VIP Suite (1)
We returned to the suite and immediately washed up. After finishing our showers and stepping out, Jang Gilsan was sitting at the dining table, reading the Yeongja newspaper.
He glanced at us and asked, "You haven't had breakfast yet, right?"
"Yeah."
"Wait a sec."
A delicious aroma was wafting from the kitchen. Peeking inside, I saw Jang Gilsan's secretary busily cooking something.
That musclebound giant is cooking?
Jang Gilsan's secretary was a towering figure over 185 cm tall, with a body that was more than just solid—it rippled with muscle. As far as I knew, he was a physical enhancement awakener who doubled as both secretary and bodyguard.
But he's also playing chef?
I couldn't even begin to fathom how capable the guy was.
Changing the subject, I asked Jang Gilsan, "How about ice cream for an appetizer?"
"Ice cream? This early in the morning?"
"I promised these two."
Saying that, I looked down at Aqua and Mandu.
[Hee~!]
[Sisit!]
The two beamed with excitement at the thought of ice cream.
A faint smile tugged at Jang Gilsan's lips.
"If they want it, we should get it for them."
"I'll go buy some. What do you want? Melona?"
"Heading to the basement mart? Hold on—no need."
Jang Gilsan picked up the intercom on the wall and held it to his ear.
"I'd like to order ice cream. Bring one tub of every flavor, please."
I stood there with my mouth agape for a moment before asking, "Did you just order ice cream via room service? There's room service here?"
He looked at me briefly and chuckled.
It was the kind of look that screamed country bumpkin.
"VIP perks go way beyond what you think."
[Ooh! So cool!]
Aqua proudly flashed a thumbs-up.
"I'll cover the ice cream. You're guests in my suite, after all."
"One of each flavor? That's gonna cost a fortune."
"It's nothing compared to the value of your Healing Water."
His words reminded me that I owed him two bottles of Healing Water.
"Aqua, can you make some Healing Water right now?"
[Huh? Oh, right—I forgot!]
Jang Gilsan quickly placed two empty Healing Water bottles in front of us. Aqua clasped her hands in front of her chest and produced the Healing Water.
Whoosh—!
In an instant, both bottles were filled to the brim with the transparent liquid brimming with infinite potential.
"Alright. Transaction complete."
Jang Gilsan carefully placed the bottles into a shock-absorbing case.
I smiled faintly at the sight.
In this era where the Water Spirit King was in seclusion, the emergence of Healing Water superior to high-grade undine water was crystal clear in its implications.
Any guild that gets their hands on us could dominate the global cosmetics market.
The Water Spirit King and her contractor were running a cosmetics company. More precisely, the contractor's family had leveraged the Spirit King's Healing Water to build a cosmetics empire.
Clearwater Cosmetics.
The company, named after the family, had skyrocketed to compete with the world's top players.
Their flagship line? Luxurious premium cosmetics infused with the Spirit King's Healing Water, of course.
But it was effectively discontinued five years ago when the Spirit King went into seclusion.
The world's billionaires had tasted the benefits firsthand. Now, without substitutes, they must be desperate.
If word got out about Aqua—who could produce Healing Water superior to upper-grade undines, even if not quite at the Spirit King's level?
Not just guilds—cosmetics companies would send scouts and employees flocking to Samcheok.
To them, we'd be walking lottery tickets.
And it wasn't limited to cosmetics. Guilds like Jeong Ri-on's Immortal Guild, focused on gate clears, would want us for healing and rehabbing injured hunters. Sprawling conglomerates like Jang Gilsan's Union Guild would covet us for pioneering new markets, be it cosmetics or food services.
Either way, top-tier Healing Water is too tempting to ignore.
That explained why Jeong Ri-on gave me his contact—and why Jang Gilsan worried about our Healing Water leaking out.
Knowing all this, I tried to act with confidence. Even in front of Jeong Ri-on, the idol of all spirit users, I was careful with every word to avoid underselling myself.
One careless move from me could drag Aqua down—or lift her up.
Someday, we'd become a massive storm. Countless hands would reach for us, but we'd soar beyond most of their grasp.
Aqua has that kind of potential.
I needed to get used to it. No room for rash actions that could tarnish her image.
Truth be told, my real heart's desire right now is to forget all that and just have fun with Aqua.
Foreseeing our future, I wanted at least this vacation to relax with her.
In that sense, Jang Gilsan and I saw eye to eye.
This guy's always clicked with me since way back.
With that thought, I opened the Spirit Shop and bought a Spirit Stone.
[Recharge time!]
Aqua snatched the Spirit Stone into her mouth and reached out to Mandu.
[Come here, Mandu!]
Mandu toddled over and leaped into Aqua's arms. I could feel a portion of Aqua's spirit power transferring through the hug.
As a wild spirit, Mandu needed spirit power to manifest in this world. Aqua was replenishing it for him.
Watching their embrace, the doorbell rang.
Room service had arrived.
[Ice cream's here!]
Aqua jumped up from her seat, still hugging Mandu, buzzing with excitement.
Jang Gilsan's secretary paused his cooking to grab the delivery. A massive tray held easily over 20 tubs of ice cream.
[Ooooh!]
Aqua threw her hands up in celebration at the feast before her. Mandu licked his chops from her shoulder.
In a flash, twenty flavors covered our table.
It was Häagen-Dazs, infamous for its price.
"Here."
I handed Aqua a spoon. She gripped it, her face lit with the happy dilemma of what to try first.
"For you too, Mandu."
I scooped a big dollop of vanilla into the nearest tub for him.
[Sisit?]
Mandu tilted his head, then flicked out his tongue for a lick.
[Shaaat!]
Startled by the cold, he scampered back. But soon he crept forward and chomped a big bite.
[Sisissit!]
A delighted, tasty sound.
[Nom!]
Aqua shoveled in a huge spoonful of chocolate hazelnut.
[Ooh! So sweet!]
Her cheeks bulged as she sparkled with joy. I could see the ice cream through her translucent skin.
She chewed diligently.
I chuckled. "Aqua, try raising the temperature in your mouth."
[Temperature?]
She tilted her head curiously but followed my advice, warming her mouth with spirit power. Water spirits could adjust their body heat at will.
Melt~
The ice cream liquefied in a rush.
[Ooooh!]
Aqua gulped down the overflowing sweetness.
[Delicious! Is this how humans eat ice cream?]
"Our body heat's higher."
[Super tasty!]
Aqua devoured it gleefully, hugging the tub between her legs and scooping nonstop. It was adorably cute.
I forgot my own ice cream and snapped photos furiously.
"Stop photographing and eat already."
"Yeah, okay."
I reached for mint chip—my favorite.
Even Jang Gilsan, who wasn't big on sweets, took a few bites.
[Hiaaaah!]
Suddenly, Aqua screamed and rolled across the table.
"Aqua!"
I scooped her up in a panic. She was trembling all over.
[Uuuuh...!]
"What's wrong?!"
Aqua weakly raised a hand to her belly, panting.
[It hurts!]
"Your stomach hurts?"
[My whole body hurts!]
I glanced at the table. She'd demolished one full tub and was over halfway through a second.
"Stomachache?"
I'd been too flustered by her scream to check earlier, but her spirit power was fine. Nothing seriously wrong.
Probably just a temporary tummy ache from overindulging.
"Phew..."
Thinking it was no big deal, I sighed in relief.
[It hurts! I'm serious!]
Maybe my obvious it's nothing face irked her—Aqua puffed her cheeks and whined.
I chuckled and gently lifted her onto my lap, rubbing her belly softly.
Singing the lullaby Mom used to croon when I was little.
"Aqua's tummy is a poopy tummy, my hand is a magic hand. Rub-a-dub-dub, all better now!"
[Poopy tummy?! No! Take it back!]
Even in pain, Aqua flailed her limbs in protest.
[Who you callin' a pig?]
"Got it, got it—canceled. Aqua's tummy is a cute tummy."
[Hmph!]
Aqua rolled onto her back on my lap, grabbed my hand tight, and chomped my finger with her mouth.
Playful punishment, I figured.
Gasp!
It sure was punishment. Each nibble on my finger chipped away at my heart bit by bit.
I might just die of a bursting heart one day.
* * *
[Siii...]
Stuffed with ice cream, Mandu skipped breakfast and napped in the sunlight. Salamanders always got sluggish after cold food.
It's not bad for his health.
After eating, Aqua and I watched Mandu snooze, then opened the Spirit Shop.
To buy a new quest with our remaining coins.
[Ooh!]
Aqua's eyes sparkled as she read this week's quest.
New Skill Acquisition
📍 Objective: Research and acquire a new technique usable in real combat by combining your power with your spirit.
This quest was blatantly combat-oriented.
[A new technique!]
Aqua crossed her arms proudly.
[In other words, time to create a fusion attack!]
She seemed thrilled.
"Huh?"
I checked the bottom of the quest window and widened my eyes in surprise.
"The reward...?"
Past rewards had always tied to our growth.
But this one was completely different—something unique.
Rewards like this are possible too?
With that question in mind, I purchased the quest.