Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: First Meeting
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“Ugh…! Whew….”
I barely managed to carry the flowerpot Mini was in all the way to the bathroom.
If it tipped over, my nose would’ve been right up against it. Mini was surprisingly heavy, so it took some real effort. Even if it was “Mini,” a golem was still a golem.
Anyway, that wrapped up the prep work. I turned to Molrang, who had been toddling along behind me.
“Molrang, you ready?”
!!!
Instead of answering, Molrang bounced around excitedly. With its cheeks puffed out, it looked way cuter than usual.
Okay, Molrang was set. My gaze naturally shifted to Mini.
“Mini, you?”
Woo—woo!
Mini thumped its chest with its right fist. Adorably confident, though sand trickled down everywhere.
“Then let’s start? Molrang, fire!!!!”
I shouted with a pleased smile. Target: Mini. Molrang, locking on, stretched its mouth forward.
Pfoooo!
A powerful stream of water burst out right away. It was water tinged with a faint blue glow.
This was the water Molrang had been storing in its body all day. Pudding slime’s signature stickiness clung to it.
Splash!
The sticky water began soaking Mini’s body.
The water acted like glue.
Inspired by sandcastle-making, this was Mini’s constitution upgrade project.
Plain water wouldn’t cut it, so I enlisted Molrang.
Pfoo……
The stream tapered off quickly. Right after drenching Mini from head to toe.
Too much water and the sand would run off. Molrang had held exactly the right amount.
“Let’s see….”
I placed my hand on Mini’s sopping body. The usual gritty sand feel was gone, replaced by firmness.
Okay. Pass for now.
Woo-woo!
Mini shot its hand up. It had read my expression. Mini immediately tried to climb out of the flowerpot.
“Not yet.”
I stopped it quick.
No guarantee the state would hold. It could crumble the second it stepped out. So, we wait.
One rooftop room buried in sand was enough.
Grumble.
Right on cue, my stomach growled for food. I hadn’t eaten since waking up.
“Guess I’ll grab something to eat….”
Perfect timing since we had to wait anyway.
I started to leave the bathroom.
Woo……
But a heavy gaze pinned me. Those big eyes looked ready to burst into tears any second. Of course, with Mini’s current state, chicken-shit sand tears weren’t possible.
“Alright, alright.”
No helping it. I wasn’t cold-hearted enough to ignore that look.
“Wait just a sec.”
I stepped out, made a beeline for the fridge.
Fling!
Yanked the door open. Like any solo liver’s fridge, mostly empty, but not totally bare.
I grabbed my emergency stash.
Ham-cheese-strawberry… whatever convenience store sandwich I’d snagged nearby. Expiration’s two days past?
But it’s fine. From experience, a week late and it still won’t kill you.
“Waited for me?”
Back in the bathroom, a smile spread across Mini’s face.
Woo-woo!
Everyone loved me way too much. Should I train ’em out of separation anxiety like puppies?
Yeah, probably. Look at me. Eating in the bathroom because of you guys?
Woo-woo!
Oblivious or not, Mini kept grinning.
“It’s good….”
I squatted on the damp bathroom floor and bit into the sandwich.
‘Tough.’
Texture sucked. Jam was dried up, ham was basically for show.
Gulp.
Chewed and swallowed, just to fill the tank. Eyes locked on my smartphone.
Tap tap.
·WantToRaiseADragon: Did you need something?
Sent a message to JewelerAwaits with my one-handed pro typing.
Honestly, this water-glue method didn’t feel permanent.
More like a stopgap to hold things together short-term. Not a real fix.
Truth is, I’d already found the perfect solution.
[Feeding it refined moon shadow stone strengthens the mini golem’s skeletal structure, organically binding all parts. This prevents sand grain leakage for quite a long time.]
It was right there in the English academic paper. I needed moon shadow stone—refined, no less.
So I asked JewelerAwaits for help. Pills to pharmacists, ores to jewelers. Common sense even kindergarteners know.
Ding!
·JewelerAwaits: Asked my jeweler contacts too… nobody has any.
·WantToRaiseADragon: Ah.
·JewelerAwaits: Tried posting in the trading gallery?
Of course I did.
Trading gallery sells everything under the sun, but no moon shadow stone in sight.
Tap tap.
·WantToRaiseADragon: Nobody’s selling.
·JewelerAwaits: Gotcha.
·JewelerAwaits: Moon shadow stone’s just a pretty rock with no demand…
What now? Guess this is as far as Mini goes with us.
Sorry, Mini, you can’t come with…… no!
Woo-woo…!
Mini shook its head furiously. Best protest it could manage. Even through our red thread link, its zest for life came through.
“Got it, got it, enough!”
Sent some affection via the thread, and Mini’s whining finally stopped.
No choice. If money can’t buy it, gotta get it myself.
Tap tap.
·WantToRaiseADragon: Any idea where it comes from?
·WantToRaiseADragon: Searched online, nada.
·JewelerAwaits: One sec.
While waiting for JewelerAwaits’ reply, I took another bite. Last one already.
‘Ugh, tastes awful.’
Is this even a sandwich? Sigh, wasted money. Blacklist that maker from now on.
Ding!
·JewelerAwaits: Know Hahyeon Gate?
·WantToRaiseADragon: B-Rank, right? North of Seoul.
·JewelerAwaits: Yep. Lots come from there.
·WantToRaiseADragon: Oh.
Got the answer. Now just go get it myself.
Problem: B-Rank gate means need at least a B-Rank hunter escort for safety…
Just show up and find a party? Porter disguise with Molrangtor again?
Ding!
·JewelerAwaits: Planning to go yourself?
·WantToRaiseADragon: Yep. Gotta.
·JewelerAwaits: Wanna go together?
·WantToRaiseADragon: Right, you’re a hunter too. D-Rank, yeah?
·JewelerAwaits: Lol;;
Not my place to say, but dragging a D-Rank along feels iffy.
Ding!
·JewelerAwaits: You’ll regret not taking me.
·WantToRaiseADragon: ??
·JewelerAwaits: Got ore detection skill. Exclusive to jewelers.
·WantToRaiseADragon: Okay, you’re in.
Should’ve mentioned that sooner. Almost missed out on a gem.
Anyway, got porter and compass. Just need the carry machine now.
Knew one B-Rank hunter.
Tap.
·WantToRaiseADragon: Heyheyheyhey!
·SoloPlayLover: You called?
·WantToRaiseADragon: Wanna hit a gate together?
·SoloPlayLover: Sudden?
·WantToRaiseADragon: Need something bad…
·WantToRaiseADragon: Just you, good to go.
·SoloPlayLover: When?
·WantToRaiseADragon: Tomorrow. Just you, good to go.
Not pressuring or anything. If he’s busy, just slot in a rando.
·SoloPlayLover: Tomorrow’s packed… did a run today too.
·WantToRaiseADragon: Just you, good to go.
·SoloPlayLover: Lol;
Sure, party might feel awkward. I could cut his test batch as payback for flaking.
·WantToRaiseADragon: Just you, good to go.
·SoloPlayLover: ;;;
Anyway, it’s fine. I’m magnanimous, can understand.
Ding!
·SoloPlayLover: Ok, let’s go.
Sweet, SoloPlayLover agreed.
Knew I had an eye for people. Could say those two helped me settle in successfully.
Tap tap.
Set to meet those two tomorrow morning. Rendezvous: Hahyeon Gate entrance.
Woo-woo!
How does it know we’re gate-bound? Mini punched the air like take me too.
Solid hit. Sand rained down from below.
“…….”
Heh. Not even an hour. Too much to ask.
**
9:50 AM.
Hayoung arrived at the gate ten minutes early.
Tap tap.
·JewelerAwaits: I’m here. Sky blue tee, that’s me.
·WantToRaiseADragon: Got it, arriving soon.
“…….”
What’s this? Mouth going dry for no reason. Heart pounding hard.
Makes sense. About to meet the inventory maker in person.
Legit big shot among big shots.
‘All the guilds were going nuts trying to scout them….’
Hayoung knew the top five guilds had all jumped in.
Rumor had it one offered 10 billion won.
But the maker turned every offer down. Kept crafting inventories solo, quietly.
Chance to face this mystery head-on. Wouldn’t be human not to be nervous.
‘Wonder what they look like?’
Hayoung pictured it for a sec.
Average guy, probably? From the chats, highest odds.
Adult woman wouldn’t be weird either. Crafter classes skewed female awakeners anyway.
Lost in thought, someone spoke to Hayoung.
“Hello. You’re JewelerAwaits, right?”
Surprisingly thin, clear voice. Guess the maker’s a woman after all.
Hayoung mustered a smile and turned around.
Her eyes soon caught the other’s figure.
“………Huh?”