The Uninvited Guest
We planted the vegetable seeds together after Seungpil came out, just as Mother had instructed.
When you stepped out of the hideout, a sprawling sea of grass greeted you immediately. Even the ordinary weeds on this uninhabited island grew tall and stubborn. As things stood, there wasn’t any decent space to sow seeds.
“Corporal Kang Changjae, sir? I’ll handle it. Should I start digging here?” Seungpil asked, gripping the shovel with eager confidence. Digging was clearly his strong suit.
“No. There’s no need for that.”
I pulled out my phone and navigated into the Hideout menu. Not only could I upgrade facilities inside the shelter, I could also spend coins to alter the surrounding environment.
Ground Leveling
Flattening a 1 m × 1 m (1 m²) area into pure dirt costs 20 coins.
Additional costs apply for trees, grass, rocks, and other obstacles.
Would you like to flatten the selected area?
[YES] / [NO]
I tested it by selecting a small patch near the entrance and it quoted me 23 coins. A spot with a large tree came to 28. “Let’s see… somewhere that gets plenty of sunlight…”
Going too far would be dangerous. I settled on a plot right beside the hideout entrance for our garden. The moment I pressed YES, the grass vanished with a soft pop and the ground transformed into rich, dark soil.
“Wow. It really is like a game.”
“Tell me about it.”
It was an astonishing sight no matter how many times I saw it. Seunghee’s eyes went round beside me, and even Mother watched with open fascination.
“I wonder what we’ll get? Potatoes or pumpkins would be nice.”
“Haha! Mother, just leave it to me! This son of Gangwon Province, Han Seungpil, will grow you the finest potatoes you’ve ever seen!”
“Having Seungpil here really is reassuring.”
Mother beamed as she watched Seungpil boast. That bastard… why was he subtly cozying up to her? Besides, they were random seeds—how the hell were we supposed to get potatoes?
“Seungpil. Want to go hunting?”
“Huh? Right now, sir?”
I’d have to drag him off somewhere secluded later and teach him a lesson. The little shit was getting too full of himself.
“But how deep should we dig?”
“Bigger seeds need to go deeper, smaller ones shallower,” Seunghee offered from the side when Seungpil asked.
“That makes sense. So how deep for these?”
“I don’t know that part.”
“……”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Never mind.”
Not exactly helpful.
“Planting them too deep probably makes it hard for them to sprout, so let’s keep it shallow.”
“Yes, sir.”
One square meter was too small for ten seeds. I flattened another plot right beside it, creating a W-shaped bed and planting five seeds in each.
“I wonder what’ll grow. Since this is a fantasy world, it’d be nice if we got meat or eggs instead of vegetables.”
“I want ice cream!”
“Seunghee… isn’t that reaching a little too far?”
“How is that any different from meat growing on trees?”
“I’ll go fetch some water for the seeds.”
“Mother! Let me get it!”
“Seungpil really is reliable, isn’t he?”
The heavy atmosphere from yesterday was gone. Smiles lingered on every face—mine, Mother’s, Seungpil’s, and Seunghee’s. The conversation flowed warmly: what vegetables would sprout, what we should eat for breakfast. It almost felt like we were on a family vacation.
But I had to ruin that pleasant mood.
“……Hold on. Shh.”
At my signal, everyone fell silent.
“Seungpil. Weapons.”
Just as we’d prearranged, Seungpil grabbed the axe leaning nearby and tossed me the bamboo spear.
“Mother, Seunghee—get inside.”
“O-okay.”
“Do not come out until I say it’s safe. No matter what.”
My suddenly grave tone sent the two of them hurrying into the hideout without argument.
-Rustle. Rustle.
Something stirred in the grass I had my spear trained on.
“Huh? People!”
The man who emerged after spotting us shouted in surprise. Forties? Fifties? Thin and short, round glasses, hiking clothes. At first glance he looked like the most ordinary middle-aged man you could find anywhere.
“Ah, hello there, young men? We’re not dangerous. Please lower your weapons.”
He stepped forward with both hands raised in surrender. His tone was polite and refined—probably a teacher, civil servant, or professional of some kind.
“……Hmm?”
A rope was tied around the man’s left wrist. From the bushes, a woman connected by that same rope followed him out.
“This is my daughter. She can’t speak. She’s autistic.”
Around twenty? Her young face looked gaunt. Maybe she hadn’t been sleeping well in this unfamiliar environment. Whether the autism claim was true or not, her mouth stayed shut but her eyes darted with clear anxiety.
So they were another family unit.
I kept my weapon raised. “You came all the way here without any weapons, sir?”
“Well, yes… was that risky?”
The man gave a faint smile and showed off the flimsy wooden stick in his right hand. It might work as a walking cane, but it was useless as a weapon.
“You’ve been wandering around unarmed, with a sick daughter?”
“Yes… if we stayed put we’d have starved… neither of us has eaten since yesterday.”
He suddenly bowed his head with a pitiful expression.
“Please, if you have any food to spare, could you share just a little? I’m fine, but at least let my daughter eat something. I swear I’ll repay this kindness.”
I exchanged a glance with Seungpil. How much of this man’s story could we trust? There were too many suspicious details.
First, if they truly hadn’t eaten since yesterday, neither of them looked hungry enough. Then there was the daughter’s clothing—short sleeves, shorts, and Crocs. Her bare legs were covered in scratches from the underbrush. Yet the man didn’t seem concerned. Looking closer, there were bruise marks on the skin hidden by her clothes, as if she’d been struck. And that rope cinched tight around her wrist like a handcuff—it had to hurt. Was treating your own daughter like this normal? Because she was autistic? In case she ran off? It wasn’t entirely impossible, but it still felt wrong.
Yes. Suspicious. Far too many red flags. Was I the strange one for thinking so? Or had my personality simply grown twisted with distrust?
“……Hey. Seungpil.”
Come here. I jerked my chin at him.
Seungpil trotted over quickly. “Yes, sir.”
Remember those emergency rations I mentioned? Go inside and bring two.
Huh? We’re just giving them to him?
Just bring them. I’ll explain later.
I didn’t know if this man was good or evil. But either way, there was no harm in selling a favor. Sharing a little wouldn’t starve us.
Understood.
And tell Mother and Seunghee not to come out under any circumstances.
Yes, sir.
After the whispered exchange, I sent Seungpil off. My eyes and the tip of my spear never left the man.
“Sir, he’s gone to get food. Take it and head back.”
“Ah, thank you! Thank you so much!”
The man bowed deeply, seemingly overwhelmed with gratitude. Was my personality that twisted that I couldn’t even accept simple thanks at face value? Still, suspicion was healthy. Doubt cost nothing, and it was an excellent way to raise your survival rate for free.
“It must be difficult, taking care of a sick daughter.”
“Well… it’s something I’ve grown used to over the years.”
We exchanged harmless small talk. Being suspicious was one thing; there was no need to create enemies. We didn’t know what the future held. For all I knew, this man really was just a decent uncle who might help us later. There was nothing wrong with staying on friendly terms.
“Hey! I told you to stay inside!”
A shout came from behind us—Seungpil’s voice.
…Sigh. Those idiots.
“Oh? It sounds like there are more family members. If I could greet them…”
“No need. My junior came with his grandmother, but she has dementia. I also came with my own mother, who isn’t in good health.”
“I see.”
There was no reason to mention the young women. I lied smoothly.
“Corporal Kang Changjae, sir. I’ve brought them.”
“Give them to the man.”
I kept my spear leveled while Seungpil approached with the emergency rations.
“And in the future, please avoid this area if possible. I’ve set up quite a few traps nearby.”
“Ah, yes. I’ll be careful.”
Of course it was a bluff. Still, it should make him think twice about coming back.
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
The man accepted the rations from Seungpil. They were palm-sized calorie bars—the reward we’d received yesterday after completing the mission with Mother. He took them with a delighted expression and slipped them into his pocket. Something else was already bulging inside the pocket of his hiking pants.
Seungpil turned away from the man and started walking back toward me.
And the man—
—instead of keeping the calorie bar in his pocket, pulled out something else.
-BANG—!
The explosive crack of gunfire, a sound both Seungpil and I knew all too well. Seungpil’s eyes bulged as he crumpled where he stood.
“You son of a—!”
The man’s revolver swung toward me. The muzzle of the 500-coin antique revolver glinted.
“—bitch!”
I hurled my body forward at the same instant I threw the bamboo spear.