Chapter 70

< Blue (3) >

Just in case, I tried to ask Hunter, who is in charge of security today, for help, but Yuhyun said he had some free time and came along. I absentmindedly told him to go ahead, and only then did I remember about Mingwu.

‘He should be at the forge at this time.’

It would be awkward to suddenly appear out of nowhere, and it would also be awkward if he noticed I wasn’t home. There’s no way someone with S-rank stats wouldn’t notice if someone was home or not.

Maybe I should try to get them to become friends. It would be nice if Mingwu could make weapons for Yuhyun first, especially SS-rank and above.

“Do you remember Mingwu? My friend.”

“Isn’t he really a close friend? You said you’ve known him since you were young, but I’ve never heard that name before. When I checked, it turned out we lived in different places.”

Yuhyun said this while pressing the elevator button.

“When did you check?”

“You wouldn’t bring in an outsider without doing a background check, right?”

That’s true, but usually, you don’t check where they lived when they were young.

“Still, he is a friend. We haven’t spent much time together.”

Should I tell him that we were friends before I had the ability to verify the facts? It seems I misjudged him. I didn’t try to take advantage of him; in fact, it was the opposite. It shouldn’t be a problem to say we weren’t really friends.

“Anyway, be nice to him.”

“Why should I?”

“I can’t say much without his permission, but he will be helpful to you.”

Very helpful. Not just being nice, but you should treat him like a VIP.

“...What kind of skill did he get?”

“You’re quick.”

“Is there any other reason? He was just a regular person. I heard he stopped going to the equipment maintenance team to sharpen his sword a few days ago, so he must have gotten it then. It’s likely a special skill... given the circumstances...”

Yuhyun narrowed his eyebrows slightly.

“...You don’t mean...?”

“No matter what you’re thinking, it’s even more impressive.”

A creation skill with no level restrictions? Even I was surprised when I knew the skill name.

“So be nice. Mingwu won’t join any specific guild. He’s planning to go with me.”

“With you?”

“Yeah. I told him it would be more convenient to be part of a guild, but he wants to be independent. Don’t mess with him unnecessarily.”

I emphasized this as we got into the elevator, but there was no response. When I turned to look, I saw him deep in thought.

“You won’t mess with him, right?”

“What kind of skill does he have?”

“You’re not answering.”

“...Alright.”

Yuhyun nodded reluctantly. As a guild leader, it’s understandable he would hesitate to give a definite answer. I demanded an answer, but I couldn’t push him any further, so I let it go.

We walked down the corridor and finally arrived at my apartment. Blue, who was in my arms, has been well-behaved so far.

“It’s impossible for them not to fight, but only intervene when it gets too serious.”

With Pies, the stat difference was so great that I had to let him off easily, but this time it’s different. Once they grow, they will have similar stats, so it’s better to establish a hierarchy while they’re still young. Pies and Blue will stay by my side except when we’re in a dungeon, so it’s necessary to sort things out. If they fight after reaching adulthood, it would be unmanageable.

“Pies, Dad’s here.”

When I opened the front door, Pies, who was waiting, looked up at me. Actually, he was looking at Blue. His usually wagging red tail was still.

“This is sudden, but this is your little brother.”

- Kya!

Blue chirped in response and looked down at Pies with curious eyes. After taking off my shoes and entering, Pies, who had been frozen, scratched my leg with his front paws, asking to be picked up.

“Just a moment. Blue, let’s get down.”

I tried to put Blue down on the sofa, but he clung to my arm with his claws extended.

- Kya! Kya!

“No, you have to let go.”

Just as Blue was being stubborn, Pies leaped onto the sofa. He then bit Blue’s wings, which were still clinging to me,

whoosh

and threw him backward. It reminded me of a similar scene I had seen before.

- Kya!

Blue flapped to regain his balance. Meanwhile, Pies nestled into my arms.

- Khrum

He patted his fluffy tail and looked down at the baby griffin with his golden eyes, as if to say, “This is my spot.”

- Kya?

- Krrr

- Kya! Kya!

Blue, who had landed on the sofa, lowered his head and wiggled his raised bottom. It was clearly the stance he took before pouncing. I hope my back doesn’t get torn up. Yuhyun is here, so he’ll stop them.

- Kya!

With a powerful cry, Blue pounced on Pies. Then,

thud!

- Kya!

Pies hit Blue’s yellow beak with his front paw. The baby griffin, who had spun in the air, fell onto the sofa.

- Kya

Blue clutched his beak and groaned. It didn’t seem like he hit him that hard.

- Kya Kya

“Blue, are you okay?”

- Kya!

As soon as he heard my voice, Blue sprang up as if nothing had happened. You’re tough, Blue. Still, it must have hurt quite a bit, as he didn’t pounce on Pies again.

“Pies, he’s younger than you, so be gentle with him.”

- Kya?

Pies tilted his head, as if he didn’t understand. It was an innocent gesture, but it seemed like he was pretending not to understand.

“Come down now.”

- Khrum

“Go say hello to your brother.”

Pies reluctantly got off the sofa. I stepped back, leaving them alone. Blue, who seemed a bit nervous, started to hop around on the spot.

- Kya! Kya!

Pies watched the playful Blue and then raised one of his front paws. Blue immediately froze.

- Kya

- Krrr Krrr!

With a short, sharp bark, Blue sat down obediently, his bottom touching the sofa. They seemed to be having a conversation. Pies pressed down on Blue’s beak with his front paw and then turned to look at me, as if asking if this was okay.

It ended smoothly without any bloodshed. As expected, our Pies is reliable.

“Good job! You’re so well-behaved.”

- Kya!

I hugged Pies, who seemed pleased. Blue, who followed, looked up at Pies in my arms and then plopped down at my feet. He looked a bit dejected, but Pies comes first.

“If things stay like this, there’s nothing to worry about in the future. Our Pies is so smart.”

I said this happily, looking at Yuhyun. Now, if only Pies can join us safely, but I’m not sure if it will go well.

Just as I was about to go to the room to get Pies, Mingwu walked out from the kitchen. Thanks to his stat upgrade or hard labor, he looked healthier and a bit taller than when we first met. Most notably, his skin color had changed. They said it’s safe for the elemental contractor, but why is he getting tanned?

“You’re out early today?”

“I heard you brought a new monster. I came out just in case.”

He looked at Yuhyun, not Blue, as he said this. The system people said that high-level awakeners prefer those with low stats and high special skills, so Yuhyun, be a bit nicer.

“It’s been a while.”

Mingwu smiled, but it seemed more businesslike.

“There wasn’t much reason to meet recently.”

Mingwu’s response was colder than I expected. It’s strange for Yuhyun to be in a good mood, but Mingwu ignored him during dungeon runs and locked him up when I was kidnapped.

I should have told Yuhyun to be nicer to Mingwu earlier.

“Is this the new one?”

“Yeah. This is the golden griffin, Blue. The other two are unicorns, so I left them in the training room. Our place is too small, and we can’t keep griffins and horses together.”

“Is he getting along with Pies?”

“Our Pies is in charge. They’re fine, but I’m worried about Pies.”

With F-rank stats and a small size, Pies could suffer a fatal injury from a minor hit. Mingwu took out a leather and metal necklace and bracelet.

“Here, try this.”

When I took it, a simple description window appeared.

[Safe Training Collar - B-rank

The wearer of the collar cannot attack the wearer of the bracelet.]

“It can block attacks up to C-rank. I made it for you, but since the bracelet size adjusts automatically, you can put it on Pies.”

“You can make something like this? You’re really amazing.”

Wow, you can even make special effect equipment. I was told that anything is possible with metal, but this is incredible. It’s too versatile. It’s a game-changer.

“It’s nothing.”

Mingwu said this with a pleased smile, but why isn’t he looking at me and instead looking at Yuhyun?

“Being able to create special items is definitely impressive.”

“I’m just getting started. I can make A-rank items, so S-rank is not far off.”

“As a guild leader, that’s a very tempting story.”

“Still, compared to Yujin, I have a long way to go.”

“My brother’s skills are indeed remarkable.”

Why did I come up in this conversation? They both smiled, but the atmosphere wasn’t good. ...I should bring Pies.

- Pies!

- Kya!

Pies, wearing the bracelet that had shrunk like a bird’s ring around his ankle, waddled in. Blue, wearing the collar, followed like a dog chasing a ball, swinging his front paws.

Pong!

Pies tried to catch him with a strong paw, but was blocked by a bubble-like barrier. Although the attack didn’t work, Blue seemed to find it fun and kept hitting Pies.

- Kya! Kya!

- Pies Pies

They’re so cute. I took out my phone to record a video but decided to just take a photo because the two were still talking behind me.

“Of course, Yujin suggested it first. We wouldn’t have come this far without Yujin.”

...Should I get some monster meat for Blue? It might help with his growth. Which guild manages the dungeon where monster meat comes from?

“Brother has that side to him. Just a while ago, ah, you probably haven’t heard about it yet.”

“It’s fine. I couldn’t be involved in Yujin’s affairs and felt left out because of my lack of ability. Of course, that will change soon. Since we’ll be going with the Hyeyeon guild, I’ll be a bit sad when Yujin leaves.”

“Before the guild and the hunter, we’re family, so it’s no problem.”

Why do they keep mentioning me behind my back? I can feel the thorns in their words. This will only make things worse, not better.

“Both of you have a lot to do, so why don’t you go now?”

If you’re going to say that, just go. After sending them both away, I took care of the kids’ meals. Fortunately, Blue ate any monster meat well. I need to feed the unicorns and teach them their names, so I’ll have to go up and down a lot for a while.

‘It will be easier once the breeding facility is completed.’

It’s right downstairs, and it’s a portal, so it’s easy to go back and forth. I felt a bit nostalgic when I left the dorm room. It was a nice place.

‘Maybe I should ask for this place.’

Just in case, I might need it.

‘The friends from Seokhayeon’s group are also coming soon. After they come and organize the data, I should call the goblin to take us to China this time.’

I’ve already found thirteen people with B-rank or higher optimized special skills. I’m in touch with Riet via SNS and have asked him to send my brother once the breeding facility opens.

‘I should contact Do Hamin soon. Is there anyone else?’

I don’t think there is, but I feel like I’m forgetting something. Who else was there? I don’t know. If it’s important, I’ll remember it later.

“Blue! No!”

I picked up the baby griffin who had stuck his head in the ice cream container. His black and white beak made a chirping sound.

“When did you learn to open the fridge?”

- Kya!

“Pies and Pies don’t even touch human food, so why are you doing this! You’re a monster, what if something happens to you!”

- Kya? Kya?

Damn, scolding him just hurts my throat. It’s only been a day, but Blue is really, really... Pies eating a few pieces of furniture was just a joke compared to this.

On the first night, while bathing him, he broke the sink and shower hose, shredded about thirty towels, and broke the light. During dinner, he swooped onto the table, swept everything with his wings, and tried to eat everything that fell on the floor, making his cream-colored fur stained with various sauces, which I had to wash again.

Of course, he didn’t wash quietly. Unlike Pies, he loves water, which made things even more chaotic.

The only fortunate thing is that he falls asleep as soon as it’s nine at night. It was peaceful at night. And as soon as it was nine in the morning, he woke up and loudly demanded to be let out of his cage.

Yesterday, he attacked Pies, got hit, chased Pies, broke a table, scratched the sofa with his claws, and left long marks with his beak and claws on the walls and ceiling...

While I was looking away for a moment, he ransacked the freezer.

“Stay still, I’ll clean your beak. If you keep moving, it will get on your fur.”

- Kya!

He rolled over, showing his belly and wagging his tail. His big blue eyes and open beak were smiling. He playfully tapped my hand with his front paws, which was still cute. Sigh, I guess I’ve been raising the kids too easily.

“Pies, you were really well-behaved.”

I stroked Pies, who came closer. He didn’t cause much trouble except for breaking some furniture. Pies was gentle because he was weak. And our Yuhyun was really a good kid.

“I’ll have to leave Blue with another hunter.”

I’m afraid he’ll scream all day if I leave him alone in the cage. Even with the dorm’s good soundproofing, there’s a limit.

I tidied up and took Blue out. I had an appointment with the Hunter Association regarding the Awakening Center. I hope it goes well.

< Blue (3) > End

ⓒ Geunseo