Healing in the Country Side with a Baby Dragon - CHAPTER 25 (That's Right)

The first emotion that Han Ga-ram felt when she arrived was clear confusion.

She had heard from her secretary’s office that this was just a small rural town, but she don't expected it to be 'this' secluded. Even while driving down here with her navigation system turned on, she wonder if people actually lived in these depths.

Eventually, her drive brought her right to Jin-sol orange house.

To put it nicely, Jin-sol green gate was full of rustic charm; to put it bluntly, it looked a bit tacky. Jin-sol didn't knew it could make visitors nervous. In truth, Han Ga-ram had rushed down here on pure impulse, unable to control her racing emotions.

‘What on earth are you thinking?’ she had asked herself.

Out of nowhere, a massive corporate entity comes looking to secure their crops, offering to have the Hanseong Guild take full charge of distribution instead.

‘If we force this, we’re no better than blackmailers.’

Han Ga-ram worried that she would come across as a slick individual from Seoul devious enough to prey on innocent country farmers. No matter how she looked at it, it seemed like a situation where if the farmer tried to avoid a small robber, a much bigger robber—the guild—would simply take its place. If they weren't careful, it would easily look like the tyranny of a giant corporation.

‘You must always behave properly and set an example for others.’

‘The company’s profits are important, but they should never be bought with the lives of others. Always move forward, but move forward together. Mutual prosperity is the core of our guild.’

Those were the teachings Han Ga-ram had received from his parents since he was young. He was a woman who genuinely tried to live by them and take care of others.

‘But not everyone understands my true intentions.’

If there was one thing she had learned after leaving school and entering society, it was that things rarely go as planned. People misinterpreted her intentions, approached her with hidden agendas to exploit her, and sometimes, even when her sincerity managed to get through, the final results were completely distorted. She lived somewhere in the frustrating gap between ideal and reality.

Still, Han Ga-ram was no longer a child. She had his own set of sharp skills. Her original plan was simple: use the heavy prestige of the Hanseong Guild and her title as Executive Director to charm Jin-sol, and then calmly persuade him.

‘We'll move in the direction of mutual benefit.’

She wanted him to live comfortably on his farm while helping the Hanseong Guild. She had wondered what kind of people lived inside this orange house. Was he really the person with the happy, gentle smile from the photos posted on the website?

After steeling her resolve, she knocked on the door and finally met him, the owner of the farm.

'Did the photo just not do him justice?’

She looked a bit taken aback by his tall stature and appearance. It seemed the photos on the main page of the site had truly been uploaded raw, without a single touch of Photoshop.

From that exact moment, her original plan began to derail.

And then came the second shock.

"Please identify yourself."

Han Ga-ram completely froze at the sight of the knight clad in heavy iron armor.

'A knight? Why is there a knight?’

Why on earth was a knight in full iron armor standing in modern South Korea, especially with a quiet country house as the backdrop? If everything had gone according to her plan, Han Ga-ram would have confidently revealed her identity and charmed him with her sharp looks and eloquence. Instead, she was shut down before she could even start.

She completely lost her composure. Fumbling, she managed to pull out a business card. 

Jin-sol looked at it, slightly surprised by her name and high position, and as she watched his eyes widen, she tried to pull herself together.

"Huh?"

Then, her eyes caught Seol-ah’s little face sticking out from behind Jin-sol side.

'Gyaaaaaaah! So cute!’

In an instant, every single plan and promise she had made to herself before coming here shattered into pieces.

Seol-ah had a pale little face, flowing silver hair, delicate features, and large, clear blue eyes that looked like they held the entire sky inside them. It was a violent level of cuteness—the kind that completely captivates the human mind. If Han Ga-ram hadn't trained herself extensively to maintain a straight face, she probably would have screamed right then and there.

Still, she managed to hold it together and blurted out her business purpose.

But seeing her, Jin-sol just offered an unexpected proposal.

"Have you eaten by any chance? Let’s eat first and chat."

Before she even realized what she was doing, Han Ga-ram was nodding her head.

'No, wait, this isn't right.' her inner voice protested.

It was a regrettable situation she could no longer reverse.

‘Okay, since his reaction isn’t negative, let’s just go inside and bring up the main point slowly.’

Just as she was trying to regain his composure, Jin-sol opened the door wide.

‘Oh my god.’

Han Ga-ram’s head began to spin at the sight that unfolded inside. Just having Seol-ah nearby was already exceeding the safe concentration of cuteness in her bloodstream.

"Kkiing, kiing—"

"Heh heh heh heh."

"King!"

Suddenly, a trio of little furballs came tumbling down the stairs. Han Ga-ram’s body froze completely as the three puppies leaped clumsily down the steps and swarmed around Jin-sol feet.

"Guests, guests. Come on, everyone, let's go inside."

While Jin-sol gently corralled the three puppies back onto the floor, they kept their round eyes fixed intently on Han Ga-ram.

"Byebye—"

Seol-ah spread her tiny arms wide, asking for a hug. Jin-sol lifted her up high into the air and placed her gently back down on the floor.

"Brrrrrr—"

"Seol-ah, is it fun? Want me to do it again?"

"Yes!"

Did she just hear that? She said 'yes'. That single, tiny answer practically made her heart ache.

Jin-sol face and Seol-ah's were filled with bright, happy smiles as he repeatedly lifted her high into the sky and lowered her back down. It was a dreamlike landscape. The pure cuteness she had only ever seen in pictures or imagined in her head was unfolding vividly right before her eyes.

Han Ga-ram just stood there, entirely speechless.

"Please, have a seat here. I’ll prepare the meal. Oh-sik, show our guest around."

"Yes, my lord. This way."

Jin-sol left the hospitality duties to Oh-sik. Hearing that, Han Ga-ram fell into a state of extreme psychological confusion once again.

'Oh-sik? The knight’s name is Oh-sik? An intimidating knight in cool armor is named Oh-sik?'

‘And did he just say "lord"?!’

Who calls anyone "lord" in this day and age? Even his own corporate guild members didn't call his father anything like that. Were the two of them in some kind of medieval monarch-subject relationship?

Something, everything, was incredibly strange. She was on the verge of losing her mind. Having already lost all will to fight or negotiate, Han Ga-ram cautiously sat down at the table.

"I was just about to make lunch. Do you like janchi-guksu (banquet noodles)?"

"Yes, I like noodles."

"That’s good."

Smiling warmly, Jin-sol started boiling the noodles. With practiced, skillful movements, he portioned the cooked noodles into a bowl, added the seasoned soy sauce, and finally poured a generous amount of hot broth over it. It was a beautiful feast of noodles, topped with a mountain of fresh pumpkin, carrots, and savory grilled pork. He also pulled out a plate of the slightly wilted kimchi he had pickled just earlier to complete the lunch table.

"You can adjust the seasoning with the soy sauce."

As Jin-sol scooped up a spoonful of the seasoned soy sauce—loaded with fresh green onions—and stirred it in, the broth transformed, thickening and taking on a rich, appetizing color.

"Oh, then I will enjoy the meal."

Unable to resist Seol-ah’s intense, unblinking gaze staring at her from across the room, she quickly picked up hee chopsticks and took a bite.

‘Delicious!’

His eyes widenen in sheer shock.

What on earth was this? Why was it so incredible?

In particular, the pumpkin and carrot garnishes piled on top of the noodles were outstanding. They were perfectly soft and sweet without losing their crisp texture. After taking a sip of the broth, she almost let out an appreciative sigh like an old woman.

This was the real deal.

The base of the broth wasn't anything overly fancy—just standard anchovy stock. However, the deep aroma of the homemade soy sauce and fresh green onions elevated the ordinary broth into something magical. Finally, she took a bite of the pickled kimchi. The cabbage was wonderfully crunchy, carrying that perfectly refreshing tang that only comes from careful seasoning.

‘This is incredible.’

Han Ga-ram closed her eyes, savoring every flavor. Her father loved janchi-guksu, so they ate it often at elite restaurants, but it was incredibly rare to find noodles that tasted this magnificent. Plus, the artistry of the pickled kimchi made the noodles taste twice as good.

"How does it taste?" Jin-sol asked.

"It’s so delicious. Seriously."

Seeing her genuine satisfaction, Seol-ah and Jin-sol smiled and began to enjoy their own food.

Once they finished the hearty meal, Jin-sol cleared away the empty bowls and brought out something else.

"Here, have some apples too."

Though she knew she desperately needed to get down to business, Han Ga-ram found herself entirely unable to open her mouth. The apple in her hand was spectacularly red and beautiful.

A sudden realization flashed through her mind.

‘Could this be it?’

Could this be the legendary new dungeon crop that had been teased on the website? Rumor had it that no one in the outside world had tasted it yet because it hadn't hit the market. Her mouth instantly began to water. If his golden cherry tomatoes were already famous for being delicious, what would these apples taste like?

Above all else...

‘It's beautiful.’

The apple looked flawless. If you simply left it sitting on a desk, someone might mistake it for a decorative piece of carved ruby.

The moment he sliced into the apple with the knife, Han Ga-ram knew for certain.

‘This is definitely it.’

Never in her life had she smelled such a rich, explosively refreshing fruit fragrance. She had eaten luxury gift-wrapped apples costing over 20,000 won a piece, but none of them possessed an aroma like this.

"These are apples I grew myself. Please try a piece."

Accepting the slice from Jin-sol, Han Ga-ram took a careful bite, her lips trembling slightly.

It was spectacular. It was, without a doubt, the most delicious apple she had ever tasted in her entire life.

Ever since stepping foot onto this property, she had experienced nothing but a relentless series of shocks. From a literal armored knight to Seol-ah's overwhelming cuteness, the tumbling puppies, the masterful noodles, and now the ultimate apple.

Only then did Han Ga-ram think she had figured out my true strategy.

‘He's taking the initiative!’

Just as Han Ga-ram had initially planned to dominate the negotiations using her massive guild and executive status as leverage, she assumed Jin-sol was dominating the negotiation by displaying his overwhelming assets. She believed there was a calculating, meticulous plan hidden right behind his easygoing, country-boy smile.

‘Oh my god.' she probably thought, ‘the moment I walked in, I was thrown off first by his tall, gentle impression, twice by Seol-ah's cuteness, and three times by the puppies and food.’

On top of that, he had casually paraded a powerful knight just to subtly signal that he wasn't a pushover.

‘That knight is terrifyingly strong.’

Even while we were eating, the knight named Oh-sik stood vigilant guard. As an S-class hunter herself, Han Ga-ram could instinctively feel the raw pressure of Oh-sik’s strength. And then, Jin-sol had delivered the final blow by dropping a mythical crop right onto the table.

[You have consumed Apple of Life - Grade: A]

[Natural healing power increases dramatically.]

When that system message flashed before her eyes, Han Ga-ram's spirit was completely broken.

Apples that granted permanent healing buffs, detoxifying tomatoes... it was absolutely insane. To her, it felt like he was silently sending a message: 'Are you really going to try to push me around? Can you honestly afford to walk away from these apples? Do you think tomatoes and apples are the only things I can grow here?'

She was genuinely terrified of what else he might pull out next. Under the guise of a peaceful lunch, every single one of Han Ga-ram’s senses—her sight, taste, smell, and intellect—had been completely overwhelmed and suppressed. It was a strategy far more terrifying than someone openly flexing their muscles or threatening violence.

‘This man is a fearsome mastermind.’

Han Ga-ram thought she had built up a sharp mind for corporate warfare through countless guild negotiations and high-stakes raids, but she had been utterly outclassed here. She was simply no match for him—neither in raw leverage nor in the hidden cards they held.

As the executive director of the Hanseong Guild and a revered S-class hunter, this realization was a massive shock to her pride. She realized that perhaps only someone of her father's caliber could stand a chance at matching wits with him.

Finally, Han Ga-ram let out a heavy, defeated sigh and surrendered cleanly.

"Okay. I lose."

It was a brilliant, tragic little misunderstanding born from a woman who had spent her entire life being groomed as a corporate successor, an elite S-class hunter, and a top-tier guild executive.

I blinked. 'Wait, I won?'

No, to be exact, apparently I had won something. I had no idea what, but Han Ga-ram had just suddenly declared her complete defeat out of nowhere.

"As expected... My Lord! I always believed in you." Oh-sik proudly praised from the corner.

'No, hold on, what exactly did I won, and what did you believe in?!'

In the first place, since when was there a concept of winning or losing when you were just hosting a guest for lunch?

[The visiting guest is extremely satisfied!]

[They are willing to do anything for the farm where happiness grows!]

Well, a system notification popped up confirming she was happy, so I guess that explained her sudden declaration of surrender. Hunters certainly had a bizarre way of expressing themselves.

While I was still trying to mentally piece together what was happening, Han Ga-ram spoke up again.

"Ask me for anything you want. If there is anything I can do, I will ensure the Hanseong Guild backs you with everything we have."

She was actively volunteering her entire guild's services.

‘Did a massive stroke of good fortune just roll through my front door on its own?’

This was a golden goose walking into my house, declaring defeat to a bowl of noodles, and begging to handle all my tedious paperwork and labor for me.

"Well, that works out wonderfully for me." I replied, nodding. 

I would have to be an absolute fool to pass up an incredible offer like this.

Seeing me agree, Han Ga-ram let out a massive, visible sigh of relief.

"Whew—honestly, this is the first time in my life I’ve ever been under that much pressure. Thank you for holding back. If you had pushed any further, I think I would have actually cried."

'What on earth happened to you? Did the noodles hit you that hard? What did I hold back on, and why are you on the verge of tears?'

Ah, come to think of it, whenever hunters get brought up, they always act a bit eccentric. Last time, Lee Na-yeon had also done something completely incomprehensible. Since these were people who spent their lives fighting tooth and nail in deadly dungeons, I suppose they just developed a highly unique way of thinking. I decided to just be understanding.

"You mentioned there are things you can do? If it’s the Hanseong Guild, you must have a lot of options available."

"Yes." Han Ga-ram eagerly clarified. 

"The original plan I brought today was to provide top-tier farm security, crop distribution, and professional sales assistance. Of course, we aren't looking to monopolize your products. If you can consistently supply a set portion to the Hanseong Guild, we will handle selling the remaining stock on the market at premium prices. Naturally, we will hand one hundred percent of the sales profits directly back to you."

Suddenly, a bitter smile crossed her face.

"But clearly, that plan is useless now. It’s obvious you already have more than enough elite security, and you're fully capable of handling sales and distribution on your own. Um... I know this sounds less like a negotiation and more like a one-sided favor, but is there any way we can make a deal? Please, just supply a small amount of the Golden Bell Tomatoes and Apples of Life to the Hanseong Guild."

Her grand corporate proposal had completely dissolved into a desperate plea. Before I could even find an opening to speak through her frantic torrent of words, she kept going.

"In exchange, how about I personally oversee the protection of this entire village? If you want, I can fast-track a massive village development and support project through our corporate branch. I can set up a dedicated logistical transit hub right here to make moving goods in and out of the village effortless. Furthermore—"

The perks just kept growing. She was playing both the drums and the flute all by herself, putting on a whole solo performance. What was this girl, Santa Claus?

"We will also provide permanent legal and administrative assistance at the guild level through the Hanseong Guild Legal Team for any inconveniences you might face in the future. Of course, this doesn't mean our guild will take credit. Everything will be executed strictly under the name of the 'Happiness Growing Farm.' Conversely, you are entirely free to use the Hanseong Guild's name whenever you need leverage."

Han Ga-ram finally finished her frantic pitch, looking up at me with incredibly anxious, pleading eyes.

Did I really need to think about this?

"Sure. Let's do that."

When someone hands you a mountain of free corporate backing on a silver platter, you take it wholeheartedly.

The deal went down as smoothly as a perfect bowl of noodles.