Chapter 72

 

‘Is it that good?’

 

I was curiously looking at Yang Su-cheol, who was sniffling next to me and eating rice soup, and Seong San-ha, who was sitting opposite me, asked me with a chin.

 

“What the hell are you eating?”

 

“Who? Me?”

 

I lowered my gaze and glanced down at my hand. It was a protein supplement that I started taking instead of lunch a few days ago. I stirred a straw in a tumbler and answered lightly.

 

“Protein. It’s protein.”

 

“Why do you eat something like that without eating rice?”

 

“Of course…….”

 

I was going to answer unconsciously, but I closed my mouth when I saw Seong San-ha. Whose strong muscles that I can feel even from his open shoulders and outside his clothes. Why is he even asking me when he looks like that?

 

“Annoying bastard.”

 

“Why are you suddenly angry again?”

 

I ignored the snickering Seong San-ha and stirred the straw.

 

My body felt heavy because I only ate the food that squirrel cooked these days. Considering that I’m looking for a new gear for awakeners, it’s better to build up my physical strength in advance.

 

‘It’s fortunate that Joo Ho-hyun went on fields before.’

 

When I drank all the protein supplement at once, Seong San-ha, who was looking at it curiously with his chin on his hand, said nonsense again.

 

“Did you make it yourself?”

 

“……I buy it.”

 

“Of couse, there’s no way you would make it yourself.”

 

I flinched a little at Seong San-ha’s words and avoided his gaze as if I didn’t know what he was saying.

 

Actually, I’ve made it before. The problem was that the effect was so powerful that I became a crazy hulk as soon as I drank it. Eventually, the potion recipe was quietly discarded. 

 

I shook my head at the memory I had forgotten, and I looked to the side at Yang Su-cheol’s appearance as he got up from his seat.

 

“I, um, then I’ll get up now.”

 

“Already? Aren’t you going to finish eating?”

 

Surprised that Yang Su-cheol left his food uneaten, Seong San-ha asked, and Yang Su-cheol quickly jumped up and waved his hands.

 

“No, no! I have to clean. Oh, I also wanted to clean the garden today… right!”

 

“The garden? Just take a break. It looks clean enough.”

 

“No, I really want to try cleaning the garden from my heart! So, um, I’ll go now!!”

 

As I watched Yang Su-cheol rush out without a chance to stop him, Seong San-ha asked.

 

“Is that the new employee you hired?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Are you going to keep him around?”

 

“We need someone to greet customers. Seung-yeon can’t handle all the odd jobs forever. Honestly, I thought he was a bit clueless at first, but he seems more sincere about his work than I expected.”

 

Finding this amusing, Seong San-ha chuckle to himself and asked something he couldn’t earlier.

 

“Were you busy?”

 

“Why? Were you worried?”

 

“Yeah. I couldn’t sleep worrying about you. If you end up in an accident, doesn’t that mean I have to wear the leash for the rest of my life?”

 

“If I die, the leash will disappear automatically, so you don’t need to worry.”

 

Unexpectedly serious response came to the sarcastic remark. Hesitating for a moment, I asked with bewilderment.

 

“What do you mean, ‘if you die’…?”

 

“Mehhhh!”

 

My voice was drowned out by the sudden cry of Cloud, who had popped out of nowhere. With no one in the lobby, it was clear that Cloud had suddenly appeared. I ran my fingers through Cloud’s fluffy fur, which brushed against my legs.

 

“I told you not to come out when he’s around. He’s trying to catch you.”

 

“Mehhhhh.”

 

Seong San-ha glanced at it as if asking for its attention, but our clever Cloud didn’t even glance back. Chuckling, Seong San-ha burst into laughter when I offered Cloudy a treat.

 

“I didn’t realize feeding meant something like this… Treating him like an animal.”

 

“Cloud knows I understand him the best, so don’t worry about it.”

 

Although I replied in jest, I couldn’t help but wonder what “Hamal” meant. I picked up my phone. I had been meaning to look it up, but kept forgetting. Now was the time.

 

As soon as I entered the search term, the first thing that popped up was the constellation. And even more surprisingly, the constellation symbol was exactly the same as the pattern tattooed on my ankle.

 

“Hamal is the alpha star of Aries… Is it called Hamal because it looks like a sheep?”

 

“Wow, impressive. You caught on so quickly.”

 

His teasing voice made me squint. Below, Cloud was happily rolling around, as if saying, “Do you finally understand me?” It was a confident gesture.

 

“Hamal’s retention… A fragment of Aries’ alpha?”

 

Despite picking up scattered pieces of information and trying to piece them together, nothing significant came to mind. With a furrowed brow, I stard intently at Cloud, and Seong San-ha tapped my forehead lightly.

 

“Don’t worry about it. It’s better not to know.”

 

“…You know something.”

 

“Yeah. But I’m not planning on telling you.”

 

I hadn’t expected him to in the first place. He covered my face with his hand, smiling as he did so.

 

“Don’t get involved unnecessarily. Just live without any thoughts. Like you are doing right now.”

 

“Why does that sound like an insult?”

 

“Did I give myself away?”

 

“You bastard…!”

 

I pushed his arm away in annoyance, and Seong San-ha, unable to resist, leaned back against the sofa backrest, raising his eyebrows.

 

“I wasn’t in a situation where I could be contacted. I was on a business trip overseas for a while.”

 

“I’m not curious about that… Where did you go? Guild business?”

 

When I asked about going overseas, Seong San-ha replied in a nonchalant tone.

 

“Greece. Why? Do you want to go?”

 

“Yeah. How was it? If you have any photos, show me.”

 

“I don’t have any photos… But want to go with me next time?”

 

“With you? Ew, are you crazy? Forget it. I don’t even have a passport.”

 

“Having a passport isn’t the issue, but what will you do there?”

 

My first overseas trip was filled with fantasies of thorough preparation and a perfect journey. But with someone like Seong San-ha, would it really turn out that way?

 

‘I should just ask for the passport later…..’

 

Suddenly, an idea flashed through my mind.

 

“Let’s go to Russia.”

 

“What’s with the sudden change of heart?”

 

“I have an item I need to acquire.”

 

“Going all the way to Russia for that? Just buy it.”

 

“Since I can’t buy it, I thought we could go to Russia to get it.”

 

I searched everywhere—auction houses, Moonlight Bridge, online shops—but couldn’t find it, not even with money. I looked at Seong San-ha’s relaxed face and continued.

 

“It’s called the Windstorm Crystal. You can only get it from a boss monster in a place where blizzards rage.”

 

Since he might not understand just from the name of the material, I added an explanation. Seong San-ha’s reaction was a bit different from what I expected.

 

“Well, it might be difficult to obtain.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Russia operates under a single guild system. Currently, due to the Expo preparations, there are export restrictions on items. Especially for items like that, it’s better to wait until after the Expo ends. Or you could participate in it.”

 

“I don’t have time for that. Damn it. What’s so important about the Expo anyway…”

 

As I wrapped my hands around my head, Seong San-ha’s voice came from above.

 

“You don’t seem surprised, so I guess you already know about the Expo.”

 

“Yeah. I heard about it from Zero.”

 

“Can I ask why you need it?”

 

“Can’t you tell me? Researching recipes requires a deep understanding of various principles.”

 

As I waited for a response that didn’t come, I felt a penetrating gaze. Blinking my eyes, I eventually sighed and spoke, holding Cloud, who jumped onto my knees.

 

“Among the expected ingredients, there are two strong fire-element materials. At this rate, there must be something strong to offset them or else, other ingredients will be affected and won’t function properly. Since it’s difficult to measure with smaller ingredients, I’ll use powerful ice-element materials. Using strong materials means even a slight deviation could cause an explosion, and…”

 

As I continued to list out the things I had been pondering alone, Seong San-ha tilted his head and asked.

 

“Do you need to acquire the ingredients?”

 

“Huh?”

 

Thinking he was talking nonsense, I scowled and turned around, but Seong San-ha continued with a serious expression.

 

“If it’s an issue with the properties, there are methods using tools rather than ingredients. Although I don’t know the extent of the Winstorm Crystal, there are many tools in the equipment category that can handle fire properties. They’re not consumable, so they can be used multiple times.”

 

His words, more serious than I expected, left me speechless for a moment.

 

“Even if you can’t find the ingredients right away… the Abyss Crystals? They have the ability to absorb fire and are commonly used by blacksmiths.”

 

“You… You’re pretty smart. How did you know that?”

 

“I’ve used similar ones before. I even have a few.”

 

“I’ll buy them. Sell them to me.”

 

The moment I said that, Seong San-ha burst into laughter and shook his head.

 

“I have the urge to just give them to you because you seem so desperate. Unfortunately, they’re bound items, so I can’t transfer them.”

 

Damn, bound items just when I could use them. That meant I had to go get them myself. But I couldn’t go alone. What about Lim Cheong and Zero’s schedules…?

 

Considering their schedules, I got up from my seat.

 

“Where did you get this? Which dungeon?”

 

At my question, Seong San-ha smiled and rolled his eyes.

 

“I am ready to ask you a favor.”

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

Seong San-ha crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow as I looked at him warily. I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh, when I finally realized what he meant.

 

“Now I have mercenaries too. Do you think I’d ask for a favor from you?”

 

“They seemed busy when I asked them.”

 

“Don’t investigate my mercenaries, you stalker bastard!”

 

“Mehhhh!”

 

Not to be outdone, I stood proudly and shouted, and Cloud at my feet also added strength. Seong San-ha looked at me and Cloud in turn with a amused expression and nodded.

 

“Then, good luck. I’ll tell you out of goodwill. You can find the Abyss Crystals in the Great Blue Dungeon.”