Gifts from the Sun and Moon
She shakes the carrot. "Who's this?"
《!!!!!!!!!!!》
《The Child of the Sun and Moon startles in surprise》
《The Child of the Sun and Moon frantically shakes the carrot》
《The Child of the Sun and Moon waves the half-eaten white diamond flower》
"Haha." The sulking little guy is completely visible now. I probably shouldn't tease him anymore.
"Come here, kid." Ding!
At that moment, a single snowflake drifts down from the sky. Just like the day we first met.
Poof!
"Mmph!" A warm body heat radiates from the snowflake that landed on my face.
"Phew. Baek Seol, I can't breathe when you're on my face."
Even though I had my palm open, Baek Seol lands right on my face and snuggles in.
"Yeah, uh…"
Lick lick.
"There…"
Lick lick lick.
"Whoa."
Lick lick lick lick.
"You little rascal. Let's talk properly."
"I like it!"
"Yeah. I like it too."
Baek Seol's sudden grooming session leaves me completely flustered.
"Oh man, this feels nice."
"I like it!"
Running my fingers through her soft white fur lifts my mood. As always, she's a white snowflake that brings happiness.
《The majestic sun sheds tears》
《The majestic sun says it can't happen until dirt gets in its own eyes》
《The eternal blue moon smacks the sun on the back》
—Crack!
A sudden roar splits the sky open.
《The moon's handprint is etched onto the sun's back》
"Whew."
"Aeng?" Baek Seol, still nestled in my arms, lets out a small sigh. She never complains, always positive about everything. Even after living together every day, this is the first time I've heard her make that sound.
"You okay?"
"Yeah!"
Meanwhile, the sky is still throwing a full-blown tantrum. I'm starting to wonder if this is actually a sign of the world's end.
"The kids are watching, so tone it down a bit."
《The eternal blue moon smiles awkwardly》
《The majestic sun says, "Who do you think you are—"》
—Smack!
《The not-so-majestic sun rolls on the ground》
《The not-so-majestic sun writhes in pain because it can't reach its own back》
《The eternal blue moon offers an apology on behalf of the heavenly way》
"It's fine. Baek Seol is family to me. So Baek Seol's family is my family too."
《The eternal blue moon smiles contentedly》
《The majestic sun—》
—Smack!
《The not-so-majestic sun tumbles across the ground》
《The majestic sun protests that it didn't say anything and feels wronged》
Seems pretty tightly controlled. I don't know what neighborhood they live in, but fighting spirit to all the fathers out there.
《The eternal blue moon says thank you for giving the child a name》
"Neng."
"I like it!"
《The eternal blue moon sends a gift》
"What kind of gift?"
Mother seems to be under some strange misunderstanding too, but after seeing the sky split from a back-smack, I can't exactly argue.
《The majestic sun sheds bloody tears, saying this can't be happening》
A mass of light shoots down along the same path Baek Seol fell. When I reach out my hand, it rapidly slows and gently descends. Heat and cold radiate from the light orb at the same time. The contradictory energies settle into my palm and turn into weight. It's so heavy my shoulders ache like they're about to dislocate.
"Nngh. This thing's ridiculously heavy."
Ding!
Attack Power: 1
Durability: ∞
Growth-Type Grade: Primordial Myth
◈ Fusion Absorption
◈ Heaven-Breaking Sun and Moon
◈ Infinite and Boundless
◈ Myriad Transformations
A spear specialized in thrusting, swinging, and throwing. Its shaft is pitch-black, as if burned to ash. "This is way too much."
《The eternal blue moon says that when dewdrops gather they form a vast sea, and when soil gathers it forms a great mountain》
"A drop of dew becomes an ocean, a speck of dust becomes a mountain. Are you talking about potential?"
《The eternal blue moon nods》
Potential again this time.
《The eternal blue moon says to take good care of their child》
"She's my precious friend, after all."
Baek Seol, still in my arms, rubs her face against me.
《The majestic sun says it can't watch anymore and tries to leave quickly》
Baek Seol, who had climbed onto my head, waves her front paws toward the sky.
《The Child of the Sun and Moon protests》
《The majestic sun receives a wound to its heart》
"What's wrong, Baek Seol?"
"Give it!"
《The majestic sun sheds bloody tears》
《The majestic sun says, "This is why I never wanted to raise children—"》
—Smack!
《The not-so-majestic sun tumbles across the ground》
The sun floating in the sky repeatedly contracts and expands, throwing a fit. I feel bad for Baek Seol's parents, but I really wish they'd leave soon. If this goes on much longer, the Earth might actually end.
《The majestic sun sheds tears and lets down its hair》
Something else falls from the sky. This time it doesn't slow down and lands straight on my hand. It must be really upset.
Ding!
Defense: 0.1
Durability: 40%
Grade: Primordial Legend
◈ Woodcutter Gungsang's Love for the Crescent Moon [Increases wearer's strength by 20 times]
◈ Blessing of the Sun God [Increases strength by 10 times for 10 seconds]
[Physical Regression] [Cooldown: 24 hours]
What fell was literally a headband. The defense was as shabby as the name suggested, but the abilities were extraordinary. Twenty times strength? My jaw drops. Holding the headband in my hand makes the previously shoulder-dislocating spear feel light as a feather.
Ding!
While I was reading the description, the frozen surroundings began to melt. Everything around me had been frozen—the ground, the trees planted nearby, even Professor Hwang who had deployed a protective barrier to shield the students.
"Looks like I caused an accident. What do I do now?"
"Feed it."
"Huh? Feed what?"
Baek Seol taps the headband in my hand.
"Feed this to who?"
This time she taps the spear.
"So the spear should eat it?"
"Yeah!"
Maybe she knows because it's her parents' spear? I still don't understand how I'm supposed to feed a headband to a spear.
"Like this?"
When I bring the headband to the spear as Baek Seol said, a blazing light bursts out.
"Uh, uh?"
The ridiculously overpowered headband melts away.
"No, my item!"
Ding!
The headband vanishes in an instant. When I look at the spear in my hand, it feels like it's looking back at me sheepishly.
"Spit it out, you little punk!"
No matter how much I shake the spear, nothing comes out.
"Waaah, my item…"
"You can change it back."
"Huh? Really?"
"Yeah!"
Baek Seol wouldn't lie to me.
"Change back, you bastard!"
When I shake the spear again, it instantly transforms back into the headband form and flutters.
"So that's how it works."
Thinking about it, even after the headband disappeared, the spear still felt light. Only the form changed—the abilities remained. Actually, this is better. A headband is easier to wear and store.
"It's cold right now, so should I tie it around my wrist?"
"Yeah!"
Tying it around my head while everyone's frozen solid would probably make my neck too cold.
—Chik, chik.
"Whew— Still, what do I do about this?"
Baek Seol's mother did this, and it was more intense than I expected. I didn't think she'd freeze everything like this. Or maybe she just doesn't value human lives much.
"Whew—"
While smoking and blankly staring at the ice statues, I notice them twitching slightly. Come to think of it, this isn't a place for ordinary humans. These are elites chosen from countless people, awakened and then bloomed again. If they were normal people, they'd have had heart attacks and gone on a group picnic to the afterlife by now.
As time passes, the frozen students' eyeballs start rolling around.
"Whew— Just a little longer and it'll be fine."
"Yeah!"
Baek Seol seems to like the snow-covered training ground. She stands in the cold wind with her eyes gently closed.
"But your parents didn't seem to get along badly?"
At first I wondered if there was some marital conflict. But the longer I watched, the more it just looked like the husband was being kept on a short leash. To anyone watching, it's a perfectly normal family. So why did this tiny little guy come to me instead of staying there?
"I like it too much."
"You two get along really well?"
"Yeah."
Maybe from a child's perspective that's its own kind of hardship. From the way Baek Seol is sparing with her words, there must be more to the story I don't know yet. She'll probably tell me when the time comes.
"Hmm, what about Ppongppong-i too?"
When I pull the axe out of my inventory space, the once-heavy Ppongppong-i feels weightless, like it went on a crash diet.
"Ppongppong-i!"
"Yeah, Ppongppong-i. Do you like it?"
"Yeah!"
Since Baek Seol seems to like the axe, I'll just leave Ppongppong-i as is.
***
"So what exactly happened?"
"This is my friend Baek Seol."
When I hold Baek Seol out to Professor Hwang, she waves her front paws.
"She's cute, but… Is she a contracted beast? Hmm, well, congratulations anyway. We finally have a summoner in our class."
"Was it her friend who froze everything?"
While I was talking with the professor, Noah, who had been standing nearby, speaks up, apparently curious.
"Baek Seol's parents were there, and they have pretty fiery personalities. They froze everything. Still, at least nothing burned down."
"The parents of a contracted beast? I've never seen data like that even in academic journals. Does the child have any special abilities?"
It doesn't seem like a contracted beast, but Professor Hwang looks curious this time. The two of them take turns firing questions.
"Her? Well, she's cute."
"That much is obvious. Can you be a little more specific?"
"She eats well and sleeps well."
"Right… Anything else?"
"Hmm."
Whether because the contract with Baek Seol has become even stronger than before, I can feel it without even asking.
"Baek Seol, magic!"
"Yeah!"
Baek Seol, who had been standing on my palm with both feet, starts waving her front paws energetically. Soon, white cold air begins to frost in front of her and gathers into a ball.
Tap.
As if satisfied with her creation, she drops the orb of ice energy onto my hand. Maybe because a little one made it, the magic is smaller than a fist. It just looks like condensed cold air, but strangely, it doesn't break even when I touch it.
"Yah! Ice Ball!"
"Kyaaah!"
When I plant Baek Seol's magic on the back of Noah's neck, she shrinks her whole body.
"Ahaha. Refreshing?"
"Hwa! Hwa! It's cold!"
"You saw our kid's ability, right?"
Baek Seol, still on my palm, puts her front paws on her hips and strikes a triumphant pose.
"Right… Maybe she's still too small and young."
Baek Seol is just the right size to fit on a palm, so she is small.
"Then is class over for today?"
"It's over."
Since class is over, it's time to get moving properly.
"Oh right, Professor! Items have grades, right? Do you know anything about the Primordial grade?"
"First time hearing of it."
Professor Hwang genuinely looks puzzled, as if she's hearing it for the first time. Her eyes seem to say that if I know anything, I should tell her more. A true scholar.
"It's my first time hearing it too."
"Enough with the nonsense. Go back now. Any remaining questions can wait until tomorrow."
Professor Hwang waves her hand as if the questions are over.
"I'll go check if anyone got hurt."
Noah bows to Professor Hwang and quickly disappears.
"Professor!"
"How many times do I have to tell you it's professor? Anyway, why?"
"I need monster byproducts like hides. Where can I get some?"
Professor Hwang, who had been giving me a suspicious look at my question, slowly opens her mouth.
"To prevent accidents, lower-year students can't use the Hunter Store. Even upper-year students need permission to use it."
She waves her hand again as if telling me to leave now that the questions are done.
"Then at least tell me about places like the black market."
***
"How did it go?"
"Got scolded and a demerit point. Professor Hwang is so petty."
"Haha."
"Waaang♡"