Chapter 28: It’s The Best
Hunting, practicing archery, returning to the tent to do housework.
A new problem emerged in my daily routine: unexplained favors from strangers.
People gave food, new clothes, sometimes even useless fairy tale books.
I hated accepting anything for free, so this situation was frustrating.
'Do they think I'm a beggar?'
Despite how my appearance looks, I was legitimately paying to live here.
Feeling unjust, I poked the ground with Sophia's cane, and Yeoreum approached me.
"Gyeoul, what's all this about?"
"I don't know. People keep leaving things here."
They secretly leave things one by one when I'm not around.
The pile of items has already grown to over dozens.
"Did Gyeoul allow them to leave things there?"
"No. I really hate this kind of thing..."
What to do with all these unused items?
Yeoreum stroked her chin, lost in thought.
"Hmm... I understand their intention, but this seems a bit dangerous."
"Yes. I wish they wouldn't do this."
Why tempt me with all these camping supplies essential for survival?
It felt like a test of human desire, and I didn't like it.
"Um... Gyeoul. I'm worried about you. Have you thought about living somewhere else?"
"Somewhere else?"
"Yes. Like in the guild building or renting a small house."
Living in the guild building would cost at least a million won a month.
And to rent a place, I'd need an ID.
Both were impossible for me.
"That's... I like it here..."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
I nodded quickly at Yeoreum's muttering.
It was my way of showing how much I liked this place.
"Hmm... How about this then?"
"What is it?"
"Buying a container house. This tent is too open and dangerous."
A container house?
Aren't those expensive?
I looked at the worn tent and asked cautiously.
"How much is a container house?"
"Maybe around a million won?"
"A million—!"
Such a large sum…
Well, I had a million won, but I want to spend it on another matter, preferably, an important one.
I was too impoverished to spend a million won at once.
The tent was better for now, with it, I could use my shelter in dangerous moments.
As I was about to refuse, the thought of Sophia inside the tent struck me.
Unlike me, she was in poor health.
She walked with difficulty, leaning on a cane.
In dangerous moments, it was obvious who between Sophia and me would get hurt first.
For her sake, not mine, it seemed right to have a proper house.
"Is it really only a million won?"
"Yes. My sister knows someone."
"Okay. Then let's do that."
I didn't mind spending money for Sophia.
She was a good grandmother who taught me a lot.
✱✱✱
A few days later.
Where the tent once stood, a container house was now placed.
It was a modest home made of two containers joined together.
"Hmm..."
Yeoreum tapped the container walls.
It seemed safe but was quite old and rusty.
It was a used one, bought to hide the fact that containers cost tens of millions of won.
This was the house I managed to prepare for Gyeoul.
I couldn't help but sigh with regret.
'Should I have bought a new one?'
There's a saying, isn't there?
it's easier to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission
I should have bought a better one first and then pretended not to know.
Yeoreum felt a bit disappointed looking at the worn container.
"Gyeoul...?"
Was she very disappointed because it was old?
Yeoreum anxiously looked at Gyeoul, but she was wide-eyed, her eyes sparkling.
She looked like a child receiving a Christmas gift.
"Wow—!"
Gyeoul's ears and tail perked up.
A reaction she showed only when surprised or thrilled.
To think she would love this old container house so much.
Yeoreum's gaze fell to the ground.
"Do you like it?"
"Yes! I never even dreamed of having my own house—!"
Having her own house?
Was such a house like a dream to Gyeoul?
Yeoreum, feeling bittersweet, opened the door of the container for her.
"Do you want to go inside?"
"Yes—!"
As Gyeoul entered, she kept looking back and forth between the floor and the ceiling.
Her mouth hung open in awe.
"Wow..."
The floor was not dirt but linoleum.
The ceiling was completely sealed, without any holes.
Gyeoul was quite satisfied with the container, clearly separated into inside and outside.
"There are even two windows..."
"Yes, yes."
Well, it's a house, so of course, it has windows.
Yeoreum smiled awkwardly, watching Gyeoul observe the container house for a long time.
'It's a bit disappointing, but Gyeoul likes it.'
For now, I should be satisfied with this.
Yeoreum gently tapped Gyeoul's shoulder.
"Shall we start moving the stuff in?"
"Yes. Should we use the old tent as a storage?"
"Oh, yeah."
Still thinking about using that torn tent.
Yeoreum wanted to suggest throwing it away, but seeing Gyeoul's tail wagging, she decided to hold back.
She knew suggesting to dispose of the tent would break Gyeoul's heart.
✱✱✱
With everyone's help, we moved the stuff and took a break.
Unlike Sophia, who sat sipping tea, I wandered endlessly around the outside of the container house.
Thump Thump
Tapping the container, it responded with a sturdy metallic sound, like it was promising to protect me even from wild boars.
"Do you like it that much?"
"Yes. It's my first time living in such a nice house."
To be precise, it was my first time in this life.
Well, nobody talks about their past life experiences.
I decided to only speak of my experiences in this life to the people of this world.
"You must have worked hard."
"That, um..."
Sophia's praise made me feel bashful.
Scratching the back of my head awkwardly, I noticed Yeoreum leading two beast-kin towards me from a distance.
Somehow, she looked like the boss of the beast-kin.
"Gyeoul, we just have some finishing touches left. Can you help?"
"Finishing touches?"
"Yes. This is technically your property, and we don't want people coming in uninvited."
That made sense.
According to Earth's rules, even the original homeowner couldn't enter without permission, as long as rent was being paid.
Even in a world with fantasy elements, this rule probably wasn't different.
"Yes. I would prefer if people didn't come this way."
"Right. So, we want to set up a barrier."
"A barrier?"
Barrier magic.
Even I, unfamiliar with magic, knew how powerful it was.
Even the most basic protection magic set up by novice mages at hunting grounds cost fifty thousand won.
"Remember Jung Yu-na? She gave this as a gift for you. She said she was sorry for being mean and left it."
Yeoreum showed me a translucent glass bead, surrounded by an indescribable aura.
"So, what do I need to help with?"
"More than help, I need Gyeoul's permission."
"Permission?"
"Yes. We want to put up a sign saying 'do not enter', but I wanted to know what Gyeoul thinks."
Yeoreum handed me a piece of paper.
It was neatly written on it.
───
Beast-kin enjoy living in harmony with nature.
This child does not need help, so any gifts or kindness will be accepted in spirit only.
※Notice※
From here onwards is the child's private property.
A barrier spell has been cast, so please do not approach.
[Daybreak Guild]
───
"Wow."
I'm described as someone who enjoys living in nature.
Thinking about it, I didn't particularly dislike it.
I did enjoy gathering and hunting, after all.
"How is it? Is it okay?"
"Yes. As long as they don't come near my house, anything is fine."
"Okay. Then I'll take care of it."
Yeoreum wrote something on the paper, smiling with her eyes.
Just as I was stretching, feeling that everything was finally settled, Yeoreum chuckled and playfully said,
"Gyeoul, now that you have a proper house, should we distribute moving-in rice cakes?"
"Moving-in rice cakes?"
"Yes. It's a way to get along well with neighbors."
She must be talking about Daybreak Guild, right across from us.
I really didn't want to do it, but to live a better life, it was necessary to follow her suggestion.
After all, living like an ordinary person in this world was my goal.
'Maybe I should give it a try.'
The guild was scary, but it was a fear I had to overcome someday.
I made up my mind and clenched my fists tightly.
"Okay, I'll do it."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Living a normal life wasn't something far in the future, it was something I could start doing as soon as tomorrow.
With a determined face, I nodded to the girl.
And not long after, I regretted my decision.
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