Episode 299 Hong Yeon-hwa is curious
Soon we arrived in front of a large commercial building.
It was right in the downtown area, a general store.
While
‘The quantity is also enormous.’
Of course, it is true that the gap is large and the quality is relatively poor.
While you can just quickly look around the A-rank corner as soon as you enter the Gwijangi Magic Tool Shop, you have to dig up useful items from the items that are filled throughout the building in the general store.
It takes time, of course, and luck and good judgment play a big part.
Of course, I wasn’t too worried about that,
‘If you have an eye for detail, you’ll get it.’
Since he is a veteran, he can tell whether an item is good or bad just by looking at it.
Plus, we brought the lucky sloth with us, so it might end sooner than expected.
As a bonus,
“Hong Yeon-hwa.”
“Uh, uh… … ?”
“Do you have anything to buy?”
“No… … ? Not really… … ?”
Even the portable lighter Hong Yeon-hwa.
He followed me to the grocery store even though he had nothing to buy.
Judging from the way he looks at us more often than the items on display, he seems curious about what we’re going to buy.
‘I guess there’s no need to kick them out.’
Although the items I’m trying to obtain are related to my spec upgrade, it’s not important enough to keep that information a secret.
And you may even get help from unexpected sources.
So I decided to let Hong Yeon-hwa follow me.
I stood next to the calligrapher and spoke.
“Lucky radar, activated.”
“Wheein—”
The calligrapher imitated the radar in a flat tone.
Then he slowly looked to the left, then to the right, tilted his head, and pointed toward the stairs.
“Wheein.”
“Come up?”
“Wheein.”
I walked up the stairs as instructed by the Bokdeungi radar, and Hong Yeon-hwa followed us with an expression that made her wonder if she was doing the right thing.
As we climb to the next floor, the calligrapher finds her bearings again.
“Wheein.”
“There it is.”
The place she pointed to had ice-related items on display.
I was wondering what was there that he was pointing at, so I was going to look around with him, but the calligrapher stopped in his tracks as he approached the display case.
“… … .”
“why?”
“cold.”
Even taking a step back.
Because all the ice-related items are gathered in one place, this area is particularly chilly.
As a calligrapher who hates the cold, I didn’t want to go near it.
I said it casually.
“Then stay there. I’ll take a look around in a minute.”
“huh…….”
The Bokdeungi radar has already fulfilled its role faithfully.
There’s no need to force it in.
So, the calligrapher sat down on a nearby sofa, and I walked over to the display case and started looking around carefully.
Then, Hong Yeon-hwa came closer, hesitantly, and asked.
“What… … are you looking for?”
“I’m going to focus on penalty reduction. It would be better if there was a cooldown.”
“Cooldown reduction… … .”
Hong Yeon-hwa repeated those words as if talking to herself while looking at the display case on the other side.
I guess he’ll help me find the item.
[Ice Princess Tiara]
[Mini Ice Skull]
As I was looking at this item and that item in silence for a while, I felt Hong Yeon-hwa stop for a moment.
I asked over his shoulder.
“What did you find?”
“Oh, no. I don’t think so.”
“What is it?”
Even if I saw it wrong, I think I would have hesitated because there was a reason.
Deciding that it would be better to just take a look and move on, I approached her, and Hong Yeon-hwa cautiously raised her hand and pointed to a corner of the display case.
“That’s… … .”
A chunk of ice the size of a child’s fist.
What’s unique about it is that it has hour, minute, and second hands locked inside, like a clock.
[Frozen Time Crystal (B)]
▷Slightly shortens the cooldown time when used
▷Can only be used with ice-type skills/traits
▷No duplicate use allowed
‘Good performance, sloth radar.’
This is exactly the cooldown reduction item I was looking for.
The catch is that it can only be used in the ‘Freezing’ category,
“Hong Yeon-hwa.”
“Uh, yeah?”
“good job.”
“… … ?”
Hong Yeon-hwa looked bewildered, but her expression brightened as if she was glad to be praised anyway.
First I took the frozen time crystal to the calligrapher.
The calligrapher had been dozing off, but as I approached, she opened her eyes.
“Miss, this is it.”
“payment.”
The calligrapher glanced at me, probably thinking that I had chosen well, and immediately took out his black card.
After the payment was completed, like roasting beans in a lightning fire, I called Hong Yeon-hwa again.
“Hong Yeon-hwa.”
“… … ?”
“Please melt this.”
Hongyeonhwa’s unique characteristic, Aqua Flame.
It has a strong affinity for the freezing attribute, and can melt most ice in an instant.
“… … .”
Hong Yeon-hwa, who was momentarily upset because she was being treated like a portable lighter, lowered her gaze when I looked at her without saying anything.
And he raised his index finger.
– Hwaruk… … .
It was a small spark, like a timid gesture, but its effect was by no means small.
As soon as it touched the flame, the frozen time crystals began to melt and evaporate.
The next moment, only the hour hand, second hand, and minute hand were left floating above Hong Yeon-hwa’s hand.
[Time Decision (B+)]
▷Slightly shortens the cooldown time of skills/traits when used
▷No duplicate use allowed.
Hidden pieces related to some ‘frozen’ items.
It is useful enough to use as is, but if you melt it with magical flames like this, you can erase the restrictions.
I expressed my gratitude to Hong Yeon-hwa.
“Thank you. This is a B-rank, so it doesn’t melt easily. It’s a hit when you do it.”
“Oh, no. I didn’t do anything… … .”
Hong Yeon-hwa was waving her hand, but the corners of her mouth were already twitching.
I’m still not very good at hiding my expressions.
Anyway, since I had the time, I decided to write it right away.
[Amplification] and [Bonus] also require cooldown management, but the most urgent skill at this point is [Asceticism].
It has a cooldown of one week, and it is a skill that is not ranked in the first place, so it cannot be developed.
[Use ‘Time Decision’.]
[The cooldown of ‘Asceticism’ is reduced.]
▷7 days → 6 days
The cooldown is slightly shortened, but since the base time is 7 days, it has been shortened by one day.
This would make it much easier to adjust future schedules.
It will also be less suffocating when linked with [Octopus Legs].
After that, I spent some time walking around the downtown area with calligrapher Hong Yeon-hwa, and returned to the dormitory when the sun was almost setting.
* * *
Hong Yeon-hwa returns to the Ruby Tower clubroom.
Her older sister, Hong Ye-hwa, looked at her with a strange look.
Hong Yeon-hwa asked because she was annoyed by the constant gaze following her.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Did anything good happen?”
Although she didn’t realize it, Hong Yeon-hwa was laughing like an idiot the moment she entered the club room.
She was still someone whose true feelings were clearly revealed on her face.
Hong Yeon-hwa continued to answer, giggling.
“Well, just eat some bread, unnie.”
Then he placed the bag of pastry bread on the desk.
Hong Ye-hwa checked inside the envelope and took out a Hellfire Pizza Bread.
“What brings you here? You’re so special.”
“I thought of you, sister.”
“I’ll eat well.”
Hong Ye-hwa happily bit into the Hellfire Bread.
And then he nodded slowly as if savoring it.
In a normal situation, I would have run for water right away, but the sisters had an incredible tolerance for spicy food.
It seemed as if a warm atmosphere was being created, but a thought momentarily crossed Hong Ye-hwa’s mind.
“But how did you buy this?”
“What did you buy? I bought it at a bakery.”
“So how did you get in there?”
Downtown bakery bread is available only in limited quantities in the student cafeteria.
Going in and buying bread or eating a meal is impossible without a special coupon.
And coupons are something that even Hong Ye-hwa, a third-year class president, has difficulty obtaining, so it’s hard not to be suspicious that she was able to obtain them so easily.
Hong Yeon-hwa was starting to feel a bit harsh from her sister’s tone of voice, but decided to answer the question honestly.
“No, I didn’t save him. We ate together there.”
“With who?”
“… … Kim Ho?”
“… … .”
Hong Ye-hwa blinked her eyes for a moment.
Then, he put down the half-eaten Hellfire Pizza bread, got up from his seat, and started walking towards his brother, one step at a time, then two steps.
One hand was gradually burning with flames, as if he was about to deliver a flame back smash as usual.
Hong Yeon-hwa quickly noticed this and took a defensive stance and stepped back.
“Why, why are you doing this? Why.”
“You don’t like him. Why are you going on a date in the downtown area?”
“It’s not a date!”
“If we eat together, it’s a date!”
Hong Ye-hwa continues to close the distance.
Hong Yeon-hwa retreated again and again, and soon found herself with her back against the wall of the club room.
But it wasn’t like she had nothing to say either.
Quick to defend yourself.
“No, it wasn’t just the two of us!”
“then?”
“There was a calligrapher too.”
“A calligrapher?”
Hong Ye-hwa’s eyebrows rose.
Because it wasn’t the first time I heard that name.
After thinking back carefully, I soon remembered that he was the opponent I had faced several times in battles with my younger brother.
As it was a musketeer class, most of them ended up losing to Hong Yeon-hwa, who had an unfavorable matchup.
Now that I think about it, I remember hearing that Kim Ho and Seo Ye-in often hang out together.
Hong Ye-hwa asked.
“What’s your relationship? Are you two dating?”
“I don’t know.”
“Just ask me.”
This time, Hong Yeon-hwa lost her temper.
“Why should I ask that!”
“Why can’t you ask?”
“Why are you so interested in other people’s business?”
“It’s because of you, because of you!”
Whoever Kim Ho was dating, it was none of Hong Ye Hwa’s business.
However, if Kim Ho and Seo Ye-in are really dating, there will be no room for my younger brother to interfere.
Then, you will be able to worry less about being single in love.
So Hong Ye-hwa calmly consoled him.
“It’s something you can ask naturally.”
“… … .”
“If it doesn’t work out, then don’t do it.”
I had no intention of forcing it on you if you felt it was too burdensome.
He also calculated that he might ask about that later on.
Meanwhile, Hong Yeon-hwa was lost in thought, with a slightly frowning expression.
‘Honestly, I’m curious, but… … .’
Aren’t these two people who stick together every day and engage in most of their battles and strategic battles together?
If you hadn’t run into me in the downtown area, you two would have been hanging out together the whole time. Then, like my sister said, isn’t it a date?
Are you really dating?
It seems like there was something going on with Senior Dang Gyu-young, so what about those two?
‘Seriously, just ask me once… … ?’
The supporters ate it all
