Chapter 028
[Chapter 028]
< A Day of the Primordial Being >
28
Next day, I accessed Hun-Tube to check the status of the video.
[Views: 1,245,789 / Likes: 987,451]
[Donation Points: 87,540 P]
“...What is this.”
Overnight, my video was occupying 1st place in Hun-Tube trending videos.
And 87,540 points.
Hun-Tube points were a different concept from Tower Gold.
They couldn't be directly exchanged for cash, but it was a kind of mileage that could be used to buy potions, equipment, rare consumables, etc., at the official online store operated by the Hunter Association.
It was a not-small amount of points enough to buy an average C-Rank equipment.
I scanned through the tens of thousands of comments with a dazed feeling.
- This time period is definitely Muryong! There's no room for doubt!
- S-Ranks couldn't do it but our E-Class did! The hope of E-Class has arrived!
- ㅠㅠㅠ Loyalty to Muryong-nim forever. Where are you, please make a guild!
Most were positive reviews.
Bad comments? I saw them here and there, but I passed them over with my own filter.
‘But why are there no comments saying our Gorani is cute?’
It was strange.
I stroked the Gorani who was rubbing its head against my leg.
‘It’s this cute.’
...to think so, the fellow's body was already burly enough to be compared with a medium-sized monster.
A solid muscular body without a single bit of fat.
‘Hmm, that's a bit no.’
I corrected my thought.
-Hmyoot!
Muryong was making an "I have everything in the world" expression while licking the Rainbow Pebble candy as large as its own body.
Holding the candy tightly in its arms and going to a corner of the veranda, it began to lick it with its small tongue.
Its body trembled pleasantly, and its tail was turning "ssaeng-ssaeng" like a propeller.
Gya-reu-reuk!
The way it gnawed while making a "gal-gal" sound was as if a baby squirrel were cracking an acorn.
Wag, wag-
The Gorani showed interest in the feather fishing rod lately.
When I shake the fishing rod, it hops around like a baby kitten following the feather, despite its giant frame.
It would struggle its front hooves trying to catch the feather then fall over itself, and after catching the feather in its mouth, it ran through the yard in victory.
“Yes, yes.”
Before me, it was just a gentle animal.
Ding- ddo-ro-rong-
[Earth's Lullaby Music Box].
In the middle of the herb garden, a clear and clean melody from the music box was echoing.
“Pwa-aeng....”
Hasuo seemed to like that sound very much.
Sticking close to the music box, it seemed to even ride the rhythm while gently shaking its body pleasantly.
However, it began to show a bit of strange behavior lately.
“Pwa-aeng?”
Seeing me watering the garden, it began to fetch water with its root hands to share with other crops.
When I brushed the Gorani’s fur, it also picked up a leaf and rubbed the Gorani’s back "sseuk-sseuk".
As if a child were learning while following everything the parent does.
Tiptoe, tiptoe.
Furthermore, when I was quietly reading a book, the appearance of it walking quietly on its tiptoes (root tips) for fear of disturbing me made me laugh yet made a corner of my heart sting.
The commendable and heartbreaking heart wanting to make me happy was contained in all those actions.
I quietly stroked the head of such a Hasuo.
“Grow quickly.”
-Hmyo!
Watching that, Muryong hit Hasuo’s head "tuk" as if it were the older brother.
“Pwa-aeng?”
When Hasuo stared with questioning eyes, Muryong began to show a demonstration personally.
-Hmyoot!
Then with a solemn expression, it ran to me with its most precious treasure, the Rainbow Pebble, in its mouth.
It also looked like a determined resolution to win the Master's favor by offering its most precious thing.
-Hmyoot?
But was it because the pebble was too large and slippery.
When it almost arrived at the veranda, the pebble slipped "ssok" from its mouth.
And Muryong, who rolled "de-gu-ru-ru" from that reaction, was hit by the stone.
-Hmyo....
The appearance of Muryong staggering as if stars were turning before its eyes.
Hasuo waddled to such a Muryong and gently stroked its head with its root hand.
“Puhat.”
It was a silly yet cute and heart-warming sight.
* * *
“Let's see, is it cherry tomatoes this time.”
I headed toward the cherry tomato vines planted in a corner of the garden.
Fruits shining red and brilliant like rubies.
I picked one of the sturdiest-looking fruits and focused my consciousness.
[Item: Tomato of Vitality]
[Description: Grown in the Absolute's Herb Garden, filled with the earth's vitality. Upon consumption, it breathes vitality into the blood and promotes metabolism.]
“Good.”
After showing a satisfied smile, I harvested a basket full of well-ripened tomatoes.
Then I went to the kitchen and made tomato juice by carefully juicing them.
Gulp.
The moment the red liquid passed down my throat, I felt my body's blood becoming warm and turning vigorously.
The sensation of the heart beating pleasantly and every single cell being filled with life force.
My herb garden crops show effects immediately upon consumption.
Of course, I couldn't know how long this effect would last permanently, but it was certain that my body felt better right now.
“This has also all grown.”
[Item: Cucumber of the Glacier]
[Description: It contains a cool energy. Upon consumption, it cools unnecessary heat in the body and clears the mind.]
[Item: Clairvoyance Onion]
[Description: Contains special ingredients that brighten the eyes and ears. Vision becomes clear and even small sounds are heard well. Not harmful to animals.]
Among the harvests, I set aside the ones So-ye can eat safely or especially like in an icebox.
In the evening, I start cooking with the remaining crops.
Ch-ch!
The sound of the pressure rice cooker vigorously emitting steam filled the kitchen.
Freshly cooked rice plus a stew with plenty of [Tomato of Vitality].
Crispy seasoned [Cucumber of the Glacier], plus egg rolls with [Clairvoyance Onion].
-Hmyoot!
“Kkiyot!”
Setting aside mine and the unseasoned food separately.
Just sitting around together and eating delicious food like this made the body and mind healthy on their own.
‘I’m satisfied with this life alone.’
Lying blankly, when I had nothing more to do, I recalled the Tower progress reaching the 20th floor.
Until now, the raid was a piece of cake honestly.
But starting from the 20th floors, floors containing some variations begin to appear.
For instance, a floor where making any sound is forbidden and must be broken through only with knowledge and wisdom.
There were also floors testing pure physical power, where gravity is 10 times that of reality.
‘Physical power.’
My body's Internal Energy (Naegong) was deepening after drinking Stalactite Petroleum and the operation method was also gradually becoming familiar.
But as the body became stronger, some regrettable parts also emerged.
Should I say it's like the feeling of constantly pouring water into a full water bottle.
There was a feeling as if the overflowing energy was trapped inside the body and couldn't find a hole to escape.
‘I think I should find a way to emit Internal Energy (Naegong).’
Of course, I was strong enough with the current power alone.
I was confident of not being pushed back even if I faced an average A-Rank monster.
But this pure energy accumulating by eating good crops from the garden every day.
The regret of just letting this energy flow away was large.
‘If I could fully digest this power inside the body....’
Just then, a system message popped up.
[As the player's boundary rises, the skill Absolute's Herb Garden opens eyes to new possibilities.]
[Current Condition: Upon acquiring an Internal Energy Emission technique, a 2nd stage awakening of the skill is possible.]
‘...2nd stage awakening?’
Awakening of a skill.
That was a miracle experienced by only a very small number among S-Rank Hunters.
“That... is possible?”
No way.
“Are they talking about a Heart Method (Simbeop)?”
* * *
While Kang-hyun was taking a nap on the veranda.
Muryong leisurely escaped through the gap under the gate and headed somewhere.
Step, step, step.
The appearance like a tiny glutinous rice cake dumpling walked bravely along the mountain path.
It would roll "de-gul" after slipping on the dew on a leaf, and struggle with its front hooves to push aside a small stone blocking the path.
-Hmyoot!
A proud gesture as if it finally reached the destination.
It reached a secret valley deep in the back mountain.
And soon.
Slid-slid-slid-slid-
As the fog filling the valley lifted, a giant thing revealed its form.
A body thicker than an anaconda and covered with brilliant scales.
A small white crystal horn sprouted on its head.
It was the White Snake of the Moon (Wol-baek-sa), which is said to live while eating the moon's essence in legends.
Woooong!
Every time the white snake moved once, the surrounding trees shook and the rocks trembled.
-Hmyoot?
But Muryong, who was sitting in the middle of the valley, wasn't surprised at all and entered the valley while making its unique silly sound.
Then.
Swish-!
An unbelievable thing happened.
The giant white snake, which looked like the master of the mountain, instantly narrowed the distance and stopped right before Muryong.
Then it bowed its giant head to the ground, bowing like a gentle lamb as if worshipping a god.
-Mu-nyo-o-ng!
It was a new friend Muryong had been meeting secretly lately.
It was closer to a one-sided audience than a friend.
To the White Snake of the Moon, which was practically the monarch (Kun-ju) of the mountain, the tiny white creature before its eyes was an object of awe, not a playmate.
The white snake, which huddled its giant body, was even cautious about breathing.
It was an absolute obedience fearing that its minute movement might cause even a speck of discomfort to this primordial existence.
On the other hand, Muryong didn't care about such inner thoughts of the white snake and just wagged its tail while satisfied looking at its own face reflected in the valley water.
-Hmyoot!
It was just a nonchalant cry informing of its presence, but to the white snake, it sounded like a solemn royal decree. Yes, I must express gratitude for this glorious audience.
The white snake, looking at Muryong, seemed to hesitate for a moment, then personally tore off one of the most brilliantly glowing scales right below its white crystal horn.
Drip!
A scale that came off cleanly without a single drop of blood.
It was the essence and the root of power built by the White Snake of the Moon for hundreds of years.
It placed that precious treasure before Muryong’s feet as if offering taxes.
Of course, the primordial existence didn't ask for anything.
But the white snake knew.
If a lowly spiritual animal like itself had the honor of spending time with that primordial existence.
Not expressing gratitude for that was an arrogant act defying the providence of the universe.
If it did so, it would surely face a great calamity someday.
-Hmyoot.
Muryong held that in its mouth as if it were very natural.
This was a gift from a friend and, at the same time, a precious tribute to be offered to its Master.
Of course.
Even if it offered this precious thing to the Master, it didn't necessarily need him to express gratitude.
Just being by his side and feeling his warm touch.
That alone was enough happiness.
A lonely stray that had been wandering through dimensions meaninglessly for eternal ages.
The only existence with the power to take in such a self and allow following him.
Muryong was currently spending the most happy and fulfilling days of its life.
-Hmyu-nya~ hmyu-myu~
It began to waddle toward the house again with exciting steps.
With the face of the world's most happy dragon.
< A Day of the Primordial Being > END