IRHGZA 09

Chapter 09

“Mr. Ishanka, what kind of food do you usually like?”

Though her voice sounded casual, her eyes and expression were pure predator, a lion eyeing its prey.

Of course—right now, in Nana’s eyes, Ishanka was basically an experience-point (EXP) totem.

Ishanka, unaware that he had become someone else’s EXP totem, was momentarily startled by the sudden question, but quickly regained his composure.

“I eat pretty much anything. North… where I live, it’s so harsh that you have to put anything edible into your mouth to survive. But if I had to choose… lately, I’ve taken a liking to potatoes.”

Ishanka finished his answer, but no new message window popped up. Perhaps it was too ordinary a question. Nana decided to ask something else.

“And… how old are you, Mr. Ishanka?”

“21.”

“Really?!”

Nana was taken aback. Though his face didn’t particularly look young, his calm and composed aura made it impossible to believe he was only twenty-one.

Good heavens… he’s younger than me! I’m 24 in the game.

“Why are you suddenly asking this?”

He gave her a suspicious look. Nana forced a harmless smile and shrugged.

“Well… we’ve been working together for a while, but we don’t really know anything about each other. I just learned your name. Ah! And you don’t know mine either, right?”

“Why would a worker need to call out their employer’s name? And why didn’t the employer ask me for mine?”

“I didn’t have a reason to ask before either.”

Nana had mostly spoken to Ishanka to get things done: “Excuse me, do this.” “Excuse me, time to eat.” Over time, she got used to the neutral “excuse me,” and asking for names had simply slipped her mind.

“Well, even if it’s late, as your farm owner and employer, I should introduce myself properly. I’m Adrienne Rositten. Nice to meet you, Mr. Ishanka.”

“Just call me Isha. An employer doesn’t need to use honorifics with a worker.”

“But I like it this way.”

When she lived as Song Nana, her company had a rule: everyone used polite language regardless of rank. Some broke the rule occasionally, like Manager Kim or Assistant Shin…

Nana was used to speaking politely to superiors, juniors, and newcomers alike. Plus, Ishanka just didn’t look younger than her.

‘What was I like at twenty-one? Probably just carefree and clueless…’

“I prefer Isha too. Just call me that.”

Unaware of what Nana was thinking, Ishanka repeated his point firmly. Just as a trace of embarrassment crossed her face, a message window popped up—something hadn’t appeared before.

<Hidden Character: You learned Ishanka’s nickname and age. EXP awarded.>

<Passive Skill: ‘Blessed Hands’ leveled up to Lv.2. Plants tended by the farm owner grow 15% faster and regain extra vitality.>

Watching nearby was another pair of eyes.

‘What’s up with him? He hates even calling someone by their name unless they’re family?’

In Nana’s arms, Tanbbang, the little lamb, was observing.

‘And he let her use a nickname? The women who adore him are going to freak out!’

Yes, that includes Bilona, the chief’s daughter. Just imagining it was amusing. Watching someone else’s love life unfold was the best. And this wasn’t just anyone—this man had rejected countless confessions and advances from women of other nations, yet he was interested in just one woman? Fascinating.

Ishanka hadn’t realized it yet, but his heart was slowly leaning toward the maid.

Meanwhile, the maid seemed indifferent… but that might change. Objectively speaking, even to his sister, he was a remarkable man.

Tanbbang purred happily in Nana’s arms. The first niece should be a girl, she thought.

“Anyway, you’re going to the village, right? Wait here a moment. I’ll get ready.”

Without hearing Nana’s answer, he left the barn.

‘I’m glad he’s coming with me… but is it okay to accept this so easily?’

A formidable warrior, yes, but Nana was uneasy. The world in the game had flipped due to an error, and her past memories sometimes haunted her.

She still remembered that peaceful afternoon. The gentle wind, the light mood… Until that day became the worst day of her life.

Zombies appeared suddenly, attacking indiscriminately. The elderly woman sweeping the front yard, the man walking in the fields, the child herding goats in the mountains—all were victims.

The whole village descended into chaos, screams echoing everywhere.

“De…dear! It’s me! Your husband! Wake u—AAAH!”

“Get away, monster!”

“Mom! I’m scared! Mom!”

The horrific scene—husbands biting wives, neighbors attacking neighbors, the metallic stench of blood—would never be forgotten.

Perhaps recalling that memory, Nana instinctively tensed, and Tanbbang struggled in her arms, whimpering. She snapped back to reality.

‘Right, this isn’t the time. I have to get ready to go.’

She quickly returned home, changed her dress, caked with meteor dust, and came back to the living room. Ishanka was already waiting.

“Shall we go?”

“In…this outfit?”

His new outfit wasn’t much different from before. He’d put on the robe he first wore here and strapped the sword he was holding onto his waist.

“This is enough. Heavy armor would just get in the way. Ah, before we go, take this.”

Under the robe, he revealed a set of small daggers. He handed Nana the smallest, simplest one.

“Keep this for self-defense. I’ll watch you, but you never know what might happen.”

Nana stared at the dagger, then silently met Ishanka’s eyes. Then realization hit her.

‘Could it be… he’s noticed my identity?’

She had given him the most nondescript dagger, just in case. Kingdom people disliked foreigners, or even looked down on them. Those called “barbarians” for living in the harsh northern lands had eventually moved south, overtaken minor kingdoms, expanded their influence, and founded nations.

Ishanka probably anticipated what Nana was going to say next. It wouldn’t be pleasant. If mishandled, authorities could be alerted—but killing him first seemed the safest option.

Yet… for some reason, he didn’t want to. Could he have grown fond of her while staying here? That black mage? Unlikely.

Smiling at his own thoughts, he slowly reached for another dagger hidden inside his robe.

“Are you a butcher?”

“Yes. So…?”

“That’s why you have so many knives? For deboning?”

“Oh… no, I just keep many because retrieving them after throwing is difficult.”

“It’s fine! I worried you’d think it’s weird. I don’t see butchering as a lowly job. It takes skill to separate bone and meat. Not everyone can do it.”

“No… actually, this is…”

“So that’s why you weren’t scared fighting zombies. You treat them like meat, right?”

“…….”

Ishanka opened his mouth, then closed it again. Should he explain? Better to just agree. He’d have to admit it—yes, he was a butcher.

“…Yes. That’s right.”

The manifestation of the God of War, King of the North, had now fully assumed the role of a master butcher.

Meanwhile, Nana…

‘They gave this face a butcher setting? Even if novelty is in fashion, this is ridiculous… reminds me of Director Parachute—insisted on “novelty” for performance with no standards, drove the design team to quit.’

She misinterpreted it entirely.

Ishanka covered his face with one hand in despair, but Nana took it as shyness and clenched her fists, cheering him on.

“Don’t feel bad. A butcher who wields knives well is untouchable by thugs. It’s a dangerous and cool job. No need to be embarrassed. I feel reassured now.”

“Yes… thank you. Please… stop now.”

By comforting him, Nana unintentionally delivered the first psychological blow to Ishanka, the God of War, King of the North.

As she fussed over him, she suddenly noticed Tanbbang trembling in the corner.

‘Isha’s a butcher, so Tanbbang’s scared too… But why does it look like he’s holding back a laugh?’