Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Market Research and Material Gathering
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Christmas vibes filled the streets of Seoul.
LED lights glowed in every color imaginable. Pushing through the heavy snowfall between them, I arrived in front of a cafe.
“Ugh... so cold...”
Seoul was currently at -18 degrees Celsius. Even with buffs to summer and winter, how could it be colder than inside my gate?
And yet, somehow the streets were packed with people. It wasn't that far from the gate, but traffic had been so bad that it took forever.
Were they holding some event nearby? They didn't seem to mind the cold at all.
“Dawn, hold still for a sec?”
Before heading inside the cafe, Hayoung patted my head—specifically, the padding hat I was wearing.
Rustle!
“Wow, you've got a ton piled up. Wasn't it heavy?”
My padding hat had cat ears attached—surprisingly perky ones—and snow had built up around them quite a bit.
“Not really? I'm used to it since I always have the kids perched up there.”
My neck was one of the body parts I was most confident in—proud enough to declare it boldly.
Not quite on the level of a trainer protagonist from a famous anime, but...
Just look at Seolbaek—she weighed at least 5kg.
Even with a guy like that riding on my shoulders all day, my neck never got stiff.
Honestly, it was kind of amazing. Was this some physical trait unique to summoner or tamer classes?
Jingle!
“Welcome!”
The cafe interior enveloped me in cozy warmth. It was just as crowded as outside, but plenty of empty seats were available.
“What did you say you wanted, Dawn? Mint choco frappe? Frappuccino?”
“I'll have hot chocolate.”
“Eh? What's gotten into you?”
Hayoung blinked at me with a look that said it was weird. I got it. I'd been the one ordering mint choco drinks every time we came to a cafe, and the one who added mint choco drinks to the Baekya Castle menu too.
But still.
‘...It's too cold.’
On a cold, snowy day like this, nothing beat hot chocolate.
Of course, the old me from my 'iced drinks only' phase might've been shocked, but the current me had already surrendered to sweetness.
I'd even forgotten how to drink Americano.
“I'll take hot chocolate.”
“Got it. Anything else?”
“Umm... tiramisu cake too.”
“We're grabbing dinner soon. Won't you get full?”
“Dessert has its own stomach. Hehe...”
While Hayoung went to order, I settled into an empty seat toward the back.
‘So squishy.’
The warm leather cushioning felt great. Should I buy one for the factory?
I was bouncing my upper body a bit to enjoy the softness when I sensed subtle gazes directed my way.
Did they recognize me? Or were they just charmed by the cuteness?
Whatever the reason, I was glad I'd dressed like this.
‘I was just gonna throw on some casual stuff and a long padding coat over it.’
Truth be told, I hadn't planned on coming to a cafe—let alone all the way to Seoul.
But since we were out, why not do some market research while we were at it?
A cafe was planned for inside the T-4 Theme Park anyway.
So really, this counted as work.
Absolutely not because my sugar levels were crashing or because the factory was outside delivery range and I was craving something after ages.
“Where...”
I rationalized it to myself and pulled out my notebook. This was my top-secret business notebook packed with all my hard work so far.
[#17 Molrang Park Food and Souvenir Development Project]
I'd scribbled some notes in the car on the way here and planned to review them...
“...”
Something tickled my ears—an unfamiliar sensation.
Humans are strange creatures; sometimes we get hyper-aware.
What that meant was:
‘They're talking about me.’
Amid the carols from the speakers, the clinking of glass cups, and the lively chatter of the crowd.
I'd zeroed in perfectly on the whispers about me from the next table over.
So, without thinking, I glanced their way.
“...!”
Lucky or unlucky, our eyes met perfectly, leading to that awkward five-second stare-down anyone would recognize.
...What now? Should I just play dumb and ignore it?
Unfortunately, they didn't want to leave it at that. They came straight over to talk to me.
“Um... this is her, right?”
The woman held out her smartphone to me. The screen showed a photo of me from the fan meet.
She'd been there. I thought she was a civilian, but she must've been awakened.
Judging by the distance in the photo, she hadn't gotten a signature or anything.
“Yeah, that's me. Hi there.”
I dipped my head with my fan-meet-honed sales smile. She squealed a bit, but not too loudly.
Probably figured making a fuss would bother me.
Mm. A true-hearted fan.
“Can I get one photo?”
I thought about it for a second, then nodded. After letting them take over a hundred, what was one more?
“C-could you strike a pose?”
...Huh? Not a selfie together? The woman sat at her table and framed me in her smartphone camera.
This worked way better for me.
I struck a casual, natural pose and looked at the lens.
Click!
“Thank you! You're so cute!”
Her thanks were full of sincerity.
And that was the end of our conversation. She and her group didn't glance my way again.
...Talk about a clean wrap-up.
Honestly, I'd been ready to sign something and take a selfie, but now I felt oddly antsy.
Was this what they called push-pull?
With my newfound insight, I refocused on the notebook.
★Pudding Slime★
Derived Material: Slime Fragments
→ Completely used up for Molrang Torte and Slime Balls
[High chance of unsuitability due to material shortage]
→ Maybe try eating it first? (Sounds insane.)
★Mini Golem★
Derived Material: Golem Shedding
→ Could anyone chew this with human teeth?
[Unsuitable]
★Kendat★
Derived Material: Horns, Hooves...?
→ Tastes awful, but maybe worth developing?
→ Or better as medicine...?
[Ambiguous]
★Kitsune★
Derived Material: Fur... at least?
→ Ball up the fur for toys?
→ Or make scarves or headbands?
[Ambiguous]
★Balloon Bullfinch★
Derived Material: None
→ Eats bugs and spits sometimes—sell that? (Sounds insane.)
[Unsuitable]
“Hmm... tricky.”
“Then why not just skip making them? Oh, careful—the hot chocolate's still hot.”
Hayoung returned right on cue, handing me the hot chocolate along with a plate of tiramisu slice. Sweet with sweet, as it should be.
“Buh whah ifh dereh nofhin (But what if there's nothing)... Ow! Phew... wouldn't that be kinda lame?”
Hayoung raised an eyebrow with an amused smile.
Then she dabbed the corner of my mouth with a handkerchief before continuing.
“Maybe? You're selling Molrang Mol merch anyway, right? And slime balls too. I heard Baekya's prepping theme park exclusives like slime headbands.”
“That's true, but...”
Still felt like something was missing.
Of course.
Pudding slime and food fights.
Giant pudding slime and drop jumps.
Feeding kendats and headbutting contests.
Arm wrestling with mini golems, and so on...
I'd prepared plenty of unique, advantage-worthy content.
‘But it's missing that 2%.’
Something more viral, something that could become Molrang Park's signature food or toy.
“Hot hot hot...!”
“Told you to be careful.”
I'd brought the cup to my lips without thinking and paid the price.
No way the fans next to me saw that cringe...
“Phew...! Phew...!”
I blew on the steaming hot chocolate several times, tested it gingerly with the tip of my tongue.
“...”
Then I sipped, warming myself up. My eyes stayed on the notebook.
“Do we have to use existing monsters? Can't we use new ones?”
“Hmm... but wouldn't that make my head hurt more? Too many variables.”
“Yeah, fair.”
Think, Dawn, think.
Pudding slime, mini golem, kendat, kitsune, balloon bullfinch.
The answer's gotta be in here somewhere.
In here some—
...Hold up.
“I forgot one.”
“What? Weren't there five? Oh... you mean that titan? No edible parts there either.”
Hayoung and I had both been thinking too narrowly.
We didn't have to get ingredients only from the tiny ones.
Poke!
“Let's eat up and head back quick. Can't wait to test it.”
“What about dinner? Weren't we doing hotpot or something?”
“...Obviously we're still doing that.”
**
That night.
Traffic jammed on the way back too, so it was full midnight by the time we got there.
My eyelids were growing heavy—I strictly kept a 10 PM bedtime and 7 AM wake-up routine for growth.
“Al...right, let's process quick and go?”
Whoosh!
I revisited the gate with Mini.
Monster materials take time to regenerate, so I figured I'd harvest before bed.
Snip snip!
Mini and I held specialized pincers—top-grade ones for dismantling monster materials, bought at Baekya Castle.
“Don't worry too much. I'll be gentle. Trust me?”
Groooan...!
The brave beast that once ruled the skies let out an uncharacteristically low whine.
It even spread its wings round to hide its body, peeking at me through the folds.
Snip snip!
That scary, huh? I knew they'd grow back even if I pulled them.
“No moving, okay? Or I'll unsummon and regrow them for real.”
...!
At my threat, it flinched, spread its wings, and dropped its guard.
“Mini, let's start. Gotta be gentle so it doesn't hurt?”
Whoosh!
Roger that. Time to kick off our midnight material harvest.
Dragon Claw Illuvite!!!