Chapter 74

Chapter 74: The Reason Rin Works So Hard

I consumed an additional serving of the royal jelly yogurt ice cream.

The growth stat whose cap randomly increased was Dexterity.

'Dexterity is not bad at all.'

Higher Dexterity improved hand sensitivity, made cooking more precise, and increased speed.

Not a bad stat for a chef.

Beyond that, I had been steadily consuming dishes made with Drake meat ragù sauce to build my stacked Strength and Agility stats.

I was also regularly eating B-Rank vegetables that increased Mana.

As a result, my current stats were:

[STATUS: Strength 70.3 / Agility 89.5 / Dexterity 120 / Mana 152.54 / Stamina 94]

Strength had risen by four, Agility by four, Dexterity by one, Mana by six, and Stamina by one.

Not fast, but steady growth.

I also reviewed my skills.

Blessing of Dexterity, Acresia, Gate portal, Release.

And the enhanced Absorption-derived skills obtained through Devour: Dragon Fear, Ice Nova, and Silent Footsteps.

Unfortunately, I had not obtained an Absorption skill from the Lich.

Perhaps it was because the Lich, despite being an undead monster, had not been a pureblooded monster.

'I have not fed Acresia through Devour even once since the Lich expedition.'

But even if I fed it several Transcendent-Grade monsters, it did not seem like Acresia would reach S-Rank.

I instinctively felt that Acresia's growth was currently capped at A-Grade.

'Still, I can obtain skills through Devour.'

Even if growth was stalled, I wanted to expand my skill set through Devour.

But there were no monsters rare enough for Acresia to Devour.

If I had known this would happen, I should have let Acresia Devour the queen hornet monster.

In any case, since I could not raise Acresia's grade at present, my Third Awakening was far off.

The best method to grow stronger was to eat stat dishes and raise my stats.

'I really do have a strong desire to get stronger.'

During this recent training push to increase growth stats, I had realized my desire for strength was considerable.

I wanted to become strong enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ria, rather than remaining in the position of being protected by her.

'What the Lich said still weighs on my mind too.'

He had said his master would Descend before long.

There was a real need to grow stronger.

To protect my family and the restaurant.

I was also thinking about making the Fourth Floor of the Rift a place where hunters could stay for even longer periods.

'That way, when this so-called master invades, they will fight alongside us.'

I wanted to develop the area around the restaurant, build walls, and fortify it.

A full city was unrealistic, but a village-fortress where hunters could stay long-term seemed possible.

With those thoughts—a desire for strength coupled with various plans—filling my mind.

***

Since the arboretum outing, I had not spent enough quality time with Rin.

So today, instead of the usual lunch service, I handed out boiling water and instant cup noodles to the hunter customers for free, and came home early.

Rin saw me return early and ran over to hug me.

"Seonu's back."

"Rin, are you happy I came home early?"

"Happy."

I took Rin's hand and went for a walk around the house.

How nice it was to have peaceful moments like this.

"The Applecherries were just harvested not long ago, and they're already growing thick again. The harvest cycles keep getting shorter. That must mean you're growing, Rin."

"Rin gwew!"

"Good girl, our Rin."

I stroked Rin's hair.

"Hehe."

Rin smiled happily.

We toured the garden plots as well.

I also watched Rin's Wooden Golem control training.

"Mmph!"

Rin let out a small grunt of effort as she concentrated on moving the Wooden Golem.

The Wooden Golem was as small as Rin herself.

That was the size limit of what Rin could currently animate.

But its movements were remarkably smooth.

"Compared to the very first time, the movement is incomparably smoother."

Ria came up beside me and linked her arm through mine.

"Rin has been practicing every single day without fail. After you leave for work."

"Really?"

"Yeah. She's been working that hard because she wants to be praised by you."

"Rin......"

Ria was diligent, but Rin was just as industrious.

Despite being so young, she seemed to spend more time working or training than playing.

"She's at an age where she should be running around and playing."

"Being praised by you and me is what makes Rin happy. That is her joy. So let's not try to stop her—let's cheer her on."

"All right."

The Wooden Golem Rin was controlling detached a vine from its arm, gripped it by hand, and whipped it like a lash against a boulder.

"Oh, she can do that kind of control now? She really has improved a lot."

"Right? Hehe!"

Thinking back to when she first animated a Wooden Golem and it had crumbled after just a few steps, she truly had come a long way.

The Wooden Golem then dropped the vine whip and punched the boulder with its fist.

THUD!

Not enough to chip the rock, but it made a solid, heavy sound.

"The power is not bad."

"Yeah. Later, when Rin grows and can animate a large Wooden Golem, she'll be able to smash boulders like that with ease."

When Rin was fully grown, she would likely be as powerful as an S-Rank Hunter.

An adult Dryad was said to be at the highest-grade monster level.

Which meant strength equivalent to an S-Rank Hunter.

Rin then lowered the hand she had been using to control the Wooden Golem through the earth's mana.

Simultaneously, the Wooden Golem collapsed into debris.

"Whew......"

Rin exhaled heavily, exhausted.

Then she looked at me.

She seemed to be hoping for praise.

"Great job, Rin. You've really improved so much. You must have worked very hard."

"Rin worked hard."

I walked over to Rin, crouched down, and hugged her.

When praising, one should do it properly.

"I don't know how you always manage to do such heartwarming things. I wonder who she takes after."

Ria smiled brightly and said,

"She takes after you, Seon-u."

I shook my head in denial.

"No, she takes after you, Ria."

She was the spitting image of Ria's diligence.

Then Rin said something she seemed to have learned from Ria.

"Seonu, Ria. I love you."

"......"

A pang in my chest.

My vision blurred as moisture gathered in my eyes.

"I love you too, Rin."

Ria also embraced Rin and said,

"Rin, I love you. Thank you for coming to us."

Rin wore a blissful smile in our arms.

Afterward, I taught Rin Korean myself.

I also made her a sweet health juice by mixing honey and royal jelly, and we spent a joyful time together.

The sun set.

Ria, Rin, and I moved to the countryside house.

There, I turned on the smart TV and put on "Pocket Ping," a popular children's cartoon, for Rin.

Rin watched the screen with utter fascination.

'Look at those wide eyes. Adorable.'

From now on, I planned to bring Rin outside the Rift like this from time to time to help her adapt to the world beyond.

I then checked my phone.

"I have a lot of missed calls from unknown numbers."

Not just calls.

Messages and texts had piled up too.

My phone number must have been leaked again.

I would need to change it soon.

Fortunately, it did not seem to have been exposed online, as there were no contacts from the general public.

Most were advertising inquiries from companies or TV appearance requests.

It had probably only been leaked within broadcasting stations and corporations.

In any case, one text stood out among them.

—Hello, this is PD Sim Yeon-hong from "Leave It to the Fridge." I'm reaching out regarding a casting inquiry for Chef An Seon-u.

"Leave It to the Fridge"......

It was a cooking competition program featuring various famous Korean chefs.

The show that the Executive Chef had been a regular on until two years ago.

'I have no desire to go on TV and attract more attention.'

Being unintentionally famous was already a bit tiresome.

I did not want to become any more well-known.

I had no interest in becoming a celebrity chef to begin with.

'It's not like more customers would flock to my restaurant just because I gained popularity.'

My restaurant was on the Fourth Floor of the Rift, accessible only to specific people.

Reaching it required at minimum a B+-Rank Hunter as a porter in the party.

In fact, the Union Guild from the United States, currently on the Fourth Floor, had brought only A-Rank or above hunters as porters.

So becoming famous would not increase my customer base.

"I've gotten a ridiculous number of casting requests for hunter-related shows too. Mutube channels, terrestrial TV, cable, even from overseas."

"You're popular, Seon-u."

"It's not just me—there are tons of casting requests for you too, Ria."

"Me? Why me?"

"They want you to model for advertisements."

"......I'm not at that level."

"You absolutely are."

My wife was beautiful, after all.

In any case, neither Ria nor I had any intention of appearing on broadcasts.

We simply wanted to enjoy our current happiness and peace.

I then asked Rin, who was glued to the TV.

"Rin, is it fun?"

"It's fuuun."

Seeing how much she enjoyed it, I should bring her out more often.

And watching TV programs would help Rin's Korean improve quickly too.

***

For the first time, Rin, Ria, and I slept together at the countryside house.

It was old and humble compared to the Rift house, but there was a certain romance to laying out a mattress in the living room and sleeping together, the three of us.

The next day, early in the morning, I headed to Director Jang's wine shop with Ria and Rin.

We arrived and parked in the wine shop's private underground lot.

I then used Acresia's Absorption skill to store the car.

'I can just return via Gate portal.'

The current time was 8:50 AM.

The only cars in the underground lot were Director Jang's and mine.

So there was no need to worry about dashcams capturing me absorbing the car into subspace.

It was a small lot with only four spaces, so there were no CCTV cameras either.

Moreover, Director Jang already knew I possessed this kind of skill.

'I need to get back to the Rift house and start preparing for service right away, so I don't have time to drive back.'

Whenever I delivered fruit wine and Glace Mushroom liquor every two weeks, I always drove here.

For the return trip, I always used the Gate portal.

"Hold Rin's hand."

"Okay."

Together with Rin and Ria, we exited the underground lot and opened the door to the wine shop.

"Chef An, welcome......oh......"

Director Jang was utterly surprised to see Ria and Rin.

"My goodness, your wife is here too. And beside her is......"

Rin let go of my hand and bowed politely.

"Hewwo, my name ish Rin."

"Haha, well hello there. What a cute little lady. Nice to meet you. This uncle's name is Jang Benoît."

Ria also greeted Director Jang.

"Hello, Director Jang. My husband has told me so much about you. Thank you for helping him so much."

"Not at all. I'm the one living well thanks to the Chef."

I gestured toward Ria and Rin and said,

"You're well-informed, so I'm sure you know who Ria is. And Rin is like a daughter to Ria and me."

"I see. I had no idea. I never would have guessed you had a child."

Rin, shy around strangers, pressed herself close to Ria.

I then took out the fruit wine and Glace Mushroom liquor I had brought and placed them on the table.

"You've always been curious. About how I could source so many Applecherries."

"Yes, I have been wondering......"

"It's all thanks to Rin."

"Pardon......? What do you mean?"

"Rin is something like a forest spirit. She makes any crop grow rapidly."

Ria removed Rin's beret.

Revealed were the small horn, flower petals, leaves, and teal hair twisted up into buns.

"Could it be......"

"She's a child of a species called Dryad. Essentially a forest spirit."

I told him about Rin.

Including what abilities she possessed.

"Is it really all right to tell me all this?"

Director Jang asked.

"You're a business partner I plan to work with for the long haul."

"That goes without saying."

"Which is exactly why I'm telling you. You've always been curious about where the Applecherries come from."

Director Jang's skills would continue to be invaluable to me.

I absolutely could not let him go.

A lifelong business partner.

So sharing certain secrets served as a token of trust.

"Thank you for telling me. It clears up the mystery. I will never reveal what you've shared to anyone."

"Thank you. And next time, I'll invite you to our Rift home."

"Oh, what an honor! A mere C-Rank Awakened like me, getting to visit the Fourth Floor of the Rift."

Eventually, when I built a building, I planned to operate the ground floor as commercial space.

One shop selling buff-preserved foods targeting hunters.

And if possible, I wanted to have a branch of Director Jang's wine shop there as well.

Ideally, not just a branch but a relocation of his main shop.

Which was why building trust and rapport was all the more necessary.