Chapter 54

Chapter 54: Lady Rin, It Is Time for Your Health Juice

Starting the next day, Ria and Ruina began walking the outskirts of the forest together, preparing for the Barrier installation.

'The materials needed are one Highest-Grade Magic Stone and twenty High-Grade Magic Stones......'

Installing the Barrier required Magic Stones worth over 400 million won.

Of course, those were not my Magic Stones — they were using ones the knight order group had collected.

The Highest-Grade Magic Stone inscribed with the Barrier formula served as the core and was mounted on a pole installed in the house yard, while the High-Grade Magic Stones were hidden on tree trunks throughout the forest on all sides.

Before activating the Barrier in the house yard, Ruina explained how it worked.

"When the Barrier is activated, any Monster or person that intrudes will lose all their senses, become disoriented, and ultimately be guided back out of the forest."

What a fascinating method.

But I had a few questions.

"Is there any chance someone might wander through the forest and accidentally find their way here?"

"There is. Someone with extraordinary Presence Detection like Lady Ria, capable of breaking through the Barrier, or a mage at my level or above could manage it. That is why I plan to install an additional protective-type Barrier around the house, just in case."

"A two-layer security system, then."

"Exactly. If a Monster or person attempts to intrude by breaking through the first-layer Barrier and tries to breach the second-layer protective Barrier, it will buy us time to respond. Furthermore, I also plan to install trap-type magical devices and magical turrets that attack intruders in the future."

"You can do that too?"

"Yes, that is the power of magical engineering."

An automated defense system through magical engineering.

She seemed intent on turning this place into an impregnable fortress.

'Ria, you were going to just send someone this capable away?'

Living in a Rift was great in every way except for one drawback.

That was the fact that you never knew when Monsters might attack.

Having Bell around had at least kept us safe from threats.

But according to Ria, there were occasionally Monsters that Presence Detection could not pick up.

'That is why we have always been living with a certain level of risk.'

But thanks to the capable mage Ruina, it seemed like the biggest drawback of the Rift house was about to be eliminated.

"Then, Lady Ria, I will activate the Barrier."

Ria, standing beside me, nodded.

"Go ahead, Ruina."

"Yes."

Ruina closed her eyes and began chanting in the Ancient Language toward the Highest-Grade Magic Stone mounted on the pole.

Blue mana swirled around her like electrical currents.

'The blue mana goes well with Ruina's blue hair.'

The Highest-Grade Magic Stone on the pole then rippled with intense mana, and a blue light shot into the sky.

At a certain point, it spread out in a dome shape.

Through the Magic Stones installed on all sides, it would have crystallized into a Barrier that covered the forest.

Ruina, having cast the Barrier magic, pulled out a handkerchief and wiped away the cold sweat.

It must have been a task that consumed a considerable amount of mana.

"The Barrier has been successfully deployed."

"Good work, Ruina."

"Thank you for your hard work."

Ruina then held out several Mid-Grade Magic Stones inscribed with ancient language to us.

"Possessing one of these will allow you to pass freely through the Barrier."

"A key of sorts, then. In that case, we should have these made into accessories to carry with us."

"That is correct."

I would need to give one each to Rin and Bell as well.

"Ria, what kind of accessory do you want yours to be?"

"Hmm, I am not sure. A ring?"

A ring......

"How about a necklace?"

"A necklace would be nice too."

"Then let me take these to a jeweler and have them made into necklaces. Rin, which one do you like?"

I lowered myself and pointed to my wrist and the area below my neck.

Rin, understanding remarkably well, pointed to her own wrist.

"A bracelet? Got it."

Bell had no choice in the matter.

There was only one place where he could wear something.

It would have to be attached to his identification tag necklace.

Recently, there had been a boom in Magic Stone accessories even among ordinary civilians.

Magic Stones had a luminous brilliance similar to gemstones, making them suitable as gemstone substitutes.

Additionally, research results had shown that possessing one slightly reduced the absorption of natural background radiation.

After the Rift crisis, natural background radiation levels had doubled worldwide.

In Korea, the national average for natural background radiation had been below 0.1 microSieverts per hour, which was within normal levels.

After the Rift crisis, it had risen to roughly 0.2 microSieverts per hour — more than double.

Even with the doubling, it was by no means at a level that would impact health.

Even so, demand for Magic Stone accessories had surged due to health anxiety.

'Thanks to that, the forecast is that Magic Stone prices will rise even further.'

Mana suppressed radiation absorption.

That was why Hunters could operate freely within Rifts.

However, E-Rank and F-Rank Hunters with low mana reserves could be affected, so they were warned against staying in Rifts for extended periods.

Anyway.

'When I go to look at rings, I should also get the Magic Stone accessories made.'

***

I went to take care of another task.

That task was.

'Relocating the Horn Rabbits.'

I had been taming the Horn Rabbits long enough.

I judged that it was now safe to bring them over.

When I arrived at the ice cave Boss Room through the Gate portal, the Horn Rabbits came swarming over demanding food.

"This is your last meal here."

I took out B-Rank vegetables from Acresia and scattered them generously.

The Horn Rabbits ate happily.

"Behave yourselves when you get there and let us get along well."

I stroked each of their heads and backs one by one.

They were all accustomed to my touch now and stayed docile.

Once they finished eating, I opened a Gate portal toward the northern forest on the outskirts of the Rift.

The destination was inside the Horn Rabbit enclosure.

"Go in."

They could not understand my words, so they just stared blankly at me.

It could not be helped.

I carried them through the portal one at a time.

After moving four of them, the rest started leaping into the portal on their own.

'They are small, but the mana consumption is considerable......'

At the tenth one, I blocked the portal entrance with my body.

"I will come back in a few hours to move the rest. Wait a little longer."

"Squeak?"

"Squeal!"

Leaving eleven Horn Rabbits behind, I stepped through the portal.

On the other side, the ten Horn Rabbits that had gone through first were looking around curiously.

"Not bad, right? It is a forest, and it is much more spacious than the cave."

They began wandering around and looking everywhere.

But they only explored — they did not try to break or escape through the triple-layered wire fencing.

I suspected it was because they had already learned from being confined in the cave.

In any case, they seemed like they would adapt well here.

One person approached the wire fence.

It was the bowl-cut Benny.

He asked from outside the fence.

"Sir Seon-u, are you raising these?"

"That is right."

"You managed to tame ferocious Horn Rabbits. That is impressive. May I go inside as well?"

"Sure, go ahead. They probably will not attack."

"All right."

Benny opened the fence gate and entered.

The Horn Rabbits were wary of the stranger entering.

But they did not attack.

"They are still wary of unfamiliar people."

"It is fascinating that they are only being cautious without attacking. How did you tame them?"

"I tamed them with delicious food and fear."

"Fear? Ah, I see."

Benny clapped his hands in understanding with an innocent, childlike expression.

His manner of speaking was gentle, and his build was small — it was hard to believe someone like this was a knight order officer and a swordsmanship genius.

I would not have believed it if Ria had not told me.

'Then again, Ria does not look strong on the outside either.'

Ria's swordsmanship focused on swiftness.

That was why, according to Ria, she had deliberately not built up muscle mass.

She had lean, streamlined muscles like a lightweight boxer.

Benny then said.

"Sir Seon-u, would it be possible to entrust me with looking after these animals?"

"You, Benny?"

"Yes, everyone else has found a way to avoid being a burden to Lady Ria and Sir Seon-u and is doing something, but I am the only one who has not found a role yet."

"I see."

After all, those who do not work should not eat either.

The Sword Saint's group had paid me Magic Stones for their meals even while they were working.

Though I had provided one or two of the three daily meals for free.

"All right. There is not much to do — just get graded vegetables from Ria and feed them to the Horn Rabbits. And clean up when there is too much rabbit droppings everywhere. The first priority is eliminating their wariness toward you."

"Understood. In that case......!"

Benny then drew his sword.

Why the sword......?

"Since you said you tamed them with food and fear......!"

He then unleashed powerful mana outward.

It was like a storm of mana.

It did not match Ria's level, but it was an incredibly powerful aura of mana.

On top of that, he took a step toward the Horn Rabbits and released intense Murderous Intent.

'He is smiling with that innocent face while emitting Murderous Intent......'

Which made it all the more terrifying.

The Horn Rabbits began trembling violently in Benny's direction.

When he took one more step closer, they pressed flat against the ground.

Only then did Benny withdraw his mana and Murderous Intent.

He lowered himself and gently stroked the head of a trembling Horn Rabbit.

"Just as you said, Sir Seon-u, fear works well on them. I think it is because you conditioned them beforehand. Haha!"

"Indeed. Haha......!"

As expected, one should never judge a person by their face.

He was a scary person after all.

About two hours later, after recovering my mana to a reasonable level, I headed to the ice cave and brought back all the remaining Horn Rabbits.

Benny then injected another round of fear to continue taming them.

"Once they start following you to some degree, it will be more effective to tame them with carrots rather than the whip."

"Understood!"

***

Benny managed the Horn Rabbits while also helping Ria with her work in his spare time.

Ruina threw herself into installing the second protective-type Barrier.

Even so, she also helped with housework, truly working like an attendant.

Her manner of treating Rin was particularly impressive.

"Lady Rin, it is time for your Health Juice."

She brought a glass of Health Juice with a straw to Rin, who had been resting on the Wooden Platform Bench after helping an Applecherry tree grow.

"Thank you."

Rin received the cup with both hands and happily drank the Health Juice through the straw.

While Rin drank it all, Ruina stood beside her holding a tray with her head slightly bowed.

It was a sight reminiscent of an attendant serving a young noblewoman.

'She must be thinking of Rin as Ria's daughter and intending to serve her with the utmost care.'

Her resolve to become an attendant was evident.

She even hesitantly tried calling me "Master," which startled me so much that I begged her not to do that.

I told her that "Sir Seon-u" was more than sufficient.

Ruina agreed, then made one request of me.

"Sir Seon-u, could you purchase an attendant's uniform for me?"

"That would not be difficult......, but would plain clothes not be fine?"

"This is my dream. Please, I beg of you."

"Hmm......, all right."

So I just needed to buy her a maid's outfit, essentially.

Not a cosplay kind, but the type that real attendants of old would have worn.

'I should not go buy this in person — I will order it online.'

To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.

In any case, Benny and Ruina had both taken on roles and begun working.

Neville was holed up in his tent drawing blueprints for the house he intended to build.

I promised to procure large quantities of lumber for him.

'If we cut down trees here, Rin would notice and be upset.'

Disliking the destruction of forests was a Dryad's instinct.

Dryads, who normally would never attack a person first, would apparently attack if their forest was damaged.

So I had looked up several companies that sold logs.

I planned to order as much as Neville needed.

Vice Commander Garrett patrolled the forest outskirts regularly with Bell and also helped with Ria's farming.

It was now the sixth day since their arrival.

Each of them had found their own role and was settling in well.

***

I headed out.

Once again, I went out alone, leaving Ria behind.

The reason was that I planned to visit a jeweler.

That was one reason, but there was another.

'Rin has not fully adjusted to the four newcomers yet, so either Ria or I needs to stay by her side.'

It looked like a little more time was needed.

While driving, I got caught at a red light.

I checked my current bank balance on my phone app.

'400 million won.'

The Magic Stones from selling food to the Follow-Up Expedition had not yet been exchanged for cash.

The current balance was my existing savings plus the amount from selling the fruit wine.

I had made appointments at three of the finest jewelers in Gangnam.

I planned to visit all three.

I arrived at the first shop, and the employee asked.

"Sir, you mentioned you are here to look at proposal rings."

"Yes, that is correct."

"These days, most people use lab-grown diamond rings of 3 carats or more for proposals."

"Lab-grown diamonds are synthetic diamonds made in a laboratory, are they not?"

With advances in technology, it had become nearly impossible to distinguish natural diamonds from lab-grown diamonds with the naked eye.

But since I was buying one, I wanted it to be a natural diamond.

"That is correct. Are you looking for a natural diamond ring?"

"Yes, 3 carats or more."

The employee's eyes sparkled.

A natural diamond ring of 3 carats or more started at a minimum of 45 million won.