Are Apples Really That Delicious?

Are apples really that delicious?

I was still reeling from the fact that the apples had sold the instant I listed them when a sudden ding of a notification went off.

Checking it, I found a private message waiting for me.

The sender was none other than Thunderbolts Akari.

"…?"

I blinked at the messages from Thunderbolts before I could stop myself.

Thanking me for selling them? If anything, I was the one who should be grateful she'd bought them.

Well, the apples are delicious, I'll give her that.

Akari must really love apples, huh?

Even I had been shocked the first time I tried one. Anyone who liked fruit would probably call these a revolution in the fruit world after a single bite. And I wasn't exaggerating — I meant it sincerely.

Hmm… still, I'm grateful she bought them all, but…

If one person snapped up the entire stock, there was no viral buzz to be had.

Ah!

A good idea struck me.

Come to think of it, the community didn't just have a shop function — it had a trade function too, didn't it?

Alright. Let's try this.

Another post went up on the ever-bustling World Hunter Community.

Aside from one person, the comment reactions were not good.

Of course, I'd expected as much. Selling a single apple for 100,000 won and not getting called crazy would have been the strange part.

But I believed.

The moment anyone took even one bite of these apples, they would think, Yeah, 100,000 won is fair.

Japanese fruit is insanely expensive too, right?

I'd heard that top-grade or rare-brand apples sold for 200,000 won a piece over there. Mine wouldn't lose to those. Probably.

Oh. Perfect.

I'd only planned to sell three, but now I had four buyers. Well, adding one extra wouldn't hurt.

I immediately sent trade requests to the buyers.

Ding—

The moment I sent the requests, a trade window popped up that looked like something straight out of a game — a chat pane and slots for trade items.

I got right to it.

One apple each, 100,000 won received.

Since I'd set this whole thing up for the viral effect in the first place…

That should do it.

Honestly, it didn't matter if they didn't write reviews. Even if this viral attempt flopped, I had nothing to lose.

"My Queen."

Just then, Ayla finished whatever she'd been doing and came over.

"My apologies. I have matters to attend to today and will need to step out for a while."

Matters to attend to?

So Ayla had personal business of her own.

I nodded and answered.

"Very well. When will you return?"

"By this evening at the latest."

So no Ayla until evening, then.

I thought it over for a moment.

Ayla's not home…

Even if I stayed in, I'd just end up browsing galleries or playing games. And today was a weekday.

The more money, the better.

Ever since awakening as a Hunter, I'd resolved to live a little more diligently, hadn't I? Sitting around while everyone else worked felt wrong, so I figured I should go out and do something too.

But what kind of work?

Honestly, I don't have to worry about the Association anymore, do I?

If they caught me, I could just say I was a thirteen-year-old kid without an ID.

Hmm… though a thirteen-year-old toddling around in front of a gate might look a little weird.

Anyone I could go with?

I picked up my phone.

Looking at it now, my social circle really was pitifully small. Then again, I'd spent twenty-five years as a shut-in living off my parents' insurance money, so it was only natural.

Ding—

A text came in.

It was from Lee Chaerin.

Ah. Right — I'd completely forgotten about visiting Hunter Han Yuseol.

Hmm…

Alright. Work could wait for today.

I'd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠just made 800,000 won selling apples, so taking one day off to hang out was fine. Besides, "living diligently" didn't mean working every single day — it also meant not holing up in my room and actually getting out and living a little.

I nodded and sent a reply.

Hmm… this elegant phrasing wasn't my usual way of talking. Was Dreamy King's Dignity kicking in again?

Even when I typed in chats or on the community, this tone just wrote itself.

So she planned to stop by for the hospital visit first before hanging out.

But showing up empty-handed for a hospital visit felt wrong, didn't it?

Fortunately, I had something perfect for a get-well gift.

"Could you bring me a few apples? About three."

"Pii!"

"Pyuu!"

"Pyaa!"

The fairies fetched the apples at my request. I turned to Ayla.

"Ayla. I shall be going out as well. I intend to visit a friend in the hospital."

"Then you may leave together with me. I shall escort you on the way. Might you be planning to take the apples as a get-well gift?"

"Yes."

"Please wait just a moment, then."

Ayla stepped out of the rooftop room and headed for the garden plot. I watched her with a puzzled look until she returned carrying something — a basket made of wood.

Ah. Right. Since it was a gift, just handing over bare apples would be awkward, so she'd brought a basket. She'd probably made it with her own abilities.

Anyway, I was about to get ready to go out when—

"My Queen. How about this for an outing outfit?"

"…?"

Did we have clothes like that in the house?

No — of course we didn't…

And more importantly, it was a skirt. The kind little girls ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wore.

As expected…

To be fair, I was already wearing clothes Ayla had bought for me — a light-green set of pajamas, but at least those had pants. A skirt, though…

I was about to shake my head when Ayla's expression crumpled into something unmistakably dejected.

Uh, um…

I stopped mid-shake and just nodded instead.

Fine. Ayla had bought the clothes — I was hardly in a position to be picky. Considering the thought she'd put into it, wearing them was the right thing to do.

The silver lining was that a long coat would cover the skirt. I probably wouldn't feel too embarrassed.

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