Yeoreum’s gaze was fixed on the bottle of water, her mouth hanging open as if shocked by what she’d just heard—five spoonfuls of corn powder.

Had this simple indulgence startled even someone as wealthy as Yeoreum? I rubbed my lips, struggling internally before finally admitting it. I had, indeed, been living a life of luxury.

It felt odd to display such extravagance when I had debts to pay off. Maybe the recent increase in my income had made me a bit too confident. Earning money didn’t mean it was all mine to spend.

"I'm sorry… I'll cut back to just three spoonfuls from now on…"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"I just feel like I'm spending too much…" I said, watching Yeoreum’s face carefully. For some reason, her eyes were darting from side to side.

"Well… it’s your money, Gyeoul, so it shouldn’t matter how you spend it, right? And it's not like you’re really spending that much..."

"Really? But I’m using five spoonfuls of powder…" I held up five fingers to show her, though I couldn’t keep them up for long—it felt like I was boasting about this “extravagance.” I quickly folded my fingers back down, checking to see if anyone was watching.

"Actually, five spoonfuls of corn powder is more like saving."

"Oh… right…" Five spoonfuls of corn powder was frugal? I couldn’t imagine what “luxury” meant to someone like Yeoreum. I probably never would.

“Feel free to spend a little more. You need a balanced meal, alright?”

"Okay, then I’ll add 500 won to each meal."

"...Ah, um…" Yeoreum pressed her lips together, apparently holding back a response. It probably wasn’t because I was spending too much.

'But 500 won is… quite a bit more,' I thought to myself. Did 500 won mean nothing to Yeoreum? Her wealth was astounding; I’d love to see how someone could spend money so freely. It would definitely be an education.

“Hey, there’s something I’d like to ask you…”

"A favor?"

"Yes… If you get the chance, could you show me what it’s like to spend a lot of money…?"

“Uh? Why are you so interested in spending money?”

Yeoreum’s eyes widened at the word “money,” likely because I’d been so blunt. I rushed to clarify before she could misunderstand.

“Well, I thought five spoonfuls of corn powder was a big luxury… but the way you talk about it makes it seem so minor. I’m curious about what real extravagance looks like.”

“Oh…”

“I just want to see how rich people indulge, that’s all.”

It probably sounded a bit rude in hindsight. I cast my gaze downward.

“Alright then, someday I’ll show you what it’s like to really spend,” she replied with a smile.

“Oh.” I had thought it was a difficult request, but she accepted it. I could already feel myself getting excited, wondering just how amazing this experience might be.

---

I had paid for three days at the inn, but the guild extended my stay to six. It was like a buy-one-get-one deal you’d only expect at a convenience store.

‘That’s such a relief.’

The price was incredibly low, almost like they were giving it to me for free. I felt the weight on my shoulders lessen a bit, though I still knew I had to work harder.

“Wow! A real house!” Levinas hopped around and turned on the TV, while Sophia sank into the massage chair with a contented sigh. Seeing them so happy warmed my heart. All that tight budgeting had been worth it.

“Hehe.”

Watching them, my tail swayed in delight. After smiling at them, I moved toward the door. There was still work to do.

“Gyeoul, where are you going?” Yeoreum asked.

“I’m going to collect empty bottles.”

“Are you planning to work more? Maybe you should rest today.”

The day still felt long, and I shook my head firmly at Yeoreum.

“I can keep working.”

“Gyeoul, you’ll end up collapsing from overwork.”

“But I’m not that tired yet. I didn’t even do that much today.”

What had I done today again? I tried to remember, but before I could dwell on it, Yeoreum crouched down to meet my eyes.

“You went hunting today, didn’t you?” she prompted.

“Yes. I hunted goblins.”

“And you dealt with something bad in the hunting grounds, too.”

“…That’s right.”

I had been knocked down a few times, but my body was fine, thanks to the resilience of beast-kin.

“Then you also tended to your garden and sold mushrooms, right?”

“Yes.”

How did Yeoreum know everything I did today? I tilted my head in confusion.

“And on top of all that, you moved things into this new place. If you keep pushing yourself, you’ll collapse, Gyeoul,” she said gently.

“Really, I’m only a bit sleepy. I’m not that exhausted.”

Yeoreum pressed her lips together, looking almost annoyed, her mouth pulled down at the corners.

“Gyeoul, if you’re sleepy, that’s because you’re tired.”

“Sleepy because I’m… tired? Oh… wait…” She was right. Being sleepy did mean I was tired. How had I forgotten something so obvious? Maybe I’d stopped thinking to avoid remembering how tired I was.

“That’s it. Today, your only task is sleeping, Gyeoul.”

“But, um, I still have to collect bottles…”

“No. Today, you’re sleeping,” Yeoreum said firmly, sliding her hands under my arms. She lifted me off the ground, my legs dangling in the air.

“Uh…”

I really couldn’t. I had bottles to pick up. I looked up at Yeoreum with pleading eyes, but she simply set me down on the bed.

“Tonight, you’re going to sleep, okay?”

“…Okay.”

I’ll just pretend to sleep for a bit, then sneak out to work. Lying down, I closed my eyes.

The mattress was so soft, and the blanket was so warm. To think I could live in a place like this for six whole days…

---

That night, Sophia and Yeoreum sat together, talking.

A few hours earlier, Gyeoul had shown some odd behavior, which was now the topic of discussion.

“She said she didn’t even realize she was tired?”

“Not exactly. It felt like she wasn’t even aware of the connection between tiredness and sleepiness,” Yeoreum replied thoughtfully.

“…I see.” Sophia leaned back in her massage chair, lost in thought. She had always suspected Gyeoul worked too hard, but maybe her struggles had pushed her past the point of noticing her own limits.

After a long pause, Sophia spoke up. “Yeoreum.”

“Yes?”

“Are there any job openings left at the guild…?”

A job? For Gyeoul? Yeoreum scratched her cheek, puzzled.

“Isn’t Encia and Argo already earning for her?”

“But Gyeoul wouldn’t accept that money.”

“She wouldn’t take what you earn either, Sophia.”

Gyeoul had always been reluctant to accept help, even from Sophia, who she saw as family.

“She will accept it if it helps with living expenses.”

“Oh…”

It seemed that if the money was for shared living costs, she was willing to make an exception. Yeoreum nodded at Sophia.

“Alright. I’ll see if there’s something she can do.”

“Thank you. I’d prefer it not be too time-consuming, though. Money isn’t the priority here.”

“Of course. I understand.”

For Sophia, caring for the children always came first. She’d prefer a job that would leave Gyeoul with plenty of time to rest.

Yeoreum was still mulling over the possibilities when they heard groaning sounds from Gyeoul’s room.

“Huh?”

They glanced at each other before rushing to the room.

“Uh… uhh…”

“Gyeoul?” Sophia placed her hand on Gyeoul’s forehead, but she wasn’t feverish—she was clearly in the grip of a nightmare.

“She must be having a bad dream.”

“Should we wake her?”

“Let’s,” Sophia agreed.

“Gyeoul, Gyeoul.” Yeoreum gently shook her, feeling the rapid thudding of Gyeoul’s heartbeat beneath her hand.

“Mmm…” Gyeoul slowly opened her eyes, breathing heavily, still caught in the remnants of her dream.

“Are you alright, Gyeoul?” Yeoreum asked softly.

“A… dream…”

“A dream? Was it a nightmare?” Gyeoul nodded, her eyes still hazy, as if she were drifting between dream and reality.

Gently, Yeoreum stroked Gyeoul’s cheek.

“I was buried alive… underground… but that was a long time ago… was it… a dream?”

“…What?”

A nightmare of being buried alive—horrifying. But it was Gyeoul’s last words that struck them both.@@novelbin@@

‘A long time ago?’

Had Gyeoul actually experienced being buried alive? Sophia and Yeoreum’s hearts sank at the thought.

‘…That can’t be possible.’

They could only hope it was a confusion of dream and memory. Yeoreum silently stayed by Gyeoul’s side, holding her trembling hand tightly.

“I’m sorry. I must’ve had a strange dream,” Gyeoul mumbled, glancing down at herself beneath the blankets.

The first day she’d arrived in this world, she had been buried underground.

 She’d managed to dig her way out, but she’d nearly died before her second life even began.

‘What was that about?’

Why had her second life started underground? She looked up, her gaze meeting Yeoreum and Sophia’s shocked faces.