147 – Aftermath of the Trip to China
“Muhuhu, it’s nice to meet the Nymph sisters…! Let’s make sure to meet often in the future…!”
Tairrenol waved goodbye as we departed from the airport.
It seemed he was reluctantly parting, just as Inoi did.
“It means we’re going to have to go with our Nymph sisters…! The head of the house is very Nymph-friendly and provides an environment that’s perfect for our Nymphs to live in…!”
“That’s a great story…! But this Tairrenol has many things to take care of in the Rimbu Forest, and I also have to tend to the Core, so I must stay on the continent for now…!”
Tairrenol decided to remain in China.
He mentioned he had a lot of things to do.
As far as I knew, Nymphs liked to say, “We must take care of the Core!” and it seemed he wanted to stay with Xiao Xiao and Tang So-hae, who were in China.
So-.
Where is Xiao Xiao, the reason I came to China?
As I looked around, Tang So-hae, who had come to greet me at the airport, let out a scoff.
“If it’s that girl Xiao Xiao, she went to challenge the T-rank fissure that opened at the Samsung Toad Ruins. Haildo, you’ve been dumped by Xiao Xiao.”
Wasn’t it said that T-rank fissures opened in China about once a year on average?
I heard that one had opened already in spring this year, and now there was another.
But Xiao Xiao was a top-ranked Awakened, ranked 12th in S-rank.
She would likely solve things on her own without us worrying or interfering.
“Here, take this!”
Swish-.
At that moment, Tang So-hae handed me something.
It was a glass jar shaped like a jam container, filled with a thick, golden liquid that sparkled enticingly.
Inoi’s eyes lit up upon seeing it.
“Ahh-! That’s the famous Baskir honey…! It’s a very high-quality honey that always ranks among the favorites for Nymphs…!”
Baskir honeybees were animals that gathered honey nearly as well as honey ants. The only difference in the honey they collected was that it was a bit rarer.
“If you eat this often, this Inoi might evolve into a Honey Water Nymph…! That’s how amazing this honey is…! And Squirrel Beasts evolve into Honey Squirrel Beasts when they eat it…!”
What could a Honey Squirrel Beast be?
I imagined Kkungkkungi evolving into a Honey Squirrel Beast, but I had no information about it, so nothing came to mind.
“A Honey Squirrel Beast is a Squirrel Beast that loves to suck on honey. They don’t move much, so they grow bigger and slower, but they become stronger!”
Growl…!
Squirrel Beast Kkungkkungi fluffed up its fur.
It seemed he didn’t want to evolve into a Honey Squirrel Beast.
Was it that Kkungkkungi would rather evolve into a Fire Squirrel Beast and be called the ‘Unique King’?
“Kkungkkungi, do you want to be the Unique King?”
Woof woof…!
Kkungkkungi seemed to prefer being a Fire Squirrel Beast.
However, I heard that to evolve into a Fire Squirrel Beast, a special stone called the “Stone of Fire” was needed.
Where could I find this “Stone of Fire”?
Anyway.
With that feeling, we boarded the plane and returned to Korea.
“It was a fun trip…! This Inoi has harvested a lot of mushrooms and herbs while wandering the Rimbu Forest with the Nymph sisters, and I even managed to obtain the ‘Typhoon Flower’…!”
Inoi was holding a pot with a flower resembling a typhoon, and it was fascinating how it seemed to be swaying with a refreshing breeze.
# # #
“Ma’am, I’m sorry. I failed to bring Xiao Xiao. But instead, she asked me to deliver this letter and this medicine. She says if you take this, your illness will be completely cured.”
It was a round herbal remedy made by the Nymphs.
It had a very bitter smell, but Aunt Tang Yeong-Yeong chewed it carefully and then gargled with water, swallowing it well.
“Oh, I feel lighter!”
Aunt Tang Yeong-Yeong was very pleased.
Was traditional Korean medicine really this effective?
“Muhuhu, that Illinois is a potion Nymph…! She can make just about any medicine well…! This Illinois guarantees it’s an organic medicine…! The effect is very good…!”
I see.
The talents of the Nymphs truly help 21st-century humans.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t bring Xiao Xiao. But if she chose this life for herself, there’s nothing I can do. It’s natural for someone to leave home far away, just like me and Kang-ho. She truly is my daughter.”
Aunt Tang Yeong-Yeong seemed to want to support Xiao Xiao’s future comfortably, but I still felt disappointed about failing my mission.
“Il-do, I asked you for a difficult favor, and I appreciate you at least managing this much. You really are kind. However, since this aunt is lonely on her own, you need to come visit sometimes, okay?”
I had heard that Uncle Seo Kang-ho was an explorer who traveled all over the world.
Since his daughter was in China and his cousins were all in the Tang Clan of Sichuan, it was only natural that Aunt Tang Yeong-Yeong would feel lonely in this land.
“I’ll come visit often with the Nymphs.”
“Muhuhu, this Illinois is also very interested in the herbs in this health store…!”
“This Inoi also thinks the goods Aunt Tang Yeong-Yeong handles are very good…!”
I bid farewell with the Nymphs and left.
As I was leaving, Seo Ye-rim, who was waiting for me from afar, started the electric car and said.
“Is that Aunt really Xiao Xiao’s mom? She looks like she’s barely in her thirties. It’s not like she spends tons of money on anti-aging like my mom does—”
The reason Seo Ye-rim’s mother looks young is because she spends a lot of money.
Rich people are indeed something else.
While I was thinking this, Seo Ye-rim spoke again.
“Haildo, you better not get involved with married women just because they look young and pretty. You know what hell is, right? You’ll end up in it. As a public figure, there are tons of people just waiting to drag you down!”
I was taken aback by Seo Ye-rim’s way of thinking.
Did she think I could ever have an issue with Aunt Tang Yeong-Yeong, who is Xiao Xiao’s mother?
Though it’s true that Aunt Tang Yeong-Yeong appears young and beautiful enough to be called ‘sister,’ she is still Xiao Xiao’s mom!
She would probably think of me as her son!
Yet I could relate to her warning about falling into hell.
Bzzz-.
When I searched for my name, Haildo, on the internet with my smartphone surprisingly, the search volume was unusually high.
“Title: Korean A-Ranks Need to Step Up
Content: With all the Korean A-Ranks excluded, isn’t Haildo being invited to the martial arts tournament a sign of ‘Korea’s A-Rank < Haildo’?”
└If this continues, Lee Joon-Hun might cause an accident and leave the S-rank seat open for Haildo, lol.
└It’s surprising that this could really happen, lol.
There were many posts mentioning my name.
While there were compliments, there was also an unmistakably sharp tone in some posts, leading me to truly realize that I had begun to gain fame.
“It’s said that to be a superstar, you have to make people love and hate you. As I rise higher, I’ll likely attract more people’s dislike.”
I already knew this fact well.
When I initially became a D-rank, there were quite a few negative comments on internet articles about me.
Many mocked me as lucky or someone who surpassed the gold spoon.
“Haildo. In the future, there will be many unfair things that happen to you, and because you are famous and successful, many people will dislike you.”
Seo Ye-rim warned me as she took the wheel.
I heard Seo Ye-rim has many fans, but she also has plenty of anti-fans. She is well aware of the weight that comes with being a public figure.
I clenched my fist.
“Even so, if I work hard and do my best, I will eventually be able to prove myself. For some, even the position filled with criticism can be something to envy.”
I thought of the many D-rank Haildos.
It would just sound like a spoiled complaint to them if I said, “It’s tough being a public figure.”
Swish-.
I searched my name again.
“Title: Korea’s Awakened Haildo Recognized by the 10 Billion Continent Reaction Post
Content: People are shouting to lend them a tiger owl for 100 pandas.”
└Info: The tiger owl is a natural monument in 21st-century Korea.
└Why is it that the main content is only about the tiger owl and the K-squirrel, despite saying it’s about Haildo’s reaction, lol?
“Very good.”
There were fewer critical posts about me than I expected.
Koreans tend to enjoy seeing fellow countrymen thrive overseas, so perhaps because I’m active in China, everyone is in a favorable mood toward me.
“Haildo, you’re just one step away from S-rank.”
When the Primal Village came into view, Seo Ye-rim commented.
Inoi, Illinois, the Honey Ant, the Ghost Spider, and the Squirrel Beast were all sound asleep, creating a quiet atmosphere as Seo Ye-rim’s voice blended uniquely.
“Your obsession with becoming an S-rank Awakened is partly because of me, isn’t it?”
I was surprised.
Because it was true to some extent.
I had once dreamt, watching my junior Seo Ye-rim enjoy the benefits and various perks of being an S-rank Awakened, “Ah, I want to be like that.”
“That’s right.”
When I honestly acknowledged it, Seo Ye-rim scoffed, “Hmph, I knew it.” Then she stopped the car and dropped me off in the yard, saying,
“Let’s see if you can achieve that as a goal! But it won’t be easy. Taking one step towards S-rank is likely harder than any step you’ve taken so far!”
With that, Seo Ye-rim swiftly drove off.
For some reason, her face was quite red, and she seemed like she wasn’t feeling well and wanted to go home quickly.
It must be the accumulated fatigue from China.
“Ahh-! The head of the house is saying to come quickly…! The Nymph sisters have been waiting…! This time, I went to China while leaving only this Coris behind, but it’s quite alright...!”
By evening.
When I returned home, Coris was waiting for us.
The presence of Coris usually meant that Lee Jin-A was also there.
“I was waiting for you since you said you would come today, and you arrived just on time. Haildo, you gained some fame in China, didn’t you? Well, it looks like the animals did all the work.”
Swish-.
Lee Jin-A patted the heads of the animal friends.
She must’ve been talking about the martial arts tournament.
It was said that the incident with the Hydra would remain a secret within the Martial Realm Alliance, so it was understandable that my exceptional achievements wouldn’t spread among the people.
“The trip to China was quite eventful…! The Nymphs have been chattering non-stop…!”
Chatter, chatter, the anemone-.
Nymph Inoi babbled incessantly towards Coris.
I only heard “Chatter, chatter, anemone,” but Coris seemed very impressed and amazed by this story.
“The appearance of the Hydra and encountering the Poison Nymph were incredible…! And I see you also successfully obtained this Typhoon Flower…! The cloud has been well taken care of by me, Coris…!”
While we were in China, Coris had kept a close eye on the Typhoon Cloud.
Inoi and Coris joyfully went “Wow!” and entered the room, while Lee Jin-A turned to me and added,
“As I mentioned in the message, someone wants to meet you. You’ll be surprised when you meet them. You know Kira, right? Kira. The Mythuber.”
“Is it that Kira with ten million subscribers?”
I was a fan of the British Mythuber Kira. I had been watching her since she had about 100,000 subscribers!
“Yeah. She contacted me saying she wanted to appear on a broadcast with you after seeing the Animal Farm episode 1004 and the Martial Arts Tournament video. She thinks you’d like it since you love attracting attention.”
The fact that I like to attract attention was true.
“Is my status as the living legend Haildo already this big? But that Mythuber Kira contacted you, Jin-A? How do you know each other? Is it real?”
I was surprised at Lee Jin-A’s surprisingly vast network.
Lee Jin-A scratched her cheek and said, “Well, there was a story behind it,” but the exact reason didn’t seem too important; what truly mattered was that I was about to appear in a video featuring a ten-million-subscriber Mythuber!
“Ahh-! This Inoi also wants to appear on that Mythube…! This Inoi has always thought it would be great to be featured in Mythube…!”
Swish-.
Inoi raised the transparent glass jar containing the Typhoon Cloud high, rushing out to shout.
“It’s clear that no other Nymph could have had the Typhoon Cloud…! This Inoi wants to boast about the coins collected and the Typhoon Cloud in that Mythube…!”
