Healing in the Country Side with a Baby Dragon - CHAPTER 21 (Introducing the Fan)

On the way to So-yoon’s house, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Hahaha, sorry, Oh-sik. I didn’t realize it would affect you that way.”

It was incredibly hard to hold back the laughter bubbling up inside me. Honestly, I had just been curious. What would a knight from a fantasy world say when he saw a modern car? This felt like the perfect opportunity to find out.

When Oh-sik first spotted the truck and stared at it with wide, curious eyes, my playful side kicked in.

“Oh, that’s a truck.” I said, delivering my lines perfectly.

I expected a typical reaction like, “What on earth is this?” or “Wow, this is amazing!”

However...

“It’s a demon!”

Oh-sik’s reaction went far beyond my wildest expectations. I burst out laughing as the startled knight rushed inside the gate, grabbed a pickaxe, and took a defensive stance right in front of the vehicle.

“Get back, my lord!”

I froze in horror as he swung the pickaxe toward the truck with a fiercely determined look. 

'No, not my number one asset!'

It took a frantic explanation of the situation to barely stop Oh-sik from "dealing with the threat of the devil." Even now, my ribs ached because the laughter just wouldn't go away.

“Ahem. A carriage that runs without horses... It is truly astonishing.” Oh-sik muttered, trying his best to act calm.

Watching him try to save face made me burst out laughing all over again.

“It truly sounds like the growl of a demon.” he defended himself.

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“Ignorance is not a crime, my lord. Any knight seeing such a beast would have judged it a demonic threat.”

“Yeah, yeah, fair point.”

“Do you know how anxious I was to save you from that devil's grasp? You must not mock my loyalty!”

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry. And I wasn’t laughing. Phew—!”

In the end, Oh-sik completely lost his temper. 

“Are you laughing at me again?”

“I said no.”

“Then are you teasing me?”

“Well, it’s true that I’m teasing you.”

“This is too much!”

Even through his helmet, I could tell his face was completely flushed. Realizing he was about to genuinely lose it, I quickly smoothed things over.

“But really, it was incredibly knightly of you to charge at a demon with nothing but a pickaxe. It was actually pretty cool.”

“…Is that true?”

“Absolutely true.”

Giving him a little praise worked like a charm; he calmed down instantly.

“A true knight does not yield, even in the face of ultimate peril.” he said proudly.

“Oh, really?”

“People often think knights are just about brute strength, but the true essence of knighthood lies in protecting the weak and showing unwavering loyalty. That is exactly what I displayed. I did not flee in fear.”

He then went on a lengthy explanation about just how noble his actions had been. Man, who knew he could talk this much? I nodded half-heartedly, but then a sudden thought occurred to me.

“So, Oh-sik, is your goal to become a great knight?”

I wondered if he was aiming for some legendary status. But to my surprise, he went quiet.

“…What is it that you truly wish for?” I asked.

Oh-sik couldn't answer. For a moment, he merely fiddled with the helmet covering his face.

“Well, you’re already a great knight, so I guess you don’t need to worry about it, right?”

Though the situation had been hilarious, the sight of him raising a pickaxe to protect his lord from an unknown danger was honestly quite noble. Plus, his habit of never taking off his armor made him the literal textbook definition of a dedicated knight.

Hearing my words, Oh-sik flinched and stared at me. 

“Am I... a good knight?”

“Why wouldn’t you be? Just a moment ago, you didn't back down from a 'demon' and wielded a pickaxe to protect your lord. Even if the demon wasn't actually a demon.”

“You are teasing me again!”

“Ah, you caught me.”

Hmm, I realized something right then. Oh-sik’s reactions were incredibly sharp. I had a feeling I’d be teasing him a lot during our journey.

We finally arrived at So-yoon’s house. After the doorbell rang, a small voice echoed from inside.

“Who is it?”

“It’s your Uncle Jin-sol!”

“Three seconds, five seconds!”

I heard So-yoon’s footsteps pacing rapidly from inside the house. Now that her skin was completely healed, So-yoon’s complexion looked significantly brighter. It was a wonderful sight.

The front door burst open, and So-yoon flew out, jumping straight into my arms for a hug. After a moment, she blinked and looked around.

“Did Seol-ah not come with you?”

“She’s taking a nap right now.”

“Eh? Already?”

“Well, she is a baby, after all.”

“Hmph, I wanted to see Seol-ah sleep.”

“Doesn’t So-yoon take naps?”

“I’m not a baby anymore, so I don’t sleep during the day!”

“Oh my, look how much So-yoon has grown, not even needing naps anymore.”

As So-yoon proudly brushed her hair back and boasted about being a big girl, the adults stepped outside.

“You’re here?”

“Welcome!”

Kim Sang-do and Park Ji-soo came out to greet me. Since we were all together, it was the perfect time for introductions.

“Oh, we have a new guest staying at my place, so I wanted to introduce him to you guys.”

“A guest?”

“Yeah. He used to be a hunter in Seoul, but he got injured recently and decided to stay at my place to recuperate.”

“Ah, I see.”

I had already figured out the perfect cover story to introduce Oh-sik to the neighborhood.

“Oh-sik, come on out and say hello.”

At my call, Oh-sik stepped out of the truck.

“Huh?”

“What?”

“Oh...?”

So-yoon, Kim Sang-do, and Park Ji-soo all let out utterly baffled sounds. Honestly, it made sense. Seeing a fully armored knight climb out of a regular 1-ton truck would make anyone look twice.

Oh-sik approached them with a heavy, clanking sound and bowed his head politely, looking a bit self-conscious.

“Greetings. My name is Oh-sik.”

“Ah... I am Kim Sang-do.”

“And I’m Park Ji-soo.”

“It is an honor to meet my lord’s distinguished friends.” Oh-sik spoke formally.

'Lord? Honor?'

Seeing how completely flustered the couple was, I quickly shot them a silent, telling look. I pointed a finger to my head and mouthed. 

‘He took a bit of a hit to the head.’

Only then did Sang-do and Ji-soo seem to understand the "situation", and their expressions instantly softened into deep compassion for poor Oh-sik. On the other hand, So-yoon was terrified by the massive suit of armor. She slid right out of my arms and hid behind her father’s legs, staring at Oh-sik with wide, fearful eyes.

Naturally, I had anticipated this.

“Oh-sik, show her your face for a second. The little one is scared.”

“My... face? You mean it?”

“A great knight should never terrify a child. Just for a brief moment.”

Oh-sik hesitated, but hearing the phrase "great knight" did the trick. He finally unlatched and removed his helmet.

“Heh.”

“Oh wow...”

This time, the gasps from Ji-soo and So-yoon carried a completely different tone. Beneath the heavy armor was a man with flawless, pale skin, an incredibly handsome face, short, wavy blonde hair, and emerald-green eyes that looked like jewels.

“What is your name, young miss?” Oh-sik asked gently.

“So-yoon...” she mumbled.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss So-yoon.”

At the blonde knight’s charming greeting, So-yoon hid behind her father again—though this time, for an entirely different reason. So-yoon had a massive soft spot for good-looking people. Kids really are direct like that.

“Alright, put the helmet back on.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Once the helmet was back in place, Sang-do and Ji-soo finally snapped out of their daze.

“Hey, come on in.”

“Yes, please come inside!”

The couple guided us into the house as if they were entirely entranced. Thankfully, there wasn't a single shred of suspicion left in their minds. The first step of getting Oh-sik integrated into the village was a total success. I gave him an approving nod, which only caused him to tilt his armored head in confusion.

Once Sang-do, Oh-sik, and I moved all the cherry tomatoes inside, our work was officially done. Oh-sik’s sheer physical strength made the job effortless.

“Wow, you possess incredible strength.”

“Well, he 'is' a hunter, after all.”

“Ah, that explains it.”

'Hunter'—truly the magic word in this world. People with hunter abilities could be eccentric, but everyone knew they were incredibly strong.

With the work finished, we finally had some leisure time to sit around the living room.

“Everyone, please have some tea.”

Ji-soo served a fragrant tea brewed from herbs she had grown herself. It smelled wonderful. I noted to myself that I should try cultivating some herbs back at my place too; they would be great for cooking.

“So-yoon, do you want some snacks?”

“No, I want a golden tomato! Tomatoes are way tastier than sweets!”

Sang-do and I burst into laughter at her response.

“Oh, by the way, Uncle brought something just as delicious as the tomatoes for So-yoon.”

“Really?”

“Just wait a moment.”

As I stood up to head out to the truck, Oh-sik stepped forward.

“I have already brought it inside, my lord.”

Before I could even react, Oh-sik produced a black bag from behind him. Wait, when did he even grab that?

“It is only right for a knight to prepare in advance before his lord requires it.”

“…Oh. Thank you, Oh-sik.”

“I merely performed my duty.”

I was a bit taken aback. I didn’t realize he would be 'this' dedicated to the bit. I glanced at the couple, who looked equally startled by the intense display of loyalty. But the bewilderment quickly shifted to admiration.

“That is incredibly admirable.”

“It really is.”

Hearing them praise Oh-sik warmed my heart. They really were good people. Oh-sik’s shoulders squared proudly, clearly thrilled by the compliments.

To smoothly transition the conversation, I reached into the bag and pulled out the new crop.

“Ta-da!”

What I held in my hand was a small, vibrant, perfectly ripe red Apple of Life.

“Is that an apple?”

“Oh my, it’s beautiful.”

They marveled at its appearance, but the real surprise came next.

“Wait, I can smell it from all the way over here, and you haven't even cut it yet!”

“The aroma is incredibly potent.”

They were doubly amazed by the rich, crisp fragrance that instantly filled the living room. But it was too early for them to be shocked.

“This one tastes best when you eat it with the skin on.” I explained.

I sliced the apple with a fruit knife and handed the pieces to the three family members. The moment they tasted it...

“…!”

Their eyes went wide, and they fell entirely silent.

Yes, that was exactly the reaction I expected. When you bite into an Apple of Life for the first time, the sheer, intense sweetness and overwhelming aroma literally numb your tongue and mind.

“Wow, this is crazy delicious. Holy sh—!”

Sang-do blurted out the praise automatically before frantically clamping a hand over his mouth. The flavor was so shocking that he had momentarily forgotten he shouldn't swear in front of his daughter.

Fortunately, Ji-soo and So-yoon were so utterly captivated by the taste and aroma of the apple that they hadn't heard a single word he said.

“Please, let us list this on our website!” Sang-do pleaded.

“Are you planning to sell these?” Ji-soo asked eagerly.

“Not in massive quantities, but I can supply a small amount.”

Sang-do placed another slice into his mouth, closing his eyes as pure bliss washed over him. He snapped them open, a look of profound certainty on his face.

“This is going to hit the absolute jackpot.”

Looking at his intense enthusiasm, a sudden wave of anxiety washed over me. Honestly, I really didn't need a jackpot.

The first time Han Ga-ram—the S-class hunter and leader of the Hanseong Guild, one of Korea's top five guilds—ever tasted a golden bell tomato was deep inside a dangerous dungeon.

The Hanseong Guild operated on a strict meritocracy; it didn't grant special privileges to high-ranking officials or the master's family. Leading by example was the rule. Because of this, Ga-ram had been tirelessly clearing gates ever since graduating from the academy and receiving her license. Recently appointed as the Executive Director, she was working harder than ever to secure her achievements.

“Everyone, prepare your antidotes.” she ordered.

Having consumed countless detox pills throughout her career, Ga-ram knew exactly how wretched they tasted. Just looking at the vials of murky, unidentified liquid made her stomach turn. Yet, true to her discipline, she downed it in a single gulp without a single complaint.

“Ugh...”

“Gah, that tastes vile.”

The surrounding hunters winced and groaned in agony, but Ga-ram kept her composure. As a leader, she never let her emotions show or frowned carelessly. Her strict upbringing had instilled in her an iron clad sense of patience.

“Wow, Director, you’re incredible. How do you keep a straight face after drinking that?”

“Seriously, does it not bother you at all?”

She merely offered a polite, practiced smile in response to the compliments. While the guild members continued their flattery, internally, Garam was practically weeping.

'It tastes awful! I feel like I'm dying!'

Sometimes, forcing down the recovery medicine was more terrifying than facing the monsters themselves.

Right then, a staff member stepped forward. 

“Director, please try this.”

He offered a bright, glowing golden sphere.

“What is that?”

“It’s a new type of antidote that’s been gaining popularity among lower-rank hunters recently.”

“An antidote?”

Ga-ram looked at the object. It didn't look like any antidote she had ever seen. Was it some sort of herbal pill? She braced herself, wondering how bitter and repulsive it would taste. Then again, swallowing a solid pill might be better than choking down a liquid potion.

As she hesitated, her face tight with inward dread, the employee spoke up again.

“They are actually cherry tomatoes.”

“Cherry tomatoes?”

“Yes. I was skeptical myself, but the efficacy is genuine. And they taste incredible.”

Ga-ram still wavered. They were in a dungeon where lives were on the line. How could a simple piece of produce act as a legitimate antidote?

“They are exceptionally difficult to source, but I managed to secure a few. Please, give it a try.”

Deciding there was no harm, Ga-ram reached out. If it failed to work, she could always take another standard potion. The moment her fingers touched the golden tomato, a remarkably crisp, refreshing scent brushed against her nose, causing her mouth to water instantly. In the damp, foul air of a dungeon, the vibrant aroma of fresh produce was incredibly potent.

She finally placed the golden bell tomato into her mouth.

“…!”

Her eyes flew wide open, completely shattering the stoic, professional facade she always maintained.

'It’s delicious! It’s insanely delicious!'

A perfect balance of sweet and tart exploded across her palate, and the clean fragrance instantly purified the heavy stench of the dungeon. And then, a system notification flashed before her eyes.

[You have consumed a Golden Bell Tomato - Grade: A.]

[All toxins within the body have been completely detoxified.]

The medicinal effect was flawless.

“Where on earth did you acquire this?” Ga-ram demanded.

That was the exact day she learned about the online store called 'The Happiness Growing Farm'. Needless to say, that employee received a stellar marks on his next performance review.

The moment the dungeon raid concluded, Ga-ram rushed straight back to her apartment. Stepping into her room was like entering a different world. It was a space filled with adorable characters, pastel pink decor, and dozens of plushies neatly lined up across her bed. Outside, she always wore sharp, chic business suits, but this room held her true aesthetic.

Desperate to secure more of the miracle produce, she quickly logged onto the website.

“Cute…!” she gasped out loud, quickly covering her mouth.

Hanging prominently on the main page of the farm's website was a photo. A tall man and a young girl with brilliant silver hair and striking blue eyes were laughing brightly against the backdrop of a lush vegetable garden. Ga-ram’s eyes locked completely onto the child.

“So cute... infinitely cute...”

How could a creature that adorable exist? Her hidden passion for cute things completely erupted. Spotting a link to the farm's personal blog, she clicked it instantly.

“She's incredibly cute!”

The blog was filled with candid photos of the young girl's daily life on the farm. Ga-ram immediately grabbed her smartphone and dialed her Head of Human Resources.

“Manager, I need you to assemble a brand-new task force immediately.”

“Ma'am? What kind of team do you require?”

“I am sending you a web link. Your sole objective is to buy every single Golden Bell tomato sold on that site. Absolutely do not miss them.”

“…Understood.”

The manager, usually a man of instant, stoic responses, paused for a beat. Under normal circumstances, any employee would have asked, “Excuse me? Tomatoes?” but his sheer professionalism kept him from questioning her.

Ga-ram added in a deeply serious, heavy tone.

“This task is of utmost priority. It is something that can quite literally save our hunters.”

'A savior to rescue my dying taste buds.' she thought.

“…Understood, Director.”

Even after terminating the call, Ga-ram couldn't pull her eyes away from the screen. She sat there, staring intently at the photo of little Seol-ah for a very long time.

And thus, from that very day, Han Ga-ram’s absolute obsession with Seol-ah officially began.