A day had passed since the Elves crossed over to Earth.
I wondered if they were all doing well.
Worried about how they spent their first day in this new place, I visited the Village of the Elves as soon as I woke up.
You’ve come.
“Good morning.”
The Chieftain greeted me with a warm, amiable smile.
His expression and tone were noticeably gentler than before.
After hovering between life and death, had his state of mind changed that much?
“How was your first day here? Is there anything you need?”
It’s very good.
The other Elves are satisfied, too.
Above all, unlike in Eliya, it’s safe here, which is good for the young Elves.
With so many new plants around, there’s never a dull moment for the mouth.
However…
The Chieftain, after showering me with compliments, let his words trail off as if there was something else he wanted to say.
Looking at his face, I could instantly tell what was on his mind.
“Meat, is it?”
- You noticed. Huhu.
“I have an appointment today, but if I have time, I’ll bring some meat. By the way, have you thought about how you’ll lead the tribe from now on?”
- I was just considering looking for work nearby. After all, people need something to do.
“I have an idea I’d like to discuss. Would you care to hear it?”
I brought up the idea of the Elves farming.
Fortunately, the Chieftain’s response was positive.
- That sounds good. Eating meat is a special treat. Our main diet is vegetarian, after all. Even though we’ve come here, we have no intention of giving up our identity, so the idea of farming and maintaining a vegetarian diet is quite appealing.
“I’ll think about which crops would be good to grow. For now, why not rest a bit? You were unconscious until recently, after all, and the whole tribe has just gone through a lot.”
Satisfied that the Elves were doing fine, I headed straight home.
I prefer to get ready early and arrive at appointment locations with plenty of time to spare.
Especially since it takes over two hours to get to the Kanghan Group headquarters in Seoul, I planned to prepare even earlier today.
- I’ll take care of the fields. You should focus on what only you can do.
Kasia, after picking up a bit of farming, seemed to have developed both interest and confidence.
Thanks to her, I could concentrate fully on getting ready for my trip to Seoul.
Truth be told, there wasn’t much to prepare besides washing up and changing clothes.
Before leaving, I checked and saw Kasia summoning the Spirit of Water to thoroughly moisten the fields.
“Don’t use the Spirit of Water on the Porti.”
- I know. Now off you go.
With that, I realized I only needed to fill in the gaps and let Kasia teach the other Elves directly.
‘Even if they’re not as good as Kasia, if they use spirits to farm, things should go well.’
I called a taxi to Seoul.
“Oh, and don’t close the Portal of Elia just yet.”
- I wasn’t planning to, but why do you ask?
“There are still plenty of unknown plants in Eliya. If I find something good, I want to try growing it here on Earth.”
- Understood. I’ll let you know before closing it.
Since Pa-rongee was small and slow, I was worried it might get lost in the crowded streets of Seoul, so I left it attached to Kasia’s arm.
“Pa-rongee, stay with Kasia and protect her until I tell you to come back.”
(Pya…)
It didn’t show any resistance—what a relief.
As long as it could cling somewhere, it didn’t seem to mind.
Anyway, I got into the taxi that had just arrived and headed to Seoul.
Unlike in Chilcheon-ri, the streets were crowded with people hurrying between tall, tightly packed buildings.
This was my first trip to Seoul since quitting my job as a porter.
Last time, I came because of the hospital and didn’t have a chance to look around.
It felt like being trapped in a forest of skyscrapers.
I hadn’t noticed before, but after living in the wide-open countryside, I found myself feeling a bit suffocated.
‘Wasn’t it near Gangnam Station?’
[ Ganghan Building ]
I pushed past the crowds and entered the largest and tallest building.
“How may I help you?”
“Ah! I have an appointment with the Chairman.”
The staff member’s face instantly stiffened.
His eyes shifted, as if he were looking at someone suspicious.
“I’m sorry, but appointments with the Chairman require advance confirmation. May I have your name?”
“Do Minho.”
The staff checked the computer, then shook his head.
“I’m sorry, but there’s no one by the name Do Minho on today’s schedule.”
“Huh? That can’t be right. Could you please check again?”
The staff’s expression grew increasingly uncomfortable.
“I’ve already checked. Perhaps you got the date wrong?”
Huh?
“No, I’m sure it was today….”
A moment of silence passed.
The staff eyed me with suspicion.
“Do you have any proof? An email or text message?”
Cold sweat broke out on my forehead.
I had set up this appointment by phone while I was in Eliya, so there was no such thing.
“Well, um…”
As I fumbled for words, the staff’s phone suddenly rang.
He answered, and his expression changed dramatically.
“Yes, yes. …Understood. I’m sorry.”
After hanging up, he looked at me, flustered.
“I apologize, Mr. Do Minho. There was a special note to contact someone when you arrived. I failed to check it in time.”
Phew, what a relief.
My body relaxed, and I let out a sigh of relief.
The staff picked up the internal phone.
“Mr. Do Minho has arrived.”
Finally, the reception procedure I was familiar with was underway.
There had been a slight hiccup, but in the end, everything worked out.
“Please wait a moment, and we’ll guide you in.”
After a short wait, Kang Daehan himself appeared in the lobby.
“Minho, welcome. You must’ve had a long trip.”
Chairman Kang Daehan greeted me warmly.
“It’s been a while. How have you been?”
“Of course, I’ve been well. The cafe on our building’s first floor serves excellent coffee. I often take guests there. Shall we go?”
Unlike typical cafes, the one on the first floor was mostly filled with business guests.
Looking around, I could tell why Chairman Kang Daehan had brought me here.
Besides the tables in the main area, there were quiet rooms prepared in the back.
Chairman Kang Daehan led me to the innermost room.
“Now, shall we get down to business?”
“Sure.”
“I heard from Secretary Kim Sanghyun. You asked about our company’s stance on marine pollution, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct. I recently became acquainted with the Merfolk, and they told me the sea is suffering because of too much trash.”
“Merfolk? Are they different from the Mermaid Princess’s mermaids?”
“Mermaids only exist in imagination, but Merfolk are real. Apparently, they’re well known among the fishermen. And I’ve met them myself.”
I relayed to Chairman Kang Daehan everything I’d discussed with the Merfolk.
“I see…. As I said before, Kanghan Group is a company. We don’t take on ventures that will lose money.”
A roundabout refusal.
It was the response I’d expected.
Cleaning up the polluted sea would not only cost a fortune, but there was little benefit for Kanghan Group.
After all, I was only here to ask for a favor, and just the fact that a conglomerate chairman was willing to hear me out was something to be thankful for.
But then, Chairman Kang Daehan’s next words were unexpected.
“To proceed with this, Kanghan Group alone isn’t enough. We’ll need support from the Government, environmental groups, and several civilian volunteers.”
“…Excuse me?”
“We’ll wait for their responses. That’s all there is to it.”
My uneasy predictions turned out to be completely wrong.
“I thought you would refuse.”
“Normally, that would be the right response.”
“Then why…?”
“There are three reasons. First, you’re a VIP of our group. That alone is enough reason. Second, if we take the initiative in protecting Earth, it will improve our corporate image. That positive image will also help when we later sell crops. Third, it won’t hurt to build a good relationship with the Merfolk. Someday, it could be useful.”
Chairman Kang Daehan had already established a business relationship with me, and after thinking it over, must have decided that this was advantageous for the group.
When I thought about it, it all made sense.
But there was one thing I couldn’t quite understand.
“Crops? Doesn’t Kanghan Group not deal in agricultural products? I thought my crops, since they have stats, were being sold through the Association of Superhumans.”
“The Elves—you managed to bring them safely to Korea, right? I heard your plan to put them in charge of farming. So, what will you do with their produce?”
“Well, Sanghyun… Ah! I didn’t even think of that.”
The crops I harvested were collected by Kim Sanghyun.
Special crops from another world that needed research were sent to the Research Center, and the regular crops with stats were sold with a premium to the Association of Superhumans, with leftovers being sold at the Auction House.
Money was deposited automatically, as if I’d set up an auto-hunt, so I’d forgotten about it.
“It’s fine if you don’t go through Kanghan Group. We’ve already benefited greatly thanks to you.”
“No, no, I’d prefer Kanghan Group. I just forgot for a moment.”
Chairman Kang Daehan seemed pleased with my answer, his smile satisfied.
The pride of a company head must be in building something beloved by people.
“By the way, the President of the Association said he would help, too. He’ll gather Hunters who can handle water and send them to support.”
“Great. Then leave the rest to me.”
Chairman Kang Daehan raised his left arm to check his watch.
“It’s already time. I have another appointment, so I’ll have to get going. I’ll contact you when I hear back from the government and organizations.”
With that, Chairman Kang Daehan left.
He really was a busy man.
The room was comfortable, so I decided to rest a bit before leaving, when someone knocked and entered.
“Mr. Minho.”
“Oh? Sanghyun? It’s good to see you in Seoul.”
“I rushed over as soon as I heard you were here. Are you free?”
“Yes, I am. I was just going to look around Seoul before heading back.”
“I know a great restaurant nearby—will you have a meal with me?”
“Of course.”
By the time I finished eating and headed back to Chilcheon-ri, it would be perfect.
The restaurant Sanghyun led me to was a Korean beef omakase place.
“Wow, how did you know I love beef…”
“Everyone in Seoul’s heard about it. You like Korean beef.”
“What! My reputation’s spread that far? I guess I should cut back.”
“Just kidding. Is there a Korean who doesn’t love Korean beef?”
During the meal, Sanghyun told me about his current work progress.
The Porti research results, the latest status on sales of the crops at the Association or Auction House, and so on.
“Porti research is going well. You saw the effect of the Intermediate Potion last time, right? Researcher Baek Seonwoo says to please wait for Intermediate Potion commercialization.”
“I heard the Intermediate Potion is amazing. That’s good news.”
“Are there any other special crops? I feel like they could have all sorts of strange abilities.”
“As a matter of fact, I do have one. Next time you come by, I’ll give you some for research.”
While talking with Chairman Kang Daehan, and getting so much help from Sanghyun from the Auction House days until now, I realized I’d been neglecting him.
I was glad to have the chance to catch up with him.
“This place is really good.”
“Isn’t it? I’ve always wanted to visit here with you.”
Normally, when we met for work, we barely exchanged greetings before getting on with our own tasks.
But now that the opportunity had come, there was so much to talk about.
After finishing our satisfying meal, we agreed to meet again next time I visited Chilcheon-ri and parted ways.
“Seems a shame to just go home. It’s been years since I’ve been in Seoul…”
Suddenly, Minjun came to mind.
‘We saw each other just a few days ago, but it was always Minjun coming to Chilcheon-ri. Maybe I should visit this time?’
A few days ago—at least in Earth’s time.
Having spent a week in Eliya, it felt like ages had passed.
When I contacted Minjun, he replied that he was at the Training Ground.
If he was at the Training Ground, he must mean the one in the Association of Superhumans Headquarters’ basement.
Any Hunter hopeful would want to see that.
‘Might as well check it out. They said I was a VIP, so they’ll let me in, right? Since I’m in Seoul anyway, I should ask my little brother to hang out with me~’
The Ganghan Building and the Association of Superhumans were only a block apart.
It wasn’t far, so I walked there, and somehow, Minjun was already waiting for me.
“What, how’d you know I was coming?”
“If you asked where I was, it was obvious. Plus, Mr. Daehan told me.”
“Mr. Daehan…? You mean Chairman Kang Daehan?! You’re close enough to call him by name?”
Turns out, Minjun and Chairman Kang Daehan went way back.
When Minjun first awakened, he got all sorts of offers from guilds, and he joined the one with the best deal.
But it turned out to be a scam, and he ended up being exploited for a year.
Chairman Kang Daehan recognized Minjun’s value and situation, paid a large sum to free him, and since then, they’d maintained a good relationship.
“Well, whatever. Have you eaten?”
“You’re just going to brush that off…? Yes, I ate.”
“Then coffee?”
“Had coffee, too…”
“Then why are you here?”
“Well, you know? I thought maybe we could check out the Training Ground in the Association Headquarters basement.”
Minjun looked at me with a knowing glint in his eye.
“Still dreaming of being a Hunter?”
“No, I’m a farmer now. I was just curious, is all.”
“Then let’s visit there for old times’ sake. The columbarium.”
My parents, who passed away in an accident.
Come to think of it, I hadn’t visited since I became a recluse.
Just an excuse, really.
“I’ll stop by the restroom first, so call a taxi.”
We left the Association of Superhumans and got a taxi.
The driver was bald and wore sunglasses.
‘He gives off a real Veteran Aura.’
The taxi driver seemed the silent type, starting the car without a word.
“Wait a minute. I have someone with me.”
There are drivers who just start driving and then ask for the destination.
So I didn’t think much of it, but the car kept going.
‘Hmm? Maybe he’s hard of hearing?’
Thinking he might not have good hearing, I decided I should get out before we got too far.
So I raised my voice, louder than before, to make sure he heard.
“Excuse me! Sir!”
Yet the car kept going, weaving through the traffic out of Seoul as if he truly were a veteran.
While I wondered how to get him to stop, the taxi slowly began to decelerate.
‘Is this what you’d call a kidnapping? I haven’t even told him the destination.’
Everything felt suspicious, so I hurriedly jumped out of the taxi.
The driver got out and followed me.
“Sir, you need to pay before you go.”
“You… who are you?”
As I took a step closer, the driver jumped back, widening the distance.
‘That’s not a normal person’s movement. Is he a Hunter? My aura sense isn’t picking up any mana, though.’
Aura sense won’t detect mana if the opponent is either an ordinary person or a Hunter of a higher grade.
I had a feeling things were getting dangerous.
“Do Minho. I finally found you. Because of you….”
“Who are you?”
The taxi driver slowly took off his sunglasses.
That bald head, that middle-aged face with a paunch you’d see walking down the street.
Where had I seen him before…?
“Yeongjin Jeon?”
“You know me? Was it Kanghun who told you? No, it must’ve been Junhyeok Lee.”