Yuda returned home. Stepping through the entrance, he noticed that the house, once stained with blood, was now spotless. The blood that had splattered across the floor and filled the air with its stench, the broken furniture, everything had been cleaned. Aside from the fact that no one else was there, it looked like any ordinary family home. Standing in the doorway, he stared blankly inside as Kaseun ruffled his hair.
"It’s okay to cry if you want to. If not now, then when?"
But no tears came out. He only felt a vague sense of pity. He hadn’t even been in this world for a full day. How could he have memories or longing for parents he barely knew?
Perhaps his stillness made him seem even more pitiful because Kaseun let out a sigh.
"Are you really planning to stay here? Won’t you come live with your grandpa?"
"No, I’m fine. Really. I just want to stay here."
"Alright, I get it."
Yuda overheard Kaseun mutter that he couldn’t force him.
Kaseun then said he needed to get some food, and Yuda should wait until he returned from shopping. Not wanting to refuse, Yuda thanked him and saw him off. After confirming that the front door, which had been shattered, had been repaired and now closed smoothly, Yuda took a look around the house.
It was a modest home, but even though they were fallen nobles, nobility was still nobility. Most essential items were present. It slightly broke the fantasy-world vibe, but he was amazed to find things like a refrigerator that used magic to keep food fresh with cool air, and something resembling a gas stove. The bathroom even had a flush toilet, and water flowed from what seemed like plumbing below.
"What a relief, honestly."
He felt almost tearfully grateful that this world wasn’t set in a medieval era.
In a world without magic, only nobles could enjoy such conveniences.
There were already no computers or TVs. How would he have adapted if even these basics were missing?
He’d have managed somehow, of course, but he couldn’t hide his relief.
For the first time since arriving in this world, he let out a small laugh and continued exploring the house.
Luckily, there was a small study. Though calling it that felt generous, given the scant handful of books and a map.
"Perfect!"
He was more grateful for the fact that there were maps than the books.
Since it would take Kaseun a while to return from shopping, Yuda had time to examine it. He moved to "his room," where he had first met Sian in this world.
He climbed to the second floor and saw that the door the mercenaries had smashed had been replaced.
In a corner of the floor where cleaning hadn’t quite reached, faint bloodstains remained. He stepped into the room with a wry smile and flopped onto the bed.
Though his child’s body wasn’t heavy, the bed creaked faintly as he climbed on. After rolling around and finding it uncomfortable, he sat up cross-legged and spread the map on the neatly made bed.
The map was old, its edges worn and yellowed. It was black-and-white, not colored, and differed in many ways from his memory. This world had two continents, but the map showed only the first, with an island between the two. Some areas were left blank.
"Is my memory right, or is this map accurate?"
He couldn’t figure it out without seeing for himself, but with the minimap function of the 〈Map〉, he could figure it out by visiting those areas.
For now, this worn map was helpful enough.
Looking at specific locations triggered fragmented information about them in his mind.
These were details he had thought about more than a hundred times before setting them up. He might have forgotten the small stuff, but the big picture stuck with him. With a map in hand, he now needed a way to record it.
"There’s got to be one."
If Sian had replicated the game system perfectly, there had to be a “Notes” function.
「Inventory」「Status Window」「Skill Window」「Map」「Quests」… and 「Records」.
It didn’t appear when he called it “Notes” or “Notebook,” but shouting "Records" brought it up.
Even with system info, the lack of a guide made it inconvenient.
「Records」
A simple notepad visible only to Yuda himself.
Originally, it let players view copied info without leaving the game, but here, he had to input it manually.
Before his memory faded, Yuda hurriedly began recording what he needed. Some details weren't precise, but he entered the key elements he had planned for the game, prioritizing them in order. The method wasn’t difficult. Just focus a little or tap the holographic keyboard in the air, and the text wrote itself.
─ Lords of the Demon Realm and Holy Kings of the Heavens
─ Info on Fernlern’s Twenty-Four Hearts
─ Dungeon strategies by region and heart locations
─ Places to find useful items
─ Cooking methods
─ List of capable companions
─ Quest details he remembered
He skipped over vague or uncertain info. With surprising focus, he finished faster than expected. Recording via thought rather than paper or typing sped things up considerably.
This was just the framework anyway. He could flesh it out later at night. Glancing at his notes, he let out a small chuckle.
Demon realms, heavens. Mixed with words like that, it felt like a clichéd fantasy novel. Something to giggle over while reading.
Who would have thought they would end up in a world they created?
"If I had known, I would have made Yuda a silver spoon."
Why’d he have to set things up so miserably? No, forget a silver spoon.
He should’ve gone all out with a diamond one. Then he wouldn’t be stuck worrying like this."
As a pang of regret hit him and he sighed softly, he heard the door open downstairs.
A heavy thud suggested Kaseun had returned from shopping.
Heading down, Yuda saw a mountain of groceries piled at the entrance. Kaseun grinned.
"I bought a bit of this and that, and it ended up being a lot."
A bit? It looked like way more than that.
Yuda’s jaw dropped at the sight.
A sack of rice was one thing, but the heaps of vegetables, bread, eggs, and more seemed like enough to rot before he could eat it all.
It was impressive he’d carried it alone.
"Didn’t you buy too much? What if it spoils…?"
"There’s a fridge, so what’s the worry? I was going to toss out what’s in there anyway. Let’s fill it with this."
Oh right, the fridge.
He’d forgotten about that.
"I’ll cook dinner tonight!"
Kaseun let out a spirited shout and began hauling the groceries to the kitchen. Feeling awkward just watching, Yuda pitched in. Checking the haul, he saw everything from simple meats to vegetables, eggs, fruits. A wide variety. It looked like Kaseun had hit every stall in the market.
Thankfully, the ingredients were familiar. This world really had it all.
Though, as expected, spices like salt and pepper were scarce—likely pricey.
"Where’s the cutting board? Ah, here it is."
Kaseun opened a lower shelf, nodding with satisfaction as he pulled out a cutting board and various utensils. He even found an apron somewhere and put it on. It all seemed so natural.
"Do you live alone?"
Yuda asked, watching him prepare in the kitchen.
"No, I’ve got a grandson, a son, a daughter-in-law, and maids too. Why do you ask?"
"You just look so comfortable cooking. Don’t chefs usually handle it?"
"Normally, yes."
He pulled a chunk of diced meat from the pile. Veal, maybe. Probably meant for a stew. Yuda watched in awe as Kaseun expertly chopped carrots, celery, and cabbage, then seared the meat. Flames burst up from the pan. Yuda had heard that home stoves couldn’t reach that kind of heat, but this place was different. Kaseun controlled the flame with ease, stir-frying the meat in a flash like a showman.
A delicious aroma filled the kitchen, making Yuda’s mouth water.
"But when you’re a mercenary, you’ve got to cook for yourself sometimes. You can’t always eat dried jerky."
Yuda couldn’t relate. He’d only eaten jerky when he had no snacks or was bored.
Seeing no response, Kaseun glanced back and chuckled.
"Of course, I’m practically retired now, but old habits die hard. I still cook. And I’m pretty good at it, if I do say so myself."
That seemed true. Food smelling this good couldn’t taste bad.
He finished the veal stew and set it on the table with freshly baked bread.
Seeing big chunks of meat floating in the broth made Yuda’s stomach growl. He was eating well today.
"It’s delicious."
"Hahaha, isn’t it? Eat up!"
Yuda tore the bread, dipped it in the stew, and savored mouthfuls of tender meat, filling his belly with dinner. After they finished, Kaseun said it was time to go.
As Yuda saw him off under the darkening night sky, Kaseun asked one last time.
"Won’t you come with me? Aren’t you scared alone?"
Yuda gave a wry smile and declined.
"Ha, what stubbornness. Fine. I’ll wait."
Kaseun let out a hearty laugh and left.
Alone in the house, Yuda decided to plan his next steps.
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***Author’s Note***
I won’t spoil some questions that tie into the story’s progression.
As for whether it’ll be a harem, smut, or a romance, that’ll depend on your reactions.
I’ll row the boat where the tide takes me, haha!
If you want smut, it’ll bring smut.
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