Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: The Land of Adventurers, Serenia
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I returned home. As soon as I stepped into the entrance, I confirmed that the house, once covered in bloodstains, was now spotless. The blood that had splattered everywhere, filling the air with its stench, along with the shattered furniture, had all been cleaned up perfectly. If not for the fact that no one was inside, it would have been indistinguishable from any ordinary family home.
I stood there in a daze, staring blankly from the entrance into the house, when Caseun patted my head.
"If you want to cry, go ahead. When else would you cry if not now?"
But no tears came. I just felt a vague sense of pity. It had been less than a day since I arrived in this world—how could I have any memories or longing for my parents?
Instead, seeing me like this seemed to make him feel even sadder, as Caseun let out a sigh.
"Are you really planning to stay here? Won't you come with your old man?"
"No, it's fine. Really. I just want to stay here."
"…Alright, I understand."
I heard him mutter that he couldn't force me. Caseun said that if I was going to live here, we'd need ingredients, so he was going to the market to buy some and told me to wait.
I didn't want to refuse, so I thanked him and saw him off. After confirming that the broken front door had been perfectly repaired and closed smoothly, I looked around the house.
It was a modest home, but even as a fallen noble, a noble was still a noble—most everyday items were present. It felt a bit out of place for a fantasy world, but I was simply amazed by things like the refrigerator that maintained cold through magic to keep food fresh, and appliances similar to gas stoves. The bathroom even had a proper toilet, and water came out from what seemed to be plumbing underneath.
"I'm so relieved. Really."
I was tearfully grateful that this world wasn't purely medieval.
The comforts of life that nobles alone could enjoy without magic.
With no computers or TVs to begin with, I wondered how I could have adapted to this world without even these.
Of course, I would have scraped by somehow, but it was hard to hide my sense of relief.
For the first time since arriving in this world, I smiled faintly as I finished looking around the house.
Fortunately, there was a study—though calling it that might make one's nose wrinkle at how few books there were—but there were a few books and a map.
"Great!"
I was more thankful for the map than the books.
It would take Caseun quite some time to go to the market and return, so I had the leisure to examine the map. I went to what was now 'my room,' where I had first met Sian in this world.
As I went up to the second floor, the door that the mercenary had broken was replaced with a new one.
In the corner of the floor, a spot hard to reach, there was a bloodstain that hadn't been cleaned. With a wry smile, I entered the room and threw myself onto the bed.
Even though it was the body of a child that didn't weigh much, the bed creaked faintly under me. After tossing and turning uncomfortably, I just sat cross-legged. I spread out the map I had brought on the neatly made blanket.
It was an old map, with worn corners and yellowed paper. Not in color but black and white, and there were many differences from what I remembered. This world had two continents, but this map showed no sign of both. It only depicted islands between what should be Continent 1 and Continent 2, with some areas left blank.
'Is my memory right? Or is this map correct?'
I couldn't know without going there myself, but with the minimap function, I could figure it out to some extent just by visiting the area.
And for now, this old map was helpful enough.
Looking at specific locations on the map brought fragmented information about those regions automatically to mind.
These were details I had thought about and set hundreds of times while making the game. I might forget minor things, but not the big picture. With the map, now I just needed a way to record it.
"There has to be one."
If Sian had mimicked the game system exactly, there would definitely be a 'Memo' function.
「Bag」「Status Window」「Skill Window」「Map」「Quest」… and 「Records」.
Calling it 'memo' or 'notepad' didn't bring it up, but shouting 'Records' made it appear.
Even though there was system information, without a guide to explain it, it was incredibly inconvenient.
「Records」
A simple notepad visible only to me, Judah—no one else could see it.
Originally, it was made so players could copy-paste from the desktop without alt-tabbing during gameplay, but here I had to input manually.
I hurriedly began recording what I needed before my memories faded. Some parts weren't exact, but I input the elements I'd set for the game in order of importance, without missing any. Inputting wasn't hard—just concentrate and think, or tap the holographic keyboard in the air, and it wrote itself.
─Lords of the Demon Realm and Holy Kings of the Heavenly Realm
─Information on Perlnen's Twenty-Four Hearts
─Dungeon strategies by region and heart acquisition locations
─Locations for useful items
─Cooking methods
─List of capable companions
─Quest contents I remember
I skipped over vague or uncertain info. With surprising focus, I finished recording faster than expected. Since it was recording via thought rather than writing on paper or typing, it was relatively quick.
For now, this was just building the skeleton. Details could be added slowly at night. Glancing at what I'd input, a chuckle escaped me.
Demon Realm, Heavenly Realm—words like that mixed in made it read like a clichéd fantasy novel. The kind you'd smirk at while reading.
Who would have thought I'd end up inside the world I created?
"If I'd known, I would've made Judah a gold spoon."
Why'd I set it up so poorly? No, gold spoon?
If I'd made him a diamond spoon, I wouldn't have these worries now.
As a pang of regret made me sigh softly, I heard the door open downstairs.
A heavy thud suggested Caseun had returned from the market with his load.
Going down, I saw an enormous pile of goods in the entrance. He grinned.
"Bought a bit of this and that, and it piled up."
A bit? More like a lot.
I gaped at the haul he'd brought.
A sack of rice was one thing, but the mountain of vegetables, bread, eggs—it was enough that we might not finish it and have to throw some out.
Impressive he'd carried it all alone.
"Isn't this too much? What if it spoils…?"
"With a fridge, what's to worry? I was going to toss everything inside anyway. Let's fill it with these."
Ah, the fridge.
Right, that existed.
"I'll cook dinner tonight!"
Caseun declared energetically as he started moving the goods to the kitchen. It felt wrong to just watch, so I helped. Checking the items while carrying: simple meats, vegetables, eggs, fruits—very varied. Looked like he'd gone through every stall in the market.
Fortunately, many ingredients were familiar. As expected of a world with everything.
Spices must be expensive, though—salt and pepper were sparse.
"Where's the cutting board? Ah, here it is."
He opened a lower shelf, nodded in satisfaction, and pulled out the board and various utensils. He even found an apron somewhere and put it on. Very natural.
"Do you live alone?"
I asked, watching him prepare in the kitchen.
"No, I've got a grandson. A son and daughter-in-law, and maids too. But why do you ask?"
"You seem so used to cooking. Don't cooks usually handle it?"
"Usually, yes."
He pulled out pre-cubed meat from the pile—like veal, probably for stew. I watched in awe as he skillfully prepped carrots, celery, cabbage, and stir-fried the meat. Flames shot up from the pan. I'd heard it's hard to get that high heat at home, but here it was different. He masterfully controlled the fire, stir-frying the meat in a flash like a show.
The kitchen filled with a delicious aroma. My mouth watered involuntarily.
"But you see, in mercenary life, you have to cook for yourself sometimes. Can't survive on just dried, tough jerky forever."
I couldn't relate. I'd only eaten jerky as a snack when bored without drinks.
No reply, so he glanced back and chuckled.
"Of course, I'm basically retired now, but old habits die hard—I still cook. And I'm pretty good at it, you know."
That seemed true. No dish smelling this good could taste bad.
He finished the veal stew and set out what seemed like freshly baked bread on the table.
Chunks of meat floated invitingly. What a great eating day this had been.
"It's delicious."
"Hahaha, right? Eat up."
I tore bread, dipped it in stew, savored mouthfuls of meat, and filled my belly. Once done, he said it was time for him to go.
As I saw him off into the darkening night sky, he asked one last time.
Come with him. Wouldn't I be scared alone? With a wry smile, I refused.
"Heh, such a stubborn kid. Fine. I'll be waiting."
Caseun laughed heartily and left.
Alone in the house, I decided to plan my next steps.