“Ugh—! Suho? Why all of a sudden? Has something invaded again?”
Bobby, who had been floating upside down in the water, replied in surprise.
“Sorry. I have a favor to ask, and it’s a bit urgent, so my voice got loud.”
“As long as it’s nothing serious, it’s fine. But what favor is it?”
“Catch some carp. Just five.”
“That’s easy. But didn’t you say you wouldn’t need any for a while?”
You said you were closing shop for a while because of moving. No carp needed either.
“Suddenly, it became necessary. It’s just for food, so please catch some plump ones.”
“Got it! I’ll catch them right away, so just wait a moment!”
After answering Suho, Bobby called out to the Vivani.
“Suho says he wants some carp caught. Everyone, help out!”
“Ah! Mister, I’ll catch some carp!”
“I’ll catch some too! I’m good at catching carp!”
“I need to catch two carp.”
Pom—popo-popom—
The Vivani disappeared into the water.
‘They’re always so cute to see.’
Especially the Vivani Babies; Suho couldn’t help but smile every time he saw them.
If only he could connect the Vivani to Wilson, Wilson’s loneliness would vanish in an instant.
While thinking this, Suho suddenly narrowed his eyes.
“Huh? What’s that over there?”
Because there was something he hadn’t seen before by the riverbank.
“A building. Since there’s an altar, is it a shrine? Krek.”
Balryong chuckled with a hint of teenage awkwardness as he realized something.
Suho, feeling uneasy, shifted his gaze toward it.
Just then, someone ran out from the building.
Clang.
Then slammed their head on the ground, shouting loudly.
“The Great One has come! You’re here!”
It was Ondal Sora, the Ondal Bear Tribe shaman.
“Sora? What’s that building?”
“It’s a shrine built to offer prayers to the Great Guardian Suho.”
I couldn’t believe it…
“I see. But you built a house by the riverbank? It must have been hard with the steel trees around.”
“Bobby-nim cleared the steel trees and prepared the site for us.”
That was welcome news to hear.
“You two have made up then?”
“Yes, although it started as a formality, our Ondal Bear Tribe committed a grave mistake, so the villagers including myself repeatedly apologized. Bobby-nim, being kindhearted, forgave us quickly.”
“That’s good. I hope you keep getting along well.”
“Of course. Didn’t the Great One command that everyone in this forest live in harmony? As the Great One’s followers, the Ondal Bear Tribe will maintain good relations with the other tribes here.”
Tremble—
Ondal Sora wagged her furry tail in reply.
“Right, it’s best to get along. But…”
While speaking, Suho’s curiosity sparked a question.
“How’s the farming going?”
“We’re doing our best. In about two months, the first harvest should be possible.”
“Good. You’ve worked hard.”
“All thanks to the grace of the Great One.”
Tremble!
“By the way, do you have anything edible right now? Fruit or vegetables, anything fresh.”
“Ah! Please wait a moment. I’ll contact the village and bring the best…”
“No, it doesn’t have to be that special. Just something fresh and edible would be fine.”
“Ohh— I’ll bring it right away!”
Ondal Sora hurried back toward the village.
“Hehe— You treat the believers well. Impressive.”
Listening to Balryong’s voice, Suho waited patiently.
Ondal Sora was so quick she arrived even before Bobby.
“Here, Great One. I brought it.”
She laid out what she had brought on the altar and began praying.
The dimensional pouch was filled to the brim with vegetables.
“Oh, fresh vegetables. I could even eat this.”
Suho pulled out a generous vegetable and took a bite.
Crunch!
The crisp texture and sweet aroma filled his mouth.
“That kind of leaf is nothing, puh. Just give me some of the main course chicken already.”
Regardless of Balryong’s grumbling, Suho sampled each kind of vegetable.
Then Suho muttered with a puzzled voice.
“Huh? Why is this here?”
“Isn’t that the Bear Kiwi Fruit you ate last time?”
“That’s right. We eat it once a month, but there’s more here too. Sora!”
Suho called out to Ondal Sora.
“Yes, Great One?”
“There’s Bear Kiwi Fruit here. Isn’t this rare?”
“Not common, but I can give you as much as you want, Great One.”
He still can’t eat it yet…
Suho simply accepted it gratefully.
It’s not like only Suho has to eat it.
“Thanks. Then I’ll ask for your help again next time.”
“Yes, please say whatever you need. And please…”
“Hmm?”
Tremble—!
“Please visit us often and let us hear your voice.”
“…Alright.”
Pom—popo-popom—
At that moment, a head popped out of the water.
“Suho, Suho! We caught them all!”
“Mister, I caught some!”
“I caught some too!”
“Eat plenty!”
Suho quickly brought an icebox and took the Fruit Carp from them.
“This looks like way more than five.”
“Our kids worked really hard for you. Please understand!”
“Mm, I understand.”
The baby Vivani floated on their backs, circling in a line on the water.
Seeing that scene, how could anyone not understand?
***
Crunch—
“That’s right? So don’t be so grumpy.”
“This time, I’ll just let it slide.”
To grill the carp, Suho called upon Balryong.
They were fast and powerful, after all.
But in return, Suho had to feed the grumbling Balryong some Bear Kiwi Fruit to calm him down.
“Alright, alright. They say it raises mana too. If you get more Bear Kiwi Fruit, I’ll share it with you. Deal?”
Negotiations settled.
The Bear Kiwi Fruit even slightly increased Balryong’s mana. That lifted his spirits.
Suho smiled and headed to TV.
Wilson was watching a video with silver resting on his knee.
The movie was from before the world fell apart.
“Wilson! I brought food. Want to try?”
“The chicken you gave earlier was good, but you really brought something different?”
“Mm, I said I’d bring something. This one will taste a bit different from before.”
Organic vegetables and wild carp.
True products untouched by pesticides!
Suho sent Wilson the vegetables and grilled carp.
“Fish! Grilled whole fish! Wow—”
The shelter filled with the savory aroma of grilled carp.
Wilson’s eyes welled up before he even ate.
“Go ahead and try it. If you don’t like it, I’ll get you something else.”
“No, there’s no way I won’t like it. Thank you, Suho. I’ll eat well.”
Wilson dug into the grilled carp.
“You only ate artificial food, right? So this grilled fish must be the first in a long time?”
Suho watched him with a sad glance.
Not because of the taste, but because Wilson might be tasting memories of the world before it ended…
Suho steeled his resolve further.
‘I can’t let Earth fall.’
He had to handle his own situation first, but he couldn’t just stand by and watch the world end.
“Really good meal, Suho. It smelled faintly of fruit but tasted similar to the fish I ate as a kid. Thanks.”
Before long, the grilled carp disappeared like a blink, and Wilson greeted Suho.
Then a message popped up.
[Dimensional Mission [Wilson’s Solitude] Completed.]
[Survivor Wilson’s Satisfaction increased by 30.]
Even though Wilson hadn’t eaten the vegetables, completing the mission raised his satisfaction more than when they helped with monster hunting.
Suho felt Wilson’s heart.
“I’m glad it suits your taste, Wilson. There’s some carp left—should I send it? You can store it.”
“Oh— that’d be great!”
Suho sent over more than ten carp.
When Wilson manipulated the wall, a door opened on the wall.
“There’s a refrigerator built into the wall.”
If only his own home was like that, communication with other dimensions would be easier.
“To save space, most furniture is built-in along the walls.”
Wilson answered while picking up a vegetable.
Crunch!
“How is it?”
“This too is real, wow—”
A storm of a meal passed in no time.
Suho waited patiently for Wilson to finish eating.
“Suho, even though we’ve become friends, you can’t just ignore such kindness. At least that’s my standard. So I want to give you a gift too. Is there anything you need?”
Wilson was asking for a reward.
This was a new pattern.
Maybe because Wilson’s civilization had developed beyond Earth.
Either way, it was a good thing for Suho.
‘What should I ask for?’
Not knowing what he could receive, it was hard to answer.
Better be honest.
“There’s nothing special I want. I don’t even know what you can give me.”
“Is that so? That’s great. Then from now on, let’s take time to learn what you need and what I can give.”
“Mm.”
“Dialogue! Dialogue is the flower of culture, the seed and nourishment of wisdom! In that sense, tell me about your world and your situation. I’m really eager to hear it. After that, I’ll tell you more of my story.”
“…Alright.”
Expecting a long conversation, Suho dragged a chair to TV.
***
Mission Complete!
[Dimensional Mission [Wilson’s Solitude] Completed.]
[Survivor Wilson’s Satisfaction increased by 10.]
‘I can’t believe the mission was completed just by talking a bit.’
Of course, adding the word ‘a bit’ would be misleading.
They had talked for a full four hours.
And it wasn’t over yet.
“So you mean you need to move? But you want to hide the Dimension Gate?”
“Mm, since Dimension Gates appear in places like furniture or appliances…”
“If we could move the Dimension Gate’s location, that’d be great, but we can’t, so it’s a shame.”
“Right. Moving furniture isn’t a problem, but separating the Dimension Gate from the furniture isn’t possible.”
He had moved suitcases and refrigerators before.
But there was no world where the Dimension Gate could be separated.
“Then I’ll give my precious new friend a gift! It’ll help hide the Dimension Gate.”
Wilson pressed a button.
A hole appeared in the wall, and a fist-sized object emerged.
“What’s that?”
“It’s a Magical Space Barrier Generator.”
“Space barrier?”
“It’s not something as grand as the long name suggests. Still, since your world doesn’t have it, there might be thieves trying to steal it. Take it and examine it.”
Wilson sent the item over.
[Magical Space Barrier Generator]
- A space blocking barrier generator made with Magic Engineering technology. When installed, it creates a space-blocking barrier within a 30 square meter range. The barrier blocks visual, auditory, and olfactory senses for any unregistered person. Mana can be infused to register users.
- Item Grade: Rare
- Installation Item
- Durability 100
“It blocks vision? How does it work?”
“When installed, it looks like a wall to strangers. They can’t pass through. Registered people can pass, and the system senses any movement inside.”
“It feels like a wall?”
“Mm, you’ll see when you install it. It’s easy to install too. Just place it where you need and gently blow some mana into it.”
This was definitely a useful item.
“Thanks, Wilson. This will help.”
“When you have time, chat with me. I’ll make things you need.”
“Alright. Wilson, you’re a Magic Engineer, right?”
Wilson wasn’t just any survivor, but an authority in Magic Engineering from his world.
That’s why he survived in the shelter.
“Haha, this Magic Engineer will make lots of good things for you, so you better keep me entertained, friend.”
“Okay, deal!”
Because their civilizations developed similarly, their conversation flowed naturally.
Thanks to that, Suho enjoyed talking with Wilson.
“Well, that’s all for today. Go pack for the move.”
“Alright, Wilson. See you tomorrow.”
Just as Suho was about to leave, Wilson spoke.
“You’re capable and have great potential. Move more aggressively and boldly, friend. The sooner you prepare, the better.”
With that, the first exchange with his new chatty friend ended.
Wilson’s advice spun in Suho’s mind.
“Yes, I need to act more boldly.”
So what should he start with?
Suho quickly found the answer.
His advantage.
Something special different from others.
He had to use it actively.
“Tarunga-nim, Dalkong-nim, Blton-nim!”
Suho shouted as he approached the refrigerator.
“Shall we make some new equipment?”