Blooming (1)
Blooming (1)
Zzzzing.
My phone rang. I checked the screen and saw a message from Ho-dong. It was basically saying he had collected all the information on the people I asked him to look into.
I sent him a text thanking him, and then sent him a gift voucher I had bought in advance as a reward for his hard work.
I lowered my gaze and briefly checked my clothes. I dusted off my shirt to see if there was any dust on it, then straightened my collar. I also took a quick look at my pants to check for any stains.
I turned on the mirror app on my phone to check my face. Clean skin without any blemishes and a sharp nose. I'm quite handsome. No, that's not it. I checked my face to see if there was anything on it.
'Nothing wrong.'
I sighed internally. For some reason, I get nervous whenever I come here. As I stood around in the faculty office for about a minute, the others started to arrive. Yoon Chae-rin, the Cheonma with red eyes, had a confident expression and shiny blonde hair. And her younger brother, Yoon Seung-ha. When Yoon Seung-ha made eye contact with me, he smiled slightly and waved.
I didn't want to just stand there, so I waved back.
"What, when did you two get so close?"
"We got close during the dungeon training last time, you know."
Yoon Seung-ha said softly. Yoon Chae-rin looked at him with a strange expression before turning to me. I shrugged at her look, which seemed to ask if something had happened.
"What, people were here first?"
Eun Su-ah arrived, dressed in an outfit that felt more sexy than delinquent. Lee Ji-ah was also coming behind her, laughing. Kim Ha-rin was sticking to Lee Ji-ah's side. When did they get so close? I was puzzled, but since everyone who was called had gathered, I knocked.
Knock, knock.
-Come in.
A delicate, beautiful voice was heard. I opened the door. Creak, the sound of the wooden door rubbing against the frame echoed. The scent of fresh grass brushed against the tip of my nose.
Golden hair that looked like melted pure gold. Green eyes that seemed to see through everything looked at me.
"It's been a while."
She opened her mouth. I bowed my head to greet her.
"Hello."
"Yes. Don't just stand there, come inside."
At Titania's words, we entered. Before I could close the door, it shut by itself.
"Shall I serve some refreshments?"
"Yes. Green tea, please."
I said at her words. Everyone else also asked for green tea.
"I'll have black tea."
......Except for Eun Su-ah.
I would prefer coffee, but Titania doesn't like coffee. What she likes is green tea. We sat on the sofa. A woman with grey hair tied up appeared before us, took out a teapot, and poured us each a cup of tea.
Even though she poured the liquid from about 30cm above the teacup, it didn't splash anywhere and she poured the exact amount. It was an elegant sight. I should try that sometime.
I was surprised, but I didn't act like it. I glanced to the side and saw Lee Ji-ah looking surprised, and I could feel Kim Ha-rin waver for a moment. Eun Su-ah was desperately trying to act calm, but her expression was frozen in a strange distortion.
I brought the tea she poured to my lips. It was slightly bitter, but I liked the scent.
I thought while drinking the tea.
Grande Hill.
The loyal servant who serves the Fairy Queen. She has a trait related to 'Space' and is a specialist in movement. Depending on whether or not I can recruit her, the range of my actions will change completely.
What she likes is anything that helps Titania and Yoon Chae-rin, who resembles her. I don't know how that tomboy resembles Titania at all.
"Do you know why I called you?"
"Because of the rewards?"
Yoon Chae-rin answered Titania's question. At her appearance, she smiled slightly and nodded.
"Yes. Although there was one group I was worried about......."
At her words, Lee Ji-ah and Kim Ha-rin flinched.
"First, Chae-rin and Seung-ha. You swept the Dark Spirit wonderfully."
Yoon Chae-rin nodded as if it were natural, and Yoon Seung-ha felt awkward. They had swept the Dark Spirit with almost no damage, but he was embarrassed because they had done it so loudly.
"Su-ah also completed it wonderfully. You defeated the variant troll that appeared in the mountains in one blow, right?"
At Titania's praise, Eun Su-ah nodded with a solemn expression. Her mouth was twitching, which didn't look good. She bowed her head and looked at me for a moment. As if to say, 'I'm this good.'
"You all completed it wonderfully. So, I've decided to open the treasure vault specially this time."
At her words, everyone's gaze snapped toward her.
The Fairy race's treasure vault. A vault filled with treasures that the Fairy race offers to their queen.
Fairy race.
It's a broad term, but it includes elves and dwarves, which are familiar to us. From the rare Spirit race to fairies the size of a finger, nymphs who retain the appearance of young children, and dryads who are spirits of trees.
Items made by fairies, who all possess innate natural and elemental powers, contain mystery in themselves.
"Choose one by one."
She smiled with her eyes and pulled a scroll from thin air. Then she unfolded the scroll and floated it in the air so we could all see it. The whole process was smooth. Lee Ji-ah and Yoon Seung-ha admired the sight.
Whether or not they did, others were already looking at the items. The scroll had pictures of things like swords or bows. The only downside was that there were no descriptions.
However, as someone who is a veteran regarding Loque, I remembered all the essential items, so it wasn't a problem.
"Ha-rin, you pick this."
"Huh, this?"
I pointed to a yellow orb. Orb of Heavenly Light. It's an item that enhances light-related powers. It's the item that suits Kim Ha-rin best.
"It's an orb that amplifies light-related abilities."
"Really?"
Kim Ha-rin nodded and showed a moment of hesitation. At my recommendation, Titania smiled faintly and nodded.
"Ji-ah, this. Laplace's Orb. It assists with spellcasting, but......."
"Okay, got it."
Lee Ji-ah chose the purple orb without hesitation. Titania smiled, reached out to summon the orb, and gave it to Lee Ji-ah.
A round orb in the form of a purple mana stone wrapped in black crystal. Lee Ji-ah infused it with mana for a moment and then looked surprised.
"Whoa, this......."
"Which one do you think is good for me?"
Eun Su-ah asked in an intrigued voice. For Eun Su-ah, rather than a weapon that enhances her traits, equipment with abilities that allow her to run wild more would be better.
"Su-ah, this would be good for you."
I recommended black shoes with an eagle engraved on them.
"This? Then I'll take this."
As Eun Su-ah chose it immediately at my words, those around her looked at her with strange eyes.
"...Is it okay to pick like that?"
"You recommended it. Then it must be the best item for me."
Eun Su-ah said with a grin. I felt my face getting hot for some reason, so I continued the explanation.
"It's Wings of Flash. It will boost your lacking mobility."
"Really?"
Eun Su-ah muttered "As expected" at my words, then slipped off her slippers and put on the shoes. She circulated her mana a few times and showed a satisfied smile.
"Since you're recommending, can you do us too?"
Yoon Seung-ha approached me and spoke. Yoon Chae-rin was also watching from the side with an intrigued expression.
Yoon Seung-ha was good with anything. Yoon Seung-ha himself was a versatile guy, so it would be good to boost his defensive side, or his offensive side.
'Come to think of it, he hasn't learned martial arts.'
I remembered the dungeon training. Yoon Seung-ha hadn't learned martial arts because Yoon Chae-rin was there. He had become that much stronger in his power to command spirits or magical power, but he would probably lack defensive power. I recommended the Rune Shield to Yoon Seung-ha, which can block enemy attacks at least once.
Yoon Chae-rin looked at me. I recalled Yoon Chae-rin's stats. For her, who excels in martial arts but often shows weakness against magic or spells, I recommended a ring that increases magic resistance. And I informed her that it had a built-in bind magic that could bind enemies three times a day.
"Oh, not bad~"
Yoon Chae-rin's expression was bright.
I looked at her scroll. The Phantom Sword Ellegiel, which transforms into dozens of swords when mana is infused. Tempest, which summons a storm with a single arrow shot.
They were all items I coveted. Whichever one I chose here, it was a weapon that would rapidly increase my combat power. However, I shook my head and examined the scroll.
I chose the white orb.
At my choice, she looked puzzled for a moment.
"Grande Hill."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"This is an item I've never seen before......."
Titania looked perplexed for a moment. Grande Hill also scanned the scroll with a puzzled expression.
"......I've never seen this item before either."
Grande Hill said, looking puzzled for the first time.
'This is going according to the game too.'
I don't know the reason. A user once misclicked and chose the Pure White Pill, and if you choose this, you can use it with the black orb obtained from Su-ah.
However, there is a condition that only someone who has fulfilled a very special condition can use it. There was no one in the game who satisfied this condition, so I almost forgot about it.
"May I check it for a moment?"
"Yes."
I nodded. Just like in the game, they coordinated their opinions. They tried infusing mana and even called spirits to ask. But there was no reaction.
"This... why is it here."
Titania rarely frowned slightly. It was proof that even her Observation Eye couldn't examine it.
"Um, Siwoo?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry, but I don't know what effect this has either. It doesn't seem like an ordinary orb."
"It's okay. I know what it is."
Even at my words, she didn't smooth out her frown. It's probably because it's not a situation she likes. An item that shouldn't exist was accidentally included, and I chose it. As if someone had wished for it. It's a situation that is too artificial.
'Honestly, I don't know why it's here either.'
This was an absolutely necessary item.
"This orb is an item that originally doesn't exist in the Fairy race vault."
As soon as the line ended, I cheered inwardly. It was proceeding exactly as it did in the game.
"However, this orb is also an extraordinary item. It's not quite a replacement, but."
She took a ring out of her bosom.
A ring decorated with a red flower. It was the Ring of the Life Flower. A flower of life that received the energy of the World Tree.
"I will give you this as well. Use it only in emergencies."
"Thank you!"
I bowed my waist until it reached the ground.
Inside the dorm room.
I took out the white orb I received from Titania.
'Pure White Pill.'
And I took out the black orb I had been keeping well in a small case inside my bosom.
'Darkness Pill.'
I put them into boiling water without hesitation.
Splash.
As soon as they touched the water, they melted like paint spreading. It didn't end there; I took out the Ring of the Life Flower. I plucked only the upper part of the ring, the red flower part, and put it in as well.
The red color of the life flower disappeared, and the white and black colors seemed to mix with each other, then suddenly they each occupied half, and then suddenly they shrank, whoosh.
Looking inside the pot, it had turned into a pill the size of a thumb, half black and half white.
'Yin-Yang Pill.'
It's a cheat item that raises all stats to 15. It's a spirit pill with the condition that your minimum stat must be 8 and it can only be taken by someone who hasn't yet awakened their unique trait.
'The effect is that good.'
It forcefully awakens unique traits and raises stats. Also, it opens from one to a maximum of four A-grade traits.
'Honestly, I'd be grateful with just two.......'
Because of the three special perks, my state makes it hard for traits to be awakened, so only one will probably be awakened.
I picked it up carefully.
In case of any unforeseen situation, I wore a mask that mimicked the Karma of Magic and cast a few spells inside the dorm.
And I took off my clothes. I sat upright on the floor in my underwear, then I put on the Kirin's Mask to raise my mana sensitivity.
And I swallowed the pill.