Chapter 25: New Tenants

“Good job, Leon. You’re finally earning your keep.”

Sang-woong patted Leon’s soft fur, and the creature wagged its tail happily.

“Next time you find a Horned Chicken, don’t kill it. Bring it to me.”

Woof!

As if understanding, Leon looked up at Sang-woong and barked energetically. Smiling, Sang-woong pulled a dried pig’s foot from his inventory and handed it to Leon.

With the large pig’s foot in its mouth, Leon bounded excitedly toward its favorite spot in the forest.

“Leon’s so smart, I bet it’ll bring back even more Horned Chickens. How fresh and delicious would eggs laid by Horned Chickens on this land be?”

Sang-woong hurriedly finished his tasks and began building a chicken coop.

Before long, Afua tribe children gathered around, their eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Each time Sang-woong hammered a nail, the children’s eyes lit up with wonder, and they let out soft gasps as the coop took shape.

His skillful construction was a fascinating spectacle for the Afua, who weren’t particularly handy.

“This makes work feel rewarding.”

Sang-woong smiled contentedly, feeling the children’s admiring gazes.

The gentle sound of simmering water echoed in the kitchen.

On a sizzling frying pan, translucent olive oil rippled like calm waves.

In the hot pan, finely chopped garlic crackled, turning golden in an instant.

The savory, fragrant aroma of garlic quickly filled the kitchen.

While expertly preparing seafood pasta, Sang-woong’s phone rang with a cheerful melody.

He quickly lowered the heat and pulled the phone from his apron pocket.

The screen displayed the familiar name “Mirae Real Estate.”

“Hello, sir.”

Sang-woong answered smoothly.

“Mr. Park, I’m bringing a client to see a unit around 3 p.m. today. Is that okay?”

The warm voice of the real estate agent came through.

“Of course, sir. Come by anytime.”

Sang-woong replied readily.

“Alright, see you then.”

“Yes, sir.”

Ending the brief call, Sang-woong tucked the phone back into his pocket.

Since Kim Seo-ah’s family moved in, he had been worried about finding new tenants, so this was welcome news.

“I wonder who they are.”

With a subtle smile of anticipation, Sang-woong murmured to himself.

Just past 3 p.m., the plump Mr. Lee, who ran Mirae Real Estate, entered the restaurant with his characteristic jovial grin.

“Mr. Kim, I’m here!”

The weathered yet kind-faced agent waved toward the kitchen, his forehead gleaming.

“Welcome, sir.”

Sang-woong wiped his hands on his apron and greeted him warmly.

“This is the client looking to rent a unit.”

Mr. Lee introduced the young man beside him with a smile.

“Hello.”

The man, who looked to be in his mid-20s, bowed politely with a neat appearance.

His clean demeanor and courteous attitude left a good impression on Sang-woong.

“Hello. Let’s see the unit first, then talk.”

Sang-woong led Mr. Lee and the client into the building.

“You’d be hard-pressed to find a place like this around here. It’s brand-new, clean, spacious, and the high ceilings make it feel even bigger. The view, as you can see, is fantastic. Amenities are a bit far, but you’re young, so that shouldn’t be an issue. The roads are good, so you can get there quickly by bike.”

Mr. Lee enthusiastically listed the unit’s merits.

“I really like the place, but the rent is a bit steep. Could you lower it by 100,000 won?”

The man spoke cautiously, his slightly flushed face and earnest eyes fixed on Sang-woong.

“It’s not like we set the rent high to begin with. Cutting another 100,000 won is tough.”

The real estate agent responded first, believing the price was already reasonable.

“You mentioned you’ll be living with your younger sibling, right?”

Instead of rejecting outright, Sang-woong asked gently, and a faint relief crossed the man’s face.

He looked at Sang-woong with a desperate expression, as if clinging to his last hope.

For a hunter to haggle over 100,000 won, there must be a story.

Having dealt with countless hunters in his past life, Sang-woong easily guessed the man was a hunter.

Though he tried to hide it, the distinctive aura was unmistakable.

Thanks to the income from his antidote potions made from enoki mushrooms, Sang-woong was financially comfortable and didn’t want to lose a good tenant over 100,000 won.

“Alright, let’s do it.”

At Sang-woong’s ready agreement, the man bowed deeply, repeatedly expressing gratitude.

Pretty gentle for a hunter.

Most hunters subtly exuded superiority over ordinary people, but this man’s excessive humility made Sang-woong wonder if he’d misjudged.

Still, whether a hunter or not didn’t matter much.

The contract proceeded smoothly. After signing, the man introduced himself as Koo Yoo-jun.

He transferred the deposit to Sang-woong’s account on the spot.

“The unit’s empty, so you can move in anytime.”

“Thank you so much.”

Koo Yoo-jun bowed again in gratitude.

The next day, he moved in.

“You already moved everything? I was going to help, but I had customers at the restaurant.”

Sang-woong wiped his wet hands on his apron and greeted Koo Yoo-jun.

“No worries. We didn’t have much, so the two of us managed fine. This is my younger sibling.”

Koo Yoo-jun smiled shyly and introduced the person standing awkwardly beside him.

“My younger sibling, Koo Eun-woo.”

“Hello.”

Unlike Koo Yoo-jun’s clear gaze, Koo Eun-woo gave a half-hearted nod, standing in a defiant posture.

His blonde-dyed hair, ripped jeans, and multiple earrings gave off a rebellious vibe.

Sang-woong was momentarily taken aback by the mismatched siblings but smiled nonchalantly and extended his hand.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Park Sang-woong, the landlord.”

Though Sang-woong introduced himself and offered a handshake, Koo Eun-woo merely chewed gum and ignored him.

Flustered, Koo Yoo-jun quickly tapped his sibling’s arm.

“Eun-woo, greet him properly.”

“Ugh, Hyung, really?”

Koo Eun-woo scowled and clamped his mouth shut.

Koo Yoo-jun bowed repeatedly, apologizing to Sang-woong.

“I’m sorry. Eun-woo’s still immature…”

“It’s fine, don’t worry. Would you like some coffee? Juice for Eun-woo, since he’s young?”

At Sang-woong’s words, Koo Eun-woo snapped back, glaring.

“Mister, I’m nineteen!”

Koo Yoo-jun, even more flustered, tapped his sibling again.

“Eun-woo, watch your tone. Apologize now!”

“Ugh, Hyung, what did I do wrong?”

Koo Eun-woo, unapologetic, stormed out of the restaurant.

“I’m so sorry.”

Koo Yoo-jun bowed again, at a loss.

“No worries. Have some coffee. I make a decent cup.”

Sang-woong deliberately kept Koo Yoo-jun there.

Letting him go now would likely lead to a sibling fight.

“Thank you.”

Koo Yoo-jun carefully accepted the warm coffee with both hands.

Sip.

After a slow sip, Koo Yoo-jun let out a short sigh.

“I’m sorry. He’s not usually like this…”

From his dejected tone, Sang-woong sensed there was a story.

From the moment he saw Koo Eun-woo, something felt off.

The blonde hair, multiple earrings, ripped jeans, and a T-shirt with crude English slang screamed rebellion, but his actions seemed forced.

Especially the clip-on earrings stood out.

Clip-ons instead of piercings?

His sharp gaze and rough speech felt rehearsed, unnatural, and his slouched posture seemed more uncomfortable than defiant.

What struck Sang-woong most was Koo Eun-woo’s pale face.

It was ghostly white, like someone who had been ill for a long time.

“My sibling is a bit sick.”

Koo Yoo-jun began cautiously, as if no longer needing to hide it.

At 27, he was a Rank 6 Hunter.

An average hunter, but a brother who cherished his sibling above all.

“Eun-woo was a kind, gentle kid. But this damned dungeon disease changed him completely.”

Koo Yoo-jun recalled the past with a bitter expression.

“When we first learned of his illness, Eun-woo faced it bravely. I believed he could overcome it.”

But his sibling’s disease was a rare dungeon illness.

It caused progressive heart muscle deformation and severe pain from peripheral nerve damage.

The treatment costs were overwhelming for a Rank 6 Hunter like him.

Koo Eun-woo had to rely on outpatient care outside his limited inpatient treatment periods.

For his sibling’s convenience, Koo Yoo-jun had sought a place near the dungeon disease hospital.

He had swallowed his pride to ask Sang-woong for a rent reduction.

“But despite his efforts, the disease worsened, and Eun-woo grew more unstable.”

Koo Yoo-jun continued with a darkened expression.

“That’s when he started acting tough and rebellious. Putting on a front, acting strong, saying he’s fine… so I wouldn’t worry. He feels guilty toward me.”

Listening to Koo Yoo-jun’s story, Sang-woong felt a pang in his chest.

“Stay strong, both of you. If there’s anything I can do, let me know.”

“Thank you.”

Koo Yoo-jun bowed in gratitude for Sang-woong’s warm words.

A few days later, the restaurant was as peaceful as ever.

Soft sunlight gently illuminated the window tables, and the delicious aroma of food filled the air.

Then, familiar faces walked through the door.

“You two came together today.”

Sang-woong greeted them with a bright smile.

Kim Seo-ah and Lee Do-hyun, the building’s first tenants, entered side by side.