VIP Suite (2)
Acquire New Technique
📍 Objective: Research and acquire a new technique that we can use together in real combat by combining our powers.
🎁 Reward:Prophecy
[Prophecy?] Aqua’s eyes widened in surprise. I was just as shocked.
Prophecy meant foreseeing and revealing future events.
‘Does the Spirit Shop have the power to see into the future too?’
I pondered it briefly before brushing the thought aside. It was already well-known that unique traits came with strange powers and functions.
‘That’s not the issue. The real problem is how tough this quest is.’
Despite the simple phrasing of “Acquire New Technique,” this was a real challenge.
[Such a simple quest!]
Aqua clapped her hands and drew water from her cup, shaping it into an arrow.
[Behold! A water arrow!]
Aqua gazed proudly at the quest window. But no “Completed” message appeared—nothing changed at all.
Aqua tilted her head.
[Why no reaction?]
She tapped the quest window repeatedly. Still nothing.
“Aqua, that’s not a new technique.”
[It isn’t?]
“You could do that from the beginning.”
[Hmm…….]
Aqua looked down at her hands.
“And besides, I didn’t help create it.”
[Hmm…… You’re right.]
Aqua nodded. That was exactly why the quest was so hard. We had to create a technique we could use together.
‘The only skill I can use is Water Shield.’
Water spirits could manipulate water freely, unbound by “techniques” or “skills”—they wielded nature itself. Spirits were beings who commanded the natural world as it was.
Spirit users, on the other hand, could only handle water through their skills or spirit magic. Humans didn’t wield nature; we borrowed its power through tools.
‘So, a new technique from combining powers: one who can do anything and one who’s limited to specifics.’
It was a seriously tough puzzle.
‘Now this is a proper quest.’
A high-difficulty one, at that.
By the time vacationers fully dove into water play, I called Mom.
“Sleep well?”
-Of course. You too, son?
“Yep. Hey, I’m planning to stay at the resort a few more days.”
-Because of those scouts from yesterday?
“That too, but I’ve got stuff to do. Sorry I can’t help out.”
-Don’t worry about it. It’s vacation—enjoy it with your friend.
“Got it. I’ll call tomorrow.”
I hung up and gazed out the window. White clouds dotted a vivid blue sky over an endless azure sea. Below, on the private beach for Phoenix Resort guests, people splashed in the waves.
‘Relaxation and recharge……’
It matched the motto perfectly. That was part of why I’d chosen to stay here instead of heading back to the guesthouse. Unlike home—flooded with guests and chores—this place let me focus on Aqua.
I felt bad for Mom and Dad, but I’d make it up by working extra hard when I returned.
[Hmm…….]
Aqua was still tilted on the sofa, pondering the new technique. Her head leaned so far she might topple.
[Uuum…….]
I sat beside her, gently scooping her into my arms and onto my lap.
[It’s hard.]
“It is. So let’s not stress.”
[Huh?]
Aqua looked up curiously. I hadn’t come here to rack my brain over techniques with her.
I wanted to build happy memories and fun times together.
“Ideas come from everyday life, you know.”
[They do?]
“Yeah. So let’s just relax. It’ll hit us eventually.”
[Got it!]
Trusting my words without question, Aqua leaned against me with a smile.
[Ssit?]
Mandu hopped onto my thigh and flopped over. I knew what these two wanted.
“Tickle tickle tickle!”
I tickled their bellies. Aqua’s cool, squishy feel mixed with Mandu’s warm softness.
[Heeheehee!]
[Ssi-sit!]
They giggled, clinging to my hands. Mandu even licked my fingers.
After a good while, they went limp, satisfied.
“Heh heh……”
I chuckled softly, reaching for the TV remote. Time for a group watch.
Flipping channels, I hit kids’ shows—probably summer break specials.
Then my finger paused.
-……known as the great king whale, the humpback’s staple is krill shrimp.
[Oh?]
An ocean documentary. Aqua glued herself to the screen as a humpback swam.
[Not a fish!]
-Humpbacks need massive food for their size—up to four tons of krill daily……
The footage captured a diver and whale diving together. Aqua tilted her head, then jolted.
[That next to it is a human?! That fish is huge!]
I stroked her cheek, laughing. “Humpback whales are the biggest animals in the human world.”
[Ssit…….]
Mandu sounded daunted by the scale.
[Ooooh……!]
Aqua’s eyes sparkled brighter.
[Amazing! The ocean is incredible!]
She clung to me. [I wanna see a whale! Where? How do I?]
“Sadly, tough to spot in our country.”
[Oh……?]
Aqua pouted.
“Don’t worry. Overseas trips are easy these days.”
[Overseas?]
“Earn some cash, and I’ll take you whale-watching.”
Her eyes lit up instantly.
[Ooh……! Promise!]
“Yeah. Pinky promise.”
I offered my pinky. “Humans do this for promises. Pinky out.”
Aqua mimicked with her short, chubby pinky. Too stubby to hook, so we pressed pinkies and thumbs together firmly.
“Promise.”
[Heehee! Promise!]
Aqua wiggled our joined fingers, giggling. Her cheeks and eyes glowed like sunlight undersea.
[Ssit!]
Mandu stacked his tiny paw on ours.
“Haha, of course Mandu too.”
Overseas trip with spirits: added to my bucket list. Whale-watching for Aqua, definitely.
-Next up: the great white shark. If humpbacks are the ocean’s sages, this is the tyrant……
The next star was a shark.
[Ooooh!]
Aqua dove back into the screen.
[Such sharp teeth! One bite and you’re dead!]
She gasped in horror and awe, eyes wide till the end.
[Whoa!]
Aqua sighed like after a great movie.
[So many amazing creatures in the ocean!]
“It’s Mom’s ocean.”
[Mom’s ocean……! The ocean’s incredible!]
Aqua giggled, then scooped Mandu—not under the arms like usual, but cradling head and belly like bread.
[Ahh~.]
She opened wide. Her neat teeth sharpened like a shark’s—a trivial shift for a water spirit.
And—
[Nom!]
Aqua chomped Mandu.
[Siaat?!]
Mandu flailed in shock—probably his first bite.
[Munch munch.]
Aqua chewed enthusiastically. Mandu’s screams turned to giggles as he went limp.
Her teeth looked fierce but bounced softly like water balloons.
‘Aqua wouldn’t really hurt Mandu.’
She was just playing shark.
[Sniff sniff!]
Aqua sniffed my hand like tasty prey, then—chomp!
Poing, squishy bliss enveloped my hand.
“Eek!”
I yelped playfully, shaking gently. Aqua dangled by her teeth and jaw, eyes crescent moons of joy.
Chomp! My other hand got Mandu—barely my thumb, given his size. He wanted in on the shark game.
Both hands sharked, I shrieked happily, swinging my arms.
I spent the day with Aqua and Mandu watching TV. After dinner, Jang Gilsan joined for late-night movies.
‘Is it okay to be this chill?’
Cool AC, Aqua’s chill body—I forgot it was summer. Popcorn at my side, snacks piled on the table, endless flicks.
‘This is hotel vacationing.’
I’d never got staying in pricey hotels over beach trips. But today? I loved hotel stays.
‘With these guys, anywhere’s paradise.’
I tickled Aqua and Mandu in my arms.
[Heeheehee!]
[Ssi-sit!]
Mandu rolled belly-up for more. I scratched his smooth, soft tummy.
“Not sick of them after all day?”
Jang Gilsan looked amazed.
“Never. Who gets sick of family?”
“Family, huh……”
“Oh, forgot—thanks for letting us crash.”
“No biggie. Room’s too big and lonely solo. Better with company.”
His usual flat tone—seemed cold to outsiders, but I knew better. He spoke gruff to hide caring.
I played along, changing topics. “No Seoul trip? Work?”
“Tech’s good now—handle everything remote.”
That explained the constant calls from his room. Remote work.
“Oh.”
He turned, as if just remembering. “You didn’t tell the kids about Aqua.”
“Kids? Who?”
“Who else—club juniors.”
“Right.”
Our academy club had Han Areum and Han Deuri too.
“They’ll sulk if you don’t.”
Jang Gilsan grimaced preemptively.
“Yeah, been neglecting them.”
Felt guilty—they deserved first dibs on this joy.
He waved it off. “Whatever. Night snack? Chicken?”
“Snacks mean chicken.”
No debate.
Clock hit 10 p.m.
[Yaaawn.]
Aqua’s yawn ended movie night. I carried her and Mandu to bed.
[Nutyube before sleep!]
Aqua wanted comments. Our two-day-old videos hit 600k views combined. Comments topped 1,000.
[Oh! Look! Mermaid Princess Challenge!]
New challenge vid up.
[It’s Mulsuja!]
Spirit Knights’ water spirit users posted it.
[Ningppa nangppa morgai~!]
Five undines sang on a sunken ship’s deck—group trip, apparently.
[Awesome! Next time with undines!]
I chuckled, stroking Aqua’s nape as she dove in.
[Ssit?]
Mandu tilted, confused.
Aqua beamed. [Know what this is, Mandu? My trend!]
[Ssit?]
[Haha! Duh! I’m future Spirit King!]
Aqua stretched, then flopped.
“Bedtime?”
[Sleep!]
[Ssit!]
Lights out, bodies touching, we tried sleeping.
But no dice.
[Can’t sleep!]
Aqua whined tiredly.
[Exhausted but no sleep—why?!]
I knew why.
“That coffee ice cream from earlier.”
[Coffee?]
“Has stuff that keeps you awake.”
[Why eat that?! Humans are hopeless! Brains dead?]
Aqua flailed blamefully.
“Lullaby?”
[Yes!]
I patted my chest to my heartbeat, singing softly. “Mommy under the island shade~.”
Aqua closed her eyes, listening. By verse four, she snored softly.
Satisfied, I buried into the pillow.
My turn.
But no sleep.
-……Eeeeng~.
Another issue.
-Waaaaang~.
“……”
-WAAAAAAAAAANG-!
[What’s that?!]
Aqua woke. Murderous intent rose in my chest.
[What?! Flybug?! Why so noisy?!]
“Guess he snuck in.”
I sighed.
[He?]
Summer’s unwelcome guest.
Insomnia’s guard.
Humanity’s ancient foe.
Many nicknames, one name.
I uttered it with deep exasperation.
“Mosquito.”