Episode 126.
Having finished all the work, the group returned to the resting place with relaxed minds. But in the middle of the shelter stood a familiar boy: it was none other than Beto.
“Noona!”
[Beto?]
Caina was baffled by the sight of Beto running toward her as soon as she entered the resting place, but quickly retracted her armor’s Mana and returned to her casual clothes. While Jung Si-woo thought blankly, “That’s how she disables her armor,” Beto dived into her arms with all his might.
“Noonaaa!”
[There, there. You must have been lonely by yourself.]
It wasn’t too much for Beto to react like that, as she returned in 22 days with the thought of coming back after roaming a dungeon. Jung Si-woo couldn’t help but laugh when he saw Caina soothing Beto with a faint smile.
“This isn’t a sister, but a mother.”
[Hmpf, think as you please, master.]
Showing that she was sulking a little because of his words, it was totally different from how she displayed herself in the dungeon. Surely the memories of her days as a knight must remain; it was impressive how she differentiated when she was in a battle and when she wasn’t.
“You’re just like that, too, Oppa.”
“Huh? What is?”
Jung Si-woo tilted his head and threw off his armor when Soo Ah-rin spoke as if it was absurd. Now that he was used to the resting place, he quickly placed the armor into the drawer that opened just by thinking that it would open. After that, it took only 10 seconds to go straight to the bathroom in the simplest outfit possible.
“It’s so cool how he’s sharp when he fights in a battle, but why does he turn into a jobless man when he doesn’t have an enemy in front of him?”
“Because hyung-nim is an aggressive beast who instinctively controls his condition. Then I’ll go excuse myself, too.”
Yong Se-ha, who could use the bathroom with Jung Si-woo because he was a man, passed by her with a big smile and headed to the bathroom. Left alone, Soo Ah-rin looked at the fake brother and sister, who were hugging next to her, and would likely stay still for about five hours even as they were left alone, before sitting on the sofa with a sigh.
“I should just go do this dungeon’s Combat Review.”
Combat Review was an essential virtue for the top-tier player, recalling the countless situations and battles in the dungeon to find and improve one’s actions. It was a sort of mind training. Unlike Jung Si-woo, a wild beast who instinctively moved nearly completely efficiently at any time, it was a must for her to cling to the Combat Review for several days after once going in and out of the dungeon.
‘Hmm, there weren’t any standing-out mistakes this time as well. Most of all, it’s because Oppa is too strong that even if I slacked off, no unexpected issues are created…but I can’t take it easy just because of that. The priest’s first virtue is to heal the party members, but one can’t be so satisfied with only that.’
For example, even in the boss battle, Soo Ah-rin could have helped him with holy attack magic if she had learned at least a little how to work with Jung Si-woo. However, Soo Ah-rin didn’t dare to give aid because she didn’t even know what Jung Si-woo would do while in battle.
‘Oppa always says that just healing is enough…as expected, I can’t be satisfied with myself. I wish I had a little better athleticism, too.’
Otherwise, she should be more skilled at Mana control. She had to grow until she could at least amplify Jung Si-woo’s Mana. Upon reaching such an ever-present conclusion, Soo Ah-rin sat on the sofa and focused on moving Mana. They said practice made perfect. Thanks to having observed Jung Si-woo’s unique, strange Mana control, her Mana breathing was becoming similar to his slowly. Yet, she didn’t realize it herself yet.
“Refreshing…Ah-rin, you take a shower, too…hmm.”
After taking a shower, Jung Si-woo saw Soo Ah-rin concentrating on Mana Control and stopped trying to interrupt her. He shook his head lightly to Yong Se-ha, who, likewise, was tilting his head with a puff of steam. He meant not to disturb her.
“All right, let’s go cook. Ah-rin has always been taking care of the meals, so sometimes I’ll have to repay her.”
“Hyung-nim, are you going to be alright?”
Yong Se-ha looked anxious while thinking about how Soo Ah-rin pulled Jung Si-woo apart every time he tried to cook, but Jung Si-woo grinned and smiled confidently.
“You thought I hadn’t learned how to cook after spending ten years doing all kinds of useless things with the determination of being a player?”
“You knew that the dungeon needed cooking…no, it’s a sad thing to say it yourself if that those were all kinds of useless things, hyung-nim.”
But Jung Si-woo left for the kitchen by himself. Yong Se-ha was left between the brother and sister, who were still looking at each other, and Soo Ah-rin alone on the sofa, which was hard at work circulating her Mana. He had to be on standby quietly as if he were dead. Two hours later, Soo Ah-rin suddenly came to her senses thanks to the fragrant smell from the kitchen.
“If you’re up, wash up first, sunbae-nim.”
“Oh, yes…? Yes, I should. Hmmm?
Soo Ah-rin tilted her head, but when she came out of the shower, Jung Si-woo called them, saying that they were ready to eat. A simple yet deep menu, tomato sauce pasta with steak that he grilled just right, was waiting for her.
“Oppa, where you specialized in Western food!?”
“Why, do you want some rice topped with an eel?”
“Uh, no… I’ll just do that for you.”
“Wow! Master, it’s delicious!”
For three weeks, for Beto, who had been filling his simple stomach things (of course, they had enough food for him, but Beto didn’t know much about cooking, even though he knew about blacksmith’s work or magic), emptied the bowl as he was most excited. Caina, who saw such a kid, had a happy look on her face. She cut into the steak and was as surprised as her brother by the exquisite grilling, soft texture, and rich aroma.
[I didn’t pay much attention to food when even I was a knight…the food culture of the Earth is marvelous.]
“I wouldn’t have expected that you would praise the Earth, not me…”
In fact, it wasn’t a great dish, but the Earth’s recipes and spices played a big role, so it was very upsetting that he couldn’t refuse her. Jung Si-woo scoffed as he cut 150 grams from the extra-large steak in front of him at once and threw it into his mouth.
“It’s not a meat that comes by often, so eat up gratefully.”
“…Oppa, what kind of meat is this?”
Wh-whistle.
Soo Ah-rin’s eyes, as she was chewing the steak, suddenly became sharp when she heard him, but Jung Si-woo turned his gaze away with a whistle. Soo Ah-rin wanted to ask by shaking him, gripping him by the collar but gave up knowing that she wouldn’t be able to shake him by even 1 micron herself.
“Relax, there is no poison. You can trust me as vouched by me, with the Dragon Sense.”
“Never mind. Don’t tell me what monster meat this is. Just leave it as a beautiful memory.”
The pasta she anxiously tasted was equally excellent. Soo Ah-rin, who wasn’t confident about Western food because she strangely didn’t have a knack for it, blushed by herself when she thought that it would be good to share the cooking duties properly like this. Apart from Soo Ah-rin, who was experiencing romance alone, the rest of the group fiercely finished the dishes. In just 10 minutes, all the dishes prepared by Jung Si-woo were emptied even though he had prepared enough for almost 50 people!
Players who returned from the dungeon were always like this. However, it was quite shocking that Jung Si-woo finished what was good for 30 people alone!
“Oh…huh, oh, yes.”
Jung Si-woo smiled unpleasantly at the mountain-like pile of dishes and spoke to Soo Ah-rin.
“I cooked this time, so you’re going to wash the dishes, right?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Huh…?”
Soo Ah-rin nodded so calmly that Jung Si-woo was rather let down. On the other hand, Yong Se-ha burst out laughing. Jung Si-woo himself was the only one who didn’t know that his actions would only please Soo Ah-rin.
“So please cook again next time. It was very delicious.”
“Uh, yeah, okay…?”
Leaving Soo Ah-rin behind, who started washing dishes with a hum, the rest of them came out to the living room of the resting place. Beto didn’t seem to want to part from Caina, so they decided to let them be.
“I’m pretty sleepy, but…what will you do, hyung-nim? Isn’t it time for you to go to sleep according to your regular pattern? And you dream of a dragon again and rank-up.”
“How do I dream of dragon dreams every time? I hope it doesn’t come out anymore…and now is not the time to sleep leisurely. I need to check my physical balance.”
Growth from the recent dungeon didn’t end only with a level-up. Having achieved numerous contracts with player ghosts at once, there was the status growth due to their records and Mana, and his skills grew and received new skills. It was always important to be aware of one’s own condition. Jung Si-woo was planning to check his body, starting with Mana Control, as Soo Ah-rin did earlier. Next, check and practice new skills, and lastly, practice new weapons!
“I still don’t know much until about those things, but…I’ll give it a try with you if you do so.”
“You’ve already surpassed the battle strength of before the Retire, too. If you don’t check Mana’s limitations, skill limitations, physical limitations, all of them, you won’t know how to deal with emergencies.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Honestly speaking, he hadn’t had a clue yet, but for Yong Se-ha, if Jung Si-woo, the role model, did it, he followed it somehow! The two sat side-by-side on the sofa and observed the body and circulated their Mana. Caina, who came out to the living room with Beto, burst into laughter at sight.
[It’s amazing enough that you can be aware and check yourself so easily…why, Beto? Do you want to try it too?]
“I’d like to start building a forge soon, noona. I also want to do something that will help the master.”
[You are already a great knight in the spirit of service of the Lord. All right, then let’s see the site with me first.]
Caina gently stroked Beto’s hair, saying so with a pure smile, and moved with him to the residential area. As they did before, only three people were left in the resting place, where only the sound of plates clattering warmly against water could be heard.
“How long will you let me dance my shoulders off!”
But the peace was broken in just five minutes.
“What?”
Opening his eyes, Jung Si-woo looked back and realized who had disturbed his concentration. The door that connects to the residential area was open, so the beautiful-looking silver-haired girl stuck her head out the door…
“Huh?”
Jung Si-woo was surprised to find out who she was and shouted.
“Why did you grow up!?”
“I’m supposed to be this size!”
The girl shouted with a thud. Although she couldn’t come in as if crossing from the residential area to the shelter was fundamentally prohibited, there was no way they couldn’t recognize the identity of the girl in a light frill dress that glows mysteriously.
“Oppa, what kind of woman do you have this time…oh.”
Soo Ah-rin, who popped out after washing the dishes quickly, saw the girl and let out a voice of realization.
There was the figure of Merchant Fairy Luta, who came to the residential area.
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