Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Turning Point
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"You're the patient's guardian, I see."
I recalled the time I'd treated someone at the hospital during my last outing.
So Seori smacked Yi Baekho on the back to rouse him and scolded him. The two of them didn't seem on bad terms.
Yi Baekho apologized to me as I stood there awkwardly. I was embarrassed, but it didn't bother me.
To me, Yi Baekho just seemed like a fun guy.
Curious about the patient, I asked, and he showed me a photo.
"This is my one and only little sister. She asked me to pass on her thanks too."
"Ah, unlike the others, her appearance was striking, so I remembered her. You're her older brother, then."
"Hoo..."
So Seori, standing beside us, let out a small chuckle.
She'd been my first patient, and compared to the others, her hair and nails weren't as unkempt, which stuck in my mind.
She must not have had the Grimoire for long.
Yi Baekho stiffened a bit at my response. His hand holding the photo seemed to tremble slightly. Looked like a nervous tic.
"Ahem, as you can see, my beautiful little sister has returned to her normal life thanks to you, Mr. Moon Byul."
"Yes... she's really pretty. I'm glad."
"Kkh..."
As we talked, I nodded along to Yi Baekho's bragging about his sister.
Yi Baekho leaned in closer, holding the photo right up to my face.
"Ahem, no aftereffects or anything, so the treatment was perfect. My sister wanted to come say hi in person."
Good to hear there were no side effects. I'd been worried something might crop up later, but it seemed fine.
"That's great."
I smiled at the photo and replied.
For some reason, Yi Baekho's face was drawing closer and closer. His massive frame blocked the LED lights, casting a faint shadow over his features.
"By the way, my sister is a straight-A student with a heart of gold. And above all, she's still a mi.nor. Right in the prime of her studying years."
Yi Baekho suddenly bombarded me with too much information about his sister, staring straight at me with wide eyes as he boasted. It even looked like he was grinding his teeth...
"?... That's even better."
It was a relief she'd awakened so young.
Crunch crunch.
Veins bulged on Yi Baekho's forehead, and his hair gradually turned white.
Some kind of Awakener trait? Neat ability.
"Puhahaha."
So Seori, who'd been holding back her laughter, finally burst out.
Yi Baekho and I both looked at her as she laughed.
"Ah, instead of doing this here, why don't we head to my office for some tea? You're free anyway, right?"
"Sure, let's do that."
"That sounds good to me."
With that, Yi Baekho's hair turned black again. What an eccentric guy.
"If it's not too much trouble, Mr. Moon Byul, could I get your number?"
"I don't have a phone."
So Seori and the lobby staff shot Yi Baekho dirty looks.
Feeling their stares, Yi Baekho scratched his head sheepishly.
"I'll get you one."
As we headed up to the guild master's office, So Seori nudged me with her elbow and whispered softly.
'On purpose?'
'What do you mean?'
'That type is your thing?'
I glanced at the muscular Yi Baekho walking ahead. How much training did it take to build a body like that?
'Should I start working out a bit too?'
Hearing that, So Seori recalled the curvy figure in the photo. She definitely had a toned, well-exercised body.
But what did that have to do with anything?
Moon Byul already had a distinctive look as it was. A ponytail on a lanky guy like that wasn't exactly common.
'Aren't you fine as you are?'
'You think so?'
We enjoyed some tea time in the guild master's office.
So Seori warned me to keep hiding my identity for now and pretend to be a typical rookie climber.
I didn't want to put her in a tough spot, so I happily agreed.
"Hahaha! With skills like that, and you're only on the 10th floor? Looks like my little bro here's a super rookie."
"Nah, you're the impressive one, S-Rank and all, hyung."
He was a pretty jovial guy.
An S-Rank, no wonder his build was so imposing. I didn't mind him at all.
"If you need anything, anytime, come visit White Tiger Guild. Climbing or whatever, I'll put the guild's name on the line to help."
He must not have minded me either.
When I said I was 28, he revealed he was 30 and suggested we get buddy-buddy from now on. Before I knew it, we'd sworn brotherhood.
"Hoo..."
So Seori sipped her tea, looking less than thrilled, but she didn't try to stop us.
"Time for me to head out. Thanks for the tea, Wolverine Guild Master."
"Yeah, next time, at least call ahead."
"Take care."
He stood with a greeting. He didn't forget to grab my hand one more time for another thank-you.
"Seriously, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I can tell you're gonna be a great climber, little bro."
He didn't forget the warning either.
"But my sister is off-limits."
"Huh?"
"Alright, I'm out."
And just like that, he'd come out of nowhere and vanished just as suddenly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'Monster rookie.'
Yi Baekho leaped between buildings, lost in thought.
With his superior physical abilities, running was much faster than taking a car, so he preferred hopping across rooftops.
Yi Baekho had taken an interest in Moon Byul's rogue-like movements, more suited to a mage.
'His footsteps barely made a sound.'
He was curious about his rank too, but asking would be rude, and So Seori wouldn't spill anyway.
Was it magic? Asking about skills was also taboo among climbers unless they were in a party.
Everyone kept at least one secret trump card hidden, so Moon Byul's movement was probably something like that.
He hadn't seemed intimidated at all by an S-Rank like himself. No wonder So Seori had kept his info under wraps.
Regardless, he was a good guy. Polite and considerate. The type you'd meet again on the tower's upper floors someday.
Suddenly, Moon Byul's words replayed in his mind.
'She's so pretty, I remembered her. That's great.'
'A minor? I'll wait.'
Crunch.
"Still, my sister is absolutely off-limits!"
Not even if his benefactor turned out to be his benefactor's grandpa.
His hair turned white again.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Hello?"
So Seori's expression darkened the moment she picked up the phone.
"Something wrong?"
Before I could even ask, she hurriedly grabbed her coat.
"Something came up. Are you heading back in, Mr. Moon Byul? Or should I call Iru Ri...?"
"I'm good. I feel like wandering around alone today."
"You... know, right?"
"No accidents will happen."
I gave her a bright smile to reassure her.
Once she left, I got ready to head out too. With the Wolverine Guild corporate card, money wasn't an issue.
I visited a restaurant I'd frequented before getting trapped in the Grimoire.
Five years on Earth must have been a long time. Though for me, it was 118 years.
Walking the streets, the only building the same as before my imprisonment was the post office.
Most had changed designs or become entirely different shops.
It was a weekday afternoon, so it wasn't crowded. I turned the corner, entered the alley, and found the spot where the restaurant had been.
The alley depths weren't much different from the main street.
"It's still here."
I'd worried it might be gone, but the restaurant was right where I remembered.
It was a place near school that sold rice balls stuffed with fried kimchi and diced pork, rolled tight. Rice balls, for short.
I went in and ordered the kimchi ham rice ball I'd always gotten.
Soon, the owner brought out a steaming fresh one he'd just made.
I sat down and savored it slowly.
It was a taste of nostalgia. But it didn't fill me up.
I wasn't hungry or full, after all.
I ordered another menu item. This time, tuna egg rice ball, pork cutlet, and spicy mixed noodles.
The owner casually whipped them up in no time.
I sat again and savored them slowly.
"Owner, cheese pork cutlet rice ball and udon too, please."
"...Coming right up."
The owner gave me an odd look but prepared the food promptly.
I finished that and ordered every item on the menu one by one.
It took about two and a half hours to eat.
"That was delicious."
But I didn't say I was full.
As I approached the counter, the owner followed.
He removed his headscarf and bowed deeply to me.
"Thank you for enjoying the food so much!"
His enthusiasm flustered me a bit, but I bowed back and handed over the card.
Most items were around 5,000 won at the cheap joint, but it came to over 70,000 won.
The owner looked pleased for some reason.
As I finished paying and turned to leave, he handed me an ice cream as a complimentary service.
"Customer, if you're okay with it, care to share it with me?"
"Sure."
We sat on the bench out front and ate the ice cream together.
"You're the first customer to eat every dish on my menu in one day."
"I figured as much."
No one eats like a glutton quite this badly.
"Truth is, I was planning to close up shop next month. Business isn't great. Time to try something else."
The owner volunteered the info even though I hadn't asked. I listened quietly.
"But meeting a customer who enjoyed my food this much... it leaves a bittersweet feeling."
"That's a shame. This is my nostalgic spot."
"You've been here before?"
"A long time ago, but more often than you'd think. Loved how cheap and tasty it was."
Well, my hair was short back then, and with my whole vibe changed, it was no wonder he didn't recognize me.
"I see..."
"Still delicious as ever. Shame for a chef with your skills to become a climber."
"How'd you know? Are you one?"
"Felt the mana on you. Figured you're in the climbing business."
A small shop in front of a school probably didn't pay as well as climbing. It was life-risking work; they ought to make bank.
"I see... Is it, uh, really dangerous?"
"I'm just a rookie myself, so hard to give advice."
He seemed full of worries. But I didn't have much to say. I'd just hit the 10th floor myself.
I wanted to tell him the shortcut, but the guild master asked me to keep it secret, so I held back.
"Guess I'll have to come back before next month."
"You're welcome anytime. Take care."
"See you again."
I took a leisurely stroll before heading back. Tomorrow was when the tower inspection ended, so I returned to the Grimoire early.
"No matter how much I eat, I still want more. Wonder when I can go back."
I looked forward to my next visit. Hope I could eat there again.