Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: To Live in This World
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"Then, I can teach her from now on, right?"
"Of course. But if you're going to teach her, you need to do it properly."
Gentia flashed a grin.
"Don't worry, I'll teach her thoroughly."
"Good. Now the only issue left is housing? What are your plans? If you haven't found a place yet, you can stay at my mansion. I've got plenty of empty rooms."
Gentia put her pipe in her mouth and made a thoughtful face.
"Hmm... a mansion. Feels too aristocratic for me. If I go back to being a mercenary later, it'd be hard to readjust."
"But from what I know, there are no houses for sale inside the inner walls right now? Maybe outside the outer walls, but that's why you haven't found one yet."
"Heh. True, but still. Tsk. Why's a backwater castle like this short on houses and yet so expensive?"
Judah, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, realized that Gentia's housing was the problem. The mansion had plenty of empty rooms, but she seemed uncomfortable with it for some reason and wanted something smaller. He decided to carefully join in.
"Um, if you want, you could stay at my place. We've got plenty of rooms."
"Oh! Really? You sure? Your parents won't mind?"
Caseun's face stiffened for a moment. Gentia still didn't know that Judah lived alone without parents. There hadn't been time to explain that far, and he hadn't expected the conversation to go this way. Oblivious, Gentia was smiling.
"Yeah, it's fine. There's no one at home but me anyway."
"Eh?"
Gentia looked flustered at Judah's bittersweet smile. The mood had turned awkward. Kain, Liel, and Caseun didn't look pleased either. Finally catching on, she let out an "Ah—" and parted her lips slightly. As the awkwardness thickened, Caseun nodded and spoke up.
"Alright, then housing is settled. Judah."
"Yes."
"From now on, Gentia will teach you in my place. Skip the morning training and spars with Kain for a while."
"Got it."
"Talk details over with Gentia. And since you'll be living together, living expenses might run short, so if you need anything, come find me anytime."
Judah nodded. Better to have more than enough than lack—especially money. After thanking Caseun for his generous support, Gentia plopped her hand on Judah's head.
"Then, Captain. I'll take the kid and go. Got stuff to discuss about the future."
"Go ahead."
Caseun nodded readily. Kain and Liel, who had been watching blankly, looked thrilled that they didn't have to learn from Gentia and exchanged bright smiles. At the same time, they glanced at Judah with eyes full of pity. Learning from the scary beastkin was one thing, but living together? That sounded horrifying to them.
But Judah actually felt good. The house had been feeling lonely lately. He hadn't admitted it, but he'd wanted someone else around—and Gentia coming was more than welcome. His only worry was whether he was the only one feeling this fondness, or if she had other motives.
*If only I could see a status window right now.*
Unfortunately, despite every trick to view others' status windows so far, nothing had appeared. He had no idea if there was a specific condition or if others' info was just inaccessible. Living with Gentia was exciting yet nerve-wracking. A strange mix.
As he stood there dazed, Gentia pulled her hand from his head and held it out in front of him. A slender, pale hand—hard to believe it belonged to a beastkin.
"Shall we go, kiddo?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah."
Judah grabbed the offered hand on reflex. It was warm. Holding it, he realized his worries were pointless. Back in his old world, he'd lived over twenty years without knowing anyone's info. Here, nearly three years without seeing it. Why obsess now? Nothing would go wrong.
He bowed to Caseun, then left the mansion hand-in-hand with Gentia. Once outside, she fiddled with her pipe, and somehow—magic, probably—smoke rose on its own from the tobacco chamber.
Suuup—
The sound of her inhaling came, followed by a refreshed exhale. Smoke billowed out with her sigh of relief.
"Tobacco."
"Hm?"
"Isn't that bad for your health?"
Health...? Gentia eyed her pipe and took another drag. Smoke traveled down her throat, deep into her lungs, then out with her breath. Watching the "Fuu—" plume, she answered.
"It is harmful. But this isn't tobacco leaves—it's herbs, so it's not so bad. Just strong smoke. And... even if it hurts you, find a wizard or priest to fix it. No worries at aaall~."
Yeah, in a world with ways to revive the dead, tobacco was just a luxury good. Judah nodded in understanding, and Gentia eyed him amusedly.
"What, wanna try? Here."
She moved to hand over the pipe casually, but Judah shook his head fast.
"No, I'm good. I, uh, don't really want to."
"Too bad. It doesn't taste bad."
Offering smokes to minors? Judah, who'd never touched one in his life, felt natural revulsion—even if it was herbs. Gentia chuckled, apparently joking, and dropped it.
Silence fell again. But streets filled with people, noise swelling around them. Serenia was unusually bustling for its size—adventurers, mercenaries, merchants, all sorts moving about.
Worried about losing each other in the crowd maybe, Gentia didn't let go of his hand. Or perhaps she feared getting lost herself. Her grip was warm and soft, but sweat started beading on his palm. She smoked; he led the way.
"I..."
She spoke first while they walked quietly. He turned to see her smiling.
"Like the captain said, I'll teach you lots. Hunting, herb gathering, first aid, wilderness camping—all that adventurer and traveler stuff. Sound fun? Excited?"
Fuuu—whoosh—gray smoke hazed into the air and dissolved.
"Hmm. Maybe. But hunting? Yeah, looking forward to that."
Gentia's eyes curved happily, lips quirking up.
"It'll be a blast. More than you expect."
Judah brought Gentia home. The empty house was silent. He kicked off his shoes upon entering. She paused at the door, chuckled, then followed suit.
"Funny. You're doing Baekje Empire style?"
"It's comfy. Floor's clean—don't worry."
He cleaned every three days at least—floors, dust, even unused rooms. He gave her the first-floor room he guessed his parents used. Bed, vanity, wardrobe, even a full-length wall mirror—perfect for her. He'd burned or tossed the old clothes and makeup, so clean in a good way... or barren in a bad. But Gentia smiled, seeming to like it.
"You said unused, so I figured I'd clean it, but it's spotless? You sure I can have this room?"
"Yeah. I'm the only one here anyway. No issue—make yourself at home."
She hummed approvingly. It exceeded expectations—clean, spacious, fully furnished. She'd fill it with her things; emptiness was no problem.
After a quick tour from Judah, she poked around confirming spots, then said she'd fetch her guild luggage and stepped out.
The moment Gentia left, a system message popped up before Judah's eyes. Reading the holographic green-bordered text, he jolted.
[You have acquired your first companion (temporary), enabling status window use from now on.]
[Status windows can now view non-companions as well. Use wisely to greatly aid fragment collection.]
"Ah!"
Finally, he could check others' info. Useless now, but invaluable later when gathering fragments on the road. Thrilled, he pulled up Gentia's first.
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「Status Window」
[Name: Gentia]
[Title: Tracker]
[True Name: None]
[Level: 49]
[Job: Mercenary (C)]
[Race: Beastkin _ Tiger]
[Strength: 63 (B) / Potential B]
[Stamina: 69 (B) / Potential B]
[Agility: 79 (B) / Potential A]
[Mana: 50 (C) / Potential B]
[Magic Resist: 51 (C) / Potential B]
[Knowledge: 49 (C) / Potential C] ◀ Special
[Luck: 55 (C) / Potential B] ◀ Special
[Favorability: 10 (Neutral)]
[Trust: 30 (Belief)]
「Traits 4/5」
[Primal Instinct] - Rank: B
[Tiger-Dragon Rivalry] - Rank: B
[Hunter] - Rank: C
[Virtuous Homemaker] - Rank: C
「Skills 5/5」
[Beastification] - Rank: B
[Spear Phantom] - Rank: C
[Mercenary Left-Hand Dagger Style] - Rank: C
[Concealment] - Rank: B
[Ambush Strike] - Rank: C
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A rush of relief flooded him, chest unclenching.
Judah pored over the floating window, savoring the thrill.
* * *
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Tip 8. Trust levels: 0 (Neutral) → 30 (Belief) → 50 (Friend) → 70 (Trust) → 100 (Bond). Or -30 (Caution) → -50 (Danger) → -70 (Distrust) → -100 (Betrayal).
Tip 9. Favorability levels: 0 (Neutral) → 30 (Interest) → 50 (Attention) → 70 (Lover) → 100 (Spouse). Or -30 (Dislike) → -50 (Revulsion) → -70 (Hostility) → -100 (Murderous Intent).
Tip 10. Balancing trust and favorability is crucial. If they drop fast into negatives, brace for betrayal—it's the worst case. At least that'll soften the shock.
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========== Afterword ==========
Well, but I heard black mages have to stay virgins until 30 to qualify?
?
Q. lol Authors, you didn't say your pen names when greeting???
A. lol Joara forced us out. Made nameplates with what we'd written.
Set 'em up on tripods lol. Assigned seats.
Mine said 'Greek Roman Myths etc.' 'Weeping Soul' lol.
How else would I know who was who lololololol.
Went and a Joara staffer asked "How was the army?" Some authors too lolololol.
Q. Author, how many coupons per 1연참? I'll buy you with money.
A. Buy me!? 2016 minimum wage 6,030 won. Can ya afford me!?