Daddy is too Strong-Chapter 371

Watering the garden was a truly joyful activity. Watching the strawberries grow wider and lusher each day brought a strange sense of peace to body and mind. When Baal picked one of the ripest strawberries and popped it into his mouth, the sweet juice burst across his tongue like fireworks.

He had just delivered a report to Solomon about the demon assembly. Solomon asked no further questions about it and merely made a brief remark.

—I see. So my demons have been preserving their forces all this time.

Though he had hoped his faction would expand while he was recovering, he knew well enough that such a desire was a stretch.

—By the way, Baal, what are you doing right now? I’ve been meaning to ask.

“I am growing a fruit called ‘strawberry,’ my lord. Consuming it greatly enhances stamina and increases one’s strength. I’ve been preparing myself in my own way for the day when you completely take over this body. After all, one must be in peak condition to wage war...” Baal spouted blatant lies with fluent ease, without so much as twitching an eyebrow.

Solomon seemed to take him at his word. Perhaps even moved by Baal’s flattery, he let out a quiet murmur of admiration.

—You’ve gone through a lot for my sake. I should start taking action soon, as well.

“What do you intend to do...?”

—To seize victory in the Great War, I must strengthen my subordinates. And there’s nothing like high-quality artifacts to boost combat power in a short amount of time.

“Then... you’re planning to explore the uncharted zones?” Baal asked.

The uncharted zones were full of deadly trials, and a single misstep could cost one’s life. However, despite the danger, the rewards for conquering them were more than worth the risk. But Solomon had not yet recovered his full strength, so it seemed too dangerous.

—No. I have a place in mind, one where I can gather a large number of artifacts with minimal effort. It’s been on my mind for a long time. That’s where I’ll go.

“And that place is...?”

—The Treasure Goblin Company.

***

Once adventurers descended to the second floor, they were granted two privileges. One was access to the Core Forum, and the other was permission to use the Treasure Goblin Company. Naturally, Solomon qualified for both. He recalled seeing many high-grade artifacts on display during his last visit.

Solomon scanned the area after arriving at the Treasure Goblin Company. Perhaps because a long time had passed, the scenery had changed drastically since his last visit. It somehow felt... more alive than before. Solomon realized that things had changed a lot.

Adventurers wandered about, munching on street food and window shopping. If they saw an artifact they liked, they bought it from the goblins. The goblins greeted them warmly, even offering bonus low-grade artifacts as gifts. Laughter filled the air as people chatted lightheartedly.

“Kerk! Human, if you go down to the third floor of the Core, strong winds can knock you off your feet. Here, take this ‘wind stabilizer.’ It’s on me!”

“Whoa, thank you! You sure it’s okay to give it away for free?”

“Yes! Kerk. Just come back to me next time you shop.”

“Of course! I’ll only buy from you from now on, haha.”

Solomon’s eyebrow twitched at this scene. What he was witnessing was completely unthinkable in the past. What surprised him even more was how well adventurers from different blood alliances got along. Despite being from separate factions, they planned hunts together and even lent each other mastery stones without hesitation.

Solomon stared in silence, thinking that perhaps it was only like this on the lower floors. Surely, as they descended further toward the Deep Realm, those bonds would fracture.

Originally, he had planned to unleash a massacre the moment he arrived, but his mind had changed for some unknown reason. Dismissing the thought, Solomon made his way to the lower levels of the company, where high-grade artifacts were sold. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Just then, a toddler entered his view, walking through the market square with a squirrel. The two of them, walking side by side and looking so naturally like a couple of squirrels, looked like a painting come to life. And when they were about ten meters away from Solomon, the little girl ran toward him.

“Mistah!”

Solomon recognized her immediately. How could he forget? This was the child he had met in the Deep Realm, the very one who had prepared food for him and even taught him the Hangul alphabet.

“It’s been a while,” Solomon greeted.

“Yeah! You wemember me, Mistah? We played together before!”

Of course, he remembered. He even remembered her name: Byeol. Solomon gave a small nod as Byeol beamed with joy. It seemed she was happy he remembered. But the same couldn’t be said for the Horned Squirrel beside her, who trembled in terror. It could feel the terrifying energy emanating from Solomon.

“B-Byeol! W-we have to run!” the squirrel squeaked.

After hearing the Horned Squirrel, Solomon decided to shut it up. Without any emotion, he exuded dark energy from his fingertips and aimed it at the squirrel to kill it, as he always had done. However, he failed to kill it, as Byeol grabbed his hand.

“Mistah, did you come here to shop?”

Solomon withdrew the dark energy before it could reach Byeol’s hand. He wondered if this little thing had somehow sensed his murderous intent and intervened, but he quickly realized that wasn’t it. She had simply wanted to hold his hand.

“Why are you here...?” he asked before answering the question he received.

“Playing with Squa. This place is fun. Did you see the watuh park?”

He had no idea what that was. Honestly, he didn’t care to know as he had no interest.

Solomon gently released her hand. “I see.”

“Yup! What about you, Mistah?”

“I came for artifacts.”

“Cool! Wanna go together? It’s more fun to look awound with fwends.”

“No, that’s...” Solomon hesitated.

He didn’t want Byeol to witness a massacre. To him, she was still untainted—pure in a way none of the filth here could ever be. He paused, as if in an internal debate, then eventually held out his hand.

“You might get lost. Hold my hand,” he said to Byeol.

Byeol already knew her way around the Company, but she still took his hand. When she felt how cold it was, she gripped it tighter, because that’s how you warm up someone’s hand.

“Eh...?” The Horned Squirrel slowly circled Solomon.

The evil, murderous energy was still clearly present, yet for some bizarre reason, he didn’t seem like a bad person. Despite meeting Solomon’s gaze, the Horned Squirrel kept staring.

Eventually, it muttered, “Hmm, maybe I’m wrong...?”

***

Solomon stepped into a store selling premium artifacts and slowly browsed the goods. The seventy-two demons each possessed several so-called “Treasures of the Deep Realm,” but the equipment of the low-rank demons under them was sorely lacking. To bolster his forces, Solomon needed to sweep up as many of the high-grade artifacts as he could.

“Kerk! If you see anything you like, just let me know. Lots of good stuff, kerk!” a Treasure Goblin said.

Solomon was conflicted. There were indeed many fine items here. He wanted to get his hands on all of them right this moment, but Byeol was standing right beside him. He couldn’t go on a killing spree while she was watching. He paused, debating whether to back off for today or wait until Byeol left and carry out his plan.

“Are you not gonna buy anything? Kerk.”

“I... don’t have any Mastery Stones on me.”

“I see, kerk. Well, browsing is free, so take your time. Kerk.”

Byeol realized Solomon didn’t have the money to buy anything. He was just standing there, staring longingly at the items. Somehow, the sight overlapped in her mind with the time she herself had loitered in front of a clothing store a while ago. So, albeit reluctantly, she pulled out the Choco Pie she had been saving to eat later.

“K-kerk! I-is that... no way, a C-Choco Pie?!” the Treasure Goblin exclaimed in shock.

“Can I buy stuff with this?” Byeol asked.

“O-of course you can!”

A single Choco Pie was worth the equivalent of a hundred thousand mastery stones. On top of that, the goblin here had never had the fortune of tasting one himself.

“Then do you wanna twade for this?”

“Kerk! J-just wait a sec! I’ll give you everything in here!” The Treasure Goblin frantically began packing all the artifacts in his shop.

Solomon asked, “This ‘Choco Pie’—is it some kind of currency here?”

“Absolutely! Kerk! In fact, one Choco Pie is worth more than all of this combined!”

Solomon’s eyes widened, a first deviation from his usual stoic expression. He remembered the Choco Pie Byeol had given him in the Deep Realm not long ago. When he reached into his pocket, he could still feel the distinct texture of the bun.

Solomon looked at Byeol, who was smiling with joy. This child gave me something that precious...?

There it was again—that indescribable, fuzzy emotion he’d felt once before. Solomon didn’t dislike the feeling. No, he might even say he liked it.

“All packed up! K-kerk! Just carry this pouch, and you’re good to go!” the Treasure Goblin said happily.

Every single Artifact had somehow fit into a single pouch. Solomon silently accepted it from the Treasure Goblin.

“Did you get evewything you needed, Mistah?”

Solomon nodded.

“Then let’s go home,” Byeol said to the Horned Squirrel.

***

Today’s lunch was curry.

Do-Jun poured several pouches of three-minute instant curry into a pot. He’d stocked up on them during a recent supermarket sale. He added plenty of mini sausages to make sausage curry according to the kids’ preferences. The thick scent of curry wafted through the house.

He spooned the curry over hot, white rice.

Without any prompting, Karsiel brought the bowls to the table, and Byeol smiled from ear to ear when she saw that her bowl was packed with sausages.

“Master, I want lots of sausages too!” Yong-Yong exclaimed.

“Alright.”

And so, dinner began.

Byeol scooped a big spoonful of curry and rice, topped it with a piece of kimchi, and shoved it all into her mouth. As the sausage burst with juice, she smiled with pure bliss.

“Mistah woulda liked this too,” she said.

“Mister?” Do-Jun asked.

“Mhm.”

Byeol shared what had happened at the Treasure Goblin Company. She had met someone she knew, and he couldn’t afford the things he wanted. So she used her Choco Pie to help him out.

Do-Jun gently smiled and patted her head. “What a good girl.”

Then he took a sip of water and thought to himself, Maybe I’ll keep watching, just a little longer.