Chapter 39 Part2 (2/2)

Ye Jin Jin looked puzzled while Lee s.h.i.+n Woo smiled softly and led her. Fortunately, the Kerr Century Winery wasn't very far from here, so he didn't need to use the Heaven Door's Key. Before he went into the winery, he took a deep breath and opened the door. What he was really afraid of was...

[It's Paul Zero!]

[Did you say Paul Zero!?]

”Kyaaaaa!?”

Once they noticed his arrival, the Dryads rushed over to him like a swarm of bees! He accepted it, as though he knew this would happen, but Ye Jin Jin saw the countless wood spirits rus.h.i.+ng over to him and stood still.

[Paul Zero, you came to visit!]

”S-Spirits... Dryads!?”

”Yeah. These guys are invaluable in making the Kerr Century Wine.”

Lee s.h.i.+n Woo completely ignored Sinea, who threw herself into his arms and gave kiss after kiss on his cheek and explained the facility to Ye Jin Jin.

The mystery behind this facility wasn't just the Dryads. Ye Jin Jin saw the golems dragging carts filled with grapes or rolling around oak barrels and was speechless.

”It really is amazing...”

[Paul Zero, is this one of your new friends?]

”Yeah. She'll help sell the wine you guys make from now on.”

[I see. Would you like to eat a grape?]

”T-Thank you.”

[Hehe.]

Once she ate the grape, Ye Jin Jin became mute once again from the grape's indescribable sweetness and sourness. It was cute seeing Sinea laugh with such a proud expression.

Lee s.h.i.+n Woo left her alone and continued with his work. He collected the wine they'd created, and remodeled the equipment on the spot, creating a new facility to create wine. A facility that would create sparkling wine, the wine that would represent champagne!

”For some reason, sparkling wine doesn't exist in this world... Even if it did, they wouldn't be able to reproduce its special characteristic and it wouldn't taste very good. However, our grapes can do it.”

[I don't know what sparkling wine is, but we just have to do as you say, right, Paul Zero?]

He'd done enough prep on the surface, so remodeling the facility wasn't very difficult. While he was at it, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo decided to expand the facility, as well as the wine storehouse. The Dryads were elated at the expanded winery and flew around.

”Now, then. There's something important I have to tell you.”

[What is it?]

[What is it? What is it?]

He said once he was completely finished with the modifications, and the Dryads responded instantly. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo honestly told them what had happened. That he'd procured a way to go to the surface, and that he could bring about two of them with him.

[I see. Paul Zero, you're really amazing!]

[I knew you'd be able to go to the surface someday, Paul Zero!]

They were the Dryads, who came to the underground in search of living trees, so he had expected more of a fuss, but... their reaction wasn't as bad as he'd expected. He tilted his head, as they may have not understood him, but Sinea then replied.

[We're satisfied with our life here. Plus, you're the one who told us that the curse is threatening to affect the surface as well.]

”That's true, but it's just a chance. Moreover, isn't the surface much more attractive than living down here?”

[But we like the underground better since you're here.]

[You can suck the curse away!]

[Plus, we don't want to leave a place that's been handled by an elf.]

Lee s.h.i.+n Woo listened, as the Dryads chattered away, and realized that he'd been misunderstanding all along. It was like with Ye Jin Jin as well. They were more considerate to him than he'd expected, and they were showing this consideration now.

”I see... Thanks.”

[But there might still be some of our kin or other spirits on the surface, so we may have to investigate... Alright, I'll go as our representative. Paul Zero, please take care of me.]

[The Princess is monopolizing Paul Zero!]

[I'm against this!]

[Everyone, please be quiet.]

She overpowered their resentment with her charisma, flew over to the vineyard, and came over with a small grapevine branch. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was confused and asked why she'd brought that over, and Sinea explained that she could return freely with that single branch.

[I've grown a lot too and above all, I love this place. The other Dryads will think the same.]

”You're not a normal Dryad anymore...”

[You're right. I became a level 7 Elder Dryad Princess quite a while ago.]

At some point, she'd reached level 7 as well! Ye Jin Jin, who realized that a Dryad had even beaten her in terms of levels, felt gloomy, and Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had to comfort her. Around that time, the final member that they would bring to the surface had arrived.

[The Master of Darkness, Paul Zero. I have come at your command.]

He was the level 7 Wolf Avenger, Bisher Moon. When he'd come down to the Underground Empire, he'd told Bisher to come to the winery.

Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had to decide which to bring with him: s.h.i.+no Rendu or Bisher Moon, as he couldn't bring the Giants or the Chimeras; their outward appearances were too frightening. He thought about it for a while and eventually decided to bring Bisher Moon, as he could use magic, while s.h.i.+no Rendu only possessed combat abilities.

[I divided my troops and entrusted them to s.h.i.+no Rendu and Chi Paul. They're all fighting bravely right now. Most of the 12 generals won't even be able to scratch your forces.]

”Good.”

That's right. The Empire wasn't stable yet, but they couldn't just remain in hiding forever, so Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was carefully commanding his undead forces from the shadows.

He decided not to use the Giants unless they were needed, as they were quite conspicuous. His elite undead and golems moved covertly and cut down the Undead Empire's numbers bit by bit. If one of the 12 generals appeared, then Lee s.h.i.+n Woo could just go over there. That's why he'd been grateful to have the Heaven Door's Key!

”Mr. s.h.i.+n Woo, this Lycanthrope...”

”Remember what he looks like since he's your senior. Since we're all here, let's go.”

He was really worried how effective his forces would be without the Heaven Defying General, but Lee s.h.i.+n Woo couldn't always stick around with his troops. After he sent a brief message to s.h.i.+no Rendu and the other commanders, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo created a gate to the surface.

The biggest auction on the surface awaited him.

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