The Retired Top Ranker Was Abducted to Another World - Chapter 14

“Mmm~ Delicious!”

The food was really tasty.

“Yeah.. the taste… the taste is good, but…”

Jake was too distracted to properly enjoy the meal. Seeing this, Baek Yeon-woo spoke up.

“Mister. Stop thinking weird things and just eat your meal.”
“Weird thoughts? What’s strange about my research!”
“I know your research is great. But… there’s nothing more important than a meal.”

I was more serious than ever. Do you know how much significance ‘rice’ holds in Korea? We often refer to people we eat with as ‘family.’ When greeting, we say ‘Have you eaten?’ and when parting, we say ‘Let’s have a meal together later.’

“Understood? Meals are really important.”
“Well… I know that, but…”

Isn’t it odd to have regular meals in the disaster forest in the first place? Jake swallowed his words and continued eating.

“But how did you catch fish? There’s a dragon in this lake.”
“Our neighbor?”
“Neighbor..?”
“Yeah. It’s a neighbor because it lives next door. Do you want to come with me to grill fish?”
“No, I’m good.”

My head already hurts enough.

‘A neighbor with a monster? Is that even possible?’

In eighty years as a dwarf, this is the first time he’s experiencing this. Monsters are supposed to be humanity’s enemy, nothing more, nothing less.

‘That guy is the strange one, not me!’

Yes, he is normal. The strange one is Baek Yeon-woo, who befriends monsters naturally. She might as well be a druid.

“Wouldn’t it be good to greet them at least once if you live here?”
“…Are you trying to get me assassinated?”

Surprised by a dragon would cause a panic?

“Why? The dragon’s nice.”
“…”
“Yeon-woo, that’s not it. Do you not remember how your first meeting was?”

Fei spoke with seriousness.

“It caused an uproar just because you caught some fish. If you were weaker, you might have died.”
“Oh come on, it wasn’t that serious. You don’t die from just that.”
“Most would.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”

Fei was frustrated. Does this guy even understand common sense? It made sense, considering he casually roamed the disaster forest.

“It’s okay. We’re getting along fine now.”
“That’s true.”

The dragon even helped with training and provided insight on Ran’s last moments. Certainly, they now have quite a good relationship.

“Since it’s calm now, why don’t you meet it, mister?”
“I refuse.”

He absolutely did not want to meet the dragon. Dragons are among the most powerful monsters. It wasn’t occupying a lake in this perilous disaster forest for no reason. A fragile dwarf like himself would be swallowed whole in one bite.

“But mister, I have a question.”
“What is it..?”

Baek Yeon-woo asked with bright eyes.

“They say dwarves love alcohol. Is it true?”
“Alcohol? Haha! Of course, we dwarves are all drinkers! The greatest drinkers in the world!”
“Really?”
“Yes, especially dwarf-made beer is the best!”
“Wow! Can I try it too?”
“Well… it’s difficult now…”

There were no ingredients. Dwarf beer is usually made from barley. But such things wouldn’t be found in the disaster forest.

“Can you make it if you have the ingredients?”
“Of course. But… you’re not planning to drink it, are you…?”

Barely looks fifteen. Even though dwarves love alcohol, they don’t give it to children…

“I’m not a kid!”
“…Argue if you must.”

Just slightly taller than a dwarf. The height isn’t what you’d typically see in an ordinary human male.

“I’m really not…”

Unfair!
Even if my height is short, I’m definitely an adult!
What’s with those skeptical eyes…

“Mister. I’m seriously an adult. I won’t grow anymore.”

I’ve lived at this height for years!
I haven’t grown even 0.1cm!

“Ugh… no means no. Just drink juice, alright?”
“That’s unfair!”

Not even believing my words!

“Besides, since we’ve finished eating, I’d like to see those magic stones.”
“Okay. The magic stones are in my room.”

I led Jake to the room.

“Wow.. is this blanket made by that Pai spider?”
“Yes. It’s well made, isn’t it?”
“Yes. It’s truly well made.”
“The magic stones are here.”
“Let’s see…”

Colorful magic stones.

“Wow! So many high-grade magic stones!”

If there’s a standout among them…

“Is this possibly a basilisk’s magic stone?”
“Oh! Yes!”
“Of course! Only that creature has petrification venom!”

The basilisk’s magic stone is at least top-tier.

“How many magic stones do you need?”
“About ten mid-grade ones, but I didn’t expect there to be so many…”

There are plenty of high-grade stones and even some top-tier ones. It’s rather hard to find mid-grade ones among them.

“Hmm… let’s see, the efficiency of two high-grade stones is about the same as ten mid-grade ones… so two high-grade stones should do.”

One would be tight; two are just right. It’s much more efficient than before.

“Oh! But there’s no wood!”

Children primarily consume wood.

“Umm.. the circuit is fine, so it can be used as is.. how about the wood…”

Jake unconsciously looked at Baek Yeon-woo. Maybe he could do something…

“Should I get some for you?”
“..! That would be great!”

Jake said brightly.

“What kind of wood do you need?”
“Let’s see… the blue wood over there. Could it be steel wood?”
“Hmm? I’m not sure.”
“Really?”

Steel wood is as hard as steel. You need at least an aura to chop it down. It’s primarily used in making shields or armor. When I realized they used such a precious wood to build a mere house, I almost fainted.

“Hmm.. could you get me that wood?”
“That’s not difficult!”
“Oh! Really?”
“Yes. It didn’t seem that hard to me.”
“Ha ha…”

Steel wood isn’t hard? That can’t be. Steel wood repels attacks not imbued with aura, so even average swords can’t penetrate it.

“I’ll be right back!”

Baek Yeon-woo went out looking as if for a stroll and returned within thirty minutes with heaps of wood.

“..I don’t need this much, though..”

Since coming here, I’m witnessing many things I never thought possible. A mountain of steel wood.

“I’ll use it eventually. Ah! Could you make something for me too?”
“A carriage?”
“Yes! I want one!”
“Hmph! Of course, I can! You’ve got an eye for good things!”

Highly impressed that he recognized its value. Jake merrily set about building a car again. After spending a few days dedicated solely to it…

“Finally! It’s done!”
“Wow! Can I get in?”
“Of course!”

I got into the car excitedly.

“Wow!”

It didn’t have the soft feel of a modern car. Instead, the seat felt rather hard. But that alone was satisfying. I never thought I’d get to ride a car again after coming to this world.

“Hmm… come to think of it, what should I name this fantastic invention…”
“A car!”
“Hmm?”
“Since it moves by itself, how about calling it a car?”
“Oh! That’s nice! You’ve got a knack for naming, but why is your aesthetic sense..”
“Ahem! Anyway, it’ll be named the car. Okay?”
“Sure.”

A car. Hmm… a fitting name for this incredible invention. Jake nodded with satisfaction.

“But mister, how does this thing move?”
“Ah, move to the side.”

I sat in the passenger seat.

“If you press this button here…”

Vroom!

“Wow!”
“Then you press this pedal to go forward.”

There was almost no difference in how it moved compared to modern cars.

“Amazing!”
“Right? Built with steel wood, it’ll withstand monster attacks easily.”

Very few monsters can break through steel wood.

“Let’s take it for a drive!”
“Hmm.. alright.”

Jake started the engine and drove out of the barrier.

“Wow!”
“Perfect!”

The wheels rolled smoothly. After taking a turn, we returned home.

“How is it?”
“Incredible. But… are you going to leave now, mister?”
“Hmm?”
“You said you were leaving to find your mates.”
“Oh, right.”

So why does it feel sad?

‘Have I grown attached to this guy?’

Baek Yeon-woo always treated him cheerfully. Was he’s already reluctant to leave after spending just a few days here?

“You’re welcome to come back anytime if you want, mister.”
“Uh-huh! I know.”

Now it was time to say goodbye.

“Take care.”
“You too, mister.”

***

Jake left Baek Yeon-woo’s home and headed to the cave where he used to live with his former comrades.

‘Hope they’re well…’

Ten years. It was dreadfully long. Missing his comrades almost drove him insane.

Creak…

He arrived. Now, if he goes inside the cave… his comrades would be there.

“Guys…?”

Jake cautiously entered inside. An ominous feeling washed over him.

“Guys…?”

Why aren’t his comrades there? It’s definitely the right place.

“They’ve left…”

He actually already knew. That they wouldn’t be here after ten years. Settling down in the disaster forest is nearly impossible. Thus, they had likely already moved to another place. But he couldn’t give up. There was nothing more he could do than hope while returning here.

“..Sob..”

Tears flowed down his beard.

“Now.. what now…”

The goal he chased for ten years was gone. What should he do now? Jake continued to cry inside the car. Then…

Boom!

“Darn it!”

The sound snapped Jake back to reality. A monster was attacking.

“Did it catch my scent…”

Even inside the car, the scent wasn’t completely erased. The monster had caught on and was attacking.

“Escape..”

To where? Jake made a decision.

Vroom!

The car sped off quickly, heading back.

“Oh? You’re back, mister?”
“Ahem! Isn’t it okay to come back?”
“Well, it’s fine… but why did you bring so many with you?”
“Ahem…”

I froze all the monsters and looked at Jake.

“Um… about that, do you mind if I live here?”
“Huh? You were going to find your comrades…”
“Agh! They seem to have moved while I was gone!”
“Oh, I’m fine with it.”

Having a dwarf who can make anything by your side is advantageous. Thus, one more member was added to our household.