I'm Living It Up on First Watch, Got a Problem?

After finishing the shower supplies, Seoyun turned her attention to the ingredients and started planning today's menu.

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Kim Woojin sleeping soundly, without a care in the world.

'Was he that tired? I'd better let him sleep.'

After all, she was always relying on Woojin.

For someone as compulsive as Seoyun, who couldn't stand having any labor go to waste at the company, that was a surprisingly generous decision.

These days, she was living a life almost as busy as when she worked at the company.

There was almost nothing to show for it.

Her salary wasn't going up, her career wasn't advancing, and it wasn't even helping her find a better job.

But the fulfillment she felt from feeding her family delicious meals and watching them enjoy the food was far greater than anything she'd gotten from her achievements at work.

It was a joy Seoyun had never experienced before.

'Now I understand why Mom told me to start a family before it was too late.'

It felt as if the hollow place in her heart was finally being filled.

She liked being capable at work, but she was beginning to feel that working together to build a settlement like this wasn't so bad, either.

She'd settled on the menu.

'Let's make a clear seafood soup that warms you right through, with shrimp and clams on the side.'

Today, thanks to the pools Luka had found, they'd gathered plenty of seafood for soup.

It'd be a shame not to use it.

They'd already made Scarlet Fruit into sauce yesterday, so today she wanted that savory seafood flavor.

The little fish didn't need any real preparation.

They were barely two finger joints long. Too small to bother scaling, and even smaller to fillet.

The shrimp were the same.

But crushed up, they made the perfect ingredients for broth.

When she first crushed them with a rock, a strong fishy smell rose up.

The sharp scent of fish innards. The damp, sweet smell of shrimp shells breaking apart.

If she tossed them straight into the pot, she'd end up with fishy soup, so she lightly roasted the smaller ones over the fire first.

As the surface dried, the smell gradually changed.

The shrimp shells turned red, and the edges of the little fish curled up crisp. Around then, she tipped everything into the pot of water.

'This is going to make a really rich broth.'

The sweetness from the shrimp shells, the savory flavor drawn from the fish bones, and the salty scent distinctive to seafood all began to build.

Next came the chunks.

She removed as much sand as possible from the clams, then picked out the meat.

This alone wasn't quite enough.

She searched the storage box for any other seafood, and found some.

A wriggling octopus.

Luka was crouched beside the food storage box, flashing a peace sign.

"You caught an octopus, too?"

"Yup!! It's Amane Luka's Lucky★Gathering Bonus."

How much had the water risen for an octopus to end up here…? How had it even gotten here…?

Either way, it was a good thing. Those plump white chunks would make the soup look even more appetizing.

She'd add them at the very end, once the broth had steeped long enough.

The little fish and shrimp had lost their shape and become part of the broth. In their place, the octopus and clam meat floated on top.

There weren't many chunks, but it was a clear, rich seafood soup with plenty left to chew.

Gulp.

'Eating this well on a deserted island feels like cheating.'

She hoped everyone would enjoy it.

"Luka, could you wake Mr. Woojin?"

"Okaaay! Oppa, wake up~ The Goddess of Luck, Luka, has arrived!"

Wham.

Luka threw herself on top of Kim Woojin.

"Guh-ack!"

* * *

Luka's Gyaru Press!

It was super effective!

"Time to eat, Woojin Oppa."

"Yeah, yeah."

When I opened my eyes, I smelled something delicious.

It was the smell of seafood, like the time we'd had that super rock crab.

Ah, just from that, I could tell today's menu was centered around savory seafood──my stomach growled in anticipation.

"Manager, Mr. Woojin! Dinner's ready."

The Manager had returned after finishing the laundry for all four of us.

We each got a container of seafood soup, and everyone looked impressed.

"Wow! What's this? Soup? It looks delicious! Is this octopus?"

"Yes. I added octopus and clam meat as the chunks."

"That sounds delicious~."

I couldn't wait to try it.

"Mr. Woojin, are you okay with octopus?"

"Yes. I'll eat pretty much anything."

"Shall we call it deserted-island-style clear seafood soup? Enjoy."

For my first spoonful, I deliberately avoided the chunks and scooped up only the broth.

I wanted to start by savoring the broth on its own.

It had a deep flavor, rich with seafood.

I could taste the sweetness of the shrimp, too.

Even though there weren't any shrimp-shaped pieces in it, I was certain the shrimp had melted into the broth.

The distinctive sweetness of the shrimp heads had spread throughout the soup.

It wasn't as overpowering as instant ramen seasoning, but the flavor was natural and persistent, lingering on my tongue all the same.

It was deeply satisfying.

Even after it went down my throat, the rich flavor lingered in my mouth.

Mmm. This is good.

Gulp, gulp.

I cooled it down as I took a few spoonfuls, but eventually I just picked up the bowl and drank from it.

"Is it good?"

"Haaah, it's delicious. It warms me right up."

"I'm glad it suits your taste!"

Now for the chunks.

For my second spoonful, I carefully added a piece of clam meat.

It was the same plump clam meat we'd eaten on skewers before.

The meat, filled with the hot broth I'd just drunk, burst apart in my mouth. It was salty, a little sweet, and finally that distinctive clam aroma rose up.

There was still a tiny bit of sand, so it felt ever so slightly gritty, but it was fine.

This much was okay.

Next… was this octopus?

Had there been an octopus among the fish we'd caught?

Anyway, I put it in my mouth. It held firm, almost tough enough to make me wonder if it was a little chewy, but after a few more bites, its sweetness burst out in steady little waves.

Octopus really is something……. Hah, it's completely different from clam meat.

It was much meatier than clam, but milder than shrimp.

The more I chewed, the more the scent of the sea mixed with the broth and spread through my mouth.

"There's plenty more, so eat as much as you like."

This time, I put the broth, clam meat, and octopus all on the spoon and ate them together.

Chew. Chew.

I could've kept eating forever.

There was so much soup today that I drank enough broth to burst.

I was completely satisfied.

Assistant Manager Kang watched me with a fond smile.

Was this what people meant when they said sharing meals brought people closer?

Seoyun felt even closer to me than usual.

"How should we handle night watch tonight?"

As if to say that since she'd decided yesterday, she wanted to hear everyone's opinions today, Seoyun spoke up.

"Luka's taking the last shift like usual!"

"Then what about you, Mr. Woojin?"

"I took a nap, so I'll take the hardest, most miserable shift—the first watch."

"……?"

Seoyun tilted her head.

"What's wrong?"

"I thought it was strange to hear you volunteer for the hardest shift."

Chills!!

How did this woman know me so well? It gave me the creeps.

"I can step up when I need to."

"Hmm, all right. Then wake me for the next shift!"

Hehe, first watch is a sweet deal.

Today, the Manager took the third watch.

While everyone slept….

I poked the firewood with the poker, gazing into the flames.

There was nothing to do on night watch, really.

That was what made night watch so agonizing.

In the military, there were little things you had to do, like check the temperature, but basically, it was boring.

On a deserted island, the main job on night watch was keeping the embers alive, but that was taken care of by <Preservation>.

Even if the fire went out, I could toss in some premium firewood and gently coax it with the Glyph of Wind. It'd catch again in no time.

Watching it was incredibly reassuring.

The island was dark at night.

The jungle, hot and noisy enough to feel like it might devour you during the day, became strangely quiet once the sun went down.

Unknown insects called incessantly somewhere in the grass, and the low sound of waves rolled in from far away.

Still, it wasn't bad.

Crackle, crackle.

The firewood made small pops in the campfire.

When I stirred the embers with the poker, the charred wood crumbled, revealing the red embers hidden inside.

Just watching them absentmindedly made my thoughts quiet down.

What would I do tomorrow? Would the rescue team come? What dangerous things lived on this island?

The thoughts stuck in my head blurred for a little while in front of the wavering flames.

Anyone looking might've mistaken me for someone who'd come camping to relax, not someone stranded on a deserted island.

I gently pushed the ashes aside with the tip of the poker. The embers glowed red, then dimmed, as if breathing.

Aside from Luka occasionally kicking off her blanket and muttering something in Japanese, it was quiet.

Crackle, crackle.

It was a smell I'd never encountered in the city.

Even if the rescue team came, I didn't think I'd ever forget the smell and feeling of this moment.

Honestly, I liked it quite a bit.

I picked up another piece of firewood and pushed it into the flames. The fire grew a little, coloring my knees orange.

Let's make sure we stay warm tonight.

Rustle, rustle.

That was when it happened.

At first, I thought it was just the wind, but instinctively realizing it wasn't sent chills all over my body.

One of the things that could make night watch a hell of a lot harder.

An actual situation had arisen.

But it was still fifty-fifty.

Fifty percent chance it was the wind, and fifty percent chance something was approaching.

I readied a Wind Cutter and stared into the darkness.

It was still outside the range of my detection magic.

'What if it's one of the dangerous things lurking on this island?'

I didn't stand a chance.

I'd never fought one before, but I just knew it by instinct.

They weren't the kind of things you could beat by fighting them like ordinary animals.

Rustle, rustle, rustle!

Shit.

I'd prayed silently, but it wasn't the wind. I was fucking terrified.

Had I ever realized how scary it was not to be able to see?

I desperately wished I had the Glyph of Light, if it even existed.

How wonderful it would be if I could shine a light as bright as sunlight and see the shape of whatever was out there clearly.

'My phone battery's dead, too. I'm so fucked.'

Keep going. Keep going.

Please just pass by like nothing's happening.

I couldn't run away from here.

Not when I had to protect the three sleeping behind me……

I calmed down and took a deep breath.

"…Do we have a visitor?"

Somehow, it came out sounding like a line from a movie.

I wasn't cut out for serious lines.

Still, I struck as dramatic a pose as I could.

"I know you're there. Come out quietly."

Please come out.

"Heh heh. Did you think hiding in the dark would keep you safe from me, Kim Woojin?"

Could you come out and tell me who you are, please?

"You're good at hiding your presence… but choosing me as your opponent was a mistake. Of course, if you're the great master of this island, I take that back."

Rustle, rustle, rustle.

Aaargh.

It didn't seem to understand human speech. What now?

I held my breath and stared toward the jungle. I'd given it three final warnings, and it still hadn't shown itself.

At the edge of the firelight, where its glow couldn't reach, a patch of black brush shifted ever so slightly.

There?

Should I strike first? No, better be careful.

This time, it wasn't just a sound.

Sniff. Sniff.

The smell of wet earth and the rank, animal stench of something living drifted over on the wind.

Good. It's well within range of my detection magic!!

Now it didn't matter how dark it was. I could sense things with another one of my senses.

I widened that sense, and a shape came into focus in the darkness. Lower than a person, bigger than a dog, with an unnecessarily sturdy life signal.

It was a wild boar.

"Shit, you scared me, you bastard."

Why'd you have to sneak up on me when I was on watch all by myself!!

Phew. Shit, I was fucking terrified.

It edged closer, snorting through its nose.

Ah~~

You dare come sniffing around the food in our camp?

Were you trying to raid our food storage? A hostility I'd never felt before surged up in me in an instant.

You can't have our food, you bastard!

I hereby invoke Article 1, Clause 1 of the Deserted-Island Night Watch Special Rules: Any intruding creature is to be killed and turned into meat!

Two round eyes gleamed in the black brush.

Slowly.

When I stepped toward it to get within range of my magic, the boar jumped in surprise and charged at me.

The starving boar's charge!!

The moment I saw it, all my sleepiness vanished.

Wind Cutter!!

Whooosh!

"What the—!?'

I missed!

Wait, could I actually miss?

I was momentarily flustered. I could hit things from farther away than this before───

Was it because it was nighttime?

I could confirm my target with detection magic, but in practice, I'd been relying on my eyesight more than eighty percent of the time.

I see…!

Just because I knew the flow of mana didn't mean I normally used that sense a hundred percent of the time.

That gap in the information had kept me from anticipating the boar's reflexes.

But I could get better at that later by practicing magic at night.

What the boar didn't know was that I, Kim Woojin, was the true master of this forest.

A simultaneous application of <Wind>, <Change>, and <Preservation>.

I blocked the boar, which had come close, with a wall of compressed air.

It was a makeshift shield, using the pressure of the wind and 「Preservation」's quality of holding things in place.

"Triple Rashomon!"

Boom!!

"Snort. Snort. Squeee!"

After charging in with all its might, the boar slammed its head into the wall and toppled backward.

Its defense was better than I expected.

I'd made three air walls, figuring it'd break through two, but it hadn't gotten through even one.

How's that for a taste of defensive magic?

"M-Mr. Woojin? What's happening?"

The sound of the pig made Seoyun wake up and look around.

"It's nothing."

I sent a Wind Cutter into the fallen boar, finishing it off.

"Squeee!"

Its death cry lasted only a moment.

While Luka and the Manager slept on, oblivious to the world, Seoyun came running over.

"Eek…! A-a pig."

"Good thing I was on first watch."

It might've been dangerous if Seoyun had been on first watch.

We really might need a fence after all. I'd been putting it off because even thinking about it felt like a hassle….

Now that it had actually happened, I'd changed my mind.

"Is it dead?"

"Yes. It's dead."

I'd controlled my strength so I wouldn't ruin the meat.

Even if it were still alive, there was no way it could get back up on its own.

It was too dark to butcher it right away, so I cast 「Preservation」 to keep it from spoiling, then carried it a little way from camp.

I should talk it over with Noona Vitoria tomorrow.

There'd be plenty of meat on this one, too.

When I finished cleaning up and came back, Seoyun let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank goodness…. You must've been scared too, Mr. Kim Woojin. Something like that suddenly popping out at night…"

"I'm a wizard who doesn't feel fear. Seeing something like that doesn't scare me at all."

"…Pfft. Really? You're being a little over the top, aren't you~?"

Heh heh.

I wasn't scared at all. Not one bit.

If I'd known it was a wild boar, I wouldn't have been scared.

It's knowing what's on this island that makes it scary.

"Haaah…. I'm wide awake now. It's probably time for my shift, so go to bed, Mr. Woojin."

"Can you handle it alone? If it shows up again……"

"Eek, why would you say something like that?"

Heh heh.

Now it was my turn to scare Assistant Manager Kang. It was fun.

Well, I'm off duty now~~

"……Could you stay with me for about ten minutes, Mr. Woojin?"

"……"

Oh.

Crushed by the disaster I'd brought down on myself, my night watch shift was extended.