Chapter 306: Hobby Life (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 306: Hobby Life (2)
Reading The Biography of Soda Princess while eating black bean noodles was incredible. The level of immersion was on a different scale compared to when I’d steal glances at it during car rides. It felt like the only things left in the world were me and the Cream Soda Kingdom.
When a strange tension began to flow between Prince Melon, the princess’s fiancé, and Urom the adventurer, I couldn't help but call out to Kang Gi-yeon.
“Are these guys cheating on her?”
“Who?”
“Prince Melon.”
“Oh, you’re at that part. Want a spoiler?”
“Yeah.”
“They get caught having a thing by Princess Soda, but she tells them not to be bound by things like political marriages and lets them go so they can live freely.”
“Does that even make sense? Is that right?”
Kang Gi-yeon chuckled as he watched me clutch my head in frustration.
“I feel like my mind is collapsing.”
“It’s a natural reaction. I felt the same way when I first read it.”
“Even if she lets them go, she should at least collect alimony first…”
“Where would the Cucumber Kingdom get that kind of money? They’re a nation that was trying to marry off their eldest son as a live-in son-in-law to the Cream Soda Kingdom just to get by.”
“Don’t tell me she ends up with Tennovan after all this?”
“Read the rest for yourself.”
After throwing me into a state of confusion, Kang Gi-yeon went back to being absorbed in his own manga.
Fortunately, in the first volume, the disaster of Princess Soda having a thing with Prince Tennovan—the red-haired, ill-mannered younger brother of Prince Melon and second son of the Cucumber royalty—did not occur.
However, I couldn't help but be charmed by the princess’s magnanimity. She scooped out a whole serving of vanilla ice cream, a precious asset of the kingdom, and encouraged her fiancé and the adventurer to develop a drink the world had never seen before.
If Kang Gi-yeon’s hobby was static for an outdoor activity, Choi Je-ho was the opposite. He preferred the most dynamic options among outdoor activities.
Actually, his first choice was experiencing an action school, but at the urging of everyone except me, the visit to the action school was postponed for the future. Thus, we ended up trying his second choice: "Riding a bike at the Han River at 10 PM."
Since I was told there were specific pants for cycling, I even borrowed clothes from Choi Je-ho. After stripping him of a helmet and pads as well, my riding preparations were complete.
“How many kilometers do you usually ride once you head out?”
“I’ve never really thought about it while riding.”
It was a very Choi Je-ho-like answer. Considering his sincerity in kindly lending me the equipment, I decided not to nitpick today.
Given the hour, there were more people cooling down or packing up their gear than those riding intensely.
It was dark, and the pedestrian paths were separated from the bike lanes, so it seemed unlikely that rumors would spread about "Choi Je-ho and his clone riding bikes at the Han River."
Choi Je-ho and I rode in silence for about two hours. Since we were riding one behind the other anyway, there was no reason to talk. I just had to keep pedaling to match Choi Je-ho’s pace.
By the time almost no one was left by the riverside, Choi Je-ho pulled his bike over to the shoulder.
Following his lead, I pulled out the water bottle I had prepared. As I took a breath, the night view of the Han River came into full view.
When looking down from above, I could only see the pitch-black river water. But looking from below, the world couldn't have been more sparkling.
“The night view is pretty.”
At my words, Choi Je-ho pulled the water bottle from his lips and spoke.
“You actually know how to say things like that?”
“I’m a very sentimental person.”
The wind was cool, the scenery was great, and it was quiet. Plus, my body felt refreshed from the movement. It was perfect.
“It is different from riding a cycle at the gym.”
What?
Did I hear that right? Choi Je-ho is agreeing with me? And on such a sentimental topic?
I wondered if a System was about to drop from the clear sky. My gaze instinctively drifted upward.
“Why?”
“I’m just surprised to find out you actually have feelings.”
“Whatever…”
Choi Je-ho took off his helmet and ruffled his sweat-soaked hair. Following his lead, I took off my helmet, and a cool breeze blew over my head. As I shook out my hair and pushed it back, I could feel the air passing between my fingers. It was refreshing.
On the way back, we rode at a slightly slower pace. Unlike when we were racing along, we could occasionally chat.
“Have you come out to ride since the debut?”
“No.”
“Then it’s been a while for you too?”
“Yeah.”
Choi Je-ho kept his eyes fixed forward the entire time he spoke.
Thanks to that, forget the scenery—while riding, all I could see was Choi Je-ho’s back, specifically his waist, which shouldn't have any surgical scars yet.
≫ Our boy is a dancer, and he has to have back surgery?
≫ Je-ho is only in his 20s!
≫ He has to live with a herniated disc? When he’s the main dancer and the center?
The bitter post from a fan wouldn't leave my mind.
I recalled the Choi Je-ho of the past, who was famous for his god-like reflexes.
Even if I end up looking like a total jerk, if I use this well, maybe I can make it work somehow.
“Choi Je-ho.”
“Yeah.”
“How far are you willing to go if I tell you to do something?”
At my words, Choi Je-ho stopped his bike. I made a sudden stop right along with him. It was a relief no one was following behind us.
Choi Je-ho planted one foot on the ground and asked.
“Like what, for example?”
“Like telling you to lie down in the middle of a performance, or to jump off the stage while dancing, or telling you to get lost during a live broadcast.”
“That’s insane.”
Choi Je-ho furrowed his brows. Then he sighed and spoke.
“Aren’t I already doing enough of that?”
“Huh?”
“I’m doing everything you tell me to do. Aren’t I?”
He climbed back onto his bike.
“…I guess so.”
That guy really was doing everything I told him to.
Without even asking why, just grumbling a little and that was it.
“If I get cursed at for doing something weird you ordered, I’m blaming you.”
Choi Je-ho drew a sharp line.
“I’ll obviously take the heat. I’m a pro at that.”
“Bullsh*t.”
With that profanity, Choi Je-ho stepped on the pedals. Seriously, look at him, never saying a single nice word. Fine, just keep going straight like that for the rest of your life without looking back.
Jeong Seong-bin decided to teach me how to play games. I asked if we were going to a PC Bang, but he recommended a single-player game, saying it would be better for me to play something that didn't involve socializing with others.
“The title is My Farm?”
“Yes. It’s famous for being a healing game.”
I don’t really need that much healing. I’ve been doing nothing but healing for three days straight.
Regardless of my opinion, Jeong Seong-bin launched the game. Peaceful BGM began to flow.
It started with character creation. Since it was a game I’d probably only try once or twice, I didn't put much effort into the settings. I just typed my real name into the name slot.
As my character arrived at the entrance of a small, humble village, a man came running toward me in his stocking feet.
『Yiwol, so you’re the new farm owner I heard was coming?』
『I’ve heard the rumors. You came all the way here to find a second life, didn't you?』
This old man is sharp. He could give the Fortune-telling Octopus a run for his money.
“Characters like this Village Chief are called NPCs. Once the tutorial is over, quests will appear. It’s a game with a high degree of freedom, so you don't have to obsess over completing quests in a short amount of time.”
Jeong Seong-bin added an explanation.
『I can feel how much motivation you’ve brought just by looking at your eyes. I had days like that once too… Ho ho.』
『Oh, my goodness, look at me. This isn't the time for this. You probably want to see your farm as soon as possible, right?』
“This old man talks a lot. Is all of this important information?”
“You can skip it… Haha.”
Jeong Seong-bin laughed awkwardly.
After repeated skipping with the permission of my game teacher, the farm I finally faced was…
『How about it! Doesn't it make you want to take on the challenge?』
…Acheingly familiar. The state of the field was exactly like the weekend farm where I used to pick stones instead of Department Head Nam.
To be dropped into this stone-filled field twice. Life is too cruel.
“I want to stop playing now.”
“Gasp, you don't like it?!”
“It’s not that, it’s just that my heart hurts.”
Still, out of respect for Jeong Seong-bin’s sincerity, I decided to play for at least an hour. The goal was to experience a new hobby, after all.
Dot Iwol, who had just been created, didn't have much money. The only things Dot Iwol could buy at the supermarket were barley seeds and bean seeds.
‘Wait. Can’t barley be double-cropped?’
Perhaps crops weren't affected by seasons in the world of My Farm, as they could be harvested after a set amount of time.
And as I expected, the cultivation period for barley was shorter than for beans. A balance patch had been applied within the game to reflect the characteristics of the crops to some extent.
I paused the game and pulled over my precious diary. Then, I opened a new page and began to draw up a grand cultivation plan.
‘Since the time required for cultivation is different for each crop, I’ll utilize this to the maximum and run the sowing cycle like a treadmill.’
The memo pages of the diary were instantly filled with calculations on when it would be best to plant and harvest beans and barley.
That wasn't all. The instinct I had developed in the early days with the System, where I would predict and nail new tasks, began to crawl back to life.
‘Primary industry alone won't be enough content. They’ll definitely tell me to make something with the crops. Since beer has the highest production potential right now, I’ll fix half the field as a barley production zone, and alternate planting beans and barley in the other half to prepare for quests while accumulating wealth…’
I hadn't even finished clearing the stones from the field, yet a mountain of work had piled up. I began to feel rushed.
“Hyung? Are you done with the game already?”
Perhaps hearing that the sound of the keyboard had stopped, Jeong Seong-bin, who had stepped out to let me play in peace, returned to the room. I answered while clutching my hair.
“I haven't even been able to start yet.”
“I heard the controls aren't that hard… Wait a second. Hyung, what are you doing right now?”
“I’m using my brain to find the maximum efficiency.”
“Why are you doing a 'Korean-style play' when I didn't even teach you that! Don't tell me you looked up strategy tips or something?”
“Strategy tips? Have the predecessors already created a treasury of wisdom?”
“Oh my god.”
Jeong Seong-bin pressed a hand to his forehead. Because he kept pestering me to please take it easy, I promised to enjoy the game entirely on my own and not look at any strategy guides.