<CHAPTER 10>

“It’s quite late into the night.”

“My apologies.”

“Enough. Raise your head.”

At some point, clouds had swallowed the moon, and the mountain forest had become a curtain that shut out every trace of modern civilization’s light.

In the darkness, only one thing shone with startling clarity—the pair of bright golden eyes belonging to Yuju.

The instant Jina met that gaze, a cold shiver ran down her spine.

“I told you a few days ago as well. I sympathize with your situation, but there is nothing I can do for you at the moment.”

Jina had already come here once before.

She had sought Yuju’s help in finding a new home where Arin could safely grow.

But both then and now, the answer remained the same.

Impossible.

Though disappointed, Jina had understood and quietly accepted it that day.

This time, however, was different.

“I have something new to report regarding that matter. Please, look at this first.”

“Hmm?”

With both hands, Jina respectfully presented a cucumber.

She had often offered rare ingredients as tribute before, making the gesture a familiar one.

But the moment Yuju saw it, her golden eyes flickered ever so slightly.

“…I don’t eat cucumbers.”

“Pardon?”

“Never mind. Thank you.”

It was only a small offering, but Yuju accepted it anyway.

She could always… dispose of it later.

…No, she could simply pass it on to someone else.

After all, there were more than enough people around her who would gratefully accept anything she bestowed.

“Please examine it closely.”

“Very well. What a fine cucumber. Excellent color, healthy skin, firm flesh… perfectly ripened. Haha… I can even sense spiritual energy from it. I’d almost believe it was a thousand-year-old wild ginseng if—”

Still forcing herself to compliment a vegetable she disliked, Yuju abruptly fell silent.

She looked back at Jina.

“…Why am I sensing spiritual energy from a cucumber?”

“Because it contains spiritual energy.”

“No, that’s exactly my point. Why does a cucumber contain spiritual energy?”

After the world’s natural spiritual energy had vanished, the spiritual herbs that once flourished had disappeared with it.

The legendary thousand-year-old wild ginseng was no exception.

So how could an ordinary cucumber—not even a spiritual herb—contain spiritual energy?

To Yuju, it wasn’t merely surprising.

It was absurd.

“There is a human capable of imbuing things with spiritual energy, Lady Yuju.”

“…What did you just say?”

Yuju’s eyes narrowed.

If it were a joke, Jina’s expression was far too serious for it.

“The moment he planted a seed, a sprout grew instantly. I witnessed it with my own eyes and confirmed it several times.”

“And you expect me to believe that?”

“That’s not all. After eating the vegetables he grew, spiritual energy filled my body. My child also absorbed that energy… and was finally able to continue growing.”

“So you’re telling me… eating this granted you spiritual energy?”

Impossible.

If such a thing could be done, Yuju herself would have accomplished it long ago.

She was the eldest among all spiritual beings.

Their leader.

Their representative.

Yuju—the Spiritual Chief.

The appearance of someone who had achieved what even she could not might have been seen as a threat.

But Yuju was far too wise to dwell on such thoughts.

There were barely any spiritual beings left in this land anymore…

…and even fewer capable of leading them.

“How fascinating.”

“Truly fascinating.”

Rather than fear, curiosity welled up within her.

“I must meet this human myself. If what you say is true… then he may well be the lifeline that can save our kind.”

Her eyes sparkling with excitement, Yuju stepped forward—

Then suddenly stopped.

“Wait here for a moment.”

She hurried into the temple hall before emerging moments later, her crescent-shaped eyes curved into a cheerful smile.

“Where is this place? Lead the way.”

“Um… Lady Yuju…”

Watching Yuju impatiently urge her on, Jina hesitated.

“It’s quite far from here… Are you certain you’ll be all right?”

Yuju’s expression stiffened.

“How far?”

“It took me an entire day to get here.”

“A whole day?!”

Yuju visibly flinched in shock.

“Then… where’s the car?”

“I ran here.”

“You… what?! Why would you do something so foolish when you could have driven?!”

“I’m sorry… I had my reasons.”

Under Yuju’s piercing glare, Jina could only lower her head.

The truth was that this place was so remote that all transportation stopped after nightfall.

There wasn’t even a passing vehicle.

She would have had to travel all the way into town just to find one, but doing so in human form was far too difficult.

Running across the mountains in her true form had simply been much faster.

“Then we’ll take a car.”

“The problem is… at this hour, we’d have to climb all the way back down the mountain first…”

“We must leave immediately. That rascal returns in the morning.”

“Come to think of it… I don’t see that person anywhere. Where did they go?”

Jina tilted her head before quickly realizing who Yuju meant.

Another spiritual being who served at Yuju’s side.

Apparently, they had stepped away for a while.

Yuju, however, showed no intention of explaining.

“That fool handles all the money and cards. Judging by the look of you, you don’t seem to have any money either.”

“…I’m sorry for being poor.”

Jina’s shoulders drooped.

In truth, she wasn’t broke.

She had simply left her money at home.

She hadn’t realized it until after running for half a day, and by then it had already been too late to turn back.

“Tch. Fine. It’s been a long time since I’ve shown off my running skills.”

“I’ll guide the way.”

Jina couldn’t shake a growing sense of unease as she watched the confident Yuju.

Unfortunately…

That uneasy feeling proved completely justified.

It took them an entire three days to finally reach Seojun’s village.

—

“Looks like your mom’s running a little late.”

Yip! Yip!

Arin hurried after him on her tiny little legs.

Even when Seojun tried to pick her up, she stubbornly insisted on walking on her own now.

“You’re not cold, are you? Really?”

They had climbed Cheongwang Mountain again today so he could recover his divine power.

Naturally, he couldn’t help worrying about Arin, who faithfully followed beside him.

Yet despite his concern, she happily scampered ahead, barked excitedly, then turned back as if urging him to hurry.

“You little rascal. Well… I guess the exercise is good for you.”

Life after Jina left had become rather simple.

He took his niece and nephew to kindergarten.

He experimented in the vegetable garden using the divine power he gathered each night.

He cooked his own meals with whatever he harvested.

And after everyone had gone to sleep, he climbed Cheongwang Mountain to replenish his divine power.

If there was one small change in that routine…

It was that Arin was now always by his side.

“Whew… Perfect.”

Reaching the stream, Seojun naturally began taking off his clothes.

“Seriously… what am I going to do when winter comes?”

He muttered as he lowered himself into the freezing water.

Fortunately, the amount of divine power he accumulated—and the speed at which he gathered it—continued increasing day by day.

As his divine power recovered, the biting cold gradually faded.

Even his swimming improved with each passing day.

Arin jumped into the stream as well, swimming surprisingly skillfully.

“Why do you love bathing so much?”

She wasn’t just swimming.

She drank the water…

And occasionally snuck over to lick his body.

You’re getting a little too attached to me, aren’t you?

Still, he knew it wasn’t strange anymore.

It was simply instinct.

Just as Jina had explained, she was naturally seeking spiritual energy.

Compared to when they first met, Arin had already grown noticeably larger.

Just as they were happily splashing around together…

He felt someone watching him.

Stopping what he was doing, Seojun turned his head.

“…What are you doing here?”

“That’s what I’d like to ask. Why are you standing completely naked in someone else’s front yard?”

Standing neatly beside the pile of clothes he had left behind was a thoroughly exhausted-looking Jina.

She stared at him as though she had encountered the strangest man alive.

“Wait… this is your front yard?”

“This entire mountain is basically my front yard. If we’re being precise… you could call it my living room.”

Well…

Since she was a mountain spirit, calling the surrounding mountains her front yard wasn’t exactly inaccurate.

Though…

What did she mean by living room?

He wasn’t sure he wanted to know.

Still, it seemed obvious he’d accidentally trespassed.

“…This can’t be…”

“Hm?”

Jina’s sudden appearance had been so overwhelming that he hadn’t noticed anyone else nearby.

Looking closer, someone was standing beside her.

A tiny little girl.

She looked about the same age as his niece and nephew.

“Why is the stream filling with spiritual energy just because you’re bathing in it completely naked?!”

Though she covered her eyes with both hands as she spoke…

The gaps between her fingers were suspiciously wide.

Through them, a pair of sparkling golden eyes stared directly at him.

“You have another daughter?”

“No, I don’t! This is—”

Jina shouted in exasperation, but she never finished her sentence.

The mysterious little girl suddenly dashed forward…

And dove straight into the stream.

“Ah?! Hey! It’s deeper than it looks!”

Displaying astonishing swimming skills, she reached Seojun in the blink of an eye.

“Quiet, you little brat! Stay still!”

“What? Wait… why are you touching my— Ahh?!”

“Stop making such strange noises!”

…Who in the world is this kid?