Chapter 301 (1/2)

“Are you sure you’re okay? You can sleep.” Helena, who sat across from me, looked anxious. She was one of the people who watched me cooking all of last night.

I told her, “No, I can bear it.”

In fact, I could make it three days in advance, but I wanted to make it as warm as possible. Thus, I cooked all of yesterday. Still, it was hard. I had to quickly restore Jinny’s power. If Jinny restored her power, then I wouldn’t have to worry about freshness and shelf life with weather cooking. In simple terms, it was like a refrigerator.

“Please sleep. You look really tired.”

Kim Sujeong was sitting right next to Helena. The reason she was present was because Helena asked her to come. They decided to go shopping.

“Father, Father! Should I make a breeze so you can sleep?” Punghee sat next to me with her white hair covering her deer-like eyes. She was so cute that I couldn’t help smiling.

“It’s fine.” As I spoke, I scattered Punghee’s white hair with my hands.

Punghee complained while fixing her hair. Then Kim Sujeong opened her mouth, “Punghee, would you like me to tie your hair?”

“Really? Is that more comfortable?”

“Yes~ then I’ll tie it up. Come sit here.”

Punghee immediately sat down next to Kim Sujeong. Kim Sujeong pulled out a comb from somewhere and started combing Punghee’s hair. It was very silky, luxurious hair. “Punghee, your hair is really good~ what is the secret?”

“Um, are you eating well and sleeping well?”

Helena was also interested and approached Punghee.

“That’s kind of you to ask~ I’m eating well and sleeping well. You should also eat and rest well.”

Then Helena turned to me and complained that it was difficult these days. It felt like I was stabbed for no reason, so I summoned Jinny and pretended not to know anything. It was to fill the carriage I was sitting in with soft clouds. In an instant, a cloud cushion formed where I was sitting. Oh, it was fluffy. I should’ve done this earlier.

“Give me a comb. In our world, it is tied like this.”

Suddenly, Helena took Kim Sujeong’s comb and taught her how to tie hair. Helena was once a noble and she knew how to tie up hair in various ways. Kim Sujeong watched with admiration. Punghee saw her reflection in the mirror and smiled with a satisfied expression. The three people looked so good that I couldn’t help smiling.

***

It took an hour before we reached the royal palace of Fortren. There was a delay in leading the mission group and in the first place, Fortren’s royal palace was a bit far away. Along the way, the cooking delegation sat up a free food tasting on the streets and the people of Fortren were served the food. There was no discrimination because I ordered them to serve the good regardless of whether the people were rich or poor. In particular, the poor people ate the food and praised me. Some even bowed.

In any case, I was able to meet the Merchant King, ‘Kirius,’ in Fortren’s royal castle. He had a long beard and long white hair tied back. The man who looked like he lived in the Joseon Dynasty looked down on me from a throne covered with all types of precious stones and there were servants lined up next to him. The throne had a diamond spoon stuck in it that symbolized identity.

“Fortren is full of rumors about the cooking delegation you sent. I am deeply grateful that you took care of the people I can’t take care of due to a lack of ability.”

“I am glad you are pleased, Your Majesty.”

Just like every time I met an important NPC, my body and mouth moved on their own as I expressed sincere greetings to Kirius. Aren, whom I knew well, was standing next to Kirius.

“Thank you for coming this long way. I would like to personally serve you tea. I hope you won’t refuse this request.”

I looked up and saw Aren giving me a small nod. It meant to agree.

“Thank you, Your Majesty. I will accept.”

Therefore, Aren and I moved along with Kirius. In a quiet room, we sat facing each other with teacups filled with tea between us. It was Kirius who broke the silence first.

“This tea tastes very good. It is the most expensive tea available from Metheus recently. Drink it.”

He was truly a capitalist. He came out with the most expensive tea. Kirius recommended it first, and both Aren and I each picked up a teacup filled with tea. I took a sip, and sure enough, the tea tasted excellent. I suddenly asked a question, “How much is this tea?”

“Hmm. Was it $20 million...?”

I instantly gasped and swallowed the wind. What type of tea cost $20 million? Kirius read my expression and laughed. “Don’t worry and drink. I won’t charge you for it.”

The atmosphere relaxed at Kirius’ joke. Now it was time to get to the point.

“I heard you wanted to meet me...” I spoke carefully as I looked at Kirius.

He made eye contact as he slowly sipped his tea before putting down the teacup. “Do you know the lights that have recently risen all over the continent?”

“Of course.”

“A few appeared in Fortren. Fortunately, Aren here moved quickly and prevented others from getting their hands on it.”

Kirius nodded to Aren. Then Aren rose from his seat and brought over a jeweled box. I opened the box straight away. As expected, the Star Fruits and Pandora fragments were contained there. Just then, Kirius told me, “I’ll give these to you.”

“......!”

I raised my head and stared at Kirius in a shocked manner. Kirius laughed once again. “You look so surprised.”

“You are just giving it to me? Or do you have something you want? If you have something you want, then I’ll listen to it.”

“Hoh, you are quick-witted as Aren said. I am in the position of Merchant King. I won’t give out something if it doesn’t benefit me. There is just one thing I want to request.”

“......?”

I cocked my head in a confused manner. Then Kirius glanced at Arena before turning back to me.