Chapter 147
Chapter 147
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: 48. Haven of the Rusted Swords (3)
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If they followed the spirit of this place and avoided using any mana, building a house would take quite a bit of time. Division of labor was essential.
A tent to spend a single night alone was one thing. But this was for five people staying several days. It didn't need to be extravagant with separate rooms for each, but it had to be spacious enough to relax comfortably after playing.
"While I gather wood, Yeoreum and Gaeul, you two collect broadleaf plants. Like this."
He held out a leaf he'd picked up on the way here.
"It looks like a huge fan or something."
"Yeah, it does."
Rock-paper-scissors. Suddenly Yeoreum threw rock, and startled Gaeul reflexively threw scissors.
Just like that, Gaeul ended up fanning. Her lips puffed out in a pout—she clearly felt wronged. The sulky girl swung her arm half-heartedly.
"What are you doing? Fan properly."
"Why... I'm doing it..."
"How's my armpit supposed to dry like that?"
Yeoreum raised her arm wide open.
"Ugh... You're so gross..."
"Fan properly, or it's a kiss on my armpit."
Only then did Gaeul fan in earnest, like she was eating bitter herbs through tears.
Lounging Yeoreum wiggled her toes and giggled. She looked just like some arrogant queen, making Bom and Winter laugh too.
"But why this? Is it some special leaf?"
"Yeah. Waterproof, bugs hate it. Tough, and even if you separate the leaves, they hold moisture well so they don't dry out easily."
Perfect for roofing.
"Bom and Winter, come with me. While I handle the wood, you two gather nearby bushes."
"Okay."
He also told them what else to gather if they found it. Plenty of materials were needed for a proper house.
"Whoa, why do we need so many materials?"
"Come to think of it, how are we supposed to build a house with all this? No magic allowed here, right?"
"What are the bushes for?"
Questions came one after another. Dragons spent most of their lives in lairs, so they seemed very interested in shelters. He sketched a rough blueprint on the ground with a stick.
Hearth. Cooking area. Windows. A-frame roof. Lighting. Personal beds and shelves. Even a crude sewage system.
The space was efficient. The structure fit together perfectly, amazing the kids.
"Whoa, that's awesome... Incredible..."
"...How do you know all this?"
Nothing impressive about it. Anyone with ten years of field life could do this.
"Hey, sudden question. Have you ever needed to do stuff like this? Build houses? Cook? Lie on bushes to avoid ground moisture and cold?"
"Yeah."
"When you were little?"
"Yep."
"You were a baby when you were born too, Ajusshi?"
Gaeul's question sounded a bit odd.
Apparently that's how they all heard it. Yeoreum nodded like it made sense, Winter was shocked.
Bom looked intrigued too.
"No human starts out adult."
"Whoa, so crazy...!"
"...!"
Gaeul and Winter's eyes sparkled.
"So, so, were you cute too!?"
"Probably not."
"...Small, like me?"
"Probably. Even smaller at times."
"...!"
"Was your dick small too?"
"What?"
"Did you have a mom, Ajusshi?"
"Is that even a question."
"Ah...! That was a weird question. Sorry...!"
"Probably."
"Did you want to grow up too?"
"Who knows."
"Guess?"
"Probably."
"...Did you like jelly?"
"No."
"... "
"Did you cry when teachers scolded you at school!?"
"Doubt it."
"Why?"
"Prideful type."
"So if someone did better than you, did it hurt your pride and make you jealous?"
"Probably."
"Whoa... So, did you have a first love back when you were young and innocent?"
"...First love?"
"Don't remember."
"...But I'm curious."
"Told you, don't remember."
"...Hing."
"So what about your dick?"
What the hell are you so curious about?
Winter tilted her head.
"...Chili pepper?"
"Eek... Sis! Please don't say weird stuff in front of Winter!"
Why were these kids acting up today? As Yoo Ji-tae struggled to fend off the barrage of questions,
Bom giggled.
"Kids. How about we build the house first and ask later? Sun's about to set. We'll end up working through the night."
Bom's words had a mystical power. "Oh yeah!" Gaeul tossed the fan aside and jumped up like she'd been waiting.
A couple hours later.
Once the kids gathered materials, Yoo Ji-tae started building. He cleared and leveled the ground for the foundation. Balanced the pillars and frame. Then twisted the long stalks into walls.
"Like this?"
"Yeah. Tight. But not too forceful."
"Okay."
Yeoreum helped. These fibrous stalks from giant tree cores had air pockets, making them lightweight yet tough and excellent insulators.
Next, mix prepared clay with water, apply to walls. High heat and humidity meant slow-drying over low flames. Added leaf fragments to prevent cracking.
"Twist the leaf tips into loops and hang them."
"Okay."
While walls dried, they covered the roof with broad leaves. Built a sewage ditch so rain flowed low. Meanwhile, Bom and Yeoreum fitted crude doors and windows.
"Ugh..."
Gaeul sighed deeply mid-task. She looked mentally exhausted. Makes sense—had she ever labored in her life?
"... "
Winter had no specific job. She pondered, then clapped from the sidelines.
By the time they lined the interior with bushes and clean moss, night had fallen.
Clap clap clap. Small hands applauded.
Just before sunset.
The house was complete.
"Wheeee—! Sis!"
"Good job, Gaeul."
Cheering voices. Proud faces.
For a rush job, the interior was spacious and well-made.
"Awesome! So fluffy!"
"Not bad."
Thick bushes topped with blankets. Yeoreum seemed pleased with the unexpectedly soft bed.
"Good work."
"Good work~!"
He waved it off.
Exhausted, the kids had forgotten their earlier chatter. They lay on the long bedding, fiddling with their watches.
He took the outermost spot. Winter lay beside him. Rare to share a bed with a child. Bedtime. Winter naturally pillowed on his arm and fell asleep.
"Work was tiring, but now I feel so accomplished?"
"Hm..."
"Don't you feel it, Sis? First time feeling like this..."
Gaeul chattered until Yeoreum turned away, then filmed with her watch like a diary, murmuring the day's events.
Probably footage for the underground labyrinth.
A huge moon shone through the window.
Outside, faint insect and animal sounds. Yet the night was quiet. The regressor could tell the child's breathing was steady and regular.
And so.
The first day in Unmanned Island Peace City drew to a close.
Fruit for breakfast seemed good. Yoo Ji-tae, up first, stepped out.
Bom quietly rose, stretched, and looked around.
Sleeping kids. Winter, missing him, had rolled into Gaeul's arms.
Her eyes met Yeoreum's. A subtle wave; Yeoreum nodded.
Bom carefully opened the window.
Morning sunlight was warm.
Yoo Ji-tae returned arms full of fruit, waking the kids. Non-toxic ones, or those edible after seed removal. Sweet, tangy flesh made Winter grin with one eye squinted.
On the way, he'd found something the kids would like.
"Found something fun."
"Ooh! Fun stuff?"
A ridge had special plants.
After breakfast, he led them up the mountain. Infusing his steps with survival skill, he cleared the jungle path. Warm spring breeze, chattering kids.
"There."
A rare clearing in the dense forest.
Like trees and weeds avoided it—a 5m diameter round glade. Kids peeked from bushes. Short Winter got hoisted onto his shoulder.
Center: a blue-tinted tree.
Waist-high on a person.
ID: EE-50888.
Soldiers called it the "Spirit Tree" in the field.
"Sis. What's that?"
"Hm. First time seeing it too... But it's a good tree."
Even Bom didn't know. Different worlds.
"Everyone, bow your heads, minimize your presence."
Dragons closed eyes, hid auras. Winter clumsily followed, holding Bom's hand.
Then, the miracle began.
Thinking no one there, the tree started moving.
Oh, what? It's moving...!
...!
Gaeul whispered in awe. Rhythmic: thump thump chick. Thump chick. Thump thump chick. Thump chick.
Whoa, it's dancing? So cute.
Cute? Looks retarded...
Opinions split.
Anyway. Famous for dancing, but more for something else.
Yoo Ji-tae rose from bushes; the swaying tree froze awkwardly—like a human caught off-guard.
"It pretends to be a tree when watched, but ears are open. Everyone touch a branch, whisper something nice. In days, matching fruit grows."
Sound travels sideways, so whisper softly to avoid mixing.
Intrigued, they approached, cupped hands to branches, whispered.
Share after fruits appear.
Afternoon: to the sea.
Because Yeoreum found strange light deep underground following a sea turtle. Bom and Gaeul weren't curious, so he went with Yeoreum and Winter.
"Hey, you shouldn't go."
"...Why?"
"I said light, but it's super dark, pitch black, scary?"
"...So?"
"A little kid like you would be too scared."
"...No?"
"What do you mean no. Tiny pea."
"...Wanna fight?"
"Don't whine you're scared. Hate whiners."
"...Whatever. Red wild boar."
"Done talking, you little chub?"
"...Hmph."
Often overlooked, but Yeoreum and Winter got along poorly alone. Echoing ancient Blue-Red feud.
Yeoreum had no such biases. Treated kids and adults the same.
"... "
Winter clung to Yoo Ji-tae, whining. She called me chub. Bad... Mumbled complaints, voice too whiny to catch.
Anyway, he dove with the two.
Artificial island, but sea deep—nearly 150m visible.
Coral, tropical fish beautified views. But reef dropped steeply past a point, unwalkable.
Microbes ate light; 20m down, darkness fell. Artificial zone ended. Sea silent, lifeless.
"... "
Yeoreum gestured: that way.
His senses caught something too.
They followed deeper. Bubbles rose. Faint light visible. Yoo Ji-tae peered closely. Below sheer cliff of fractured strata.
A small cave.