Chapter 32: If You Go Out Now, It’s All Over

“Wow, this feels like it’s getting kind of big, doesn’t it?”

Gonamtae was starting a new project.

It began with the simple idea of making a room to store newly made kimchi.

But somehow, it turned into digging out a brand-new cavern on the scale of a full warehouse.

“...Is it really okay for this to get this big?”

At first, he had only planned to make a small earthen cellar, but before he knew it, kimchi was no longer the only goal.

If it was about aging, there was cheonggukjang, and there were also meju blocks.

Since he was already at it, he kept increasing the size, and the scale kept growing.

“Are there other foods that need aging? Then should I dig a bit more?”

Something felt like it was right on the tip of his tongue, something important, but he could not recall it immediately.

It was really important, too….

[It may be better to leave one wall empty so you can dig more later if needed.]

[Making it long like a corridor and turning both sides into separate aging rooms seems efficient.]

[You could even dig an entirely different cave.]

“Yeah, that sounds good.”

And so, at last, the storage cave was born.

To anyone who saw it, it would seem dark, secretive, and filled with an ominous scent….

Since this cave was also part of the house, the entrance connected directly to the storage room.

To make use of the stones dug out during excavation, a special connecting passage was built.

First, pile up dirt to shape it, then stack stones on top, and use ‘Bond!’ and it is done.

Once the dirt used to shape it is removed, a perfect arched passageway is revealed.

‘I’ll clear out the dirt!’

Heungbok cleared the inner dirt in an instant, then showed his ambition.

‘Next time you make something like this, I’ll shape it myself instead of dirt.’

It was the moment Heungbok, who already acted as a crane, an excavator, and a hoist, expanded into being formwork as well.

After even the Divine Beasts finished washing the stone caves with water, the system immediately proved their performance.

[Boss’s Kimchi Storage]

[Maintains optimal kimchi aging levels.]

[Aging speed can be adjusted by section.]

[Boss’s Meju Aging Room]

[Optimal temperature and humidity control for fermentation is active.]

[Mold control and accelerated aging are possible.]

The kimchi storage preserved not only step-by-step aging but also flavor.

The meju aging room could even function as a sauna if needed.

“Turned out pretty well, right?”

Beep beep beep beep beep!

Thump thump thump thump!

Once again, it was the kind of craftsmanship and completion that would leave crafting-type Awakeners feeling hollow.

When he came out after looking around the stone cave, green vines were gently swaying.

“Thanks, Heungbok. Thanks to you, it was easy to build.”

‘May I cover the roof here, Boss?’

Heungbok shyly shook his leaves while pointing toward the connecting passage above.

Even obvious things, he always asked so politely.

“Of course. Every roof I build is your place.”

Rrrrumble!

For a moment, it felt like an earthquake shook somewhere.

Startled, he looked at the ground, but thankfully there was no further tremor.

‘Was that my imagination?’

Just in case, he asked Toto.

“Did an earth dragon come back nearby? Or was there an earthquake?”

[There are no earth dragons nearby.]

[It was not an earthquake.]

…Toto only spoke facts.

Tremble.

One vine-hand stretched out stiffly as if having a seizure, then curled back up again.

At the sight, Gonamtae’s eyebrows danced.

‘Big body, but really scared of everything.’

Gonamtae gently patted and stroked Heungbok’s leaves.

To reassure his followers, the only solution was to expand the territory as soon as possible.

But the moment he turned around—

An image flashed through his mind: a small pumpkin on the roof opening up, aiming its stem like a cannon barrel and firing seeds.

…It was a really strange dream.

“All right, let’s move the kimchi jars now. …Yeah, set that one aside, that’s for sir. Ah, and that boiled pork is also sir’s, so it’s in a container. Ha ha, of course I’ll make more for you all!”

At Gonamtae’s words, they began moving again in perfect unison.

Amid that small commotion, the cautious sounds echoing underground were quietly buried.

‘Careful, careful….’

Heungbok reflected.

He had gotten too excited earlier and let the Boss feel the vibration.

One mistake was enough.

He quietly resumed his work.

Deep underground, between thick roots, something was standing densely packed.

Sharp thorn spears that would tear flesh apart at the slightest brush were being refined again.

Sharper, more venomous….

Kim Gubok’s family gathered in the room first, forgetting even to sort their belongings.

They placed two boxes on the dining table.

At a glance, they looked like mass-produced goods, but on closer inspection, they were boxes made of luxurious wood.

“Honey, open the letter first.”

“Okay, just a moment.”

The hand opening the note Gonamtae had sent trembled slightly.

—I made this kimchi myself, along with some boiled pork. It’s still lacking, but it should be good if you eat it with the pork. I also made the containers, so feel free to keep and use them.

“Oh my goodness!”

“Wow, what is this guy? He even made kimchi!”

“What? Then is this kimchi inside? There’s no smell at all?”

Kim Jaewon, who checked Gonamtae’s note last, widened his eyes.

“I-it’s meat! Dad, open it quickly!”

“Kim Jaewon, don’t go around saying you’re my younger sibling.”

“You too, sis! You’re drooling!”

Leaving the bickering siblings alone, Kim Gubok opened the lid.

Even though they already knew what was inside, the family’s eyes widened in shock.

What came out of the first box was a chunk of meat that still seemed to be steaming, as if it had just been boiled.

“What kind of meat is this!”

Drawn in by the irresistible aroma, the family instinctively swallowed.

While Kim Gubok sliced the meat, Go Miyoung opened the second box.

The kimchi box made them even more alert.

“Doesn’t this kimchi feel like it’s giving off some kind of… energy…?”

It was the magical aura of the sea salt Gonamtae had made.

Mixed with other ingredients, its rank was obscured, but its inherent energy could not be completely hidden.

Just waiting until the meat was sliced and the kimchi plated pushed their patience to the limit.

The parents picked up their chopsticks first, and the siblings, who were half a beat late, reached out almost at the same time.

The moment meat, kimchi, and rice entered their mouths together, everyone froze.

…After that, there was nothing to describe their actions except chopsticks moving and jaws chewing.

Only when the chopsticks scraped against an empty plate did the meal end, and even then, they sat in silence for a while.

The first to break it was Go Miyoung.

“I thought the kimchi made with the chili powder Nephew Namtae sent before was the best…!”

The family all silently agreed.

Even the freshly made kimchi from the day before was enough to throw them into shock.

But… this was different.

‘I thought my wife’s kimchi was the best in the world.’

‘How can this be better than Mom’s kimchi?’

Unlike the family, who kept their amazement internal, Go Miyoung expressed it freely.

“It’s better than mine! I’m seeing Nephew Namtae in a new light. Does he have some kind of secret?”

If there was a secret… of course there was.

Labyrinth mountain salt, labyrinth mountain chili powder, those mattered, but there was something even more important.

The Boss’s touch.

The Boss’s magical power spread wide and deep.

It was only natural that it affected the Boss’s ‘cooking.’

There was plenty of meat, but the appetite of young, vigorous Awakeners exceeded even that.

In the end, Kim Gubok chased the siblings away.

“This much is for your mom and dad! You two go make some ramen or something!”

In truth, ninety percent of it had already been eaten by the two of them.

The siblings went off to cook ramen with awkward expressions.

As they watched their parents continue eating fondly after the siblings left, they whispered.

“Wow, I totally lost control while eating!”

“Me too! And I still want more after all that.”

“Seriously… it’s too good!”

“What kind of meat was that? I’ve never tasted anything like it.”

“Just eat it while saying ‘thank you.’”

“Who’s arguing?”

The siblings whispered with their eyes.

‘What floor is that guy on?’

‘What kind of ability did that guy awaken?’

But they did not dare ask Gonamtae.

Knowing only what he told them was enough.

They quietly folded away their curiosity.

Still, another question lingered.

“He even made those containers? How do you make something like that out of wood?”

“Namtae was always good with his hands.”

The siblings met eyes and spoke at the same time.

“Could those be item appraisals too…?”

At that moment, someone knocked on the door.

“Aren’t you open for business?”

“I need corn, hurry!”

It was the regular customers.

One of them had become quite well known, enough that they knew his name.

‘It’s Mr. Park Yuseok.’

‘It’s Brother Park Yuseok.’

In an instant, fire lit up in the siblings’ eyes.

‘You go out! It’s your turn this time!’

‘I went first yesterday!’

‘No, it was me!’

If you went out now, it was all over.

The ramen was at the absolute point of no return, just about to finish cooking.

“Yes, coming!”

As their parents stood up, the siblings hurriedly fought a duel of the ages.

‘Rock, paper, scissors!’

“…Yes, I’ll go!”

As she opened the door with a bright smile, Kim Seonghye’s lips trembled slightly.

Reclaiming the riverside area was progressing steadily.

No further traces of curses had been found in the reclaimed land so far, and several areas had already been planted.

Starting the day before yesterday, they had begun paving the cleared roads.

“If the engineering corps knew about this, they’d try to recruit you immediately.”

At his words, the ones juggling rocks grinned.

There was no asphalt or cement in the labyrinth, so stone was the main paving material.

When he broke the stones, Ha-eul’s group and the Divine Beasts assembled the ground like fitting together a puzzle.

Aside from Heungbok being restless because he could not participate, the paving work was going smoothly.

“Heungbok will probably come along this road on his own soon. Then won’t you lose your share?”

Beep beep beep beep beep!

Thump thump thump thump!

It sounded like laughter… but a bit awkward.

Gonamtae brushed it off, thinking they were just disappointed about losing their share since they were workaholics.

Crunch.

As they moved along the road, a root that heard its name flinched and stopped.

It wanted to rise up immediately, but Heungbok held back.

They had to head as soon as possible to where the remnants of the curse remained.

‘I need to inspect it so the Boss won’t feel anxious!’

Crunch, crunch.

Carefully.

The roots moved forward a bit more.

When Gonamtae arrived at the reclaimed land, green and yellow rice fields greeted him.

Growth here was slower than near the house, and harvest would take a bit longer.

Even so, it was only by a few days.

The field planted first was waiting for harvest today.

Monsters showing their presence through fierce battles as soon as he arrived.

Panicking, thinking Hamu and Hagi were about to be eaten.

And on top of that, the previous Boss’s curse….

After experiencing all sorts of things, this new harvest felt all the more meaningful.

“For the first harvest here, I’ll make rice cakes!”

‘What are rice cakes?’

‘Are they tasty?’

“Of course they’re tasty! Chewy and soft and….”

The Boss’s voice rode the wind and spread far.

‘What are rice cakes…?’

Someone was secretly watching him from afar.