Chapter 30: Housewarming (3)

It’s always fun to unwrap presents.

The curiosity of not knowing what will come out and the basic expectation for the gift.

It’s a feeling I haven’t felt in a long time.

‘When was the last time I received a gift?’

Honestly, I don’t remember.

I was bullied in high school, and after my grandmother got sick, I didn’t have a proper school life because I was working part-time.

Not only that, but I couldn’t even go to college, so my social life stopped at the age of 18.

I was obsessed with money and couldn’t build any relationships. There was no one to give me a gift.

“This is my gift, and this is Yona’s gift.”

Both were in large boxes.

I wondered whose gift I should open first, and without thinking, I grabbed Yona’s, which was closest.

“Ah…”

Emily’s soft sigh.

When I looked at her with a puzzled look, her eyes were full of disappointment.

Thinking it was nothing, I unpacked Yona’s box.

Srrk.

I untied the red ribbon and tore the white paper.

Inside was a teddy bear about the size of my leg.

“A doll?”

Why a doll?

When I tilted my head, Yona came up to me and pulled the string attached to its back.

Then, surprisingly, the slumped teddy bear raised its head. The black eyes turned red.

“Wh, what?”

“Hehe. Shall we say it’s a security doll? It’s scary to live alone, sister. This teddy bear will protect you.”

I checked the instruction manual that fell on the floor.

[Security Teddy Bear: Libero]
Creator: Maestro Evelyn
Grade: S
Description: A teddy bear that protects the house. Unless the opponent is a Master, they cannot defeat the teddy bear.

It has magic such as durability enhancement, self-healing, and magic immunity engraved on it, so it can be reused immediately after any injury.

Emergency escape and last resort are engraved, so in case of emergency, it can safely escape the escorted target.

“Wow….”

It’s S-grade.

There was no S-grade even in the store where I bought armor and weapons.

That’s how rare S-grade is, and it’s so expensive that you can name your price.

‘The effect is also crazy.’

It says that no one can win unless they are a Master. It’s amazing.

“How is it?”

“It, it’s good. Thank you, Yona.”

I stroked Yona’s head.

I was anxious anyway.

I felt safe because there was a strong barrier in the library, but only basic security magic was engraved on the mansion where I live.

It would be nice if a guard knight guarded the house. Unfortunately, I can’t hire a guard knight.

Since a baronet is right above a knight, there is no knight who wants to serve a baronet as their master.

So when I was thinking about this and that, she gave me a teddy bear as a gift.

“Certainly, with this, I don’t have to be afraid of intruders.”

“Hehe. And when you’re not using it, you can hug it and sleep. It’s soft and fluffy.”

As Yona said, the teddy bear was soft.

‘But hugging and sleeping is a bit much. How old am I?’

It would be nice to hug and sleep… ahem.

The second thing to check is Emily’s gift.

Since Yona’s gift is this much, I was even more excited about Emily’s gift.

“Open mine too.”

“Okay.”

I untied the blue ribbon. When I opened the white box, the gift inside revealed itself.

“A jar?”

That’s right.

What was inside was a jar.

It had a light brown base with luxurious patterns.

“What is this?”

“It’s better to read it yourself than to have me explain it.”

Like the teddy bear, I read the manual.

[Jar of Aging]
Creator: Maestro Haebideom
Grade: S
Description: When food is put in, it ages as much as you want.

It has long-term storage, refrigeration, and warming functions, so any food ingredient does not spoil.

The degree of aging can be adjusted as much as the user wants, and there is also a stop function, so it can be stopped at the desired stage.

“This is also S….”

“The Jar of Aging can also age coffee beans. You said that cooking is your hobby the other day, right? You can also use it in the field of cooking.”

“Wow.”

Crazy.

I kept opening my mouth and expressing my surprise.

That’s how much the Jar of Aging was a really necessary artifact for me.

The appealing point is that not only coffee can be aged, but other foods can also be aged.

‘If I do well, I can make and eat Korean food, right?’

Since the worldview itself is medieval Europe, half of the food is European style. So there were many things that didn’t suit my taste.

But if I have the Jar of Aging, I can make and eat Korean food.

Especially kimchi or makgeolli.

How much I craved it every time it rained. I remembered sitting in the corner of a convenience store and disposing of expired ones.

“Thank you so much. Really.”

“I’m glad Rachel likes it.”

Emily smiled brightly.

I carefully moved the two gifts to my room.

Yona, who followed me, asked.

“What are we doing now?”

“Well. I don’t have any plans or schedule, is there anything you want to do?”

In fact, eating was the end of the schedule. After all, a housewarming is all about eating and chatting.

Yona thought for a moment, then grabbed Emily’s hand and shouted.

“Let’s play hide-and-seek together!”

“Hide-and-seek?”

“Yes!”

Well. There are no cell phones here. So the only things we can do are games like that.

Yona’s eyes were sparkling.

If I say no, she’ll look really disappointed.

I have nothing to do anyway.

I nodded.

“What about you, Emily?”

“Sorry. I still have some work to do. I guess you’ll have to play with Rachel.”

“Ugh.”

“I’m sorry.”

Emily is a successor, so she has a lot of work to do. So unlike Yona, who can play all day, she has to do some work.

I soothed Yona well so that Emily wouldn’t be in trouble anymore.

“Emily has a lot of work, so. It can’t be helped. Um. Hide-and-seek is no fun with two people, so shall we play ‘Mugunghwa kkochi piotsseumnida’? Like when we first met.”(TL Note: Red Light Green Light Game from Squid Game.)

“Okay! Emily, you have to play with us later! Promise?”

“Yes. Promise.”

The two hooked their pinky fingers.

I took Yona to the garden in front of the mansion.

There was a garden in front of my mansion. It wasn’t as big as the Duke’s, but it’s enough for two people to play.

“Let’s do that tree.”

“Okay.”

So I started playing like when I first met Yona.

‘Has it been four months already?’

Time flies.

“Sigh. Why is there so much work today?”

Emily sighed and took out the documents. She sat on a bench near the mansion garden.

When she raised her head, she saw two people deciding who’s it with rock-paper-scissors.

Yona and Rachel.

Both are precious people to her.

Yona was the child who gave her the driving force to work and live since she was young, and the only shelter.

It’s natural to love her.

And Rachel.

It’s only been three months since I saw her, but she’s my first and only friend.

‘She was cool today.’

The way she cooked with a frying pan. It was cool, like a skilled chef.

I don’t know why. She just looked cool. It was the same when she was making coffee.

On the other hand, when she opened the gift, I was a little disappointed that she opened Yona’s first.

Because I know what Yona’s gift is.

No matter how good the Jar of Aging is, it’s not as good as a teddy bear that protects safety.

She probably didn’t show it, but she must have been a little disappointed.

It’s like eating fruit after eating sugar, it feels bland. So I wanted her to open my less stimulating gift first.

“But she liked it enough, so. It was worth considering.”

I thought a lot about choosing a gift.

Then I remembered that Rachel was serious about coffee, so I inquired and chose the Jar of Aging.

Emily sighed and focused on her work.

Honestly, I wanted to skip all the work today, but there was suddenly a lot of work to do, so I couldn’t help it.

“Why did the elders suddenly do that?”

Last night. When I had a meeting with the elders, I felt something suspicious about them.

Since they are the elders who make up the backbone of this family, they must be thoroughly investigated.

The elders who were usually resentful were even more resentful today.

How much time has passed.

My concentration was broken by the laughter coming from afar.

“Haha. Yona! You moved! I saw it!”

“Ah, no? I didn’t move!”

Emily took a sip of the coffee Rachel made, and watched the two play.

Gulp.

The flavor of the lukewarm beans was felt deeply.

At the same time, I felt a strange feeling.

“What is this feeling from earlier?”

She savored the scent of coffee and tried to figure out the identity of the emotion.

Not long after the laughter and tag crossed, she was able to figure out the identity of the emotion.

“Envy… is it?”

I also want to join in and play.

I like working, but I also like playing with people I like.

The feeling I felt in the morning was the same.

“I also want Rachel to speak informally to me.”

I heard that friends speak informally to each other.

Emily sighed at this strange and unfamiliar feeling.

I grew up in a better environment than anyone else as a child of the Great Duchy.

I studied a lot, saw a lot, and lived abundantly without any shortage.

This intense envy that I felt for the first time came quite deeply to her.

“How can I make Rachel feel a little more comfortable? Should I approach her first?”

I don’t know yet.