#20 I'll Spoil You With Every Luxury
Activating Beast Eye, Seol-a's information popped up.
Possessed Skills
Empathy (Inherited) – This beast innately senses all monsters and considers them friends.
Overwhelm (Inherited) – This beast is inherently powerful against opponents possessing demonic energy. It also subdues opponents and absorbs demonic energy.
Joy of Battle (Learned) – This beast has exceptionally outstanding combat instincts and enjoys battle. Growth speed from combat is 1.5 times faster than its kind.
Guardian of Nature (Learned) – This beast has exceptional ability to absorb natural energies. Absorption efficiency of medicinal herbs rich in concentrated natural energy is 1.5 times higher than average for its kind.
"Incredible..."
Unaware of Kang-ho's astonishment, Seol-a admired her glossy, flowing fur, spinning in circles on the spot before plopping down with a thud. She shook her head dizzily side to side, then her eyes sparkled! She looked up at Kang-ho.
She's amazing.
Kang-ho felt it anew.
What in the world...
His gaze lingered on Seol-a's stats, particularly the special ability and potential marked as ???. That unknown notation gnawed at him.
Special ability and potential... Maybe those inexplicable powers stem from them.
Seolhwa's growth had been phenomenal in the past. But Seol-a surpassed even her. No—thinking back, when he'd first met Seolhwa, his knowledge was truly pathetic. He hadn't been able to give her much. Things this good for her body? Never. He'd only made her suffer.
Sometimes...
"......"
Yeah. Sometimes, those memories made Kang-ho's chest ache.
On winter nights with snow falling, sitting on the bed, certain emotions would suddenly surface. Mostly regret for what he couldn't provide. Back when life was a constant chase, he couldn't feed her properly. When she was sick, they still had to fight. He couldn't give her nourishing things like this. So many things he hadn't known to give at the right time.
Every time those thoughts arose, a sharp pain stabbed his heart. He could have raised her much stronger. Spoiled her far more. Grown her properly. Maybe then she wouldn't have had to sacrifice herself—
He'd spent countless nights blaming himself. It was all his fault, so he'd delved even deeper into beast research out of guilt.
Seolhwa, I'm sorry.
And now. Now, Kang-ho was different from back then.
I'm sorry.
He gazed at Seol-a for a long moment, then pulled her into a tight embrace.
All the things I couldn't give you, I'll give to your child.
Kiiing...
Seol-a stared back at him, then eagerly licked his cheek.
"Yeah, yeah. Good girl."
Kang-ho hugged her even tighter.
I'll make you the best. Spoil you with every luxury. Don't worry.
After bringing Seol-a to the bed, Kang-ho pulled out some biolga roots. Two 50-year-old ones and one 100-year-old. They promoted rapid muscle and bone growth while increasing density.
To feed her the fruits from the orchard, Seol-a's basic skeleton and musculature needed strengthening first. Otherwise, the effects could hinder her development.
Biolga roots were typically processed by mixing with similar-attribute herbs. That required a special fire—pure, with intense short bursts of heat.
Kang-ho knew one way to make it: magic stones.
Nging! Ngnging!
Seol-a leaped from his arms and dashed outside, heading to the chicken coop. She ng-ng'ed at the two baby thunderbirds.
Kkat? Kkatkat?
The thunderbirds woke, tilting their heads at her.
Ng! Ng!
Seol-a showed off her long, luscious fur, spinning in place before flopping down. You guys don't have this, huh?
Kkat! Kkat!
But the thunderbirds had their ace. Lazily pecking Seol-a's head, they stepped out and began flapping their wings slowly.
Fwuddud! Fwuddud!
Soon, they hovered unsteadily into the air. Seol-a's eyes went wide. She flapped her front paws but, of course, couldn't fly.
Kkatkkatkkat!
The thunderbirds circled her head, landed, and strutted smugly.
Kiiing...
Seol-a deflated instantly and scampered back to Kang-ho, ng-ng'ing as if asking why she couldn't fly.
Kang-ho burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. Seeing her pout, he scooped her up, stroked her head, and headed to the orchard.
Absolute One!
Johanna greeted him cheerfully. Kang-ho nodded to her and scanned the orchard.
Chwit-chwit-chwit!
In the distance, the live chickens scurried about, pecking at things here and there.
The raptors are earning their keep!
"I see."
Kang-ho nodded lightly.
First, he headed to the fire pit in one corner of the orchard. There sat a black cauldron. No ordinary pot—this was forged from mukcheol, ink iron. Typically used for weapons, it had a far higher melting point than regular iron, taking even dwarves ages to work.
Last used about 15 years ago to raise Furball. Dust caked it thickly, but injecting mana heated it instantly, revealing its polished surface.
Kang-ho pulled magic stones from his pocket. From the spares he'd brought just in case, he selected all the C- and D-grades. S-grade was overkill. Building heat gradually with lower ones was ideal.
Oh? Magic stones?
What are you making, Absolute One?
"Yeah, something special."
He gathered the C- and D-grade stones—about fourteen or fifteen. Reaching out, he touched them.
Goooooo—
The dense mana pouring from his hand made Johanna yelp and hide behind him.
What terrifying mana...
Even the queen mother in her Fairy Tale homeland didn't wield such immense power. Fear and awe filled Johanna's face.
Just who is he...?
Then—
Pajik! Pajik!
The stones' shells cracked under his mana.
Eek!
Broken shells unleashed pure mana energy, which could rampage or even explode if mishandled.
But—
Ziiing—
The energies merely rippled in the air at his command! Like docile lambs, they liquefied quietly—an eerie sight.
No collision, no boom.
Phew, he's controlling it.
Johanna relaxed—until Kang-ho deliberately clashed them.
Hiiiik!
Kwaang!
A deafening roar and massive flames erupted. Johanna bolted in panic but paused.
The explosion...
It was contained precisely. His mana perfectly controlled the mana energy's blast.
The cauldron glowed cherry-red, its body radiating primal crimson.
"Perfect."
Only then did Kang-ho add the ingredients one by one.
100-year biolga root... bagon tree seeds...
Johanna named them mentally.
Citra stones, Kauntra stones.
Stone-like, but actually hardened secretions from citra and kauntra bugs. Only found in nature, top-quality ones were rarest.
He dumped them all in. Hitting the intense heat, they danced wildly.
All boosted beast vitality, muscle, and bone growth. Synergy doubled effects.
Enveloping his hands in mana, Kang-ho gripped the cauldron's handles and shook.
Chwak! Chwak! Chwak!
Handling that insane heat barehanded...
Johanna would've burned to charcoal.
He shook relentlessly, peering inside. Shake, shake, shake.
Soon, ingredients crumbled to fine sand-like grains.
Psssh—
About an hour. The mana energy's heat faded gradually, vanishing completely.
Shaking until the cauldron cooled, he nodded.
Next, munseolt from a North Han warehouse. Leek-like, it boosted yin-affinity beasts' mana.
Squeezing over the powder, juice burst out. Ten munseolt yielded pure extract, leaving husks.
Using a long ladle, he stirred meticulously. Powder formed dough.
"Done."
He scooped it out—palm-sized lump, like bread dough. Pinched into twenty walnut-sized balls: nutrient dumplings.
"Want one?"
Johanna shook her head vigorously.
Eating that would make my blood vitality explode...
The aura was no joke. As a land fairy princess, she knew exactly what those meant.
Kang-ho grinned. "Probably."
It'd poison her frail fairy body.
"I'll make something for the fairies later. This is too potent."
Aaah...! You're so thoughtful...!
"......"
He thought it every time, but she never got less weird.
The dumplings hardened quickly, filling the air with an indescribable fresh aroma.
Johanna staggered back, reeling. Just the scent made her dizzy, body heating up unbidden.
Is that for Lady Silver White Fang...?
"Yeah."
Sniff-sniff-sniff—
As expected, Seol-a in his arms perked up, face beaming with joy. She blinked at him rapidly.
Gonna give me some?
"Yeah, for you."
Really?
No words exchanged, but he knew.
Kang-ho smiled and nodded. "Really."
Testing one, it had fully hardened. Firm outside, but it'd melt smoothly in the mouth.
He offered it to Seol-a. She snapped it up eagerly.
True to form, it melted on her tongue, sliding down effortlessly.
After devouring it, she looked up expectantly.
More?
"One at a time. The rest later."
Even for an SS-rank Silver White Fang, there were limits. Overdoing it turned medicine to poison.
Soon, changes began in Seol-a's body.
Duduk—
Thick cracking of bones.
Kang-ho set her down.
Dududuk— Dudududuk—
Her whole body shifted subtly. Vitality surged incredibly.
Body heating up, she panted with tongue out: Hek-hek-hek.
Soon—
Ududadadadot!
She bolted around the orchard.
Kang-ho closed his eyes briefly, watching.
Sensory Link.
Silver light flooded his body. Opening his eyes, he shared her vision.
Thump-thump! Thump-thump!
Heart racing wildly.
Extreme excitement.
She felt euphoric, adrenaline maxed, new energy surging wildly.
Kang-ho infused his mana.
Goooo—
Rampaging energy met it, calming gradually. It spread evenly through her.
Duduk— Duk—
Bones thickened. Limbs lengthened, body noticeably larger. Muscles formed, mana filled her frame.
Wheee!
Seol-a leaped, somersaulting five full spins before landing.