Living Dangerously with a 999-Year-Old Gumiho – Chapter 130

Under the dark sky of this place, countless moons illuminate the night, each glowing mysteriously in different colors.

It seems like a place that is completely different from Earth, a whole other world.

In this world, there are beings that resemble humans, but they are not the only inhabitants.

Under the light shining on the dark alley, various forms of monsters lurk about.

Some are large and threatening, while others appear small and cunning.

At the center of this night market stands a big counter that captures everyone’s attention.

There, a unique character wearing a green hat is selling a variety of items.

The merchant’s table is full of one-of-a-kind trinkets that can only be found in this world.

From magical glowing stones to oddly shaped instruments, and black potions contained in glass bottles, all these items pique the curiosity of those visiting the night market.

The green-hatted merchant greets visitors with a smile.

His tone is friendly, sometimes slipping into informal speech.

“Hey, how much time you got? Check this out, it’s a real gem.”

“Oh, you want it in human form? Well, that’s gonna require a lot!”

“This one’s a bit pricey. A mere 100 years.”

The merchant’s charm is as diverse and intriguing as his goods.

He introduces his items to visitors, adding special stories about the items they show interest in.

“Look at this little glass bottle. It contains a black ointment, and if you use it, it cures any wound.”

“You can’t bring the dead back???”

The night market serves as a venue for such exchanges, where various items and stories are swapped according to individual needs and curiosities.

The merchant skillfully leads the bargaining, occasionally mixing in jokes to keep the atmosphere lively.

“So, is this the thing you were looking for? Or how about this one?”

The vibrant atmosphere of the night market suddenly filled with tension.

Two monsters began to growl at each other, baring their teeth in the midst of the market.

One was a hulking monster covered in thick black fur, while the other was lean and had sharp claws.

Nearby visitors were startled by the scene, either backing away quickly or watching quietly from the side.

The green-hatted merchant’s face tensed the moment he saw the confrontation. He immediately raised his hand and shouted to calm the situation.

“You can’t do this here!”

At that moment, the merchant yelled for a small creature named Kagi, who had brown hair and horns.

“Kagi! Kagi, over here!”

Hearing the call, Kagi darted through the crowd like a rabbit and appeared in front of the merchant.

Kagi’s eyes sparkled as he sent a special signal towards the two monsters.

The moment they received the signal, both monsters were enveloped in a strange illusion, seemingly being sucked into the ground.

And in the next moment, they disappeared as if nothing had happened, restoring peace to the area.

From the crowd, sounds of admiration for Kagi’s quick response filled the air.

The green-hatted merchant sighed in relief and expressed gratitude towards Kagi.

“Good job, Kagi. Thanks to you, we avoided a big ruckus again!”

Kagi smiled slightly at the merchant’s praise and nodded.

Then, he returned to his spot to continue his work.

The night market regained its lively atmosphere, and visitors returned to their own affairs as if nothing had happened.

*

As morning sunlight streamed into the room, Hyun slowly opened his eyes in bed.

Typically, he slept on the floor with a blanket, but this time, he had opted for a bed.

It was a bit chilly, but sinking into the cozy bed allowed him to enjoy the most comfortable sleep he had experienced.

Listening to the sounds of the TV from outside, Hyun thought that Sohee must have already woken up and started her activities.

‘Sohee’s already up?’

Hyun threw off the blanket and began searching for Nomi.

In the corner of the bed, he found Nomi still deep in slumber.

Seeing Nomi’s peaceful face made Hyun smile.

He quietly slipped out of the room and headed towards the living room.

Upon entering, the TV screen was brightly lit, and Sohee was sleeping in front of the sofa.

Snack crumbs were scattered all around, and a morning cartoon was playing on the TV.

As Hyun got closer to Sohee, he confirmed she was still asleep.

He noticed that her clothes were too big, causing them to slip off her shoulders.

To ensure she was comfortable, Hyun carefully picked up a blanket from one side of the living room and draped it over Sohee.

He adjusted the blanket gently, as if checking to ensure her peaceful sleep.

After covering her, Hyun looked around the living room.

Snack wrappers and empty bowls and cups were strewn across the table from the night before.

He moved quietly so as not to wake Sohee and started tidying up.

He gathered the snack bags into the trash and placed the empty bowls and cups in the sink.

Once he finished cleaning up, Hyun returned to the living room and decided to turn off the TV.

The morning cartoon was still on, but he wanted to create a quieter environment for Sohee to sleep more comfortably.

He picked up the remote and pressed the power button, turning off the screen.

As the TV switched off, the living room instantly became much quieter and more peaceful.

Having tidied up and turned off the TV, Hyun took another look at Sohee.

She was peacefully asleep under the blanket, and her appearance felt warm, like a quiet scene of the morning.

After making Sohee comfortable, he headed to the kitchen.

He decided to prepare something simple yet sweet for breakfast.

When he opened the fridge, fresh strawberries caught his eye.

Hyun took out the strawberries and placed them on the sink.

He began washing the strawberries carefully.

Soaking them in cold water, he gently rubbed each one with his hands.

His movements were delicate and attentive, and as the fresh strawberries were cleaned, their beautiful red color shone even brighter.

After washing the strawberries and allowing them to drain in a colander, Hyun carefully arranged them on a plate.

He artfully arranged the strawberries, making them look like a piece of art.

The fresh scent of the strawberries filled the kitchen, adding a touch of freshness to the morning.

After preparing the strawberries, Hyun placed the pretty plate on the dining table and set the strawberries on it.

He simply set the table so that the two of them could enjoy breakfast together.

Along with the strawberries, he also placed orange juice on the table.

In the quiet of the morning, Hyun solidified his resolution regarding a long-pondered issue.

He felt that his stamina was lacking and that he could no longer allow it to go unchecked.

As thoughts of the basic exercises he learned from Yoonhwa came to mind, Hyun decided he would develop a habit of exercising every morning.

Hyun didn’t particularly like exercising. His body struggled to adapt, and he didn’t have good endurance either.

Still, he chose to start with the sit-ups Yoonhwa had taught him.

Hyun began doing the sit-ups he had learned from Yoonhwa.

The first few were manageable, but soon he began to run out of breath and feel pain in his muscles.

As he counted one, two, three, his gaze began to waver, and sweat beads appeared on his forehead.

“Ugh…”

Hyun realized he was getting tired much faster than he had anticipated.

After a few more, he found himself face down, exhausted on the floor.

“Guess it’s too much…— cough!”

While sprawled on the floor, catching his breath, thoughts of wanting to give up crossed his mind.

Just then, Sohee’s voice came from behind him.

“What are you doing?-”

Sohee giggled and laughed at his exercise struggle.

Surprised by her voice, Hyun quickly turned to look at her, unable to hide his fluster.

His face was flushed red with sweat and embarrassment.

“Uh, this, this is just… exercise— I just wanted to… try starting…”

Hyun stammered, feeling quite flustered by Sohee’s playful smile.

Sohee laughed even more, finding his embarrassment amusing.

“Haha, you’re exercising too? But why do you look like you’re struggling? You can’t have done that many sit-ups yet?”

Hyun felt even more embarrassed by her words.

He was hurt to realize just how weak his stamina was.

“Must be because it’s morning…!”

“Maybe my body hasn’t woken up fully— cough! yet…“

Hyun spoke as if making excuses for his lack of stamina.

His voice was tinged with a bit of forced explanations, but he still gazed at Sohee, as if seeking her understanding.

Sohee paused for a moment, as if deep in thought after hearing Hyun’s excuses.

Then she scratched her head and replied as if she understood.

“I get it~ It’s tough to suddenly start exercising in the morning.”

“It’s not too late to stretch and then do it.”

Her voice held a sense of playfulness and understanding.

With those words, Sohee passed by Hyun and headed toward the kitchen.

Her steps were light and cheerful.

Upon reaching the kitchen, she poured herself a cup of water, then went to the bathroom to wash her face.

After washing up, Sohee came out of the kitchen, patting her face dry with her hands.

Her hair was slightly damp, and she ran her fingers through her slightly wet locks while yawning widely.

Sohee’s yawn was deep and lively, like taking in the morning air.

After finishing her yawn, she covered her mouth with the back of her hand, her face still showing a sleepy expression.

“Ah~ Morning really makes me sleepy.”

Sohee said, puffing a bit.

Her eyes looked a bit heavy even after washing up, but she was gradually regaining her energy as she moved about.

After washing up, Sohee glanced around the room and picked up a cigarette and a lighter from one corner of the desk.

Her movements seemed familiar, and as she yawned and relaxed her body, there was a sense of leisurely morning.

Sohee yawned once more and swept aside her slightly tousled hair.

Her gaze moved towards the beautifully arranged fresh strawberries on the dining table.

The morning sunlight illuminated the strawberries on the plate, enhancing their sheen and color.

Without hesitation, Sohee grabbed a few strawberries with her hands and popped one into her mouth.

A satisfied smile spread across her lips.

The fruity tartness and sweetness of the strawberry seemed to lift her morning drowsiness.

Holding the cigarette and lighter in one hand, she grabbed a few more strawberries and strolled slowly out to the yard.

The fresh and clear morning air invigorated her spirits.

Once outside, Sohee looked up at the sky for a moment, taking in a deep breath.

She munched on another strawberry, savoring the leisurely morning.

Hyun quietly watched Sohee step out into the yard through the living room window.

He knew she was about to smoke, but he decided to stop speaking about her habits.

His face showed mixed emotions, but in his heart, he decided to respect Sohee’s choices.

As Sohee stood in the middle of the yard lighting her cigarette, Hyun continued to silently observe from the window.

Sohee stood under the gentle morning sunlight, a cigarette in her mouth.

There was still a hint of the relaxed state of waking up on her face.

Before lighting her cigarette, Sohee stretched her arms high up, yawning.

As her body extended, it looked soothing as her muscles relaxed.

After stretching, Sohee focused back on the cigarette.

The small flame from the lighter flickered at the tip of the cigarette as she took a deep first puff.

The expression on her face as she inhaled the smoke radiated a small sense of satisfaction amidst the morning tranquility.

Holding the lighter in one hand, Sohee slowly took a second puff, then exhaled the smoke moments later.

The smoke she released began to slowly dissipate in the fresh morning air.

Sohee’s gaze aimlessly wandered around the yard, momentarily lingering on the distant scenery.

Hyun returned to the living room and began to tidy up around the sofa where Sohee had been sleeping.

He carefully lifted the blanket he had covered her with and started to fold it neatly.

Just then, the sound of the door opening echoed as little Nomi emerged from the room.