Chapter 68

Chapter 68: The Name of the Great Root

Cheon Dowoon arrived in the Demon Realm through the Gate.

He admired the fluorescently glowing house in the dark forest for a moment.

Then, hearing a noise from inside, he moved the bag blocking the door and entered.

Clothes were scattered on the floor, deliberately left there. Small clumps of dirt were sprinkled here and there on top of them.

It was the trace of Root, who had emerged from the beaker and wandered around looking for Cheon Dowoon.

"Hoo-oong?"

The Great Root's voice came from inside the house, but it wasn't visible. As he searched, his eyes stopped on a pile of clothes.

A pile of clothes stacked in one place was particularly bulging. It twitched and moved.

"Hoo-oong!"

The scent of a great Helper is strong in here. The Helper must be inside.

Root was rummaging through the pile of clothes as if exploring a cave.

"Why are you in there? I'm not there. Come out," Cheon Dowoon said. The rustling pile of clothes stopped moving for a moment at his voice.

A moment later, Root's movements intensified, even felt through the clothes.

Doom-chit doom-chit. The clothes shook up and down as if keeping rhythm.

It was the movement caused by Root wandering around in the pile of clothes, unable to find the exit.

"Stay still. I'll get you out."

Cheon Dowoon gently loosened the bundled clothes. Root rolled out from inside a gray sweater.

"Hoo, hoo-oong."

Exposed to the sudden light, Root frowned.

As it slowly opened its eyes, it saw the Helper it had been searching for.

Finally found. The great Helper. Where have you been?

Root looked up at Cheon Dowoon. It was happy but also resentful. It resented the Helper who always left it behind.

"Hoo-oong…."

How long must I repeat this waiting? Root walked weakly towards Cheon Dowoon.

Its body, which had been wandering around the house all day, had no strength. The tension eased at the thought of finding the Helper, and its strength drained away.

Cheon Dowoon reached out and caught Root before it fell to the floor.

"Why are you so weak?"

"Hoo-oong…."

Root struggled in Cheon Dowoon's palm. It released its joy and resentment of reunion onto his palm.

Cheon Dowoon lifted Root up to check its face.

"You squeezed out juice again, didn't you?"

There were traces of plant juice flowing and hardening around its eyes. Cheon Dowoon rubbed it off with his finger.

"Don't squeeze out juice. If you're a plant, save some moisture."

"Hoo-oong!"

Don't pretend to worry now. Root struck Cheon Dowoon's finger with its Rootlets.

A blow of anger for disappearing without a word.

Podak. The Rootlets struck the back of Cheon Dowoon's hand. It couldn't help but reduce its strength at the end, afraid it would hurt.

"Okay, so it's my fault."

Cheon Dowoon brought the beaker placed in the corner. He tried to bury it there, but Root struggled and refused.

If I take my eyes off you even for a moment, the Helper disappears. Having learned this from several experiences, Root grabbed Cheon Dowoon's finger and wouldn't let go.

"Just sleep. I'm not going anywhere."

"Hoo-oong!"

"I said I'm not going."

"Hoo-oong!"

"Am I really that untrustworthy?"

"Hoo-oong!"

It seems I am. Cheon Dowoon pondered for a moment and then lay down on the sleeping bag. Seeing this, the Great Root took a spot next to him and lay down together.

"I came to pick you up anyway. It's late, so sleep well for a day. Let's go when the sun rises."

"Hoo-oong?"

"I'll be back soon anyway. Well, whatever. Sleep. You look tired."

Cheon Dowoon said, checking Root's condition.

I'm glad I came early. If I had come after dawn, it would have squeezed out so much plant juice that its whole body would have been parched.

Cheon Dowoon took out a moisturizing cream from his bag. He applied it generously to Root's body.

He patted it with his finger to mean sleep, and Root's eyes gradually closed.

Almost at the moment of closing, Root opened its eyes wide.

"Hoo-oong…!"

I will not sleep. I will not fall for the trick of putting me to sleep and disappearing.

"I said sleep."

Dodak dodak. As he patted it again, Root's eyes closed halfway.

"Hoo-oong…."

It rubbed its eyes with its Rootlets to ward off sleep. It was no use. It only made it yawn.

Seeing this, Cheon Dowoon pulled over his T-shirt that was nearby and covered Root with it.

"Sleep quickly. Dodak dodak."

As he made the sound of dodak dodak with his mouth, Root's eyes completely closed.

It didn't know the meaning of dodak dodak. But hearing the voice right next to it, it felt a sense of security that the Helper was by its side.

After rustling around for a while, Root finally regained stability and fell asleep.

'I can't leave this one behind anymore. I need to buy a bag so I can carry it around even when it's sleeping.'

Cheon Dowoon patted the Great Root and closed his eyes.

'Ah. Right. Should I add Dodak to this guy's name candidates?'

I put it to sleep with dodak dodak, so Dodak. He thought it was a decent name for himself.

"Dodak… Dodak-ah? Dodak. I think it's good."

He spoke the candidate name.

It was affectionate and felt good. But he knew that his naming sense was terrible, so he couldn't trust this feeling.

'I should ask my siblings for their opinions when I get back.'

Even if he asked, his mind was already leaning towards it.

"Dodak, sleep well."

Cheon Dowoon greeted Root and closed his eyes with a satisfied face.

* * *

Early in the morning, Mr. Park was heading to the store when he flinched and froze.

Huge men were sitting huddled in front of the store. Among them was a gang member who had oppressed him.

'H, have they come for revenge?'

Let's sneak out through the back alley. He thought, but the gang member discovered him first and stood up.

"The boss is here! Everyone, say hello!"

"Hello, boss!"

They bent over 90 degrees towards Mr. Park. Mr. Park was horrified by this. Why were they greeting him?

"So this is the everything store that has everything!"

"Yes? No, that…."

"Our new boss recommended it. I'll be a regular from now on. We must trust the boss's recommendation unconditionally!"

A new boss, who is that? Before he could ask, Mr. Park was pushed on the back and opened the store door.

While he was standing blankly, the gang members turned on the store lights at will and looked around inside.

'A, are they going to take weapons?'

It would be fortunate if they paid for them and bought them.

Mr. Park was anxious that they might just take them, mentioning credit.

"I found it!"

Someone shouted as if they had found what they wanted. The men rushed over to it.

They will definitely pick up fierce guns and knives. Mr. Park thought so, but the men picked up completely different items.

'A broom?'

They picked up a broom and began to examine it as if appraising it.

"How about this broom?"

"No. We have to buy one with stiff bristles. We have to sweep the streets. We have to buy an outdoor broom."

"Ah, is that so?"

"Hey. Isn't this dustpan good? It's structured so you can collect trash without bending over."

"Ooh."

"Even a set!"

"Good! Let's go with that!"

Mr. Park's eyes shook at the flood of words.

What is this situation? He rubbed his eyes and looked again, not believing it, but the situation did not change.

"Okay. We'll go with this broom. Boss! This broom set! Give us all the stock in the warehouse!"

"A, all the stock? Then the price will be quite high. That…."

"We'll pay properly."

The man took out a wad of bills from his pocket. At first glance, it was enough money to pay the full amount and have some left over.

'Thank goodness. They're not trying to take it for free.'

Mr. Park was relieved and brought out the stock from the warehouse.

When he showed them the calculation, the gang member paid the price without complaint.

"But boss. The quantity is not enough. We need 100 more in the future."

"S, so many? What are you going to use them for… No. Yes. Then I'll place an order for you. Come back in three days."

Mr. Park placed the order as they requested, even with shaking eyes.

"We'll be back, boss! Oh, if you have a lawn mower, please get it for us! We'll need it soon!"

"A lawn mower too? What are you going to use it for…."

When he couldn't stand it and asked, the gang members had already left the store.

The shelves were empty as if a storm had passed. Mr. Park was blank for a while and then laughed.

"Was I dreaming? What is going on?"

Belatedly, his sense of reality returned, and his expression gradually brightened. The moment he opened the store, sales soared.

"The new boss said he introduced the store, right? I don't know who it is, but thank you so much."

I don't know why they need so many brooms, but it's the best.

Just as he was cheering inwardly, the store door opened.

"Welcome… Ah! Teacher!"

Mr. Park smiled brightly when he saw Cheon Dowoon.

Cheon Dowoon, who had just passed through the Gate, visited Mr. Park's store before the Coconut Family's building.

"Why are you in such a good mood?"

"Ah, a customer bought a large quantity of brooms a little while ago."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. But the amazing thing is, don't be surprised when you hear this. It was the Space Gang members who bought the brooms. Those people who came last time."

The corners of Cheon Dowoon's lips lifted slightly. He thought it might be them when he heard that they bought a large quantity of brooms, and he was right.

"I was so surprised. I thought they were going to take it for free, saying it was credit. But they paid the full price and even greeted me."

"Greeted you?"

"Yes. They bowed like this, very deeply."

'I didn't order them to do that. Was it Nam Ki-seok? Or the siblings?'

I don't know who it is, but they trained them well. As Cheon Dowoon smiled, Mr. Park said excitedly.

"I heard that the head of that organization has changed. I don't know who it is, but it seems like they have a good impression of our store. That person recommended this store!"

Cheon Dowoon chuckled. He just said a word because he remembered that he got a lot of service when he bought clothes here for the first time. He didn't know they would like it so much.

Mr. Park, who was talking excitedly, looked at Cheon Dowoon with a look of realization.

"Oh my, look at my mind. What do you need today?"

"I need a bag to put this Root in. Do you have anything suitable?"

Cheon Dowoon took out the Great Root from his jacket pocket and showed it.

"Hoo-oong?"

Suddenly bright, Root rubbed its eyes and woke up. Mr. Park was surprised and stepped back.

"Th, the plant is moving!"

"Of course it's moving. Because it's alive."

Mr. Park had a dazed look at Cheon Dowoon's nonchalant reaction.

Well, plants are living things, so they are alive. But moving is definitely not normal.

"Why is the plant moving… Ah, is it something like a Chimera? Something like… something for detection."

"Similar. Anyway, I need a bag to carry this around."

"A bag… Just a moment."

Mr. Park went into the warehouse. After a while, he came out with a few hip sacks that were worn around the waist.

"It's a Hunter item for putting water bottles or potion bottles in. But the size seems just right."

Cheon Dowoon looked at the bags that Mr. Park brought. Among them, his eyes went to a hip sack that was worn on the side of the waist.

It was cylindrical and long for putting water bottles in, and the width seemed suitable for Root to fit in.

"This is good. Come on, get in."

Cheon Dowoon opened the bag and brought it in front of Root. Root tilted its head at the bag.

Not understanding the intention of holding out the bag, it lay down on Cheon Dowoon's palm.

Cheon Dowoon pondered for a moment and then infused Mana into the bag.

"Here. Now, get in."

"Hoo-oong?"

When he held out the bag again, Root showed interest.

Root looked at the bag. A hole of a suitable size where the energy of its Helper was rising.

"Hoo-oong!"

Now that I see it, it's perfect for me to go in and live. Root, which gave it a passing grade, put its body into the bag.

As Cheon Dowoon tilted his hand, it slipped in and went in.

"The depth is good too. It's perfect for Root's house."

Only the leaves came out, which was just right. The cover of the bag was detachable, so it was truly a house for Root.

Cheon Dowoon wore the bag around his waist. Root poked its face out at that.

"Hoo-oong!"

I like this place. Root roared, expressing its feelings. Mr. Park, who saw this, unknowingly had a happy face.

Even though it was a plant, it strangely reminded him of the hamster his wife was raising.

"Teacher. What is the name of that plant?"

"Name?"

It would be annoying to reveal that it was a Mandragora. But there is no name to say separately yet.

The only thing that comes to mind is the number 1 name candidate that I impulsively made last night.

"The name is…."

Cheon Dowoon looked at Root in the hip bag. When their eyes met, Root roared loudly.

"Hoo-oong!"

Cheon Dowoon's lips curled up at the spirited roar. After all, the only name that suits it is that.

"Dodak."

Cheon Dowoon spoke the name candidate he had decided on last night. It felt good to stick to his mouth.

"This guy's name is Dodak. I have to dodak dodak him when I put him to sleep."

Cheon Dowoon said, stroking Root's leaves.