Friends (3)
After downing three cups of cocoa in a row, Aqua patted her belly, her entire body turned brown. Jang Gilsan, who had been staring blankly at the sight, finally seemed to remember something and let out an "Ah."
"Congrats on contracting a spirit."
"Thanks."
"Your life's about to blow up now."
"Hahaha."
Jang Gilsan and I had spent nearly three years together at the Academy since our first year. He knew my situation inside and out.
"...So you've got a spirit now, huh."
Jang Gilsan stroked his chin thoughtfully, his eyes distant. I had no idea what was on his mind, but there was something I needed to settle before he got swept up in his busy schedule again.
"Gilsan. Mind if I pull out some Healing Water?"
"Huh? Oh, sure, of course. Speaking of which, that Healing Water you said you'd sell must be Aqua's, right?"
"You got it."
Selling Healing Water was the biggest side hustle for water spirit users.
It's a bit overhyped as a cure-all, but still.
Its regeneration properties made it hugely popular as skincare for skin repair or tonics for the elderly.
"Hold on. You want payment in Magic Stones?"
Jang Gilsan gave me a puzzled look. Magic Stones were the hot new energy resource, but for individuals, they weren't exactly practical.
"I've awakened a new trait that lets me convert Magic Stones into Spirit Stones."
Unique traits weren't something to hide. Jang Gilsan had one too, after all. Still, spilling everything about the Spirit Shop felt premature, so I glossed over it.
"Ah, right. Your Spirit Affinity was F-grade."
Meaning, without that skill awakening, contracting a spirit would've been impossible. Jang Gilsan nodded to his secretary, who opened one of the cases she'd set down nearby. It was the standard 300ml bottle used for Healing Water trades.
Jang Gilsan pulled out one bottle and set it on the table.
"Just fill this up."
Aqua looked up at me. I smiled and said,
"Pretty please, Aqua."
[Hmm. Leave it to me!]
Aqua clasped her hands in front of her chest. Softly, moisture gathered between them, forming a stream that poured into the bottle. With a glug glug glug, she filled it to the brim, then patted her shoulder proudly with her tiny hands.
"Good job."
I capped the bottle and handed it to Jang Gilsan. He held it up to the light and asked,
"What's the grade on this Healing Water?"
[Supreme-grade Healing Water!]
"Supreme-grade?"
Jang Gilsan turned to me with raised eyebrows. I nodded, and his brow furrowed.
"I get that spirit users cherish their spirits, but announcing it like that in a deal? That's basically fraud."
"Like I'd scam you."
"......"
Jang Gilsan's expression shifted oddly as he inspected the Healing Water in his hand again. Supreme-grade spirits hadn't existed until now, and neither had supreme-grade Healing Water.
"Got it for now. But there's no set price for supreme-grade, so I'll buy it at advanced-grade rates. Send it to the lab for verification, and I'll settle the difference later."
"Sounds good."
With a wave, Jang Gilsan had his secretary place a second bag on the table. It clicked open to reveal Magic Stones sorted by size.
Those are Magic Stones.
I'd seen a few at the Academy, but nothing this big.
Jang Gilsan handed me one fist-sized Magic Stone and another half that size—worth 15 million won total.
"Let me draw up the transaction receipt."
With practiced ease, Jang Gilsan filled out the receipt for the Healing Water and Magic Stones, including a note about verifying the grade and paying the balance.
We signed at the bottom and each took a copy.
"Here."
Jang Gilsan slid the Magic Stones toward me. Staring at the shimmering stones, I was at a loss for words.
15 million won... just like that?
It didn't feel real. The biggest sum I'd ever touched was the 5 million won scholarship. Three times that—I gulped and picked them up.
"Thanks."
I knew how rare it was to have a friend who'd shell out this much on my word alone, especially something as absurd as supreme-grade Healing Water. It meant Jang Gilsan truly valued me as a friend.
He shrugged it off casually.
"If you're grateful, join our guild later."
I chuckled softly. What a straightforward guy.
I turned to Aqua.
"Wanna convert these to Spirit Stones right now?"
[Let's do it!]
I summoned the shop and charged the Magic Stones straight in. With a zzzt, they vanished into the shop. The currency display in the bottom right lit up with 1,500.
Coins seemed to be in 10,000-won units.
15 million won in straight cash...
It looked just like a mobile game, so the thought was inevitable.
Search: Spirit Stone.
A stone brimming with the essence of the Spirit Realm.
Recharges a spirit's power.
Price: 1,000 Coins
1,000 coins was 10 million won. But it didn't feel like a waste—Aqua had made this possible.
Spirit Stone acquired.
A notification popped up as light gathered in the air, forming a fist-sized stone. I caught it—immense spirit power surged through it, like what I'd felt from professors wielding advanced spirits.
I handed the Spirit Stone to Aqua.
[Oho. Quite the quality one!]
Jang Gilsan leaned in to inspect it.
"That's a Spirit Stone? Looks like a plain rock."
Everyone except me and Aqua couldn't see the shop—I'd confirmed that during my days with my parents. To him, it must've looked like the Magic Stone vanished and a Spirit Stone popped out.
Aqua turned the Spirit Stone this way and that, then popped it straight into her mouth. I blinked in surprise. Spirit Stones only grew in the Spirit Realm, so this was my first time seeing one up close. And the first time seeing a spirit eat one like candy.
[Mmm, mmm!]
Aqua puffed her cheeks like she was savoring jawbreakers, chomping away diligently. Her smiling lips suggested she could actually taste it.
[My spirit power's recovering!]
"So you can make more Healing Water now?"
[Two bottles, easy!]
Jang Gilsan pulled out two more bottles. With another glug glug glug, Aqua filled them.
With two more Healing Water bottles in hand, Jang Gilsan paid with more Magic Stones and drew up another receipt. I charged them right into the Spirit Shop.
I bought another advanced Spirit Stone and gave it to Aqua.
[Mmm!]
Aqua reached into her mouth, pulled out the half-eaten Spirit Stone, and set it on the table before popping in the new one.
"Mind if I take a look?"
Jang Gilsan pointed at the depleted stone—it had no power left after Aqua drained it.
"Yeah, go ahead."
He picked it up carefully. Water dripped from it—pure water, not saliva.
"Spirit power was inside this, huh..."
Jang Gilsan's eyes sparkled with that look of spotting potential and seizing it. For a split second, I glimpsed the heir to a major guild.
He tapped the empty Spirit Stone against his palm and said,
"Sell this too. I'll give you 5 million won for it."
No reason to refuse. He handed over another 5-million-won Magic Stone and bagged the empty one.
Aqua chimed in.
[What's this? You wanted it that bad? Here, have this too!]
She yanked the half-eaten Spirit Stone from her mouth and plopped it onto his palm. Jang Gilsan cupped it gently and tucked it away.
"Thanks, but I can't take it for free."
He pulled out yet another 5-million-won stone.
"No need. It's Aqua's gift."
"My motto is: settle money clean, especially with close ones."
I thought of all the classmates and juniors who'd clung to him for meals and drinks at the Academy. He'd pay up to a point, then ghost them. Jang Gilsan had clear lines and rules.
"Then I'll gladly accept."
He closed the case and stood.
"I've got a reservation—let's grab food before you go."
He headed out, secretary in tow.
"Where to?"
"Pulling the car around."
With a secretary and driver, no way he'd drive himself. Probably calling the guild about the supreme Healing Water and Spirit Stone.
I settled Aqua on my lap.
"Shall we check the shop while we wait?"
[Oh! We've got balance left!]
We summoned the shop and first charged the value of the empty Spirit Stone Jang Gilsan had paid for.
[With this, I could buy hundreds of churros!]
"Yeah. Gotta get some churros."
[Churros! I want some!]
I bought one right away. Tearing open the top, Aqua dove in with glee. Perched on my lap, she devoured the churro in my left hand. Her sky-blue hair swayed softly.
Wanna pet her head.
Aqua didn't like hands on her head. Her lofty pride wouldn't allow it. Which made me like petting her even more.
She's distracted by the churro now...
I raised my right hand and lightly touched her head—like a feather's brush.
Aqua was lost in her churro. Slowly, I placed my hand fully atop her head and wiggled my fingers side to side. As they sank into her hair, the unique watery, jiggly softness enveloped them.
Heh heh heh.
The perfect texture brought a grin to my face. I petted her freely until the churro was gone.
[Haa!]
Aqua let out a satisfied sigh, full to bursting. I quickly pulled my hand away.
[Churros are always the best!]
"Want another?"
[No. Cocoa and churros—my belly might explode!]
A twinge of regret, but I fiddled with the Spirit Shop.
I can keep buying Magic Stones through Gilsan now.
Aqua's manifestation was sustainable this way. But it was just a band-aid, not a real fix.
The real solution is raising my Spirit Affinity.
That meant buying the Blessing of the Spirit Realm item from the shop. Steady coin from Gilsan sales, and I'd have it in a few weeks.
Or go for a big score.
Waiting for a quest reward like last time was an option. I opened the quest tab.
Perfect—there was a quest I needed to buy.