Episode 110: Downtown (1)
The total area of Dungeon Island is not as large as you might think, and the distance between the school grounds and the downtown area is quite short.
However, it is a bit of a hassle to walk there, so there is a shuttle bus that runs regularly between the two.
Just then a bus stopped in front of us and we stepped onto the steps to get on.
There were plenty of empty seats inside.
There were only about ten students on the bus, and they were all second or third year seniors.
Compared to the busy first-year students, they have relatively more free time in their schedules, and most of them go to carry out requests rather than go out to play like us.
For this reason, some of the seniors looked at us with looks that seemed to suggest, ‘A freshman is already leaving for the city?’, but neither I nor Seo Ye-in were the type to care about other people’s opinions.
As we sat side by side, Seo Ye-in by the window and I by the aisle, the shuttle bus soon began to move forward with a smoothness reminiscent of a luxury limousine.
“… … !”
The calligrapher half-peeled out the window and looked outside.
The eyes that usually looked like they would fall asleep at any moment were gone, and now their gazes were clear and bright.
I guess I should just accept it as being that exciting.
For now, rather than forcing a conversation, I decided to let her enjoy the scenery outside.
I was lost in my own thoughts for a moment.
The night before.
I met and talked with An Jeong-mi.
* * *
As soon as An Jeong-mi saw me, she immediately thanked me.
“Thanks to Mr. Kim Ho, this week’s mentoring was also successful.”
It is said that the calligrapher not only followed the arduous training well, but also finished it with a high score until the final stage.
Ahn Jung-mi’s expression was filled with satisfaction and pride.
And I was humble as I always am.
“All I did was tell you to work hard. You did all the hard work.”
“That’s not true. Mr. Kim Ho, you don’t know how much strength those words gave you and me.”
It seemed that I had established myself as a totem of morale in An Jeong-mi’s mind.
The thanks didn’t end there.
“I would like to express my gratitude once again on behalf of the Future Strategy Office for your continued support in both material and spiritual aspects for the young lady’s growth.”
Because the tone was more serious than usual, this time I waited for the next words without interrupting the flow of conversation while remaining humble.
As expected, An Jeong-mi’s hand went into her suit pocket.
“After much thought about how to express my gratitude—”
He takes out a fancy coupon and hands it to me.
[Exchange Ticket – Gwijaengi Magic Tool Shop (B)]
“—I have prepared it. I hope you will accept it.”
Although they stock a lot of fairly powerful magic items, their prices are all quite high, making it somewhat difficult for students to purchase anything here.
However, if you use this coupon, you can take out any B-rank item from that magic tool shop.
It’s much more useful in that it gives me a choice rather than simply giving me a B-rank item.
‘As expected, if you live a life of giving, it all comes back to you.’
As I had expected from our first meeting, the butler was a grateful person.
I accepted the coupon without hesitation.
“I will gratefully accept it. As I told you before, I need a lot.”
“I’m sure Mr. Kim Ho will find it useful. And there’s one more thing I’d like to ask you.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
An Jeong-mi said, handing over another coupon (B).
“I would also like you to help me choose one of the young lady’s equipment.”
“That’s not difficult. But… … . Given the power of Hyesung Group, I wonder if there’s a need to use it there.”
Even that precious Feather Step skill book is easy to obtain, so would a B-rank magic tool be a problem?
I expect that if you put your mind to it, you can surpass some A-ranks.
But, with so many stores and so many Hyesung Group stores, is it really necessary to use a downtown area?
When I asked a question with such meaning, An Jeong-mi’s face took on a complicated look.
“I think you know now, Mr. Kim Ho. In anything, it is your own will that matters.”
Even though the calligrapher has such a brilliant talent,
And while receiving full support from the Hyesung Group,
The reason why I am only just now starting to build up my basic skills and traits.
That’s because up until now I had absolutely no desire to learn anything.
However, after entering Yongsal Academy, I met and experienced many people, including myself, and it is slowly starting to develop.
“Based on the flow of the conversation, I guess you’re not really interested in items.”
“Yes, you don’t tend to get attached to things easily. But… … .”
An Jeong-mi’s face changed in a complex way this time with a different meaning.
“But… … . The cushion that Mr. Kim Ho gave me was different.”
After conquering the Feather Serpent Altar, a B-rank [Feather Cushion] popped out from the random box as a reward.
It was a surprisingly high-grade item, but it was a lifestyle item that wasn’t that important to me, and I thought it would be more helpful to the calligrapher if it had options that helped with sleep, such as relieving fatigue, so I gave it to him as a gift.
The same thing happened with [Shape Transformation Scroll – Life (B)] that came out of a random box a few days ago.
“I guess you’re writing well.”
“You’re not that good at writing.”
It’s a given that they always sleep hugging each other, and it’s not easy to separate them unless absolutely necessary.
The way An Jeong-mi wakes up Seo Ye-in every morning has also changed a little. In the past, she would gently shake Seo Ye-in and repeat, “Miss, it’s morning. Wake up,” dozens of times, but recently, she wakes up just by gently snatching the cushion away from her.
Of course, dealing with the aftermath is a separate issue, but isn’t that the role of the Extreme Job butler?
I think I know why An Jeong-mi gave me the voucher.
“I think it would be more meaningful for the young lady if Mr. Kim Ho chose it himself.”
At first glance, giving it directly from the Future Strategy Office and giving it through me may seem similar, but the feeling is clearly different.
In this way, if the calligrapher shows half of the affection for the cushion to the magic tool, it is a success.
Moreover, I am one of the few people who understands the growth of calligraphers the best, so I am well-qualified to select items that are suitable for them.
I had no reason to refuse.
If the calligrapher could get even one better piece of equipment, I would be happy to cooperate.
Since you have an exchange voucher, the magic tool shop is included in the destination anyway, so you can choose it while you’re there.
“Okay, I’ll choose carefully.”
“Thank you again. And this is just a small gesture of appreciation from me.”
Another coupon came out of An Jeong-mi’s arms.
Similar to the previous magic tool exchange ticket, it is luxurious, but the design is more adorable and cute.
Downtown bakery coupons.
This is the store that often brings in strawberry shortcake from the student cafeteria.
This dungeon island is one of the top three restaurants, so it’s incredibly popular, and the quantity is very limited, so not everyone can buy it.
The same goes for other things besides cake.
But if you have a coupon, it’s a different story.
“I no longer have to worry about what to eat. It’s not easy to get this, so I’ll use it with gratitude.”
“It’s nothing compared to the hard work of Mr. Kim Ho. I’ll watch from afar and cheer you on.”
We looked at each other and smiled.
* * *
As the flashback came to an end, something tapped the back of my hand.
Next, when I turned my gaze as someone gently tugged at my sleeve, I saw the calligrapher looking outside staring intently at my face.
The scenery outside the window, which had been sliding backwards, also stopped.
“They all came.”
“huh.”
I got off the shuttle bus and entered the downtown area.
The downtown area was bustling with people coming and going from the entrance, proving that it was an area with a large floating population.
As I joined the wave of people, I asked the calligrapher a question.
“Is there anything I want to see?”
– Dori dori,
As expected, it didn’t seem like the calligrapher had any special plans.
If An Jeong-mi had intervened, she would have planned a perfect route from start to finish and even made reservations, but since our main purpose for going to the downtown area was to rest, she seemed to have decided that there was no need to act so combatively.
So they just gave us a few coupons and left the rest up to us.
I also didn’t really make a plan other than stopping by a few key points, including the magic tool shop.
Another question to the calligrapher.
“I’m not really hungry yet.”
– Nod,
So, the conclusion.
“Let’s just walk.”
“huh.”
I wander around wherever my interest takes me.
Even just doing that would be quite something to see.
“… … !”
As with the shuttle bus ride, the calligrapher looked the most animated I’ve ever seen.
If we were to rate the speed, it would be a drastic change from ‘very, very slow’ to ‘very slow’.
While walking leisurely, if something interesting catches your eye, you slow down and stare blankly.
And as my interest in novelty grows, I slowly start pulling up my sleeves.
“… … !”
“Oh, what is it?”
Then, I pretended I couldn’t win and followed him, and we looked at the strange thing together.
We looked at the street vendors lined up in a row,
We bought a piece of cotton candy and shared it.
I watched various street performances.
Of course, the bards who came out to busk,
A dancer who shows off dazzling dance moves while floating about an inch in the air,
A wizard who creates statues on the spot by erecting ice pillars… … .
Among them, the one that attracted the most audiences was the magic show.
A masked gentleman stands on a small platform and makes exaggerated gestures.
Without saying a word, he pointed to the pigeon that had landed on the back of his hand and appealed, “I will try to get rid of this pigeon!”
A masked gentleman who puts a dove into his magic hat and then folds it up forcefully.
When I gently shake the crumpled hat that is as big as my fist, it suddenly expands in volume and spreads out into a large piece of cloth.
And then, after covering the floor flat, let’s just wet it for a moment,
– Food!
Dozens of pigeons flew into the sky.
– and-
The audience applauded with cheers.
It was a show that had a good mix of magic and tricks.
“… … .”
On the other hand, the calligrapher had a calm expression throughout.
The place where the eyes linger is not the magic show, but the place where the tools used in the trick, rabbits, pigeons, etc. are hidden.
‘He does have good eyesight.’
It seems like he’s figured out all the tricks this time too.
The calligrapher was about to turn his back as he quickly lost interest,
The masked gentleman on the platform suddenly appeared, blocked my path, and bowed politely to greet me.
A calligrapher staring intently at each other.
The masked gentleman communicated wordlessly with hand gestures and the calligrapher nodded and nodded.
“… … ? … … !”
“… … . … … .”
I can’t interpret it at all.
Anyway, the two seemed to have reached an unspoken conclusion after silent communication.
The masked gentleman took out a set of trump cards and showed them to me,
– Clang,
He spread out the cards like a fan with the front side showing and held them out as if telling me to quickly draw one.
When the calligrapher roughly pulled out a piece of paper,
The masked gentleman put it back into the trump,
He mixed it up dazzlingly, then divided it into three bundles and handed it over again.
It means to try to guess where it is.
“… … .”
But the calligrapher ignored the deck of cards and looked into the gentleman’s suit pocket.
‘You guessed right.’
The gentleman had secretly taken out a card and hidden it while shuffling, and the calligrapher saw right through it.
To make matters worse, I don’t even know where you hid it.
“… … .”
The masked gentleman made a gesture of hitting his forehead as if he had been caught, then snapped his fingers against the pocket where he had hidden his card.
And just as he had when he first stopped us, he bowed politely and returned to the makeshift stage.
– and-
We started walking away, leaving the magic show behind us.
“… … ?”
But after walking for a while, the calligrapher tilted his head, stopped in place, and rummaged through his pockets.
Then, the card I had chosen a little while ago popped out, shining beautifully.
The hidden piece is the [Lucky Trump Card].
‘As expected, this kid can do anything.’
I want to become a calligrapher, a skilled person who can easily pick up hidden pieces as he passes by.
In the meantime, if there is one question,
‘But why is it in a busy area?’
When I turned to look at the masked gentleman, the eyes behind the mask seemed to be looking at me and winking.
Although they are not a hostile group… … .
That’s an event boss.
