The Attendant in the Horror Game C62

Chapter 62

The wagon traveled without rest. Jade pushed the crates around to carve out a space just large enough for one person to lie down. As soon as he wedged himself into the narrow gap, Soondol and Parang curled up beside him.

After traveling for a long while, hunger struck hard. He had exhausted his strength fighting the intruder, then used up the rest of his stamina trekking to the temple and wandering around searching for a wagon. Because he was bouncing around inside the cargo bed the entire journey, even the small amount of energy he had left had drained away.

“Hey, you. Eat this.”

“Oh—thank you.”

Just as his stomach was about to stick to his spine, Den, who sat on the driver’s bench, tossed a loaf of rye bread into the cargo space. Jade tore off small pieces, feeding Parang first and then sharing with Soondol.

“Myaa-ong.”

“Ueh.”

Neither Soondol nor Parang had eaten anything either, so they devoured every last crumb they were offered. Since the three of them shared a single loaf, the amount was nowhere near enough, but neither beast complained. Even Parang stayed unusually calm. For a creature that normally fussed easily, the only thing he asked for was to be held.

“Haa…”

Jade let out a sigh deep enough to sink into the wagon floor.

His remaining two pence of silver had gone toward travel, and now he truly had nothing. He had been determined to find work once he reached the South, but things were unlikely to be as easy as he hoped.

More than anything, the length of the journey weighed heavily on him. Den had said it would take one month for the wagon to reach the South. Today, Den had shared bread—but who knew if his generosity would continue tomorrow, let alone for a full month?

Where could he get food or money? He was allowed to ride along in exchange for helping with the work, but after that… it was all uncertain. If it came down to it, he might have to get off at the first stop and beg.

“Haaaa…”

With no plan and no answers, all he could do was sigh.

When he had been alone, he’d relied on blind confidence that he would manage somehow. But now he had two mouths to feed. He couldn’t simply ignore the creatures who had followed him.

After finishing the bread, Soondol and Parang burrowed into his arms. Heavy responsibility pressed on him, yet the rumbling purr of Soondol and the sleepy whimpers of Parang brought him a strange sense of comfort.

While Jade sank deeper into worry, dawn broke outside. That dawn tilted westward again and disappeared beneath the night sky before the wagon finally stopped.

Jade—who had dozed off—woke to a dull ache in his backside. Blinking awake, he saw Den tossing him an apple with a click of his tongue.

Startled, Jade shot upright, hiding Soondol and Parang before climbing out of the wagon. He did not forget to grab the apple that had rolled near the edge.

Sleeping in the cargo bed left him stiff and sore, but Den—who had driven nonstop—looked perfectly fine. It was astonishing how someone could drive all day without rest.

He was also a surprisingly cool-headed and straightforward man.

“Where’re those two critters? Weren’t they alive?”

Den asked it as casually as ordinary small talk while tending the campfire. Jade flinched and stammered.

“Huh—w-well…”

He had definitely hidden them. The moment he woke, he’d wrapped them tightly in his coat and tucked them behind the crates. Half-conscious Soondol had whined to be held, but Jade stuffed him into the corner—Den might throw them out otherwise.

“What, you ditch ’em?”

“No, that’s not it…”

“If you’ve got ’em, just bring ’em out.”

Den already seemed to know. He must have seen them while shaking Jade awake.

With a resigned breath, Jade brought Soondol and Parang out of the wagon. Fortunately, Den did not react negatively.

“So this one’s a monster, you’re saying?”

“Myang…”

Lounging casually on a log by the fire, Den pointed at Soondol. Soondol shrank back behind Jade, his tail sticking out uselessly. Den looked at the wiggling tail with an expression that said that’s supposed to be a monster?

“Haha… I know saying it’s a monster makes it sound bad, but he’s a good one.”

“That’s not the issue. What matters is he freeloaded off my wagon, huh?”

“Well, that just… happened…”

Jade tried to defend Soondol with an awkward smile, but Den snorted dismissively.

Even so, he neither panicked nor ordered Jade to get rid of the creatures—reactions most people would have. He merely looked mildly annoyed at having uninvited passengers. That consistency was strangely reassuring.

“Tch. A guy who only had two pence to his name is hauling around two pets. Or are they monster-pets?”

“Haha…”

Chewing a piece of meat, Den pointed the bone at Soondol, then slowly wiggled it side to side. Soondol’s head followed it diligently, drool dripping from his mouth.

“Tch. Fine, you eat too. Give that thing some, too.”

“Th-thank you.”

“Myang!”

With a click of his tongue, Den handed over a chunk of meat still clinging to the bone. Jade’s stomach growled loudly—meat was a rare luxury he hadn’t eaten since the day he went down to the village.

The northern meat, frozen since the hunt, released a rich smoky aroma as it roasted over the fire.

“Myaaaang!”

Soondol urged impatiently. Beside him, Parang hopped excitedly, waving his tiny arms. Jade tore off some meat for Soondol and shredded a small portion into bite-sized strands for Parang.

Den watched, amused, laughing at how strange these monsters were. Despite his fierce appearance, he was surprisingly warm-hearted. Not only had he shared food, but he also had no prejudice toward monsters.

“That little one’d fetch a price, you know.”

“Wha—?!”

Parang, who had been fluttering his leaf proudly, froze. Lately he understood conversation fairly well.

He dove into Jade’s palm and buried his face, believing that if he couldn’t see Den, Den couldn’t see him.

“I’m not selling him. I’m raising him.”

“Senseless kid.”

At Jade’s firm reply, Den clicked his tongue even louder. But instead of unpleasant, his reaction was oddly interesting.

“You’re not shocked by monsters?”

“What for? This is the North.”

Mountains and forests in the North were breeding grounds for monsters. Every year, large-scale hunts took place, and sometimes monsters wandered into villages.

Come to think of it, even the coachman who drove them from the village to the villa hadn’t been frightened by the idea of monsters—only alarmed by Soondol himself.

“I’ve seen one. A boar came down to the village.”

“You count boars as monsters?”

Jade blinked, confused. But Den’s next words dispelled the doubt immediately.

“One with horns. Body frozen solid—couldn’t pierce it with a spear. Gave us hell.”

“What happened to it?”

“What do you think? I ran.”

Den grinned proudly, boasting about his speed. His shamelessness made Jade laugh in spite of himself.

Den was surprisingly talkative, and his storytelling was amusing. Before they knew it, the fire had burned low, and only bones remained. Soondol and Parang slept on Jade’s lap.

“Achoo!”

“Riding in the cargo bed isn’t easy, huh?”

“It’s tolerable.”

His voice came out stuffy from a runny nose. Even while hiding between crates, the cold northern wind seeped into the cargo space, giving him the beginnings of a cold.

“Thought you’d beg me to stop within a few hours, but you’re sturdier than you look. If your shoulder heals, I could use you as a helper.”

Jade had worried Den might abandon him for being weak, but it seemed Den had taken quite a liking to him.

Jade seized the opportunity. If all went well, he might earn wages by helping later.

“Haha, I’m good at work. I can do anything you need.”

“Then start by getting the numbers right. You’ll have plenty to do.”

Den explained that before reaching the South, he would stop at ten trading posts—selling half the herbs on the way and the rest upon arrival. But he struggled with calculations every time.

“Alright, time to get ready for bed.”

Time had flown during their conversation. Den pulled out a sleeping bag from the driver’s bench and spread it by the fire.

“Do you sleep outdoors often?”

“Of course. Look around—nothing but empty land. No inns. If the cargo bed is empty while traveling, I sleep in it. You even managed to make a spot to lie down earlier.”

“Haha, somehow…”

“You sleep in there tonight.”

“N-no, Den should take it.”

Jade waved his hands quickly. Den had already given him bread and meat—he couldn’t take his sleeping space too. But Den waved him off.

“Forget it. I’ve got a sleeping bag. You chatter well enough, but sickly folks annoy me.”

“…Then I’ll gratefully take it.”

Bowing deeply, Jade gathered Soondol and Parang in his arms. Even if he had to sleep outside, he’d been planning to ask Den to watch over the two. But if he slept in the cargo bed, they could stay together.

While preparing his bedding, Den tossed more firewood onto the dwindling flames. Jade picked up a few dry branches from nearby, earning a nod of approval.

“By the way, how old are you? Look young.”

Den himself didn’t seem much older—maybe the same age.

“I’m nineteen this year.”

He’d been in this world only four months, but by local years, another year had already passed.

Adulthood in this world began at eighteen. He was now considered an adult here as well as in Korea. The realization made him clear his throat awkwardly.

“I’m twenty-one. Not much older. Just talk casually—we’ll be traveling together for a month.”

“Uh… okay?”

Jade scratched his head, awkward at first, but he adjusted quickly—he was sociable by nature.

“I’m sleeping first. We’ve got a long ride tomorrow. You sleep soon, too.”

“Yeah. Goodnight, Den.”

After exchanging a few more lines of small talk, the two headed to their sleeping spots. Jade paused before climbing back into the cargo space.

Ian…

The crackling fire reminded him of the nights they had survived together in the cave. Guilt twisted in his chest—he had eaten meat while Ian was alone.

He’ll be fine.

Ian had money now, and the warm shelter of the temple. Greor had recognized him immediately as the Linwood heir. Even if his position in the family was unstable, he was still a noble child. The temple would feed him well. There was no need to worry. There must not be.

Jade repeated the thought, forcing his mind to quiet as he crawled into the wagon. Tomorrow would be another grueling day—he needed rest.

But when he lay down, sleep didn’t come easily. Leaving Ian without explaining the truth weighed heavy on him.

He did not fall asleep until dawn broke.

And just as Den had said, one full month later, the wagon arrived in the South.