Chapter 101: The Strongest Invader

<Dragon Broth> RARE

Temporary HP increase: 2000

0.1% of the temporary HP increase accumulates as permanent stats.

(Based on 200ml)

Dragon affinity increases as the dragon’s scent accumulates.

HP increase effect enhances recovery from illnesses and wounds.

The temporary HP increase isn’t that important.

RiceCookerMan’s rice is already pumping nearly 200 temporary HP, and if I throw in everything good for HP, I could pump it up enough to get a joint-aching old man who can’t even walk, like Kim Chang-hwan, back on his feet and turn him into a muscle-bound senior.

The important part is the permanent +2 HP effect packed into one carton, like school milk.

“This is basically HP and vitality.”

HP handles vitality, but no matter how high the HP stat is, it supposedly degrades in old age, even if it’s accumulated through level ups.

“A permanent increase would be really great. Just drinking it gives level 1, right?”

“Yeah, something like that?”

Eating a dragon heart or dragon egg makes you that strong too.

“Shall we try it? Who wants to drink? Hey, CatMan.”

[Mew. Salty. Bad for cat health.]

“The one who eats shrimp paste and cockle salad has a lot to say.”

[If you were giving it to me for my own good, I’d be happy, but I can read your intent to experiment on the most insignificant wild animal, so how can I drink it with a smile?]

That bastard.

I won’t say I didn’t have that intent, but this is an HP increase.

It’ll be good for CatMan’s health, that’s why I’m feeding it to him.

“HP goes up?”

[What for? No need to use it.]

CatMan realized the girlfriends he met at the cat cafe don’t go into heat, so he’s become even more of a sage lately.

Seems like he’s got human distrust too.

How can females…? He was pretty shocked.

“Your toughness?”

[If I dodge, I won’t get hit.]

“It’ll extend your lifespan?”

[I’m only two years old, why rush?]

“You’ll die in about thirteen years. In eight years, your fur might stop growing.”

“Mew?”

[How many days is thirteen years?]

“You have zero intention of calculating?”

He seems interested in this?

“Here, think of it as milk and drink.”

[Not bad. Meowww!?]

Yong-gae, biting CatMan seems fun.

She does it every day.

[Manage the kid. My tail’s gonna come off.]

“You’re lucky it’s the tail. Hey. Wait a sec. Yong-gae.”

“Wait a sec, Yong-gae?”

“Good imitation?”

Yong-gae also shows interest in the Dragon Broth I placed in a low dish for CatMan to eat.

I’m a bit doubtful about feeding it to Yong-gae.

If this were a chick, egg yolk isn’t cannibalism—it’s the nutrient they grow on, so it’s fine.

But thinking of her as a person, I’m not sure if I should give it.

Better not overthink and just let her try a bit.

“Shall I try it?”

“Yeah, sure. Should be fine.”

“A bit bland, but it’s okay?”

“Yeah?”

I scoop some and try it too, and it’s quite subtle and nice.

Dragon Broth passes for now.

“Garlic is awesome, just.”

When brewing, there was a bit of that gas station smell and gamey odor, but throwing in lots of garlic covers the lingering gamey smell and gas station scent in the broth, adding a spicy, tingling feel.

The combo with salamander garlic is pretty good?

Could I cook rice with bone broth?

“I want some too!”

“Uh, it’s spicy, you okay?”

“I’m fine!”

Fairy Princess wants Dragon Broth too, so I scoop another ladle.

“Hoo, it’s hot.”

“Hoo! Hoo!”

“How is it? Not too spicy?”

I heard that spicy and tingling can feel like pain to kids’ tastes.

My mom wouldn’t give me rice if I didn’t eat kimchi, so I gritted my teeth and ate it, but you can’t raise kids like that these days.

“Kuuuh!”

The reaction like an old man’s doesn’t match her cute appearance, it’s awkward.

“Tasty?”

“…….”

But this time, Fairy Princess holds the bowl, closes her eyes slightly as if savoring.

She’s funny.

It’s like the reaction of someone tasting the unchanged broth from a hometown gukbap place after decades away.

But when she opens those savoring eyes, Fairy Princess’s gaze has changed.

“Giant, bring me my sword at once.”

“Huh?”

[Oh, ooh! Princess, finally.]

Why is RiceCookerMan overreacting again.

“I’d like a decent weapon. I might be able to pull my weight now.”

“Uh……. How about this Limit Break Flyswatter?”

I crack a joke at Fairy Princess’s indifferent gaze, but she seriously shakes her head.

“No, it’s not sharp. Well, if there’s no suitable weapon, a Dragon Bone weapon might do……. Ugh.”

Fairy Princess presses her forehead and closes her eyes slightly.

When she opens them again, her gaze is back to innocent and sparkling, and she shouts as if unaware of her own decibel level.

“Give me a dinosaur bone weapon too!”

[Ah, already worn off.]

Seeing that, I grilled RiceCookerMan first.

“Hey, RiceCooker, what’s up?”

[It’s literal awakening. Soon she’ll regain the dignity of the Fairy Queen!]

I heard that, and she does seem to be growing like that, but it’s a bit bittersweet.

Feels like when your daughter grows up fast and gets married.

Since the princess wants a Dragon Bone weapon.

I need to start crafting.

The bones, I can use them, right?

The existing Dragon Bone tool, the Dragon Bone Fishing Rod, was used as a substitute spine support for the Bone Dragon guy.

“But. That old dragon mister?”

[…….]

No response from the bone.

“Did I kill him?”

“No, he’s not dead! Try using mana!”

All of Fairy Princess’s advice is to use mana.

Well, she did ask for a weapon just now.

Since I got mana, infusing it isn’t hard, so I pour it in as the princess said.

“Not working?”

“Dragon Heart, bring it!”

“Ah? Yeah.”

She says to bring the Dragon Heart, so I equip the Dragon Heart I wasn’t wearing because the bulge is embarrassing, and pour mana.

[I was sleeping well, don’t wake me.]

“Ah, sorry.”

[Still, it’s refreshing……. Soak me in boiling water from time to time.]

This Bone Dragon is enjoying a hot spring with someone else’s home gas.

“I have a question.”

[What?]

“This bone broth, is it okay to feed to a baby dragon?”

[Come to think of it, I sense a faint dragon heart’s energy again. And a strange demon’s energy mixed in.]

He notices quick.

[If a hatchling is playing with Polymorph and getting overlaid with another race’s essence, it might not be a bad choice……. I’ll sleep, don’t wake…….]

He falls asleep abruptly.

“Alright. Yong-gae, drink more.”

I scoop another ladle for Yong-gae, who was just wetting her lips like CatMan licking milk.

She slurps happily, and something pops up above Yong-gae’s head.

<Dragon Special Effect>

For young dragons, effects of all consumed items are greatly amplified.

Then Yong-gae’s HP permanently increases by 500.

CatMan, me, and Nightmare Queen only got +2.

“Cheat race?”

They’re seriously overpowered.

Next, Yong-gae’s form, where wings and forelegs were indistinguishable, now has clear sprouting wings.

Yong-gae, feeling good, hops around.

“Awooooooo.”

She howls.

Me and CatMan, who were doing all sorts to train Yong-gae’s habits, both look at her with sour faces.

CatMan’s balding tail droops pitifully.

[…………This brat, shouldn’t we beat him like a dog? Meowww!?]

And the cat who said something bad gets bitten again, tail down.

November. It’s exam season now.

“Is this how I do it?”

I’m having Nightmare Queen do ribbon wrapping.

Through research via RiceCookerMan, I succeeded in making success candies that boost Intelligence by 150 for 48 hours, and adding Dragon Broth.

Boosts Intelligence, of course, and HP too.

Exams aren’t just about Intelligence.

HP has to back it up.

I have a sales channel through the director of NaBitNe Academy, and I plan to supply to those academy friends who opened the channel at a low price.

You might ask why special treatment for them, but they’re from Daejeon.

Why less money from Daejeon kids? If it’s unfair, dismantle the overcrowded Gangnam school district and disperse the students?

That’s my take on education.

“Hmm, it’s hard. Is this really pretty?”

“I!”

“Yes?”

“Believe you have the ability to create beauty.”

“Oh my, you’re getting more charming.”

With level 2875.

Charm exceeds 400 even without boosts.

Besides, the Dragon Broth (second bone stock) is brewed.

The rice cooker seemed low on amount, so I boiled it vigorously in a big pot like for bossam.

This time, a savory aroma comes out without garlic.

The gas station smell escaped from the first broth, it seems.

[Warm is just right.]

I worried he’d complain about pain, but it suits Bone Dragon’s taste.

The Dragon Bone doesn’t get holes or soften soaking in broth even when boiled.

[Ari Teacher.]

Gee, even after seeing the contract together, still Lee Soo-chan?

This is beyond memory, it’s cognition.

Some people never think their perception is wrong once set.

With those, show well once and get infinite trust, but mess up once and get nitpicked forever.

Honestly, the son-in-law Director Gong did wrong, but maybe a bit like that.

“Hello, sir. You’re almost out of medicine? I think I can give you an improved new drug.”

Still, since the one who volunteered for human testing contacted me.

[Ah, of course I need the medicine, but I have something to tell you.]

“Yes, any separate advice?”

[Not that……. It seems a report came in from your maternal grandmother’s house.]

Later I heard Mom installed a black box because of frost thieves.

Time to report, yeah.

Since me and old Kim used Grandma’s house as a base, it’s not strange to be caught or witnessed somewhere.

Especially Kim Chang-hwan, not only did he get beaten with a bat in the yard by his son-in-law, he stayed in Grandma’s village briefly when I wasn’t there.

The cries of the son-in-law begging to be saved because he’s sick would have echoed through the neighborhood, hard to miss.

More than anything, though with my permission, old Kim wearing Grandpa’s suit might be seen as a thief.

“Yes? Ah, yes. I’ll handle it.”

[It’s not a big deal, but the report content is concerning. Using an immature son……. Probably this is your mother. Does she still see you only as a good-for-nothing?]

“Yeah. She won’t believe. Even if I say I developed a dementia relief drug and treated patients like Grandpa, it won’t be verified.”

[Parents see kids as always kids, but for someone as excellent as you……. Anyway, I need to step in. I’ll arrange a spot next week, come out. Got it?]

“Aha, yes, yes.”

Ding, dingdingdingding.

The doorbell rings suddenly, so I hang up.

“Ah, sir. Sorry. Someone’s here.”

[You should buy a better house than there. Yes, understood.]

I finish the call with Kim Chang-hwan and look at the front door.

“Hmm, who……. I didn’t order anything?”

No one scheduled to come, no delivery ordered.

High chance of solicitor/religious person, so I ignore and pretend no one’s home.

Who rings doorbell in the morning assuming someone’s there?

Not gas inspection, disinfection. Not on schedule.

Ding dingdingdingding.

“Don’t you need to check?”

Nightmare Queen, tying ribbons beside me, asks quietly.

No, but who?

“Who is it?”

[Your mom.]

What crazy solicitor/religious person.

Starts with parent insult?

“Your mom?”

Saying “your mom” to provoke anger, make me open the door, then hold me and say it’s a survey.

I ignore and try to make packaging, but persistently ding dingding.

[You brat? Is this how you treat guests. Kim Joo-heon, hey!]

Knows my name too.

In a world without nameplate on the door, how does he know my name?

The tone and voice are similar, good at imitating my mom…….

“Gasp!?”

This sounds exactly like my mom’s voice?!

As soon as I recognize the voice, my upper body bolts upright stiffly.

Heard even privates don’t snap up at right angles these days?

No response yet.

The house right now…….

Other stuff aside, the baby, Fairy Princess is the issue.

Yong-gae likes the fridge, so put her there, RiceCooker and cat are fine to have, Nightmare Queen can pass as a figure, “Sigh, crazy guy.” but not weird.

But Fairy Princess has grown more, now looks kindergarten, elementary age, legs stretch long when lifted.

Not the three-year-old kid people have seen before.

Niece excuse?

Suddenly makes Jin Seong-hee a grandma, that work?

“What’s up?”

“Slee…….py. Noisy.”

Fairy Princess tosses.

This won’t do.

No matter what, hitting Mom in the back of the head to knock her out makes you a bastard.

“Hey hey hey. Queen, hey Queen!”

“Yes? What’s wrong.”

I grab and shake Nightmare Queen.

“Open the door for the person there and say this is your house. Okay?”

And when she sees the room, I portal away anything that could be mistaken as mine.

Fairy Princess, for unknown reason, portal and my spatial movement don’t work on her.

No choice but to strategize not to reveal this room.

Ding dingdingding.

[Kim Joo-heon! Not coming out?]

“Who are you to act like that? Knows the name.”

“No, Queen.”

“Yes. What should I do?”

“I’m pooping. Come back later. Can’t you say that?”

“…….”

“Why?”

“You’re vulgar…….”

First criticism from Nightmare Queen.