210 – My Victory of Survival #2
“So, it was like this. Barbar had just mentioned ‘Wondrous Magic of the Fire Element’ when a flock of F Rank demons called Mitchuri flew up into the sky, hoonloooolloo!”
“This Barbar is showing great activity…! If he keeps this up, he could get praised by the resurrecting Demon Lord someday and become an Imp of Hell…!”
Many people came to my hospital room.
My younger sibling, Hailra, who had been active at the Awakened Training Center for the past few days, and my protective parents came as well. I was worried because they said I was badly hurt, but it turned out I was in better shape than expected, which relieved them.
“Haildo, don’t you think it’d be better to stop doing dangerous things and just live a normal life like others by getting married and having kids? These days, my friends say their sons are all marrying Elves and living happily…”
My mom still seemed dissatisfied with the fact that I was working on dangerous Awakened tasks. There were sons around her that were starting to get married early, which made comparisons with me inevitable.
I didn’t think my mom was at the age to be called a grandmother yet.
Of course, my father seemed to have a different outlook, comforting my mother while encouraging me.
“No, if you’re going to start working as a man, then you have to see it through. These days, your dad is approaching retirement and is feeling a bit uneasy, but talking about you with my colleagues is quite fun.”
I see.
It seems my father found it amusing that his son was starting to do well again.
I agreed with my dad’s sentiment.
If a man starts, he must finish.
In my case, there was a major goal—reaching S Rank.
Since I was currently ranked 14 in A Rank, that meant I had about 13 steps left to reach S Rank. It felt like I was beginning to see a peak that had seemed so far away.
Soon, my father asked while wiping his glasses.
“So, you’re starting the broadcast in a few days? Well, there won’t be any embarrassing scenes that would inconvenience family or make the neighbors feel awkward, right? Your mom has already gone around telling everyone her son will be on TV.”
“No, when they say I’ll be on TV… hehehe.”
My mom loved bragging about me whenever I won awards in competitions or even slightly improved my grades, hanging a banner in the busiest spot in the neighborhood to show off.
Thinking back now, it seemed my tendency to flaunt and take pride in myself came from her.
The thought of being on TV made my mom eager to boast.
I recalled my actions during the A Rank survival competition.
There wasn’t anything to be embarrassed about in front of the neighbors.
It seemed fine to spread the word all over the place.
“By the way, isn’t this a really good hospital? I heard it’s the same hospital where royalty from the oil-rich nations get admitted. How is the medical bill covered by insurance?”
My mom looked around the hospital room and flinched slightly, as if intimidated. The VIP room I was staying in seemed to frighten her with its costs.
I had also worried about that when I first opened my eyes in this strange yet luxurious hospital. But fortunately, I was reassured that I wouldn’t have to worry about the money.
“They say the Telos Group is covering it. After all, I’m a honorary member of the Telos Group. Apparently, they covered all the medical expenses as part of employee welfare.”
Lately, the Telos Group had been working on welfare projects for the first-generation Awakened. I was one of those first-generation Awakened, and my medical expenses would definitely be handled by Telos’s funds.
Mom soon glanced around surreptitiously, squinting her eyes and asked, “Isn’t it because that Ye-rim girl is behind this? I have a feeling it’s like that. Wasn’t she the one telling us to find an apartment in Makcheon City during our meeting? We don’t have that kind of money…”
A meeting, huh.
I didn’t know what she was talking about.
My mom often jumped to conclusions so quickly that I couldn’t understand what she was thinking.
In any case.
With that feeling, my family left the hospital room, and the Nymphs came back in with a whoosh. They brought pretty stones, boastfully declaring them as healing stones.
“I found stones filled with healing energy while hoping for the master’s speedy recovery! Keeping these nearby will surely speed up your healing!”
“I also gathered a pretty stone! But honestly, I’m not sure if there’s really healing energy in these rocks…”
“I’ll take this stone and if someone I don’t like shows up, I’ll throw it at them! Like, at Core Ye-rim, for instance!”
Well then.
I couldn’t help but notice that Illinois had still not reconciled with Seo Ye-rim.
I stood up and immediately started the discharge process.
Ari told me I had to stay longer in the hospital, but honestly, my body was in good shape, and I felt disappointed that the hospital’s ‘No Pets Allowed’ policy prevented me from seeing any animals.
# # #
“Hey, Haildo. Can I ask you one last time, is it really okay for you to be discharged already? Why not lie down in the hospital a bit longer? You don’t have to worry about the medical bills.”
Seo Ye-rim drove me to the well house.
I never thought I’d see the day when the opinions of Seo Ye-rim and Yu Ara would align.
Everyone was worried, but I felt far better than expected.
No.
If I’m being honest, I felt even better than that.
“I feel like I could even evolve right now.”
“Evolve? Did something go weird after being struck by lightning? Seriously. You’ve always done reckless things. How would you even get married like that?”
“Why is marriage even coming up?”
“Imagine having a husband who only does dangerous things like you. Would the wife waiting at home feel at ease? She’d probably be under so much stress she wouldn’t live long. What kind of woman would like a guy like that?”
Seo Ye-rim’s words were harsh, but they did make sense.
But it was also a bit of an overreaction.
Awakened ones are rather top-notch candidates for husbands.
“Why are you saying this? I’m Haildo, A Rank 14. If I registered with a marriage agency right now, I’d easily get a B rank.”
“What are you talking about?”
Seo Ye-rim furrowed her brows yet managed to park the car skillfully. I knew it would be a funny thing to present my rank to an S Rank in that manner, but it felt good nonetheless.
For the past few days, whenever I looked in the mirror, I always thought.
Who am I?
A Rank 14.
A legend that escaped from being a perennial D Rank within a year and built my achievements at breakneck speed.
I felt so good about it.
“Now you’ve gotten all high and mighty just being an A Rank. Speaking of which, the broadcast is in a few days, right? We have a theater at our house. You should come watch together on a big screen.”
Seo Ye-rim said hesitantly.
I was quite surprised.
“What did you just say? Together on a big screen?”
“What? By the way, I’m not asking you out, so don’t misunderstand. I just thought I could give you some advice while pointing out your shortcomings as an S Rank while we watch the plays you performed.”
“No. That’s not it. You have a theater in your house?”
I was shocked by Seo Ye-rim’s mention of having a theater. I had heard that rich people often had personal theaters, but it seemed Seo Ye-rim actually owned one.
How comfortable and how big would the screen be?
“I should ask Lee Jin-A about it.”
I also thought I needed to ask Kim Yu-mi and Do Jun-hwan.
We had decided to shoot a video together for a review.
Kim Yu-mi was running a small MyTube channel and wanted to create content about “reviewing with team members” and post the video.
I gladly agreed.
I thought it would elevate my fame.
However, as Seo Ye-rim got out of the car, she scrunched her face.
“What? Have you already decided to watch it with Lee Jin-A? Well then, bring her along. Our theater is big. We can fit a lot of people.”
That was definitely something to think about.
In any case.
With that feeling, I returned to the well house.
My warm home.
Kalilnoi was sitting on the rooftop and spotted me, then flew over swiftly.
“Huff, huff…!”
“Kalilnoi!”
I eagerly petted Kalilnoi’s chin and back.
I was so happy to see him after such a long time.
I hadn’t taken Kalilnoi to the A Rank survival competition. If I had taken him, I could have at least upgraded a few ranks.
But if I had done that, I would have heard something like, “Haildo, you little animal scoundrel…”
If Kalilnoi kept showing off, I wouldn’t be legendary Haildo but rather have a special episode featuring Bongbong Kalilnoi!
In any case.
“Barking, bang bang, meowing, I’m back…!”
I opened my arms wide.
Then the little animals leaped out of the house all at once and rushed towards me.
“Bark…!”
“Meow…!”
“Yip…!”
They were fluffy and smelled nice, and I felt as if I had just come home. But there wasn’t time to simply enjoy this joyful reunion.
I looked at the little animals, overwhelmed with the desire to once again replicate the moment I was surrounded by the light of evolution when I fought against the S Rank demon.
“If only I could borrow your magic…”
I carefully placed Kkungkkungi on my palm.
“Kkungkkungi, evolve me…!!!”
Rubbing, rubbing—.
I kept rubbing Kkungkkungi on my face to borrow his magic. I didn’t know if I would actually evolve, but the healing sensation was incredible.
“Grr…!!!”
However, Kkungkkungi pushed my face away with his hind paw, looking extremely annoyed, and then ran off. Seo Ye-rim, witnessing this, seemed to hesitate for a moment before speaking.
“Seriously, shouldn’t you have stayed in the hospital a bit longer? You’re definitely not acting normal.”
With that, she got back into the car.
But she didn’t start driving right away; she rolled down the window, as if she had something to say.
“By the way, did you see Illinois yesterday?”
“I didn’t see him yesterday. I know you two fought, but you should have apologized first. They say pinching a Nymph’s cheeks twice is quite a big deal.”
“…What are you talking about!”
With a rustle, Seo Ye-rim vanished after that.
And soon, the day of the first broadcast of the A Rank battle arrived.
