Chapter 172
Kang-woo and Eun-chae were taken care of, and we returned home.
We all thought about staying at Daehyun Hospital together, but… we all wanted to come back home.
With the help of Association President Jeong Ho-min, we got into a car and headed to Infinite Cheongdam.
When we arrived at Infinite Cheongdam… it was chaos.
On one side, there was a memorial setup with chrysanthemums, post-it notes, and letters scattered around.
On the other side, a protest was underway.
The security wasn’t lax, but Infinite Cheongdam had been breached by the Apostles.
I later found out that lawsuits were already in progress.
Honestly, if I put my mind to it, I could probably breach the Blue House too.
The Apostles were Awakened Ones, not far behind S-Class Heroes.
“Infinite Cheongdam’s side seems a bit pitiful.”
A premium luxury apartment had turned into a marketplace.
We’ll leave this place someday, but for now, it’s still our home.
We tried to ignore the scenes around us and went up to our apartment.
But… where did our front door go?
“What’s this?”
“Now that I think about it, the kidnappers broke the door when they came in.”
“…”
The Cult Leader was said to be transferred to the lowest floor of the Association’s underground prison.
I’ll definitely go and claim the door repair costs later. I’ll definitely go.
First, we called a repair service and went inside.
“I’m going to shower first.”
“Me too. I feel so gross.”
We scattered to our respective rooms to shower.
I stood there blankly under the warm water.
“Ah… peace…”
It’s been so long since I felt this kind of peace.
Life has been tough.
If I stayed like this, I’d probably shower for three hours, so I quickly washed up and came out.
…
I guess everyone was in a similar situation.
I was alone in the living room.
Ding-dong—
With no door to block it, the sound of the doorbell felt strange.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me, sis.”
The visitors were Park Seol-hwa and Jo Se-hee.
Judging by their appearance, they had already showered.
We left later than them, so how did they manage to shower and find our place so quickly?
Do alchemists have some magic I don’t know about?
Thinking about Lee Ha-yoon and Lee Chae-rin from the Hero Academy, it seems possible.
Those middle school girls grew up to be them.
“Coffee?”
“Hmm, I’ll have Silver Moon Tea.”
“What, what tea?… Did you order it? Just give me whatever…”
Just give me whatever, why are you asking for Silver Moon Tea or something…
“Yeah, I ordered it. It’s a bit much to keep getting free stuff every time I come.”
…?
Jo Se-hee, who was once a Great Thief, not only steals things but also secretly leaves stuff behind?
I opened the cabinet, and there was actually something called Silver Moon Tea.
“…It’s really here.”
“Sis, will you have Geisha Tea?”
“Gei… what?… Did you also order tea?”
I thought the name was weird, but there are cocktails like Sex on the Beach, so I let it slide.
The world has really changed a lot.
“I was just asking if you had any, but I guess not.”
“…Sis, just have an Americano.”
Look at these bold guests.
I couldn’t tell if I was the guest or if they were.
As I served drinks and sat down, people started coming out after their showers.
Surprisingly, even though two guests had arrived, no one seemed to care.
It was as if we had all been living together for a long time.
“…Everyone wants coffee?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
“I’ll have iced.”
They had a tough day and finally came home, but I had been leisurely traveling the Demon Realm for 20 days… no, I also had a tough time.
This is something the youngest should do. Definitely.
I’m not feeling guilty because I went on a Demon Realm trip.
While preparing everyone’s coffee, Hayan joined us.
Everyone silently sipped their coffee.
There must be a lot they want to ask and say, but for now…
It seemed like we were just grateful to be together again safely.
Growl—
“Pfft.”
“Typical Gyeoul.”
“If you’re hungry, just say so.”
“…I’m embarrassed for my friend.”
“…Everyone, be quiet.”
Let’s eat first.
“Sis, order whatever you want to eat.”
“Love you!”
Park Seol-hwa, the richest person here, pulled out her card.
“But… what did you eat in the Demon Realm?”
“Wow, you’re asking that now? That place was… something else.”
“…?”
“Have you heard of Demon Realm Ghoul Brain Cuisine?”
“Ew… you’re messing with us again.”
Wow, they don’t believe me.
It’s the dish that almost made me kill Dantalian the moment I saw it at his dining table.
“There was also a deadly mushroom soup mixed with a Succubus’s saliva.”
“…They spit in the food? And that sells?”
“The point is weird. Isn’t the deadly mushroom the point?”
“Surprisingly, if a Succubus spits in it, the price goes up ten times.”
“…?”
It’s some kind of Demon Realm reward system.
Anyway, whether it’s Earth or the Demon Realm, there are no sane people.
“There was also Hydra Tooth-decorated Hydra Body Sashimi, Hell Hound roasted with Imp fire, Hell Horse tongue, Lava Shark fin… lots of amazing stuff.”
“I’m never going to the Demon Realm.”
“It’s worse than China…”
Actually, I ate more Korean-style dishes than those, but…
Let’s keep that a secret.
It’s not a chaotic, reckless Demon Realm adventure.
It’s Jeong Gyeoul’s epic escape from the Demon Realm after countless hardships.
“Order whatever you want to eat.”
“Love you!”
I ate well, but there were many dishes in the Demon Realm that didn’t exist.
Pizza, chicken, hamburgers, pig trotters, mala tang, etc.
If I listed everything I wanted to eat, it would be thousands, so I’ll keep it short.
We’ll gather the heroes who helped us another day and throw a party.
For now, let’s eat as a family.
Park Seol-hwa, Jo Se-hee, and Lee Ha-yoon… they’re practically family.
We spread out the dining table in the living room and laid out the delivery food.
The party began.
“Ahhh!”
“What’s wrong!”
Everyone looked at me, startled by the sudden noise.
Sorry for drawing attention.
Is this delivery food for real?
Is this the same lame delivery food?
The Korean food industry is truly legendary.
***
For me, eating is a battle. – Winter. J
***
“Seol-hwa sis, can you appraise items too?”
“Of course, I can’t sell potions without knowing their exact effects, so I always appraise them.”
“That’s a relief. Then… appraise all of these.”
Rumble rumble—
As soon as we got home, I brought out a few large boxes and dumped out the treasures I had roughly packed.
We’ve eaten, now it’s time for the gift-giving ceremony.
This really feels like a party.
“I can’t do all of them today, just a few. If I do all of them, my circuits will overload.”
“What, sis, are you weak?”
“…You’ve grown up, Gyeoul.”
This is it.
Now even S-Class Heroes feel like kids to me!
Park Seol-hwa picked up the huge necklace I was most looking forward to.
“…This, this is!”
“What! What is it!”
That expression.
Look at that surprised expression with wide eyes and a slightly open mouth.
My eyes were spot on.
Among the items with magic power, I picked the one that looked the most impressive, and it seems there was something special.
“It’s just really pretty?”
“…?”
“Pfft hahahaha.”
Baek Kang-woo, read the room.
As I slowly turned my head and glared, the laughter gradually died down.
“Sorry.”
“Is there anything else? Is it just pretty?”
“There’s only one charm spell on it, so it looks even prettier.”
Why would someone put such a useless spell on it?
Was the necklace maker trying to mess with me?
“Gyeoul, why don’t you start showing interest in these accessories? Want to go jewelry shopping with sis?”
Eun-chae seemed to be pushing me into the abyss of evil by suggesting shopping.
I pretended not to hear and just looked at Park Seol-hwa.
“I don’t need that necklace, do the next one.”
“Let’s just do necklaces today.”
There were three swords, one shield, one bow, and 20 rings.
But Park Seol-hwa insisted on only doing necklaces.
I’m starting to suspect she has a necklace fetish.
Park Seol-hwa picked up the second necklace.
“Wow, this is…”
As soon as she picked it up, she started gushing.
I tried not to get too excited because of the earlier disappointment, but…
Maybe she has the talent of an actor.
Looking at her expression, I started to get excited too.
“What, what is it! What!”
“Judging by the magic pattern engraved on it… it can probably remove any kind of poison.”
…A detox necklace?
“Isn’t that amazing?”
“You can create a similar effect with potions, but this necklace seems much better.”
Even better than the potions made by the world’s greatest alchemist, Park Seol-hwa.
It would be a hit at an auction.
It would also be a great gift.
My judgment was spot on.
Necklace maker, I’m sorry for cursing you earlier, even if you’re the same person.
After that, more necklaces came out, not as amazing but still decent.
“This one helps with magic recovery.”
That would be a great gift for someone in the Magic Category.
It can boost recovery power by one level.
A highly sought-after item for Magic Category Awakened Ones.
I could sell it for a lot, but I have no intention of selling artifacts.
Unless we go bankrupt, I’ll keep them all as gifts.
“This is… a suit? Like the Hero Suits I make.”
…A suit.
Just the name makes it sound like a dud.
That’s something from Gilgamesh’s era.
Is it going to be some golden armor like what Gilgamesh wore?
What Awakened One would fight in something so cumbersome?
Zzzzz—
Whether she thought the same or just wanted to try it on, Park Seol-hwa activated the suit.
Whoosh— click.
Only the color was different from Gilgamesh’s.
Does the King of Gold only use gold?
Park Seol-hwa’s entire body was covered in black armor.
“It looks… kind of evil.”
“We can call her Dark Seol-hwa.”
If Hayan wore something like this, it would be really scary.
Dark Hayan in dark armor sweeping through the Academy students?
Ugh, terrifying.
The rest of the necklaces were all duds.
Necklace maker, you’re a bad person.
I wanted to beg and plead to appraise the weapons, but…
Seeing her already sweating, it seemed like appraising ancient artifacts took a lot of effort.
“Can you keep going with the magic recovery necklace on?”
“…You’re Satan.”
No, even Satan is said to be a good person.
“Just kidding, let’s do it tomorrow.”
I never understood people who enjoy unboxing.
But now I think I get it a little.
‘Thrilling, new, happy, fun.’
There are hundreds, thousands of times more treasures left in the Demon Realm.
I need to find a way to bring them back as soon as possible.
‘Should I train Loki?’
But what if Heukgu and Heukrang already destroyed them?
Those two are capable of that.
Then I’ll have to travel the entire Demon Realm to retrieve my treasures.
‘Next time, I’ll go with Hayul sis.’
It’s okay if there’s one Demon King legend in the Demon Realm, right?