Translator: Nox

Chapter: Chapter 20

The Scented Cedar Drawer Chest

Every time Cheon Dowoon moved his fingers, the thread brushed against the scented cedar.

He was currently building a built-in wardrobe. Rather than a wardrobe, he was making lockers to be embedded in the entire wall of the dressing room.

"Euriyaa!"

A resounding shout occasionally reached his ears. When he raised his head, he saw Nam Ki-seok lifting logs and building the walls of the dressing room.

Thanks to the increased manpower, the expansion of the house could be divided.

Nam Ki-seok was in charge of building the walls of the dressing room, while Cheon Dowoon was focused on making the built-in wardrobe.

"Uncle, hang in there!"

Next to Nam Ki-seok, Kim Nari, who was holding a huge log with one hand, shouted words of encouragement.

-Hoo-eung, hoo-euung!

The sounds of Mandragora protesting about the noise could also be heard occasionally. The snoring of Guu, who was dozing in the garden, could also be heard.

Scanning the scene, Cheon Dowoon's lips unknowingly curved upwards.

'Amazing. When did we get so many people?'

When he was resurrected inside the Gate, he never imagined it would turn out like this.

Building his own house, eating what he wanted, and sleeping when he wanted.

He wanted to enjoy what everyone else took for granted. Cheon Dowoon now realized that something was missing from that desire.

'Is this what it feels like to have a family?'

Something he had never felt, something he had never had. Perhaps the boundary called family felt like this.

Cheon Dowoon smiled.

It was quite enjoyable to watch those who came to his house chat and make a fuss.

Warm sunlight, a refreshing midday breeze, and the subtle scent of lavender spreading from the wood,

A sense of satisfaction filled Cheon Dowoon's heart.

'What's so good about that human that he's smiling like that!'

Looking at Cheon Dowoon, one person was snorting. Only Nam Ki-seok was gritting his teeth in the current situation.

Currently, he was wearing a primitive Fur hide over his clothes.

That Fur hide that Cheon Dowoon always wore.

'This Training suit...! The effect is stronger than I thought!'

Before he knew it, the Fur hide had transformed into a Training suit within Nam Ki-seok.

He recalled the events of the previous night.

The chills he felt when Cheon Dowoon approached him with the Fur hide. The hope he desperately tried to believe wasn't true.

[Wear it.]

That simple and clear word was the beginning of everything.

Nam Ki-seok looked at the Fur hide. Just looking at it made his neck stiffen with the overflowing venom.

No. If I wear something like that, I'll be poisoned and die within three days. With that premonition, he shook his head.

[It's okay. You can do it.]

Cheon Dowoon said. It was a casual remark, but its effect was enormous.

'...Me, I can do it? Really? Big Bro sees that in me?'

The only person who believed in his potential. That person was saying he could do it. If he backed down here, it would be like missing an opportunity.

Once he thought that way, the Fur hide that Cheon Dowoon was holding looked different.

That's a special Training suit. Not just anyone can get it. That precious opportunity was about to be given to him.

[I'll work hard!]

Nam Ki-seok grabbed the Fur hide. Now, he was regretting that he shouldn't have done that.

[Euheok?]

Unlike his spirited grab, Nam Ki-seok made a strange noise and was shocked.

His hand, which touched the Fur hide, tingled. Beyond that, it felt like his arm was falling off.

[What is this! Why is the venom so strong!]

He knew the venom was strong, but seeing it from the side and touching it directly were on different levels.

'Big Bro, has he been wearing something like this all this time?'

He looked at Cheon Dowoon with trembling eyes. The gap between them was impossible to fathom.

Cheon Dowoon handed Nam Ki-seok a Vine rope. It was the rope he used as a belt.

[Tie it around your waist. Otherwise, the Fur hide will flap around and be uncomfortable.]

That meticulousness of tying the rope to make the Fur hide stick to the body. This person is the real deal. A madman with clear eyes.

Nam Ki-seok grabbed the Vine rope with trembling hands and tied it around his waist.

[Euhuk...!]

As the Fur hide became more attached than before, it felt like his whole body was burning.

Ah, why am I torturing myself? Who am I? Why am I volunteering for this pain just because of an A-Class Hunter license?

Tens of thousands of self-reflections arose in Nam Ki-seok's head. That was what happened last night.

"Hehe... Hehehe. This is hell."

Nam Ki-seok looked around with a haggard face.

The scenery that Cheon Dowoon felt warmth from looked like a gloomy space with a dark aura rising in Nam Ki-seok's eyes.

A house with damp threads hanging down like a haunted house. Logs piled up near it.

When he saw the wood piled up like a mountain, he wondered what it was.

Even when they said they were going to build a new room next to the house with those trees, he just thought, 'I guess so.'

There are two high-level Awakened. There is also a Mechanical Creature that can subdue a B-Class Hunter in an instant.

They would be able to build a log house by stacking wood in an instant. Nam Ki-seok thought so and was confident.

"Eueueuk...!"

He wanted to slap his past self very much.

"Nam Ki-seok. Not there. A little more to the right. Yes. Stack it there."

He never imagined that he would be building the house alone.

"The tree is leaning to the right. If it drags on the ground, the wood will be damaged. Lift it properly."

He also didn't know that he would be working in a Fur hide that was full of venom. Nam Ki-seok shouldered the huge log.

"Heueuk...! M, my spine! My spine feels like it's going to crumble, Big Bro!"

"It won't crumble."

"M, my back muscles feel like they're tearing, Big Bro!"

"They won't tear."

"My shoulder...!"

"It won't break."

The voice that flowed out casually was refreshing.

Nam Ki-seok gritted his teeth. Snorts like a monster were coming out of his nose.

'I'm really going to die!'

He felt like he was going to die from the weight of the log. If it were him normally, it wouldn't be a weight he couldn't lift, even if it was difficult.

But it was different now. He couldn't use his strength properly because of the Glowstone nearby.

He couldn't use Mana properly to purify the venom because of the Fur hide he was wearing.

"It's hard because you're trying to do it with strength alone. Try to imagine supporting your muscles with Mana."

"I, if that were possible... would I be here! Keuheok, m, my back!"

"It's okay. It didn't fold."

If it folded, I'd be dead! Nam Ki-seok held back what he wanted to shout.

Nam Ki-seok groaned and put the log down in the target spot.

"I, I did it...!"

Nam Ki-seok patted his back and gasped for breath. It was definitely hard work. But strangely, a sense of accomplishment washed over him.

'Is it because I can see the house gradually being completed?'

Or is it because he feels physical changes unlike before? Nam Ki-seok looked down at his body.

'It's definitely different from before. It feels like each muscle is under my control.'

It became easier to use his body. It was like the shackles he had on his arms and legs were gradually being removed.

'Even though I'm wearing this venomous Fur hide, it's like this. What would it feel like if I took it off?'

He would definitely pass this year's Hunter promotion test. Nam Ki-seok smiled at that premonition.

"Your hands are idle. Hurry up and work."

"Yes!"

Nam Ki-seok picked up the bowl next to him. The bowl contained Green spiderweb that Cheon Dowoon had prepared in advance.

'Isn't this the mucus of snail-type monsters? It's incredibly hard to get. Where did he get it?'

He's really a mysterious person. Nam Ki-seok used a wooden spatula to apply the sticky mucus to the log.

Now all that was left was to put a new log on top of it and harden it.

"Hoo-wook, hoo-wook...! Euriyaa!"

Taking a deep breath, he lifted the log next to him and stacked it on top.

With a heavy thud, another tree that would form the wall was stacked.

"The left side is crooked. Push the left side inward."

"Yes!"

Nam Ki-seok pushed the log as he was told.

"Eueuk...! B, Big Bro! That Green spiderweb's adhesive strength is too strong! It won't budge. What should I do!"

"Push it."

"I, it won't budge!"

"Just push."

"It won't budge...!"

"Push."

"Yes!"

Nam Ki-seok squeezed his Mana Hole as if he was wringing it out. It felt like the muscles all over his body were snapping, but he somehow supported himself with Mana and pushed the log.

'This training is...! It's my first time...! But it feels like there's some kind of effect...!'

Positive power creates strength where there is none. Thinking that all of this was part of his training, he finally pushed the log in and completed the wall.

"I did it...!"

Exhausted, he collapsed in a sprawling position. He had only built one side of the wall. There was still a mountain of things to make, but he didn't have the strength to stand anymore.

"Uncle. Uncle collapsed."

"Go give him some water."

"Okay."

Kim Nari took the prepared water bottle and went to Nam Ki-seok. When she poured water into his mouth, Nam Ki-seok drank the water as if he had met rain in a drought.

"Uncle, are you okay?"

"Y, yeah."

Nam Ki-seok looked at where Cheon Dowoon was. He was sitting under the shade of a tree, wiggling his fingers.

A white thread was going back and forth between his fingers. Every time it did, the wood was carved and took shape.

'What is he making? No, what kind of ability is that in the first place?'

The powers of the Awakened are diverse.

Even the most common pyrokinesis users differ greatly in how they manifest fire, depending on the person.

Nam Ki-seok had no idea where Cheon Dowoon's ability was derived from.

"If you're done resting, get up. We have to build the house quickly."

Nam Ki-seok's face became haggard at the casual words. He had been enduring with the thought that if he did a little more, he would have a break.

But the break never came.

'Are these people's stamina infinite? When do they rest!'

One is a Mechanical Creature. The other is a Chimera that has surpassed the wall.

There was no rest time.

At the same time that Nam Ki-seok was building the wall with logs, there was a creature that woke up to the noise and vibration of the construction.

An egg brought from the Volcanic Zone. The egg shook slightly inside the Drawer Chest that Cheon Dowoon had made.

What's going on outside? Why is it so noisy?

The creature inside the egg twisted its body out of curiosity. Each time, the egg shook and rolled around inside the Drawer Chest.

With not much time left until hatching, the small monster began to prepare to break out of the egg.

Thanks to Nam Ki-seok's efforts, the speed of building the house increased dramatically.

The first time they built the house, it took five days. This time, they completed it in two days.

Kim Nari and Nam Ki-seok built the house, and during that time, Cheon Dowoon made the built-in wardrobe to be embedded inside.

The built-in wardrobe was just a wall cabinet with compartments like lockers. There were no hinges, so they couldn't attach doors.

"Still, it's great for this much."

Cheon Dowoon smiled and looked around the dressing room. Each wall had compartments, so it was perfect for storing clothes.

Now for the finishing touches. It was time to make a door in the wall connecting the original room so that people could come and go.

Cheon Dowoon cut out a part of the wall with thread, just like when he made the window. When he pushed it with his hand, an entrance connecting the room and the room was opened.

"The houses are connected. It's wider."

Kim Nari seemed excited and went back and forth between the two rooms.

"And it smells good. There's a fragrant smell."

"I know. I'm glad I made it with the tree that Guu recommended. The scent is subtle and I like it."

Cheon Dowoon and Kim Nari had satisfied expressions. Guu also had a proud expression at the words praising him.

Only Nam Ki-seok was sprawled on the floor with a face that looked like he had used up his future vitality.

"Eueueu..."

House or whatever, he could finally rest. He smiled with a happy face. Then he heard a strange cracking sound.

Cheon Dowoon and Kim Nari. Guu also heard the sound and looked at the opposite room at the same time.

The first compartment of the Drawer Chest. Inside, there was another cracking sound.

"Uncle, this sound... this."

Kim Nari pulled on Cheon Dowoon's sleeve with an excited face. Cheon Dowoon smiled as if answering.

"It looks like it's about to be born."

"Born? What is?"

"Uncle doesn't know. There's a monster egg inside. It's the egg that Uncle brought from the Volcanic Zone."

Kim Nari answered instead. At those words, Nam Ki-seok was horrified and got up. He distanced himself from the Drawer Chest and went on alert.

Volcanic Zone. A dangerous area where people can't enter. If it's a monster egg from such a place, a ferocious species was bound to be born.

'Why did he bring something like that! No, how did he bring it in the first place? Can Big Bro even enter the Volcanic Zone?'

How far does that person's ability go? Nam Ki-seok looked at Cheon Dowoon with his mouth open.

Cheon Dowoon was opening the Drawer Chest with a calm face.