Chapter 20
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: The Cedarwood Drawer
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Every time Cheon Doun moved his fingers, a thread swept over the cedarwood.
He was currently making a built-in closet. Rather than a standalone wardrobe, he was crafting lockers to be set into the entire wall of the dressing room.
“Hnngh-yaaa!”
Every now and then, a powerful shout reached his ears. Looking up, he saw Nam Giseok lifting a log to build the wall of the dressing room.
Thanks to the increase in numbers, they could now divide the labor of expanding the house.
Cheon Doun had left the wall-building to Nam Giseok and was focusing on making the built-in closet.
“Keep it up, uncle!”
Beside Nam Giseok, Kim Nari, effortlessly lifting a huge log with one hand, cheered him on.
-Hmph, hmph!
The occasional protest from the Mandragoras about the noise could be heard, along with the sound of Guu snoring contentedly in the vegetable patch.
Surveying the scene, Cheon Doun found the corners of his mouth turning up unconsciously.
‘How strange. When did so many people gather here?’
When he first came back to life inside the Gate, he never could have imagined things would turn out like this.
Building my own house, eating what I want, sleeping when I want.
He had only wanted to enjoy the simple things everyone else took for granted. But now, Cheon Doun realized something had been missing from that desire.
‘Is this what it feels like to have a family?’
Something he had never felt, never had. Perhaps this was the feeling of being sheltered by a family.
Cheon Doun smiled.
Watching the boisterous crowd that had come to his home was quite enjoyable.
The warm sunlight, the refreshing midday breeze, the faint scent of lavender wafting from the wood,
A sense of contentment filled Cheon Doun’s chest.
‘What’s that guy so happy about, smiling like that?!’
One person snorted at the sight of Cheon Doun. It was Nam Giseok, the only one grinding his teeth at the current situation.
He was currently wearing a primitive-looking animal hide over his clothes.
The very same hide Cheon Doun always wore.
‘This training uniform…! The effect is way stronger than I thought!’
In Nam Giseok’s mind, the hide had already transformed into a training uniform.
He recalled the events of last night.
The chills he felt when Cheon Doun approached him with the hide. The desperate hope that it wasn't what he thought.
[Wear it.]
That simple, clear command was the beginning of everything.
Nam Giseok looked at the hide garment. The mere sight of its overflowing toxicity made the hair on his neck stand on end.
No way. If I wear that, I’ll be poisoned to death within three days. He shook his head at the premonition.
[It’s fine. You can do it.]
Cheon Doun said. They were casually spoken words, but their effect was tremendous.
‘He thinks… I can do it? Really? Can he see my potential?’
The only person who had ever believed in his potential. And that person was telling him he could do it. Backing down now would be the same as throwing away the opportunity.
Once he thought of it that way, the hide Cheon Doun was holding looked different.
This is a special training uniform. Not just anyone can get one. That precious opportunity was being offered to him.
[I’ll do my best!]
Nam Giseok grabbed the hide garment. Now, he was regretting that he ever did.
[Ugh-huk?]
Despite grabbing it with gusto, Nam Giseok let out a strange sound, utterly shocked.
His hand tingled where it touched the hide. It went beyond that; it felt like his arm was about to fall off.
[What the hell! Why is the poison so strong!]
He knew the toxicity was strong, but seeing it from the side and touching it directly were on completely different levels.
‘Hyung-nim… has been wearing something like this all this time?’
He looked at Cheon Doun with trembling eyes. The gap between them was simply unfathomable.
Cheon Doun held out a vine to him. It was the same one he used as a belt.
[Tie it around your waist. Otherwise, the hide will flap around and be uncomfortable.]
Such meticulousness, using a vine to press the hide tightly against the body. This man is the real deal. A madman with clear eyes.
With trembling hands, Nam Giseok took the vine and tied it around his waist.
[Urgh…!]
As the hide pressed closer than before, it felt like his entire body was being scorched.
Ah, why am I torturing myself? Who am I? What is an A-rank Hunter license that I would inflict this pain upon myself?
Tens of thousands of existential questions flashed through Nam Giseok’s mind. That was what happened last night.
“Heh… hehehe. This is hell.”
Nam Giseok looked around with a haggard face.
The same scenery that Cheon Doun found warm appeared to Nam Giseok as a gloomy space with a dark aura.
A house with threads drooping like a haunted mansion. The logs piled up nearby.
When he first saw the mountain of lumber, he had wondered what it was for.
Even when he was told they would use the wood to build a new room next to the house, he just thought, ‘Oh, okay.’
There are two high-ranking Awoken. There’s even a Machine Lifeform that can subdue a B-rank Hunter in an instant.
A log cabin built by stacking wood should be finished in no time. Nam Giseok had thought so and was full of confidence.
“Ugh…!”
He wanted to smack his past self for thinking that.
“Nam Giseok. Not there. A little more to the right. Yes. Stack it there.”
He never imagined he would be building the house all by himself.
“The log is tilted to the right. If it drags on the ground, the wood will get damaged. Lift it properly.”
He also hadn't expected to be working while wearing a hide that reeked of poison. Nam Giseok hoisted a huge log onto his shoulder.
“Heugh…! My… my spine! I think my spine is going to shatter, Hyung-nim!”
“It won’t shatter.”
“My… my back muscles feel like they’re going to tear, Hyung-nim!”
“They won’t tear.”
“My shoulder…!”
“It won’t break.”
The voice that replied was nonchalant and almost cheerful.
Nam Giseok gritted his teeth. Puffs of air snorted from his nose like a Monster.
‘I’m really going to die!’
He felt like he was being crushed to death by the weight of the log. Normally, it would have been heavy but not impossible for him to lift.
But now was different. He couldn’t use his strength properly because of the glowing stones nearby.
And because of the hide he was wearing, he couldn't use his mana properly, as it was all being used to purify the poison.
“It’s hard because you’re trying to do it with just brute strength. Try to visualize assisting your muscles with mana.”
“If… if that were possible… I wouldn’t be here! Keuk, my… my back!”
“It’s fine. It didn’t snap.”
If it snapped, I’d be dead! Nam Giseok resisted the urge to scream.
Groaning, Nam Giseok lowered the log into its designated spot.
“I… I did it…!”
Nam Giseok patted his back, panting for breath. It was grueling work, but strangely, a wave of pride washed over him.
‘Is it because I can see the house slowly coming together?’
Or maybe it was because he could feel a physical change, unlike before. Nam Giseok looked down at his own body.
‘It’s definitely different from before. It feels like every single muscle is under my control.’
Moving his body felt freer. It was as if the shackles on his limbs were slowly being removed.
‘And this is while wearing this poisonous hide. I wonder what it’ll feel like when I take it off.’
He would definitely pass this year’s Hunter promotion test. Nam Giseok grinned at the premonition.
“Your hands are idle. Get back to work.”
“Yes, sir!”
Nam Giseok picked up a bowl next to him. Inside was a green spiderweb that Cheon Doun had prepared.
‘Isn’t this the mucus from a snail-type Monster? It’s incredibly hard to get. Where did he find it?’
He really was an enigmatic person. Using a wooden spatula, Nam Giseok spread the sticky mucus on top of the log.
All that was left was to place a new log on top and let it set.
“Hoo, hoo…! Heave-ho!”
Taking a deep breath, he lifted the log beside him and stacked it on top.
With a heavy thud, another log was added to the wall.
“The left side is crooked. Push the left side inward.”
“Yes, sir!”
Nam Giseok pushed the log as instructed.
“Ugh…! Hy… Hyung-nim! The adhesive strength of that green stuff is too strong! It won’t budge. What should I do?!”
“You have to push it.”
“B-but it won’t move!”
“Just push it.”
“It’s not moving…!”
“Push.”
“Yes, sir!”
Nam Giseok revved his mana hole as if wringing it dry. It felt like every muscle in his body was about to snap, but he somehow managed to push the log by supplementing his strength with mana.
‘This kind of training…! It’s my first time…! But it feels like it’s…! having some effect…!’
The power of positive thinking can create strength from nothing. Believing this was all part of his training, he finally managed to push the log into place, completing the wall.
“It’s done…!”
Exhausted, he collapsed in a spread-eagle position. He had only just finished one wall. There was still a mountain of work to do, but he had no strength left to stand.
“Mister. Uncle collapsed.”
“Go give him some water.”
“Got it.”
Kim Nari took a prepared water bottle and went to Nam Giseok. As she poured water into his mouth, he drank it like a man finding an oasis in a drought.
“Uncle, are you okay?”
“Y-yeah.”
Nam Giseok looked over to where Cheon Doun was. He was sitting in the shade of a tree, casually flicking his fingers.
Some kind of white thread moved back and forth between his fingers. Each time it did, the wood was carved away, taking shape.
‘What is he making? No, what in the world is that ability anyway?’
The powers of the Awoken are diverse.
Even for the most common pyromancers, the way they manifest fire varies greatly from person to person.
Nam Giseok couldn’t even begin to guess what Cheon Doun’s ability was derived from.
“If you’re done resting, get up. We need to finish the house.”
At the casual remark, Nam Giseok’s face grew haggard again. He had been holding on with the single thought that a break would come soon.
But the break never came.
‘Do these people have infinite stamina? When do they ever rest?!’
One was a Machine Lifeform. The other was a Chimera who had surpassed all limits.
Breaks did not exist.
***
At the same time Nam Giseok was building the wall with logs.
A creature had awakened to the noise and vibrations of the construction.
The egg brought from the volcanic region. Inside the drawer Cheon Doun had made, the egg trembled slightly.
What’s happening outside? Why is it so noisy?
The creature inside the egg shifted its body out of curiosity. Each time it did, the egg wobbled and rolled around inside the drawer.
Not much time was left until it hatched. The little Monster began to prepare to break out of its shell.
***
Thanks to Nam Giseok’s efforts, the speed of the house construction increased significantly.
The first time, it took five days to build the house. This time, it was completed in just two.
Kim Nari and Nam Giseok stacked the house, while Cheon Doun crafted the built-in closet to go inside.
Though it was called a built-in closet, it was merely a wall closet with compartments like lockers. Lacking hinges, he couldn’t attach any doors.
“Still, this is pretty impressive.”
Cheon Doun grinned as he looked around the dressing room. With compartments on each wall, it was perfect for storing clothes.
Now for the finishing touches. It was time to cut an opening in the wall connecting to the original room so people could pass through.
Just as he had with the window, Cheon Doun used his threads to carve out a section of the wall. With a push, an entrance connecting the two rooms was created.
“The house is connected. It’s bigger.”
Kim Nari excitedly ran back and forth between the two rooms.
“And it smells nice. There’s a fragrant scent.”
“I know. I’m glad we used the wood Guu recommended. I like the subtle fragrance.”
Cheon Doun and Kim Nari looked satisfied. Guu also wore a proud expression at being praised.
Only Nam Giseok was sprawled on the floor, looking as if he had drained his future life force.
“Ughhh….”
To hell with the house, he could finally rest. He smiled blissfully. Then, a strange cracking sound reached his ears.
Cheon Doun, Kim Nari, and Guu all heard the sound and simultaneously looked toward the other room.
The top drawer. The cracking sound came from inside it again.
“Mister, this sound… it’s.”
Kim Nari tugged on Cheon Doun’s sleeve, her face full of excitement. Cheon Doun smiled as if in reply.
“Looks like it’s about to be born.”
“Born? What is?”
“You don’t know, uncle. There’s a Monster egg in there. It’s the one Mister brought from the volcanic region.”
Kim Nari answered for him. At her words, Nam Giseok scrambled to his feet in alarm. He put distance between himself and the drawers, entering a state of high alert.
The volcanic region. A danger zone where humans couldn’t enter. An egg from such a place was bound to hatch a ferocious species.
‘Why would he bring something like that here! No, how did he even get it? Can Hyung-nim enter the volcanic region?’
Just what were the limits of this man’s abilities? Nam Giseok stared at Cheon Doun, his mouth agape.
Cheon Doun, with a calm expression, was opening the drawer.