A Sea Has Appeared
Just like that, while I was spending time with the kids so naturally, a call came in from an unfamiliar number.
“Hello?”
“Is this Park Sung-jun?”
I answered curtly. “Yeah, who’s this?”
The man explained in a calm voice. “This is the team leader from the emergency response team you met during the Gate incident.”
He cleared his throat briefly before continuing. “I’m calling regarding the reward we discussed back then.”
“Could you possibly come to the Awakener Association by 2 p.m. tomorrow?”
I checked my schedule for a moment and replied. “Yes, I can make it.”
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”
The next day, I arrived at the Awakener Association with the kids.
“Alright, let’s head in.”
As soon as we stepped inside, the man from that day was already waiting. He glanced at the three women standing behind me, paused for a second, and asked, “I get the dinosaur in your arms, but… who are the ladies behind you?”
I answered naturally. “Oh, these are my family you saw back then. They’re dinosaurs.”
Hearing that, the team leader’s eyes widened in shock. “Pardon…?”
After a moment of stunned silence, he pulled himself together and said, “Ah, my apologies for the rudeness.”
“You’re here for the reward, right? Please follow me.”
I nodded and followed him, with the kids trailing behind. We took the elevator up together.
The team leader chuckled lightly. “They’re all real beauties.”
I nodded casually. “Thanks.”
We soon reached the 10th floor and stepped out of the elevator. As we entered the room, an elderly man who looked like a higher-up was seated in a chair.
I tensed up instinctively, but the team leader explained beside me. “This is Park Hyun-jun, the chairman of the Awakener Association.”
I bowed my head quickly. “Nice to meet you.”
The chairman chuckled heartily and waved his hand. “No need to be so formal. I’m just an old man.”
He scanned me and the kids slowly as he spoke. In that instant, a sudden wave of killing intent crushed the air in the room.
I reflexively stiffened, shifting into combat stance. The kids behind me reacted simultaneously, transforming into their dinosaur forms.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Chairman.”
My voice had sunk low. The chairman immediately withdrew his killing intent and raised his hand.
“Ah, sorry about that.”
“Seeing a young one like you made me want to test you. Just take it as an old man’s little prank.”
The team leader, caught off guard by everyone suddenly turning into dinosaurs, couldn’t hide his flustered expression.
A moment later, the chairman gestured. “Alright, everyone, have a seat.”
I sat on the sofa, and the kids took spots beside me. I looked at Kent and said, “Kent, can you watch Compi, Compf, and Compa for a bit?”
Kent nodded. “Yes, Dad.”
I smiled faintly and turned to Compi, Compf, and Compa. “You three, behave for a little while, okay?”
The trio chirped in unison.
‘Yes, Dad.’
‘Yessir!’
‘You can count on us!’
I chuckled and nodded, then turned back to the chairman. “So, Chairman.”
“What did you call me here for?”
“I thought I came for the reward.”
The chairman spoke leisurely. “I was curious about the young man who single-handedly stopped that Gate incident.”
“I heard you use some unusual summons, too.”
He eyed me steadily before continuing. “Above all, you’re not even a graduate of the National Awakener Central Academy—you’re still a student.”
“Yet Yoon Sera, the academy’s director, spoke highly of you as an extraordinary talent.”
“That piqued my interest even more.”
I narrowed my eyes slightly. “Do you know the director?”
The chairman shrugged. “We’ve met a few times, that’s all.”
“I contacted her while verifying your identity, and we chatted briefly.”
I nodded. “I see.”
A brief silence fell. The chairman then nodded toward the team leader standing nearby. “Bring it.”
The team leader moved promptly, and the chairman turned to me. “Right, you wanted the reward in mana stones.”
Moments later, the team leader returned with a box. When the lid opened, it revealed five high-grade mana stones and ten mid-grade ones neatly arranged inside.
I was at a loss for words for a second before cautiously speaking up. “This is… too much.”
The chairman smiled wryly. “Consider it an apology for that killing intent earlier.”
“And… an investment in you.”
I nodded. “Understood.”
“Thank you. I’ll gladly accept.”
After receiving the mana stones, I stood. “May I go now?”
The chairman rose and extended his hand. I shook it and bowed.
“Yes, take care.”
“If you ever think about joining the association after graduation, give me a call anytime.”
I replied briefly. “Yes, got it.”
With that, we left the room and took the elevator down with the kids.
At that moment, back in the room, the chairman spoke up. “Team Leader Park, what do you think?”
The team leader pondered for a moment before answering. “Right now… he’s still weak.”
“But based on the info from the academy director and what he’s shown so far,”
“If he grows… I don’t think I could beat him.”
The chairman listened quietly, then chuckled. “Yeah, I see it the same way.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing how far that young man will climb.”
Back home, I converted all the received mana stones and the ones I had into gacha tickets. That gave me a total of 11 tickets.
“That’s a ton…”
I smiled at the kids. “Round and round we go… gacha time again.”
The kids’ eyes sparkled. “Yes, Dad!”
“Right!”
Kent, Compi, Compf, and Compa seemed especially excited since it was their first time.
I called out to Kent. “Alright, Kent. Give it a pull.”
Kent carefully pressed the button. Soon, the roulette spun, and results appeared one by one.
[Dinosaur Growth Tool - Incubator (One-time use)]
[Special Ability - Jurassic World]
[Dinosaur Egg Gacha Ticket]
[Dinosaur Growth Tool - Incubator (One-time use)]
[Dinosaur Growth Tool - Fishing Rod]
[Special Tool - Universal Saddle]
[Dinosaur Growth Tool - Incubator (One-time use)]
[Dinosaur Growth Tool - Rubber Ball]
[Dinosaur Growth Tool - Hula Hoop]
[Dinosaur Special Ability Unlock Ticket]
I decided to save one ticket for later. I slowly reviewed the results, checking each new item.
A space for storing or summoning dinosaurs.
Expands based on the number of dinosaurs owned.
Relieved that I wouldn’t have to leave Kent alone like last time, though something still nagged at me. “I wonder what it’s like inside…”
At that moment, Psi and Dmol stepped up, volunteering to check it out first. “Be careful.”
I activated the ability. “Jurassic World.”
The space warped open, revealing a rift unlike a Gate. Psi and Dmol reached out, and they were sucked inside.
I waited tensely from outside. Soon, Psi reappeared and tugged my hand. “Dad, come see for yourself!”
I hesitated but stepped in. Inside was like a slice of the prehistoric era where dinosaurs roamed—vast plains, dense forests, and warm air. A completely different world unfolded.
Kent, Compi, Compf, and Compa followed, and the triplets were already excitedly scampering around.
I looked around in awe. “It’s… way bigger and better than I thought.”
“Perfect for us all to play or hang out here.”
Psi, Dmol, and Kent had reverted to dinosaur forms to rest comfortably. As I walked slowly, I muttered, “If the family grows… this place expands too, right?”
A moment later, I nodded. “Alright. Let’s check the rest.”
While the kids rested, I examined the next item.
Converts into a saddle when used on rideable dinosaurs.
Not needed right now, but definitely a handy tool I’d use a lot in the future. I called out to Compi, Compf, and Compa. “Kids, let’s do a gacha.”
The three, who had been tumbling around together, jumped up at my voice and came running excitedly. I opened the gacha screen and said, “On one, two, three… we all press together.”
Their eyes sparkled as they nodded. “One.”
“Two.”
“Three!”
The buttons pressed in unison, and a nest formed in the center of the space. An egg slowly materialized atop it.
I approached, holding my breath, and carefully lifted the egg. Fully revealed in midair, it felt strangely warm. Clutching it close, I checked the status window.
Psi and Dmol, who had been resting, along with Kent, gathered close, shifting to human form and huddling by my side. Everyone held their breath, staring at the screen.
I slowly opened the status window.
Ichthyosaurus, known in English as Ichthyosaurus, was a marine reptile that lived from the Triassic period about 200 million years ago through the early Jurassic.
Its name means 'fish lizard,' and its actual form resembled a fish or dolphin with a streamlined body.
This creature wasn't a dinosaur but a reptile fully adapted to the sea, specialized for fast swimming.
It had a long, sleek body with developed tail and dorsal fins for high speeds underwater, and large eyes suited for visibility in dark ocean depths.
In that instant, the space trembled. I clutched the egg tight and shouted, “Everyone, hold on!”
The vibrations stopped, and I slowly looked around.
…It had changed. Far off, blue waves rippled.
A sea.
I murmured softly. “So this… is what expansion means…”
Not just the sea—the entire space had grown, and I could truly feel it expanding.