Scrub Srub

While squatting, I carefully scrubbed the delicate lace clothing on the ground. The lace could easily get caught on twigs or stones, so I had to remove as much of it as possible.

“Ugh.”

If I were at home, I could just cut it with scissors or a knife, but for now, I had to improvise. Rubbing my sore arm with regret, for some reason, the girl who kidnapped me also squatted beside me. She was silent for a while, just looking at me with sad eyes, then she opened her mouth and asked.

“Hey, Gyeoul.”

“Yes?”

“Um… you know, if someone works too hard, they can get sick and pass out from exhaustion.”

She said something that anyone sane in this world would know, like I was a child unaware of it. Listening to her, I nodded, my eyes still focused on my hands scrubbing the clothes on the ground.

“I know. I used to faint often, and because I lived alone. I always lost hours of productive time due to having no one waking me up.”

“Eh, you faint often?”

“Yes. Some time ago, I fainted while trying to collect some acorns. I fainted while climbing the tree, fell, and accidentally broke a few bones.”

“That was really unpleasant. I had to lie under that tree for days, waiting for the pain in my bones to subside before I could walk back to my tent.”

The most dangerous thing, I think, is fainting while exploring the forest. Because there are many wild animals in the forest, and if one of them comes across my motionless body, they might think I’m dead and eat me.

“Isn’t it dangerous to faint like that?”

“Yes, it is dangerous. But what can I do?”

I would starve to death if I didn’t work. In my opinion, dying from exhaustion or injuries is much better than dying from starvation.

So, in order to eat, I have to work hard today as well.

Riiippp!

I enthusiastically tore the lace stuck to the edge of the clothing. Then the girl grabbed my hand.

“Hey, Gyeoul, don’t you want to take a break today?”

“Ah, why?”

“Well, it’s because people work better after they’ve rested.”

Ah, so she’s talking about work efficiency? I understand what she means, but I can’t rest right now.

“It’s okay. I have a lot to do.”

“What do you need to do?”

“Well, I need to check the apartment recycling area for useful items.”

This time, maybe I’ll find something valuable. I was already excited, imagining the treasure hunt when she forcefully lifted me.

“…No.”

“What?”

“You’re going to rest today, Gyeoul.”

“Eh, why?”

But treasure hunting is my favorite activity! It’s the time when I can find many valuable items for free. And she’s taking that precious time away from me. I looked at her, feeling sad that she was stopping me from doing my favorite activity.

“What you need most right now is rest, Gyeoul. Trust me and rest just for today.”

“But, that’s…”

She wants to force me to rest. Is the wicked witch finally showing her true colors? Feeling sad and reluctant, I decided to follow her advice. I know that rest can increase work efficiency, but I plan to take advantage of this unfavorable situation as much as possible.

“So, I only need to rest today? Just for today?”

“Yes, just for today.”

“Only today, then.”

The phrase sounded strange, but I agreed for now.

“May I go home to rest, then?”

“Yes. Rest should be taken in a comfortable place. I’ll take you there.”

She’s taking me there? That means she intends to follow me home. I’m not sure what she has planned, but I don’t intend to let her do as she pleases. Clenching my fists, I confidently told the girl.

“Yes. In that case, I’ll clean the chair.”

I went home with the girl. Although she said she would take me, it was disgusting to see her following me in. What is she planning with such behavior? I looked at her with suspicious eyes.

“Gyeoul, what are you going to do to relax?”

“Me?”

She suddenly spoke to me. Startled, I just looked around nervously.

“Yes. If we are resting, we should rest properly.”

Indeed, she wasn’t wrong. How one rests can affect their level of satisfaction. I pondered for a moment, then ran to the vegetable garden outside the house. I decided to make the most of this hard-earned rest time.

‘I need to plant new tomatoes and lettuce.’

Holding a sharp stone, I thrust it into the ground, thinking. Maybe today I could find a planting trowel at the recycling center. I was disappointed, but since I had decided to rest, I chose not to complain.

Thump!

Thump!

Each time I thrust the stone into the garden, pain shot through my palm. The calluses I once had when I was a man were all gone, and from the look of it, It would take a long time to get back to how they were.

As I was busy thrusting the stone, without my awareness, the girl had approached me.

“Um, Gyeoul…?”

“Yes?”

“We decided to rest today, remember?”

Her gaze shifted to my hands. which were covered in dirt.

“Yes, see? I’m resting.”

“Um… well… that’s not really resting, is it? You’ll be exhausted after tending the garden.”

“Huh?”

Tending the garden requires a lot of physical effort, but don’t ordinary people also tend their gardens on their days off? Confused, I tilted my head in puzzlement.

“If you garden now, later, after you’re done, your body will feel very tired.”

“Yes. It does make me very tired.”

“Right. Because of that, it can’t be counted as rest. Resting means your body and mind should feel relaxed.”

Hmm. Is that so? I carefully placed the stone down.

“Then what should I do to rest?”

“Um… doesn’t Gyeoul have something that makes your body and mind relax?”

Something that will make my body and mind relax. There is one thing.