Meanwhile, the merchants of the village glanced curiously at the strange, mismatched trio—a snow leopard, a squirrel, and one tiny baby flying squirrel.
“What a mystical little family.”
“Both of them are males. So who’s the mom?”
“Probably that one. He’s got that sleazy vibe—and his hair’s the same color as the kid’s.”
“Ahh, then the snow leopard must be the dad.”
It didn’t take long for ridiculous rumors to spread throughout the small market.
“Chwiiiik!” (Oh my gosh!)
“Chwik-chwik?” (You bought this much?)
Clearly, they hadn’t expected this much in household goods for the money they brought.
The squirrels bustled around them, making a huge fuss.
Though today’s haul was entirely thanks to Serhi, Guru still cleared her throat with a smug little ahem.
“Ah-ahem! Dis is nuffin fow da king!”
Guru never missed a chance to take credit.
“Chwii!”
“Chwii!”
The squirrels’ eyes sparkled.
As Guru flaunted her royal majesty before them, Siwon chuckled under his breath, and Serhi shook his head.
Then it happened.
Ding!
[Achievement: Beloved and Mighty Sky Squirrel! (Special) Acquired!]
Your acorns no longer get consumed when used!
(Special titles remain active only within the dungeon.)
Gasp!
Guru inhaled sharply in shock.
That’s gotta be the dumbest achievement ever.
But in the dungeon... my acorns are infinite...
Kinda like a webnovel protagonist, maybe?
Guess the cup’s half full after all. Feeling a bit pleased, Guru gave Siwon and Serhi a hug each.
Siwon hugged her back, and Serhi hesitated a second before giving her a light pat on the back.
It was the fifth day since they’d planted the acorns.
Serhi flexed his fist open and closed. Maybe it was the peace of the farm, but his recovery was going smoother than usual.
Another three days—no, maybe just two...
As he counted the days and stepped out the door, he stopped short in front of the field.
“Ahhh, dis is called da Surfeh Spwinkwuh. Yoo set it up an’ it waters stuff awn its own.”
Guru stood next to a makeshift sprinkler, sniffling proudly first thing in the morning.
Four watering cans were arranged in a cross-shape, and whatever she’d done, they were moving and spraying water automatically.
“Chwii!”
“Chwii!”
The squirrels knelt down in front of it, bowing to the baby flying squirrel in reverence.
A cult?
They looked just like a sky squirrel cult leader and her squirrel devotees. Serhi rubbed his eyes.
But seriously, where’d she even get that thing?
Come to think of it, the mini-excavator parked nearby was probably her doing too.
Does she have some kind of royal squirrel-exclusive skill?
In an RP Dungeon, skills were limited, but depending on your assigned role, you could gain special ones. He remembered the Brom Guild had been struggling with that too.
Since she was technically the squirrel queen, maybe she really had something like that. Something like [Evolution of Farm Equipment (Special)].
While the squirrels scurried off to install more sprinklers, Guru walked up to one of the trees and opened the info window.
[Oak Tree]
[Condition: Excellent]
[Satisfaction: High]
[Lifespan: 5/30]
The oak was growing taller by the day, and now it was up to Guru’s chin.
“At dis wate, da acowns gonna pop out soon!”
“Doesn’t it need to get taller? Like this?” Serhi held his hand above his head.
But Guru shook her head.
“Nuuh-uh. Dis kind onwy gwows dis much. Even full gwown, dis size.”
She waved her hand above her own head.
“That’s small.”
“Guess it doesn’t grow big.” Siwon had come outside too, and added in.
Guru pouted and replied,
“Not smaww.”
“Sure, let’s go with that.”
Serhi shrugged, unbothered.
“Dat’s even wowse!”
Revenge! Guru pummeled Serhi with her little fists.
Siwon gently grabbed her arms to stop her. “Serhi, apologize.”
“Gwampa Siwon did it too!”
“Ah, busted.”
As a peace offering, Siwon gave her a piggyback ride.
It was Guru’s first time riding on shoulders, so she trembled, saying it was too high. Siwon walked extra slowly so she wouldn’t get scared.
Serhi agreed to give her piggyback rides on the way to the market from now on.
It was a warm, sunny day.
The three of them naturally became the ones in charge of grocery shopping.
Since they showed up often, the merchants started throwing in freebies, and today someone even handed over candy for Guru to snack on.
“Feels so reassuring with a snow leopard around.”
“Snow weopawd! Weawwy stwong!”
Siwon and Guru smiled brightly and showered Serhi with praise.
“If you know that, stop wandering off. And don’t try to buy everything you see.”
Serhi crossed his arms and turned his head away, his tail swaying side to side. Siwon saw the motion and chuckled quietly to himself.
They were just about finished with their shopping when it happened.
An old turtle beastkin with a warm face shuffled over and clapped Serhi on the shoulder with a laugh.
“You’re quite the dependable young head of household.”
The hell kind of fresh bullshit is that? Serhi’s expression crumpled.
“Head of household?”
“You’re the dad, right? And that one’s the mom.”
“You’re calling me the mom?” Siwon pointed at himself.
“Mommy, Daddy?” Guru gawked with her mouth open.
Serhi opened and closed his mouth in disbelief.
A snow leopard, a squirrel, and a flying squirrel.
A Gnosis and a Gnosis hunter.
And what, now they’re a couple with a snow leopard son and a flying squirrel daughter?
Snow leopard dad, squirrel mom?
That’s a bit too open-minded, isn’t it?
“Get some damn bias installed. What part of us looks like a family?”
“Yoo not a family?”
Serhi raised his tail straight up, sticking it in the old man’s face.
“Hey, gramps. You blind? I’m a guy. I’m a snow leopard.”
“Exactly. That makes you the dad.”
“Then why am I the mom?” Siwon cut in.
“Well, even if you’re male, you can be a mom too,” the turtle replied.
“What the hell kind of logic is that?”
When Serhi asked with total confusion, the old turtle chuckled.
“What do you mean ‘hell.’ I’m a turtle, not a dog. But anyway... ahem! The three of you just looked so cozy, I thought you were family! You shouldn’t act so close if you don’t wanna get mistaken!”
“Well maybe that’s ’cause people like you keep trying to scam the ❖ Nоvеlight ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеlight) squirrels every time you see them!”
“Whatever!”
Seemingly struck by guilt, the old turtle waved a hand and rolled his eyes. Then he quickly changed the subject.
“Heard rumors the wolf beastkin have moved out of their territory, so watch yourselves. Word is they’re brutal to the bone~ Anyhow, I’m off~”
And with that, he vanished at lightning speed. Probably scared because the snow leopard looked annoyed.
Guru curled her tail under and rubbed her chin.
“Famiwy...”
That’s weird. How do we look like a family?
Maybe beastkin are just different. Thinking that, Guru glanced behind her. The moment she spotted Siwon, her ears and tail shot straight up.
“Kyii!”
Serhi turned at the sight of the suddenly alert flying squirrel tail. What startled her?
Then he too spotted what she saw—and his ears and tail stiffened with surprise.
“Why the hell are you crying?!”
Tears were streaming non-stop from Jin Siwon’s eyes.
He blinked, confused at the attention, then...
“Oh.”
Only then did he seem to realize he was crying. He quickly wiped at his face with a sleeve.

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