The Shocking Price of Horn Rabbits
I'd thought horn rabbits were only 3,000 won each—like at some high-class, dignified restaurant—but they were actually 10,000 won. Betrayed and utterly deflated, I gaped up at the girl with my mouth hanging open.
"Aren't you the manager here...? You can't just rip off beginners like this, taking their hard-earned cash...?"
How much had she scammed me out of so far? I did some quick math in my head. I'd been hunting here for about three years, so at minimum, she'd taken at least a million won. An insane amount of money I'd never managed to save even once in this life.
"I-I get what you're thinking, but that's not it at all...!"
The girl frantically waved her hands. Her excuses only made her look more detestable.
"No, it is. You're the manager here, right?"
"I do manage it, but I don't take a single won for it...!"
Working for free? Was this some kind of volunteer gig? Frowning in dissatisfaction, I glared up at her.
"Then why do it for nothing?"
"It's not exactly free—more like an investment in the future. I can scout promising adventurers, and it builds a good image for contributing to the community."
"Good image...?"
A good image for a witch? It was as absurd as calling horn rabbits docile. I looked up at her, my lips twisted downward.
"Ah, um... sorry. Yeah, that was my mistake."
Seeing my expression, the girl bowed her head. It had to be a fake apology to maintain her 'good image' with the people around us. Still, I decided to forgive her.
"Fine. Just don't do it again, okay?"
"Y-Yeah... I won't. Never."
She flashed an awkward smile, her shoulders slumping like she'd been utterly defeated. Getting this deflated from one little act? What a pathetic woman.
"In exchange, I'll sell horn rabbits to you for 10,000 won from now on. That cool?"
"Sure. And I'll get all the money she owes you back too."
"Huh?"
She wasn't some loan shark. How was she gonna collect it? Before I could voice my doubts, the girl scooped up the horn rabbit and bolted toward the exchange.
Paang! Her speed was monstrous—I couldn't even dream of keeping up. I just stared blankly at her retreating figure.
She's fast.
The exchange was two or three kilometers away. She hadn't been running long, but she was already darting inside. It was far, but it felt vividly close. Just how much had my eyesight improved? My tail wagged on its own at the thrill of my enhanced body. Sure, my looks had changed, but I preferred this stronger version anyway. My old appearance hadn't even been truly mine.
At this rate, I could probably catch two horn rabbits a day.
Two horn rabbits meant 20,000 won a day. That opened up so many possibilities. First thing, buy some tape to patch up the tent. Lost in delightful daydreams, I didn't notice someone approaching until they were right beside me.
"Hey, kid, you lost?"
"Y-Yes...?"
I turned to see a middle-aged woman I'd never met before. Startled by the sudden approach, I instinctively backed away.
"It's just weird seeing a beastkin kid all alone. No guardians around?"
"I-I, um... "
Was she approaching out of genuine worry? After a moment's thought, I decided no. No one in this world acted out of pure kindness.
"D-Don't know!"
I ignored the woman and bolted across the wide meadow. My modified body let me run even faster than usual.
"Huff... huff..."
My goal was the dense forest. I plunged deep inside and hid under a tree with no signs of people, panting heavily.
"Hah."
Who did she think she was, acting all friendly out of nowhere? Annoyed, I picked up a nearby pebble and chucked it. Thok—it rolled across the ground and bumped into someone's shoe. I looked up in shock to see a familiar face.
"Ah."
It was Han Yeoreum. Relief washed over me that it wasn't a stranger, but then I froze in place. There was no reason to feel safe around her—she was a threat.
"What're you doing out here?"
"...Dunno. Not telling."
I sullenly tossed another pebble nearby—not at her, since that might be dangerous.
"Sis brought a nice present. Won't you tell me?"
"A nice present?"
"Yeah."
She approached and held out the hand she'd hidden behind her back. In it was an unbelievable wad of cash.
"Wh-What's all this?"
"Sis got all your scammed money back. One of the exchange guys was a jerk."
"Oh..."
Probably that guy who'd always come buy my rabbits first. I'd thought he was nice, but this backstab? Disappointment hit hard.
"Here, all yours."
"A-All of it?"
"Yeah, every bit."
She handed me the thick stack—way too much to just accept lightly.
"H-How much?"
"Three million won in cash. The scammer got fired on the spot."
"Th-Three million!"
I took the wad and held it up to the sky. Forgetting how to count bills properly, I laid them out one by one. Exactly three hundred bills. Money I'd have to slave away three years without eating to earn.
She said the reward was up to twenty percent, right?
It was precious cash, but you had to repay kindness in kind. I pulled out about fifty bills and offered them to her.
"Here."
"What's this...?"
"My thank-you fee."
I tried to put the stack in her hand, but she raised it high, refusing. She was dead set against taking my money.
"No need for a fee."
"Why not?"
"We caught a bad guy thanks to you."
So it was fine because they'd nabbed a bad guy. Basically, she'd legally tormented someone, and that made it okay. No wonder she'd sprinted to the exchange like a maniac. Thrilled at the chance to bully someone? Chills ran down my spine at her cruelty.
"Um, then... how about I buy you a meal instead...?"
"Meal?"
"Yeah. Something delicious."
With money, there was one thing I'd been dying to try. Super tasty stuff—maybe treating her would ease her bullying.
"Hmm... alright, just this once, wanna get fed by Winter?"
"Yes! The most delicious thing in the world!"
How long had it been since I'd had it? Just thinking about it made my mouth water.
**
"Hoo..."
I paced in front of the famous burger chain for ages. I couldn't believe I was about to enter this luxurious place. Was it okay to splurge like this just because I had money? Anxious, I shuffled my feet in place.
"Winter, you coming in?"
"Y-Yeah, coming."
Pushed along, I opened the transparent glass door and stepped inside. Being a weekday morning, it wasn't crowded. I scanned the interior and plopped down in the corner-most seat. Every time I moved, eyes locked onto my ears and tail.
"You eat a lot of burgers, Winter?"
"Y-Yeah, tons."
Truth was, it was my first in this life. But acting like a newbie would make me look easy. To avoid seeming ridiculous, I boldly raised my hand.
"Um, excuse me!"
A few burger-munching customers turned to look. But no employees came over. I'd always ordered like this at restaurants, right? Flustered, I just peeked at the people around me.
"Winter, you gotta go up and order here."
"Oh?"
Right, chains like this were counter-order. Embarrassed, I hung my head, and the surrounding folks started chuckling at me.
"Look at those droopy ears. So cute."
"Yeah, cute, but what's with the rags?"
"Beastkin kid. Some folks are into that wild vibe."
They whispered quietly, but my improved ears caught every word. Most were mocking my dumb move.
"Ugh..."
Was I too pathetic to even order a burger? My self-esteem crumbling, I squeezed my eyes shut—until she tapped my shoulder.
"Winter, want sis to order for you? They have this shrimp patty burger that's amazing."
"Y-Yeah... please..."
Too ashamed to lift my face, I faceplanted onto the table. After a while, she returned from ordering and sat down, holding a paper with a number on it.
"I-I know this. When the numbers match, you pick it up."
Eager to redeem myself, I blurted out what it was for. Her eyes went wide—she clearly hadn't expected me to know.
"Whoa, you do know your stuff."
"Yeah, I remember this one."
That probably kept me from looking like a total burger virgin. Relieved, I patted my chest.
"Then when the burger's ready, you pick it up, Winter?"
"Me...?"
"Yeah, you."
To get the burger, I'd have to talk to the counter staff. Chatting with workers at a high-class, dignified place like this was never easy.
"N-No way..."
I refused without a second's hesitation.