Lava Fruit Challenge
I planted the World Tree branch in a flowerpot and watered it, and a faint pale green light emanated from the delicate leaves.
"Definitely different from regular plants."
Even after turning off the fluorescent lights and lying down, the room glowed softly.
A sacred energy filled the space, washing away my fatigue.
The light didn't fade even while I showered—it kept the room bathed in glow.
"Now I get why it's so expensive."
Just planting this tiny branch filled the air with such potent energy.
People go crazy for health tonics.
Tell them it's good for you, and they'll eat snakes or wasps without batting an eye.
People in Taepyeong City are no different.
A tree that radiates feel-good vibes just from being planted?
They'd pay top dollar for it, no question.
"What a crazy city."
Impossible in Korea.
Maybe a bit of phytoncide scent at best.
But a power that washes away fatigue just by planting it?
"I could give Priella an extra bag of snacks for this."
It was worth that much.
I stared at it in wonder for a while, then succumbed to the pleasant aroma and collapsed into bed for a deep sleep.
The next day, at work.
"Good morning!"
As I entered the store, familiar sound effects blared from behind the counter.
Failed pull!
"Eeeeeek! Why won't it come out?! It's a pickup rate-up event!!"
The manager glared at her smartphone screen like she wanted to drill through it, venting her rage.
Looked like she'd bombed hard in her gacha game.
The screen was littered with nothing but 3-star characters.
"Manager, bad gacha luck?"
"Sh-shut up! It's not Jinjo's bad luck—it's this game's vicious pity system! Jinjo was just tricked by the devs' greedy scheme to suck up her money!"
"Just leave it to me next time. I'll proxy pull for you."
I'm not great at much, but my gacha luck is killer.
Step pulls landing pickups.
I even got banned from the gallery once for posting about it.
Mmm, that's the thrill of being a whale.
"No, no way! The joy is pulling your beloved characters yourself. Handing it off means missing that thrill!"
She clutched her phone like a teddy bear and shouted back.
The joy of pulling your fave characters yourself.
That's why we play subculture RPGs.
It's all for those characters.
"Too bad. I really have great luck."
She bit her lip and glanced at me slyly.
Then squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head.
"Don't try to tempt Jinjo! Jinjo's resolve is firm!"
Bad gacha got her down, huh.
She irritably shoved her phone into her pocket.
"No handover needed! Oh, right—merch from this afternoon's order arrives later, so handle that well."
"Got it."
"Today's mood is utterly ruined, so Jinjo will go admire the Asteria figure in her loyal retainer's room and crash! Won't mess up the place, so don't worry! Take good care of the store, retainer!"
I shrugged lightly as she stormed out, huffing.
Owner's gacha heartbreak heals with otaku merch.
My lips were already curling up.
I tied on my apron and started restocking shelves.
But while peacefully arranging goods—
Bang!
The door flew open, and the manager—who'd just clocked out—burst back in.
"Retaaaaiiiiner!!!"
She bellowed loud enough to shake the store.
I nearly dropped the tuna mayo onigiri I was holding.
"Whoa, you scared me. What's up?"
"Retainer! Did you plant a World Tree branch yesterday?!"
She pointed accusingly, asking urgently.
"Uh? Yeah. Why?"
"No wonder! Why—why would you do such a thing?!"
I froze for a second.
What?
Was it something I shouldn't have done?
Is World Tree illegal to plant or something?
Or does it violate Taepyeong City's environmental laws?
No, the elf queen said it was fine!
"Is it... something taboo? Like forbidden?"
"Not that!"
"Then what?"
She pounded her chest like it was a grave injustice.
"I can't fully appreciate the sacred Asteria's figure!"
"Huh?"
I blinked in confusion, and she furrowed her brow, grumbling.
"The World Tree's holy aura makes it impossible to focus on the figure! It's seeped into every corner of the retainer's room!"
"......"
My energy just drained.
I thought it was some huge disaster.
"Oh. That's the reason."
"'That's the reason'?! It's deadly serious to Jinjo!"
World Tree's holy power being the ultimate counter to undead vampires?
Made sense now.
"So, only two options."
She cleared her throat dramatically, then proposed solutions with utmost seriousness.
"Remove the World Tree immediately, or bring Jinjo's figure to her home for safekeeping!"
In other words, take my limited-edition figure to her place.
I narrowed my eyes, checking her complexion.
Despite her dramatic gasping earlier, her face was fine—pale and flawless as always.
"......Manager. You're totally fine right now, aren't you?"
"Eh?!"
"You're unaffected, so you're just using this as an excuse to sneak the figure home, right?"
"N-no?! Jinjo's suffering so much from the World Tree's power, gasping for air...!"
She averted her gaze from mine, staring into space.
Bingo. Bad gacha blues, so she's grabbing the figure and dipping.
"But Manager, even a tiny World Tree branch affects mighty Jinjo? If you can't handle something that small, maybe Jinjo isn't all that...
"N-no!! Jinjo is strong! No way she'd lose to some puny branch!"
As I crossed my arms and smirked, she bristled and raised her voice.
"Y-you tricked Jinjo!"
"You tricked me first."
"Ughhh. B-but it's true, it's uncomfortable! Jinjo wants to savor the celestial Asteria's beauty with her refined eye, but that foul scent everywhere—it's awful!"
"Not today."
Her eyes widened at my refusal.
"Th-then other days are okay?!"
She took it that way?
I meant no way.
But those sparkling red eyes gazing at me softened my resolve.
"I'll think about it."
She clenched her fists, trembling with determination.
Her obsession with the figure was palpable.
"Wait...!"
Her quivering gaze suddenly dropped to my hand.
"Your hand has it too! World Tree pollen!"
"Pollen?"
I looked at both hands—nothing visible.
"What?"
"Can't you feel it, retainer? World Tree flower dust clings to your hand. Even elves with high compatibility rarely get it to stick..."
She stared at my hand in wonder, then frowned slightly.
"Ugh, it's such an unpleasant power no matter how I look. No wonder today felt off!"
She pinched her nose and leaped back.
"Anyway! That promise to consider moving it to Jinjo's room—it's not just lip service, right?"
She's sharp about this stuff.
"......"
"Don't think you can brush it off! Jinjo retreats today, but next time, she'll seriously plan the move!"
With that shriek, she finally clocked out through the staff door again.
I saw her don a mask on the way out—full commitment, even if masked.
I scratched my head, staring blankly at the slammed door.
"Hates the World Tree that much, huh."
I glanced at the supposed pale green dust on my fingertips.
"Can't see a thing."
She's no ordinary human, so she sees what I can't.
"Should be fine if it's not her, right?"
It's not hurting me, anyway.
After tidying up, during slow hours without customers, checking the gallery was routine.
Best window into Taepyeong City's vibe and tips.
"Lava Fruit Challenge?"
What's this now.
Like Korea's spicy challenge trends, probably...
'Potions don't even work.'
I tsked at the comments and pulled out my smartphone.
To search what this famous challenge was.
Since coming to Taepyeong City, my phone acted like it was native—delivering local news seamlessly.
Nutube's algorithm featured Taepyeong influencers and tubers.
My usual portals and email had subtly shifted too.
Beastkin were normal.
Hunters everywhere.
Magic users unremarkable.
So I could even contact the manager via phone.
The weird part?
'Korean contacts don't connect...'
Like no signal reached.
No inconveniences now, though.
'But I can go back, right?'
The thought crept in.
Think optimistic.
Pessimism leads nowhere.
I shook my head, clearing it, and watched a Lava Fruit Challenge video.
White smoke billowed from the guy's mouth as he wailed about flames.
Sold with ads promising "dragon breath" vibes.
Why eat that?
Views and cash, obviously.
I couldn't handle it.
Collapse instantly.
That's when—
Bang!!
The store door nearly shattered as a massive, skin-blushing-red Minotaur charged in, bellowing ragged breaths.
"Grahhh! I-iice!! Something cooold!!!"
He barreled to the freezer, yanking out ice cream and ice cups, shoving them into his maw.
As he gulped cold water and ice, white smoke poured from his mouth.
"S-sir?"
"Hot! Burning up! Gyaaaah!!!"
He howled louder each time, pain worsening.
Obvious Lava Fruit Challenge casualty.
A selfie stick with smartphone dangled from his hand.
The screen showed his face mid-stream, chat flooding live.
Streamer doing it for content.
"Any way to calm it down? Pleeease......"
Tears and snot streaming, he begged me desperately.
Tell that to me, though...
Spicy neutralization.
Not impossible.