Thunder Core
Thud-thud-thud. "Whoops."
She acts like she's some kind of flying squirrel, launching herself straight into my arms. "You worked hard coming all this way."
"Bbit!"
When I stroke Dan-pung's back as she perches on my palm, her fluffy tail sways gently. "Bbieee..."
This one melts like sticky rice cake the moment you pet her. She spreads out flat across my palm, making her round cheeks stand out even more.
"You brought a lot this time, huh?"
"Bbit!"
Her cheek pouches look noticeably fuller than usual. Since moving to a new home, she must have gathered everything she'd been hoarding.
"Dan-pung, from now on you're with me—"
Rumble. Before I can finish, a loud cracking sound echoes through the building, as if it's about to collapse.
"Mm... Let's bounce."
"Okay!"
"Bbit!"
I quickly stuff Baek Seol and Dan-pung into my pockets and step outside. From the gym, the noise is growing louder and louder. I really hope that isn't the sound of Professor Hwang's patience finally snapping.
Bang! I kick the door open instead of knocking. Yoo Bit-na, buried behind a mountain of paperwork at her desk, slowly lifts her head.
"Bit-na-ssu."
"What."
"Come out-ssu."
"Get lost."
"Got it-ssu."
Even after politely knocking, I still get the door slammed in my face. As I turn to leave, a heavy sigh follows from behind me.
"Haa... Why are you here this time? What did you break now?"
"What do you mean, 'what did I break'? Anyone listening would think I caused another incident."
Yoo Bit-na's face twists in horror. "D-Don't tell me... This side is already on the verge of a mental breakdown because of what you did!"
"Me?"
"Yes, you! The U.S. Association has already caught wind of it!"
"Caught wind of what?"
Yoo Bit-na starts massaging the back of her neck. At this rate, she's going to develop hypertension at her age.
"Your summon killed an American dragon! They're claiming ownership of the dragon's corpse!!"
"No way, they're making this much fuss over that tiny thing?"
Come to think of it, I was the one wearing the master's perception-hiding artifact, not my summon. Even if they couldn't identify me personally, they probably figured out where the summon came from. That's why Yoo Bit-na is getting pressured like this.
"Hmm. I didn't think of that loophole."
"Please stop causing incidents..."
"Come on, it was just one time. It was an accident. I forgot to unsummon it."
As I walk behind Yoo Bit-na, who's on the verge of tears, she bristles like Baek Seol on guard.
"W-Why..."
〈Massage〉
"Haa, that feels good..."
Her shoulders are rock-hard from wrestling with paperwork all day.
"Our star player, always working hard on the front lines."
"Hngh..."
While I'm kneading her shoulders, Dan-pung climbs down my arm and scampers toward Yoo Bit-na's shoulder.
"Hello, Baek Seol."
Yoo Bit-na greets her after feeling the warmth on her cheek.
"That's not Baek Seol."
"Huh?"
Only then does Yoo Bit-na turn her head and meet Dan-pung's eyes.
"Oh my, who is this? New face?"
"Bbit!"
"Haha, aww, how cute."
Yoo Bit-na, already melting from the massage, raises a finger to greet Dan-pung.
"Her name's Dan-pung. She's my friend."
"Really? Dan-pung, nice to meet you."
"Bbit!"
"She talks with her first note going down and the last going up, huh? It really sounds like she's answering."
"She is answering. She's a huge chatterbox."
"Bbiee- Bbit!"
Dan-pung keeps chattering away, and Yoo Bit-na nods along enthusiastically.
"You smell sweet, so animals must like you."
"You think so?"
"Yeah. So, isn't it about time you told me why you're really here?"
"I just came to ask for a Deer Meadow entry pass."
Yoo Bit-na, who had been watching me nervously, lets out a dry laugh.
"That's it?"
"Yeah."
"You've been there before. You can just go. Like I said last time, I already told the Silver Wing guild members to let you through, so they shouldn't stop you."
"Is it okay to skip the procedure like that?"
Yoo Bit-na shrugs. "You're our country's one and only Saint. What can the higher-ups do even if they complain?"
"There's a higher-up in the guild too?"
"Strictly speaking, we're directly under the Association but nominally a government-affiliated guild."
"Oh, right. That was the case."
I still don't know if I'm actually a Saint. I never went through any qualification test, yet they all seem convinced I am one. All I did was smack some bugs that came out of a gate.
Entered Deer Meadow
"Ta-da. This is Deer Meadow, you two."
"Eung!"
"Bbiee!"
This is the lowest-grade gate that the Silver Wing guild sometimes uses for picnics. A vast green meadow where deer graze peacefully. Since it's ranked FF, it's safe enough for kids to play around.
"Just in case, don't go too far, okay? Stay where I can see you."
"Fun!"
"Bbiee- Bbit!"
When I set the two fluffballs down, they look around for a moment before scampering off across the grass.
—Chik, chik.
"Huu..."
While the kids play, I glance around and spot a tree covered in countless sword marks. I remember doing that when I first summoned a skeleton and wanted to test things out.
"Good grief."
I lean against the tree and sit down, a groan escaping my lips. My body doesn't even hurt that much, but it seems like it's become a habit.
"Haa..."
The warm breeze feels nice. While I'm spacing out and enjoying the moment, the two kids come running back.
"Something wrong?"
"Play!"
"Bbit!"
"Kids, I'm old and decrepit."
The two furballs ignore me and climb onto the book I was reading.
"Play!"
"Bbit!"
When I pet them with both hands, Baek Seol rolls around on the book while Dan-pung flops forward, only her tail swaying.
"You little rascals."
"Bbiee—"
"Fun!"
I thought they'd be busy playing with each other once they had a friend, but apparently I was included in that too. Dan-pung, who had been lying down, gets up and rubs her cheeks. She pulls a sunflower seed from her pouch and starts munching.
"Bbit!"
Dan-pung stretches out her tiny limbs and offers me a shelled sunflower seed.
"For me?"
"Bbit!"
"Aah."
The seed crunches lightly between my teeth, leaving a nutty flavor in my mouth.
"Thanks. It's really good."
"Bbit!"
Even a handful of sunflower seeds must be precious to her, yet she keeps trying to give them to me. I must be the first family she's ever had. Maybe that's why she's anxious and keeps offering things. But family isn't a one-way relationship.
Vwoom—!
"Baek Seol, want to play with the ball?"
"Ball!"
I take out the ice crystal that has become Baek Seol's favorite toy, and she starts rolling it across the ground.
"Bbiee."
Dan-pung's gaze is fixed on the ball. Baek Seol notices and rolls it toward her.
"Together!"
"Bbiee!"
Baek Seol, who used to seem jealous, is now willing to share. Both she and I are growing, little by little.
"That's Baek Seol's toy. I'll give Dan-pung a different ball."
"Bbiee?"
Plop. The moment I close my eyes, a droplet falls and creates ripples. I see the one still crackling with electricity in sync with my heartbeat.
Zap!
It's a precious item that could become that guy's signature, but it's not like it's irreplaceable to me.
Crackle—!!
When I open my eyes, a small bead crackling with electricity rests on my palm. It's softer than I expected.
"Here. A present for our Dan-pung. It's called a Thunder Core."
"Bbiee..."
When I roll the Thunder Core toward her, her round eyes fill with tears. She's not looking at the gift—she's staring straight at me.
"Eh? Is Dan-pung a crybaby squirrel?"
"Bbiee, bbiee..."
She's only ever given things away, so she needs to learn how to receive too.
"It's okay."
I wipe the tears welling in her eyes with my finger. Only then does she look at the Thunder Core in front of her.
"Bbit?"
"Is it precious? Do I look that weak to you? If I'd become weak just because I gave away one ball, I would've died a long time ago."
"Bbiee bbit!"
"Yeah. I've got my own toys to play with. So don't worry and play with Baek Seol."
"Bbit!"
Because my energy has the unique properties of divine and spirit qi, energy-related items are rare compared to mana ones. These attribute items don't help my growth much. If I'd removed the shackles Heracles kept talking about, my energy shortage might have improved a little, but it's not time yet. In the first place, energy is just a supplementary tool for me.
"I need to play with my toy too."
"Bbit?"
"Play?"
"It's an adult toy. You kids go play over there."
After sending Baek Seol and Dan-pung away, I open my inventory. A pitch-black entrance appears. I reach inside and fumble around until my hand finds what I'm looking for.
Creak!
"Kuh!?"
The moment I grab it and apply force, my back screams in protest. I nearly threw out my back for life. The weight is overwhelming. I managed to store it with Sunny's help last time, but the reverse is proving impossible.
"This is insane."
This isn't something I can solve with my own strength. I have no choice but to change the inventory coordinates and step inside. There, I see a monkey happily operating a tablet while perched in a tree.