Chapter 59: They’re My Family

Go Nam-tae decided to track the curse.

Since the curse had suddenly disappeared, the culprit would likely come back to investigate the scene.

He had already left a small arrangement there.

He had densely spread pumpkins imbued with an energy similar to that of the Purification Pumpkin.

Due to the nature of the busy district, he could only place them in gaps between paving blocks or beneath the asphalt, but he still succeeded in covering the entire Goblin Mall with pumpkin vines.

Since he had not yet found any trace of the culprit, it was possible he had missed them.

However, as long as Go Nam-tae continued supplying magic power, the pumpkins would keep growing.

‘As long as they set foot on the ground, they’ll get caught eventually.’

The coordinates Go Nam-tae had asked Park Ki-beom for numbered three.

One still remained.

Asking to place coordinates inside the Erosion Zone had been a kind of preliminary practice for creating coordinates inside the Labyrinth.

Since he had entrusted Park Seong-yeon with the fixed-coordinate cube, the coordinates might already be forming by now.

They had agreed to open the gate only when there was just one coordinate, so there was no concern about opening it in crowded places.

He simply had not been able to grasp that coordinate yet.

“…Hah!”

After exerting himself for a long time, Go Nam-tae collapsed to the ground.

Danhong, whose own forehead was not even sweaty, anxiously wiped his.

—Boss, that was too hard. It didn’t work again, right?

“Yeah. But I think it might work if I try a few more times.”

Unlike the Labyrinth coordinates, which he could not grasp at all, this one felt just within reach if he pushed a little harder.

In terms of pressure, the Labyrinth had been the most difficult and overwhelming.

The Erosion Zone felt more like focusing a lens.

It seemed like it would open if he could just align that one point, but it kept teasing him by almost working.

“Let’s just focus on today’s work first!”

As Go Nam-tae gathered his supplies, Danhong spoke up knowingly.

—Boss, are we heading to the sea first today?

“Yeah. I’m going to make a lot of salt and start the garden too.”

—Wow, nice! I wanted to see that good kid who sprays water again!

The good kid who sprays water.

His rather ill-tempered ocean neighbor would probably not appreciate that nickname.

But Danhong quite liked the Labyrinth Shark.

Maybe it was because whenever Danhong waved, the creature sprayed even more water.

‘It probably thinks you’re teasing it.’

Of course, Go Nam-tae had no intention of revealing that truth.

The creature giggled and flew ahead like a lantern.

On the way to the sea, he packed various seeds for the first time.

To decorate the future garden site, he needed to diligently increase the number of seeds.

As Go Nam-tae brushed past the coastline, the irritable neighbor greeted him first.

Crash, splash!

—Shark, hi!

While the Four Guardian Beasts diligently collected water, Danhong waved enthusiastically.

But today, there was no time to linger.

When Go Nam-tae passed by almost ignoring it, the creature seemed to hesitate.

—Shark, we’re not playing here today. See you later!

At Danhong’s polite farewell, the creature quieted down.

As they moved past the shark’s beach, the atmosphere began to change.

They had entered territory outside Go Nam-tae’s domain.

Still, the path he had first created remained intact.

It was still recognized as a temporary territory.

Now, however, even simply making a road could establish territory.

[The paved road is recognized as the Boss’s territory.]

“Then I should widen the path all the way to the garden.”

‘Leave the paving to us!’

‘We’re good at it!’

He stopped Heung-bok, the Four Guardian Beasts, and Haeul’s group from starting immediately.

“We should work together. Let’s take it easy after we finish the garden.”

“…Okay.”

Rumble.

Deep underground, Heung-bok had already begun expanding.

It was not disobeying the Boss.

It was simply preparing.

A little further ahead, they reached the future garden site.

Calling it a “garden” was somewhat misleading.

The scale alone exceeded anything ordinary.

It was no exaggeration to say there was a field among the rocks at the center, which would become the core structure.

The rocks, arranged like prehistoric European ruins, were so massive they seemed like divine game stones.

As they passed between pillar-like rocks, even the sea breeze blowing head-on fell silent.

The inner space was large enough to fit the largest amusement park on Earth and still have room left.

Naturally, even Go Nam-tae felt overwhelmed.

“This alone will take more than a month to organize.”

[That should be sufficient.]

Considering the riverside development site was barely five percent complete, this was relatively light work.

On Earth, even ten construction companies working together would take a year for a project of this scale, but for Go Nam-tae, it was just a month.

[By the time it is organized, the fruit trees you plant first will begin bearing fruit.]

“Then I should decide where to plant them and start right away.”

[I have prepared several designs.]

Toto presented multiple versions of layouts.

Because the land was so vast, it could be decorated with various themes.

“Pick the ones you like.”

As Go Nam-tae handed over the choice, his companions eagerly selected their favorites.

The Four Guardian Beasts chose themes reflecting their directional deities, Haeul’s group chose orchards filled with fruit in each section, and Danhong chose a colorful landscape surrounded by flowers like a folding screen.

“Heung-bok, don’t you have one you like?”

When Go Nam-tae gently encouraged the hesitant one, Heung-bok spoke.

‘I like everything here, but I want to place my pumpkins on top of each rock.’

“Oh, that’s a good idea! Toto, can you make it work?”

[Yes, I will ensure pumpkin vines can serve as a background for all combinations.]

As Toto prepared a new design, Danhong waved its hands in protest.

—No! The Boss hasn’t chosen yet!

At those words, everyone looked at him in surprise.

Even Go Nam-tae flinched.

“Me…?”

Seeing their serious expressions, he thought for a moment.

Why was he making this garden?

…To relax comfortably and eat lunch in peace.

Then naturally, he needed a place to rest.

“I want a pavilion. Yeah, an orchard should have a pavilion.”

—What’s a pavilion?

“You know the wooden platform in our yard? It’s like that, but with a roof. People usually rest there or have picnics. Sometimes it’s built a bit higher to watch over crops.”

—Wow, that sounds great! Then let’s make it really, really tall!

“Why?”

—Then it’ll be easier to greet the shark. And maybe we can see other friends too.

Go Nam-tae often felt healed by the child’s innocence.

And every time, he wondered:

‘Why did the queen drive this child away?’

He nodded.

“Alright. Let’s build it tall.”

[I have prepared several versions.]

Toto presented designs reflecting his request.

But alongside the pavilion, there was also something resembling a resort.

“What’s all this?”

[The coast is getting closer. You may soon reach the sea.]

[It would be good to have a place to rest briefly after returning.]

It was quite large for a “brief” rest, but not a bad idea.

More like a villa.

Go Nam-tae chose the most modest design.

“Let’s go with this. If we build it between the pillars closest to the coast, it should get sunlight and have a great view.”

[I will finalize the design with that location.]

At that moment, he had no idea the villa would later be used for something else.

A “modest” villa with fifteen rooms, a shared living room, kitchen, bathroom, and bath was decided.

—Boss, then where do we build the pavilion?

“That’s obviously… here!”

Go Nam-tae pointed to the exact center of the design.

Considering the pavilion’s purpose, there was no better place.

“So how tall should it be—”

—This tall! That way we can greet the shark while eating lunch!

As Danhong suggested, it would exceed the height of a ten-story building.

But thinking about it, it was not a bad idea.

From there, he could oversee beyond the rocks, making it useful as a watchtower.

“Toto, can you make it that tall? And connect it to the rock pillars?”

[I will redesign it.]

Soon, Toto presented a design beyond expectations.

The central pavilion rose like a pillar, connected to surrounding rocks like umbrella ribs.

The challenge was how to connect them, as the nearest rock was over two kilometers away.

But Toto would not propose an impossible design.

[Fully grown Karda vines can extend vertically for thousands of kilometers.]

[For Heung-bok, reaching ten stories—or even the rocks—will not take long.]

Heung-bok waved its leaves energetically.

‘Leave it to me, Boss!’

His companions were… exceptionally capable.

Boom, rumble!

Crash, creak, thud!

The ground split, trees toppled, rocks shattered.

The garden was not being flattened like farmland.

The orchard areas were leveled, flower zones preserved natural terrain, and building areas kept trees while connecting streams.

Fallen trees and rocks were reused for paving paths, and leftovers were gathered for later use.

Splash!

Occasionally, waves crashed violently against rocks.

The ocean neighbor had followed them this far.

But the rocks stood firm like a breakwater.

No matter how much water it sprayed, it could not cross.

—Shark, hi!

At Danhong’s enthusiastic greeting, the creature calmed down.

—See? The shark was waiting for me!

“Yeah, looks like it.”

In Danhong’s hands was a small model.

It was a miniature of the entire area—complete with flower gardens, orchards, pavilion, and villa.

Not only his companions, but Go Nam-tae himself was highly skilled.

The tiny flowers, trees, and buildings were so detailed that one could live inside if shrunk.

He even made five versions—for Haeul’s group, the Four Guardian Beasts, Heung-bok, and one more for Kim Gu-bok.

The gift included a man resembling Go Nam-tae, a white weasel family, storm sprites, mischievous fire sprites, and a giant pumpkin surrounding them all.

—I’m doing well. And these are my family.

Whether Kim Gu-bok believed it or not.

This was how Go Nam-tae chose to say he was doing fine.

—Here! This is where my flowers go!

‘I’m here!’

‘Here and here!’

Everyone matched their areas with the model enthusiastically.

Even though they would all end up playing together anyway.

After finishing, Danhong ran back excitedly.

—Boss, it’s done! Are we building the pavilion now?

“Yeah, the pavilion first. But let’s eat lunch first—”

—Wow, the pavilion! Heung-bok, you need to grow tall now!

Sparks scattered everywhere.

And among them, small jewels rolled softly.