Chapter 15
An eco-friendly alternative resource.
A resource that will lead the future.
Mana stones.
“Whew~ I extracted a lot.”
I walked around downtown with a black bag full of mana stones.
I extracted about ten again this time.
Precious little things that would cover my living expenses.
They were low-quality raw stones for now, but with my skills, I could process and sell them for a high price.
I wonder how much I'll make this time~
Fine, I'm in the mood.
“Please give me 3,000 won's worth of tteokbokki.”
“Oh? A precious customer! You want tteokbokki? Can you eat a lot?”
“Yes. I eat a lot.”
“Oh-ho. Then I'll give you an extra-large serving!”
“Oh! Thank you!”
Flex.
I bought tteokbokki to eat on the way.
It was dawn, but the street-food stall was still open, so I could get a meal.
“Eat up.”
“Thanks for the food!”
A bowl filled to the brim with tteokbokki came out.
It was about 5,000 won's worth, but I felt like I'd gotten more than the other customers.
Munch, munch.
I climbed onto the tall chair and stuffed my mouth with the generous serving of tteokbokki.
I didn't know if it was because of my changed body, but strangely, I was craving tteokbokki. I used to be more of a pork cutlet or fried chicken person than tteokbokki.
“Hey, hey, look over there.”
“Her cheeks are all puffed up. So freaking cute.”
“Can she eat all that by herself?”
“There’s a kid like that out at this hour.”
I drew a lot of attention.
It wasn't common to see a child sitting at a street-food stall at dawn, eating tteokbokki.
So what?
I focused on eating my tteokbokki.
“You're really putting that away. Would you like some fish cake, too?”
“How much is it?”
“For a princess, it's free!”
“Uh… I-I'd love some!”
And just like that, I got free fish cake, too.
I was flustered by the strange treatment, but since it was free, I let it slide.
Nothing tastes better than free food.
I'll bankrupt this place while I'm at it.
…
Thirty minutes later.
“P-please stop giving me more. I can't eat another bite….”
“Are you done? I was going to give you a Pikachu pork cutlet, too.”
“T-take it to go….”
“Puhahaha!! All right, I'll pack it up for you. Take it with you.”
Defeat.
I was taken down by the tteokbokki-and-fish-cake combo.
My old body could've handled this much, but my belly was already bulging.
There were so many delicious things, and I could only eat this much?
Sigh.
How frustrating.
“Come again next time~”
That was the end of the meal.
I left the cheerful street-food stall owner behind and continued on my way.
*
“Whew~”
Instead of heading straight home, I looked around at the scenery to help digest. As a bonus, I ate the Pikachu pork cutlet I'd had packed separately.
Rustle, rustle.
Maybe my metabolism was fast.
After walking a little, my stomach had already settled. Thanks to that, I continued on with a light step.
And so, on my way home.
“Huh?”
“……….”
This was already the third time.
I made eye contact with a middle-aged man sitting on a bench.
The same man who watched downtown with a fierce gaze every time.
“Ugh.”
His gaze landed on me again.
He still had a fierce expression.
He was staring closely at me with a look that could've meant he was appraising me or pondering something.
He fidgeted with his hands, opening and closing them.
He looked like he was debating whether to do something.
But why was he reacting like that while looking at me?
Hmm.
It's not right to judge someone by their appearance, but he was someone I didn't want to get involved with. He practically radiated danger.
I already felt intimidated just by his appearance.
Rustle, rustle.
I avoided his gaze and walked down the street.
The man's gaze followed me.
He still seemed to be thinking hard about something. What was going through his mind?
When I glanced over.
‘Alone again….’
For some reason, I could make out those words on his lips.
I was probably mistaken, but I couldn't help feeling a chill.
‘Looks like the kid's parents aren't around today, either.’
Swish.
Along with those ominous words on his lips, the man got up from his seat.
He seemed to have made some kind of grim resolve.
Huh?
Why was he getting up?….
He wasn't coming over to me, was he?
I don't know. Let's get out of here.
I'm going home.
*
Rustle, rustle!
I walked as fast as I could.
Then, when I glanced behind me.
“Ugh.”
Why?
The man was following me.
He was tailing me from a distance, but his fierce appearance made him stand out quite a bit.
Was he really following me, then?
Why on earth??
“Whew.”
Best not to get involved.
Since it had come to this, I'd run as hard as I could.
Patadadad!!
Sprinting at full speed!
But my legs were short and I had no stamina, so I was out of breath almost as soon as I started running.
Still, I didn't stop. I left downtown and entered an alley leading toward home.
“Haa, haa!… This should be far enough, right?”
I braced my hands on my knees and glanced back.
I could see the man walking toward me in the distance.
Wh-why?
Why was he so leisurely!?
I'd run so hard, and he was following me like it was nothing?
Chills.
Anxiety welled up.
I'd hoped it was a misunderstanding, but since he'd followed me this far, it didn't seem to be.
That man.
He really was following me.
It couldn't have been a coincidence that we'd made eye contact so many times.
It was suspicious that he'd watched me walking around alone every time and kept scanning his surroundings, too.
Maybe it was all planned.
‘I'd seen in the neighborhood news that missing-person cases have been on the rise lately… Surely this isn't…?’
Shake, shake!
Don't think anxious thoughts for no reason.
If he really was a bad person, I could just blast him away with World Power.
Let's take a deep breath.
There's nothing to be afraid of.
Rustle, rustle.
I hurried toward home.
I wanted to run, but with my poor stamina, I'd probably collapse in no time.
I had a last resort anyway, so I stayed calm, walking and occasionally glancing behind me.
A narrow alley.
The man was still following me.
There was no way our routes could overlap this much, so I was one hundred percent his target.
What was he plotting?
I couldn't help suspecting him.
That person was definitely dangerous.
My instincts were telling me so.
Of course, I couldn't be certain.
They say we only ever see the tip of the iceberg. You can't jump to conclusions before anything has even happened.
Still, I needed to be on guard.
I should prepare myself.
“Ugh. I'm almost home.”
My house was coming into view.
The man behind me was still following.
He seemed to be trying not to get caught, but since I'd already noticed him, I could tell where he was keeping out of sight as he followed me.
He didn't seem to be about to do anything… Was his goal to find out where I lived?
Just like he'd watched me every time, maybe he was trying to figure out my routine this time.
Creak~
I opened the front gate.
I lived in a rented room in a shared house, so there was a large gate in front of a small courtyard.
As I went inside, I briefly stuck my head out and checked behind me again.
As expected.
He was coming this way.
I gently closed the gate, then pressed myself against it and hid.
After that, I watched through the gap.
“What… is he actually planning to come all the way to my house?”
This was strange.
The man had no intention of going back.
Since he hadn't done anything, I'd thought he was just trying to figure out my route, but now he was walking straight toward the house I'd gone into.
Why??
I couldn't understand it at all.
What was his goal?
Was he planning to do something right out in the open?
He wasn't planning to come into my house, was he?!
Clomp, clomp.
His footsteps were close enough to hear.
Just in case, I stopped peeking through the gap and sat with my back against the gate.
‘I-is he really coming all the way to the house?….’
His footsteps didn't stop.
A thousand thoughts ran through my mind.
What was he trying to do, coming all the way here?
I usually didn't think much about it, but right now, I looked like a little girl.
I was a vulnerable person, an easy target for criminals.
I could be in danger if I wasn't careful.
Of course… if I were ordinary.
‘If he's really here with bad intentions, I'll blast him away and report him to the police.’
Squeeze.
I clenched my fist.
I waited, tense.
The man came near the house and glanced around. I peeked at him, making sure not to get caught, then hid tightly behind the gate again.
I hoped he'd just turn around and leave.
No, I wasn't sure that would be any better.
I had no idea what the best thing was.
Clomp, clomp.
His footsteps were right in front of me.
He wasn't merely nearby. He was coming right up to the front gate.
So he really came all the way here.
What on earth was he planning….
Halt.
The man stopped in front of the gate.
I covered my mouth behind the gate.
My eyes widened of their own accord, and my heart pounded.
If the man opened the gate, he'd see me immediately. What would happen after that?
Threats?
Kidnapping?
Surely he wasn't going to make a move so brazenly?
Or did he know I lived alone? Did he think I was an easy target because I looked like a kid?
Was this really a dangerous situation?
Should I really blast him away?
I-I might be a little scared.
Swish.
With my mind in turmoil, the man finally reached out toward the gate.