The next day, I visited the Technical Division building as planned to repair the spoon. The place where Yoo Ji-woo belongs is the 4th Research Laboratory of the Technical Division.
“Orai! Orai!”
Though called a research lab, in reality, it was no different from a repair shop. Inside and around the garage, giant trucks were coming and going, and students were busy transporting mechanical parts in the maintenance area.
Everyone was so focused on their work that their coveralls were smeared with black grease.
“Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to the personal research rooms?”
“Huh?”
I stopped a passing student from the Technical Division to ask for directions.
Even though we were all students, I couldn’t help but address them politely. It was all because of their intimidating looks.
They looked like they had truly endured the trials of time from their arduous work. Their lanky figures, sun-tanned faces, and deeply wrinkled foreheads didn’t seem like they belonged to someone in their twenties at all. I’d have believed if someone told me they were instructors.
The Technical Division student put down their broom and spoke.
“You’re looking for a personal research room, right? Who are you visiting? Could it be Yoo Ji-woo?”
At once, they figured out I was there to see Yoo Ji-woo. Looks like they’re a fairly well-known figure even among the students here.
I nodded to confirm.
“That blue sign building over there. The room at the far right of the fourth-floor hallway.”
With that, the student hitched the broom over their shoulder and continued walking. They said what they had to say and left.
They didn’t even give me a chance to thank them.
Anyway.
I headed towards the building with the blue sign as instructed.
Unlike the outside, the inside of the building was very quiet. Now this felt more like a research lab. Outside, it was pretty much just a construction site.
───
403: Research Lab for MystStone Energy Conversion and Catalysts
< [Present]-Meeting-Out of Office-Out-Done >
───
Finally, I arrived at Yoo Ji-woo’s lab. Thankfully, Yoo Ji-woo was inside. I knocked on the door.
Knock knock.
“…”
But there was no response from inside. Could they have stepped out to the restroom? I knocked again.
Knock knock.
“…”
Still no response. The sign clearly showed they were present. Could they have forgotten to change the sign when they left?
Creak–
At that moment, the lab door slowly opened.
“Uh… who could this be at this time of day…”
The person who opened the door was a very small figure. She was so short that her white lab coat dragged along the floor. I thought maybe she was an elementary school student.
“Hnnnng…”
The girl yawned widely with her mouth wide open. Her deep-set dark circles under her sleepy eyes suggested that staying up all night was part of her daily routine.
Furthermore, her long hair that flowed down to her waist was disheveled and unruly.
It was clear at a glance.
This person was a real nerd.
“Are you Yoo Ji-woo?”
“Uhh… but why…?”
Still half-asleep, Yoo Ji-woo was busy rubbing her eyes and had trouble meeting my gaze.
“I’ve come to ask for repairs.”
“Repairs?”
Finally, Yoo Ji-woo stopped rubbing her eyes and stared directly at me.
“…”
Yoo Ji-woo’s face, as she looked at me, lacked any kind of emotion. She had an indifferent look, as if she were looking at a tree planted by the roadside.
In that state, Yoo Ji-woo nodded her head.
“Would you like to come in?”
Following Yoo Ji-woo’s guidance, I stepped inside the lab.
“Ugh…”
As soon as I entered, the air felt heavy. The smell of oil, gunpowder, and other unpleasant odors were assaulting my nose.
I felt dizzy.
“I can’t really tell you to sit anywhere…”
Moreover, when was the last time the lab was cleaned? The lab was in utter disarray, with delivery food containers and piles of unidentifiable trash. There wasn’t even space to put your feet, let alone a place to sit.
To think someone could sleep here. This person was clearly no ordinary character.
But in truth, how the lab was maintained didn’t really matter to me. As long as the spoon was fixed properly, it wasn’t an issue.
“Take this first.”
Before diving into the main discussion, I handed a plastic bag to Yoo Ji-woo.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a present.”
At the word ‘present,’ Yoo Ji-woo quickly checked the contents of the plastic bag.
A canned drink popped out.
“Oh, this is Sol’s Snow.”
“Take a closer look, and you’ll find Deja and Silonti too.”
“Wow, you’ve brought all my favorite things. How did you know?”
What’s so difficult about that? People’s tastes are all the same, aren’t they? Who doesn’t like Sol’s Snow?
It was strange that Kim Han-bit frowned when drinking it yesterday.
“Okay. I’ll give you a special price since you’ve brought gifts. First-timers bringing gifts are rare, after all.”
Chiiik–
Apparently, she was in a good mood, so Yoo Ji-woo immediately opened the Sol’s Snow and sipped it there.
Puha–
She finished the entire can in one breath. That wasn’t idle talk when she said she liked it. She was a genuine foodie.
“So, what do you want fixed?”
“Could you take a look at this?”
It was time to get to the main point. I took out the spoon from my pocket. Of course, it’s more like a lump of metal now.
“Uhmmm…”
Yoo Ji-woo frowned and stared at the spoon intently. She was quickly calculating the repair estimate just by eyeballing it.
And…
“I can’t repair this.”
The verdict was that the spoon couldn’t be fixed.
What? Wasn’t she the one who can easily repair even the complicated artifacts? Then why can’t she fix a simple spoon?
I decided to ask for the reason.
“Why’s that?”
“It’s completely ruined.”
“Beyond repair?”
“Yes.”
In other words, it’s in a state that can’t be salvaged anymore. Using a car for comparison, it’s a situation where the car needs to be scrapped immediately.
I had no choice but to bid farewell to my beloved spoon.
“How about making a new one?”
“Huh?”
Yoo Ji-woo suggested a new plan. The suggestion was to abandon the broken spoon and create a new one instead.
Now that I think about it, that makes sense. Why was I so fixated on repairs? There was also the option of making a new one, wasn’t there?
I grabbed the lump of metal I was holding and threw it far away before asking Yoo Ji-woo.
“Can you make a new one?”
“It’s not impossible as long as we have enough materials.”
Yoo Ji-woo started typing something furiously on a tablet she was holding and then showed me its screen.
It was the list of required materials. She had already finished the estimate.
“I happen to have almost all the materials we need in this lab. Just one is missing.”
Yoo Ji-woo glanced at me subtly, hinting that the last material was something I had to obtain myself.
No problem. As long as we can recreate the spoon, I’m prepared to acquire any material.
“So, what material is needed?”
“Isn’t that thing an artifact?”
Yoo Ji-woo pointed to the spoon I had thrown away earlier. To some extent, the spoon was akin to an artifact. It was a thing powered by magical power, after all.
“We need a core that can serve as the center of the artifact. In other words, we need an engine.”
“And what’s this engine you speak of?”
“Simply put, it’s MystStone.”
At the word ‘MystStone,’ I flinched. Coincidentally, I had MystStone in my possession. I had included it just in case.
“Do you mean this?”
I carefully took out the MystStone. It was a gemstone tinged with deep red.
“Ehhh…”
The heavy eyelids of Yoo Ji-woo, which were previously half-closed, opened wide at that moment. She came over to the MystStone, dragging her lab coat.
“Where did you get this…?”
This MystStone was obtained from Guild Leader Ryu Jung-min during our last meeting. I never imagined it would be used right away.
“To have such a high-grade MystStone… It’s something you can’t even find on the market…”
Realizing its value, Yoo Ji-woo couldn’t tear her eyes away from the MystStone. Her eyes were gleaming with curiosity.
“What do you think? Is this MystStone enough to create the new spoon?”
“Huh.”
At my question, Yoo Ji-woo let out an awkward laugh.
“Are you kidding? With this, we might even be able to create a weapon more powerful than what you were using before?”
*
The Han-yul Military Academy Educational Hospital. Choi Soo-eun was heading to the station momentarily to check the daily work log.
“Excuse me… I’ve come to apply for a visit.”
At that moment, a familiar face caught her eye.
The glimmering blonde hair, the explosive chest she lacked, it was Arna visiting the hospital. She was in the middle of a conversation with a junior.
Choi Soo-eun quickly entered the station.
“Just a moment. I’ll handle this.”
“N-N-Ne…?”
Pushing the junior aside who was just dealing with Arna, Choi Soo-eun took over the spot.
Choi Soo-eun asked Arna.
“Why are you here?”
“Umm… I’ve come to apply for a visit.”
“Who?”
Even without asking who, Choi Soo-eun roughly guessed. It must be to see Shin Yoon-seong.
But she had no intention of letting her through easily. Sitting in front of the computer at the station, Choi Soo-eun made a pretense of typing on the keyboard.
Then, she spoke to Arna.
“Uh, it seems Shin Yoon-seong has gone out briefly.”
“Ah, is that so? Do you have any idea when he’ll return?”
“Well, I’m not quite sure about that either.”
There was no false statement in this. It was true that Shin Yoon-seong had gone out, and it was also true she didn’t know when he’d be back.
Choi Soo-eun delivered only the truth.
“Sorry, but it’s probably best to come back tomorrow.”
“Um? Is that someone? A monster with huge breasts?”
Just as Choi Soo-eun was inwardly celebrating her success in shooing Arna away, Shin Yoon-seong appeared from afar, just returning from his outing.
“…”
“…”
The sudden appearance of Shin Yoon-seong shocked both women, leaving their mouths agape.
What perfect timing it was—both from Choi Soo-eun’s perspective and from Arna’s.
“Is something going on here? Could it be you’ve come for a sick visit because you were worried about me?”
“Uh, not exactly worried!”
Shin Yoon-seong and Arna started conversing while facing each other and naturally left the place.
Leaving Choi Soo-eun behind.
“…”
Watching the two leave, Choi Soo-eun pouted and clenched her fists tightly under the computer desk.
This is my home ground…
And I’ve lost it again.
