Extravagance and Buried Nightmares
Han Yeoreum's gaze was fixed on the water bottle. Her mouth hung open in shock at the five spoonfuls of corn powder. Was this extravagance enough to stun even the wealthy Han Yeoreum? Biting her lip in thought, Gyeowol had no choice but to admit it. She was indulging in tremendous luxury. Showing off such waste when she still owed money—what a blunder. Maybe her recent earnings had made her arrogant. But earning money didn't mean it was all hers to spend freely.
"Sorry... From now on, I'll only use three scoops of powder..."
"Uh, what? Why?"
"I feel like I'm spending too much money..."
Fiddling with the hem of her clothes, Gyeowol peeked at Han Yeoreum's reaction. For some reason, Han Yeoreum's eyes were darting left and right rapidly.
"W-Well, it's your money, Winter, so spend it however you want, right? It's not like you're overspending or anything..."
"Really? But I'm using five scoops of powder..."
Wondering if Han Yeoreum had misheard, Gyeowol held up five fingers. It felt like bragging about her extravagance, so she couldn't keep them extended long. She quickly folded them back while glancing around at the others.
"Yeah. Five scoops of corn powder is actually pretty thrifty."
"I-Is that so..."
Five spoonfuls of corn powder counted as saving money? What on earth did luxury mean to Han Yeoreum? It was beyond Gyeowol's imagination—probably something she'd never grasp in her lifetime.
"Spend more if you need to, but let's keep your meals balanced, okay?"
"Got it. Then I'll spend just five hundred won more per meal."
"Ah, um..."
Was there something wrong with what she said? Han Yeoreum clamped her mouth shut. It couldn't be about overspending, not after her earlier comment.
'Five hundred won more, though.'
To Han Yeoreum, five hundred won wasn't even real money. Her wealth was truly awe-inspiring. Gyeowol almost wanted to witness it firsthand someday. Watching someone splash cash like that would be quite the education.
"Um, there's something I'd like to ask..."
"A favor?"
"Yes. If you get the chance later, could you show me what spending a ton of money looks like? Just once?"
"Huh? Why spending money all of a sudden?"
Maybe the blunt word "money" was too direct—Han Yeoreum's eyes went wide. Before she could misunderstand, Gyeowol rushed to explain.
"I thought five scoops of corn powder was super luxurious. But you act like it's nothing, and that fascinates me."
"Uh..."
"I just want to know what kind of extravagance rich people indulge in."
After blurting it out, it felt a bit rude. Gyeowol lowered her gaze without thinking.
"Sure, I'll show you sis splurging big-time later."
"Ah."
She'd braced for it to be a tough request, but Han Yeoreum agreed so easily. Relief washed over her. How extravagant could a rich person's spending be? She was already looking forward to it.
* * *
My paid stay was for three days, but the guild gave me six. It was like a buy-one-get-one-free deal you'd see at a convenience store—real perks.
'What a relief.'
The lodging rate was dirt cheap, practically giveaway prices. The burden was lighter than expected. Of course, she'd still have to work harder.
"Whoa! Home sweet home!"
"Ahem."
Levi Nas bounced around and flicked on the TV. Sophia sank into the massage chair like it was swallowing her whole. Seeing them so happy lifted Gyeowol's spirits. All that penny-pinching had paid off.
"Hehe."
Just watching them made her tail swish. She smiled at them and headed to the entrance. There was still plenty of work left to do.
"Winter, where are you going?"
"To pick up empty bottles."
"More work? Shouldn't you rest today?"
The day was far from over for finishing her tasks. Gyeowol shook her head firmly at Han Yeoreum.
"I can still work more."
"Winter, you'll really collapse from overwork."
"It's not that bad yet. I haven't done much today anyway."
What had she done today? As she pondered, Han Yeoreum bent down to meet her eye level.
"You went to the hunting grounds today, right?"
"Yes. Caught some goblins."
"And bad stuff happened there too."
"...Yeah."
She'd rolled on the ground, but her body was fine. Beastkin durability was a blessing.
"Then you tended the garden, sold mushrooms yourself."
"Yes."
How did Han Yeoreum know her whole schedule? Gyeowol tilted her head in surprise.
"And you just moved heavy luggage to switch houses. If you work more, you'll collapse, I swear."
"I'm okay. Just a bit sleepy. Not really exhausted."
Han Yeoreum pursed her lips, displeased. Her downturned mouth made her look sulky.
"Winter, being sleepy is exhaustion."
"Exhaustion makes you sleepy... Huh, wait, what?"
She was right. Sleepiness was fatigue. Why had she forgotten such an obvious fact? Maybe she'd been ignoring it so hard she stopped even thinking about it.
"Nope. Your task for today is sleep."
"B-But I need to collect those bottles..."
"No. Today is Winter Sleep Day."
Han Yeoreum slipped her hands under Gyeowol's armpits and lifted her up. Her legs dangled in the air.
"Uh..."
Really, no. She had to collect bottles. Gyeowol pleaded with her eyes, but Han Yeoreum just laid her on the bed.
"Sleep time today, got it?"
"Yes..."
She'd pretend to sleep and sneak out to work later. Gyeowol lay down and closed her eyes. The mattress was plush, the blanket cozy. Six days in a place like this... incredible.
* * *
That night, Sophia and Han Yeoreum sat in chairs, talking. It was about Gyeowol's odd behavior from a few hours ago.
"She didn't know that being tired makes you sleepy?"
"Less 'didn't know' and more like she wasn't even registering the connection."
"Oh dear..."
She'd thought Gyeowol worked too hard. Maybe years of scraping by had made her ignore her own condition entirely.
Thump-thump-thump.
Sophia pondered deeply while feeling the massage chair knead her back. She didn't speak again for a long while.
"Yeoreum."
"Yes?"
"Doth the guild have no jobs left for her?"
Jobs? To earn money for Gyeowol? Han Yeoreum scratched her cheek.
"...Isn't En Sia-unnie and Argo already earning for her?"
"Winter wouldn't accept it."
"By that logic, she wouldn't take your money either, Sophia."
Gyeowol hated relying on others, even family-like Sophia.
"She accepts if it's to help with household expenses."
"Ah..."
Mutual financial cooperation for living together was okay—not pure charity. Han Yeoreum nodded.
"Yes. I'll look into something."
"My thanks. But swiftly, if possible. Coin is not my priority."
"Yep, I know."
Sophia always put the children first. Best during times they were out. What job could she give Sophia? As Han Yeoreum mulled it over, a groan came from Gyeowol's room.
"Huh?"
Han Yeoreum and Sophia exchanged glances, blinked, then rushed in.
"Ugh... ugh..."
"Winter?"
Gyeowol whimpered in pain with her eyes closed. Sweat beaded her forehead—something was wrong. Sophia pressed a hand to it urgently, but no fever.
"A nightmare, perchance."
"Should we wake her?"
"Aye."
Winter, Winter. Han Yeoreum shook her gently. Through her hand on Gyeowol's chest, she felt the frantic heartbeat.
"Ugh..."
Gyeowol slowly lifted her eyelids. Her ragged breathing confirmed the bad dream.
"Winter, you okay?"
"D-Dream..."
"A dream? A bad one?"
Gyeowol nodded blankly at Han Yeoreum's question. Still half-asleep, teetering between dream and reality. Han Yeoreum stroked her cheek softly.
"Buried alive underground... Why an old memory... Ah... dream...?"
"...What?"
A dream of live burial—horrific. But worse was what followed.
'Old memory?'
Had she actually experienced being buried alive? Han Yeoreum and Sophia's hearts sank at the shocking words.
'...Impossible.'
It had to be dream-reality confusion. It had to be. Han Yeoreum stayed silent by her side, gripping Gyeowol's trembling hand.
"Ah, sorry. I must've had a weird dream."
"Scary one?"
"Yes. An old event... popped up suddenly."
Gyeowol glanced down at her body hidden under the blanket. The day she arrived in this world, she'd been buried underground for some reason. The soft soil let her dig out—otherwise, she'd have died buried alive from the start.
'What was that about?'
Why start her second life underground? Related to her new existence? With questions swirling, Gyeowol looked up. There, Han Yeoreum and Sophia stared down with pale faces.