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“Oh, is that Jae-seong?”

Mother cheered as she came upstairs and saw Jae-seong.

She then greeted Junichi and Orié, who were standing next to him.

“Hello.”

“Ha-ha. Hello, ma’am. I am pleased to meet you. My name is Ino Junichi, the owner of the restaurant where Jae-seong worked.”

“Oh my, you speak Korean so well, I’m surprised! Nice to meet you. I’m Jae-seong’s mother, Kim Hyun-mi.”

Father also greeted them with a look of wonder, and with that, the introductions were finished.

Orié spoke in broken Korean, mentioning she was learning the language through Jae-seong.

“Are you two dating?”

When Seon-ah teased Jae-seong about it, he twisted his body in embarrassment.

Sensing something off, our family looked back and forth between Jae-seong and Orié with speculative eyes.

“Hehe.”

“Don’t laugh like that. Is it really true?”

When Seon-ah asked again seriously, the response came from beside her.

“I am currently dating Jae-seong.”

Orié explained with hand gestures.

Shocked, our family looked at Jae-seong’s bear-like figure and nodded.

“Haha. That’s great.”

“Please take good care of our Jae-seong.”

“It turns out you came to brag. Kyu-seong Oppa! Let’s brag a bit too!”

At Seon-ah’s words, I decided to introduce the new family member, Cheong.

Cheong, having stepped away from the limelight, was still hiding behind Ara.

When my parents finally noticed Cheong, their mouths fell open.

“Is this really your son this time?”

“Oh my! Oh my!”

At their reaction, I awkwardly introduced Cheong.

“This is Cheong, our new family member. Ara’s younger brother.”

“Hello, Cheong? How nicely you are named.”

Mother hurried over to Cheong and Ara and crouched in front of them. Then, Ara proudly proclaimed,

“She is Grand lord, a figure of respect.”

“Oooooh!”

At Ara’s words, Cheong, visibly nervous, stepped forward with tears in his eyes.

Mother quickly comforted Cheong.

“Poor baby, there’s no need to be scared.”

“Are you scared?”

“I’m not scared.”

Mother instantly understood Cheong’s way of speaking.

Indeed, she is impressive.

After hesitating for a while, Cheong cautiously approached Mother. Everyone watched in silence.

Finally, Cheong fell into Mother’s arms.

Mother, with familiar hands, embraced and stroked Cheong.

“Ah, how beautiful. You look just like Ara.”

“Am I like her?!”

“Our Ara is beautiful, and so is Cheong. Ah, how pretty.”

Soon, Ara also clung to Mother.

With each child occupying one side of her embrace, Father cautiously asked me,

“Is he not human?”

“Yes.”

“How fascinating.”

Father’s curiosity ended there, but he looked restless, as if he desperately wanted to touch.

“Father, come and greet them too.”

“Eh? No, I can do it later.”

Despite Father’s refusal, Mother, holding the children, approached.

Cheong, with trembling eyes, checked out the unfamiliar people.

“Cough. Hello, Cheong?”

When Father awkwardly greeted him, Cheong bowed in response.

“Hello.”

At that, Father froze.

Seeing this, I examined him, and his gaze was firmly on Cheong.

He must have taken a liking to him.

“Shall we go inside?”

“Yes!”

Junichi, happier than anyone else, led everyone into the dungeon.

Thinking about it, it seemed that aside from Seon-ah, the others hadn’t experienced winter before, so I was curious to see their reactions. First off, the Slime Dungeon. This place was now cleared up as the site for Jae-seong’s restaurant. Since he decided to fully return to Korea, we took another thorough look around.

“Should we start taking orders from tomorrow?”

“No, could we prepare a bit more first?”

“Of course, it’s your restaurant. Or should I say, your and another person’s restaurant?”

As I glanced at Orié while speaking, Jae-seong twisted his body in embarrassment. Seeing Jae-seong so happy made me feel at ease too. Who would have thought they’d end up dating like this? For a while, we discussed the restaurant’s structure and facilities with Jae-seong, Orié, and Junichi.

Meanwhile, Seon-ah, along with our parents, was thoroughly enjoying their time with Cheong and Ara, laughing together.

“Our discussion is done, shall we move on now?”

“Let’s go.”

We moved to the Dungeon of Gluttony. As soon as we entered, we were greeted by freshly fallen snow.

“Oh!”

“Snow?”

My parents looked around in surprise, and soon the Japanese group that followed were also captivated by the winter scenery.

“Snow…!”

“I’ve only heard about it, but it’s really fascinating.”

“Sugoi!”

The snowy scene in the dungeon was unique, feeling much like a Christmas village. If only decorations were added, it could truly capture the atmosphere perfectly. The dainty Slime Village was now covered in a layer of pristine white snow.

Soon, the fluffily hat-wearing slimes and Soo warmly welcomed us.

-Hehe.

-Quiing.

“Oh, oh.”

At this sight, my mother couldn’t stop smiling.

“Are the kids alright?”

“Um, maybe?”

More than that, I was worried about the fields where greenhouses hadn’t been installed. We had only managed to set up half before we left in the morning to meet guests, and it had already accumulated so much snow.

“The snow has piled up!”

“Snow is falling, lots and lots of it.”

Ara squirmed and climbed down from my mother’s arms, and seeing this, Cheong followed suit.

“The fields are cold!”

“Oh! You think like me, Ara!”

“We need to cover them with greenhouses quickly!”

Ara grabbed my hand and pulled.

Then Cheong also grabbed my other hand with a worried expression.

“Let’s go together.”

I managed to hold back my laughter as I led them to the fields, with everyone naturally following behind. First, we stopped by the storage where the greenhouses were kept to pick up some materials. At the same time, I left a request for Seon-ah and my parents.

“It seems like Gomgom is hibernating on the straw again. Could you check on him?”

“Sure. Mom will look after him.”

My parents went to check on Gomgom, and Seon-ah followed soon after with a camera in hand, eager to film a winter special.

“Wow! It’s gotten bigger!”

Junichi, seeing the field, marveled at its expansive size, which now seemed fitting to describe as vast. Orié and Jae-seong also stood by, their mouths agape in awe.

“It’s definitely grown since Junichi last saw it. You could see slimes busily moving around even now.”

‘It looks busy.’

Perhaps because of the snow, it appeared very busy. Now that I saw it, the slimes were busily clearing the snow that had fallen on the fields where greenhouses weren’t installed yet. Seemingly, the snow provided some insulation for the crops that were only seeded, but now, with most crops either grown or growing, it seemed they were clearing the snow.

“We are here now! It’s time to feel relieved!”

Ara, carrying materials for the greenhouses, ran ahead shouting. The slimes, actively clearing the snow, showed gestures similar to cheers and bounced around.

“Dad, I want to do it too.”

“Do you want to help, Cheong?”

“Yes!”

Cheong cheerfully responded, and I set out to install the greenhouses with him. Nowadays, the quality of materials is so good that one could mostly install greenhouses alone, and especially since most of the crop care was handled by slimes, not having tall structures wasn’t an issue.

Thus, the installation was quite simple and easy.

“Plant it in the ground like this, hammer it to fix it, then grab here and spread it out like this……………”

Watching me, the kids soon started to follow along.

Junichi, along with the rest, also joined in and helped the children with the installation of the greenhouses.

Under the heavily snowing sky, we were setting up the greenhouse. Ironically, it wasn’t cold at all.

“Wow, it’s really fascinating. How can it snow if it’s not even cold?”

“It is fascinating.”

Once the greenhouse was set up, we planned to have a quick lunch and then collect leaves from the World Tree.

These leaves are quite a delicacy.

I’ll have to make shaved ice with the snow.

‘And then sprinkle it with strawberry or Layla syrup, oh!’

While we were setting up the greenhouse, Junichi suddenly pointed at something.

“What tree is that?”

“Ah, that’s an apple tree.”

“Oh! Have you finally started planting fruit trees?”

“Yes. I plan to gradually increase them.”

“Ho, is it possible to grow grapevines too?”

“Is it possible? Of course.”

It was obvious.

He was eyeing wine.

There had been continuous attempts to make whiskey using Goso-Goso.

But unlike the sweet potatoes I had given them before, it seemed to take a bit more time with dungeon plants.

“Is Goso-Goso whiskey still far off?”

“Um, Goso-Goso takes a bit longer to ferment.

It takes longer than barley, wheat, or corn.”

“Fermentation….”

Wait a minute.

Fermentation?

My gaze automatically turned to Cheong.

Feeling my gaze, Cheong looked at me curiously and tilted his head.

“Hehe.”

Cheong smiled as if just being looked at was enjoyable. He was so adorable.

“So, would it be alright if I handle the fermentation here and send it over?”

“It’s alright, but the fermentation process is not that simple…”

“I’ll try it myself.”

Fermentation is ultimately a process that involves bacteria and microorganisms. Maybe with Cheong’s abilities, we could make fermentation faster and easier?

‘Wouldn’t that be a jackpot?’

Cheong’s abilities were quite versatile.

Not only helping plant growth but also aiding in fermentation, and even capable of healing and attacking.

No wonder he’s a named slime.

Of course, given Cheong’s gentle nature, attacking might be a bit too much…

‘But then, there’s no need to attack anyone in the first place.’

Thanks to everyone’s help, the greenhouse setup was quickly completed.

“Thank you all for your hard work!”

“Ha-ha! No, it was enjoyable to see the field firsthand, and the installation was easy, so it was fun.”

Junichi cheerfully made his remarks.

I responded with a subtle smile.

“Have you had a meal yet?”

“I saved my appetite for today!”

“Ha-ha. You’re very honest. Then let’s have an early lunch!”

My gaze then shifted to Jae-seong.

Now, it’s time for you to showcase your cooking skills, Jae-seong.

Noticing my gaze, Jae-seong rolled up his sleeves, filled with determination.

“I won’t disappoint you, hyung.”

“Let’s look forward to it, little brother.”

Then it was Ara who became excited.

“Wow! Is Jae-seong Jae-seong cooking?”

“Yes. I’ve been improving my cooking skills to make something delicious for our Ara.”

“I’m looking forward to it! Cheong should look forward to it too!”

“I’m looking forward to it!”

Cheong didn’t know what was going on but seemed expectant anyway.

With that, Jae-seong, now showered with expectations from the new family member, exclaimed.

“Let’s head to the kitchen!”

---

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The saying “winter is coming” turned out to be true.  

The day after negotiations with the U.S. ended, I woke up at dawn, feeling the chill in the air, and checked the window.  

“Oh!” It was snowing.  

I had been a bit disappointed by the lack of any warning signs of winter here, but when I stepped outside, I saw the leaves of the World Tree turning translucent in the distance.  

“I need to work quickly.”  

With the snow falling, it was time to set up the greenhouse.  

It seemed like it would take a while, but fortunately, it wasn’t too cold, so there was no rush.  

Along with the ever-awake slimes and Kkumuris, I set up the greenhouse in the field.  

From afar, I could hear the children’s laughter. “Hahaha!”  

“It’s snowing!”  

When I checked the time, it was already morning.  

Half of the greenhouse work was already done.  

We decided to finish the rest later and start with breakfast.  

“Today, let’s have bread and pasta.”  

Tomato sauce, pasta, and bread dough.  

I quickly started with the bread, kneading and proofing the dough.  

Soon after, I crushed the tomatoes to make a fresh tomato sauce.  

At that moment, the children, who had been running around in the snow, approached me.  

“Kyu-seong Kyu-seong !” 

“Daddy!”  

Turning around, I saw the children holding a tiny snowman.  

I smiled and pinched off some dough to make eyes for the snowman.  

“It has eyes now!”  

Cheong looked at the snowman with sparkling eyes, while Ara was already checking what I was making.  

“We’re having bread and pasta.” 

“Bread! Pasta! Delicious!” 

“It’s going to be tasty!”  

Ah, now that I think about it, winter means Gomgom goes into hibernation.  

No wonder he was nowhere to be seen.  

I asked the children to find out where Gomgom was sleeping.  

“We need to find Gomgom! It’s like hide and seek!” 

“It’s going to be fun! Find brother Soo too!”  

I placed the snowman on the kitchen table and the children ran off again, leaving cute footprints in the snow.  

While they searched for Gomgom, I started preparing the pasta.  

In a large pot, I boiled the dried pasta I had made earlier and waited a bit.  

Soon, the noodles began to cook.  

Using a large spatula, I stirred the soft noodles and then scooped them out with a slotted spoon.  

“Mmm!” 

The cooked noodles emitted a delicious aroma.  

It was definitely homemade.  

After repeating the process a few times, even the slimes and Kkumuris had gathered, attracted by the smell.  

I asked the children to crush more tomatoes as the sauce I had made earlier seemed insufficient.  

“Kyu-seong Kyu-seong ! Found it!”

 “He’s sleeping on the straw! And I brought brother Soo too!”  

Cheong was pulling Soo’s hand along.  

Soo, half-asleep, walked and then noticed the snow, looking bewildered.  

“Well done. Shall we cook together now?”  

“Yes!” 

“Sounds good!”  

I asked the children to sprinkle salt and pepper on the crushed tomatoes.  

Ara, having helped a few times before, skillfully grabbed the salt and pepper.  

“Pepper pepper pepper.” Ara made sound effects while sprinkling the pepper, which Cheong soon began to mimic.  

“Pepper pepper.”  

“That’s the salt.” 

“Salt salt salt.”  

I seasoned the tomato sauce lightly with pepper and salt, then poured it over the cooked pasta.  

And just like that, the tomato pasta was ready.  

The heat from the noodles brought out the fragrant aroma of the fresh tomato sauce.  

“That’s a lot!” 

“I made a lot, so everyone eat up.”  

Pasta was one of the dishes that was easy to make in large quantities.  

Thanks to that, our big eaters could enjoy a hearty meal, and I checked the bread dough.  

“Good.” 

It was fermenting well.  

In about 10 to 20 minutes, it would be ready to bake.  

Ara and Cheong came up to me after I had stoked the fire in the oven, offering pasta.  

“We eat together.” 

“Dad, have some too.”  

I nibbled on the pasta the children handed me.  

The first taste was a strong burst of tomato!  

The fresh tomatoes delivered a shocking flavor and aroma, more intense than any spice.  

Despite being my own creation, it was incredibly delicious.  

Soon after, the rich, nutty taste enveloped the initial tanginess, a must-not-miss nutty aroma.  

The pasta, made in large batches quite casually, was tastier than any pasta I’d had at restaurants.  

“It’s snowing.”  

“Seon-ah Seon-ah! Are you awake?”  

Seon-ah, who had woken up late, naturally came over and began devouring the pasta.  

Then her eyes sparkled with delight.  

“So delicious.”  

“Delicious indeed!”  

Thus, we spent some time just eating pasta.  

It was a snowy morning in the dungeon, filled with the sound of slurping noodles.  

“Seon-ah, is this your first winter?”  

“I saw it last time.”  

“Eh? Really?”  

My memory was a bit fuzzy.  

Anyway, after devouring the pasta, I checked the dough again.  

It had risen perfectly.  

I called the children over to feel the dough.  

“Do it like this, like this, like this.”  

The skilled demonstration by the instructor was followed by Cheong, clumsily fiddling around adorably with the dough.  

While Seon-ah was capturing this scene, I checked the oven’s temperature and grabbed the remaining tomato sauce.  

“Let’s make a simple pizza bread with just some tomato sauce on it.”  

“Okay!”  

Ara began to spread the dough widely at my command, with Cheong and Soo diligently following suit.  

Soo, who had no fingers, was so eager that he got dough all over his face.  

Cute.  

“Now, shall we spread the sauce?”  

“Ooh!”  

Ara, welcoming the task with open arms, started to generously apply the sauce on the spread dough.  

Compared to her, the other two were still wrestling with their dough.  

Thanks to that, Ara’s dough went into the oven first.  

About 30 seconds.  

That was enough to cook it thoroughly.  

“There’s plenty of dough, so make as much as you want.”  

“Yes!”  

Ara joyfully ate the freshly baked warm bread.  

Seeing this, Cheong and Soo hurriedly spread their dough.  

“Kkumuris, you guys make some too.”  

With so many mouths to feed, it was hard to make just one at a time.  

Eventually, with the help of the Kkumuris, spreading and baking the dough continued.  

Gooey!  

“Yes, yes. Eat a lot.”  

The slimes showed their gratitude with gestures as they enjoyed the bread.  

Despite having eaten all that pasta, they could still eat more; indeed, they were impressive.  

“Wow, brother. I can’t eat anymore.”  

“Just hang in there! We’re almost done!”  

Seon-ah, having tried to make bread, eventually threw in the towel.  

Indeed, it was at times like these that the absence of a chef was painfully felt.  

‘I need to cure Kyler’s daughter quickly and meet the Seven Sins.’  

Ashura, was it?  

Since she likes cooking, perhaps showing her the ingredients here and tempting her might lure her over.  

Of course, being one of the Seven Sins, there was a bit of worry, but having already dealt with Ara, Mammon, and even Ras, I had nothing to fear.  

“Brother, you said about bringing our parents today, right?”  

“Yes. Can you bring them along?”  

“Got it. When should I go?”  

“Shouldn’t they be awake by now? Want to head out?”  

“Yes.”  

Seon-ah, strongly intent on not making any more bread, headed outside the dungeon.  

I calculated the time roughly and decided to go meet them while finishing baking the bread.  

“Isn’t Kyu-seon Kyu-seong eating?”  

Ara, excited that the Grand lord was coming, brought the bread she was eating to my mouth.  

Having already filled up on pasta, I was somewhat full but took a bite of the cozily baked bread.  

How could I resist such a delicious smell?  

And the bread that entered my mouth did not disappoint my expectations; it was fluffy and tender in taste.  

The well-kneaded and risen bread perfected the word ‘cozy’ as it met the high heat of the oven.  

The lightly applied tomato sauce, too, transformed in the oven’s heat, emphasizing a smooth sweetness, unlike the fresh tanginess experienced with the pasta.  

It was the epitome of cozy, sweet bread.  

“Indeed, freshly baked bread is the truth.”  

Despite being my own creation, it was incredibly delicious.  

This bread alone, if sold as a single product, could cause a huge crowd.  

After a grand breakfast, the children and I went outside.  

It was about time for my parents to arrive.  

“gulp.”  

I couldn’t help but laugh at Cheong’s visibly nervous appearance.  

Unlike me, Ara carefully soothed and encouraged him.  

“It’s okay. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”  

“Are you scared?”  

“Yes! Cheong is strong and brave. There’s nothing to be afraid of!”  

“Sister will protect you.”  

Cheong clung tightly to Ara’s arm.  

And finally, we stepped outside the dungeon.  

As we came out, the well-maintained grounds in front of the dungeon were noticeable.  

Seon-ah and my parents hadn’t arrived yet, only an empty space was there.  

Cheong, who was outside for the first time, looked around nervously, his small hands gripping Ara’s arm pitifully.  

“They’re coming!”  

Ara exclaimed, sensing their arrival.  

As we waited, seeing figures in the distance.  

“Huh?”  

But something was off.  

The figures didn’t quite match Seon-ah and our parents’…  

“It’s Jae-seong Jae-seong! Junichi is here too!”  

“Jae-seong?!”  

Why was Jae-seong here?  

Was he visiting again?  

It seemed Junichi and Chef Orie were with him too.  

The three of them walked side by side, then spotted us and looked surprised.  

“Brother!”  

“Jae-seong, what’s this about coming without a call?”  

“I’m back in Korea. For good.”  

“What?”  

I was startled and looked at Junichi.  

Then Junichi greeted and explained.  

“Ha ha! It’s been a while, Kyu-seong! Jae-seong has now completely graduated from our restaurant.”  

“Ah, hello. Graduated? Oh, you mean…”  

“He’s back in Korea for good.”  

It felt like it hadn’t even been a year yet?  

Of course, I had urged him to come back, but this was faster than expected.  

And we hadn’t even started the restaurant construction…  

While greeting Orie, Jae-seong asked, “But brother, when did you have another kid?”  

“Ah, that’s Cheong.”  

Cheong, meeting new people for the first time, was visibly tense and hid behind Ara, who puffed himself up protectively in front of him.  

“This is my brother!”  

“Ara’s brother?! A real brother?”  

As Jae-seong asked with wide eyes, Ara nodded.  

How do I explain this?  

While I pondered, Cheong asked me, “Daddy, who are they?”  

“Ah, that’s my brother Jae-seong.”  

“Daddy’s brother?”  

Jae-seong murmured with wide eyes in surprise.  

“Daddy…?”  

“Ara is my daughter and Cheong is my son too. Hmm.”  

I brazenly nodded as I spoke, and then Jae-seong, coming to his senses, whispered in my ear.  

“A slime?”  

“Right.”  

“Wow…”  

Jae-seong, still unable to believe that Cheong was a slime, marveled again.  

He awkwardly scratched his head and bowed in front of Cheong.  

“Hello? I’m Lee Jae-seong, Kyu-seong’s brother.”  

“Hellooo…”  

Cheong timidly greeted back.  

And just then.  

“Ara! Grandma’s here!”  

Our parents were also coming up. 

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After finishing his conversation with Kyu-seong, Kyler met Nathan before leaving Korea and said,  

“I’ve decided to show my daughter to Mr. Kyu-seong.”  

“What? Are you out of your mind?”  

Nathan exclaimed in shock. Thankfully, they were in a private hotel room, so his voice wouldn’t leak out.  

“What if you get caught by those other guys?”  

“I’ll handle them. My daughter’s treatment comes first.”  

“You…!”  

Nathan furrowed his brow, let his words trail off, and let out a heavy sigh.  

“Fine. If you’ve already made up your mind, there’s no stopping you. But can Kyu-seong even treat her?”  

“I’ll find out.”  

“You’ve exposed your daughter to something uncertain? Rushing into this out of desperation, huh? Even the great Kyler Lucas can make mistakes.”  

“Do I seem desperate and careless to you?” Kyler said in a calm, low tone.  

Nathan tilted his head in confusion and asked, “Did you find out something? The Korean government has guarded information about Kyu-seong so tightly that even our intelligence agency couldn’t crack it.”  

“Instinct.”  

“…What?”  

“Instinct. Gut feeling.”  

Nathan froze at Kyler’s audacious answer, then grabbed him by the collar.  

“Hey, you lunatic! You’re gambling your daughter’s life on a gut feeling? I knew you were insane, but this takes the cake!”  

“Nathan, after all these years, do you still not trust my instincts?”  

“I trust your instincts, sure! But that’s when you’re the only one at risk. This time, your daughter’s involved!”  

“Calm down, Nathan.”  

And then Nathan blurted something shocking.  

“Emily isn’t just your daughter; she’s my niece! You’re gambling with my niece’s life? How can you expect me to stay calm?”  

“……”

“I never blamed you when my sister died. But if anything happens to my niece, then…”  

Nathan’s trembling hands released Kyler’s collar. Yet Kyler remained composed and said,  

“Are you aware that Mr. Kyu-seong has treated multiple cases previously deemed incurable?”  

“Of course I know. Even now, his antidote is being sent to the remaining addicts worldwide. It’s distributed through the guild, isn’t it?”  

Kyu-seong was still actively producing antidotes. Although on a smaller scale than before, these antidotes, made available through Ara Hongryeon, were helping awakened individuals suffering from addiction worldwide. Recently, the antidote had been enhanced via Mammon’s methods, allowing full recovery after just one or two doses.  

Thanks to this, most addicts had been cured.  

“But Emily’s illness isn’t something that simple.”  

“Even Ryu Cheon, the youngest level 8 awakener from the Chinese Skyscraper Guild, showed improvement in his condition.”  

“That’s…”  

“Regardless, Mr. Kyu-seong has proven he can solve cases that modern medicine can’t. If there’s even a glimmer of hope, I have to take Emily to him. Time is running out.”  

Kyler’s words left Nathan silent.  

Though revealing their identities posed a risk, Kyler wasn’t entirely wrong.  

“Nathan, when Mr. Kyu-seong comes to the U.S., I want you to assist him well.”  

“Fine. Emily is my niece, after all. I can make sure things work out without drawing attention. If anyone asks, I’ll just say she’s here for treatment.”  

“Thank you, Nathan.”  

As if the conversation had ended, Kyler stood up. Nathan, wearing a complicated expression, saw him off.  

“Back to the dungeon?”  

“Like you said, there’s no guarantee Mr. Kyu-seong can treat her, so I have to continue what I’ve been doing.”  

“Take care, and let me know when Kyu-seong arrives in the U.S.”  

After Kyler left, Nathan pulled out a pocket watch from his coat. It was a gift from his now-deceased sister. Inside was an old photograph.  

The picture showed a young Nathan, Kyler, and Catherine—Nathan’s sister and Kyler’s lover.  

Flipping to the next photo revealed another image.  

It was of a young girl who looked just like Catherine as a child.  

His niece, Emily.  

“I will save you, no matter what.”  

Nathan’s quiet vow resonated softly in the air.  

After leaving, he stopped by the guild to take care of various minor tasks before heading home. 

***

This time, Cheong, who had grown a bit more accustomed to our absence, greeted us without crying.  

“Sis is here! Dad is here!”  

Though he wasn’t crying, his eyes were brimming with tears as he ran toward us. Ara lifted him up high with a cheerful grin.  

“I’m the one who’s back!”  

“Wowwww!”  

After twirling him around playfully, Ara turned to me with a grin and demanded, “Time for snacks!”  

“Alright, alright.”  

I emptied out the snacks I’d brought through Bokkeum, drawing the attention of all the children nearby.  

Even though I thought I’d been treating them to snacks quite often, a slight pang of guilt tugged at me as I saw their eager faces.  

Leaving the children and the snacks under Seon-ah’s care, I turned my attention to the seeds of plants I had received this time.  

“Ohhh.”  

Honestly, even looking at their scientific names didn’t help much. While there were translations into Korean, they didn’t make things any clearer.  

“Popo tree? Oh, a cousin of papaya? Nice.”  

At least I could guess something like that, but the others were completely unfamiliar.  

The seeds were provided in abundance—thousands of seeds per type, it seemed. Planting them all would be impossible, so I figured I’d start by doing some calculations.  

“Since we have some spare hands, how about planting each type across 1,000 pyeong (approximately 3,300 square meters)?”  

With ten types of seeds, that made a total of 10,000 pyeong.  

Although 10,000 pyeong wasn’t a massive area for farming, I decided to expand gradually.  

To designate specific plots for these seeds, I sought input from the slimes who happened to be visiting.  

One of the newly born slimes promptly started guiding me to a location.  

Squelch!  

“Oh, here?”  

The spot the slime brought me to was entirely new land.  

While the existing fields were located north of the slime village, this place was far to the south.  

There was more than enough land to work with.  

“Let’s roughly mark out the boundaries.”  

After making so many fields, I had gotten pretty good at estimating land sizes.  

As I was outlining ten fields of 1,000 pyeong each, Seon-ah and the children came to visit, each carrying one or two bags of snacks.  

Their appearance was utterly adorable.  

“Making another field? Didn’t you just make an apple orchard earlier today?”  

“There are new seeds to plant this time.”  

“What seeds? I want peaches!”  

“Ha ha ha, peaches will have to wait for next time.”  

I didn’t even know what most of these seeds would yield.  

Five of them were dungeon plants, said to be edible, but their exact nature remained a mystery.  

Thanks to meeting Kyler earlier than expected, I had some extra time today.  

While the kids watched and snacked, I grabbed a hoe and began tilling the soil.  

“Let’s cheer for Kyu-seong Kyu-seong! Fighting!”  

“Wow, amazing big bro Kyu-seong!”  

The children’s cheers, muffled by their snack-filled mouths, gave me an extra boost of energy.  

I worked harder, encouraged by their support.  

“Hey, oppa!”  

“Yeah?”  

Seon-ah called out to me as I was in the middle of tilling.  

Curious, I paused to listen to her unexpected news.  

“Winter is coming soon!”  

“Winter? Oh! Winter!”  

It had already come to that time!  

The cycle of seasons in the Dungeon of Gluttony was short.  

Unlike Earth, where winter came once a year, here it arrived roughly once every quarter.  

Looking at the timeline now, it seemed I should have been preparing for winter instead of creating a new field.  

“Thanks for letting me know. This could’ve been a big problem.”  

“Why? What’s the big deal? Is winter going to be rough?”  

Come to think of it, had Seon-ah never experienced winter here?  

Winters here weren’t harsh; it was just a light dusting of snow—not the bone-chilling cold of a Korean winter.  

“We need to prepare the leaf house.”  

“Leaf house?”  

“Yes. But since it’s still far from the season when leaves fall, I’ll just set up a greenhouse instead.”  

Thankfully, I’d already prepared greenhouses.  

After the last winter experience, I made sure to stock up on supplies in advance.  

“I’ll plant everything once winter is over.”  

“So, what are you going to plant? Aren’t you going to tell me?”  

“It’s written on the box. I don’t know much either—it’s a request.”  

At that, Seon-ah went to check the box.  

The children, full of curiosity, gathered around her to take a look, chattering amongst themselves.  

Ara, Cheong, Gomgom, Soo, and even the Kkumuris all joined in.  

Their round little backs were so adorable, they looked like a group of plush toys.  

“I don’t understand a single thing.”  

“Exactly my point.”  

As much as there were plenty of seeds, I couldn’t risk testing the requested varieties during winter.  

Besides, winters here, as far as I knew, were extremely short—one or two weeks, tops.  

I couldn’t quite recall, but it wasn’t long.  

“Oh, by the way, I might be going to the U.S. soon.”  

“The U.S.? Why all of a sudden?”  

Seon-ah exclaimed in surprise, and I shrugged.  

“Someone asked for a favor.”  

“Why do you take on so many favors? Are you a pushover?”  

“It always comes back to me in some way. It’s all about giving and living generously.”  

It wasn’t as if I was helping for free.  

If I could help Kyler’s daughter, securing the Seven Deadly Sins as my familiars would become significantly easier.  

“Hmm…”  

“I’ll take Cheong with me to the U.S. And before we go, let’s spend some time with Mom and Dad.”  

“Alright. I’ll bring them over.”  

To be honest, this sudden U.S. trip caught me off guard too.  

I wasn’t particularly worried, but what weighed on my mind was Cheong.  

He hadn’t even been on an outing yet, and now he’d experience international travel—it might be overwhelming.  

Before that, I should take him to visit my parents and let him greet them.  

‘Might as well take Mammon and Ras with me too.’  

Since we’d be flying on a private jet, there was no need to worry about prying eyes.  

Kyler had assured me that treating his daughter would be done discreetly, so there was little chance of drawing attention.  

Ara and Cheong were reliable enough, but with Mammon and Ras along, there’d truly be nothing to worry about.  

‘I’ll take them with me!’  

That meant I’d need to get familiar certification for my familiars.  

If I entrusted the process to Director Jeon Young-joo, it would likely be handled quickly and without exposing my identity.  

***

“Thank you for everything.”  

Roughly a year had passed.  

Jae-seong, who had become an incredibly skilled individual during this time, bowed deeply to Junichi as a sign of gratitude.  

Junichi, feeling a pang of sadness at Jae-seong’s departure, sighed and nodded.  

“Please, rise. If anything, I should be the one thanking you. You’ve brought much joy to my palate.”  

“……”

“I would’ve liked you not to take Chef Orie along with you as well, but I can’t stop her if she decides to go.”  

“It’s been an honor. Thank you.”  

“In return, please make sure to invite me to the wedding.”  

“Oh, I… I’m not sure if we’ll…”  

Jae-seong’s face turned red as he stammered, while Orie, standing beside him, covered her mouth to hide her laughter.  

Over the past year, the two had grown close and eventually became a couple.  

Now, with Jae-seong deciding to open a restaurant in Korea, Orie had agreed to join him.  

“On one condition.”  

“A condition?”  

“When you open the restaurant, I must be your first customer. No exceptions!”  

“Understood. I will make sure to have you as my very first guest.”  

“Ah, such a shame. Have you told Mr. Kyu-seong yet?”  

“No, I haven’t. I plan to surprise him.”  

“He’s going to be quite shocked. Very well.”  

Junichi stood up, a smile on his face, and then turned to his assistant.  

“Prepare the plane. I’ll be going to Korea with them.”  

“Mr. Junichi, your remaining schedule for today…”  

“Apologies, but push it to a later date. With Jae-seong and Chef Orie leaving, I can’t just stay here.”  

“You don’t just want an excuse to visit Mr. Kyu-seong’s dungeon, do you?”  

“Ahem!”  

Caught off guard by the remark, Junichi awkwardly looked away.  

Everyone chuckled at his reaction as they began preparing for departure.  

“I’m looking forward to seeing Mr. Kyu-seong’s surprised face.”  

“Me too.”  

“And even more so, going there with Chef Orie.”  

“Aha… ha ha.”  

Jae-seong laughed awkwardly, but the anticipation was clear.  

Finally, he was returning to Korea. 

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Wriggle, wriggle.

After Kyu-seong and Ara left, the slimes took an interest in the newly grown apple tree.

Unlike the vegetation they had encountered so far, this plant seemed different.

The slimes all gathered around it, their heads huddled together as if in deep contemplation.

Gomgom, Soo, and Cheong soon joined in, pondering together.

“Gruu.”

“Kyuuing.”

Gomgom and Soo offered their thoughts first.

However, the slimes shook their heads, looking for another opinion.

“It’s going to grow well! Have confidence!”

Cheong stretched out both arms enthusiastically.

Inspired by Cheong, Gomgom and Soo also stretched their arms wide.

“Gruuu!”

“Kyuuing!”

Their opinions aligned.

Having reached a consensus, the slimes clung to the apple tree, inspecting it from all angles.

Diligent and meticulous, the group examined every inch of the tree.

From a distance, Seon-ah was quietly snapping photos.

She muttered to herself, imagining the apples she’d harvest someday.

“When will the other fruits be ready?”

And right at that moment, seeds of various plants, expedited from the U.S., arrived in Korea.

***

“Here’s the list.”

The process seemed almost too easy as the list of items was handed over casually.

I glanced at the guild master and the branch director, gauging their reactions.

Their reassuring expressions told me not to worry.

“Hmm…”

I examined the tablet.

Having done something similar before, I took my time going through it.

As expected of the U.S., the list was filled with items I’d never seen or heard of.

“Wow.”

The item list was distributed to everyone present, including Ara.

Ara seemed more captivated by the pictures than the descriptions, repeatedly exclaiming in awe.

“This is terrifying!”

Turning my head slightly, I saw what Ara was looking at—a truly menacing serrated greatsword, labeled as a unique-grade item.

I caught a glimpse of Director Jeon Yeong-joo eyeing it hungrily.

It seemed like Ara had stumbled upon something particularly rare.

But such a weapon was of no use to me.

For a moment, I imagined Ara wielding that serrated greatsword, swinging it around…

“Hmm.”

The thought was too gruesome.

Rejected.

I even considered using the greatsword to chop firewood, but it felt far too extravagant for such a mundane task.

“You can filter the list by category, so take your time,” Nathan suggested.

I adjusted the tablet’s settings to browse items by category.

This made the process significantly more manageable.

Excluding combat items, I focused on utility, support, and healing items.

A few caught my attention, including some that could aid in farming.

‘An item that controls soil? That’s impressive.’

There were items for teleportation, tools that could locate water sources with mana stones, and even one that pulverized waste into nothingness.

But among all these, my eyes were drawn to a single item.

[Mysterious Work Boots (Common-Growth Type)]

Another item from the “Mysterious” series was here.

While there was no practical reason to choose it, I couldn’t help but be intrigued.

[Mysterious Work Boots (Common-Growth Type)]

[Shoes once worn by an unknown individual]

[Enhances crop growth]

[Reduces stamina consumption]

[Eliminates stamina consumption when walking on farmland]

[Slightly enriches the soil you step on]

From a general perspective, it didn’t seem like a great item.

No one would likely consider using it.

But for me, this held more value than items that could summon lightning or breathe fire.

‘Still, it feels a bit underwhelming!’

With so many outstanding items available, picking a mere common-grade item felt like a waste.

The list had items ranging up to the highest grade, unique.

The grades were: Common, Advanced, Rare, Unique, and Legendary.

Choosing a common-grade item when there were unique-grade options felt like a loss.

“Hmm…”

“Kyu-seong Kyu-seong! It’s a hat!”

At that moment, Ara showed me a picture.

It was, as she said, a hat resembling a medieval helmet.

Considering Ara’s passion for collecting hats, it was no surprise that the helmet piqued her interest.

It was a unique-grade item—rare enough on its own, but it was also a growth-type, making it exceptionally valuable.

“Let’s see… oh? A unique growth-type item?”

Unique items were rare, but adding a growth feature made it even more extraordinary.

Checking the helmet’s abilities, I found them to be impressive.

[Greedy Gladiator’s Soul (Unique-Growth)]

[A gladiator on the brink of becoming a legend succumbed to greed, meeting a tragic end. That greed lingers to this day]

[Excellent defensive capabilities]

[Reduces magical and elemental damage by 10%]

[Consumes gold to temporarily achieve invincibility]

The helmet grows with every use of gold.

It wasn’t bad at all.

Especially the ability to gain temporary invincibility by consuming gold—that sounded borderline overpowered.

However, the additional comment below gave me pause:

“Comment: Consumes 1kg of gold for 0.001 seconds of invincibility. Up to 100kg of gold was consumed, but no signs of growth were observed.”

Even the U.S. Department of Defense had left a review.

How much is 100kg of gold worth?

I didn’t know the exact price, but it had to be a fortune.

It felt a bit awkward to add such an extravagant item to Ara’s hat collection…

“You can take your time deciding. Even if it takes a year, it’s fine,” Nathan said with a sly grin.

Since there was no rush, I decided to take a relaxed approach to choosing an item.

“By the way, I just received news that seeds from the homeland have arrived via express delivery. How about we start with those?”

“Sounds great!”

The item list had over 3,000 entries.

Reading each description was daunting, so I decided to postpone making a choice.

Soon, the seeds Nathan mentioned were delivered to our location.

I was already excited, having heard about them in advance.

“Wow! Seeds!”

Boxes filled with various plant seeds arrived, each labeled with their name, quantity, characteristics, and source.

Half were Earth plants, and the other half were dungeon plants, all of which were rare.

“As you can see, these are all edible plants. If you ever have the opportunity, could I also request non-edible plants in the future?”

“Of course!”

There were 10 different types of seeds, all edible.

I couldn’t wait to experiment with them.

After receiving the seeds, we parted ways.  

We agreed to discuss the item selection later, and Nathan mentioned he’d be returning to the U.S. that night.  

‘Now it’s time to meet Kyler.’  

After deciding to consult the branch director and guild master further regarding the items, I spent a little time shopping with Ara.  

We stocked up on food and snacks we couldn’t make in the dungeon.  

With a little time left before our next appointment, we decided to contact the Dasom Orphanage.  

The director warmly welcomed us, saying we were always free to visit.  

“It’s been a while!”  

“Yeah, it really has.”  

We hadn’t been able to visit often due to the series of recent events.  

After the last event we held there, we barely managed to visit once a month.  

Ara happily reunited with her friends, sharing the snacks we’d brought and laughing joyfully.  

Watching her, my heart felt warm.  

“You’ve been busy, haven’t you?”  

“Sigh, I should have visited more often, but…”  

“It’s okay! We’ve already heard from So-yeon. She told us you’ve been extremely busy, not just saying it to be polite.”  

Apparently, Jeong So-yeon occasionally updated them on my activities.  

And just as the saying goes, “Speak of the tiger and it will appear,” So-yeon arrived on her motorbike while I was chatting with the orphanage staff.  

“Isn’t this the rare appearance of Mr. Kyu-seong?”  

“Haha, I saw you just a few days ago. Anyone hearing this would misunderstand.”  

“Hmm, I heard you visited Team 2 Leader’s house recently. Did you eat something delicious without us again?”  

So-yeon playfully teased, her sharp eyes scrutinizing me.  

I couldn’t help but laugh and raise my hands in surrender.  

“What would you like to eat?”  

“I wasn’t hinting at anything… but sweet potato Candy, please!”  

She grinned mischievously, and I couldn’t help but chuckle as I pulled out some sweet potatoes.  

Borrowing the orphanage kitchen, we made a generous batch of sweet potato Candy, enough for everyone, including the kids.  

The delicious smell attracted the children, who gathered around curiously.  

“Candy!”  

“Ara, your dad’s making Candy!”  

Ara’s eyes sparkled as she ran over.  

“Candy!”  

“That’s right! Candy!”  

Seeing the bright and cheerful children lifted my spirits.  

At the same time, I couldn’t help but admire the orphanage staff for raising the children so well.  

‘Well, So-yeon grew up here too.’  

As I finished making the sweet potato Candy and began distributing it, one of the staff members approached me.  

“Mr. Kyu-seong, you have a visitor.”  

“A visitor? Here?”  

I was momentarily flustered.  

Why would someone come here to see me?  

It wasn’t even my house.  

I handed off the Candy distribution to someone else and stepped outside.  

There, I saw someone unfamiliar.  

In front of them stood Ara, clutching sweet potato Candy in both hands, facing off confidently.  

“Candy! Try it!” Ara declared.  

“Um… who might you be?” I asked cautiously.  

“It’s them, Kyu-seong Kyu-seong!” Ara exclaimed.  

Them? Could it be…  

“Ky—” I almost blurted out the name but stopped myself just in time.  

Right then, So-yeon appeared behind me.  

“Kyu-seong, is this your guest? I thought it was someone from the guild, so I came out to check, but I guess not.”  

So-yeon gave a polite but slightly awkward bow, then subtly glanced at the person I assumed was Kyler.  

The man, presumably Kyler, returned the bow before accepting the Candy Ara offered him.  

“This looks delicious!”  

“Is this…?” Kyler took a bite of the Candy with a curious expression.  

His shoulders flinched as the taste registered, and he chewed thoughtfully, even closing his eyes to savor it.  

“Hmm…”  

The way he relished the food made it clear—this had to be Kyler.  

But why had he come here instead of our agreed meeting spot?  

“What do you think? What do you think?” Ara eagerly asked.  

Without opening his eyes, Kyler smiled and gave a thumbs-up.  

“It’s delicious! As expected, Kyu-seong Kyu-seong’s cooking is amazing!”  

Ara grinned and popped some Candy into her mouth.  

After finishing the Candy, Kyler suddenly bowed deeply.  

“Apologies for showing up unannounced. I had an urgent matter that requires me to leave soon, so I came here first.”  

“Ah, I see.”  

Considering he was a Level 9 Awakened, it made sense. His schedule was likely unpredictable.  

Before I realized it, So-yeon had slipped away, leaving only me, Ara, and Kyler.  

Confirming we were alone, Kyler spoke in a low voice.  

“I’ve been observing you over the past few days, Mr. Kyu-seong. I also saw your application for an out-of-standard grade rating.”  

“Hm.”  

“With your abilities, I’m certain you’ll pass. The Union may be strict, but they’re thorough and fair in these matters.”  

“Uh… thank you.” I nodded awkwardly.  

Kyler straightened his posture.  

“Mr. Kyu-seong, I’ll get straight to the point.”  

“Go ahead.”  

“Could you help me?”  

His sudden request left me momentarily speechless.  

Sensing my hesitation, Kyler elaborated.  

“I have a sick daughter. I’ve been searching far and wide for a cure. Recently, I discovered that the key to her treatment lies in a dungeon tied to the Seven Deadly Sins.”  

“Seven Deadly Sins!”  

So that’s why Nathan said Kyler knew a lot about the Seven Deadly Sins.  

“The dungeon is actually in the United States. It’s the Dungeon of Lust. The U.S. government has hidden its location, but I eventually found it.”  

“Are you planning to raid the dungeon?”  

“If it’s for my daughter’s treatment… absolutely.”  

I didn’t know that the wanderer Kyler had a sick daughter. I thought he was just wandering aimlessly, but it turns out there was a reason.  

“For that, we desperately need Mr. Kyu-seong’s power. I will give you whatever you want in return. Everything that comes out of the dungeon will go to Mr. Kyu-seong. I only wish for my daughter’s treatment.”  

“Hmm.” A treatment for his daughter… there’s a clue in the dungeon?  

“I can help, but could I possibly check on your daughter in person before we raid the dungeon?”  

“That might be difficult. There are many targeting me, so I’ve kept my existence hidden from her as well.”  

An unexpected response, but it made sense. However, I explained again,  

“Kyler, if you’ve investigated me for a few days, you would have heard about the people I’ve treated.”  

“My daughter is a special case. I know Mr. Kyu-seong’s abilities are great, but…”  

“You never know. Realistically, raiding the dungeon of the Seven Deadly Sins is almost impossible alone, even for Kyler, a level 9 awakener, right?”  

“…… You’re right. However…….”  

As the atmosphere suddenly grew serious, Ara, who had been eagerly eating sweets, looked around at Kyler and me. Then she suddenly exclaimed,  

“Does he have a sick daughter! Kyu-seong Kyu-seong will solve it!”  

“Huh?”  

“My brother Cheong can solve it too! We will cure his daughter!”  

“Cheong?”  

Ara was right. My confident request to see his daughter was also influenced by Cheong’s presence. If my crops couldn’t heal her, maybe Cheong’s abilities could. If that’s still too hard, then we could move on to raiding the Seven Deadly Sins.  

“Phew.”  

Kyler’s deeply troubled expression was visible. After a moment of thought, he seemed to have made up his mind.  

“I still can’t trust Mr. Kyu-seong.”  

“I see.” It was regrettable, but understandable. If he even hides his identity from his daughter, there’s nothing more to say. If his daughter were to be taken hostage, it would be fatal for Kyler.  

“But let me tell you this.”  

“Yes?”  

“Just give me a little time, and I will tell you. Of course, I realize that even making such a request from my position is preposterous.”  

Kyler, having chosen his words carefully, spoke with a resolved look in his eyes.  

“If you save my daughter, I will do anything for Mr. Kyu-seong. I beg you.”  

Kyler’s words suddenly unfolded. It was like he was throwing a gambit. Almost like a blank check, but I also said,  

“The risk you’ve taken to come here already shows me Kyler’s sincerity. If you decide, entrust your daughter to me.”  

Then I too must be completely sincere.  

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Floating slimes bobbed up and down.

Some of them, despite having no eyes, were wearing goggles.

“Who would have thought our bath times would overlap like this? It must be fate, Great Lord!”  

Frey exclaimed excitedly.

Around her, tiny fairies gathered in a flurry.

-(‘ & ©`)  

-(^^)

Cheong, who had only seen Frey so far, shrank back at the sight of the noisy fairies.  

He quickly hid behind Ara, peeking out cautiously.  

“Hello, everyone. You’ve come to bathe too, huh?”  

“Cheong is here too! Hello, Cheong!”  

“H-Hello….”  

Cheong greeted them shyly, his timid demeanor evident.  

Ara patted him gently.  

“Cheong is just feeling a little shy.”  

“Too cute!”  

Frey fluttered over and perched on Cheong’s head, making his eyes widen in surprise.  

“Wow, Sister Frey is on my head!”  

Cheong seemed slightly more at ease now.  

In the meantime, Seon-ah and I quickly washed up.  

“Shall we head in now?”  

“Ooh! Sounds good!”  

By then, Kkumuris and the slimes were already enjoying the hot springs.  

The fairies showed interest in Cheong, who they were meeting for the first time, but seemed to respect his shyness and didn’t approach him.  

“Big brother, there are so many sisters.”  

Cheong watched the others entering the spring, unsure of what to do, and turned to Ara and me for guidance.  

“Ara, how about you show Cheong how it’s done?”  

“Sure!”  

Ara carefully studied Cheong, then stepped into the water slowly, as if to demonstrate.  

While Ara was naturally resistant to extreme temperatures, she took her time for Cheong’s sake.  

“Ahhh, this feels nice.”  

Cheong, curiosity lighting up his face, followed Ara’s example and dipped a toe into the water.  

“It’s hot!”  

Startled, he quickly pulled his foot back.  

But when Seon-ah and I also entered the water, leaving Cheong behind, he started pacing nervously.  

“It’s okay! It’s warm!”  

Encouraged by Frey’s words, Cheong squeezed his eyes shut and stepped into the water.  

“Wow, Cheong, you’re so brave!”  

“Good job!”  

Our praise gave him the final push, and he managed to fully immerse himself in the spring.  

Soon enough, he relaxed, a content expression spreading across his face.  

“It’s warm. It feels nice.”  

“See? It’s good!”  

The kids soon started splashing around, teaming up with the slimes for some water play.  

Since this section of the spring was relatively lukewarm, they adapted quickly.  

Splash! Splash!  

Meanwhile, Seon-ah was off to the side, filming with a waterproof camera.  

Her serious expression made it look like she was shooting a documentary.  

“I’ll go warm up a bit over there.”  

A recovery soak was much needed.  

This spot had a higher temperature than the initial pool, enveloping my body in soothing warmth that felt like it was melting my bones.  

“Ahhh.”  

Here, too, slimes, Kkumuris, and fairies were enjoying the spring, but unlike the others, they wore expressions reminiscent of middle-aged men completely at ease.  

“Nice. This is great.”  

-(,,~ ~~)  

They all looked like they were melting.  

For a while, I enjoyed the hot spring, temporarily free from the duties of child-rearing.  

Then, I heard the light pitter-patter of footsteps rushing toward me.  

“Kyu-seong Kyu-seong! I’m joining this one!”  

“Oh, sure.”  

“Cheong’s here too!”  

Cheong approached hesitantly.  

Ara called out to him.  

“Come on in!”  

“I’m nervous.”  

He seemed uneasy about moving to a new section of the spring.  

Ara waited patiently beside him until, after a moment of hesitation, Cheong squeezed his eyes shut and entered the spring beside me.  

Splash!  

After a brief moment of adjustment, his expression gradually softened.  

His cute reaction made me pat his head gently.  

“How is it? Feels good, right?”  

“It’s warm…”  

Ara, who had been watching Cheong, joined him in the spring.  

She leaned her arms back like an old man, thoroughly enjoying the hot spring.  

“Ahh, this is refreshing.”  

“Refreshing? But it’s warm!”  

“Adults call this kind of thing refreshing. I’m an adult.”  

“You’re an adult, Sis!”  

Cheong looked at Ara with sparkling eyes.  

Puffing her chest out proudly, Ara responded,  

“If Cheong works hard, you can become an adult too!”  

“I’ll work hard! I’ll be an adult!”  

How adorable.  

Their conversation was both amusing and heartwarming, making it even more enjoyable to relax in the hot spring.  

Just then, I noticed Bokkeum.  

True to his quiet nature, Bokkeum seemed to be enjoying the spring just as much.  

“Bokkeum, do you have the juice stored somewhere?”  

Bokke.  

Understanding immediately, Bokkeum brought out some juice.  

It was stored in a massive container that looked like a giant barrel.  

Since I always carried cups, I distributed juice to the kids nearby.  

“Juice is self-service.”  

The fairies posed a small dilemma.  

The cups were far too large for their tiny hands.  

While I was pondering what to do, the fairies tore off pieces of the leaves they were wearing and fashioned their own little cups.  

-(^0^)  

 (-~.)-  

Their ingenuity was too adorable.  

Looking satisfied with their makeshift cups, they each took their share of juice.  

Thanks to that, we were able to enjoy refreshing juice in the warm spring.  

“Ahhh.”  

“Ahhh! So refreshing!”  

“It’s delicious!”  

Bokkeum truly was the best slime I’d ever seen.  

Somehow, he could keep things perfectly chilled.  

Bokke.  

Even Bokkeum guzzled down the juice happily and then brought out another container.  

The first one had been Layla juice, and now—strawberry juice!  

With this impromptu juice party underway, the commotion drew Frey and Seon-ah, who arrived looking miffed.  

“Hey, share with us too!”  

“We have mouths, you know!”  

In the end, all the kids in the hot spring gathered around me for the juice party.  

It was a delightful end to a fun day.  

***

Perhaps thanks to the relaxing hot spring, I woke up early the next morning, feeling completely refreshed despite going to bed later than usual.  

“Ahhh!”  

My noise woke up Ara and Cheong, who groggily opened their eyes.  

“Awake!”  

“Good morning!”  

Though they still looked sleepy, they quickly got up when I told them they could sleep a little longer.  

“Let’s wash up!”  

“Wash up time!”  

The two of them walked hand-in-hand toward the stream, chatting as they went.  

Their small, round figures were irresistibly cute.  

I decided to join them for a morning wash, which left me feeling refreshed and ready to start the day.  

“Today’s mission is to plant apple trees!”  

“Yay!”  

“That’s amazing!”  

We had three varieties of saplings: Hongok (deep red like rubies), Busa (the standard apple we all know), and Gamhong (highly sweet but challenging to grow).  

In total, we had 60 saplings.  

Deciding how to plant them was the key.  

“First, let’s create a proper orchard.”  

While I had considered planting them as part of the village’s landscaping, I decided to focus on setting up a separate orchard first.  

If it succeeded, I could then plant fruit trees as part of the landscape.  

Fortunately, I had asked the slimes the day before to prepare the land for planting, and they had done a perfect job.  

Now, Ara and I just needed to turn it into a proper field.  

“Phew! Time to get moving again!”  

“Let’s do it!”  

As Ara and I rolled up our sleeves, Cheong glanced around nervously, unsure of what was happening.  

“Cheong, cheer us on! Your cheers will give us the energy to work hard.”  

“Okay! I’ll cheer for you!”  

Cheong clenched his fists with a determined look and nodded enthusiastically.  

Meanwhile, Ara grabbed her mysterious hoe, and I took a standard one as we stepped onto the land the slimes had prepared.  

Nearby, Gwaa stood like a mystical guardian watching over the apple orchard.  

‘Did I introduce Cheong to Gwaa?’  

Maybe Seon-ah did yesterday.  

Seeing how calm Cheong was around Gwaa, it seemed plausible.  

Gwaa, still deep in slumber, was left undisturbed as we got to work plowing the field.  

Our goal was to level the land and create planting spots for the saplings.  

With only 60 trees to plant, it wouldn’t take long.  

“How about we make this a race to see who finishes first—”  

Wham!  

“F-foul play!”  

Ara had already started working at lightning speed.  

Her straw hat stayed firmly on her head despite her intense movements.  

“Whoa!”  

“Amazing, noona!”  

Cheong’s determined look melted into pure admiration.  

Feeling that Ara might take over all the work, I hurried to start my task.  

‘No, wait. Let’s divide the work.’  

I decided Ara would level the ground, and I would dig the holes for the saplings.  

Adjusting my plan, I began digging.  

The slimes, waiting nearby, hopped into each hole to moisten the soil before hopping back out.  

“Wow!”  

“It’s done!”  

By the time I finished preparing the holes, Ara had leveled all the ground for the 60 saplings.  

She even crushed a few massive rocks along the way.  

She was like a living bulldozer.  

“Great job!”  

“Did I win?”  

“Yeah, Ara won. As a reward, I’ll make sweet potato fries for you later.”  

“Fries!”  

Ara’s face lit up with delight.  

Noticing I was still digging spots for the saplings, she eagerly helped out.  

Cheong crouched nearby, using his pestilence ability to do something.  

It looked like he was cultivating beneficial microorganisms and bacteria for the apple trees.  

Thanks to being a slime, he instinctively knew which organisms suited plants.  

If he weren’t a slime, such a skill would have been much harder to utilize.  

“Alright, shall we start planting?”  

We divided the 60 saplings into three rows of 20, grouping them by variety.  

By the time we finished, Seon-ah had woken up and started filming.  

“You should’ve woken me up. All this footage, gone…”  

She must have wanted to capture the kids planting saplings in their adorable way.  

But it was too late to redo everything.  

“Done!”  

“All done!”  

With the last sapling in place, the orchard looked quite decent, even though it was relatively small with only 60 trees.  

“When will they grow big and bear fruit?”  

“Hmm, it might take a little while.”  

Ara tilted her head, holding up all ten fingers as if trying to calculate.  

Cheong mimicked her, also holding up ten fingers with a pondering look.  

Their cute gestures made me pinch their cheeks affectionately.  

“Alright, let’s get ready to head out now!”  

Today was the day I’d finally check the list of American items and meet Kyler.  

I needed to find out what Kyler wanted from me and how much he knew about the Seven Deadly Sins.  

“You’re going out again?”  

Cheong looked up at me with a sorrowful expression.  

Ara, standing beside him, patted his head gently.  

“We’ll bring you back some chocolate!”  

“Chocolate?”  

“Something delicious! Kyu-seong Kyu-seong , we’re bringing Cheong chocolate!”  

“Huh? Oh, yeah, of course. I’ll get lots of yummy stuff for you. Just wait a bit, okay, Cheong?”  

Ah, my dear Cheong.  

Despite trying to be brave, his tears started to well up again.  

Wiping them away, he mustered up his courage.  

“I’m sad… but, ah, have a safe trip!”  

He quickly corrected himself, trying to sound cheerful.  

After today, I’ll make sure to spend more time with Cheong.  

…Or maybe I could just take him with me?  

‘Once he’s a bit more comfortable, I’ll take him outside.’  

With his humanoid form, he wouldn’t stand out much, just like Ara.  

But I should still consult the guild about this.  

‘Wait, Cheong’s ability is pestilence. Outside, he might actually be more dangerous than Ara.’  

…Oh well, I’ll figure it out.  

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