ALL NOVEL Chapter 292
Chapter 292. Question (3)
“Just get in the back.”
“Ugh! This car is too small for me to fit in.”
Kim Geon-oh helped Yoo Ji-han’s party into the vehicle he had brought.
However, Chilla, who had a large build, barely managed to climb in by ducking his head.
“Please understand. I had quite a hard time getting this vehicle.”
Kim Geon-oh scratched his head, remembering how he had searched high and low for a car that could accommodate Chilla.
After much effort, the party got into the car and drove for about 30 minutes until they arrived in front of a large restaurant.
It was the restaurant Kim Geon-oh had reserved a day earlier.
“[I-is that Chilla… is that you?]”
The restaurant staff, meeting the chinchilla for the first time in a place that allowed tamer entry, looked at Chilla with a mix of curiosity and fear.
Even the other customers turned to glance at Chilla as they moved to their seats.
Min Yu-ri commented on the reactions of those around them.
“This place seems even more interested in Chilla than back in Korea.”
“There’s a character similar to Chilla in an anime made by a company from Kyoto.”
“Oh, that’s why…”
An anime character appearing in real life!
He was not even a person in a costume and was speaking human language, which naturally drew attention.
It seemed that images combining scenes from the anime with Chilla were even circulating on internet communities.
“[Welcome!]”
The party was greeted by a bald man in a white chef’s outfit.
Yoo Ji-han immediately sensed that he was not an ordinary staff member, given his remarkable presence.
“Isn’t that person’s face… the one from the sign outside?”
The chef, who was also the restaurant owner, had stepped out to personally greet them.
After receiving their orders, he handed a white piece of paper to Chilla.
“Ugh? What’s this?”
“[Please give me your signature! I will treasure it as our restaurant’s treasure!]”
Only after successfully obtaining Chilla’s paw print did the chef leave with a wide grin.
Kim Geon-oh wore an expression that suggested he had expected this.
“It seems that Yoo Ji-han’s party has become quite famous, more than expected.”
“Is it thanks to Chilla?”
“Yeah.”
“Thanks to me! Ugh!”
Since the trip to Kallem with Watanabe, Yoo Ji-han’s party had significantly increased its recognition in Japan.
Chilla played a major role in that success.
A moment later, various dishes were brought to their table.
A feast of very appetizing-looking cuisines!
However, Lee Mi-a noticed that Chilla’s bowl was twice as large and the amount of food was twice as much, leading her to express her dissatisfaction.
“What is this? That’s unfair.”
“Ugh, ugh! I suddenly love Japan!”
As lunch continued, the normally energetic Sylph, who would usually either roll around or tease Chilla, was now staying perfectly still in Yoo Ji-han’s pocket.
Kim Geon-oh wanted to engage in conversation with the silent Sylph.
But she refused and burrowed even deeper into the pocket.
“I’m just not convinced about Si-hu’s mother’s death.”
Understanding Sylph’s feelings, Yoo Ji-han chatted lightly with Kim Geon-oh while secretly observing his expressions and actions.
However, he refrained from making any hasty attempts to pry for information.
After all, he was Kim Si-hu’s trusted father, and there were lines that needed to be respected.
“By the way.”
Kim Geon-oh, who had been closely watching Chilla’s behavior, spoke to Min Yu-ri.
“Did you feed Chilla the Pet Talk? I said I would deliver it this week, but I wonder if it has arrived.”
“Pet Talk?”
“Oh, I shouldn’t have said that. Pet Talk is a potion developed for tamers and their pets.”
“……!”
Kim Geon-oh, who knew about the potion delivered from the Hero Department in Japan, was cut off by Kim Si-hu, who put down his chopsticks on the table.
“How do you know about that, Dad?”
“Because it was developed at our research institute.”
“It was made there?”
“Yeah, I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you sooner.”
The potion that enables telepathy between tamers and their pets.
Kim Geon-oh was involved in the development of that potion.
“You remember the fur sample we took from Chilla in Korea, right? It was occasionally used as a sample in the product development process, so there’s no need to worry about side effects.”
“Oh, I see.”
“The idea to gift the potion to Yoo Ji-han’s party was actually mine.”
“Ugh! I like it, smart human! My master likes it too!”
“Be quiet. Don’t read thoughts carelessly.”
“What can I do if I can read them! Ugh!”
Cook!
Min Yu-ri, still getting used to sharing telepathy, poked Chilla in the side with her hand.
Then, after a series of questions about the potion, Kim Geon-oh turned to Lee Mi-a, who was eating.
“I’ve been wanting to meet you since you were in Kim Hyun-tae’s party.”
“It’s an honor, senior.”
“I heard you enjoy gourmet food.”
“A little.”
“So I thought we could try the monster restaurant for dinner today. The portions are really generous, and it might be a meal that’s hard to find in Korea.”
“Oh! What’s the name of that place?”
Lee Mi-a showed her interest in Kim Geon-oh’s words.
Having naturally blended into Yoo Ji-han’s party, she continued to engage in pleasant conversation.
‘What a likable person.’
He was a competent and excellent monster researcher, as well as a trusted family member of Kim Si-hu.
On top of that, he had a brilliant history as a former Rank 3 Hero!
He appeared to be nothing but a caring father with a kind disposition, making it impossible for Yoo Ji-han to harbor any dislike towards him.
“Shall we make a toast?”
“Cheers!”
“Cheers!”
Thus, while Yoo Ji-han pondered the feelings that Sylph might have, he remained alert to Kim Geon-oh.
*
After finishing their meal, Kim Geon-oh loaded Yoo Ji-han’s party back into the car.
He seemed to have a place he wanted to show them before heading to their accommodations.
“Oh? Where is this…?”
Kim Si-hu peeked out the window of the moving car.
He saw a shiny silver rectangular building in front of them.
Somehow familiar, it was the Kyoto Monster Research Institute where Kim Geon-oh worked.
“Dad, are we going to the research institute?”
“Yeah.”
“Why? You took a hard-earned vacation. Don’t you still have things to take care of?”
“It’s not work. I just wanted to show you the institute.”
“Is it okay for us to go?”
“Of course, I got the necessary permissions.”
Normally, due to security policies, the research institute was not accessible to anyone outside, but they had shown interest enough to allow entry since Yoo Ji-han’s party was rare to visit Kyoto.
Chiiiik! Chiiiik!
As they passed through the automatic doors at the entrance, a disinfectant spray filled the air.
The sharp smell of alcohol misted over the entire party.
Despite that, they felt no discomfort, indicating the system was well thought out.
“[Takeda-san.]”
“[Geon-oh? Who are these people with you…?]”
“[This is Yoo Ji-han’s party.]”
“[Huh? Heeee?!]”
“[What? Who just arrived?]”
Researchers who recognized Kim Geon-oh swarmed to the first-floor entrance.
Their eyes sparkled like lights, mostly focused on Chilla.
“[The chinchilla I’ve only seen in videos is right in front of me…!]”
“[Such beautiful fur!]”
“Ugh? Subarashi? What does that mean?”
“Anyway, it must mean it’s good.”
True to the nature of the Monster Research Institute, the staff cared more about monsters than heroes.
However, perhaps because they were worried about being a nuisance, they only watched with intense curiosity.
Kim Geon-oh led Yoo Ji-han’s party through the throngs of onlookers into his workplace.
‘This is amazing.’
A white table filled with beakers containing brightly colored liquids.
There were also many samples that appeared to be unidentified monster skins or flesh.
It truly was the atmosphere of a research facility.
“What’s all this?”
“That is…”
And just as it proved that Kim Geon-oh had a significantly heavier workload, his desk was dirtier than any other researcher’s.
There were snacks strewn around and garbage that hadn’t been cleared away!
The trash can on the floor looked cleaner by comparison.
‘The cushion of the chair is all flat now.’
The heroes, who rarely collapsed despite overworking, boasted physiques suitable for long hours of research.
Kim Geon-oh had likely become the team leader in a short period thanks to that.
But then—
Swish!
The Sylph, who had shrunk down to the size of an ant, climbed up Yoo Ji-han’s clothes.
And without anyone noticing, she entered his ear canal.
‘What the…?’
Yoo Ji-han wondered what she was doing all of a sudden.
As she got close to his eardrum, the Sylph whispered quietly.
—Ji-han. Don’t answer, just listen.
“……?”
—Do you see that over there? The thing on the table.
At that moment, while Kim Geon-oh was busily showing them around the lab,
Yoo Ji-han quickly scanned the room for the item the Sylph was referring to.
‘Is it that?’
Amid the haphazardly arranged beakers and microscope, he spotted something that looked like a small crumb.
When he zeroed in on it, the Sylph spoke again.
—What you’re looking at. It’s a magic stone.
“……!”
—To be precise, it’s crushed magic stone powder.
Upon hearing the words “magic stone,” Yoo Ji-han’s eyebrows twitched.
He hadn’t noticed the minuscule amount that was practically nonexistent.
Yet Sylph was able to catch even the faintest hint of magical energy.
—With that much, I can read memories.
Sylph wanted the piece of magic stone on the table.
It was to read Kim Geon-oh’s memories.
While it wouldn’t be possible to extract Kim Geon-oh’s magic openly,
As long as she was discreet about it, there wouldn’t be any issues.
“Hmm.”
Yoo Ji-han, timing his movement, walked over to the table.
He pointed to a beaker filled with a green liquid and asked,
“Excuse me, what is this?”
“Oh, that’s from a mutation discovered in Japan last time….”
Kim Geon-oh kindly answered the sudden question.
While pretending to focus on his story, Yoo Ji-han withdrew his hand from the table.
Attached to his fingertips was the shard of the magic stone Sylph had wanted.
*
Having pocketed the magic stone fragment, Yoo Ji-han exited the research lab.
Following him, Kim Geon-oh led them to a deep, interior door within the institute.
Click! Click! Click!
Triple security measures—fingerprint recognition, iris recognition, and magic recognition.
As they entered through the tightly sealed door, a potent smell assaulted their nostrils.
‘Formaldehyde?’
The cold temperature and eerie ambiance hinted at the space’s purpose.
A wall lined with monster storage freezers that he had only seen in monster disposal companies.
This place was meant for storing research monster carcasses.
Yoo Ji-han thought it was not a place to be easily shown to outsiders, and so he asked,
“Why are you showing us this place…?”
“Hmm! I really wanted you all to see a specific monster.”
Kim Geon-oh’s voice carried a strange excitement as he answered.
As if that was the very reason he brought them to the research institute.
“Follow me.”
Yoo Ji-han walked along with Kim Geon-oh further inside.
As they went deeper, the indoor temperature gradually dropped.
Looking at the frost on the walls, one could hardly understand why they needed a separate freezer.
It was only when they could see their breath in the chilly air that Kim Geon-oh finally halted his steps.
“This is it.”
In front of him stood a tree, towering at human height.
“Dad, this is…”
“It’s the last Florun your mother cultivated.”
“……!”
It was the final masterpiece of Erna Hass.