Chapter 13: The First Passage (2)

「You have entered the <Guardian>’s chamber.」

‘Guardian’

I blinked.

I hadn’t expected this.

A Guardian?

In the context of a dragon’s lair, a Guardian would refer to a Superhuman being, empowered by a dragon to protect its lair.

That’s what the myths described, after all.

‘Oh…!’

I looked ahead with eyes filled with anticipation.

A space that looks to be about 1000 pyeong.

It was noticeably smaller than the cavern where Dania resided.

However.

The ancient runes and hieroglyphs carved into the walls.

They emitted a faint glow, creating a mystical atmosphere.

It felt like gazing at stars in the cosmos.

Pillars lined the edges of the space.

Each pillar was engraved with dragon motifs, giving the impression they were watching over the place.

‘The intimidation is no joke.’

Swallowing hard, I looked toward the center of the space.

At the center stood massive stone tablets.

The tablets, bathed in the light from the walls, appeared even more mystical.

‘What are these?’

I approached them.

Each tablet was carved with figures of various beings from different species.

A stone golem, formed from rocks of varying sizes.

A bird with enormous wings resembling an eagle.

A lion-like figure wielding surging flames.

A turtle with a rugged, mountain-like shell.

A spirit-like figure seemingly composed entirely of electric energy.

A woman with pointed ears, exuding a violent beauty as if sculpted by a god.

And more.

Countless beings were depicted.

“Could these all be Guardians?”

Good heavens.

Entranced, I placed my hand on one of the tablets.

「User verification」

「The Dragon’s Contractor has been confirmed.」

「Checking level.」

「Minimum level 10 confirmed.」

「The first Guardian, <Gagia Slime>, awakens from its long slumber.」

“…!”

As my eyes widened once more, a brilliant golden light erupted from the stone tablet.

***

Chiiiiik!

The sound of potatoes frying in oil.

At the same time, the savory aroma of potatoes mixed with the rich scent of oil, filling the kitchen.

The dish An Jaeseong was preparing was none other than potato croquettes.

‘When it comes to potato dishes kids love most, you can’t leave out potato croquettes.’

There were countless sophisticated potato dishes he could make.

The dishes that first crossed his mind:

Truffle Potato Purée.

Potato Darphin.

Potato Parmentier.

Duchess Potatoes.

[Potato Crust Soul Gratin de Pommes de Terre.]

As expected of a Michelin three-star chef, these were all dishes you’d find in high-end restaurants.

But the potato dish he ultimately chose was <Potato Croquettes>.

He was confident he could make <Potato Croquettes> better than anyone else.

Why?

‘Because it was my favorite potato dish back then.’

Fancy dishes aren’t always the tastiest.

He decided to pour his heart into making a potato dish he loved so much as a child, for the kids.

Not just potatoes.

For sweet potatoes, he chose <Sweet Potato Muffins>.

This, too, was Ahn Jaeseong’s favorite sweet potato dish.

In addition to these two dishes, he also prepared roasted potatoes and roasted sweet potatoes.

“Wow, it smells amazing!”

Gulp.

While Ahn Jaeseong was cooking, the kids kept coming and going, watching his work with curiosity.

And finally, the dishes were complete.

“You all worked hard.”

“No, Chef, you worked the hardest.”

“Exactly! How do you put so much passion into this… You’re incredible!”

The assistant chefs who helped Ahn Jaeseong.

They gave him thumbs-up.

They had witnessed firsthand the genuine care he put into preparing the meal for the kids.

“Ah!”

“Wowww!”

“It’s potato croquettes!!”

“There are sweet potato muffins too!!”

The children swarmed around the finished dishes.

Everyone was visibly excited, their eyes sparkling as they gazed at the food in front of them.

“Phew… Chef An, really, thank you so much. How could we ever…”

Seeing the 130 servings of potato and sweet potato dishes spread out before him, Kim Jeonghwan wore a deeply moved expression.

Even at a glance, it was clear how much effort Ahn Jaeseong had poured into these dishes.

“Try them,” Ahn Jaeseong said.

Kim Jeonghwan nodded in response.

“Director, we’re hungry!!”

“Eat up, then!”

His kind children.

They were waiting patiently, not touching the food until he took the first bite.

“Let’s all eat together.”

“Is that okay?”

“Yes, don’t worry about me. Go ahead and eat.”

“Yes!! Thank you for the meal!!”

At his words, the children eagerly began to eat.

“Wowww!”

“It’s… delicious!!”

“Whoa!! These potato croquettes are insanely good!!”

Explosive reactions erupted from all around.

There was even a child munching on a sweet potato muffin, tears streaming down their face.

As expected of Chef Ahn Jaeseong.

A Michelin three-star chef truly is different.

Relieved that everyone was enjoying the food, Kim Jeonghwan took a bite of a potato croquette.

Crunch!

“…!”

Fireworks went off in his mouth.

The exterior was astonishingly crispy, while the interior was magically soft in contrast.

After the crispy shell shattered delightfully in his mouth, the creamy texture of the potato puree melted on his tongue.

‘Ah…!’

For a moment, he forgot the complicated problems of reality weighing on his mind and focused entirely on the flavors unfolding in his mouth.

The inherent nuttiness of the potato came through with a deeper, more complex flavor.

The natural sweetness and savory richness of the potato were amplified, spreading throughout his mouth.

Perhaps because these were “magical” potatoes, there seemed to be a subtle hint of herbs or spices lingering in the aftertaste.

This potato croquette.

The contrast between the crispy shell and the creamy interior was truly captivating.

‘Is this… really food of this world?’

His eyes widened as far as they could go.

Watching the children’s reactions earlier, he had wondered how delicious it could be to elicit such responses.

He had even felt a pang of guilt, wondering if they were enjoying it more because he had recently cut back on snacks or meal budgets.

But no.

This was truly a divine dish, a taste that sent his taste buds into a frenzy.

And that wasn’t all.

「Stamina recovery speed increases for 45 minutes.」

‘Huh?’

A message appeared before his eyes.

With each bite, he had felt a surge of vitality and freshness spreading through his body.

It wasn’t an illusion.

‘A real buff… is applied?’

Good heavens!

He had thought buffs were just something people talked about.

He was so shocked that his mouth hung open.

‘Could the sweet potato dish also…?’

Chomp!

He took a bite of a sweet potato muffin.

After a slight crunch, an astonishingly moist and soft texture followed.

The sweet potato puree filled the muffin, delivering an airy lightness with each bite, paired with a rich, creamy smoothness.

Unlike regular muffins, thanks to the magical sweet potatoes, the interior is smooth yet fluffy like a sponge, with a resilient shape.

And how about the taste?

The natural sweetness of the sweet potato spreads effortlessly in the mouth, with a richer and deeper sweetness than ordinary sweet potatoes.

The distinctive, rich aroma of the sweet potato, amplified by magical energy, brings a wave of happiness the moment you take a bite.

A subtle umami, reminiscent of honey or caramel, adds depth, making each bite feel sweet yet brimming with vibrant energy.

“Ah…!”

Kim Junghwan’s face melts with delight.

The immortal truth: sweet and salty, sweet and salty.

The combination of the <Potato Croquette> and <Sweet Potato Muffins> was exactly that.

The slightly savory taste of the potato croquette was perfectly balanced by the sweetness of the Sweet Potato Muffins, delivering ultimate satisfaction.

[For 25 minutes, stamina is increased.]

The sweet potato also comes with a buff.

“What in the world…”

The superhuman who sold these ingredients.

The Archmage Emperor.

The same superhuman who sold him the Great Lunadria.

Who could they possibly be?

Could they truly be a reclusive master conquering the highest floors of the <Abyss Tower>?

Kim Jeonghwan, unable to stop marveling, added another potato croquette and sweet potato muffin to his plate.

Even Kim Jeonghwan was utterly captivated by Ahn Jaeseong’s cooking, losing himself in it.

So how must the kids feel?

Ahn Jaeseong approached the children and asked, “Kids, is the food uncle made delicious?”

“Yes!!”

“It’s so yummy!”

“It’s the best!”

Junho and Sua, who were trembling earlier while holding potatoes and sweet potatoes, were now beaming with happy smiles, clutching their food.

Just seeing their smiles made all the fatigue from cooking melt away.

“It’s really delicious!”

“The best potatoes and sweet potatoes in the world!”

“No, the best in the universe!!”

The kids laughed and chattered joyfully, exchanging happy glances at each other’s plates.

Every time their small hands picked up a spoon to taste the food, Ahn Jaeseong felt his efforts were rewarded.

Their pure laughter brought a smile to his face, and he realized how much happiness this moment brought him.

“So this is why people sponsor others.”

It felt like a new horizon had opened in his life.

From now on, whenever he had the chance, he would visit the orphanage and cook for the kids.

In that moment, his heart spread warmly, like the gentle sunlight of a spring day. The children’s laughter settled in his heart like scattered flower petals, making the world feel brighter.

A post appeared on SuperNet.

***

Nickname: Rainbow Potion

Title: Review of participating in <Bangbaedong Gourmet>’s tasting event

Content: Everything Bangbaedong Gourmet said was true, without any exaggeration. The taste was fantastic, and it really granted a buff. I’m not lying. I swear on my name and the kids’ names, there’s not a shred of falsehood or exaggeration.

[HamheungNoodle]: Wait, it actually gives a buff?

[Carbonara]: So it’s real. Isn’t this revolutionary? It feels like a must-have item for conquering dungeons that take forever.

[Jackal]: If the buff efficiency is high, this could be a game-changer.

[SP]: Wow, Archmage Emperor is the real deal lol. Who is this person? First Lunadria, now breaking common sense again.

……….

Rainbow Potion.

With his verification, Bangbaedong Gourmet’s words gained even more credibility.

And inevitably, the nickname Archmage Emperor started to gain attention as well.

The prelude to the Archmage Emperor name spreading widely had begun.

***

“Popo!”

Wiggle, wiggle.

“Uh…”

In front of me, a slime was wriggling.

The fairly large slime, reaching up to my waist, had a translucent body with a harmonious mix of green and brown.

If I had to point out a distinctive feature, it’d be the warm aura gently emanating from its surface, wouldn’t it?

“Now that I look closely, there’s grass and flowers growing on it.”

Tiny blades of grass and flowers.

A slime with grass and flowers growing on its body.

Unheard of.

Unseen.

But the truly astonishing thing wasn’t even this.

「Lv 103」

「Gagia Slime」

A translucent window floated above its head.

‘Level 103?’

It was a level beyond imagination.

As far as the world knew, Level 99 was supposed to be the cap.

Level 99 wasn’t the end.

‘Is this some kind of secretly known information?’

I searched on SuperNet.

……….

-Does Level 100 actually exist?

ㄴ Nope. Based on everything we know so far, Level 99 seems to be the limit.

ㄴ We don’t know for sure, do we? Even the world’s top superhuman is only in the early Level 80s.

ㄴ Exactly, that’s why it makes even less sense. Level 90 is already a pipe dream, so Level 100?

……….

Most opinions leaned toward Level 100 not existing.

But.

‘…It’s right there in front of me.’

“Popo!”

Wiggle, wiggle.

This little guy, crawling around like a snail.

I rubbed my eyes and looked again, but Level 103 was still boldly displayed.

An astonishing discovery.

Would anyone even believe this?

‘They probably wouldn’t even believe in Level 99 crops… Wait a second.’

Come to think of it, if Level 99 isn’t the limit?

Doesn’t that mean spiritual herbs, elixirs, and crops could go beyond Level 100?

If that’s the case, it’d be a total game-changer.

I need to think about how to cultivate spiritual herbs or crops that surpass Level 100.

“By the way, what can you do, buddy?”

I was curious.

It’s Level 103, after all—what’s this guy capable of?

“Popo?”

It tilted its head at my words.

Definitely a slime, huh.

It’s kind of cute.

“Popo!”

It pointed to the ground it had crawled over.

I looked, but there was nothing…

‘Huh?’

Wait a minute.

What’s this?

The place where it had crawled.

I thought it was just aimlessly wandering around, but…

“The soil’s color changed?”

As I blinked and knelt to touch the ground,

Whoosh!

Brilliant particles of light burst from the soil.