17 – Artifact (3)
There were a few things I wanted to ask, so I came to a nearby cafe.
It was a small cafe run by an individual, with less than 8 tables.
Nevertheless, it was as rich as a brand cafe with at least one showcase. It was filled with fancy desserts like sculpted cakes and gelato.
I went to the counter to order.
From Noble mtl dot com
“One cup of Korean red ginseng tea. Please put plenty of pine nuts.”
“I thought this was a tea house!”
Bang!
Choi Soo-eun slapped me on the back. Then, she bowed apologetically to the young female owner.
Unfortunately, it seems they don’t have Korean red ginseng tea. Finding a place where Korean red ginseng tea tastes good these days is like finding a needle in a haystack.
“Well… if you’re looking for traditional tea, we have omija tea here….”
The young female owner pointed to the menu board.
I looked around and decided to order a different drink.
“Well then, a strawberry banana shake. Is it possible to add whipped cream on top?”
“How can you go from Korean red ginseng tea to a strawberry banana shake…?”
Choi Soo-eun glanced at me with eyes that looked like she was looking at a bug.
So what if it’s a strawberry banana shake? Don’t taste preferences exist regardless of age and gender? I have my own taste too.
“…I’ll have a blueberry latte, please.”
Beep beep.
I inputted all the menu items on the cash register, and the owner guided us.
“One blueberry latte and a strawberry banana shake with whipped cream on top, is that correct? You can sit down and I’ll bring it to your table. Payment can be made later.”
A cafe that even serves the customers themselves. Maybe Korean red ginseng tea wasn’t that important after all.
….
….
After we sat down at the table, we had various conversations.
First of all, Choi Soo-eun said she came out for a walk because she didn’t have anything to do on the weekend.
It seemed that no one had come separately.
Next, I talked about artifacts. I asked if the accessories that Cho So-eun was wearing were artifacts.
“Artifact? This necklace and bracelet?”
Cho So-eun put down her mug. Then she reached out her wrist with the bracelet on.
“It’s just an ordinary bracelet. The necklace is the same.”
“So, you’re saying they’re not artifacts?”
“Why would I wear something like that?”
I thought she would have artifacts with additional skills. But they were all ordinary accessories.
It was unexpected.
“So, did you buy the artifact you wanted?”
This time, Cho So-eun asked. She asked if I bought something good.
I shook my head.
“I couldn’t find it. There were only vague things.”
“Really? What about ‘Carrot Country’? It seemed like there was something going on there too.”
“There were only scammers.”
“Seems like there are still scammers.”
Cho So-eun lifted her mug and savored the aroma.
I also took a sip of my strawberry banana shake through a straw. Along with the sweet whipped cream.
“….”
“….”
While we spent time in silence, Cho So-eun spoke first.
“Are artifacts really necessary?”
“Arna carries them around. I can’t just sit still.”
“Arna….”
Cho So-eun briefly turned her head to look out the window. At the same time, she fiddled with her teacup.
I wonder what she’s thinking as she looks out the window. It was difficult to read her thoughts as she generally had an expressionless face.
This was different from Arna.
“Listen. That artifact, I….”
Wheeeng─
Just as Cho So-eun was about to start speaking, the sound of sirens from outside spread.
Outside the window, you could observe the tumultuous movements of people.
“Ma-su…?”
“No. It’s more accurate to say it’s a demon.”
Siren sounds varied depending on the level of danger.
Fortunately, it wasn’t a monster. It was an alert signal that a lower creature, a demon, had appeared.
“Anyway, it means there’s a dangerous situation.”
Choi Soeun quickly got up and rushed out of the shop.
What is she trying to do again? Just in case, I decided to follow her.
“Um, ma’am…?”
But the young female owner grabbed me. Soon, she handed me a receipt with the price of the food written on it.
“You haven’t paid yet.”
Huh?
***
Where Choi Soeun headed was a nearby parking lot. She took out a smart key.
Beep.
Click-!
The trunk opened. It was a mid-sized sedan that looked somewhat luxurious.
“You had a car too. Later, I’ll ask to borrow it.”
“Stop talking nonsense and get in.”
Choi Soeun pushed a first aid kit and a medical bag towards me. Carrying these things in a personal vehicle… It’s not an ambulance or anything.
Snap.
Then, Choi Soeun put on a Red Cross armband on her right arm. It was the moment she returned to being a medic and a student.
-Whoaaa!
I heard people’s gasps in the distance.
Is that the accident scene? We ran towards it quickly.
“What happened?”
I grabbed a nearby person to ask about the situation. It was an old man with a pale forehead.
“Well, um! Suddenly, that demon appeared and stole my wig!”
“What? Your wig?”
“That one over there! That guy!”
The bald old man pointed somewhere. It was the rooftop of a nearby commercial building.
“Woo-oh! Woo-oh!”
There, a beast pounded its chest and roared. It was a monstrous creature resembling a gorilla, wearing a stolen wig atop its head.
“Woo-oh-oh-oh!”
The creature skillfully maneuvered between rooftops, a master of parkour.
“Oh my, what in the world! How much was that wig? If it escapes like that, I’m as good as dead to my wife! I haven’t even finished paying off the installments!”
“It’s going to be okay now. This student here is an Awakener. I’ll retrieve the stolen wig.”
Choi Soeun said, pointing at me.
The bald old man pursed his lips.
“Awakener? Could you be from Hanyul Officer Academy?”
“Wait… I never said I’d do anything…”
─── Quest ───
: Preliminary of the Villain
: Safeguard the citizens’ hair (artificial wigs).
Quest Clear Reward ＜SP Point 1＞
───
“Please leave it to me.”
To toy with someone else’s hair is an act even villains wouldn’t dare. There existed a line that even villains shouldn’t cross.
But that gorilla crossed that line.
Its punishment will be dealt with right here.
“Woo-oh! Woo-oh!”
The creature leaped freely from one building to another. Its agility was remarkable.
A situation demanding the capture of that creature.
But I didn’t have the strength to catch it right now. I could barely manage to stand, let alone pursue it.
I boldly chose to abandon the option of chasing it myself.
“Could I borrow a first aid kit for a moment?”
If I can’t catch it, then I’ll lure it here.
I retrieved all the bandages and a 10% glucose solution pack from the first aid kit.
“What on earth are you planning to do…?”
“I’m going to make bait to lure it.”
The rags were gathered and bunched up like a bait. Grape syrup was then sprayed over it.
Chyaak!
The rags were soaked with grape syrup and became damp. Medical tape was used as a connecting thread and tied to a spoon.
Boong!
Although it couldn’t attract humans, it could easily lure the creature with this.
The spoon was sent towards the monster.
– Woah?
The creature smelled it and extended its tongue towards the rags.
– Woah! Woah!
Luckily, it knew the taste of sweetness. The spoon was lowered, leading the monster to the ground.
Now, all that was left was to send it far away from people…
– Woah?
At that moment, the monster turned away from the bait and faced the opposite direction.
“Oh, Mom…!”
It was precisely where a child was. The child happened to have a bunch of Shine Muscat grapes in their hand.
It boasted a sweetness that couldn’t be compared to grape syrup.
Damn it. That damn bunch of grapes… It’s cheating…
“No…!”
Without any hesitation, Chae So-eun ran towards the child. I followed her.
While retrieving the spoon.
Thud! Thud!
The monster rushed towards us at a terrifying speed. The child became frightened and froze in place.
“Phew…!”
At that moment, Chae So-eun hugged the child and rolled on the ground. Thanks to that brief moment, the child was safe.
Bam!
The monster passed by the child like a bullfighter and crashed into the nearby wall.
– Woohoo!
The monster roared. Anything that resembled a bunch of grapes like the Shine Muscat would do. It changed its target to the heavily drugged Chae So-eun.
Exhaling through its nose, it charged forward.
Thud! Thud!
However, now I was in front of Choi Soeun.
I thrust a giant spoon towards the approaching monster’s mouth.
Thunk!
It fit perfectly. The monster wriggled its body with the spoon still in its mouth. It couldn’t seem to take the spoon out.
This is my chance. I’m aiming for this moment when the monster shows a gap.
I pulled one leg back strongly.
“As a fellow man, I’m sorry….”
Putting all my strength into the leg, I kicked the monster with all my might.
Thwack!
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***
After the commotion passed, peace returned to the shopping district.
The military unit collected the monster’s corpse. Afterwards, employees from the Hero Management Department visited the scene for damage assessment.
“Oh! Thank you, student! This wig is really expensive! I’ll definitely repay this favor someday! Really!”
The wig that was the quest objective was safely recovered. Fortunately, the hair was intact, probably because the wig was quite expensive. There was no significant damage.
“Are you hurt? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?”
Han Fun, until the very end, checked the child’s condition. Carefully checking if there were any wounds or if any bones were misplaced.
“No, I’m okay… but….”
The child’s gaze lowered. It was because he noticed Choi Soeun’s knees. The sliding earlier had ripped off all the flesh.
“Don’t worry. It’ll heal quickly if you disinfect it.”
“Still….”
“I’m a medic and a student. This kind of injury is really nothing.”
Choi Soeun gently stroked the child’s head to reassure them.
“By the way, where’s your home? Can you go back alone?”
“Yes, I can go home alone.”
“I see. You’re an independent kid.”
The child looked away from Choi Soeun for a moment and looked at the ground. They bowed deeply.
“Thank you for saving me, sir.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t save Tanghuru.”
“It’s okay. I can buy Tanghuru again tomorrow.”
This time, the child looked at Choi Soeun and nodded their head.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“Well, what…? Oh, ma’am…?”
In an instant, Chae Soo-min’s lips curled down. It seemed as if she had taken a significant blow at the mention of ‘ma’am.’
“Alright then, I’ll be going! Sir, ma’am! Thank you!”
The child waved and left our side. I also waved until the very end.
“….”
On the other hand, Chae Soo-min couldn’t utter a word. She just stood there, lips sealed.
“Ma’am, are your knees okay?”
“You…”
Chae Soo-min turned her head sharply. She shot me a stern look.
I decided to stop teasing her any further.
Because her dignity felt truly formidable.
“Do I… look that old…?”
Is she still bothered by it? Chae Soo-min, who went so far as to ask for my opinion.
“Why take a child’s words so seriously? Just listen with one ear and let it go.”
“But, but… being called ‘ma’am’… I’ve never heard that in my entire life…”
Chae Soo-min looked at her palms with a miserable expression. The palms were trembling violently without finding a steady center.
This sight of Chae Soo-min was also a first.
“Did I put on too much makeup…?”
“I don’t know. I think you look much better now.”
“Huh?”
Suddenly, Chae Soo-min widened her eyelids. She stared blankly at me.
“What did you just say…?”
“I said you look more beautiful now. You rarely put on makeup, especially in the emergency room.”
Objectively speaking, Chae Soo-min, who had made an effort to dress up, was much more beautiful now.
“Hmm, really…? That’s what you mean…?”
Perhaps it served as a bit of consolation.
Chae Soo-min continued to fiddle with her hair without saying a word.
i hope he doesnt go for some stupid easter egg hidden artifact