I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 251

Side Story 6

“This is our home, Princess.”

Number 2 opened the door, presenting the house with as much courtesy as he could manage.

Snow White surveyed the interior, her expression unreadable. It was immediately obvious that the ceiling was too low; she’d likely hit her head. She also noticed the bedding, neatly arranged to suit the dwarves’ heights. Seeing this, she immediately lost any desire to enter.

“I’ll stay somewhere nearby. I’ll still hunt as promised, so keep that in mind.”

At the princess’s words, Number 5 covered his mouth, feigning surprise. “Oh, but how can the Princess sleep outside!”

“I’m fine, so just remember that.”

As she turned to leave, someone tugged at the hem of Snow White’s skirt.

Slightly annoyed, Snow White turned, but her expression softened when she saw it was Number 8, Seo-ah, who had tugged on her skirt.

“…Why?”

She lowered herself to his level and asked gently.

“You’re not going far away, are you?”

Worry filled Seo-ah’s expression. Snow White chuckled and stroked Number 8’s hair.

“No, I’ll be nearby.”

Then, with a rustle of her dress, she quickly disappeared into the forest.

The dwarves buzzed with chatter.

“The Princess runs really fast.”

“Is the Princess always like that?”

“I don’t know; it’s my first time seeing the Princess!”

The chattering dwarves all went inside as the sun set. And that night, as always, they soothed their hungry bellies with potatoes before going to bed.

Seo-ah lay down, waiting for everyone to fall asleep. He had so much to talk about with Yoo Ji-an.

Finally, when the dwarves began to snore, Seo-ah quietly slipped outside.

‘Where did she go? She said she’d be around here.’

He cautiously entered the forest where Snow White had disappeared. The moonlight offered some light, but the forest remained dark. Fortunately, his S-class hunter’s night vision allowed him to see ahead.

Occasionally, he encountered wild animals or snakes, but they weren’t very threatening. Still, he couldn’t shake a sense of fear.

Walking alone in the forest, where not a single ray of light penetrated, a sense of dread slowly crept in.

“Ugh, how far did she go?”

Rustle.

He stepped on fallen leaves and bushes, venturing deeper, when suddenly he heard a voice in the dark.

“Why did you come all the way here? It’s dangerous.”

“Oh… !”

The voice came from above. Looking up, he saw the hem of a dress hanging down from a tree. A smile spread across Seo-ah’s face.

“What, were you up there?”

“I like it here because I’m not disturbed.”

“Wait for me.”

Seo-ah vigorously kicked his short legs and leaped. He stepped on a low branch to gain momentum and jumped up to the branch where Snow White was.

Then, Snow White grabbed Seo-ah and placed him directly on her lap.

“Isn’t it uncomfortable to sleep here?”

“At least more than that house.”

“I guess so…”

It wasn’t easy to squeeze into that small space and sleep. Even Seo-ah, who was small like them, couldn’t easily fall asleep there. Besides, this place was also a gate [a portal or entrance to another dimension].

Seo-ah took a moment to carefully examine Yoo Ji-an’s face, now framed by the persona of Snow White.

“Hehe, I wish I could take a picture. You’re really pretty.”

But Snow White didn’t seem to agree with Seo-ah’s words. She turned her head away and grumbled.

“I don’t like it. It’s just cumbersome.”

“The dress does look a bit like that. Can’t you change your clothes?”

“Yeah, I tried, but it doesn’t work.”

“Oh dear…”

“Anyway, you…”

Snow White turned her gaze back to Seo-ah and smiled slyly.

“You’re small.”

She put her palm on top of his head as if to gauge his height. Seo-ah also spread his fingers wide as if he was amazed.

“I think I’m about five years old. Hehe, and believe it or not, I’m a boy!”

As if to prove it, Seo-ah reached for his pants, but Snow White hurriedly stopped him, embarrassed.

“Okay, put it away.”

“Ah, then how does Yoo… I mean, the Princess go to the bathroom? That, it must have disappeared?”

“I’ll take you. Go in and sleep.”

“Ah, just a little more…”

Snow White jumped down from the tree with the Number 8 dwarf, Seo-ah, in her arms. From the ground, she slowly walked between the trees.

She was still holding Seo-ah. He looked at her slender, white arms in amazement.

“Is there no difference in strength?”

“Since the stats are the same, to some extent. I feel a slight difference, but it doesn’t really matter.”

“Well, except that my arms and legs are short… it’s the same for me.”

The wriggling arms and legs were adorable.

“Oh, a wolf!”

On the way, a couple of wolves ran towards them, but neither of them showed any fear.

Grrr- Woof!

She easily kicked away the attacking wolves, knocking them unconscious, and continued her slow stroll. Before he knew it, she was near the dwarves’ cabin.

But several of the dwarves were wandering around with torches.

“Number 8! Where’s Number 8!”

“Little one! Where did you go this night?”

Seeing this, Seo-ah covered his mouth and muttered softly.

“Ah, I thought they were all asleep.”

“Go quickly.”

“I feel bad for some reason, even though I’m not really family…”

With that, Seo-ah jumped out of Snow White’s arms and ran to them.

“Number 8!”

“It’s Number 8! Where have you been all this time!”

“Oh, just for a bit! I was wondering where the Princess was!”

“You idiot, wild animals come out at night. Get inside quickly!”

Number 3 scolded Number 8 worriedly and took him home, and the other dwarves turned off the lights and went inside one by one.

* * *

The next morning.

“Wow! Look at this! Everyone come out and see!”

Number 4, who was the first to wake up and go outside, cheered. The other dwarves hurriedly rubbed their eyes and came out one by one.

“Oh! This is!”

“Wow, what is this?”

A rabbit and a small wild boar were placed in front of the door. They were also skinned and prepared so that they could be cooked and eaten right away.

“The Princess kept her promise!”

“It’s meat! We can eat meat today!”

Number 1 and Number 2, who came out late, hurriedly took the prepared animals into the kitchen.

Number 8, Seo-ah, stood a step away and stared blankly at the scene.

“Hmm…”

Thinking about her catching and preparing that all night made him feel touched and grateful.

“Number 8, what are you doing! Go wash your face quickly! You have to carry firewood too.”

“Ugh, okay! I got it!”

The dwarves, excited about the long-awaited meat dish, busily moved to help Number 1 and Number 2. It seemed that the dwarves were inherently diligent.

After filling their bellies with meat, Number 1 and Number 3 went out, saying they had business to attend to. The other dwarves also went out, saying they were going to check the mine.

Only the youngest, Number 8 Seo-ah, was left alone in the house.

Seo-ah, sitting on the porch in front of the house, stared blankly at the house when he felt someone approaching. Judging from the slow, dragging steps, it wasn’t Snow White.

‘Who is it?’

Slightly wary, he looked over the low fence. An old woman wearing a deep robe appeared in his sight. Seo-ah’s eyes widened.

‘That’s, Snow White’s witch…!’

Seo-ah looked around. Snow White should be here now? She has to come and eat the apple!

In the meantime, the old woman who had come closer spoke to Number 8 Seo-ah, who was on the porch.

“Little boy, have you seen a princess with skin as white as jade around here?”

The old woman’s voice was quite bizarre, but her tone was kind, creating a sense of incongruity.

Seo-ah pretended to be as nonchalant as possible and acted shamelessly.

“I saw her!”

“Oh, where did you see her?”

“She lives with us! But I think she’s gone somewhere now.”

“Oh, if I come around this time tomorrow, will the princess be there? There’s something I really need to tell her.”

“Maybe… she’ll be there!”

Even if she wasn’t, Seo-ah was planning to bring her.

Knowing who Snow White was, he didn’t have the slightest worry that he, no, she, might die from the poisoned apple.

“Okay, I’ll come again tomorrow.”

With that, the old woman disappeared, and Seo-ah jumped up.

“Snow Whiteee!”

He shouted loudly and quickly ran into the forest.

It wasn’t difficult to find her. As soon as Seo-ah shouted and ran around, she appeared out of nowhere.

But Snow White’s appearance was a sight to behold.

“T-The skirt… !”

The long hem of the dress was cut off haphazardly, revealing her smooth, white calves.

“Ah, this. It was too cumbersome for hunting anyway.”

She roughly tied her long hair up into a bun, making her look like a butcher. Of course, Snow White’s beauty still shone like no other.

“Oh dear, come here.”

At Seo-ah’s gesture, Snow White readily approached.