Chapter 77 |
◈ Everyone Else is a Regressor (77)
After everyone agreed to JiHye joining the party upon witnessing her magical demonstration, KiJun first took her inside to talk.
She was on the path of becoming a High Human, the only orthodox evolutionary route accessible to humans blessed with mana, currently at the Uncommon rank. KiJun had thought that advancing from human to High Human would be immediate, but it turned out she was now an 'Awakened Human.'
"To become a High Human in Reta, you need to be at least of Unique rank."
"That's no easy path..."
KiJun felt relieved. While there were quite a few Earthlings with Uncommon status right after being summoned to Reta,
"There seemed to be many humans who advanced their statuses, but not many appeared to have evolved their racial rank."
Moreover, JiHye had managed to advance her specialized status, mana, to Unique rank, explaining the destructive power of her magic.
Since the average rank of summons brought to Reta and their status levels were close to Uncommon, it was clear that she had significantly surpassed the average.
And then, in cases like orcs specialized in physical strength, statuses like strength or endurance were rated a rank higher at Rare―
"Uncle Soo is just about there. An Uncommon rank Barbarian with Uncommon dexterity and Rare strength and endurance. But he has many good skills, so he can easily overpower an orc."
"Uncle Soo a Barbarian... Hmm, doesn't quite fit, does it?"
The elder of KiJun's party, MokSoo, was a man whose handsomeness was undeniable.
Despite his rough behavior and love for alcohol, he looked like a model.
And now he was a barbarian? Succeeding the great Conan in my stead?
...Does it match his usual behavior?
"We had no choice. The rest of the party members had excellent mana senses, except for Uncle Soo, who was somewhat lacking. So, he chose to focus entirely on physical strength, leading to this outcome."
"I see..."
"So, he grew a bit in size, but when not in combat mode, he reverts to his original form, so it's okay. It's like... a reverse charm?"
"Right, that makes sense."
Knowing JiHye's affection for MokSoo, KiJun nodded happily as she raised her voice slightly while talking about him.
"So, what's the situation now? Are you two dating?"
"What?! No, no!"
"...Not? Then, are you dating EunShin?"
"Why would EunShin's name come up?"
Confused when asked if she was dating MokSoo, and puzzled why EunShin was even mentioned, JiHye's reactions made KiJun realize that even after 10 years, the party's intricate love affairs hadn't resolved.
'I'm starting to not want to go back to the party...'
―That's right, Contractor. There's a saying that new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. Let's ignore it, ignore it.
Lucy, sensing KiJun's displeasure with his known connections, whispered to him like the serpent of Eden, but he ignored her as usual.
"Ah, but both EunShin and YeMin are of Rare rank now. We found a ruin after finishing the tutorial, you know?"
"I know."
KiJun nodded as if it were obvious.
Not only did he know, but without any information or preparation, he had rolled around the ruins for four years, mapping them out in his head.
"You know? You, KiJun oppa?"
"Of course, how else could I have evolved to Rare rank?"
"Come to think of it, yeah."
Though JiHye felt slightly deflated that KiJun already knew the story she brought up proudly, she was pleased to hear him appreciating their efforts in conquering the ruin and the dramatic rank advancements of EunShin and YeMin.
"You did well. I'm proud."
"I just stepped back considering the future and power of the party."
Touched by KiJun's sincere praise, JiHye responded with a refreshed expression, then suddenly realized something.
"Then, oppa, you must have it, right? That thing, King of the Well."
"Oh, was that a common reward?"
When KiJun pulled out the shield, JiHye smirked, thinking, 'A shield again?' but then paused―
"KiJun oppa, you said you use two shields these days."
"That's true, but..."
"Here. I was told to take it in case something happened, and I balked, but it turned out to be useful."
Holding out what she retrieved from her inventory, KiJun's eyes widened in surprise.
Though it was in the form of a staff due to JiHye holding it, it was undoubtedly the King of the Well that he recognized!
"This is great. YeMin wanted to give you something; this will be perfect."
KiJun, somewhat incredulously, accepted the staff extended towards him.
"Really? It's okay to give this to me?"
"Oppa, as you might guess, we're pretty well-off with weapons. Honestly, we don't need it."
Although the King of the Well had its shortcomings compared to items of the same rank in terms of attack and defense, for KiJun, who could use it to its fullest potential, it was an invaluable asset!
To give it away so easily? Really?
[King of the Well (Unique)]
[Durability ― 2,500/2,500]
[Attack (U) / Defense (U) ― 50]
[Option 1 ― Increase Strength, Mana Power by 5]
[Option 2 ― Contains the power of wind, allowing it to be blasted in all directions or cast sharp trajectories when wielding a weapon. Consumes mana upon casting, and power is proportional to the product of Mana Power and Strength. Requires a cooldown period after casting.]
[Usage Restriction ― Must possess the title 'Conqueror of the Hidden Dungeon']
[Congratulations. You are the most outstanding frog in this narrow well!]
The item's infuriating description confirmed it was indeed the King of the Well KiJun knew!
Holding a Heater Shield in each hand, KiJun felt deeply moved as they resonated, trembling slightly in his grasp.
"Thank you, I'll use it well."
"I can't really imagine how you'll fight with two shields, though."
"You'll be surprised."
―Surely, since it's not just any shield.
Lucy's whispers were ignored once again.
"Cough, Jun. I also have some good weapons suitable for a Flame Human."
"No, keep those for yourself."
KiJun firmly replied to Cyntilla, who tried to wedge her way into the friendly exchange, then declared as he stored the shields.
"So, with the five of us forming a party, no one has any objections, right? Let's all agree on that and celebrate the formation of our party―"
―Party!
Lucy exclaimed excitedly.
This time, KiJun didn't ignore her.
"Yes, let's have a party."
What's essential for a party celebrating the formation of a new party? First and foremost, meat, with hundreds of kilograms of Hati's ribs still in stock, and now that JiHye and Cyntilla had joined the party members, it was decided to make Hati's ribs the main dish to boost their strength.
After all, forming a party means sharing meals, and naturally, today's menu was destined to be...!
"Your long wait is over. Here we have rib pot rice, radish soup, assorted pancakes, and today's freshly made kimchi."
"Wow."
"The aroma is so savory, my mouth is watering."
The sight of pancakes made with various ingredients including fish, vegetables, and meat was mouthwatering, and the radish soup made with beef and radish, seasoned with soy sauce and simmered until tender, was comforting. But the star of the show was the rib pot rice; after simmering the broth with mushrooms, ginkgo, and chestnuts, the rice was cooked in it, and then ribs marinated in sauce were placed on top and steamed a little longer, creating a nutritious and heartfelt rib pot rice.
"Having soup, rice, and kimchi all at once, when was the last time I saw Korean food... wait a minute."
Like the others, JiHye was entranced by the divine scent wafting from the rib pot rice in front of her when she suddenly snapped back to reality and exclaimed.
"Do we have rice here?!"
"We did, didn't we? Even during our tutorial."
"There was none in Ars, no matter how hard I looked...!"
Realizing anew that Turris was a city bustling with trade, JiHye took a big spoonful of rice and started devouring it without saying a word, and so did the others around the table.
Then, with grains of rice still on her lips, JiHye raised her head and shouted.
"Doenjang jjigae*... oppa, what about doenjang jjigae...?!"
*A korean dish. In english it’s known as soybean paste stew.
"We haven't found doenjang yet. I barely managed to find fish sauce, not soybean sauce. I made radish soup to keep it refreshing, so just have that."
Considering the vast world of Reta, there must be places that make doenjang and soy sauce. Since KiJun had asked Viv to look into it, news should be coming soon.
After finishing her portion, JiHye twitched, likely experiencing a status boost.
"What did you feed me, oppa...?"
"Divine beast. The one we caught this time."
"......"
"Oh my goodness..."
Cyntilla, having tasted divine beast meat for the first time, also experienced a status boost. After checking the system message, she looked disbelievingly at her hands producing flames a few times, then, before anyone knew it, she hugged KiJun tightly.
"Thank you, Jun!"
"?!"
Not only KiJun but most of those seated at the table were startled by her sudden action.
However, Cyntilla ignored the glances from all around and, focusing solely on KiJun, smiled brightly and said.
"After being stagnant for so long... perhaps your help could allow me to glimpse the next realm!"
"Uh... okay, can you let go now?"
Rodim, the Flame Spirit Fox, like Lucy and Ur, also partook in the rib pot rice and radish soup, quickly finishing the soup and then blinking its large, astonished eyes adorably.
Then, it approached Ur and whispered something inaudible, which led Ur to nod and whisper something back to Lucy.
―Contractor, if she keeps eating such warm soup, it might even heal that woman's mind.
'That's some good news.'
Indeed, it seems that every problem in the world can be solved one way or another with delicious food.
KiJun was ready to cook chicken soup for the soul every day if it would help Cyntilla.
"Now, let's discuss our upcoming plans."
After everyone finished eating, KiJun made a brief declaration.
Lora and Gin tensely straightened their backs, while Cyntilla and JiHye sharpened their focus.
Única was ready to take notes, paying close attention to him.
"Of course, by plans, I don't mean anything grand. Especially Lora and Gin, you've just undergone racial mutations, and your statuses can still be raised through training, so you'll be following the schedule I've prepared for at least a few months."
"Is that so..."
"I'll train hard!"
Lora seemed slightly disheartened, while Gin responded energetically.
Lora seemed similar to Gin in the morning, perhaps the addition of new members made her eager to contribute sooner.
KiJun looked at Lora and gently reassured her.
"Don't be too hasty, Lora. Laying a solid foundation now is essential for unlocking all your potential."
"Yes, yes. It's just... nothing."
Catching a glimpse of Cyntilla and JiHye, Lora squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head.
KiJun chuckled and turned his gaze to Cyntilla and JiHye.
"It's not like the three of us can do much either. Even if we tried to sync up in a dungeon, it's meaningless without all five."
"I'll adapt to whatever you plan, Jun."
"Aren't we supposed to be tracking down the vampires?"
"The lord is already discussing this with various collaborators. If they find a lead, they'll request our cooperation."
Única interjected in response to JiHye's comment.
KiJun nodded gravely and then said.
"So, I've been thinking... JiHye, your mana status is currently Unique, right?"
"Heh, correct."
JiHye replied proudly, and KiJun also let out a chuckle before continuing.
"And all your other stats are Common."
"My dexterity is Uncommon, but... oppa?"
"Then let's start your training too. I've been concerned about your unbalanced condition."
"…What?"
"Ah...!"
JiHye's face fell, while Lora's, for some reason, brightened.
On the other hand, Cyntilla, knowing she just needed to stay by KiJun's side, simply nodded silently.
And so, JiHye joined Lora and Gin's training from the next day.
No objections were accepted.
"No, oppa, I'm a mage, why do I need to train my physique― Gah!"
No objections were accepted.
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