050 – Nymph Punk 20XX # 2
━ Kkungkkungi…!
I thought it would be good in many ways to take Kkungkkungi with me.
Kkungkkungi said he would stay home today.
━ Bang Bang…!
Perhaps it’s because Bang Bang is perched on my shoulder? Kkungkkungi and Bang Bang seemed to have such a bad relationship that they couldn’t even share a cage.
It’s like the feeling between Yu Ara and Seo Ye-rim.
“Well, even among animals, there are compatibilities.”
I remembered the saying that households with cats usually do not raise dogs together.
Since different animals have different habits and behaviors, it causes stress.
I can’t bring Kkungkkungi when going with Bang Bang.
It would be great if they could all get along.
I wondered if Inoi had any tips.
“There are beings in the world that cannot mix…! The wolf spider and the squirrel beast are animals with distinct territories…! In fact, it is remarkable that they are even in the same space…!”
According to Inoi, just having Kkungkkungi and Bang Bang in the same area was a remarkable thing.
Is it because they tolerate my presence as their friend?
If the story is true, I felt like I had become a mediator of nature.
“The long-eared fairy, the elf, and the short, cool-eared local fairy, the nymph, were beings that originally could not mix…!”
Nymph Inoi still hated elves.
The ice water nymph Coris also disliked elves.
Like the squirrel beast and wolf spider, it seems nymphs and elves also have well-defined territories.
“However, in this city, there are too many elves…!”
Nymph Inoi grumbled as she walked the streets of Makcheon City. Indeed, as Inoi said, there were many elves in Makcheon City.
Should I say there are many Korean men and women walking hand in hand with elves?
Seeing that, Inoi shuddered.
“Surely…. it is evident that foreign species intend to invade and dominate the locals…! Marrying local Koreans and giving birth to many offspring of elves is a plot to dry out the seeds of native Koreans…!”
What kind of story is that?
Are elves marrying Koreans to extinct them?
I’ve heard that the children born between elves and Koreans tend to be closer to elves than Koreans.
Elves give birth to beautiful sons and daughters, whether female or male.
Sometimes, when I see those kids appearing on TV and showing cuteness on MeTube, I also feel like getting married.
But for it to be a conspiracy to drive native Koreans away.
“Inoi, don’t you think too deeply? No matter what, that doesn’t seem right.”
“Elves have very long lifespans…! Native humans may not feel it, but for elves, a few generations pass like ‘Ah—’! If a thousand years pass like this, only foreign elves will remain in Korea…!”
A thousand years.
Surely, if elves continued to marry Koreans, it might be possible that only elves would remain in a thousand years.
The Korean Peninsula would become the land of elves.
I felt like I had heard of a tremendous conspiracy.
But.
Wouldn’t it be good for it to become the land of elves?
A country that was in trouble when its birth rate dropped below 0.6 saw a rapid increase in birth rate to above 1.5 after the crack.
“Inoi, I cannot allow the invasion of foreign species…! I plan to gather many nymph sisters to counter them…! Currently, the number of nymph sisters is simply too small….”
It seemed that way.
Considering it, Inoi, after all, is also a foreign species from the perspective of Koreans.
Inoi said.
“So I am curious about where the Illinois sisters are…! I, Inoi, want to persuade the Illinois sisters…!”
“Uh, over there. We’re almost there.”
A candy factory.
It was a factory that used to make eye candies in a traditional way, but after the establishment of Makcheon City, it became a derelict site and was said to be a location taken over by gangs.
“Fairy Tale.”
Isn’t that the name of the organization occupying it?
“What did you eat for dinner last night?”
“Rice cake ramen.”
People wearing daggers at their waists or carrying batons were loitering near the factory.
Aren’t there any firearms?
It seems to be true that the use of firearms is heavily restricted in Makcheon because as soon as firearms are used, the strike teams of corporations wouldn’t just sit idle.
“Who are you?”
As I approached the factory, a bald man holding a baton asked me.
Does he not know who I am?
I mean, I was a celebrity, after all.
However, having a mediocre level of fame helped me at this moment.
While I had changed my style by flipping my hair back and wearing glasses, if someone recognized me as “Oh, isn’t that the famous and great Awakened ‘Great Haildo’?” it would have been quite troublesome.
Fortunately or unfortunately, no one recognized me.
Feeling somewhat bitter, I took out a bag I had prepared.
“I’m a merchant named Second. I wanted to talk about business. Could I meet the boss? I think it would be better to speak in person.”
“What business?”
“Get lost, vendor!”
Everyone was on edge.
Then, Inoi, who was wearing a hoodie, spoke.
“I am a nymph…! I thought there might be nymph sisters here, so I came looking…!”
“Nymph?”
“You mean nymph?”
“Is that a nymph?”
What a reaction.
Their response was quite ambiguous.
But it seemed like they whispered among themselves and started tapping on their phones. After about five minutes?
The bald man guided me.
“I’m Junk Head of Fairy Tale. Come inside; follow me.”
Isn’t it Skin Head instead of Junk Head?
Anyway.
I was able to safely enter the factory.
# # #
The factory was larger than it seemed from the outside, with various items and tools placed inside, including instruments that looked like something you’d find in a corporate laboratory.
“Sit here. Do you like tea?”
Are they even offering me tea?
That’s surprisingly gentlemanly─I was thinking that when Junk Head spoke.
“Since you’re a nymph, would you prefer honey water or cocoa instead of tea? Wow, there’s another nymph besides the boss. We believe in the boss’s talent entirely, but… we were skeptical every time the boss posted unsellable paintings or water on the site.”
Nymph hand-washed water.
Nymph-drawn paintings.
Really unsellable items.
I mean, who would buy those for ten million won or fifty million won?
“But the boss said someone would definitely recognize their true value. And really, just like the boss said, another nymph has come, right? With two nymphs, our Fairy Tale is invincible!”
Indeed.
Could those paintings and water be signals or flags calling for nymph sisters?
Thinking that way, it seemed effective.
In fact, Inoi and I had come just like that.
While I was having those thoughts, a girl with orange hair cut into a bob but tied back with a long ponytail entered this peculiar reception room.
As Junk Head respectfully bowed his head and said, “Boss!” a girl who seemed to be in the fifth or sixth grade of elementary school frowned.
“Who called me Illinois…? This Illinois has business and cannot be bothered…! If it’s trivial, then this Honey Fist Illinois will beat you up…!”
Kkuuu-.
Her fist-clenching gesture looked odd.
I felt dizzy again.
The real nymph is the boss.
Of course, Inoi was delighted.
“Ah! There really is a nymph sister…! I, Inoi, have truly met a nymph sister…! When I saw those wonderful autumn-colored orange locks, I’m sure she’s a nymph born in the fall…!”
“Ah! This sound is very familiar…! Indeed, when I saw her dazzling sun-like honey-colored locks, I’m sure she’s a nymph born in the summer…! There’s another nymph sister…!”
Suk-.
The nymphs touched their foreheads together.
Seeing this scene, the bald gang leader, Junk Head, looked surprised and said, “Wh-what?”
Is this his first time seeing such a thing?
As someone who knows nymphs after myself in Korea, I briefly explained.
“This is a greeting between nymphs.”
“Ohh.”
It feels good to show what I know.
Soon, Inoi, who was touching her forehead, screamed.
“I am the nymph Inoi of the ditch water…! Nymph sisters…! It’s nice to meet you…!”
“I am the nymph Illinois of the drugs…! Good to see you…!”
What kind of speech style is that?
What does ‘nymph of drugs’ even mean?
As question marks flooded my mind, Inoi also tilted her head.
“Using strange words…!”
“Of course! That is Illinois…! After awakening in the great America and passing through Japan, I arrived at this Nymph-friendly bunny-shaped country…!”
It seems the language patch was completely broken.
If I’m right, the elves that came over from the crack used a unique ‘translation magic,’ and perhaps Inoi is also using something like that.
After all, we were able to communicate well.
Also, Inoi says “it is…!” and Coris says “it is!” doesn’t she?
This might just be due to that translation magic.
However, it seemed that Illinois, having traveled through many countries, had that translation magic completely malfunction.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but anyway, I, Inoi, am glad to meet Illinois…!”
“Nice to meet you…!”
In many ways, a surreal situation.
Still, Inoi and Illinois quickly became friends, as if they had known each other for a long time.
“Hey, Illinois…! I believed without a doubt that there would be other nymph sisters…! Today is very emotional! I was so lonely all this time…! To commemorate meeting the nymph sisters, I shall dance the joyful nymph dance…!”
“Sounds good…!”
Inoi and Illinois placed their hands on their waists and swayed their hips left and right. It looked somewhat like how bees move, and anyway, it was entertaining to watch.
The atmosphere was quite nice.
And Illinois didn’t seem like a bad nymph as I had feared.
On the contrary, it felt like I could work things out through conversation.
“Illinois, the truth is I came because I have something to discuss. You have Bifrost, right? The strike team could come and destroy it, you know?”
“…What does that mean? Please explain more…!”
“You want me to explain more? So, what you stole is important. When the corporate strike team comes, it will really be devastated.”
“Hyoooo~! I, Illinois, was planning to return home using a door similar to that used by those long-eared foreign species elves…! If the strike team comes, it will be a big deal…!”
I see.
When they said the nymph was the boss and they stole Bifrost, this was a story I had vaguely anticipated.
They were trying to get back home.
“Return it quietly. I will definitely find a way to send you back home.”
“Humans are all liars…! When this Illinois was living well in the Illinois tribe, the American Yankees made life difficult for us…! What makes you think I should believe you…?”
A war between Indians and Yankees?
It seems Illinois was older than I thought.
Isn’t the real ‘Illinois’ named after the one in ‘Illinois State’?
While I was thinking that, Inoi said.
“The owner of the house is the most nymph-friendly person…! In fact, I, Inoi, and the ice water nymph Coris can prove that…! You can trust me…!”
“The ice water nymph Coris…! Is there another nymph? Very good…! Surely, I see now that someone who looks like he would easily get scammed is indeed a nymph-friendly person…!”
They say nymphs can instinctively recognize good people.
And Illinois said I seemed like someone who could easily be scammed.
Thinking about it, that was true.
I did drink water that was claimed to increase mana, thinking it was real, don’t I?
I was quite desperate back then.
It’s true that I believed Inoi’s words for that reason.
“Indeed, I believe…! If it’s the word of someone nymph-friendly like this, I think it’s fine to trust you…! So I will return the device to the corporation…!”
Oh.
That sounds great.
You really do get rewarded for living kindly?
There was no violent clash I had worried about.
“The candy head is listening…!”
“Boss, I’m not a candy head; I’m Junk Head.”
“Anyway, I shall hand over the Bifrost I had prepared to this house’s owner…! And from today, the gang ‘Fairy Tale’ shall be dismissed…!”
“Eh? Is that really true? After just two weeks of gaining some notoriety, we’re dismantling….”
“That’s what it is…! Those who disobey will taste the honey fist combo that this Honey Punch Illinois acquired while fighting Yankees…!”
Junk Head looked very scared of Illinois’s round fist.
Soon he bowed his head and disappeared, but after five minutes, he appeared again with a very flustered voice.
“B-boss! They say it was stolen! Bifrost and the latest beam shavel blueprint were all taken!”
“…What does that mean?”
“The bodyguard hired by the former boss! It seems he loaded up the goods into a container in the name of the boss and moved them!”
Is this true?
I asked the bald man.
“Do you know where that container went?”
“Here are the container coordinates! I had a GPS on it! Still, it would be better to stop! That bodyguard, no one knows what he is, but he’s really strong! We attacked him in numbers, but we were all wrecked!”
A bodyguard from A rank Awakened.
According to Seo Ye-rim, they said he was really strong.
I handed my phone to Inoi and said.
“Inoi, tell Seo Ye-rim about everything that just happened. If Bifrost falls into the hands of someone else as it is, it could become uncontrollable. For now, I will go and buy some time no matter what.”
I looked at the GPS tracker I received from the bald man and headed to find Bifrost.
