Chapter 183

“Phew. Cuengi, come here.”

Sejun, after re-engraving a new tattoo with Kaiser’s scale on his left arm, called Cuengi.

Krueng... Krueng.

[Sorry, Dad... Cuengi made a mistake.]

Knowing he was at fault, Cuengi cautiously approached Sejun, checking his reaction. He was aware that his brief moment of agitation had put Sejun in danger.

“It’s okay. It wasn’t Cuengi’s fault.”

Sejun said, patting Cuengi’s head, reassuring him. Sejun knew. Such incidents could happen again. It wasn’t something Cuengi could just control with willpower alone.

In TV or YouTube videos, you’d sometimes see owners struggling to handle the energy levels of their large dogs. However, it’s the owner’s responsibility to handle it, not the dog’s fault.

Rather, Cuengi had been holding back, even subconsciously, always considering Sejun. For example, he never kicked Sejun in his sleep.

Moreover, whenever Theo cuddled, Cuengi, wanting the same, resisted the urge every day. Whenever he exerted force during fights, he always adjusted his direction and strength, considering Sejun’s position.

Sejun felt more guilty knowing how much Cuengi was trying for him.

Kroooueng!

Relieved by Sejun’s words, Cuengi shed tears. Only now did his pent-up emotions burst out.

“Why are you crying, Cuengi? Dad is really okay.”

Sejun wiped Cuengi’s tears and reassured him, holding him close and comforting him.

Then,

‘I don’t like it, meow!’

Theo felt uncomfortable seeing only Cuengi getting petted. But for now, as the elder brother, he sat quietly on Sejun’s lap.

Tap. Tap.

Theo’s tail gently patted Cuengi’s butt.

“Cuengi, you said you wanted to see grandma?”

Once Cuengi had calmed down a bit, Sejun spoke, holding up the Mirror of Longing.

Krueng! Krueng!

[Yes! Cuengi wants to see Cuengi’s grandma!]

Cuengi responded energetically to Sejun’s question.

“Okay. Look, this is Cuengi’s grandma.”

Sejun showed Cuengi the image of Kim Mi-ran in the Mirror of Longing.

Krueng! Krueng!

[It’s Cuengi’s grandma! Cuengi missed grandma!]

Cuengi joyfully observed the mirror.

“Beside her are grandpa and younger dad.”

Since it was dinner time and they were all eating together, Sejun also introduced the others. In this way, Cuengi familiarized himself with all of Sejun’s family.

Krueng?

[Daddy, what’s that?]

Cuengi began to inquire about the side dishes he saw in the mirror.

“That’s Kimchi stew. It’s the food dad wants to eat the most.”

Krueng?

[Is Kimchi stew that delicious?]

“Well, you can get tired of it if you eat it often, but then you miss it when you don’t.”

Krueng.

[That’s confusing.]

Cuengi found Sejun’s words puzzling.

“You’ll understand when you’re older.”

Sejun gently stroked Cuengi’s head as he spoke. Of course, it might never happen for Cuengi. The thought of Cuengi getting tired of food? It was hard to imagine.

“Let’s go home now.”

Sejun took the animals and ascended to the 99th floor of the tower.

***

“This week alone, we’ve seized 220 ships that approached the coast without permission.”

“Good job. Please do your best to ensure that not a single suspicious ship enters the U.S.”

“Yes!”

It wasn’t wartime, but over 200 ships were seized just on the basis of being suspicious. Under normal circumstances, detaining over 200 ships on the mere suspicion of unauthorized approach was a potential international issue. Yet, instead of reprimanding the Navy Chief of Staff, the president of the USA praised him.

“How’s the situation at the Mexico border?”

“We’ve installed high-voltage fences that stand 50m tall in the border areas and have soldiers and drones patrolling.”

The Army Chief of Staff responded this time.

“We must prevent even a single locust from crossing. The moment one does, it’s the end for the US.”

The President spoke gravely. The breeding capacity of the locusts was tremendous. In just a week, a single locust could multiply into more than 100,000.

Right now, the US was at war with the locusts. Actually, every country was.

“What’s the status of the report’s verification?”

The President directed the question to the CIA Director. The CIA confirmed that the reports from several universities analyzing the spread of the Locust had a common thread: human intervention.

They were verifying if there was any actual human interference.

“Mr. President, our investigations have confirmed the involvement of an organization called the Three Head Society.”

→ The Detoxifying Green Onion neutralizes the strong poison found in the Purple Locust meat, preventing the dish from spoiling easily.

→ All ingredients synergize, maximizing the flavor and effects of the wind napa cabbage.

→ Upon consumption, affinity with wind attribute increases slightly for 1 hour.

→ There’s a very low chance of awakening a mid-tier or lower wind-attribute related talent upon consumption.

→ Chef: Tower Farmer Park Sejun

→ Expiration Date: 120 days

→ Grade: A

“Oh! Not bad at all.”

He was pleased with the dish’s options.

Furthermore,

Slurp.

“Ah, so refreshing.”

The taste was impeccable. He genuinely wished he had a spoonful of rice to go with it.

“Come on, guys, let’s eat.”

Sejun called over the animals and they all dined together. Instead of rice, steamed potatoes replaced the carbohydrates.

While eating,

“If any of you want to see someone, use this.”

Sejun handed over the bronze mirror of longing to the monkeys and rabbits. He thought that some of the animals who were separated from their families might miss them.

Squeak!

Ook!

Touched by Sejun’s thoughtfulness, the rabbits and monkeys began to use the mirror to see their loved ones.

Meanwhile,

Gulp.

Krueng!

[It’s delicious!]

While everyone was engrossed with the bronze mirror, Cuengi finished the entire bowl of cabbage soup Sejun had served in one go and continuously refilled it from the pot.”

When they finished dinner,

[You’ve consumed the Refreshing Wind Napa Cabbage Soup.]

[Affinity with the wind attribute slightly increases for 1 hour.]

A message appeared, and Sejun felt a cooling sensation throughout his body.

Rustle.

“Chairman Park, I feel cool, meow! This is wonderful, meow!”

While enjoying his churu, Theo, feeling Sejun’s change, rubbed himself against Sejun’s knee.

Then,

Rustle. Rustle.

A gentle breeze began to emanate from a few of the rabbits and monkeys. They had awakened their wind attribute talent.

“Huh?!”

Awakening a talent just from a single bowl of cabbage soup? Even if the probability was said to be very low? Why them? What about me? Unlike the animals, Sejun hadn’t acquired any new talent, felt slighted. He examined himself but...

......

Not even a hair moved.

“Huh? Then what about Cuengi?”

Cuengi had consumed the soup by the potful. As Sejun hurriedly searched for Cuengi,

Whoosh.

A strong wind began blowing from behind.

Turning around,

Krueng!

[Daddy, Cuengi has gained a talent!]

Cuengi, enveloped in a gust of wind, appeared. As Sejun suspected, Cuengi too had awakened a wind attribute talent.

Krueng!

[I’m so happy!]

Elated, Cuengi jumped into Sejun’s arms.

“Huh? Wait! Cuengi, sto–...”

Poof.

“Wha?”

Sejun was taken aback, holding Cuengi in his arms. Although he felt a bit hefty, Sejun could comfortably hold him as he was now light enough to be held.

Kuehehe. Krueng!

[Hehehe. Cuengi is now light!]

The talent Cuengi had awakened was ‘Light Body Movement,’ allowing him to reduce his body weight to 1/1000th.

On Day 325 of being stranded, Cuengi finally realized his dream of being held in Sejun’s arms.

*****

*****