厨房玩朋友娇妻中文字幕

Chapter 457

He hadn’t noticed his exhaustion, as it hadn’t hindered him from clearing the Dragon’s Nest or helping the future legendary Tamer Park Terse. But now, after regaining his peak condition due to the Guardian Tree, he began to feel the difference.

‘I feel much lighter.’

Even drinking Chul-Soo Potion didn’t provide him with this level of recovery lately, which just showed how tremendously the Guardian Tree had grown.

“I’m not sure if this is right,” Jin-Hyeok said.

-“I don’t know what you mean.”

“I’m talking about Arvis rankers.”

-“Oh, you mean the sheltered Players who are protected from the harsh realities of life?

The entire universe called the Arvis Server a blessed Server, but Jin-Hyeok thought differently. An environment as stable, growing, and favorable as Arvis was nothing short of sheltering those Players.

“I was a bit disappointed in Lessefim too.”

Jin-Hyeok had expected top-ranking Players to be more adventurous and challenge-seeking. Yet, even Lessefim said that going to the Fire Spirit Realm was too dangerous.

“But I don’t think it’s Lessefim’s fault.”

Arvis had grown as a Server due to a Guardian Tree. The current Arvis existed because Garbinu had nurtured that Guardian Tree. Jin-Hyeok believed that if Arvis had been more barren, without having any Guardian Tree, more adventurous rankers would’ve been born in the Server.

-“You’re not thinking of cutting me down, are you?!”

Seoul’s Guardian Tree was a bit nervous.

“Of course not.” Jin-Hyeok wasn’t cold-hearted enough to cut down someone he shared such a deep emotional connection with.

However, Miri seemed a bit disappointed.

-A Guardian Tree probably tastes better than a Dragon’s head.

-“What the hell are you talking about? You crazed weapon!”

-Hmph! Who’s the crazy one here? Everyone knows you have extended your authority to other Servers and gone around smashing Dungeon bosses’ heads!

-“That’s not true! You’re just trolling!”

-What does trolling mean?

-“Hmph! How laughable that you act so cocky without even knowing what trolling means!

“Come on, both of you, quiet down,” Jin-Hyeok said.

As their mental connection deepened and both the Guardian Tree and Miri grew, their emotions and conversations became so detailed and loud that it was dizzying for Jin-Hyeok.

“Anyway, I’m not sure if it’s okay for society to become this comfortable,” Jin-Hyeok added.

If time passed like this, the Earth Server could become a second Arvis Server. No, Jin-Hyeok knew for sure it would happen. Earth’s Players were more progressive and actively engaged in intense Play than Players from other Servers.

There was already a bit of difference in how Mole Woman and Lessefim reacted; Mole Woman had said that she was interested in visiting the Spirit Realm, while Lessefim thought it was too dangerous. This was the overall difference between the two Servers, and it would undoubtedly create a qualitative difference among Players.

Miri interrupted Jin-Hyeok’s contemplation.

-See, the Guardian Tree is useless. Turn me into an axe, and let me shop down that insane tree!

***

Mole Woman checked various ingredients.

“Let’s see... Fire Spirit Stone, Fragments of Burning Rock, Philimendia’s Tail, volcano ash aged for ten years...” These were the ingredients required for opening the Spirit Gate. “The fire energy might be a bit lacking, but it shouldn’t matter if the Gate is opened in Julius’s nest. I’ll just add a magic circle to absorb fire energy, moly!”

Mole Woman immediately went to the Dragon’s Nest to conduct a simulation. Formerly a ferocious Fire Dragon, Julius wanted to burst out in anger at the uninvited guest in his nest, but he couldn’t.

“How dare you come to our nes—”

“Stop. She’s one of Chul-Soo’s closest comrades.” Atanna stopped Julius.

“Welcome to our humble home, human friend. What brings you to our abode?”

“I’m trying to open the Gate to the Fire Spirit Realm. I’m going to practice a bit, moly.” Mole Woman drew a magic circle on the ground according to the Mages’ blueprints, positioned various ingredients in precise locations, and chanted a spell. “Open, Gate of Fire!”

Whoosh!

When flames rose and a circular space appeared, it immediately burned too intensely.

“Oh no!” Mole Woman yelled. She had failed to open the Spirit Gate. The fire was too strong, destroying the Gate itself. “Maybe the fire energy here is too strong, moly.”

It was a dilemma. The Gate burned up because the fire energy was too strong. However, places with weaker fire energy could not generate a Spirit Gate at all.

“This is difficult..., very difficult, moly.”

It seemed she would need to launch a large-scale project with the help of clever Mages and barrier specialists.

***

“Something is weird, moly...” Mole Woman said.

After listening to Mole Woman’s report, Jin-Hyeok almost said, ‘Can’t I just put Absolute Barrier on the magic circle?’

However, he realized Mole Woman had to have her reasons.

‘Is she trying to get more content out of this?’ When Jin-Hyeok changed his perspective, it was actually very considerate of her.

“If you need anything, talk to the MK Foundation. They will help you as much as they can,” Jin-Hyeok said.

“Understood, moly!”

At that moment, Lessefim banged on the door. “Damn it! I knew this would happen!”

Though the door didn’t open, Lessefim burst through it. It was truly a movement befitting an Arvis ranker.

“Lessefim? Why are you here?” Jin-Hyeok asked.

“You immediately asked Mole Woman right after I said no?”

Mole Woman grinned and said, “I’m the one chosen by Chul-Soo, moly.”

“What? He came to me first! He went to you only because I refused!”

“Hmph! Regardless, I’m the one who was chosen. I’ve always said I’m the more suitable Navigator for livestreams, moly.”

Lessefim trembled in anger. She could accept falling behind in rankings, but not being chosen by Chul-Soo was unbearable. “I’ll do it too!”

“Weren’t you too cautious earlier, saying that it was too dangerous, moly? Are you trying to jump on the bandwagon now, moly?”

Lessefim didn’t look at Mole Woman. The more they talked, the more disadvantageous it became for her. After all, Mole Woman was the one chosen this time.

“Chul-Soo, I’m the Navigator more suited for livestreaming,” Lessefim said.

“On what basis are you saying such nonsense?” Mole Woman interjected.

Lessefim had recently risen to first place in the Arvis Navigator rankings. She had done her best to acquire various skills as a Navigator, not just tracking, and as a result, she had been able to usurp the top spot.

‘Does he not know I’m number one in Arvis?’ Lessefim thought.

If so, this was an opportunity to teach Mole Woman a lesson.

“Tell me, on what basis are you more suitable?” Mole Woman asked again.

Mole Woman decided to hear on what basis Lessefim was making such an outrageous claim, confident that she was better than Lessefim in areas such as tracking, pioneering, exploration, and unlocking.

“Chul-Soo’s videos have much higher views when I appear in the video than when you do it, moly! Do you know why?” Mole Woman said with laughter.

“...”

“It’s because I’m pretty! Moly moly moly!”

“You... were a man.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

Mole Woman showed the view counts by playing the videos directly. Videos featuring Mole Woman did have higher view counts.

“Don’t get cocky, moly. You’re just the number one in the Arvis ranking. That’s all!”

***

Mole Woman and Lessefim squeezed their eyes shut.

‘He’ll choose me, moly!’

‘Please choose me, Chul-Soo!’

In the end, the choice was up to Jin-Hyeok.

‘It’s me, moly!’

‘Of course, it’s me!’

They both opened their eyes simultaneously and shouted,

“You’re still not good enough for me!”

“You’re still not good enough for me, moly!”

They looked at each other in bewilderment. Jin-Hyeok had placed his hands on both their shoulders.

“Mole Woman, didn’t you say there were some problems with opening the Spirit Gate right now?” Jin-Hyeok said.

“Yes, I did. But I can solve them quickly on my own, moly. I don’t need help from a Navigator who’s only good at navigating, moly.”

Despite the minor dispute, Lessefim ultimately showed insight worthy of an Arvis ranker. “What? You can’t open the Gate? That’s a very simple problem.”

‘Hmph! What’s so good about getting high view counts? That’s still not enough against me, a proper Navigator!’ Lessefim thought. She continued with a smile on her face, “It’s a magic circle designed to absorb insufficient fire energy. The problem is that the Dragon’s Nest’s fire energy is too strong. You can solve the issue with protective magic or barriers to protect the magic circle. That’s something Chul-Soo can solve right here.”

“...”

“...”

Both Jin-Hyeok and Mole Woman fell silent.

To Lessefim, it was a perfect answer.

‘See? This is the skill of an Arvis ranker!’ Lessefim proudly straightened her shoulders, and Mole Woman sighed.

“Tsk, tsk. That’s why you’re not suitable for livestreaming, moly.”

“What do you mean...?”

“Do you think I didn’t know that? Do you think Chul-Soo doesn’t know that, moly?”

“What?”

“Opening the Spirit Gate itself is an event for the viewers. It would be the first time an Earth Player has even opened the Spirit Gate! There needs to be some proper staging. Would the video be interesting if we just opened it abruptly, moly?”

Lessefim couldn’t refute this.

“Every story needs an introduction, development, climax, and conclusion, moly.”

As Mole Woman spoke, cold sweat ran down her back. She had been so focused on competing with Lessefim that she had forgotten the simplest solution.

‘S-She’s right...! Chul-Soo could have helped me!’ Mole Woman thought. However, she didn’t want to show that Lessefim was right. “You’re still lacking, Lessefim!”

***

‘Hm, their relationship isn’t bad at all,’ Jin-Hyeok thought.

Mole Woman was now a rising star and Lessefim was undisputedly the world’s best Navigator. Yet Lessefim showed a slightly weaker side to Mole Woman. This unexpected, fresh perspective wasn’t bad at all for his content. After bringing the two into the Dragon’s Nest, Jin-Hyeok said as if he knew nothing, “So can we fully open the Spirit Gate now?”

“That’s right, moly. It was incredibly difficult to complete this, moly.”

Lessefim observed this and thought, ‘It looks to have been completed quite easily, though?’

Research on opening Spirit Gates had already progressed significantly. The theory was almost complete, and they just needed to figure out how to protect the magic circle. And Jin-Hyeok’s Absolute Barrier made that possible.

Mole Woman nudged Lessefim’s side and whispered, “What are you doing? Aren’t you going to smile?”

Lessefim smiled brightly.

-Wow, was Lessefim always this pretty?”

-I’m a fan of Lessefim starting today.

-Look how beautiful she is... T_T

Mole Woman was slightly flustered. It seemed like there was a radiant glow behind Lessefim when she smiled. Mole Woman gritted her teeth. ‘Lessefim... She’s been preparing hard, moly!’

It was certainly possible that Lessefim had been honing a Beautiful Smile Skill. She could have even commissioned the Carvington Family to create and consume a Look Pretty Potion or something similar.

‘Next time, I won’t lose to you, moly!’