Ding-a-ling!
Pouring some broth onto the side dish and handing the flower to Baekseol, she wiggles excitedly.
“Eat a lot.”
“Yes!”
“Phew-phew-”
Gulp.
The noodles feel a bit chewier than regular ramen.
The broth seems a bit spicier too.
“This is some good stuff.”
“Nice!”
Baekseol seems to like it too.
I bet it’d taste great even if I boiled it in the Holy Grail of Life.
Ding-a-ling!
[The Tutorial Manager has requested a visit.]
“I’m eating right now. Come back later.”
Ding-a-ling!
[The Tutorial Manager has requested a visit.]
Looking closer at the message, it’s not just a staff member but the manager. Nodding at that, a dazzling golden light begins to swirl inside the room.
From it, a winged angel pops out.
[The Tutorial Manager has been summoned.]
“It’s Haetnimu.”
I thought I wouldn’t see her for a while, but we reunited sooner than expected.
“My name is Ariel. The assigned angel was too scared to deliver the information…”
Ariel, with a blank expression, stops mid-sentence as her gaze shifts to the food scattered on the floor.
“Why’d you stop talking? The tutorial angel didn’t tell me anything. When does the next tutorial start?”
“……”
Ariel’s face starts turning pale rapidly.
“What, do you want some ramen?”
“……”
Slurp.
“Here, have a sip. It’s the broth from the Ramen of Life.”
Even after pouring some broth onto a side dish and offering it to Ariel, she doesn’t budge.
Ariel’s face grows paler as time passes.
“You don’t like ramen?”
Ariel’s pupils shake like aspen leaves.
Finally, Ariel grabs the back of her neck, looking pale, and staggers.
“Yikes. An angel with high blood pressure? Gotta be careful.”
“……Han Ga-eul.”
As I quickly let go of Ariel’s arm, she calls out my name in despair.
Every time she calls my name, she clings tightly to the player, so I guess we’ve gotten a bit closer.
“If you call me, say something.”
“That cup?”
Ariel’s gaze is fixed on the grail burning on the gas burner.
“This is a ramen pot, right?”
“……Player Han Ga-eul. That is the Holy Grail of Life.”
“I said it’s a ramen pot.”
“The Holy Grail of Life is one of the fragments of the sacred relic lost by the celestial realm. I formally request its return.”
“Did you leave it with me? It’s mine, what return are you talking about?”
“I acknowledge that. But the Holy Grail of Life is something the celestial realm has been desperately searching for.”
Everything about Ariel, from her tone to her actions, feels stiff, but now she looks desperate. That must mean there’s something hidden in this seemingly ordinary cup.
I wonder if Ariel, who holds a status even the divine beings would be shocked by, being in the tutorial layer has something to do with the Holy Grail of Life.
“Well, I don’t really need it.”
“Really?”
Ariel takes a big step toward me.
“But, when I use this to boil, the broth gets refreshing. I’ll probably use it often.”
“Looks like I might do it.”
“Are you saying you’re going to cook with the Holy Grail of Life?”
“Yeah. Everyone has a different perspective on value, right?”
“…”
“Are you, the scribe Ariel, an angel who disregards others’ values?”
“…No.”
Mimicking Ariel’s tone, she fidgets with her fingers as she answers.
She’s a cuter angel than I thought.
“Of course, I can’t just give it to you. If it’s that urgent, should I lend it to you?”
“Lend… it?”
“Yeah. Don’t like that?”
“Then how would the rental fee be determined?”
“I don’t know much about the Tower. I don’t even know what you guys have.”
It’s the kind of line that would get you punched anywhere, but Ariel in front of me is the epitome of stubbornness.
“I don’t know what player Han Ga-eul wants. Please tell me what you desire.”
“I already told you what I want.”
“I am the scribe of the heavenly realm…”
“Yeah, yeah. It’s Ariel Land, right?”
As I stare at Ariel, she takes a step back.
“That’s inappropriate.”
“Then what about the heavenly god’s neck?”
“That’s disrespectful.”
I don’t know what to say to this chick-like angel to satisfy her.
“Do you have any protective items, then?”
Ariel’s gaze turns to Baekseol, and she nods. She’s a smart angel who gets it without much explanation.
As Ariel opens her palm, a shimmering light gathers on it.
“A ball of light?”
“It will protect the little one.”
Ding!
───
[Shield of Holy Radiance]
◈Shield of the Stars
◈Protection of the Shackles
◈Complete Protection
◈Source Blockade
◈Breath of Life
◈Root Severance
Grade: Legendary
───
A fist-sized ball of light with a bunch of options attached. Seems like a defense-focused item.
“It will autonomously judge and protect the user perfectly when danger arises.”
“Good. But you’re not trying to trade my ramen pot for a shield, are you?”
“Please state your desires.”
Somehow, Ariel’s voice is now filled with confidence.
Honestly, even if it’s the Holy Grail, it’s not particularly useful to me. I could just give it away, no problem. But with Ariel pulling out such nice items, I feel like I can squeeze a bit more out of her.
The Tower is a place that induces slaughter under the guise of a tutorial. Seeing Ariel managing it without batting an eye, she’s probably not in her right mind either.
I don’t feel even a shred of pity for these kinds of people.
While I’m pondering, Ariel pulls out an item that looks like parchment.
“It’s a contract. The great flow of the Tower will oversee the agreement.”
“So, I can write what I want?”
Ariel nods. She seems confident now that she’s satisfied me with one item.
As I scribble on the parchment with the pen Ariel handed me, she stands by, watching indifferently.
───
1. Party A lends the ‘Holy Grail of Life’ to Party B for the duration desired by Party A.
2. Party B shall…
Paying for the Shield of Holy Radiance.
3. As compensation, Party B must receive and give three kisses a day to Party A.
*If the stated terms are not fulfilled, the contract becomes void, and the Holy Grail of Life lent by Party A to Party B will be reclaimed.
───
“Here.”
After writing down the names, I hand over the contract, and Ariel carefully takes it.
“·····?”
“Don’t like it?”
Ariel’s expression twists oddly as she reads through the contract.
“I’ve never seen such an absurdly unfair contract in my life.”
“Ah, if you don’t like it, forget it. Take the light bumpkin too. I’ll just use the Holy Grail as a chamber pot.”
“W-wait!”
It’s already laughable that she’s even considering such a contract.
Cheating a naive angel isn’t even a proper job.
“Just give me a kiss, and receive one in return. That’s it.”
“·····Is that really all?”
“The contract is protected by the Tower or whatever. And if you think about it, it’s practically like giving it to you indefinitely.”
After silently staring at the contract for a while, Ariel raises her head.
“I will agree to the contract.”
“Good.”
She seems too anxious, so I smile at her, and Ariel’s pupils tremble violently.
The moment Ariel moves the pen, the contract is enveloped in light.
Ding!
[The contract between Player Han Ga-eul and Seraphim Ariel has been established.]
After the message appears, the contract splits into two. One falls to Ariel, and the other flies to me.
“Where will the kiss be performed?”
Her voice trembles, but her face remains expressionless.
“Here.”
I tap my cheek and lean forward. Ariel’s stiff expression softens slightly.
She must have been fully prepared, but it seems she’s softer than expected.
Peck.
Ariel’s soft lips touch my cheek and then pull away.
“Is this really it?”
“Yep. No big deal, right?”
“····Yes.”
Her face should be red, but it’s still expressionless.
“Baekseol, let’s play with the new toy.”
“Excited!”
Leaving Ariel behind, I hand the light bumpkin to Baekseol, who comes running over.
When Baekseol tries to touch the Shield of Holy Radiance, the light bumpkin instantly splits into eight pieces and starts spinning.
As Baekseol tries to touch the spinning light with her front paw, the fragmented light merges back together and seeps into her.
The light bumpkin repeatedly appears and disappears above Baekseol’s head. It seems like she can control it herself.
“Do you like the toy?”
“Love it!”
Baekseol jumps around excitedly, clearly pleased with the gift.
Lying on the bed, I watch her and pat the space beside me. Ariel looks at me with her usual blank expression.
“Lie down here. You need to receive your kiss.”
“Do I have to lie down?”
“Yep.”
“····Understood.”
As Ariel finishes her reply, her wings are enveloped in light and scatter around her.
Disappears.
“Storage is possible too.”
Ariel nods her head and takes a step forward, and Baekseol scurries over, resting her chin on her arm.
“Rabbit, your body is very small, so it’s not efficient to take up the entire arm of player Han Ga-eul.”
“Alright!”
When I pat Baekseol’s butt, she slumps down.
***
“Player Han Ga-eul. I request that you proceed with the contract.”
“What contract?”
Every time I take a step, Ariel follows me like a chick.
“The contract we signed yesterday.”
“What was it? I don’t remember.”
“·····.”
《The one who holds the flames wonders what contract was made.》
Ariel follows me with a blank expression, holding onto my collar.
“I request a kiss from player Han Ga-eul.”
“A kiss?”
“Please give me a kiss quickly.”
《The divine beings are unable to hide their shock.》
《The divine beings are in an uproar.》
《The divine beings are throwing hooks left and right.》
《The demon of the three sighs opens its mouth wide, jaw dropping.》
Ariel quickly approaches, blocking my path, and sticks out her face.
“Please give me a kiss. I hope you fulfill the contract.”
《The one who drinks alcohol asks what on earth happened yesterday.》
《The one in despair complains about the tower’s pact that prevents them from observing the first tutorial.》
“No wonder it was so quiet. Yesterday was so intense, did you all miss it?”
《The one who drinks alcohol urges me to quickly explain in detail.》
“Point show.”
《The one in despair laments that they can only sponsor 100 points.》
***
[Side Story: The Room Master Starts Broadcasting]
<Lady Han Ga-eul starts broadcasting>
“My babies, come quickly.”
[⚔️Han Sa-za-ah!!]
[⚔️Sha-ta-ol-yeo-eo!!!]
“I already raised it.”
[⚔️Aha]