Living Dangerously with a 999-Year-Old Gumiho – Chapter 97

“You have one week. Bring me 1 million won.”

His words were firm and undeniably cold.

Namgil’s heart sank upon hearing Miryeong’s demand.

Bringing in 1 million won within a week was practically impossible for him.

“Th-that’s not possible…!”

Namgil’s voice trembled with despair.

He was prepared to pay any price to get his family back, but faced with such an unrealistic demand, he felt utterly helpless.

Miryeong’s voice grew colder and more resolute.

Her words carried an overwhelming sense of pressure that he couldn’t refuse.

“Do whatever it takes to get 1 million won.”

“How you do it is entirely your choice…”

A greedy light flickered in her eyes, and there was weight behind every word she spoke.

“But if you fail…”

“Your family’s lives will once again be mine.”

Namgil’s heart froze with deep fear at her words.

His head spun from the shock of Miryeong’s threats.

At that moment, Miryeong’s figure began to shimmer and slowly fade away.

Her form scattered into the air, leaving only her sinister laughter echoing in Namgil’s ears.

“I’ll see you in a week.”

And in an instant, Miryeong disappeared completely.

Namgil collapsed beside his wife, a mix of confusion, fear, and despair swirling within him.

He had no idea what to do or how to overcome this situation.

—

The three of them returned home soaking wet from the rain. Yoonhwa immediately decided to use her magic.

She waved her hands.

A mysterious light sparkled from her fingertips, and that light suddenly enveloped them, evaporating the moisture from their clothes and bodies with a warm breeze.

Thanks to Yoonhwa’s magic, Hyun and Nomi quickly dried off, leaving no trace of their walk in the rain.

Nomi’s eyes widened in wonder at the whole process, while Hyun marveled at the power of the magic.

Yoonhwa looked at Hyun and Nomi with a worried expression and asked, “Aren’t you hungry…? I’m completely starving…”

Nomi quickly replied, “Yeah! I’m so hungry!”

Yoonhwa nodded and turned her gaze to Hyun. “Wait a moment…!”

Hyun hurriedly headed for the refrigerator.

His mind was still in a chaos from what had just happened, but he focused on taking care of his hungry friends.

When he opened the fridge, a rush of cold air hit him.

His eyes scanned quickly through the contents.

He reached out and pulled out a pack of fresh ham. Checking the packaging, he saw that it was still well within its expiration date.

Hyun let out a sigh of relief, carefully placing the ham on the table.

“Should I fry this ham?”

Nomi and Yoonhwa exchanged excited glances.

Ham was somewhat of a strange food to them, but seeing something resembling meat boosted their anticipation.

Nomi’s eyes sparkled as she said, “Is it… like meat??”

Yoonhwa, looking just as intrigued, nodded while gazing at the ham. “Looks delicious!”

Hyun burst into laughter at their reactions.

Preparing to fry the ham, he suggested to Nomi and Yoonhwa, “I’ll cook this—”

“You two go change your clothes!”

“That outfit might still smell like perfume.”

“How about changing into pajamas? It’ll be more comfortable.”

Yoonhwa and Nomi nodded at each other.

They didn’t like the weird smell left over and, more than anything, just wanted to wear something comfortable.

Nomi grinned and said, “Pajamas are the best!”

Yoonhwa happily responded, “Okay, then we’ll change! Please wait~”

The two headed back to the room to change clothes, leaving Hyun to carefully fry the ham and serve it on a plate.

A little later, Nomi and Yoonhwa returned, both looking cozy in their pajamas.

They beamed with happy expressions in their comfy attire.

As Hyun watched them with a smile, the kitchen was already filled with the scent of food.

Hyun plated the beautifully fried ham and set it on the table.

His movements were lively, and the ham glistened perfectly on the plate.

“Wow, it smells so good!”

Nomi’s eyes sparkled as she gazed at the ham.

Yoonhwa wore a similarly excited expression.

Feeling their enthusiasm, Hyun smiled warmly.

Hyun then went back to the kitchen to grab some kimchi from the fridge and scoop warm rice from the rice cooker into a bowl.

With his preparations complete, Nomi and Yoonhwa beamed and took their seats.

Hyun joined them at the table, and they all started their meal.

Yoonhwa’s eyes widened at the first taste of the ham. “Wow—! This is really delicious!”

“Human world cuisine is truly diverse…”

Nomi took a bite of the ham and sighed in delight. “So tasty!”

Just as the meal began nearing its end, a knock echoed through the room filled with peace and joy.

Knock knock…

Hyun, Yoonhwa, and Nomi all looked at each other in surprise.

They had just been enjoying a happy meal, and the sudden knock created an atmosphere of tension.

Hyun stood cautiously and gestured for Nomi and Yoonhwa to wait.

“Just a moment…”

He carefully walked toward the door, his heart filled with questions and curiosity.

As he reached the door, he cautiously asked, “Who is it…??”

Moments later, a familiar voice came from beyond the door.

“It’s me! I came to return your umbrella.”

Hyun exhaled in relief and opened the door.

Standing outside was his friend Seojin, holding the umbrella Hyun had previously lent him.

“Oh, Seojin! Come in.”

Though Hyun invited Seojin in, he shook his head and waved his hands.

“No, it’s fine. I just came to drop off the umbrella!”

He handed the umbrella to Hyun and cast a glance towards Yoonhwa and Nomi, who were eating.

“Hey~!!”

Seojin waved cheerfully in greeting.

Yoonhwa and Nomi, surprised at first, soon smiled and waved back.

Seojin smiled at Hyun again.

“If it doesn’t rain tomorrow, we’ll have a performance, right?”

“See you tomorrow!”

With that, Seojin left Hyun’s house.

Hyun carefully closed the door.

Seojin’s friendly greeting added to the welcoming atmosphere.

Hyun stood up and smiled at the two monsters.

“You two just relax here.”

He headed to the kitchen. Standing in front of the sink, he turned on the water and began the dishes, carefully soaking plates and utensils.

The sounds of running water and clinking dishes filled the kitchen.

Yoonhwa and Nomi felt grateful for Hyun’s thoughtfulness.

Yoonhwa expressed her gratitude saying, “Hyun, thank you! I enjoyed the meal so much!”

Nomi chimed in, “Yeah! Thanks!”

While Hyun was busy washing the dishes, Yoonhwa and Nomi wandered over to the sofa and sat down together.

Their faces were full of satisfaction and comfort after the meal.

Nomi picked up the remote and asked Yoonhwa, “What should we watch?”

Yoonhwa shouted, “Cartoon!”

Nomi flipped through the channels a few times until she found one that matched their tastes.

The screen showed brightly colored cartoon characters moving energetically.

Yoonhwa and Nomi watched intently as the cartoon filled the living room with their laughter from the adventures and humorous stories of the characters.

Totally immersed in the cartoon, they lost track of time.

After finishing the dishes, Hyun glanced around the kitchen.

The spotless sink and shiny dishes reflected the results of his efforts.

He sighed contentedly, pondering what to do next.

He wandered around the house looking for chores, grabbing a duster upon seeing the dust accumulating on the desk in the living room.

As he wiped the desk and bookshelf, he felt another sense of satisfaction watching the dust disappear.

Next, Hyun examined the living room floor. He noticed a few stains and a couple of sticky spots.

Preparing a mop and cleaning solution, he began scrubbing the floor.

As he cleaned, the sounds of Yoonhwa and Nomi’s laughter mingled with the cartoon filled the living room.

While he was busy mopping, the two monsters remained completely absorbed in the cartoon.

Yoonhwa occasionally reacted loudly to interesting scenes and called out to Hyun, but he kept bustling about, focusing on his chores.

When Hyun completed the floor cleaning, he returned to the living room briefly to see Yoonhwa and Nomi glued to the TV.

The cheerful laughter resonated in the living room, creating a peaceful and happy atmosphere.

However, when he opened the fridge and the rice cooker, he realized there wasn’t much rice or side dishes left.

The cost of the ingredients had exceeded his expectations due to Yoonhwa and Nomi’s meal.

After a moment of contemplation, Hyun made a decision. He returned to the living room and said to Yoonhwa and Nomi.

“I’m just going to step out for a bit to buy some food!”

Yoonhwa and Nomi turned their heads from the cartoon to look at Hyun.

“Should we go too?” Yoonhwa asked.

Hyun shook his head. “No, it’s raining outside… It’s… a bit crowded.”

“Just relax here! I’ll be back soon.”

Nomi pouted in disappointment, but then turned back to the TV.

Hyun went to his room to change clothes.

He chose comfy jeans and a t-shirt, along with a light jacket.

Fixing his hair in front of the mirror, he grabbed his wallet and phone.

Once ready, Hyun returned to the living room and told Yoonhwa and Nomi, “Okay, I’ll be right back!”

His voice was friendly and reassuring.

Yoonhwa and Nomi paused their viewing to smile brightly at him.

“Be careful out there!” Yoonhwa said.

Nomi waved her tiny hand as if to say, “Come back safe!”

Hyun grabbed his umbrella and opened the front door.

The rain was still falling outside, but the downpour seemed to have lessened compared to before.

He stepped outside under the umbrella.

The rain-soaked streets were quieter than usual, with fewer people around.

His steps were quick and decisive.

The way to the market was familiar to him; he navigated crosswalks and alleys with ease.

The reflections of streetlights shone on the rain-drenched asphalt, lighting the way.

Occasionally, passing cars and other pedestrians brushed past Hyun under the shelter of his umbrella.

Upon arriving at the market, he folded his umbrella for a moment.

Here, hastily erected market tents sheltered people from the rain.

Though the sky still looked gloomy, the market buzzed with life, resembling a different world.

Vendors had organized their goods neatly and shouted loudly to attract customers.

In the vibrant atmosphere of the market, Hyun paused briefly to take in his surroundings.

Between stalls selling food, he fell into thought about what to buy.

His mind was filled with conflict.

Thanks to Yoonhwa and Nomi’s meal, the food had unexpectedly vanished quickly, so he needed to buy more.

After some consideration, he began approaching various vendors.

He examined fresh vegetables, snacks, a variety of side dishes, and meats.

The vendors passionately explained their products to Hyun.

Listening carefully, he weighed his options.

Finally, Hyun purchased a sufficient quantity of various side dishes along with plenty of meat.

Holding a heavy bag filled with meat, vegetables, and side dishes in both hands, he wandered around the rain-soaked market.

His heart brimmed with satisfaction for buying ingredients for Yoonhwa and Nomi.

Despite the rain, his steps remained light and energized.

At that moment, Hyun recognized someone biking ahead of him.

The person was pedaling a bicycle with a basket, holding an umbrella in one hand.

As Hyun looked closer, he realized it was none other than Kangtae.