Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: NPC Primavera VER.C.PRIM
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I’d asked Tiaryn to craft the magic items needed for her, and now all the preparations to raise Lee Yoo-hyun were complete.
Before diving in earnestly to train Lee Yoo-hyun, Dun headed to Rihaowel, who was hustling to sell her goods as usual today.
“Mom, can I go on an adventure to the hunting grounds around here with that adventurer?”
“No.”
Rihaowel refused without a second’s hesitation.
“Why?”
“Too dangerous.”
Her saying not to go adventuring because it was dangerous made Dun’s lips twitch ever so slightly.
“It’s fine. I smash everything anyway.”
“You collapse from exhaustion after walking just a little.”
“I’ll make or borrow a wheelchair and ride around in it.”
“Your arms give out from exhaustion too.”
“Why do you keep making me out to be such a weakling? It’s not that bad.”
Ouch. Ouch.
Rihaowel’s words weren’t entirely wrong. Last winter, when the pond froze over, she’d tried sledding on it, only to run out of stamina and nearly fall asleep on the ice in the dead of winter.
“Huh? Pretty please, Mom. You know how much I love you, right?”
Rihaowel paused mid-wipe of a bottle for healing potions, narrowing her eyes. The words “I love you” made her hesitate for a moment.
“You only say that when you want something. Anyway, the adventurer you’re talking about is that Lee Yoo-hyun person, right?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ve always wondered—why does my daughter take such good care of this adventurer Lee Yoo-hyun?”
Faced with her mom’s question, Dun rolled her eyes dramatically.
“There’s this thing.”
“What thing? ‘Cause he’s handsome? No way... you’re not into him, are you?”
Ugh. What? The age gap’s over ten years. Even adding her mental age from her past and present lives, he wasn’t her type.
“Just.”
“Just?”
“No, I mean, there’s this thing. Don’t ask.”
She owed Lee Yoo-hyun a debt. One he probably didn’t even know about right now.
“Then how about a day trip? If we set a curfew, I’ll be home before then.”
“Hmm... Isn’t that hardly an adventure?”
“I’ll be out of the village all day, sticking to the nearby hunting grounds. That’s an adventure in its own way.”
“If you’re coming home anyway, just go. Why ask my permission?”
Rihaowel, who’d been stirring a large cauldron with a long wooden ladle, switched to a soup ladle. She scooped up a heap of recovery potion and poured it into the glass bottle she’d been cleaning earlier.
“You’ll send me on an errand, and if I’m not in the village, you’ll glare at me with those suspicious eyes.”
“Suspicious eyes...?”
Dun felt oddly embarrassed at the thought that Rihaowel might worry. Was that right? Or maybe it was just awkward.
“Oh, I get it. You teamed up with the adventurer to dodge errands, huh?”
“No, that’s not it.”
That was a false accusation. She did find errands annoying, but not enough to scheme like that.
“Fine, whatever. At least tell me which hunting ground you’re heading to.”
“Why?”
“If it overlaps with my delivery route, I can ask you to drop it off.”
Rihaowel, as always, would never give up on errands.
* * *
Thanks to the latent power inside her making her constantly lethargic and sleepy, people often mistook Dun for a lazy slacker. But in truth, Dun was pretty diligent.
She just never advertised it, since everyone around her would fiercely contradict her if she claimed to be hardworking.
Her life might seem chaotic, but Dun had her own system in place.
Hunting days, errand-packed days for Mom, picnic days in the imperial gardens, and so on.
Isaerek hadn’t been much of a planner in her original life, but in this new one as Dun, she’d imposed some structure.
Today was flicking game day.
At first, she’d joined the kids’ games to show Rihaowel she was adapting well to village life. But now she was hooked for real.
‘How many levels have you hit?’
‘Oh, almost 30 now.’
Lee Yoo-hyun was steadily grinding levels in the lowbie hunting grounds.
With yesterday’s level check done and a bit of time before embarking on proper adventures with him, Dun decided to have some fun.
“Time to earn some pocket money, huh?”
She got allowance from Rihaowel, but for some reason, she was always broke. Money came in and vanished just as fast. Her pockets must have holes in them. She didn’t even remember spending it.
She could sell items to players for cash, but flashing big money out of nowhere would tip off Rihaowel for sure. That’d lead to headaches. She’d think Dun was messing with something shady. One hundred percent.
Anyway, today was the flicking game finals. She was expecting about 20 units in profit.
Once she started hunting daily with Lee Yoo-hyun and carrying him, no more flicking games. So she planned to milk it for all it was worth.
‘Today, I’ve got a flick made from a Lycus fang, no less.’
Flicking had its techniques. Brute force didn’t flip the opponent’s flick—you needed the perfect angle and strength control. For Dun, practicing strength control, it was a proper sport.
She arrived at the clearing, and the kids were standing there with their secret weapon flicks at the ready.
“Dun, why’re you so late! Slept in again, huh? We’ve all been waiting because of you!”
“Ah, sorry, sorry. I won’t be late next time, for real.”
“You said that last time too! Seriously! If you’re late again, we’re not playing with you!”
Dun scrunched up her face in exaggerated dismay at the threat of being excluded.
“Eek! My bad! Keep playing with me, pleeease~”
Her over-the-top apology melted their hearts, and the kids giggled.
“Anyway, you all brought your 10 units, right?”
Dun flicked a silver coin worth 10 units and whispered to the group.
“Yeah, snuck it from Mom’s pouch! But she hates gambling—is that okay?”
“Good job. We’ll win big and double it back for her.”
She gently patted the kid’s head to ease his worry, flashing her prettiest smile. Dun was cute enough that the village kid blushed.
“And if your moms ask who started this, what do you say?”
“I did!”
“Right, right. Adults hate blaming others. Even if you’re honest, they’ll say you’re making excuses. Just say it was all me, and the nagging ends quick.”
No stakes, no thrill. Once money was on the line, their eyes changed. Before Dun joined, it was pure fun. Now? They looked ready to bet their lives.
That greedy glint once they tasted money—it was perfect. Just like players eyeing a rare item.
“Um... could I join too?”
Dun was rubbing her hands, plotting to rake it in, when someone spoke up beside her.
It was a girl in a hood, about Dun’s age. Maybe a year or two older.
“Who’re you? You need my permission to join.”
“Dun, you’re the one who showed up late.”
As Dun eyed her warily, the hooded girl pulled back her hood. A cascade of radiant golden hair spilled out, and her pink eyes sparkled with sharp intelligence.
The girl, too stunning for words, smiled with crinkled eyes.
“My name’s Prim. Mind if I play?”
The kids all blushed and nodded eagerly at Prim’s introduction and smile. Dun’s cheeks stayed cool—thanks to Rihaowel, Tiaryn, and Seol Do-yoon, she was immune to drop-dead gorgeous faces.
Dun herself leaned pretty anyway. More cute or handsome than outright beautiful, with a strikingly androgynous look.
“No way. No outsiders.”
“Prim! Ignore her, let’s play! She’s always kinda mean!”
“Dun, why not? The more the merrier, you always say.”
True. Bigger pot.
No, other kids were fine—but not this ‘Prim.’
[NPC Primavera]
Level: 97
Role: Princess of the Licht Empire
She’s the princess!!
Who lets the empire’s princess join a gambling ring!
More than that, shouldn’t this shut-in academy princess be studying? Why was she in Genesis Village? The palace wasn’t that far, but still.
“No. Absolutely not.”
Dun’s fierce refusal earned her weird looks from the kids.
“Am I intruding?”
“No, not at all! Want to borrow one of mine? I made this one with tons of effort—special for you.”
Ugh... The masses had fallen to looks bias.
“You’re all betting money, but I don’t have 10 units, so I’ll put up 100.”
“Welcome, Prim. Love you.”
Muah.
And Dun surrendered to the almighty coin.
With the princess as a gambling accomplice, no issues there. Dun stared blankly at the gold coin worth 100 units on Prim’s palm.
“Treat Prim like royalty, got it? She’s our big whale. Ditch her or whatever, and you’re dead meat to me.”
Dun hugged Prim tight and spun her around protectively. The village kids gawked, then huddled whispering.
“She’s so lame.”
“...Kinda pitiful. Must be desperate for cash.”
Prim watched from a step back, giving Dun a sympathetic glance.
“What. Why.”
Dun crossed her arms defiantly.
* * *
“But hey, Prim, watch out—Dun’s a flicking pro. Hidden master of the village.”
“Hmm...”
Before the flicking tournament kicked off, the village kids warned Prim. Her hands were piled high with flicks they’d given her.
Dun figured a sheltered palace princess couldn’t handle it, so she’d even handed over her Lycus fang flick.
“Don’t hype me up. I’m not that great.”
Dun was buzzing at the thought of 100 units, waving off the praise. Prim smiled watching her.
“Really? Then I’d love to challenge you first, Dun. That okay?”
“Uh...? But they said you’re the best...?”
“It’s fine. I’m pretty good with my hands.”
Prim grinned mischievously again. What a giggly kid. What’s so funny?
“Sure, let’s go.”
“Great.”
The flick-off between Dun and Prim began.
Her opponent’s smug ease irked Dun—she’d show her. Dun rolled up her sleeves.
They raised their flick-holding arms, and the game ended anticlimactically.
“?”
Dun’s loss.
It was over in a flash.
The kids, expecting a bloody coliseum-level battle, buzzed excitedly—then murmured in shock at Dun’s quick defeat.
In a clash of Level 999 vs. Level 97, the one better at fine strength control—97—had the edge.
A stunned silence fell over the game circle, then erupted into chaos.
The village kids swarmed Prim.
“Whoa, Prim, you’re insane! Flicking master? You smashed our village dojo!”
“Our Dun acted all cocky—serves her right. Time to strip that flicking master title.”
“She got crushed, so take all our money! Puhaha!”
The village kids were as boisterous as adults.
Dun stared blankly at her flipped flicks, trembling.
“Hey, you...! I’m not convinced. You used magic.”
“Nope? What magic?”
This girl, whose skill window was packed with magic skills, asking what magic was.
“You messing with me?”
As Dun stormed up to grab Prim’s collar, the kids held her back.
“Dun, it’s just a dumb game—why go all in? Calm down!”
“Shut it! That’s exactly when you bet your life!”
...retorted Dun, who’d died making illegal cheats.
Dun glared at the princess counting silvers behind them. Blood pressure rising—this damn princess.
Prim pocketed the silvers, donned her hood, and slipped away from the clearing.
As she left, she shot Dun a wicked grin, just for her.
“Heh.”