Chapter 100

Chapter 100: A Tiny Life Force Felt Within Ria's Belly

I spoke with Director Jeong Jae-yong on the phone and explained the incident with the WPA.

I was informing him so he could prepare for the enormous fallout that would follow.

-Haha...... the WPA, of all groups. You have gotten entangled with a very troublesome organization.

"It has come to that. It may cause headaches for the Rift Management Bureau as well. My apologies in advance."

The WPA was an alliance connected to numerous countries across North and South America, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and beyond.

This incident would undoubtedly damage the WPA's reputation, and it would become a global issue.

-You are the victim here, Seon-u. Why apologize? In any case, as you say, there may be complications. But I am actually in a good mood.

"Why is that?"

-Hahaha! The forces led by you and Ria just crushed the world's most powerful alliance. As the Rift Management Bureau Director, how could I not be in good spirits?

Director Jeong was always refreshingly candid with his feelings.

That was what made him easy to deal with.

-Incidents like this may continue to occur in the future.

"Most likely."

-Which brings me to something I have been meaning to discuss......

He seemed to hesitate.

"Please speak freely. Ria and I owe you so much."

He had actively intervened on our behalf during the conflict with the Hunter Association.

He had made it possible for us to take Rin outside the Rift comfortably.

And by facilitating Ria's naturalization, he had made our marriage possible.

Having received so much help, it was only right to give back.

-Well, I was wondering how you would feel about the Korean Rift Management Bureau establishing a branch office at the Fourth Floor outpost.

"A Rift Management Bureau branch?"

-Yes. A branch office would serve as a deterrent against disputes between factions, and I believe it could assist you in various ways, Seon-u.

"Ah...... I actually saw a news article about Russia and China planning to establish bureau branch offices at their respective Second Floor outposts."

-That is correct. Those two countries have been plagued by frequent disputes and incidents among their Hunters, so they are establishing branch offices within their own outposts to reduce conflicts.

Indeed — Hunters from Africa, the Middle East, Russia, and China reportedly had an exceptionally high incidence of incidents.

Africa and the Middle East in particular often lacked Rift Management Bureaus or Hunter Associations entirely, making them truly lawless zones.

'I do get anxious whenever African or Middle Eastern guilds show up on the Fourth Floor.'

In fact, about a month ago, an internal dispute within a Middle Eastern guild at the Fourth Floor outpost had resulted in a fatality.

And not long before that, two guilds nearly clashed late at night — a confrontation that the Sword Saint, who was on guard duty that evening, had to break up.

There had been plenty of smaller scuffles as well.

'A Rift Management Bureau branch would definitely reduce those incidents.'

While I was thinking exactly that, the Director added,

-Even with a branch established, the actual governance of the outpost would remain entirely under the authority of you and Ria. I simply want to raise the Korean Rift Management Bureau's standing by establishing a branch on the Fourth Floor, while also providing support to you in various ways.

I appreciated his honesty.

Having a Korean Rift Management Bureau branch at the outpost would certainly be an achievement that bureaus worldwide would envy.

"Let us do it."

-You are granting permission?

"Of course. Having a branch here would not be bad for me either. However, I do have one condition."

-What condition?

"Please staff the branch exclusively with government Hunter employees whom you personally trust and have confidence in, Director. People who can keep their mouths shut."

-Understood. Does that mean......?

"Yes, as you are already aware, I possess the ability to travel to and from the Fourth Floor of the Rift. So I will commute the government Hunter employees to and from the Fourth Floor outpost."

-You would go that far? I truly appreciate it. My original plan was to have them accompany domestic guilds heading to the Fourth Floor and rotate them on three-month shifts.

"That would be too hard on the government employees."

-Indeed. There would also be supply issues for food and necessities.

In the past, I would never have agreed to such a request.

Back then, my trust in the Rift Management Bureau had not been fully established.

But now that I could trust Director Jeong and his senior staff, I was comfortable revealing my abilities to a certain extent.

'Besides, the fact that I have Rift-travel abilities is already an open secret among those in the know.'

I had simply never officially confirmed it.

Because I did not want to attract people trying to exploit me.

'Like the WPA.'

I did not know their true ulterior motive for trying to recruit me.

But their intentions were clearly not good.

"Oh, and I will build the branch office myself."

-Pardon? Are you planning to use mobile housing units again?

"No. I have construction specialists."

-Ah, the dwarves who came from another world.

"Correct."

-Still, the costs should at least partially come from the Bureau's budget......

"It is fine. Please consider it repayment for everything you have done for Ria and me."

-Understood. Seon-u...... I truly am grateful.

"Not at all. We can discuss the details going forward."

-Understood.

After the call ended, I headed to the Rift house.

Today was an important day.

***

Today was Ria's birthday by the Continent of Bellinta's calendar.

In Earth time, it fell on March 14th.

'Her birthday is on White Day, no less.'

So I wrapped up the lunch service early.

I returned home and began party preparations.

I was hard at work making the food for the evening party.

Ria came over and hugged me from behind as I cooked.

"Seon-u, can I not help?"

"The guest of honor should rest."

"I want to help, though...... all right."

Today, my kitchen assistant was not Ria but Ruina.

She both helped and hindered the cooking process.

"Lady Ria's birthday, Lady Ria's birthday!"

She kept chanting beside me, making it hard to concentrate.

"Ruina, why are you so excited?"

"Of course I am excited. It is Lady Ria's birthday. Hehe!"

"You really care about her that much?"

"Of course. She is my master, my benefactor, and my one and only childhood friend. I would give my life for Lady Ria without a second thought."

"I see......"

Now I felt a bit guilty.

Someone she cherished that much had married a guy like me.

"Did you resent me?"

"You, Seon-u? Why would I?"

"Because some thief of a man sweet-talked your precious friend and snatched her away."

"Pfft! Honestly, before you two married, when I first saw you, I did resent you quite a bit. I did not know what kind of person you were, and frankly, I thought our Lady Ria was waaay too good for you."

"I will not argue with that."

"But after attending to you both up close, I realized you are a good person. And above all, seeing how happy Lady Ria is — I had no choice but to accept it. Now I truly think you two are a perfect match. I guarantee it. So have confidence."

"Thank you, Ruina. You are doing an excellent job as a lady-in-waiting too."

"Really? Hehe! That makes me happy."

Then I sensed someone behind me.

Ria was there, cheeks slightly puffed.

"You two chatting without me. I want to help and gossip too."

Ruina laughed at the sight.

"Lady Ria, you are so adorable!"

"I am not adorable at all."

"Hehe! Honestly, if this were the old days, I never could have imagined Lady Ria making a face like that. You have really softened since meeting Seon-u."

"Have I? I suppose it is because I feel so at ease. I find myself acting spoiled around my husband for no reason. Ruina, you should find someone you love and get married someday too. I bet you would be the same."

"Even so, I will never marry. I intend to serve and protect your family for the rest of my life. Including your future children."

Poor Eriksson.

Ruina seemed like a lost cause for him.

Recently, Eriksson had been staring blankly at Ruina with increasing frequency.

We continued chatting as we prepared the various dishes.

The main courses were beef Wellington, roast chicken, salmon steak, pasta, and pizza.

Plus the richly aromatic Indian-style British curry that Ria had recently taken a liking to.

Four types of salad, including Caesar and Caprese.

For dessert, I prepared multiple varieties of cake, macarons, honeybee honey ice cream, and more.

For drinks, I prepared vin chaud and a wine made from dungeon wild grapes by Director Jang at the wine shop.

With all the food preparation complete, I set everything on the table arranged outdoors.

Ria smiled at the spread.

"You really went all out. And you barely had any time."

"I have been preparing bit by bit since yesterday."

"My birthday is not that big a deal......"

"Of course it is. It is the day the person I love was born."

"......"

Ria's eyes glistened with moisture.

She was already getting emotional before things had even started.

And this was just the beginning.

Shortly after, the knight quartet, the S-Rank trio, the three kitchen and floor staff, and Maxim — representing the Eckard family — all gathered.

Everyone had their hands behind their backs.

'Hiding their presents, I assume.'

And then —

"Woof!"

Like a scene from a fairy tale, Rin appeared riding on Bell's back.

In Rin's hands was a beautiful flower crown.

Rin stood before Ria and me, then waved her arms at me.

"Seon-u."

Meaning: pick me up.

I held Rin by the sides and lifted her toward Ria.

Ria asked Rin,

"Oh my, how pretty. Did you make this flower crown yourself, Rin? Is it for me?"

"Yep. Rin made a present for Ria."

"Rin......"

Rin placed the flower crown on Ria's head herself.

It complemented Ria's silver hair beautifully.

"Thank you, Rin......"

Ria answered with a kiss on Rin's cheek.

"Hehe! That tickles."

Rin was overjoyed.

Ria wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

There was moisture on it.

Everyone then presented the gifts they had prepared.

"You all did not have to......"

I stuck candles into the cake I had made myself, lit them, and held it up.

Ruina clapped to set the beat, and everyone sang happy birthday.

"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear wife."

"Dear Commander Ria."

"Esteemed Commander."

Everyone, myself included, added their own form of address as they sang.

"Happy birthday to you."

When the song ended, I said to Ria,

"Ria, blow hard."

"Okay......! Whooo!"

All the candles went out.

I then presented the gifts I had prepared.

Sapphire earrings that complemented Ria's silver hair.

And a new sword for Ria — crafted by commissioning Artisan Oh Cheon-seok to procure an ultra-expensive special mineral, then having Dwarf Maxim forge it.

"......Is this mine?"

"Yes, it is yours."

Ria's existing sword had accumulated many chips.

And according to Maxim, the material of her old sword was not particularly high quality.

The sword I gifted her, however, was forged from a base of rederterium — a white ore.

'The rederterium ore alone cost 400 million won.'

Ria drew the sword from its scabbard.

The pristine white blade revealed its form.

"Wow......"

Even Ria was awestruck by the beauty of the blade.

"It is so beautiful. And it is exactly the same size as the sword I have been using."

"I specifically asked Sir Maxim to forge it to the exact dimensions of your old sword."

"......I see. Thank you. I will treasure it."

"No — I made it to be used, not treasured. Use it without hesitation."

"Even so...... it feels too precious."

"I will make you another one later."

As expected, Ria was happier with the new sword than the earrings.

She Released Aura into the air to test it.

"It is definitely smoother and sharper. A fine sword."

I was glad she was satisfied.

To kick off the party, we raised glasses of the homemade vin chaud and toasted.

Then the eating began.

"Eat plenty, Ria."

"I will."

Ria sampled the various dishes I had prepared.

After eating the rich main courses, she reached for the spicy Indian-style British curry.

Ria's brow furrowed.

What was wrong? Was the aroma too strong?

It should have tasted similar to the curries she had enjoyed before.

"Urgh!"

She dry-heaved.

All eyes turned to Ria.

"Could it be......?"

"Could it......?"

Could it be — was it what I thought?

I quickly removed the curry bowl from in front of Ria.

I asked her,

"Ria, could you be......?"

Her eyes widened at my question.

"Huh? Now that you mention it, I have not had my period for a while...... hold on."

Ria closed her eyes, placed her hand on her belly, and circulated Mana through her body.

A moment later.

Ria opened her eyes.

With reddened eyes, she looked at me, smiled, and nodded.

"I can feel a tiny life force...... inside my belly."