Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Poksoon
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#023_Poksoon
#066
1.
Let me see.
It took 12 hours to get in, then I got my ass handed to me by Sunming midway through, so I was out cold for a full 24 hours.
Treasure hunting took 14 hours, and just getting back out took another 6.
That means I basically rotted in the sewers for nearly two straight days.
My impressions upon finally crawling out?
"Huaaaah! Poksoon, breathe! Breathe the air!"
"Huaaa!!!! This is the best! The air doesn't smell weird!"
The air of Necropolis—which could rival the streets of Delhi—seeped into my lungs like I was in some pristine Finnish forest.
And on top of that, the prize from this treasure hunt: the butterfly-shaped hair ornament now in my hand.
Dopamine exploding everywhere, no room for fatigue.
This wasn't the time to slack off?
"Bring on the booze and the girls right now!!!"
"It's feast time!!!"
Poksoon and I bolted to Hongshen Market in peak hype mode, the best we'd ever been.
Money on hand?
Just blow it all!
We slaved away for a week— one day of pure indulgence is fine!
That's what living's for—eat, drink, and be merry!
"Customer incoming!!!"
"Come on in!"
First stop: the skewer grill joint.
They seemed to use decent meat, but the prices were so steep I'd never even glanced before.
"Give me every single one of your best cuts here. And pack 10 bottles of gaoliang liquor."
"Master, this concubine doesn't enjoy gaoliang. Order beer."
"You brat! On a day like this? Beer is for girls."
"This concubine is a girl."
"Hm, compelling argument. Add 10 bottles of beer too."
Bought a massive haul of skewers, gaoliang, and beer.
"I'll pay if you let me drink with that girl too... Gahk!"
"Who the hell you eyeing! You wanna die?!"
"Filthy scum! Know your place!"
Like always, smashed the nose of some sleazy creep hitting on a girl.
"Poksoon! Pick your sticky rice cakes!"
"Shopkeep! 200 mochi! Gimme 200!"
"20 please."
"Why?!"
Even grabbed a ton of sticky rice cakes for Poksoon from the rice cake stand on the way home.
Strolled into the apartment arms full of spoils.
"Hey, hot water's all yours today."
"Really?! Can I boil two tubs?!"
"It's a good day! Boil two!! Nice and steamy shower!"
"Got it! Master!"
"Wanna shower together?!"
"...N-no, not that."
"Kabi."
Boiled water like crazy and scrubbed till we squeaked.
Unprecedented luxury since debuting in Necropolis.
After the shower, we set up our booze spread on the floor.
Menu: mystery meat skewers.
Bright red hotpot that'd punch a hole through your stomach on first sip.
Piles of mochi and booze bottles beside it.
Honestly, compared to the scraps from Eiming hyung, it was sorely lacking, and the prices rivaled Myeongdong street vendors...
"How is it?"
"Th-this is a feast fit for an emperor..."
"Right?"
You could tell just from Poksoon.
Drooling like a dog waiting at its food bowl with a "stay~".
"You worked hard all this time, Poksoon."
"Master worked hard too."
-Golgolgolgol
Poured drinks into our respective glasses.
Beer and gaoliang—different drinks, same cheers!
-Clink!
"Cheers!"
"Kanpai!"
Clinked glasses and downed them.
Fierce burn down the throat.
Acetone stench mixed with artificial pineapple at the nose.
Best they had, but cheap baijiu through and through.
If this got delivered to a Korean Chinese joint back home, I'd be the arsonist on the 9 o'clock news.
"Kuh...! Good stuff!"
"Kyaa...!"
But no problem here!
Cheap liquor you chug after cutting losses tastes like shit anyway—clear liquor after a loss streak is heaven's nectar.
"Ahh, seeps right into the bones!"
Grabbed a skewer and chomped away.
Over-spiced to mask the gamey smell, fake charcoal aroma.
Wash down the greasy aftertaste with more cheap baijiu...
"Kuh! Fuck yeah, this is livable Necropolis!"
Poksoon—apparently no liar about loving booze—knocked back her beer in one go.
Stuffed mochi in her mouth...
"Uuu... tastes like emotion..."
Tears welling in her softly closed eyes.
Fluffy likes fluffy stuff—double fluffy!
"Wanna play a drinking game?"
"Huh? Drinking game? Oh, that? Sounds good! Booze needs entertainment!"
Boring to just drink, so taught her a game.
"Sedric's favorite random~ game! Random~ game! Game start! Apartment apartment, apartment apartment. What floor we living on?"
"...Huh?"
"What? Hand here!"
"L-like this?"
"3rd floor! 1st floor! 2nd floor! 3rd floor! Poksoon wins!"
"Wh-what is this?! What's happening?!"
"Drinking games are learned while drinking! Drink up!"
"Oho! This concubine wins and drinks?!"
That apartment game that was trending lately.
"Girls fold."
"Ugh, f-folds for mean people! What?! Why not fold?!"
"No? I got a great personality?"
"Master ain't got a great personality!"
"If I had a bad one, you'd be out on the street. Right?"
"Ugh..."
"My turn. Folds for whoever eats less than Master."
"Uuu... D-does this concubine eat more?"
"Think with your conscience."
"Uuuugh!"
"All folded? Drink up."
"Kuh... Infuriating!"
Handongho game.
"Kyahaha! Finally! Finally! This concubine is queen! Master! Strip naked and dance to liven things up!"
"The counter-revolution...!!!!"
"...What's that?"
"Ahh, when a ruler loses virtue and torments the people, heaven revokes their mandate and bestows it on the virtuous. True Poksoon, you're no longer queen. From now on, I stand with heaven."
"Quit your bullshit excuses, human! This concubine even did bunny girl aegyo!"
King game too.
Drinking games ramp up the pace by nature.
Just the two of us? We were tipsy in no time.
Empty bottles and skewer trash scattered on the cramped floor.
I half-leaned on the bed; Poksoon lolled against my shoulder, swaying.
"Maaaster... Apple mango bingsu... that good?"
"Told ya~ When I hit Eden, first thing I'll feed ya."
"Better than sticky rice cakes?"
"Ha, fuck. Pisses me off. Don't compare~ Apple mango bingsu's the bourgeois dream."
Heart-pounding drunk like this? Been ages.
Daily razor-wire tension.
One wasted day and my ass burns with urgency.
Of course, even now, I'm not fully relaxed.
"......"
Pulled out the butterfly hair ornament from the True Ancestor.
Not huge.
Half my palm?
Delicately crafted from pure platinum. Wings spread wide, encrusted with stained-glass gems from a chapel, all colors gleaming.
Angle it, and dazzling light blinds you.
Where to sell this?
Won't fetch peanuts, but...
Fencing Gangnam apartment money in this shithole? Whole other issue.
Ask Eiming hyung after all?
Fine for stolen goods, but this is True Ancestor's gift.
What if issues arise?
"Master."
"Yeah?"
Poksoon, who'd been nuzzling my shoulder, poked her head in.
"Isn't that hair ornament originally this concubine's?"
"So?"
She turned her back, fussing with her hair, then said,
"What are you doing? Dress me up. Butterflies belong on flowers."
Drunk as a skunk—deer-like nape and ear tips flushed pink.
"Well then."
She's terrible at hair.
"C'mere. Who piles hair like that?"
"Ack! Ack! Hurts!"
"Hold still. You messed it up."
No comb, so finger-combed straight.
Twisted into a neat updo, pinned with the ornament.
"No pins, so tricky. Hey, don't move. It'll fall out."
Done enough—grabbed the hand mirror from the bathroom and showed her.
"Waa..."
Soft sigh, tilting her head every which way in the mirror.
Alcohol-hazy eyes now sparkling bright.
Makes sense—first time she's done this "herself".
Awkward hands explain it.
"H-how is it? Pretty?"
"I'll sell it even if you like it."
"Who said otherwise! This concubine knows!"
Pouting again.
Chubby cheeks peeking.
Hmm...
Whatever, mood.
"Hey, Poksoon."
"...Don't talk to me."
"C'mere a sec."
-Scraaape
Turned off the light, shoved open the stiff window.
"Freezing, why open the window? Why lights off?"
Poksoon grumbled, sidling up.
Apartment's only second floor, but high ground in this sector—sky visible enough.
"Look up there."
My finger pointed to the emerald smog-choked night sky.
"What's there?"
"Can't see? That?"
"Quit teasing!"
"Really can't?"
"Last warning. Treat this concubine like an idiot and you'll get scolded! Got it?!"
Was gonna use it with Ceres mamang and Rowan House.
Good day anyway.
-Piiiing
Murky night sky.
A white trail shot up like a comet.
"Huh? What's that..."
Poksoon blinked wide, head tilted—
The city's most beautiful fireworks bloomed over its filthiest streets.
-Pabababang!
Thunderous delayed booms.
Golden specks rained like shooting stars, twinkling.
-Bang! Booom! Pop!
Colorful bursts like hothouse flowers in full bloom.
"Ah..."
Red and blue lights washed over Poksoon's gaping white cheeks.
Lashes fluttered wide with each explosion.
Pedestrians halted.
Curtained windows scraped open.
Even merchants fleecing nasty locals paused to gaze up.
"How's that?"
3 minutes flew by.
Dark room plunged back into gloom.
Wind carried faint gunpowder afterscent.
Probably C Sector's most beautiful 3 minutes ever?
"Master did that...?"
"Yup. Killed it, right?"
Grinned cockily with a swagger.
Poksoon stared at the sky instead of answering.
"......"
Soon turned to meet my eyes—Sion.
"The deadliest spectacle this concubine's ever seen."
She giggled, flashing cute fangs.
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