Bang!
Just as I lightly washed up and was about to fall asleep, the sound of gunfire echoed.
Startled, I pressed myself against the front door and cautiously peeked outside through the door’s crack.
But it was already dark outside, so I couldn’t see a thing.
The countryside night was especially darker than the city’s.
“A gunshot in the Republic of Korea, where firearms are illegal?”
At first, I thought I had misheard, but as a discharged sergeant, I was certain.
My ears were ringing and the sound was definitely gunfire.
No mistake about it.
“It definitely came from somewhere nearby. Should I call the police?”
Before deciding, I called Kasia to keep watch with me.
Spirit magic would definitely help in a fight.
While I was wavering about whether to report it, another gunshot rang out.
Bang!
As I kept watch, a small spark from the bullet’s muzzle flash revealed the culprit’s location.
Looking in that direction, it was aimed at the mountain in front of us.
And the place where the spark appeared was…
“The peanut field! Damn it. Are they lying down in the peanut field? I’ve been growing those peanuts so carefully!”
Imagining the cute peanut sprouts I had just grown getting trampled and crushed was unbearable. I’m no less than a superhuman!
I cautiously approached the peanut field, and my eyes, now accustomed to the dark, caught a faint silhouette.
“Small…? Really small.”
I carefully approached from behind to subdue it.
But then…
“Peanut shell…? That’s a bit too big to be just a shell.”
As if it heard my voice, it turned around and pointed a gun at me.
I probably shouldn’t say this, but it was cute.
An unexpectedly fatal rear view.
Thankfully, it didn’t pull the trigger.
(Peanut?)
It cocked its head at me while still aiming the muzzle.
Its size was similar to that of a three- or four-year-old child, but it wore a peanut shell as a helmet and armor covering its entire head and body.
Big, bright eyes tilted with curiosity even while aiming a gun.
Even in the dark, it radiated harmless cuteness.
“Ah… hello?”
(Taang! Kong!)
As our eyes met, it set down a gun as long as its leg beside it and saluted.
No doubt, this was the king version of Peanut.
“Are you the Guardian that’s supposed to be born?”
(Taang! Kong!)
The peanut vigorously nodded.
“Wait a minute.”
Since gunshots were heard, there must be something near that the Guardian shot at.
The peanut watched me looking around, then puffed out its chest and tapped its breast twice with one hand.
“Hmm? You look proud. Does that mean you took care of it?”
Nodding—
Just in case, I scanned the nearby area but saw nothing dangerous.
“Were you born from peanuts? Is that why you’re wearing peanut armor?”
Nodding—
“So your role is to guard this place like a true Guardian with that tiny toy gun?”
Nodding—
“A little thing like this… so cute!”
Overwhelmed by its cuteness, I hugged it without asking.
Realizing my mistake, I quickly stepped back, but seeing the peanut smile brightly as if it liked it made me smile like a proud father and melted my heart.
“It’s dark and dangerous outside, so let’s go inside together. I want to see you in the light too.”
- Shakes head
The peanut shook its head vigorously, then raised a hand to its forehead and looked around as if gazing into the distance.
Still shouldering the gun…
(Tang! Tang! Tang! Tang!)
It made gunshot sounds with its mouth.
Really adorable.
It seemed to be signaling that it would stand guard and take down any enemy that came.
“It’s okay. There’s nothing here worthy of calling an enemy.”
Shaking its head again—
Kasia slowly approached me and spoke.
– It’s just doing what it has to do. Just leaving is the better help.
Faced with the peanut’s firm resolve, even Kasia said that, so I had no choice.
“I’ll come to see you early tomorrow.”
Then the peanut dropped into a prone position on the ground, facing the mountain.
“Stay like that? That must be hard… If it’s tough, you must rest! I’ll go in first, so come if you think of it. See you tomorrow!”
I felt bad, but I couldn’t stay outside all night, so I went inside and lay down.
“That was a deadly rear view…”
I had to sleep quickly to see that back again.
I forced myself to close my eyes, suppressing the urge to see the cute and deadly Guardian again, and only after a long time did I fall asleep.
Early morning, before Kasia was even up.
“Ah, I’m tired. But I have to get out quickly. Kasia! Wake up! Let’s go! I have something to show you!”
Why was I fussing from early morning, urging Kasia who barely opened her eyes?
To meet the peanut Guardian I saw last night.
“Huh?”
At the peanut field, the peanut Guardian was nowhere to be found.
“Did I dream it…? Kasia, you saw it yesterday too, right?”
– I saw it. Hm? There’s a bucket-like thing over there that I haven’t seen before.
“Bucket?”
Following Kasia’s fingertip, I saw a huge peanut shell on the field.
Its size and shape were exactly like the peanut Guardian’s helmet from yesterday.
“Oh! Is it buried in the ground?! Peanut Guardian, are you okay!?”
Worried it might have collapsed, I quickly started digging the soil around the peanut shell.
Flinch—
The peanut Guardian was alive, moving slightly.
After digging enough to see its face, a small hand popped out of the ground, pushing against the soil as it lifted its body.
(Peanut… Taang Taang Kong…)
Its voice was weak, and its expression sulky.
Ddakkongi rubbed its eyes and looked up.
It looked like it was annoyed at being woken up despite being tired.
(Peanut…?)
So it was asleep…
“Did I wake you up? Sorry! I thought you were buried in the ground.”
– You’re a fool. There’s no way I’d be buried in the ground here. I wouldn’t be buried alive by a murderer either.
In recent days, Kasia, having encountered the newfangled device called a television, had been hooked and stayed up late watching it.
Apparently, she watched a thriller movie last night.
“Even if no one attacked… you said you were guarding the field in the prone position yesterday, so maybe sand or wind covered you?”
– This isn’t some kind of desert. Why would that swallow me? Besides, I have a miracle below me.
“Hmph… I should’ve come alone.”
Was it a mummy movie, not a thriller?
“Peanut Guardian, sorry for waking you. Go back to sleep. We’ll talk again when you wake up.”
Of course, we couldn’t really communicate.
Maybe we hadn’t established Communion with the peanut Guardian yet, or perhaps it was excluded from the Communion skill.
Unlike Gold or Kasia, it couldn’t talk.
Still, it seemed to understand somewhat, nodding before it dug back into the soil.
The peanut shell left alone on the field.
– The peanut Guardian is very cute. Is it really the peanut I cracked open last time? It looked similar.
“It’s not grown, but a child born by my ability. It should have met the Communion Condition, so why can’t we communicate? It even fulfilled the Hidden Condition, so it should be at 200%.”
Kasia, deep in thought, came up with an idea.
“If it was born by your power, shouldn’t you give it a name? It’s part of being a parent to name your child. Calling it ‘peanut Guardian’ is too long.”
“That’s true. I should’ve named it first. That was so cold. Suddenly feeling sorry.”
Is there a name that would stick well and highlight the peanut Guardian’s cuteness?
- What would be a good name… Peanut? Hmm, that’s too common. How about ‘Ddangsu’? Short for peanut Guardian! Nowadays, abbreviations are trendy.
“Sounds super cheesy. Yesterday it was standing guard with a toy gun… Toy gun… Peanut… Oh?! How about ‘Ddakkongi’?”
– Not great. If ‘Ddangsu’ is no good, how about ‘Sutangie’? Cute! Sutang!
I liked it.
“Alright, it’s decided. Ddakkongi!”
Kasia protested, but well, it was my child born from my power.
I could name it whatever I liked.
Between feeding the chickens breakfast and watering the crops, I stopped by the peanut field, but Ddakkongi didn’t get up.
Must be tired from all-night duty.
It was now lunchtime.
I prepared leftover red ginseng from the market to feed the chickens.
‘Better than an empty stomach in the morning.’
Carefully, I cut it into bite-sized pieces with kitchen scissors, then finely minced it again with a knife.
This way, even the chicks could eat it.
“Everyone~ Time to eat!”
- Calling the scattered chickens inside and outside the coop.
Once gathered, I mixed the ginseng evenly into their feed and scattered it in the center of the coop.
(It smells different from usual.)
(What’s this dark thing?)
(Master! Suspicious!)
- Each hen voiced its concern.
I had read that chickens eat red ginseng well.
All of them.
(You can trust the master. Eat quickly, hap!)
Goldie was reliable as always.
Starting with Goldie, the hens’ eyes changed after tasting the healthy food.
(Taste… It’s delicious!)
They buried their heads and began eating frantically.
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
I was proud to see them eat well, but it was a problem that they ate too much.
The chicks, just grown to Middle Chicken size, were being pushed around and could only stomp their feet.
“Oh no! The little ones couldn’t eat.”
I scooped some feed with my hands and poured it separately nearby.
They rubbed their heads gratefully against the backs of my hands and started eating comfortably.
I hope they’re not upset about eating separately.
‘Even though it’s red ginseng leftovers, it’s bitter but they eat well?’
Squatting next to Goldie, watching him eat, I picked up a piece of leftover and put it in my mouth.
“Ugh! It’s bitter. How do you guys eat something so bitter?”
But Goldie’s answer was amusing.
(Master, it’s delicious because it’s strong-tasting.)
I see.
Well, compared to feed, grains, and bugs, this would be more flavorful.
Humans also prefer strong-tasting food over bland ones.
At that moment, Kasia, who had been watching dramas since morning, came outside.
– Minho. I think Sutangie is moving.
“Sutangie? It’s Ddakkongi.”
– Right… Toy gun.
“It’s not ‘toy gun’ but Ddakkongi. Be careful, he might get upset.”
I petted the chickens lightly to encourage them to eat comfortably and headed to the peanut field where Ddakkongi was.
The thought of seeing that adorable sight lightened my step.
Arriving at the peanut field, I saw Ddakkongi awkwardly standing and rubbing its eyes.
“Ddakkongi~ Are you awake?”
Ddakkongi nodded with sleepy eyes.
Then suddenly realizing it had a name, its eyes widened.
(…?!)
Its eyes widened and it pointed to itself with its hand.
It was like it was asking, “Me?” and that was cute too.
Was the sleep suddenly gone? It looked at me with bright, sparkling eyes.
“From now on, your name is Ddakkongi. How about it? Do you like it?”
Shuwoong~
As I named it, a radiant light burst forth from Ddakkongi’s entire body.
Nod nod nod nod!
It nodded vigorously.
It seemed happy to have a name.
As usual, a notification popped up.
[Peanut – Communion 200% Complete]
(Condition) Plant crops with affection – Fulfilled
(Hidden Condition) Germinate with pure water of the Water Spirit – Fulfilled
200% Achievement Effect: ‘Hidden Condition’ achieved, Guardian born
- As the first Communion benefit, peanuts will undergo ‘Rapid Growth.’ Additionally, one Guardian is born.
[You have named the Guardian you shared Communion with.
Skill ‘Communication – Peanut’ activated.]
[Communication – Peanut]
You can talk with peanut crops.
- As the first Communion benefit, ‘Rapid Growth’ is active.
(Master! I’m so happy! You gave me a name!)
“Oh? We can finally communicate. But is Ddakkongi a baby language user? Its tone is as cute as its looks.”
(Yeong? I don’t understand what you mean!)
“I guess so. Haha. Was anything unusual yesterday?”
(Yeong! No one approached!)
“See? No need to stay up all night guarding. Who would attack here?”
(Yesterday afternoon, someone did visit! A huge White Tiger!)
“White Tiger?! A tiger?! There shouldn’t be tigers living in these mountains. Are you sure?”
(Yes! It was wandering around! I was scared, but as the Guardian of this place, I fought through the fear and confronted it! Ah! There, it’s coming again!)
I looked where Ddakkongi was pointing and saw a white cat that often appeared in the village.
The cat tried to approach the field but was startled by Ddakkongi, puffed up its tail, and ran away.
“…That’s just a cat.”
(I know the big one is a tiger! I’m sure it’s a tiger! A White Tiger!)
“It only looks big to you. But that’s a cat. Still, you did well watching over our chickens. I’d have been really sad if even one got hurt.”
(Ddakkongi will protect! Because I’m a Guardian!)
Ddakkongi seemed pleased with its name and proudly emphasized it.
But being a Guardian only protecting the field would be no fun.
“Let’s set work hours. Working all night alone will be tough.”
(Is the master worried about Ddakkongi? I’m touched! But it’s okay! I was born as a sniper!)
“Oh~ So you’re a sniper. That toy gun is a sniper rifle. But I’m not okay. Goldie and I are awake during the day and evening, so how about you have free time and only work late at night?”
Kasia, quietly listening to our conversation with her arms crossed, clicked her tongue.
- Pretending to worry but only making him do tough night shifts. Such a cruel employer! Poor Ddakkongi.
“What? Is that so? Now that I think about it, yeah. Hmm.”
(It’s okay! I planned to work from sunset to sunrise anyway! I’m happy you’re cutting down my hours!)
Her innocent gratitude made me feel even worse.
While I was wondering what to do for Ddakkongi, he giggled and said.
(Another Guardian will be born soon, so it’s okay! Please trust and leave it to me!)
“Another Guardian? Right. It said one is born every month.”
(But the Guardian born from peanuts is only me, Ddakkongi!)
“Really? There was such a secret. Still, I thought having many Ddakkongis would be even cuter.”
(I’m a proud peanut soldier, not cute! Please treat me as a warrior!)
“Ahaha. Yeah, I was rude to a warrior. Sorry. By the way, I’m curious, what do you shoot with that gun?”
(Of course, peanuts!)
“Really? Want to shoot once?”
(Only at enemies threatening the master and the field!)
“But you have to practice shooting, right? Otherwise, you’ll get rusty~”
(Even without practice, I’m a perfect shot!)
“Come on, just once~”
(…If the master really wants it, I’ll shoot twice! I can only load two shots!)
While the chickens enjoyed their free time, the coop was empty.
Ddakkongi aimed the gun at a screw in the coop fence.
(Target is a screw! Loading! Shooting!)
Holding its breath, Ddakkongi pulled the trigger.
Bang! Bang!
The gunfire was the sound of shots firing, not of hitting the target.
When I approached to check, peanuts were stuck in the cross grooves of the screws.
Despite the distance, both shots were perfectly on target.
“Impressive. You really are a perfect shot. I can definitely trust you.”
The power seemed weak, but I didn’t mention it to protect Ddakkongi’s pride.