Chapter 31: The birth of the signature poop cookie!

‘Manwol and I must’ve been enemies in a past life.’

Watching Manwol’s guild master sprawl on the sofa, Song Yuhwa grimaced as if she’d seen something vile.

‘Last time I visited Healer-nim with a gift, and now, when I finally got the excuse to be neighbors…’

Manwol’s insufferable presence always ruins it.

‘But why is she here?’

No way.
It couldn’t be…

Yuhwa narrowed her eyes, her voice sharp.

“You’re the one who moved next door?”

“Yup.”

“Why? Doesn’t Manwol stick to their own?”

“Just felt like seeing her.”

Hah! Yuhwa let out a scoff.

So obvious.
Who doesn’t know she’s cozying up to recruit Healer-nim?

Someone who doesn’t care about others’ feelings, pulling a cheap emotional stunt with “I wanted to see her”? Hilarious.

At least I’ve always been honest with Healer-nim.
No sugarcoating, no deception about wanting her in my guild.

Absolutely infuriating.

“Oh, really?” Yuhwa sneered, then turned to Chorok with a sweet tone.

“Healer-nim, hungry? These rice cakes are so good, try one!”

Manwol’s mocking voice cut in.

“How old-fashioned. Who brings rice cakes these days?”

“What!? You done talking?”

“Better to bring nothing at all.”

“Hmph, look who’s talking—empty-handed and full of words…”

Manwol’s guild master shot Yuhwa a pitying look, then pulled out her phone.

Soon, people in matching black uniforms filed in, filling the house with cute, high-end appliances.

“Housewarming gifts. All stuff you can’t get in Korea.”

Yuhwa’s grip tightened on her rice cakes.

‘God, she’s annoying.’

Sure, Yuhwa had money to burn too.

But she chose heartfelt gifts over cash, something meaningful for a housewarming.

Seeing Chorok curiously inspecting the appliances, it was clear who scored more points.

Seething.

Her blood boiled.

‘She stole Kim Saebyeol the same way.’

Kaewha spotted Saebyeol’s potential first, made the first move.

Yet Manwol always swoops in at the end, snatching the rewards.

Why do they keep blocking her path?

“Why not eat your rice cakes alone at home?”

Manwol’s final jab struck Yuhwa’s frayed nerves.

“You’ve been pushing it since earlier.”

“What? Didn’t say anything wrong.”

“Think I’m easy ‘cause I’m just throwing money around?”

Yuhwa’s eyes glowed deep pink as she drew on her mana.

Manwol’s guild master rose slowly, stretching casually.

“Easy? Nah, just cute.”

The tension was explosive.

At that moment, the air chilled, and something popped out of Chorok’s pocket.

“…A spirit?”

“…”

A spirit.

“This isn’t a gate… Why’s a spirit here…?”

Yuhwa’s momentum faltered.

Manwol’s guild master, unprepared for a spirit, stared with wavering eyes.

Amid the tension, Chorok scolded the spirit with a stern face.

“Hey! Stop glaring!”

-Piiiing…

The spirit, fierce moments ago, snuggled into Chorok’s neck, acting cute.

“…”

“…”

The two women stared, dumbfounded.

Someone who could handle spirits? Unheard of. Unseen.

Their gazes turned to the small girl.

Covetable.

She had too many enviable talents.

“Alright, no fighting!” Chorok clapped, breaking the mood, and shoved chopsticks into their hands, forcing them to the dining table.

“Get along, okay?”

The result?

Manwol and Kaewha, mortal enemies, sat side by side, eating rice cakes together—an unprecedented sight.

—

The next day.

Anxious about more uninvited guests, I headed to the forest at dawn.

“Who was that woman?”

Her attitude toward Yuhwa ruled out a mere guild member.
An elite? An officer? Or…

“The guild master?”

Rumors said Manwol was full of abnormal people.

Wouldn’t their guild master, managing them all, be the most unhinged?

But a guild master would’ve tried to recruit me or put on a mask, like Yuhwa.

Would they be so rude on a first meeting?

“No clue!”

Elite, officer, guild master—whatever.

It all spelled trouble ahead.

‘Anyway, this weapon…’

How do I use it?

I frowned, holding the staff.

– [Nature’s Sense] Detects hidden rare gatherables.

It detects, but how? The lack of clarity was frustrating.

Walking for a while, the staff suddenly vibrated, a faint glow pulsing from its orb.

Turning left weakened the vibration; right intensified it.

Following the stronger pulses, I found a tree laden with vibrant red berries beyond tall bushes.

I plucked a palm-sized fruit.

A message appeared.

—

[Rubidel Berry]
– A rare crimson fruit growing in shaded forests with frequent mists.
– Translucent, sturdy skin with glowing red juice inside.

[Effects]
– Stimulates taste and smell, deepening flavor perception.
– Neutralizes lingering aftertastes, resetting sensory balance.

[Uses]
– Rubidel Syrup: Juice mixed with sugar. A dash in desserts enhances lingering flavors.
– Rubidel Crystal: Hardened juice. Chewing releases bursts of unique sensations.

—

Unlike previous gatherables, this focused on taste.

Drool—

Sweet aroma wafted from the juice dripping between my fingers.

Too hungry to resist, I bit into it.

A thrilling sweetness zapped my tongue,
followed by a subtle tang.

The perfect balance made my eyes widen.

“Insane…”

No wonder it was a hidden rare gatherable.

It was shockingly delicious.

‘I have to sell this as a dessert.’

I filled my basket with berries, intending to find Harnella flowers and more rare gatherables.

But no matter how I searched, the staff didn’t vibrate or glow again.

‘Strange…’

Tilting my head, a new message appeared.

—

[Additional Usage Conditions Unmet]
– 「Nature’s Sense」 is already activated.
– ※ Daily usage limit exceeded – Available again after midnight

→ To use this function further, increase the weapon’s growth stage.
(Current Stage: 1 – Sprout)

—

The growth stage was holding me back.

Ugh…

I checked the conditions.

—

[Growth Conditions]
– Use magic/healing skills
– Purify nature
– Meditate in nature

—

No plants to purify, no skills to use.

Meditation in nature was my only option.

‘Meditation’s easy enough.’

Just sit and close my eyes, right?

I plopped down, crossed my legs, and shut my eyes.

It felt silly at first, but my mind soon cleared.

A breeze caressed my face, birds chirped in the distance,
water trickled, and leaves rustled around me.

Merging with nature, my thoughts organized.

‘Nice.’

Maybe I’d meditate here often.

Crunch, snap—

Footsteps on dry twigs approached.

‘No one was here…?’

Opening my eyes, I saw a feline beast staring at me.

A short mane of yellow and gray fur,
pointy ears with soft tufts swaying.

Crouching, it tilted its head, muttering in a low voice.

“Looks weird.”

Then it darted into the bushes.

‘…Did that just talk?’

A chill ran down my spine.

I ended meditation and fled the forest.

—

Still rattled, I replayed the incident.

‘…Must’ve misheard.’

Yeah, stress from neighbors made me hear things.

Needing a distraction, I checked the staff’s growth.

※ Next Stage: 2 – Bloom (Progress: 13%)

Decent progress for a short meditation, but still far to go.

‘I’d need to return to the forest to meditate…’

Next time, I’d bring protection against wildlife.

Resolved, I headed to the café to make desserts with my new gatherables.

—

Among Manwol’s housewarming gifts, several were café-worthy.

My favorite? A brand-new oven.

‘They gave me gifts, so I should return the favor.’

Why not bake cookies with Rubidel for the woman who gave them?

Would she like it?

‘Let’s try!’

Flour, butter, sugar—roughly recalling a recipe, I mixed by instinct, eyeballing amounts.

A few drops of Rubidel juice turned the dough a pretty red.

I shaped it into rounds and slid it into the oven.

Temperature? Hot enough, probably.
Time? When it smells good, I guess.

-Piiiit!

The spirit, now beside me, peered into the oven with curious eyes, clearly excited.

After about 20 minutes, a mouthwatering sweet aroma spread.

Ding—!

The oven signaled completion. The spirit stomped impatiently.

Heart racing, I opened it.

“…Uh.”

Instead of pretty cookies, blackened lumps stuck to the tray, Rubidel syrup hardened like blood.

“Ugh…”

I lifted one, then set it down.

It felt like… handling poop.

Still, my first cookies—tossing them felt wrong.

“Wanna try?”

The spirit shook its head, horrified.

No choice but to honor my first batch alone.

‘As long as it doesn’t kill me…’

Eyes closed, I shoved the… cookie in.

Crunch—

A crisp sound rang as it broke.

An unimaginable flavor exploded.

Not dry, but moist. The more I chewed, the sweeter Rubidel’s aroma spread.

Crispy outside, chewy inside.
If not for the look, I could sell these now.

Staring at the cookie, I mumbled.

“…What is this?”

Why’s it this good…?

Crunch—

Footsteps on gravel.

“Wow, smells amazing!”

The agency staff, right on schedule, strolled in and took seats.

I sidled up, smirking slyly.

“I just baked cookies… wanna try?”

“Yes! Please!”

I needed to confirm if this was actually good—or just to me.