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Translator: uly
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Former Hero Party's Otherworld Happening (1)
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The sun had long since risen high in the sky, but not a soul stirred from sleep.
Only Yuseong was up, perched on a single-seater sofa with a book in hand.
He'd hoped to savor some quiet time for quiet reflection, but the constant chatter from his companion made that impossible.
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[Such a diligent child you are.]
"Diligent? This is just average."
[Books are wonderful. They nourish the soul and build knowledge—true treasures of civilization.]
"I'm just reading to calm my mind. Figured it might ease this anger bubbling up a bit."
[I... I see...]
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The goddess grew cautious again, as if she'd stepped on another landmine. But Yuseong didn't pay it much mind.
As noon passed with the sun at its zenith and still no one awake, Yuseong's brow furrowed.
"What the hell are these idiots doing?"
[B-Be understanding. They haven't had a proper rest in the last three months. Fatigue has built up.]
"Io, are you their nanny or something? Why do you keep defending those losers?"
[...I just wish you'd show them a little more mercy.]
"Hah, sorry, but that's a request I can't grant."
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Not when he was already showing plenty of mercy as it was.
The awkward exchange fizzled out into silence just as the door creaked open.
"...L-Luke!"
"Sylvia, huh. Color me shocked. The one who used to harass me at dawn for prayers is still lazing around with everyone else now that the sun's overhead."
"I-It was... I was just so exhausted...!"
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Sylvia's voice trailed off into a mumble.
She had plenty of excuses.
She hadn't slept properly in months, catching only fitful naps on the cold ground or in stinking spots, standing no watches. How luxurious it felt to sink into such a soft, fragrant bed!
But...
"...Yes, you're right. I've grown slothful. As a saintess, an apostle of the goddess, my conduct has been unbecoming. Thank you for the reprimand."
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Sylvia had no choice but to say that.
"...Fine."
Yuseong didn't press further.
He wasn't the type to kick someone who admitted their fault.
Instead, he turned to something productive.
"What about the others?"
"Ah, they're all groggy but awake now."
"Then get washed up. Lunchtime."
"Y-Yes!"
"You too. You look like you did your makeup with drool."
"Gasp!"
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Sylvia's poker face cracked.
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"I thought the same yesterday, but this shower thing is incredible."
"Water comes out automatically...?"
"Even this is magic?"
"This is a toilet? Not a well?"
They marveled endlessly at modern plumbing, letting out gasps of awe.
Scented soap and shampoo. Toothbrushes and toothpaste for cleaning teeth.
Even towels as soft as chamois leather and pajamas!
'Each one is amazing.'
According to the ego weapon, this was all average stuff in this world.
Average items anyone, even commoners, could buy and use.
'How much more will shock them?'
What kind of civilization had advanced to this point?
As curiosity began to sprout, the ego weapon named Aram spoke up.
[How long do you plan to stand there gawking?]
"Ah, right. Time to go."
He'd gotten lost in thought too long.
One slip-up, and he might invite another outburst like yesterday.
'Gotta be careful.'
They were clueless about this world, and he was their only lifeline right now.
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"Don't hold back. Eat up."
"B-But..."
"L-Luke, aren't you eating?"
"Join you for a meal? I'd get indigestion. Quit yapping and eat. I'm busy as it is."
"A-Alright."
They'd been hesitating, but soon dug in.
The table was laden with rice, mackerel, and several side dishes—a hearty spread.
They might've seemed like bread-only types, but rice existed in Midgard too.
It wasn't widely available, so only nobles and foodies sought it out.
Familiar to them from frequent kingdom banquets, they ate with practiced ease.
They finished quickly, and Sylvia stood.
"Th-Then I'll do the dishes—"
"Leave it. You'd just break the plates."
"I can handle that much!"
Crash!
"..."
"Knew it."
"...Sorry."
After handing the dishes to the dishwasher, they settled on the living room sofas.
"Come here."
"Hm? No seats left."
"Sit on the floor, man."
"...Tch."
Valian sulked in a way that didn't suit his bulk, but Yuseong shot him an irritated glare. Valian plopped down fast.
These idiots were quick on the uptake, at least.
Yuseong took a deep breath to calm his rising frustration and continued.
"Anyway, your clothes should arrive today."
"Clothes? We have our old ones."
"Step out in those, and you'll look like circus monkeys. If that's fine, whatever."
"...So this world's fashion is very different?"
"Aram."
[Yes~!]
The TV screen lit up, showing several male and female models.
All dressed in everyday casual wear.
"That's the average clothing here. Memorize it."
"~!"
Valian let out a low whistle.
The screen flipped to images of men and women in underwear.
"Wh-What indecency!"
"Wh-What's that!? What kind of artifact is it!?"
"Whoa, spicy."
Their reactions were understandable, so he added an explanation.
"Ask Aram about that later. And you think that's scandalous? I've seen temple warriors and adventurers wear even shorter stuff. What's so bad about it? Did they have a dress code revolution or something in the last three years?"
"..."
"It's just an example of underwear. Stop overreacting."
"...S-Sorry."
Sylvia calmed down, and the others followed suit.
Then Mirni raised her hand.
"M-Me! I have a question!"
"Shoot."
"So underwear counts as clothing too, right? But to dress us, they'd need our sizes and builds. Don't we have to go to the tailor ourselves?"
"No need to worry. Just give sizes and builds, place an order, and clothes come."
"Huh, so how do they know the sizes?"
"Aram measured you all."
"...Huh?"
"Yesterday, Aram took your measurements and ordered underwear and clothes based on that. Satisfied?"
"W-Wait! Y-You mean...!?"
Alicia paled in horror, flushing red as she clutched her arms over her chest in shame.
"Y-You! D-Did you peek at our bodies...!?"
But she got no further.
"—Am I insane?"
"..."
"Steal peeks at your bodies? I'd sooner ogle naked goblins. You think I'd bother with you? What nonsense."
"..."
Her eyes swirled with contempt, mockery, and raw fury—murderous even.
It was genuine. Alicia's face drained to ashen.
Sylvia intervened midway.
"Luke, please stop. Alicia was disrespectful, yes. But you've also given us cause for misunderstanding. Isn't that so?"
"...Fair. But remember, your oversleeping started this."
"..."
In the end, they were the guilty ones. They realized once more they couldn't win with words.
"Back to it. Once clothes arrive, we'll prep to head out."
"Huh? For what?"
"Need to get you ID cards. Gotta stop by the lawyer's office. Tons of advice to get."
"ID? Can't we just hit the guild?"
"...Not that simple."
Explaining ID importance to these fools already felt like a bleak road ahead.
'Sigh. Is this what kindergarten teachers feel like?'
Today, he truly felt the teacher's grace deep in his bones.
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It took longer than planned, but finally, Yuseong managed to drag them outside.
"Whoa, this is awesome. My chest feels so free! And my butt too!"
"Mirni! What kind of crass talk is that!?"
"But it's comfy, so why not say it?"
"Still...!"
Yuseong herded the six—now uniformed in light jeans and knit tops—to various spots.
First, the lawyer. His advice:
"Hmm, getting caught as illegals would be bad, so I'll file for refugee status. I know a guy—might go through if we're lucky."
"Thanks."
"But you know the deal?"
"Virtual account incoming."
"Sweet!"
Refugee applications usually took ages and rarely succeeded. But in Korea, money and connections made anything possible.
Confirming official IDs in two months if all went well, they moved on, handling more procedures.
Three hours in, exhaustion was setting.
"...A-Are you okay?"
"Do I look okay?"
"...Sorry. You've spent so much because of us..."
"Whatever. I'll bill Io later anyway."
"N-No way...!!"
[A-Are you serious? I don't have any of this world's money...!]
'Can't you tell a joke?'
If he could snag even one Elixir or World Tree Sap, it'd be infinite profit.
And he wasn't short on cash anyway.
'It's not like scooping a bucket from a river dries it up.'
He was the type to think such envy-inducing bourgeois thoughts without shame.