Chapter 23 (1/2)
- A note from the Guide (49/50)
Advice to remember when in the Neutral Zone
Do you wish to quickly increase your physical level?
Why not use the special 'Competence'?
Available in: the VIP store
Again, another mention of the VIP store.
'Competence?'
Now that he had taken a look, the note turned out to be just that, a note that had neither a beginning nor a proper ending.
Seol still decided to leave his room, however. The only way to satisfy his curiosity was to check this Competence with his own two eyes.
The VIP store was located on the eighth floor. When he pushed the door open, he found a small room, a counter, and a maid sitting behind it. Her eyes grew wide as soon as she saw him.
”Oh, my?”
”Oh, my apologies. I didn't expect to see a survivor to enter through those doors so soon…. Are you perhaps here to window shop?” (The maid)
”Is this the VIP store?” (Seol)
”If you wish to purchase an item, please enter through here.” (The maid)
The maid pointed towards a small door to her side. It seemed that there was another room behind the one they were in.
”Unfortunately, it isn't possible to window shop in this store. You also need a minimum of 30,000 SP to enter, as well. If you're curious about the products available in here….” (The maid)
”Do you have an item called Competence on sale?” (Seol)
Seeing the maid about to pick up a familiar-looking pamphlet, Seol hurriedly interjected. The maid flinched and stopped. She then spotted the piece of paper gripped in his hand and an unreadable light flickered in her eyes.
”Ah~ of course. The Guide's…. Well, then. The story changes a little bit in that case. Please give me the note.” (The maid)
After receiving the Guide's note, she opened up the huge closet right behind her. The interior of this wooden closet was packed full with rows upon rows of adult finger-sized potion bottles.
The maid pulled one out and placed it on the counter. Seol stared at this small bottle containing a milky white substance. He activated 'Nine Eyes' but couldn't see any colour.
”You will also find the Competence in the regular stores down below. However, they pale in comparison to the ones found in this VIP store - the price, the effects, etc.” (The maid)
”What differences are there?” (Seol)
”Mm…. Well, the most expensive Competence you can find in the regular stores is priced at 250 SP. Its effects last for 12 hours. The maximum amount of boost you will receive is four times the normal. That's not so bad, if you consider the cost effectiveness. Don't you agree?” (The maid)
”Oh, you meant the VIP store's? There isn't even a need to say it out loud, you know? Because, the potion's effects and its duration are doubled, that's why. For a low, low price of 400 SP, the duration lasts for 24 hours, while you'll receive eight times the boost! Training one single day will give you the same results as training for eight days straight, guaranteed.” (The maid)
Seol had to wonder whether he made a mistake when he thought the tone of her voice s.h.i.+fted subtly as if to ask, 'You'll buy it, right? You will definitely buy it after this sales pitch, right?'
”Isn't that just impossible? How can such a thing be….” (Seol)
Seol displayed a strong sense of disbelief. While she was laughing with her eyes, the maid's overall expression was calm and composed.
”This is the Neutral Zone.” (The maid)
”Yes, so?” (Seol)
”This is the divine sanctuary created through the combined might of the seven deities. As long as you are trying to complete the tasks found within this zone, no effort will be spared in supporting you.” (The maid)
”Of course, a part of this zone's reason for existence is to test you. But the main objective is to help you develop your skills even further, and to increase the odds of your survival outside.” (The maid)
The maid tilted her head slightly to the side and smiled radiantly.
”….That's what I'd like to say, but well, it's true that this potion is a little bit peculiar. Only 60 bottles are made available during each of the Neutral Zone's openings. And also, not everyone can buy one, as well - there are even restrictions placed where one needs to bring along these 'notes from the Guide'. That's just in case an Invited heard of the potion's existence before arriving at the Zone.” (The maid)
Seol thought about this carefully. The answer to his quandary seemed just within his grasp - the answer he had forgotten about because his desire towards the VIP store's things had blinded his eyes from everything else. The maid's words of 'trying to complete the tasks found within this zone' continued to tug at his mind.
”Will you buy one?” (The maid)
The maid placed both of her hands on her waist and confidently asked him. Seol organised his thoughts for a bit, and then, raised his head to meet her gaze.
”Give me one.” (Seol)
After leaving the VIP store and heading back to his room, Seol ran into someone he was rather familiar with. And that was Yi Surl-Ah, looking somewhat anxious as she paced up and down in front of his door.
”Miss Yi Surl-Ah?” (Seol)
”Orabeo-nim!” (TL: Highest form of honorific used to denote one's elder brother, used by females)
Eh? Orabeo-nim?
While Seol stood there confused, Yi Surl-Ah ran to him with a look of worry in her face.
”Are you alright? Are you really alright?” (Yi Surl-Ah)
”W, what do you mean….?” (Seol)
”You looked to be in a really terrible state not too long ago. I was so worried about you, and I tried to see if you were okay, but you weren't in your room….” (Yi Surl-Ah)
Seol realised that the knocking noise he heard earlier belonged to Yi Surl-Ah. She was most likely referring to the time when Seol came back looking haunted after completing the 'Hard' difficulty mission. He was out of it back then, so he must've looked rather odd. Seol could understand now why she was behaving in this manner.
”By any chance…. Have you been crying?” (Yi Surl-Ah)
Crying? Seol unconsciously touched around his face and found that the spring water he poured on himself hadn't fully dried yet.
”….I guess so.” (Seol)
”B, but, why?” (Yi Surl-Ah)
”Because, I thought I was a pathetic fool.” (Seol)
”Orabeo-nim isn't pathetic at all!” (Yi Surl-Ah)
Yi Surl-Ah jumped up and down on the spot. She hurriedly scuttled towards him and carefully grasped hold of his arms.
”N, no, you are simply amazing, that's all. You even completed a Hard mission by yourself. Because of that, a huge chaos is unfolding downstairs.” (Yi Surl-Ah)
Seeing her worry-filled eyes staring up at him, Seol felt like he was feeling a little bit better than before. Just a little. He slowly shook his head.
”That mission was not something I should've tried in the first place.” (Seol)
”The mission was… that difficult?” (Yi Surl-Ah)
”I attempted it without even realising my own limits. As a result, I almost died. In all honesty…. It's a miracle that I'm standing here.” (Seol)
Yi Surl-Ah was about to say something, but she chose not to after seeing Seol's deeply wounded facial expression.
”I shouldn't have carried on like that. I shouldn't have tried that mission. Until now, I've only….” (Seol)
His furrowed brows deepened even more. He closed shut his mouth for a second or two, the sounds of gritting teeth escaping from between his lips.
”I was… using my own life as a collateral in a stupid gamble.” (Seol)
And I even swore to myself I'd never, ever gamble again…
”O, orabeo-nim….” (Yi Surl-Ah)
Yi Surl-Ah fidgeted and fretted about while wondering whether there was something she could do to aid him. She then grasped his sleeves a bit tighter and tugged. Seol raised his downtrodden eyes, only to find Yi Surl-Ah and her gentle smile looking back.
”Would you like to run with me for a while?” (Yi Surl-Ah)
”Uhm, excuse me?” (Seol)
”Yes, we should have a foot race!” (Yi Surl-Ah)
Seol ended up slightly panicking after that suggestion literally came out of nowhere.
”A race? Why a race, all of a sudden…?” (Seol)
”Running is really great, you see! Your mind clears up when you're in the middle of your strides, and you'll definitely feel better after sweating a lot.” (Yi Surl-Ah)
”But, uh, there is no s.p.a.ce around here to run, though? And to run on the corridors is just….” (Seol)
”Take a look at this~.” (Yi Surl-Ah)
[A foot race (Number of available attempts: ꝏ/ꝏ)]
Lap the track ten times!
Difficulty: Basic
When successful: none
When unsuccessful: none
*Cooperation possible (up to 6 people)
These were the contents from the mission parchment the girl produced. And it wasn't just one or two pages, either - she was holding at least thirty of them. Seol looked at the bundle with a dazed expression, prompting her to go, Oops! and explain herself.
”It's okay. The number of attempts for this mission is infinite, so I think it doesn't really matter if I take a few more than usual.” (Yi Surl-Ah)
”But still, isn't that a bit too much…?” (Seol)
”Oh. Uh, well, I need to run around for a while before I go to bed, or I won't be able to fall asleep.”
She poked her tongue out and waved around the mission parchment slightly. Seeing her bright, innocent smile, Seol couldn't bring himself to say no.
The method of 'cooperating' was rather simple. Whether it was by holding hands or touching shoulders, it was fine as long as there was some kind of body contact when the parchment was torn in half.
The location they moved to was an athletic field. It was no bigger than what one might find in a middle school. Seol thought that doing ten laps around the track found here shouldn't be too hard, but well, he had to revise his a.s.sessment soon enough.
'W, was my fitness level this terrible?!' (Seol)
He had no problems up to fourth and fifth laps. However, he began gradually slowing down on the sixth lap, and by the time he barely managed to complete the seventh, he couldn't even see Yi Surl-Ah's back anymore, never mind thinking of catching up.
He couldn't even tell whether he was running on the track or the track was running him out; his breathing was beyond rough, and his heart pounded incredibly hard while loudly demanding more and more oxygen to be delivered. Sweat poured out from his back as if it was raining, and a bittersweet odour leaked out from his throat.
'I… I… I can't… do… this!' (Seol)
He wanted to plop down on the floor and pa.s.s out, but then again, that would be just too embarra.s.sing. Why? Yi Surl-Ah had already finished all of her 10 laps and was waiting by the start/finish line while carefully regulating and calming down her breathing, that was why.
However, this was unsurprising. For many, many years, his body had been poisoned by the constant stream of late-night gambling, alcohol intake, and non-stop smoking. So, there was no way he would be in a healthy state at all, especially when he never exercised in the first place.
”Change the way you breathe! Don't breathe through your mouth, but through your nose! Like this, hu-hu, hha! Hu-hu, hha!” (Yi Surl-Ah)
Seol heard her encouragements and gritted his teeth. Only now, the answer that was just within his reach became crystal clear.
Just like his own words muttered out not too long ago, Seol had been doing things by simply gambling with his life as the collateral. Sure, he had received a favourable hand thanks to his Gold Marking, but if one single thing went wrong somewhere, then he'd end up dead without a doubt - like when he collapsed from the skeleton's jumping attack, for instance.
Also, the maid was right, too. The Neutral Zone wasn't designed to be a place where you must find a way to survive. No, it was designed to help one learn how to survive.