Healing in the Country Side with a Baby Dragon - CHAPTER 19 (New Worker, Oh Sik)

Before I could even celebrate my accidental discovery of a health potion, I had a more pressing issue on my hands: I needed to move this person inside.

I tried to remove the armor covering their entire body, but the pieces were so tightly bound and locked together that they wouldn’t budge. I was terrified that if I used too much brute force, I might end up damaging the armor—or worse, hurting the person inside—so I eventually had to leave it alone. I would have done anything just to inspect their wounds, but I was completely stuck.

As I stood there scratching my head, wondering what to do next, a little voice chirped.

“Huh?”

Before I knew it, Seol-ah was tilting her head right next to me, inspecting the fallen guest. She seemed to find the situation quite strange.

“The clothes are unusual, aren't they?” I explained gently, looking down at the heavy plate. 

“It’s called armor, and it’s meant to protect the body.”

“Ouch.”

“But it just won’t come off. I'm completely stuck, Seol-ah.”

The moment the words left my mouth, Seol-ah reached out and placed her tiny, delicate hand directly onto the breastplate. Suddenly, transparent ripples of magical energy spread outward from her palm.

*Clank, clank, click!*

A succession of sharp unlocking sounds began to ring out across the metal. The armor plates, which had been so tightly interlocked and sealed, instantly loosened and fell away from each other.

“Uh... what?”

What I couldn't achieve with all my strength had been solved with a single, casual gesture from a baby. It seemed the suit hadn't just been buckled tightly; it had been sealed by some kind of advanced magical binding.

“Did you just unlock that, Seol-ah?”

“Huh?”

When I asked in sheer surprise, Seol-ah just looked up at me with an innocent, wide-eyed expression, acting as if she didn’t even realize what an incredible thing she had just done.

“Our Seol-ah is an absolute genius!”

I immediately patted her head and showered her with praise. As expected of my daughter! This wasn't just a proud parent's bias; it was an undeniable, objective fact. Our Seol-ah was simply the best.

“Blah blah blah!”

Seol-ah crossed her tiny arms and smiled confidently, clearly soaking in the compliments.

After pouring out a final barrage of praise, I began carefully sliding the armor off the loosened joints. The weight of the metal was staggering.

‘Wow, it would have been disastrous if I'd left this on.’

Leaving such a crushing lump of iron on top of a critically injured patient would have undoubtedly caused internal damage.

“Our Seol-ah did a wonderful job, seriously.”

“Brrrrrr—”

I gave her another round of praise, which she acknowledged with a happy little purr.

Once the bulk of the suffocating armor was removed, the person underneath was finally revealed, completely drenched in blood and sweat. Fortunately, the juice seemed to have already done its work; there didn't seem to be any major, life-threatening lacerations left. I simply wiped away the dried blood covering their face, made sure they were resting comfortably, and stepped out of the room.

By the time I finished, it was already noon—right around lunchtime.

“I guess I should prepare some proper patient food.” I muttered to myself.

Since I had to cook anyway, it would be best to make something easily digestible that would help an injured person recover their strength. I recalled hearing that in the West, people usually eat light soups when they're sick. But what about a comforting, Korean-style broth?

“Beef radish soup sounds perfect.”

The combination of tender meat and a clean, clear broth would be incredibly nourishing.

With the menu decided, I headed out to the garden. I pulled a fresh green onion from the soil, then reached for a large radish, gripping it firmly before hauling it upward. A plump, beautifully formed radish emerged from the rich dirt. It looked remarkably appetizing, transitioning from a clean white at the bottom to a vibrant, healthy green at the top.

[Pristine Radish - Grade: A]

[A radish grown with exceptional care by the earth fairies. It possesses a magnificent fragrance and a crisp, refreshing taste.]

Even the status window was practically drooling.

The moment I washed the radish clean, peeled it, and sliced into it with my knife, a satisfying, crisp 'crunch' echoed through the kitchen. I loved the solid, clean resistance of the vegetable beneath the blade. A sudden, sharp burst of fresh, peppery aroma bloomed into the air.

I cut a thin slice, popped it into my mouth, and chewed.

*Crunch.*

A refreshing, remarkably sweet juice filled my mouth instantly. The texture was incredibly crisp.

“Blah blah!”

Seol-ah was suddenly sitting right next to me, her mouth wide open like a hungry baby bird, demanding a piece for herself. I popped a slice into her mouth.

“Ouch.”

She smiled brightly, chewing happily. It was an instant hit.

However, a split second later, a chorus of soft noises arose.

“Squeak, squeak, squeak.”

Before I knew it, Nurungji, Siru, and Seolgi had lined up right next to Seol-ah. They were making pitiful, whining sounds, pleading with their eyes not to be forgotten.

“Okay, okay, I see you guys.”

Fearing they might actually start crying if left out, I chopped the radish into tiny, puppy-safe pieces and fed them one by one.

*Crisp, crunch.* 

They chewed the radish vigorously, their little tails wagging. This radish was so inherently sweet and flavorful that it was bound to make an incredible broth.

After gathering the rest of my ingredients, I drizzled sesame oil into a large pot, tossed in the beef, and began to stir-fry it. A rich, savory aroma quickly enveloped the entire kitchen.

I seasoned the meat with a splash of soy sauce, poured in a generous amount of water, and brought the mixture to a rolling boil. I carefully skimmed off the foam and impurities rising to the surface, tossed in the diced radish, and let it simmer. As the soup bubbled away, the kitchen grew warm and cozy. A gentle breeze drifted in through the open window, cooling the sweat on my forehead.

Leaving the soup to simmer on low heat so the rich flavors could fully mature, I took some time to play with Seol-ah on the living room floor. Before long, Nurungji, Siru, and Seolgi joined the chaos.

Truth to be told, I was pretty exhausted from the hectic morning. I sat back against the wall and simply watched them play, enjoying the quiet moment.

Seolgi came trudging over to me with droopy ears and sleepy eyelids. The little guy crawled right between my legs, entirely unbothered by my size, and rested his chin heavily on my ankle. He let out a massive yawn and blinked his heavy eyes at me.

“Well, hello there. Are you already tired out after playing for so long?”

Unbothered by my teasing, Seolgi closed his eyes and drifted off into a comfortable nap. Meanwhile, Nurungji and Siru were still bursting with energy, chasing Seol-ah around the room. Nurungji, in particular, was hot on Seol-ah’s heels, scrambling forward on his tiny paws until he completely lost his balance and tumbled over. He quickly scrambled back up, flailing his young limbs, and resumed the chase.

Siru, on the other hand, had grown curious about the pile of medieval armor resting in the corner and was thoroughly sniffing the metal plates.

Watching the scene unfold, a sudden, overwhelming wave of contentment washed over me.

‘Ah... this is nice.’

It wasn't anything dramatic or extravagant. It was just a quiet afternoon where I could pet sleepy puppies with my fingertips and watch my child play safely in a warm room. Yet, it felt truly peaceful. It was the kind of pure happiness that made me wish this exact moment could stretch on forever—a beautiful harmony underscored by the gentle, rhythmic bubbling of the soup on the stove.

But the peace was abruptly broken.

“Ugh!”

A sharp, panicked gasp echoed from the guest bedroom. It looked like our knight had finally awakened.

Seol-ah and the three puppies stopped what they were doing, all turning their heads toward the bedroom door at the exact same instant. Having a SSS-class dragon and three hellhounds intensely staring into a sickroom felt like a recipe for a heart attack for a confused patient.

“It’s okay, guys. I’ll go check on them.”

I gently moved the sleeping puppy off my ankle and stepped into the room.

“Oh... no... where is... the armor... where...!”

I found the knight frantically groping at their own body with trembling hands. They looked utterly terrified and disoriented, realizing they were entirely stripped of their weapons and protective plate.

“Hey there.”

At the sound of my voice, the knight snapped their head around, their bright eyes widening to the size of saucers. They instantly scrambled back into the furthest corner of the bed, trembling all over. Were they really that anxious without their armor?

'Hmm, well then.'

“Your armor is right here.” I said soothingly. I picked up the heavy metal pieces—deliberately leaving the sword behind for safety—and placed them neatly on the floor within their sight.

Before the knight could desperately lung for the metal, I intervened with a gentle question. 

“More importantly, how are you feeling? Is your body okay?”

I wanted to check their health first.

The knight stared at me with deeply confused, guarded eyes for a long moment before slowly, hesitantly nodding.

“If you're feeling up to it, you should probably wash your body before putting that heavy armor back on.” I suggested, pointing toward the adjoining bathroom. “I’ll leave the armor right here, so there's no need to be scared.”

I opened the bathroom door for them and left a clean set of comfortable tracksuits on the counter just in case. Once I stepped back out into the main house, the sound of running water began to echo from the shower. No matter how precious that armor was to them, it must have been incredibly uncomfortable to sit in it while covered in dried blood and sweat.

While they cleaned up, I checked on the beef radish soup. The clear broth had matured beautifully. I grabbed a spoon, added a tiny pinch of pepper, and took a cautious sip to test the seasoning.

“Wow...”

An involuntary sigh of pure admiration welled up from the depths of my chest. The soup was piping hot, yet the flavor profile was incredibly clean and refreshing. The savory richness of the beef perfectly complemented the deep, nutty aroma of the sesame oil—which had been pressed directly at a traditional mill—and the bright fragrance of the green onions tied it all together.

Most impressively, the cool, sweet essence of the radish had infused the broth with a depth of flavor that felt bottomless. The sliced radish melted like butter on my tongue, offering a completely different, velvety charm compared to the crisp sweetness it possessed when raw.

It was perfect.

“Seol-ah, lunchtime!” I called out.

I set up the low dining table and began dishing out the food. Of course, I hadn't forgotten the pets. I had prepared a separate, puppy-friendly stew just for the three little ones—simply boiling the beef and radish together in plain water without any green onions, sesame oil, or soy sauce.

Just as the bowls were set, the bedroom door clicked open, and the knight stepped out.

“Oh.”

“Ouch.”

Cleaned up and dressed in the simple tracksuit, they looked like an entirely different person. Strands of brilliant blond hair framed bright green eyes and a face so strikingly beautiful it was genuinely disorienting.

“Thank you.” the guest said, bowing politely.

Their voice was smooth and melodic—the kind of handsome, ambiguous elegance that would make you confuse them for a prince straight out of a fairy tale. The knight stood there, looking at us with a rigid, tense posture.

An awkward silence stretched across the room.

“Um... I suppose I should take my leave now.” the youth murmured, slowly shuffling backward toward the front door.

I snapped out of my daze. I had briefly lost my train of thought just staring at them.

“Wait, sit down for a moment first.”

“Yes?”

“Just sit down for a moment, please.”

Though clearly bewildered, the youth slowly approached the table and awkwardly knelt down on the floor. I wondered if the posture was uncomfortable for them, but then again, a proper cross-legged sit is usually harder for foreigners anyway, so this was probably fine.

“Let’s eat before you go.”

“Rice...?”

Since I had already gone through the trouble of cooking a massive pot of soup, it only felt right to feed them a warm meal before sending them on their way. The youth stared blankly as I set a steaming bowl of beef radish soup and a mountain of fluffy white rice right in front of them, looking entirely caught off guard. Their face was a canvas of pure confusion.

“You eat it like this.” I explained, demonstrating by scooping a spoonful of rice and soaking it directly into the hot broth.

The knight swallowed thickly. The rich aroma filling the room was clearly wreaking havoc on their empty stomach. They picked up the spoon with an awkward, trembling grip, brought a mouthful of the soup-soaked rice to their lips, and took a bite.

“...!”

The youth froze mid-motion, their eyes flying wide open. Their pupils shook violently.

'Huh? Is it because it's not Western food? Do they hate it?'

I worried for a second. 

'I made sure not to make it spicy, though...'

Before I could spiral into doubts, the armored knight suddenly began to absolutely inhale the food. They moved the spoon with such frantic, desperate speed it looked like they were trying to consume the entire ceramic bowl. Within what felt like mere seconds, the youth had drained the last drop of broth and was aggressively scraping the bottom of the bowl with their spoon.

“Is it to your liking?” I asked, amused.

“...Yes.” they whispered, a deep crimson blush rapidly spreading across their cheeks as they realized how wildly they had just eaten. Yet, despite their embarrassment, their eyes remained utterly glued to the empty pot on the stove.

“Would you like another bowl?”

“Is there... more?”

“There’s plenty, so eat as much as you want. Let me refill that for you.”

“Yes! Please!” They nodded urgently, life instantly returning to their green eyes.

I smiled, glad the food suited their palate, and handed back a incredibly generous second helping of soup and rice. The storm of eating commenced once more. Seol-ah locked eyes with our guest and burst into a bright, giggling laugh.

“Ugh, ugh.”

Before I knew it, the puppies had completely emptied their own bowls as well. They were tugging aggressively at the hem of my shirt, whining for a second round of the beef broth.

“My goodness, look at you all go. Eat up, eat up. I’ll give you some more.”

As I ladled extra soup into the puppies' dishes, they dove back into their food with an enthusiasm that rivaled our guest's.

Meanwhile, the knight finished their second bowl, cleared their throat, and looked at me expectantly. 

“Could I... perhaps have one more?”

They shouted for a third bowl, and then a fourth.

To my absolute astonishment, their appetite seemed completely bottomless. By the time the meal finally concluded, the knight had polished off five massive bowls of soup and rice. The three puppies had also overeaten to the point of absurdity; their little bellies were visibly distended, and they were sprawled out flat on the floor, completely defeated by food coma.

'Seriously, is there a hidden subspace dimension inside that armor?' 

I wondered, staring at the stack of empty ceramics with a slightly exhausted expression.

“Ugh... I am so, so incredibly sorry.” the knight muttered, scratching the back of their head with a deeply sheepish grin. 

“I was just... profoundly hungry.”

“Well, it’s just a meal. Don't worry about it.” I replied, intending to brush it off lightly.

But the moment I dismissed it, the knight’s expression turned dead serious. 

“Please, allow me to repay this immense favor.”

"Pardon?"

“If you will permit it, I wish to assist you in any way I can. I swear upon my honor as a knight, I will repay my debt!”

I stared at them, completely baffled. Why was this incredibly beautiful person acting so intense over a few bowls of soup?

“Look, you should probably focus on returning to wherever it is you came from.”

“To be entirely honest with you...” 

The youth lowered their gaze, their voice dropping to a vulnerable whisper. 

“I have no recollection of my name, or where I live. Truly.”

Amnesia? Seriously?

The knight looked up at me, their green eyes wide and utterly desperate. “If you will only take me in, I will perform any task you command! Whether it is manual labor, fighting, or anything at all! Please, let me stay here!”

“Hold on. Why on earth would a simple farmer need to hire a high-ranking knight?”

“Please! I beg of you! Just until my memories return!”

Before I could stop them, the blond youth slid off the chair, dropped to both knees on the floor, and began to desperately plead.

Right on cue, a familiar translucent screen manifested right before my eyes.

[Healing Life of a Beginner Farmer]

[You have discovered an exceptional worker!]

[A magnificent labor asset has walked right into your home on their own two feet. Do not squander this golden opportunity. Let us delegate all tedious chores and annoying tasks to maximize the efficiency of your new workforce!]

'Wow, Status Window... you sound incredibly casual about blatant labor exploitation.'

I thought, sweating a bit at the prompt's tone.

But as I gave it some actual thought, the proposition wasn't terrible. Having a literal medieval knight as a farmhand? Honestly, it sounded pretty amazing. Plus, given the chaotic nature of my life, having a trained warrior around could be a massive help if things ever got dangerous.

“...Alright, fine.” I conceded.

The moment the permission left my mouth, the knight’s face lit up with profound emotion, and they bowed their head so low it nearly touched the floor. 

“Thank you, my lord! I shall serve you with unwavering loyalty!”

“No, don't call me 'lord'.”

“I pledge my very life to your cause, my lord!”

“Just call me Jin-sol.”

“Oh! My true lord, Jin-sol!”

“Stop that...” I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose. It was clear they had already firmly decided to treat me like a feudal master, and there was no changing their mind.

Still, a practical problem remained. What was I supposed to call them if they couldn't remember their own identity?

“You really can't remember a single thing about your name?”

“Yes, I am deeply ashamed to admit it, but I cannot remember.”

“Then what should I call you?”

“Whatever title pleases you, my lord. Please, bestow a name upon me.”

At those words, my gaze drifted naturally over to the towering stack of five empty bowls sitting on the table.

“Oh-sik.” I declared. 

“From now on, your name is Oh-sik (Five Meals).”

“...O-Oh-sik?”

“What, you're not feeling it?”

The youth’s gorgeous face contorted into a brief expression of sheer, comical dismay before he quickly corrected his posture and lowered his head in solemn acceptance.

“I, your humble servant Oh-sik, swear my eternal loyalty to you from this day forward.”

And just like that, a breathtakingly beautiful, blond-haired amnesiac knight named Oh-sik officially joined our farm as my newest worker.