Today is the day I visit Ara Hongryeon after a long time.
As the contract period is slowly coming to an end, I should visit more often, but I’ve been too busy…
I came to the guild with Ara and Cheong.
Seeing the employees and guild members for the first time in a while, Ara was excited and wandered around.
“Hello? Hello?”
Ara greeted everyone she saw, and everyone smiled at her.
Cheong, still awkward about going out, clung to my back, not moving and just looking around.
“Kyu-seong, it’s been a long time. I might forget your face at this rate.”
“Haha. I’ll visit more often.”
“Don’t do that, just extend our contract. Then I won’t have to nag you to come often.”
“I’ll think about it. Hoho.”
Now, all the faces are familiar.
It didn’t feel real to leave this place and join another guild.
‘Do I really need to move?’
Ara Hongryeon has been treating me well enough. They try to accommodate my needs and make things comfortable.
Of course, other guilds like the world’s top guild, Isthart, or China’s Skyscraper offer better terms.
Their scale is overwhelming, so it’s inevitable.
But do I really need such good terms?
It’s great and appreciated to be recognized, but I never wanted to leave Korea in the first place.
I’m not greedy for wealth and power, so I might just extend the contract with Ara Hongryeon unless something changes.
I would renew annually anyway.
Who knows how life will turn out?
“Kyu-seong!”
“Ah, So-yeon. Long time no see.”
It feels like déjà vu.
Jeong So-yeon, who came down in the elevator, saw me and the kids and smiled brightly.
“Hello, Jeong So-yeon So-yeon!”
“Hello, Ara, and hello, Cheong?”
“Ah, hello.”
Is today her day off?
Jeong So-yeon is usually so busy that it’s normal not to see her often.
Unlike when we first met, she’s now recognized as a veteran team leader rather than a rookie.
I know she has raided about dozens of dungeons since I joined the guild, and not just low-level ones, but ones that match her skills.
She gives credit to my items, but honestly, she’s the impressive one.
No matter how great my items are, it takes more than just diligence to tackle dungeons so actively.
“Is it your day off today?”
“Yes. Today I just have a dungeon strategy meeting for next week, and then I’m free for three days. It’s a long-awaited break.”
“I’ve heard through that you’ve been working hard. It’s hard to see you when I visit the guild.”
“Yes, but it’s the end of the year, so I need to keep up the good work. I want to be in the award range in the end-of-year Awakener vote. In any category!”
“Isn’t it just the first half of the year? Haha.”
Jeong So-yeon has ambitious goals.
But to me, it just seemed like she was greedy.
After all, she’s won several awards at the end-of-year Awakener vote and other ceremonies before.
‘I think she won the Most Outstanding Talent last year.’
Although those were as a rookie.
This year would be the real deal, but Jeong So-yeon might win something.
Maybe even the Best Awakener award.
“Do you have any plans for the next three days?”
“No, it’s a sudden break, so I don’t have any plans. Ah, can I come over to your place then?”
Jeong So-yeon always throws a fastball like this. But I’m not misunderstanding this time.
“Sure. The kids would love that.”
“Waah! Is Jeong So-yeon So-yeon coming to play! I really like it! Let’s go pick chestnuts!”
“Chestnuts?”
“There’s a forest full of chestnut trees. We can pick chestnuts and walnuts and roast them!”
“Wow! That sounds really fun! I want to pick chestnuts too!”
Jeong So-yeon genuinely looked forward to it, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Then shall we go together right after the meeting ends today?”
“Really? Can I?”
“Of course.”
It’s been a while since I invited guild members after the last guild dinner. I should suggest hosting more often when I meet the guild master.
‘It feels like the re-contract is already decided.’
With things like this, I might as well wrap up the re-contracting soon. No need to drag out the time.
After finishing our conversation, Jeong So-yeon and I agreed to meet again later. Then, the kids and I headed to the guild master’s office where Han Seok-jun would be.
“Hello, Guild Master.”
“Hello!”
“Hello.”
Han Seok-jun, who had neatly arranged the documents next to him, smiled warmly as we arrived.
“Long time no see, Kyu-seong. It’s been a while for Ara and Cheong too.”
“It’s been a long time, Han Seok-jun!”
Ara quickly raised her hand to greet again, then began to rummage through her things.
“Hmm?”
“Han Seok-jun! Look at this!”
What Ara pulled out was her new accessory made by a goblin, a hairpin that she oddly kept in her pocket instead of wearing.
“Wow, that’s pretty. Is it yours, Ara?”
“Yes! But it’s a gift!”
“For me?”
“Yes! Last time, Seok-jun mentioned having a daughter about my age!”
“Oh! That’s right.”
“So, it’s a gift. For your daughter.”
Han Seok-jun was slightly taken aback by Ara’s gift and looked at me, and I just shrugged in response.
“Are you sure I can have this, Ara?”
“Yes. It’s a gift. Don’t you like it?”
“No, no. I really like it. I think Soor-yeon will love it.”
“Is your daughter’s name Soor-yeon?”
“Yes, Han Soor-yeon. And my son is Han Se-jun.”
“Oh! I’ll bring a separate gift for Sejun next time.”
“Haha, thank you.”
After the warm gift exchange, we took our seats, and the guild master served tea from the black tea I had given him.
“This tea is extraordinary. It’s my wife’s favorite gift, and she nags me to save it every day. Haha.”
“You don’t have to save it. I can give you more anytime. There’s plenty.”
“Thank you. I’ll let my wife know.”
Slurp.
Ah, such a relaxing feeling.
I had also given Han Seok-jun, not just black tea, but green tea and pu-erh tea that the Skyscraper Guild had prepared.
A set of green tea, black tea, and pu-erh tea.
I had gifted a set to all other guild members and staff as well.
Fortunately, everyone seemed to enjoy them, which was a different reaction compared to the crops I had given them before.
While other food crops made them want to eat immediately, the tea set was received with great joy as a gift.
Anyway, it was good that everyone liked them.
‘Soon, I think we’ll be able to cultivate coffee beans too.’
I wonder how coffee will turn out.
In modern times, coffee is inseparable from daily life, and everyone was looking forward to it since they already knew I had started growing it.
“Have you eaten?”
“No, I was planning to eat with the guild master.”
“That’s great. It’s just lunchtime, let’s eat together.”
Without making anything special, we headed to the cafeteria, where we encountered guild members and staff we hadn’t seen before.
“Ara!”
“Kyu-seong, have a good lunch.”
“Long time no see!”
I received greetings from people as I got my food.
Now, surplus crops were so abundant that dishes made from my crops were served daily.
Because of this, even those who usually went straight to dungeons or worked from home made it a point to stop by the guild.
“This kimchi stew is amazing.”
Today’s main dish was kimchi stew.
Just rice with kimchi stew was a feast in itself. There were also various side dishes made from my crops.
“Yesterday, I wrapped rice with your cabbage in a thick soybean paste, and it was delicious.”
“Wow, I haven’t tried that at home yet. I’ll have to try making it myself this time.”
Nearby, Ara and Cheong were energetically eating.
Soon, staff and guild members started taking pictures of the children.
“They’re so cute, what do we do?”
“Look at their chubby cheeks.”
“How can kids be so pretty and cute?”
Ara, oblivious to people’s stares, continued to devour her kimchi stew. Someone might think she’s usually starved.
“…Kyu-seong, aren’t you starving Ara?”
“No, I’m not.”
I quickly refuted and brought up the contract I had been thinking about.
“Guild master.”
“Yes, Kyu-seong?”
“I’d like to extend the contract. Would an annual renewal be okay?”
Suddenly, all noise stopped.
Only the sound of Ara and Cheong eating filled the quiet cafeteria.
Everyone froze and stared at me.
It was eerie and somewhat terrifying.
“Um, everyone? It’s scary when you look like that.”
“Cough, cough!”
“No, it’s just that I was startled when you mentioned the contract renewal! So, Kyu-seong, you’re staying with us then?!”
“Kyu-seong, you could surely get better offers!”
“Truly a man of loyalty! Loyalty!”
The moment of silence shattered as people started talking from all sides.
The sudden commotion surprised the children, who had been focused on their meal, and they looked around in confusion.
“Kyu-seong, thank you so much.”
“Eh? For what?”
“For deciding to stay with us again. We are truly grateful.”
“Ah, it’s nothing. Ara Hongryeon has been good to me. But don’t get me wrong! I won’t be here forever.”
I played it cool to hide my embarrassment.
But everyone seemed to guess my feelings, looking at me with knowing smiles.
“Why are you all staring like that?”
“Kyu-seong, you don’t need to be shy. We’re practically family, right?”
“Look at this. I can leave anytime I want.”
After some light-hearted banter, we wrapped up the contract renewal.
“Is it true you’ve renewed your contract?!”
After the meeting, Jeong So-yeon, who was supposed to come home with us, asked in surprise.
“Yes. Adapting to a new place would be a hassle, and I really don’t like going abroad.”
“But, Kyu-seong, you could have gone anywhere!”
“Eh, it’s too much hassle. I’m quite content here.”
During the drive, Jeong So-yeon kept talking about the contract until finally, Ara, unable to hold back any longer, muttered,
“Renewal? Contract? Is it something to eat? Hmm, it’s something to eat.”
Hearing Ara’s mutter, Jeong So-yeon awkwardly laughed and comforted her.
“How was your visit to the guild, Ara? What about Cheong?”
“It was good! The kimchi stew was delicious! There were many people!”
“Me, me too!”
Cheong seemed just to be echoing Ara’s response.
As we were almost home…
Thump thump thump thump.
Suddenly, we heard a rapid noise approaching.
“What, what’s that?”
“Something’s coming fast!”
Jeong So-yeon tensed up and checked behind us as she rolled down the window. Then, suddenly, a face popped in through the lowered window.
“Uhahahaha! What would you do without me, Kyu-seong!”
“Aaaaack! Hanul! How can you appear like that!”
I aged ten years in that moment.
I was so startled I almost had an accident!
True to his reputation as a Level 8 Awakener, he could catch up to a running car.
But seriously, who shows up like that!
“Uhahaha! I just stopped by because I had a little errand. I’ll be going soon.”
“What? Since you’re here, why not stay a bit longer?”
“I’d like to, but, ha…”
Hanul was indeed very busy.
But why on earth did he come all this way amid his busy schedule?
“I found this.”
“What is it? Let’s pull over and talk.”
We were still driving.
Finally, after stopping the car, I could properly talk with Hanul.
“I was just on my way too, and then I saw Kyu-seong’s car. I just got out and ran.”
“Why would you do that…”
“Didn’t want to go without the kids, so I did it! But forget that, look at this.”
Hanul handed me something.
“A seed?”
“Not just any seed.”
“Really?”
I soon realized that this seed was an item.
[Spirit Seed]
“Spirit, Seed?”
Cliche Novel 