The Friend in a Distant Place
Levi Nas—a friend in a place so far away she could never meet her. Han Yeoreum knew full well it was a metaphor for something. It meant the friend was dead, gone to a place where no one could reach her anymore.
It was a hardship too great for a child to bear, but not quite the shock of first learning Winter's true identity. After all, plenty of kids lost friends or family at a young age. Yeoreum figured she'd get through it eventually, even if it was tough right now.
But that was a misjudgment. Winter hadn't overcome her friend's death.
"I'm fine. We'll definitely meet someday."
At first, Yeoreum thought it was just innocent childishness. The kind where friends wait in heaven, so it didn't matter if they couldn't meet right away—that adorable purity.
But Winter's next words shattered that illusion.
"I'm ready to meet her anytime."
Ready to meet a friend who could only be seen in death. The little girl said it so calmly, as if death held no fear for her—like someone who'd achieved enlightenment about mortality itself.
Was this a suicide warning? Or did it mean she didn't care when death came? Yeoreum didn't know which, but both were thoughts no eight-year-old should ever have.
No way...
Yeoreum had thought the girl was unusually brave for her age. But maybe she'd just been living like death could come at any moment anyway.
In her shock, Yeoreum clapped a hand over her own mouth.
Winter does show fear of death sometimes...
Like when they'd encountered that goblin in the Beginner Hunting Ground, or the first time entering the Goblin Dungeon. Winter had been utterly terrified.
If it wasn't fear of death, then why the panic? As Yeoreum pondered, realization struck.
Winter was especially afraid of goblins.
Did a goblin... kill her friend?
If so, the girl's terror made perfect sense. Fears etched into the soul were the hardest to erase.
Though lately, even that was fading. Hunting goblins had helped Winter conquer her last lingering fear.
This might be the worst possible turn.
This is bad.
Fear of death was what kept you away from it. But Yeoreum couldn't just shove the kid into danger to fix it, either.
She rubbed her face dry several times, steadying herself. This wasn't something to solve right now. They'd take it slow, work through it together. Maybe giving her a new goal in life would help.
Biting her lip hard, Yeoreum followed Winter into the tent.
"What're you up to, Winter?"
"Washing the mugwort. Want a cup when the tea's ready...?"
"Yeah. I'd love to try some, sis."
Did "try some" make her happy? Winter's limp tail gave a faint, hopeful swish.
Seeing that ambiguous joy, Yeoreum managed a faint smile of her own. Her chest ached like a needle's prick today.
Special Handmade Teas
Dandelion Tea: ₩100,000
Effect: Mana Amplification
Mugwort Tea: ₩50,000
Effect: Poison Resistance
• Special teas with buff abilities attached.
• Buff effects vary based on the drinker's skill level.
• All buffs can be stacked.
To sell the tea, there were a ton of hurdles. Business registration, local health department filings under food sanitation laws—impossible without an ID.
I'm screwed.
Flopping onto the grass in despair, I felt Han Yeoreum approach with a great idea: sell drinks at the cafe inside the guild building.
I followed her there, but anxiety gnawed at me the whole way.
"We can really sell my tea at the guild cafe?"
"Yep. Just adding a few items to the menu. You'll make all the ingredients yourself."
"Whoa."
I'd wondered where to even sell it. A cafe in the bustling guild building? My drooping tail wagged wildly in excitement.
"But there's a condition."
"A c-condition...?"
"Yeah. Keep the ingredients spotless. People are drinking this."
"Got it. No problem there."
Washing in pond water stripped away all dirt thanks to the item's effect. Safe enough to eat straight from the source.
"Good. And the prices are set by the shop. Cool with that?"
"Yes...!"
Mana-amplifying buffs on every cup. At ₩10,000 a pop, even ten sales a day would be a dream.
That hope carried me inside—right into the shock of the signboard.
"T-Ten... ₩100,000...?"
Even with buffs, wasn't that insane? I looked up at Yeoreum without thinking. Since she was behind me, I tilted my head back awkwardly.
"It's not regular tea—it's buffed."
"S-Still, how's a single cup ₩100,000...?"
"This is already cheap."
"Ch-cheap?!"
₩100,000 per cup. Unless Earth exploded tomorrow, no one was buying that.
Yeoreum just shrugged, oblivious to my turmoil.
"You said not to price it too high, so we lowered it."
"And ₩100,000 is the lowered price...?"
"Yeah. Your buffs stack."
"Stacking buffs?"
My tail curled into a question mark.
"Normal buffs only allow one per type. But yours stack weirdly."
"So the effects get even stronger?"
"Exactly. That's why ₩100,000 is a steal."
If Yeoreum said so. I had no say on pricing anyway. I just thanked the cafe staff humbly.
"Thank you for selling my tea."
I bowed deep, hands clasped politely over my navel. Yeoreum and the staff chuckled at the sight.
"Looking forward to working with you."
"Y-Yes...?"
What was so funny? They dodged my eyes, giggling forever. Totally bewildered, I tilted my head.
What the...?
Something hilarious behind me? I turned—and Yeoreum poked my shoulder.
"Winter, I've still got cafe stuff to do. Head out first?"
"First?"
"Yeah. You've got a lot on your plate."
"Right. I was gonna plant dandelions in the garden."
To sell more dandelion tea, I'd have to grow my own. I pulled the seedling spade from my pocket.
"Sounds good. Want help later?"
"N-No... I can handle it..."
"Oh, okay."
All this was to repay Yeoreum. Couldn't burden her with hard labor.
"I-I'll get going then...!"
Fearing she'd follow, I waved frantically and hurried back to the container house.
Scanning the garden hideout, no Sophia.
"Sophia?"
She always waited at home. Her absence felt off—chest tight, breath short. I stood dazed until rustling grass nearby snapped me out of it.
Crunch—
Small footsteps, Sophia-sized. Glancing over, my eyes met a girl hiding in the bushes.
"Unicorn...?"
A girl with a horn on her forehead—tinier than my pinky knuckle.
She startled at my gaze, coughing as she burst from the bushes.
"To find this body hidden so well... impressive!"
"Uh, y-yeah... I've got good ears..."
But that rustle was loud enough for anyone. Too awkward to say, I just nodded.
"As rumored, no ordinary kid...!"
She backed away warily. Weird for a stranger.
"Who are you...?"
"A radical, huh."
Not her answer—Sophia's voice, face scowled tight.
"Sophia, where'd you go?"
"To buy dandelion seeds."
"Ah."
She'd overheard my mutter. Joyfully, I approached her.
"But something's off."
"What?"
"Too naive for a radical... still looks like a child."
"A child?"
I'd assumed adult like Sophia. If she was younger than me, no need to fear.
"How dare you! This body is Levi Nas of the great horn rabbit clan!"
"R-Right..."
Strong ego. Unsure how to respond, I rummaged in my pocket for planting tools.
Seedling spade... small watering can...
Pulling them out, the boss horn rabbit mana stone caught—I fished it first. Empty pockets later.
The girl glimpsed it and gasped, freezing like prey before a predator, fingers trembling.
"Gasp...!"
"Huh?"
Strange one. Best ignore her and tend the garden.