Chapter 21
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Delivery into the Dungeon
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"...Nim! Master!"
"Mm... Wanna sleep more."
"Master! Please snap out of it already! Sob sob sob."
'Mimi's voice...?'
Hold on a second.
'What was I doing again...?'
A flood of intense memories pierced through her drowsy mind.
Taking S-Rank Hunter Shin Ha-rang's order and heading into the SS-Rank Dungeon for delivery. Encountering a swarm of sandworms there, beating them down with her skills, and stubbornly salvaging their meat.
"Please! Wake up! We're so worried!"
"Hwah!"
At the cute summoned rabbit's wails, Chae-ryeon snapped her eyes open.
"You're awake!"
"Thank goodness! You're back!"
Mimi and Manager Sol-chan, seeing their master come to, were overjoyed and leaped into her arms.
"Wha... What happened?"
'I was definitely in the SS-Rank Dungeon, <Mirage Quest>...'
But the place she opened her eyes to was none other than her familiar one-room apartment where she lived.
As the dazed Chae-ryeon blinked blankly, Manager Sol-chan quickly brought her some lukewarm barley tea and explained.
"Our second customer was the one who carried you out."
"Shin Ha-rang?"
"Yes. Strangely enough, even after you passed out, the skill you used, <Invincible Delivery Knight>, didn't wear off. Just having Shin Ha-rang carry you kept its effects active."
"Thanks to that, we were able to ride the motorcycle safely out of the dungeon!"
Mimi, her eyes red and puffy from all the crying—tears still welling up like goat droppings—sniffled as she spoke.
"Then how did we get home? There's no way that customer knew my address..."
'He's not a stalker, is he?'
Before misunderstandings could bloom in Chae-ryeon's mind, Mimi and Manager Sol-chan hurriedly shook their heads.
"No!"
"That customer didn't bring you!"
"Then?"
As Chae-ryeon demanded an explanation from atop the bed, the two summoned beings answered honestly.
"Manager Sol-chan carried you on his back, and this humble Mimi used our return-home skill to get us back safely."
"A skill? You summoned beings have skills too?"
To Chae-ryeon, whose eyes widened round, Mimi shyly confessed.
"They're nothing compared to helping you cook, Master, but in emergencies like this, they're enough to get us back to the safety of home."
"I see. Mind if I ask the name of the skill you used to return?"
"It's <Let's Go Home>."
'A skill that's exactly as named.'
Chae-ryeon smiled inwardly but said nothing, making Mimi anxious. She hurriedly added an explanation.
"We can't use it every time... but if we judge the master is in peril, it's an emergency skill we can activate. This humble Mimi is glad to use it right where it's needed for you, Master!"
"I'm also relieved I learned human disguise. Otherwise, we might've exposed the location of your nest, which you still wish to keep hidden."
"...Thank you both. Really."
The summoned beings' red and green eyes, brimming with anticipation for praise, were so adorable and reliable that Chae-ryeon pulled them into a tight hug.
'So warm.'
A cozy warmth spread through her body.
Chae-ryeon hesitated, then parted her lips.
"...And sorry. I collapsed out of nowhere and worried you guys, huh?"
"..."
"..."
Mimi and Manager Sol-chan clamped their mouths shut, not wanting to scold their master.
"It's okay to be honest. I totally deserved a scolding."
'I nearly got trapped in a closing dungeon.'
Bracing for a lecture, Chae-ryeon bowed her head low before the two.
"Come on, now's your chance to chew me out!"
She squeezed her eyes shut, expecting a barrage of words or a flick on the forehead. Instead, soft, fluffy paws gently rested on her head.
"...Just this once! We forgive you."
"Same here."
"You guys..."
The white rabbit and raccoon huffed, puffing out their cheeks in mock sulkiness.
"It's not that we have nothing to say! Promise us you won't do anything this reckless again."
"Exactly. Summoned beings have a duty to protect their master above all. Hunting delicious monster meat with system-gifted skills is important, but your safety comes first."
At their kind yet stern words, Chae-ryeon fidgeted with the blanket in her hands.
"...Got it. Sorry for worrying you. I promise it won't happen again!"
"Pinkie swear!"
"I agree with Senior Mimi."
"Gasp... Y-You! You called me senior!"
Mimi flushed and beamed, while Manager Sol-chan adjusted his glasses matter-of-factly.
"You're the first summoned to serve the master, so 'senior' fits best."
"Still! You're such a good guy!"
Mimi pounced on Manager Sol-chan, rubbing her cheeks against his. He recoiled in horror and pushed her away.
"Wh-Wh-What are you doing! I didn't permit such close contact!"
"Ohhh~?"
Mischief sparkled in Mimi's red eyes.
'Mimi... You've gotten close to Sol-chan.'
Chae-ryeon alone giggled at the peaceful, lively scene.
Then she remembered something.
"Oh, right. What about Shin Ha-rang?"
"That customer said..."
Mimi plopped onto the bed and spooned some homemade abalone porridge to Chae-ryeon's mouth.
"Finish this abalone porridge, and I'll tell you."
"I-I can feed myself."
"Nuh-uh! No speaking privileges for a master bedridden from overusing skills!"
"Senior Mimi is absolutely right. You need rest, Master."
"Ugh... Fine. Fine."
Chae-ryeon obediently ate the steaming abalone porridge. The two summoned beings watched with satisfaction.
As the bowl neared empty, Manager Sol-chan brought dessert: sikhye.
"Sikhye for good digestion."
"Whoa! Pumpkin sikhye! Good choice. I love this stuff."
Chae-ryeon gulped it down happily like a kid.
"Okay, so what happened with our second customer?"
"When we said we could take care of you safely, he hesitated but said alright and returned to his place."
"That's it?"
"Of course, he left a thorough review!"
Chae-ryeon's face lit up.
"Good job!"
'Reviews affect my skills and level-ups later, right?'
"Lemme see. What'd he write?"
[Retrieving review left by the ordering customer.]
[Fetching Shin Ha-rang's review.]
Rating: ★★★★★
Attachment: Proof pic of the empty 5-tier bento box. IMG_10382
Review: It was truly delicious bento. The grand name 'King of Kings Bento' was well-deserved; I could feel the delivery hunter's sincere care, and it moved me deeply.
It was special—the first time eating tasty food in a dungeon. If the chance arises again, I'd love to order from you once more.
P.S. The chicken porridge... It soothed my empty stomach. As an S-Rank Hunter, I could've eaten anything, but that warm gesture really touched me.
My contact: 010-****-****. If you ever need help, feel free to visit Wing Guild anytime.
Repurchase Intent: YES
"...Wow."
'So kind, too.'
As Chae-ryeon marveled, a belated mission success alert popped up.
Bonus Quest: Mission Stage 3 (1/1)
🎉 Bonus Quest cleared successfully!
🏆 Stage 3 Reward: Skill <Become My Ingredient!> acquired!
'Thank you so much. He even left such a thoughtful review—ignoring his contact would be rude, wouldn't it?'
As Chae-ryeon pondered, the two summoned beings stared at her wide-eyed.
"Gasp. Wh-Why?"
'Did they starve while I was out?'
That wouldn't make her a good master.
Fretting, Chae-ryeon asked. Mimi and Manager Sol-chan shook their heads.
"We ate plenty before you woke, Master!"
"We made three servings of abalone porridge and split it, so no need to worry."
"Uh... Then why the serious faces?"
Truly baffled, Chae-ryeon asked. Mimi furrowed her brow deeply at her master.
"Master... Do you... like that customer Shin Ha-rang?"
"Whaaat?"
What bolt from the blue was this? Chae-ryeon had just met Shin Ha-rang—no feelings at all!
'The only feeling? Gratitude, that's it!'