Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Healer-nim, What Is This?
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Before the spirit's eyes lay shiny acorns and five large pinecones with gorgeous colors.
'Hmm...'
The spirit, who had been circling around them, vigorously turned its small head.
'Gifts are supposed to be the most treasured things from the giver.'
So, it should give its most cherished acorns.
Having lined up three acorns near the gate entrance, the spirit quickly slipped into the lake, peeking its face out.
'I wonder how much the human will love this?'
Puhihi— it let out a shy giggle and swiftly hid itself.
But even after a very long time passed, the human didn't appear.
'...When on earth is it coming?'
Did something happen?
'I have to properly thank it for saving my home...'
With a dejected face, it stared at the gate entrance for a while.
"Ppi...!"
Finally, the human appeared at the entrance!
To see the joyful reaction up close upon receiving the gift, it approached stealthily with a pounding heart.
But then.
"Huh? What's this?"
Far from being delighted by the gift, the human brushed off the acorns like trash.
The spirit, greatly shocked, blankly opened its mouth for a moment...
Then soon furrowed its brows in an inverted V.
'...Aha! It prefers pinecones over acorns!'
How could it not have thought of that!
The moment the human left, the spirit rummaged through its treasure trove again, pulled out five pinecones, and neatly lined them up near the entrance.
But the human indifferently swept away its gift once more.
Overwhelmed with indescribable hurt, the spirit's tiny wings drooped limply.
"Oh right— I forgot that again— Gotta go get it quick—!"
At that moment, the human left the spot once again.
Clutching its last hope, the spirit picked up its most treasured treasure No. 1, a single four-leaf clover, and headed to the entrance.
'As far as I know, no human hates four-leaf clovers.'
So surely.
The moment that human spots the four-leaf clover, it'll flash a pretty smile!
Puhihi—
The spirit giggled shyly once more and placed the four-leaf clover in a spot perfectly in the human's line of sight.
The instant it glanced around, worried about being caught, and tried to return to the lake!
Snap—
"Gotcha, you little rascal!"
A sudden shock enveloped its entire body.
The spirit ended up caught in the human's hand.
"What is this? Some scrawny fish?"
At the following words, its eyes went wide.
It was once famous among spirits for having the 'prettiest face.'
It had even prettily dyed its lips with cockscomb petals in case it ran into a human, and brightened its complexion with globe amaranth.
Yet...
'Scrawny fish...?'
The spirit's pupils began to tremble.
Not content with discarding its precious gifts, to describe it as a scrawny fish...
Its grievance doubled!
"Ppiing... Ppiing..."
In the end, the spirit couldn't hold back and burst into tears right in front of the human.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'Who would've thought this gate had a spirit too.'
Seeing its palm-sized body clad in a dress made of petals.
I could tell it was the same kind of being as the spirits I'd seen so far.
I quietly looked down at the spirit bawling on my hand.
'I thought all spirits were pretty, but apparently not.'
Sunken cheeks.
Deep shadows under its eyes.
Skinny, bony limbs...
An overall appearance reminiscent of a scrawny fish.
'...This one's kinda ugly.'
Even if it's a spirit, I have pretty strict standards when it comes to looks.
I couldn't force myself to think something ugly was pretty.
I carefully set the wriggling, distressed spirit down on the ground from my hand.
The spirit, with its wet face, glanced around, then seemed to realize there was nowhere to escape and tightly covered its eyes with its small hands.
As if thinking that covering its eyes made it invisible.
'Still, its antics are kinda cute.'
Feeling sorry for it compared to the unusually plump Pristine and Lumina Spirit, I held out a cream bun I'd brought along in front of the spirit.
"Wanna eat this?"
But the spirit firmly shook its head.
Seeing its lips pursed, it seemed thoroughly offended by the 'scrawny fish' comment.
However.
Gurgle—
A brutally honest sound pierced the silence.
- Ppi...
The spirit's face turned apple-red.
"......"
I silently held out the cream bun a bit more.
The spirit rolled its eyes this way and that, seemingly pondering for a moment, then finally stealthily reached out toward the cream bun.
The instant its tiny fingers tore off a piece and put it in its mouth.
- ......!
The spirit's eyes sparkled.
It must taste amazing, as its hands flapped wildly.
Then, twitching its nose oddly, it took a deep breath.
- Ppiik!!
Letting out an ear-ringing exclamation, it snatched the cream bun right from my hand.
And buried its face in it, devouring it frantically.
Haap— Nom nom nom, smack smack—!
Chomp chomp— Gulp!
Cream smeared all over its face and fingers, but it didn't care at all.
"...Eats well, huh."
Amazed by the enormous appetite from such a tiny body.
I pulled another cream bun from my bag.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I've spent most of my life living in a semi-basement.
Sunlight always just skimmed over the window.
Opening the window first brought in the smell of mold and sewer.
Even in that environment, I couldn't give up on 'plants,' my one and only friends and family.
I installed artificial lights, bracing for the electricity bill bombs.
On nice days, I'd take them up the stairs or to the rooftop for some sun.
Having brought in plants out of my own greed... leaving them in such poor conditions always filled me with guilt.
Maybe that's why.
The moment I stepped into a house full of sunlight.
"......"
I lost my words.
Beyond the large windows pouring in sunlight stretched green trees and a whispering forest in the gentle breeze.
Transparent sunlight rippled across the glass, warmly enveloping the interior.
Stepping out through the door, the first thing that caught my eye was a small greenhouse.
Beside it sat a modest vegetable garden.
Perhaps due to neglect for so long.
Wildflowers and weeds had sprouted freely around the greenhouse and garden... but they formed a single picturesque scene.
I approached the plants lined up along the window and reached out.
🌿 Plant Happiness 🌿 [Haworthia soaks in the warm sunlight with its whole body] [Sansevieria takes a refreshing breath] [Monstera entrusts itself to the gentle breeze] [Rosemary shakes its leaves in delight] The guys must have found semi-basement life pretty tough.
Seeing each express different happiness.
"Sorry for all this time."
After stroking the plants' leaves for a while.
I unpacked simply inside, then headed out for a short walk to see what plants lived in the nearby forest.
Grass brushing my toes, sunlight filtering through branches speckling the vast forest floor.
With bizarre mushrooms and abnormally grown plants, the forest felt like a space cut off from the world.
Then. My gaze, capturing the mystical scenery, stopped at one spot.
"...What is this?"
Not a flower, not a weed.
Shaped like an onion, but not an onion...
Unable to contain my curiosity, I finally reached out toward the flower.
🌸 Plant Profile 🌸 [Harunella] A rare species that blooms in the quiet forest where sunlight lingers the longest. A soft bioluminescence flows within the flower, purifying the air. [Efficacy]
- Effective for chronic fatigue recovery and nerve stabilization - Induces sound sleep and balances the autonomic nervous system [Usage]
‘Harunella Air Freshener’ – Use distilled essential oil as aroma oil. Aids in tension relief and concentration. ‘Harunella Flower Tea’ – Lightly dry the petals, then steep in hot water. Gently melts away the day's fatigue. My gaze slowly scanned the info window, then suddenly stopped at the last line.
"...Huh?"
[Harunella Flower Tea – Gently melts away the day's fatigue]
'Melts away fatigue?'
Immediately, images of the first-floor staff at the Awakener Association and the medical team running around all day flashed in my mind.
'If I put this as a cafe recommended menu, it'd be a total hit.'
In this world overflowing with chronically fatigued people nowadays.
A tea that relieves fatigue and helps you sleep well...
It's bound to be insanely popular!
Of course, loyal customers for discreet deals would flock too!
'Gotta test the effects quick!'
Too curious about how effective it'd be, I contacted Ha Do-yeon—who always had dark circles under her eyes—while showing her around the now-purified gate interior.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "You purified the entire place here in such a short time?"
Ha Do-yeon wiped the dripping sweat with a handkerchief as she looked around the gate interior.
"I didn't even realize it was this big when I first came..."
She slowly circled the lake and ancient trees, repeatedly exclaiming at the beauty.
'Hehe... Even I think nature's pretty gorgeous.'
A swell of pride rose within me.
"...There's a coffee machine? And tons of tables and chairs... Healer-nim, are you planning to open a cafe here by any chance?"
"Yep! What do you think? Pretty good idea, right?"
No sooner had I finished than Ha Do-yeon's eyes went wide.
"You were envisioning this future amid all that mess?"
She stared at me with her hand over her mouth, then looked around again, continuing in an admiring tone.
"You didn't just buy a trash-filled gate. To think there was this plan hidden... You're amazing. I couldn't even dream of it."
"Haha..."
I idly kicked at some leaves nearby.
Unfamiliar praise made one corner of my heart tickle.
So I quickly steered to the main topic.
"Um... Anyway, Necromancer-nim. Could you maybe taste-test this flower tea I developed as a new menu item?"
"Yes!? Me for the cafe's first new menu...? This is a total honor!"
After seating the excited Ha Do-yeon.
I took out the gently dried Harunella petals, placed them in a clear teacup, and poured hot water.
A subtle, sweet floral scent began spreading around.
"It's ready!"
I handed over the simply finished flower tea, and Ha Do-yeon carefully cradled the cup.
"Thinking this is the first taste of the new menu... kinda exciting."
Slurp—
I watched tensely as she sipped the tea.
"...Huh?"
At that moment, Ha Do-yeon looked at me with round eyes.
"Healer-nim, what is this...?"