Chapter 114
Chapter 114
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Resting by the Lake
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Goblin Empire Dungeon, a certain lake.
As promised, the moment Yoo Seongwon entered the dungeon, he was truly liberated.
When he first arrived inside the dungeon, he had nearly gone through some welcome ceremony prepared by Merblin, but once Yoo Seongwon, whose patience had reached its limit, silently pulled out the Titan's Stake and changed into his armor, no one dared disturb his rest.
"Why do humans only listen when you pick up a weapon? Sigh~ I straight-up told them I wanted to rest. Should I form a union or something?"
"You're the boss, Uncle—how would you even form a union? Here, lemonade~ Take it."
Yoo Seongwon, grumbling as he sat by the lakeside like a painting come to life, accepted the glass from Shin Ayoung.
She and her mother, Shin Somi, were dressed for an outing and currently resting beside him.
The lively Shin Ayoung looked refreshingly cool in jeans and an off-shoulder shirt that exposed her shoulders, while Shin Somi, in a dress with a hat and sunglasses, had set up a portable stove and was preparing something to cook.
"When that goblin—Merblin or Merlin or whatever—mentioned some welcome ceremony, I seriously almost lost my mind~ Anyway, now that I'm finally resting, I can't complain, and the fact that there's no Wi-Fi or communication in the dungeon is actually a plus."
"But how long are you going to rest? I want to level up more. I'm stuck at level 45 B-rank counter-stop again."
"Isn't this ultimately work talk too?"
"Honestly, that's the only thing we have to talk about. Do you and our family share any hobbies? No dramas, no TV shows, not even movies—what are we supposed to talk about?"
"You're... right. Sorry for being such a boring human."
Yoo Seongwon readily admitted the sharp point Shin Ayoung made.
It was true that without topics related to Awakeners or Hunters, they lacked common ground, so conversations never stretched on long.
"Still, talking with you and your mom feels less like work and more like everyday chit-chat, so it's relaxing."
"That's a relief. Here, have some."
"Oh, a sandwich? Thanks, Sis."
"You're welcome. It was wrong of me to push work on someone who clearly needed rest. I should have thought more about what you wanted."
"No. I know that's not easy, even if it seems like it."
What Yoo Seongwon wanted was simply peace.
Even coming this far had started as a defensive measure to protect himself from the problems caused by the legendary equipment and SSS-grade trait he received right after awakening.
He had leveled up and fought this whole time just to avoid having things taken away or being restricted—not because he had any particular goals.
"No. I understand that feeling, to some extent."
"Pardon?"
"I've lived wishing for just one thing too."
Yoo Seongwon realized what she meant without her needing to say more.
She was talking about her daughter, Ayoung.
Right now, Ayoung had tactfully wandered off around the lake to give her mother and Yoo Seongwon some time alone.
"But it's been really hard. At first, I thought it'd be easy since I was a doctor before awakening, and after awakening, I caught a constellation's eye, got a good class and skills... but it wasn't."
"Hmm... society can be scary, huh? Especially for a young, pretty woman raising a pretty daughter all alone—wolves would come sniffing around, guys trying all sorts of tricks."
"You're quick on the uptake."
"Hey, I've rolled around in society for nearly ten years. And at the academy, there are plenty of male staff, but female staff too—not a small number. So I've had plenty of chances to overhear similar gossip."
Facilities like women's restrooms or changing rooms need female staff for cleaning or caring for injured women.
Facility maintenance staff also deliver supplies everywhere, so encounters over equipment were frequent, giving ample opportunity to hear female staff chatter.
"Especially... auntie talk. I heard it to death. They exaggerate in weird ways, piling on their own twists. And the hottest topics among those auntie chats are always like trashy dramas, right? 'So-and-so's husband cheated?' 'So-and-so's daughter was actually the wife?' Stuff like that hits weekly like a drama episode—you end up knowing it all whether you want to or not."
"Sounds rough."
"Yeah. They'd hit me with 'What do you think, single guy?' out of nowhere, like I was audience participation. Super landmine—answer wrong, and suddenly I'm the bad guy with my rep tanking without me even knowing. Terrifying. Sure, it gets buried under new gossip quick if you wait it out, but until then, the stares sting. Once got so bad I watched trash dramas and studied on Naver just to cope."
"So that's how you figured it out. Sigh~ Yeah. Raising Ayoung alone was tough. But we've made it this far... and I'm still not at ease. Even after getting her to B-rank Awakener level. Anyway, I just want her to be happy, nothing else."
The two bonded over this simple dream, continuing with ordinary conversation.
Resting alone in quiet was nice, but Yoo Seongwon found this stress-free daily banter equally healing.
"Well, Ayoung seems like she'll turn out fine no matter what."
"You never know. Just like how you went from regular staff to SS-grade Awakener overnight—nobody knows what'll happen to her."
"...Ouch, can't argue that. But whatever comes, there are only two outcomes: get stronger, fight, and win? Or lose, submit, and get dominated?"
Conflicts were overflowing in Korea right now.
Disputes like getting 1 trillion but losing 500 billion for some other reason? Blue Dragon Guild getting an SS-grade? That Pastor Lee still alive?
To deal with them, they needed to get stronger.
Of course, after defeating Remrem, his level had risen to 64, with skill points left and new resources obtained—he could get much stronger.
"Speaking of, Sis's 'that thing'—a generation behind, but super helpful."
"It's just outpaced by constellation meta, but still good tech. Needs mastery and foundational knowledge, and consumables jack up costs over time, though."
"Ah, like ammo and such?"
"Yeah. Lucky Iron Fortress has production facilities inside, so with raw materials, we can make our own—cuts costs."
What even was that Iron Fortress?
Yoo Seongwon, who had only gotten permission and didn't know everything about the facility yet, was speechless at the self-production mention.
'What the hell is that place? Well, built as humanity's last bastion, and it's huge, so it makes sense...'
"I was shocked seeing those facilities too. Realized how much progress humanity made fighting monsters before constellations. But now everyone just looks to constellations."
Everything in Iron Fortress was tech humans developed fighting monsters themselves.
Integrated with existing weaponry, Hunter gear advanced fast early on, but needing training, mastery, high production costs, and being consumables held it back. Once constellations descended and their era began, popularity dropped.
"Honestly, blessings and graces from constellations are cheat-level."
"Yeah, especially weird ones like Arrow Evasion Grace or Wind's Blessing—they lose edge in Hunter disputes. Plus Hunters' stats got so high they can dodge bullets anyway..."
"But they haven't vanished. Low-to-mid Hunters still use firearms, countries without strong constellations use them, or they go civilian."
Military magic stone guns, tanks—all derived from Hunter gear development, still in active use, but constellation graces and powers were just more convenient and preferred.
"Ayoung too... same deal?"
"Yeah. You saw her switch from training clothes to full combat gear? She's martial artist type, high agility—easier pivot than me. Swapped guns and traps too. Learned skills good for blocking rear/side changes and gathering intel."
"...Thank you so much. Without you, handling modern stuff with just my clueless 'knights' would've been impossible."
Yoo Seongwon's 'knights' and 'Eldraen' had great organization and combat power, but aside from him, none knew modern life—hard to accommodate.
All their skills focused on combat, no stat/skill reading, so poor at detecting changes or having specialized knowledge.
Shin Somi and Shin Ayoung deserved over 30% credit for resolving the recent battle, so Yoo Seongwon had to express thanks.
"Don't know how to thank you properly. Now... like... what do you call this? If you weren't watching my back, Sis... it'd feel unstable? Once you get used to the convenience, hard to go back? So... reward...? Anyway, I'll help with your leveling... please take care of me from now on, Sis."
"Sounds like we only helped for profit. Ayoung's debt is one thing, but I wouldn't waste precious Awakener skill trees and positions on someone I dislike."
"...I know, Sis. I'm not that dumb. But I'm... not ready yet. Lived alone forever, handled everything solo... Suddenly thinking about... family... feels like I'm lacking in every way."
He didn't lack affection.
No, it was natural to like her.
Beautiful looks aside, no stress talking, and she embraced his potentially arrogant side! Hating her would be weirder.
Plus capable, tied to Ayoung—trustworthy enough that rational affection was already maxed.
'So I have to be careful... Can't mess up others' lives on a whim—especially someone I like.'
"...You've been thinking seriously. But connections don't wait for perfect prep. It's merging unfinished sketchbooks and drawing together."
"O-Of course, you have a point, Sis. You've done it before, so you know better. But I'm not ready— no plans at all... Selfish, I know... give me some time, Sis."
Yoo Seongwon bowed his head in request.
Best he could do, clueless about romance.
Never considered family or dating, so clumsy words were all he had—frustrating him.
Wished he'd studied romance novels or movies. Regret piled up over his awkward self.
"...Don't make me wait too long."
"...Ah, yes."
"I'm... getting on in years too, you know."
"Yes. Yes! I'll figure it out as soon as possible!"
Shin Somi, once a top constellation apostle with blessings, still looked late 20s.
But actually mid-30s now, so Yoo Seongwon nodded firmly.