198 – Nymphs Have Also Started Training! # 2
“Muhuhuhu, this Inoi has sufficiently trained its Nymph power for the day…! Now it’s time to safely return home…! But first, I must give Director Bang Saeng-hyeon one last hit…!”
Dudududududududududu-.
Inoi finished a day’s worth of Nymph power training and mercilessly attacked Director Bang Saeng-hyeon, known as the eccentric of the apple orchard.
But something astonishing happened.
“Water is water, and ditch water is ditch water.”
Director Bang Saeng-hyeon did not scream “Aah~.”
Instead, he looked remarkably at ease, sitting cross-legged and seemingly meditating to cultivate his mind and body.
His expression was like that of an enlightened Buddha, and when I wondered how this could be, Inoi spoke up.
“This is proof that Director Bang Saeng-hyeon has finally become completely Nymph-friendly…! Now he can return to his family from nature…!”
Graduation.
It seemed that Director Bang Saeng-hyeon had finally graduated from living in the wild and in nature.
I wasn’t sure, but returning to his family must be a good thing.
Every weekend, it was a unique pleasure to see his wife and children visiting to experience rural life.
Next week’s scheduled filming for the program “I Am a Wild Person” would also have various variables coming up.
Anyway.
With that feeling, the sunset came.
Probably because it was autumn, the evening came quickly.
As it got dark outside, Inoi and the animals left outside came inside earlier than usual.
Woof woof…!
Meow…!
Squeak…!
It seemed that everyone was tired but in good spirits after joyfully walking around Primal Village with Inoi. They looked like puppies that had been out on a long walk.
“By the way, Kalilnoi, where have you been going lately? It feels like it’s been a while since I saw you.”
Hoo, hoo…!
I gently petted Kalilnoi’s back, whom I hadn’t seen in a while.
Soon, Kalilnoi cried, “Hoo… hoo…!” but I couldn’t understand what it meant.
Inoi explained that.
“Bongbong Kalilnoi has started to carve out a new nest…! Tiger owls are actually very independent birds that prepare multiple nests and homes…!”
Did that mean having several homes?
I wondered if Kalilnoi had made a special place like a cave for itself, but Inoi pulled out her phone and showed me a picture.
“It’s a newly built apartment in Bundang where Kalilnoi has moved in…! It might become a new hideout for our Nymph sisters…!”
Whoa-.
It was quite strange that a tiger owl had moved into an apartment. However, Bongbong Kalilnoi was actually a grown adult Nymph.
It wouldn’t be odd at all if she had contracted things and saved money to purchase an apartment herself.
“To achieve your dream of having your own home before I do. I’m envious. Did you use money you saved while you were a Nymph?”
I felt a sense of pride and admiration for the independent Kalilnoi somehow.
I should visit the apartment Kalilnoi had moved into later.
Just then, Inoi picked up a mirror and waved her hand.
“This Inoi has raised her Nymph power through training and discipline, so maybe I will soon evolve…!”
Evolution.
It was said that Nymphs could evolve from the ditch water Nymph to various forms like medicine, ice water, poison, animals, and the latest technology.
Inoi was still a pure ditch water Nymph who hadn’t evolved yet.
I wondered what kind of Nymph she would evolve into.
“What Nymph are you evolving into?”
“I’m not sure about that either…! Whatever it is, this Inoi wants to become an extraordinary, powerful, and excellent Nymph that can brag to other Nymphs…!”
Inoi was a Nymph who liked to show off various things and establish her superiority. A normal evolution wouldn’t stand out, so she wanted to become a strong Nymph.
“But if this Inoi decides to evolve impulsively, it would be like losing other possibilities, so it’s a complex matter…”
I see.
Deciding on a career was essentially the same as losing other opportunity costs, so it seemed that Inoi had many concerns.
“So I’m curious if the owner of the house has decided to partner with Han Ju-ryeon…! It would be super exciting if the A Rank Awakened people start to compete…!”
Inoi seemed intrigued by the proposal Han Ju-ryeon had made to me when she visited me this afternoon.
I thought it wasn’t something that needed an immediate decision, so I decided to hold off on responding.
Certainly, I had given it much thought since then, and I was at a point where I had made some decisions.
# # #
“Muhuhuhu, was this where the parts for the Nymph-friendly electric cars that the Kore are riding were being made…?”
Illinois had stopped by the headquarters of “Nature,” Han Ju-ryeon’s family business.
Han Ju-ryeon’s family was a rising company involved in various eco-friendly businesses including second-generation batteries.
Of course, it couldn’t compare yet to the globally influential Megacorp “Osa” group or “Telos,” but—
It had been growing explosively since the 5th industrial revolution, and with the stable face of Madame Han Ju-ryeon leading it, it was gradually moving up in rank.
“I invested all the seed money I had in this company, but I got caught at the peak…! I just want to beat up the staff here right now…!”
Illinois had invested all the money from what she received from Seo Ye-rim and various profits in the shares of “Nature.”
However, for some reason, the shares Illinois bought had all halved, which made her very angry.
“Are you the chief of promotions for Nature…? Feel the furious beating that the Illinois and the stock market ants have to endure…! Illinois’s balance is all blue…! It’s like the Pirates of the Caribbean…!”
Dududududududud-.
Illinois beat up a bald man mercilessly.
“Aaah~”
As the man screamed, Oh Eun-hee, the secretary of Han Ju-ryeon and a C Rank Awakened, wiped her cold sweat and adjusted her glasses.
“Ju-ryeon, is it really okay for us to have that Nymph Illinois with us?”
Oh Eun-hee had heard that Illinois was immensely spending and losing money on stocks and coins.
She couldn’t help but feel fear that their collaboration with Illinois might give a significant blow to Han Ju-ryeon’s income and the “Nature” group.
However, Han Ju-ryeon seemed quite calm.
“It’s fine.”
Saying that, Han Ju-ryeon examined a bottle containing “Lightning Resistance Potion” that she received from Illinois.
It was a substance that significantly increased electrical resistance just by applying it, and Han Ju-ryeon’s satisfaction with her life had also greatly increased thanks to this potion, which had kept her away from static electricity and sparks.
According to Illinois, “It is said to be a potion used by Nymphs favored by Zeus, the god of lightning…! Its effect is guaranteed…!”
“With this potion, I can help our company grow more.”
Pajik-.
By suppressing the mana that usually leaked out at any time with the potion, Han Ju-ryeon’s body was charged with even more electrical energy, and her firepower increased even more.
With her current good state, it wouldn’t be a dream to achieve and maintain the top spot in A Rank and get promoted to S Rank.
“Nymphs tend to bring immense effects and profits depending on how you handle them. But Seo Ye-rim didn’t do that. Do you know why? Because she didn’t have to.”
In Han Ju-ryeon’s view, the Nymph Illinois was a capable Nymph that could bring in more money than it costs to use it.
She believed that Seo Ye-rim had neglected Illinois because there was no need to earn money through Illinois.
The Telos group had already amassed such immense wealth that it could be called a kingdom or an empire without needing the assistance of Nymphs, and it continued to generate astronomical profits.
Seo Ye-rim herself had maintained S Rank for a long time, so she clearly didn’t have the desire to grow stronger through using a Nymph.
“My goal is Seo Ye-rim and Cha Yura.”
Especially for Cha Yura, as a fellow trainee, there was a strong desire to catch up.
If I could achieve good results in the upcoming battle among A Rankers…
Ding-dong-.
At that moment, a message came to Han Ju-ryeon.
It was a text from Haildo.
# # #
“What? You declined the proposal from Han Ju-ryeon?”
In the morning.
Lee Jin-A, who had come to check on Coris and greet Inoi, jumped up, surprised by what I said.
“Haildo, are you okay? Han Ju-ryeon is not someone to be trifled with. If you reject like that, during the A Rank match or battle, she might target you first.”
Lee Jin-A was a fellow of Han Ju-ryeon from their trainee days.
Cha Yura, Lee Jin-A, and Han Ju-ryeon—these three took turns being first, second, and third in ranks, right?
Because of that, Lee Jin-A knew Han Ju-ryeon well, and it seemed hard for her to believe that I had rejected the alliance proposal.
Lee Jin-A asked.
“Why did you do that?”
“If I team up with Han Ju-ryeon, I would definitely survive for a long time. But that would just be riding on a bus, wouldn’t it? I was curious about how far I could hold out on my own.”
Riding a bus isn’t my style.
Even if I raised my ranking that way, it would just lead to comments like “Haildo, the Squirrel Beast doesn’t just ride a bus but now is riding on Han Ju-ryeon’s bus too…!”
Plus, Han Ju-ryeon also said, “I feel like I can definitely win against you, Haildo,” which stimulated my desire to challenge.
“So what are you planning to do? Other A Rankers have their friendships and factions, so they will come at you as a team. Haildo, you don’t have anyone or any faction.”
Lee Jin-A’s question was natural.
But I had my own strategy.
“I don’t know the exact schedule, but the A Rank rankings battle will probably start in a week or two. Jin-A, make sure you secure A Rank by then.”
“What? Me?”
Lee Jin-A frowned as if that was ridiculous.
But I believed in Lee Jin-A’s potential.
She was a promising candidate who was even regarded as a rival to A Rank Han Ju-ryeon and S Rank Cha Yura.
If I could just give her a little nudge, her ascent to A Rank wouldn’t be difficult at all.
“Don’t worry. The Nymphs and I will help you. Hehehe.”
