Chapter 21 - Preparation for Leap
Preparation for Leap
Translator : Elizabeth
Chapter 21. Preparation for Leap
After dealing with Jo Sung-gyu, I shook off the salt on my hands and approached So-young straight away.
“So-young! Are you okay? No, of course you wouldn't be okay. Ugh…!”
“U, Unni….”
I carefully examined the condition of So-young, who was barely making sounds while curled up in pain.
“Wait, stay still.”
“Yes, yeees.”
“Shh!”
“….”
Since I reflexively threw a flying kick as soon as I saw Jo Sung-gyu's back, I didn't see in detail how she was assaulted.
But just recalling the difference in physique between the two, the situation could be guessed sufficiently. It couldn't be a light injury.
“But, Unni was only using honorifics then suddenly used informal speech, the charisma was totally daebak….”
“No seriously…!”
At the joke totally unmatched with the situation, my breath became rough unknowingly.
‘Still, it seems not urgent right now, so that’s at least fortunate….’
Making a rough estimate, I took out the Hermit card and explained its effect. That this is a different kind from the talisman I gave before, and a tool that can directly examine one's physical condition.
Added that I intend to call 119 of course, but it’s much better to do first aid before that.
“Ambulance… is expensive….”
“I will pay the hospital fee so don't mind such things.”
Saying so, I handed the card.
“….”
“….”
Our blankly opened eyes met.
“Uh…. How do you use this?”
“Mm?”
Only then did I realize. That I was the only one who could directly handle the energy contained in the card.
Just when I wondered if there was no way, the appearance of the Hermit came to mind. And along with the memory of unconsciously crossing legs every time I used the ability usually.
This ability given to me didn't work in the same way as status windows commonly seen in novels. Meaning there isn't a specific and clear usage method.
Should I say instead. I could adjust the manifestation condition or method somewhat flexibly. Crossing legs every time I used the Hermit card seemed to have formed a kind of procedure, though unintended.
“So-young. It might be a little hard, but shall we try taking the posture I tell you? I’ll help from the side.”
“Uh… How? But aren't you cold wearing only underwear on top?”
“…I’ll take care of wearing clothes later so focus for now!”
So-young flinched greatly every time she moved her body. Just looking at that reaction, it seemed almost certain that the bone was cracked.
‘…She endures pain, incredibly well.’
Normally it would have been best not to move until the ambulance came, but I knew.
The fact I experienced while recovering my body using the card for the last few days. How much the prognosis improves just by tuning the inside of the body and making a state where it can recover correctly.
“Ouch ouch ouch ouch… A-go-go-go….”
As I made her sit cross-legged while half supporting her, So-young made groaning sounds continuously. A situation where normally she would have argued saying it makes no sense, but she followed my instructions until the end.
Finally the posture was completely held. I placed the Hermit card on top of her two hands facing each other in front of her belly.
At that moment.
So-young's expression distorted with pain subsided noticeably. Breath spread evenly and shoulder tension released.
I could know at once.
That her consciousness was sinking deep into the inner side.
“So-young. Listen well. From now on…”
Sitting beside her, I explained calmly one by one what she should feel right now, where she should place her consciousness.
“Is anyone there!”
Paramedics shouted crossing over the gate.
Jabak jabak jabak.
Pure white salt scattered on the yard became dirty under their busy feet.
“Here!”
I hurriedly got up and pointed to So-young lying in the yard.
Rough measures with the Hermit talisman were finished. Correcting aligned bones to original position, aligning muscles and ligaments twisted by impact, etc.
Now if admitted to hospital and managed periodically, she will be able to heal without worrying about aftereffects.
“Oh my. Seems bone is cracked. Now. One two, let’s lift.”
“One two!”
Since it was daldongne, the ambulance couldn't enter right in front of the house. Paramedics brought a stretcher. So-young was carried on it and I followed along as a guardian.
Inside the ambulance.
One paramedic pressed here and there on So-young's body covered with an oxygen mask preparing for internal bleeding, checking the condition. The other one approached me and asked the situation with a calm voice.
“What happened?”
I explained what happened roughly. Of course excluding the words that Jo Sung-gyu became salt. Regarding that part, I just conveyed that the assailant fled.
“But guardian, it seems there was a physical fight with the assailant. Is there any injured place?”
Along with those words, the paramedic’s gaze headed to my hand. I looked down together too. Flesh on the knuckle part protruding when making a fist was scraped and dyed red.
It meant I beat Jo Sung-gyu hard enough to hurt my hand.
“Yes. I am fine.”
Then, So-young rather worried about me.
“Hing… Unni hurt hand what to do….”
“…Is it time for So-young to worry about others now. Stay quiet.”
“Stiiiill….”
So-young hesitated for a moment then opened her mouth.
“Unni, wasn't it hard for you to come outside? There is money Unni gave last time too… I could have just gone to the hospital alone.”
“….”
I was speechless.
Actually, because it wasn't wrong words at all.
Although not as serious as darkness and hunger, difficulty in going out was also clearly part of trauma.
And only then did I realize.
Tremble tremble tremble tremble.
Right now I was shaking my legs severely.
…If I turn someone into salt in front of many people. I couldn't shake off such thoughts occupying one side of my head at all.
But.
“-Kay.”
Voice flowed out as if leaking from a narrow gap inside the throat.
Giving strength to my stomach, I spoke again, clearly.
“I am okay.”
In the first place.
In the first place really.
Was this something for So-young to get hurt to this extent.
If I had changed clothes just a little faster.
No.
It would have been fine to come out as is without changing. It wasn't like I was in underwear either.
If not that, if I ran just a little faster and headed to So-young.
There wouldn't have been a reason for So-young to get hurt like that.
…Trauma.
Trauma.
What is that.
Being afraid of trauma while unable to help even one person who helped me on time, I couldn't be trembling inside the house.
I steadied my mind.
After placing my trembling hand on So-young's hand, I said.
“I, am not that weak of a person.”
Then.
Which only I can hear in this world.
—RRAAAWR!
Roar of a lion rang out shaking heaven and earth.
[STRENGTH]
Strength.
It was an Arcana symbolizing inner toughness rather than simple brute force.
After arriving at the hospital, it was hectically busy.
So-young received simple treatment in the emergency room then immediately received various tests, and in the meantime I had to receive detailed questions about the incident details.
There wasn't particularly a troublesome point. It was a simple matter of changing only Jo Sung-gyu's end to flight and telling the rest as truth.
Since So-young was still a minor, police were naturally dispatched too.
“What is your relationship with the victim?”
“Just… same neighborhood resident.”
“Do you know anything about the assailant?”
“So-young said he is a neighborhood thug. It was a person I saw for the first time.”
“Hmm. So victim deceived assailant saying she would protect that side (you), and that became the trigger… Can I understand like this?”
“As far as I know, yes.”
Investigation atmosphere wasn't that bad.
Actually when they first faced me, although briefly, they clearly paused and sent wary gazes. Probably because of the suspicious attire wearing Im Gong-sik's old and worn clothes.
Since the upper garment responding to Jo Sung-gyu's pocket knife was torn tattered, I had asked for So-young's understanding and changed into clothes that looked cleanest among them.
‘Though icky, with So-young's clothes I couldn't cover my body properly….’
Soon thanks to the point that there is a young woman under that dull attire, and above all the fact that victim So-young's consciousness was clear, I could be investigated as a pure witness status.
And a long time later.
Finally only So-young and I remained in the single room ward.
“S, single room…! Uh, Unni…! Aren't you spending too much money?!”
“It’s okay. I earn a lot of money.”
So-young was diagnosed with 4 weeks of treatment and hospitalized.
Honestly speaking, I didn't have leeway enough to afford single room fee right now. But since I can settle donation money after about two weeks, there wasn't particular worry.
Above all, since the cause of So-young getting hurt was on me, it was natural for me to burden all treatment fees.
“S, still there is no need to spend unnecessary money daresay…!”
“Then, please consider the point that my talisman cannot be shown carelessly to other people's eyes.”
As talisman story came out, So-young barely calmed down.
“Ah, ah…! That! You mean that talisman!”
No, calmed down regarding hospital fee but started getting excited again regarding talisman.
“Doctor looked at CT and said bone crack was too clean so will heal quickly! Do you know how much I wanted to brag inside at that time?! My mouth was itching so much wanting to say I set that bone directly!”
“So, So-young. I got it so… calm down a little….”
“Really! If have our Unni’s talisman no need to go to hospital, Uck! Ue-eok…!”
Moving body in excitement, it seems crack bone was stimulated. So-young frowned and flinched greatly, then soon shrank her body.
“E, ehehe… Anyway thanks to Unni life became really fun.”
“Fun you say….”
Anyway, her mentality alone was really extraordinary.
Looking at her smiling grinning like a fool for a moment, I took out one card from my bosom.
“….”
Holding it and worrying for a moment, I placed it down carefully on the side table of the hospital bed.
“This is…? Is this also a mysterious talisman?”
“Mm. Similar.”
Toward So-young looking at the card with eyes sparkling in expectation, I opened my mouth.
“Us… won't you work together?”
Returned home after talking with So-young for a long time.
“Tired….”
Sitting entrusting body to chair and massaging shoulder for a moment, took out one Tarot card and placed on table.
[THE DEVIL]
Devil card.
On that surface, mine and So-young's signatures were engraved together. The moment I stepped out to save So-young, this card also came to function as a talisman.
[STRENGTH]
I took out Strength card following and placed side by side next to it.
Possibility to overcome trauma completely. Obtained that clue. But it wasn't something solvable right now immediately.
‘As long as ability to make salt isn't organized, going out is still difficult.’
Still it was okay. Since things to handle outside from now on can be entrusted to So-young.
After nodding small.
Click. Wiiing—.
Turned on computer power.
Ordered Tarot deck arrives tomorrow. Now it’s time to end broadcast break slowly.
———
[Broadcast Schedule Notice]
[TarotYujin]
Broadcast Date and Time
- Tomorrow 8 PM
Content
- 19+ Problem Solving
[Comments]
———
Writing notice briefly, I laid my body on bed as is.
Today was too tired.
Consciousness subsided in an instant.
Anatomy Professor Lee Seon-woo was a person who believed knowing etymology of words gives decisive help to learning. That wasn't vague taste or sense but closer to firm belief solidified from over ten years of experience.
If understand origin of name together every time memorizing one muscle, one nerve. Memorization becomes structure, and structure leads to thinking.
One day, Lee Seon-woo suddenly had a thought if he could materialize that hypothesis into a thesis.
It was a conviction harbored for a long time, and what he felt while lecturing was also clear. Problem was time.
‘Shall I go with that for this thesis topic? …No, hasty.’
His last thesis was published in 2017. Thinking of reappointment review season, remaining time is about 1 year.
Separate from conviction about theory, research where result doesn't come out immediately was troublesome.
Effect of etymology learning has strong nature of accumulating. It might take few semesters, maybe few years until significant difference is revealed.
Such research was too slow to use as thesis at current point.
‘Have to check first how fast visible effect appears.’
Eventually he decided to step back one step. Before entering formal research, minimal verification was needed.
Thus gave assignment to students.
Investigate etymology of words, and through that process what change occurs in learning effect. It was to gauge if there is possibility to develop into thesis at least.
Presentation day.
Lee Seon-woo's expression hardened gradually.
Most assignments fell far short of level he expected.
Content as if transcribed directly from Latin dictionary or internet materials. Pronunciation was clumsy, and context of etymology was also cut off.
With such materials, answer was obvious without seeing result. No way it would create significant difference.
Then it became Jang Ju-hyeok's turn.
“Mm?”
Lee Seon-woo raised his head hearing only first few sentences.
“Musculus is simply used meaning muscle, but etymology means small mouse. It is an expression derived from appearance moving wriggling under skin.”
Etymology of word degree, other students also investigated well.
“In Classical Latin it is músculus, stress comes on first syllable. Passing to Late Latin, meaning gradually fixes in medical terms, and derived into English muscle or French muscle.”
But student who investigated even pronunciation, he was the first.
Jang Ju-hyeok caught breath, then continued speaking naturally.
“Interesting point is, musculāris having same etymology was used as adjective implying not simply ‘of muscle’ but ‘intentional and controlled movement’. Also-”
Lee Seon-woo's gaze pierced him completely.
‘Material obtained from where? Pronunciation is… better than me.’
By the time presentation ended, Lee Seon-woo's eyes had changed completely.
After class ended, he called Jang Ju-hyeok to laboratory. And asked point-blank.
“Student Ju-hyeok. Latin material, where did you investigate?”
Jang Ju-hyeok who hesitated for a moment said one account name.
That evening.
Lee Seon-woo connected to Yu Ah-jin's blog. And read down materials she translated and uploaded one by one.
Etymology, context, pronunciation, and even transition of meaning. It was material organized premising learning.
His eyes gleamed.