Chapter 63: Chapter 63

Sunlight streamed through the window, making me roll over to avoid it and cling to a few more minutes of sleep. Holidays always make people love their beds, and I’m no exception.

Except as I kept rolling, the wall that usually stopped me on the left wasn’t there this time. The next thing I knew, I hit the wooden floor with a dull thud, and consciousness came rushing back.

“…This isn’t my house, is it?”

This place belongs to Granny Shi, an elderly woman from the village who kindly gave us shelter. When we first arrived, she not only helped treat Yuri’s wounds but even offered us food.

Yawning, I glanced out the window. Green rice fields stretched as far as I could see, birds fluttering overhead in hopes of pecking at the grain. The sun was already high. Reaching for my phone to check the time, I pressed the power button.

“Right… I forgot to ask Granny Shi if she had a charger.”

That could be a problem. I have no idea how long Yuri plans on staying here, and at the very least, I need to let my parents know I’m okay.

“Better ask now before I forget again.”

After tidying up the futon, I stepped out of the room and headed for the one next door.

“Yuri, are you awake?”

The door was locked, though slightly ajar, so I gave it a few knocks just in case.

A few seconds passed. No answer. No sound at all.

Peeking inside, I muttered, “She’s… gone?”

Empty. No one there. Just a bed left messy from sleep and a dead PSP lying on top.

Not too surprising if she woke up first.

Closing the door, I searched the other rooms: the living room, kitchen, even the bathroom.

But not only Yuri, Granny Shi was nowhere to be found either.

“…Where could they have gone?”

My lips twitched in unease, though I tried to stay calm. Stepping outside, I descended the stairs and checked the yard.

Still nothing. The road out front was just as quiet, no villagers passing by.

That’s when panic started creeping in.

Before my thoughts could spiral out of control, a faint sound reached my ears—a saw cutting through wood, coming from behind the house.

The house was built on tall stilts, leaving the space underneath wide open. From there, I caught a glimpse of the backyard.

Yuri stood on top of a fallen tree, gripping a saw and working on its trunk, while Granny Shi helped from the side.

Relief washed over me as I walked around to join them.

Hearing my footsteps, Granny Shi turned with a smile.

“Oh, you’re up. Sleep well?”

“Very. Thanks to you. By the way… this?”

I gestured toward the tree.

“Just an old tree that fell. I wanted to get rid of it, you know, but my back can’t handle it anymore. So while you’re here, I asked your girlfriend for help. Didn’t expect her to be so skilled.”

Makes sense now. Yuri woke up early and helped Granny Shi with this.

I felt a little guilty, like some lazy guest doing nothing.

“Is there anything I can help with?”

She shook her head firmly.

“No need, no need. This is women’s work. You’d only hurt yourself if you tried.”

My mouth opened to argue, but no words came out. After all, this is a world where women dominate.

Scratching my head awkwardly, I felt even more useless for not being able to help.

Men really are considered weak in this world.

Yuri, apparently done cutting the tree, set the saw aside and walked over to us.

She wiped the sweat from her forehead with her arm, her bangs now a mess, and said:

“…I’m finished. Don’t worry about it, Ren. And Granny Shi, we’re not a couple.”

“Really? But he didn’t deny it.”

I turned my face away.

That’s because I’m tired of hearing this assumption. First Yona, now Yuri. Who’s next? Hina?

Granny Shi chuckled, then added:

“Well, since you’re both up, how about taking a bath first? You two are starting to smell.”

Instinctively, I almost sniffed myself, but stopped. No need. I already knew. We sweated last night and went straight to bed. No doubt it’s awful.

“Where’s the bathroom, Granny Shi?”

“Bathroom? Hmm… didn’t I tell you water’s a bit scarce in the village? Mine’s only for doing your business. If you want to wash up, you’ll have to go to the river.”

The rural breeze slipped through my T-shirt, rustling my dry hair as we walked out of Granny Shi’s house toward the river.

Now that it was midday, the village scenery came into full view, with more people out and about.

Stay-at-home dads hanging laundry. Kids playing and running off who knows where. A woman, likely just back from the fields, balancing a basket on her head.

“This world is… strange.”

Seeing women in office suits back in the city wasn’t too shocking. There were plenty of working women in my old world too.

But here in the countryside, women working as farmers? Now it really feels like a different world.

Beside me, Yuri tilted her head. She held a dipper filled with bathing supplies and a towel.

Meanwhile, I carried a plastic bag with the change of clothes Granny Shi had given me.

“…Forget it. By the way, Yuri, have you ever bathed in a river?”

“Pretty often, back then. Sometimes with Grandpa, or Dad.”

“Really? This is my first time. There’s a river near my house, but I usually played in the mountains…”

We won’t drown or get swept away by the current, right? I’m not sure school swimming lessons will help much out here.

“…Played in the mountains? Sounds like you were quite the tomgirl as a kid…”

Her words made my ears twitch. For a moment, I wondered if I misheard.

“…Uh, a term for guys who like girly things. Ren always gave me that vibe… because, you know, liking games and stuff.”

Figures. I’m not from this world, after all. Still, “tomgirl” sounds like a weird term.

I always thought this world was strange. But in their eyes, isn’t it me who’s strange here?

Lost in thought, I froze when I felt a tug on the back of my shirt.

Turning around, I saw a little girl, probably kindergarten age, staring at me with wide, curious eyes.