Chapter 72
That night.
I was having a conversation with everyone in the living room.
It was about the government audit that would take place tomorrow.
"Everyone, don't be nervous. Just act as you normally do."
"Gyeoul is the most nervous among us..."
"Oh, you're right, I'm actually the most nervous..."
It was understandable, given it was a government audit.
They wouldn't take it lightly.
If they found out I was from another world, everything would be over.
I couldn't help but worry.
Sophia shared my concern, looking up at Yeoreum with a worried expression.
"Yeoreum, are you sure it'll be okay to act as we normally do?"
"It should be okay, right...?"
Yeoreum awkwardly scratched her cheek.
Seeing her lack of confidence, Sophia sighed.
"You're not sure."
"Well, I want to show a good image. But it'd be shameless to act something out."
Shameless indeed.
It would be natural to show our best selves if a government audit was coming.
Of course, there was nothing wrong with Yeoreum's attitude.
There were many people in the world who disliked falsehood.
It wasn't something I should judge by my standards.
"Levinas will show the best of herself!"
Levinas said, holding three dolls in her arms.
A horned rabbit, a white cat, and a rather cute-looking shark doll.
'Levinas is also trying hard.'
I should try my best like Levinas.
Even if they found out about my illegal stay, if I could show that I was contributing to society, I might receive a permit to stay.
The government wouldn't dismiss someone contributing to the country's development.
I planned to show how much I was working for this country.
Of course, showing that Levinas was doing well was the top priority.
"I'll also do my best."
"Thanks, everyone."
With that, we continued our usual conversation and then headed to our rooms to sleep.
Lying in bed, I thought about what to show them until I fell asleep.
Showing them herb gathering and farming.
And also showing the container house.
Since it was to check on how well Levinas was doing.
I intended to let them know Levinas was living well in a safe place.
'And also...'
I should show them selling mushrooms from the goblin dungeon.
It was proof that Levinas was earnestly living in human society.
I was sure the government people would like it.
It was fortunate I had so much to show.
I decided not to worry too much about tomorrow.
<+>
The next morning.
I was near the pond, mending torn clothes.
I had taken out my favorite clothes in preparation for the government audit.
These were precious clothes I had been wearing since my original world.
'It's strange, isn't it.'
Having crossed into this world, my body changed, but why did my clothes remain the same?
Why was I buried in the ground along with my belongings?
I tried to think about it but nothing came to mind.
For now, I had decided to just prepare for the government audit.
"Gy-Gyeoul..."
"Yes?"
I heard Yeoreum's voice right beside me.
Turning to look, she was looking down at me with an awkward smile.
"Are you going to wear that?"
"Yes. It's my favorite outfit."
It was old and torn, but wearing it gave me a different mindset.
After all, it was the outfit I wore the first time I went into a dungeon.
Yeoreum knew this and didn't pry any further.
"Right. Just do as you usually do..."
"No, I'm going to try harder than usual."
"Uh, okay."
A look of anxiety passed through Yeoreum's eyes.
She was clearly worried I might show a different side of myself than usual.
"Don't worry too much. I'll do well."
"...Okay. I'll trust in Gyeoul."
Hehe.
She showed a kind smile as she usually did.
Happy to be trusted, her tail wagged on its own.
That was when Jung Yu-na came running towards us.
"Th-they're here!"
"They are?!"
"Yes!"
People from the government were here for us.
These beings that even the outstanding Yeoreum was nervous about.
I swallowed nervously, and Yeoreum cleared her throat with a hum.
Frozen in tension, we spotted two people, a man and a woman, walking from the direction of the guild building.
Ah.
It was them.
I instinctively realized they were from the government.
'So formal.'
A woman with long black hair and sharp eyes.
The black suit she wore exuded the solemnity typical of a public servant.
The man beside her had a similar appearance, just with the genders switched.
They had an atmosphere completely opposite to ours.
Even our ears and tails drooped.
"Hello. My name is Min So-yoon, from the Korean Beast-kin Union."
"And I'm Kwon Yul."
The two of them bowed with stiff expressions.
Knowing it was a greeting, I bowed back to them.
"Ah, hello. I'm Han Gyeoul..."
"And I'm Han Yeoreum."
I was so scared my tail curled up to my belly.
It was a foolish action only seen when terrified.
My body parts weren't moving as I wanted them to.
Holding my tail that had curled up to my belly in indignation, the woman who introduced herself as Min So-yoon narrowed her eyes and glared at me.
"...!"
It was a fierce glare capable of killing.
I naturally looked down.
Did I do something wrong?
But we had met less than a minute ago.
There wasn't even time to make a mistake.
"...The child is scared."
Was she referring to Levinas?
Looking around, I could see Levinas sitting far away on the grass, playing with dolls.
She was vigorously hitting the shark doll with the horned rabbit doll, but she didn't seem particularly scared.
"Yes. She gets nervous in front of people she's seeing for the first time."
Yeoreum placed her hand on my shoulder.
Even the light touch helped relax my stiff body a bit.
"I see. But why the clothes...?"
"It's a bit worn out, but it's Gyeoul's favorite outfit."
"Yes. It's my favorite outfit."
Perhaps because I said it was my favorite, Min So-yoon and Kwon Yul had nothing more to say and just nodded.
"Okay. Don't be too nervous, just act as you would normally if we weren't here."
"Alright."
"Me, me too..."
First, I have to collect empty bottles with Levinas.
Leaving everyone behind, I headed towards Levinas.
After all, they came to see Levinas.
Showing them her hard work seemed like the best idea.
<+>
Levinas and I wandered around, collecting empty bottles.
Following us were Min So-yoon and Kwon Yul from the Beast-kin Alliance, their gaze so intense it felt like they were radiating killing intent.
"Look! Look!"
Levinas ran towards me, holding an empty bottle.
"Hm?"
"Look at this, I found a cola bottle!"
A cola bottle.
That's rare to see in a park.
I was surprised, my eyes widened.
"Look, it's half full!"
"Wow. Really?"
"Yeah. Shall we share it?"
Upon Levinas's suggestion, I examined the cola bottle closely.
It was still fizzy and didn't seem contaminated.
There was no one around who might be the owner of the cola.
Thanks to my improved vision, I could check many things.
"Did you look for the owner of the cola?"
"Yeah! Levinas asked everyone!"
"Okay. Then it should be fine to drink."
"Yay!"
Boing!
The moment Levinas jumped up like a horned rabbit, Yeoreum urgently snatched the cola bottle from us.
"Wa-wait a minute, kids."
"Uh..."
Levinas looked wronged after the cola was taken away.
I felt similarly wronged.
"We-we agreed not to consume things we find anymore."
"Wasn't that just for insects...?"
"Insects?"
Min So-yoon and Kwon Yul, who had been silently listening, expressed their confusion.
Seeing this, Yeoreum hastily waved her hands.
"No, no. It's just that we shouldn't eat anything we find on the ground."
"This one's really clean, though. You know my eyesight is good."
"Uh, yeah. But still, it's probably left by someone who drank it..."
So we shouldn't drink it because someone else did.
Truly the mindset of the wealthy.
Showing that we don't waste food should actually score us higher.
I was quite disappointed by Yeoreum's lack of deeper thought.
"Okay. Then I won't drink it..."
"Uh, okay."
Phew.
Yeoreum seemed relieved, stroking her chest.
At this sight, Levinas pouted sadly.
"I wanted to drink cola..."
"I'll buy you a new one. Let's not drink this."
"Really? Isn't cola really expensive...?"
It was ridiculously expensive.
But not so much that I couldn't afford to buy it for Levinas.
"If we collect a lot of bottles, it'll be okay."
"Ah! If Levinas collects lots of bottles, it'll work out!"
Levinas clenched her fist as if making a promise.
Just as we were about to move again to collect empty bottles, Min So-yoon behind us raised her hand.
"Wait a moment, please."
"Huh?!"
Yeoreum, startled, spoke up instead of me.
For some reason, her pupils were shaking violently.
She was clearly as afraid of the audit as I was.
<+>
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