Chapter 44: It Resembles a Grenade

"—Wasn't the promise for ten days from now?"

As Paraem, whose face was naturally pale, stiffened his expression and spoke sharply, a wave of cold air poured out.

Sekaru replied, "I never strictly said it had to be ten days, did I?"

*Snap!*

Paraem snapped his fingers, and the recorded scene from their last meeting began to play.

["We shall gather here again in ten days."
—Fine.
"Good."]

Sekaru, who had been trying to deny it, simply shrugged her shoulders.

"Actually, I forgot. I have so many things to worry about."

Sekaru's expression was blunt, as if she didn't care much about Grumore's absence. Another crack appeared on Paraem's grimacing face.

'What are they up to!'

Paraem glared at Sekaru in secret before pestering Irshak, who was watching as if it were someone else's problem.

"Don't you have anything to say!"

Irshak shook his wavering, slushy body and replied.

"—I also sent my subordinates, but I forgot about it after that..."

'Damn it all!'

Paraem knew exactly what those two were plotting. The moment he revealed the cards he had brought, they would snatch up the information and offer nothing in return.

In truth, the cards he held weren't much. It was merely that he had sent subordinates to Grumore's territory, and not a single one had returned through the first, second, and third waves.

He couldn't know anything from that alone. Whether Grumore was still alive and well, whether a new Boss had arrived, or if the Fruit of the End had done something.

However, even if his efforts had been in vain, it would become solid information if combined with whatever the others had. He couldn't just offer it up blindly on his own. Paraem took a step back.

"It was a bit too short a time to find out anything. Actually, I haven't gathered any information yet."

"—That is the same for me."

"I guess that's why I forgot about it too."

Sekaru chimed in appropriately, snorting inwardly.

'No information gathered? Hmph!'

The death of a Kin is reported to their Boss. Information is transmitted through death alone. It meant everyone was pretending to be ignorant. Sekaru put on a feigned look, her enchanting eyes shining as she spoke.

"Grumore might have thrown out a bait for no reason."

"Bait? Why?"

"—*Krk, krk, krk!* What do you mean why? Because he's Grumore."

Irshak mocked Paraem as if it were obvious. It wasn't just a day or two that Grumore had been provoking the Bosses and picking fights.

Sekaru pretended to agree and carefully dropped a false assumption.

"The reason we can't collect information might be because they were caught by Grumore."

"—I was thinking the same thing."

"Hmm... I was suspicious of that too."

'Do you even know how to think? Suspicious, my foot.'

Sekaru hid her contempt for Irshak and asked, "Do you plan to keep gathering information?"

"Well."

"—If there are no changes, I will just watch."

'Liar!'

They had likely sent countless spies again after the death of their first Kin. They would try to uncover the changes in Grumore's territory by any means necessary. Sekaru herself was doing the same.

They were likely planning to slowly extend their reach after testing the waters. It was now clear that their agreement to gather information together was a lie.

Of course, Sekaru herself hadn't the slightest intention of cooperating from the start, so in that sense, they were of one mind. Sekaru acted indifferent and feigned innocence.

"That's enough. What does it matter what happens to Grumore? It doesn't affect me anyway. I'm not going to care anymore. I'm leaving. Contact me if anything special happens."

"......Suit yourself."

"—Suit yourself."

The two welcomed Sekaru's exit. Just as she said, the Fruit of the End blocked the way for Sekaru in the west, so she didn't have to worry about Grumore.

However, it was different for the remaining two. They were adjacent to Grumore's territory. But since they knew it was impossible to share information, there was nothing more to say.

"Let's agree to contact each other if any special changes occur."

"—...Let us do that."

Neither of them was unaware that these words were also lies. It would be a miracle if they didn't try to devour each other the moment a gap appeared. With the hollow meeting at an end, the two Bosses also departed.

Sekaru reappeared in the spot where Paraem and Irshak had vanished.

In truth, she hadn't left at all; she had merely hidden her form to hear what the two were discussing. Since it was a gathering of illusions anyway, such a trick was easy.

It was an unproductive meeting, but Sekaru had gained the most information. Although both were hiding it, it was clear they had come up empty-handed in Grumore's territory—no, the territory that was now the new Boss's.

The only one who had returned alive was Sekaru's subordinate. Paraem and Irshak would likely continue to fiercely spy on the new Boss's territory.

'Go ahead and keep playing so cutely.'

In the meantime, she was making other preparations. Her sole surviving returnee, Barnak, was currently heading east with a gift.

Her survival instinct was sending a stronger signal than ever before. It told her that she must never make the new Boss angry.

She had to start on good terms. She hoped he would like the gift, though she was slightly worried.

'Will he make it back alive this time too?'

Naturally, that worry wasn't for the messenger carrying the gift.

Sekaru vanished from the spot.

***

"A strong and good morning!"

The moment he opened the door, new living creatures received his morning greeting.

*Cheep, cheep!*

Yellow chicks that were playing in the yard ran over to him.

"Wow, did these little guys hatch?"

'Yes, they were born at dawn today.'

"Congratulations, Heung-bok."

'They are all the Boss's subordinates. Call them whenever you need them.'

*Cheep, cheep, cheep!*

The chicks chirped as if responding to Heung-bok's words.

He could tell the difference between Kin and subordinates. Perhaps because he hadn't made a direct contract, the sense of connection was weak, and he couldn't understand the chicks' words. Still, they were cute.

'If... by any chance you just want a chicken, even now...'

Go Nam-tae waved his hand before Heung-bok could finish.

"No, of course not! And you're hatching other chickens too. I'll wait, so don't worry."

'I'll make chickens for you as soon as possible!'

"Don't rush that either. I can wait as long as it takes. If it really takes a long time, you can just bring another Gyarok egg. It's okay."

'If it's a Gyarok egg, I'll get one for you!'

"No, I don't mean I need one right now. I'll tell you later if I really need it."

Heung-bok looked as if he would jump into the three-way battle at the riverbank right now if Go Nam-tae didn't stop him. Pumpkin vines in the middle of those monsters...? That was a scene Go Nam-tae never wanted to see.

"You guys go find something delicious to eat."

When Go Nam-tae waved his hand, the chicks scattered. There was a lot of fallen grain from the threshing, so they seemed to find food well on their own.

As the family grew, the yard seemed to be filling up. Fortunately, he didn't have to make contracts with the chicks, so he avoided fainting. As his thoughts reached that point, Go Nam-tae tilted his head.

"But... I've never made a contract with Heung-bok, have I?"

When Heung-bok flinched and curled up his leaves, Toto spoke.

[Heung-bok gained a sense of self because the Boss planted him personally.]
[Therefore, no contract is required.]
[Heung-bok's subordinates are also automatically subordinated to the Boss.]

"Ah, I see."

Heung-bok only then spread his leaves wide.

"Uh... then can other crops I plant become like Heung-bok?"

[Originally, it is only possible with special seeds among the Labyrinth seeds.]

"Heung-bok, you're really special, aren't you?"

When Go Nam-tae marveled anew, Danhong climbed onto Heung-bok's vine and shouted.

"—You're not the only special one! The Boss said I was special too!"

This time, Heung-bok replied as well.

'I think the Boss said he was making a special fermentation room?'

"—He said it was thanks to me! So that's what that meant!"

The way the two bickered was cute, but the other creatures' eyes were also wide. Go Nam-tae spoke as if making a declaration.

"You're all special. Not because you have special abilities, but because you're special to me. So don't ever get hurt. Got it?"

'...!'

The moment he realized the look in their eyes, Go Nam-tae turned away, but it was already too late. Hit by an ambush of soft, cool, and warm bodies wrapping around him, Go Nam-tae was involuntarily laid down on the wooden bench. He was just thankful that Heung-bok only joined in with one vine.

Lying on the bench and looking up, the sky was high today as well.

If he had been just a little later, he would have taken a nap right there. After enjoying the wind and the massage from his Kin for a moment, Go Nam-tae jumped up.

Checking the Earth Dragon manure, Go Nam-tae was startled.

"There's not much left now."

Both the Earth Dragon meat and the manure were about to hit bottom. It felt like looking at an empty rice chest.

"Toto, we need to go catch some Earth Dragons. You said we could catch them again, right?"

[Yes, Earth Dragons are relatively light prey for the Boss.]
[This is where the Earth Dragons are currently staying.]
[However, since it is slightly outside the Boss's territory, you must be very careful.]

Toto immediately brought up a map. The location was near the riverbank reclamation area; it wasn't far, but it was definitely outside the territory.

The reclamation area had become part of his territory as he worked on it, so that was also within the bounds. This would be his first time stepping outside the territory. Of course, Toto hadn't guided him outside without any safety measures. To be precise, there was a countermeasure prepared through Heung-bok.

'Boss, you can throw this at the bad guys.'

Heung-bok held out small pumpkins. They were dark green with well-defined grooves, a size that fit perfectly in the hand.

...They resembled grenades.

Toto added an explanation.

[They are Bomb Pumpkins.]

"...Heung-bok, you knew how to make things like this too?"

When Go Nam-tae accepted them in surprise, Heung-bok hurriedly made an excuse.

'...Please don't misunderstand, Boss. They just came out while I was collecting and processing the bad energy that was being discarded.'

"What is there to misunderstand? Don't worry. I'm just grateful!"

Heung-bok had been making Golden Pumpkins every day even after the purification of the reclamation area was finished. To think he had made something like this in his spare time; a hundred praises wouldn't be enough. If Go Nam-tae had known that these pumpkins, which looked as if they were dripping with poison, had been hidden away, he wouldn't have thought this way.

At his intense praise, Heung-bok bobbed up and down, and this time, he brought out a pile of pumpkins that filled his leaves. It seemed he had been hiding them, fearing Go Nam-tae would dislike them since they were called Bomb Pumpkins. Go Nam-tae laughed inwardly, thinking of a 'lady hiding her strength.'

As if that wasn't enough, Heung-bok even made the chicks born today go along.

'Please take them with you. They won't be a hindrance.'

"Thanks. I'll bring back the biggest Earth Dragon!"

Go Nam-tae led his Kin and bravely crossed the stream. Behind them, Heung-bok pushed a cart loaded with baskets to see them off. Far, far away. Almost to the riverbank.