Chapter 107

Translator: MJK

Chapter: 107

Chapter Title: Guardian of the Millennium Snow Ginseng

7 AM.

The morning at the countryside house kicked off with the rooster's booming crow.

"Cock-a-doodle-doo!"

After clearing its throat, it belted out a cry that could shake the mountains.

I rubbed my eyes groggily and headed to the kitchen.

It had been two weeks since So-ye started school.

The chaotic morning rush that felt like a battlefield at first had now become a familiar routine.

Sizzle—

Breakfast was simple.

Scrambled eggs made with the rooster's eggs, the [Miracle Superfood], fresh juice from just-squeezed [Vitality Tomatoes], and a salad of crisp [Crunchy Lettuce] and sweet [Sweet Paprika] straight from the garden.

A straightforward meal packed with nutrition.

And right alongside breakfast prep came the most critical mission: packing lunch.

I pulled marinated meat from the fridge.

A protein-packed special for So-ye, who's in the middle of her growth spurt.

It was braised pork ribs marinated with ground pear.

Steamed to perfection in the pressure cooker, the meat fell right off the bone, filling the air with sweet and savory aromas.

"And... yeah, can't forget this."

I added stir-fried anchovies with [Focus Walnuts], and [Vitamin Bomb Spinach] namul.

A custom lunch tailored for So-ye, who burns through her brainpower studying.

Topped off with sliced pear for dessert in the three-tiered bento box, and it was done.

"Thanks for the meal!"

So-ye polished off her breakfast bowl and headed to her room to change into her uniform.

Moments later, she emerged in her neat school uniform, brush in hand, looking hesitant.

Her expression was downright troubled.

"Oppa... I can't tie my hair by myself."

So-ye made a pouty face at the mirror.

Her arms hurt, and no matter how she tried, it just wouldn't look pretty.

"Want me to do it?"

"...No, it's fine. I'll try again."

So-ye shook her head hurriedly.

And she had good reason.

Last time, I'd volunteered with high ambitions to style her hair, only for disaster to strike.

'Tied it so tight her eyes were pulled up to the sky...'

A dark chapter in history where she spent the whole day looking like a startled rabbit due to my failed tension control.

Her part was crooked too, leaving her on the verge of tears in front of the mirror.

"Don't worry. It'll be different this time."

I pulled a sleek gadget from my pocket.

Something I'd requested myself from Yu Seo-jin's list instead of tomato payment last time.

"What's this?"

I set the dial to [Fresh Half-Up] mode.

Then carefully brushed So-ye's hair.

Whirr—

A gentle breeze and mana flowed from the device.

Her hair magically swayed into place on its own.

Tangles untied smoothly, flyaways tamed perfectly.

Swish!

A few strokes later, and it was a flawless half-updo, like fresh from the salon.

"Wow...!"

So-ye sparkled at the mirror and threw her arms around my neck.

"Amazing! Oppa, you're the best! It looks so pretty!"

"See? That's what oppas do."

I smirked and pocketed the styler.

Valhalla tech at its finest.

"I'm off!"

With everything ready, So-ye slung on her bag.

We portaled from the rooftop to the Seoul building.

Stepping out the first-floor cafe, the noisy chatter of kids heading to school filled the air.

"See ya, oppa!"

So-ye marched toward the school gate with pep in her step.

Her small back gleamed with the hearty items from the garden crew.

I watched until she vanished inside, then returned to the cafe.

"Phew."

I brewed a coffee, sipped, and leaned back in my chair.

Getting one kid to school in the morning felt like a full-on war.

'So this is what parents go through.'

Still, seeing So-ye's smiling back as she headed off melted away the fatigue.

Once Kang-hyun and So-ye headed to Seoul, Hasuo's garden duties began.

On a normal day, he'd pester Muryong or tug Gorani's tail for fun.

But lately, Hasuo was swamped.

Crunch, crunch—

Hasuo bustled on his short root legs toward a corner of the garden.

A special spot blanketed in white frost.

Hasuo squatted in front of it.

"Poeng..."

Up close, a single sprout poked from the center of the frosty field.

Two crystalline white leaves, translucent like thinly carved ice.

A tiny, delicate new sprout.

But the midday sun looked brutally hot on the Millennium Snow Ginseng.

Its leaves drooped limply, and...

"Poeng!"

Hasuo dove into action with a determined look.

Whoosh!

He hoisted a massive burdock leaf he'd prepped.

Bigger than Hasuo himself.

Draped over the sprout, it created perfect shade.

"Poo, poo..."

He pursed his mouth and blew gentle breezes toward it.

Hoping to cool his friend even a little.

It worked—the wilted leaves perked up stiffly, radiating pure chill.

Flop, flop—

As the leaves swayed happily, a big smile bloomed on Hasuo's face.

Then he pulled out a dried dogweed stalk from his stem.

Gently dusting invisible specks from the frosty leaves.

Sweep!

Extra careful not to harm it.

Hasuo's butt and root hands were red and frozen from the icy frost.

It had to sting numbingly, but he didn't budge.

Green—

Born from the earth like Hasuo, but trapped in icy seed for ages.

Just as Kang-hyun had brought him to the warm garden and cared for him, Hasuo wanted to be family too.

"Poo..."

Hasuo huffed on his frozen hands and tenderly patted the surrounding soil.

Imagining master's praise upon return.

In the empty yard's corner, tiny Hasuo stood guard silently.

The snow ginseng leaned its cold leaf against his arm in thanks.

"Poeng?"

Not minding the chill, he grinned wide.

A peaceful afternoon where friendship and care flourished.

Schoolfront cafe.

Post-lunch rush brought peace.

"Iced Americano, light roast, double syrup. Right?"

The beast recited a regular's order with a straight face.

"Oh my, what a memory!"

The customer beamed and took their coffee.

Fierce looks clashing with delicate service.

That gap had turned him into a star barista overnight.

'Leaves me with nothing to do.'

I propped my chin at the counter corner, lost in thought.

Business booming, So-ye settling into school.

Everything smooth sailing.

'Oh yeah, how's the security system holding up?'

The thought hit me, so I checked the fourth floor.

Elevator doors opened to two stalwart Gorani statues.

But...

Beep, beep, beep.

Red lights flickered uneasily from their eyes.

I checked the admin panel, just in case.

"Oops."

I'd totally forgotten.

This building's security gobbles mana stones like a hippo.

Especially since, per the beast, they'd been doing nightly statue workouts, doubling consumption.

"Big trouble. If I don't top it up now, it'll be wide open all night."

Glanced at the clock.

2 PM.

Two hours till So-ye's dismissal.

'One quick run should do it.'

I rushed to the rooftop, portaled to the garden, and entered the Tower.

Goal: 1,000 mana stones.

Quick in, quick out before pickup.

"Next floor was 23, right?"

It'd been so long, even I could barely remember how far I'd climbed.

"Kkiot!"

"Gorani's here too, huh."

Looking around, a damp, dark marsh shrouded in pale fog.

Formless wraiths sobbed and drifted within.

'Oh yeah.'

Back in my Bureau days, infamous for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tricky conquest.

No physical bodies here.

Swords or fists just sliced air; only magic could hit.

"Kkiing?"

Gorani sensed the weirdness, stamping anxiously.

His go-tos: devastating headbutts and kicks.

Test swing of a foreleg...

Whoosh!

Wraiths jeered, phasing right through.

Frustrated, Gorani inhaled deep for his sonic specialty.

"Won't work."

"Neng?!"

"Smoke-like things. Shout, and they just scatter everywhere."

These fog wraiths didn't die to physical waves—they dispersed like mist, reforming later. A real pain.

"Kkiing..."

Gorani drooped his ears, bummed out.

Can't hit, can't yell.

Perfect counter to the mighty Gorani.

"Guess I'll handle it."

Internal energy strikes could hit spirit cores, but efficiency was the issue.

No way Meteor spam either.

'Chasing one by one across this huge marsh? No way I'll make So-ye's pickup.'

Nothing for it but to try...

Shhrrrk—

Then, a dimensional gate rippled behind me.

Someone followed.

'What? Muryong?'

But not his pattering steps.

Smooth, heavy, like dragging silk.

"Sssshhh..."

A massive white shadow emerged from the fog.

Pure white scales, crystalline horn on its forehead.

Lord of the mountain, spirit among spirits.

"...White Snake? What are you doing here?"

It was Wol-baek-sa.