-Pii? 『Daddy, what do you want to say? This early in the morning?』

-Tsrrt? 『Baaap?』

-Kkuguu. 『Father, what is it? Is it something important?』

-Kkuu? 『Father, what is it?』

-Kkyuut? 『Grandpa, what is it?』

At their questions, I pointed toward the upper deck.

“It’s important. Cheongwol needs to hear it too, so let’s go outside to talk.”

Cheongwol the scorpion, Hwayang the toad, Cho, Hyang, and Bini the centipedes, Seol, Bing, and Dong the lizards, and Cheongyu the snake — they were all part of Odoc and registered in my Odoc Guiwon Divine Art and Beast Heart Divine Art.

Five types, nine beasts total.

Among them, only Cheongyu, Cho, and Bini had awakened their abilities.

I needed to talk to the rest who hadn’t awakened yet, so I suggested gathering on deck where Cheongwol was.

If I had to explain individually, there would be six of them — it was easier to gather them all at once.

-Tsrrt. 『Got it, Daddy.』

-Kkuguu. 『Let’s go, Father.』

Following me at the front, the five beasts trotted along.

But the moment we stepped out of the room, a problem occurred.

-Kkyiit!

Suddenly, Dong’s cry came from behind.

When I turned to look at the floor where the sound came from, Dong’s head was facing the opposite direction.

‘Why is he turned around alone?’

I tilted my head at the sight, but then Dong pointed with his plump tail.

Following the direction of his tail, I spotted Hwayang lazily crawling toward a corner.

Apparently, I thought Dong was the one turned around, but it was actually Hwayang, deviating from the group.

Dong must have noticed Hwayang sneaking away toward the corner, where, as we all knew, his food — Hwajeong — was kept.

“Hwayang?”

-Pii?

Hwayang turned around, tilting his head at me, as if asking why I called him.

I forced a smile, holding back my twitching lips.

I couldn’t get angry at the kids.

“Daddy said there’s Cheongwol Unnie outside and asked us all to come along. Did you not hear? Were you thinking about something else?”

-Pii. 『Baap.』

“You heard it? Then why are you going over there?”

-Pii. 『Baaap.』

“Ah, you were thinking about something else. Breakfast, huh? You’re saying you have to eat first?”

-Pii!

At my question, Hwayang nodded proudly, then casually kept crawling toward Hwajeong.

Hearing Hwayang’s answer that breakfast was first, my head throbbed.

He had heard everything, but in the end, breakfast took priority.

And somehow, I couldn’t even argue — it was morning, so wasn’t it natural to think about breakfast?

Was this also one of Hwayang’s special beast talents?

Feeling it would only be more troublesome to argue, I decided to deal with Hwayang later and take the others to the deck first.

‘Yeah, let’s leave Hwayang for last.’

There was no point insisting he come without eating; it wouldn’t work anyway.

He wouldn’t move until he ate first.

Waking up in the morning, spending the day licking Hwajeong until falling asleep — that was Hwayang’s daily routine.

To bring him along, I’d have to carry Hwajeong too — no thanks.

Better to handle him separately.

Also, thinking carefully, Cheongwol could probably understand if I explained normally, but Hwayang, with his head full of food thoughts, wouldn’t follow a word if I tried explaining with the others.

"Let’s just go without Hwayang."

-Tsrrt.

-Kkuguu.

At my words, the kids glanced once toward Hwayang, then nodded.

Dong even came up and lightly tapped the top of my foot with his paw, as if to comfort me.

Was he saying, "Hang in there, Grandpa"?

Even little Dong seemed to have accepted that cooperation from Hwayang was hopeless from the start.

-Tsrrp, tsrrrp.

Meanwhile, ignoring whatever we were saying, the sound of Hwayang happily licking Hwajeong echoed from the corner.

"Ehyo."

With a sigh, I left the room and headed down the hallway toward the deck.

Once outside, I spotted Cheongwol basking in the morning sunlight at the far end of the ship.

Recently, thanks to Mirang’s care, Cheongwol’s shell gleamed brightly.

"Cheongwol!"

We had docked the ship at a secluded spot at the end of the harbor, with three sides covered except for the deck, so there was no worry about being seen.

As I ran over, Cheongwol lazily opened one eye and asked:

-Krr. 『What is it?』

"I have something to tell you."

-Krung. 『Something to tell me? I see the others came too.』

While we were talking, the kids naturally climbed up onto Cheongwol’s massive body.

Her body was like a playground for them.

Whenever they were bored, they would clamber all over her to kill time.

-Tsrrt. 『Cheongwol Unnie!』

-Krung. 『Ah, Hyang.』

-Kkyiit.

-Krrr. 『Dong, be careful climbing up. Hyang, help him.』

As expected of our kind Cheongwol.

She didn’t find the kids [N O V E L I G H T] climbing on her annoying — she watched over each one.

Once Hyang, Seol, Bing, and Dong had found their spots on her back, I got to the point.

"Alright, since everyone’s gathered, let’s get started.

The reason I called you this morning isn’t complicated — it’s because, using the martial arts I’ve mastered, I can help awaken new abilities within you. I wanted to try that.

Cho and Bini have already awakened abilities. Recently, Cheongyu awakened too. Now it’s time for the rest of you.

Cheongwol and Hyang already know, right? That thing from Qinghai’s Kunlun Sect."

-Krrr. 『Ah, that thing.』

-Kkugu. 『I know what it is too, Father.』

-Kkuu. 『I also wanted to try it. I wonder what kind of ability I'll gain.』

At my words, the kids nodded with slightly excited voices.

Even they were saying they were curious about what kind of abilities they might gain, so aside from Hwayang, it looked like I could attempt the trait awakening without any issues.

But just as I was full of hope, Hyang suddenly screamed.

-Tsrrrt! 『You awakened Cheongyu Unnie first!?』

‘Huhhhh!’

At her shout, my hair stood on end.

Of course. Hyang was already very prone to jealousy.

I had forgotten that I should have started with her because we needed to open the Gate quickly.

Hyang, who hated being outshined by her older sisters, had delayed her own evolution.

Because of that, when the older ones awakened their traits first, she had thrown a huge tantrum. And now, hearing that even Cheongyu had awakened before her, she was pouting again.

I quickly tried to come up with an excuse.

"No, it’s just because Cheongyu Unnie only comes out once every full moon, so I had to help her come out every night. How about we start with you this time?"

I smiled warmly and approached Hyang, but she suddenly jumped off the deck.

She ran off toward the cabin, shouting in a sulky voice.

-Tsrrr! 『Daddy only loves the other sisters! I’m not doing it! Hyang won’t do it!』

"Hyang! Hyang! Everyone, wait here a moment."

Chasing after the running Hyang, I followed her into the cabin, but she climbed up the wall and clung to the ceiling, refusing to come down.

"Hyang. Hyang?"

She was curled up on the ceiling, hiding her antennae.

-Tsrrt? 『Daddy, what’s wrong?』

-Tsrrr. 『Why is Hyang Unnie acting up again?』

Cho and Bini, who had woken up, approached and tilted their heads at the sight.

"Well, you see, yesterday with Cheongyu Unnie..."

After quickly explaining the situation, Cho nodded in understanding.

She gently pushed me out of the cabin with her front legs and said:

-Tsrrrt. 『Daddy, leave Hyang to me. Go finish what you were doing.』

"Huh? Cho, are you sure? Won’t Hyang get even more upset?"

-Tsrrt. 『Hyang’s spoiled because you always give in. I'll handle it, so go back to what you were doing.』

Pushing me firmly out the door, Cho turned sharply to scold Hyang clinging to the ceiling.

-Tsrrrrr. 『Hyang, aren’t you coming down? Daddy helped Cheongyu Unnie because she only appears once every full moon. Why are you being like this?』

-Tsrrt. 『I don’t care!』

-Tst! 『You’ve been slacking off lately, haven’t you? Want me to give you a good scolding like old times!?』

‘Wow, that's the authority of the eldest daughter, huh?’

Such a firm, decisive voice — like a mini-adult.

Hearing Cho’s stern scolding reminded me perfectly of how Hwa-eun scolded me.

It had to be learned behavior.

I nodded in approval and muttered to myself.

"She really is my daughter. It’s just like when Hwa-eun scolds me."

"What’s just like what, So-ryong?"

While muttering to myself, suddenly I heard Hwa-eun’s voice.

Startled, I turned around to find Hwa-eun looking at me with a curious expression, her face still damp from washing up.

She must have woken up, washed, and come out for breakfast.

"Ah, no, nothing! I was just saying that Cho scolding her siblings reminded me so much of you."

"Ah... Well, Cho does take after me."

"But what are you doing here?"

I quickly made an excuse, but if Hwa-eun found out Cho was currently scolding Hyang inside, my real meaning would be obvious.

So, I quickly changed the subject to Cheongyu.

"Oh right! Cheongyu Soje appeared again last night!"

"Cheongyu Soje?"

"Yes. It seems the result of infusing her with the Beast Heart Divine Art energy. If she wakes again tonight, it might mean Cheongyu Soje will take charge of the night while King Cheongyu remains during the day."

"Ah... That means from now on, whenever we have questions about Odoc or martial arts, we won't have to wait for a full moon."

"Exactly."

One glance — we understood each other perfectly.

"But what were you doing here?"

"Ah, it’s about Hwayang! I was going to infuse the others with the Beast Heart Divine Art energy too, but Hwayang won’t leave Hwajeong, so I gave up and was just heading out."

"Let’s go, then. Let’s see what happens when you infuse the others too."

"Alright."

Inside, Cho’s stern scolding of Hyang continued, but I grabbed Hwa-eun’s hand and pulled her along. Embarrassed, she followed, her face blushing slightly.

When we got back to the others gathered on deck, they immediately asked about Hyang.

-Kkuguu. 『Is Hyang still sulking, Father?』

‘Yeah, pretty much. Let’s just move on today with the rest of you.’

Deciding that in my heart, I moved on to the next candidate for trait awakening.

Then Cheongwol spoke up with concern.

-Krung. 『So-ryong, maybe it’s better if I return to the Tang family’s land or move onto solid ground?』

"Huh? Why?"

-Krrr. 『If I grow bigger like Bini did, the ship might get destroyed.』

She had a point. If she got any bigger here, the ship might break apart.

It wouldn’t sink thanks to the buoyancy spells, but the wooden surface could crack and the magic layer would become exposed.

Our careful Cheongwol really thought of everything.

"Then, Seol, Bing, and Dong will go first."

With Hwayang obsessed with food, Hyang sulking, and Cheongwol potentially dangerous — Seol, Bing, and Dong were left.

"Alright, let’s start with the man of the group — Bing!"

What kind of trait would Seol, Bing, and Dong awaken?

I placed my hand on Bing’s head as he sat atop Cheongwol’s back, and began infusing him slowly with energy.