Chapter 69
“…Well, he really does seem like a nice guy.”
Choi Kkang-kang, who had quickly become reassured again, muttered softly.
Despite his constant grumbling, he wasn’t the type to hold suspicions or grudges against people for long.
Choi Kkang-kang started chatting amiably with Seo Jae-hyun, who was flustered.
“Ah, mister? I’m only in my 30s…”
“Actually, I thought this was a great village from the moment we arrived. If possible, I’d like to bring my family here someday.”
Then, glancing at me, he added.
“You said you discovered how to refine magic stones early, right? …There are some skills I’d like to learn.”
‘I see.’
Watching him express pure academic curiosity, I inwardly understood.
Craftsman-type Awakened ones are rare, so it’s natural he’d want to gather information.
At those words, the other companions also looked around the peaceful village and added their thoughts.
“Come to think of it, it’s been about a month since we started traveling in the camping car.”
“This place seems safe enough, so why don’t we stay for a while? We could also check if Yoo Hyun-min has planted any spies here.”
After speaking, everyone turned to stare at me.
What’s this?
Why are they all acting like they’ll decide whether to leave or stay based on my word?
‘Ugh, to someone who’s about to leave. This is too much pressure…’
But contrary to my thoughts, my mouth moved on its own.
“…Alright. Let’s stay here for about a week then.”
“How long has it been since we’ve had such a feast?”
“Not that long. We have barbecue parties every day.”
“…But I missed side dishes like these, Nunim.”
The place Seo Jae-hyun excitedly offered to “repay our kindness” was a rural house at the edge of the village.
It seemed to have been a home for an extended family; though old, it was very spacious with many empty rooms.
He also brought a variety of food.
While Baek Yi-heon tried to politely refuse, Choi Kkang-kang naturally accepted without hesitation.
And so, we had dinner under a roof after a long time.
Munch.
I took a big bite of rice with a perilla leaf on top and chewed.
It was indeed delicious.
It had been a long time since I’d had such perfectly cooked rice from a pressure cooker.
When I go to the shelter, I won’t be able to eat rice like this anymore.
‘…I should eat this rice and leave tonight.’
Why does today’s feast taste even better with that thought?
Baek Yi-heon, who had been closely watching what I ate as usual, placed a well-grilled piece of meat on my spoon with a satisfied expression.
As I was eating more actively than usual, Yu suddenly asked me.
“Noah, how about going fishing at the stream tomorrow?”
“…Fishing?”
“Yes. Sea fishing is dangerous due to possible marine monsters, but they say fish are plentiful in the stream.”
“They say it’s half water, half fish. You catch something as soon as you drop your line! Let’s go!”
Choi Kkang-kang, who was aggressively stuffing side dishes into his mouth, excitedly said.
“…You shouldn’t talk with food in your mouth.”
“Come on, save the monastic dining for the temple, Nunim… Agh! Don’t hit me! Agh!”
“……”
‘I was planning to leave for the shelter tonight.’
But I had never been fishing before.
It was natural, as I had grown up mostly alone since I was seven.
The experience of reeling in a big fish would surely be incredibly fun.
I had seen fishing scenes in survival stories and thought I’d like to try it myself someday.
Once I go to the shelter, it’s an experience I won’t be able to have for at least 10 years…
Then I’d be someone who dies without ever having fished, even until the end of the world.
After hesitating for a moment, I finally couldn’t resist the temptation and nodded slightly.
“…Alright.”
‘I’ll just go fishing, and then I’ll really leave tomorrow night.’
I told myself, how fun could it possibly be, anyway?
“I caught one!”
A big fish leaped up at the end of the fishing rod.
I found myself jumping up and down, shouting.
“I caught one! It’s huge!”
Next to me, Baek Yi-heon, who had his feet in the stream, smiled gently at me.
The green plastic container beside him was already full of several fish.
I felt a bit embarrassed by Baek Yi-heon’s expression, which looked like he was watching a young sibling.
“Ahem. Fishing… will help us secure food supplies.”
“Indeed. You’ve done an excellent job.”
Yu, who had also caught several fish, responded with a serious face.
“The fish Noah caught is enough to feed all five of us with half left over.”
It took me a few seconds to realize Yu was teasing me.
But it was too late to get angry, as I was having too much fun fishing for the first time.
After being absorbed in fishing for a long while, we reached the afternoon.
We stored the caught fish in the camping car’s refrigerator.
Then, we lay down under the shade of a large tree.
The early summer sunlight filtered through the leaves.
It was a peace we hadn’t experienced in a very long time.
“Well then, I’ll go get some watermelon from the fridge.”
“Yay! I’ll come with you, bro!”
“…Ah, I’ll also go to the car for a bit.”
Sehun, who had been splashing around, was already napping in the car.
Left alone, I sat in the shade, staring blankly at the sparkling water.
With the noisy group gone, complicated thoughts seeped back into my mind.
‘I have to go. I must leave tonight.’
So stop feeling so good, Yoo Noah.
This fishing, the conversations filled with laughter—I don’t need any of it.
I’m, I’m a psychopath…
Someone who can live alone without any problems, no, someone who prefers it, a cold-blooded person…
As I was muttering to myself absent-mindedly, that’s when it happened.
“…How nice.”
I was startled by the sudden voice as I sat relaxed.
Hurriedly looking up, I saw a young child standing in the grass a short distance away.
‘When did they get so close?’
I hadn’t sensed any presence at all.
I examined the child’s appearance with a tense face.
It was an extremely beautiful girl.
Almost like a doll.
Still, I remained tense due to the sudden situation, when the child muttered once more.
“How nice. …Everyone seems to like you, Unnie?”
“What do you…”
Before I could finish speaking.
The child, who had been staring at me with a strangely expressionless face, suddenly burst into tears.
“Waaaaaah!”
“…Huh?”
I blinked awkwardly, not knowing what to do.
While all humans made me feel awkward and uncomfortable, children around this age were especially difficult.
My new half-sibling had been about this age.
Young children are surprisingly sensitive beings.
They instinctively sense family hierarchies and power dynamics.
Perhaps that’s why my half-sibling always found me very uncomfortable and intimidating.
Of course, I also avoided them to prevent misunderstandings from my mother and others…
‘That’s why my body freezes up when a child cries in front of me like this.’
I just don’t know what to do.
As I stood frozen, not knowing how to handle the crying child, that’s when I heard a soft, gentle voice behind me.
“Oh dear, little one. Why are you crying? It’s okay, it’s okay…”
Baek Yi-heon, who had approached without me noticing, expertly picked up the child and patted their back.
The child whimpered and wrapped their short, chubby arms around his neck.
Then they cried out.
“Waaah… Oppa…”
For a moment, a wistful gleam passed through Baek Yi-heon’s eyes.
I could instantly tell what he was thinking.
‘Probably… His sibling who died in that incident was about this age.’
The unsolved family murder case by unknown assailants.
Thank you for reading! ♡
