31 Hunting novice (1/2)

Joonbum shook away his thoughts and drove to Jinchul's store. Joonbum scowled as he breathed in the foul air of his world that disgusted him.

-Today's fine dust level is…-

'Crap.'

Joonbum grimaced at the polluted air and drove towards Jinchul's store. When he arrived and started parking, Jinchul came out of the store to greet him.

”Hey! Long time no see. I heard you're doing great now!”

Jinchul shouted excitedly as Joonbum beamed, embarrassed at the compliment.

”Don't flatter me too much. How are you these days?”

”Not too well. Sales went up a bit but its back to normal, leaving me with all the stocks. You can never be too greedy.”

”Is it that serious?” Joonbum asked with a worried expression. Jinchul shook his head and smiled bitterly.

”Hey! Don't worry, it's just a joke. It's not that bad. Don't take it seriously.”

Joonbum was handed over a cup of coffee, which he drank while looking around the shop.

'It did increase.'

The store had a wider variety of goods with a lot of used items also. It looked more like a shop than it did before.

”I'll feature your store on one of the screens.”

”What?”

”You know, the cloth that you cover the surface with when you clean the rifle. I'll have your store's name printed on it and place it on the bottom when I do it.”

Jinchul's seemed to be at a loss for words.

”But-”

”Don't worry, it's nothing. I have a lot of screens. Also, you let me start out with those rifles. I really appreciate it.”

”But that was more like well-decorated junk…”

Jinchul seemed to be sorry at the thought. Joonbum grinned.

”I know, but it's still usable. You adjusted it a bit too, remember? It's more useful now and worth it.”

Jinchul looked awkward even after Joonbum reassured him.

'He really is a nice guy.'

Joonbum did not realize this before. He was too full of himself to earn more money. But now, after being freed from that chain, he was now able to look at other people around him.

”Oh, Jinchul.”

”Yeah?”

”I am thinking about starting this business. What do you think?”

”A business?”

Jinchul looked puzzled as he received a packet of documents from Joonbum. He was already very successful with his videos. He was best of the best. There was no point in starting a new business.

”Can you take a look at it?”

”Hey, hey. I understand you got some money, but you need to be more careful now. Ever heard of those horror stories where people started bigger businesses and failed, losing everything?”

Jinchul told him this while shaking his head. Joonbum felt a warm feeling in his heart as he knew Jinchul was sincerely worried.

'Is this what it's like to have a real brother?'

Jinchul was like an older brother stopping a younger brother from going down a dangerous path.

”I still need more time. I don't have enough money yet either. Can you look at it?”

Jinchul took out the documents and read them through. He grew more confused as he read on.

”Are you sure you want to do this? Can't you just experience it?”

'I guess I don't need to do it myself if it was only for the video.'

Joonbum smiled awkwardly and scratched his head at Jinchul's advice.

”You'll need a lot of preparation for this. A lot of money too. I am guessing at least 400 to 500 million won.”

Joonbum nodded at Jinchul. Jinchul frowned.

”Are you thinking of purchasing an existing business?”

”Yes.”

Jinchul grew more puzzled.

[He worked like a horse and now he has horse-like muscles!]

[I think he's on steroids.]

[Pig Joonbum has evolved.]

[He definitely is on steroids. You can't have that just by farming.]

[His mother looks better too. I think her skin softened a lot.]

[Look at that wolves growing. They're already big as calves! Where are our cute puppies!]

[The puppies have grown too… No!]

[Summer is already over… I haven't gone to the beach yet.]

The video was filled with various responses. He drank his beer while checking all the new responses.

”This is so good.”

The beer tasted so good with its coldness filling up his mouth, as if it was soaking his entire body.

”It's the beer after a hard day of work!”

He had been working all day through the morning and was just taking a break. His mother was preparing lunch as he was resting. She was very surprised at how Joonbum's appetite had grown these days.

'Is it already September?'

Time flew quickly. Unlike his initial concerns, his mother quickly adjusted to life in the other world. Lately, she started tending a small farm near the other barricade. It was like she was enjoying a quiet farm life.

-Mom, are you not scared? There have been some monster intrusions here.-

-Of course I am. But if you think about it, everywhere is scary, you know. I think this place is safe with you, Galfus, and those people protecting us here. I love being here with you. I am more scared that I may be left alone on Earth.-

Her last sentence made Joonbum's heart ache.

There was another reason why she chose to stay here with him. His mother had chronic pain in her waist and knee joints due to overworking at the restaurant. But when she started living here, those symptoms disappeared completely. Her skin softened and her wrinkles started disappearing. She was considered to have the joints of a thirty-year-old now.

'It's like she's back to her prime.'

She was more like how she looked when Joonbum was young. Joonbum speculated that either the swirl or something here affected the body.

'Hope we don't grow horns on our foreheads.'

”Joonbum!”

A loud voice was heard and Joonbum jumped up to see a man with a familiar face walking in, opening the door.