Gugune White Sundae (3)
Gu Donghyeon dreamed of his childhood for the first time in ages.
'Mom, Dad... I miss you.'
Back when he was little.
He lost his parents to a monster that burst out of an irregular portal.
'Donghyeon, come here.'
Pat, pat.
His own flesh-and-blood sister.
Gu Seohyeon.
Whenever he grieved for their parents.
She always comforted him with her warm embrace.
'Sis...'
The only family left in the world.
The two siblings leaned on each other and survived their harsh circumstances.
'Let's take care of and protect kids like us when we grow up.'
Wandering through temporary orphanages, the siblings made that vow.
When they became adults.
They would become people who looked after and protected kids in the same boat as them.
'I'm gonna become a superhuman! I'll definitely awaken as one and protect kids like us! And I'll protect you too, Sis!'
'Aigoo, what a reliable kid. My Donghyeon is already so strong?'
A warm promise blooming like a flower amid their hardships.
But.
The heavens were indifferent.
That flower of promise wilted before it could fully bloom.
'S-Sisaaaah—!!'
By cruel misfortune.
They got caught in another irregular portal.
His sister suffered massive injuries inside and took to her bed.
Gu Donghyeon stayed by her side, waiting for her recovery.
But in the end, she never healed.
'Donghyeon... I'm sorry. But Sis will... always be by your side. I love you. So much.'
The look in his sister's eyes as she breathed her last, gazing at him.
He could never forget it.
That day, Gu Donghyeon vowed.
Once he gained power, he would become a protector so no kids in his situation would suffer anymore.
And he would ensure no more victims like him emerged from irregular portals.
'Hey. I'm Park Seojun. What's your name?'
'......Gu Donghyeon.'
After drifting through temporary facilities, they settled at Sarang Orphanage.
There, he met his same-age peer, Park Seojun.
The two were always together.
Though not bound by blood, they forged a bond thicker than brothers.
Thanks to Seojun filling the void left by his sister, Gu Donghyeon didn't crumble under his grief.
'Donghyeon. What do you wanna be when you grow up?'
'I'm gonna become a superhuman. No matter what.'
'Hah, that's so you.'
One day, he shared his aspiration with Seojun.
To fulfill his promise to his sister, Gu Donghyeon pushed endlessly and partially achieved his dream.
Not only that, he opened a sundae house in Sinlim-dong and started charity work to help kids.
Sundae was his sister Gu Seohyeon's favorite food.
His self-made vows seemed to be taking shape bit by bit.
Crash!
Then his mana circuits shattered, and all those earnest vows and dreams crumbled to pieces.
'Ah...'
Endless despair slowly seeped in, consuming him.
The whole world draped in darkness, black clouds dumping inky water from above, wrapping his body.
Gurgle!
The black water rose from his toes, up his legs to his torso, and finally swallowed his head.
A crushing sense of despair, like being dragged into an endlessly sinking, dank abyss.
The faint last light vanished, leaving a heavy void deep in his chest.
'Like this...'
The very moment he tried to let everything go—
'Hey, Gu Donghyeon. You really gonna give up like that?'
'......!'
A familiar voice pierced his ears.
Gu Donghyeon looked around, as if snapping back to his senses.
The owner of that voice just now.
His lifelong companion, like family—Park Seojun.
'Grab on.'
He turned toward the voice, and a ray of light sliced through the darkness toward him. Park Seojun stood there, wrapped in radiant halo.
His hand stretched out toward the wavering Gu Donghyeon.
'...Seojun.'
The moment he reached out, entranced, and clasped Seojun's hand—
Kwaaaaaaaa!!
All the darkness consuming him retreated, and blinding light flooded his vision.
Darkness vanished before the light, which warmly pierced deep into Gu Donghyeon's soul.
......
..
.
"Gasp!"
Beeeep—!
The moment he bolted upright.
A blaring mechanical tone drilled into his ears.
"Y-You're awake?"
"Nurse Seo, hurry and get Dr. Kim!"
Clatter clatter.
The nurses crowding around him sprang into frantic motion.
'Ah.'
Staring blankly at the scene, Gu Donghyeon soon realized one fact.
'My body... it's light as if it could float away.'
Instinctively, he circulated his mana.
Mana that should have refused to budge amid searing agony.
Now flowed smoother than ever.
As smooth as the slime fluid he'd drunk before falling asleep.
"Ah..."
Tears streamed down.
'Thank you. Thank you so much.'
He burst into childlike sobs.
Madoje—he was the ray of light descending into despair.
***
"Chuchu!"
"Popo!"
Chuchu and Popo's joyful voices.
The two clutched their bellies, sprawled on the floor with blissed-out faces.
Before them lay the wreckage of cherry tomatoes, roasted sweet potatoes, and roasted potatoes scattered everywhere.
"Did everyone eat well?"
"Chuchu!"
"Popo!"
Even lying down, they replied instantly.
A sign of how satisfying the meal was.
'Now I wanna try other stuff.'
Crops cultivable inside dungeons.
Shine Muscat grapes, kiwis, cabbage, green onions, carrots, and more.
Surprisingly many market crops had dungeon-grown variants.
Need to gather all the seeds and seedlings ASAP.
'Gotta message BangbaeDongGourmet again.'
Why go through BangbaeDongGourmet instead of Superhuman Net?
A-grade and below seeds were easy on Superhuman Net.
But S-grade and up required legwork.
That rare.
'Might as well eat the tasty stuff if we're eating.'
Alright.
Send it now.
Tick!
Private message sent.
No immediate reply.
Seems busy lately. Wonder what's up.
Check replies later anyway.
Then, time to use the Arcane Chamber.
Thoom—
He passed through the second passageway into the Arcane Chamber. Majestic mana waves filled the space, welcoming him.
First stop: the area with 1st-circle grimoires.
'Gotta master more 1st-circle spells.'
Fire Bolt, Ice Needle, Light Spark, Magic Missile, Healing Touch...
Munching Lunadria petals nearby, he studied diligently.
Time flew as he acquired 1st-circle spells.
"Whew."
His back ached, so he stood.
Felt like dozens, at least.
But mountains more to learn.
'Yeah, a lot.'
Chip away at the rest whenever time allows.
Next: the Magic Training Room.
The crystal orb floating in the center.
Hand on it, and Arcane Chamber functions popped into his head.
He selected Magic Training Room usage.
Using the Magic Training Room.
Fwaaah!
Bright light burst before his eyes.
Vision inverted, revealing the Magic Training Room.
Vast, high ceiling.
A massive magic circle engraved in the center.
Vrrr!
Mana in the space swirled around the circle.
Seemed the circle stabilized the room's mana and aided its flow.
He approached.
Stepping onto the circle.
Instructions for using the Magic Training Room imprinted in his mind.
'Mana Flow Control, Illusion Summoning, Mana Amplification.'
Three main functions.
Enabling Basic Magic Practice, Illusion Combat, Mana Control Practice, Magic Experiments, Will and Mana Fusion Training, etc.
Most eye-catching:
Will and Mana Fusion Training.
'Basic training for using Dragon Words!'
Dragons' ultimate power.
Beyond high-circle spells and breath, records said the authority of Dragon Words elevated dragons to absolutes.
This training taught fragments of Dragon Words.
"Whoa."
A gasp escaped naturally.
'Good. Must do this every visit.'
For now.
Basic magic practice first.
He willed Basic Magic Practice.
You have not learned a suitable <Mana Circulation Method>. Proceed anyway?
Huh?
Suitable mana circulation method?
'......?'
Currently learning: [S] Raychel's Basic Mana Circulation Method.
S-grade, even if basic.
Yet unsuitable?
We recommend starting with <Mana Control Practice> to learn a suitable <Mana Circulation Method>.
Whoa!
This is...
An unexpected situation.
Still, impressive.
Even an 'S'-grade basic mana circulation method deemed unsuitable.
Truly a dragon-style magic training room.
Wonder what kind he needs.
'Guess using it will show.'
Switched straight to Mana Control Practice.
Then.
A translucent window appeared before him.
'......!'
His eyes went wide.
SSS-grade? EX-grade?
S to SSS mana circulation methods were worlds apart.
Even 'basic', SSS-grade ones weren't easily obtained.
No connections? Can't learn, no matter the money.
'But I can learn it now.'
And that's not all.
EX-grade.
Surpassing SSS!
Who else could learn an EX-grade skill, let alone a mana circulation method?
Not even a shadow.
'Kuhuhu.'
Long live the Dragon's Lair!
'Of course, EX needs Dragon God Body.'
Not like I won't achieve it.
With the lair's elixir fields.
Empowered by lair and Popo—Dragon God Body? Piece of cake. Confidence surged.
'Basics first.'
Calming his pounding heart, he willed acquisition of [SSS] Draconic Basic Mana Circulation Method.
Then.
Flash—!
Shaaaaaaa!!!
The universe unfolded before his eyes.
***
While Seojun fervently studied mana circulation methods in the Arcane Chamber.
The lair flowed with quiet.
Hummm!!
Dania still absorbed mana from the egg.
......Keron. Temporary... energy circuit...
Keron faintly self-repaired its temporary energy circuits.
"Popo..."
Popo slumbered deeply in a corner with Chuchu.
Then.
One crop in the lair began transforming.
Fwaaaah!
The closed bud bloomed, revealing vibrant petals.
Mystical hue blending purple and blue.
Silvery gold flecks at petal tips, exuding mystery.
Colors drawing in ambient mana.
Mysterious and beautiful.
@Groooar...
Then, a deep, cave-rumbling bass emanated from the flower.
After that.
Plop! Plip plop!
An astonishing event.
The flower lifted its roots from the soil.
@Groooar...
Roots mimicking human form.
Yes, this was the Mandragora.
Fully grown Mandragora bloomed and walked on roots.
Unimaginable for other plants, but possible for it.
Its transcendent aura enabled such wonders.
Normally, full growth took ages, but the land's potent earth force and life's blessings achieved it in a day.
A great, miraculous feat!
@Groooar...
The Mandragora moved slowly.
To escape this place.
Spotting a small burrow in the floor center.
Through there to freedom's light!
As it took a step with grand ambition.
Plop.
A shadow appeared before it.
"Chuchu!"
The golden-furred being that(?) kidnapped it here.
That being wagged its index finger side to side at it.
As if saying, where do you think you're going?