Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: Another Family
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I rin.
It ended in my victory.
I draped blankets over the sleeping kids' bodies and stood up, a triumphant smile on my face.
Yi Young-jin's flute of the House of Hope specialty—turning a crying kid into 'Honestly, this is insanely fun, so I cried then laughed and now my pride hurts' hell in just three minutes—still hadn't lost its shine.
And honestly, I enjoyed playing with kids anyway.
I'd counseled plenty of them on their worries, too. Back at the orphanage, middle schoolers looked after the elementary kids, and high schoolers helped the director with the younger ones.
My role at the House of Hope had been the good big brother. The kind older sibling.
Gently scolding kids veering toward trouble or playing with them.
Honestly, I think some of that carried over even after coming to this world. Look closely at Aila, Nefti, Millmu, or Rudika, and you can't shake the feeling they're pure-hearted kids.
Survival here's harsher than back home, unlike modern life—no cynicism, though.
They're honest with their emotions: they hurt when it hurts, cry when they want to cry, laugh when they want to laugh. So the way I see Nefti, Aila, Millmu, or Rudika shares something with how I viewed my little sibs from the orphanage.
This leaky house, the bug-eaten walls... This rundown, precious place reminds me of Yi Young-jin's life back then.
If that ruined convenience store in Zone 8 brings back my old store, then Nefti's home evokes the House of Hope.
Government aid was slim, the director and teachers were all good people, but money worries etched lines on everyone's faces.
Nefti always told me she did manual labor just to cover her siblings' academy tuition.
That's not bad. A young person's sweat from honest work shines bright.
Still...
As stray thoughts kept swirling, Nefti approached.
"Sunbae-nim... Have you ever done childcare or something?"
"As if."
"Whoa... But how are you even better at it than me...?"
"They're just good kids."
"Th-thank you. They really are... good little siblings."
"You can tell just by looking."
With that, I scanned the house again.
It needs repairs in all sorts of ways.
"Nefti. I'm not asking this to look down on you. Answer as honestly as you can."
"...Y-yes. Ask me anything!"
"Do you need any help?"
"Huh? No, the kids are sleeping fine... You don't need to help..."
"No. I mean financial help."
"No, we're fine. Sunbae-nim."
Nefti drew a clear line and smiled brightly.
Yeah, right.
That's basically begging for help.
Rundown house. Single mom. Lots of siblings.
The eldest has a job lined up, but two years until graduation and employment.
Supporting the family will bend her back in the meantime...
"Let's head out, Nefti."
"...Uh, where to, Sunbae-nim?"
"Didn't you offer to show me around the village? I'll take you up on it."
"Ah, yes! Your tour guide, Gluco native Nefthelian, at your service!"
She beamed and hopped to her feet.
"Take care, both of you."
"We'll be back!"
With Lavera seeing us off, we strolled through Gluco Village.
After that, wandering Gluco revealed all sorts of new sides to it.
"Oh, hello, Granny Shera! Doing well?"
"Who’s this? If it isn't our little pup! Graduated yet?"
"Hehe, still second year! Two years left!"
"Oh yeah? Who's the young man? Here to steal our pup away?"
"N-no...! H-he's my school sunbae-nim!"
"Looks sharp, must be someone important... Our pup marrying into nobility?"
"N-no, that's not it! And he's not nobility—he's imperial!"
"Oh? Marrying into the imperial family then?"
"Granny!"
First off, Nefti was a village celebrity. With her bubbly, friendly personality, no wonder the elders adored her.
Second, these folks had no grasp of nobility vs. imperial differences—or awe for imperials. Not ignoring class entirely, but in this backwater, it's just "nobles and imperials are different like that."
What a savage countryside.
Refreshing, though.
Everyone's a commoner, chatting freely with me, and Imperial Bloodline never flagged it as disrespect.
That gave me a feel for Imperial Bloodline.
Stories said Hark von Loengrin shook hands with commoners like friends, so probably ignored rudeness without malice—not universal love, but close.
Anyway, thanks to that, I'm fully the stylish noble Nefti brought from the city.
But this warmth is nice.
And Gluco Village? Way more unique than expected.
How, you ask?
I plucked a roadside weed, dusted it off, and sniffed.
"Sunbae-nim, what's that grass?"
"Know this plant?"
"No."
"Figured."
I appraised it with Find Item and scanned.
Not just that—herbs everywhere, like weeds.
Fearsome backwater.
Gluco Village.
That night.
I fed Patrasche something suitable, then chatted with Lavera and Nefti about what we'd seen.
"...Herbs? You mean these weeds are herbs?"
"Yes. Fermata Grass. Dream Traveler. Strawberry Pop Mushroom. All usable with Potion-Making skill for potions."
Fermata Grass especially overflowed—mix with water to potion-ify other herbs. Nefti tilted her head at them.
"Whoa... These are herbs."
"Yeah. Surprisingly good quality ones scattered around."
"So... why tell us? Potions are luxury goods beyond common wages, right?"
"That's for high-grade. Low-grade potions... could make decent income."
"I see. But why...?"
"Nothing else. Turn these into potions to help the household."
"......Huh?"
"Sunbae-nim?"
Lavera's calm face flickered; I pressed on before questions.
"Of course, no Potion-Making skill means high-grade's tough. You know that?"
"Y-yes..."
"But craft tools with production skills attached, and even non-skilled users can make stuff."
"......W-wait. I'm unlearned; not sure what you mean."
"Like this."
I casually applied a skill proficiency potion from 'Act 3 Clear Reward' to Handy Worker. System chimed in my head.
A light omnipotence wrapped me. I pulled out an iron plate, set mortar, potion ingredients on it, and activated Mystic Craft.
And.
"Here. Better to hold this once than hear me explain a hundred times."
"Y-yes..."
Lavera took the kit, then flinched.
"Get it?"
"...This. Oh, I see. Like this...? Aha."
"Then, follow the image in your head and try making one?"
"Y-yes..."
She delicately mixed and boiled herbs, dripping one drop, two into a wooden bowl.
"M-Mom... Is that a potion?"
"I-is this it, Your Highness?"
"Yes. Perfect. Well done."
Appraise it: Low-Grade Stamina Recovery Potion [9T]. Kit uses down one, though.
"Weeds turning into potions like this... Skills are amazing. First time knowing. No, the tool has the skill? Thank you, I'll treasure it."
"I'm giving you that skill-attached kit from now on."
"...Huh?"
Lavera blinked at me.
"Until I return to Jefrin, I'll make you more kits. After, if you run low... I'll make and send them."
"...Why go that far?"
Why?
Why, indeed.
"For my Royal Guard."
"For Pti?"
"Yes. Do you know? Nefti works on-site, saves for siblings' tuition, sends living expenses home."
"I know. My meager skills burden her."
"Yet Nefti's never bent her convictions. She can shine brighter than anyone. She befriends Eve von Loengrin, my blood kin fit to be next emperor."
"...Isn't that just calling her a regular little sister?"
"Blood kin inferior."
"Y-yes..."
"Anyway, that capable, promising Nefti chose to be my dangerous Royal Guard. So I'll bear the responsibility."
Lavera stared at the kit, met my eyes squarely, and nodded.
"Potions from this kit... self-sufficiency, even tuition. Possible."
"Exactly. With it, I prepay two years of borrowing Nefti's strength without responsibility."
"...What do you mean?"
"Royal Guard starts post-graduation. Pay too. But Nefti's already sworn loyalty as one. Contractually, no salary yet. Even as Royal Guard, no change for two years."
"...Ah."
Semi-contract state. Personal bondage, almost shady deal.
Normal Royal Guards from nobles, but Nefti's commoner—no choice.
"Why go that far? Ignore it; she'd manage two years..."
"My Royal Guard can't smile for two years. Even smiling, worries linger."
"...Huh?"
"I hate that. That's all."
Yeah.
Yi Young-jin doesn't do dirty contracts.
Fair deals. Perfect service.
Our store offers holiday pay, 3-6-9 bonuses, year-end gifts.
Convenience store dreaming big corp welfare! How great!
"Oh my, oh my oh my..."
At my words, Lavera—serious till then—laughed lightly, excited.
"Will you accept, Lavera?"
"Hehe. Of course. With thanks."
"Thank you."
"But."
"Yes?"
"Calling by name feels distant. Hehe. Call me Mom from now on."
Why that suddenly?
Well.
Bosses calling staff moms happens.
Boss tight with employee's family... charisma overflowing, good guy vibe.
"Got it, Mom."
Lavera nodded satisfied; Nefti flushed, head down.
"Hehe. Pti's lucky. Mom's jealous enough. Grandkids born, dig out baby stuff again?"
"Mooom..."