I Just Traded in the Forest of Monsters, but the World Changed - Chapter 29

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 29
Neither of them spoke for a moment.
Only the sound of the campfire consuming itself remained, soft and steady.
The wind brushed past, and the leaves collided with an almost unnaturally sharp clarity.
Despite the silence, awareness seemed to pull between them.
Se Hui found the quiet unsettling, so she was the first to break it.
“I’m supposed to handle all of it myself, aren’t I?”
“You could’ve let me take care of it today.”
Se Hui smiled and shrugged lightly.
“If you do that, I’ll get spoiled.”
“I don’t mind.”
Cassian showed not the slightest hesitation in saying it.
Se Hui looked down at the ground, lost in thought.
‘I never expected he’d do this much.’
When she lifted her head, her eyes met his.
Cassian, observing her, was thinking quietly to himself.
‘She doesn’t need to try doing everything alone.’
He wished she would depend on him more.
But Se Hui, unaware of any of this, exhaled in contentment.
Se Hui leaned deeper into her chair and murmured softly.
“This is nice.”
The embers of the campfire flickered gently.
“Cassian.”
“What is it?”
“Will you do this again tomorrow?”
The question carried a teasing edge.
“If you need me to.”
Se Hui let out a soft laugh.
“Then I think I’ll be needing you for a while.”
It was spoken like a joke, but not entirely without sincerity.
Being with Erasmus was comfortable too, but this felt different.
There was something settling about having someone take your side as naturally as breathing, watching your back without question.
Cassian looked at her.
His gaze deepened subtly.
The night air was cold, but the Clearing remained warm enough—kindled by the blazing fire and the quiet warmth that seemed to drift between them.
Se Hui glanced sideways at Cassian, who sat beside her.
He simply sat in silence, drawing her Outer Robe closed or pulling up her Blanket whenever she showed signs of weariness.
When she’d first met him, she never would have imagined sitting like this beside him, watching the night sky.
‘When I think about it, he’s a really considerate Regular Customer.’
“Cassian.”
His head turned toward her slowly.
“What is it?”
Se Hui hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“Thank you for today.”
It was simple and understated.
His pupils flickered slightly.
“For making up the sales, for helping with the cleanup…”
Se Hui tapped her fingers against the armrest of the chair.
“Honestly, if I’d been alone today, it would’ve been pretty rough.”
Cassian said nothing, simply watching her.
Se Hui nodded and continued.
“So…”
The air shifted slightly.
“Keep staying with me, won’t you?”
Se Hui clenched the hand resting on her lap.
There was sincerity in those words.
She’d spoken lightly, but her eyes were serious.
“As a Regular Customer.”
The final phrase was added almost as an afterthought.
But it was already too late.
Cassian’s thoughts had stalled on Se Hui’s words—that she wanted him to stay with her.
‘Keep staying together?’
He turned the words over slowly in his mind.
Whether they left this forest, headed for the Capital, or went anywhere else, it meant she would remain at his side.
Cassian’s fingertips drifted unconsciously to his sleeve, worrying the fabric.
“That is….”
He steadied his breath before continuing.
“Not something to accept lightly.”
Se Hui blinked.
“Pardon?”
“When you say ‘continue,’ you mean a promise with no defined end.”
Se Hui suddenly found herself at a loss for words.
‘Hmm, wait? Is that what I…?’
Her mind went blank for an instant.
‘No, I just meant he should keep coming as a regular customer. Why did this suddenly turn into lifetime vows?’
Se Hui reached out and absently poked at the campfire.
Cassian, observing her wordless reaction, spoke with quiet certainty.
“I accept.”
Se Hui stared at him, dumbfounded.
“…What?”
“If that is what you wish, I will stand with you to the end.”
There was not a trace of jest in his words.
Beneath the starlight, Cassian’s gaze was unwavering.
For a moment, that gravity washed through Se Hui’s mind.
And then, just as quickly, she reinterpreted it.
‘Ah.’
The puzzle pieces suddenly fit.
Se Hui’s lips curved upward slightly.
“As expected, you certainly think on a grander scale, my lord.”
Cassian took her words as an expression of joy.
But Se Hui’s mind was spinning through an entirely different calculation.
‘If his lordship keeps coming as a regular customer, more people will come too, won’t they?’
Se Hui spoke with clear satisfaction.
“I look forward to working with you from now on.”
Cassian nodded slowly.
“Of course.”
Already his eyes were fixed on some distant future.
* * *
As night deepened, the Clearing fell silent once more.
Even the campfire faded to embers, dying away without a sound.
When the forest had finally held its breath, the eastern sky began to brighten faintly.
“Mmm, slept well.”
Se Hui rubbed her eyes and pushed herself upright.
She turned her head left and right to survey her surroundings, then stepped outside the tent.
The Clearing was still quiet.
The wolf lay curled in a tight ball, and no sound came from the direction of the tents.
“Has no one else woken up yet?”
She muttered softly and rose to her feet.
The air carried the particular chill of dawn.
With each breath, it felt as though her lungs were clearing.
Se Hui stretched her arms wide, limbering up.
Flashes of last night’s exchange crossed her mind, but she quickly brushed them aside.
‘What should I sell today?’
It seemed as though the morning would be hers alone, but the sound of someone stirring came from the temporary tent pitched by the Knight Order.
Before long, Rowen emerged from the tent flap.
When Rowen’s eyes met Se Hui’s, he smiled awkwardly and gave a small bow of greeting.
“…You’re up quite early.”
“Yes, it’s a habit of mine.”
Se Hui replied matter-of-factly.
Rowen looked at her for a moment, then quietly averted his gaze.
“By the way, is the Duke still sleeping?”
“By now, he’s likely taking his morning walk.”
“A walk?”
“Yes.”
Rowen offered nothing more.
‘That walk is probably quite different from what this woman imagines, but there’s no need to explain.’
He answered with such docility that it was hard to believe he was the same man who’d threatened with a sword hilt yesterday.
The knights finished their preparations and filed out one by one.
Then Cassian returned from his walk and came to a stop between the two of them.
“Everyone’s awake, I see.”
“Ah, yes. Did you sleep well?”
“Well enough. And you?”
“I slept soundly.”
Cassian fell silent for a moment, watching Se Hui bathed in the morning sunlight.
“What were you two discussing so early?”
His gaze lingered briefly on Rowen before he looked away.
“Nothing important.”
Cassian lowered his eyes for a moment.
…….
An awkward silence settled over them.
Cassian turned his gaze aside and spoke shortly.
“Breakfast.”
“Ah, would you like some ramen? A bowl would give you strength.”
Se Hui reached toward the pot.
The moment she did, Cassian sat down without a word.
As Se Hui poured water into the ramen and turned up the heat, her mind was already calculating.
‘Eleven people including the Duke—that’s one silver coin per bowl, maybe three or four bronze pieces. Converting that to points…’
Even after taking a 20% commission, she’d still turn a profit.
‘Group customers are the best for a reason.’
The corners of her mouth lifted ever so slightly.
The moment the flame caught and she set the pot on the heat, she heard something heavy settle beside her.
It was the wolf.
The creature planted itself at Se Hui’s feet as if claiming a spot, then raised its head stiffly toward Cassian.
Cassian’s eyes met the wolf’s gaze.
…….
Whimper.
Without either looking away first, they both averted their eyes.
Watching this exchange, Se Hui spoke up.
“You two should get along better.”
“I have no intention of getting along with that creature.”
“My, why not?”
Se Hui turned her head, eyes wide with curiosity.
Instead of answering, Cassian glanced once at the wolf, then looked away.
The wolf, seeing this, flicked its tail against the ground once.
Se Hui watched them both in turn, then wisely held her tongue.
‘They’ve got something going on between them.’
Sometimes ignorance was bliss.
She had a feeling that pressing the issue would only make the morning atmosphere even stranger.
Se Hui shook her head as if to clear it.
“Never mind. Let’s just eat.”
The pot began to bubble.
Steam rose slowly, warming the morning air.
Se Hui expertly loosened the noodles and sprinkled in the seasoning powder.
The moment the crimson powder spread across the broth.
[Environmental Effect Activated: Spicy Aroma Permeates]
The broth roiled and came to a boil.
As the spicy fragrance wafted across the Clearing, several knights wrinkled their noses.
“What in the world is that smell…”
“Quite intense for this hour of the morning.”
Watching the knights gradually gather around, Se Hui’s smile widened.
‘Just as I thought—Ramen!’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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