The Rule of Helping the Hungry
Helping a hungry child was the rule of this world. Kwon Arin didn't know how other countries handled things, but at least in this one, that was how it worked. That was why she couldn't help feeling bewildered. The girl standing in front of her was only eight years old.
"I'm hungry." With just those words, plenty of people in the world would offer help. In a society obsessed with appearances, a child's adorable looks were a powerful weapon. She was the most lovable child Kwon Arin had ever seen, and her heart was so kind it could rival any saint. Even someone as twisted as Kwon Arin had to admit it.
That was why she couldn't understand what Winter was saying at all.
"No one gave you food?"
"Um… sometimes I got meals from the free soup kitchen."
"The… free soup kitchen?"
"Yes. But I didn't go often. I thought I shouldn't eat too much."
Winter remembered going to the free soup kitchen. The young guy there had already started clicking his tongue at her. She only went when she was truly on the verge of starving to death.
"Did no one help you besides the soup kitchen?"
"No, there were a lot of people who helped in the beginning."
Not just the Yeomyeong Guild—many people at the hunting grounds had lent a hand. They eventually drifted away after getting tired of her lack of progress, but Winter didn't resent them. It was an unavoidable situation caused by her lack of mana. Of course no one wanted to keep helping someone who never improved.
"In the beginning? They only helped for the first few years?"
"Yes. They tried to help me become independent, but I learn slower than other people. After a few years of staying in the same place, I guess everyone got exhausted."
"Uh…"
Winter was eight now. A few years ago, she would have been around five or six—maybe even younger. People had walked away from a child who had barely learned to walk, calling her slow. It was unthinkable by Kwon Arin's standards.
"They really are terrible people."
A few years ago, the girl wouldn't even have been able to speak properly. What on earth had they expected from her that made them abandon her? Disgusting.
"No, I'm the one who didn't improve even after receiving help. It's only natural they didn't want to keep helping. Helping isn't something that's owed to anyone, either."
"N-no…"
Of course someone who couldn't improve wouldn't receive help. Of course a hungry child should be helped—that was the rule of this country. Kwon Arin swallowed the words she wanted to shout.
'Ha.'
So Winter had assumed that because she made no progress, she didn't deserve help. Kwon Arin finally understood why the girl had said what she did at the start. She had believed there was no one in the world who would help someone as pathetic as her past self.
"But now the Yeomyeong Guild helps me a lot. People have started helping again, too."
Once the guild realized her slow progress was because she had no mana, they gave her a body that could use it. Winter was simply grateful they had helped her even though they didn't have to.
"R-right."
Of course the Yeomyeong Guild would. They were the ones who pulled Winter out of rock bottom. Kwon Arin felt relieved seeing how well the girl was doing now, then suddenly remembered the stream was still running and scrambled to check the screen.
"Huh?"
The viewer count had jumped a hundredfold. Why all of a sudden? Kwon Arin checked the chat with trembling eyes.
Thankfully, every single comment was defending Winter. She had half-expected at least one nasty remark, but there were none. Relieved, Kwon Arin quickly ended the stream before any more of Winter's past could leak out. The sudden spike in viewers was tempting, but she didn't want to keep the stream alive by selling a child's misfortune.
'I need to liven the mood a bit.'
She would just keep playing the game. That was all she could do right now. So Kwon Arin continued playing with the children. They cooked the grasshoppers and snake Winter had brought, and the results weren't half bad.
**
That evening, after finishing the game, I went with the kids to rummage through the recycling area. It was the same apartment complex where we'd found the mattress. We were looking for something to replace the pot that had been cut in half.
"Wang-ah! Wasn't the game super fun?!"
"Yeah. It was fun. How about you, Saebyeok?"
"I had fun too."
Levinas and Saebyeok both enjoyed it. That was a relief. My tail swayed gently until my eyes landed on a refrigerator sitting in one corner of the recycling area.
"Oh."
It was a small fridge, about my height. Perfect size for the container house—more appealing than a huge one. Back when we lived in tents without electricity, I wouldn't have given it a second glance, but the container house had power now. Since we used it for farming, it would be nice to keep some simple snacks inside.
'Can I really take this…?'
No one had said anything when we took the pot. But a large appliance felt different, so I hesitated. Looking around, I spotted a security guard tidying up nearby.
"E-excuse me…"
He didn't respond. Maybe his hearing wasn't great because of his age.
"Excuse me…"
I stood on tiptoe and tapped his shoulder. The elderly guard turned around.
"Hm?"
"Can I take the refrigerator over there…?"
"Of course you can. Take as much as you want."
His tone was kind. I bowed deeply in thanks for the elderly man's generosity, then ran over to the fridge.
"He said we can take the fridge!"
"Whoa! Really?!"
"Yeah…!"
I nodded, tail wagging. Realizing it was her turn, Saebyeok hoisted the fridge up and set it on the cart. Her strength was impressive no matter how many times I saw it.
"Get on."
Thump-thump— Saebyeok patted the side of the cart. Levinas hopped up and crouched beside the fridge.
"Let's go!"
Levinas pointed straight ahead like a pirate captain. But it wasn't time to leave yet.
"Wait, I'm going to check if there's a pot."
"We'll leave in a bit!"
I left the waiting children behind and scanned the area for a pot. Using my dynamic vision, I swept the place quickly, but there was no pot in sight. Not that I was disappointed—we'd found something even better than a pot.
**
We brought the fridge back and set it in the corner of the container, then plugged it in. There were no wires connected to the container, but we could supply electricity with mana stones.
'It's working properly.'
I'd been worried it might be broken, but it was fine. While I was enjoying the cool air coming from the fridge, Levinas crawled inside.
"It's cool!"
"Yeah. Should we put food in here?"
"Whoa! Can I put my stuff in too?!"
"We're all using it together."
"······!"
Levinas's eyes went wide. She dashed out of the container. After waiting about ten minutes, she returned carrying an armful of vegetables—carrots, clover, and foxtail grass.
"Levinas is putting these in!"
She'd brought the grass she liked. I thought for a moment, then decided to add corn flour and cleaned minnows.
"Hoo…"
After putting the food in the fridge, I took a short rest. While I was sitting in the container with nothing to do except wag my tail, someone opened the door and came in.
"There you are. What are you doing?"
Han Yeoreum approached with a smile. The faster she came, the faster my tail wagged.
"I was organizing the fridge."
"The fridge?"
"Yes. I found it at the recycling area, and it works really well."
I pointed at the fridge with my fingertip. Since Han Yeoreum liked cooking, she examined it with obvious interest.
"Wow, did you already fill it with food?"
"Yes. I put some things in."
"Really? Then should big sis try cooking with what's inside?"
Han Yeoreum rolled up her sleeves and approached the fridge. When she opened the door, Levinas, who had been crouching inside, appeared. Her ears were trembling.
"You can't cook Levinas…!"
She looked genuinely terrified, probably because Han Yeoreum had said she would cook with whatever was in the fridge.
"O-oh. I didn't know Levinas was inside the fridge."
"You're not going to make horned rabbit meat…?"
"Why would big sis do something like that…!"
Han Yeoreum reached in and lifted Levinas out. Levinas let out a sigh of relief in her arms.
"Does Yeoreum like horned rabbit meat?"
"No, big sis hates horned rabbit meat. But I do like living horned rabbits."
"Really?!"
"Yeah."
Levinas buried her face in Han Yeoreum's chest. Han Yeoreum stroked her back while checking the inside of the fridge.
"What are you going to cook?"
With minnows, corn flour, and the vegetables Levinas brought, maybe we could make porridge? I looked up at Han Yeoreum while thinking that, but she had a troubled expression.
"Is this everything?"
"Yes. I only put in the tastiest things I could find."
"Hmm…"
They were the best ingredients I could get. Yet for some reason, Han Yeoreum just kept staring blankly into the fridge.
"I don't think I can cook with this…?"
"Can't we just throw everything in and make porridge?"
"No, that wouldn't really be cooking…"
"Eh?"
Wasn't throwing everything in and boiling it considered cooking? I tilted my head in confusion and looked up at her. Han Yeoreum just pressed her lips together and stared back at me.