Chapter 660: Chapter 660

A soft carpet covered the floor, and a large fireplace blazed warmly, filling the room with cozy heat. In the center stood a round dining table, and before a grand window draped with snow-laden branches sat a long sofa that looked invitingly comfortable. It was neither too large nor too small—just the perfect size for what must originally have been a parlor, now serving as a snug dining room.

Mr. Vantes and the other host, Ms. Charlotte Gray, kindly invited us to begin our meal first. They promised to answer our questions afterward. Though we had many curiosities, both were so polite yet resolute that we had no choice but to obediently take seats at the table for breakfast.

If young ones had tried to threaten us, we might have drawn weapons and dueled, but when elders greet you with gentle smiles, what can you do? And after all, one must comply when being offered a meal.

“Here is some warm tea. If you feel any signs of a cold, please let me know. I can prepare a medicine that resists any post-meal poison.”

Mr. Vantes said as he expertly poured tea into our cups. Shortly after, Ms. Gray returned, followed by a line of serving carts. The aroma of food wafted to my nose... wait, is that—

Yerim exclaimed, eyes wide. In front of each of us lay a bowl of steaming white rice, gleaming as if freshly polished. Korean cuisine.

“Rather than individual side dishes, we prepared them all for sharing.”

Ms. Gray set down a long caddy holding tongs, ladle, and scissors. First to appear at the table’s center was a platter of braised short ribs. Beside it lay a roasted smoked duck stuffed into sweet pumpkin, with bowls of doenjang-jjigae and kimchi-jjigae flanking either side. There were various seasoned greens, stir-fried anchovies, spicy dried squid, and three kinds of kimchi. Jellyfish salad, japchae, bulgogi, salted seafood, marinated crab, grilled fish—an endless array. Even Peace received a bowl of monster meat sprinkled with mana stone powder, and finally a serving cart holding the rice pot and rice paddle stood ready, as if to say, “Help yourselves.”

“Goodness... how did they prepare all this already? Master Seong Hyunjae left here only a few hours ago....”

It looked as if every ingredient had been air-freighted from Korea. There were Korean restaurants in France, but this was too authentic. The flight alone would have taken ages. Mr. Vantes answered my unspoken question.

“Upon hearing that the Guildmaster was going to search for you, we departed early with preparations complete. The Guildmaster surely wished to care for both Han Yujin-nim and Song Taewon-nim.” Get full chapters from 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵•𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒•𝙣𝙚𝙩

...Indeed, serving as Seong Hyunjae’s aide was no trivial role. Yet even so.

“Please enjoy your meal.”

Mr. Vantes and Ms. Gray, along with their staff, withdrew en masse, firmly closing the door behind them. Though I felt flustered, the food lay before us.

“I’ll serve you, just in case. They gave us plenty of side plates for a reason.”

Since touching the food would neutralize any poison. I rose and used the tongs and ladle to first place short ribs on a side plate. According to age order, I offered one to Director Song, but he shook his head.

“No, it’s fine. I will serve myself directly.”

“Oh, please don’t do that.”

“Even if there were poison, as an S-Rank, the chance of instant death is minimal. And if you become poisoned, you could receive antidotal assistance.”

“I’d be hurt anyway. There’s no need to tempt fate. Here, the largest rib for you!”

He was the eldest and had suffered much—he should eat well. I set a neatly cross-cut shiitake mushroom next to it.

“I don’t mind sharing a plate with you.”

“Me neither,” Gyeol chimed. “I only eat a little.”

Gyeol used a fork sized for fairy dragons. Yuhyun, having grown up eating from a communal pot, had no qualms. I heaped a mountain of short ribs and bulgogi onto Yerim’s plate.

“Director Song, would you prefer kimchi, doenjang, or both?”

“...I’ll have the kimchi-jjigae with potatoes and ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ tofu, please.”

Director Song hesitated, then spoke frankly. He liked potatoes and tofu. Potatoes and tofu simmered in rich seasoning are delicious.

“I’ll take the doenjang-jjigae! Add lots of tofu and potatoes for me too!”

“Of course. Eat heartily.”

I cradled each rice bowl and small side-dish bowl before returning them. Then I sat and lifted my spoon and chopsticks. Upon biting into the short rib, the meat melted softly in my mouth—tender, not a bit tough. Delicious.

“Uncle, it tastes great with meat and jellyfish salad together.”

Yerim polished off her bowl of rice in an instant. I wondered if we should have invited Mr. Noah along—this was almost too Korean. To ensure they indeed cared for both me and Director Song separately, I noted my egg fry was sunny-side up, while his plate held fresh greens for wraps. His plate, too, emptied swiftly.

“Yuhyun, you must eat plenty. Here you go.”

“Gyeol, should I cut yours into smaller pieces?”

“No, I can eat on my own.”

Gyeol sliced some duck meat with a small knife. As we ate, I couldn’t help but think of Seong Hyunjae. I hoped he was eating well.

“...I still feel sorry toward Seong Hyunjae.”

He must have sensed something and been driven away without knowing the full story. Meanwhile, here I was, happily enjoying this feast. As my hands slowed, Yerim reassured me.

“Master Seong Hyunjae probably doesn’t even care. He knows little of the circumstances. And he likes seeing you eat well.”

“That may be, but....”

“Why not call him later? By now he’d have a new cellphone, and if it’s you, he’ll answer immediately.”

“No, I shouldn’t call. No way.”

It had not even been a full day since we left. If I called, he’d surely say, “Come back, I forgive you.” Then upon seeing me, he’d worry again. Even if I’m warm and well-fed now, next time I face hardship, I’d hesitate.

I still must resolve things with the Crescent Moon, yet I had no answer. Might as well roast a sweet potato by the fireplace.

“Let’s visit the nearby dungeon and survey the situation. By now there may have been changes there.”

We might gather more intelligence on the Crescent Moon. Did the Newcomer notice this so-called wedding? Are we allowed such meddling? That surely warrants protest.

“And I wish we’d sent the children back to Korea first.”

“Not you, Yerim. Though it’d be nice if you went.”

“Not me? Then Peace?”

“When we said ‘children,’ we meant them,” Yerim said, tilting her head as she scooped a third bowl of rice. Eating well is best.

“All right, enough talk.”

I cleared the empty bowls before me and held up a hand. On my palm—

A tiny monster popped out. Yerim jumped up, shouting.

“A new monster? When did you bring him? He’s adorable!”

The little creature darted straight for the braised ribs. I grabbed it, but the round fluff slipped from my hand. Just as it was about to plunge into the rib platter—

Yuhyun snatched it up. The little one squeaked in protest, bristling its tail fur.

“I told you no, hyung.”

“Good boy. Let Papa cut it up for you. Here.”

I placed a chunk of meat in its mouth, and it at last quieted. Truly, it loved to eat. After chewing a bit, it must have found the taste off and set it down, glancing around.

It spotted Gyeol, standing stiffly in confusion.

The little monster grabbed one of Gyeol’s shimmering wings and popped it into its mouth. Though translucent and pink like candy, it was not to be eaten!

“His wing, his wing! Hy—uh, oppa’s wing!”

“Good boy. Not everything pink is candy. Who has candy? Candy!”

Hesitant, Yuhyun retrieved a small glass jar from his inventory containing two pieces of dried fruit. That was still there? The last had been given at least two months ago...

“I’ll make you lots more when we get home. Here, little one. Taste this—it’s sweet.”

I held a piece to its snout. It sniffed, released Gyeol, and eagerly accepted the fruit. Gyeol wobbled down from the table and transformed into human child form. The little monster, watching curiously, then transformed too—agh! Little one!

Clang! The suddenly enlarged child knocked dishes to the floor. Peace, sitting under the table, leapt aside, watching the child. Thankfully, the carpet protected against broken dishes, though the table and floor were a mess. Unfazed, the child bit the remaining dried fruit with satisfaction.

“Wow! It’s like Gyeol? Looks like you’re related!”

The child spoke to Gyeol, then waved its hand.

“Hey there. So—Gyeol oppa. I’m Han-gyeol.”

“I’m your aunt! Aunt Yerim! Are you a girl? Really?”

Yerim bounced excitedly. Gyeol looked shy. The child stared at its empty hands, then fixed its gaze on Yuhyun. With that pleading look, Yuhyun couldn’t help but offer the remaining fruit. My little sibling, so kind.

Perhaps maintaining human form was hard—or it wanted to savor the fruit—because the child reverted to small monster form. Yerim gazed spellbound as it held the fruit with its forepaws, contentedly nibbling.

“You haven’t named him yet, have you?”

“For now, we just call him ‘Little One.’”

“It should be a human-style name like Gyeol’s. He’s so cute. We must buy him clothes.”

“Gyeol will treat him well, too.”

Gyeol seemed about to say something, then hesitated.

“Come to think of it, I should give Gyeol an allowance. Regularly.”

“Of course. Even New Year’s lucky money.”

He wanted to buy something for his sibling too—a one-time gift wasn’t enough. Now that Gyeol’s human form was known, we should fabricate a backstory: a distant relative of the Sesung Guildmaster who awakened after losing his parents, with a monster-related ability, thus placed under Dodam’s protection. That should suffice.

The child, having no fruit left, tugged my hand as if to go inside. I ushered him in, and Yerim, disappointed at missing the chance to pet him, sighed deeply.

“If he receives a proper name, he’ll stay out more. We’ve been keeping him unnamed for safety.”

“You mustn’t name him alone, Uncle! But he really loves to eat.”

“He probably didn’t eat well... before I brought him here.”

Those wretches surely hadn’t cared for him properly. Monster meat and mana stones are expensive; they’d feed him only enough to survive. If he feasts now, his appetite will naturally diminish.

Director Song, who had silently observed the chaos, spoke.

“There’s another, but I don’t think he can come out yet.”

“Since sending him separately to Korea is difficult, please defer naming for now. If Han Yujin-nim returns with us, that would be fine.”

“No need. We’re taking our time naming him. How about you, Gyeol?”

“I’m not going, Dad.”

Gyeol, who had whined like a child, suddenly straightened and spoke with resolve.

After acting childish, he now sounded grown-up upon seeing his little brother. How endearing.

“All right. I worry about sending him alone. Let’s finish up and go home together.”

Gyeol returned to fairy-dragon form. After Yerim finished her meal, she pressed the call bell. Staff hurried in to clear the table and bring dessert. Yerim and Gyeol sneakily pocketed cookies and chocolates. Seeing Gyeol struggle to carry two enormous chocolates, I handed him the empty fruit jar.

“Auntie will keep these for you.”

The jar filled with treats. As we finished our chilled drinks, Mr. Vantes and Ms. Gray reappeared.

“There is a car and a helicopter available.”

“We’ll take the car, please. And why are you still here? Where is the Sesung Guildmaster?”

“He commanded us to attend to Han Yujin-nim and Song Taewon-nim’s meals and comfort here.”

That explained the hospitality, but still...

“...I understand this is the mansion of those who kidnapped the Guildmaster.”

I glanced at Ms. Gray. We were in league with the kidnappers—wasn’t that odd?

“It is so, but there is no problem.”

Ms. Gray spoke in Mr. Vantes’s stead, smiling gently as she continued.

“Our mistress also said she wished you to be well received, should you desire. Since our objectives align, it was only natural we cooperate.”

...Even so. It’s one thing for rivals to join forces sometimes, but this felt too sudden.

“Who is this mistress? It can’t be Miss Mari.”

“You have already met Han Yujin-nim.”

Marisa Moore... I’d heard the name. The British Association? Then—

‘...I was invited to Seong Hyunjae’s wedding?’

I’d thought it was some stranger’s wedding invitation, but it was someone I knew! And that someone—She was Park Ha-yul’s sister, Mari’s mother, almost Seong Hyunjae’s mother-in-law? She’d seemed just a kindly woman, nothing more. Yet really.