Chapter 16: Master of Sikhye (1)

“So? You’re saying we lost one?”

It was said to be a world where neither levels nor magic power existed.

Because of this, the human world beyond the gate was expected to be easily conquered. However, the conquest was facing unexpected difficulties due to a dungeon guarded by a giant tribe.

[“They didn’t return. The gatekeeper defending the dungeon beyond the gate is no ordinary being.”]

The beings who could absorb levels from humans without exterminating them, using human dreams as a resource, found their world transformed when humanity was wiped out, taking their levels and technology with them.

As a result, the industry they had sustained for thousands of years collapsed, leaving them unemployed.

“They’re using a giant tribe as the gatekeeper. The interior looked like a house inhabited by giants.

There were several giants, and the gate is open inside their flame dungeon. This flame dungeon was artificially created by the giants.”

“Giants, huh? Even if they’re giants, it shouldn’t be a big deal if we dominate their minds with magic or possession.”

“It seems impossible because they’re too massive. Plus, our levels are low. The giants were already at level 69.”

“Level 69…”

The Queen of Nightmares was born at level 40,000, a supreme being who didn’t need to level up.

Because of this, double-digit levels were laughable to her.

In this world, having a double-digit level was considered impressive, but the gap between a double-digit level and a five-digit level was as vast as the difference between someone with 1 million won and someone with 10 billion won.

She was a noble existence.

The Queen of Nightmares questioned the LV39 specter.

“Is it too much for you to go back?”

Crossing the gate meant you couldn’t return unless you had the power to open another gate from the other side.

However, there were beings capable of crossing the gate freely—specters, souls that sought the warmth of a physical body.

Since most of these specters were once human, they could produce sweet, persuasive voices to sway people.

Without physical bodies, they were unbound by spatial limitations.

Though there was a chance they might betray and side with the humans, they were still suitable as scouts for crossing the gate.

[“The gatekeeper seemed ruthless. My comrade, who possessed a beautiful young woman and approached wearing revealing clothes, didn’t faze them at all.”]

“Is that so? Not even a flinch?”

[“Well, judging by the two posters of a beautiful young man on the wall…”]

“Hmm, I see. So it’s a place where such preferences are common? No wonder it’s doomed.”

The Queen of Nightmares was surprisingly conservative despite her appearance.

“So, are you going or not?”

[“No way, find someone else.”]

“You’re really refusing?”

The Queen of Nightmares issued a subtle threat.

But the LV39 specter scoffed, as if snorting without a nose.

[“Pfft.”]

“Want to die?”

[“What’s the difference? Die there or die here.”]

The specters were utterly uncontrollable.

Even now, when she tried to send a specter to gather information, none would obey.

“So, how did you become a specter? You don’t seem like someone who died during the great extinction, given how cooperative you are.”

[“I was straining during a bathroom break, and that was that.”]

The Queen of Nightmares suddenly wanted to pinch her nose.

“…I see. Well, why don’t you recommend another specter?”

[“I know a strong specter. Even though they’re human-born, their level is quite high. Why not send them?”]

“Fine. Bring them to me.”

***

I was looking up how to make makgeolli.

“Cook sticky rice… Can you make sticky rice?”

I’d been thinking about selling medicine or rice, but I shifted gears a bit.

Selling medicine, realistically, is tough to find a market for. It’s not like I can just get a monkey or become one myself.

So, how about making and selling makgeolli? Something like a small-batch traditional liquor.

[“Unfortunately, you’d need a pot for that!”]

Selling rice is impossible for high profits given RiceCookerMan’s capacity, which is suited for single-person households.

So, I thought about diluting it.

Nothing beats adding water for volume, right?

The most obvious food made by mixing water with rice is makgeolli, so I looked up home brewing methods, but I got stuck at the sticky rice part.

My cooking skills are limited to making rice, instant noodles, and meal kits—not exactly stellar.

I’m a bit intimidated by the idea of making rice in a pot.

“What, you’re saying you’re not versatile enough to make all sorts of rice? Like, if you grind rice, it doubles in volume or something?”

[“I can do it quickly, but doubling the rice volume? That’s impossible!”]

“Of course. You’re not a mortar that magically increases grain when you pound it.”

This isn’t some Joseon-era fantasy where RiceCookerMan doubles the rice output when you put rice in.
And where would you even store that?

[“I’m not dual-core, you know.”]

“…Are you some spirit from another world?”

I asked, dizzy from the dual-core quip.

When I saw the LV44 specter, they didn’t know what a doorbell or hot pants were.

If it had been dolphin shorts, they might’ve scolded Room 202 despite being a specter.

[“A spirit… maybe!”]

“Don’t dodge the question, you punk.”

[“You’re sharp.”]

“Yeah, real sharp, huh?”

RiceCookerMan’s tone changed.

Is this the machine rebellion I’ve been dreading?

Sure, a talking rice cooker is useful for guarding and keeping me healthy, but if you think about it, a talking rice cooker is practically a yokai.

I’d feel bad smashing it since it was my mom’s favorite, but what can you do?

[“To be precise, when I’m used by a being, I can gain a certain level of knowledge about that world based on their intelligence stat! I’m kind of a reincarnated entity!”]

“Oh, so intelligence boosts comprehension when you get a new life or body? You’re saying you’re absorbing this world’s knowledge?”

[“Exactly! Electronic knowledge flows in. Voltage equals current times resistance. Ohm’s law!”]

This guy might not even be from another world.

“What about the specter that possessed Room 202? You saw it, right? Did it gain knowledge or leave anything behind?”

[“I’m not sure.”]

Seeing Room 202 reflexively blurt out, “Hug me,” it feels like some kind of grudge lingered.

If that’s the case, does that mean the specter’s memories stayed, giving them knowledge about this world or what’s happening?

That’s a bit unsettling.

By the way, Room 202 is such a weird woman.

After something like that, wouldn’t most people think their new place is haunted and move out?

Is she looking for her kitchen knife?

“Whatever, let’s go with sikhye.”

After scouring the internet, I realized making makgeolli is more complicated than I thought.

So, I decided to make sikhye instead.

Given my former job, making something like alcohol that can’t be sold to those under 19…

“Former teacher, arrested for unlicensed liquor sales.”

No matter how I look at it, I need a new job. It feels like I’m being forced to be moral.

I followed a recipe to make sikhye with RiceCookerMan.

Apparently, you can make brownies with a rice cooker too, so I’m thinking of buying a brownie kit to try.

Chirp chirp chirp.

I heard someone walking in the hallway.

“Please leave it at the door. Thank you.”

It’s Room 202’s voice.

She’s getting delivery today.

That’s typical for students living alone. I usually eat delivery food on weekends when there’s no school cafeteria, but lately, since I’ve been cooking, I couldn’t help but blurt out:

“Smells good.”

[“Really?”]

“Yeah, pizza smell.”

[“Oh.”]

“What?”

[“I thought you meant the smell coming from me!”]

Why’s it acting all cheerful and sulky?

The doorbell rang again, this time at my place.

“Uh, excuse me.”

It’s Room 202’s voice. What does she want now?

I checked the intercom cautiously, and she was holding something—a box this time.

At least it’s not a knife, so I opened the door.

“Yes, what’s up?”

“Want some of this?”

Room 202 opened the box and offered me pizza. The smell was amazing.

“Uh, why?”

“I can’t eat it all.”

It’s from a pizza place I order from sometimes. It’s a bit much for one person.

You could force it down, but I usually make two meals out of one pizza.

Room 202 is skinny except for her legs, so it makes sense she can’t finish it.

“But why a large?”

“Because delivery fees are 2,000 won for a large.”

“Aha.”

I get it—I order large too, thinking it’ll last more than one meal.

But when the price difference is over 5,000 won, it feels like a loss.

And somehow, the delivery fee feels like an even bigger loss.

I’d love to add a cheese ball to the order, but anyway, isn’t this like the modern equivalent of the traditional move-in rice cake sharing, but with pizza?

She brought the whole box, so I grabbed a plate and happily took some slices.

The delivery was quick, and the cheese stretched nicely.

“Thanks. I’ll enjoy it.”

“Take more!”

“Huh? Oh, right.”

“It’s half-and-half.”

“Oh, yeah.”

Since the toppings were different, I took another slice, but she still looked troubled, so I grabbed one more.

I’m supposed to be eating sikhye, though.

“I’ll eat well.”

“E-enjoy!”

It’s like those older female teachers who always share food—this is that vibe.

Room 202 went back to eat her meal.

Two slices should be fine to heat up in RiceCookerMan, right?

Chirp chirp chirp.

“Ot?”

What now? Just eat the pizza. Why’s she back?

Pizza’s good whether it’s hot or cold, but the best part is when the cheese stretches, right?

“What’s up? Should I give it back?”

“Here.”

“Huh?”

“Hot sauce.”

“Oh, thanks.”

Getting hot sauce too feels a bit weird. Does she like me?

With my charm at 22, it’s unlikely, but…Who knows?

If everyone’s level is 1, maybe a single-digit charm stat is normal, and mine’s high?

“Why are you being so nice?”

“W-well, you helped me with the exorcism, didn’t you?”

I don’t think the exorcism was entirely successful.

Yesterday, I heard her yelling, “Why are you searching how to have a baby, you crazy woman?!”

She said possession is her thing.

But isn’t that something everyone’s curious about, even if they know? It happens.

I don’t know why she’s yelling at the wall, though.

“You don’t think there’s a vengeful spirit in this apartment or anything, right?”

If so, move out.

I’d love for rumors of a haunted apartment to spread so I could live here alone and the rent would plummet.

I do feel a bit bad for the landlord grandpa, though.

“No, just… things I can’t see keep getting tangled up.”

“Oh, I see. Is that why you’re wearing three rosaries?”

Now that I look, Room 202 has tripled the rosaries on her wrist.

“These are rose rosaries blessed by the Popes in the Vatican. This one’s from John Paul II, this one’s from Benedict XVI, and this one’s from Pope Francis. The ones blessed by Benedict XVI are rare since his reign was short…”

“Uh, yeah, okay.”

Good thing she’s not trying to convert me.

I do have a baptismal name, but I cut her off here in case she tried to bond over faith.

“Anyway, thanks for being so thoughtful.”

“No, it’s fine. I can’t eat it all anyway. Go inside.”

“Thanks. You too. I’ll eat well.”

Room 202 turned to leave but then turned back.

I closed the door, but I heard her scream.

“Oh, pickles!”

She’s about to barge in again, so I shouted, “You don’t have to give me those. I’ll eat it with kimchi!”

“With kimchi!?”

What’s her deal? This neighborhood is right next to the hometown of kimchi pizza and sweet-and-sour pork.

Didn’t she go to school here last semester?

Of course, I’m not actually planning to eat pizza with kimchi.

“Uh, what about cola?”

Stop it.

I’ve got three 1.25-liter bottles of restaurant-grade cola left since switching to zero-sugar.

***

The sikhye I’d been brewing in RiceCookerMan was done.

Stamina +20, Intelligence +40

“What’s with the intelligence boost?”

Rice gave a stamina buff, but sikhye gives an intelligence buff.

And a pretty significant one at that.

“Why do you eat so much snac—uh, I mean, why do you eat like that?”

“You Novak, I’m reflecting on using harsh words with kids.

“Why do you eat like that? Is it okay to say that?”

“Ugh, I’m studying, and my blood sugar’s low, so I’m eating!”

Kids who study poorly say their brains don’t work when their blood sugar drops, and they go to the convenience store even after eating school lunch. There’s probably some correlation there.

“It’s sweet.”

My head does feel sharper.

But aside from the mental boost, the sugar might be taxing my liver and pancreas, so I drank it in moderation.

The buffed rice’s effects varied depending on how much I ate.

If I let this ferment in the heat, wouldn’t it turn into makgeolli?

***

I woke up and…

“…What the hell?”

My body won’t move as I want.

W-what’s happening?

I can’t even speak. Is this sleep paralysis?

“Are you awake?”

And someone else is speaking with my voice.

I’m clearly in my own body, but it feels like I’m watching through someone else’s eyes.

“Hey, giant friend. I haven’t fully taken over. Interesting. Even with the level difference.”

I’m not saying this, but my mouth is moving.

[“What’s going on?”]

I’m trying to speak with intent, but no words come out.

My voice isn’t audible—it’s like a thought floating in the air.

It’s as if my words are appearing as a message in the void.

“What’s this? I broke through the infernal heat to possess your low-level body. You must have some obsession with strength, huh? All your stats are in strength.”

[…..!]

“If you’re thinking of borrowing a rosary from the girl next door, hold off.”

[“What?”]

It’s reading my thoughts completely.

This is insane.

If I could move, I could fight it like Room 202 did when two beings coexisted in one body, switching control.

“It’d actually work, you know. The gods here seem to have some divine power.”

[“What are you talking about? I’m trying to borrow it to exorcise you.”]

“I could be helpful to you. Why try to get rid of me?”