Translator: Nox
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Mandragora's Camaraderie
President Park couldn't believe his ears. The boy watching from behind also looked wide-eyed.
“F-Fifty sets each?”
“If you have shoes too, that’d be good.”
“P-Please wait a moment!”
Park hurried into the back storage room. Moments later, he emerged with his arms full of clothes and began laying them out on the display.
“These are our best sellers lately. They’re high-quality and cheap because I secretly sourced them directly from a high-end factory. They reflect the latest trends—”
“No need for the explanation. As long as the sizes fit.”
“Then let’s head to the fitting room right away. I guessed the size by eye, but it should be right. I’ve never been wrong in this area.”
Park gathered the clothes and shoes and led Cheon Dowoon to the fitting room.
He belatedly noticed that Dowoon was barefoot, but didn’t ask why.
‘No one who comes to this city is without a story.’
Rather than prying, it was time to focus on sales. Park quietly placed some shoes in the fitting room as well.
A short while later, Cheon Dowoon stepped out, having changed.
Now dressed like a civilized person, his tall height and well-balanced physique made him shine even brighter.
Despite wearing casual clothes, he looked like a model.
‘Handsome face, clear eyes… Doesn’t seem like he’s from this city… Is he buying in bulk to donate somewhere?’
This man clearly wasn’t strapped for cash. Taking a chance, Park picked up a hat from the display.
“How about this hat? Many buy it as a set with kids’ coats—”
“Add it.”
His refreshing attitude of not even asking the price made Park beam with joy.
“These socks are also popular among kids, printed with favorite characters—”
“Add them.”
“T-This sweater, it’s got a fluffy texture and is getting popular by word of mouth—!”
“Add it.”
Valhalla! Park saw a holy aura behind Dowoon.
The boy watching from behind was also stunned. The man he thought might be penniless was buying out the whole store.
“You there, kid. Go try this on.”
Park handed the boy a set of clothes as well.
“Huh? But I don’t have any money…”
“It’s fine. This kind man is giving it to you as a gift. Don’t worry.”
Park spoke warmly. As a local, he had seen the boy several times on his way to and from work.
‘He was the one guiding rookie Hunters.’
This boy had brought Cheon Dowoon here. To Park, it looked like the kid had angel wings on his back.
Thus, the boy got a new set of clothes. After changing in the fitting room, he bowed his head to Park.
“Th-Thank you. I’ll wear it well.”
“No need to thank me. Drop by anytime.”
Please bring more good customers in the future. Park smiled happily.
* * *
Cheon Dowoon paid for the clothes and exited the store.
The boy followed, staring at him in amazement.
‘Rich people just crumple up checks like candy wrappers. How much money must you have to be like that?’
When Dowoon took something out of his pants pocket, it looked like trash.
Who would have guessed that the crumpled paper was a ten million won check?
Even Park, upon receiving the check, had the same stunned expression as the boy.
[Th-Thank you! Please come again! Here, these are on the house.]
Park added an extra shirt, pants, and a girl’s dress into the box. He was determined to make this man a regular.
[And here’s our business card. Come anytime you need clothes.]
He didn’t forget to slip the card into the box either.
Park, who usually ran a deficit, saw Dowoon, who had just made over 5 million won in purchases, as a saint.
Outside the store, Dowoon looked at the boy. Time to give him the promised reward.
He reached into his pocket to pull out a 10,000-won bill but paused. His gaze swept over the boy’s appearance.
Despite the new clothes, his hair was still a mess and his face dirty.
A typical homeless child. It reminded Dowoon of his own past.
“…There’s one more place I’d like you to show me.”
“Sure, just say the word. Where to?”
“Is there a gosiwon around here? Preferably one with a kind landlord.”
“There is. Follow me.”
The boy led the way. They arrived at a sizable building on a main street.
“Here it is. You see the police station across the street? The area’s pretty safe for a slum, and the rent’s cheap. The landlord’s nice too.”
“I see. Wait here a moment.”
Dowoon went inside. Moments later, he returned and handed the boy a key.
“What’s this?”
“Room 303. I paid a year’s rent. You’ll stay there this winter.”
The boy’s eyes widened.
“I also paid in advance for meals. Go when it’s time and eat.”
The boy’s jaw dropped. What was he hearing?
Faced with an unbelievable situation, the boy’s thoughts froze.
Gratitude for the sudden fortune. Suspicion toward a stranger’s kindness.
The boy looked at the key in his hand and back at Dowoon.
‘C-Come to think of it… I heard stories about groups that lure kids into crime… Could this guy be one of them?’
He recalled a comic book gangster—slick black coat, cigar in mouth.
Was he being recruited as cannon fodder for the criminal underworld? The boy’s imagination spiraled out of control.
‘I-It’s scary, but… still…’
To someone who narrowly escaped death every winter, a warm room was too tempting to refuse.
The boy hesitated, then clenched the key.
“I-I’ll do my best!”
“Do your best at what? Just go wash up, you stink.”
“Yes, boss!”
“All I’m giving you is a room and food. The rest is up to you.”
“Understood, boss!”
“Why do you keep calling me boss? I’m leaving.”
“Take care, boss! Call me anytime, I’ll come running!”
The boy shouted with a serious expression. His face had already transformed into that of a protagonist from a 90s gangster film.
‘What’s up with him?’
Cheon Dowoon tilted his head in confusion as he shattered the Return Stone.
As the blue gate shimmered open, he picked up the box of clothes and stepped through without hesitation.
“Whoa, he just walked in without any gear.”
The boy looked astonished.
Most hunters would be fully equipped before crossing a gate. To go through in just casual clothes left him speechless.
‘What kind of work involves carrying children’s clothes through a gate?’
Surely something extraordinary must be happening inside that gate—something a street kid like him couldn’t possibly understand.
Maybe… maybe there was a secret gang hideout beyond the gate.
His imagination soared to Andromeda once again.
“Whatever it is, he’ll come back if he needs me.”
Until then, he would bulk up. Just because he’d been recruited as cannon fodder didn’t mean he planned to die like a background extra.
At this rate, he’d climb to the rank of the gang boss’s right-hand man.
‘Until he returns, I’ll get strong. To build muscle… maybe I should eat chicken breast and work out?’
Day 1 as a future gym rat. The scrawny boy was opening his eyes to a whole new world.
* * *
Cheon Dowoon returned home and set down the box of clothes.
Kim Nari, who had come running as soon as the gate opened, rushed over to greet him.
“Uncle’s back!”
“Yeah, I’m back.”
“Is that the clothes?”
“Yep.”
“They’re in a box. Looks like a lot.”
“I bought a lot.”
When he placed the box down, Kim Nari circled it, wary like a wild animal seeing something new.
“The box on top is yours. Take it and sort through the clothes. Try them on to see if they fit.”
“My clothes…!”
A complex mix of emotions swept across Kim Nari’s face.
A mix of confusion at this new situation—and overwhelming anticipation.
She hesitated for a moment, then said,
“Thank you. I accept the clothes. I’ll go organize them.”
She bowed deeply and hoisted the box onto her shoulder like a dependable laborer.
‘I should probably explain to her what normal kids’ strength levels are someday.’
He chuckled, imagining her excuses.
[Th-The Coconut Tribe is strong by nature!]
The image of her coming up with such a ridiculous excuse made him smile.
As Kim Nari went into the house, Guu approached.
–Looks like you bought quite a bit.
“Life here is rough. I figured the clothes would wear out fast. What’s Nam Giseok up to?”
–He’s practicing dipping his hands in the water. Don’t know what hit him, but now he’s training under a waterfall, channeling his mana core.
“That’s an interesting training method. Copying a movie scene or something?”
Nam Giseok was working hard to become an A-Class janitor.
–Are we building the fence now?
“That was the plan, but I think I’ll make a wardrobe first.”
Cheon Dowoon glanced at the box of clothes.
With his and Kim Nari’s combined, the number easily exceeded a hundred sets. Far too many for the chest of drawers he had built before.
“A wardrobe, huh… Actually, maybe a whole dressing room would be better?”
Kim Nari, Guu, and now Nam Giseok—the household had grown to three additional residents.
Naturally, their belongings would keep piling up.
Cheon Dowoon looked at his first house.
It had been built with the intention of expanding if things worked out. Now was the perfect time for that expansion.
“I’ll build another room next to this one and turn it into a dressing room. It should be easy now that I’ve done it once.”
He grabbed a stick and drew lines next to the house, roughly outlining the location and size of the addition.
“Guu, let’s go cut down some trees. You’ve got the best eye for wood—help me pick.”
–If it’s for decorating a dressing room… I suggest using fragrant wood.
“Fragrant wood?”
–Yes. The scent would lightly infuse the clothes. It should be nice.
“Sounds good. Let’s go with fragrant wood for the dressing room. Let’s head out.”
He lifted Guu onto his shoulder. Guu kicked his legs in the air, clearly pleased by the gesture.
The material for the new addition had been decided—fragrant wood.
* * *
Finding the habitat of the fragrant trees was easy.
Even from afar, the gentle lavender scent wafted in the air, guiding them to their destination.
At the forest’s edge, trees with leaves so pale they looked bleached stood tall in clusters.
“So these are the fragrant trees. This whole area must be their habitat?”
–Yes. When it rains, the scent gets stronger. The moisture carries it for up to 100 meters.
“Wouldn’t a scent that strong cause headaches?”
–No need to worry. It doesn’t get stronger per se, just spreads farther without changing intensity. I don’t know how it works exactly, but that’s what happens.
Cheon Dowoon looked intrigued.
“Now that you mention it, it smelled the same from far away and up close. That is curious.”
–It’s the same even when it rains. The moisture subtly changes the scent’s properties. It seems to have a calming effect. Injured monsters often gather near these trees when it rains to rest.
A house built from such trees might attract monsters on rainy days.
Most people would see that as a problem, but not Cheon Dowoon.
“Alright. Let’s go with these trees.”
He drew a thread from his fingertips. Now that he’d done it once before, he moved quickly.
He already knew how many trees he needed and what sizes to cut them into.
His movements were swift and precise as he chopped down the trees, trimmed them, and bundled them with vines. After a few trips, a mountain of logs had formed in front of the house.
Progress was fast—but not without unexpected complaints.
–Huuung! Huung, huung!
The mandragoras peeked their heads out of the garden, eyes wide and tapping the dirt with their tiny roots.
The ground trembled with each drop of the logs, waking them from sleep.
One of them even yanked itself from the soil and began patrolling the area. It was the largest of the three mandragoras.
‘Mandragoras don’t even have good eyesight, so it’s not like they can see much anyway…’
The one above ground stood guard in front of the garden.
It spread its leaves and stretched its roots to appear larger.
A ten-centimeter root suddenly looked like twelve.
–Huuuung, huung!
It let out its own version of a threatening cry.
It was the eldest of the three and felt responsible for protecting the younger ones.
That roar revealed its unwavering will to defend them.
