Chapter 313

Buzz! Buzz!

It was a summer Saturday morning, filled with the loud buzzing of cicadas just like every other year.

Returning from the Core, Do-Jun found Byeol looking unusually downcast. It was odd. He remembered that the daycare was planning a water park trip to celebrate summer, and she should have been there by now. A few days ago, he had even bought her a swimsuit and a cute duck-shaped tube for the occasion.

“Sweetie, did you not go to the water park today?” he asked her.

In the corner of the living room sat Byeol’s yellow daycare bag, untouched. Inside were her swimsuit, the deflated tube, and her allowance wallet, all still neatly packed from the previous afternoon.

“No... no wateh pahk today,” she answered, extremely dejected.

“Why not?”

“Teacher said... we can go later...

waaaay

later. Today, we stay home.”

“Hm.”

Had something happened?

Do-Jun took out his smartphone to call Ji-Hye, the daycare teacher, to ask about the reason, but then he noticed a group message notification from the daycare sent early the previous evening. He must have missed it.

Notice: Water Park Trip Canceled

We regret to inform you that tomorrow’s scheduled water park field trip has been postponed indefinitely due to the detection of heavy metals at the facility. We appreciate your understanding.

Do-Jun clicked the attached news link. The article reported that a significant amount of skin-irritating substances had been found in the water park’s facilities. Given these circumstances, canceling the trip was definitely the right decision.

***

The Treasure Goblin Company enjoyed a peaceful period. With no major incidents or accidents, they continued their routine of selling various items to adventurers or doing odd jobs. It was a monotonous cycle, but not necessarily a bad one.

However, for Maxim, one of the company’s executives, this wasn’t ideal. As head of the construction division, he often had nothing to report at executive meetings due to a lack of projects. It was inevitably embarrassing.

Right now, Maxim was deep in thought.

What should I do with that chunk of unused land...?

The company owned a vacant lot of about 150,000 square meters, which had become a longstanding headache. When the company was first established, there were plans to turn the land into a rest area for adventurers. However, the project was scrapped due to a lack of profit. Since then, the land had sat unused for more than three centuries.

Even without considering profitability, the main issue was the high cost of construction. Expenses for materials, labor, and construction equipment made any development effort too costly to even consider.

As Maxim was pondering a solution, someone knocked on his office door.

“Hm? Come in,” he called out.

“Sir, there’s a visitor from Earth.”

“A visitor? Who is it?”

“He says his name is Lee Do-Jun.”

Maxim, who had been lounging idly, sprang to his feet in surprise. Do-Jun was better known as the King of Earth. While most of the company’s staff didn’t know much about him, a few select goblins, including Maxim, were well aware of his identity.

“W-where is he now?” he asked the staff member.

“He’s waiting in the reception room. He mentioned that he had an important request.”

Throwing on his jacket, Maxim hurriedly rushed toward the reception room.

***

Guided by a staff member, Do-Jun sat patiently in the reception room. Soon, hurried footsteps echoed from upstairs, and shortly after, the door burst open as Maxim stepped inside.

He greeted Do-Jun. “W-welcome, sir!”

“It’s been a while. I haven’t visited much lately, have I?”

“Not at all! Thank you for taking the time to visit despite your busy schedule.”

Do-Jun smiled lightly and placed a thick stack of blueprints on the table.

“I came today to ask if you could do me a favor.”

“A favor? What kind of favor...?” Maxim asked.

“Would you mind taking a look at this?”

The stack of blueprints looked to be at least several hundred pages thick. They were the architectural plans for the water park that the daycare had planned to visit. Do-Jun had obtained the documents from the civil engineering team at Seoul City Hall, which had received them as part of its construction contract.

Maxim quickly flipped through the pages, blinking as he absorbed the details.

“I wanted to ask if it would be possible to build this on the land you mentioned that has been giving you a headache,” Do-Jun asked.

“A water park?”

“Yes. I’d like it built exactly like this one. The completed site is detailed on page 400. I’ve also attached reference photos. Would you be able to review it?”

Maxim quickly skimmed through the blueprints. Honestly, the construction itself wasn’t hard, quite the opposite. Compared to the projects he was used to, this was a piece of cake. The company’s magic-powered construction equipment meant they wouldn’t even need to buy or rent additional machinery.

Like most construction projects, the only real concern was the cost.

Maxim glanced between the blueprints and Do-Jun, swallowing nervously.

Do I really have to ask the King of Earth to pay for this?

What if he offended Do-Jun by mentioning money? Just as Maxim hesitated, Do-Jun reached into Ivela’s Pouch and started stacking boxes on the table. There were ten large cardboard boxes in all. Each one prominently displayed the Chinese character for “affection” with a large image of a chocolate bun printed on the front.

Maxim’s eyes widened as his jaw dropped. “I-is that what I think it is...?”

“This is a token of my appreciation. I look forward to hearing a positive response.”

Goblins loved Choco Pies more than anything, and Maxim was no exception. Never in his life had he seen so many in one place.

“I’ll do it!” he nearly shouted.

“Are you sure?” Do-Jun asked, seemingly taken aback by the overly eager response.

“Yes! Actually, please let me do it!”

To Maxim, Do-Jun’s proposal was irresistibly sweet. Not only would it resolve the issue with the troublesome plot of land, but he would also receive a mountain of Choco Pies. It was a win-win situation.

“How long will the construction take?”

“One day! Just one day is all we need!” Maxim promised.

And so, a grand construction project started at Treasure Goblin Company. All other business operations were suspended for the day, and over a thousand goblins were mobilized for the water park construction. The work progressed smoothly and swiftly.

***

Byeol was eating her lunch with a sullen expression, disappointed that their field trip to the water park had been canceled. Even though her favorite sausage side dish was on her plate, she only picked at her rice. As Do-Jun sat at the table, he noticed that Byeol’s daycare bag, which had been in the corner earlier that morning, was now missing.

“Where’s your bag?” Do-Jun asked her.

“I put it in the dwawer.”

“Oh? How come?”

“Because I don’t need it today.”

“Hmm. But Byeol, I think you might need your bag tomorrow.”

Byeol blinked and looked at the calendar. Tomorrow was Sunday, a day she didn’t have to go to daycare.

“I don’t need it tomowwow, either, Daddy,” she said.

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. No daycawe tomowwow.”

Even though she was still pouting, her concise response was so cute that Do-Jun chuckled.

“But if you’re going to the water park with Daddy tomorrow, you’ll need your swimsuit and your duck tube,” he said.

Byeol squinted her eyes suspiciously. “That’s a lie.”

“Hm?”

“The wateh pahk is closed. Teacher said so. Daddy, you don’t believe me? Ask Teacher!”

“I did ask her, but I’m talking about a different water park.”

At those words, a glimmer of excitement appeared in Byeol’s eyes. “Weally...?”

“Of course. But if Byeol doesn’t eat her food properly, I don’t think I can take you there.”

“Ah!”

Quickly, Byeol stabbed a long sausage with her fork and took a big bite. Juicy flavors burst in her mouth. As if her appetite had suddenly returned, she started eating with gusto. Do-Jun watched with a smile.

“Can my fwends come too?” she asked.

“Of course! Do you want to tell them?”

“Yeah!”

***

After enjoying the lunch her dad made, Byeol immediately headed out. She started visiting her friends’ houses one by one, beginning with So-Mi’s house, which was the closest. Tiptoeing, she reached up and pressed the doorbell. Soon, So-Mi cautiously opened the door.

“Byeol?”

“So-Mi, wanna go to the wateh pahk tomowwow?”

“Tomorrow? But Teacher said the water park is closed.”

“Daddy said another one is open! And he said we can bwing our fwends too.”

“Really? I’ll go ask my mom!”

So-Mi dashed off to get permission from her parents while Byeol quietly studied the map she had drawn, marking the locations of her other friends’ houses.

***

The next morning, the children gathered excitedly, ready for the water park.

For safety, Do-Jun secured a bracelet around each child’s wrist. The artifact was enchanted with a protection spell to prevent accidents. It also had a built-in token system, commonly used in water parks.

“Daddy, what’s this?” Byeol asked.

“These bracelets have tokens you can use inside the water park,” Do-Jun answered.

“Oh, I know this! Last time, I used one with my dad to buy food.”

“Good job, Seong-Hoon. You know how it works.”

“Yeah!”

Once all the children had arrived, Do-Jun pulled out the Treasure Goblin Company’s Entry Pass. As the ticket emitted a burst of light, the children were enveloped in its glow.

***

“Wooooow!”

The children’s eyes sparkled with excitement as they took in the view of the water park. It looked just like the newly built water park in Gwangjin-gu, complete with all the facilities—“Tornado,” “Kids’ Pool,” and even the park’s signature attraction, the “Giant Wave.”

“There are so many people!”

“And goblins too!”

Staff members at the food stalls, information desks, and lifeguard stations were a mix of Treasure Goblins and adventurers. Some goblins and adventurers were already splashing around in the water, curious and delighted by the newly built park.

Noticing the arrival of the guests from Earth, Maxim soared toward them from a distance, propelled by jets of water from his shoes.

The children’s eyes sparkled at his dazzling performance.

“Hello, children! I’m Maxim, and I’m here to help make sure you all have a fantastic time today.

Haha

! Thank you for coming such a long way.”

Maxim winked at Do-Jun.

Earlier that morning, while Do-Jun was touring the newly finished water park with Maxim, he explained the story behind the favor. Maxim, eager to help the children, promised to make sure they had a great time.

“First, let’s get changed into swimsuits and put on life jackets. Follow me! I’ll show you to the changing rooms!”

The children eagerly followed Maxime, their small footsteps pattering as they trailed behind him.

Watching them go, Do-Jun smiled.

***

The next day, Ji-Hye sat quietly, listening to the children’s chatter. She had expected them to be disappointed about not going to the water park. But instead, they were gathered together, faces beaming as they excitedly shared their stories.

“Wait, you guys went to the water park?” she asked, surprised.

The children enthusiastically recounted how Do-Jun had taken them to the water park on Sunday and how much fun they’d had. They couldn’t stop talking about it to Ji-Hye and the other daycare teachers.

Buzz! Buzz!

It was a peaceful Monday morning, accompanied by the orchestra of cicadas.