The Goddess and the Cotton Candy
“Goddess-nim.”
-…….
“Hello? Nyx Goddess-nim?”
-There is no such goddess here.
After our sparring session ended, Nyx turned her face away with puffed cheeks, refusing to speak.
She seemed genuinely upset that I’d taken such a beating during the match.
Or maybe it was because I’d told her not to help me.
“I was thinking of buying some cute clouds, but what a shame.”
-……Clouds?
“You know, the pink ones. They’re incredibly delicious.”
-This goddess has no interest in such things.
Nyx whipped her head to the side.
Right on cue, a street vendor selling cotton candy came into view along the path.
A child ran past us, clutching colorful cotton candy in both hands.
Nyx’s gaze locked onto the child’s hands and refused to budge for a long while.
“Well? Should I buy you some?”
-Did I not tell you? In ancient times, this goddess received all manner of delicacies as offerings. Do you truly believe I would be tempted by something of that appearance?
Yes. That’s exactly what I think.
Anyone looking at the sparkle in your eyes right now would think the same, Goddess-nim.
I pretended not to notice Nyx’s wide, shining eyes and walked over to the vendor.
“Two cotton candies, please.”
“Coming right up.”
The man skillfully twirled the stick.
Sugar spun out in thin threads from a small hole and rapidly coiled around the wooden rod, forming fluffy clouds.
-O-ohhh.
Nyx kept sneaking glances while pretending to look away.
If you’re going to act like you’re not interested, at least control your voice.
“Here you are, sir.”
“Thank you.”
I took the two finished cotton candies, one in each hand.
-Ahem. Contractor. This is purely hypothetical, but…
“What is it?”
-It looks like far, far too much for you to eat alone.
“What, the cotton candy? This disappears in no time.”
-That is not true at all. If you combine those two clouds, they are larger than your stomach!
“So you’re saying you’ll eat them for me out of concern?”
-Heh heh heh. Who else but this goddess would care so deeply for her contractor?
“I’m so moved I could cry.”
I pretended to give in and handed one of the cotton candies to Nyx.
-It is absolutely not because this goddess wants to eat it. This is all a sacrifice for your sake, so do not misunderstand.
Our goddess sure has a long tongue today.
After delivering her grand speech, Nyx took a big bite of the cotton candy.
The sugar melted instantly on her tongue.
Her expression froze.
-Th-this flavor……
“Not good?”
-It is truly a taste from the heavens!!!
The goddess wore an expression of pure bliss, as if she possessed everything the world had to offer.
She practically buried her face in the cotton candy as she devoured it.
I guess I worried for nothing.
While walking side by side with Nyx and eating our cotton candy—
Screeech!
A formal sedan pulled up beside the road.
The emblem on the front of the vehicle felt familiar. As I stared at it, a memory from before my regression surfaced.
“Player Association.”
Maybe he’d overheard my mutter.
The car door opened, and a man wearing glasses stepped out.
He walked straight toward me.
“Are you Player Yu Jinho?”
“That’s correct.”
The man took a short breath, then abruptly extended his hand.
[Player Association]
[HR Team Leader - Han Suchang]
“I’m Han Suchang from the Player Association.”
Oh, this is an unexpected face.
Han Suchang.
I had quite a bit of contact with him even before my regression.
I’d planned to meet him before entering the Tower of Babel, but I never expected him to come find me first.
He really looks young.
I felt the same when I saw Shin Junseok. Seeing people I knew from decades ago after returning to my twenties made them all seem so youthful.
I accepted Han Suchang’s business card and slipped it behind my phone case.
“Does the Association have business with me?”
“The rumor that an outstanding player has appeared has spread quite far, haha. I simply wanted to greet you in person.”
“I see. Then……”
When I tried to end the conversation, Han Suchang quickly spoke up.
“It’s rather cold out. May I treat you to a cup of tea?”
“You’re buying, right?”
“Of course. That’s what the corporate card is for.”
He’s still the same cheerful guy.
Even while suppressing his nerves, his ability to read the room and flatter me was excellent.
That was just his natural talent.
Saved me from one annoying task.
I had been planning to create a connection with the Association anyway. I never imagined someone I already knew from my previous life would come looking for me first.
I followed Han Suchang’s lead and headed to a nearby teahouse.
* * *
A luxurious teahouse built in traditional hanok style.
-Oh, this place has a completely different charm from the building earlier.
Nyx looked around the teahouse with an impressed expression.
If only she’d wipe the sugar stuck to her mouth, she might actually look dignified.
Even as he walked ahead, Han Suchang kept stealing glances at Nyx from the corner of his eye.
He must be curious.
At this point in time, there probably weren’t many people on Earth who could manifest a spirit(?) like Nyx and walk around with her.
“This teahouse is famous for its exceptionally rich ssanghwa-tang.”
“I’ll have an iced Americano.”
Famous or not, ssanghwa-tang wasn’t to my taste.
Maybe I should have asked for misutgaru since we were in a teahouse?
Han Suchang gave a mysterious smile and placed the order.
“Oh, right. Then please order a ssanghwa-tang for our Goddess-nim as well.”
-What is ssanghwa-tang?
“It’s a traditional Korean tea that’s good for the body.”
Since you’ve already tried cotton candy, it’s only right that you experience the taste of Korea’s traditional tea as well.
-Indeed. I shall look forward to it.
I’m making the Association pay while I take all the credit.
While we waited for the drinks, Han Suchang looked me straight in the eyes.
“First, I apologize for visiting without any prior notice.”
“That’s a rather late apology considering you shoved your business card at me on the street.”
“Our situation is that urgent.”
“Is there something urgent enough to trouble the Association?”
“I’ll be direct. The Association needs someone as capable as Player Yu Jinho.”
Whoa, going straight for the throat.
He might seem like the type to charge in recklessly, but in reality he was extremely rational and had an exceptional eye for people.
A legendary figure who rose from a non-awakened background all the way to Vice President of the Association.
After exchanging just a few words with me, he must have decided that being straightforward would be more effective than beating around the bush.
“I didn’t realize the Association was short on people.”
“Player-related crimes have been increasing rapidly lately.”
Players who gained various supernatural abilities after climbing the Tower committing crimes.
It was a phenomenon that had steadily appeared ever since the Tower of Babel manifested.
“Then what can the Association offer me?”
“I understand you offered a hundred billion when you came out of the Tower.”
I nodded.
“To be honest, the Association cannot prepare that kind of sum.”
“Yet you still came to see me. There must be a reason and some grounds for it, right?”
“A signing bonus of three billion. In addition, we will promise by-product processing rights and exemption from various taxes.”
Tax exemption, huh.
That’s a pretty decent condition.
Though the overall price tag is quite low.
I had demanded a hundred billion, but famous guilds would probably consider three to five hundred billion appropriate.
Even at the minimum, three hundred billion. Compared to that, this was laughably insufficient.
Still, for a public enterprise, that much spending was already significant.
The Association had probably set an internal limit of no more than ten billion for my value.
That was just how vertical government organizations always operated.
On the contrary, the fact that Han Suchang had secured thirty billion was even more impressive.
“If I immigrate, wouldn’t most of those benefits become meaningless?”
“We cannot be certain whether other countries would grant you the same benefits.”
“I’m curious whether you truly believe that.”
I gave a small smile.
Han Suchang cleared his throat with a quiet “Hmm.”
Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve seen this man at a loss for words.
He seemed much more awkward than the version of him in my memories.
“The offer I just gave you is the absolute maximum the Association can prepare under current conditions.”
Han Suchang repeated the official line.
He might seem a bit clumsy right now, but he was someone who would eventually rise to Vice President.
Time to stop teasing him.
“Very well.”
“It wouldn’t be strange for you to refuse. Then…… huh?”
“No. I’m not saying I’ll join the Association immediately.”
“B-but you just said ‘very well,’ didn’t you?”
“Instead, let me make a proposal.”
I laced my fingers together and rested my chin on them.
When I leaned slightly forward, Han Suchang looked at me with visible tension.
“How about a mercenary arrangement?”
“A…… mercenary?”
Confusion flickered across Han Suchang’s eyes.
“Or freelancer. Call it whatever you prefer.”
“So what you’re saying…… is that you don’t intend to become an official member.”
“Correct. It would be an external collaboration.”
“The Association doesn’t currently have a department for external collaborators.”
“Then you can just create one now.”
Han Suchang fell silent for a moment.
His eyes quickly scanned my expression.
He must be wondering what my true intention was.
The Player Association was going to grow much larger in the future.
[Synchronization - 18%]
The moment the synchronization between the Tower and the world reached twenty percent, gates would begin appearing all across the globe.
Countless monsters that had only existed inside the Tower would pour into reality, and many people would lose their lives in the process.
During that period, the Association’s influence would skyrocket.
By taking charge of gate management and player crime suppression, it would greatly expand its social power.
Some gates even offered rewards that were difficult to obtain even inside the Tower.
If I created a solid connection with the Player Association now, I would be able to secure a favorable position when the great upheaval arrived.
Wouldn’t joining the Association let me move more directly?
Come on, it’s a public enterprise, not a personal servant. Becoming an official member would be nothing but a headache.
This level of distance felt just right.
“Player Yu Jinho.”
“Yes.”
“If you do not belong to the Association, it will be difficult to provide most of the benefits I mentioned earlier.”
“Well, since I’d be a mercenary, the conditions could change depending on what I do for you, right?”
The immediate tax benefits weren’t that important anyway.
The profit difference between the Tower’s lower and upper floors was like heaven and earth.
More important was securing a connection with the Association in consideration of its future value.
The gate crisis was less than a year away.
When that time came, the Association would be reborn as my faithful hunting dog.
Huu—.
Han Suchang let out a soft sigh.
“External collaboration matters require approval from higher-ups, so I cannot proceed with a contract on my own authority.”
“The top-ranked player of the tutorial is half-committing to you. Please put in some effort.”
“Understood.”
If it was the Han Suchang I knew,
he would somehow persuade the upper management and create an external collaboration department.
He might seem a bit clumsy right now, but at his core, he was a highly capable man.
Even if things didn’t go smoothly, I would still have gained a personally usable connection. It was a sufficiently meaningful meeting.
“Your drinks are ready.”
Two bowls of ssanghwa-tang and an iced Americano were placed on the table.
I slid one of the rough ceramic bowls in front of Nyx.
-What is this?
“It’s traditional Korean tea. It’s only served to honored guests.”
-Heh heh heh. It is truly a tea befitting this goddess.
Nyx gracefully lifted her spoon.
The moment she swallowed a mouthful—
all color drained from her face.
-Contractor! Are you trying to poison this goddess?!
“Good medicine is bitter to the tongue. That’s a Korean proverb.”
Of course. Just how many medicinal herbs go into ssanghwa-tang?
Nyx’s eyes grew moist.
She looked like she was about to cry.
I took the spoon she was clutching and scooped up some jujube for her.
“Try this.”
-If you are not trying to poison me, then stop it!
“No, this part is sweet. Have I ever been wrong?”
-……I shall trust you this once.
With her lips pursed, Nyx bit into the jujube.
Because of her small size, she couldn’t eat it in one bite and had to chew it in several parts.
-Ohhh, it is just as you said.
Nyx spoke with her mouth full of jujube.
Her fully puffed cheeks only made her look even cuter.
I finally understood this goddess’s tastes.
I’ll be able to make much better use of her now.
I swallowed my laughter.