Chapter 58
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Bring the Doenjang
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After struggling somehow to fall asleep, I finally welcomed the morning.
When I opened my eyes, Coco's paw was pressing down on my cheek, and Garum was licking my left arm in her sleep.
It wasn't the woman I'd seen in the middle of the night—it was Garum in her beast form.
So the figure I saw really was just a dream, after all.
"......No way that's true."
I tried forcing myself to conclude it was a dream, but I couldn't deny that even my judgment was off.
The one who climbed on top of me last night was definitely Garum.
The reason Garum had turned human was probably because she'd ingested the flash golem I'd dosed with medicine.
A miraculous drug that slowly transformed a golem made from a lump of corpses into a beautiful being.
I had no idea what the drug was, so I couldn't say for sure, but there were no other suspicious circumstances.
"She's back to her original form, so it doesn't seem to be permanent."
Considering she'd been asleep, it seemed like a power that manifested unconsciously.
Garum probably had no idea she now had the ability to transform into a beastkin.
I hadn't seen her form clearly, but it was right up my alley.
The combination of glossy brown skin and black hair.
It felt like gazing upon a Middle Eastern beauty overflowing with healthy allure.
"More beauties are always better, but even so, fiddling with the true form of a wolf feels a bit......"
Besides, Garum wasn't even an ordinary wolf—she was a mutant born from black mages.
Harboring feelings for Garum would be like lusting after something straight out of Cthulhu mythos.
I wasn't that pent-up anyway, so I decided to observe Garum's changes slowly and think about it later.
'Kizen and Maribel haven't come back yet.'
Due to their fugitive life, they probably hadn't visited his wife's grave even once in years.
Once they returned to Altesia, who knew when they'd get another chance for a grave visit, so I should give them plenty of time.
I genuinely regretted not being able to help them exact even more satisfying revenge.
"Haa...!"
I let out a sigh and carefully slipped out of bed without waking Coco and Garum, then sat on the sofa.
I pulled out what could be called my spoils of war.
Three small stones that looked like simple pebbles.
They appeared worthless, but they were treasures of inestimable value—rune fragments.
Of course, until the pieces were assembled into a complete rune, they were utterly useless trash.
"I need two more pieces to complete it, but it should be fine to assemble now."
I had no idea if all three fragments formed the same rune.
Mashing fragments from different runes together would bring disaster, so I absolutely couldn't combine them without appraisal.
But I placed the rune fragments on my palm and clenched my fist with all my might.
These rune fragments I possessed were my assets.
If the synthesis failed, one rune would scatter across the world, leaving behind calamity.
That would mean losing my fortune, and I trusted Heinz's financial luck wouldn't allow such a thing.
"Haha......"
When I opened my palm again, the separated stones had fused into one.
It wasn't perfect, with two gaps on the outer edges, but a plausible rune pattern was engraved on it.
Meaning these three stones formed a single rune.
I was starting to find Heinz's luck awe-inspiring.
"They came from places with zero connection, yet the synthesis succeeded......"
I was seriously tempted to figure out ways to maximize this financial luck.
If this were the modern era, I'd be conquering the world as the stock market king......
The Ketchup Young Master was born in the wrong era.
"Oppa, what's this?"
As I stared at the result on my palm, Coco's voice came from behind.
Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she pointed at the rune fragment with her finger.
She naturally climbed onto my lap and leaned back against me.
I stroked Coco's tousled hair.
"This is called a rune fragment."
"Rune fragment...?"
"See the two empty spaces? When you gather fragments to fill the gaps, it automatically completes into a treasure."
"What happens when you collect them all?"
"Something incredible happens, but until you have all the fragments, you can't know what exactly."
The clan that could interpret runes had long vanished.
Even in the game, there wasn't a single NPC who could read them.
There was no way to know the effect without using it yourself—which meant it was a one-time deal.
In the end, you'd have to save it for a crisis, gambling that even if you lost, you'd break even.
Still, since any rune could produce near-miraculous effects, it was best to gather them in advance.
"I'm curious though......"
"If I had to pick one, it could shoot a beam that instantly kills any enemy."
"That's super cool!!"
Even hearing it could be used to kill people, Coco wasn't scared—she was fascinated.
Thanks to Kizen's training, she was steadily growing into an assassin.
In the modern world, I'd get scolded for teaching a child such things.
But in this world where power mattered, she had to cultivate strength, even if it meant becoming an assassin.
"No other effects?"
"What would Coco want to happen?"
"Hmm...! I want my body to get super big!"
"You wanna be a giant?"
"Not a giant—I wanna be a grown-up like Maribel-unnie or Grandma Lena!"
She was growing into an assassin, but Coco was still a child full of innocence.
Becoming an adult just meant more responsibilities and exhaustion.
But I couldn't shatter her pure dreams by telling her the harsh reality.
"Even without borrowing treasure power, if you keep working hard like now, Coco will become a grown-up in no time."
"Yeah!"
[That's right! Even without that pebble, if you use Tyrving's power, you could turn this wolf girl into a grown-up right—]
I picked up Tyrving and chucked it into the corner of the room.
I could never forgive false advertising on expiration dates.
As Coco tilted her head at my sudden action, I stroked her hair and changed the subject.
"By the way, why's Maribel 'unnie' but Lena 'grandma'?"
"Maribel-unnie smells like sweet flowers, but Grandma Lena smells like an old tree trunk?"
"......Keep what you just said a secret from Lena."
"Whyyy?"
"Her heart couldn't take it......"
After that, I spent the morning sunlight chatting with Coco.
Spending time on the sofa with the little wolf girl warmed my heart.
It felt like having a daughter, bringing a smile that wouldn't fade.
I could somewhat understand Kizen's feelings now.
Recalling how his expressions had brightened lately, Coco's presence was definitely having a positive effect.
"Kyarruk......"
"Garum's awake too. Sleep well......Huh?"
I turned at Garum's whine to look behind me.
A brown-skinned woman, not a thread on her, was stumbling toward us with her eyes closed.
She came right up behind me and wrapped her arms around my neck, clinging tight.
I covered Coco's eyes with my palm as she peeked over my shoulder at the news.
But it was too late.
"Whoa! Super big!"
"Damn it."
"Kyauung...!"
Garum rubbed her face all over the back of my neck with a languid expression.
Half-asleep, she seemed oblivious to her current state.
I set Coco aside for a moment and hurriedly started stripping off my top.
"Garum, I'm jealous!"
"Kyaung...?"
"I wanna grow up fast too!"
I took off my shirt and put it on Garum.
Garum, who'd never worn clothes before, squirmed uncomfortably.
My eyes kept drifting to her jiggling chest each time.
This was driving me crazy.
"Stay still! I know it's uncomfortable, but you have to wear clothes right now!"
Maribel would be back any minute.
Showing her Garum like this could lead to who-knows-what.
To survive, I had to cover Garum's skin as much as possible.
"Woo! Everyone's so unfair!"
"Kyauung?!"
As I buttoned the shirt, Coco suddenly started groping Garum's chest.
The shirt was already small since it was mine, and the stimulation made Garum writhe even more.
Finally, one button straining against her chest popped off and smacked my forehead.
"Guhk!"
The door burst open at the perfect worst timing, followed by an ominous greeting.
"We're back! Sir Heinz!"
I'll choose death.