Chapter 21: Cans, Companions, and Cold Mornings

The words I poured out sincerely, rambling on, eventually turned into complaints.

By the end, rather than trying to persuade Kang Dohee, I was pretending to ask for her opinion, trying to appeal—“Can’t you just listen to me on this one thing?”

I knew what I was saying might be overly romantic or optimistic, but just thinking about our group splitting up because of our differences was horrifying.

I exposed that vulnerable side of myself completely.

As the conversation continued, though I never said it outright, the message became clear: I have a vague sense that you’re a strong person, so please, don’t leave me and my sister behind.

‘Ugh, even I think I sounded so pathetic and pitiful.’

Honestly, even as I was speaking, I had no idea why the conversation had gone that way.

I was the one saying it, but I couldn’t understand myself.

But maybe… this is what I was worried about.

Kang Dohee said she’d go alone, and I insisted on tagging along to check out what kind of people those were.

In the end, I may have complicated something she could’ve handled cleanly on her own.

I couldn’t help but worry that she might find me annoying.

A few minutes seemed to pass.

It wasn’t until there was only one arrow left—one she had taken out to polish—that I finally finished speaking.

When I stopped talking, silence settled between us.

Aside from the rustling of wild grass in the wind and the faint scraping sound of wood being carved, no sound could be heard.

Just as the last mechanically carved arrow became sharp enough, Kang Dohee broke the silence.

“So, Haje. What you’re saying is, even if we suffer a bit more, you’d prefer to avoid the kids seeing anything terrible.

You want to be consulted before we act, and… you’re asking me not to leave you and your sister behind. Right?”

“Ah, y-yeah… That’s right.”

How long did I ramble just to say something that could be summed up that briefly?

And I wasn’t even drunk.

“So, in your eyes, I must’ve looked like someone who’d just abandon you and your sister, huh?”

“…!!”

Huh? Is that how it came across?

I hurried to explain that I didn’t mean it that way, that it was just my own worry and not because I thought she was that kind of person—but Kang Dohee spoke first.

“Just kidding. You don’t need to worry. It’s not like I’ve never met someone like you before.”

“R-really?”

“Yeah. A long time ago, I had a friend kind of like you. You remind me of them. Honestly, it feels kind of familiar and nice.”

“…Did you get along with that friend?”

“Nope. I preferred fast and easy solutions, even if they carried some risk. But that friend, they’d insist on taking the longer, harder road if the shortcut wasn’t the right thing to do.”

“We clashed over everything. Our personalities were completely incompatible—we fought all the time, even physically.”

“With me, let’s fight with words, not fists. I’d definitely lose.”

“Don’t worry. If we have a conflict, I promise we’ll resolve it peacefully with a proper conversation.”

“You can’t go around naming fists or weapons things like ‘peace’ or ‘conversation,’ you know.”

“Hm. You’re quick.”

“Eek!”

“Just kidding. I don’t go around overpowering civilians or elders when words don’t work.”

Civilians I get, but elders? Does she see me as a senior citizen?

Am I that weak in her eyes?

Well… I guess I can’t deny it.

“Anyway. Back when I used to constantly butt heads with that friend, I realized something.”

“What was it?”

Kang Dohee paused her carving and glanced at me.

For the first time, her expression softened a little, breaking from the stoic mask she’d worn until now.

“It’s a bit of a cliché conclusion, but in the end… that friend was right.”

“……..”

“I thought solving problems with strength and taking the fastest route was best, and maybe that’s true in the short term. But if I had listened to that friend and taken the longer way around, the outcome would have been better more often than not. I realized that way too late.”

“……”

“That’s why I don’t dislike people like you, Haje. People who are scared, who worry a lot, who overthink, who are cautious.”

…That’s a lot of qualifiers. Is she sure she doesn’t dislike me?

“Well… I still don’t know you that well, but I won’t find you annoying for worrying.”

“And I won’t abandon you and your sister.”

“……..”

“Of course, if you ever stab me in the back, that’ll be a different story.”

Hiccup.

Did her eyes just get sharper? …No, probably my imagination.

“I won’t stab you in the back. Or the front. Or the side.”

“Good. But I’m warning you—I’m pretty stubborn.”

“There’ll be plenty of times when I ignore your opinion and do things my way.”

“What can I say? You’ll just have to put up with it.”

“I’ll put up with your fussing too, as much as I can.”

“Ah, uh… okay.”

Hmm, I get it.

What she’s really saying is, Don’t be disappointed when I do things my way anyway.

Well, at least she’s honest.

I’m not exactly a genius tactician or anything.

Aside from knowing a bunch of trivia, I’m basically dead weight.

Maybe it’s best to just go along with her way of doing things.

“Um, but… Dohee-noona?”

“Yeah?”

“I may not be much help, but still, I hope you won’t try to do everything alone.”

“I’d like for us to work together.”

“I want to… improve too.”

“And honestly, I hope to learn by watching you.”

There’s probably a lot I can learn from working with Kang Dohee.

Sure, I might continue to embarrass myself like I did today, but even so, maybe I’ll change.

Grow.

She seemed to understand what I meant.

She nodded and packed up the arrows.

We brushed ourselves off and stood up, agreeing to work together starting tomorrow, no matter what comes next.

Then we returned to our respective rooms.

And the next morning, at the break of dawn—

I couldn’t help but smile faintly when I saw the van full of canned goods that Kang Dohee said she’d just “happened to find” on a walk.

Seriously, woman! Didn’t you say we’d talk things over first before taking action!?

★★★

“What the heck is all this?”

“Sir, here—have a can of peaches. It’s soft, so it should be easy to eat.”

Kang Dohee tore the lid off the peach can and handed it to the old man, then started organizing the rest of the supplies.

Inside the gray van were piles of all sorts of canned goods—peaches, peas, X-spam, corn, and more.

There were even three full containers of fuel.

“Goodness, did you maybe steal this from someone?”

An elder, gulping down peach syrup, belatedly asked in concern.

Kang Dohee firmly shook her head to reassure him.

“Looks like they were attacked by monsters.

I checked thoroughly—no survivors.

I made sure everything was ownerless, so don’t worry, sir.”

“That so?”

“Yes.

I’ll bring it all inside and sort it.

Please go on in—it’s chilly out.”

“Well, alright then.

Hey, Gamja, lend a hand, will ya?”

“Gu-ork.”

It really was getting cold—like that brief moment between late autumn and early winter.

After seeing the elder inside, Kang Dohee roughly gathered the canned goods into a large plastic basket and handed it to Gamja.

Their teamwork looked surprisingly natural.

While Gamja waddled off toward the house, cradling the basket, Kang Dohee stored the rifle and ammo into her own inventory.

“Haje.

You haven’t served in the military yet, have you?”

“N-nope.”

Right.

I’m twenty now.

Which means: no military service yet.

“I’ll teach you how to use it later.

For now, I think it’s safer if I hang onto it.”

“Okay.”

“Put the rest of the canned goods into your inventory.

Just in case.”

“Got it.”

“And take one of the fuel containers too.”

“Roger that.”

[Inventory] 17/200

500ml x3 Bottled Water (Mental Clarity)

274ml x1 Bottled Water (Mental Clarity)

2 First Aid Kits

1 Master Key

1 Monkey Wrench

1 Heavy-Duty Tape

1 Sharpened Wooden Stick

1 Sweet Potato

1 Full Fuel Canister

4 Cans of Corn

3 Cans of Peas

4 Cans of Baked Beans

3 Cans of Ham

6 Cans of Tuna

2 Cans of Peaches

2 Cans of Mackerel

1 Can of Mixed Fruit

Wow, even peach and mixed fruit cans—Hayeul’s favorites—are here.

“Noona, can I open another can of peaches later?”

“Let’s save what’s in your inventory.

We’ll split up the ones we brought inside so everyone can share—Biyoung, the elder, and the kids.”

“Okay.”

So that means the items in my inventory are for emergencies only.

The amount Potato carried earlier was a lot more than this, and even that left us with this much food.

I felt a bit relieved.

Kang Dohee and I brought the rest of the supplies and set them down in the living room.

When I peeked into the room, Hayeul was fast asleep, one leg draped over Kang Dojin, who was lying straight on his back.

Curled up on Hayeul’s belly was Bamtol, also fast asleep.

Everyone had gone to bed late because of last night’s chaos, and it was still early morning, so I closed the door gently and came back to the living room.

Just then, Joo Biyoung came out of another room and widened her eyes at the sight.

“Grandma!

Where did all this come from?

Oh!

Hello, Haje.”

“Good morning, Ms. Biyoung.”

I greeted her politely first, then helped organize the canned goods as I explained briefly that Kang Dohee had found them by chance during a walk.

Though she didn’t seem to fully believe me, Joo Biyoung didn’t push further.

Her attention barely lingered on the cans—she clearly had something to say, blinking as she tried to mask her gaze.

‘I’ve barely introduced myself to Joo Biyoung.

Maybe this is a good chance to get to know her a little.’

Just then, Biyoung offered a suggestion.

“Um, Haje.

If you don’t mind, could you help me dig up some potatoes?

I’ll show you how.”

“Sure!

Should we go now?”

“Great.

Come on, Gamja, let’s go too.

Grandma, we’ll check the field.”

“Alright.

Gamja, take good care of your big sis.”

“Gu-ork.”

I’d just learned that Gamja was female.

Following Biyoung, we stepped outside to the garden.

She handed me a hoe and asked me to dig up some potatoes.

Though clumsy, I gave it my best effort.

I also didn’t forget to casually make some small talk.

“So, Gamja’s a girl, huh?

What about Bamtol?”

“Bamtol’s a boy.”

“Thought so.

He kinda gives off that vibe.

Oh, and—Hayul called you ‘noona’ to me, so feel free to talk casually if you want.”

It was a classic Korean move—suggesting to drop formal speech as a way to get closer when you’re not sure how to bridge the gap with someone you’ll be seeing regularly.

Hearing my suggestion, Joo Biyoung hesitated for a second, smiling a little awkwardly.

Ah.

Maybe I jumped the gun asking her to speak casually when we’ve barely exchanged names.

Sure, we’ll be living under the same roof for a while, but still… was it too forward when she doesn’t even know what kind of person I am?

“…If it’s uncomfortable, feel free to keep speaking like now.”

“It’s not uncomfortable, it’s just… hmm…

Haje, exactly how old are you again?”

“Twenty.”

“Right?

You’re twenty?”

Biyoung, who had asked again to confirm, nodded once she was sure.

She then stared slightly above my head with a playful look and said:

“See, Baram? Told you—he is twenty. No way he’s in his thirties.”

“…..!”

Hiccup.