Chapter 34 (1/2)
After entering Odelette Delphine's team, Seol's daily life had entered what one might call a period of stability. No, should it be more like, he was now on the right track?
In any case, he managed to pay off his debt in just two days. Clearing the 'Ambush' mission once paid out 1,667 SP, so by clearing it ten times, he was able to pay back the 15,000 points and still have lots left over. Even after all that, there were still five 'Very Hard' missions left to go.
What the team tried their hands next was a mission called 'Arrive at the destination within a soundless environment', and it gave out 20,000 points as reward. Clearing it just once netted Seol 3,334 points.
Now that the debt had been paid off, Seol was able to get lost in the fun of cooperative battles as well as the joy of ama.s.sing a lot of Survival Points, without a single worry.
Yun Seo-Rah's recovery was just as trouble-free. Like what Maria said earlier, simply by eating well and resting well, and with the added effect of Seol's quarters, her physical fitness level returned to normal in no time at all.
Only blight was that Seol couldn't help but be cognisant of her being uncomfortable around him.
There was this one incident not too long ago; when he returned to his room, he found it to be utterly spotless. The shelves were all neatly arranged, mirrors shone and reflected light brilliantly, and the toilet sparkled blindingly, too.
Seol dazedly looked around, only to spot Yun Seo-Rah sweating profusely while mopping the floor on all fours. Of course, he was quite shocked by this sight. Not only could he not figure out why she was cleaning the place, she was also in the middle of her recovery, too.
He hurriedly ran up to her and s.n.a.t.c.hed the mop away, and asked her what on earth she was doing instead of resting. She only lowered her head in silence as her reply.
On another occasion, he returned after clearing a mission only to find Yun Seo-Rah missing from his room. And on top of the bed, he spotted four neatly-folded papers.
The contents of those letters started off with the expression of her grat.i.tude as well as her apology for causing him so much trouble; they were so profoundly heartfelt and touching, he almost cried reading them. And the pa.s.sage about the ”debt being hers and hers alone, so she needs to pay it off herself” sounded especially grimly resolute.
Thinking to himself, She wouldn't, Seol went out to look for her, and ended up nearly falling over in fright after finding her bravely stalking towards Hao Win on the first floor. Which meant, he had to go through the event of picking up and carrying away the struggling Yun Seo-Rah.
It wasn't only that, though. Just taking care of Yun Seo-Rah alone was already headache-inducing, yet the Yi siblings went around causing problems as well. Seol found them loitering around in front of the noticeboard, apparently hoping to pay off the debt by themselves, so Seol had to bring them back with force, too.
'This can't go on.' (Seol)
Seeing that Yun Seo-Rah's condition had recovered fully, Seol thought that he should move on to the next step. No, he had no choice but to do that.
Seol only said he wanted to have a chat with them, yet the siblings were kneeling on the ground right in front of him. Yun Seo-Rah, who had been cautiously reading the mood from the side until then, also silently bent her knees and got down, too.
He told them to sit more comfortably, but they didn't budge. Judging from the way they continued to stare at the floor, they must've understood what they had done wrong. Seol spat out a lengthy groan.
”Just what were you thinking?” (Seol)
”B, but…” (Yi Surl-Ah)
”But?” (Seol)
”That man, Hao Win….” (Yi Surl-Ah)
”I told you, he's a good person. He's friendly, and…. No, wait. Fine. Let's hear it. What about Mister Hao Win? Did he say something else to you?” (Seol)
Yi Surl-Ah mumbled helplessly.
”I…. overheard…. by chance….” (Yi Surl-Ah)
”Okay, heard what exactly?” (Seol)
”That, well, he is a…. He's really a gang member from Hong Kong's Triads. The biggest in the Chinese underground, no less….” (Yi Surl-Ah)
If there was one thing Seol came to realise about himself recently, he seemed to have developed a strange habit of glaring at the ceiling when something dismayed him or caused a sense of dumbfoundedness.
So, he stared at the ceiling of his room for a while, before shoving a cigarette between his lips.
”Yeah, sure. He's a Triads boss. Right.” (Seol)
He more or less understood where the Yi girl was coming from. He too had a preconceived notion about Agnes and Hao Win when he initially heard of their affiliations. Most likely, they were really terrifying people. But, at least judging from what Seol knew, Hao Win was a man with a pleasingly outgoing personality.
”Okay, let's say he is. So what?” (Seol)
”H, hyung, we….” (Yi Sung-Jin)
”I know. I know that you want to help out somehow. It's a commendable idea, but I'm asking you again. What were you even thinking, looking at the noticeboard like that? Don't you know that all the missions up to 'Slightly Easy' difficulty have been exhausted?” (Seol)
They couldn't reply. They couldn't say anything even if they had ten mouths.
”Is it because of the debt? I've already took care of that. No, I'm in the middle of ama.s.sing points at the moment. The reason why I'm still doing missions with them is because I also need their strength. I can never clear 'Very Hard' missions by myself.” (Seol)
”If you really want to help, then become stronger. Haven't you realised that you guys doing whatever you want is actually making my life really difficult instead?” (Seol)
”You guys don't have weapons. No armour. Not to forget, your Jobs aren't even in high demand, either. You literally have nothing, yet you want to tackle missions? You think 'Normal' difficulty missions are a cakewalk?” (Seol)
”We're sorry….” (Yi Surl-Ah)
Yi Surl-Ah whimpered out an apology in a really tiny voice. It was her first time seeing orabeo-nim get so angry at them. Rather than feeling unhappy after receiving his scolding, she could only remain apologetic here, though. She very well knew that his anger stemmed from him being worried about her and her brother losing their lives.
Seeing their dispirited looks, Seol's anger cooled down a tad. If it were any other time, they might have raised a huge fuss, saying stuff about doing everything they can to show their grat.i.tude and all….
'No, hang on.' (Seol)
Even then, a wrong deed was still a wrong deed.
”….Listen to me. I borrowed 15,000 points in total. That was for me to buy the necessary equipment so I could attempt clearing the Very Hard missions along with that man's team. In other words, I too have received help from Mister Hao Win.” (Seol)
”Yes….”
”So, this is what's going to happen to you three. I'll lend my points to you. I'll train you too.” (Seol)
”I'm telling you to become stronger.” (Seol)
If they wanted to help him, they needed to become stronger, without a doubt. Flipping that around, he was telling them that they were too weak to be of any help right now.
”You all understand that you've fallen far behind everyone else even if you start right away, right?” (Seol)
All three nodded their heads in sync.
”There's no need to get depressed, though. Depending on what you do during the remaining time period, you can catch up to the rest, or even surpa.s.s them.” (Seol)
”R, really?” (Yi Surl-Ah)
”Only if you do as I say.” (Seol)
He wasn't making an empty claim. It was an undeniable fact that Yun Seo-Rah and the Yi siblings were far behind everyone else. Even after receiving their Jobs, nothing had changed from the day they entered the Neutral Zone. To be more specific, they lacked the necessary points, so they couldn't buy anything, including abilities.
However, Seol found that to be their advantage, instead.
Agnes once told him, I do not recommend buying Applications from the stores.
There was an old saying, a dangerous situation could also become one's opportunity.
”You all know about the effects of this room, right?” (Seol)
”Yes, it's a room only given to the first place ranker….” (Yi Surl-Ah)
”Right. And, take these.” (Seol)
Seol placed three vials in front of the kneeling trio. Yi Surl-Ah's eyes widened instantly.
They were bottles of Competence.
They also happened to be the most expensive potions available in the regular stores. Not as good as the VIP store's special Competence, they nevertheless still boasted four times the effect to any training done.
”It's not going to be easy.” (Seol)
Seol told them in no uncertain tone.
”You will have to train really, really hard. I will help out, obviously, but once we start, it'll be very harsh…. It's the same for you too, Miss Yun Seo-Rah.” (Seol)
Seol stopped looking at the siblings and s.h.i.+fted his gaze over to Yun Seo-Rah as he spoke. She froze mid-action of trying to open the stopper off the vial.
”Will it really be alright?” (Yun Seo-Rah)
She sounded much more determined than before.
”There is something I've realised after entering a party.” (Seol)
Seol replied.
”There are a lot of amazing people to be found inside the Neutral Zone.” (Seol)
Simple determination would never be adequate in this place.
”Mister Tong Chai, Leorda Salvatore, Odelette Delphine, Hao Win…. Also, Mister Hao Win came here after years of preparation on Earth.” (Seol)
Seol did not want an answer that was neither here nor there.
”While you, Miss Yun Seo-Rah, couldn't do anything for the past two months, these talented people poured in their best efforts to become stronger.” (Seol)
If she were to do this, she needed to do this properly. If not, she might as well give up now.
That was what Seol was implying.
”Honestly….” (Yun Seo-Rah)
Yun Seo-Rah's voice was small as she spoke.
”I have no confidence of surpa.s.sing them as I am right now.” (Yun Seo-Rah)
But, for the first time ever, the woman who remained ever so quiet until now, so much so that her presence sometimes couldn't even be sensed….
”But, even if it's late, I want to catch up to them.” (Yun Seo-Rah)
….Revealed what was on her mind.
”I wish to become stronger.” (Yun Seo-Rah)
….And, revealed her simple wish.
That was all he needed.
Yun Seo-Rah unhesitatingly drank the vial. Same for Yi Surl-Ah and her brother, Yi Sung-Jin.
Seol watched the Yi girl's cheeks puff up, before she swallowed the liquid down her throat. A sly grin emerged on his lips.
”You just entered the ranks of doped athletes, you know that?” (Seol)
”P, please don't say that….” (Yi Surl-Ah)
Yi Surl-Ah blushed deeply.
Seol got up from his spot. The effects of the Competence would only last for 12 hours. Even a minute, a second, was too precious to waste.
Seol activated 'Nine Eyes' and spoke up.
”Yi Sung-Jin, you need to raise your fitness level first. Go down to the first floor, and find the 'Running No. 4' mission among the Basic difficulty. Start doing that until you collapse.” (Seol)
”U, until I collapse?!” (Yi Sung-Jin)
”There's no helping it. There isn't enough time left, until you have to start doing the real missions, you know. When you're finished, come to the third floor gym.” (Seol)
”Yes. I will!” (Yi Sung-Jin)
Yi Sung-Jin hurriedly ran out of the room. Seol took the remaining two women and, before heading to the third floor gym himself, sought out a certain maid.
”A…. training, you say?” (Agnes)
Agnes tilted her head slightly.
”Hmm, I wonder. You'll still be behind everyone even if you start doing the missions now….” (Agnes)
Hearing her rather unconvinced tone of voice, Seol quickly added his own.
”They haven't bought any abilities from the stores. I believe they still have a chance.” (Seol)
”Not buying from the store through choice and being unable to buy because of the circ.u.mstances are not the same, Mister Seol.” (Agnes)
”I'm going to help them as well. They will continue to stay in my quarters, and I will make them use the same items that aid in the natural recovery that I've used.” (Seol)
”Mm.”
”I'll also make them drink two bottles of the regular Competence a day. And I shall provide them with the necessary points to buy equipments, as well. Will it be still impossible?” (Seol)
”If you're willing to do that much, then the story certainly changes a great deal.” (Agnes)
Finally, Agnes seemed to show a positive reaction.