Chapter 30
Demociela was in the abyss, far deeper than the 82nd floor that Thunder Strike had reached.
In her room, she was pressing both hands over her mouth, catching her breath.
The emotions visible on her flushed face were many. Joy. Longing. Astonishment.
"Insane…. Completely insane."
Beyond Demociela's field of vision was Yujin.
At the far end of her sight line—barely connected through a letter sheet—she watched him standing there with his usual hardened expression, and something swelled up from deep within her chest.
I want him.
Right now, I want to climb up to Demeter's 3rd floor, get my hands on Yujin, and kiss him to my heart's content.
I want to love him fully, be loved by him in return, and then have us kill each other. And in the end, I want to weep as I press my lips to his severed head.
That was how thoroughly the series of actions Yujin Mastermage had demonstrated was enough to set Demociela's body ablaze.
Reverse-engineering magic woven from Dark Energy—the kind only Demons could use—using mana, then redesigning it as your own magic?
Impossible. An entirely different language. An entirely different system. An Entirely different power. Asking someone to deep-fry with boiling water would honestly be easier.
Demociela held tremendous pride in her own magic, and this kind of reverse-engineering, deconstruction, and reconstruction of a magic formula dealt a severe blow to her pride as a mage…
Yet what Yujin had pulled off was more than enough to draw out her genuine astonishment.
"And on top of that, he's absolutely brazen and audacious."
Yujin knew he was talented.
Because he was the kind of man who seemed to have every magical talent in the world compressed into a single being.
But acknowledging the talent one possessed and actually using it were two entirely different matters.
That shameless attitude of Of course I can do it? There's nothing I can't do?—it was almost pleasant.
"Aah…. I want him. But it can't be, can it? Ugh. Come to think of it, he's caught onto my formula too, so my plan to add smell and touch and taste to the letter sheet…. Actually, before that, the letter sheet might get torn apart…."
Her sigh echoed through the abyss.
—Demociela.
As though he'd noticed her state. Yujin's words appeared on the letter sheet.
—Yes! Yujin! My love! My Mastermage!
—Shut up. I'm in a very foul mood right now.
—Why? Did something happen?
—Think about what you've done before you open your mouth. Installing eyes in a letter sheet, tormenting my students….
—It's merely the wish of a girl who wants to be a little closer to the one she loves? And the kids were fine too, weren't they?
—Shut up. I feel like ripping this letter sheet to pieces right this instant.
At those words, a smile crept onto Demociela's lips.
—Then why haven't you torn it? Is there a reason?
—Because I've realized this serves as the bare minimum of control over your actions. Keep allies close and enemies even closer—that's my creed.
"My."
Demociela exclaimed aloud in surprise.
But by the same token, this was precisely why he was Yujin—and why he was the man she loved.
And then, like a child struck by a mischievous idea, she grinned slyly and began writing something.
—Then would it be alright if I added my vision, smell, and hearing to the letter sheet as well?
Naturally, Yujin wouldn't agree to that. That was what Demociela thought…
—Conditionally possible.
What came back was an answer that struck the complete opposite of her expectation.
—My. My goodness…. Conditions? What conditions?
—Given your filthy nature. You'll get up to all sorts of things going forward. I expect you'll endlessly harass my students and endlessly harass me without rest.
—Come on, it's just playful teasing from a girl in love.
—Before you pull any of that nonsense, tell me first.
Demociela's face filled with intrigue.
Unbelievable. To think he'd make an offer like this!
—So. From now on, what I do stops being a quiz and becomes a quest?
—That's how it'll be.
—Hmm…. That's not very exciting for me…. So what do I get out of it?
—For now, I'll permit vision on the letter sheet.
—Something other than that. Isn't there something a little more dramatic?
Now then. How would Yujin respond? Demociela couldn't contain how much she was enjoying this exchange.
—If you accept my proposal…. I will engage with you in earnest.
—Pardon?
—What I'm saying is, I'll acknowledge you not as some filthy pervert who torments children, but as an adversary worthy enough that I'd go to the trouble of nurturing someone to stand against me. Conversely, if you continue this sort of nonsense…. I'll judge you as low-class and refuse to take you seriously.
—Good heavens.
Her eyes went wide.
In other words, he wasn't offering a reward—Yujin was threatening her. Against Demociela, one of the Demon King's Four Heavenly Kings!
"Ahah…. Ahahaha. Right. That's how it should be with Yujin. This brazen…. audacious, and simultaneously, that's what makes him irresistible."
—Fine. From here on, I'll let you know beforehand when I'm going to play a prank.
—Good. Then we have a deal. That means I'll have to carry this letter sheet on me at all times now. Isn't that right?
—Aha. I see. That's a small benefit for me too, then. Alright, let's put the deal aside and have a bit of small talk. First, there's something I'm curious about…. Yujin. What on earth was that shoddy Mana Pattern you used?
—You noticed that?
—Would I not? The pattern itself looked utterly pathetic and friendless…. It's someone you know, isn't it? A woman?
—…….
—It's a woman. Noted. If you'd borrow someone's power, you must be close to them…. I'll have to give her a thorough scolding when I meet her someday. Oh right. What dropped after you beat the Ogre?
—A chest came out, but I haven't opened it yet.
—Then open it and tell me what's inside.
—No.
—You miser.
After that, Yujin and Demociela spent a while exchanging words through the letter sheet.
For her, it was a rather satisfying day.
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Having fought at full strength, the feedback was equally great—Yuna, Silen, and Hyacinth were each left bedridden for 3 days with muscle pain.
And on the 4th day. They were able to gather at Yujin Snack Bar for a meal together.
"Wooaahh…. What is all of this?!"
I made the best of everything I was capable of.
Peach juice and pickled peaches. Grilled fish. Steamed fish. Various fritters, Chogye-tang, and grilled chicken, among others.
Wondering what I could do for the kids, I first decided to feed them.
The result was a staggering amount of oil, pepper, and salt. Quite literally emptying out what I had on hand, I walked through the markets of Rudra and Demeter.
Most of it was the usual menu I made regularly, but there was exactly 1 thing different—mixing wheat flour and potato starch to make a frying batter, then using chicken breast and leg meat brined with salt and pepper to make chicken.
To be precise, it was more like chicken-ish. The brine wasn't to my satisfaction, and the batter was uneven too. A thick-coated, homemade, clumped-together fritter of a thing—that's the kind of chicken that came out.
As expected, chicken too must be the product of capitalist research and development. Alongside it, I made a dipping sauce by mixing vinegar and tomatoes and set it out.
"As expected of Master! This chicken goes down endlessly!"
"Mm…. Mister's cooking never fails to amaze me no matter when I see it."
Naturally, there was no one who disliked chicken.
There were only those who liked it a little. Those who just liked it. And those who absolutely loved it.
If Yuna and Silen were at chicken-love level 3, then Hyacinth was….
"Wow…. This is…. Woah…. Hnngh…."
About level 20, it seemed.
Since it was a bit different from the chicken I'd eaten back in Korea, I tried my best. Fried chicken it was, but I also prepared salt and pepper on the side, and I set out Wheat Tteok fried in the same oil alongside it.
And in that storm of flavor, Hyacinth had ultimately even shed tears.
Being at an age where you can eat endlessly, and on top of that, a diet of fried things and carbohydrates—the kind of spread that even at my age would probably be rough on digestion—after finishing it all, we set peach iced tea and sweets in front of us and began talking.
"First, before we get into things…."
"Ah. Master. Before that—I want to see the treasure chest!"
"Hmm? Ah. Right."
That day. The reward from defeating the Ogre had been brought back unopened.
It was the result of what Yuna, Silen, and Hyacinth had hunted, so I figured it wasn't my place to open it on my own—and left it alone until today….
"Alright. Let's see what's inside then. Silen, you were the star of that battle—you do it."
"Sure. Got it."
Silen stepped forward, and Yuna asked me a question.
"Come to think of it, Master. Why did you merge with Silen instead of me?"
"Pfft?!"
"Y-Yuna Linforce…?"
Silen's and Hyacinth's faces went pale with shock at Yuna's words.
"Merge, you say. Watch your words."
"But you merged…."
Yuna tilted her head. This one has no idea how dangerous that word is.
"Haah. There are a few reasons, but in that situation, Silen was the most suitable."
"Ahaha. As expected, Mister knows what's what."
Silen smiled with satisfaction, and Yuna's eyes narrowed.
"I…. could have done well too…."
As Yuna grumbled, Silen crossed her arms and grinned.
"Unsightly. Yuna."
"Sh-shut up!"
"Mister's judgment at that moment was correct. I was the most suitable. That means I'm the one he trusts most, doesn't it?"
"Ugh, ngh…. No. I could have merged well too…!"
"But the one Mister chose as a partner was me, wasn't it?"
I'm not entirely sure why the 2 of them are fighting, but finishing a meal and then bickering between themselves isn't a pleasant sight.
Well then. Let me explain.
"First, let's call my resonance magic Pass Link. If I were to use Pass Link on Yuna here, 2 problems arise. 1 is that Hyacinth and Silen would be put in danger."
"Ah…. I see…. If I merged with you, I'd have to relay your Orders to Hyacinth and Silen…. So the Ogre would end up being dragged around."
"Correct."
"Ahah. Oh, that's it. Then a merge out of necessity is fine!"
"So that's how it was. Mister?"
This time Yuna laughed, and Silen went sulky.
“Is that all, you ask?”
"I said there were 2 reasons, didn't I. The 2nd reason is that I trusted Silen to follow my instructions most calmly and composedly."
"See? Yuna? This is what it means to be proof of trust."
"Ugh, ngh ngh ngh…!"
The dispute between Silen and Yuna reached its conclusion.
I'm not sure what they were fighting over, but regardless.
And then there was Hyacinth, who seemed frightened for some reason. No, what's up with her?
"While weighing between 2 people, tilting toward neither side to act as mediator…. A true enemy to women indeed…. Unbelievable. How does he have a tongue like that…."
"Hyacinth?"
"Eek…. I won't fall for words like that. D-don't come near me. No, please don't come near me…."
"……."
Truly. Kids this age are such a handful with all their emotions.
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The chest-opening ceremony of Silen, the meritorious hero of the last battle, continued.
"Okay. I opened it. Mister."
After a clean Lockpicking, the chest shimmered gold and clunked open.
And the things inside were taken out.
"Hmm…. This looks like beans…? And 3 fruits…. And 1 plant? What's this? Not much here, is there?"
"No, that's quite a lot. Some fairly amazing things came out."
"Really? What are these?"
I could use【Find】to analyze the flow of mana and identify the nature of the materials, but there was no need—I recognized them all too well by sight.
"Starting with the fruits—each one is a Fruit of Muscle Growth, a Fruit of Agility, and a Fruit of Resistance. They affect your stats the moment you consume them. And the plant is a Mana Growth Herb. All of them are magically imbued ingredients."
"Magically imbued…. Magic items?"
"That's right."
Being ingredients while also serving as growth aids, they dropped at an extremely rare rate even from dungeons that dropped stat-boosting items. I remember frantically grinding through dungeons just trying to get my hands on things like that.
"Then let's distribute them. First, the Fruit of Muscle Growth goes to Yuna, the Fruit of Agility to Silen. The Fruit of Resistance we'll set aside for now…. And Hyacinth eats the Mana Growth Herb."
"If it's Muscle Growth, won't my whole body turn muscular? I'm fine without it!"
"W-wait. Mister. What's the price on these? Is it really okay to just eat them?"
"I-is there something you want from me by feeding me such expensive elixirs?!"
All 3 refused simultaneously.
"The Fruit of Muscle Growth has the effect of sculpting the body beautifully. As for the price—don't worry about it. To beat stronger enemies going forward, it's an absolute must. And what I want in return is stronger damage output. Fair enough?"
I convinced all 3 at once.
"Then what will you be keeping, Master? The Fruit of Resistance is for you, isn't it?"
Yuna, eyes sparkling.
The consideration is appreciated, but I'm already far too advanced for something like those fruits to make a difference.
I'll sell it later, or store it in the treasury.
Finally, I looked at the beans at the bottom of the chest.
No matter how many times I ran Find, no special magical energy came from the beans. Just ordinary beans. And not just any beans—soybeans.
Wait. Actual soybeans?
…Could I make fermented soybean paste from this?
I don't know exactly how to make it. I know you soak the beans, boil them, and hang them up somewhere—but everything after that is uncharted territory even for me.
But.
If the base ingredient doesn't exist, you can't even start. And if the base ingredient does exist, you can at least try.
By whatever means necessary, I will make every dish on Gimcheon's menu—sworn to that dream, I had just taken a great stride forward.