Seo I-rang (1)
After Seo I-rang became a resident, I visited her every day for a week, spending time together to build our bond. We ate meals, read books, and watched movies. Thanks to the insane recovery effects of the VIP room, her body had fully healed. Whether it was from the abuse or a lack of proper elementary education, she still stuttered a bit when she spoke.
"I-rang."
"Yes!"
Now, when I called her, she'd beam brightly and respond, our relationship that close.
"Can I ask about the ability you have?"
I-rang nodded silently.
Her ability to tame and strengthen monsters worked like this: She could create black orbs about the size of a fist using her power. These orbs lured monsters. They consumed stamina, so back in the Muwol Church, she could only make one or two per week. But with the VIP room's help, she could probably make one a day now. All the monsters the Muwol Church had were tamed this way. Strong monsters ignored the orbs, but weak, low-intelligence ones sniffed them out, came running, and ate them. The moment a monster swallowed the orb, I-rang gained control over it. They'd once force-fed a strong monster one, but it had no effect. Once under control, the monster stayed put at the spot until its owner issued a command. To give orders, the controller had to get within at least 200 meters. The Muwol Church's method was to toss the orb into a mountain, wait a few days, then return to collect the tamed monsters.
Her second ability, strengthening monsters, required direct physical contact. She could share control of a monster with one other person besides herself—currently, the Muwol Church leader. Sharing was easy, but reclaiming it had restrictions. There were two ways: the shared person voluntarily gave it up, or they died. This matched both the Church leader's and I-rang's accounts.
"I'll be honest. Can you use that ability for me?"
I-rang stared into my eyes for over ten seconds after hearing that.
"Wh-why?"
I'd already prepared for this. I'd initially planned to explain my ability and points honestly, but I doubted a child like her could grasp it fully. More than that, I wanted her to use her powers with a better feeling than she had in the Muwol Church. So, I opted for a little white lie.
I stroked her head and said, "I... want all the monsters in this world gone."
"L-like the Muwol Church leader, using them to torment people?"
"No, nothing like that. I promise."
"Th-then I want to h-help too!"
"Thank you. But... the brothers and sisters here want to train against strong monsters, so I was thinking of strengthening the tamed ones and then taking them out. Can you do that too?"
To farm more points, we needed to strengthen tamed monsters before killing them.
I-rang smiled and replied, "Yes!"
Everything was going according to plan.
"What if we kill the tamed monsters? Won't that make you sad?"
This was my biggest worry. What if she bonded with them and suffered when we eliminated them?
I-rang's eyes sparkled as she answered, "Wh-why would I be sad about killing m-monsters?"
The little treasure chest in front of me was so endearing I ruffled her hair wildly. Suddenly, she threw both arms up high.
"Hm? Want a hug?"
I-rang nodded without a word.
As I scooped her up, she hugged me tight and said, "I'll w-work hard!"
"Good. But don't push yourself too hard."
As the child confessed her pure heart, I flashed a sly adult grin—the kind only the corrupt possess.
"H-hello!"
"She's too cute."
Na Hye-won stroked Seo I-rang's head.
I'd thought no more roommates would join after Na Hye-won moved into the annex, but I-rang decided to live there too. Once her body recovered, it was time to choose a home. I figured she'd naturally want to stay with Im Jui, whom she'd bonded with during that time. Im Jui had grown fond of her too and wanted the same. So I suggested living in Im Jui's single room, but I-rang refused. When I asked where she wanted to stay, she pointed at me.
"W-with b-brother."
Im Jui looked shocked and hung her head.
I was a bit flustered by the unexpected answer, but I couldn't deny this bundle of luck what she wanted.
Han Seol and Han Byeol were busy with work and only returned to the annex in the evenings, so Na Hye-won took charge of I-rang's care. I'd been holed up in my office lately, rarely emerging. At first, I was disappointed with the seemingly useless room—aside from the stocked beer—but now it felt comforting. Like my private sanctuary no one could enter. I'd moved my gaming console and comics here for entertainment.
With the two new roommates plus the Han sisters, we had a simple evening party. As I headed to bed after washing up, someone knocked. Opening the door, there was I-rang clutching a huge rabbit doll.
"Hm? What's up?"
She hung her head and whispered, "I-I'm scared... C-can I sleep with you?"
"Uh... sure."
It caught me off guard, but I couldn't say no. I knew better than anyone how lonely it felt for a kid that age—parents gone, sleeping alone.
"Okay."
"Th-thank you! I'll sleep qu-quietly!"
I-rang climbed onto my bed with her doll. Despite her young age and traumatic past granting her unusual maturity, she was still a kid at heart. I'd even gotten her the doll just in case.
I turned off the light and said, "Goodnight."
"G-goodnight!"
"Nngh... Hm?"
Something kept kneading and softly patting my face. Opening my eyes, I saw I-rang sitting on the bed, touching my face. I sat up and turned on the light.
"Did I snore?"
"N-no."
I-rang clutched her doll, head down. She clearly had something to say since she'd woken me, but I couldn't guess what.
As I stared silently, she murmured so softly, "B-bathroom..."
"Ah... Scared to go alone?"
She nodded.
"S-sorry."
She'd woken me to take her to the bathroom. Stroking her head, I said, "No need to apologize... When I was your age, I was so scared I'd hold it till morning."
"R-really?"
"Yeah. I'll wait by the door—let's go."
Kids really do need a lot of attention.
***
Twenty days after I-rang arrived, we put her ability to full use. She made orbs to tame monsters in a forest a bit away from the territory. Two days prior, the purge of Muwol Church followers finished, and with no reason to keep their leader alive, the Alliance requested permission for execution. I approved it, and I-rang confirmed the control rights returned to her. I immediately transferred them to Im Jui, who brought the tamed monsters to the territory front. I-rang strengthened them, and Im Jui killed them all.
Owned Points: 91P
"That's it..."
We could strengthen already-enhanced monsters again, but it drained too much stamina, so we stuck to once each for now.
"D-did I do g-good?"
"Yeah, you did great."
Finally over 90P. This morning, reconstruction finished on the Second Southeast Block, so I'd dump all 91P into production buildings.
"Farm. Hm?"
I chose farm for the Second Southeast Block building, and a message window popped up: Choose one of two farm types.
"Ah."
Info flooded my mind. There were two farm types: the existing First Farm and Second Farm. This ability only let me build those kinds. It was asking whether the third farm should match the First or Second.
Tough choice. The First Farm's second floor produced nuts, sesame, peppers, honey—cash crops. The Second produced tobacco leaves, green tea, black tea, coffee.
I went with the First Farm type. Whoosh—the building glowed and transformed into a produce factory. Third Farm complete.
Simple reason: Reserves were getting tight, and these crops were precious nutrition for outsiders too. I wanted food security worry-free for a while.
I opened reconstruction, spending the remaining 91P—30P each on First, Second, and Third Farms, upgrading all to LV.2.
The three buildings glowed simultaneously. I-rang, startled, clung to me. As the light faded, all became three-story structures. I'd have to check inside for third-floor details, but one thing was sure: crop production time halved from 24 to 12 hours.
"Ha."
Territory produce output exploded over fourfold in an instant. Unable to contain my joy, I hoisted I-rang onto my shoulders for a piggyback and shouted. She waved excitedly at the residents.
"Alright! First Farm first!"
The executives nodded and led the way. Han Seol sidled up.
"I-rang, Do-hyun's shoulders hurt—come down. Sis will give you a piggyback."
"S-sorry!"
As I-rang tried to dismount, I said, "I'm fine. Don't worry—I'm in the best mood ever!"
With residents eating three full meals a day, we'd still have surplus produce. My grin wouldn't fade. I wanted more residents ASAP to hit marquis rank. Screech—we entered the First Farm first.
"Floors 1 and 2 just have shorter times, so straight to 3!"
"Yes!"
I set I-rang down once inside—no confidence carrying her up safely. She gripped my hand tight. With the executives, we climbed to the third floor of the First Farm.