Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: I'm Gonna Be a Farming Tycoon!
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You've probably heard stories like this before.
People stepping into paintings, or getting trapped inside them.
'I still have one creation slot left.'
A drawn space. Not just a flat 2D plane defined by width and height coordinates, but something that transcends into the third dimension—a fully independent fourth-dimensional space-time.
And to me, this concept felt surprisingly straightforward. Why? Because my canvas was already three-dimensional to begin with.
For someone like me who paints with mana as my medium to cast magic, the mana filling the air itself was my canvas.
'Drawing, let's start with the frame.'
What I intended to draw was the desert I'd seen in that A-rank gate before.
Just drawing it outright might make the whole desert burst out uncontrollably, so I separated the space using the concept of a frame.
Next came the golden sand.
Recalling the feel of the beach sand underfoot, I filled the ground, then created a massive oasis and sandbar at its center.
I nodded at the sketch that now roughly resembled a desert, but something felt off... empty somehow.
Ah, it was missing that scorching heat.
Realizing the issue, I painted a sun-like flame in the sky above the desert. With the large frame as the boundary—like an invisible partition—the desert painting was complete.
This is it!
With the notification, the completed frame floated before me.
At first glance, it was just a picture frame with a painting. The back looked like any ordinary frame. Cautiously, I reached into the painting, and heat immediately tingled at my fingertips.
The subspace had been perfectly realized!
Confirming the creation had turned out as intended, I grabbed a mana herb fruit and stepped boldly into the frame.
A wave of desert swelter hit me.
A massive flame blazed like a will-o'-the-wisp in the sky, and fine sand trickled softly under my feet.
"( ˶°ㅁ°) !! "
In the midst of it, Dali popped out in curiosity but darted back into me at the intense heat. Not great for a water spirit, I guess. Even though I'd made an oasis and all.
But I was sweltering too, so I hurried across the oasis to the sandbar and planted the mana herb fruit I'd brought at its center, covering it back with sand.
A tiny, translucent blue sprout shot up in an instant. The quest completed, generating another mana herb fruit in my hand, but my eyes were fixed on that little sprout.
'It grows this fast? Am I gonna become a farming tycoon?'
I watched patiently, enduring the blistering heat, imagining strings of mana herb fruits like grapes, selling them off for riches.
"... "
The sprout had germinated quickly, but that was it—no further progress. Was I being too greedy? Yeah, if it grew that fast, it'd be a money-printing cheat. Kinda unrealistic.
Snapping out of it late, I stared at the new mana herb fruit for a moment before digging a hole next to the sprout and planting it too.
Anyway, planting duplicates it! If it bears fruit there, plant again for four, then eight! Hold back on temptation, stick to the farm(?), and I can duplicate infinitely!
Gazing fondly at the two sprouts side by side, I spun around and bolted toward the distant view of my room.
Hot! So hot!
I'd come straight from relaxing in my room, barefoot without even socks. My soles were cooking in real time, moisture evaporating from my skin.
The moment I emerged, I dashed to the bathroom and cooled my feet under the shower. Come to think of it, my whole body was sticky. I'd played in the sea and hadn't properly washed up.
I filled the tub and soaked in it. Before long, Dali reappeared, bobbing around on the surface. I caught her and scrubbed her belly and all over while cleaning myself.
Do spirits even need baths? Well, she seemed to love it, and with her water affinity, it wasn't a hassle.
"Dali, starting tomorrow, you can come out and play in my office at least."
"⸜(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)⸝"
Jin Tae-san was a worry, but he hadn't shown up lately with how busy he was. If he found out, a little threat would handle it, right?
The association could only push hunters around so hard because of me. If word about Dali spread or they tried using her, I'd just quit.
I could head to Heavenly Flame Guild, or worst case, just farm and sell mana herbs to become a tycoon overnight. Money was no longer an issue for me.
S-rankers might not need them much, but mana herb fruits were like elixirs to hunters.
That said, A-rank gates with mana herbs in the desert didn't pop up often, so their value was sky-high.
"Heh heh, screw it all and just play? What do you think, Dali?"
"(ง *´▽`* )ว"
Whether she preferred playing or not, Dali floated blissfully, enjoying my soapy hands. This is why people get insurance. With a solid backup, confidence overflows.
After the bath, I lounged on the sofa with Dali, sipping banana milk, when a text came from the art academy director.
-Iroha, you haven't been to the academy lately. Busy? Just checking if you forgot classes resumed. Oh, and about that painting volunteer work I mentioned before tomorrow—let me know if you're interested.
Oh, the academy. I'd texted I'd come but got sidetracked with Cheon I-ryeong dragging me around and forgot. Volunteer work... right, that thing from before. Something about it inspiring creations.
Seeing familiar things from a fresh angle could definitely spark ideas. Not a bad offer, so I replied right away.
A lavish party hall. Dazzling chandeliers and impressive artworks adorned the space, where top-shelf wine flowed freely.
But more astonishing than the scene was the crowd—all top-tier hunters whose names anyone in the country would recognize.
And among them, even fellow hunters rarely approached certain figures.
"Long time no see, Guild Master Chae."
"You look sharper than ever, Guild Master Park."
Leaders from major guilds, led by Abyss and Naraka, had gathered in one place.
Smiles like any other partygoers, but sharp, probing glances flashed between them now and then.
"Thank you all for coming. I appreciate you making time despite your busy schedules."
"When Guild Master Chae calls, how could we not? "
"Haha, no need to flatter me—I'm powerless, so nothing comes out of it? Guild Master Choi."
Abyss Guild Master Chae Myung-in lightened the mood with a joke, casually raising his wine glass in a toast. The others followed suit, eyes locked on him as they drank.
"You're all busy, so I'll cut to the chase. I gathered you today to discuss the Hunter Association."
"Ugh..."
"The association..."
"Hm."
The word "association" froze the jovial atmosphere in an instant, a suffocating tension filling the hall. No surprise—most guilds had suffered directly or indirectly since its launch.
"We've voluntarily protected this land all this time. Two years since gates appeared. We've shielded people from those horrific monsters, risking death day and night—us hunters."
"That's right!"
"We've been through hell!"
Cheers of agreement erupted here and there. Regardless of intentions, his words rang true. The indignant faces adding their voices were deadly serious.
"Exactly. This land we defended with our blood and sweat—and now the association wants to take it with empty words after we've barely stabilized it. Does that make any sense?"
"Of course not! We need to protest at the National Assembly! Block it with petitions if we have to!"
"The association's gotten cocky lately—gates here, bellies there... they've made a habit of it!"
"I say we all strike as one to remind them of their folly!"
Griping voices burst out everywhere, and "strike" caught everyone's ear, piquing the guild masters' interest.
"Strike sounds good! If we unite against them, what can they do?"
"If we back down now, who knows what they'll demand next! We need to force a withdrawal immediately!"
The association and Heavenly Flame Guild hogging media attention lately was another issue. This could hinder recruiting new members.
In short, fail to check the association now, and the guilds opposing it would wither away. Most here were staunchly anti-association.
"So, I have one proposal for you all."
Chae Myung-in's words silenced the clamor instantly.
Abyss was Seoul's second-largest guild after Heavenly Flame. With Naraka backing it, this proposal was no trifle.
Scanning the quiet room, Chae Myung-in nodded leftward and spoke again.
"We propose forming a federation to counter the association and establish a new hunter order through mutual cooperation. Abyss, Naraka, Guardian, Union—we've aligned on this. Now, we'd like your input."
"Four of Seoul's top five guilds... all major ones except Heavenly Flame."
"Correct. Heavenly Flame, cozying up to the association, isn't worth mentioning. This is for true hunter advocates."
The room buzzed with whispers as they weighed the proposal's merits and feasibility.
"But the association's terms are too generous—new hunter recruitment has dried up. Do we stand a chance?"
Han Chi-seok of the mid-tier Iron Blood Guild voiced concerns. It was on everyone's mind, so all eyes turned to Chae Myung-in.
Smiling faintly, he beckoned. Two women emerged from a side room in the hall.
"If the association does it, so can we. Abyss and Naraka's two healers—Hunter Chae Jeong-ah and Hunter Min Ji-yeon—will prioritize care for federation guilds going forward."
Chae Jeong-ah, with her even sharper glare, and the much smaller, frail-looking Min Ji-yeon appeared before the platform.