Chapter 37
Chapter 37
37.Choi Min-seok
“Krrr!”
Yong-yong’s favorite toy is a cat charmer. You know, the kind where you wave a stick around.
Pat-ba-ba-bat!
If you shake the Cat Charmer enthusiastically, Yong-yong lowers his head like a cat and wiggles his butt.
‘He’s kind of like a cat, come to think of it. The way he curls up to sleep, too.’
If there’s one problem with this kind of play, it’s that Yong-yong is a Dragon, not a cat.
“Kyao!”
Whoosh-!
I pulled my hand away to avoid Yong-yong, who jumped to catch the Cat Charmer, and Yong-yong blasted Flame Emission.
It wasn’t a huge flame. Like Yong-yong’s size, it was just a small spark.
“Krrr!”
However, it was enough flame to burn the Cat Charmer.
Even if the flame is small, the heat is strong. Because it’s the flame of a Red Dragon, even if it’s a baby.
“Yong-yong! You broke it again.”
I shouted softly, but Yong-yong just shook his head from side to side, holding the charred Cat Charmer in his mouth.
I didn’t bother to stop this kind of Flame Emission.
It’s not like he’s shooting flames at me…
I also thought that practicing using flames like this would prevent Yong-yong from emitting huge flames when he grows up.
I don’t even care that the Cat Charmer burned.
I have dozens of them stocked in my Subspace. I can just open the door, take out another one, and shake it.
“Krrr?”
When a new Cat Charmer appeared, Yong-yong tilted his head, abandoned the burnt one, and turned his head towards me.
After playing with him for a while, Ding-dong – the doorbell rang.
It seemed like something I ordered online had arrived. It was a 100 million won item, so I went out to receive it in person.
I purchased it through the Association, so an employee came, and there was no need for a grand confirmation.
“Han Hye, sir? Is that right?”
“Yes.”
It wasn’t anything grand, even though it was a 100 million won item. It wasn’t something I was going to use in a Gate.
It was Gate Metal similar to the Fire Jade I got last time.
“But why this…”
“It’s pretty.”
I thought of Min-seok when I got the Divinity Stone. Didn’t he like it a lot when I gave him the Fire Jade?
However, I couldn’t give it to him right away because it contained Divinity, and it was consumed, and Chunbae awakened.
Should I say I was lucky?
Since I thought of it, I wanted to give him another gift, so I bought another Gate Metal similar to the Fire Jade.
[Sea Current Silver (C-Grade)]
-Silver naturally created in the sea where rough currents hit. The metal itself contains the power of the sea current.
-If used in Weaponry forging, it can impart the attribute of water.
Gate Metal isn’t that expensive, but this one was quite pricey. It cost 100 million won.
It wasn’t because it had tremendous abilities, but because of aesthetic reasons. It’s silver with a shimmering blue wave pattern.
Ordinary Gate Metal doesn’t get that expensive regardless of grade, but if it’s pretty, that’s a different story.
Because it’s also used in the Earth’s precious metal market. Like for decorations at the end of necklaces.
‘Considering it’s C-grade, it’s still a bargain compared to other items, though.’
I wondered if a 100 million won gift was too expensive for Min-seok, who is an elementary school student…
But I bought the Sea Current Silver because it was pretty.
It’s not like I’m broke like I used to be, and it’s enough if Min-seok likes it.
-Ding-dong!
I immediately took Yong-yong and headed to the house next door.
“You’re here?”
“Hyung!”
My sister-in-law and Min-seok greeted me happily. Well. Maybe not happily? I drop by every day to eat.
“Where’s Uncle?”
“He’s showering.”
“Hyung! Can I touch Yong-yong?”
“Sure.”
The reason I brought Yong-yong was because of Min-seok. Min-seok really likes Yong-yong.
My sister-in-law didn’t. She thinks he’s cute, but she stepped back slightly with a frightened face.
She’s always been afraid of animals, and Yong-yong is picky with strangers. Didn’t he smack Uncle with his tail when he first saw him?
They’ve become quite close now, but Yong-yong’s personality is still the same.
‘But he’s not like that with Min-seok.’
At first, I was worried it would be dangerous, so I did Dragon Unison and let Min-seok touch him.
Then I let him go while being careful, but Yong-yong got along well with Min-seok, contrary to my worries.
It wasn’t because of Dragon Unison. It was different from how he acted with Min-jae or Lee Shin-hee.
Do Dragons recognize their own kind? Or is it because he’s the same kind of child as him?
“Yong-yong! Fly!”
“Krrr!”
I don’t know. Well, it’s enough if Yong-yong and Min-seok like it.
“Hyung, can I give him a snack?”
“You ate, but just one?”
“Yay!”
I opened my Subspace and handed Min-seok some Two Plus Korean beef that I bought for Yong-yong.
It’s expensive if you think of it as feed, but Yong-yong is a Dragon, not a dog.
“Eat!”
“Krrr!”
While Min-seok was feeding him the meat, I took out the Sea Current Silver since I had opened the Subspace.
“Min-seok.”
“Yes?”
“A gift!”
Min-seok, who was giving meat to Yong-yong and only turned his head, widened his eyes when he saw the Sea Current Silver.
And he threw the meat he was feeding into the air, and Yong-yong jumped high and snatched it.
‘Oh.’
Of course, Min-seok wasn’t interested in Yong-yong’s agility and only showed interest in the Sea Current Silver.
“Wow, Hyung, you’re the best!”
“More than your dad?”
“Umm…!”
Min-seok was careful with his words in response to my question. Uncle, who had just come out of the shower, was behind him… The kid is quick to notice things.
Uncle nodded at me from behind with a pleased face.
I felt a sense of defeat. I guess it’s hard to beat blood ties?
“Oh? But I feel something strange here too!”
“It must be because of the Mana.”
“No! It’s different!”
Come to think of it, he said that last time too?
I think I know what Min-seok is talking about. It must be because of the water attribute power contained inside.
Even ordinary people feel the strangeness of the Mana contained in Gate Metal or Magic stone. The same goes for its properties.
“This was in the sea, so the power of water is overlapping.”
“It’s not that kind of feeling, I feel something inside!”
At that time, Chunbae expressed doubt.
-There may be something there.
‘What’s there?’
-A famous blacksmith from the previous Space Master’s world said something.
-In our world, there were also metals containing Mana, but the metal that came out of the Gate had subtly different properties.
‘You’re not talking about attributes?’
-Negative. It’s different from that.
Well, Chunbae said that these kinds of metals existed in his world too.
-The previous Space Master didn’t understand either, but he’s not someone who would talk nonsense. He is a blacksmith and an Awakened as a blacksmith.
‘Are you saying Min-seok has talent in that area?’
-It’s a possibility. If the difference that child felt is the same sense of incongruity that the blacksmith felt, not us.
Hmm.
His father is a Dragon Knight, but his son is an excellent blacksmith? If it’s true, that’s a completely blessed family.
“Uncle. Can I talk to you for a moment?”
It wasn’t something I could just brush off, so I told Uncle what I had heard from Chunbae.
“He has talent?”
“It’s a possibility. You never know?”
“I’d believe it if you said it, but Chunbae’s words are quite believable…”
“Hey, why my words?”
“The expertise is different, you idiot.”
Is it because it’s a matter of his son’s future? I said it jokingly, but Uncle replied seriously.
“Well, it doesn’t matter. He’s always liked jewels anyway. I used to worry, but these days I can set up as many jewelry stores as he wants. It would be good if he Awakened too.”
That’s right. If the difference Min-seok felt is just the Mana with attributes that we feel, then he can just run a jewelry store.
If not, it’s a problem we can worry about after he Awakens as a blacksmith later. Isn’t he still in elementary school?
“Are there any blacksmith academies or something?”
“Why wouldn’t there be? It’s a hidden hot spot these days.”
“A hot spot?”
“Don’t you know much about the outside world?”
Because I’m always just training.
“Why else would there be talk of investing in Gate Metal coins? Because if you Awaken as a blacksmith, you make a lot of money, so there are quite a few people who are dipping their toes in.”
“Dipping their toes in?”
“I heard that some places have opened up that operate blacksmith shops like daily classes, not professional apprenticeships in places that make Weaponry for Hunters?”
“It might be good to look into it and send him once?”
Uncle nodded with a serious face and picked up his phone. His execution was amazing, perhaps because it was his son’s problem.
In the meantime, I asked Chunbae a question.
“How do you Awaken as a blacksmith?”
-I don’t know either. The four Awakened blacksmiths I saw all had different triggers.”
“So, for now, is it best to do a blacksmith daily class and bring him Gate Metal like this?”
Then Uncle, who was rummaging through his phone, sighed.
“…I wonder if this is right.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want Min-seok to Awaken.”
“Because it’s dangerous?”
“Yeah. I tried to stop you too, didn’t I?”
“But wouldn’t it be safe if he’s a blacksmith?”
That kind of occupation usually doesn’t involve going inside a Gate.
“Still, he needs to do some leveling, right?”
“Hmm. Well, if he really does, the country will probably give him a 100% safe party…”
“The problem is the mutations.”
That’s right. I was unlucky enough to meet a Dragon.
“He doesn’t have to go into the Gate, though.”
“That’s true.”
“Let’s think about it then? It would be good if it happens. I should give him another gift soon.”
Uncle said thank you and swallowed hard.
“I need to start my side business soon too.”
The side business Uncle is talking about is Yongyong Pork Belly, which was his original main job.
He said it wasn’t because of the money, but because he was attached to it. It was a comfort to him when he couldn’t work as a Dragon Knight.
At first, he was going to hire a manager to run it separately, but then his thoughts changed a bit.
-Come to think of it, we’re moving. It’s quite a distance, so I wonder if I should open a new one.
-Near the house?
-Yeah. The building is old, so how about making the facilities nice since it’s under my and Yong-yong’s name?
-That would be better.
Even if it’s a side business, he decided to set it up near the house because he needed to check on it from time to time.
Well, Uncle, who had a blockbuster contract with Yong-yong, had more than enough money to open a pork belly restaurant.
“When did it start?”
“I don’t know. I heard they just started the interior.”
Then it’s soon, isn’t it?
Thinking about it, Uncle glanced at me.
“Hye-ya.”
“Yes?”
“Can I use Yong-yong on the opening day?”
“Yong-yong?”
When I tilted my head, Uncle said passionately. I could see a bit of madness in his eyes.
“We’re going to do charcoal grilled pork belly, and Yong-yong’s fire will light the charcoal. The promotional effect will be huge, right?”
“Oh?”
“Well, we can’t do it for every customer, but that day only, we’ll only use Yong-yong’s flame. We’ll keep the fire lit.”
“That’s crazy!”
No, pork belly grilled with Dragon fire?
I can’t stand this either. Why haven’t I thought of this until now?
“Right? I wonder if we can use Seed Flame or something for the fire?”
“Seed Flame?”
“You know, like how there’s Seed Broth. Once Yong-yong lights it, we keep using that.”
“It would work if the fire doesn’t go out, but monitoring it 24 hours a day is a bit…”
I was worried about the risk of fire.
“We could add a space with fireproof facilities, right? It’s not finished yet. A place where Dragon fire can be maintained continuously.”
I had a good idea at Uncle’s words.
“How about putting it in the center of the store? Make the fireproof facilities out of reinforced glass or something, and display the fire. Fire created by a Dragon!”
“Oh? That’s really good?”
Uncle hurriedly made a call somewhere. It was an inquiry about whether the interior could be modified.
“Looks like it’s possible?”
“Wait a minute.”
There’s something important before that.
Dragon Fire Pork Belly. We haven’t even tried it ourselves yet. Even if he’s a baby, he’s a Red Dragon, so it could be weird. Like the fire is too strong.
“Before that, let’s try eating it among ourselves?”
“Good.”
Since the topic came up, I prepared right away.
I prepared both regular fire and Dragon fire for comparison.
“Yong-yong, fire! Just enough to grill meat! On this charcoal!”
“Krrr!”
There was a slight difference from the fire that was lit normally. It felt like the fire was moving a little more alive?
I put the meat on with anticipation.
“This smell… It smells so good?”
“Right?”
Is it because it’s Dragon fire? The smell was better too. It wasn’t a subtle feeling. Soon, the meat was cooked quickly.
And the taste was…
“Wow, crazy!”
“This is the best pork belly of my life?”
It was unbelievably delicious.
Yongyong Pork Belly’s first day, it was a moment when I was really looking forward to the opening.