Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Dungeon crops, no originally all crops I was the first but anyway it was the first.

Honestly I had only heard stories about Leila and never actually seen or eaten it.

To begin with it wasn’t easy to discover and the quantity was small so I knew that in most cases awakeners who visited the dungeon for subjugation ate it on the spot if they found it.

“So it opens like this.”

It had an appearance like cabbage.

But the outer color was blue, and the way was that if you tore something like these cabbage leaves there was fruit inside.

‘The size is roughly about a Korean melon?’

Due to the outer leaves the size was about a watermelon but the fruit inside was clearly smaller.

Unlike the vegetables tomatoes or carrots, it was a plant classified as fruit so expectations rose more.

“These seeds all have to be planted again too.”

As it was there was an idle section underground so it seemed fine to just plant them there.

“But when is the harvest? Is it almost done?”

Wriggle!

At my question the new recruit wriggled.

Um, according to what I learned through 3 days of slime conversation method it seemed to mean there was still a bit left.

Undulate! Wriggle!

Still since it’s soon now don’t get impatient.

...It seemed to mean that.

“So how soon is that soon? Not today?”

Wriggle!

“Tomorrow?”

Undulate!

“Tomorrow huh?”

For something almost fully grown it takes a bit more.

Looking at the growth speed of the crops Leila is definitely on the long side. Or are all dungeon plants about this much?

“I have to check the growth speed of Ambergrill too. Ah! Before that...”

I diligently wrote something in the notebook I brought while going out and coming back this time. To memo the crops grown so far and growth speed, harvest timing etc.

At the same time in another notebook I recorded about the slimes.

“Um, good. Now shall I go down below.”

Going down the ladder an field where sprouts hadn’t even grown yet was visible. Looking at how tomatoes or carrots took at least about a day there was still some time left.

Undulate!

Then Dokdok approached me and shook its body.

Watching Dokdok undulating like pudding I nodded.

“What’s wrong.”

Undulate! Undulate!

“You want me to follow?”

Is there really influence of the Slime Lord.

I was vaguely reading the slime’s gestures.

Wriggle!

“Okay, let’s see why you’re like that once.”

While following the guy I casually looked at the other guys and the physical resistance slime was swimming in the pond, and Mark Two was rolling in the field.

“Playing well.”

It was a somehow refreshing peaceful scene.

It seemed I wouldn’t get bored even watching only this appearance all day.

Wriggle!

“Oh! Here?”

Examining the place Dokdok brought me it was a cornered wall. But something was strange.

“It’s artificial?”

From afar it wasn’t noticeable but looking closely it was extremely artificial.

Wriggle?

Dokdok also tilted its head and looked at the wall.

It seemed it didn’t know what this wall was even though it discovered it itself.

Tok tok!

“There’s space behind.”

Knocking a bit I could know there was empty space behind the wall.

“Shall I break it?”

Wriggle?

“Hmm... there’s no gap or anything, right?”

Wriggle!

By the way the slime that combined with Dokdok was clearly the slime I told long ago to report if there was something unusual...

It said they share memories and experiences when synthesizing so combining into one doesn’t mean one of the two disappears it seemed.

“Is there nothing?”

Setting that aside for now I examined the wall first.

Touching here and there and knocking and kicking with the foot too.

Even so when there was no particular change I held Dokdok and rubbed it.

Wriiiggle-

“Hmm, this isn’t it either.”

In the end is it time to take out the pickaxe again.

I, I was trying not to take it out again but.

“Sorry, Dokdok. I was trying not to hold the pickaxe again.”

Wriggle?

Saying some nonsense I brought the pickaxe down from the ground.

Just as I was about to strike the wall my body stopped with a jolt.

How do I know what’s behind to do this.

“Hmm.”

I fell into thought while supporting the ground with the pickaxe.

I don’t know what’s beyond this wall but there was nothing bad about being careful.

‘Come to think of it they said there are many hidden pieces in dungeons.’

Especially dungeons where dungeon alteration happened I had heard you have to search much more thoroughly. That dungeons where alteration happened always have hidden treasure rooms or hidden pieces...

“Shall I make just a slight gap?”

There was no need for me to go.

Can’t I just send a slime?

“Dokdok, are you ready to go on an exploration?”

W, wriggle?

“Haha, you seem excited at the thought of going on an exploration too. I’ll send you right away!”

Wriggle?!

Ignoring Dokdok’s gesture I raised the pickaxe high. Soon after striking down vigorously I pierced the wall.

Thwack!

“Oh!”

As expected the power of an awakener!

I couldn’t break the wall but the pickaxe embedded in one go.

Using the principle of leverage and wriggling a bit more the crack grew larger.

“To connect with the back about three more strikes should do?”

For now it was only a scratch on the wall but if I struck only the exact cracked places I seemed able to make a hole.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

Showing high accuracy the pickaxe embedded only in the cracks. Soon after I felt the pickaxe tip loosen.

“Oh, a hole formed.”

I removed the pickaxe and casually checked the other side but unlike this side it was dark so nothing was visible.

“Dokdok, are you ready?”

W, wriggle-

“Here, let’s go on an exciting trip! Of course only you.”

I sent Dokdok into the hole made by pickaxing. As expected of a slime I could see it enter even that narrow hole with a whoosh.

“If it’s dangerous come out right away!”

I said that but no answer came.

Waiting like that in front of the wall for a bit the other guys approached wriggling.

“Were you playing well?”

Undulate?

“Dokdok has gone on a solo trip now. Let’s all pray that our trip ends safely.”

Please let our Dokdok find a treasure room...

No, return safely.

For a moment it seemed sincerity came out but it’s a misunderstanding.

Waiting about 5 minutes like that Dokdok came out again with an undulating sound.

Undulate!

“Yeah, did you find something? There was nothing dangerous?”

Wriggle- Wriggle-

Seeing Dokdok touching the pickaxe it seemed there was no particular problem. It means it’s fine to just break through, right.

“Good. Everyone wait here. I’ll demolish the wall soon.”

Rolling up both sleeves I raised the pickaxe vigorously. Since I knew there was at least no danger I was thinking of piercing the wall.

‘Hidden piece! Hidden treasure room!’

Wait, treasures! I, Lee Gyuseong am coming!

* * *

“Hmm...”

Choi Yeongseong returned home with the tomatoes and carrots and was diligently examining them.

He who was the former research department head of the Ara Hongryeon Guild was a researcher who established brilliant achievements even though he wasn’t an awakener.

Of course only the executives of the Ara Hongryeon Guild and some research department members knew this fact.

“Poison resistance, if I utilize this a bit more won’t it work somehow?”

In the simple research lab prepared at home Choi Yeongseong who was analyzing the tomatoes massaged his dim eyes for a moment.

Like that into the ears of Choi Yeongseong who closed both eyes and rubbed them someone’s voice came.

“Honey.”

“Hm? Why? What’s wrong?”

Choi Yeongseong immediately got up from the spot at the sound calling him and headed to a room on one side.

There was a room there where various medical devices were installed like a hospital room.

“You came early today but what are you doing without resting?”

“Um, something to look into came up.”

On the bed a woman was lying.

It was a familiar scene as if she had been sick for quite a long period.

“Don’t overdo it too much. What if you get sick too. Huhu.”

“...Yeah. I won’t overdo it.”

Choi Yeongseong tightly held the hand of his wife and only family Kim Siyoung.

It was a thin hand where only bones were felt but he felt warmth more than anything in the world.

“Sorry.”

“What are you saying suddenly. Don’t do that, for no reason.”

“Because of me you left the guild and every day look for items or things to treat me, stay up all night researching...”

“What nonsense. It’s not because of you but just because I got tired of it. And the general store is something I originally wanted to do. Research is also something I originally like so...”

“I feel like I’m a really happy person having met you honey.”

At Kim Siyoung’s words Choi Yeongseong ultimately closed his mouth.

But the trembling hand was representing his emotions.

“So if I die don’t think of me anymore and meet a good person and be happy...”

“Kim Siyoung, don’t tease me for no reason and sleep quickly. Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Huhu. Got caught?”

Kim Siyoung smiling bashfully her face looked pale and weak.

Seeing the awakener once called the pillar of the Ara Hongryeon Guild lying in such a shabby appearance Choi Yeongseong’s heart felt like it was tearing to shreds.

“Don’t you regret it? Meeting someone like me.”

“Why are you like this today of all days? If you keep doing that I won’t give you what I brought for you.”

“Hm? What you brought for me?”

“Yeah.”

Choi Yeongseong held up the tomato that remained exactly one after consuming most for research.

“I told you before right? That I have a younger brother I think of like a nephew.”

“Ah, Gyuseong?”

“Yeah, that guy. The tomato he obtained this time and the taste is amazing.”

He didn’t say it was an item that creates poison resistance. Anyway since Kim Siyoung who is an awakener would know if she eats it.

Having handed the tomato to Kim Siyoung like that Choi Yeongseong vaguely fell into thought.

‘Can I obtain more?’

His wife, Kim Siyoung had been poisoned by one of the monsters called the Seven Deadly Sins.

At that time most of the awakeners who participated in the subjugation died and the survivors were all in a state of waiting only for the day of death while poisoned.

‘If I research this tomato a bit more a clue might come out...’

As the former research department head of the Ara Hongryeon Guild he knew how tremendous value the tomatoes and carrots Lee Gyuseong brought possessed.

That’s why he knew it was too shameless to ask to obtain them again but for his wife he had the confidence to make even greater requests.

“Uum?!”

Kim Siyoung’s face who ate the tomato brightened for a moment. Seeing that appearance Choi Yeongseong smiled faintly.

“How is it? Delicious right?”

“This is a tomato? Honey, this is an item?”

“Yeah. He found an amazing one wherever he obtained it from.”

“Is there more?”

“Hm? Uh, that...”

It was ambiguous to say he used them all for research. Instead he hooked Kim Siyoung’s ring finger and said.

“I’ll obtain them again. I told you, Gyuseong brought them.”

“Isn’t it too sorry? Not even ordinary tomatoes...”

“Just pay the proper price. More than that it’s already sleep time. Let’s sleep quickly.”

“If you sleep together I’ll sleep too.”

“Sigh. Yeah, let’s sleep for today.”

While seeming to grumble Choi Yeongseong lay beside Kim Siyoung pretending not to win. In such his head was full only of the thought of somehow saving his wife.