“What should I do about this?”
Kyu-seong was troubled by an unexpected meeting.
Junichi had suddenly visited, and because Kyu-seong hadn’t informed the children in advance, an unintended meeting took place.
‘Cheong is human in appearance, so it’s not much of a problem…’
It wasn’t just Cheong, but Ara, a Seven Deadly Sins, didn’t bother him much either. However, Mammon and Ras were different.
Especially since there were photographs of Mammon, it was bound to be troublesome.
“These children are also under your command?”
“Yes, yes. They mostly stay in here. That’s why there hasn’t been an opportunity to introduce them.”
The matter was smoothly glossed over for now.
But Junichi is among the top awakeners in Japan. He had access to a lot of information and knew things others didn’t.
“…”
Junichi’s gaze turned towards Mammon.
Mammon scratched his head, looking awkward.
“I’m not interested in men.”
Mammon spoke shamelessly.
Then, Junichi blurted out, “Greed?”
“Gasp.”
Kyu-seong inhaled sharply and pretended not to make a sound, covering his mouth. However, his clearly visible actions surprised Junichi.
“Could it really be? Greed Mammon?”
“Ha, haha, no, that can’t be.”
“No! It really is! I heard they suddenly disappeared in China, but it was you who tamed them!”
Junichi burst out suddenly.
However, contrary to Kyu-seong’s expectations, enormous admiration and praise followed.
“Wow, if it’s Kyu-seong’s cooking, it could indeed be persuasive. The basics of monster taming involve befriending them with food. Looking at it, Kyu-seong’s abilities are perfectly suited for taming!”
“Then, have most of the other familiars been lured with food?”
“Yes, that’s right?”
“Indeed! This is revolutionary!”
Junichi exclaimed, his eyes gleaming.
However, he was mistaken about one thing.
The Seven Deadly Sins couldn’t be tamed just with food. In fact, Ara, also a Seven Deadly Sins, played a big role in Mammon and Ras becoming familiars due to a Conquest Quest recognized by the system.
Without that, befriending them with food would be possible, but not taming.
Of course, Junichi vaguely knew this extent. He already knew that Kyu-seong was a multi-awakener.
Kyu-seong must have related abilities, Junichi assumed.
“Still, to tame a Level 9 dungeon boss. This is amazing.”
“……”
“Ah! Don’t worry! I won’t share this fact with anyone else. If you became troubled and couldn’t get your crops, it would be a big problem for me. Kyu-seong’s cooking is currently the greatest joy of my life.”
Junichi laughed heartily, reassuring him.
Of course, no one among those gathered here understood him, except for Seon-ah.
“I should have pretended not to know. I’ve made the mood weird. Haha!”
“No, not at all.”
“Don’t worry! I’m always on Kyu-seong’s side!”
Ha-ha-ha!
Junichi laughed, patting Kyu-seong’s shoulder.
Meanwhile, Mammon stood still, feeling guilty, while Frey and Ras greeted Kyu-seong’s parents, whom they hadn’t seen in a long time.
“Children, have you been well?”
–We’ve been well. Mother!
Are you worried about the sovereign? It’s too early by a hundred years.
Jae-seong and Orie approached them, still awkward with each other but exchanged pleasantries and were warmly received.
–It’s been a while since you’ve visited!
–I am Ras. Address me properly.
It was Jae-seong and Orie’s first meeting with Ras.
When Jae-seong had come to the dungeon, it coincidentally overlapped with a guild dinner, so they hadn’t been introduced.
“Hello? I’m Lee Jae-seong, Kyu-seong’s younger brother. Please take care of me.”
“I am Orie.”
Orie also introduced himself in awkward Korean.
Then, Ras nodded in satisfaction and exclaimed, Pleased to meet you. If you ever need my help, just say so.
“Should I call you Mr. Ras?”
–Call me comfortably. To me, authority doesn’t come from how you’re addressed, but from your actions and demeanor!
“Understood, Ras.”
Jae-seong awkwardly smiled and responded.
Next to Jae-seong, Orie was nervously looking at Ras, unable to keep still.
–Hmm, it seems you want to pat me.
“How, how?!” Orie exclaimed in surprise, speaking in Japanese.
Then, Ras slightly pushed his head forward.
–I shall allow it. Go ahead and pat me.
“Eh?!”
Surprised, Orie hesitated, and Jae-seong reached out first, vigorously stroking the soft and fluffy head of Ras.
–Good. I liked that.
Finally, Orie also reached out and cautiously touched Ras. Having enjoyed the petting, Ras soon lay down flat.
“Heh, cute.”
Jae-seong, who liked dogs, smiled broadly as he continued to pet Ras. Orie also crouched down and touched Ras with both hands.
“…That familiar is quite unusual,” Junichi commented as he watched.
And again, Kyu-seong had no choice but to respond with silence.
“Ahem. Since you’re here, why don’t you eat something?”
Hardly opening his mouth, Kyu-seong asked the familiars.
At this, the previously stiff Mammon and the flat-lying Ras immediately woke up and said,
–I want to eat!
–Hmm! Let this sovereign taste it.
Mammon and Ras rushed forward competitively.
Watching them, Frey, who was floating around, shook her head.
“I want something sweet!”
“Shall I make shaved ice?”
“Shaved ice!”
The response came from somewhere else.
Ara looked up at Kyu-seong with great anticipation.
“Can you gather some snow?”
“Yes!”
Ara ran off in excitement.
Then, Cheong, who had been sneakily watching Mammon and Ras eat, chased after Ara.
“Sister, let’s go together.”
“We’re going together!”
Mammon and Ras eating hurriedly.
Ara and Cheong gathering snow.
Frey chattering as he flew around.
Everyone’s faces were draped with smiles at these colorful scenes.
***
A few days later.
Outside, Kyu-seong was accompanied not only by Ara but also by Cheong, Mammon, and Ras.
With the help of the Awakened Headquarters, the registration of the other children as familiars, except for Ara, went through without any problems.
The registration cards were made so quickly and with so little inspection that it seemed almost too easy.
But thanks to this, they were able to complete the familiar registration without arousing suspicion.
“Shall we go?”
“Oh!”
Ara exclaimed, raising her arm.
Dressed not in her tiger pajamas but in the full armor of the Tiger King.
The rest of the children also nodded fully prepared, although Cheong still seemed a bit uneasy about going out.
Today was finally the day they were going to America.
They were on their way to see Kyler’s daughter.
Having finally received a call from Nathan, they planned to fly to the US on a guild-exclusive aircraft immediately.
Of course, the Ara Hongryeon Guild knew roughly about this, but they thought they were going to treat Nathan’s niece, not Kyler’s daughter.
‘Nathan is Kyler’s brother-in-law…?’
Only Kyu-seong knew this fact.
It seemed mysterious how Kyler, a veiled figure, was constantly in touch with Nathan and such a truth was hidden.
They drove to the airport.
Since Kyu-seong, who had not awakened any tamer abilities, could not summon or dismiss the familiars, they had to travel together, but the government exceptionally allowed Kyu-seong to bring the familiars along.
However, it was best to attract as little attention as possible, so Kyu-seong intended to travel quietly.
“Monster?”
But the moment they parked at the airport, attention was focused on them.
Fortunately, the children’s appearances were quite cute, and because they were wrapped up as much as possible, their appearances were not clearly visible.
However, to an awakened, their identities could not help but be instantly revealed.
“Excuse me, just a moment! Are you walking around with familiars?”
A sudden interjection from a stranger.
Kyu-seong, taken aback by the unexpected situation, nodded in agreement.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Familiars are cute, but it’s dangerous to take them out like this.”
“Ah, my abilities are a bit vague so I can’t summon or dismiss them. Sorry about that.”
“You can’t summon or dismiss them?”
The stranger’s gaze turned suspicious.
As Kyu-seong felt the awkwardness rising, Ara stepped forward confidently.
Dressed in a tiger onesie, Ara’s cute appearance involuntarily captured the stranger’s attention. Addressing him, she said:
“We have registration cards.”
“Eh?”
“We have familiar registration cards!”
Ara spoke proudly, her shoulders back, her expression saying ‘what are you going to do about it?’
“Ah, I see. Is this child your daughter?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm, okay.”
Though the stranger was still puzzled, he tilted his head and stepped aside.
Thanks to this, Kyu-seong, relieved, was able to head towards the airport quickly and patted Ara on the head, saying:
“Good job, Ara. Our Ara is the best indeed.”
“He! He! He! I am amazing!”
Cheong clapped hands joyfully, his eyes filled with admiration.
“She’s amazing!”
Entering the airport, they saw a familiar face from Ara Hongryeon waiting.
“Young-seong hyung?”
“Did you arrive?”
Expecting a staff member, Kyu-seong was surprised to see an unexpected person and tilted his head.
“Let’s go.”
“Aren’t you busy, hyung? To come all this way to see us off.”
“See off? What are you talking about? I’m coming with you.”
“What?”
Coming together? Where to?
Without a moment to be confused, they seemed to have completed the immigration procedures in advance and headed straight to the guild-exclusive aircraft.
And on the plane, another unexpected figure was already onboard.
“Hello.”
“Uh?”
This time, it wasn’t even someone from Ara Hongryeon. The man waiting on the plane was Choi Sung-hyuk, a prominent Awakener from the Terror Guild, more famously known by his nickname ‘Exterminator’.
The number one Awakener in South Korea’s military rankings. Although there was technically someone else who was truly number one, they weren’t affiliated with any guild, so officially, Choi Sung-hyuk held the title.
“I am Choi Sung-hyuk, assigned to escort Mr. Lee Kyu-seong on this trip to the USA.”
“Ah, why would Awakener Choi Sung-hyuk…?”
“I was asked by the government and the guild master. It’s too dangerous for Mr. Kyu-seong to travel alone in the USA.”
That wasn’t all.
The plane was already boarded by Team 1 from Ara Hongryeon.
All there to escort Kyu-seong.
Team leader Jeong So-yeon was also onboard.
“We will ensure your safety, Kyu-seong.”
Kyu-seong felt overwhelmed by the excessive security and didn’t know how to react. Regardless, Ara was excited to see familiar faces and exclaimed:
“Jeong So-yeon Soyeon! Are we all going on a trip together? There are so many others here! We are all going together!”
Excited Ara, who thought they were traveling alone, shouted out.
Already cute in her tiger onesie, Ara’s excited appearance made everyone burst into laughter.
“Yes, we are all going together.”
“I’m happy to be going to the USA with Ara.”
“Ara is cute today, too. Should we take a photo before we leave?”
Unlike the powerful Ara, the other familiars were quiet.
Especially Cheong, who looked nervous facing all these people.
Then Jeong So-yeon noticed Cheong for the first time and greeted him warmly.
“Hello, you must be Cheong, right?”
“Uh, uhuh.”
Startled, Cheong soon started to cry.
“Uh, huh.”
“Uh? Oh? Oh, sorry, don’t cry, Cheong.”
Confused, Jeong So-yeon flailed her arms.
This amusing sight made Ara laugh out loud and comfort Cheong.
“Jeong So-yeon Soyeon is a kind sister! Stop!”
“It’s okay. Huh.”
Cheong was still tearful and sniffled. Everyone around could only watch, not knowing how to react.
“Hmm, good.”
Suddenly, Ras spoke up.
Then he stepped forward and lay down flat.
“Pat this sovereign.”
Kyu-seong’s familiars were indeed a handful.
Cliche Novel 