Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Chapter 29 Ascension (1)

People began arriving a little early, one after another, and by the appointed time of one o'clock, the atmosphere had already become lively and noisy.

If someone asked whether I had expected things to turn out this way, I would answer that I had imagined something fairly similar.

After all, I had attended a few gaming gatherings like this before.

Well, rather than gatherings, they were closer to mandatory gaming meetups organized by our department head, who was more enthusiastic than anyone about goofing off at work, using games as an excuse.

I believe his reasoning was something along the lines of, "You have to play the games young people enjoy these days to keep up with the trends."

Of course, his real objective was the club activity allowance provided by the company, so we only spent about two hours actually playing games together before the gathering turned into a free drinking party.

But even those two short hours of gaming together provided plenty of topics to discuss over drinks.

Enough to make my concerns about what employees from different departments and ranks, who had barely exchanged a word before, could possibly talk about when awkwardly gathered together seem groundless.

Games had that kind of power.

The strange power to bring two groups with absolutely nothing in common, National Intelligence Service employees and shamans, together in a remote country coffeehouse for a passionate discussion.

"No, I'm telling you it's better to just hunt in a party than have a damage dealer equip defensive gear."

"Come now, young lady, you don't understand. How much extra experience do you think you get from a party bonus anyway? It's much better to just go solo and use potions."

"You seem to know what you're talking about. This young lady clearly hasn't played games like this before."

"I played the original WoW too, you know! Do you have any idea how big a ten-percent party bonus is? Owner, isn't that right?"

Hm? Me?

"That's right! Why don't you tell us what you think, Owner? You're currently ranked second, excluding our guild master."

"The coffeehouse owner is a ranked player?"

"You didn't know? He's almost level 70 already."

"Level 70? Even I, who's done nothing but eat and play this game all day, am only level 40!"

"How did you level up so quickly?"

"Haha..."

Everyone's attention turned toward me. Naturally, the topic of conversation shifted to my level.

"There isn't any particular trick to it. I just equip items that deal reflected damage and stand somewhere with aggressive monsters."

"But wouldn't you die?"

"That's why..."

"You have to stack damage reduction skills and protection skills."

Just as I was struggling to answer, a savior appeared and answered in my place.

That savior was Yongman.

Dressed as though he had traveled through a time machine from Dongdaemun twenty-five years ago...

"I've been waiting for you, actually. Some of you haven't met him yet, right? Please introduce yourselves. I still have quite a bit to take care of in the kitchen."

"Ah! So this is our guild master! I'm Park—no, I should give you my character name. I'm Heavenly Magnate, haha."

"I'm Yeseung's Dad."

While people crowded around Yongman, I naturally slipped away and returned to the kitchen.

The kitchen was far too tidy for my excuse about having plenty to clean up to be convincing.

Although many people had gathered, the ramen and coffee had been served in batches, and with so many helping hands, everything had been finished quickly.

After I hastily cooked Yongman a bowl of ramen, it wasn't long before he came into the kitchen carrying the empty bowl.

"Where's the nine-tailed fox?"

"He left early. He doesn't particularly enjoy gatherings like this. Would you like another bowl if you're still hungry?"

"No."

An awkward silence followed his brief answer. Then, after glancing at my phone, which had the game running on it, Yongman spoke first.

"If you keep leveling like that, your character's going to be ruined later. You won't even be able to raise your skill proficiency. Even if you hit the level cap, you'll be weaker than Lia."

"I know. I read it in the guide."

"You read the guide?"

"It was on the message board. It was called the Vending Machine Build."

"Don't tell me you knew what a vending machine build was and still raised your character like that?"

The training method known as the vending machine build was simple, with a very clear purpose.

You raised only defensive skills to an extreme degree, leveled up quickly, and became a literal vending machine by distributing the consumable items dropped by monsters to your guildmates.

Since only one character could be created per account, you essentially became a tree that gave everything away.

"So you were the one scattering herbs and bandages all over the town square. I guess you really weren't having any fun?"

"No. It was quite enjoyable. It's been a long time since I played a game like this."

"Enjoyable, my ass. You just left it running."

"Didn't the items I gave away let other people enjoy hunting?"

"Why are you going this far?"

"Pardon?"

"You're going through all this trouble for a bastard like me! And Lia too...!"

Yongman trailed off as he was about to bring up Lia.

He had probably realized that Lia's body had no soul. And that I had tried to obtain a Dragon Pearl for that very reason.

"I'm not sure. I've been asked that question many times, but I don't really know myself. People's feelings aren't something you can pin down with one correct answer. I suppose I'm just the sort of person who tends to meddle a little."

"I want to be like you..."

"Our guild master was hiding in here! We've finally gotten everyone together, so we ought to take a picture!"

"Go on out. You're the guest of honor today, after all."

"Huh? O-Okay."

An unexpected visitor who had suddenly appeared in the kitchen led Yongman away while he was still hesitating, apparently wanting to say something more.

"All right, everyone! Now that the guild master's here, gather around the banner! Lia and the owner too!"

"No, I'm not a guild member, so I'm fine."

"How can you leave yourself out when you organized the whole thing! Come on, stand with Lia."

I really would be fine without being in it.

More importantly, was it all right for National Intelligence Service employees to have their photographs taken like this?

____________

Some gathered in small groups to run dungeons, while the booth offering lessons(?) on making the paper chains Lia had used for decorations was also a tremendous success.

And so the offline gathering came to an end as the sun began to set.

"I had a wonderful time."

"Whew, I've talked so much today that my mouth's completely dry. Thanks to you, I had a great time."

"Let's get together again sometime if we get the chance."

"Sounds good!"

"I'm glad you enjoyed yourselves. Have a safe trip. Lia, you should say goodbye too."

"Goodbye!"

"All right, goodbye to you too, Lia. Oh, right, I almost forgot. Here, some pocket money from your uncle."

A middle-aged man with a gleaming bald head held out a ten-thousand-won bill to Lia.

"You really don't have to."

"Come now, the child worked so hard today. It's fine to accept something an adult gives you. Go on, take it!"

He didn't look like he would simply let it go if I refused, so I gave Lia a small nod.

Only then did Lia accept the bill with her tiny hands.

"Thank you!"

"Hahaha! Now that's why it's worth giving children pocket money! My son is all grown up and barely reacts anymore."

"That's right. I should pay Lia for her lesson too."

"Oh dear, I only have five-thousand-won bills... Lia, do you happen to have a bank account number?"

"That's far too much money for a child. You don't have to give her anything."

"Here you go!"

Once one person had started, it became difficult to refuse the others.

In the end, everyone insisted on pressing a bill into Lia's hands before getting into their respective cars.

The only people left were Lia, me, and Yongman, who didn't have a car.

"I'll get going too."

"I'll give you a ride to the bus stop."

"Didn't you see me refuse every time just now? I'll walk."

The nearest bus stop was a ten-minute walk away, and even the buses that stopped there ran at intervals of nearly an hour.

But Yongman always insisted on walking alone, just as he did today, waving us away and telling us to go inside because he didn't want the bother of being seen off.

"Shall we go inside too, then?"

"Yes!"

I intended to close early today. Not that it mattered, since everyone who was going to come had already come and gone.

"Is it okay if we have dinner a little late?"

"Yes! I'm full."

So was I.

The only refreshments I had prepared separately were sweet potatoes and potatoes grown with divine power in the vegetable garden.

Their taste was good enough to justify their rather plain appearance, so I hadn't prepared any other dishes.

One might think I would have grown tired of eating them so often, but after picking up a couple whenever I felt like snacking, I was so far from hungry that I could probably skip dinner entirely.

And so, with the coffeehouse finally quiet again after such a long time, there was only one thing left to do.

Laze around.

After showering and changing into comfortable tracksuits, Lia and I gathered again, each bringing something to occupy ourselves.

I had a blanket and my laptop, while Lia's hands were full of banknotes.

"That's right. You got some pocket money, didn't you?"

"Hehe."

Even at a glance, the bills seemed to add up to well over a hundred thousand won.

It was a rather large sum for a young child.

Only then did I briefly recall my own distant childhood.

Like other children my age, any income I received beyond what I was allowed to keep was promptly handed over to the adults.

"I'll give it back when you're older."

"I've put it in your bank account, so you can buy whatever you want later."

There was always some plausible excuse to persuade the child, but the result was the same.

Once my pocket money left my hands, I never got it back. No matter how accurately I remembered the date and amount I had handed over.

At this very moment, I intended to put an end to that bad custom.

Because I knew better than anyone, through bitter experience, that shallow tricks like teaching proper financial habits or encouraging savings didn't work.

"If there's anything you want to buy with that money, just tell me. Okay?"

"Really? Can I buy anything?"

"It's Lia's money, after all."

That was what I said, but Lia wasn't particularly greedy.

Sometimes, when I took her to the supermarket and told her to choose any toy she wanted, she would end up picking some small trinket costing less than twenty thousand won.

I doubted that even if I entrusted Lia with a large sum of money, she would spend it frivolously.

"I guess we should buy you a wallet first."

"I can make one!"

"Hm?"

An unexpected answer came from Lia as she carefully unfolded the bills one by one and arranged them.

"With this!"

"Ah."

What Lia had brought was an origami book.

The section on paper wallets showed a fairly decent finished product that could even hold cards. Of course, it wasn't something that would last very long.

"Do you think you can make it by yourself?"

"I want to try!"

"All right. Tell me if it's difficult. I'll help you."

That was what I said, but even at a glance, it looked a little too difficult for a young child to make.

"Hmm."

Sure enough.

After turning the colored paper and A4 sheets this way and that, Lia's brow began to furrow.

"Is it not working?"

"The money won't fit."

"Let me see. It looks like it should fit."

"I need bigger paper."

It was called a wallet, after all. There was no way money wouldn't fit inside.

The dimensions shown in the instructions were also more than sufficient to hold banknotes. So why did she need bigger paper?

"Paper money fits, but this money Mister Imugi gave me won't fit."

What Lia held in her hand was not money.

It was a Dragon Pearl, shimmering with a brilliant light.

I had no choice but to revoke my resolution never to touch the child's money.

"Lia, let's give this back to him. It's not money. Understand?"

"If it's not money, then what is it?"

"It's something even more important than money."

"Love, right? Big Sister Haedong Divine Maiden said so! She said love is more important than money!"

"Yeah, well, that's true."

He had cherished it for a thousand years, so I supposed it was something resembling love.

No, more importantly, why do these damn monsters keep leaving other things behind instead of paying for their coffee!