Chapter 34: A Special Gift for You

"No, it can't be!"

Go Nam-tae jumped up and ran outside.

However, he was forced to stop in his tracks. In the spot where his father’s grave should have been, grotesque-looking trees stood in his way instead.

As his face twisted in despair, Toto quickly spoke.

[Even if the gravesite was swept away, it could never be damaged or destroyed.]
"…How can you be so sure?"
[Because it is connected to the Boss’s source.]
"…."
[Furthermore, the Boss will definitely be able to find it.]
[This is the logic of power.]
[The Boss is currently growing.]
[You have been pushed back for a moment, but in the end, there will be no place the Boss cannot open.]

It felt like a distant story, catching at clouds, but it succeeded in calming Go Nam-tae down. It felt as though the thick fog clouding his mind was slowly lifting.

Go Nam-tae forced himself to take a deep breath to steady his heart.

As Toto said, he was growing. 
Expanding his territory.
That was easier for him than for anyone else. Because expanding his farmland meant expanding his domain.

This simply added another booster to his goals.

'I'm sorry I'm such a rebellious son, Father. But I’ll definitely come to find you quickly.'

Go Nam-tae bowed his head slightly toward where his father had been. Around him, his Kin huddled together and stood quietly.

It was only after he raised his head that he noticed them, and he scratched the back of his neck.

"Were you surprised? Sorry."
*Pee, peeee!*
*Thump, roll.*
*Quiver.*

The creatures immediately clung to him. Pushed by soft balls of fluff, cool water balloons, and firm vine supports, he soon found himself sprawling spread-eagled on the wooden bench.

"I haven't even started work today!"

His protest was useless. He was held down and forced to rest.

"Fine, I'll just lie here for a bit before getting to work."

*Chirp, chirp,* the sound of birds.
*Scritch, scritch,* the sound of small grass insects.
The breeze brushing past his hair was gentle.

'I’m okay, Father. I’m doing well.'
'I’m fine, son!'

He felt as if he could hear his father’s voice from somewhere. The straw hat covering his face hid the tears flowing from his eyes.

—…That must be nice.

Someone secretly watching them whispered softly.

***

The emergence of a new Labyrinth was almost certain.

Of course, confirmation came first, but it wasn't a task he could ask Kim Gu-bok's family to handle. When a new Labyrinth formed, it created more fractures in the surrounding area. Naturally, the danger level spiked vertically.

If a Labyrinth appeared in a remote area, casualties would be low, but there was a high possibility it was transforming into an Erosion Zone. An Erosion Zone referred to land on Earth that had undergone "Labyrinthization." Moreover, since it was just the beginning, the danger level was unpredictable due to the severe imbalance of mana.

…Or so Toto said.

Therefore, communication with Park Seong-yeon was no longer an option but a necessity. No, rather, communication with Park Ki-beom through Park Seong-yeon.

'Once Park Seong-yeon gets better, will that man, Park Ki-beom, take charge of that place…?'

After worrying for a moment, Go Nam-tae postponed the thought. He would deal with it when it happened.

As Go Nam-tae tried to get up, Heung-bok was waiting in front of him, holding a small bundle.

"What's this?"
'It’s what was left from what Mr. Kim Gu-bok sent today.'
"Huh? There was one more?"

The bundle wasn't large, but the packaging was incredibly meticulous. Seeing how many layers of cushioning were wrapped around it, it seemed to contain something easily breakable. Go Nam-tae’s eyes widened as he carefully unwrapped the package.

"Hahaha, is that what you meant, Mister?"

Inside the packaging, each one wrapped again with care, were fertilized eggs.

'He really read my mind.'

What Kim Gu-bok had said didn't mean he was looking for them, but that he had already "sent" them.

"Wow, this guy, seriously…."

Kim Gu-bok was likely the only person who could look into his heart and match his needs so perfectly. He wondered if he should prepare something to boost the man's stamina. He quietly added to his list.

—Mister, some wild ginseng seeds too! Other medicinal herbs are fine as well. There’s no rush, so please find them slowly.

He no longer needed to take notes and send them the next day. Go Nam-tae reflected on why he hadn't thought to use this convenient method sooner.

In a way, this was also a reflection of the distance he had kept even from Kim Gu-bok’s family. That wall was slowly crumbling. The wall he hadn't been able to break down even when they worked together at the company began to lose its strength only after being separated by the distance between Earth and the 100th Floor of the Labyrinth.

"I’ll be able to eat as many egg rolls as I want from now on."

His eyes practically dripped with honey as he looked at the fertilized eggs. He had managed to eat something similar to egg rolls before, but they weren't real eggs. While the taste was excellent, Go Nam-tae, who still possessed the sensibilities of an Earthling, preferred real eggs.

In an instant, countless dishes flashed through his mind. Fried eggs, egg rolls, soft-boiled, hard-boiled, braised eggs, omelets, soufflés…?

The eggs in his imagination soon evolved into chickens. There was already a hierarchy for the dishes he would make with chicken. A whole boiled chicken was a rite of passage, so he would have to make that at least once, but…. He now had fresh oil he could squeeze out at any time.

'Fried chicken, fried chicken, fried chicken!'

The logo song of a certain brand echoed in his head, plunging him into a sea of deep-fried goodness.

[Boss…!]

If Toto hadn't stopped him there, he might have lost his dignity in front of the Kin. To eat fried chicken, these eggs had to become chickens first. Just as Go Nam-tae was about to ask Toto about the design of an incubator—

'Boss, could you leave these eggs to me?'

It was Heung-bok. He carefully extended a tendril and caressed an egg.

"Can you hatch eggs?"
'Yes, I think I can.'

He worried what would happen if the creature messed up, but so what? He could just get more eggs.

"Alright, I'll leave them to you. But don't they need to be kept in the storage?"
'No, I think it will be fine if I take care of them.'

However, Heung-bok made one more request.

'Boss, more eggs will come in the future, right?'
"Yeah, I asked for them, so Mr. Kim Gu-bok will send more."
'Then, for the ones that hatch from the first set of eggs, may I use them as my subordinates?'
"Of course! Do as you wish."

Go Nam-tae didn't know exactly what "subordinates" meant in this context, but he nodded anyway. While the other creatures at least ate food with him, he had given Heung-bok nothing but a bit of earthworm manure, which had made him feel awkward. He was actually more grateful that Heung-bok was asking for something.

'Thank you so much, Boss. I’ll do my best to hatch them!'

The way the creature wrapped each egg with its leaves made it look so genuinely happy that Nam-tae felt proud. Heung-bok took the well-wrapped eggs near his roots and covered them with leaves again. That was the last thing Go Nam-tae saw.

The ground opened, and the eggs fell into the earth. They fell into the same place where the Gyarok eggshells, the Labyrinth Kalopanax thorns, and the bodies of invaders that the Boss hadn't seen were swallowed. However, the roots came out to meet them, wrapping each one and carrying them deeper.

*Thump, thump.*
The roots wrapping the eggs began to pulsate.

Go Nam-tae also began his work for the day.

"Everyone, it's a rice cake party today!"
'Yes!'
'Rice cakes!'

***

"Mister…."

Park Seong-yeon stood up unsteadily and leaned against the head of the bed.

"Young Master, you got up on your own!"

The butler, Yang Man-chun, rushed in, startled. Despite his incredible speed, the water in the bowl he was carrying did not ripple.

He was the hidden shadow of Park Ki-beom's father, the former leader of the Saeron Guild. In terms of age, he was around a grandfather figure to Park Seong-yeon, but his appearance did not look a day over forty.

"Mister…, please stop calling me 'Young Master'."
"You are the Young Master, so what else should I call you?"
"What if Jae-won hears you?"
"I just won't do it in front of Master Jae-won."
"Sigh, is Jae-won a 'Master' now too?"
"He saved our Young Master, so doesn't Mr. Kim Jae-won deserve to be called Master?"
"Mister…!"

Park Seong-yeon shook his head. But for Yang Man-chun, Kim Jae-won was just that precious and deserving of gratitude. That benefactor was due to arrive soon. Carrying a precious lunch box.

"Do you know how absurd it was that day when Master Jae-won pulled out that plastic container?"
"…Yes, yes…!"

Park Seong-yeon replied half-heartedly. If the man said this seventeen more times, it would make it one hundred.

"But when he opened the lid, heavens…!"
"Yes, you said I showed an appetite. Moving my lips like this."

Park Seong-yeon puckered his lips exaggeratedly. Yang Man-chun couldn't help but laugh at the antics. It still felt like a dream that he was escaping that dreadful curse.

Just until the day before yesterday, the situation had been truly desperate.

Almost one month ago, Park Seong-yeon had stepped on a Curse Flower. It was difficult to step on a Curse Flower without knowing, but the incident happened on only Floor 8. What was particularly vicious was the intensity of the curse.

If he had been hit by a Curse Flower around Floor 30, he could have been healed by a mid-to-high-level purification skill. However, for Park Seong-yeon, even the purification of a high-ranking Priest was useless. Unable to consume even a drop of water, let alone food, Park Seong-yeon’s life had been fading away day by day.

He had stayed alive this long thanks to life-sustaining potion injections. But just when they thought even that had reached its limit, a miracle occurred. The situation had reversed in just one day.

Expectation filled Park Seong-yeon’s eyes as he looked toward the door.

"Jae-won said he was bringing tofu and kimchi today…."

Kimchi. Considering Park Seong-yeon’s publicly known condition, it was an unthinkable statement. But his eyes were shining as he displayed a fierce appetite.

While Park Seong-yeon was swallowing his saliva and checking the clock, the doorbell finally rang.

"Master Jae-won is here!"

Yang Man-chun ran out, even more delighted than Park Seong-yeon. A moment later, Kim Jae-won entered the room accompanied by Yang Man-chun's hospitality and immediately opened his bag.

"Ta-da! The grand opening! Behold!"

Kim Jae-won laughed significantly as he opened a luxurious wooden box.

"Drumroll, please!"

He had already given a preview, but his performance was excessive. With a *click*, the lid opened, and the long-awaited item revealed itself.

Kim Jae-won pointed to the tofu and kimchi, which was still steaming.

"Quick, eat it before it gets cold. My mother made the tofu, but Nam-tae personally made this kimchi. This is really different!"

Park Seong-yeon was already picking up his chopsticks. Yang Man-chun, who found himself turning his head to follow the scent, backed away with a dry cough.

Kim Jae-won pulled at Yang Man-chun.

"I packed plenty, so you should eat too, Mister!"
"Hey now, don't say such things. Are you telling me to steal a patient's meal!"
"My mother really packed a lot!"

Despite the combined persuasion of Park Seong-yeon, they couldn't break Yang Man-chun's resolve. This wasn't just a patient's meal; it was medicine that could overcome a curse. In the end, Park Seong-yeon picked up his chopsticks alone.

A moment later.

Seeing Park Seong-yeon’s chopsticks wandering over empty plates, Yang Man-chun smiled with satisfaction, as if to say 'I told you so.' It would be worrying if someone who had starved for so long suddenly overate, but Park Seong-yeon showed no signs of struggle. It meant the food was being absorbed that well.

Then, as if he had been waiting, Kim Jae-won opened the bag he had been carrying again.

"Oh? Is there more?"
"Yeah. Nam-tae specifically sent this, saying it would be more helpful to you."
"…What is all this?"

Dread flickered in Park Seong-yeon’s eyes as he looked at the unidentified objects.