The Truth About Strawberry Milk

The Truth About Strawberry Milk

Because when one becomes a hunter, their basic physical strength increases dramatically compared to ordinary people.

They could generally maintain an energetic lifestyle without getting tired easily.

Yes, generally.

No matter how dramatically it increases, there are limits to physical strength, and fatigue accumulates.

If physical exertion was excessive, even hunters would get tired.

Lee Seo-rin laughed wryly at the dark circles that had quietly appeared under her eyes.

When one becomes a hunter, along with increased stamina, their recovery ability also greatly improves.

She had heard that dark circles rarely appear like this, but she had managed to accomplish this difficult feat.

As she wondered whether to call this the product of effort or foolishness,

She decided not to show it in front of Ha-eun and Chae-a, and was busy healing while looking at Ha-eun.

Suddenly, Ha-eun reinforced a chair and pointed to it, saying,

“Why don’t you take a rest?”

A white chair with doubled resting effects due to reinforcement.

Usually, when someone creates something like this, they tend to sit on it first before others.

But Ha-eun suggested without any hesitation that I should sit first.

‘Is she an angel?’

No, not ‘is she an angel?’ but she must be an angel.

Thinking that such a kind person couldn’t possibly exist, I was about to hug Ha-eun when.

I tried to calm down and gently sat on the chair.

“… Phew.”

How should I express this feeling?

Is it like the feeling of soaking in a hot spring after running a marathon?

Or is it like lying down on a bed after studying for 20 hours straight?

I couldn’t tell which expression would be more accurate.

As soon as I sat down, I felt all my fatigue melt away and I slumped down.

‘This feels so good…’

It might even be better than lying on a bed.

I wanted to stay like this forever, but.

I had to train for Ha-eun’s sake, so I gathered my resolve and stood up from the chair.

“This chair is specially for Seo-rin, so rest here when you’re tired! Got it?”

Ha-eun said with a truly bright smile.

I was so grateful that I ruffled her hair wildly.

She acted shy but showed her happiness by wagging her tail vigorously.

‘I need to work harder.’

I heard that information about the terrorist group was slowly coming out.

And since the suppression operation had begun, my opportunity would come soon.

‘After all, I’m an S-class prospect.’

I strengthened my resolve to accept all related requests and eliminate everyone involved with terrorism as soon as the training was over.

* * * * * 

I tilted my head as I watched Seo-rin, who seemed to be making some kind of firm resolution.

Soon, I turned my gaze to look at Somteol intently.

I could see it jumping up and down, trembling with joy, apparently delighted by my praise.

Seeing this, I thought I should praise it often in the future, and as I was patting Somteol’s head,

Seo-rin, whose dark circles had noticeably faded, looked at me and expressed her gratitude.

“Ha-eun, thank you so much. How can I thank you enough? Should I buy you ice cream, unnie?”

“It’s okay. It’s enough that Seo-rin is feeling better!”

I politely declined since I hadn’t done it expecting anything in return.

But Seo-rin seemed to have no intention of listening to me, as she hugged me, Chae-a, and Somteol, and said,

“Then let’s go eat ice cream!”

I giggled while dangling from Seo-rin’s embrace.

*

Although I had done many things, strictly speaking, all I had gained was a single white chair.

I felt the need to work harder on solving requests.

I turned on the broadcast again and asked the viewers if they needed any help, but,

[SeorinSeorin – Unnie wants to bite her tail too!]

[AnimalLover – Is Somteol doing well? Seems like it’s doing fine… That’s a relief haha]

[ExploringIsFun – If you let me pat your horns, I’ll buy you as much furniture as you want.]

[WhiteAnglerfish – Ah hahaha Ha-eun is so cute, really.]

There didn’t seem to be any viewers who particularly needed my help, so my worries deepened.

I was seriously contemplating what I should do next, thinking that I didn’t know what to do anymore.

The Spirit User Uncle can be seen entering the lair.

“I came to water.”

It seems he came to water the flowers.

I stared at the kindly smiling Spirit User Uncle for a moment, then asked a question just in case.

“Excuse me. Do you perhaps have any errands for me to run?”

Hearing my question, the Spirit User Uncle looked at me with a very surprised expression and replied, ‘Me, to you, Ha-eun?’

I nodded and said somewhat proudly.

“I’ll work hard!”

“Uh… no matter what, asking a baby to run errands is a bit…”

“It’s okay because I’m not a baby…!”

“R-really? Hmm, I see.”

The Spirit User Uncle seemed to hesitate for a moment, but then decided to go along with me.

After thinking for a bit, he said to me.

“Then, could you bring Chae-a to my project room? There’s something I need to check.”

Come to think of it, Chae-a was said to be a spirit of life that even the Spirit User Uncle didn’t know well.

It seemed he wanted to use this opportunity to investigate, which is why he asked me this.

But rather than a request, this was more like asking for Chae-a’s cooperation, so I couldn’t help but make a somewhat ambiguous expression.

After hearing the Spirit User Uncle’s words, I thought for a moment about how to respond.

Then I nodded and my eyes lit up.

‘Maybe I can clean up the mess in the project room or run some errands when I get there!’

There must be things they haven’t had time to clean up.

As I nod my head, deciding to step in and help with separating recyclables, emptying trash cans, or making coffee.

Seo-rin smiles awkwardly and tells us.

“Well, I have to go train now. I’ll leave it to you.”

“Oh, right. Good luck with your training.”

“Thank you.”

With those final words, she walks away with an expression of obvious reluctance.

I wave at Seo-rin as she leaves, deciding to focus on gathering furniture.

* 

“I called it a project room, but it’s not really that grand. It’s just a place where Spirit Users from the association come to rest.”

The Spirit User Uncle was walking while carrying me, Chae-a, and the fluffy spirit.

As I blink my eyes while listening to the Spirit User Uncle’s explanation.

The Spirit User Uncle smiles at me and tells me what I need to do.

“You don’t really need to do anything special, just play with the spirits. As Ha-eun and Chae-a know, spirits tend to get lonely easily.”

At those words, Chae-a says with a somewhat proud expression.

“That’s right…! Chae-a cries too when Ha-eun isn’t around.”

She looks very pleased while talking about being prone to loneliness.

As I smile broadly at Chae-a.

The Spirit User Uncle sets us down in a fairly spacious place and speaks.

“Don’t be surprised when you see it, okay? Uncle has put a lot of effort into decorating this place.”

With those words, he opens the door and shows us the inside.

When I looked inside, wondering how it could be decorated to make them so confident.

I could see a beautifully decorated space that explained their confidence.

‘It’s like a forest…’

Perhaps because spirits like things related to nature, the project room was created based on nature.

It was decorated as beautifully as possible with a huge tree in the center and various plants placed everywhere.

As I was staring at it blankly, thinking it was really amazing, the Spirit User Uncle smiled and said to me.

“You said you needed furniture, right? There are several pieces of furniture made by the little spirits, so take a few.”

I become curious about the furniture made by spirits.

While I’m thinking about how I want to see the furniture made by spirits as soon as possible.

From far away, I hear cheerful music and giggling laughter.

‘What’s that?’

Curious about it, I carefully approach the place while holding Chae-a’s hand.

I see animals gathered together watching a children’s animation.

As I blink my eyes, finding that scene very cute.

Chae-a excitedly whispers to me.

“Wow, they’re spirits just like Chae-a…!”

So they were spirits.

As I nod, thinking that’s why various animals were gathered together without fighting.

A man wearing glasses approaches us with a kind smile.

“Ha-eun and Chae-a are here? Welcome.”

“Hello!”

“Hello!”

Since greeting each other was an important courtesy, Chae-a and I greeted together, and the man looked at us with a very happy expression.

He puts his hand in his coat and says to us.

“Would you like a drink? Do you like cola? Or orange juice? No, maybe you like strawberry milk?”

Strawberry milk…!

I don’t know why, but for some reason I really wanted to drink it, so I quickly nodded.

He continues speaking with a smile as if we were cute.

“Then Ha-eun will have strawberry milk… What about Chae-a? Do you want strawberry milk too, Chae-a?”

“Yeah!”

Chae-a nods with sparkling eyes.

I’m waiting eagerly for the strawberry milk with Chae-a, filled with great anticipation.

The Spirit User Uncle, who followed us belatedly, speaks to us with a playful expression.

“Ha-eun, Chae-a, do you know what?”

Wondering what it could be, I tilt my head.

The Spirit User Uncle tells us with a face trying to hold back laughter.

“Strawberry milk is pink, right?”

I nod without much thought as it’s common knowledge.

The Spirit User Uncle looked at us and told us something shocking.

“Do you know that the reason it’s pink is not because they put strawberries in it, but because they put bugs in it?”

At those words, Chae-a, who had been smiling next to me, suddenly froze.