Chapter 14
It was a good thing Chaeri was asleep.
Her young body wouldn’t have been able to handle clearing two floors in a row.
[Will you enter the Tower (Seoul) 5th Floor?]
Safe Zone.
Davise carefully kissed Chaeri’s forehead through the blanket.
“I’ll be back, Chaeri.”
For some reason, he felt sad, as if he were parting from her.
Was this what it felt like to be a father saying goodbye to his daughter?
This wasn’t easy either.
[You have entered the Tower (Seoul) 5th Floor.]
And then, 13 seconds later.
[You have cleared the Tower (Seoul) 5th Floor.]
[Clear Grade: L (Legend)]
An L-grade clear up to the 5th floor.
[Hall of Honor – 4th Floor]
[South Korea]
1. Seubida: Legend (Seoul)
[Hall of Honor – 5th Floor]
[South Korea]
1. Seubida: Legend (Seoul)
From the 1st to the 5th floor. Seubida swept all the 1st place rankings.
Returning to reality with Chaeri, Davise laid her down on the bed.
“Good to see you again.”
It was a reunion after a whopping 13 seconds.
Yet it felt long. Too long. It was stifling.
‘I need to get to work soon.’
Both in Korea and overseas. The efforts to track down Chaeri would soon intensify.
Before that, he needed to refine the fake identity of ‘Seubida’ more elaborately.
Leave some traces, and build defenses so it wouldn’t be shaken.
‘…But having to leave again.’
The thought alone was painful.
Thirteen seconds was tough enough, but leaving Chaeri behind again?
This was truly an ordeal.
Finally, just as Davise, who had been watching over Chaeri for quite some time, was struggling to get ready for ‘work’ (?),
Chaeri sat up.
“Chaeri? You’re awake?”
“Yes.”
Somehow, Chaeri looked perfectly fine.
Chaeri sat up abruptly.
“The effect is amazing.”
In Chaeri’s hand was a bottle similar to Pocari Sweat.
It was a ‘Stamina Potion’.
Inspired by Choi Deok-gyu, she had bought it from the Awakened Shop.
“Chaeri. Don’t tell me you used the Awakened Shop?”
“Yes. Correct.”
Upon clearing the 5th floor, one could use the ‘Awakened Shop (Beginner)’.
Since it was a beginner shop, the items available for purchase were extremely limited.
Even so, the item known for its incredible cost-effectiveness among them was this ‘Stamina Potion’.
[Awakened Shop (Beginner) – Kids Mode Applied]
* Stamina Potion – 5,000 Daia
Drinking it makes fatigue vanish completely.
The downside? It’s so delicious you want to drink another one.
Of course, the system didn’t allow that.
[Kids Mode Applied.]
[The system protects children.]
[Further purchases are unavailable.]
Although she had only drunk half, just that half was enough for Chaeri to recover 90% of her fatigue.
Still, feeling it was unfair, she offered the remaining half to Davise.
“Davise. Is it okay if it’s something I drank from?”
“Thank you.”
Davise downed the remaining Stamina Potion in one gulp.
“Did you open the Awakened Shop by yourself?”
“Yes.”
Davise’s eyes sparkled like lakes.
Most kids this age are considered impressive if they can put on their own socks, but this one is buying potions from the Awakened Shop.
“Chaeri, you’re truly amazing.”
“It’s nothing.”
“No. It’s incredibly amazing.”
“Davise split a rock with a sword when he was four.”
“Huh?”
“*That* is what’s amazing.”
A smile never left Davise’s lips.
That expression, so serene as if she knew everything about the world!
‘And the powerful cuteness that bursts through that expression! The personification of loveliness!’
He wanted to observe Chaeri all day long.
On Earth, they call this being a ‘fan’, right?
Wanting to hear just one more word, he brought up a pointless question.
“Chaeri, do you happen to know why I sponsored the kindergarten?”
“Of course.”
Thanks to the Stamina Potion, Chaeri’s heart, now full of energy, thumped.
‘This is definitely a test from the Card Hero!’
Card Heroes are blindly loyal to their Card Master.
But even that blind loyalty has its own standards.
The more favor is built, the more they show truly devoted behavior.
‘Right. It’s definitely a test. It must be a task to gain favor!’
Of course, that wasn’t it.
Davise just wanted to see Chaeri feel proud.
“Hmph, shall I tell you?”
Chaeri’s shoulders shrugged up.
The operation of Davise, the Empire’s Strategist, was a success.
Operation Name: Make Chaeri Proud.
Progress: 100%. Success.
“Seubida is sponsoring. The Seoul Guild is already paying attention to Seubida. If that happens.”
Is that right? Am I doing well?
Thump-thump.
Like a smart child agent?
“Then the Seoul Guild will also pay attention to the kindergarten.”
Judging by the atmosphere, it was going very well.
Chaeri’s shoulders naturally shrugged up.
Her nose seemed to tilt up, and her shoulders felt 3 cm wider.
“Therefore, the kindergarten will execute the sponsorship funds fairly and transparently.”
With the Seoul Guild watching closely, any half-hearted actions would get them cut immediately.
The money becomes transparent, and the operation becomes thorough.
“Chaeri…!”
Davise’s eyes widened.
Surprise and admiration rushed in simultaneously. Along with cuteness.
“The Seoul Guild wants to gain Seubida Nim’s favor *very, very* much.”
Things that could be helpful to Seubida.
They were desperate to find even the most trivial things to do for Seubida.
“You’re really amazing, our Chaeri.”
“Ahem.”
There was no pointless modesty.
She held her head high and shrugged proudly.
And she delivered the finishing blow.
“Thanks to that, the kindergarten is also safe.”
An institution under the Seoul Guild’s protection? No one would dare lay a hand on it.
The Seoul Guild was an entity with absolute influence within Seoul.
“Thank you, Davise.”
“….”
Davise’s strategy was like Columbus’s egg.
Easy once you know it, but creating something from nothing is difficult.
He gave a thumbs up. *Click!*
“Davise. It’s brilliantly groundbreaking.”
Davise pondered.
Is it okay to hug Chaeri tightly right now?
Would she dislike it?
“Davise. Can I buy Awakening Scrolls?”
“Awakening Scrolls? You can, but…”
Chaeri immediately became sullen.
[Child Restriction Applied!]
[You can only purchase 1 of each item!]
[To purchase more, guardian consent is required!]
“Child restriction…!”
Then, something interesting happened.
[Please register a guardian.]
[The system judges guardian qualifications.]
[Mutual favorability must be above a standard threshold to set.]
‘Huh?’
This was a development not in the original story.
When Medea was chosen as the guardian, there was no such event.
[Eligible Guardian List:]
[Kim Myeong-ja, Davise, Choi Deok-gyu]
Kim Myeong-ja, Davise… and.
‘Choi Deok-gyu?’
I’ve only seen him twice?
He felt a bit bittersweet at that.
Because the two people who should be there weren’t visible.
‘See, Ichaeri. It’s better not to expect.’
Lee Ji-seok. Kim Ha-seon.
Expecting anything only leads to greater disappointment.
“Davise. Will you become Ichaeri’s guardian?”
“Of course.”
Davise knelt on one knee and placed his left hand on his chest.
He was paying respects to Chaeri according to the customs of another world.
Then, he subtly extended his right hand, palm up.
“Chaeri, could you offer the back of your hand?”
As if entranced, Chaeri offered her hand.
Davise’s lips carefully touched the back of her small, warm hand.
*Mwah.*
“It’s an honor. Thank you, Chaeri.”
“Hehe.”
For some reason, the back of her hand felt ticklish.
Guardian consent acquired!
[You have purchased an Awakening Scroll.]
….
[You have purchased an Awakening Scroll.]
A total of 1.5 billion Daia.
They bought out the entire supply of Awakening Scrolls available on the public auction house.
[Insufficient Daia.]
“But Chaeri. Why are you buying Awakening Scrolls to this extent?”
Chaeri knew.
‘There’s no way Davise doesn’t know the reason.’
He was asking on purpose, without a doubt.
‘As expected, Davise wants to confirm my intelligence.’
The possessor Chaeri’s confidence was fully charged.
Her shoulders shrugged once more, and the tip of her nose twitched slightly.
“Hmph. Shall Ichaeri enlighten you once again?”
Based on the wisdom of the possessor, she would gladly accept that test.
