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Located in Huam-dong, Seoul, the headquarters of the Awakener Association of Korea. Since the headquarters was established, many things have happened, but there has never been a situation like this.

“Hmm…”

In the headquarters’ conference room, Director Jeon Young-joo, who was sitting at the head seat, listened to the report along with a PowerPoint presentation. She sighed as she looked at the data.

“This is unprecedented.”

“Yes, it is.”

“So you’re saying that this was all caused by just one Awakener?”

“That’s correct.”

The conference room was filled with many employees. The reason why they were all gathered here today was because of the Ara Hongryeon Guild. The guild’s unprecedented growth was unlike anything seen since guilds first appeared in Korea. Not only in performance but also in stability and efficiency, it had reached the top in the country. Initially, the headquarters had dismissed this as a temporary boom, but now it was different.

“All indicators have not only maintained for a full six months but have even grown. Is this even possible?”

Although she questioned the situation, there was no denying the figures and information. In reality, Ara Hongryeon was currently conquering dungeons across the nation. For the headquarters, which had always struggled with numerous difficult dungeons, this was like rain during a drought. However, Director Jeon Young-joo was taken aback by this sudden change.

While Jeon Young-joo was rubbing her head, Team Leader Kim Ho-jin, who was next to her, handed over another document.

“This is an Awakener named Lee Kyu-seong.”

“Hmm, suspected dual awakening…”

It was not merely suspicion; it was almost confirmed. No one gathered here doubted the dual awakening.

After briefly skimming through the report, Jeon Young-joo nodded and spoke.

“A farming ability… it’s something I’ve never seen before.”

“The important thing is that the produce from this ability are items.”

“…And he has already made contact with Skyscraper?”

“According to our investigation, they are already working behind the scenes to recruit him. There’s even news that they’ve prepared residency rights for him.”

“That’s fast.”

Jeon Young-joo secretly wiped away a cold sweat. Although she had heard about Kyu-seong’s existence from time to time, she had been too preoccupied with the dungeon of Avarice and the European Awakener Union.

However, when the European Union contacted her about Kyu-seong’s items, it became an urgent matter.

“I didn’t pay enough attention… it was a mistake.”

But calling it a mistake wasn’t entirely accurate because Kyu-seong had been acting freely until now, thanks to Ara Hongryeon’s incredible protection. Ara Hongryeon had been taking care of him so discreetly that even Lee Kyu-seong himself didn’t notice.

However, with Ara Hongryeon’s performance, the reputation of the crops gradually began to spread, and their connection with the Iron Blood and Terror Guilds naturally came to light.

“We must protect him as much as possible, even now. We can’t stop domestic guilds from competing, but letting him go abroad would be a huge loss.”

“It’s possible that many guilds within China have already noticed due to their connection with Skyscraper. Moreover, there are reports of a link with Ino Junichi of Japan, as his brother works at a restaurant under Junichi.”

“Hmm.”

Jeon Young-joo groaned in frustration and held her head.

The only consolation was that the European Union and the United States were still unaware of Kyu-seong’s existence. The European Union might have an inkling about the existence of crop items, but they still didn’t know who owned them.

“With the presence of Awakener Lee Kyu-seong, our country might become the center of a storm.”

Another team leader from across the table expressed this opinion, and Jeon Young-joo fully agreed.

“It’s too late for us to intervene now. Trying to hide it at this point would just be like covering one’s eyes and pretending not to see. All we can do now is prepare for the approaching storm.”

“I’ll first make contact with Ara Hongryeon.”

“Yes, and if I can meet Awakener Lee Kyu-seong, I’ll go see him personally. I need to establish some kind of rapport and have a conversation with him. Contacting the European Union comes after that.”

Jeon Young-joo, along with everyone at the Awakener Association, thought the same thing. If anything went wrong, they could all be dismissed. In fact, it wasn’t just about dismissal; if Lee Kyu-seong’s presence was taken overseas, it would mean losing a talent that could elevate Korea’s status.

“Protect him at all costs, even now!”

It was a moment when everyone, from the director to the newest member, shared the same thought.

***

After an unexpected meal, we returned to the dungeon. Honestly, I wanted to have a meal with the first and second team leaders, but they are such busy people that it’s hard to meet them unless they find time to see me.

“Well, everyone seemed satisfied, so…”

I felt proud for no reason. Of course, at first, everyone seemed to freeze after experiencing the effect of the Golden Carrot Soup, but I repeatedly emphasized that it was an item I couldn’t cultivate, so they should understand. Actually, it didn’t matter what they thought. If they misunderstood, it would only enhance my value.

“Hey, we’re back.”

-Neigh.

-Woof!

As always, we were first greeted by Purr and Woofy. Come to think of it, I decided to make dog chews for Purr, and now that I have some time, I should try making them. I found that some dog chews are made with grains, so I just need to figure out how to make them.

-Pant pant pant.

Purr shrank to the size of a dachshund as I petted it. When I stopped, it grew to the size of a retriever. It was always fascinating and amazing to see this ability.

“As expected, it’s not just any high-level monster.”

It could control temperature and was strong, making it a very reliable companion for us.

-Haha.

“Oh, did it come with you?”

Hearing the familiar cries, I turned to see Kkumuris sitting on Woofy’s back. It wasn’t so much riding as just being there, as if it had merely followed along. Such a sight was part of Kkumuris’s charm.

Kkumuris’s leisurely attitude was close to my ideal, fitting for someone like me who dreams of a laid-back life.

-Haha.

“What’s going on?”

Kkumuris and Ara suddenly started a conversation. I couldn’t understand, so I waited quietly for Ara to interpret.

“Do we need to go a little slower? Is it a surprise?”

“Surprise?”

Gasp! 

Could it be another star-rated crop?!

But it didn’t seem like that. From listening further to the conversation, it seemed like they were building something again in the Slime Village.

Seeing them making something on their own, landscaping, and constructing buildings was quite impressive. Ah, the Goblin Village construction needs to start soon too.

-Haha.

“Can we go now?”

Finally, we got the okay sign.

Riding on Woofy’s back, we headed to Slime Village. What could they have prepared? 

“Hmm?”

“Oh!”

When we arrived at the village, there wasn’t anything as spectacular as I had anticipated. There was just a peculiar clothesline-like structure connecting the buildings. Hanging on the clothesline were blocks of meju (fermenting soybeans) placed on straw to ferment.

‘I know that’s how they do the second fermentation.’

But already?

As far as I know, fermenting meju takes quite a bit of time. The first fermentation alone takes months, so why are they hanging it like that?

“Sniff sniff! What an interesting smell! Is this doenjang (fermented soybean paste)?” 

Ara quickly ran over to smell the hanging meju. Having already tasted the doenjang stew made by my mother, Ara seemed full of anticipation.

“Let’s see. Oh? Is it fermented?”

I thought, “Could it be already?” It looked and smelled as though it had fermented properly.

Of course, I wouldn’t really know since it’s my first time making meju, but I did study quite a bit about making it.

“Hmm, this smell… it’s certain.”

I nodded, pretending to be an expert. Seeing this, Ara’s eyes sparkled with admiration.

“You knew just from the smell! As expected, Kyu-seong Kyu-seong is amazing! So cool!”

-Haha.

Come to think of it, these adorable creatures are even managing the meju by themselves. At this rate, I really might become a honey-sucking bee, just like my father said.

‘But the fermentation time was much faster than I expected. I’m not sure how the second fermentation will go, but it seems like the time will be shortened even more.’

By rough calculation, it seemed that the meju might be completed by the end of this month.

Doenjang! Doenjang!

Of course, it’s right to judge by tasting it. Since it’s meju made from my crops, it might not taste like the familiar doenjang we know.

Still, the smell was quite satisfactory. Also, considering crops like garlic or lettuce, there are some whose taste doesn’t differ much from Earth’s, so there was room for expectation.

“I should buy jars in advance.”

To turn meju into doenjang, it needs to be placed in a jar. This way, I could naturally make soy sauce as well.

And it would actually be nice to have red chili peppers.

Meju isn’t the only ingredient that goes into the jar; water, dried red peppers, dried jujubes, and charcoal are also needed.

Among these, assuming I buy dried jujubes as a commercial product, the rest could be sourced from here.

‘I should try making charcoal from the branches of the World Tree!’

Wow. I wondered what charcoal made from the World Tree would feel like! Just thinking about it made me excited.

“I can’t wait. Let’s start the chili pepper farm right away!”

“Oh, we’re farming chili peppers!”

Ara cheered and ran ahead.

I followed and stopped by the seed storage to gather chili pepper seeds and the light-exposure device provided by the guild through Bokkeum.

I had planned to start right after winter ended, but I was a few days late. It doesn’t matter! We can start now!

The field for the chili pepper farm was already prepared. All that was needed was to plant the seeds.

Ara and I planted the chili pepper seeds according to the designated plots. The land was about 2,000 pyeong (approximately 6,600 square meters), and although it seemed expansive, in terms of actual farming on Earth, 2,000 pyeong would hardly qualify as a farm.

‘But my crops yield an incredible harvest even on small plots of land!’

I really couldn’t argue against the saying that I was sucking honey.

“Cough!”

Suddenly pricked by my conscience, I clasped my hands together and bowed to the ground.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m giving thanks to all the farmers around the world.”

“Oh! I’m doing it too.”

Ara followed my lead and bowed beside me.

After briefly giving thanks to those who would never receive it, I took the device out from Bokkeum.

“Whew, it’s fortunate that I’m an Awakener. It’s quite heavy.”

The device was designed to be installed on the ceiling of a greenhouse. Conveniently, I had some leftover steel frames I bought over the winter, so I installed them all in the chili pepper field. 

Since the machine is powered by magic stones, I was a bit worried about the maintenance cost, but I heard it was surprisingly efficient and not much different from using electricity.

As I installed the machines here and there, I started to realize that I had become a level 2 Awakener.

‘My stamina and strength have improved!’

The improvement was noticeable. If this was the case at level 2, just how strong were people like Hanul, Si-young, or Ino Junichi, whom I met regularly?

‘That’s why they can defeat monsters.’

Thinking about it again, I was glad I chose farming. Just imagining fighting monsters made me shiver.

Squirming!

I saw slimes that had approached and were wandering around the chili pepper field. Watching them roll around was both amusing and adorable.

Squirm!

“Hello, Mark2. I’ll rely on you here, too.”

Mark2 gestured as if saluting and headed into the field.

Now, the chili peppers are done.

Should I practice making charcoal with the World Tree wood now? Or should I make dog chews first?

“Either way, I need to check the internet!”

Let’s go out and start by searching online.

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The quiet meal came to an end. Despite being the perfect opportunity to speak, everyone focused solely on eating after the food was served, without uttering a single word. Only the soft clattering of dishes and the sound of eating quietly resonated throughout. 

“Whew.” 

Director Choi exhaled softly after clearing his plate. His face displayed a faint smile, as if he was deeply satisfied.

“Ahem.” 

Likewise, Johann, who had emptied his bowl, coughed awkwardly and spoke up. 

“I was so focused on eating that I didn’t pay attention to my surroundings.”

“Same here. I’ve never had food like this before in my life.”

Choi Sung-hyuk nodded with a bright face. Ara, who had been watching them with delight, exclaimed, 

“Sharing delicious food is a good thing!”

Ara’s words dispelled the awkward atmosphere, and everyone responded with laughter.

“That’s right, delicious food should be shared.”

“Once again, thank you to Guild Leader Han Seok-jun and Mr. Kyu-seong for treating us to such a delicious meal. I think I will never forget this experience for the rest of my life.”

After the meal was cleared, they continued to chat lightly over tea.

“Since I’ve received such a meal, I should offer something in return.”

“It’s not like we expected anything in return for the meal.”

“This isn’t just any meal. With a meal of this caliber, I feel uncomfortable not reciprocating. And actually, it’s nothing so grand…”

As Johann began to speak, Director Choi nodded, as if he guessed what Johann intended to offer.

“It’s nothing special, just a bit of trivial information.”

“Information…”

“My hometown is Austria. And Austria is part of the European Awakening Alliance.”

The European Awakening Alliance.

Though the power of individual countries did not match the awakened superpowers like the United States or China, as an alliance, they were an extraordinary organization showing more power than any single nation. Their influence and authority were fearsome, and Johann’s family, the Rothschild family, also had one foot in it. It was a well-known fact that the other foot was in America.

“If it’s the European Awakening Alliance…is it information about the Seven Deadly Sins?”

Han Seok-jun responded nonchalantly, but Director Choi and Choi Sung-hyuk looked at him with surprised eyes.

“As expected, Guild Leader Han Seok-jun. You guessed right as soon as I started talking.”

“I heard recently that the movements of the European Alliance have become more cautious.”

“Did you infer the Seven Deadly Sins just from that? Haha, as expected, you’re amazing. Indeed, our country’s first guild leader.”

Johann lowered his head slightly as a sign of respect and then continued speaking.

“My hometown, Austria, actually doesn’t have many awakened individuals. And there aren’t that many outstanding awakened ones compared to other countries.”

“Hmm.”

“The reason Austria could be part of the European Alliance was because of the existence of the Seven Deadly Sins. Among them, the Dungeon of Wrath is located there.”

“Did you gather information from Austria?”

“That’s correct.”

Johann nodded in agreement, and Han Seok-jun listened with a serious expression. Meanwhile, Kyu-seong and Ara listened in bewilderment at the sudden story about Wrath.

“The European Alliance is soon going to attack the Dungeon of Wrath. It probably won’t be a single attempt but a series of assaults.”

“That implies they’ll use escape stones.”

“That’s right. They’re making a massive investment.”

Escape stones.

Items that help make an emergency exit from a dungeon. While not extremely rare, they were as vital as a lifeline for awakened individuals, making them very expensive.

Because they were disposable and only one person could escape per stone, the cost to supply them for everyone would be enormous. The plan to use dozens, or even hundreds, of such items left Kyu-seong in disbelief. 

‘Each one must cost billions…’

Nearly a trillion won was being invested as a foundation for attacking the Dungeon of Wrath. Moreover, the escape stones were just part of the preparation, and the total cost of all processes involved in the attack would amount to an astronomical figure. 

“If you prepare in advance, you can make a huge profit.”

“That wasn’t the intention behind sharing this information, but I suppose the entire market, including the European economy and the awakening industry, will be in turmoil.”

The risk level and possibility of conquering the Seven Deadly Sins were already somewhat known through the Dungeon of Avarice. The recent dungeon break in China left a vast amount of information, enabling the European Alliance to lay the groundwork for attempting the dungeon assault.

“Ras is cute but strong.” 

Ara, nestled in Kyu-seong’s arms, suddenly muttered softly. However, no one paid attention except for Kyu-seong. 

Their reactions were due to not knowing the boss that resided in the Dungeon of Wrath yet.

“Thank you for the valuable information. I haven’t done much, but thanks to Kyu-seong, I’ve gained precious information.”

“Don’t mention it.”

The brief but important conversation ended, and they soon left the place. On their way back to the Terror Guild, Johann and the Choi brothers maintained silence, each lost in their thoughts.

“Oh, Guild Leader, there is something I need to report.”

At that moment, Director Choi suddenly spoke. 

As Johann nodded, Director Choi began to elaborate on the remarkable effects he had observed in the carrot soup.

“…An increase in magic rank?”

“It only boosts the magic rank of those at Level 1 or below, meaning the lowest-ranked awakeners, but even this is an incredible effect. It’s an unprecedented item effect.”

“The increase in earth affinity is also noteworthy, but this is truly a revolutionary ability.”

A forced increase in the magic rank of an awakener.

Of course, sometimes while completing quests, a magic rank increase could occur. However, quests involved a lot of luck. 

Some people might clear 100 quests without receiving a magic rank increase, while others might achieve it within 10 quests.

However, Kyu-seong’s recent dish provided a guaranteed one-rank increase without question, and it was a permanent effect, not a temporary buff.

Already, the performance of the Strawberry Potion and Director Choi’s experience confirmed that Kyu-seong’s items were showing extraordinary characteristics the more they were explored.

‘Though he doesn’t seem to think much of it.’

It was understandable. 

Since Kyu-seong made the items himself, he likely didn’t see the true value of them. Even if that wasn’t the case, Kyu-seong’s personality seemed naturally relaxed.

“The condition of being for those at Level 1 or below means it’s not something that will cause a huge stir.”

“That’s right. Moreover, Mr. Kyu-seong mentioned it was a special item that couldn’t be obtained at will, so it doesn’t seem likely it could be mass-produced.”

At that point, Choi Sung-hyuk, who had been listening quietly, spoke up.

“The golden carrot soup was certainly amazing. However, I thought the true value of Mr. Kyu-seong lay elsewhere.”

“True value? I’m curious about what you think, Sung-hyuk.”

When Johann asked, Director Choi also looked at his younger brother with a curious expression. Under their gaze, Choi Sung-hyuk seemed to organize his thoughts for a moment before speaking.

“As everyone must have felt, the value and power of Mr. Kyu-seong’s items are immense.”

“That’s right.”

“Imagine if I were the owner of those items.”

“Um…?”

“I wouldn’t be able to casually do what Mr. Kyu-seong does. The reason Mr. Kyu-seong is truly formidable is that he does these things genuinely, without a second thought.”

It was true.

Johann and Director Choi, who had been busy thinking only about the value, effects, and taste of the items, could finally reflect on themselves due to Choi Sung-hyuk’s words.

Items with literally tremendous value. 

And they were disposable items that disappeared once consumed. To willingly offer such things to guests who weren’t even guild members, just temporary visitors, was not something anyone could do.

“Mr. Kyu-seong is not a fool. He probably knows best about his own position, the value of his items, and their impact. Moreover, he is a member of the world-renowned Ara Hongryeon Guild, and Guild Leader Han Seok-jun personally takes care of him. It’s an environment where ignorance is impossible.”

“Huh.”

“Yes, Sung-hyuk, you are absolutely right.”

Johann, who had thought that Kyu-seong simply had a laid-back personality, also began to reflect. Could such actions be taken with mere composure?

Someone would have paid billions to purchase the carrot soup they had just eaten. Could someone with mere composure just casually hand it over?

‘I was thinking too self-centeredly!’

Was it complacency?

Thinking about it, it seemed that he had become a bit lax since becoming the leader of the top guild in Korea. No, he was undoubtedly lax.

As Sung-hyuk said, Kyu-seong’s value lay not only in his items but also in his character.

Even if someone else had awakened to the same abilities as Kyu-seong, would they have been able to grow as much as he did?

“Mr. Kyu-seong’s demeanor might seem ordinary at first glance, but I believe everyone knows that this ordinariness is more precious than it seems.”

“The word ‘ordinary’ itself has become truly rare these days. In today’s world, everyone wants to be ordinary.”

Johann nodded in agreement with a big nod.

And Director Choi gave his brother a curious look.

“That’s right. It’s a world where even wanting to be ordinary makes it hard to be ordinary. In such a world, Mr. Kyu-seong’s value is even more precious.”

“Director Choi, I think we really need to give it our all.”

Even at Johann’s sudden words, Director Choi nodded as if he understood.

Giving it their all.

It was undoubtedly referring to recruiting Kyu-seong.

“In fact, I had doubts about whether we should go so far as to confront China’s Skyscraper Guild to bring Mr. Kyu-seong over, but now it’s clear.”

“I agree. Guild Leader. Even if we incur significant losses initially, we must bring Mr. Kyu-seong in if we aim for global ambitions.”

They already knew that the Skyscraper Guild was eyeing Kyu-seong. Thus, the original goal was to pretend to compete moderately and give up on Kyu-seong under suitable conditions.

However, this meeting once again disrupted their plans. Somehow, the more they became involved with Kyu-seong, the more their plans and goals kept changing.

‘This, too, is the power of Lee Kyu-seong.’

Johann decided to acknowledge it coolly without letting pride get in the way. As Sung-hyuk said, he was a seemingly ordinary young man, but he had the power to change not just himself but the entire awakening industry.

“Sung-hyuk, just keep doing what you usually do. Then Director Choi and I will find a way to get Mr. Kyu-seong to join us at the same table.”

“I trust you, Guild Leader.”

***

-Growl?

Recently, Gomgom, who often sleeps on top of hay, drowsily raised its body. Swaying sleepily, Gomgom soon identified the one who disturbed its nap.

-Growl,

A peculiar object that suddenly started emitting a musty smell. It was supposedly edible, but Gomgom wasn’t quite sure what it was.

It was a square, ochre-colored object neatly placed on the hay. It had white dust-like patches stuck on it, which Gomgom couldn’t understand.

This was supposed to be food!

It was even more striking compared to the shocking carrot soup recently consumed.

-Growl!

Could it possibly be spoiled?

Imagining the sadness of Kyu-seong and Ara, Gomgom became even more saddened and let out a moan.

The smell seemed to be getting stronger, so Gomgom resolved to report it as soon as Kyu-seong returned.

-Heheng.

Just then, Gomgom saw one of the little Kkumuris entering the warehouse. With a bright idea, Gomgom energetically got up and waddled over to the Kkumuri.

-Growl!

-Heheng?

Gomgom made all sorts of gestures and movements, trying to explain something enthusiastically.

The little Kkumuri, who had been staring blankly at Gomgom, then went outside and soon returned with a slime.

-Squish?

-Heheng.

-Growl!

The small creatures gathered together in one place and began plotting something. 

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A delicious smell, hard to resist, tickled the tip of the nose. Johann, who had already lifted the spoon and was watching Ara put the soup in her mouth, glanced to the side. Johann was a non-awakened person, so he couldn’t see the item’s mark, but he was more curious about the soup’s effect than its taste.

And everyone except Kyu-seong and Ara seemed to be watching something intently, as if they had all made a promise to eat well but didn’t actually eat.

‘What kind of effect does it have…?’

The process seemed to take longer than expected. Then Johann noticed that sweat had formed on Director Choi’s forehead. 

Sweat? In this cool weather and after just sitting around, why would a Level 7 awakened person sweat?

“Why aren’t you all eating?” Ara, who was eating well, asked, tilting her head in confusion.

Only then did Han Seok-jun and the Choi brothers nod as if they had come to their senses.

“Well, we should eat.”

“Um…”

Awkward responses followed. The more this happened, the more Johann’s curiosity and questions grew, but he had to maintain his dignity and couldn’t ask openly in this setting. 

He decided to ask when he returned to the guild later and took the first bite himself. As he lifted the spoon, the aroma intensified. The sudden, dizzying scent made Johann realize he was unconsciously tense, and he swallowed dryly. 

‘Yesterday, I had carrot soup too, made by our guild’s head chef, whom we recruited with an incredible contract and salary.’ 

There was no way it could be more delicious than the soup made by such a head chef. 

Although Kyu-seong said it was special, that seemed more related to the item’s effect than the taste. Despite not particularly boasting about the item’s effect, 

Ultimately, it was a matter of tasting it to find out. The carrot soup’s smell and appearance suggested it couldn’t possibly taste bad, so it was worth having expectations. 

So cautiously, he took a bite… 

One bite… 

“Hmm?”

What is this? 

As he looked around, he suddenly saw a hill with a sunset. On the hill, cute carrots waved their hands as if urging him to come quickly. 

For a moment, he was dazed by the unbelievable sight, but his feet naturally moved forward. When he reached the hill, the carrots held his hands and pointed somewhere. 

A sun shaped like a golden carrot shining brightly. 

While admiring the sunset created by the brilliant golden light that illuminated the world with a fragrant…!!!

He spent time with the carrots, losing track of time, and watched the sunset. As the golden glow gradually faded, Johann said goodbye to the carrots, regretting the fading light. 

Goodbye…? 

“Huh?!”

‘What just happened to me?’ 

Johann, coming to his senses, looked around. He felt as if he had been with the carrots just a moment ago. 

But this was Ara Hongryeon’s reception room. 

Johann, struggling to believe that he had seen an illusion, calmed himself and looked at the bowl where the carrot soup had been. It was completely empty. 

“You eat so heartily!” 

“Huh?” 

Ara, looking at Johann, smiled contentedly and said. Johann pointed at himself with his finger. 

“Did I eat it all?” 

“You even licked the bowl. Was it delicious?”

“…..”

He only remembered taking a single spoonful, but was that really the case? 

However, he soon had to admit it. 

“Slurp.”

Next to him, Director Choi, who seemed like he would never engage in such a frivolous action, was licking the bowl absentmindedly.

What about the others?

“Slurp.”

“Lick, lick.”

It was the same for everyone else. The only saving grace was that he regained his composure first and didn’t show such an embarrassing scene. Of course, it seemed that Kyu-seong and Ara across from him had seen it. 

Johann stared intently at the empty bowl for a moment, savoring the peculiar lingering taste in his mouth. The rich aroma of the broth lingered, as if to affirm that what he ate wasn’t a lie.

Drip, drip.

“Guild Master Johann? Are you okay?” 

At Kyu-seong’s worried question, Johann suddenly realized that the sound he heard was coming from him. 

“Ah!” 

Tears. 

Tears so thick that they made a dripping sound were streaming down his cheeks.

“It’s an amazing experience. I feel fine, but my body seems beyond my control.”

“Oh, well, that’s a relief?”

While Kyu-seong pondered whether this should indeed be considered a relief, others slowly began regaining their senses. 

“Gasp! What’s going on? Where am I?”

“…Just a moment ago, I was dancing with the carrots…”

The Choi brothers muttered, and Han Seok-jun slowly removed his glasses and gently closed his eyes.

Drip.

A tear, like a dewdrop, fell gently.

“It was an inspiring bowl.”

Simple words, but they left a more profound impression than any other review. 

“Why are you crying after eating something delicious?” 

When Ara asked worriedly, Han Seok-jun smiled and calmly replied.

“It was so delicious that I was moved. I express my gratitude to Kyu-seong and Ara for serving such delicious food.” 

“Oh, was it that good? I also enjoyed it!” 

Ara jumped up at Han Seok-jun’s high praise and started dancing with joy. Seeing this, Choi Sung-hyuk murmured absentmindedly.

“Carrot dance… I danced that dance too…”

Kyu-seong, witnessing them still not fully composed, realized anew the power of his food. It was because he could never have imagined that the person he admired the most, whom he considered the most perfect awakened, would appear so dazed.

‘I need to rethink this.’ 

Johann also reconsidered as he watched the scene.

Initially, he thought of it as a highly useful mass-produced buff item for dungeon conquests and, secondly, as a morale-boosting food for guild members. However, this incident made it even clearer. 

Irreplaceable.

Kyu-seong’s crops were best described by this word. 

‘Buff? Delicious food? No, this cannot be dismissed with such simple words.’

No buff or food could replace Kyu-seong’s crops. Truly, these were unique items only producible by Kyu-seong. 

Knock, knock.

While deep in thought about Kyu-seong, there was a knock on the reception room door.

“Guild Master, the food is ready.”

“…Oh my, it wasn’t over yet.”

Now that he thought about it, he hadn’t come here just to eat carrot soup. 

Anticipating the dishes made with Kyu-seong’s crops that would continue, everyone opened their eyes wide.

***

“Who do you think you are to treat people so carelessly?”

The intense emotions seemed to pierce through the screen.

People watched breathlessly.

Soon, the atmosphere gradually intensified, and as the conflict dramatically resolved, the situation concluded.

“Cut!”

“Wow! Well done, everyone!”

“You’ve all worked so hard until now!”

The last scene of the drama “Between Our Steps,” a highly anticipated fourth-quarter release from HBS, had just wrapped up filming.

“Good job, everyone! Good job!”

Seo Ye-eun, who filmed the last scene with everyone, was bowing and greeting people here and there. The director clapped in satisfaction and said to Seo Ye-eun.

“We’re really glad that you’ve suddenly gotten better, Ms. Ye-eun. I was really worried when I heard you weren’t doing well…”

“I’m sorry for causing you concern.”

“No, no. In the end, the final scene was wrapped up well. Especially this scene was truly the best.”

“Thank you, Director.”

In a cheerful atmosphere, they finished filming and headed off for an after-party. Since it was the last shoot, most people gathered unless they had a busy schedule, and as a result, the reserved restaurant was bustling.

As the actors gathered and talked among themselves, Kim Hye-na suddenly asked Seo Ye-eun.

“I was afraid it would be burdensome to ask before, but do you have a secret method for your throat healing so quickly?”

“A secret method? Ah!”

Seo Ye-eun nodded immediately. Then she took out a small container that she always carried in her pouch.

“It’s thanks to this.”

“What is that?”

Kim Kang-woo, who was next to her, also looked at the container she took out with a curious face. As people watched, Seo Ye-eun opened the lid.

As the lid opened, a familiar scent spread around.

“Garlic?”

“It smells like garlic…?”

Inside were several whole cloves of garlic, about three or four. People looked back at Seo Ye-eun with expressions of disbelief.

“This is…?”

“Hehe, it’s not ordinary garlic. It’s something specially provided by our company, and it seems to be an item.”

“An item!”

This ordinary-looking garlic?!

With such an unexpected item, everyone once again examined the garlic with curious eyes. It looked no different from regular garlic on the outside.

“Iron Blood Entertainments is an agency under the Ironblood Group. With the Ironblood Guild, that makes sense.”

“Wow, amazing, an entertainment agency linked with a guild! I’m really envious.”

As the sudden interest continued, Seo Ye-eun smiled awkwardly, and Kim Hye-na asked enviously.

“Did that garlic heal your sore throat?”

“Yes. To be precise, it prevents the body from becoming dry. Thanks to that, it’s also good for skin moisture.”

“Wow… Did Mr. Kim Tae-yang get it for you?”

“Oh! That’s right. Our director got it for me.”

As she clapped and agreed, the director and assistant director also approached to examine Seo Ye-eun’s garlic.

“Are these kinds of items sourced directly from dungeons by the Ironblood Guild?”

“No. I heard it wasn’t acquired by the Ironblood Guild but through an acquaintance of the director.”

“As expected of Mr. Kim Tae-yang, he has a wide network.”

“But I heard he briefly visited the site…”

“Pardon? He visited the site? Not Mr. Kim Tae-yang, but the owner of that item?”

“Yes. I wasn’t on set then because filming was postponed due to my vocal cord nodules, but I heard it was the guardian of a child named Ara…”

Everyone was surprised by the vague image of Lee Kyu-seong that emerged.

“Ara?!”

“Wow, so he was Ara’s guardian.”

“No wonder Iron Blood Entertainment brought them in.”

Even those who didn’t know Ara before had long become subscribers to her YouTube channel through the previous filming.

“Speaking of Ara, we’re shooting a commercial together. It’ll probably air right after the drama is broadcast.”

“Ooh.”

“I hope the drama is a hit. That way, Ye-eun’s commercial shoot will go even better!”

Seo Ye-eun was also curious. She had seen Ara on YouTube, and Lee Kyu-seong, who was Ara’s guardian and helped resolve her vocal cord nodules.

Knowing she would soon meet him for the commercial shoot, she planned to express her gratitude. She had heard that Ara loves to eat…

“Okay, okay! There’s only one month until the drama airs! Everyone, you’ve worked hard, and now let’s all pray together!”

“Hahaha! Of course! Should we do 108 bows or something?”

“Even without seeing it, I know it will do well! It was made so well!”

“I feel sorry for the editing team, who are still working, but our team is excellent. Success is guaranteed!”

While the filming team was enjoying the after-party, a significant post appeared on Ara’s daily YouTube channel.

– Our Ara will soon be on TV!

This sparked an unexpected reaction.

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On the way to Ara Hongryeon by taxi. 

The previous day, I stopped by my family’s house to share the golden carrot soup with them, and today, the next day, I was heading to the guild.

As I stroked Ara’s head, who was quietly watching the scenery outside the window from my arms, I recalled the carrot soup that would be at Bokkeum’s.

‘The candied sweet potatoes still had the effect.’

The candied sweet potatoes Jae-seong made with the remaining carrots retained the original item effects of the golden carrots.

Unfortunately, the increase in magic rank from the golden carrots was limited to just once, so I had to be satisfied with becoming a 2nd-level awakened. 

From the beginning, the effect is important, but isn’t the taste more significant?

‘But the changes that happened to the kids are significant…’

The slimes and goblins that ate the carrot soup.

Our cute little monsters, which were only 1st-level monsters, became 2nd-level monsters. It was truly a remarkable change.

There were no drastic changes in appearance or strength, but it allowed me to glimpse a possibility.

‘What if crops with star ratings are harvested again? What if they eat crops with even higher star ratings of various kinds?’

Evolution into higher species of slime and goblin.

Such an impossible thing was becoming possible.

Until now, I thought only Ara could grow due to her gluttonous ability, but now the possibility of growth was open to other children as well.

Of course, the slimes could do liquid synthesis, but it was a slightly different kind of growth. A level 2 slime and a 2nd-level slime are distinctly different. It was the difference between the growth of an individual and the evolution of a species.

“We have arrived!”

Before I knew it, I arrived at the tall building of Ara Hongryeon. As I got out of the taxi and headed toward the building, a security staff member who recognized me greeted me with a bright smile.

“Awakener Lee Kyu-seong, you’re here.”

“Hello.”

“Hello, indeed!”

He immediately contacted someone via radio and then guided me.

“There are guests visiting the guild unexpectedly. If it’s okay with you, Awakener Lee Kyu-seong, they would like to meet you. Is that alright?”

“Guests?”

“Yes, it’s Guild Master Johann of the Terror Guild, Awakener Choi Sung-hyuk, and Director Choi Seong-pil.”

The Terror Guild!

It’s the number one guild in South Korea and a massive guild that can somewhat compare to the Skyscraper Guild I visited. It seems like I’ve been encountering extraordinary people more frequently these days.

Director Choi was familiar since he often contacted me from the time of the strawberry potion incident and checked in on me now and then.

As for Guild Master Johann, I think I briefly greeted him during the orphanage event, but I’m not sure if he’ll remember.

‘The Exterminator, Choi Sung-hyuk… South Korea’s second-ranked awakened.’

People might wonder who the number one is if the second-ranked awakened of the renowned Terror Guild is Choi Sung-hyuk, but the number one is such an eccentric character that he wanders without a guild.

Anyway, I gave the security staff, who was waiting for my answer, a positive response.

“I’m fine with it.”

“All right. I will guide you upstairs.”

As I followed him into the building, everyone I passed recognized me and greeted me.

“Hello, Kyu-seong!”

“Oh, you’re at the guild, Kyu-seong!”

“Kyaa, it’s Ara!”

It was overwhelming to greet everyone individually as I got on the elevator. Suddenly, when I looked beside me, Ara seemed to be in high spirits.

“Hehehe, I got many greetings.”

In reality, Ara was more famous than me. While I was gradually gaining recognition in the awakened industry, Ara was truly an SNS superstar!

Moreover, soon Ara’s drama will air, and she will be filming a commercial, so it was hard to keep up with her in terms of recognition.

“I also watch your YouTube channel.”

“Oh, thank you.”

I bowed in response to the staff member who suddenly confessed to being a fan.

“Are you my fan? Would you like an autograph?”

“Haha. I’d be grateful for an autograph.”

I thought it was just a polite remark, but the security staff actually handed me a piece of notepaper and a pen. It didn’t seem like a lie, as if he was prepared.

However, Ara, as if accustomed to such situations, drew a doodle with a confident expression.

“Here is my autograph!”

“Thank you, Ara.”

I’ve seen her sign a few times, and each time the doodle was different. Thanks to her writing ‘Ara’ at the end, you could tell it was her signature.

While she was signing, the elevator finally arrived. A staff member who was guarding the reception area noticed us and greeted us.

“Welcome, Mr. Kyu-seong. They are already informed inside, so you can enter as is.”

“Yes, thank you.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Ara confidently opened the door to the reception room.

Thud!

When the door opened, all eyes inside focused at once.

“You’ve arrived, Kyu-seong. Ara seems full of energy.”

“Have you been well, Han Seok-jun!”

Guild Master Han Seok-jun, who was seated, stood up and greeted us. Next to him, people started to rise from their seats.

“Hello, Guild Master.”

As I greeted and entered, a Westerner walked over briskly and offered his hand for a handshake. It was Johann Rothschild.

“It’s nice to see you again. I’m Johann from the Terror Guild. Do you remember me?”

“Of course, I remember. It’s nice to see you again too.”

While greeting, Director Choi subtly nodded at me. Then, a man who looked similar to Director Choi also started talking to me.

“I’m Choi Sung-hyuk from the Terror Guild. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Lee Kyu-seong.”

Wow, to see Choi Sung-hyuk, the Exterminator, right in front of me.

When I was on the verge of becoming awakened, Choi Sung-hyuk was the awakened person I admired the most. I knew he was ten years older than me, but he looked around my age.

“I’m a fan.”

“Pardon?”

“Oh, I apologize. It slipped out. I’m Lee Kyu-seong from Ara Hongryeon Guild.”

“Haha. Nice to meet you.”

I was curious about what Choi Sung-hyuk’s actual personality would be like compared to his media portrayal, and fortunately, it seemed to match.

Despite being a Level 8 awakened, ranking second in South Korea, Choi Sung-hyuk had a humble and modest image.

“I visited Ara Hongryeon because I couldn’t forget the dish made with your ingredients, Mr. Kyu-seong. I never expected the person behind it would come.”

“Oh!”

“It was the best meal of my life. Thank you.”

Flustered by Choi Sung-hyuk bowing and expressing his gratitude, I waved my hand in dismissal, and people laughed.

After the greetings, we sat down.

As Ara settled on my lap, I asked what I was curious about.

“May I ask what dish you had?”

“It was carrot soup.”

“Huh?”

Carrot soup?

Coincidentally, I brought golden carrot soup today too; what an amazing coincidence.

“It was my first time having a dish made with your ingredients, Mr. Kyu-seong. I was so curious about what other dishes would be like that I couldn’t even sleep. In the end, I couldn’t resist and contacted Guild Master Han Seok-jun and came over.”

Johann’s words made me feel a bit awkward. There was over 100 servings of the golden carrot soup left, so there wouldn’t be any shortage, but it felt a bit disappointing to serve carrot soup again to someone who came wanting to try something different.

‘Still, this is made from golden carrots…’

While the dishes made with magic carrots were delicious, this golden carrot, which had received a star rating, boasted an exceptional taste.

Honestly, before tasting it myself, I was skeptical that anything could taste better than dishes made with my original ingredients.

‘It existed. I still can’t believe it.’

The more I thought about it, the more I felt it was a pity that I couldn’t arbitrarily cultivate crops with star ratings. I still had to farm consistently, hoping to harvest them occasionally.

“Kyu-seong, I heard you brought something special today.”

Guild Master Han Seok-jun began the conversation while I was already hearing that the kitchen was cooking with the ingredients I delivered.

“I brought some food.”

“Oh, we can eat together then.”

“But what I brought is also carrot soup. I never imagined the folks from the Terror Guild would have recently eaten it.”

“Wow, what a coincidence. Could we also have a taste?”

“Of course.”

I took out the well-sealed carrot soup from Bokkeum. Then I noticed everyone watching me with watering mouths.

“It’ll be good as an appetizer.”

“I’ve only had strawberries, so I’m curious about the carrot soup too.”

“Huh? The color of the soup is slightly different from the one we had.”

Once I took out the soup to match the number of people, the staff took it and served it in bowls. Bringing it back warm was a bonus.

“Gulp.”

Watching the staff member with the bowl swallowing repeatedly made me smile slightly.

“I brought enough for everyone at the guild to have some. I’ll serve it now.”

“Oh, Mr. Kyu-seong…”

I ignored the embarrassed staff’s voice and had Bokkeum take out all the soup I brought. Then the sealed soups poured out.

“This much…?”

“So I purposely made it into a soup dish. I wanted everyone to try it.”

Everyone’s wide eyes on me made me feel a bit burdened.

Soon, the staff brought an item to expand space and took the soup away. Watching that, I realized people were waiting.

“Sorry. I kept you waiting in front of the food.”

“No, we’re actually quite moved.”

“Sorry? Moved?”

“To think Kyu-seong would take care of everyone. I mean, of course, I knew you would, but I didn’t expect it. I’m sorry.”

“Oh, no. There’s no need to apologize.”

Ugh, it’s embarrassing. I just wanted to share some delicious food, but the perspective was different.

For me, they were just ingredients I ate daily, but for others, they were ingredients they might only get to try once, or not at all, in their lifetime, except maybe Ara Hongryeon’s guild members, so the meaning and value were different.

“By the way, Kyu-seong. The color of this carrot soup is a bit different from the one I had. Does it have other ingredients?”

“Yes. The smell is quite different too. It feels much richer and deeper.”

As I was about to answer Johann and Choi Sung-hyuk, Ara spoke first.

“It’s a very delicious carrot!”

“A very delicious carrot?”

“It’s made from very! extremely! special carrots!”

Ara was trying to explain using all the words she knew. Watching Ara, Guild Master Han Seok-jun’s eyes filled with anticipation.

“If Ara says that much…”

“What Ara said is not wrong. It’s a dish made from special carrots that were luckily harvested. We might not encounter it again in the future.”

I said that, but I believed I’d be able to harvest them consistently. Especially as Mark2’s level continues to rise, I should be able to harvest more often.

“Let’s eat!”

“Yeah, let’s eat.”

Everyone held their spoons with anticipation. But we couldn’t skip the greeting.

“Let’s eat well!”

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