Safe Zone Guests

Kang Geon could just hand it over in the Safe Zone. A special isolated space within the labyrinth accessible only to Trinity-grade jo-ryeokja. Right now, I was in the Safe Zone with a few monsters, staring blankly at Hwang Mi-reu who'd crossed over from Earth.

"……."

"……."

It was awkward.

This was my first time meeting Hwang Mi-reu in person. We'd originally had zero prior connection, after all.

In the midst of that strained atmosphere,

"Uh, um… hi."

I greeted her first. Hwang Mi-reu cleared her throat awkwardly in response.

"Ahem…! Yeah, hi."

After exchanging light greetings, Hwang Mi-reu started introducing herself one by one to the monsters I'd brought over.

"Nice to meet you, Hedgehog. You're even smaller and cuter in person."

The Hedgehog wiggled its butt to show its excitement. Next to it,

Kinogine Arachne, who'd been glancing around in case Ppururu had come, bowed politely to Hwang Mi-reu.

"Yeah, I know. Kinogine, your boobs are huge in person."

"Ppururu's jo-ryeokja grade is too low to come yet."

Next,

"Nice to meet you, squishy princess."

After greeting the Blood Jellyfish Princess,

"Hi Zapan. You're surprisingly cute in person too."

"Nice to meet you too, Merino. The food you sent last time was delicious."

I also exchanged greetings with Zapan and Merino.

I hadn't brought the other base monsters. The Safe Zone coins were proportional to the number of people staying, after all.

Anyway, once greetings wrapped up, Hwang Mi-reu slowly toured the Safe Zone, muttering to herself.

"Finally made it here. Feels a bit smaller than on screen… Oh, Rise brought this round table, huh? Nice material."

Besides the round table, the Safe Zone was stocked with various items and food. All brought by Rise from the Lumina world.

As Hwang Mi-reu wandered around sightseeing,

Paaat—!

A portal appeared in one corner of the Safe Zone. Rise Nova emerged from beyond it.

"Oh. Gauntlet Duke, you're here."

"Heard Mi-reu was sightseeing the Safe Zone, so I popped in to say hi."

"Hm? The second jo-ryeokja to reach Trinity grade, Mi-reu Duke, is here too?"

Rise's horn split slightly, revealing two small eyes clearly. He turned to look where Hwang Mi-reu was. At the same time, she turned at his voice.

Their gazes met.

"Eh? Rise?"

"Pleased to meet you. Second Trinity-grade jo-ryeokja Mi-reu Duke, welcome to my Safe Zone."

Rise walked over briskly and extended a hand. Hwang Mi-reu stared at him curiously before shaking it.

"Not your Safe Zone—it's everyone's. Anyway, nice to meet you. You look way more intimidating in person, Rise."

"Hoho. Mind your words, second Trinity-grade Mi-reu Duke."

"Oops, sorry."

It wasn't hostile. More playful, really. Teasing each other despite being strangers—they'd probably hit it off quick.

The Safe Zone wasn't that cramped by my standards. Pretty spacious, even. But it didn't satisfy our big sponsor, the chaebol heiress.

After looking around, Hwang Mi-reu complained it was too small, cluttered with Rise's stuff, leaving no personal space. So I immediately invested coins to expand it.

No regrets on the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠coins. They were Hwang Mi-reu's donation anyway.

Hwang Mi-reu smiled, satisfied with the now twice-as-large space. She asked us to wait a sec, portaled back to Earth, then returned driving a truck loaded with gold bars piled high in the bed.

"Why'd you suddenly bring gold?"

"Gonna store the ones from home here. Just brought a little for now."

"A little…?"

I peered into the bed again.

…Is that a little?

"Compared to the stash at my parents' place, yeah."

Hwang Mi-reu explained her plan while unloading the gold: store it in the Safe Zone, migrate to Elemen西亚, then re-enter the Safe Zone there to retrieve it.

From what I'd checked before, items brought into the Safe Zone could only return to their original world. Meaning only the owner could take them out, and since owners couldn't leave to other dimensions, items couldn't dimension-hop either.

Of course, that didn't mean her plan was impossible. We didn't know if items bound to the world or the person.

If the former, gold stuck to Earth only. If the latter—bound to the owner—then Hwang Mi-reu could retrieve it in Elemen西亚. Her dimension shift would carry the owner-bound items along.

Hwang Mi-reu, thinking the same, kindly explained via chat to the questioning jo-ryeokja.

I didn't like the plan. Was this risky gamble necessary? Seemed pointless.

As I thought that, Hwang Mi-reu kept unloading gold and said,

"I'll head to Elemen西亚 first anyway, test if I can retrieve it right away."

"And if not? Back to Earth, pull the gold out, then portal it over?"

"Nah. If not, melt it all down, make some decorative gold statues for the Safe Zone."

"……."

I gave her an incredulous look. She smirked at my reaction.

"Kidding."

She touched one gold bar, and it vanished like mist.

"If retrieval fails, just convert it all to coins and give 'em to you."