Chapter 5 - Another Year Passes Like This
The dungeon interior wasn't particularly vast or cramped. There were no stereotypical monsters that immediately came to mind—just a vast, surprisingly serene field. The sky hung heavy with a dull gray hue, and will-o'-the-wisps flickered lazily above the grasslands.
Krreung—
Furball trudged across the field with heavy steps. At once, the wisps from all directions swarmed toward him. Up close, they were palm-sized humans, each with two pairs of wings sprouting from their backs and antennae poking from their foreheads.
Earth fairies.
The earth fairies chittered in their own tongue, circling Kang-ho and Furball. Technically, any creature in a dungeon fell under the monster classification, but fairies were a bit different. Kang-ho didn't consider them monsters anyway. They weren't aggressive by nature, prioritizing harmony and peace instead—which often made them prey for other beasts. They were popular snacks, too; once a fairy dungeon was found, it was labeled a "hotspot," turning into a buffet for various monsters.
Fairies came in four varieties, and earth fairies were especially sought after. Why? Because they were tasty? Plenty of food sources? Wrong on all counts. It was that thing over there.
'Fairy stones.'
What dropped in earth fairy dungeons was the crystallized essence of their energy: fairy stones. Feed one to a monster, and it triggered explosive growth. They even influenced surrounding flora and fauna just by existing—speeding growth, improving yields.
The fairies clustered in front of Kang-ho, fluttering their wings and spinning in a dance.
Furball eyed them hungrily but glanced at Kang-ho and turned away.
Kang-ho called this dungeon his orchard.
First stop: a grove of densely planted Ability Fruit trees off to one side. A "grove" of about a hundred saplings. Cheorwon Plains had plenty of Ability Fruit trees, but these were the cream of the crop—gleaming, thick-stemmed specimens.
"This is your new home from now on."
With those words, he released the Gallags.
Chirp! Chirp!
The Gallags landed, sniffing eagerly, going wild over the Ability Fruit scent. Their eyes soon locked on the fruits dotting the branches. Definitely different from Snowfield Berries—twice the size, glossy-surfaced, and lusciously red.
Thanks to the fairy stones' power... and this dungeon's perfect temperature for growth.
Chirp chirp chirp!
As the released Gallags scampered about, more burst from the soil—golden hamster-like heads popping up, staring at each other. The sight was so comical that Kang-ho chuckled.
He'd brought every Gallag he found here over the years; there had to be hundreds nesting under these trees by now.
"Let's see..."
Kang-ho strolled between the trees, inspecting fruits, then paused at one, eyes gleaming.
"One's ripened."
This fruit glowed a bright yellow, unlike the others. He examined it closely and nodded. Yellow Ability Fruits were ten times more potent than standard ones. Gold? Over twenty times. And translucent silver? The ultimate—fifty times stronger.
Of course, those rarities were lottery-level drops. He'd tended these trees for nearly ten years since discovering the dungeon and never seen a silver one.
Tsking regretfully, he plucked the yellow fruit and headed toward Furball, who was rolling his massive eyes at him from afar.
"Yours."
This was probably the biggest harvest of the year.
Krreung!
Furball panted happily, tongue lolling. He licked Kang-ho's hand like an obedient pup, crouching with legs tucked neatly.
Kang-ho smiled, placing the yellow Ability Fruit on that broad tongue.
Furball snapped it up, crunched, and swallowed. The effect was immediate.
Stars sparkled in his eyes. Whoosh—like a sound effect, his fur bristled all over, then a yellow glow swept through him.
Shiver!
Furball shook vigorously. You could tell at a glance: he was different now. His mane fluffed even fuller, glossier. Those jewel-like eyes shone brighter. Teeth and claws sharpened noticeably.
Ability Fruits worked once a year, so Furball had scored big.
Kang-ho activated his Beast Eye.
Skills: Unfurling
'Attack up a rank.'
Now he'd prowl the snowfields as an even fiercer predator.
Thrilled, Furball shook his mane side to side. Meanwhile, Kang-ho headed to a grassy patch overgrown with plants.
These elongated leaves poking from the soil were Habarone Rom. Eating it boosted a monster's agility temporarily. The downside? Fruits took ages to ripen. That tiny bud between the leaves meant maybe next spring.
The dungeon grew plenty more: fruits that tempered aggression, ramped it up, boosted defense... All tailored for monster growth.
Kang-ho inspected the garden patch, then nodded.
"Good."
With the dungeon orchard checked, it was time for a leisurely evening.
He headed to the shed beside his log cabin. Inside: grains and meat slabs hung everywhere. He scooped barley, rice, millet—one bowl each—into a tub, mixed roughly, and stepped out.
At the chicken coop, he set it down for the Thunderbird chicks staring with bright eyes.
Cheep! Cheep cheep!
They chirped like kids seeing Dad, hopping excitedly. Water trough full—feed sorted.
Next: fence repairs near the cabin. Not essential, just busywork. Tools out, fixed in a flash; broom swept the snowdrifts.
As Furball panted around before curling by the cabin, Kang-ho prepped dinner.
Sliced a hunk from a hanging slab: Ulk Cow sirloin, tender and favored.
He wasn't big on cooking, but decades taught habits. Roughly cubed the meat, tossed on the pan. Mincing the rest...
He paused mid-chop.
"Oops."
No more Seolhwa to crave this. Thirty years since her death, yet old habits died hard when distracted.
'Pathetic, Kang-ho.'
Tsking self-reproachfully, he stir-fried the mince anyway. Scarfed it down haphazardly, brewed coffee, propped chin on hand gazing out the window. Furball's tail flicked as he wandered off.
Sipping coffee on the bed, lost in thoughts—time flew.
Kang-ho tilted his head, zoned out, then crashed.
Eyes open: dawn. Another day looped.
Time slipped like wind.
Days blurred into year's end.
December 31st. Furball walked with Kang-ho to the frozen white zone housing Seolhwa's egg.
Prancing tail-swaying, he halted before it—familiar ritual. Watching New Year's dawn here was routine for him now.
Kang-ho plopped down.
Whiiiiiish—
Wind howled fiercer, bitterer, as if resenting the passing sun. Not snow—hail stinging skin.
Unyielding, Kang-ho used Furball's paw as pillow, sprawling out. Furball hunkered behind him, yawning hugely, glancing at the egg. His ruby eyes scrutinized it—then a question mark floated in them.
Tilt—
The egg twitched slightly.
Krreung?
Furball cocked his head, refocused—no more movement.
Blizzard raged through the white zone's deepening night. Moon rose; ice fairies emerged one by one, shimmering white.
Like earth fairies but glowing silver, forming diamond-crystal patterns. On snowy nights, they gathered for festivals.
Twinkle twinkle!
Beautiful crystals adorned the white expanse. Finding Kang-ho and Furball amusing, they shaped constellations, rapid claymation scenes in air.
Watching drowsily, Kang-ho's eyes drifted shut.
"Furball."
Krreung—
"Another year slips away like this."
Krreung krreung!
"Buddy."
Furball draped his fluffy chin fur over Kang-ho like a blanket.
As they slept, ice fairies swarmed, encircling them.
The quiet night deepened.
...
Flash—
Flash—
Flash—
Kang-ho blinked amid blinding sparkles.
'Morning already?'
Cocking his head, he pushed through Furball's fur. World still pitch-black.
The lethal gale and blizzard had frozen—like vacuum silence.
"......!"
The sky: clearest winter night imaginable. Rare sight in this white zone.
Time: just past midnight.
Flash—!
Flash!
Then he spotted the source—not the sky.
Turning sharply: Seolhwa's egg.
11:59:57.
Flash!
11:59:58.
Flash!
11:59:59.
Flash!
Midnight passed.
2069 ended; 2070 dawned.
Fifty years since Daybreak.
Thirty since the Great War's end, Seolhwa's death leaving her egg.
The instant after midnight.
Crack!
A shattering sound pierced the light.