Chapter 13
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Finding a Friend with My Friends
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[Hunter Industrial Zone is invite-only again this year?]
[Sigh... what's the point of going? Job fair barely glances at C-ranks]
[Industrial expo season coming up soon]
After my morning stretches, I was about to write my daily post when I saw some buzz going around on Behind.
Industrial expo?
What's that? I looked it up real quick, and it seems like the best chance for hunters to join guilds.
I remember it from the old High School Grad Job Gallery too.
Every expo season, the posters would come back crying their eyes out.
Will I ever join a guild someday?
Not sure yet. As long as things keep going this smoothly, I'm happy.
Yesterday I went to fren's house and ate dinner?
Fren's family is rich so I stuffed myself with yummy stuff hehe
Fren's grandpa said I did good and would grant any wish, so my wish is gonna be finding a new fren!
┗ Don't even try to understand, she's been like this for days
┗ It's like a toddler's diary lol
┗ Yeon Chorok: Yup yup! I found it!
┗ Been busy lately and your stories got longer lol
┗ Yeon Chorok: Not a lie! Opened sesame there, found a new path, rescued trapped fren, now fren!
┗ What does that even mean;;
┗ Upper comment guy, I kinda get what she's saying
┗ ?
But some Bureau officer and a mysterious kid hunter rescued them. They cleared a new dungeon route or something ;
┗ Gotta be, I dismissed it as BS too
┗ Yeon Chorok: It's true!
┗ Total lie
Hmph hmph. They don't believe me again.
And what's with calling me a kid hunter? I'm an adult!
—Ding!
I was about to huff and puff in anger when a text came in on my smartphone.
Be there soon. Get ready!
Today was the day to find my new vine plant fren.
We're heading to a botanical garden in Gyeonggi Province.
Seo Ah's grandpa from Yuseong Group recommended checking out their botanical garden first.
And since we're going on a picnic together, that's why the text.
"Hehe. This'll be fun. Right, Chomper?"
Nod nod.
Chomper nodded and panted happily.
"Seo Ah said the garden we're going to is super huge, perfect for walks."
Twirl twirl.
Chomper was so excited it did a little hula dance in place.
Well, yeah. I've been carrying it around in the car a lot, so it must be itching to stretch.
It especially loves running in the sun.
Even the short walks near home these past few days made it super happy.
"But Officer Seonhwa's running late. Bummer."
Nod nod.
Chomper agreed. It got really attached to her too, hanging out all the time.
- New hire orientation at Personnel and backlog processing, so joining a bit late. Heading straight there once done.
This morning after setting up with Seo Ah, I talked to Officer Seonhwa. She's swamped.
- With Miss Seo Ah there, Yuseong's new escort guild will tag along, but call if anything happens. I'll drop everything and rush over.
She said to call if big trouble, but I don't want to burden her.
She's been with me nonstop till now; I was wondering if her other work was okay.
"Seo Ah's coming soon, so let's change clothes first. Help me, Chomper."
Officer Seonhwa bought me tons of clothes, but I can't put them on alone, so Chomper helps.
First time I tried alone for walks, it didn't work, but with help? Perfect. Chomper's so smart!
"All done!"
Twirl in front of the mirror.
No missing buttons, no wrinkles. Perfect.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Just finished up, and there's a knock outside.
She said soon, so it's Seo Ah.
"Coming out now!"
Haoreum Botanical Garden.
Even the entrance had trees and ponds I'd never seen before.
"Go straight up this path and you'll hit the main greenhouse. Been here a few times."
"Ah, got it."
Sun-glassed guys everywhere around Seo Ah.
Saw them last night at dinner too, parked outside our place.
"This place is pretty pretty too. Can we walk up with Chomper?"
"Yeah! Totally fine. You guys cool with it, uncles?"
The sun-glassed uncles nodded silently.
Awesome! Fun walk with Chomper it is!
"Let's go! Chomper! Walk time!"
—Tatat!
Chomper had been plodding along at a walk, but at "walk," it crouched, kicked off the ground, and bolted.
One taste of walking and now it's flying in a big place like this? Amazing!
But no way I can leash it like this.
I'll just get dragged along.
"Whoooaaa... wait up! Chomper!"
See? It's already way ahead, out of breath... huff...
Can't... catch up... huff...
"Hold up, Chomper. Huff...!"
Chomper stopped at my words.
"You rascal! Love walks too much, you're too fast!"
Nod nod.
Chomper nodded.
Smart Chomper will adjust speed now.
"But this spot's super pretty."
Where Chomper stopped was a colorful flower bed.
Sweet scent too. Butterflies fluttering around.
【Plant Empathy Lv.02】 activated.
"Huh? Why's this popping up outta nowhere?"
Just admiring the pretty flowers, and Plant Empathy triggered.
Chomper's chill, but random plant thoughts flood my head.
Wheee heee.
"Wh-what's that?"
Tiny thoughts jumble together, noisy.
Gotta focus focus focus?
— We greet the great ancient one and the first seed!
— Greetings!
— To grace us with your presence here...! We are honored!
"Whoaaa...? What's all this?"
— It is our glory to behold the great ancient one, mother of all plants!
Focusing more, I realized these thoughts were coming from the flowers here.
Great ancient one? Mother? What's that? No clue!
— What journey brings you to this place!
These guys are weird! Talking all dramatic like in historical dramas.
Like those folks bowing to the king saying "nay, sire."
Are they asking why I'm here?
Maybe they know?
"I'm looking for a vine seed. You guys know anything?"
— Hmm...
— A vine seed...
— Ask another vine, perhaps.
— One lives here too.
Ask another vine?
Then I'll ask Seo Ah where it is. She's been here before.
"Phew... tiring. Green sis and Chomper go too fast. What were you doing here?"
"Just followed Chomper. You look beat too..."
"...Made it without being too late."
Perfect timing—Seo Ah caught up to the flower bed.
And one more person.
"Officer Seonhwa! Work all done?"
"Yes. Handled it as fast as I could. Made it around the same time."
"You worked hard. Thanks always!"
Trying to cheer her up, she gave a faint smile.
"Oh right, Seo Ah. Where are the vine plants around here?"
"Hmm... Think I saw some hanging in the greenhouse?"
"Then straight to the greenhouse. You too, Officer Seonhwa."
"Yes."
"Great. I'll lead the way!"
.
.
.
The greenhouse had sunlight pouring warmly through the glass.
A bit toasty, all cozy.
And surrounded by unfamiliar plants, not like outside.
All pretty. With name tags too.
"Ah! Right here like I remembered. Green sis, over here!"
Seo Ah ran deeper into the greenhouse, waving.
There was an archway with leaves dangling thickly along the outer wall.
Like those on old buildings?
Name tag says ivy vines.
"This the vine Green sis wants?"
"Dunno. Let's check."
"...Now that I think, curious why you're looking for vines, Miss Chorok. You said for a friend."
Oh yeah. I just said I wanted to find one, didn't explain to others. Time to spill.
"Oh, Officer Seonhwa, gonna get a new fren like Chomper. If I find it? Status Window said special encounter!"
"New summon? Class quest via Status Window, then. Summoners do contract new summons that way."
Aha! That's it!
Find it and new fren for real.
Wonder who?
This vine fren maybe? But it said seed, so probably not.
【Plant Empathy Lv.02】 activated.
Approaching the dangling vines, skill triggered again.
— You've arrived. Heard from the other plants. For now, I am not the seed the mother seeks.
Not as dramatic as before, more calm.
Kinda like Officer Seonhwa.
— The one the mother seeks is the origin of we vines. I feel that will. Their seed emerged from beyond the door and slumbers in this world now.
"Huh..."
Vague and spinny.
Not it, anyway. And the rest? No idea.
"Not this one, Green sis?"
"Doesn't seem so... But beyond the door? What?"
"Beyond the door? Riddle? Door means... door? Gate?"
Flinch.
Chomper next to me reacted to "gate."
"Huh? Chomper, gate why? Related?"
Nod nod.
Chomper's thought slipped in: new fren inside a gate.
"Shoulda said that from the start."
Scratch scratch.
Just remembered now. Forgot.
Yeah, happens. I forget stuff too.
"Gate... Info's scarce, but maybe the vine Miss Chorok seeks lives inside a gate."
Bureau person sharp?
Pulls solid guess from my vague words. Like a detective.
"Seems so. But it said came out the door and sleeping. What?"
"Door is gate... slumbering... Means it exited the gate preserved, or dried as meds... Might need gate-related companies, not here."
Like twenty questions.
New fren elsewhere then?
"Wait... Yuseong Pharmaceuticals just succeeded preserving some seeds. Grandpa mentioned while tutoring me."
Suddenly Seo Ah chimed in, like she had a hunch.
"Heard they're displaying at this expo...?"