Before meeting Katrina, I had to go find the children who had embarked on an adventure.
I had to take Ara along, of course, and I also needed to ask Mammon for comments on his work, as Bokkeum had lent something to the children.
“I should buy a subspace item later.”
A thought I couldn’t have dreamed of before.
But now, there was more than enough money in my bank account to afford it.
Of course, one-third of the money in my bank account was an enormous amount to use,but it was an item worth having without loss.
“I’ve been sucking too much honey with Bokkeum.”
Thanks, Bokkeum.
I can’t tell how comfortable you’ve made my life so far.
Moreover, Bokkeum’s capacity was larger than that of typical subspace items. He was truly a possessor of incredible abilities.
When I returned to the dungeon, I saw people busily researching cooking and Ashu.It seems she came down a while ago.
And Seon-ah, who was diligently tasting what those people were cooking, was also visible.
“Where have you been?”
“Just checking some messages.”
“The kids?”
“They’re playing upstairs.”
Then, suddenly remembering about the Great Witch, I asked Seon-ah, who was a mania for awakened beings, if she knew something I didn’t.
“Seon-ah, do you know the Great Witch?”
“If I didn’t know, I’d be a spy.”
“Anything special about her? Any information?”
“Why the sudden interest in the Great Witch? Are you meeting her?”
Seon-ah wasn’t surprised anymore.
It seemed almost natural for her to ask that, and I was moved by how my standing seemed to have risen.
“No, not that.”
“Hmm, the Great Witch is a big player in the fashion and art industries. She invests all her earnings there, and she’s been successful in her investments.”
“Oh.”
“There’s even a fashion brand she created in our country. Have you heard of Witches & Purple?”
“No.”
“What do you know, really?”
Ignoring Seon-ah’s teasing, I waited for her to continue.
“She’s also famous for supporting young designers and artists. But there’s one thing that has brought her some criticism.”
“What is it?”
“She’s a Level 9 awakened being. But for such a person, she barely goes dungeon diving, which many consider a waste of her talents and abilities.”
“Ah.”
A top-tier awakened being who doesn’t dungeon dive much.
Certainly, from the perspective of guilds and nations, it would feel like a loss.
Of course, if there’s nothing contractually binding, it’s up to her how she lives.
“So, when she does go dungeon diving, fans go crazy because she’s finally doing her main job. She has a lot of fans because of her excellent aesthetic sense.”
“How often does she not go dungeon diving?”
“Uh, the last time she went was maybe two years ago? She goes about once every few years.”
“Wow, she really doesn’t go often.”
“Right. It’s a pity, considering the abilities the Great Witch has. She could do support, attack, and defense, a real all-rounder.”
Hmm, I think I got the general idea.
It’s a bit scary to think she acts without caring about others’ opinions; she must be quite formidable.
“But are you really not going to say why you asked about the Great Witch out of nowhere?”
“The Great Witch has come to Korea now.”
“……What?”
Seon-ah’s eyes widened dramatically.
She then scoffed and shook her head.
“Even so, you think such a lie would work?”
“Why would I lie to you about this? I’m already too busy.”
“Shall I go check now?”
“Go check.”
I said this and headed straight for the portal.
To come back, they would need me; let’s see if they can leave.
As I ascended to Sky Island, this time I couldn’t find the children.
“It looks like they really went on an adventure.”
The size of Sky Island was immense.
It was astonishing how such an island could float.
It would take days to explore it all.
So, I roughly guessed from asking the slimes that the children had headed upwards.
“Ah, the minimap.”
Am I an idiot?
I went up recklessly without checking the minimap. Then, the children’s location was clearly marked. They had gone quite far.
“Ah, gosh.”
I hurried after them, thinking I had to catch up quickly.
The environment of Sky Island was like a jungle. Dense trees and bushes stood out in the jungle.
Thanks to this, I made my way through the dense jungle where there was no path because of the minimap, without getting lost.
Finally, I started to hear the children’s voices.
“Look! There’s something there!”
-The Soverign smells it too. There might be treasure over there!
The most excited voices were those of Ara and Ras. And behind them, I heard the other children hurrying after them.
“Hey, kids!”
I chased after the quickly moving children. Luckily, Ara appeared suddenly in front of me as she heard my voice.
“Kyu-seong Kyu-seong !”
“Ara! Oh, I found you.”
“I found it too! I found Kyu-seong Kyu-seong !”
Ara hugged me tightly and giggled.
While stroking her head covered with a straw hat, I asked,
“Are you still on an adventure?”
“Yes! We found one treasure, but there’s still more to find!”
“Oh? You found a treasure? What is it?”
“It’s here!”
Ara burrowed deeper into my embrace and rubbed her face against me.
From Ara’s behavior, I could guess that the treasure she mentioned was me.
How can she act so adorably and impressively?
-Oh, Kyu-seong is here too. Will you join the Soverign in finding treasure?
-Lord, heh.
“Dad is here!”
Frey was lying supported by Mammon’s crown.
They seemed to have been darting around energetically.
“Mammon, I came to talk to you.”
-Yes, please tell me.
“I just got a call. There’s a visitor who came after seeing your work. So, I need your help.”
-A visitor! Has someone else finally recognized the true value of my work?
“Right. And it’s a very famous and remarkable person.”
-Of course! Anyone who recognizes the value of my work must be exceptional!
Mammon, who had been staggering with fatigue until just moments ago, shouted more energetically than anyone else.
“Mammon has revived! The adventure continues!”
-Just a moment! Let’s hear more about it!
Mammon, quickly stopping Ara, looked up at me with sparkling eyes.
-What kind of help do you need, my lord?
“Well, comments on your works, I suppose. You have descriptions, right? But do you remember which pieces you sent?”
-Of course. I remember all the works I’ve created, even the intentions and emotions behind each one!
Oh, that makes things easier.
In fact, if Mammon couldn’t remember, I was planning to go back out and compile a list of the pieces he had exhibited.
“It’s not urgent right now, but the visitor wants to meet Mammon in person. Since they can’t meet Mammon directly, I’ll meet them instead.”
-Ah, that’s a pity. Still, it’s alright. Then later, I’ll go down and write all the interpretations and explanations of the works.
“Thanks, Mammon. And Ara, you need to come with me to the guild.”
“Okay! I’ll go! When are we going?”
“Maybe tomorrow? But we can adjust the schedule.”
“Mmm, we need to proceed with the adventure quickly. Ras! Find the key quickly!”
-Trust in the Soverign.
Key? What key are they talking about?
I thought the kids were just playing, but it seems there’s something specific they’re looking for.
However, not making a big deal out of it, I told them to come down by dinner time.
“We must eat dinner! See you then!”
“Alright, alright. Play safely.”
Every time I tell them to play safely, a slight sense of self-reproach hits me, but it’s become a habit.
After parting with the children and coming down, I heard that Seon-ah had actually gone outside to check the news.
“Ah, such a hassle.”
If I have to bring them back, I have to go out again and open the door.
While I was contemplating when to go out and bring Seon-ah back, Jae-seong scratched his head and spoke to me.
“Hyung, I want to check on the restaurant too. Can I go out with you?”
“You, you’re trying to take care of Seon-ah, right?”
“Uh, uh? Ah, no. Hehe.”
He’s not good at lying.
Eventually, agreeing that I knew, we decided to go out together.
Meanwhile, father had also returned from fishing, and it seemed he had released everything he caught.
Normally, Ara or Ras would be with him to easily transport it, but since he went alone, he probably released them without pushing himself too much.
“Are you going out to see the restaurant? Do you want to come with me?”
“I’m going to the hot springs.”
“The hot springs are nice. We’ll join you later.”
“Alright. Ah, Kyu-seong. Where’s the alcohol?”
“It’s not good to drink alcohol while you’re in the bath.”
I told him to have a drink with dinner later and then went out with Jae-seong.
Once outside, I could confirm that Seon-ah wasn’t in the slime dungeon.
She must still be outside checking the internet. Leaving Jae-seong to inspect the site for the new restaurant, I headed out.
“Oppa, oppa! It’s real! Amazing!”
As soon as she saw me, Seon-ah screamed excitedly.
Her excitement made me chuckle without realizing it.
“See? I told you.”
“Wow, amazing! How did Katrina come to Korea?”
“Is there any news?”
“Uh? Oh, I don’t know why she’s visiting yet, but it seems she has an interview tomorrow. She likes attention, so she might appear on TV too.”
“Really?”
“I should stay home and watch TV tomorrow.”
Smiling at Seon-ah’s cheerful demeanor, I teased her.
“Shall I tell you why the Great Witch came?”
“?!”
Seon-ah looked at me with a surprised expression and then swiftly came over and grabbed me by the collar.
“What is it! Why did she come!”
“Hey, hey. Let’s talk after you let go. You’re scaring me.”
“Okay, I let go. Now tell me.”
“That, you know the artwork Mammon made? She came because of that.”
Seon-ah’s expression turned serious and she looked like she didn’t believe me.
“It’s true. I got a call from the guild leader earlier. Want me to show you the text?”
“Yeah. Show me.”
“…You still don’t believe me after all this?”
Finally, after seeing the text message with her own eyes, Seon-ah was shocked and believed it.
“Oh my, oh my, what do we do! What do we do?”
Thump, thump.
“Ow, you brat.”
Seeing Seon-ah excitedly hitting my shoulder, I sighed.
“For now, know that I’ve agreed to meet as Mammon’s representative.”
“Amazing!!”
“What keeps being amazing? If possible, I’ll even get an autograph, so just wait quietly.”
“Yes, brother.”
Seon-ah didn’t seem like she was going to go inside as she wanted to check more on the internet.
Eventually, after waiting another 30 minutes for her, we could go inside.
“Did you check everything?”
“Yes, hyung.”
“Alright. Let’s go back.”
I returned to the dungeon with Jae-seong.
As we arrived, the children who had come down from Sky Island were being washed by Mother.
“Kyahaha!”
“We need to scrub Ara thoroughly.”
“Yes!”
Ara and Cheong, their heads full of soapy bubbles, were visible.
And next to them, Ras trembling in fear, and Mammon looking at him with disdain.
-I, the Soverign, am not afraid of showers.
He likes playing in the water but seems not to like showers. Maybe the smell of soap is too strong for him?
“Mom, we were going to go to the hot springs.”
“Oh, is that so? Shall we go to the hot springs then?”
-Excellent! The Soverign shall immerse himself thoroughly in the hot springs!
Ras quickly agreed.
At his cute reaction, Seon-ah finally smiled and picked him up.
“Let’s go warm up and relax.”
The Great Witch? For now, I’m not sure.
Right now, I need to head to the hot springs with the kids.
Cliche Novel 