#12 Still Haven't Made a Choice
He still hadn't made his choice. An unfamiliar sweet fragrance wafted through the air. He walked slowly toward the Ability Fruit grove.
Definitely.
Johanna's power had clearly taken effect. Each Ability Fruit tree had grown at least a handspan taller. It felt like she'd advanced their growth by more than a month. Fruits that were thicker and glossier than the originals hung here and there.
One in particular caught Choi Kang-ho's eye.
It's gold.
Ability Fruits were graded by color. Yellow ones were ten times more effective than ordinary fruits. Gold ones were twenty times. Translucent silver meant fifty times. This was a gold one.
Definitely.
Land fairy princess, huh? She lives up to the name.
It was impressive all over again. Then Johanna came fluttering up behind him, hands clasped behind her back, eyes rolling proudly while stealing glances his way. She clearly wanted something.
Hm.
Kang-ho turned to her slowly.
"You're really amazing. I'm impressed."
Johanna trembled with joy.
"......"
Kang-ho sighed at the sight. What surprised him a little was her reverence for White Fangs.
I didn't know that.
White Fangs served as guardian deities in the fairies' world.
Gods. Even in this twisted world where new civilizations bloomed, people always believed in gods. They were objects of awe. So if someone treated a god like a child?
Yeah, that makes sense.
It wasn't surprising for Johanna to react like this. Kang-ho looked at her and spoke slowly.
"You look worn out."
Her voice trailed off; she clearly didn't want to seem useless.
"Sorry if I burdened you. Don't worry about it—rest easy."
He patted her reassuringly. Having this ability was a huge gain in itself.
Johanna teared up emotionally. She was impossible to get used to. Kang-ho said with a troubled face,
"Go rest now..."
For now, he'd pick this fruit and store it separately. Seol-a could eat it. Just feeding it to her would greatly boost the Ability Fruit's "attack power enhancement" effect. And this wasn't an ordinary fruit—it was gold.
But Seol-a's body wasn't fully developed yet. Boosting only her attack power now would give her strength beyond her physical limits. Unbalanced. Her body wouldn't hold up and would break.
Kiiing?
Seol-a looked at the fruit, then up at Kang-ho. Her sparkling, crystalline eyes asked plainly,
Are you giving it to me?
But...
Should I?
Is it mine?
Her gaze made him smile wryly.
"Not yet."
An attack power-boosting fruit. Its meaning was simple. For combat. For fighting.
Kang-ho still hadn't made his choice.
Bzzz— bzzz— bzzzzz—
The smartphone was the issue. Kang-ho had used one in the past too. About fifty years ago, that is. Modern gadgets had been familiar to him in his twenties. No adaptation problems. The app system was the same, controls identical.
Just a slight reluctance from disuse.
"Same as ever."
Last messages were a couple hours ago. Kang-ho smiled at the group chat. Old comrades, faces he missed.
Suddenly.
"Huh?"
What the hell had been going on? Better not dig deeper.
For now, back home with Seol-a, Kang-ho prepared food. He opened her mouth wide and checked her teeth.
Hardened up fast.
Seol-a's gums and teeth were fully solid. The tips were even sharpening.
Growing faster than Seolhwa.
Growth was definitely quicker. Her fur gleamed more, grown half a finger-width longer, fluffy and swaying.
Kraang!
Seol-a dashed to the window mid-meal, crying out. Thunderbird chicks had escaped their coop, strutting around. She hopped after them.
Kat-kat-kat! Kat-kat!
The two chicks tangled with her—play-fighting, not real combat. Kang-ho knew. A-rank disaster-class Thunderbird chicks were notoriously feisty. Rolling on the ground together, they played well enough.
Combat specialized.
Yes. Seol-a was a combat-oriented White Fang. No wonder Johanna called her Silver White Fang with awe.
After a long romp, Seol-a lost. Days-old against month-old chicks, no chance.
Kuup! Kuup! Kuup!
Frustrated, she stomped her paws.
Instincts are unavoidable, huh.
Kang-ho smiled wryly, scooped her up, and set her on the table. He stared into her bright eyes.
Those captivating eyes that could mesmerize.
—Hwa, combat again today.
Gazing at Seol-a, he recalled old days with Seolhwa. Endless battles. Fight after fight.
"Maybe."
He murmured, staring.
"I made you like this back then."
Seol-a had the abilities Seolhwa needed. Swift enemy takedowns, endless fighting. Essential then.
And...
Maybe needed again soon.
Complicated feelings. Kang-ho offered her the meal. She blinked, then dove in face-first. Watching her devour it, he looked out the window.
He thought sometimes: If the world stayed peaceful forever, how great. A lifetime of calm—a true blessing.
But if not. If disaster struck again someday.
He'd seen the powerless shatter hopelessly.
Prepare.
Yes. He'd sent Seolhwa away before. Sacrificed her to block Incheon, the demon horde.
Regretted, blamed himself—but he'd do it again. Had to block them. Or the country ended.
Weaker then, he couldn't protect her.
Never again.
As those thoughts swirled—
Whoosh—
A power pinged his senses.
"......!"
Kang-ho turned to the window. Night had fallen, snow now misty fog beyond. Far off, faint power.
Swoosh!
Seol-a sensed it too, head snapping up. They stared the same direction.
Unpleasant stickiness. Nauseating churn.
Demonic energy?
Faint demonic energy. Im Cheol-bae's words echoed.
—Something's up. New monsters swarming southern dispute zones. Some carry demonic energy.
Kang-ho narrowed his eyes, opened the door. Seol-a hopped after, meal forgotten.
He glanced down, steeled himself, stepped out.
Thud! One step crossed hundreds of meters.
Tat-tat-tat-tat-thud! Seol-a raced after nimbly.
Demonic energy faint but clear. Straight ahead.
Endless white snowfield. Center: one monster.
Raptor?
Kang-ho narrowed his eyes. New species. Bald chicken-like, about a meter tall.
He stepped forward. It startled, bolted away.
Thud! He pursued.
The raptor fled like the wind across the snowfield, then ducked into a gate.
New gate nearby.
Kang-ho followed without hesitation.
Shaaa—
Dim dungeon interior, black swampy ground. Twelve raptors inside.
Demons here?
No demons. Just barren swamp, rotten stench.
Kang-ho scanned around.
Demonic energy vibrating everywhere.
Yes. Source: the dungeon itself. Similar to demons' but far weaker.
Dungeon infused with demonic energy. Like fairy stones scattered inside.
Made sense. If popping up south, why not northern Cheorwon?
As he pondered—
Shk—!
Seol-a entered too.
Nng!
Startled, she looked around, up at him.
Shaaaa—
"......!"
Scattered demonic energy seeped into Seol-a.
Kang-ho recalled her skill.
Then white radiance leaked from Seol-a's body, enveloping her—then flash! Gone.
"......!"
He cautiously activated Beast Eye.
Empathy (Inherited) – This beast innately senses all monsters and considers them friends.
Overwhelm (Inherited) – This beast is powerful against foes with innate demonic energy. It subjugates them and absorbs their demonic energy.
And a new skill added.
Thrill of Battle (Acquired) – This beast has exceptional combat instincts and enjoys fighting. Growth from battle is 1.5x faster than peers.
Already, Seol-a eyed the raptors with burning battle lust.