By the time I concluded my hunt, the sun was already dipping below the horizon, and the encroaching twilight heralded the arrival of night.
“I should make haste and return home before it grows any darker…”
Gathering all the rabbits I had caught, I made my way back.
“Hmm… perhaps I’ve caught a few too many?”
Having hunted without much thought, I now found myself surrounded by an overwhelming number of rabbits.
“I’ve already processed all the hides and meat, but what am I going to do with it all?”
While the hides could easily be used as crafting materials or sold, and the rabbit meat was certainly edible, the sheer volume posed a significant challenge.
“This is far too much meat for me to consume alone…”
Though I could certainly try, a significant portion would undoubtedly spoil before I could finish it.
The idea of distributing it among my summoned beings crossed my mind, yet I couldn’t recall a single one that was strictly carnivorous.
‘Come to think of it, weren’t all summoned beings omnivorous?’
I distinctly recalled a developer’s note stating that all summoned beings were set to be omnivorous for ease of gameplay.
With that realization, my dilemma vanished. I would simply share the bounty with my companions.
“Ah, Tokkaengi, what perfect timing. Would you… perhaps… take… this…?”
Why, of all the summoned beings, was the closest one Tokkaengi, the earth-attribute rabbit beastkin?
This felt uncomfortably like saying, ‘Here, eat the meat of your kin.’
Now, one might question my naming sense, wondering why a summoned being would be called Tokkaengi, but this wasn’t a name I bestowed upon them; it was their official designation.
I had actually considered giving them ‘Tokkaengi’ as a nickname, only to find the game’s official naming system had already claimed it. What choice did I have but to use it?
“…Summoner?”
“Oh… well, you see… I-I’m sorry…”
“No, it’s not the rabbit meat itself that’s the issue, but rather, why are you offering it to me?”
“It’s just… you were the first one I happened to see…”
“Ah…”
Her reaction seemed tinged with a hint of disappointment, though I couldn’t fathom why.
“Regardless, I’ll enjoy it with gratitude, then?”
“Huh? Wait, wait, wait a second—are you sure you’re alright eating rabbit meat?”
“Pardon? Oh, while I may appear rabbit-like, I’m not actually a rabbit, so there’s no concern of cannibalism. You needn’t worry.”
“W-Wait, you’re not a rabbit?”
She didn’t just resemble a rabbit; she appeared to be a rabbit beastkin in every sense!
“Hey, wait, Tokkaeng—… She’s fast…”
Despite my lingering doubts, I had intended to retrieve the meat, but true to her nature as a rabbit beastkin, she sprinted away with incredible speed.
‘She won’t get sick from eating that, will she…?’
Hmm… if Tokkaengi claims it’s fine, then it must indeed be fine… right?
Well, let’s just disregard the swiftly departed Tokkaengi.
The pressing matter remained: what to do with the rest of the rabbits?
“Summoner Unnie (TL Note: ‘Unnie’ is a Korean term used by a female to address an older female friend or sister.), what are you doing up at such a late hour…?”
“Hm? Oh, Saessak, it’s you. You’ve arrived at a most opportune moment. Would you care to take some of this?”
“Rabbits…?”
“I, ah, caught quite a few… Ahahaha…”
“Unnie, isn’t ‘too many’ a more accurate description than ‘quite a few’?”
‘Saessak, sometimes, speaking the unvarnished truth can be hurtful.’
“So, are you taking it or not?”
“Well, if you’re offering… but with this quantity, wouldn’t it be better to simply make a stew and distribute it?”
“…Saessak, you’re a genius!”
“Perhaps it’s Summoner Unnie who’s the fool.”
“W-What?!”
‘Saessak, I’m telling you, stating facts can wound others’ feelings!’
Even if I possess a somewhat foolish disposition, such blunt remarks inflict real pain!
“Don’t look so hurt. Summoner Unnie is allowed to feel a little pain.”
“T-That’s…!”
This wasn’t the Saessak I knew at all!
Saessak was never the type to utter such harsh words!
“Well, never mind that. Summoner Unnie, do you typically wear clothes like these?”
“Yes, why do you ask?”
“…Unnie, let’s go shopping for your clothes together sometime soon.”
“Is that really necessary? They’re incredibly comfortable for work.”
“Ah… so those are your work clothes…? I was under the impression they were your everyday attire.”
“Hm? I use these for everyday wear as well.”
“……”
Saessak’s expression clouded over.
Was she feeling unwell, perhaps?
“Unnie, we absolutely must go clothes shopping.”
“Oh, come on, is it really necessary to go out? I could just order online…”
“What if the size you order doesn’t fit? Let’s just go together and buy them. I’ll help you choose.”
“Nah, it’s fine. There’s no need for such a bother—… Saessak?”
“Hmph. We’ll. Go. Shopping…?”
Her earlier darkened expression hadn’t been from pain, but from sheer anger, I realized.
She was now speaking through tightly clenched teeth.
“Alright, alright, I understand! Let’s go clothes shopping tomorrow! We’ll go, so please don’t be angry!”
She was terrifying! This was the first time I had ever witnessed Saessak display such intense anger!
Even when I had accidentally touched her wings and she had gotten upset, it hadn’t been to this extent!
“Hmph, fine. As much as I’d like to drag you out right this instant, it’s too late today. So, shall we go first thing tomorrow morning?”
“U-Uh, okay…”
Could Saessak truly be… such a formidable child?
“Right, well, I’ll turn all this rabbit meat into stew, so I’ll need to purchase some ingredients tomorrow.”
—*Grrr…*
…Now that I thought about it, I hadn’t consumed anything but water since arriving here.
“I should at least eat some ramen before heading to bed… but there’s absolutely nothing in the house…”
I’ll have to remember to buy other essentials when I go clothes shopping tomorrow.
‘But… does ramen even exist in this world?’
The thought of a world without ramen was unbearable; it would strip away one of my greatest joys in life.
‘No, surely it must exist? With noodles readily available, how could ramen possibly be absent?’
It had to be here. Yes, it absolutely would be.
Clinging to that hopeful thought, I settled into bed, attempting to sleep.
—*Grrr…*
…My stomach rumbled in protest, pleading for sustenance. Should I really try to eat something before sleeping?
But I truly had nothing edible left in the house… did I?
—*Ding!*
As if things couldn’t get any worse, an alert appeared, announcing the successful hatching of the summoned stone that Kkongkkongi and Ppireusi had crafted earlier.
Oh, right, the ice and fire-attributed summoned beings that hatched previously were from the summoned stones made by Kkongkkongi and Phoenix.
“The summoned being I entrusted to Tsundere last time still hasn’t settled into a proper home, so it would be problematic to entrust this newly hatched one to them as well…”
Regardless, I needed to head to the altar and retrieve the new arrival.
“Ugh, I’m so hungry…”
Yet, before doing anything, I felt an urgent need to eat… but my house offered no sustenance.
—*Knock, knock.*
“Summoner! Look at this—… Eek?!”
“Ph-Phoenix… welcome…”
“S-Summoner…! You mustn’t die!”
“No… I’m not dying… I’m merely on the verge of collapsing from hunger…”
“Hungry, you say? Please wait a moment! I’ll fetch some food!”
Phoenix burst through the door and dashed out, only to return moments later, laden with an impressive assortment of items.
“Phoeni…x…?”
“Eat! Please, eat this! And this too!”
“Mmph…!”
W-Wait! You’re giving me far too much all at once! I’ll consume it all, just slow down! Please, slowly!
Phoenix, oblivious to my internal pleas, continued to press food upon me.
“Ugh… my stomach feels as though it might explode…”
“A-Are you feeling alright…?”
“Uh… I do feel a bit uncomfortably full, but… nevertheless, you’ve saved me…”
“Summoner, what on earth do you typically eat that you would collapse from hunger?”
“Well… truthfully, there was absolutely no food left in my house… so I was planning to go shopping for some tomorrow.”
Upon hearing my explanation, Phoenix’s expression shifted from fear to one of firm resolve before they finally spoke.
“I’m coming with you. I’m too worried to let you go alone.”
“Hm? Saessak is coming along too, you know?”
“The more hands, the better, wouldn’t you agree? So, I’ll join you!”
“But, wait, we’re just going clothes shopping tomorrow, aren’t we…?”
“…Clothes shopping, you say?”
The mention of clothes shopping seemed to alter Phoenix’s demeanor.
It was… a rather cunning expression, one might say?
Perhaps I should tell Saessak that we should postpone it…
‘If I explain the situation properly, surely Saessak will understand and agree to postpone our outing?’
I could send private messages to my summoned beings using the watch on my wrist.
I wasn’t sure how I knew this, but I instinctively understood.
For now, I’d send a message to Saessak. Surely she would understand.
****
And so, morning arrived.
“I hate Saessak…”
I had been betrayed by Saessak.
No, I hadn’t truly expected her to postpone it…
But far from understanding, she had deemed me shameless and summoned Liqueur, Seokyung, and even Tokkaengi.
“You should be grateful Tsundere isn’t here.”
“You called Tsundere too?!”
“‘I’m busy taking care of the dog-cat (TL Note: A ‘gaenangi’ is a pet that has both dog-like and cat-like traits, such as being affectionate like a dog but independent like a cat.) the Summoner entrusted to me, so clothes? No, I’m not going!’ she said, and refused.”
So she refused…
But a dog-cat? I don’t recall ever giving them such a name?
‘…Wait a minute, knowing Tsundere’s personality, she probably wanted to come but just said that, didn’t she?’
“…Oh? Is that so?”
Oh dear… Saessak, Saessak…
“…I believe that’s likely the case.”
[Tsundere: Summoner…?]
[Tsundere: Did you really leave me behind…?]
[Tsundere: I didn’t think you were like that, Summoner… That’s so mean…]
And as if to prove my point, a message arrived from Tsundere.
“See, I told you Tsundere wanted to come.”
“Ahahaha…”
“I apologize…”
“I told you I should have dragged Tsundere along by force…”
‘Liqueur, if you had tried to drag her along, Tsundere would have frozen you solid.’
‘—I shouldn’t say that, or Liqueur will get scared.’
[Me: Sorry, I couldn’t help it.]
[Me: I was dragged along too.]
[Tsundere: Oh… so that’s what happened?]
[Tsundere: Well… it can’t be helped, I suppose.]
[Tsundere: I’m not particularly expecting anything, but please be careful.]
[Me: …I’ll buy you some delicious ice cream.]
[Tsundere: …I told you I’m not expecting anything, didn’t I?]
“Let’s buy some ice cream before we head back.”
“Yes…”
“Tsundere, I’m sorry…”
****
“Summoner… so you weren’t abandoning me, but rather, you were dragged away.”
Phew, it’s a relief you weren’t deserting me.
If you truly had abandoned me…
“…I would surely have died from loneliness.”
Of course, I wouldn’t literally die, but I would feel utterly desolate…
Truthfully, I’m quite prone to loneliness. However, my personality makes it difficult to forge friendships.
I yearn to approach the other summoned beings, but my own nature constantly hinders me.
Especially with the Summoner, I always seem to cause trouble.
Yet, despite everything, the Summoner doesn’t dislike me; instead, they show me even more attention.
Above all, when they gave me the name Tsundere, they did so remarking, ‘Your reactions, pretending to dislike things, are just like a tsundere.’
“…Even so, I can’t forgive them for giving me the name Tsundere.”
No matter what, isn’t giving me the name Tsundere going too far?
Hmph, a Summoner who gives such names! I, I wasn’t thinking I particularly liked them, you know!
