Despite all the attention focused on her, Ara steadfastly chewed her pizza.
“It’s mine! But if you become my subordinate, I might consider it!”
“Ara! Please, just one more bite!”
While I was talking with Baek Tae-seop, Kang Hanul had been seated and Jeong So-yeon subdued.
Ara is scary!
But thanks to Bokkeum’s extra food, I was able to serve the guests without any issue.
“Here you go.”
“Ahem, thank you.”
Baek Tae-seop tried to maintain his composure but couldn’t hide his drooling. His secretary, who had also received a slice of pizza from me, suddenly exclaimed.
“Item! This is showing as an item!”
This pizza, unbelievably, was an item.
Though the salad couldn’t become an item, the pizza, like sweet potatoes, had gained a new ability.
‘The ingredients are mediocre, so the effects are too, but…’
Though the key components of the pizza—cheese and dough—were store-bought, it still became an item.
[Shoddy Pizza Imbued with Magic]
[Slight resistance to all negative effects for 1 minute.]
[No health decrease for 1 minute.]
Extremely ambiguous and faint abilities.
Nevertheless, I thought positively about it.
‘What if Ara keeps eating this?’
Although the effect is weak, Ara could infinitely absorb it with her ‘Devour’ ability. If she keeps eating the pizza, wouldn’t those incredible effects eventually become permanent?
“This is… remarkable.”
Baek Tae-seop examined the effects of the pizza with great patience before taking a bite.
Though he had already experienced the effects of fruit juice, he seemed intrigued by the different effects each food item displayed.
Showing the sharpness befitting the representative of the Iron Blood Guild, Baek Tae-seop finally took a slow bite of the pizza.
“Mm?! Mmm?!?”
Huh? Is something wrong?
Baek Tae-seop’s eyes rolled back.
Startled, I approached him, but his eyes soon returned to normal, and he began devouring the pizza voraciously.
“Ah? Where did it go?”
Baek Tae-seop was searching for the pizza he had already eaten.
He didn’t even realize it himself.
“Would you like another piece?”
“Huh?”
I handed another slice to the bewildered Baek Tae-seop and took one for myself.
“Enjoy your meal. Nom!”
I took a bite of the pizza.
While it would have been better freshly made, the flavors filling my mouth were overwhelming.
‘The tanginess from using cherry tomatoes as sauce!’
At the same time, the soft potatoes emitted their unique sweetness, perfectly complementing the tomato sauce.
Tangy and sweet! Plus, the rich, lingering taste of the savory potatoes!
‘The clean finish with Embergill.’
Ah, if only the cheese and dough were also made from my ingredients!
“Hehe. Kyu-seong Kyu-seong, your expression is funny.”
Ara, who had approached without me noticing, smiled brightly. I must have let my expression slip.
Glancing back, I saw the members of Ara Hongryeon engrossed in savoring their pizza.
‘If we add the salad to this!’
Even though the Embergill had already perfectly neutralized the greasiness of the cheese, I couldn’t give up on the salad.
Crunch!
The cucumber and carrot, mixed with Jae-seong’s homemade balsamic sauce, danced freely in my mouth.
“Mmm.”
I closed my eyes and savored the deep flavors of the vegetables for a moment.
The fresh taste, which came across much more directly than the pizza, added another layer of enjoyment.
“For dessert, Layla.”
The three-item set, served like a simple course meal, brought immense satisfaction.
“Oh, oh, sob!”
When I turned my head at the sudden noise, I saw Hanul moved to tears.
Seeing a big man crying while clutching the floor was… a bit overwhelming.
However, everyone else was just holding back, but their expressions were all quite a sight.
Even Han Seok-jun, who rarely showed emotion, couldn’t hide the twitching at the corners of his mouth.
‘Can they handle this?’
I had only served the pizza so far.
If this was the reaction already, what would happen when I served the full course…?
I had anticipated it, but the reaction was much bigger than I had expected, which made me feel a bit anxious.
I looked at the snack container Ara was holding to check if there was still a lot of food left.
Swoosh!
Noticing my gaze, Ara quickly hid the snack container behind her back.
It seemed she was reluctant to share more.
Hmm, she usually shares well with the slimes.
Was it because there was a lot back then?
“If you become my subordinate, I’ll give it to you! If not, you get nothing!”
“Ahem.”
As if she had read my mind, Ara shouted.
This was quite troublesome.
Looking at the people who still hadn’t come to their senses, I wondered if I should call Jae-seong later and put on a cooking show.
“Kyu-seong!”
“Huh!”
While I was momentarily lost in thought, Jeong So-yeon approached and suddenly grabbed my hand.
“It’s really delicious! Really! Truly!”
“Haha… Thank you.”
As expected of Team Leader of Ara Hongryeon!
Her firm grip was noticeable.
It was evident how much effort she had put in to become the youngest 6th-level awakened.
“Kyu-seong, can I get a hug too?”
“No, you can’t.”
When I firmly refused Hanul’s request, his sullen look made me laugh.
“Hmm, this is a special service.”
Seeing this, Ara, who had been observing, seemed to have decided to share and began distributing food to everyone.
Once she made up her mind, she didn’t seem to feel regret, and the smile on her face was impressive.
“Oh! Even Layla is an item!”
“This carrot salad is insane! I’m not a big fan of greens, but I could eat this salad three times a day! Hahaha!”
“To taste this sweet potato again… thank you, Kyu-seong. Thank you, Ara.”
Seeing everyone happy made me feel good.
And I patted Ara’s head, who willingly shared.
“Our Ara is so kind. You even know how to share.”
“I am amazing!”
Ara looked up at me, snorting, and she was so lovable.
“Kyu-seong, I’m really sorry to ask, but could you do me a favor?”
While everyone was still savoring the food, Baek Tae-seop approached me and said.
“Yes. Please, go ahead.”
“This pizza reminded me of my son. Although he is in a coma now, he was conscious until two years ago.”
Baek Tae-seop’s forlorn smile felt melancholic.
Gradually, I was seeing a different side of the Iron Blood Guild’s representative than what was publicly known.
“The truth is, I didn’t get along well with my son. We only started to open up to each other after he returned poisoned. I regret not becoming closer when he was healthy.”
“…I’m sorry to hear that. I don’t know what to say to comfort you.”
“I’m not looking for comfort. It’s my fault, no one else’s. But the reason I brought this up is because of your pizza.”
Baek Tae-seop took a deep breath and then, as if making a decision, bowed deeply to me.
“The one thing my son, who is bedridden, wants to eat the most is pizza. Before his addiction, I controlled his diet strictly, not letting him eat what he wanted. It’s one of my biggest regrets, but after learning about his condition, I couldn’t let him eat what he wanted due to his health.”
“Ah…”
“I know it’s a shameless request. But as a failing father, I want to fulfill my son’s wish now. If the antidote can cure his poisoning… I want to feed my son your pizza.”
Tears fell from Baek Tae-seop’s bowed head. Everyone, including myself, silently watched him.
This elderly man, who could boast of his social status and success, was now confessing his mistakes.
“…Representative.”
“Please, Kyu-seong.”
“Representative, please stand up.”
I helped Baek Tae-seop back up.
What was the point of discussing right and wrong here? I wasn’t Baek Seung-hyun, nor was I part of his family.
What mattered was that I had the means to help.
“I will create a more perfect pizza than the one I made now.”
“Do you mean…!”
“When Baek Seung-hyun’s treatment is complete, I’ll make sure it’s an unforgettable memory for him.”
Even if I had to compromise on the cheese, I could still work on the dough.
I was confident I could create a more delicious, no, a more perfect pizza than the one I had now.
Because I had plants from the Dungeon of Gluttony that seemed perfect for making dough.
‘The Dungeon of Gluttony is the answer.’
That mysterious dungeon plant that tasted like bread.
What if I made the dough with it together with Jae-seong? It would probably require a lot of research and effort, but it was worth investing in.
And I could add more toppings too, as there are countless types of pizza.
There’s no need to serve just one kind of pizza, right? I might as well open a pizza buffet.
“Thank you, Kyu-seong! I’m already grateful just for the antidote, but now I’m imposing another small request…”
“If I’m doing it, I’ll do my best.”
Baek Tae-seop, who had been tearing up again at my words, quickly composed himself and spoke seriously.
“Though I trust the antidote’s efficacy since Awakened Kim Si-young has been cured, if my son’s treatment is successful, I, Baek Tae-seop, will consider you a lifelong benefactor. This is not just a personal declaration but one made as the representative of the Iron Blood Guild.”
“Oh, uh…”
“As the first proof, I, as the representative of the Iron Blood Guild, declare unlimited cooperation with Ara Hongryeon.”
“Whoa!”
Gasps of surprise could be heard around the room. The Iron Blood Guild’s secretary looked like he was malfunctioning, his mouth agape.
“However, on the condition that you join Ara Hongryeon.”
“Do you mean…?”
“I mean the Iron Blood Guild’s cooperation depends on your presence. If you join another guild, this condition will follow you there.”
“Hmm.”
“And, the second point.”
Baek Tae-seop’s demeanor changed.
He exuded an overwhelming presence, far from the tearful man he was moments ago, and lifted his head arrogantly.
“This is actually the main point. Kyu-seong, please join our guild. I promise you the best treatment better than any guild in the world.”
“The old man has finally gone senile! How dare you say that in front of us?”
Before I could respond, Hanul confronted Baek Tae-seop with a fierce spirit. However, Baek Tae-seop, rather than retreating, responded with a relaxed smile.
“I am the representative of Iron Blood. While I am close with Guild Leader Han Seok-jun and Team Leader Kang Hanul, I also have my pride. Receiving such a favor from Kyu-seong and then doing nothing would be disrespectful. Ultimately, the choice is Mr. Kyu-seong’s.”
It was certainly against the rules of etiquette.
Trying to poach me, who had already decided to sign with Ara Hongryeon , wasn’t good in many ways.
However, society can be ruthless.
If better conditions are offered, it is natural to consider them. Moreover, I hadn’t signed any contract yet.
“We, or rather I, am confident. The title of the number one guild in South Korea was not earned lightly.”
“…When were you last the number one guild? The Terror Guild has caught up long ago.”
Hanul’s momentum waned.
As a first-generation awakened, he had experienced many things and knew how infuriating yet unavoidable this situation was.
Meanwhile, I had cooled down a bit and looked around.
Ara, tilting her head in confusion, not understanding the situation.
Representative Baek, with an arrogant expression but a clear determination to recruit me.
The Iron Blood Guild secretary, still in shock.
Young-seong, whose expression was unreadable, and Hanul and Jeong So-yeon, looking frustrated.
And then…
‘Guild Leader Han Seok-jun.’
Han Seok-jun was simply watching the scene with a satisfied look. Then he met my eyes and gave me a small nod, as if to say he respected my choice.
“Kyu-seong, I don’t know if it’s appropriate to say this now, but I hope you make the decision that benefits you the most.”
Jeong So-yeon’s unexpected words surprised me.
But she wasn’t finished.
“However, I would really like to work with you. Kyu-seong. It might be selfish, but I think I’d be very happy if you became part of our family.”
Hanul also sighed deeply and patted my shoulder.
“Yes… That’s right. She’s right. In the end, the decision is up to you, Kyu-seong. We didn’t expect things to turn out like this, but we all want what’s best for you. It’s not that we’re not disappointed, but…”
He paused, then flashed a smile.
“We might seem like we’re not holding you back, but honestly, I’d be willing to kneel and beg for you to stay with Ara Hongryeon . But I don’t want to put you in a difficult position. I think you’re someone who should play in a bigger pond.”
“Brother…”
Usually playful, Hanul now seemed quite mature.
With everyone’s eyes on me, I slowly gathered my thoughts and began to speak.
“I…”
Cliche Novel 