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Chapter 6
Beside it were carrot seeds on display. Then was this also a type of carrot seed?
“I think you should buy this one too, Pya!”
“Why?”
At my question, Ror looked momentarily flustered.
His large eyes rolled around nervously before he answered in an uncertain voice.
“For some reason, it feels like a good seed, pyaa…”
A good feeling?
That wasn’t information at all.
“S-So, pyaat… maybe something good will happen if you grow it…”
“Something good? Like what?”
“W-Well… it just… seems delicious!”
Honestly.
You should’ve said that from the beginning.
Well, I was already here to buy seeds for the garden. Buying one extra packet wouldn’t hurt.
Besides, Ror was a dragon, after all.
According to The Encyclopedia of Legendary Monsters Inside Gates (and so on), dragons possessed wisdom and foresight beyond human understanding.
So perhaps Ror had actually sensed something from the seed.
“Ueh?”
Even though right now he looked like he wasn’t thinking about anything at all.
I picked up the cloth pouch of seeds and placed it on the counter.
But the elderly shop owner, who had been bagging my purchases, frowned when he saw it.
“No. That one’s not for sale.”
“Oh, really?”
“Someone left it here without permission. I’m just keeping it for them. Sorry about that.”
“Uwaaah… no way…”
Ror lowered his head in despair.
Still, if it wasn’t for sale, there was nothing we could do.
I turned to put the pouch back where I’d found it.
Then—
“Wait! Hold on a second, sir!”
“Yes?”
The old man hurriedly called out to me.
“You said you recently moved to a nearby village, right? Is your house in Gyehwa Village?”
“Yes.”
“The blue-tiled house right in front of the valley?”
“That’s right.”
I nodded absentmindedly.
Then a thought struck me.
How does he know where I live?
Was he acquainted with the elderly relative who used to own the house?
“Hoo… I see… so that’s how it is…”
The old man muttered to himself for quite a while.
His deeply wrinkled face looked troubled, as if he were recalling some old story.
“Hoo… Alright. Alright… Maybe someone like you can do it.”
Why are you suddenly talking like a quest-giving NPC?
“Take that too. No need to pay. It’s a free gift.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Phew, we’re back.”
“Pyaah!”
I parked the scooter in front of the gate.
Then I unloaded everything from the storage compartment and stacked it on the wooden porch.
Snacks, ingredients, daily necessities…
I’d bought so much that the porch was piled high with bags.
The market had been full of interesting things to see and buy.
The owner of the seed shop had even thrown in some fertilizer for free.
I should definitely visit again sometime.
Although…
I still couldn’t understand why he’d entrusted a complete farming amateur like me with a bag of seeds that wasn’t even for sale.
Well, I’d received them now.
I might as well try growing them.
“Ror, stay home for a bit. I’m going to return the scooter.”
“Understood! Pya!”
The moment I unwrapped the carrier, Ror scrambled onto the porch.
Apparently he’d gotten hungry again, because he immediately dug out the bag of glutinous rice donuts and started stuffing his face.
Honestly…
Leaving him behind, I headed toward the village chief’s house.
For reference, I’d gotten acquainted with the village chief while introducing myself to the local elders and handing out small gifts.
I didn’t know how long I’d stay here, but blending into village life was important for now.
Most of the elders had warmly welcomed me.
Only one house remained unvisited.
The neighboring house closest to mine.
According to the village chief, an elderly woman lived there.
But when I’d knocked before, there’d been no response.
I was wondering whether I should return after dropping off the scooter and try again with a gift in hand.
That’s when—
“…Huh?”
Standing in front of the neighboring gate was a small elderly woman.
She looked stern and reserved.
After glancing at me, she asked shortly,
“You moved into that house?”
“Ah, yes! Hello. I’m—”
I smiled and started introducing myself.
SLAM!
The grandmother merely glanced at me with an expressionless face.
Then she turned around and disappeared back into her house.
“Hm…”
Did I do something wrong?
Was there something she disliked about me?
That afternoon, in front of the weed-covered vegetable garden.
Since I’d already bought the seeds, I decided to start working on the garden immediately.
To sow seeds, I first needed to clear the weeds.
The neglected garden was practically a weed field.
Unfortunately, the only tools I had were a hoe and a small trowel I’d found under the porch.
Still.
I used to be a hunter.
This should be easy.
At least, that’s what I thought.
One hour later—
“Ugh…”
I dropped the hoe and gasped for breath.
This is way too hard…
Back when my body had been healthy, this would’ve been nothing.
But now, with my ruined mana circuits and broken-down body, even pulling weeds was exhausting.
Worse, progress was painfully slow.
At this rate, I wouldn’t finish even if I worked all day.
“Muhahaha! Guardian, leave it to me! I’ll help too, pya!”
Ror, in his human form, eagerly joined in.
“Grrr! Why won’t this come out?!”
Unfortunately, no matter how much he tugged with his tiny hands, only the leaves came off while the roots remained.
Growing frustrated, he rolled around in the grass, covering himself in dirt and crushed weeds.
I appreciated the thought.
But…
I sent him back inside.
I had plenty of free time now anyway.
It felt overwhelming, but eventually I’d finish.
Just as I steeled myself and reached for another weed—
“Urgh!”
A sharp pain suddenly shot through my right hand.
My grip weakened instantly.
The hoe slipped from my fingers and flew away.
Haah… this useless body.
The difference between my current self and my former self was enough to make me sigh.
Feeling bitter, I walked over to retrieve the fallen hoe.
Then—
“Ghk—cough, cough?!”
I looked up and nearly jumped.
At some point, the old woman from next door had approached.
I hadn’t noticed her at all.
My attention had been completely focused on the flying hoe.
The grandmother silently surveyed me and the garden.
Her gaze was sharp, as though she disapproved of something.
Startled, I hurriedly stood and bowed.
“Hello, ma’am. What brings you—”
“You think that’ll get the job done?”
“Huh?”
“Hand me one of those hoes.”
“What? Ah, um…”
When I hesitated, apparently finding me frustrating, she walked into my yard herself and retrieved another hoe from beneath the porch.
Then she sat beside me and demonstrated.
THUD!
“You gotta dig like this if you want it done fast.”
The difference was incredible.
Unlike me, she uprooted weeds cleanly and effortlessly with a single flick of her wrist.
“Now you try.”
“L-Like this?”
I awkwardly copied her movements.
The old woman nodded slightly, the corners of her lips lifting almost imperceptibly.
“See? You’re doing it right now.”
“Th-Thank you…”
She’s actually a kind person!
Immediately, I began attacking the weeds with renewed enthusiasm.
Before I knew it, the western sky had turned red with sunset.
Thanks to the grandmother’s continued help, we finished weeding and sowing seeds much sooner than expected.
Of course, we hadn’t worked through the entire hundred-pyeong garden.
She’d insisted from the start that taking on too much at once would only lead to failure.
“Should I plant this here?”
“Want it to freeze to death?”
“N-No… Then how about this?”
“Over there. Plant it over there.”
She helped immensely with the planting as well.
Though she clearly wasn’t very talkative, she was surprisingly considerate.
After setting down my hoe, I thanked her again.
“Thank you very much. I couldn’t have done it without your help.”
“…Ahem.”
The grandmother avoided my gaze and looked off toward the distant mountains.
Embarrassed, perhaps.
Yet the corners of her mouth were slightly raised.
“When’d you move in?”
“Just yesterday. Ah, my name is Lee Heesu.”
Her name was Park Deokhee.
She lived alone and farmed the land herself.
“You came from Seoul?”
“Yes.”
“Then are ya one of them… what’s-it-called… hunters?”
To be continued…
