Chapter 58
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 58. Friend
Entering the house, I sat on the edge of the bed without even changing clothes.
The system notifications I couldn't check earlier because I bumped into a woman on the street kept shimmering before my eyes.
It said the second lock of [Primeval Swordsmanship] was released as the total amount of Aura increased.
With a trembling heart, I opened the skill window.
[2nd Form: Sunrise]
[Draws with the sword the moment the dawn sun fiercely rises, cleaving the pitch-black darkness beyond the horizon. Containing the light of dawn that awakens the sleeping world on the tip of the sword, it strikes upward powerfully.]
* Limited to physical attacks, counters the relevant attack and returns it with 2 times the original damage.
* Consumes 10 Aura.
"......Wow."
I couldn't close my mouth.
I thought it was an attack skill, but reading the description, this was a much more cheating ability than that.
A counter skill that returns the opponent's attack.
And returning it with twice the original damage at that.
This was a technique of unified offense and defense that resolved defense and attack simultaneously.
If the 1st Form, [Sunset], was a technique that pressed down with a powerful single blow, the 2nd Form, [Sunrise], was essentially a technique that caught the opponent off guard by reversely utilizing their strength.
"With this... even when the Emperor turned into a monster, it would be worth trying even if I fought him alone?"
My heart pounded.
An urge surged up wanting to run to the Tower right now and test this technique against monsters.
What kind of hand-feel it would be, how to catch the timing; my body itched so much I couldn't bear it.
I jumped up from my seat.
"I'll go to the 21st Floor right now and...."
But my footsteps heading to the entryway stopped after exactly one step.
The afterimage of that giant pupil I encountered when clearing the 20th Floor and coming out flashed through my mind.
And I recalled that voice whispering 'Found you'.
The overwhelming sense of fear that pierced through even Legendary grade status effect immunity.
"......No. Let's hold it in."
I swallowed dry saliva and sat back down.
My condition right now is not bad.
My stats rose explosively and I gained new skills.
But I got an instinctive hunch that I was still lacking to face that unknown existence.
Above all, equipment was the problem.
The Mithril equipment I'm using now is excellent too, but to face the enemies beyond that, the limit was clear.
"Let's wait until Cassia sends the Orichalcum."
If she sends all the Orichalcum mined from the mine as promised, I planned to completely overhaul my equipment with it.
Let's start climbing only after plastering myself with an Orichalcum set from head to toe.
"Phew... Then should I study a bit in the meantime."
I sat in front of the computer and turned on the power.
I carry the grandiose class called [Primeval Maker], but honestly speaking, without the Guide, I was practically a corpse.
I felt it keenly when fixing the castle gate in the Empire last time or when teaching the blacksmiths.
That helplessness and bewilderment that visited the moment the guidelines were not visible.
There was no guarantee the system would kindly spoon-feed me forever.
Someday, a situation where I cannot use the Guide could strike again.
I had to prepare for that time.
"Let's see...."
I entered search terms like 'armor production process', 'medieval blacksmith techniques', and 'sword heat treatment techniques' into the search bar.
Numerous videos and documents poured out on the screen.
I clicked one video with high views among them.
It was a video of an artisan sweating profusely and hammering iron.
"Huh? They hold it like that there?"
The artisan in the video was holding the hammer differently from the method I knew.
The guideline always only told me efficient striking points, but didn't explain in detail the grip holding the hammer or detailed distribution of power.
But the artisan in the video was drawing out maximum strike with minimum power using the snap of the wrist.
"Wow... Doing it like that lessens the recoil."
In the next video, it was showing a unique method of connecting the joint parts of armor.
I hammered in rivets to fix it as the Guide instructed, but the artisan in the video was using a method of adding flexibility using leather straps.
"Movement would be much more comfortable like that? Why couldn't I think of that?"
The system teaches the standard, but it doesn't teach anomalies or applications.
Filling that gap was ultimately my share as the Maker.
I studied watching videos, losing track of time.
Jotting down important tips in a notepad, I ran simulations in my head.
Ideas to try applying when Orichalcum arrives welled up.
Studying for a long time, my eyes became stiff.
Stretching, I turned on the internet news window.
It was thinking I should see at least some news about how the world is going.
Breaking news written in red letters on the main screen caught my eye.
[Breaking News: Is the international criminal organization 'Cypher' resuming activities?]
[Recently, 'Cypher' is being pointed out as the mastermind behind the series of terrorism and illegal item distribution occurring in places like Europe and South America. They are a notorious organization that committed illegal experiments and kidnapped numerous Hunters in the past as well....]
"Cypher...?"
It was a name I had heard of.
I think they were talked about quite noisily on the news a few years ago.
But I scrolled down as if it was no big deal.
I'm not some apostle of justice, so what does it matter to me whether a criminal organization is active or not.
As long as they don't block my path, it was none of my business.
I tried to close the window without interest.
Then the phone placed on the desk vibrated.
*—Bzzz.*
It was a text from Hong Chae-yeon.
[Hong Chae-yeon: Si-woo! The progress of Su-yeon's treatment is so much better than expected, the doctor said she can be discharged! She's home with me right now hehe]
Her excited voice seemed to be heard through the text.
Indeed, how happy must she be since her younger sibling who was indebted to the hospital for 10 years got discharged.
The next text arrived successively.
[Hong Chae-yeon: Really thank you so much.... I don't know how to repay this grace. Su-yeon is also making a fuss wanting to express her gratitude to you directly. By any chance, could we meet up sometime?]
I grinned and typed a reply.
I didn't have anything to do while waiting for Orichalcum anyway.
And I also wanted to check with my own eyes if her sibling had completely recovered.
[Me: Sure. Let's see each other tomorrow. Is your time okay?]
As soon as I pressed the send button, a reply came.
[Hong Chae-yeon: Yeah! Of course! I'll leave my time open! See you tomorrow!]
At her quick reply, I put down the phone and sprawled out on the bed.
I should ask her to buy me something delicious tomorrow.
I closed my eyes having happy imaginations.
***
The next day, I headed to the place Hong Chae-yeon told me matching the appointment time.
This time it wasn't her penthouse.
It was the sky lounge restaurant of a 5-star hotel located in the center of Seoul.
From the entrance, employees in suits bowed 90 degrees and offered greetings.
The interior I entered receiving guidance was grand.
The marble floor sparkled like a mirror, and a giant chandelier on the ceiling was sprinkling subtle light.
"This way, sir."
I passed a long hallway following the employee's guidance.
Just as Hong Chae-yeon explained beforehand, all seats here consisted of private rooms, so there was no chance of running into other customers.
It was certainly a place Hunters or celebrities requiring thorough security and privacy protection would like.
"We have arrived."
The employee opened a heavy solid wood door.
Entering inside, a spacious room where the night view of Seoul spread out beyond the plate glass appeared.
And two women were sitting at the table placed in the center of it.
Hong Chae-yeon and her younger sister Hong Su-yeon.
As soon as they saw me enter, they jumped up from their seats.
"Are you here, Si-woo?"
"Welcome!"
Hong Chae-yeon was in neat suit attire as usual, but Hong Su-yeon was wearing a lively dress.
Above all, what stood out was Hong Su-yeon's appearance.
She looked so healthy I wondered if she was the same patient lying in the hospital bed wrapped tightly in bandages a few days ago.
Her skin was pale and glossy, and a vibrant flush hovered on both her cheeks.
As if they had promised, the two sisters bowed deeply towards me.
"Thank you for coming like this."
Hong Chae-yeon conveyed her gratitude in a serious voice.
Then Hong Su-yeon next to her abruptly raised her head and approached me with sparkling eyes.
"Oppa! Really really thank you so much!!"
She bounced around and offered greetings with high tension.
Her voice was full of playfulness.
"It was really~~~ hard for me! I thought I was really going to die from pain for 10 years, but I lived thanks to you, oppa! A total lifesaver!"
She even gave a wink while holding her thumb up.
Her personality certainly seemed to be the exact opposite of her older sister Hong Chae-yeon.
I scratched the back of my neck at the pouring gratitude and smiled awkwardly.
"Haha... I'm glad you got healthy."
"Hehe. Thanks to you!"
"Now now, the food will get all cold while greeting. Let's sit and eat first."
I refreshed the atmosphere and suggested sitting down.
We sat around the table.
Course dishes began to come out sequentially.
Starting with an appetizer that melted softly in the mouth, the main dish, steak, came out.
It was top-grade Hanwoo (Korean beef) tenderloin steak.
It was so soft that meat juice seeped out as soon as I put the knife to it.
While the meal progressed, light chatter went back and forth.
Mostly Hong Su-yeon poured out the frustration of hospital life or chattered about the things she did first upon discharge, and Hong Chae-yeon and I listened with smiles.
It was around the time the meal was ripening in an amicable atmosphere.
As I was about to cut the steak small and put it in my mouth, Hong Su-yeon suddenly put down her fork and raised her hand high.
"Me! I have a question!"
Putting the steak in my mouth and chewing, I tilted my head.
"Huh? A question?"
What kind of question is it that she even raises her hand like that.
I wondered if she was going to ask about treatment side effects or precautions.
Hong Su-yeon looked alternately at her sister Hong Chae-yeon and then at me, and smiled meaningfully.
"Yep! By any chance, oppa, are you our unni's boyfriend?"
"Pfft!"
"Khek! Cough!"
We choked simultaneously.
The meat I was chewing almost got caught in my throat, and Hong Chae-yeon almost spat out the water she was drinking.
Coughing sounds rang out as if to blow the restaurant away.
Hong Chae-yeon's face turned bright red, and she shouted while covering her mouth with a napkin.
"Hey! Hong Su-yeon! What kind of nonsense are you spouting!"
"Eh? Why? Is it not?"
Unfazed by her sister's scolding, Hong Su-yeon steadfastly tilted her head.
"Or else... are you guys in a situationship (some)?"
Resting her chin on her index finger, she put on a deliberately detective-like expression.
"Isn't it. Knowing what kind of person our unni is. Isn't she a workaholic and an iron-wall woman? In my whole life, I've never seen unni bring a man to a private gathering."
At her logical deduction, Hong Chae-yeon's face turned red as if it would burst.
It was certainly a point that made sense.
Hong Su-yeon narrowed her eyes and looked at me.
"Besides, the atmosphere is strange too... and the way oppa looks at our unni isn't ordinary?"
"I said it's not! Won't you be quiet?!"
Flustered and not knowing what to do, Hong Chae-yeon tried to shut her sister's mouth.
I downed water to calm myself, cleared my throat, and cleared my voice.
If I didn't clear up this misunderstanding quickly, it felt like the food would go up my nose.
"Ahem. Su-yeon, it's not that."
I opened my mouth in the calmest voice possible.
"Your sister and I are, how should I say, business partners?"
"Partners?"
"Yeah. Your sister decided to sell the items I make. Doing that we naturally got close, and I found out about your treatment in that process and helped."
I summarized and explained the things that happened so far as briefly as possible.
Of course, I appropriately glossed over the parts where my identity would be revealed.
Hearing all my explanations, only then did Hong Su-yeon go "Ah~" and nod.
"I see... I thought unni was finally escaping solo status."
She smacked her lips as if regretful and subtly glanced at Hong Chae-yeon.
Out of embarrassment, Hong Chae-yeon dropped her head low and was just glaring at the steak.
Hong Su-yeon whispered quietly.
"But unni... aren't you disappointed? This oppa is pretty decent."
"Hong Su-yeon!!!"
Hong Chae-yeon finally exploded.
Watching the sisters bickering, I burst into a chuckle.
Seeing her energetic, it seemed she was really all better, so my mind felt at ease.
A bout of commotion passed, and a calm atmosphere visited again.
Cooling her still red-hot face, Hong Chae-yeon tried to change the subject to break the awkward silence.
She carefully called me.
"Um... Si-woo."
"Yeah?"
"By any chance... could I ask for one favor?"
Her voice had become smaller than usual.
I nodded while cutting the steak.
"What is it? Tell me."
"That is... among my acquaintances, there's one friend who is struggling to find a treatment method."
Hong Chae-yeon paused for a moment and checked my reaction.
Having owed me a lot already, she seemed worried she might look shameless asking for another favor.
She looked at her sister chewing steak next to her with affectionate eyes.
"After seeing Su-yeon recover miraculously like this... I thought of that friend. Because that friend has also suffered for a really long time. Having seen a miracle like this, pretending not to know would be a terrible thing to do to that friend...."
Sincere pity was imbued in her voice.
Since she was saved, a kind heart that couldn't ignore the pain of others was felt.
I glanced at her.
The great Master of the Red Scales Guild was intimidated in front of me, rolling her eyes.
That appearance looked pitiful yet cute for some reason.
I chuckled and put down the fork.
"It's fine. What's so hard about that."
"R... Really?"
"Since it's you asking, I should grant it. I need to see what the condition of this friend person is, so arrange a meeting for us sometime later."
At my cool acceptance, Hong Chae-yeon's face bloomed radiantly.
She brought her two hands together with a touched expression.
"Thank you, Si-woo! Really thank you!"
"Hey, it's nothing."
Taking a sip of water, I continued.
"Instead, there's one thing I want to ask for too."
At my words, Hong Chae-yeon's eyes changed instantly.
Clenching her two fists tightly, she spewed sparks from her eyes.
"Just say it! I'll grant whatever it is! Money? Materials? Or should I support you with Guild troops?"
She was one who was only looking for an opportunity to repay the grace.
She looked ready to build a rocket and fetch the moon if I asked her to pick it for me.
At her excessive reaction, I was flustered and waved my hands.
"No, no, not something grandiose like that."
"Then what is it?"
"Look for a house for me."
"......A house?"
Hong Chae-yeon asked back as if the wind was taken out of her sails.
I nodded with a serious expression.
"Yeah. A place with good security and above all, no noise between floors. I'm trying to move."
It was a request containing my grievance of suffering from the lovers' quarrels of the couple next door and noise through the walls every night.
Especially since there are times I hammer or do experiments in the workshop, soundproofing was essential.
Hong Chae-yeon blinked her eyes blankly, then soon burst into a chuckle.
"Pfft. What is that."
"I'm serious. I can't sleep because of the noise next door."
"Got it. That much is a piece of cake."
She puffed out her chest confidently.
"I'll narrow down a few of the best places and let you know."
"Oh thank you. As expected of a competent person."
With the biggest worry solved, my mind felt much lighter.
We enjoyed the rest of the meal and talked about this and that.
Hong Su-yeon's mischievous pranks, Hong Chae-yeon's flustered appearance, and delicious food.
It was a comfortable and enjoyable time felt after a long while.
Finishing the meal and coming out to the hotel lobby, Hong Chae-yeon saw me off.
"Thanks for today, Si-woo. I'll send you the house list right away tomorrow."
"Yeah, get home safely. Su-yeon, take care of your body too."
"Yes! Goodbye, oppa! See you next time!"
Hong Su-yeon waved her hand and greeted.
Leaving the two sisters behind, I caught a taxi.
On the way back home, looking at the night view of Seoul passing by the window, I fell into thought.
Hong Chae-yeon's friend, huh.
I don't know what kind of person it is, but if she's asking like that, they seem to be quite special.
Well, I just have to help as much as my abilities allow.
And.
Finally an escape from this tiresome cramped room.
Just thinking about moving to a new house made me hum naturally already.
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