Chapter 29: Taking a Nap Together

Chapter 29: Taking a Nap Together

Day 177 of the Stranding.

Today, before the black rabbit called him, Xiaoming went to the pond first to move the piranhas and prepare lunch. After increasing his agility, his work speed improved, giving him a bit more leeway in the morning farming. Although he couldn't measure it precisely without a clock, he definitely felt faster.

With some time to spare before lunch, he went to the leek field that Sejun had planted from seeds and cut a few thin leek leaves that hadn't grown thick yet.

Then,

Chop, chop, chop.

He thinly sliced the leeks with a dagger and used them as garnish on top of the grilled fish.

While Sejun and the black rabbit were preparing lunch, the white rabbits finished their tasks and helped with the meal preparations. Starting today, the white rabbits ate separately in the cave. The reason was that the female rabbit's belly had grown so big she could hardly move, and it seemed the babies would be born soon.

"Pull!"

Creak! Creak!

The baby bear pulled up Sejun and the black rabbit, and the three of them ate lunch on the ground. Sejun bit into the grilled fish seasoned with salt and leeks, and chewed some sweet potato jerky. He wanted to make it feel as much like a proper meal as possible.

Munch, munch.

The familiar taste was indeed terrifying. As soon as the salty fish entered his mouth, his brain naturally recalled the taste of white rice. The sweet potato jerky, being a carbohydrate, gave a somewhat similar feeling, but it couldn't replicate the texture and taste of rice.

"I want to eat rice."

Sejun looked at the vast wasteland, imagining the golden rice fields ripening, and ate the grilled fish and sweet potato jerky again, but it still felt insufficient in his mouth.

"One day, I will eat rice."

Until recently, Sejun had been happy just to have sweet potatoes, but human desire knows no bounds.

While Sejun was setting new farming goals,

Buzz, buzz.

Ten venomous honeybees flew out of the cave entrance and began patrolling the area within about 300 meters, two by two. Since the day Sejun started coming to the surface, the venomous honeybees had been following him to patrol, protecting him.

"Good boys."

Sejun finished his meal while watching the venomous honeybees fly around.

Then,

Squish...

Creak...

The black rabbit and the baby bear approached to take a nap, with the black rabbit, being small, having no problem, but the baby bear insistently pushed its head forward.

However, Sejun's lap was too narrow for the baby bear, which had grown even bigger in the past few days.

Creak.

It seemed the baby bear was unhappy because it couldn't sleep in Sejun's arms like before. After tossing and turning a few times, it changed its approach.

The baby bear lay down on its side, pressing its belly against Sejun's back and curled up to sleep. It was as if Sejun had snuggled into the baby bear's arms.

Purr.

The baby bear fell asleep immediately.

Snore.

Sejun took a sip of coffee and leaned his body completely against the baby bear's soft body.

"So soft."

Feeling the cozy warmth like being under a blanket for the first time in a long while, Sejun also fell asleep.

How long did he sleep?

Slap! Slap!

"Ugh..."

Sejun woke up to the sound of something hitting his thigh.

Squeak!

The male rabbit had come up to wake him because he hadn't come down. It seemed Sejun had fallen into a deep sleep without realizing it because the baby bear's belly was so soft.

"Kids, let's wake up."

Grrr...

Creak...

Sejun woke up the black rabbit and the baby bear, who were still half-asleep.

The black rabbit had been practicing with the baby bear in the afternoons recently. Or rather, the baby bear was playing while the black rabbit was desperately fighting.

Squish!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The black rabbit dodged the baby bear's front paws and hit it hard with its hammer, but

Creak!

The baby bear, excited, pounced on the black rabbit. It seemed to think they were playing tag.

Sejun planted the carrot tops he had brought up and then went down to the cave to start harvesting cherry tomatoes.

Then,

Snap.

While he was cutting cherry tomato branches,

Buzz, buzz.

He saw a venomous honeybee struggling to carry something the size of a fist out of the cave.

"What is that?"

Curious, Sejun stopped harvesting the cherry tomatoes and climbed up the rope to the surface, following the venomous honeybee.

Then,

"What is that?"

When Sejun asked the venomous honeybee, which was searching for something nearby,

Thud.

The venomous honeybee, instead of answering, carefully placed what it was carrying on Sejun's hand and returned to the cave, leaving the disposal to Sejun.

"What is this?"

Sejun carefully picked up the ivory-colored larva-like object.

[You have obtained the Queen Venomous Honeybee Cocoon.]

"Queen Venomous Honeybee Cocoon?"

The appearance of this message meant it was an item. Sejun examined the cocoon closely.

[Queen Venomous Honeybee Cocoon]

A venomous honeybee larva is preparing to metamorphose into a queen by consuming only royal jelly.

10 days until metamorphosis.

The first being it sees after metamorphosis will be recognized as its owner.

Since it wasn't time to split the hive yet, the venomous honeybees had discarded the new queen cocoon. However, it was an opportunity for Sejun to get a second hive.

Sejun dug a hole in the shade near the rock where he tied the rope and carefully placed the queen cocoon.

Then, he went back to the cave to get leek leaves and covered the cocoon with them.

"Will this work?"

Not knowing how to ensure the queen cocoon would emerge safely, Sejun tried to minimize external stress as much as possible.

The day passed as he continued harvesting cherry tomatoes and helping the other white rabbits with their tasks.

***

Day 178 morning.

Creak!

The baby bear announced its arrival at the cave entrance. As usual, it had arrived early.

"Alright. Hello."

Sejun and the rabbits woke up and busily prepared for the morning farming.

Munch, munch.

Crunch, crunch.

While Sejun ate sweet potato jerky and the rabbits ate carrots for breakfast,

"I will take revenge!"

Theo's voice was heard.

"Huh? Revenge for what?"

Sejun quickly climbed up the rope.

***

Theo hurried to claim Sejun's lap.

"Meow. I'm almost at Park Sejun's lap!"

Theo, filled with happiness, sang as he moved toward the cave where Sejun was.

Then,

Plop, plop.

A Crimson Giant Bear was digging the ground above Sejun's cave.

"It was this..."

Feeling a foreboding sense that something was targeting Sejun's lap, Theo rushed over, only to find Sejun already dead. Why are my ominous thoughts always right?

Theo mistakenly thought the Crimson Giant Bear was burying Sejun's bones.

If the Crimson Giant Bear had really eaten Sejun, it wouldn't have left any bones, but the enraged Theo wasn't in a state to think clearly.

To kill Park Sejun!

To take my comfortable lap!

I haven't even used all my representative time!

"I will take revenge!"

Clang!

Theo pulled out his hidden claws and lunged at the baby bear.

Then,

"Theo, are you here?"

Sejun climbed up the rope and poked his head out of the cave.

"Huh?! Yes! I'm back!"

Theo quickly changed direction and charged at Sejun's face.

Thud!

"Get off."

Sejun told Theo, who was stuck to his face.

"Purr. Okay."

Theo, relieved that Sejun was safe, smiled, climbed up Sejun's face, and jumped to the ground.

"But what's this Crimson Giant Bear?"

"It accidentally fell into the cave and we became friends. Now, it's protecting this area in exchange for honey for the baby bear."

Sejun answered as he fully climbed out of the cave.

"Is that so?"

"More importantly, did the errand go well?"

"Yes! I completed all the tasks and sold out again!"

Theo loudly answered and climbed onto Sejun's lap.

"And this time, I sold 1800 cherry tomatoes for 220 T-Coins!"

Theo took out the money from his backpack and handed it to Sejun. Although the amount was less than before, it didn't matter because higher-grade cherry tomatoes were about to be released.

"Good job. Here's your 5% incentive."

Sejun gave Theo 11 T-Coins. Because Theo was doing well, Sejun increased his incentive to the representative level of 5%.

"I have this too!"

Theo took out the items Sejun had asked for, along with treats and Sejun's favorite seasonings and coffee from his backpack.

"How long can you stay this time?"

Theo looked at Sejun with hopeful eyes.

"Combined with last time, 38 hours?"

"Got it! I'll use it all this time!"

Realizing the value of the lap, Theo decided to enjoy it for a long time.

"Good job."

Sejun patted Theo's head and tore open a treat, bringing it to Theo's mouth.

"Right! I worked really hard!"

Chomp, chomp, chomp.

As Theo proudly licked the treat,

Lick, lick.

A strange tongue entered.

"What?

Creak?

The baby bear tilted its head and looked at Theo. Who is this brother?

The baby bear fearlessly licked Theo's treat.

Snap! Snap!

Sejun tightly held Theo's body, who was trying to attack the baby bear with his claws, to prevent him from going berserk.

But,

Creak!

The baby bear, startled by Theo, started to scream.

And,

Roar.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

The mother Crimson Giant Bear, who hadn't gone far, ran over when she heard the baby bear's cries.

Creak! Creak!

The baby bear ran to the mother Crimson Giant Bear, pointed at Theo with its foot, and started to tell what Theo had done.

"Ah... Hello! I'm Theo, the cat merchant!"

Theo quickly got off Sejun's lap and bowed 90 degrees to the mother Crimson Giant Bear, speaking in standard Korean, forgetting his dialect in his panic.

Roar.

The mother Crimson Giant Bear growled at Theo, warning him not to touch her baby.

"Yes! I was wrong. I'll get along well from now on."

Theo apologized earnestly, hoping she understood.

"It was just a fight. Nothing happened."

Sejun, also tense, quickly defended Theo. He felt responsible for the incident after Theo had worked hard and just arrived.

Roar.

The mother Crimson Giant Bear blew a strong gust of wind, warning Theo not to touch her baby, and then went back to patrolling.

"Purr. Meow. Meow."

Theo, relieved, suddenly started hiccupping.

"Okay. It's over. Calm down."

"Thank you... meow... for comforting me... meow."

Theo hiccupped while expressing his gratitude to Sejun.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier."

Sejun hugged Theo and stroked his chest.

Then,

Purr.

Theo, calmed by Sejun's touch, fell asleep quickly.

Creak.

The baby bear, thinking it was nap time when Theo fell asleep, lay down on Sejun's back and

Squish!

The black rabbit also climbed onto Sejun's lap.

"Kids?"

Purr.

Snore.

Creak.

Instead of answering, they were already snoring softly. They had all fallen asleep.

"Whatever. Huh?"

Sejun, resigned to sleeping with them, noticed a straw hat next to him. It seemed the mother Crimson Giant Bear had blown it over when she blew the wind.

"Good."

Sejun, needing something to block the sun, put on the straw hat and fell asleep.

Day 178 of the Stranding. He realized that touching the baby bear would cause big trouble.

"Let's get along with the baby bear. But I'll only share a little of the treat..."

Theo mumbled in his sleep.