#341
Korea is amazing!
Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do.
The scenery of the Kim Deok-Sung Private Resort, where I remembered visiting during summer vacation, had completely changed from what I had seen before, now featuring an artificial valley made to look exactly like a real one.
Beside the frozen artificial valley stood a hanok that resembled a palace.
“This hanok hotel was constructed by a collaboration between Future Construction and Rotec Construction in celebration of Mr. Kim Deok-Sung’s winter vacation return.”
Han Seo-Jin, who was beside me, spoke politely.
They built a hanok hotel to commemorate my return?
What on earth is the point of such useless nonsense?
A hanok hotel facing a typical Western-style hotel building with an artificial valley in between.
As if it’s not like the resort is opening to the outside world; there are way too many buildings.
“Mr. Kim Deok-Sung. We just received news that the British royal private jet has landed at Kim Deok-Sung International Airport. Princess Evangelin Stewart and Miss Trixie Smith will be heading to the resort by helicopter.”
Just as I was in a state of shock,
Han Seo-Jin informed me.
Evangelin Stewart.
And Beatrice, the key player in this plan.
She had finally arrived in Korea.
‘Then the Grand Elder will probably come to Korea soon too.’
That was the whole intention behind deliberately choosing Korea as the destination and creating a fuss to invite Beatrice and Evangelin.
Not taking the bait would be foolish.
Just as I was thinking this,
Vroom.
My phone vibrated.
When I turned it on, I saw a message sent by Han Seo-Jin through a secure channel.
[Receiving intel from the Undertaker. She visited the headquarters of the Cult with Dokta Shinahel, met with the Grand Elder Diego Morales, and is planning to illegally enter Korea soon.]
As expected, the Grand Elder was also starting to move.
[Is the operation prepared?]
[The National Intelligence Service, along with the Army Intelligence Command, Army 777th Command, Military Security Support Command, Police Information Bureau, Military Cyber Command, Prosecutor’s Office, and the Korea Hunter Association, has jointly deployed surveillance assets throughout Pyeongchang County and Gangwon-do. We can monitor every action of the enemy from here, and measures are in place to mobilize U.S. military heroes in case of emergencies. Preparedness for civilian evacuation in Gangwon-do, along with inspections and expansions of shelters and air-raid bunkers, has also been completed.]
Han Seo-Jin reports in detail.
“Long story short.
An American hero stationed in South Korea.
I probably won’t have to go there anyway, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to prepare for the worst.
Just in case, I’m also ready to contact the Japan Hero Association for emergencies.
After doing a final check of my readiness, I put my phone in my pocket.
“This hanok hotel built for Mr. Kim Deok-Sung is equipped with the latest high-end facilities integrating advanced technology. The hanok hotel will be the accommodation for Mr. Kim Deok-Sung and his party during their stay in the country.”
Han Seo-Jin speaks like a tour guide.
Eri, stepping into the yard of the hanok hotel, speaks with sparkling eyes.
“Wowww, it’s so huge!”
A traditional tiled house that looks like a whale’s back, set in a garden with a pine tree and a frozen pond.
As Eri gazes at the large hanok covered in falling snow, she lets out an exclamation of excitement.
“Hmm… It seems larger than the hanok annex I saw during summer vacation. At this scale, it could be bigger than the Shinozaki Mansion…”
Rin, who was next to Eri, speaks with a serious expression.
Is she talking about the self-proclaimed Kim Deok-Sung’s residence in the heart of Seoul?
There, the hanok is merely an annex and the main mansion is much larger than the annex, so it was actually smaller than I had thought.
Of course, that ‘smaller’ size is still larger than the Kurosawa Mansion, so it’s not really a problem.
“Ugh, my lord… it’s too cold here…”
“The winter in Korea is too cold…”
Makoto and Aris shiver in the yard.
“Then let me guide you inside.”
Bowing lightly, Han Seo-Jin opened the door to the sarangchae and led us in.
Creeeak.
As the sliding door opened, the typical interior scene of a hanok was revealed.
On the floor made of wood, silk cushions were laid out for the number of people, with folding screens inscribed with Chinese characters, and through the glass window, the sight of heavy snow falling in the courtyard could be seen.
The big light hanging from the ceiling shines brightly inside the spacious sarangchae.
Naturally, the room inside is an ondol room.
Is the heating system on? Warm heat rises from the floor.
“This warm air…”
Makoto, who entered the sarangchae first, trails off.
Eri, who follows, is suddenly surprised.
“Wha, what is this? The floor is… warm?”
What’s the big deal about the floor being warm?
“The floor is warm? The washboard is saying something ridiculous again… Ugh?!”
As Rin enters afterwards, her face turns red the moment she steps on the floor.
“It’s… warm…”
Rin stutters, lowering her head.
The next person to enter is Seira.
“Yip!”
Seira, who jumped in place and landed on the silk blanket, murmurs in surprise.
“The, the floor really is warm…”
“And not just the floor, but the air is warm as well. President.”
Aris, her face slightly flushed, speaks, possibly from the heat.
What’s the big deal about the warm floor and air?
It’s a scene that I can’t comprehend.
“Whoooaaah…”
Suddenly, Kasumi-senpai, who had nestled beside the president, was making a melting expression like a caterpillar under a silk blanket.
It was the kind of look you only see in Japanese anime when someone goes into a kotatsu.
“It’s so warm…”
“Hehe… I completely agree with Hoshino-san. It’s warm… much warmer than a kotatsu… I can’t bring myself to get out from under this blanket…”
Seira, who was snuggling into the quilt, rolled around and chimed in.
“Eri-chan too, Eri-chan wants the blanket! Hehehe… Eri-chan feels like she’s in heaven.”
“Eri-chan… is it not that this is heaven? I can’t leave… Aaaaah…”
Following Seira’s words, Eri wriggled inside the blanket.
Makoto, lying next to Eri, had a dazed look in her eyes.
I really didn’t get why they were all acting like this—not that they were collectively drunk on the kotatsu or anything.
“Hmm… Even the air is warmed up…”
Rin muttered with a serious expression.
“What kind of magic is this?”
Just then, when Aris turned to ask me, the sliding door clicked shut, and a platinum-haired beautiful girl entered.
It was Olivia.
After taking off her thick winter coat, Olivia giggled a noble lady’s laugh while covering her mouth.
“Ohohohoho! If you’re wondering why the floor and air are warm, it’s because I, Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte, the French princess and that fool’s dedicated maid, know everything about Korea!”
“What is it, Your Highness? What is it?”
Eri’s eyes sparkled at Olivia’s words.
After tidying her outfit, Olivia sat down on a silk cushion.
Swish.
As soon as she sat down, Han Seo-Jin naturally poured a steaming cup of yuzu tea into a traditional white porcelain teacup.
Of course, it had to be yuzu tea in winter.
Slurp.
With an air of triumph, Olivia sipped her yuzu tea and spoke.
“It’s because of Korea’s traditional heating method, ondol!”
“Ondol?”
“Ondol is a traditional Korean heating method that heats the floor’s flat stones, called ‘gudeuljang,’ with the heat from burning firewood in a fire pit! As the heated air rises, it creates convection as the cooler air above descends! This convection ultimately warms the entire room! That’s why the floor and air in this room are warm! Ohohoho! Do you understand now?”
After her unnecessarily informative explanation, Olivia giggled like a lady.
That’s truly the traditional Korean hanok.
But since this building has modern floor heating with a boiler instead of a fire pit, I didn’t think it was necessary to bring that up right now.
“Ah… So, that’s why the floor and air are warm! Ondol is amazing!”
As soon as Olivia finished her speech, Eri’s eyes sparkled with realization.
Hearing her exclaim how amazing ondol was made me curl up in embarrassment.
“Right! I never knew a country of my lord would have such an incredible heating system… Korea is amazing!”
Makoto, who had been lying next to them, raised her hand in excitement.
Raising her hand high, she speaks.
Her face turns red with embarrassment at the cringeworthy line, struggling to breathe.
I could roll with the national pride YouTube, but witnessing a Japanese character praising ondol is a bit much.
Is this really an isekai story?
It feels like watching a scene where the isekai protagonists set up a kotatsu in winter, and the warm inhabitants praise the kotatsu.
“Looks like the kotatsu has completely lost… Undoubtedly, ondol is much warmer.”
“Korean heating is warm… Hooosh…”
Then, Aris and Senior Kasumi jump in with their praises for Korea and ondol.
In contrast, Olivia’s nose keeps getting higher.
Seeing Olivia happy, I can’t exactly tell them to stop this farce.
Boiling inside, I sat down and sipped the yuzu tea Han Seo-Jin poured for me.
The sweet taste of yuzu tea flooded my mouth.
“Ugh… It’s frustrating, but this time I must admit… Bonaparte, I concede defeat regarding Korean cultural knowledge! I’ll study more about Korea and return!”
Finally, Rin bit her lip and said, “Oh ho ho ho ho! Feel free! It’s going to take you a hundred years, or even a thousand, to beat me at this!”
Hearing Rin, Olivia shouted with even more grandeur.
She took a sip of her yuzu tea.
“Hmph… Come at me anytime… Huhuhuhuh. I have to admit that ondol is warm…”
Watching that, Rin answered and promptly stuck to the warm floor.
Rin’s expression melted.
“Nishishishi… After all, floor heating is the absolute best, right, brother?”
“Uh, yeah… It’s warm and nice… Ondol is amazing.”
Next to them, Haru poked Yuji, who smiled and said, “When will this damn ondol praise finally end?”
I thought I couldn’t take it anymore and hoped they’d stop when suddenly…
“I have a message from Miss Evangelin. Mr. Kim Deok-Sung.”
Han Seo-Jin’s voice reached my ears.
“Trixie and I have arrived at the resort and will be heading towards you soon…”
At that moment, Han Seo-Jin calmly announced the arrival of Evangelin and Beatrice.
Suddenly, *slide, slide*.
The sliding door opens.
“Hawawawawawa… Mr. Kim Deok-Sung! I, Evangelin Stewart, have finally arrived from England in response to your invitation! Hehehe. Mr. Kim Deok-Sung, I truly wanted to see you!”
With the snowy scenery outside and a chilly breeze, she makes her entrance.
A beautiful girl from England with striking pink twin tails.
Evangelin Stewart.
And then…
“Oh, it’s been a while, human…”
Peeking out from behind her, the yellow-haired eye patch girl greets me.
Beatrice.
Beatrice.
She finally brought Damian’s soul gem to Korea.
The real skiing trip and my plan to confront the Grand Elder begins now that she has arrived.
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