episode_0049

Growling..

Sigh.. Sigh..

The hot water in the bucket gave off a faint herbal scent, as if it were a mixture of various medicinal herbs.

Even without having to use the {Confirm Information} ability, I felt it had the effect of relaxing my mind and body.

＂Refreshing..＂

As I slowly wiped my entire body with a wet towel and stood up, my long black hair fell as if it was sweeping my shoulders. I thought about cutting this off, but I thought it would be useful for disguising myself as a woman, so I decided to leave it on.

Sniff…

“I guess I should wash my hair too, right?”

So, I put my head in the remaining warm water in the wooden bucket and started wiping my hair one by one, starting from the scalp. As I washed away all the itchy spots, I could feel that paradise on earth was not far away.

When I was in the mansion…

These little things that happened all the time… each one of them has become a moment of happiness for me now. I could only feel again how much I had suffered so far.

“It’s almost like muddy water..”

“Of course… people have to wash their bodies before going around.”

I have become incomparably more trim than before and have now grown to a height of over 160 cm.

‘Can you grow this much in just a few months?’

Moreover, the muscles visible throughout my body were distributed in a balanced manner, making it difficult to believe that I was a 14-year-old male in this world, which made me feel awkward.

‘Well, I felt this guy’s growing pains all the time…’

By hunting [Tululpo] and [Tagfog], as well as by implanting [Slime] magic stones into the body in the cave, I was able to increase my {magic} level significantly.

Perhaps it would not be surprising if this rapid growth was achieved as a result. If you think about it, Asia was also over 160cm tall when she was my age.

‘Sister.. I miss you.’

dump..

So, I sit down on the bed assigned to me in my dorm for a while and take out the clothes I brought this morning and try them on.

Ssss..

The wrist guards and shin guards made of black leather are made of strong material and can be fastened securely, providing excellent wearing comfort.

of course..

Overall, {Armor Clothing Store} had some difficult situations because it only had clothes for women with large breasts, but the tops and bottoms fit the body well for agile movements! I was barely able to choose clothes made of sticky material.

‘I was embarrassed at the time..’

I also had a long sword made of iron in case of an unexpected situation, and when I put on a black cloak of an appropriate size to cover my face and body… I was already looking like a female adventurer. Of course, in appearance.

‘But you never know…’

＇If I do this, it won’t be discovered that I’m a man.?

After completing all the maintenance, I checked the three “Earth” attribute magic stones of [Tululpo] in my leather bag, the preserved food I had prepared, and the extra money, and finished preparing to return home.

dump..

Amazingly plush feeling. I feel sleepy.

It was just a few thick blankets piled on top of each other, but to me, who had been sleeping on trees or on the cold ground, this place felt like a cozy cloud.

‘Tomorrow… I can go home.’

＇This scar.. If your father sees it, he will be shocked.?＇

As I looked at the cracked burn scar on my left hand, I began to fall into a sleep as if I was mesmerized.

***

The sound of people’s busy movements can be heard from time to time.

Smul.. Smul..

Even in that harsh forest where I couldn’t let my guard down for even a moment, my eyes automatically opened to a strange human presence that I had never felt, and I automatically armed my left hand with titanium slime.

＇Bah, what was that just now?＇

I wasn’t just surprised by the crowd of people. An unknown sensation that gives goosebumps all over your body.

This trembling that cannot be described in words speaks for itself. Something sinister is nearby…

So I looked out the window while fiddling with my right eye, and sure enough, it was different. I could only see people moving around busily, but I couldn’t detect anything strange.

＂Ha.. After all, is it an illusion?＂

When I look at the place where I wake up, a blanket that is almost torn in half greets me.

‘Let’s compensate for this and move on.’

Even though I had waited so long for the morning, I was in this state… I realized that I myself was in a sensitive state.

I’ve thought about whether I’m denying myself as I’m changing little by little, but I try to accept this and acknowledge that this is definitely who I am. To move forward.

＇Is this how much the blanket will cost?

Still, it was clear that he had had a good night’s sleep last night, as his tired eyes were still open. What’s more, my reflection in the window says so.

I can clearly feel that the magical energy flowing through my heart is circling with the “nothingness” attribute [slime] magic stone implanted in my left hand.

Grumpy..

The movements of all the muscles that support the body became reliable.

All the sensations felt through the {sixth sense} speak again. That I can return home.

＂Shall we go out soon??＂

As I was about to change into the clothes I had prepared the day before and leave the accommodation, I ran into the owner of the place. He gave me a confused look as if he was seeing me for the first time.

“haha.”

Furthermore..

“Dahui..?”

Since when have you been waiting? Shumi, who was waiting nearby with me early in the morning, also started to become very wary when she saw me.

Unlike the day before, clean and pure white skin with no visible stains.

With flowing black hair hidden behind a cloak, one could easily mistake her for a woman.

Even the blue eyes that seem to sparkle between the slightly raised eyes.

I wonder if it’s the person who was with me yesterday… Shumi’s cautious eyes, as if he was observing me here and there, seemed burdensome.

＂As expected, it’s cute..＂

Shumi’s sideways glance at me while walking together is so cute… I gently stroke her head as she follows me right next to her.

“What’s on my face?”

just as expected. When he tried to bring his face closer, Shumi, who was blushing, was startled and covered her eyes with her small hands.

“he!!!”

＂S-sorry…＂

The sight of Shumi immediately turning around and squatting down with her eyes covered…

It was reminiscent of a small rabbit with pink fur. Before she knew it, both of her ears were as red as a bright red tomato.

＇As expected… there is a taste of surprise.＇

‘Was I always this type of personality?’

Even though it was only for one day, Shumi showed a confident and cheerful personality, but I even started to think that maybe this was Shumi’s real personality.

‘Satisfied.. Satisfied..’

“Okay then, shall we go now?”

“Is there a place I can entrust my request to?”

Having already decided on the route I would take today, I decided to go to the huge building erected on the border between the “lower class” and the “noble class” with Shumi’s guidance.

“You’re looking for the {association} over there!!”

{Association}

{Adventurer} who explores unknown areas, collects rare herbs or ancient treasures found there, or draws detailed maps.

A {hunter} who specializes in analyzing various monsters, records their characteristics in detail, and shares them through the {Association}, while making a living by subduing monsters and collecting magic stones.

{Mercenaries} are divided into different classes and assigned manpower based on the capabilities of money or material capital according to various requests such as war, security, transportation, etc.

It is a place that manages the operation of various productive businesses such as commerce, industry, agriculture, livestock, and fishing, and assigns titles such as {stationary merchant} and {mobile merchant} who can buy or sell goods on their own.

The standards that are set are different for each person, but since it is a formal procedure designated by the {Association}, it carries with it a great sense of responsibility, and if an individual commits an illegal act or is involved in an unsavory matter, a strong punishment will be imposed after a thorough investigation.

In this way, I was able to obtain information about the {Association} through Shumi, and also learned that I could entrust a request for it as long as I provided a certain amount of money.

“It’s a bit far, but this is {the association}!”

Since it was a building in the center of the “lower class” and the “noble class,” it took some time, but we were able to arrive safely.

＇It’s so.. so big.. ＇

As there were many different occupations, there were also a significant number of people heading to the {Association}.

There was a magnificent building centered around the {Association} that was certainly incomparable to the wooden buildings of the “lower class.”

Tread.. plod..

When I arrived at my destination, I stopped like that. Shumi also seemed to have guessed something and was looking at me blankly.

“I think it’s time, Shumi..”

I muttered quietly to Shumi. Then, naturally, I took out a gold coin from my pocket and tried to hand it to him as a thank you for hanging out with me until today.

Shumi, with tears in her eyes, pushed my hand away with both hands as if she would never accept it.

＂S-sorry. Suddenly tears…”

Someone’s warm touch that can never be felt with money.

The reality is that we will not be able to feel it in the future.

The anxiety of being alone again made Shumi’s heart ache.

“This is my first time doing something like this.”

Shumi must have known at first glance. The fact that your relationship with me is not far away.

There is nothing more cruel than having to live alone without any family in this harsh world. I understand Shumi’s feelings more than anyone else.

Perhaps all of my actions of being kind without any conditions might have made Shumi cry like this.

“It’s okay if you don’t give me any more. Dahuinnim…”

“The gold coins you gave me yesterday are enough for me!”

Shumi swept the corners of her eyes with her small hands, as if trying to force the tears to stop, and smiled as brightly as when we first met.

How much hardship have you endured and gone through alone?

The natural change in Shumi’s expression made my heart ache like I was going crazy. Still, I couldn’t bring myself to ask if he was okay.

No, I couldn’t.

This is because, for Shumi, dealing with something for which he cannot take responsibility may have been a more terrible pain than hell.

The moment of choice… I felt so cruel as I had to make a realistic, yet rational, ruthless judgment. But who can say that my actions were wrong?

This too was fate, the best and inevitable choice I could make.

Crackling..

“Yes, thank you so much, Shumi..”

While holding a gold leaf tightly, I smile as usual and carefully stroke Shumi’s pink hair again.

‘Okay.. this is enough.’

‘You can’t meddle in her life anymore.’

Tread.. plod..

With Shumi walking away like that… The moment I was about to enter the {Association}.

Crash!

“Ho, can I ask you one favor?”

Shumi quickly ran up to me and grabbed my hand as I was about to leave, and immediately told me to go eat something delicious.

“There is a place I know.”

＂I really want to go with Dahein..＂