What on Earth Did I Do?
What had I done?
"Winter, see the upload button here?"
"Yes."
"Pressing this will post the photo to unnie's SNS."
"Ah..."
The device's controls were similar to those from my previous life. It felt familiar, but I nodded as if seeing it for the first time.
"You can upload the photos yourself here, Winter, or if it's too tricky, just leave it to unnie."
"Got it. I'll just take some shots for now."
"Sure."
I slung the smartphone Han Yeoreum had given me around my neck like a necklace. Knowing there was something worth over a million won right at my chest made me uneasy. Wasn't this the most expensive thing I'd ever owned in this life? I clutched the phone to my bosom like a treasure, vowing to cherish it more than my own life.
"Don't stress too much. Any old photo will do."
"Y-Yeah..."
I scanned the surroundings with the phone in hand, pondering what to snap first. I settled on the showerhead spewing warm water. Someone might scoff at such a mundane shot, but it had brought me the greatest bliss lately. It was plenty for everyday life pics.
Click.
I took the photo of the showerhead and stood there blankly. No clue what to photograph next.
...Maybe head outside for now.
Photo ops inside the house were limited. To fulfill my mission of clearing up the guild's misunderstandings, I'd need the freedom of the outdoors.
Of course, I'd wander the house a bit more first.
Han Yeoreum and Sophia sat on the sofa, watching Winter toddle around the house with stern expressions. The sight of the small, adorable child waddling about was utterly lovable.
"Sophia-nim."
"What is it?"
"Look at Winter's face over there."
"Hm..."
Sophia's gaze shifted to Winter. The child was trying to look serious, but to the watching adults, it was just precious—like a kid mimicking a focused grown-up. Sophia nodded knowingly too.
"It's not just because she's ours, but Winter seems way kinder and more lovable than other kids."
"...She does have that quality."
Her exceptionally striking looks probably helped. Sophia kept that thought to herself. No need to voice something so unnecessary.
"Lately, there've been so many cute kids around—makes me happy, right?"
"...You mean excluding this one?"
"Uh... yeah?"
She did include her, but better not say it. Han Yeoreum avoided Sophia's eyes and pulled out her sub-phone for work.
"Huh?"
Checking her personal SNS, Han Yeoreum's eyes widened. Wondering if Winter had posted something, she found her personal broadcast live—for influencers.
My account?
Who turned on a stream with my ID? Han Yeoreum realized from the shadow on the floor.
"Winter?"
Triangular ears perked up atop her head. The low camera angle suggested the phone was hanging around her neck.
When did Winter go outside?
Too absorbed in conversation, she hadn't noticed. The front door was ajar—kids must've left it that way.
Ah.
She brushed it off and watched Winter's stream. As long as she stayed near the guild, she'd be safe.
...Looks like the broadcast started by accident.
Fiddling to upload photos, she must've hit it. The icon was right next to upload. A plausible mistake for phone newbie Winter.
Han Yeoreum burst out laughing unwittingly.
"Why laugh?"
"Winter started a broadcast. Wanna see?"
"Hm..."
On screen, Winter strolled near the pond. Face hidden as the camera faced forward, but small white hands occasionally proved it was her.
-Mackerel twenty... saury fifteen... smack.
Winter smacked her lips at the fish, then headed to a nearby bench. She picked up trash there and tossed it in the bin.
"Oh my, what a good girl."
Even new viewers seemed charmed by Winter cleaning the park, as chat exploded.
Thankfully, no malicious chats. She wanted to keep watching the cuteness, but for Winter's safety, time to end it.
"Sophia-nim, I should check on Winter. Seems the broadcast was accidental."
"Go on. This one will savor this high-rise building a bit longer."
"Sure, take your time."
Sophia-nim's first time in a high-rise too, huh. Han Yeoreum chuckled and went to find Winter.
An idea hit while filming the showerhead: videos might feel more lively than photos. Not sure about this world, but smartphones had editing tools. Trim clips into shorts for upload—could work great.
Thus began my daily vlogging. Pond, picking up empty bottles, thriving lettuce—all shot. Plenty of footage; should yield a gem or two. Hope it helps the guild.
As I thought that, a grasshopper hopped from the grass before me.
"Whoa."
Brings back memories. Not long after arriving here, I'd caught and grilled them out of hunger. Now I could eat fish freely. Life's unpredictable.
Not the fondest memory, but... nostalgic somehow.
A strange longing pulled me—I chased the grasshopper. Meaningless pursuit as it hopped away, me following.
"Hm..."
They say the poor, even rich later, crave cheap nostalgic foods from the past. Should I try grasshopper again after so long?
I thrust my hand forward to snag it mid-jump. Using my quick reflexes, I lunged at the resting bug on the grass.
Grab!
I yanked it up grass and all. The wriggling sensation in my palm felt odd. Where to put it? Glancing around, I spotted Han Yeoreum approaching.
"Winter."
"Yes."
"What'd you just catch?"
"Th-this. Caught it."
I showed her the grasshopper's plump body pinched between my fingers. Its legs kicked for life.
"Catching bugs for fun?"
Fun? This was legit foraging. Born rich, her mindset differed.
"Caught it to eat."
"E-eat...?"
Her eyes flicked to the phone at my chest. She gulped—was it nerves or curiosity?
"Grill it right, and it's decent. Wanna try?"
"D-do we have to eat bugs...?"
"Yeah. When there's nothing else, you eat what you can to survive."
"Uh..."
Her pupils shook violently. Looked like bug phobia. No forcing it on her, so I tucked the grasshopper away.
"Winter. Unnie'll buy you something super tasty, so no bugs, okay?"
"...They look gross, sure, but they're amazing—future food, even."
I'd seen it on news once: insects as space rations, packed with protein and nutrients.
But Han Yeoreum paled despite my pitch.
"Got it, insects are great. But now you've got plenty of food around."
"True."
"Right? No need for bugs. Gotta think hygiene now too."
She glanced at her phone, eyes flicking up-down—reading something.
"Should I let it go then?"
"Yeah. Let it be free~"
"F-free...?"
Free? Baby talk. Weird, but I'd obey. Wild bugs were dirty anyway.
"Now let the bug go?"
"Yes..."
I released it; grass fluttered as the grasshopper hopped far away. Felt like bidding farewell to my impoverished past.
Time to let you go too...
Goodbye, my poverty.
Caught in sentiment, I waved both hands at it goodbye.
"Let it go?"
"Yes."
Relieved no bug-eating? Han Yeoreum smiled with her eyes and tapped the phone at my neck.
"Time to end the stream?"
"Stream?"
"Yeah. You started one on unnie's account."
"Huh?"
I'd started a broadcast? Everyone saw everything I'd done?
Shocked, mouth agape, I looked up at her. Then, stepping outside flashed my actions like a montage.