Chapter 06
—
“Do you like beer? I had some left in the cold storage, so I brought a few cans.”
Ella shook the cans in her hand like a tambourine as she asked.
“Ah… I’ve heard of it. It’s the drink you can usually only get at shops, but now people can enjoy it at home too, right?”
He sounded like one of those rich men who never ate anything unhealthy in his life.
Ella looked at the man doubtfully.
‘Is he serious?’
Canned beer was this year’s hottest trend in the Empire.
“That’s right, you’re smart, my neighbor.”
“Ah! Now that I think about it, we don’t even know each other’s names. May I ask your name?”
He looked startled, as if he thought Ella had called him “neighbor” to mock him in some noble-style way.
“No. Let’s just not know each other’s names. We won’t be seeing each other much anyway.”
After all, she’d soon be leaving this village. She didn’t care about her neighbor’s name — and she really didn’t want to share her own.
“What? What do you mean?”
“As you might know, I’m about to be kicked out of this house.”
“Oh dear…”
Ella opened the beer can with a click and handed it to the man next door. He looked unsure what to say.
“Try it while it’s cold. It tastes good.”
He accepted the can and took a small sip.
“May I ask… how much the loan is?”
“Nine hundred eighty-six thousand gold. Oh, and before you misunderstand — I’m not the one who borrowed it.”
“Then… you were scammed?”
“Probably?”
Not wanting to ruin the mood, Ella lightly tapped her can against his.
Clink!
Gulp, gulp—
‘Drinking beer in broad daylight with a man, in my own house… this isn’t like me. Totally careless.’
Gulp, gulp—
She drank quickly, trying to cool the anger boiling inside her.
“Ahhh!”
Ella let out a satisfied sigh after finishing the whole can in one go. Then, feeling oddly annoyed, she kicked the empty can toward the corner.
“A-Are you okay…?”
The man next door looked nervous, stuttering at her wild behavior.
“Well, somehow it’ll work out.”
Maybe it was because someone was finally worrying about her — she couldn’t help but smile.
“Yeah, it’ll all work out. Who knows? Maybe someone walking by will just hand me that nine hundred eighty-six thousand gold!”
The man nodded seriously, then suddenly tilted the can and drank the rest in one shot.
“Hey, don’t drink so fast!”
Ella knew her own limit well — one can wouldn’t make her drunk.
But this man looked like someone who lived off morning dew, and yet he was drinking like that?
“It’s been a long time since I drank. Maybe that’s why it tastes even better.”
“Have another one.”
“Ah, yes.”
He couldn’t spit it back out now, so he decided to just continue politely. He then picked up the strange-looking dish she had served earlier.
“I’m not good at cooking, so I’m not sure what this is.”
The mix of colors didn’t look like anything Ella knew.
“It’s tomato egg stir-fry. I followed a recipe from a book. The book said sharing delicious food with your neighbor is a good thing.”
“Ah… tomato and egg…”
She knew what that was.
Ella looked at the dish doubtfully — it looked almost like the leftovers from her dog’s breakfast.
“This is supposed to be healthy and delicious, good for breakfast… cough.”
He tried a bite and struggled to swallow. His confused eyes looking down at the plate told her everything.
‘He didn’t even taste it before bringing it over.’
After barely swallowing, he calmly set down the spoon.
“I followed the book exactly, but why…”
‘He really thinks things always turn out like in books, huh. What a naive young master.’
“Sometimes, even if you do the same thing, it just doesn’t taste the same,” Ella said kindly, smiling as she comforted him.
“I see. I didn’t know that.”
He smiled awkwardly — a foolish man, but with a dazzlingly bright face.
“Ah— so bright!”
It wasn’t just an expression. The sunlight was literally shining off his face.
He quickly leaned to block the light for her, his tall figure casting a shadow over her.
For someone who looked fragile, his broad shoulders actually felt quite dependable.
‘He must have his own reasons for coming here. Living alone in the countryside like this can’t be easy. And with that face, weird people will surely approach him…’
Ella thought she should look out for him a little — definitely not because she found him attractive.
“Why are you staring at my face like that? Is something on it?”
“Huh? M-Me? When did I—!”
“Never mind then.”
“A-anyway! You don’t look like someone from this village. What brought you here?”
“You can tell?” he asked with curious eyes.
“Most outsiders come here for country life. You seem like one of them.”
“Country life, huh… something like that.”
“Well, if there’s anything you don’t know, ask me. I may look like this, but I’m quite the expert around here.”
Ella gestured for him to come closer.
“I have some amazing crops in my yard.”
He nodded eagerly.
“Amazing crops?”
“Bokbunja.”
“Bokbunja…? I’ve never heard of it.”
‘He doesn’t even know bokbunja?’
In her previous life, people went crazy for anything said to be good for stamina — turning them into drinks, jelly, or wine.
But here, hardly anyone even knew about bokbunja berries.
‘This is an opportunity!’
Right now, she was only supplying a local tea shop, but once she had money, she could start a real business — bokbunja juice, bokbunja jelly, bokbunja wine! The profits would be enormous.
‘Compared to that, nine hundred eighty-six thousand gold is nothing!’
Just thinking about it made her grin.
“It’s super tasty and super healthy.”
“Really? I’m curious now. I care a lot about my health.”
“It’s good for almost everything — it’s delicious, has anti-cancer effects, strengthens bones, heart, and, um… men’s vitality… I mean, energy! Yes, energy and stamina!”
Ella sounded exactly like a bokbunja saleswoman, passionately listing its benefits.
The man next door watched her, amused.
“All those long vines there are bokbunja trees. They’ll be someone else’s soon, so you can pick as much as you like before I leave.”
She pointed kindly toward the field.
‘It’d be nice if someone could taste them before the owner changes.’
And then she thought —
‘Actually, I should make him try some.’
Following her thought, Ella jumped up.
“I think there’s some yogurt left in the fridge. Could you pick a few bokbunja berries while I get it?”
‘He doesn’t even know how good yogurt with bokbunja is!’
Her eyes sparkled. The man nodded obediently.
“Ah, yes. I’ll do that.”
Maybe it was the alcohol, but his cheeks were slightly red as he looked up at her. Seeing that, Ella felt her own face heat up.
When she touched her cheek, it felt as hot as a roasted sweet potato.
‘What, am I already drunk?’
It had been so long since she chatted so casually with someone.
She’d lived in this village for three years, met many people, but never had a friend she could share small talk with. Maybe because all she had left were her memories from her past life — she hadn’t felt the need for human relationships.
But now, she realized… maybe she did need an ordinary friend like this.
‘Well, it’s already too late. Still, meeting him like this is also a kind of fate.’
Ella smiled, deciding that before everything ended, she’d at least make her rude but charming neighbor taste the best bokbunja yogurt ever.
