Chapter 12 : Neighbors ought to help each other out in life

I Dare to Say

Moving is war.

Packing, organizing, and double-checking for forgotten items takes a day or two before the move even begins. And the day of the move itself? Half a day to haul the luggage, followed by a few more days to unpack.

If you hire a packing and moving company, it’s less physically taxing—but what if you have to carry everything yourself? You’re left repeating the process until you’re utterly spent.

Lena, who had never used a moving service, once thought she could save her youth and money by doing it herself. She regretted it bitterly when she wrecked her body just to pinch a penny. It was an added bonus that she learned why experts exist for a reason. After that, she swore she’d always pay someone to handle moving.

“I’ve moved everything with this.”

But here’s the catch: there’s no way a fantasy world would have packing and moving experts, right?

In the end, every time Lena declared the Great Forest too small and relocated her residence, the moving process fell squarely on her shoulders. Ugh, I don’t want to do it—should I do it?—ugh. She shuddered for a moment.

Huh? It’s doable?

After all, what hardship could moving luggage pose to someone strong enough to scoff at orcs? Lena transformed into a self-proclaimed packing and moving expert.

“Hya, it’s refreshing.”

Once the physical challenge was overcome, moving became simple labor for Lena—and she liked simple labor. The sense of accomplishment when the work was done before she knew it, after mindlessly repeating the task, was indescribable.

Lena planted her hands on her hips and beamed like the sun.

Heehk heehk!

Her co-worker, however, seemed to feel the opposite.

“Tsk, tsk.”

Lena clicked her tongue openly.

Badugi lay on his back beside her, tongue lolling out, the very picture of a dog with heatstroke on a summer day.

“You’re so weak—so weak. How are you going to survive in this terrifying place with that little stamina?”

Just as Badugi pursed his lips to protest, Lena set down the bundle she’d been carrying on her back.

“Eucha.”

When she dropped it, the ground shook with a thud! The bundle was twice the size of the one Badugi had carried. Yet, while Badugi was exhausted, Lena was only slightly winded—as if the weight was nothing to her.

Badugi shut his mouth. It was a sight that left him speechless—and all the more frustrated.

Am I the weak one? Or is that human, who carried it so effortlessly, the crazy one?

The tightly wrapped bundle was untied, revealing its contents to the world: a glittering hoard of precious metals. Ore is heavy by nature—did anyone think polished jewels would be light? She’d packed it so full her back nearly broke, yet the one standing tall was the real monster.

“There’s no way a pet can be drooping when their owner’s still full of energy, right? Get up already. Are all your muscles just for show?”

Lena nudged him, and Badugi’s large body swayed.

Several months had passed since Badugi became part of Lena’s family. In that time, he’d grown explosively—so much so that his puppy-sized days were a distant memory. Now, he was big enough for Lena to ride like a horse.

Her hunch that a child couldn’t stay small with such massive parents had been spot-on. Well-fed, he grew so fast it was as if he were proving his past smallness was just malnutrition.

But why couldn’t he live up to his size? I carried way more than you and I’m still brimming with energy.

Keong keong!

“Oh, my.”

He’s barking despite doing nothing impressive.

“What, are you saying, ‘You called this stuff useless, so why are you hauling it now?’”

After interpreting it, it was a fair question.

Where had Lena found these precious metals? Inside the dragon lair.

“They’re still useless. I’m taking them because they might be useful later.”

Though Lena had adapted to life in the Great Forest, strutting around like a native, she still considered herself a civilized person. Whether she escaped on her own or a rescue team found her, her goal of rejoining humanity hadn’t changed. These precious metals were the foundation for living like a human again. Whatever the currency of this fantasy world, jewels would hold value. So, despite the hassle, she decided to take them.

The delay came from building a warehouse to store them. The hoard in the dragon lair was vast—packing it haphazardly would’ve left no room to sleep in her house. While working, she also grabbed useful or interesting items beyond just the precious metals.

“Okay, stop lazing around and get up. Let’s eat.”

Lena ladled soup into a wooden bowl. She’d cooked it in advance before today’s move. The timing of the trip was perfect, leaving it simmered just right.

It was a shame there was no jajangmyeon, but you have to treat helpers to a special meal after moving—it’s basic etiquette.

Badugi, catching the delicious aroma, forgot his exhaustion and sprang up.

See? I told you he wasn’t tired.

She was inwardly annoyed but didn’t show it. You don’t mess with a dog while it’s eating.

Badugi drooled as he wolfed down the soup, heaping it in—a rare treat compared to the usual dried meat and jerky. Lena watched him eat heartily for a moment before starting her own meal.

…?

Badugi’s portion was in a bowl; hers was the entire pot.

Having already finished, Badugi stared at Lena with a strangely hollow look.

“I cooked it, okay? This is mine.”

She was a stingy owner when it came to food in front of her pet. She didn’t see it that way, though. It’s not like I gave you a tiny bowl just to show off, right?

She’d made a rice bowl sized for Badugi, swapping it out daily as he grew. You know how hard that’s been for me?

The assumption that Badugi should eat more based on his size was just a misunderstanding.

Thud! Clatter! Rumble!

“Aish.”

Lena frowned. Noise that kills your appetite during mealtime.

Badugi’s tail shot up as he barked. Both human and animal were equally irritated.

“What’s going on? Why are they making such a racket?”

If it had been a day or two, she might’ve brushed it off with a generous heart. But by rough count, it’d been over a month. Even in a cursed forest where fights were daily, this was excessive. Collisions loud enough to echo like that every day were rare.

If neighbors were remodeling, they’d usually offer rice cakes to ask for understanding—but these guys lacked even that courtesy. As a victim of noise pollution, Lena’s anger was justified.

“I can’t eat with this ruining my appetite.”

She dropped her spoon with a clatter and stretched her arms and legs, loosening up her whole body.

Badugi, watching her, saw an opportunity and lunged at the pot. But his expression after dipping his head in was glum.

What do you mean you’ve lost your appetite? She’d already eaten it all.

“I need to negotiate with those guys.”

Trying to live quietly had been a mistake. Expecting consideration from beasts with no grasp of social norms, morality, or law was foolish.

Beasts don’t get it if you glare or talk. Only a beating makes them realize, “Oh, I messed up.” That’s the difference between humans and animals.

In a village of the one-eyed, the two-eyed are the odd ones out. Even if Lena claimed to be civilized, it was her loss to expect otherwise.

“Let’s go! If we beat them up, I’ll scoop you a whole pot of that soup we had today.”

Motivated by the clear reward, Badugi bolted ahead. He, too, was fed up with the constant disturbances.

Lena and Badugi didn’t get far before stopping. No wonder the noise had grown louder—the culprits were getting closer.

Names that shouldn’t have been there floated among the bushes and trees.

“Badugi! Body slam!”

Keong!

It was a command she’d always wanted to try. How could an owner with a beast that understood human speech resist?

Badugi smartly reacted to the surprise order they’d never practiced. His massive body—big enough to swallow a sturdy young man whole—crashed into the enemies!

Kruooo!

The shock of the counterattack was immense. As the enemies panicked, Badugi rampaged like a wolf among sheep. Using his stealthy traits, he struck with nimble, one-sided violence, leaving them dazed and beaten.

He’s doing great.

So this is why bosses make subordinates handle things they could finish themselves in a snap. It was overwhelmingly easy.

The table’s set—I just need to wrap it up… huh?

“Stop! Stop! Stop, stop!”

Lena hurriedly called out. Badugi, gleefully thrashing them to vent his stress, didn’t hear her.

“Stop!”

Kkaeng!

In the end, she kicked his butt. Limping, Badugi whined with teary eyes. You told me to beat them up!

Lena scoffed. Ignoring your owner’s words comes with a price.

“You guys were the culprits?”

Lena prided herself on being a good owner. She wouldn’t have acted rashly just to discipline Badugi.

The reason for her sudden shift—despite ordering the attack—was the familiar faces sprawled before her.

Cold Wind Tribe Orcs.

They were the ones who’d chased an exiled tribemate last time and crossed paths with Lena.

“Since we’re acquainted, I’ll hear you out.”

Orcs all looked alike to her. Just as Westerners struggle to distinguish Easterners and vice versa, orcs were indistinguishable to Lena. Thankfully, she’d recognized them before disaster struck—thanks to their leader.

He’d left an impression. He was the biggest orc she’d ever seen.

“Spit it out. Why have you been so noisy?”

She’d listen, of course—though she was curious. It was probably just a fiercer-than-usual territorial spat. Her plan was to hear them out, then punish them again.

They know I live here and still make this racket? Sparing them wasn’t an option—that was a hundred times worse.

“!”

But the leader’s response was far from what she’d expected. He knelt.

Is this bastard trying to build momentum…?

Ignoring her wariness, he bowed his head, his expression resolute.

Lena reconsidered as he swallowed his pride.

“You’re asking for help? From me?”

The leader nodded readily.

A request for aid—despite the grudge over her ruined mealtime—piqued her curiosity. Eueung.

Lena quickly made up her mind.

“Okay, lead the way.”

Neighbors should help each other.

It absolutely wasn’t because their plea and the sight of the beaten, collapsed orcs stirred her conscience or softened her heart.