Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Learning Kung Fu

[You acquire 200 Lowest-Grade Magic Stones and 10 Low-Grade Magic Stones as the clear reward!]

[You acquire 1,000 Lowest-Grade Magic Stones and 50 Low-Grade Magic Stones as the First Destruction Bonus!]

[You acquire ‘Miniature Watcher’ as an additional reward!]

I had been looking at it without thinking much, only to freeze on the spot.

After about ten seconds passed.

I cautiously rubbed my eyes.

Please let this not be a dream.

If it was a dream, I might shed tears like that Kung-du demon had earlier.

‘It’s real.’

A hollow laugh escaped me.

1,200 Lowest-Grade Magic Stones and 60 Low-Grade Magic Stones.

Lowest-Grade Magic Stones were 30,000 won each, and Low-Grade Magic Stones were 200,000 won each, so the total came to 48 million won.

I swept my hair back and exhaled.

This Labyrinth cash farming was absurd.

When the Watcher had first appeared, I had been afraid, thinking I could die at the slightest misstep in this insane Labyrinth.

That fear vanished all at once.

As expected, the best treatment of all was financial therapy.

‘I’ll be able to pay down quite a bit of the principal too, not just the interest.’

I clenched both fists once more, then gathered up the Magic Stones.

Then I examined the Miniature Watcher, the additional reward.

[Miniature Watcher / Grade: Unique / Installation-Type Item]

It is the miniature version of the Watcher.

It activates once installed and a detection target has been set.

Like the Watcher, it fires a miniature laser at moving objects.

I tried placing it on my shoulder.

BEEP!

[This is a terrain-type installation item! It cannot be installed on a living being’s body! For safety, please install it somewhere with firm, stable ground!]

I nodded at the kind explanation.

It seemed I could use it for traps or area defense.

‘I want to try it once.’

I turned my head toward the place where I felt a burning gaze.

Aris was drooling, perhaps because she had seen me collecting the Magic Stones.

Why did Pavlov’s dog come to mind?

“Aris. Do you want to move around a bit?”

As soon as I finished speaking, Aris’s eyes shook violently.

On this floor, she had learned one important thing.

That human, Ryu Jin.

He would demand outrageous things in an utterly calm tone, as if they were nothing.

Then the Miniature Watcher entered her sight.

‘He isn’t human.’

Ryu Jin burst into a faint laugh at Aris, who was trembling.

“I’m joking. Come here and eat some Magic Stones.”

I took Magic Stones out of my bag.

Aris came running as if she had been waiting.

As soon as the Magic Stones were placed in her hands, disappointment spread across her face.

Since he had obtained so many, she had thought he would give her more than last time, but there were only thirty... Ah?!

Aris’s eyes widened as she realized something.

“L-Low-Grade Magic Stooones?!”

“Eat something good.”

“Thank you! Boss!! I’ll enjoy them!!”

Perhaps they were even tastier, because unlike before, Aris savored them as she ate.

GRRRRRUMBLE!!!

Had even three seconds passed since I began watching her mukbang?

A thunderous sound rang out.

Poporu, the Demon of Kung Fu, was in the corner, drooling.

“There is no need to mind me, du. Martial artists are hungry by nature. I can endure it, du.”

“Got it. Then Aris, eat all—”

“Wait, du!!”

Poporu came pattering over and clung to my leg.

He looked like he was about to cry again, so I quickly picked out 30 Low-Grade Magic Stones.

DUAAAAAAAGH!!!

Poporu inhaled the Magic Stones while letting out a bizarre scream.

When it came to reactions, he was even more dramatic than Aris.

DING!

[The Demon of the Evil Eye, Aris di Carsia, has consumed Magic Stones!]

[Aris di Carsia leveled up!]

[Aris di Carsia leveled up!]

.

.

.

[Level 15 achieved!]

[The level of the Unique Trait Evil Eye has increased! Current Level: LV3]

The additional Evil Eye ability ‘Motion Detection’ has been unlocked!

It analyzes the target’s movements and infers their next action!

It activates only when the target is fully within sight!

DING!

[Magic Stones of decent quality have been consumed! A portion of Aris’s memories is restored!]

Was it because I had fed her Low-Grade Magic Stones?

A message I had not seen before appeared.

Come to think of it, whenever I asked Aris about the past, she had only given vague answers like, “I’m not sure?” or “Did that happen?”

I had thought she simply did not want to talk about it, but it seemed her memories had also been sealed along with her abilities.

[The Demon of Kung Fu, Poporu, has consumed Magic Stones!]

[Poporu leveled up!]

[Poporu leveled up!]

.

.

.

[Level 10 achieved!]

[The level of the Unique Trait Kung Fu has increased! Current Level: LV2]

You can use the fundamentals of Kung Fu!

You can use the flower of Kung Fu, ‘One-Inch Punch’!

[New Unique Trait ‘Physical Training’ acquired! Current Level: LV1]

For a martial artist, training must be done as naturally as breathing!

Muscle growth through training is accelerated!

[Magic Stones of decent quality have been consumed! A portion of Poporu’s memories is restored!]

‘Oho.’

To think he had even acquired a new Unique Trait.

He was a different type from Aris, who was all-in on Evil Eye.

[The abilities of Poporu, the Demon of Kung Fu, are shared with his master, Ryu Jin!]

The sharing process was different as well.

Unlike Evil Eye, which had naturally awakened and shown me information, knowledge poured straight into my head.

The fundamental movements and theories of Kung Fu, which I had never learned before.

Only after I closed my eyes and took it all in for a long while did the infusion of information end.

I opened my eyes and looked down at my hands.

It was not merely something I had learned in my head.

My body remembered the movements as if I had practiced them for a long time.

I had never thrown a proper punch in my life, so it was a strange sensation.

Squish. Squiish. Squish-squish.

At the soft pressure I felt, I lowered my gaze.

Kung-du Poporu was circling around, pressing my body with his front flippers.

“Mm! Excellent, du! The Kung Fu has settled in properly, du! But why is your body so soft, du?”

Poporu climbed up my body and pressed my shoulders, biceps, and triceps in turn.

“My lord, du.”

“Yeah?”

“How many hours a day do you train, du? Your body is practically at a newborn’s level, du.”

“I don’t train at all.”

“Duu...!?”

Poporu’s eyes shook violently.

He did not say it aloud, but it felt as if I could hear his inner thoughts.

There is a human in this world who does not train?! Is that something a person should do?!

“There is no need to worry at all, du.”

I had not been worried.

“From now on, I am here, du.”

Where had he pulled it from?

Poporu tied a long strip of cloth around his plump forehead.

“Training begins now, du...!!”

With his arms crossed, Poporu spoke solemnly, sternly, and with great dignity.

Perhaps because he was so plump, the seriousness did not quite come through, but in any case.

‘Nice.’

I thought it had worked out well.

This was after I had heard that Kronos was searching for the Labyrinth Destroyer.

The chances of them finding me were extremely low, but one never knew what might happen in the world.

It was unsettling to become stronger only inside the Labyrinth.

I needed to prepare.

So that even if a truly extreme situation unfolded, I could smash my way through it and escape.

“I’m counting on you, Kung-du.”

Poporu stuck out a plump thumb.

Perhaps because his Disposition included loyalty, he was an extremely reliable friend.

“Boss! Let’s get out of here already! There is too much dust here, and the stale smell is no joke either!”

I looked around the Personal Lobby.

It certainly was not a good place to stay for long.

After finishing the tax settings for Basement Floor 2, I thought for a moment, then opened the Labyrinth Tab.

Options lined up before my eyes.

The Magic Stone cost was written for each option.

The additional functions further below still had not been unlocked, so I chose the one that looked the most cost-effective among the available options.

[You have selected full cleaning and air purification for the Personal Lobby!]

[500 Lowest-Grade Magic Stones are consumed!]

They said money that came easily was spent easily.

A corner of my chest ached at the 15 million won melting away.

But the result was satisfactory.

“Wow!!”

The cobwebs and mold spread throughout the place disappeared in an instant.

The air entering my nose also became much fresher.

The dust that had been making me sneeze had long since vanished.

It was still empty and desolate because there was nothing inside, but it was far better than before.

I had no intention of spending more Magic Stones, but I examined the options a little further.

What did I need next?

Something cost-effective.

‘This is it.’

Import caught my eye.

Small items were free, but if something was bulky or highly valuable, I had to spend Magic Stones to bring it into the Personal Lobby.

Sleeping here right now was impossible, but in the long term, I planned to bring in a bed, bedding, and a large stockpile of emergency food.

Because if an emergency occurred, I might have to hole up here.

In other words, it was my evacuation bunker.

“Ughhh.”

After closing the tab, I stretched.

My eyes stung from fatigue, and my whole body ached.

Three Labyrinth floors in a row. I had pushed myself far too hard.

I looked at Aris and Poporu, who were waiting for me.

“Let’s go.”

I needed to eat and rest.

Since my demon friends’ memories had been restored, I also needed to hear their stories.

[Leaving the Labyrinth Personal Lobby!]

---

‘Now I finally feel alive.’

Was it because I had taken a nice hot shower?

The fatigue that had been swallowing my body seemed to ease a little.

“This is very good water, du!”

Poporu stuck out his thumb with a deeply satisfied expression.

In reality, demons were in their miniature versions, so there was no particular need for them to wash.

But perhaps because he was a dugong, Poporu basically liked water, and when his eyes sparkled at it, I took him in with me and let him experience a hot-water shower.

I took out a new towel and pressed it against Poporu to dry him.

He barely had any fur, so I did not think I needed to use a dryer on him.

“This is so fascinating! Something different comes out every time I press it!”

Aris raised her voice in excitement.

It was the phone I had given her to play with while I showered.

From a demon’s perspective, it was a new piece of civilization, so I had not thought she would be especially interested, but she loved it.

DING!

“Ah, damn it! That startled me! Boss! Something appeared!”

Aris frowned at the text notification sound.

There was no need to check.

The savory smell of chicken was already drifting in from beyond the door.

I quickly opened the door and brought in the DDQ Chicken.

After a grueling day.

Ordering chicken before going to shower was an unwritten rule.

“I-Is this summoning, du?! Something suddenly appeared, du!”

“It’s called delivery. You can order it with the phone Aris is playing with.”

“Is it free, du?”

“That would take a while to explain, but the currency has already been paid.”

“As expected, there is no such thing as free, du.”

I set the pickled radish with half the liquid poured out, the Zero Coke, and the DDQ fried chicken on the low dining table.

Perhaps they had kept it well insulated, because it was piping hot despite the winter.

I picked up a drumstick glistening with oil.

Aris and Poporu stared at it from beside me.

It felt as though they were watching because they were fascinated, not because they wanted to eat it.

“Do you want to try some?”

“No! I don’t eat anything besides Magic Stones!”

“May I try some, du?”

He seemed curious.

I handed the remaining drumstick to Poporu.

Poporu examined it from every angle, then took a big bite.

After chewing a few times and swallowing it.

“DUAAAAAAAGH!!!”

Kung-du Poporu screamed.

“It’s incredibly delicious, du!!”

“What?! Really?!”

Perhaps she was tempted by the sight of him gobbling it down.

Aris also picked up a wing and shoved it into her mouth.

“Wow!! This is ridiculously delicious!”

It was not that demons and humans had different tastes, and that was why they had not eaten it.

They simply had not eaten it because they had not known such a flavor existed.

Aris and Poporu began devouring the chicken in a frenzy.

I should have ordered two.

After chewing for a while, I opened my mouth.

“Aris, Poporu.”

Let me hear it.

What memories had they recalled from consuming Low-Grade Magic Stones?