As Usual (2)
That night, I chatted with everyone in the living room. The topic was the government inspection scheduled for tomorrow.
"Everyone, just relax and act like you always do," Han Yeoreum said.
"Gyeowol, you're the one who seems the most tense..."
"Y-yeah... Actually, I'm the most nervous..."
And who could blame me? It was a government agency inspection. They wouldn't take it lightly. If they ever found out I was from another world, it would all be over. I couldn't help but worry.
Sophia looked just as concerned, gazing up at Han Yeoreum with a furrowed brow.
"Yeoreum, are you sure it'll be fine if we just act normal?"
"It should be... okay... right...?"
Han Yeoreum scratched her cheek awkwardly, her lack of confidence drawing a sigh from Sophia.
"You really have no idea, do you."
"Yeah. I want to show them our best side, but asking us to do that now would be shameless."
Shameless? If a government agency was inspecting, of course you'd want to show an even better side than usual. But Han Yeoreum's attitude wasn't wrong by any means. There were plenty of people in the world who hated pretense. I shouldn't judge by my own standards.
"Levi Nas will show the coolest side ever!"
Levi Nas declared, clutching three dolls to her chest—a horn rabbit, a white cat, and a rather cute shark doll.
Levi Nas is working hard too.
I should do my best like her. Even if they discovered my illegal resident status, if I could show I was contributing to society, maybe I'd get permission to stay. The government wouldn't cast out someone helping the nation develop. I planned to flaunt how much I was doing for this country. Of course, proving Levi Nas was thriving came first.
"I'll do my utmost too."
"Yeah. Thanks, everyone."
With that, we wrapped up our everyday chat and headed to the bedrooms to sleep. Lying in bed, right before drifting off, I pondered what to show them—picking up bottles, farming, and my container house that I'd set up myself. Since they were here to check on Levi Nas, I'd make sure they saw she was living safely in a secure place.
And also...
I'd show them selling damp mushrooms in the Goblin Dungeon. It was proof Levi Nas was thriving in human society. The government folks would surely approve. It was a relief to have so much to demonstrate. I decided not to worry about tomorrow.
The next morning, I was mending my torn clothes by the pond. For the government inspection, I'd pulled out my most cherished outfit. It was the precious garment I'd worn from my original world.
It's so strange, though.
My body had changed after coming to this world, so why had my clothes stayed the same? Why were they buried underground with my belongings? I mulled it over, but nothing came to mind. For now, I'd focus on preparing for the inspection.
"Gy-Gyeowol..."
"Yes?"
Han Yeoreum's voice came from right beside me. Turning, I saw her looking down at me with an awkward smile.
"You planning to wear that?"
"Yes. It's my favorite."
It was worn and torn, but wearing it put me in a special mindset. I'd worn it on my first dungeon trip too. Knowing this, Han Yeoreum didn't press further.
"Yeah. Since we're just acting normal..."
"No, I'll work even harder than usual."
"Uh, okay."
A flicker of unease crossed Han Yeoreum's eyes. She was clearly worried I'd act out of character.
"Don't worry too much. I'll do great."
"...Yeah. I'll trust you, unnie Gyeowol."
Hehe. She flashed her usual kind smile. Pleased to have earned her trust, her tail began wagging on its own.
That was when Jeong Yu-na came running toward us.
"Whoa, they're here!"
"They're here?!"
"Yeah!"
The government agency had arrived to check on us. Even the formidable Han Yeoreum was tense. I swallowed hard without thinking, and she cleared her throat.
Frozen in place, we spotted two figures approaching from the guild building—a man and a woman.
Ah, that's them.
I instinctively knew they were from the government.
They look so stiff.
The woman had long straight black hair and sharp eyes, her black suit exuding the solemnity unique to civil servants. The man beside her had a similar vibe, like a gender-swapped version. Their aura was the polar opposite of ours. My ears and tail drooped flat.
"Hello. I'm Min So-yun from the Korean Beastkin Union."
"Kwon Yul."
The two bowed stiffly. Knowing it was time for introductions, I bowed back.
"H-Hello. I'm Han Gyeowol..."
"Han Yeoreum."
My tail curled up to my navel—a foolish reaction I only showed when terrified. My body parts weren't obeying me. Grabbing the offending tail in indignation, the woman who'd introduced herself as Min So-yun narrowed her eyes and glared.
"...!"
Her gaze was fierce enough to kill. I naturally averted my eyes.
Did I do something wrong? Racking my brain, I realized less than a minute had passed since we met. I hadn't had time to mess up.
"...The child looks scared."
Was she referring to Levi Nas? Looking around, I spotted her in the distance, playing with her dolls on the grass. She was whacking the shark doll with the horn rabbit one and didn't seem frightened at all.
"Yes. She gets tense around strangers."
Han Yeoreum placed a hand on my shoulder. The light touch eased my rigid body bit by bit.
"I see. But why the clothes...?"
"They're a bit worn, but it's Gyeowol's favorite."
"Yes. My absolute favorite."
Maybe because I said it myself. Min So-yun and Kwon Yul just nodded, seemingly at a loss for words.
"...Yes. Don't be too nervous. Just pretend we're not here and act as usual."
"Got it. We'll just do our normal thing."
"M-Me too..."
For now, time to pick bottles with Levi Nas. Since they were here for her, showing her working hard would be best.
I headed toward Levi Nas, leaving the others behind.
Min So-yun and Kwon Yul from the Beastkin Union followed us silently, their gazes so fierce it felt like bloodlust.
"Wang! Wang!"
Levi Nas ran to me holding an empty bottle, looking urgent.
"Yeah?"
"Look! Levi Nas found a cola bottle!"
A cola bottle? Rare in the park. My eyes widened in surprise.
"See? It's half full!"
"Whoa, really?"
"Yeah! Shall we split it and drink?"
At Levi Nas's suggestion, I examined the bottle closely. The carbonation was still there, no signs of contamination. No one nearby looked like the owner. My improved eyesight let me check thoroughly.
"Did you look for the owner?"
"Yeah! Levi Nas asked everyone!"
"Okay then. Safe to drink."
"Yay!"
Levi Nas hopped like a horn rabbit. At that moment, Han Yeoreum snatched the bottle from behind us.
"H-Hold on, kids."
"Eeeeng..."
Levi Nas pouted, deprived of her cola. I felt the same.
"W-We agreed not to eat stuff we pick up anymore."
"That was just bugs, right...?"
"Bugs?"
Min So-yun and Kwon Yul, who'd been listening quietly, voiced their confusion. Han Yeoreum waved her hands frantically.
"N-No, anything on the ground is off-limits."
"This one's super clean. You know my eyes are sharp."
"Y-Yeah. But it's probably leftovers from someone..."
Leftovers, so no drinking? Classic bourgeois mindset. Showing we waste nothing would score higher points. I regretted Han Yeoreum not thinking deeper.
"Okay. I won't drink it then..."
"Y-Yeah."
Whew. Han Yeoreum sighed in relief, stroking her chest. Levi Nas whined with a teary face.
"Levi Nas wants cola..."
"I'll buy a fresh one. No drinking this."
"R-Really? Cola is super expensive, right...?"
Ridiculously so. But not too much for Levi Nas.
"Plenty of bottles around. We'll manage."
"Ah! If Levi Nas picks lots of bottles!"
Levi Nas clenched her fist determinedly. As we moved to collect more, Min So-yun raised her hand from behind.
"Hold on a moment."
"Y-Yes?!"
Han Yeoreum jumped, speaking for me. Her pupils were shaking violently. She was just as scared of the inspection as I was.