Transmigrated as the Cuck.... WTF!!!
Chapter 190. Peace and Quiet

Chapter 190: 190. Peace and Quiet

I started to join the puzzle pieces, trying to connect the branches in my mind—to see what kind of pattern they were forming. After concentrating for a while, letting the lines twist and converge, I came to a conclusion.

It was a bizarre shape.

The more I stared at it, the clearer it became.

It looked like the face of a reindeer—only instead of eyes, it had a pair of twisted, broken horns. There was something writhing between them, a tangled, fleshy mass. A tentacle. Or maybe several, wound together. That was the shape that kept forming in my mind, no matter how many times I tried to unsee it.

Kaelira winced beside me, taking a small step back. "A reindeer with tentacles... what kind of cursed face is that? I’m sure this is just a coincidence. If this is some kind of code language or symbol. Maybe a cult’s weird crest." She muttered, voice strained. "Then whoever made this needs therapy."

I gave her a sidelong glance, my tone dry. "Hmm... yeah. Just as you said. Let’s get out of here. No need to waste time on... on this coincidental monstrosity."

Kaelira nodded, humming absently as she turned around and began walking back the way we came. I followed her after a pause, giving the shape one last glance over my shoulder before I turned away.

I kept pace with her and asked, "So, should we head back? It’s already night. We should probably return before this Weeping Forest actually starts weeping. I’m not planning to babysit a tree that needs emotional support."

Kaelira shot me a sharp look. "Are you trying to be funny? Because that sure as hell isn’t. Don’t disrespect someone’s cry like that. You don’t know what kind of pain might lie behind it. Mind you—it takes a lot for someone to cry."

I tilted my head slightly and responded in a blunt tone, "What kind of bullshit are you spouting? Girls cry all the time. It doesn’t take that much for someone to cry... unless they’re prideful or egoistical. Everyone has a sore spot—once that gets poked, they burst like a dam."

"Even you?" she asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.

I didn’t say anything. I simply walked ahead, letting silence answer for me. Her steps faltered slightly behind me, and I heard it—her breath catching, a small sigh escaping her lips. I didn’t look back.

By the time we arrived back at the camp site, it had changed drastically.

Now, it looked like an actual settlement.

Tents were pitched in orderly lines. Small makeshift cabins stood between trees. A few proper wooden houses had been built already, sturdy enough to last. Probably the work of students with earth and wood affinities. They were efficient, surprisingly so.

Just as I was taking it all in, a girl approached me. Hesitant steps. She looked nervous—hands clasped together, fingers fidgeting restlessly.

"Ahm... ah... hello," she stammered out.

I smiled gently. "Yes, hello. Did you have something you wanted to say?"

I could feel Kaelira’s smirk searing into my back like a blade, but I ignored it entirely. Wholeheartedly.

The girl lowered her head, still playing with her fingers. "Ah... ahm... actually. You know..."

She trailed off again.

Still smiling, I took a step closer and gently reached out, taking her hand—not forcefully, but enough to offer reassurance. "Hey, calm down. No one’s going to hurt you or anything. Just say what you want. You don’t have to rush. Take your time."

A soft blush colored her cheeks, and she lifted her gaze just enough to meet my eyes—only for a fleeting second—before looking back down.

"Actually... I wanted to ask if you’d like a house. I specialize in wood elements, so I can make one for you, if you’d like..."

I nodded. "Alright, I understand. If it’s not too much trouble, then yes, please. But... what’s the price for it?"

She shook her head quickly, waving her hands. "No, no, there’s no price! We all just survived a life-and-death situation together. There’s no way anyone should be asking for compensation. That would be... inhumane."

I smiled again, this time more sincerely. "If that’s what you believe, then I’ll gratefully accept. And if you ever need help with anything, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll be glad to return the favor."

She looked up again, slightly longer this time, and gave a small, quiet nod.

Behind me, Kaelira chuckled under her breath. I could practically hear her whispering, "You just can’t help yourself, can you?" But again, I ignored it.

"Cassius, please follow me. I know a good place to build the house," the girl said, her voice soft but sure.

I stepped up beside her and gave a small nod. "Alright. You lead, I’ll follow."

As we began walking, I glanced over my shoulder at Kaelira, who lingered a few steps behind, watching us with that usual unreadable look on her face.

"Hey, Kael," I called out to her. "You should think about finding someone to build you a house too. Don’t wander around like some vagabond in the dead of night without a proper roof over your head. Even you need a place to rest."

She shot me a sharp look—half-annoyed, half-amused—and after a small sigh, she strode over until she stood beside me.

"How about I just accompany you?" she said, smugness curling into her tone. "You’d surely like that. Now wouldn’t you?"

I kept my gaze ahead and didn’t let my expression shift. "It’s just like you said. I’d be very pleased. But then again... you should be scared of living under the same roof as a youth in his twenties. I might just attack you."

From the corner of my eye, I caught the girl in front of us visibly flinch. A crimson flush colored her cheeks, streaking across her face like a soft watercolor bleeding through parchment.

Kaelira scoffed, arms crossed, unimpressed. "You’re a pussy. You won’t do shit. You didn’t touch me all this time, and you’re not gonna start now."

I didn’t even dignify her nonsense with a reply. Instead, I focused on matching the steps of the girl guiding us, whose ears were turning redder by the second.

Eventually, she brought us to a secluded spot—a little clearing slightly off the main camp trail. The sounds of the camp still reached us in faint murmurs, but the privacy here was undeniable.

"I can make a house here if you’d like," she said, stopping and turning to face us. "It’s far enough from the main camp. You two won’t be disturbed."

I tilted my head slightly. The way she said that... I wasn’t sure whether she was being genuine or sly. I had thought of her as some shy, innocent flower. But maybe she knew more than I gave her credit for.

Behind me, Kaelira snorted and let out a mocking laugh. "Pfft. You really do know your stuff, huh?" she said, stepping forward and draping an arm lazily around the girl’s shoulder. "Here I was thinking you had a crush on him or something. Didn’t expect you to go this far just for us."

The girl’s face combusted. She jerked away from Kaelira like she had been burned, her entire face now a flushed mess.

"N-No! I wouldn’t dare!" she stammered, flailing her arms. "He’s someone way out of my league—I know my place! Sorry! I didn’t mean to—if I gave that impression—!"

I stared at her, my expression calm. "Don’t undermine yourself."

She blinked.

"Everyone has worth," I continued. "Each of us is good at something in our own way. There’s no need to compare yourself to anyone else, and definitely no reason to belittle yourself because of it. Never lower yourself to someone just because you think they’re higher. That’s not how it works."

Kaelira’s eyes widened. Her jaw dropped into an exaggerated "O" of disbelief. "Damn! What the hell happened to you?" she muttered, blinking like I’d grown wings. "Since when did you start saying stuff like that? Did you become a monk or something? Planning to join a monastery on the Northern Continent now?"

Before I could retort, the girl interjected in a flustered voice, clearly wanting to escape the conversation altogether. "A-Ah! I’ll start building the house now! Please give me a moment!"

I took a step back and gestured for her to begin. She nodded quickly, crouched down, and placed her palms firmly against the soil.

"[Wood Workshop]!"

Mana surged through the ground in response to her command. A faint tremor vibrated beneath our feet. From the earth, wooden planks began to rise and slot themselves together like puzzle pieces.

A smooth floor took shape first, followed by upright beams, then the walls, window frames, and finally the roof and door. The magic worked efficiently, cleanly, like she had done this hundreds of times before.

Within minutes, a fully-formed wooden house stood proudly before us, simple but beautifully crafted. Its design wasn’t grand, but it had character. It had care in every corner.

Kaelira walked around the house, inspecting it with an appraising eye. "Damn! This looks gorgeous," she said, genuinely impressed. "You’ve definitely got a knack for architecture, girl. You should stick with this. Screw theory exams—this is your calling."

The girl smiled sheepishly, her face still slightly red, and gave a small bow. "Yes, that’s what I plan to pursue. Architecture, that is. Anyway, I’ll leave you two alone now. Enjoy your night."

With that, she waved goodbye and jogged back to the main camp, her steps light and hurried.

As silence settled around us, I scratched my chin and looked at the new wooden house.

A thought struck me.

"Hey, Kaelira," I said slowly, "this house was made entirely using the wood element, right?"

"Yeah?"

"That means it’s basically just... walls and floor. No interior. No furniture. No bed."

She raised an eyebrow. "So?"

"So..." I trailed off and looked her dead in the eyes, "by any chance do you have a bed in your inventory?"

Kaelira paused, then grinned like the devil himself.

"Hehe... I fucking do have."