First Payday – End of the Grind!
Sunset was approaching by the time the work wrapped up.
"Work's done! Pay the laborers and send them on their way!"
"Haa. Finally over."
"Kuaaah! My back's killing me!"
"Let's get outta here!"
No matter where you go in the world, quitting time always brings that buzz of energy. Watching the laborers cheer and holler put a smile on my face too.
They started lining up after turning in their gear. I hung back, playing it cool, then slipped into the queue. Just reading the room like this gets you halfway there.
Looks like they were handing out daily wages up front. This is gonna be good.
"Heh heh heh."
I chuckled to myself while waiting, and soon it was my turn.
"Here. Fifty mun in coins for your day's pay."
"Got it, thanks."
I quickly counted the coins and pocketed them. Touching stuff. My first earnings in the Murim? Solid fifty mun. Overwhelming emotion soaked my heart.
Money's a pain to earn, but damn satisfying to hold. Part of me wanted to scream, do a backflip, or tear my hair out in joyous ranting.
"Oh, and you did good work today. Come back tomorrow if you can."
"You bet!"
Jackpot – a callback! I'm definitely coming back tomorrow!
"Kuhaha!"
Laughter burst out of me uncontrollably. I left the construction site in high spirits.
Fifty mun in coins. No more worries for now. Tomorrow's covered too.
Alright, what next? Head back to Dahoebang first, then hit an inn, right?
"Haa."
Relief washed over me.
"Yeah... adaptability. That's my strong suit."
I didn't really have a fixed home base anyway. Even Aunt kicked me out. Maybe that's why I adapted so fast.
Who the hell finds work and survives on day one in the Murim? Only this Kim Geun-hyeop could pull it off.
Time to build some confidence.
"Here to turn in my tag."
Back at Dahoebang, plenty of other laborers were doing the same. I waited my turn, eyed the situation, and handed mine over. Reading the vibe like this makes me feel like I'm settling into this world.
One thing bugging me, though.
"Hey, mind if I ask something?"
"What?"
"I got sent to Dagumjeonjang through Dahoebang today, got paid and all, but no cut for you guys?"
"Oh, that? We get a voucher every time we send you out. Your pay's already docked."
Outsourcing bastards.
"Got it."
Curiosity satisfied. I stepped out of Dahoebang.
Grrrowl.
"Ugh, fucking starving."
Shoveling all afternoon? My stomach felt like it was gonna explode from hunger. Plus, I was drenched in sweat and dying for a wash, but who knows if that's even possible here.
Inn first. The laborers said they crash there. About 20-30 mun a night. With my 50 mun, no sweat.
"One meal and a bed, and I'm good."
They said starting early gets you around 100 mun. Knock off 30 for lodging, 50 for food – that's 20 mun saved a day? Wait, food costs need rethinking.
This is Murim. Not my cushy Earth. Pre-modern world means scarce grub. Gotta get proper nutrition or you'll waste away fast. Miss vitamins or whatever, and boom – scurvy city. Get sick from malnutrition? Game over.
Right now, I'm like an American – no insurance, obese as fuck. I wanna strut my 200kg gut and tree-trunk legs claiming peak health, but nah, I'm a scrawny Asian with a tiny pancreas. No savings, get sick? Dead on arrival.
To dodge that, sleep under a roof and eat right. Those 10-mun dumplings? Pure starch bombs. Nutrition means spending cash.
"Ah, fill the gut first today!"
I headed to the inn I'd scoped out earlier: Munro Guesthouse. Half-place does just meals, but inns do lodging too. News to me.
Soon enough, there it was.
"Hmm."
Money in pocket – no fear. I strode in confidently.
"Kuhaha! So anyway! I went slash on that bastard!"
"Lying again!"
"For real, I swear!"
Rowdy as hell. Food and booze smells hit me right away... wait, so many seats? And lit up bright even at night.
"Customer! Party of how many?"
"One."
"This way."
This guy's the famous jeomsa? He led me to a corner single table.
"What'll it be?"
"First off, jeomsa. Wanna stay the night. How much?"
"30 mun for lodging."
Leaves me 20.
"Dumplings and noodles?"
"10 mun each."
"Cheapest grub, huh."
"Same everywhere. Order quick."
This prick sniffed out I'm broke? Attitude turned sour. Makes sense – pro jeomsa sees a bum waltz in asking for cheap shit like dumplings and noodles? I'd be ready with a club too.
"Meat dishes start at?"
Thick skin it is.
"Gyewi Sochae at 30 mun – cheapest."
"Gyewi Sochae?"
"Stir-fried chicken gizzards and offal with veggies."
Gizzards and guts? Sounds nasty as fuck. Cheap 'cause no prime cuts, I guess. Still, decent protein.
But broke as shit. 30 for room leaves 20...!
"Next is Hwihwa Jak at 30."
"Hwihwa Jak?"
"Roast sparrow. Small enough to eat whole."
"Oho!"
That sounds prime! Next payday, for sure. Bone-in sparrow – nutrition jackpot.
"Nice! Jeomsa! Dumplings and noodles, one each!"
"...Got it."
"And the room!"
"...Food and room tag coming up."
I pulled my entire 50 mun and handed it over. He counted and bolted. No tip – broke. Day's grind, all gone.
"Whew."
Still, food secured. I rubbed my growling belly and scanned the room. Everyone yapping over meals – plenty packing swords or sabers.
Swords and blades. Murim folk, huh? Saw 'em using lightness skill and air-stepping earlier. Don't need trouble – eyes down quick.
Murim guys got tempers. Serial killers, thrill-killers, duty-killers all LARPing as martial artists. Stare wrong as a civvie? Legal beatdown and robbed blind.
This is the real Murim, alright.
"Food's here, sir."
The jeomsa brought it out.
"Ho ho."
Noodles: plain white strands in brownish broth, soy-ish maybe. Simple boil-up. Looks decent.
Dumplings: two big white steamed buns. Solid size – these guys ain't stingy. 20 mun won't starve ya.
"Hey, jeomsa. Water for washing?"
"Well on first floor. Use it free with the room."
"Cool."
Wash possible. But no towel? Dropped naked here – missing basics. Towel and bag at least to set up house. Save from site gigs?
"Not like gearing up in a game..."
Grinding daily for consumables? Wild.
Anyway, first Murim meal time.
All white, carb-heavy AF. Tomorrow fix that. Start with noodles.
Chopsticks twirl to soak broth.
Slurp.
Shoved 'em in and inhaled.
"Hmm...!"
Bit bland? Tastes way off my usual. Bluntly, fucking tasteless. But hunger's the best sauce! Who knew bland could hit like this?
"Kya!"
Hot noodles warming me up inside – feels alive. Gulped the broth straight.
"Kuooh...! Hoo!"
Slurping spicy noodles, I'm a food shredder. Out-eats that legend Kang Mo. Murim body confirmed? Tastes bomb now?
Dumpling time. Steamed bun look – mouth watering. Meat bits or glass noodles inside, right?
Big bite...
Huh?
"What the fuck, no filling?!"
Checked again – pure bread! Empty steamed bun bullshit!
"Agh...!"
Tasteless dough ball, but starving wins. Dipped in noodle broth to soften, then chomped. Kinda works.
Still, wtf? Even Murim psychos eat filler dumplings? Insane. If I were Alliance Lord, ban that shit – treat sellers like demonic cults. Healthier Murim that way.
Anyway... pairs okay with saucy meat next time. Noted.
Devoured it all.
"Urp."
No meat – not full. Whatever, broke. Conserve energy, crash early. Early start tomorrow.
Swish.
Grabbed the room tag off the table. Key-like – head to the room named.
Skip breakfast tomorrow? Laborers had bentos. Buy portable rations? No bag sucks.
Swish.
Up and found the well first.
Sure enough – dudes stripped, washing and drinking.
Filter vibes... this water for everything?
Stripped, waited turn, scooped with gourd, washed.
"Eek!"
Fucking ice-cold! Ice spirit well or what?
"Euuuh."
Shivered through it, patted dry with top. No towel. Hang in room – dry by morning? Stink risk, oh well.
Up to my room.
Creeeak.
"Holy shit."
Room? Best case: shit. Worst: dogshit. Thought bed – nope. Tiny space with mat, blanket, tiny pillow.
30 mun for this dump? Insane Murim fucks.
"Haa."
Sigh escaped.
"Miss you, Aunt."
Compared to her place? Hell.
But exhausted. Fresh in Murim, mental damage heavy – drained.
Swish.
Lifted blanket, curled in like a pillbug in a crack. Guard against bugs or neighbors.
Wahaha!
Kuhahaha!
Jeomsa! Another flask!
One Gongbao Jiding!
Eyes shut – noise from below. No floor noise concept for these savages? Imagined slaughtering 'em all, surrendered to fatigue.
Loud, but bone-tired – sleep crashed in.
"Hic."
Shed one tear and passed out. Aunt's embrace... missed.