash his face, cautiously began splashing water with his hands.
“Your clothes are getting all wet!”
“They’re wet!”
Cheong repeated cheerfully with a bright smile. Ara, looking flustered and unsure of what to do, seemed a bit troubled.
‘They’re already soaked, Ara.’
Thanks to Ara’s inexperienced hands, Cheong’s clothes were already drenched, even if he hadn’t splashed around.
In the end, Ara and Cheong finished their face-washing session, which had turned into an impromptu shower, soaking each other thoroughly.
“Finished washing up?”
“Kyu-seong Kyu-seong ! Where have you been?”
“Daddy! You’re here? I’m happy!”
Their previously worried faces brightened the moment they saw me. Cheong seemed overjoyed just to see me and greeted me with a beaming expression despite looking like a wet little mouse.
“You’ll need to change your clothes,” I said, smiling at their endearing sight.
“Okay!”
I took both children and helped them change into dry clothes.
By the time we were done, Seon-ah, who had just woken up, waved warmly at the now dry and fresh-looking kids.
“Did you sleep well, kids?”
“We slept well! I washed Cheong’s face!”
“Oh wow, really? Our Ara is such a great big sister.”
“I am Cheong’s big sister!”
For some reason, Ara seemed much more protective and caring towards Cheong than she had been with Soo. Was it because they shared a similar appearance? Or because they were both slimes?
‘Maybe it’s because they’ve known each other before.’
Though the kids seemed unaware, it might be that a faint trace of their past connection subconsciously drew them closer together.
I entrusted Seon-ah with drying the children’s hair and prepared a simple breakfast.
Breakfast was a salad, requiring little effort to make. But since the ingredients were top-notch, no one had any complaints about eating it.
Crunch crunch.
The kids ate happily, munching away.
Around that time, the sleepiest member of the group, Frey, finally stirred, glancing around as if lost.
-Where am I? Who am I?
“Good morning, Frey,” I greeted.
“-Oh, it’s the Grand Lord. Why is he here?”
Still groggy, Frey barely managed to acknowledge me as I handed her a glass of juice made from freshly pressed strawberries and Layla.
“Drink this and clear your head.”
“-Oh, juice from the Grand Lord? This must be delicious.”
Frey sipped at the juice slowly, her dazed movements almost comical. The strong sweetness seemed to help her gradually regain her senses.
“Seon-ah, can you keep an eye on Cheong for me?”
“Sure, but why suddenly?”
“I need to step outside. I think I might have some messages waiting for me.”
The dungeon was peaceful, but the outside world was still in chaos due to the mercenary attacks targeting me. While I could enjoy a leisurely life here, the members of my guild were working tirelessly to manage everything.
‘My heartfelt thanks to our guild.’
I was truly glad to have joined them.
Having spent almost two days at Hanul hyung’s house and the dungeon, it felt like it was time to check in with the guild or the Awakening Headquarters.
“Are you just taking Ara with you?”
“Yeah. Cheong is still…”
Hearing her name, Cheong tilted his head curiously. While we hadn’t even explored the entire dungeon yet, I was hesitant to take him outside already. He was easily frightened, and though his abilities were formidable, I felt it was better to wait until he had adjusted more.
“Since he looks human, unlike Mammon or Ras, it should be fine to take him outside eventually. But he needs to adapt first.”
“Exactly. That’s why I’ll just take Ara for now.”
After finishing a simple(?) breakfast equivalent to what thirty normal people might eat, I began preparing to head out with Ara.
“Hmmm.”
Ara, who had been trying on different hats, let out a vague hum.
“Ara, what’s wrong?”
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
Though she denied it, I could sense her worry. Acting clearly wasn’t her strong suit.
“Are you worried about Cheong?”
“Yeah! Ah, I mean no! Not at all!”
She blurted out her feelings but quickly shook her head in denial. Finding her adorable, I hugged her tightly.
“Why are you hugging me?”
“Because my Ara is just too cute.”
“I am cute!”
She quickly grew confident, striking a pose like an impassioned speaker declaring her ambitions. Her proud declaration of being cute was both endearing and amusing.
“Don’t worry about Cheong. Seon-ah and the others will take good care of him.”
“Cheong’s a crybaby! If his big sister disappears, he’ll definitely cry again!”
“You’re right. But don’t you think taking him outside might scare him even more?”
“Hm, that makes sense.”
Leaving Ara behind was an option, but honestly, I needed at least one bodyguard. While I considered taking Ras or Mammon instead, both were unregistered familiars, which could cause complications.
‘I’ll have to register them eventually.’
Then again, maybe this was a good chance to take them along and handle their registration. But that presented its own risks.
Both Ras and Mammon were part of the Seven Deadly Sins, the boss monsters of a Level 9 dungeon. Registering them might expose their true identities, which would undoubtedly cause a huge uproar.
‘Taking Ara feels like the safest option for now.’
Finally choosing a hat, Ara marched over to Cheong with a determined stride.
“I’ll be back soon!”
“Sis, where are you going?”
“I’m going out! It’s an important mission!”
Cheong’s clear eyes immediately welled up with tears, ready to spill at the slightest nudge.
“Is Daddy going too?”
“Huh? Oh, yes. I’ll be back soon. In the meantime, play with Seon-ah, or maybe go to the fairy village with Frey.”
“Sniff… I’m sad.”
Cheong eventually burst into tears. Seon-ah hurried over to comfort him.
“Oh dear, our Cheong is so sad. Want to play together with this sis, huh?”
“It’s not ‘sis,’ it’s ‘aunt,’ right?”
“Quiet.”
Ignoring Seon-ah’s sharp glare, I patted Cheong on the head.
“If you don’t cry and behave, when we come back, we’ll do something really fun together. Okay?”
“Okay.”
Seeing Cheong bravely stop crying, I couldn’t help but feel he seemed more like a human child than Ara had at that age. While Ara was wild and carefree, Cheong had a charm that made it hard to look away.
“Little sibling! Be good while I’m gone! Your big sister will accomplish something amazing, so wait patiently!”
“Yes! Sister, go and do something amazing! I’m curious to see what happens!”
Ara leaped up and hugged Seon-ah before planting a kiss on Cheong’s cheek. Then she grabbed my hand and tugged me forward.
“We must go! Meetings should be long, but farewells should be short!”
“Where do you learn to say such things, Ara…”
Waving our hands behind us, we headed for the dungeon’s exit aboard the Purr.
***
Kyler, who bore the nickname “The Wanderer,” had visited most nations worth mentioning. This marked his third trip to Korea.
He moved confidently on the now somewhat familiar land, having already received detailed information about Lee Kyu-seong from his friend Nathan.
There was no urgency. After over five years of relentless pursuit for his daughter’s treatment, his approach had become deliberate, though his yearning remained unchanged.
‘Is it here?’
His heightened senses as a Level 9 Awakened detected several presences. Word had it that Team Karimba had attacked, so the security was evidently thorough.
‘Impressive.’
The level of defense was almost presidential, far exceeding expectations for a minor Awakened nation like South Korea.
Observing Kyu-seong’s residence closely since arriving in Korea, Kyler noted the man’s patterns—occasionally stepping out with his familiar, staying inside for days at a time, and then reappearing.
Just as Kyler decided to get closer, an unsettling sensation crept over him.
‘What is this?’
A shiver ran down his spine, but even Kyler couldn’t pinpoint why.
As he continued tracking Kyu-seong through his binoculars, the realization struck him like lightning.
“!!”
The child—or rather, the familiar—beside Kyu-seong.
According to last year’s measurement results, it had barely reached the physical capabilities of a Level 4 Awakened.
This had made Kyu-seong’s defeat of Team Karimba all the more perplexing, but…
‘Is it… watching me right now?’
The familiar locked eyes with Kyler’s position through the binoculars, its gaze unwavering. What he first dismissed as coincidence soon became undeniable.
The familiar had clearly recognized the presence of a Level 9 Awakened—himself.
Kyler immediately folded the binoculars and began erasing his traces before retreating.
He had no plans to act against Lee Kyu-seong.
His interest was fueled by curiosity about the figure America seemed so invested in and the rumors of Team Karimba’s defeat.
He had hoped to approach with goodwill, albeit cautiously, given his circumstances. But it seemed he had already been noticed.
‘I just hope I haven’t been misunderstood…’
Hastily gathering his belongings, he moved on.
Yet, the strange sense of dread from earlier clung to him like a shadow.
Even Kyler, who had faced countless assassination attempts and battles with groups like Team Karimba, had never experienced anything like it.
…No, that couldn’t be.
Was it possible he was still being tracked?
He desperately denied it—the unsettling emotions and the very idea that someone could dare to chase after him, a Level 9 Awakened.
But soon, Kyler realized something shocking: a small presence was following him at incredible speed.
“Gah!”
Startled, Kyler involuntarily gasped, an unusual reaction for someone who rarely let out a sound under pressure.
“Who are you!”
A bold little figure blocked his path and demanded loudly.
Fortunately, Kyler, having traveled to countless countries, was fluent in many languages. He understood the words of the tiny being before him.
Though he was disguised to conceal his identity, the fact that this small creature had caught up to him—a Level 9 Awakened running at full speed—only to ask who he was left him speechless.
“Are you a suspicious person!”
Kyler hesitated. Answering truthfully was out of the question, but lying wasn’t easy either.
“You are suspicious! I’ll teach you a lesson!”
The little figure took a combat stance.
Could it be? Perhaps this was a familiar specialized solely in speed. Given its ability to outrun even him, it was plausible that this creature could have taken down Team Karimba in an instant.
But speed alone wasn’t enough. Kyler, with his formidable powers as a Level 9 Awakened, wasn’t afraid of the small creature before him.
Bzzzzzz…
Wait, what was that?
Something felt off. Suddenly, the mana scattered in the air began to vibrate.
Not even the Level 9 Awakened known as the “Great Witch” could generate such an overwhelming force…
Biiiiing–!
BOOOOOM!!!
“Aaaack!”
Kyler Lucas—a secretive figure among the seven Level 9 Awakened in the world and known for his enigmatic nature—was always calm and stoic, rarely speaking a word.
But now, faced with Ara’s devastating breath attack, he found himself in the greatest crisis of his life.
Cliche Novel 