Back home, I fell deep into thought.

  How could I spend more time with Si-hyun?

  The answer turned out simpler than expected.

  "Living together..."

  Wouldn't that solve everything?

  But there was a major problem.

  Si-hyun hadn't even progressed our relationship much - how could he possibly agree to move in together?

  "Ah, is there really no way?"

  Then I remembered our joint account.

  The one we opened when we first discussed buying a campervan.

  Having been Hunters for over half a year, we'd saved quite a substantial amount.

  A campervan...

  If it's large enough, wouldn't it be just like a house?

  Then living together would happen naturally.

  Since it's necessary for our Hunter lifestyle, Si-hyun might surprisingly agree without hesitation.

  I started researching to convince Si-hyun about buying a campervan.

  Looking up types and sizes online, I discovered there were far more details and necessary equipment than I imagined.

  There were towable types that connect to existing vehicles, integrated motorhomes,

  and even ones as large as giant buses?

  The large campers with luxury hotel-like configurations had ridiculously high prices.

  To meet my expectations, we'd need at least a Class C Campervan, right?

  The cheapest ones started at 100 million won, and better-equipped models cost even more? Plus all the additional expenses...?

  I checked our account balance again.

  The bankbook showed only 40 million won. Considering this was what two people saved over half a year, it was actually quite substantial rather than small.

  But still far from enough for a campervan.

  "Ah..."

  So disappointing. I thought I'd found an easy way to live with Si-hyun, but we'd need to save for much longer.

  Dejected, I sank back into thought.

  Maybe Si-hyun was right about me considering cohabitation so soon...

  Thinking carefully, I did seem rather impatient and anxious.

  I feared Si-hyun's heart might drift away, which made me cling tighter to him.

  Lost in gloomy thoughts, I slapped my cheeks to snap out of it.

  Rubbing my stinging face, I went downstairs to find Mom in the kitchen.

  "Mom! Teach me how to cook!"

  Mom looked surprised at my request.

  "Si-yeon? Why do you suddenly want to learn cooking?"

  "Um... well... bride lessons?"

  The words shocked even me.

  Why mention bride lessons when I could have just said I wanted to learn cooking?

  "Si-yeon? Don't tell me..."

  Cornered by Mom, I had no choice but to confess everything.

  When I admitted discovering my feelings for Si-hyun and that we'd been dating for a while, Mom looked astonished.

  But then she expressed her support.

  Turns out Mom and Si-hyun's parents grew up together?

  The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  No wonder she seemed so pleased.

  "Um... please keep this secret for now."

  "Of course, I'll keep it quiet until we set a wedding date."

  Mom smiled with particular mischief.

  What does she take her daughter for?

  "So you want to learn cooking?"

  "Yes!"

  And so I began learning cooking from Mom.

  She started with how to use kitchen tools, especially giving detailed instructions about knife skills.

  There were more details to remember than I expected.

  "Si-yeon, the key is following recipes exactly."

  "R-really?"

  "Recipes exist to be followed. Just do as they say and you'll make delicious food."

  "I-I see."

  "Nowadays there are many recipes online too. Follow the measurements and steps, and it shouldn't be too difficult."

  Mom and I prepared dinner together.

  Though Mom watched nearby and helped when I might make mistakes, I prepared most of the meal myself.

  The results were soybean paste soup, several side dishes, and the main course of spicy stir-fried pork.

  "It's... it's done?"

  It took nearly two hours.

  But it smelled good, tasted better than expected, and seemed free of errors.

  "You did better than I imagined."

  "R-really?"

  "Just control the heat properly and follow the recipe for the rest."

  "Right, and be careful with the knife?"

  "Yes, you did wonderfully."

  I felt nervous during our family dinner.

  Oppa and Dad were going to eat my cooking? What if they said it tasted bad?

  But since I'd be cooking for Si-hyun later, this could serve as a practice run.

  As usual, the meal proceeded quietly.

  The silence made me more anxious.

  After eating, Oppa spoke first:

  "The side dishes aren't as good as usual."

  Ouch, he said they're bad?

  Though I knew they couldn't match Mom's cooking, hearing it still stung.

  "Si-yeon made them."

  "What? Si-yeon who can't even cook instant noodles?"

  "Yes, I made them! So what!"

  Sudden emotion made tears fall.

  "It was quite delicious. Sung-yeon just didn't prepare them properly."

  Dad's words eased my mood slightly.

  "Hey, don't cry. I apologized."

  Teasing my flustered Oppa felt satisfying.

  Though I'd genuinely shed tears, it was only a little.

  I realized cooking was simpler than expected, but also discovered how much remained to learn.

  Like how to identify fresh ingredients and find tasty ones.

  I heard even the same fish cake could taste completely different depending on the manufacturer's recipe.

  These details needed gradual memorization.

  Mom mentioned recent ready-made meal kits had improved greatly, suggesting buying and modifying them was also an option.

  Overall, I'd surprisingly easily grasped the basics of cooking.

  The real challenge lay in mastering their application.

  -

  Considerable time had passed since Si-hyun and I started dating.

  We'd visited several Expedition Sites together and gone on multiple dates.

  Today was designated a rest day.

  Importantly, we'd planned to work out together.

  Si-hyun frequented a gym exclusively for the Awakened, reportedly with sturdier facilities and better equipment than regular gyms.

  The monthly fee shocked me.

  While community gyms cost 50,000 to 80,000 won, this one charged 250,000.

  But they claimed the facilities justified the price.

  "So there's a bathhouse connected to a pool and sauna?"

  "Correct, those amenities make it worthwhile."

  "Still too expensive."

  "Coming regularly makes it feel less wasteful."

  "How often do you come monthly?"

  "Hmm? Around twenty days? More when I'm solo. But it drops when I go on distant Expeditions."

  "Well... since we're paying monthly fees, let's stick to nearby Expedition Sites we can visit and return from in a day."

  The cost still pained me.

  Especially after seeing Campervan prices, I worried how long saving would take.

  Should I ask Oppa for money?

  No, absolutely not. I already relied on him too much.

  Si-hyun led me to the gym, more impressive and luxurious than I'd imagined.

  "This... this entire six-story building is the gym?"

  "Yes, the first floor's nothing special. The main areas start from the second."

  While registering for membership under the staff's guidance, my hands trembled with nerves.

  Even with top-tier facilities, 250,000 won monthly was outrageous.

  Though advertised for Awakened users, apparently regular people could join too.

  Then again, this caliber of facility would naturally draw wealthy civilians.

  During form filling, the staff detailed each area:

  Second floor housed baths, sauna, and locker rooms. Sixth floor had the pool.

  Third floor was cardio, fourth floor strength training, fifth floor yoga, Pilates, and rock climbing.

  All areas except bathing sections were co-ed.

  The display photos showed this was nothing like any gym I'd known.

  Equipment looked premium and immaculate.

  "Finally, would you like personal training sessions?"

  Personal training? Like having a coach hover nearby?

  That would bankrupt me for sure.

  "No."

  "We have female trainers."

  "Really, no."

  "Understood. You're now a member with full facility access."

  After completing procedures, Si-hyun waited outside.

  "Why not go in first?"

  "Waiting for you. Let's hit the locker rooms, then which floor?"

  Which floor... Not the pool, since I had no swimsuit anyway.

  "Meet you on three."

  "Right."

  The locker room surpassed expectations in luxury, with membership cards assigning permanent lockers.

  Seeing the clothes I'd brought made me anxious again.

  A pair of skirted leggings and newly bought activewear.

  All purchased online after deciding to join this gym.

  Sports bras were particularly tricky - ugly and overpriced for larger cup sizes, but they'd be hidden under tees anyway.

  Completely different from the compression gear worn during Expeditions... though trying them on proved they were genuinely comfortable.

  These purchases drained my emergency fund, forcing me to use Dad's card.

  Sorry, Dad.

  Changed and arriving on the third floor, Si-hyun stood waiting at the entrance.

  "Made it?"

  "Yeah."

  "What exercise first?"

  I thought it over:

  "Something to build stamina would be best."

  "In that case, let's do cardio."

  Following Si-hyun's guidance, I began training gradually.

  I kept feeling hostile stares from surrounding men.

  Could it be...

  Do all couples deserve to die?

  After pushing through 30 minutes on the treadmill, I was panting and drenched in sweat.

  "You've got decent stamina though."

  "R-really?"

  Well, frequent Expeditions had built some endurance.

  While resting after the treadmill, Si-hyun suddenly started massaging my leg muscles, and the surrounding glares intensified immediately.

  He paid no attention to those stares at all.