Chapter 26

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 26

Chapter Title: Earning Cash

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"The sun's rising."

"Yeah. Another day starts here in this place."

We'd crash-landed in another world.

It had been several days since the world's chaebol heirs—kids who could shake the globe—went missing.

Not once had we heard a plane fly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠overhead.

Our radio calls went unanswered, and no rescue signals got any reply.

The sun and moon in the sky looked just like Earth's, but the stars were somehow off.

I'd never spotted the Big Dipper here, not even once.

Of course, I'm no expert, so if you asked whether it was really gone, I'd have nothing to say.

But—

Shhht.

This reddish warning from Danger Detection let me say for sure that my world had changed, at least.

"Snakes are starting to climb up, so let's stick to walking away from the bushes."

"Yes, Master."

"Got it, Woojin."

The two women following me proved it too.

"So, what's our destination, Master?"

A cool morning breeze tickled my hair. Feeling a touch of fatigue mixed with excitement, I gazed out at the endless coastline.

Truth be told, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠there ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was no set destination. Just steps toward our goal.

"The island's center. Let's head up to higher ground."

"Yup! That's gonna be a long hike!"

Kim Yeonju started walking again. The homeroom teacher kept pace, gesturing for me to hurry.

I stared for a moment at where we were headed, then stepped forward.

It was still the cool spring. Freshly graduated adults on a trip abroad, we'd made an emergency landing and ended up here.

And my life had changed dramatically.

Hoo.

I exhaled sharply, glaring at the white sand beach starting to heat up.

'About three hours in? Yeah, in roughly seven more, we'll hit that waterfall cliff.'

We were following the coast.

Our target: the island's heart, that hill bulging up like a mound.

Climbing it should give us a full view of what's where on the island, so we'd picked it.

Bonus: same direction as the others we'd split from yesterday—we could check on them too.

Sand, sand.

We kept up the monotonous routine for a while.

Move, rest. Move, rest.

Eventually, with the sun high and walking unbearable, we settled at the bush edge.

We flopped under a leaning palm tree facing the sea.

"Haa."

I eyed the twins sprawled out snoring beside me with annoyance.

"Guys. Everything else is fine, but try not to drool on my shoulder."

How deep a sleep do you have to be to drool like that?

What bugged me more: it only happened on my back.

I'd switched with Kim Yeonju midway, and it never happened on her.

On her, they'd rub their eyes, yawn, doze off nodding—then the second they hit my back, chin down, out cold.

"Maybe because Master's back is so comfy?"

...Why would mine be the only comfy one?

I frowned at my damp shirt shoulder, then pulled fresh water from the shop window.

"It's just so weird, though. How do you even do that?"

"No idea. It just... started one day."

Anyone halfway smart hanging around me like Kim Yeonju would've noticed.

Not once or twice—water popping out left and right? Not suspecting would be weirder.

'Teacher's curious but keeps quiet out of respect.'

Teacher might seem airheaded, but she's no fool.

She just knows when to zip it and when to ask.

At first, I debated hiding it, but weighed pros and cons and decided against.

Hiding it'd just be awkward, and constant secrecy could erode their trust in me.

'Anyone else, maybe. But these two? They're solidly on my side.'

Even if they wanted to bail midway, it wouldn't be easy. Not for modern folks who've lived 21st-century life.

"You know what, Master?"

"Hm?"

"These PET bottles. Once you finish the water, poof—they vanish."

"Really?"

News to me.

"Locked in the cockpit, couldn't go out, so I looked for one to pee in, and right in front of me? Gone."

Incredible.

Am I buying the bottle, or just what's inside?

Kim Yeonju chugged her water and let out a triumphant yell.

"Kyaah! That's the stuff! Good call going with Master's. Past me gets a thumbs-up!"

The cool water chilled my sun-baked body right up.

My rising irritation cooled too, brain kicking back into gear.

I opened the status window.

Daily quest done, plus buying water yesterday and today—left me with 9 points.

'Big spending last night.'

Not that I regretted chewing out the science nerd or claiming the spare bride, but humans always second-guess after.

I smacked my lips and switched to the quest window.

'Hm.'

Problem. I'd gotten coconuts a few times but never tasted the liquid inside.

"Teacher. Hand over one of those?"

"Coconut? Here."

Teacher passed one of the two she held. I tapped it lightly.

'Rock solid.'

No way barehanded. On a whim, I beckoned Kim Yeonju.

"Yeonju."

"Yes?"

"Crack this, and I'll fuck you right now."

"For real?"

Kim Yeonju lunged at a nearby coconut. Gripped it, licked her lips, fired up—

"Nngh."

Not budging.

Thrown, stomped, smacked—untouched.

"Argh, come on! I wanna get Master's cock already!"

She grabbed a sharp rock, raised it high, smashed down.

Thud thud thud!

Still fine. Just some scratches.

Furious, she hugged it, rolled around, tried every wrestling move—same result.

Finally, our married stewardess lay gasping on the ground.

Coconut's clear win.

"Yeonju. Is that how you normally open coconuts?"

"Ugh. No way."

Good. Wouldn't wanna try that idiot method.

"Normally, you need a machete or something. Hit this spot like this to cut it open."

Kim Yeonju sliced the air over the key spot.

"Imported ones in Korea come prepped—no work needed. Just poke the soft bit with something pointy."

She tossed the coconut down, shook her head, kicked it away like it grossed her out.

"But this? No eating without an axe at least."

"Hm."

Couldn't quit here. Needed that liquid for the next quest.

'What now. No way?"

Then it hit me.

Did I have to crack it myself?

'Just buy it, duh?'

I'd already checked: shop sells coconuts.

Question was: processed ones?

'Jackpot!'

Sells 'em!

Unripe green ones too, but also brown, hairy, ready-to-drink!

Photos showed the weak spot clear as day, like Yeonju said.

Bit pricier? Who cares.

I shot up.

"Woojin?"

"Master, where to?"

"Clam hunting."

"Huh? In this heat?"

Sun's brutal. But I'd found the quest fix. Wanted results now.

'Could swap points for cash, but...'

Points too useful—time to conserve. Can't keep patching with 'em forever.

I eyed the shop window.

Coconut: about 2,000 won each.

Clams, though...

'Bingo. Clams it is.'

Queen clam lived up to the name—sky-high value.

90% cut still left nearly 200 won each.

'Alright. Let's farm.'

Like striking gold roadside, I dove into clam-picking.

Swipe. Swipe swipe.

Beach clams zipped from sand to shop window via my hands.

Cash payout soared.

Jackpot. Quick sweep, already over 2k cash.

Heart pounding harder: beach's vast, clams everywhere.

No one else touching 'em but me.

This was like scooping 100-won coins off the street.

"Woojin, come back already."

"Just a bit more."

"Master, you'll collapse."

No use stopping me. If they were in my shoes, sun and fatigue wouldn't matter.

Whole beach looked like a money field.

'Oh, sales picky—same type only.'

Mixed in others, price tanked whole batch.

No tricks. Fine—I'd mastered clam farming anyway.

"Woojin, Teacher and I can help!"

"No. Too hot—stay in the shade. I'll be quick."

"B-But..."

I insisted I was fine; Teacher came over, snatched my clams, patted my pockets.

"?"

"Hand 'em over. We'll grill while you rest."

She thought I was slaving for our food.

I pulled some from the shop window and passed them. They bolted to the shade.

"Don't overdo it!"

"Got the lighter?"

"I do, Master!"

Back in shade, they dug a pit, stacked stones for a fire.

I watched warmly.

'Both amazing. Could slack when tired, but they always pull their weight.'

Group thrives if everyone does their part. These two? Grow and improve too.

Seeing them start the fire, glad I teamed up.

'Back to it.'

No good lingering in this sun—heatstroke risk deadly.

But—

Swipe. Swipe swipe swipe.

Clam-hunting second nature now—I spotted while speed-walking.

Efficient: minimal moves, clams straight to shop.

'One, two, three, four... seven.'

Weight climbing fast.

Price skyrocketing.

'This'll do.'

Exhaled hard, headed back. They'd lit the fire, clams on rocks.

A blue hologram flickered before me, asking to sell the haul.

At insane rates.