Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Cigar and Wine
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💬 Stream Chat — Viewer "Kids, see you in Dubai." — Viewer [Take us with you!!] — Viewer [Don't leave us behind!!] — Han Ga-eul "I'll turn on the stream once I get there. Hang in there just a bit if you miss your big sis." — Viewer [Guild master... I loved you...] — Viewer [This hits different lololol] — Han Ga-eul "Then come watch tomorrow at the airport. I'll turn it on briefly." — Viewer [Airport live let's go] — Han Ga-eul "Nyongya, sweet dreams, my babies. Bai bai." — Viewer [bb bb] — Viewer [Goodnight guild master] ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Han Ga-eul has ended the stream] Before I knew it, night had fallen, and I ended the stream earlier than usual to prepare for tomorrow.
"Master, you're done?"
As I gathered the cigarettes I'd tossed on the desk, Baek Seol, who had been sleeping on the bed, came scampering over.
"Just finished. Wanna come out with me?"
"Yeah."
I took Baek Seol out to the rooftop courtyard, where the night sky greeted us.
─Click, click.
"Hoo─."
I could feel Baek Seol rolling around on my head.
"Baek Seol. We're going far away tomorrow. You'll come with me, right?"
"With Master."
"Good, thanks."
As I exhaled cigarette smoke and stared blankly at the sky, I recalled the Arabic lesson the chairman had given me earlier.
"Man, that was insanely hard."
It was on a whole different level from English, which was embedded in everyday life. The script was like worms on steroids, and speaking it was even tougher.
"Status Window!"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Remaining Balance: 120,121,000 won] "Oh...!"
My chest swelled with pride.
I'd been too busy scraping by day-to-day to have any ties to foreign languages. That made me want it even more.
"Baek Seol, wouldn't it be cool if I could speak Arabic fluently, even though it's so hard?"
"Hungry."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Handed flower to Baek Seol] I handed a flower to Baek Seol and dove into serious shopping.
Basic Language Price: 100,000,000 won My proudly swelling chest deflated the moment shopping started.
"Sheesh..."
Still living in a rooftop room, and skill prices were outrageous. Plus, it was just the basic version.
"Baek Seol, should I buy this?"
Nom nom.
"Yeah."
By the time I reached the shoulder restaurant, all I could hear was the sound of petals being plucked and Baek Seol munching away.
"Hmm..."
If I didn't buy this, a nice car? A new house?
I'd never owned a car or lived in a nice place.
I'd driven to destinations I didn't choose as a driver-for-hire and scraped by paying rent in someone else's home.
"Even if I like it here, a car would be nice. We could go to the beach or something. Right, Baek Seol?"
"Yeah."
"Good answer."
I stroked Baek Seol, who was nibbling petals on my shoulder, and my mind eased.
"Since when have I lived in mansions or driven luxury cars?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Purchased: Basic Language Lv.1] Language Comprehension Basic Ancient Language Comprehension Price: 200,000,000 won Not a combat skill, but I clenched and unclenched my fist out of habit. Nothing changed. Probably needed real-world experience to tell.
"Baek Seol, know what ancient language is?"
I glanced at Baek Seol on my shoulder; her ears perked up.
"Nope."
"Does the Voynich manuscript just make sense or something? Whatever. Let's sleep, Baek Seol."
"Yeah."
Back in the room, I flopped onto the bed, feeling the soft Baek Seol settle on my palm.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Ding-dong.
"Coming!"
A black suit visible through the iron grating.
"Good morning, miss."
"Hello, Grandpa Kamar."
His waxed mustache was impeccably straight as always.
"Grandpa, could you drop the 'miss'? It's embarrassing."
After a moment's thought, Grandpa Kamar replied.
"Understood. Young lady."
"No... Come in first. I need to finish getting ready quick."
He checked his watch and nodded.
"I arrived early. Plenty of time."
"Ah, then let me smoke one first."
"I'll prepare."
"Prepare what?"
Grandpa Kamar, saying odd things, headed to the cheap folding chair and table I'd set up in the yard for playing with my sister.
"Miss, care to sit?"
"Uh, sure."
I sat dazedly as he unpacked a bunch from his bag.
He opened a box of short brown sticks and trimmed the ends with strange scissors.
─Pop.
The clear lighter lid sound echoed from the rooftop.
"That's the pop lighter, right?"
Grandpa Kamar chuckled affirmatively and lit the stick, rotating it slowly over the flame.
"Here you are. The smoke is heavy, so avoid deep inhales."
My first-ever cigar.
"Whoo─. Oh, this is good."
Inhaling the cigar smoke brought a heavy, deep aroma and a satisfying throat hit.
"Enjoy it with me."
As I got into the cigar, he handed me something else.
"Wine?"
"Château Latour."
"Whoa... No idea what that is, but thanks."
I eyed the glass of unfamiliar deep red wine, bringing it slowly to my lips when Grandpa Kamar spoke.
"Latour pairs best with meat, so not ideal for morning, but personally, its strong tannins go great with cigars."
The wine hit my tongue with a surprisingly deep flavor. New fruit notes like cherry, a bit of astringency.
As I swirled it in my mouth, Grandpa Kamar continued.
"Produced in Pauillac, Médoc, Bordeaux, France. The vintage you're drinking is 1982. Unusually hot that year, which made for exceptional wine."
It felt like the bedtime stories Grandpa told before dreamland in my childhood. Fun.
Even with zero wine knowledge, his easygoing tale flowed nicely as I enjoyed the wine and cigar.
"This is nice. Sitting in the rooftop yard like this feels rich. But where do you carry stuff like this?"
"A butler's secret."
As I thought everything expensive has a reason, Baek Seol rolled on my lap, belly up, and spoke.
"Master, hungry."
"One sec."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Gave food] "Here, eat."
"Yeah."
Pretending to pull a flower from my pocket, Grandpa Kamar watched curiously.
"Small animals have weak digestion; fresh flowers with high moisture can cause tummy aches."
"Ah, my kid's special. This flower's special too."
I couldn't bring myself to say she likes dipping petals in ramen broth.
After Baek Seol's impromptu brunch and my wine time, I leisurely finished prepping and returned to the yard.
"Playing with Baek Seol, huh."
I wondered where Baek Seol had gone while I washed up—she'd stuck to me like glue—but Grandpa Kamar was brushing her fur.
"Heh heh, what a smart rabbit. First time seeing one like this."
Baek Seol, lounging on the table enjoying the brush, perked her ears at my voice and hopped to me.
"I think I got everything. Nothing for you, Baek Seol?"
"Food."
"Got it."
Grandpa Kamar had seen my huge pile of luggage and suggested packing light, so I did—just essentials.
"Shall we go, miss?"
"Yes, let's."
Downstairs, a familiar sports car was parked.
"Whoa, super hip car. How much is one of these?"
"About 7 billion won."
"7 billion? Sounds familiar."
"It was my birthday recently; the young master gifted it."
A word popped into my head at Grandpa Kamar's words.
"Ah! Is this the Black Parade?"
He smiled and nodded.
"You know your cars, miss."
"No, Red... I mean, Namir mentioned it."
"I see."
We chatted as we got in; the lidless car roared forward with ear-splitting engine noise.
Every stoplight start, I felt everyone staring.
Thus embarrassed, we arrived at the airport.
"Miss, I planned a comfortable ride, but the private jet's in maintenance. Apologies."
"...Private jet? I don't even know what one looks like."
First morning cigar and wine. Ride in a jaw-dropping sports car. Now private jet talk.
"Really, it's fine. Only flown once, cheap airline in middle school. Private jet? No way."
My sense of money was warping; I stopped Grandpa Kamar's apologies.
"Time to spare, so relax in the lounge."
"Ooh, lounge. Awesome. Always wanted to try one."
Following him to the VIP lounge, it had everything imaginable.
"About an hour left. I'll fetch you after resting."
"Okay, see you!"
Once Grandpa Kamar left for errands, I quickly mounted my phone on the stand.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Han Ga-eul has started streaming] 💬 Stream Chat — Viewer [hi hi] — Viewer [Baek Seol hi] — Viewer [airport] "Kids, only an hour till my flight. Call the gang quick."
— Viewer [ok let's go] — Viewer [Lounge?] "Lounge, yep."
No one around, so I panned the phone for viewers.
"Buffet's here too. So nice, right? First time for me."
— Viewer [Guild master so cute lololol] — Viewer [Ga-eul never flown?] "I have, jerk. Cheap flight for school trip."
— Viewer [lololol fancy airlines you take shoes off right?] "Wanna die?"
As I munched lounge food and chatted about the morning, recounting events...
"Good day, ma'am. Time's nearing; here to escort you."
Turning at the voice, a foreign man and Grandpa Kamar stood there.
"Thank you."
— Viewer [Airlines have that service?] — Viewer [?] — Viewer [Foreigner speaks Korean well lol] — Viewer [You idiots never flown? lololol] "Kids, stream when I arrive. You know not to go nuts in other streams while I'm gone, right? Boot any who do."
— Viewer [ok leave it to us] — Viewer [lolol trust us only] "Yeah, see ya later. Bai bai."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Han Ga-eul has ended the stream] Sensing the waiting people's glances, I ended the stream hastily and stood.
"This way."
"Okay."
Tailing the man closely, no check-in or wait—just straight into the plane.
Even inside, the man kept walking ahead endlessly.
"Here."
Opening the door he indicated revealed a room like a small hotel.
"Huh?"
"Please change into slippers here."
Thought it was seats, but entering the room first: sofa, fridge, TV.
Next, piled snacks; past the aisle, huge bed and shower.
"I'm your dedicated attendant; call anytime. Enjoy your flight."
"Call me if needed too, miss."
The man and grandpa left after intro; I flopped on the bed with Baek Seol.
"They really do make you take shoes off."