Chapter 363

〈Chapter 363〉 Part 1, Chapter 15, Section 21

Finally, a major case has concluded.

I’ve gotten my hands on the Cube from Pyongyang, and now I have nothing left to do.

“Hmm, I should call Chang-yeom.”

Where should I go? As I pondered this question, something that Yun Yuhwa had mentioned last time came to mind.

Prrrriiing!

The Magical Gear rang out, and before long, Yun Yuhwa, who was still on standby at Yeongjong Island in Incheon, picked up right away.

[Customer! What are you doing right now?!]

“I’m not doing anything.”

[That’s unacceptable! This is such an important situation! Everyone’s busy securing prime land using Xroids! Customer, you need to get over here quickly!]

“I don’t care about that kind of land. There’s only one thing I’m interested in right now.”

As I sifted through the records of our previous conversation, I brought up the reason I had called Yun Yuhwa.

“Strawberry buffet.”

[Huh?]

“You did say your hotel in Busan was planning a strawberry buffet, right?”

[Ah, well, we were planning to open it next week… Were you really calling about this? Seriously?]

“Yes.”

So what other reason would I have for calling Yun Yuhwa? Though I felt a bit exasperated, Yun Yuhwa seemed equally baffled.

[Not discussions about developing all of North Korea, nor about new students at Eunha University, nor even the issue with Daimao Island… and yet you’re asking about a strawberry buffet?]

“That’s something for you and others like you to handle, Miss Yun Yuhwa.”

I’ve already prevented a nuclear explosion that could’ve wiped out half the planet. My job for today is done.

“I’m heading down to Busan, so make sure someone is waiting at the hotel. Just have the dishes ready.”

[Just a moment! If that’s the case, then let me come along too!]

“Could you just let me enjoy it alone for once? Please.”

[…Customer? Are you trying to invite someone else without telling me?]

Yun Yuhwa is sharp when it comes to reading between the lines, but she knows one thing and misses another.

“Tch, besides me, who else would there be?”

[…Alright. I’ll prepare it then. When will you arrive?]

“Right now.”

I had already taken off from New Seoul and arrived in Busan.

“I’m already on the rooftop of the hotel, so make sure everything’s ready before I break any windows. Countdown: Ten, Four, One.”

[Who counts down like that?!]

Well, I do.

* * *

A little later…

Although I did order a “strawberry buffet” idea from Yun Yuhwa, it seems the humans of this world aren’t exactly sane.

“A strawberry buffet isn’t supposed to look like this.”

When I said “strawberry buffet,” I meant a place where various desserts featuring strawberries could be enjoyed—a dessert café style buffet, essentially. Given that it was in a hotel, it was on a slightly larger scale, with prices averaging around 50,000 won per person—quite expensive for a dessert café.

“…”

Therefore, this isn’t a strawberry buffet. Was Yun Yuhwa running her business in reckless mode, or was she deliberately trying to mess with me?

I almost lost my senses at the overwhelming strawberry aroma wafting from every dish in the buffet.

“…”

I approached the salad bar with my plate. There were two kinds of salads: one with whole strawberries and another with cubed ones.

Next to them sat various salad dressings, including a pink-hued sauce. I scooped some of the sauce onto my plate, tasted it with a spoon, and realized it was strawberry yogurt dressing. Alright, that’s fine so far.

But the rest of the buffet dishes didn’t inspire me to try them. The sections divided into Korean, Chinese, Western, and Japanese cuisines were awash in reds and pinks.

“This will definitely fail when it opens.”

I guarantee it. At the Korean section, I served myself rice from a large bowl. Steam rose gently, revealing crimson-colored grains.

Plop.

I set down the serving spoon, worried I might have accidentally broken it due to how hard I gripped it.

“…”

Is it even right to put this on my plate? Can humans even allow such things? You shouldn’t play around with food like this.

“…Sigh.”

In the end, I decided to start with what I could tolerate. Passing by all the main course sections, I headed straight for the dessert corner, grabbing an entire white shortcake topped with strawberries and sitting at a sunny table.

“…”

From my pocket, I pulled out the Cube I obtained in Pyongyang. While summoning is a promise that must be kept, this location had several concerns.

“CCTV coverage is naturally expected.”

This is just a hotel restaurant. CCTV will act as Yun Yuhha’s eyes, and even if I erect a barrier, electronic information will inevitably pass through.

“Foolish of you, Yun Yuhha.”

First, I erected a wide barrier across the entire restaurant, blocking physical eavesdropping methods. Although magical items could be completely blocked, standard CCTV powered by electricity remained unaffected.

But there’s another method you wouldn’t know about. It’s currently 2 PM. The sky is cloudless, and the sun shines brightly until sunset.

Swish.

I extended my hand toward the sunlight, which caused my body to vanish—not disappear, but turn transparent, utilizing the light’s reflection to render me invisible.

“Hehehe.”

I placed the shortcake back on the table and sat down. I didn’t bring any utensils because the person who needs them isn’t me.

Rustle.

My perspective shifted. Standing much taller than Chang-yeom, I turned my head through the open window and saw a man with blue hair wearing a white coat staring at me.

“You can’t see me.”

While hiding in the dark can sometimes work, it’s much better under direct sunlight. On the CCTV, they’ll probably just see me briefly disappearing.

Rustle.

Returning to Chang-yeom’s body, I dispelled the magic. Rising from my seat, I moved towards the sunlight.

“Ah, I forgot the cutlery.”

It’s exhausting to act. I burned the Cube in my arms, separating myself from ‘me.’

“…”

I shrugged under the sunlight. After burning the Cube, revealing herself within the strawberry buffet, Chang-yeom took a deep breath and rubbed her hands.

[You’re not eating?]

Through magic, Chang-yeom communicated her observations of the surroundings to me. Shaking my head, I sat opposite where I had originally been.

[I understand. I’ll fetch my own.]

“Hmph, hahahaha~”

Chang-yeom hummed a tune as she went to grab plates. How would she react to this buffet? I worried she might go kill Yun Yuhha, but at least the dessert section seemed somewhat salvageable.

‘If not, I can borrow Huan’s kitchen for a bit.’

I still have an undisclosed special strawberry recipe for Huan. If Chang-yeom doesn’t like this buffet, I plan to use that to calm her anger.

“…”

“Hmph, hahahaha~”

Humming the original soundtrack theme, Chang-yeom began piling up food.

Starting with steak drenched in strawberry sauce, ribs cooked with pureed strawberries, pizza baked with thinly sliced strawberries on dough, and finally, pink-hued spaghetti glistening with strawberry flavor.

Yun Yuhha.

The fool from New Seoul turned a simple request for a strawberry buffet into a monstrosity by blending strawberries into every single dish. Did she think I’d like it this way?

‘She does seem to enjoy it.’

“Huh, this looks delicious! Hehehe.”

Chang-yeom returned to the table with as much food as she could carry in one plate.

[You’re not eating?]

[Why ask when you already know.]

[Looks tasty…]

[I’m fine with this.]

I pointed to the shortcake in front of me. Removing the strawberry on top leaves it just like any other cream cake.

“Um… Hmph, hahaha, I’ll grab some more then~”

Chang-yeom cheerfully carried another plate from another section. Seeing her pile fried chicken coated in pink batter onto her plate, I gave up watching her collect more food.

‘Maybe I should do six mints instead.’

Strawberries belong in desserts, not main courses. Yet, Chang-yeom enthusiastically gathered dishes with at least one strawberry.

‘Do they even understand how I feel?’

Beyond the window, people from Daimao Island struggled desperately against the ice wall. Conveniently located in Haeundae, the view from the window showed the East Sea flowing beside the ice barrier.

[Got everything.]

Chang-yeom placed down two plates simultaneously. Attempting to sample three dishes at once, she rubbed her palms together and licked her lips eagerly.

Pretty though she may be, I didn’t want to look at the table.

[Can we talk normally?]

[We can double the barrier.]

Chang-yeum turned her back to the CCTV. I cast another thin barrier around our table, just enough to block out our voices.

“Hehehe, would you like a bite?”

Chang-yeom twirled a forkful of bright pink carbonara pasta and offered it to me. Firmly shaking my head, she disappointingly but carefully took a bite herself.

“!!!!”

She squinted her eyes and started laughing uncontrollably. She even tapped my leg under the table.

Slurp.

Chang-yeom licked the sauce from her lips and smiled mischievously.

“Guess what? I’ve made a decision.”

“What is it?”

“I’ll forgive Yun Yuhha. Hehehe!”

“…”

Even if this business idea fails nationwide, Yun Yuhha managed to successfully sell it to the sole customer on Earth.

“Should I increase Yun Yuhha’s share?”

“Yes. To 1.0625?”

“She’s given quite a lot.”

Though allowing Yun Yuhha doesn’t mean I plan to flirt with her, Chang-yeom clearly enjoys Yun Yuhha’s eccentric culinary ventures.

“Does it taste good?”

“Yes. I’d like to eat here every day. What do you think?”

“…”

“Eating here alone every day at this time might be a bit…”

“We can bring others along!”

“No. That’d just earn us calls labeling Qinghua as crazy.”

“Fine then. Tsk. Beee.”

Chang-yeom stuck out her tongue at me with her lips puckered.

“They should know you eat like this.”

“What’s wrong with my eating habits? I’m a spirit. Our eating habits differ from humans.”

“Sure, sure. Eat all you want. I’ll pay.”

“Hehehe.”

Chang-yeom laughed and glanced out the window.

“The people from Daimao Island haven’t noticed yet, huh?”

“Yeah, they’re just floating severed.”

“What’s Seok Harang up to?”

“It’s not Seok Harang’s job. Someone else is handling it.”

“Who?”

“Rusalka.”

Chang-yeom frowned while enjoying her strawberry pizza.

“Rusalka in Busan?”

“Yeah, to prevent issues if something happens in the sea while Seok Harang is in Busan. We don’t want misunderstandings like Seok Harang moving Daimao Island.”

Chang-yeom skillfully checked Seok Harang’s current location via her Magical Gear. Still wearing her white celestial gown, Seok Harang maintained a rigid smile as she triumphantly returned to Seoul.

“She said she didn’t like that outfit, yet she keeps wearing it.”

“Well, what else can she wear? All her clothes are in Incheon.”

“If someone cancels her magic, chaos will ensue~”

“Not my magic anyway.”

“You could force it off her.”

“There’s only one thing I want to take off.”

“Like this?”

Chang-yeom subtly opened her priestess robe. I fixed my gaze on her cleavage.

“Still, seeing it separately like this is much prettier than imagining it inside.”

“Hmph, stop messing around. I know you just want to touch.”

“Actually, I want to suck… cough.”

Chang-yeom visibly scowled.

“Hmph, you won’t get any strawberries then.”

“Will you give me one if I eat strawberries?”

“Um…”

Chang-yeom shook the strawberry milk she brought along and gulped it down. Then, opening her robe slightly, she slipped her hand inside.

Creak.

“Mammary pleasuring isn’t just possible with Hydra, you know…”

Chang-yeom’s fingers sparkled with the freshly consumed strawberry milk. Using her index and middle fingers, she crawled forward on the table.

“Sorry, but my flavor is strawberry.”

“Possible.”

“But you hate strawberries, right?”

“Hey.”

I leaned forward.

“Do you really think I ate all that mint chocolate with Penril just because I like it?”

“…Hehehe, yeah, that’s who you are.”

Chang-yeom giggled and shrugged.

“But at this hour, no one should be ‘sleeping,’ right? Isn’t there a chance for something later? Hehehe.”

“…”

Chang-yeom started teasing the tableware again. After scanning the area, I resolved internally:

For the next expedition, I’ll fill the fridge with nothing but strawberry milk.