The Greatest Estate Developer - Chapter 45: The Third Random Draw (2)

*”Hamang!”*

“…Huh?”

Lloyd’s eyes widened in disbelief.

The plump little creature in his hand wiggled its round bottom while looking up at him with sparkling eyes.

“A water-loving hippo?”

*”Hamang!”*

“Wait, are you actually a hippo?”

*”Hamamang!”*

The tiny pink baby hippo in his palm nodded enthusiastically, as though overjoyed to be brought into the world.

Its radiant smile was undeniably adorable.

“But I shouldn’t judge a fantastical creature by appearances alone.”

The cuteness was just a first impression.

A fantastical creature’s true potential was revealed after consuming the red sunflower seed. That was when its real abilities and transformation were displayed.

With this in mind, Lloyd spoke to the baby hippo.

“Nice to meet you. Your name is Hamang, right?”

*”Hamamang? Hamang?”*

“How did I know? Am I a genius?”

*”Hamang!”*

“I’m not a genius, just a regular guy. I guessed it from your cry. Anyway, it’s nice to meet you, Hamang.”

*”Hamang!”*

A new fantastical creature was always welcome.

Ppodong and Bangul, who were watching from the side, eagerly greeted Hamang as well.

*”Ppodong!”*

*”Bangul!”*

*”Hamang!”*

With the introductions complete, Lloyd asked, “Hamang? Do you have a manual too?”

*”Hamang? Hamamang!”*

“Can you show it to me?”

*”Hamang!”*

Hamang opened its mouth, revealing a crumpled note tucked inside. Lloyd carefully retrieved and unfolded it.

—

*[Hamang User Manual]*

– Hamang is a lovable baby hippo. Please care for it with love and attention.
– Hamang pledges absolute trust and loyalty to its summoner. Fantastical creatures are lifelong companions and family. Do not abandon them.
– Unlike other fantastical creatures, Hamang does not consume sunflower seeds.
– Unlike other fantastical creatures, Hamang does not possess a separate giant transformation ability.

*Hamang’s Skills:*
– *[One-Shot (Lv. 1)]*

—

“Wait, what?”

Lloyd tilted his head in confusion.

“One-Shot? That’s the only skill?”

It seemed strange.

On top of that, the manual stated Hamang didn’t eat sunflower seeds and lacked the ability to transform into a giant form.

Unlike Ppodong and Bangul, Hamang appeared quite different.

A vague sense of unease crept over him.

Suppressing the rising fear of a failed draw, Lloyd hesitantly asked, “Um, Hamang?”

*”Hamang?”*

“I’m really sorry to ask this, but… you don’t like sunflower seeds, do you?”

*”Hamamang! Hamang!”*

Hamang nodded firmly.

*”Hamang! Hamamang! Hamang!”*

“You dislike them that much?”

*”Hamang!”*

The response was unyielding.

Lloyd pressed further, “And you can’t transform into a giant form like Ppodong or Bangul?”

*”Hamang!”*

“You don’t need to?”

*”Hamamang!”*

“Because you’re already cute enough?”

*”Hamang!”*

“…Right.”

Oh, crap.

“It’s a bust.”

It seemed Hamang’s sole ability was its overwhelming cuteness.

Lloyd couldn’t help but feel a little bitter.

“Well, I’ve been lucky up until now.”

After all, this was a random draw for fantastical creatures.

Anything could come out—something amazing or something disappointing.

So far?

“Ppodong and Bangul were perfect. They came at the right time with the abilities I needed most. I wish it had been the same this time.”

At the very least, he had hoped for a creature capable of giant transformation. His plan relied on using their size to drain the water from the Marez Swamp.

“But of all things, I summon one that can’t transform.”

Was this a complete failure?

Lloyd felt a twinge of disappointment but refused to show it.

After all, he was responsible for any fantastical creature he summoned.

“And who knows? Hamang might prove useful later.”

Whether through finding a new use or Hamang growing stronger, circumstances could always change.

With that thought, Lloyd warmly cradled Hamang.

“Well then, Hamang, want to come here?”

*”Hamamang?”*

“Snuggle up with Ppodong, okay? Good boy.”

*”Hamang!”*

Lloyd tucked Hamang into his arms alongside Ppodong.

Then he checked his remaining RP.

—

*[Current RP Balance: 831]*

—

“Good. Still plenty left.”

Despite summoning Hamang, he had over 800 RP remaining, enough for several more draws.

He reopened the random draw interface.

—

*[Fantastical Creature Random Draw]*
*[Next Draw Cost (4th Draw): 150 RP]*

—

“As expected, the cost increased again.”

But it wasn’t an issue.

Determined, Lloyd selected the next draw.

*[Would you like to execute the random draw?]*
*[YES / NO]*

He selected *YES.*

At that moment—

*Zap!*

Sparks flew in the air.

His fingertip tingled as if shocked.

“Whoa?”

Instinctively, Lloyd withdrew his hand.

A surprising message appeared before him.

—

*[Fantastical Creature Random Draw can only be executed once per day.]*
*[Next Draw Available In: 23h 47m 16s]*

—

“What the…”

Lloyd clicked his tongue in frustration.

“So there’s a daily limit?”

This unexpected restriction soured his mood.

“Tch. Guess today’s efforts are wasted.”

He had hoped to summon four or five creatures in a row and start reclaiming the Marez Swamp immediately.

Now, his plans would have to change.

“The creature I summoned isn’t particularly useful, and I can’t draw again. Looks like the swamp project will be delayed.”

If only Hamang could transform into a giant.

The more he thought about it, the more he lamented his luck.

Still, he reminded himself, there was no point dwelling on it.

“Well, this isn’t new to me.”

Memories of his difficult life in South Korea surfaced.

When he needed cash the most, he often worked on construction sites, where daily pay was handed out in cash.

At first, he had grand expectations.

“I thought if I worked every day without fail, I’d make a fortune in a month.”

He believed it was possible, being confident in his physical stamina and overflowing enthusiasm.

But reality was different.

“You couldn’t work every day, no matter how willing you were.”

Rain or bad weather often shut down sites.

In his early days, even after arriving at the labor office at dawn, there were times he wouldn’t get assigned a job.

Even when he became more experienced and earned a stable spot on a team, circumstances could still force him to take breaks.

If his mentor took a day off, Lloyd, as the assistant, had no choice but to rest as well.

“There were more days off than I expected. The idea of making daily wages for an entire month? That was just a fantasy.”

But he learned not to let that discourage him.

Making good use of forced rest days was crucial.

If he wasted those days out of frustration, yesterday’s hard-earned cash would evaporate.

Work a day, spend it the next—an endless cycle of living hand-to-mouth.

He had seen many people fall into that pattern.

“Instead, I used my off days to catch up on studying. Even though I’d taken a break from school to save money, I stayed focused.”

Because someday, he dreamed of finding a steady job and building a better life.

‘Compared to that time, my situation now is better’

Just because things do not go your way, that doesnt mean you need to be disappointed.

‘I just have to do what I can at the moment’.

Lloyd sighed, pushing aside his unease. “Hamang, can you show me this skill? ‘One-Shot,’ right?”

“What kind of skill is that?”

“*Hamang!*”

“Do you like drinking water?”

“*Hamang!*”

“How much do you like it?”

“*Hamamang! Hamang!*”

“Enough to fill a mountain?”

“*Hamang!*”

The baby hippo eagerly nodded, spreading its tiny arms as if to demonstrate.

“So, you can drink as much as your arms stretch?”

“*Hamang!*”

Looking at Hamang’s small, palm-sized body and one-hand span, Lloyd chuckled.

“Guess I shouldn’t expect too much.”

Even at full capacity, Hamang might hold about as much water as a small balloon.

But Lloyd shook off his skepticism.

“Better to confirm it myself. Who knows? It might surprise me and swell up like a yoga ball… or even bigger.”

With that in mind, he decided to test Hamang’s skill.

“Let’s go somewhere with lots of water, Hamang. Want to come along?”

“*Hamang!*”

Hamang nodded excitedly. Lloyd gently patted the creature and left the estate under the moonlight, heading south.

He soon arrived at the northern edge of the Marez Swamp.

*Buzzing*

A cloud of mosquitoes greeted him, swarming around with relentless enthusiasm.

Lloyd swatted them away furiously, muttering, “Ugh. I need to drain this swamp as soon as possible.”

Mosquitoes were truly the bane of existence.

He reached into his coat and carefully pulled out Hamang, who had dozed off snugly.

“Hamang, wake up.”

“*Hamamang?*”

“Sorry to wake you, but you said you like drinking water, right?”

“*Hamang!*”

Hamang’s sleepy eyes sparkled with excitement at the mention of water.

“Glad to hear that. Take a look in front of you.”

“*Hamang?*”

The baby hippo turned its head to gaze at the expansive swamp stretching before it.

“*Hamamaang!*”

Its tiny mouth dropped open in awe, eyes glimmering with delight.

Lloyd chuckled, gently nudging Hamang’s round bottom. “You like it? I brought you here to drink as much as you want.”

“*Hamang! Hamamang?*”

“You’re asking if you can drink it all?”

“*Hamang!*”

“Of course, go ahead.”

“*Hamamang!*”

Hamang began bouncing on the spot, overjoyed.

As it hopped, Lloyd couldn’t help but smile wryly.

“Draining the entire swamp would be a dream. But realistically, it might manage a bucket or two.”

—

Meanwhile, Hamang waddled toward the water, preparing to drink.

“*Hamamang! Hamang!*”

With its rear end wriggling for leverage, Hamang dipped its head into the water.

And then it began to drink.

An enormous rush of water echoed.

*Ssssshhhhhhhhhh—!*

“…What?”

The swamp’s water level visibly dropped.

The surface, which had been rippling right at Lloyd’s feet, retreated several paces in moments.

Simultaneously, Hamang began to grow.

“*Hamang! Hamamang! Hamang!*”

Two meters. Three meters. Five meters.

Hamang inflated like a balloon, its size increasing with every gulp.

As its body expanded, the swamp drained further, leaving a widening patch of exposed land.

“*Hamamang!*”

*Ssssshhhhhhhhhh—!*

The water vanished, as if being vacuumed directly into Hamang.

Soon, an entire section of the swamp was dry.

Finally, Hamang raised its now-massive head, looking immensely satisfied.

“*Hamang! Buuuurp!*”

“….”

Lloyd stared in awe at the spectacle.

Before he could even react, he had to scramble backward to avoid being crushed by Hamang’s enormous bulk.

What stood before him now was a *50-meter-wide giant water balloon.*

“Uh, Hamang?”

“*Hamamang?*”

“You okay?”

“*Hamang! Hamamang!*”

“No stomachache or anything?”

“*Hamang!*”

It seemed perfectly fine.

Lloyd glanced back at the swamp—or what used to be the swamp.

The water was entirely gone, revealing fish, tadpoles, and other aquatic creatures flopping on the now-dry ground.

Of course, the entire swamp hadn’t been drained—Marez Swamp was vast. But even clearing a single section like this was impressive.

“This is insane. Totally unbelievable.”

What Lloyd had thought was a flop turned out to be an *absolute jackpot.*

With Hamang’s ability, he didn’t even need additional summons. The swamp reclamation project could begin tomorrow.

Draining the swamp’s surface water was only the first step.

Using *vertical drainage techniques*, he could remove the remaining water from the peat layers below and stabilize the ground.

With newfound confidence, Lloyd clenched his fist.

“Time to start the Marez Swamp reclamation tomorrow.”