episode_0102

Feeling much relieved after seemingly passing the first trial well.

Master said that I showed enough ability in the first trial, so for the second trial, he advised not to push too hard and just let things flow naturally….

Hmm… How do I do that? Even if it’s an original story, I don’t know….

I guess I’ll just solve it my way.

“Hahaha! Gotcha, puppy! Now you’re it!”

“…Yeah.”

Woosh!

“Hahaha!”

Woosh!

“I got you too…! This is fun..”

Although my mind is at ease, I feel like my focus is slipping away.

When did those two become so close…?

But why does Hyangdan keep calling Sari a puppy? She looks like a person now.

Well, I still call him Kim Seobang.

It’s fortunate that they seem to get along well, but I didn’t expect them to become friends so quickly after introducing themselves.

Of course, Hyangdan was the one who initiated the conversation.

“Hello, puppy? Nice to meet you! Be my friend! I’ll also play ‘Kim Seobang’ with you later!”

Boing!

“Yeah! Let’s be friends…. My name is Sari…! Do I finally have a younger sibling…? I’ll treat you like a good sister….”

“Sure sure! Wow! You’re so pretty too? Amazing! I like you! Would you like to play tag with me?”

“…Yes!”

They started giggling and running around in corners, making me feel overwhelmed….

No matter how spacious the room was, with those two running around, it felt cramped and suffocating.

Then,

Knock knock.

Boing!

Brrrrrrrrrr!

Swish swish swish swish!

As soon as I heard the knocking on the door, they transformed into clothes and a puppy and came into my arms.

“W-Who are you?”

“It’s Sibi. It seems a bit noisy in here…. Is everything okay?”

“Oh! It’s fine! I was just exercising to prepare for the trial! Thank you for your concern!”

“…Yes. If you need anything, feel free to call us anytime….”

“Uh.. Sorry….”

Was I being too loud? Ugh… I feel embarrassed for no reason….

That person must have thought I was alone, but suddenly hearing girls giggling from inside, how surprised would they have been?

I should warn the kids to be more careful.

“Phew… Kids. I think we shouldn’t be too loud right now. Just bear with it until the end of the trial, then we can play all we want.”

“(Sorry, Kim Seobang… Are you mad…?)”

“Meow….”

Even in their transformed state, Hyangdan and Sari seem to relax instantly under my attention.

Feeling like they misunderstood my intentions a lot, I quickly added:

“No no, I’m not mad. What’s there to be mad about. Despite being a bit chaotic, it was so nice to hear laughter. It’s just that Sari is supposed to be with Huisun, and Hyangdan shouldn’t be seen here. I was worried about that.”

“(Worried…!? K-Kim Seobang..! As expected.. I want to be your wife..! I’ll accept it gladly..! Hurry up and accept me as your bride!)”

“Why are you saying that out of the blue? We’re friends, right? Oh! By the way, I’m curious, why aren’t you supposed to be here?”

“(That’s obvious. I’m a goblin! Goblins and gods don’t get along well! They don’t take jokes well. I was really naughty, right? If they find out I’m here, they’ll probably kick me out immediately.)”

Hyangdan expresses her dissatisfaction, boldly complaining to the gods who didn’t take her jokes well.

But Hyangdan. Your pranks are so mischievous that even if you weren’t a god, wouldn’t they still not want to accept you?

It seems a bit awkward to reveal the existence of the Hyangdani. It’s like seeing a thorn in one’s side, even if it’s not an ironclad supporter.

Still, I didn’t like leaving Hyangdani disguised like this.

Once the trial is over, Sarri should be able to move freely, so it’s pitiful for her to hide alone like this.

Thinking about it, Hyangdani has been hiding since before coming up to Heaven, so how frustrating must it be for such an active girl?

If I say I’m friends with Heeseon, will they go easy on me?

Well, that’s a story that doesn’t need to be worried about right now….

First and foremost, passing the trial is the priority.

What could the second trial be?

Although Dongbangsak Elder hinted that Heeseon won’t be able to come secretly at night this time.

I don’t mind not getting help, but it’s a shame not to see Heeseon’s face.

We need the trial to end quickly so we can see Heeseon…

“(By the way, Kim Seobang! Can’t we eat something? I’m hungry!)”

“Huh? How long has it been since we ate?”

“(Oh, forget it! It’s already out. Is there nothing to eat?)”

Even after eating all that? The amount was surprising enough for everyone to finish, but…?

And you even ate mine!

Despite the embarrassment, after receiving a lot of food, this is…

“(Ahh~ I’m hungry, Kim Seobang..! Give me food..! I want to eat something delicious! Food! Food! Now!)”

“Okay! Okay! I got it!”

Oh.. so noisy!

No matter how much I plug my ears, it’s really annoying to hear the sound ringing in my head.

Three troublemakers gathering together in my head and throwing a tantrum….

The same troublemaker!

Phew.. but I can’t help it if you’re hungry.

“(Food! Food! Now!)”

“I’ll give you food, so stop it now! If you keep throwing a fit, you’ll get in trouble.”

“(Oops! Sorry, Kim Seobang! I won’t throw a fit! I don’t like getting in trouble!)”

“Alright, alright. Be good and wait a bit. I’ll make something edible for you. Sarri, can you make a few iron bowls and utensils?”

“Yup!”

Bang!

I ask Sarri to make some simple tableware.

In an instant, Sarri transforms into a skilled craftsman, pulling out iron bowls and spoons and chopsticks.

‘The bowls are ready… But I can’t cook here, so I’ll have to use a mortar. What should I make?’

Now that I’ve taken out the mortar, I’m pondering what to make.

“(Why did you take out the mortar when we’re not even going to eat anything, Kim Seobang?)”

“You’ll see. Anyway, Hyangdani, do you have any food you don’t like or can’t eat?”

“(Hmm… I don’t dislike anything…. Oh! I can’t eat red bean porridge because it looks like blood! Blood! Yes! I don’t like blood! Especially chicken blood and dog blood!)”

Blood? Red bean porridge? Ah! I remember hearing that goblins dislike red things.

But since we’re not making ox bone soup here and we won’t be using blood in our cooking, it’s somewhat useless information…

No, it’s that she dislikes the color red itself, right? Then we should avoid red foods.

“What do you like then?”

“(Anything you make, Kim Seobang! Except red bean porridge and blood!)”

Ah… It’s actually the hardest thing to make whatever you want.

I shouldn’t have asked.

By the way, what did the goblin like…?

Ah! Buckwheat jelly! The goblin goes crazy for buckwheat jelly!

I’ll just have to make mukbap or seasoned muk!

But I can’t use kimchi or red pepper powder because they’re red? They don’t make pre-made products…

If I ask for a pre-made product, it will contain kimchi or red pepper powder….

I’ll just have to pick out the ingredients myself and make sure there’s no red visible.

“Dolraoa! Bring out the buckwheat jelly, buckwheat jelly!”

“(What! Buckwheat jelly! Really! There’s buckwheat jelly? Wow! I love you, Kim Seobang! Indeed, my husband! I made the right choice marrying Kim Seobang! It’s buckwheat jelly! It’s the food I’ve been dreaming of!)”

“……”

Upon hearing the word ‘buckwheat jelly,’ Hyangdan went wild.

This guy is so… And when did you marry me? We’re friends, right?

Still, it’s fortunate that the rumor about goblins liking buckwheat jelly is true.

Roll, roll, roll, roll.

As Donguri turns, he begins to extract the buckwheat jelly.

Pong pong pong

Tilting the millstone, the bowl starts to fill up with buckwheat jelly.

“(Wow! Kim Seobang! How does Kim Seobang have a goblin club?)”

“Huh? What do you mean a goblin club? Anyone can see this is clearly a millstone.”

“(Appearance doesn’t matter! If that item isn’t a goblin club, then what is it? Such things are possessed by goblin kings! Indeed, Kim Seobang must have goblin blood flowing in him!)”

Hmm.. While it’s true that both the goblin club and the millstone produce items when struck or turned, but… Goblin blood? What nonsense is that? I’m human, not a goblin.

Let’s not worry about things we don’t understand in English and focus on making food.

Donguri picks out the seaweed, adds some soy sauce, sesame oil, and sesame seeds. Maybe a bit of MSG too?

Mixing the ingredients roughly with chopsticks and dividing them into bowls.

‘Hmm.. Did I make too much? Even after dividing it, the bowl is overflowing..?’

Due to Hyangdan’s insistence on being very hungry, his portions grew larger, and with the addition of a hearty eater like Sari, the brass bowl was made bigger than a regular cold noodle bowl… Can we really finish all of this?

Of course, considering that Hyangdan will eat, there shouldn’t be any leftovers…

“(Hehe! If I cook well? Could it be possible to make Kim Seobang a goblin king? What do you think? I am the goblin queen! I can turn those mocking uncles into tools if I want? Kyaa! I’m so happy!)”

“Why are you mumbling to yourself? You said you were hungry, so stop pretending and try this. Should Sari eat as a puppy or as a person?”

“(Yes!)”

“Poof!”

Sari and Hyangdan transform into humans. Oh.. Since two people transformed, the smoke is twice as much…

“Now let’s eat!”

“Yes yes! Wow! What’s this! It looks so delicious! Kim Seobang! I’ll enjoy this meal!”

“I will enjoy it.. Master.”

Hyangdan eagerly starts eating the buckwheat jelly with chopsticks.

Sari keeps failing to pick up the jelly with chopsticks, so I hold Sari’s hand and feed the jelly into their mouth.

Yum! Sari cutely accepts the jelly I feed them.

“It’s delicious… Master.. I like it..”

Sari’s blushing face while eating the buckwheat jelly so delicately was truly beautiful.

I slightly blush as Sari seems a bit embarrassed after being fed by me.

Why should there be any embarrassment between us, a married couple who have done everything together?

Feeling a bit cute, I give Sari a peck on their smooth and pretty forehead.

“Eek..!”

Sari bows their head even lower.

Their ears turning red, that adorable sight…

Ah.. I wanted to embarrass Sari a bit more, but it’s not the time for marital activities now.

But why is Hyangdan suddenly so quiet?

“Hyangdan? Why? Doesn’t it taste good?”

“……”

Huh?

“Why, Hyangdan?”

Why is he acting like that?

After hastily picking up the spoon, why is he just staring at the bowl without touching anything?

“How terrifying this is….”

“Oh.. Is it not tasty? Sari said it’s delicious… I’m sorry! Let me make something else, give me the bowl.”

Thud!

Hyangdan urgently grabs my hand as I try to take the bowl away.

His wide blue eyes staring at me were burning with an intense fire, making me quite uncomfortable.

“Why, why..?”

“What is this? Why me..? Weren’t we friends? What on earth is this!”

“Huh? What are you talking about? Why do you look so hurt… pointing at the dish like that… Was it really that bad?”

“Why are you suddenly looking so sad… Hyangdan? What did I do wrong? Was it really that bad? I’ll apologize..! This is just a regular buckwheat jelly salad…?”

“Regular?!? Is this regular? No! Absolutely not! This is definitely not an ordinary food! Terrifying Kim Seo-bang..! Trying to secretly feed me food that can control goblins as if it’s ordinary… What are you trying to make me do..! No way? Such despicable..! Trying to forcibly take my virgin spirit like this..? You didn’t have to do this..! Why..? Ugh…! No..! I’ve become a captive already…! Can’t resist… Ugh..!”

“Hyangdan..! Please calm down for a moment!”

“……”

Hyangdan, as if resisting something, rolls her eyes frantically with a desperate expression, then sighs deeply as if giving up and shakes her head.

“Sigh.. Fine, if you want, I’ll submit to your dominance…. I was going to give in eventually anyway, but.. Of course.. I was planning to tease you a bit and make you restless before declaring you as my consort, but.. Kim Seo-bang wanted to treat me not as a consort but as a tool..? … Fine. Now that it has come to this, from now on, you are my king… My king, I am now your tool…. Use me as you wish, but please don’t discard me.. Let me bear as many children as possible…”

“What nonsense! A tool! Discard me! And children too! We’re friends! Wake up! You saw that it’s just a dish made of buckwheat jelly. Why are you acting like this?”

“Of course it had to be this way! Kim Seo-bang, you made me.. no, you made me like this! This is.. this is…! It’s not a dish that can be made because there’s a goblin club! No!”

Why is she making such a fuss over buckwheat jelly salad?

Ah.. That’s why I vowed not to make hometown dishes anymore..!

“If only this! If only this dish..! With this food alone..! I can make all the goblins in the world kneel and obey! To nonchalantly present such a terrifying food that all goblins would worship and tremble in awe… I should have known since I had the goblin club…!”

“…?”

Why keep making strange remarks about a regular dish? It’s just a common dish frequently eaten in Korea!

I’ve heard of Japan kneeling and China trembling, but goblins too…

Korean Wave is scary…!

I’m not the only one bewildered by Hyangdan’s actions, thankfully.

Look at how surprised Sarima is, even lowering her head in embarrassment at the affectionate gestures, staring wide-eyed at Hyangdan.

But seriously, buckwheat jelly…? What did she pick out?

I asked for MSG to be removed. I didn’t ask for some other weird thing like brainwashing or hypnosis drugs.. Did you secretly pick out something else? Right..?

After calming down the agitated Hyangdan and convincing her that what I made was just a regular buckwheat jelly salad, it took quite some time.

The tumultuous resting period comes to an end.

Finally, I kneel before the sovereign and receive instructions for the second trial.

“I will now announce the second trial!”

“The content of the trial is treasure hunting. Steal the most precious treasure in Cat Land!”

“As expected, you only get one chance! If you fail to find the treasure within the deadline, the trial will be considered a failure.”

“The deadline is from tomorrow morning until seven days later.”

“The sinner must do their best to face the trial!”

“Details include…. violence… prohibited… harm….”

Treasure hunt after hide and seek….

It feels like there is a lot of trial and youthful energy.

By the way, what’s up with this Cat Country thing? Are there really that many cats living there?