If they knew they’d be defeated, they should have sent lower-level scouts instead.
By being overly conscious of the Nightmare Queen, they sent an enemy that might have captured her, only to end up raising the giant’s level.
Still, Yongin gained something this time.
<Return LV10>
Among the many fish sent, a strange species born with a peculiar skill.
Salmon that swam back against several gates.
Here, salmon were treated merely as protein sources, but if nothing else, their Return skill surpassed even Yongin’s imagination.
“They swim upstream against flowing rivers and leap up—so impressive.”
The salmon’s condition was on the verge of death, but not only did they achieve a gate round-trip that even tens of thousands of levels would struggle with, they flopped on the giant’s dungeon floor and scraped up things.
“Wait…………….”
Especially black fur strands excavated from the salmon—clearly hairs from this world.
If the owner of these fur strands was the dungeon’s giant, though worlds differ and names are unknown, limiting strong influence, it could still annoy with a curse.
The issue was whether it truly belonged to the giant.
“It’s not the queen’s.”
As a demon, the Nightmare Queen maintains her body in a similar state with magic at all times.
There’s virtually no physical change, so it’s not her hair.
Dust, debris, and fur strands from that world kept being found on the salmon—mostly short hairs.
But just one strand.
A very long hair remained.
“Heh..”
Yongin smirked.
It was needless worry.
If cursing, just curse them all.
“Hmm, no need for ingredient analysis—this is octopus.”
[Octopus for sure. My tongue says so.]
The Octopus King was indeed a massive octopus.
Even before gigantifying to human size, it seemed about the size of a normal octopus.
So in that world, it would have been kraken-level.
And slicing one leg, dipping in vinegar chili sauce and eating—octopus flavor.
Fresh and chewy.
CatMan contributed greatly, so we sit together chewing chomp chomp, and it tastes good.
“Have you eaten octopus before?”
Curious since CatMan knows octopus taste too.
He knew flavors of clams, shrimp paste, some fish—octopus too?
[Don’t know octopus pickle?]
He knows all sorts of things.
“First time hearing of octopus pickle, man. And that’s heavily salted? You really ate salty stuff? This is butter grilled.”
[Well, older folks seem to like strong seasoning since taste declines with age.]
“O…….”
This guy blocks with Talula again.
After the octopus and fish battle ended, distributing stats and settling loot.
When fish rushed in like a fish market, not just fish—shellfish, crustaceans came too, picked up pearls near clams.
Of course, pearls tiny matching the fish sizes.
“Now, shall I raise these rock bream.”
If I knew pricier fish, I’d have saved them, but whale spoiled long ago, only know rock bream.
No tuna, the most expensive I know.
Must have scooped from coastal areas.
The rest of otherworld fish all absorbed by Octopus King as material for ‘Grow by Eating’.
Salvaged only pearls, saved mussels, and rock bream.
<Grow by Eating LV15>
Catching Octopus King gave me Grow by Eating too.
Description says… grow bigger.
Anything.
Full of taurine, good for stamina.
“Raising temporary stamina boost… finally?”
“Just checking effects, miss.”
Nightmare Queen places hand on cheek, blushing, so I said a word.
Level rose by 700 units, so my charm and intelligence massively up via random stats.
Resistance itself improved.
And persistent level gap means Nightmare Queen’s seduction directly raises levels.
<Level is now 1560>
Level jumped from Kim Heon-chang rebellion era to Imjin War era, 1557 felt odd but skipped it now.
First felt power crushing Octopus King’s soft head until it became octopus jerky……………
Really relieves stress.
Enjoyed properly using strength to destroy something.
“Delicious!?”
“Want some?”
Princess shows interest?
Octopus King shrunk to normal octopus size, cut legs, blanched and fed CatMan, he ate very deliciously.
I tried a chopstick, flesh too tender, perhaps pre-grilled by electricity, taurine cooking scent like dry squid grilling, keep eating.
Not clumsy Humboldt squid but real wild octopus, good texture.
So offered chopsticks to Fairy Princess too.
“Ah, aang.”
“Aang”
Left leg tip, she eats well with pointed end sticking from lips.
“Baby dragon behaving well, princess taking good care?”
“Ehehehe.”
Fairy Princess evacuated to balcony with baby dragon earlier, holding Yong-gae better than expected.
Yong-gae no rebellion either.
Flower pot on her head, amazingly balanced, doesn’t fall.
Weird.
[Why this kid again. Ugyagya!]
“Kitty, kittyyy.”
CatMan level nearly 780s yet cheeks pulled, combat disabled.
“Th-that… won’t eat?”
“Generally we don’t eat. And um, yes. We’re the side that doesn’t eat humans, but humans eat us.”
Surprisingly sentimental Nightmare Queen.
Well, if Octopus King looked like her, I wouldn’t blanch and slice.
CatMan bit legs and head during fight, insisted super tasty, so blanched once, led to this.
Come to think.
“Thanks.”
“Yes?”
Sudden, she’s surprised, but grateful to queen.
“You yielded the level to me.”
Nightmare Queen troubled by charm incompatibility, but could have killed Octopus King.
She looked relaxed.
“Seems you still fear me, grow fast so levels match, then share vitality without fear.”
“Ah, that’s it?”
“Then vitality I receive will grow me too. Well, even now it’d grow.”
<Level increases.>
Seduction again.
Levels rise well past 1500s.
Soon Imjin War outbreak level.
“Ah right, current stats like this? How to invest?”
Debating stat allocation now.
800 stats leftover.
700 from Octopus King, remaining 100 saved for another Box of Desire.
But no real intent to use that insane gambling item more.
Just left possibility, good for charm resistance.
No, woman nearly nude sitting on thigh, rubbing like cat, panting—yet no reaction?
Need money but one gold bar mostly solved.
‘I’ll give more cash. Deposit as if paying me that value.
Landlord grandpa almost payback.
Taking gold bar or foreign currency for building, but real price can’t be recorded.
To avoid tax authorities and nearby owners suspecting odd deal.
He’ll secretly hand hidden cash to buy with that.
Taxes increase etc. losses, but payback those too. Negotiation ongoing.
Adults have complicated circumstances.
Current situation, building purchase taxes, post-acquisition remodel funds—no immediate need beyond.
So instead of dumping levels into box, intuitively strengthen.
“Asking me?”
“Can’t ask cat or rice cooker.”
“Recommend charm.”
“Eh?”
“Like this Octopus King female, if charm high, could receive my charm skill this time and handle.”
“Ah… telling me to seduce octopus……?”
Hey, eight-legged bald groom?
Possib…………….
No.
My reaction poor, Nightmare Queen appeals.
“Easy eats!”
“Will blanch eat.”
“Or recommend strength, stamina.”
“Strength and stamina? Impure intent.”
“Don’t regret later, raise early………….”
“Magic!”
“Hm?”
“Ah.”
Stat advice, Fairy Princess and Nightmare Queen words mix.
Suddenly chilly.
I planned raising stamina, magic etc. for combat and utility skills.
Nightmare Queen subtly backs off.
“Hmm, yes. Princess is right.”
“You quietly yield to princess?”
“Seems you’d suspect my intentions too.”
“Always suspect that.”
“I’m sincere.”
Strength, stamina linked to so-called vitality.
Promised give when higher level than Nightmare Queen.
Magic all-in, was considering.
Magic over 1000 units, dragon heart influence allows greater power.
700 investable, can exceed 1000.
Current dragon affinity removes human magic penalty (2 stats per 1 magic).
Plan full magic pull, but many stats, daunting.
Then one shouldn’t-do method floats up.
“Shall I make cry?”
Fairy tears temporarily double magic.
Acquire 1400-grade magic, use dragon heart amplification for 3000-grade spells.
Magic unconditionally recommended by memorial wraiths too.
“Ah, cry?”
“Joo-heon likes when I cry!”
“Oh my………….”
“N-no. Not that………….”
Nightmare Queen covers mouth, one exclamation hits hard?
Actual magic booster is making fairy cry.
But our fairy princess, so cute—how cry?
Yet fairy princess pretends headbutt wall, smiles bashfully at me.
Nightmare Queen rare contempt expression, grabs my hand.
“Even if magic urgent, mustn’t.”
[Beast wouldn’t do.]
[Boss, that’s fucking bastard.]
“I did nothing, you guys?!”
Instantly make me child abuser.
Regardless, fairy princess suddenly headbutts wall.
Thud.
“??????”
“Kkeung, hurts. Heeere.”
Then wipes own eyes, gives tear drops.
Wh-what is this?
“……No, hey, where learn that? Why!?”
“Thereee!”
Princess points—naturally toward room 202.
Of course her head not strong enough to break gypsum wall yet.
This why environment important raising kids.
“Nooo, princess mustn’t. It hurts.”
“Then how cry? Can love enough to cry?”
Uh, no. Just I’ll diligently raise magic………….
“I still weak! Probably only 100. Not enough right away.”
<Fairy’s Tear>
Temporarily doubles magic for certain time. Applies up to max 100.
No penalty visible when magic low, but high now—fairy tear has limit.
With tears holding fairy princess’s head-sacrifice tears, used.
Magic stat 100 to 200 more, pumped to 500—exactly 503, saved remaining 600 stats.
<Spatial Movement level rises to LV10.> <Inventory level rises to LV5.> <Gate Utilization level rises to LV2.>
Magic breaking 500, various perks and 500-case upgradable skills auto-strengthen by magic stat.
Then upper magic skills unlockable per 100 magic units start opening.
<Space Magic Portal LV1 acquirable.> <Portal LV1>
Creates a rift connecting space to space.