CH 53

However, there was one thing that bothered me to send them like this.

“It’s night time, can we just send the children? It’s close to the store here, so let’s take them with us.”

Ki Yoohyun smiled bitterly.

“They are young, but they are hunters. The road at night is nothing for them.”

“No. They might be hunters, but they’re still children.”

The twins I had seen before the regression flashed before my eyes. The soulless eyes that seem to be disillusioned with the world bothered me.

I can’t let them change like that. I wanted to protect that lively and innocence that still remains. Children have to live a life of watching children’s animations at 5 p.m. after school and wondering about what would they eat for dinner.

As long as they become a hunter belonging to a guild, there may be difficulties to do all of that in reality, but children are still children.

“Hunter Ki Yoohyun-nim is right.”

“We can go on our own.”

“Really? That’s too bad. I was going to make you a hot vanilla latte if you stop by.”

“….Vanilla latte?”

The twins’ eyes shook wildly. They looked as if they wanted to eat.

“I’ve never had a vanilla latte. They said I can’t eat it yet because I’m young.”

“Endure it, you idiot! I’ve never tried it either.”

I could hear all the whispers.

“Ah, there are butter cookies, too.”

“……!”

A few seconds to wander between desire and patience.

“……it’s all right.”

“Right. We won’t disturb you!”

Gee, patience won.

The twins walked away with a same bustling gait as they did when they appeared.

Well, it’s no big deal. Next time I see them, I’ll have to feed them sweet drinks and snacks.

***

I walked on the way back to the store side by side with Ki Yoohyun.

Around the Dungeon Gate, where buildings and cars are gradually decreasing. Only the dimly lit streetlightslights illuminated the way. The shadow lengthened and shortened as we walked.

Surprisingly, there is really nothing. It’s such a quiet place in the middle of Jung-gu, Seoul.

Strictly speaking, the Dungeon Gate of the dungeon ‘Abyss’ was not a part of Seoul City. That huge dungeon appeared by tearing and distorting the surrounding space.

Therefore, the shape of the map of Seoul changed before and after the creation of Abyss. An open space between City Hall Station and Hoehyeon Station as if both ends were pulled by hand. The place painted with a black square box is Dungeon Gate 3.

Still, since it is located in Seoul, development is made for accessibility, but the reason why there is no convenience store is clear.

The smell of air changes slightly as you walk toward the center. The color of the soil that is stepped on by the feet is also different. There was an unknown dungeon in this place.

A huge stone wall that has not been revealed what lies at the end of it. A person with a sensitive temperament feels scared just by looking at it.

‘For that matter, I didn’t have any problems….’

I slept well, ate well, played well, hmm.

As silence came, I naturally paid attention to the sound of footsteps next to me.

“…….”

Ki Yoohyun, who took my goods at his own will, remained silent for a while.

Come to think of it, it’s been a while since I met Ki Yoohyun. This is the first time since we separated in front of Grandma Kim Deokyi’s workshop the day after the fire.

The moment I was slightly distracted by the shadow on his face.

“Rieul-ssi.”

A calm call came to my ears.

“Yes?”

“You said something earlier.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Even if they’re hunters, they’re still children.”

“…Yeah.”

I turned my head and looked at him. Beyond the glasses that couldn’t hide the gorgeous face at all, the bright eyes stared at me.

“Do you really think so?”

The answer to the question came out quickly.

“I do. Just because your body is strong doesn’t mean your mind is also strong.”

20 years since the Great Dungeon appeared. Young Awakened was no longer unusual or rare. Awakening is a coincidence or fate that can happen to anyone regardless of age.

Rifts keep popping up, and the world wants a Hunter. My words may sound absurd in this situation where you have to face death if you don’t deal with rifts in time.

However, I think it is harsh for children, who are curious about dinner side dishes or watching children’s animation after school, to face monsters.

Of course, there are minimal safeguards. Awakened people under the age of 12 cannot belong to a guild and are required to be protected by the Dungeon Management Office. Even so, this is not enough.

Some children are forced by their parents. Some children mistake it for their own will. Some children enter the dungeon because they want to be praised.

The twins Joo Shinwoo and Joo Shinhee are no exception. If I remember it correctly, they’re 14 years old this year. They’re still pretty young.

What the hell happened in the past three years that changed their personality that much? Did Cheongna Guild overwork them? I didn’t think the No. 1 guy would be like that, but is he actually a vicious guild leader?

Ki Yoohyun spoke again while I was busy accusing the No. 1 ranker, whom I’ve never met, in my head.

“Rieul-ssi may be different, but … Hunters are often said to lack a bit of humanity.”

His words were understandable. The human mind is more influenced by the body than we think. The strong power, the dungeon experience, and changes in the surrounding environment are obviously damaging to the mind.

Wait a minute, but what’s the word in the front of his sentence? Did he say that I may be different because I’m an F-class?

Ki Yoohyun’s words continued.

“The same goes for those kids. They look like that, but there is a part in their heart that is worn out and dull. Nevertheless, do you still think so?”

A cautious tone, as if to confirm an important fact. The bright eyes gazed at me.

I don’t know why he’s asking me this, but I only have one answer anyway.

“Of course, then you should treat them better. Awakening doesn’t mean you become a different being, right? That’s what adults do.”

I can’t do this. Next time I see the twins, I’m not going to just feed them snacks, but I’m going to make them watch an animation VOD for children. It should be prepared with exciting content that cannot be stopped once played.

Tiling!

Then, suddenly, a system notification sounded.

[A quest has occurred.]

[Sub Quest: Lady of the Children’s Heart

You value children. Let’s present good memories to the targets1.

Feed snacks to the target: 0/1

1 Joo Shinwoo, Joo Shinhee

Reward: None.]

Unusually, it was a quest without a reward.

That’s right. It’s not because I want to be rewarded, but because I can be nice to them with pure kindness. If it can help the twins’ mental health in three years, that’s enough.

When I meet the twins again, let’s complete it. This system has always been a nuisance, but sometimes it does a good job.

Turning off the quest window, I noticed that Ki Yoohyun was still looking at me.

“What’s wrong? Were you touched by what I said?”

As an excuse, it was only a joke. I didn’t say anything special, so it’s just a light conversation to be laughed on before we moved on to another topic.

It seems that my intention was not conveyed to Ki Yoohyun at all. He was silent for a while, as if he was tracing some memory, and then he opened his mouth.

“Yes, I think so. No, that’s right. I’m touched.”

“…….”

No, this guy is really….

It was a perfect atmosphere to tackle right now. What if I suddenly become serious? Don’t you know Tiki-Taka?

I lost my words and kept my mouth shut.

“…….”

“…….”

What are we going to do with this atmosphere?

***

Fortunately, it was only a short way to the store. On the remaining road where the early winter wind was quite chilly, I walked with Ki Yoohyun while telling him about the recent situation.

There’s nothing much to say about my recent situation. I can’t tell the story of Choi Yichan, who claimed to be a temporary part-timer to avoid the annoyance around him, so all that’s left is the story of a new regular customer.

“….so I was on my way back after getting the ingredients to make lemonade.”

As I reached the front door of the store, I reached out to ask for my goods.

“Rieul-ssi, is there any chance that the guest … was he a man in his 40s wearing a fishing vest?”

“Ah, yes, that’s him.”

Ki Yoohyun was looking at the bushes across from the store.

We don’t have to talk face to face, but why do you have to look over there? What is there?

“Does he have a scar on his face?”

“Umh … come to think of it, there was a scar….”

“When did you decide to try the new menu?”

“It’s in 7 days … what’s wrong?”

“I happen to have time that day, so I’d love to try Rieul-ssi’s new menu too.”

It’s weird. I’m sure he’s smiling, but why did I feel so cold?

***

The next day.

After waking up leisurely and eating breakfast, I went into the space to find a place to plant the sapling of the Purifying Tree.

It was narrow because of Yggdrasil that occupied most of this space, but if I look carefully, I will find a place to plant a tree.

“Ah, this will do.”

I looked inside this space and found the right place. Next to the field planted with Dungeon Sugarcanes, there was a perfect empty space for planting a tree.

I squatted down, dug up the soil with a shovel, and planted the sapling. I asked a question to Mieum, who was rolling around next to me, while gently covering the soil.

“You know, when someone becomes a Hunter, do they sometimes lose their humanity?”

What I was going to ask was about what Ki Yoohyun said yesterday.

“Hunters are often said to lack a bit of humanity.”

It was a calm and subdued voice, unlike his usual loose appearance. The refined tone strangely lingered on my mind.

“There’s no such thing!”

“Really?”

“Of course, some people may have different personalities, but it’s more like revealing one’s true nature when the poor get rich, or when the people at the bottom get power.”

“You mean it depends on someone’s personality?”

“Yeah, but….”

Mieum-ah, I get anxious when you blur your words like that.

“When you make a ‘contract’ with a Great One, if you sympathize with the Great One too much, you may lose your original self as a result of that influence.”

Uh, what did you just say? Suddenly, two unfamiliar words appeared.

“Who is the Great One?”

“Kiyaoo! Don’t you know that, it’s common sense!”

“I think you and I have a different range of common sense.”

“Do you think the Awakeneds can just use the skills? All are empowered by the Great Ones! Among them, there are cases where they give more special power to a contractor through a ‘contract‘, waeeong!”

“Hmm … so, is it an incredibly strong being that gives you power? Something like the one who works behind the scene or The Holy See?”

“Sometimes they call it that, waeeong!”

It looks pretty good just from the explanation.

“Can I do that too?”

It was only a question out of mild curiosity. However, Mieum and Lime became quiet at the same time.

“…….”

“…….”

“What’s the matter….?”

For a moment, there was only silence.

“Kkyuu! kkyuuuu!”

Lime began to cry with great force.

“Uh, huh, what?”

“Kkyuuuu! kkyuu! kkyuuu!”

It bounces its body and raised the volume of the cries. However, there were no words that I could understand other than ‘Kyuuu‘.

Sorry. Lime, I don’t know what you mean.

“Kyuuuu!”

I wish I have a slime translator.….

***

After gently covering the roots with soil with a seedling shovel and pouring the water from a plastic bottle, the planting of the Purifying Tree was completed.

The sun is warm, the wind blows gently, and the soil is moist. It will grow well here.

There was some space left next to it, so I moved the tooth carrot and planted it. It’s hard to keep what I received. No, I don’t want to keep it.

“Shush, shoo, shush, shoo, shush, shush, shush.”

Mom, the carrots make strange noises and cries….

It doesn’t matter if it grows well or not.

I checked the status window of the Purifying Tree right away.

However, there was one big problem.

[Next]

Translator’s Corner:

The quest name, Lady of the Children’s Heart is actually not a 100% correct translation (or at least, I’m not sure). It’s 동심여선, i’m not sure what’s that supposed to mean but 동심 is children’s heart and 여선 is related to female / women, so I translated it like that to suit the story. ISTG, I spent two hours to think about this one.

However, the 동심여선 here definitely refers to the epitaph of Bang Jeonghwan, a pioneer of Korean juvenile literature and a children’s rights activist, who led the establishment of Children’s Day in Korea. That’s the phrase that was written on his tombstone, taken from the Chinese character 童心如仙, meaning ‘a child’s heart is like freshness’.

Tiki-Taka (티키타카) derives from a football term. It refers to short quick passes to move the ball down the field. In conversation, it means back and forth. The conversation going well between you two as it’s going back and forth.