Let's Get Some Furniture
Flap flap—the mackerel thrashed wildly in my arms. It slipped from my grasp once thanks to its slickness, but with reflexes sharper than most, I snatched it back out of the air. This thing just won't quit. I had to do something. After a moment's thought, I picked up a nearby stone and smashed it down on the mackerel's head.
Thwack! With a brutal thud, the fish went still. Dark red blood trickled from its gaping mouth.
"...It really is quite feral, isn't it."
"What do you mean?"
"'Tis nothing." Sophia leaned on her cane and headed back to the tent. Clutching the mackerel to my chest, I hurried after her. For some reason, the woman Jeong Yu-na—who'd introduced herself earlier—followed behind me.
"......"
What does she want? I shot her a sideways glare, only to absentmindedly rub the mackerel against my cheek like a teddy bear. The damp, slimy texture felt bizarre.
"Aigoo, you little one." Sophia gently pulled my hand away. The fish slid down my cheek, leaving a fishy smear on my face. It carried a mysterious aroma that whetted the appetite.
"Who holds a mackerel like that?"
"S-Sorry..." This was the first massive fish I'd ever eaten in this life, so maybe I was a bit excited.
"Heavens, whatever shall we do with this fishy smell." Sophia wiped my face with a tissue she'd produced from somewhere. I wanted to do it myself, but with both hands full holding the fish, I could only stand there.
This is weird. It was just one mackerel. So why did it feel so precious? Lost in that thought as I stared down at the fish, Sophia spoke up while dabbing my face.
"So, what dost thou plan to do today?"
"I-I was thinking of grabbing some furniture to celebrate the move."
"Hm... Very well. After fetching furniture, if time remains, let us train thy mana."
"Ah...! Y-Yes...!"
Mana training—my lifelong dream! I nodded so vigorously my brain rattled, forgetting Jeong Yu-na was right there.
"Um, kids...?"
"Y-Yes...?!"
Sophia and I whipped our heads around at the woman's call. Jeong Yu-na, her usual tomboyish edge softened, fidgeted awkwardly.
"Sh-Should I come help...?"
"T-Together?"
"Yeah. It might be dangerous for kids alone, and furniture's heavy anyway..."
"Uh..."
I wanted to say no, but she scared me too much. With nothing else to do, my fingers just fidgeted around the mackerel. Suddenly, Sophia raised her cane high.
"You there. Where dost thou see a 'kid' in this lady?"
"R-Right! Sophia's not a kid—she's a grandma..."
Good one. Lay into her more. As I cheered Sophia on inwardly—
Thok.
Sophia bonked me on the crown of my head with her cane. She'd controlled the force perfectly; it didn't even hurt.
"Kek."
Only after that smack did I remember her plea not to call her grandma. It was clearly my fault, so I couldn't complain. I just rubbed my head with an aggrieved look.
"Follow or not as thou wilt." Sophia grumbled and plopped down on a nearby chair. Clearly miffed at being called grandma, she poked the ground with her cane a few times.
Watching her, I thought, First things first—I gotta eat this mackerel.
As I walked with Sophia and Jeong Yu-na, I savored the taste of the mackerel I'd just eaten.
Were fish always this delicious...?
It had been nearly eight years since I'd last had mackerel, and the flavor was downright shocking. Just grilled plain without salt or oil, and it was this good. The taste still lingered, swimming around my mouth. Maybe my enhanced senses had sharpened my taste buds too, along with my sight and hearing. I'd have to test it properly later. Just as I resolved to do so—
Jeong Yu-na tapped my shoulder.
"This the right way?"
"Y-Yeah..."
"Weird. No furniture stores around here."
An apartment complex with dozens of units clustered together. At its center, Jeong Yu-na scanned the area. Even with perfectly good furniture scattered right in front of her at the recycling station, her eyes skipped right over it.
"There's tons of furniture here."
"This? The recycling station?"
"Yep. All free."
Free meant fierce competition. I bolted toward the station. There was a sturdy bookshelf right up front, but since I had no books, I decided against it. The rule here was that whoever truly needed it took it.
"You really..."
Tsk. Sophia clicked her tongue and came up beside me. She looked like she had something to say but held her peace.
"What...?"
"'Tis nothing. Let us see if there's aught worthwhile here."
"Okay. If you spot a decent pot, let me know."
"Aye..."
Sophia shuffled off into the piles of furniture. As if to fill her spot, Jeong Yu-na sidled up close.
"Hey, want me to buy you some new furniture?"
"N-No, thanks. There's plenty of good stuff here. No need to buy new."
With all this perfectly fine furniture at the recycling station, buying new? Judging by her bourgeois attitude, she wouldn't be much help.
This is why rich people...
Jeong Yu-na wouldn't be useful. Leaving her behind, I followed Sophia. Looked like it'd just be us two today.
Jeong Yu-na watched the two beastkin kids from a short distance away. She knew one was elderly, but she still saw her as half-child. They were just too small and cute to look truly old. Of course, out of respect for her age, she'd treat her as an elder.
They look so pitiful.
One wore grubby clothes, the other leaned on a cane with impaired mobility. Anyone could see these were kids in need of societal help, shopping at a recycling station. Even strangers would feel sorry for them.
"What of this dresser? 'Tis clean, with pretty ornamentation."
"Glass doors—no good. Shatters easily."
"Oh ho."
Jeong Yu-na just gazed endlessly at the two beastkin girls picking furniture. She wanted to help, but having never used secondhand stuff, she couldn't tell quality from junk.
They all just look worn out...
The desk had a broken leg. The chair's backrest and armrests were smashed. How was she supposed to help in a situation like this? Not knowing, she approached them anyway.
"Hey, kids..."
As Jeong Yu-na reached out toward the two—
"Wow!"
A gasp of delight burst from Gyeowol's mouth. Eyes sparkling, she hoisted a large box in front of her. It looked like one of those massive boxes used to pack refrigerators or air conditioners.
Why's she so thrilled over a mere box? Jeong Yu-na wondered, rolling her eyes side to side. Then came Gyeowol's shocking words.
"Boxes like this make great beds."
"Ah."
Box beds. Even Jeong Yu-na, from her life of luxury, had heard of them. Homeless folks used them to avoid freezing to death.
"Hast thou no better?"
"Nope. Just this one box."
"...Then yield it to me. My back aches, so I wish to sleep comfortably at least."
Sophia gripped the box's edge with her tiny hand. Gyeowol stared down at it in bewilderment.
"I found it first..."
"Eh heh, my body's so stiff—make an exception this once."
"B-But this is super rare...? Biggest box in the world..."
"Aigoo, my poor back... it throbs so..."
The two beastkin kids waged a tug-of-war over a single box. All for the pitiful reason of wanting a better bed.
"Ah..."
Jeong Yu-na wanted to cry. Grimacing and clutching her hair—
Ahem!
A fake cough came from behind.
"Huh...?"
All eyes turned. A middle-aged man stood there holding a thick mattress.
Startled by his approach, Gyeowol sidestepped. Sophia and Jeong Yu-na followed suit.
Ahem!
The man glared at the trio before setting the mattress down in a corner of the recycling station. It was plush, incomparable to the box.
"Gasp!"
He's throwing that away?! As Gyeowol clasped her hands in prayer, Jeong Yu-na spotted something incredible.
The mattress was a brand-new model, released just recently. As a luxury lover, she recognized it instantly.
Mister...!
Pitying the kids fighting over a box, he'd left them a mattress. Forgetting her usual haughty pride, Jeong Yu-na bowed deeply toward him.
But the man turned and left without a word.
Wow.That's a true elder. Jeong Yu-na thought, watching his retreating back. If it was something being "discarded" rather than given, maybe the kids would accept it. Looked like she'd need to scour her house for unneeded furniture.