Heading Home (1)
Having battled the monster wave since early morning and even slain the S-rank monster Kraken, the desperate fight had ended, yet the clock had only just ticked past 1 PM. Of course, it wasn't a situation where I could leisurely sit down for lunch, so I had to settle for a simple chocolate bar to stave off my hunger. After that, I returned to the villa and rinsed the traces of battle from my body with water. It was a relief that the Kraken hadn't climbed all the way to the villa at the island's center.
Once things had settled somewhat and I'd changed into fresh clothes, I briefly explained to Do Sihee and Eunbyeol that I was a multi-awakener. To be precise, it was more like I could no longer hide it.
"All those wounds really... "
"...Indeed, this power appears to be the ability of a recovery-type awakener."
If things had gone on like this, the moment we left the island, Do Sihee and Eunbyeol would have dragged me to a recovery-type awakener, and my status as a multi-awakener would have been exposed anyway. There was also the risk that a recovery-type awakener would notice I possessed the same ability. Besides, showing others wounds far fainter than expected for the battles I'd fought would have raised suspicions regardless. Better to reveal it myself first. I'd planned to tell Do Sihee someday anyway, and the timing felt right. Telling Eunbyeol, whom I'd only met a day ago, hadn't been part of the plan.
"Just in case, please don't tell anyone else that I'm a multi-awakener."
"Of course. A male awakener is already a mythical creature—add multi-awakening on top, and even a five-year-old wouldn't believe it."
"I also promise to keep silent about Kim Sungcheol's awakening abilities, no matter what."
The reason I could trust even Eunbyeol's words, which carried slightly less weight than Do Sihee's, was simple.
Eunbyeol (Geum Nari)
Expected Points: 10 ❤️
After I defeated the Kraken, a heart symbolizing expected acquisition points had bloomed next to her face for the first time. The fact that it was a small number, 10, wasn't important. What mattered was that it had appeared at all.
When no heart appeared, it meant she disliked having sex with me or had no interest whatsoever. But even a slight positive shift meant her feelings toward me were improving. Knowing that alone made the 10 floating next to Eunbyeol's face hugely significant. Even if our relationship didn't evolve into sex, having someone with favorable feelings toward me was never a bad thing—especially Do Sihee's personal maid, whom I'd be seeing often.
For now, I'd focus on nurturing that faint goodwill of 10. No need to ruin this precious favor, born from slaying an S-rank monster, by saying something weird like repaying kindness with our bodies.
"By the way, Sungcheol."
"Yeah?"
"What do you plan to do with the Kraken corpse you hunted?"
"...I can't do anything with it. No matter what abilities I have."
I'd once considered stuffing it into my subspace pocket, but Esilla had immediately replied that it was impossible.
Subspace Pocket capacity: 400 slots.
If all slots are used, approximately two Kraken tentacles can be stored.
'...Yeah, forget it.'
Understood.
In truth, Kraken materials didn't fetch high prices. It was just a massive, tough, tasteless squid. Useless for food, and issues with decay and weight made it impractical for armor or gear. Its high-viscosity ink occasionally sold for top dollar at high-end Italian restaurants, but that was about it. Excluding the monster core usable as an energy source, disposal costs would likely exceed its value.
...That is, for ordinary people who got their hands on it.
"Please handle the Kraken materials however you or Do Kyung Group sees fit. No need for any compensation to me."
S-rank monster corpses were always in demand at research facilities, so Do Sihee could surely connect with one. Given Do Kyung Group's many facilities using monster materials, they might even use it internally. Better that than some average person scraping pocket change from it.
Of course, Do Sihee didn't readily accept my waiver of rewards, as the biggest contributor.
"We can't exclude compensation for Sungcheol, who contributed the most to defeating the Kraken."
"Moreover, you protected Do Kyung Group's island from potential dungeonfication, so Kim Sungcheol fully deserves ample recompense."
"Honestly, I'm not entirely uninterested in the reward..."
"Just say the word! For this much, my mother would give you anything...!"
"Knowing you two are safe is reward enough."
"...Pardon?"
"......"
To the two women staring blankly, as if they couldn't grasp my words, I shared my honest feelings.
"It's not something I tell many people, but my parents actually died to monsters when I was young."
"......Pardon?"
"Victims of the 'Abandoned City Dungeonfication Incident' twelve years ago. That's why my life's goal became preventing others from dying to monsters like my parents did."
"......"
"So, just stopping what happened today is already more than I deserve. Unlike my parents, I kept you and Eunbyeol from dying in the monster wave—and prevented a new dungeon from forming by stopping the wave. What more could be a sufficient reward for me?"
Do Sihee's eyes reddened slightly at my past.
"S-Sungcheol... To think you had such a history..."
"...I see. We've noted what you've said, Kim Sungcheol."
"It's old news, so no need to worry. But I'll keep living with the goal of no more monster deaths."
"......"
"At least wherever my hands can reach."
After sharing my somewhat heavy past, we concluded that Do Sihee would handle disposing of the materials. She hadn't decided yet whether Do Kyung Group would use it for research or sell it via the Ariel Foundation. She even offered me the Kraken core, but I politely declined. I didn't need it. Taking just the core would tank the corpse's research value anyway.
"Then, I'll update you later on compensation for the Kraken materials. I'll discuss disposal with Mother, but either way, it'll be a sum you won't find lacking. You won't refuse this too, right?"
"...Fine. If you insist."
"Not just Kraken—cores from Krae and Dust Kelp in this quantity will add up nicely. I'll pass the full amount to you after deducting disposal and fees."
"Won't that be a hassle?"
"Cheap compared to an island and villa."
She had a point, so I nodded quietly.
With monster disposal settled, it was truly time to leave the island. Another wave was unlikely after the first, but with the Kraken corpse remaining, we needed to exit quickly for other reasons. Before the giant squid decayed, we'd summon holy-type awakeners off-island to preserve the body and rebuild the damaged holy barrier.
Sensing she'd become the incident's responsible party, Do Sihee let out a soft sigh.
"I thought I'd finally get some rest after busying myself post A-rank promotion, but trouble strikes even on vacation..."
Imagining returning from a barely half-enjoyed 3-day-2-night trip only to drown in work, she sighed wearily. I regretted parting from her again; she must feel it worse. My plan to spend the day with her, points be damned, had fallen through too.
"Can't be helped. There's always next time."
"Next time... Always next time..."
It didn't console her much; she still looked like a rain-soaked puppy. At a loss for words to lift her spirits, I turned to Eunbyeol.
"Eunbyeol. You mentioned earlier there's more than just helicopters for leaving the island, right?"
"Yes."
"Mind sharing what that is now?"
"Nothing special. If not by sky, then by sea."
"...By sea?"
With that, Eunbyeol opened the massive garage door in the villa's backyard, soon driving out a large truck. Trailing behind was a sizable sailing yacht on a trailer.
"Longer than helicopter travel, but in this emergency, we'll have to use it as our 'only option.'"
Her voice held a faint note of pleasure.