Blue Gems and Kimchi Stew
How many times had they switched groups?
"Group 3!"
"Got it!"
It was right when Group 3, including Earth, was pressuring the monster.
Kiyaaaaak!
That was the first time they heard its shriek.
Of all moments.
"Whoa, my MP's empty!"
With those words, the four spirits vanished. Earth, who had been the key tank in Group 3, was gone too, of course.
"Ah, damn it!"
"Sorry!"
Sung Min-woo leaped back.
"Lemme regen some MP."
"Haa, fine."
Mu-hyuk sighed and hurriedly directed Enhanced Bone 1 to fill Earth's spot, sending Bone Sword 11 and 12 to bolster the line.
He reorganized the group around Enhanced Bone 1 and 2. It was precarious, but just barely holdable.
"Ready yet?"
"Almost!"
While Mu-hyuk held on by the skin of his teeth.
"Done!"
Sung Min-woo resummoned his spirits and threw them back into the fray.
Only then could they catch a breath.
"Phew."
They started pressuring it again.
Kiyaaaaak!
It took an excruciatingly long time, but they finally took it down.
Experience has increased.
No time for corpse dissection this time either.
The body vanished in a flash.
"Did this one drop anything?"
This time, it was blue gems.
Two of them.
Mu-hyuk picked them up and checked their info.
◈ Increases Defense by 0.1
◈ Increases Magic Defense by 0.1
Mu-hyuk's eyes widened slightly.
"Two of 'em."
"Two?"
"Yeah, and they're Defense ones."
"Whoa, for real?"
Sung Min-woo hurried over.
Mu-hyuk handed him the two gems.
"Holy crap!"
Attack power +3 equals Strength +1, and Defense +1 equals Vitality +1. Defense gems were way better than Attack ones.
Magic Defense was like +2 Knowledge per gem. Not as efficient as plain Defense, but better than Attack.
"These are way better than Attack gems! This guy's a total model citizen!"
"What're you on about."
"They're amazing."
"Yeah, agreed."
This was seriously satisfying.
Worth every second invested.
"Ten-minute break, then back at it."
"Roger!"
They rested and hit the road again.
Kruk.
Another Barrier Beast appeared, leading to a fierce battle.
"Nice!"
The reward: two more gems.
Defense and Magic Defense boosters.
"One each for now."
"Yeah."
They split the pair they'd collected.
Crunch.
Crushing them in their hands boosted their stats.
Defense has increased by 0.1.
Magic Defense has increased by 0.1.
Motivation surged for more fights.
Stat gems and insane EXP.
"More, more!"
Even against Sword Ghosts, they'd taken short breaks and dragged out fights.
But here, they cut breaks even shorter, skimped on sleep, and kept battling.
Progress skyrocketed—faster EXP and Defense gains.
Two days later.
Mu-hyuk had +3 Defense and Magic Defense each. Same for Sung Min-woo.
Level-ups were the cherry on top.
*
They'd hunted till morning yesterday.
So today, rest till 3 PM.
"Ugh..."
But Mu-hyuk couldn't sleep in.
Drrrrrring.
The alarm.
He fumbled groggily, grabbed the blaring phone. Glancing at the screen half-asleep, he groaned.
"Ah..."
12:30 PM now.
Set for 12:20, but he slept through—the nagging every 2 minutes had gone on till now.
He staggered up, shook his head to clear it, hit the bathroom, and turned on the faucet.
Splash.
Cold water hit his face—wide awake.
"Hoo."
Quick wash, change, out the door.
Already 12:45.
Into the car, engine on, toward the meetup spot.
Hmm, this the place?
Nav led him here, but it felt off. Getting farther from bustling streets.
Roads narrowing, old rundown eateries everywhere. Not empty, though.
Plenty of folks.
But only briefly.
Deeper in.
Narrower still.
Fewer people as they went.
Now, barely any.
Close by now...
Find parking first.
Doubting if it was right, but address matched—keep going.
Finally, a spot for the car. Parked, got out, followed nav path.
Spotted a restaurant on the right of a narrow alley—wide enough for two grown men.
Ah, here.
No-name joint.
No sign. In the corner, she sat with her back to him.
Step.
Recognizable anyway.
"Ahem."
She turned.
Yura.
"Oh, you're here?"
"Yeah."
He sat opposite, scanned the place.
"How'd you know about a spot like this?"
"I come here a lot."
"Really?"
"Yeah, their kimchi jjigae is amazing."
Yura smiled.
Kimchi stew, huh.
He'd figured fancy restaurant—apology dinner, and her vibe screamed upscale.
Unexpected.
He eyed her with a mix of curiosity.
Brief silence.
Awkward for both.
"A-hem."
"Uh, order first..."
"Yeah."
Yura called to the ajumma.
"Two servings of kimchi jjigae, please."
"Sure, right out."
Ajumma smiled and went in.
Just the two of them.
Yura sipped water.
"Sorry again."
"Huh?"
"I was really wrong before."
Mu-hyuk felt a twinge of discomfort.
Not that bad, honestly.
He'd overreacted a bit, fearing info leaks.
"It's fine. I was too harsh too..."
"No, it was me..."
"Anyway, forget that day."
"Okay."
Why was she going this far? Hard to grasp.
She's a star, right?
They'd dungeoned together, he'd saved her from the boss. But that alone didn't explain this humility.
"..."
Wanted to ask, but tough.
What even to say?
Perfect timing—kimchi jjigae arrived.
Fast.
Ajumma left; Yura took a spoon.
"Dig in."
"You too, Yura."
Mu-hyuk scooped some stew.
Bubbling broth.
Steaming hot.
Blew gently, tasted.
Eyes widened.
"Mmm."
"Good, right?"
"Yeah, explains why you come."
"Obviously."
Yura's face softened, distant.
"Reminds me of Mom here."
Mu-hyuk stayed quiet.
"Mom's stew tasted just like this..."
"Your mom...?"
"Yeah, she passed when I was little."
Unneeded guilt hit.
Tch, why bring that up?
Awkward too.
But knowing her secret felt oddly intimate.
"Didn't know?"
"Huh?"
"She comes up on broadcasts a lot."
"Ah..."
Mu-hyuk nodded.
Got it.
Couldn't help a chuckle.
What was I thinking?
"I don't watch much TV."
"Figured."
Vibe was good. Casual chat, yet both smiling faintly.
Topics flowed.
Illusion inevitable.
"Hey, wanna meet in Illusion sometime?"
"Illusion?"
"Yeah, hunt together."
"Ah, can't right now..."
"Why?"
"In a dungeon."
Yura's eyes widened.
"Dungeon?"
"Yeah."
"Whoa, how soon after the tower clear...?"
"Luck, I guess."
"Insane luck. Hmm, clear it and we hunt? Cool?"
Sung Min-woo'd say yes in a heartbeat.
Not bad for him either.
She had good instincts.
"Sure."
"Thanks. Kinda wild, thinking back."
"What?"
"Remember our first meet?"
Mu-hyuk smiled awkwardly.
How could he forget trapping her?
"I was so flustered."
"Ha, haha..."
Cold sweat.
"Must've scared you bad."
"Totally. Shocked and embarrassed."
"Sorry."
"Not grilling you."
Yura leaned in.
Distance shrank.
Her scent tickled his nose.
Shampoo?
Lotion, skincare?
Or just her natural smell?
Head spun a bit.
Ahem—but she leaned closer.
"Always wondered—can I ask something?"
"Ahem, shoot."
"Why hide so hard?"
Question from the tower too.
Dodged it then.
"Hmm, reasons for hiding..."
He knew future info, grew from it, cut the fat.
This quest too—skipped the pointless subjugation, picked the linked one, cleared it for dungeon access.
Years of Illusion data led here—but how to explain?
I know everything about Illusion?
Others'd call BS.
"Too much luck breeds envy."
Yura nodded.
She'd seen his strength vs. Cyclops Giant.
Strength has reasons.
Luck could be one.
"Luck's a skill. Plus, you'd get attention?"
"That's the burden."
"Grow more, attention's inevitable anyway."
"I know. Till then, quiet growth. Less hassle means faster ranking."
"True. Popularity draws trolls."
Both mid-high level in Illusion—got it.
Yura, as a celeb, knew fame's downsides best.
Common ground formed.
Awkwardness gone.
Ajumma approached then.
Set down a plate.
"Here, on the house."
Fried chicken—god's gift.
"Whoa, this...?"
Kimchi stew run, free chicken?
One leg, one wing, neck, breast—overkill.
"It's fine. I can't finish it alone anyway."
"Ah..."
Late thanks.
"Thank you."
"No biggie, ho ho."
Ajumma left. They eyed the chicken.
Felt like a gift.
Not the chicken—the kindness.
"Evenings, they always hook you up."
"I see."
"Oh, chicken reminds me—wanna do a psych test?"
"Psych test?"
"Yeah, I'll do it."
"Uh, sure."
"Mu-hyuk, which chicken part first?"
"Me...?"
Mu-hyuk pondered, reached out.
