Chapter 22 : Rabbits in the Sun, Shadows in the Association

Passes for the plains available for purchase with Magic Stones.

The price is reasonable.

The Unlimited Pass costs just 1 ton.

However, the capital is insufficient for now.

Only about 500kg of Magic Stone remains.

Although money is a consideration, Magic Stone is lacking. For now, let’s try buying daily passes with what little Magic Stone we have.

“Purchase 3 daily passes.”

As I touched the blue screen, three paper tickets appeared.

On the white paper was written in cursive, “Daily Pass.”

“Mom, Dad, Woo Hyuk.”

I wanted to show them a peaceful and quiet top life, away from the dreary city.

At the same time, I wanted to check how much our rabbit family had grown.

“Hm?”

Family members began emerging one by one from the rooms inside.

“These are tickets, try using them each.”

I handed out the tickets; Woo Hyuk was the first to receive his.

At the same time, a system screen popped up.

[Would you like to enter the Hidden Plains?]

“What is this?”

Startled by the sudden screen.

He inherited the nervous temperament of someone in our family.

“It’s a pass to enter the Tower.”

“Isn’t that dangerous then?”

At Woo Hyuk’s question, I shook my head.

The plains are safe, at least.

I’ve never seen a single monster there.

Besides, we have the three brothers—what is there to worry about?

“Don’t worry; it’s safe. If you’re uncomfortable, you can just leave immediately after entering.”

He hesitated badly.

Compared to me, he’s more of a coward.

Compared to Woo Hyuk, I’m practically a nobleman.

“Ugh, you scaredy-cat. I’ll go in first.”

Seeing Woo Hyuk’s anxious hesitation, the most powerful member of our household personally demonstrated.

Like it was nothing, a new skill was registered by folding the ticket’s ear.

[Hidden Plains Entry Skill Acquired.]

Time limit: 23 hours 59 minutes

The skill allows free entry and exit within a day.

“What now?”

“Just use the skill.”

“Really? Let’s try it.”

My mother took a deep breath and recited the skill.

“Plains Entry.”

At the same moment, she disappeared.

Dad and Woo Hyuk were left alone, looking around.

“Mom really vanished.”

“That’s how it is.”

“Ugh, hurry and use your tickets.”

Our men are far too cowardly.

Well, they’ll manage somehow.

I followed the entry of Mom into the plains.

After Woo Min disappeared as well, the two of us were left like fish in a barrel.

We exchanged glances.

“Son, you go in first.”

“No, Dad should go first.”

In the end, they agreed to enter simultaneously.

They unfolded their tickets to register the skill and took a deep breath.

One, two, three.

Dad and Woo Hyuk synchronized perfectly.

Yet,

Neither used the skill first until the very end.

***

Pop –

Arriving with a blue glow, the Hidden Plains unfolded before us.

Woo Min’s mother, Jeong Jin-sook, admired the lush greenery.

Warm sunlight.

A clear blue sky.

A peaceful atmosphere wrapped with a subtle scent of grass.

It was then.

“Bbiee?”

A small rabbit approached.

It looked exactly like Somi, whom Woo Min had introduced.

“What? What were you doing?”

Woo Min, who had followed behind, noticed Jin-sook and came over.

The youngest earth rabbit, upon seeing her, waved happily.

“Nice to meet you, youngest rabbit.”

Bbiee Bbiee!

I petted the cute youngest rabbit’s head and greeted it.

It purred contentedly.

Seeing this, the other rabbits nearby started gathering in groups.

“Oh—”

Momentary surprise.

They surrounded us in an instant.

“Ah, Mom!”

Jin-sook also joined.

She didn’t know what to do with the crowd of rabbits swarming her.

It wasn’t out of fear.

Rather, she refrained from moving a single step, just in case she startled them.

“Hey, you guys, could you move aside for a bit?”

Fortunately, the clever ground rabbits understood my request.

They aligned neatly in rows and columns.

Five rabbits per row, ten rows.

A total of fifty.

Come to think of it, many things changed since this morning.

Houses had been built, and there were small new buildings I had never seen before.

While exploring the renewed plains, Dad’s ground rabbit came forward as the representative.

At that moment, Somi jumped out from my pocket.

Bbiee!

Bbiee Bbiee!

With a serious expression.

What could they be talking about so seriously?

While I quietly observed, Jin-sook approached.

“Atl, Mom’s going over there for a moment.”

Jin-sook spoke while looking at a particularly eye-catching earth rabbit.

Is there some understanding among mothers?

The rabbit her gaze locked onto was Mom’s earth rabbit.

“Well, if Mom’s okay with it, then it’s fine.”

“Alright, then I’ll be right back.”

Jin-sook nodded and went over to Mom’s earth rabbit.

Though strangers, they showed no shyness.

When Jin-sook reached out her hand, Mom’s earth rabbit jumped on her and headed somewhere.

That was when.

Pop –

Pop –

Woo Min’s father, Kim Jin-su, and younger brother, Kim Woo Hyuk, appeared simultaneously.

They rubbed their shoulders and looked around.

“Ugh, you’re only here now? Mom’s already gotten close to other rabbits.”

“That’s because Woo Hyuk was scared.”

“Me? Dad was scared too.”

A truly similar father and son.

No wonder they get along well.

In that sense, maybe I inherited from Mom?

At that moment, Dad’s earth rabbit, who finished talking with Somi, met Jin-su’s eyes.

Dad’s earth rabbit pulled out a small fishing rod from somewhere.

“Oh, there’s a fishing spot here too?”

“Of course. It can’t compare to outside. There’s tons of fish.”

“Really? Wait a moment.”

Then Jin-su disappeared on his own.

Soon he reappeared.

Holding a newly bought fishing rod in one hand!

Bbiee Bbiee!

Dad’s earth rabbit pointed to the opposite lake.

“I’ll go there then.”

“Go ahead.”

With that, Dad’s earth rabbit disappeared.

Now only younger brother Woo Hyuk remained.

Not the most reliable father, but Woo Hyuk felt reassured by their similar appearance.

But he lost his partner.

Now he was completely alone.

Watching this, Woo Min let out a sigh.

“Ah.”

“Huh?”

Look at that bewildered expression.

As expected, Woo Hyuk is our household’s top scaredy-cat.

“Should I lend you Sol?”

“Really?”

The only earth rabbit Woo Hyuk knows is Somi, introduced by me.

Sorry, Somi, please look after our little brother.

“Don’t worry. Somi, right?”

Bbiee!

She just said to trust her.

Our Somi is really kind.

“Listen well to Sol, okay?”

“Mm! Got it.”

Without any idea of his own situation, Woo Hyuk grinned.

Why was he so happy?

Maybe because he had Somi, he thought he was lucky.

I don’t know.

Just leave him be.

Somi, please take good care of our little brother.

After Somi and Woo Hyuk left, only I, Bbyak, and Toto remained.

Well, there’s nothing to do here anyway.

Should we climb the tower?

“Okay?”

I asked Bbyak and Toto, who raised their short hands above their heads in agreement.

Bbyak!

Pachi pachi!

Where are these level SSS top men going? Maybe to climb the tower?

“Tower Entry!”

Pop –

And so, everyone went off to their own tasks.

***

Sunday afternoon, the Association is still working today.

Where’s a day off?

When ordered, you must comply.

Of course, not everyone works hard.

While there are people like Dohyun and Seo Rin who work for the Association, rotten roots exist as well.

Deputy Director Park Young-cheol is a prime example.

He looks like a scheming toad.

Sitting in the deputy’s seat, he does nothing.

He only kicks the female employees’ legs.

He is the very embodiment of a phone jockey.

However, among the Association’s high-ranking officials, his reputation isn’t all bad.

Why?

Because of outstanding performance and solid backing.

Fake results made by grinding down his subordinates.

Mistakes that didn’t exist were made up.

Yet he never cared.

Because for his own promotion, he shamelessly committed any misdeeds.

Today too, Young-cheol appeared with a sullen face and shouted as soon as he entered.

“Hey, how’s the management department’s electric leakage issue going?”

“Well, the manager in charge is currently on a business trip, so only the report came in.”

“Pfft, still as shameless as ever. I didn’t like him from the start.”

Young-cheol clicked his tongue as he tore off a piece of dried squid leg.

“Anyway, the report says it’s insufficient. Extract as much as you can.”

“Yes, understood.”

His subordinates’ expressions darkened at Young-cheol’s orders.

That look of ‘he’s at it again.’

At this point, they felt more sorry for the management department than annoyed.

But whatever.

Young-cheol didn’t care.

“Oh, and the new secretary hired on Friday.”

He stopped his steps as he entered the office and looked around.

Apparently, a new secretary had arrived recently.

“I have a task for you.”

“Forget it. Tell the dog to come into my office.”

There he goes again.

That pervert.

Must have overheard something somehow.

A super beautiful woman from Japan.

A cool beauty with charm who’s also efficient.

She was specially dispatched for the global Association branch.

Anyway, it’s unfortunate.

Once caught by the toad-like deputy director, she would suffer.

“Mitsuru, are you okay?”

Deputy Inspector Tae-soo Ha asked with a worried expression.

He wanted to report the guy, but his backing was too strong.

There were at least ten female employees who had reported harassment by the toad-like deputy director and got nowhere.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

Mitsuru replied in halting Korean.

When she first arrived, she couldn’t speak Korean at all, but now she could handle simple conversations.

The more you looked, the more pitiful it was.

Such a capable employee caught in the sights of the corrupt deputy director.

I worried this might sour relations with the Japanese Association.

However, Mitsuru smiled brightly as if to say not to worry.

“I’m really sorry for not being strong.”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Mitsuru bowed her head and headed toward the deputy director’s office.

She knocked lightly twice, then Young-cheol’s voice was heard.

“Ah, come in.”

Opening the door, Young-cheol was sprawled on the sofa.

Mitsuru stood beside him, holding a black file folder.

“My name is Mitsuru.”

“Yeah, yeah. No need for names.”

With a lecherous gaze, Young-cheol scanned her entire body.

Then.

Sluuuurp.

He touched her thigh under her skirt.

“Hehe, how’s Korea?”

“They treat me well.”

Though surprising, Mitsuru was not fazed.

She only answered his questions.

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

“No.”

“Older brother?”

“I like capable men.”

The more the conversation went on, the more aggressive Young-cheol became.

After caressing her thigh, he grabbed her waist.

Just like that, he showed no attempt to hide his ugly nature.

At that moment,

Mitsuru’s body pressed completely against Young-cheol.

Boom –

A syringe was plunged into Young-cheol’s neck.

Mitsuru held a not-so-small syringe in her hand.

“Shh, if you don’t want to die, you better answer all my questions from now on.”

At last, Mitsuru revealed her true colors.

She had been waiting for the moment to be alone with this high-ranking official.