Chapter 38. The First Hero (32)
Seongchan believed Peuten was imagining the same changing Terk Kingdom that he was.
That was why he wanted to ask.
"Are you really okay giving me a location this good? A place that might eventually become the best area?"
"It's fine."
Peuten smiled calmly.
"I'm buying all the houses around it."
"You've got ambition."
Seongchan grinned.
"What if everything fails?"
"Do you really believe that will happen? I'm working precisely so it won't."
They understood each other immediately.
Both Seongchan and Peuten were already picturing the future.
Even though the real battle hadn't begun yet.
"Shall we start business in our new place?"
"I'll go advertise."
"We'll go too!"
"I'm buying sweet glazed potatoes today! We'll go advertise!"
Peuten, Hae-reun, and the children all left to promote the new shop.
Only Na-ye remained with Seongchan.
"Will this really become the best location?"
"The area near the plaza will probably stay better."
Seongchan shrugged.
"They sell sweet glazed potatoes there, after all."
"Right? The plaza area is the best."
Under normal circumstances, development centered around the plaza.
By comparison, the area around the Original Wild Pig Soup restaurant was filled with empty houses.
It was difficult to imagine this place becoming the best district.
"Then think about it this way."
"How?"
"Imagine this area becoming a district where people come every single day without stopping. Just like the plaza."
"Is that even possible?"
There were empty houses everywhere.
The only active building was Seongchan's shop.
The neglected road was covered in weeds.
CRASH!
As if trying to prove Na-ye's point, the roof of an abandoned house suddenly collapsed.
Fortunately, it was far away from Seongchan's shop.
Another house had a hole in its wall.
It was hard to picture a bright future.
"So are you planning to buy a house near the plaza?"
"No..."
Na-ye lowered her eyes.
"I don't have any money."
"Really?"
"Yes. The villagers had no money, so I paid them to buy their land."
"Did you do the same in Tolkan Village?"
"Yes. I think around eighty percent of it belongs to me now. I even bought the abandoned land around it."
Na-ye continued,
"I don't mind if they build houses and live there. I just ask them to pay a small amount for using the land."
"You did well."
"Did I?"
She looked doubtful.
"Everyone got angry and asked why I did something like that. And after receiving the money, some villagers started acting colder toward me."
Her voice became quieter.
"I even told them they didn't have to pay anything if things were too difficult."
"You once used all the money you received to buy ingredients for the villagers, didn't you?"
"How did you know?"
Na-ye stared at him.
"They even complained that I arrived late because I stopped to buy those things..."
Every sentence seemed to bring back another unpleasant memory.
Seongchan decided to change the subject.
"They just don't understand."
He headed toward the kitchen.
"Let's start preparing."
He pulled Wild Pigs from his high-grade subspace pouch.
"We don't have any prepared ones left."
Several Wild Pigs landed on the cutting table.
[I want to help too!]
[Do you think you can? I don't just spray water randomly, you know.]
[I watched you. I can do it.]
[It's harder than it looks. I lost control of my strength so many times that I sprayed water all the way into the sky.]
If and Ella began arguing.
At first, Ella's only job had been providing water for the cauldron.
But over time, she'd learned to peel ingredients and even help prepare them.
Watching her made If want to try too.
Ella didn't look pleased.
She looked like someone had invaded her territory.
If, controlling the fire is already enough. Focus on that.
[I can do it too!]
Seongchan imagined a blade of fire slicing vegetables and burning them black.
Then he imagined Wild Pig fur catching fire until the entire carcass turned into charcoal.
He couldn't picture a good outcome.
Through their emotional connection, those vivid images transferred directly to If.
[You have learned Vivid Thought Transmission (S)!]
It was a skill normally obtained only after learning Spirit Language (S).
It allowed him to convey situations directly through thoughts without speaking.
And because of its effect, If looked ready to cry.
It forced itself to frown so the tears wouldn't come out.
[That's mean!]
"Hiiii! Hiiing!"
If curled its whole body, hurt and frustrated as it accepted the reality.
Ella floated around If proudly, showing off.
Seongchan liked If's enthusiasm.
But he didn't want to force the spirit into doing something unsuitable just to prove it would go wrong.
That was why he'd ended it with imagination alone.
If, you're already doing well just by controlling the fire.
The curled-up If slowly lifted its tail and peeked at Seongchan.
The tears of flame it had been holding back finally streamed down.
Seongchan forced an awkward smile.
Seeing that smile, If shouted.
[You've changed!]
Our If has changed a lot too.
After shouting, If finally relaxed.
Its emotions flowed toward him.
The hurt had decreased.
In its place was motivation.
[I can control fire!]
[I can control water.]
Compared to when If had been depressed and Ella had constantly tried to take care of it, this was much better.
If could complain now.
Ella could speak casually to it.
It's about time Na-ye called Silnyang too.
Seongchan wanted to create an opportunity for Na-ye and Silnyang to become closer.
"Ella is helping me, but Na-ye, do you want to help prepare ingredients too?"
"Me?"
"You can call Silnyang."
"How? Silnyang doesn't even respond when I call."
Seongchan pulled a preparation knife from his high-grade subspace pouch.
It's about time Na-ye and Silnyang started properly exchanging emotions too.
Na-ye visibly became nervous.
The moment she touched a blade, Silnyang would probably appear and throw a fit.
Even Na-ye's eyes shook as she looked at the knife.
"Silnyang came out once already. Try holding it."
"If something goes wrong, all the prepared ingredients could get blown away."
"Ella can take care of that."
Seongchan looked toward his water spirit.
"Right?"
"Hiiiii!"
Na-ye's voice trembled.
She seemed ready to refuse.
But after Ella's confident response, she lowered her head.
Ella wore an expression full of confidence.
Na-ye wanted to escape.
Unfortunately, no one was supporting that option.
Get yourself together.
Na-ye lifted her head.
She had to change.
"I'll hold it."
"Even if Silnyang appears, don't show fear."
Seongchan warned her.
"That'll only make Silnyang more upset."
Every time Na-ye tried holding a sword, Silnyang had used its entire body to tell her not to.
Seeing that again and again had made Na-ye afraid of touching blades.
There aren't many ways to force Silnyang to appear without having her hold a weapon.
Silnyang came out when Na-ye was in danger.
Or when its anger had eased enough.
Right now, the spirit was so frustrated by its master's habit of enduring everything that it refused to appear normally.
Still, it should be about time for its mood to improve.
And if not?
