087 – A New Family Has Emerged! #3
“What weapon would suit you? It’s important to test your aptitude and see what equipment you should use. My colleague Kim Dan is quite good at such things.”
Everyone had different talents and aptitudes.
Carrying a weapon you have no aptitude for in a life-threatening Rift?
In a time where every second is precious, one could face great regret.
Swish.
Kim Dan took Lee Jin-A somewhere.
There was a woman with a dark complexion at that location, seemingly of Indian descent. Her skin was reddish and she was quite beautiful.
“This is Polly. She’s my assistant and definitely more skilled than I am. She’ll ask you various questions, so just hold her hands.”
So, she’s Kim Dan’s assistant.
Lee Jin-A clasped her hands with that woman, Polly.
Soon, Polly spoke.
“Did you have breakfast?”
She’s using English like a foreigner would.
Lee Jin-A seemed quite flustered.
“What? What did she say? What did she say?”
“She’s asking if you had breakfast.”
“Yes, yes.”
Lee Jin-A seems to be suffering from a fear of speaking English.
Koreans usually felt dizzy with over 70% probability when foreigners asked them questions in English.
Polly asked again.
“What do you like?”
“What do I like? What do I like?”
Lee Jin-A looked to me as if seeking help.
It seemed Lee Jin-A was genuinely scared of someone speaking English.
But how could I know what you like, Jin-A?
“Well, maybe your favorite food or ice cream. Something like that.”
“Favorite… drink? I like drinking soda. Cola. What is cola in English? Coke? I like Coke!”
“Oh…!? Wow! Really…!?”
At the foreigner’s question, Lee Jin-A nodded.
“Yes! It’s very delicious!”
“Yeah! I think so too!”
The foreign woman named Polly beamed and soon looked Lee Jin-A up and down. Then she turned her gaze to me, and it was a very peculiar look.
Then Kim Dan, bursting into laughter.
“Haildo, is that blonde your girlfriend? That’s impressive. They say you shouldn’t judge people by their looks, but she’s just the quintessential airhead. Not that I should say anything—”
Airhead—
I knew that was a derogatory term.
Did Lee Jin-A say something rude?
While I was deep in thought, Polly said.
“Glove.”
Glove.
That’s what she meant would suit Lee Jin-A for her weapon equipment.
It must mean a combat exterior or something like that?
Swish.
We soon headed towards a place lined with combat gloves.
They were weapons like those of assassins, with claws or large mechanical devices making them look like robotic arms.
“Take your time to browse this way. I’ll be off.”
Polly and Kim Dan left.
Sometimes having a shop assistant chatter away could be burdensome and nerve-wracking, but this store allowed customers to look around freely, which felt good.
“Hey. There are lots of gloves, so pick one.”
Tap.
I tapped Lee Jin-A’s shoulder, but only then did I notice her face was bright red, and her body was trembling.
It was like she was having a fever.
“What’s wrong? Do you not like gloves?”
“You. Do you know what cola is in English?”
“Cola is cola in English.”
“I thought cola was Coke in English. But it seems that woman Polly misunderstood me to mean cock! Damn! That’s why she was surprised!”
Ding—
Listening to that, it sounded quite plausible.
“How much of a crazy woman does she think I am! I even said it’s very delicious! Ah, what a ridiculous situation this is. I can’t believe this actually happened to me—”
Lee Jin-A seemed genuinely embarrassed and ashamed.
Upon hearing it, it indeed was a situation to feel embarrassed about.
I said to her.
“Well, if my colleague acknowledged you, then your aptitude test skills must be top-notch. You might really be a sensing ability user? She probably assessed your bio-rhythms to recommend weapons, so go ahead and choose.”
Glove.
Combat gloves had a certain romance to them.
Some, resembling robotic arms, had boosters attached, and both the large and small ones had their own unique appeal.
# # #
What Lee Jin-A picked was a glove made of special chains.
It was woven from chains and looked like the gauntlet worn by knights.
“It looks similar to the work gloves I used to carry during moving.”
I see.
She chose a familiar design.
The price was about 50 million won.
I heard it was expensive because it was made from the shell of the “Rock Tortoise,” only found in A-rank Rifts.
Supposedly, it was sturdy and powerful.
While Lee Jin-A was choosing her gloves, I picked my weapon too.
It was a double-barrel shotgun but small enough to comfortably strap to my waist and manage.
It was specifically for magical bullets, costing in the 10 million range.
It was rather affordable for an Awakened weapon, making me very pleased.
“Goodbye!”
Once I finished the payment with my Awakened credit card, the shop assistant Polly waved goodbye to us enthusiastically.
She especially seemed to take a liking to Lee Jin-A and even shook hands with her.
Naturally, Lee Jin-A’s face turned red, and she repeatedly opened and closed her mouth as if to say something.
“Ah damn, I should’ve studied English more!”
While Lee Jin-A was scratching her head, my item was being carefully packed by the shopkeeper, Kim Dan.
He spoke to me.
“You’ve become B-rank, right? I was B-rank too. Be careful. Don’t lose your arms and legs like I did. From B-rank onwards, the world changes, so you better keep your wits about you.”
Hearing words from someone who had to replace all their limbs with mechanical parts was quite persuasive.
As I trembled, Kim Dan said.
“They’re planning a reunion for the first batch of students soon. Are you going to join this time? You’ve skipped out several times, you know. Shall I make a point of it?”
A reunion for the first batch of students?
That made me feel a bit awkward for various reasons.
I suppose I’d say I wasn’t inclined to go?
It was because I had skipped out on several reunions as Kim Dan noted.
The reason was simple.
While I was gasping for breath as a D-rank, my former classmates were doing quite well.
Of course, that was with regard to those who weren’t dead.
However, reunions were solely for the living.
Only those who had thrived were present.
As a result, I had lived like a ghost and did not attend reunions.
But well—
Maybe I could go this time?
If I was B-rank, I might fit in with the average of first batch students.
Moreover, there were experienced first batch holders who might know something about the “Witch.”
Alright—
Let’s go!
Let’s do this!
“When is it?”
“It’ll be soon. I’ll contact you on your phone. Take care then.”
Vroom—
Kim Dan waved his mechanical arm.
Vroom—
I returned home in Lee Jin-A’s car.
It was just before evening.
Soon, Yu Ara, who had been playing with the Nymphs in the yard, welcomed me.
“Senior, you’re back? You bought a weapon, right? Can you show it to me?”
“Sure.”
Swish.
I took out the shotgun I had just bought from the case to show it to Ari.
Ari carefully received the shotgun and said.
“Senior’s weapon is bigger and more amazing than I expected! It looks totally like a deadly weapon!”
—Crash…!
The Emperor Ant Ahn Ahn nodded as if to agree with Yu Ara.
That was only natural.
It wasn’t just shaped like a deadly weapon; it literally was one.
“I can’t wait to see how this will perform in the C-rank Rift tomorrow. I have to take Kkungkkungi and Ahn Ahn along to warm up. Also—”
Swish.
I looked up.
A large tiger owl, Kalilnoi, was looking down at me from the roof, making our eyes meet.
Of course, Kalilnoi swiftly turned its head away as if wary of humans.
“Can I take Kalilnoi with me as well?”
Rifts are places full of many variables.
The magical energy of the Rift might help Kalilnoi’s mental health, right?
Of course, whether Kalilnoi would purely come along was a separate matter.
“Senior, can I go too?”
Ari?
Ari going to the C-rank Rift wasn’t really an issue.
After all, Ari was originally a B-rank Awakened.
However, could Ari, who had retired to become a civil servant, keep up with me, Haildo, who was currently in my prime after spending the last 10 years in active duty?
That was something I couldn’t confidently say.
“Are you sure?”
“Senior, I’m more capable than you think! I want to show you how great I can be when I take off my doctor’s gown! I’ve even been working out again lately!”
Yu Ara rolled up her sleeves to show her toned arms.
I couldn’t even imagine how impressive Yu Ara would look without her doctor’s gown.
While I was a D-rank and in a different league, Yu Ara was about to become a B-rank Awakened.
“Jin-A, is it okay if Ari joins the Rift you discovered? I don’t think it will hold her back. I have Kkungkkungi, Ahn Ahn, and Bang Bang, so our combat power should be more than sufficient.”
In a C-rank Rift, frankly, I could handle things on my own.
If I let Kkungkkungi loose, he would handle everything on his own.
It was complete automatic hunting.
Automatic hunting Haildo—
It wouldn’t be strange for such a nickname to stick to me.
But when would my title be issued?
I participated in a T-rank Rift and completed a mission, but there still hasn’t been any news.
Is it complicated due to the Cash issue?
Lee Jin-A shrugged coolly.
“It’s fine if she tags along. It’s not even a Rift that really requires combat. Reflexes are needed, but I think a doctor like you should be adequate.”
With that, a three-person party of myself, Lee Jin-A, and Yu Ara was formed.
We had already broken through a Rift together once, so we weren’t strangers.
Lee Jin-A said.
“We’ll be heading to a Rift that opens at dawn. We need to set out by 4 AM, so I’ll sleep in this neighborhood. Doctor, you mentioned there’s a room available at the house where you’re currently staying?”
# # #
Drip, drip—
It was a large shower room.
It was big enough for two people to enter and shower.
Indeed, two women were washing up in the shower.
Yu Ara opened her narrow eyes as she caught a glimpse of Lee Jin-A’s figure through the mirror.
“Tsk, even though she’s younger than me, she’s a bit taller. It’s because I exercise more. Still, my hips are curvier…”
Hehe—
While lost in her thoughts, she heard the sound of the tap being turned off, then Lee Jin-A dried her body and said.
“Doctor, do you like Haildo?”
“What? What do you mean?”
With a bright smile, Yu Ara responded.
Clad in a shower towel, Lee Jin-A spoke again to Yu Ara.
“It’s no use lying. The longer you’ve known someone, you start to pick up on things without wanting to. Even if you conceal your feelings, they’ll eventually show.”
“…….”
Yu Ara hid her smile and adopted a cool expression.
Since Lee Jin-A was also a sensing ability user, she thought further lies would be pointless.
“If, by any chance, you mentioned it to him—”
“I have no intention of telling him. Because you’re the one who treated my sister for her mana sickness. I genuinely appreciate that. That’s why I’m saying this. It’s better to steer clear of him in the Rift tomorrow.”
Steer clear?
Yu Ara thought this was just a young girl trying to keep her in check.
Even without reading emotions, it was clear to Yu Ara that this young girl had feelings for Haildo.
“Of course, Haildo is amazing! It’s only natural that the women around him fall for him! If women don’t like Haildo, then that would be odd!”
Yu Ara believed all women would inevitably be drawn to Haildo. After all, he was that amazing and genuinely charming.
He was so incredible that even animals flocked to him!
“I’m sorry, but I don’t plan to avoid him. I’m still on vacation. I won’t listen to anyone.”
I took leave to see Haildo more closely.
If I could head toward the Rift together, it would be like striking gold!
There was no way I would miss that opportunity.
Swish—
As she dried her hair, Lee Jin-A said, “I definitely warned you,” and then swiftly left.
Yu Ara felt a little displeased by that.
“Just a few years younger than me!”
