The Birth of Nangkangi
Nangkangi went whirrr!!! Like a parasite sucking up mana next to the massive egg, it had been three hours already. At first, it thrashed around like a maniac trying not to get drained, but now it seemed to be gauging just how much mana I was siphoning off. My ears kept itching with that ominous whispery feeling, but I kept circulating the mana flow inward and stuck to the task.
Hmm... but at this rate, there's no way to kill it off.
I casually pulled up my status window and saw my mana stat twitching upward, now nearing 10. I clicked my tongue in frustration at the current situation, where it showed no signs of rising further.
With stats already over 80, pumping them up required insane investment costs right now. I should be grateful even for a 10-point gain, but the ostrich egg bastard still had half its reserves left, furrowing my brow.
...Does a trick only work as a trick...?
Physically, it seemed like I could keep absorbing mana, but something was blocking further intake. I didn't show it and started racking my brain. It hadn't been long since the stat stopped rising, so the thing hadn't noticed yet. But if more time passed, it'd realize I was trying to drain it dry and start mouthing off.
That'd be fucking annoying, and I can't stand it.
If I hadn't landed a single blow, that'd be one thing, but the advantage was mine. I rolled my eyes for a moment before a brilliant idea flashed, and I pulled a spirit stone from my inventory.
If I can't eat it, I'll feed it to my kid. Heh heh.
Daphne had said spirit stones hatch into spirits once they absorb enough natural energy, right? Even though this mega ostrich egg's mana was alien, from what I'd felt absorbing it, its mana was similar to my primal qi—pure primordial mana, no less pure than nature's energy. Smirking slyly, I carved a path from the endlessly cycling Taiji flow toward the spirit stone.
Eureka, you fucker. If King Meng can't eat it all, we'll make King Meng No. 2.
My stroke of genius sharpened the hazy future into bright clarity, and as if responding, the mana flow surged fiercer.
Whirrr!!!
The pitch-black ostrich egg's mana filtered through my body, diluting to violet as it poured into the spirit stone. The once-pure white surface gradually took on a hue mimicking my own mana.
Kieeeek!!!
In that instant, a chilling shriek I'd blocked with mental defense skills pierced through—clearly from the ostrich egg spawn. Cracks spiderwebbed the web cocoon shielding its body, blood backflowed to fill my mouth with a fishy tang rising up my throat.
"Kuhk...! Hoo... heh. You fucking thing... you're just egg fate now."
With all-or-nothing resolve, I whipped the mana fiercely. As the bastard's reserves bottomed out and the spirit stone thrashed wildly, I blacked out.
+++
Rustle.
"Gasp...!"
I jolted upright at the creepy skittering like bugs crawling, but the gate's brutal battlefield was gone—replaced by Inari Mountain's summit and the rising sun.
"Did... did I clear it...?"
The scenery screamed I'd escaped the gate, so brimming with anticipation, I chanted the magic phrase. I'd boosted my mana stat and fed the spirit stone—what a sweet deal. But this was an estimated S-rank gate, wasn't it?
Actual loot is what matters.
I looked down to check for any badass legacy it'd left, spotting a palm-sized jumping spider in an ambiguous black-violet shade.
"Nang?"
"Oh, oh...!"
No epic artifact like I'd hoped, but the fuzzy round eyes and fluffy fur on this jumping spider oozed mana that appealed unexpectedly.
"D-da-daughter...?"
My kid plan had no sons, so I cooed unusually tenderly at the spirit stone hatchling. It nang-nanged up my finger onto my palm.
"But... is this really a spirit...?"
As if understanding human speech, it tap-danced its tiny legs in protest at my mutter. Amused and amazed, I gently stroked the jumping spider's head.
"Call me Daddy, you little shit."
"Nang...?"
"Heh heh. Fucking adorable."
"Nang!"
"Yeah, from now on, your name's Nangkangi. Got it?"
It gazed up with big round eyes, pressuring silently, but would I yield to that? Grinning at my daughter's cute charm, I plopped Nangkangi on my head and stood.
Gotta research it at home first.
A never-before-seen spirit form meant it'd take deliberation to raise. Still yanking my hair in a tap dance, Nangkangi's antics drew a hearty laugh as I stepped off.
"Our Nangkangi's giving Daddy a scalp massage too. Heh heh. Good girl, such a filial daughter."
"Nang!"
+++
Back at the Academy via the principal's help—like sneaking in illegally. Tied to an S-rank gate, even late night, the principal hadn't clocked out, starkly showing how work-life balance gets fucked at my future rank.
"...What the hell is that spider...?"
"Nangkangi? Say hi, Nangkangi—it's the baldy... I mean, Boss."
"..."
The principal glared sharply at my slip, but whatever—Nangkangi on my head raised a front paw, grooming its own fur furiously. Total bet you don't have one of these provocation. As a dad, my heart swelled with pride at her true character and poise, tears welling up.
"Birds of a feather, huh? You really stick with your own kind."
I ignored the principal's machine-gun grumbling and continued.
"Inari Mountain summit—found a gate there. Slipped in easy, no resistance, and ended up with just Nangkangi as the reward."
"...For something like that, your aura feels a bit different now...?"
Damn, the bald eagle had eagle eyes as always.
"Oh, right... obviously picked up something good for the body too... tsk."
"Hmm..."
"Anyway, seems wrapped up—can I head out now?"
The principal, still glaring at Nangkangi's grooming taunt, squeezed his eyes shut and nodded.
"Yeah, whatever the reward, you cleared the gate—that's what matters. Time-wise, I'll log tomorrow as clocked in."
"Krr... as expected of the Boss. I'm out then~."
Thought work-life balance was trashed, but he just bends it to his will—balls-deep impressive.
+++
"...I'm not seeing things, right?"
In the principal's office after Kang San bounced grinning, Choi Won—summoned by Baek Gwang-ho's ability splitting the air—nodded, tongue clicking.
"Yep, bro. Just one Japan trip, and his mana already surpassed average A-rank."
"Guess I need to invest more seriously."
"Uh... can I hop on board too?"
"Weren't you iffy about it?"
Choi Won scratched his head like why bring that up.
"Got early dementia—flaking lately. Bro."
"Bullshit."
Baek Gwang-ho chuckled at Choi Won's shameless hand-rubbing, waving dismissively before adding,
"Anyway, that Nangkangi spider kid—no issues, right?"
"Yeah. Looks weird, but it's closer to a spirit body. Aura matches Kang San's exactly... no worries."
"Really no problem...?"
Face calm but fist clenched tight—Choi Won smirked at the glance.
"Nah, you pissed over a spider mocking you? For real... sigh."
"...You'll get it when you're bald. Enjoy the fullness now, punk."
Choi Won laughed at the trembling Baek Gwang-ho's pain, but perked up at his offhand mutter.
"What'd you say?"
"What...?"
"'Enjoy the fullness'? Why say it like that? Full is full..."
Baek Gwang-ho tilted his head innocently, patting his shiny dome.
"You're Generation 1, Gen 1."
"...?"
"Hair loss stage 1, punk."
"Eh...?"
With Choi Won's dumbfounded reaction, from that day on, Korea's two top S-ranks shone baldly in public duties—a tale for later.