065 – Native Nymph Dislikes Invaders! #4
The luxurious cruise ship, Fairy Ship, of the Elves.
Workers on that ship had to wear white masks and gloves, regardless of age or gender.
It was a bit uncomfortable, but for Yu Ara, it was a good thing.
‘Thanks to that, I could easily infiltrate.’
The Fairy Ship was hosting a splendid party.
It was well-known that influential figures from politics and business attended to sponsor people and throw around large sums of money.
However, the reality hidden behind that glamorous mask was quite surprising.
‘I heard the Elves are engaged in illegal lobbying activities, right? Today, we must capture the scene where Freya, the leader of the Elves, meets the opposition representative.’
For several years, the Elves had begun to exert significant influence in politics and business.
The increasing number of multicultural families, mixed with Koreans marrying Elves, was one reason for this.
But behind that, Yu Ara had already heard through intelligence reports about the suspicious ‘cult’ activities occurring.
The special operations team, Patriot, directly under the president, successfully infiltrated the fairy’s ship based on their superior skills.
Yu Ara had also infiltrated as a bartender managing wine.
‘Freya rarely shows her face. We must keep a close watch on her every move.’
While she was hiding with that feeling, she was startled to see an unexpected face.
The Squirrel Beast, Kkungkkungi, the Ghost Spider, Bang Bang, and the Honey Ant, Ahn Ahn, had started to perform bizarre tricks like a Bremen town musician!
‘Isn’t that Senior Il-do? Senior Il-do has been invited to the Fairy Ship’s sponsorship meeting?’
Yu Ara stared in astonishment as Haildo went up on stage to perform.
Seeing a man polish his skills and gain recognition from others was more impressive than she expected.
‘Senior Il-do has already become famous enough to be invited to a place like this! It must be because of the comment campaign I worked hard on!’
Yu Ara had been posting a recommendation article, a concept article, or a best article about the Awakened Haildo at least once a day.
It was to boost his fame.
‘A bit of support like this is a given. Of course, even if I hadn’t done that, Senior Il-do would have shone like a star!’
Yet, a slightly melancholic feeling arose in Yu Ara’s heart.
‘The fact that he came here means he received an invitation, but he didn’t offer me a partnership!’
If Haildo had invited Yu Ara, it might have made infiltrating the Fairy Ship much easier.
From what she saw, it seemed that Haildo had invited Lee Jin-A instead.
Not knowing the reason, Yu Ara felt a little anxious.
‘Did I not show enough enthusiasm?’
Yu Ara had done quite a lot for Haildo.
All were things done quietly behind the scenes, and Haildo would never find out about it.
Yu Ara also didn’t want to flaunt it.
However, there were times when she felt a bit sulky.
‘It must feel just like the Little Mermaid who saved a prince but had that credit taken away by another girl.’
The Little Mermaid.
Yu Ara thought she resembled the Little Mermaid, unable to proudly voice her achievements.
Just then.
‘Huh? Those two are…?’
Yu Ara’s eyes caught a tall Elf walking down the grass-lined hallway.
She had her hair styled like a rose and was wearing a form-fitting evening dress, making her look exceedingly enchanting.
That attire matched the image of Freya, the leader of the Elves, whom Yu Ara had to watch out for today!
‘Has she revealed herself from the room? Who is that beside her? An opposition figure? Or a newly emerged religious leader?’
While Yu Ara was observing the man meeting Freya, she was taken aback.
The man following Freya was Haildo, who had a Squirrel Beast, Kkungkkungi, on his shoulder!
‘The Elves are definitely trying to reach out to him!’
# # #
Freya.
She seemed to be the spiritual pillar of the Elves.
To put it metaphorically… perhaps like Gandhi for the Indians of the past?
No, adding a religious connotation, perhaps the Dalai Lama?
What was certain was that Freya was extraordinarily wealthy.
This ship, in fact, was said to be her property.
“Do you live here?”
I looked around the luxurious cabin prepared on the cruise ship, amazed.
Although Freya didn’t have a residence in Korea, she supposedly lived here on this ‘Fairy Ship.’
The room she was invited to was draped in a red carpet and adorned with a piano and cello whose value was unknown.
It was already about three times larger than the well I lived in.
“So, have you thought about my proposal?”
Freya chuckled.
The proposal she mentioned was this:
“You expressed that you wanted to buy Kkungkkungi for 5 billion won, right? Are you serious?”
“That’s right. The stallion I bought a while back was priced around that much. I think that cute Ratatoskr is definitely worth that much.”
I had heard that stallions were incredibly expensive.
It was basic to start in the hundreds of millions, right?
Yet, I had never realized Kkungkkungi was worth that much, so I was taken aback in various ways.
—Kkungkkungi…!
Kkungkkungi was now moving on Freya’s palm or shoulder.
While Kkungkkungi was friendly, it had only been this familiar with people like Lee Jin-A or the Nymphs.
Perhaps Elves, being nature-friendly fairies like Nymphs, had an exceptionally different affinity towards animals.
However—
I still had only one answer to give.
“Kkungkkungi is not for sale.”
“Is it a matter of price?”
“No, it’s not about the price.”
Kkungkkungi was already my friend and family.
I couldn’t sell such a being for money.
I was surprised by the exceptionally high price, but—
I was just surprised.
Kkungkkungi.
He was indeed an incredibly expensive and precious being.
It felt as if I had been raising him carelessly in the dirt.
Soon, Freya chuckled softly.
“It’s the first time I’ve encountered something that cannot be bought with money in this bizarre land. Haildo, now I see I’m starting to take an interest in you. How can I persuade you?”
It was a sticky honey-like voice.
It felt like I was going to be persuaded already.
I regained my senses.
“Perhaps I won’t be persuaded.”
“I see. Then how about this? If that cute Ratatoskr ever has babies, would you consider giving one of them up…?”
Give me one of the babies?
It was a common request.
If your dog has puppies, I could raise one! Something like that.
However—
“Kkungkkungi isn’t very interested in romance, so I’m not sure it’ll happen.”
Kkungkkungi, as the top Squirrel Beast, was quite popular among females.
If I let him out in the yard, the female squirrels would chase him around, five at a time!
But Kkungkkungi showed more interest in playing, hunting, or fighting with Bang Bang.
Should I say he’s oblivious to the feelings of the hearts of females?
Or is he just ignoring them despite knowing?
What a bad male.
He was an alpha Squirrel.
Perhaps that chic attitude is what made him even more popular.
Freya soon sighed.
“It seems that even with Ratatoskrs, low birth rates are an issue.”
I could tell Freya liked Kkungkkungi very much despite everything.
Why Kkungkkungi, though?
There were plenty of squirrels back in Primal Village.
If she took one, she’d save 5 billion, right?
“Why Kkungkkungi, I wonder—. You seem to be thinking about that.”
Is that real?
Can she read my mind?
It was just when I was shocked.
“I have a bit of the skill to read people’s hearts. Kkungkkungi has the potential to become a true ‘Ratatoskr.’ To us Elves, Ratatoskrs are symbols of spring.”
“Ah—.”
I didn’t fully understand it, but I nodded to avoid showing the embarrassment of having my true feelings revealed.
Fortunately, Freya kindly explained.
“Our Elves’ homeland lost spring. We wandered here and there waiting for the return of spring and settled here. Although no one shows it, they are all missing the spring of their homeland.”
“I see.”
“The Ratatoskrs that hibernate, coming to life, represent the symbol of spring. I wanted to bring hope back to the Elves. And I thought I could pair my Ratatoskr with yours.”
“Your Ratatoskr, Freya?”
Swoosh—.
Something flew towards Freya’s shoulder.
It was shining silver and had a membrane, resembling a flying squirrel.
—Kkungkkungi…!
It barked like a dog.
A flying squirrel that barks like a dog!
Soon, Freya spoke.
“This is the Ratatoskr I raised since I left my homeland. Its name is Phey. Isn’t it cute? Speaking in the way of the small-eared fairies, it would be a flying squirrel.”
Flying squirrel.
What a well-named creature.
—Kkungkkungi…!
—Kkungkkungi…!
The two squirrels started to play together.
Kkungkkungi, does this fellow appeal to you?
“Anyway, I understand your intentions well.”
I somewhat accepted Freya’s story.
To the Elves, Kkungkkungi symbolized the longing for their homeland.
If I had to be away from my home for a long time, I would feel extremely happy when I discovered Kimchi, too.
Kkungkkungi was like Kimchi.
“However, I feel sorry for having made too unreasonable a request to you, Il-do.”
“No, it’s me who should feel sorry for having no choice but to decline your request. Nevertheless, if Kkungkkungi has babies someday, I will talk to him about it.”
I heard that squirrels often have many babies.
I couldn’t handle them all by myself anyway.
In that sense, does Kkungkkungi not have a girlfriend?
It seems he likes that silver flying squirrel!
Soon Freya chuckled.
“You’re an interesting person, Il-do. I can see why the small-eared fairies trust and follow you. I want to trust you in various ways as well. So, I’d like to tell you something…”
Freya opened her slender eyes.
She looked around and spoke softly.
“There are suspicious people hiding on this ship. I don’t know their purpose, but for now, they remain quiet so as not to confuse others… but could you possibly help, Il-do?”
Suspicious people are hiding?
Could it be that intruders have infiltrated the ship?
I instantly thought of the woman in the plague doctor mask and the people with mechanical arms.
A villain group.
It wouldn’t be strange for those guys to be hiding here.
If something happened on the ship floating above the sea?
It was clear that everyone would be in danger.
# # #
“I’m just curious about what’s going on…! I’m curious whether you decided to sell the Squirrel Beast Kkungkkungi…!”
“I must call for 6 billion…! Now we should talk about how we can use this 6 billion…! Those nasty long-eared fairies must have tried to discount it…!”
The Nymphs showed interest in me after returning from meeting the Elves.
According to the Nymphs, those fearsome Elves must have cast some sort of spell on me.
“There was nothing wrong. And I won’t sell Kkungkkungi.”
“This Inoi believed in the master of this house…!”
Ahn Ahn raised a hand.
Soon, Illinois smirked.
“Indeed, family cannot be sold for money…! But it might be possible to share for a bit…! Have you perhaps asked how much the rental is…?”
“No, it’s not that. Instead, I thought that if Kkungkkungi has babies, I could give one of them to you. I heard that squirrels have many babies.”
“Little squirrels will run all around when spring comes…! They are so cute…! But they all bark so much that it becomes incredibly noisy…!”
I imagined the squirrels resembling Kkungkkungi running around the yard.
I felt quite pleased.
In any case.
I was now aware that there were nasty people hiding on this ship.
Should I tell Seo Ye-rim the truth?
No.
The Seo Ye-rim I know is more suited for extermination and annihilation missions than infiltration and search operations; her scores would be poor in that regard.
She wouldn’t be able to control her emotions, and she would draw suspicion.
If I stir things up now, it would become a bigger problem.
For now, let’s handle it on my own.
Fortunately, I had Kkungkkungi, the genius of infiltration and lurking, the Ghost Spider Bang Bang!
