Chapter 11 · 10 min

Chapter 11

Is This My Fault?

Mother who took annual leave prepared to go out.

“Bong-sik. If you have nothing to do want to go to the ophthalmology with Mom? You drive Mom’s car.”

Mother’s car is a new car less than a month since purchase.

I who was sprawled in the living room playing with Arong got up groggily.

“Do you trust me, Mother?”

“You saved a lot of money in the military, right?”

“Would it be okay to go in my car, Mother?”

Mother burst into laughter.

“Do that. Quickly change clothes.”

“Yes.”

I roughly changed clothes, then picked up the coat hanging on the hanger.

“Ah.”

It was subtly heavy so when I searched the pocket, the necklace box received last night came out.

I put the box on the desk, put on the coat and went out.

A short while later.

I got in the driver’s seat of Mother’s car.

Higher and bigger than my car so the view opened widely.

“Is it really okay for me to drive this? What about insurance?”

“Since your name isn’t registered, if an accident happens pure money flies.”

“······.”

Mother smiled as if teasing.

“I want to instill motivation for you to save money later and buy a good car like Mom too.”

Mother.

Son, almost a ‘Plague Doctor’ who earned ten million won a day? There might be a way to really use skills hard and buy it?

“Let’s go in my car.”

“Yeah.”

“But why are you going to the ophthalmology?”

“The eye drops ran out. Because the weather got cold the eyes get much drier? You’re not like that?”

“Really? I don’t really know.”

It was a weekday but there were many people at the ophthalmology.

[Contagious Disease Patient]

People infected with something too.

Not even internal medicine or otolaryngology, why are there so many.

“Mother, wear a mask.”

“It’s uncomfortable.”

“Wear it.”

After registering I sat side by side with Mother on the waiting room chairs.

“Are you still going around doing volunteer work these days?”

“Occasionally.”

“Our son has matured. Going around doing volunteer work too. But if you steadily go to such places, does it help when getting a job later?”

It helps with leveling up.

“Was our Mother such a person without recognition?”

“Sorry for having no sense of recognition. Later at night go pick up Hyun-seo.”

Suddenly the conversation topic changed.

“At night?”

“Today is a friend’s birthday, she said she’s meeting friends after a long time and drinking.”

“Tell her to take a taxi.”

“It’s Friday so taxis will catch well. Go a bit. When will you use the car if not at times like this?”

“Aigo···.”

At that time a grandmother sat in the seat in front of us.

[Contagious Disease Patient]

“Cough, cough.”

While coughing mixed with a metallic sound.

Seeing the short white hair and thin back, our deceased grandmother comes to mind.

“Im Ji-yeong-nim, please enter the examination room.”

“Yes. ···I’ll be back.”

“Yes.”

Mother entrusted the handbag and entered the examination room.

“Cough, cough.”

The grandmother in front coughed again.

The grandmother was wearing a mask, but the person who was next to her looked around then moved to another seat.

I heard elderly people, even light colds don’t get better well because stamina and immunity drop.

I raised my hand pretending to scratch my head.

[This is a Contagious Disease Patient. Do you wish to treat?]

[(Estimated MP cost 90)]

After quickly checking the surroundings I muttered.

“Treat, yes.”

[System]

-Used ‘Plague Treatment’.

-‘Plague Treatment’ proficiency +1

-Experience +4.43%

[MP 20/110]

“···Cough.”

The grandmother’s cough subsided.

I timidly stretched while checking the surroundings, and fiddled with the phone.

The memo app recording experience.

[Experience 68.2%]

[Plague Prof 60]

31.8% left until level 7.

If max MP were more, I could raise the experience stacking speed even a little more.

The ‘Plague Doctor Mask’ equip effect reduces MP cost by 20%, but that stands out too much.

But is the thing that can receive equip effect only the bird-beak mask?

Are there no other equipment or items?

I don’t know if there aren’t any because the patch was left unfinished, or if I can’t find them.

That night.

Drizzling rain fell.

Because it was cold I tried to wear a padded jacket comfortably, then hung it back in the closet.

The place Sister is is a street our school students often go.

I might encounter familiar faces, I can’t go wearing shabby clothes.

For example a pretty girl I briefly held in my heart before enlisting, or a somewhat okay girl.

“The world is wide yet narrow.”

While putting on somewhat decent clothes, my gaze went to the box I put on the desk during the day.

“Hmm.”

I held the cross necklace up to the lighting and examined it.

The craftsmanship is well done and the design is cool, it really looks expensive. It doesn’t seem like a location tracking device or wiretap is attached either.

Shall I wear this when doing the ‘Plague Doctor’ outfit from now on?

Without much thought I hung it around my neck.

[System]

-‘Silver Cross Necklace’ equip effect: MP recovery speed increased by 20%

“······.”

I see.

Not a regular cross necklace, but a cross necklace made of silver was the ‘Plague Doctor’s’ equipment.

Knowing a new equip effect is happy, but on the other hand it’s hollow.

Ah, this half-finished system.

Where would it hurt if you told me a bit earlier?

Knock knock.

“Bong-sik, go bring Sister.”

“Yes.”

I put the necklace inside the clothes.

[MP 68/110]

Just in case, it’s good if MP fills even a little faster, right?

After getting in the car I called Sister.

“Kang Hyun-seo. Where should I go?”

-[This bastard calling the name of a sky-like older sister carelessly! Where is this~.]

She’s drunk.

I already don’t want to go pick her up.

-[What? Bong-sik? Didn’t you say he went to the military?]

-[He said he was discharged. Before Hyang-gi said they went to the abandoned animal shelter together?]

-[The younger brother is even coming to pick up the older sister. Kang Hyun-seo is lucky, envious.]

-[Then do you want to take him? I’ll give Kang Bong-sik for free. But he eats a lot and has no manners.]

I listened quietly then said.

“I’m not going.”

***

Sister was at a bar with friends.

It was a place on a street cars can’t enter, so I parked at a nearby parking lot and walked.

Since it was raining I also prepared two umbrellas.

“It’s the front. Come out.”

-[Bong-sik, Hyun-seo is drunk.]

“Yes.”

I hung up and entered the bar.

Sister’s friends waved their hands.

“Here, here.”

“Oh. Hyun-seo’s younger brother has grown a lot? Do you remember who we are?”

“Hello.”

Everyone had come to our house a few times so the faces were familiar.

Sister was asleep leaning against the wall.

“It’s been a long time seeing Hyun-seo drunk?”

“Because the younger brother is coming to pick her up, she drank freely without worry and collapsed.”

“Sister, did you pay?”

“Yeah, I paid.”

“Hey, at times like this you should say you didn’t pay.”

“Even so he’s the younger brother, trying to extort?”

“I’ll take that one.”

“Can’t you give us a ride too?”

Including me a total of 5 people.

“It’s a compact car so it might be narrow.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine!”

“Yay, taxi fare saved!”

“Kang Hyun-seo, wake up.”

Only after shaking by grabbing the shoulder did Sister open her eyes.

“Huh? Huh.”

And when Sister got up staggering.

A system window appeared.

[Natural Enemy Relationship Activated]

“······?”

Why suddenly natural enemy relationship with Sister.

Ah, is this not it?

I looked around. Beyond the kitchen a bright red text was wandering around.

[Mouse]

I muttered without thinking.

“Huh? It’s a mouse.”

“Mouse?! Where?!”

Sister’s friends who were smiling while packing outerwear and bags were startled and guarded the surroundings.

Customers at the next table also stirred.

At that moment, the mouse that was in the kitchen popped out alone.

Running in the opposite direction from me, then colliding with a chair leg and tumbling over the mouse.

“Kyaak!”

“Ugh, startled!”

The mouse quickly got up again, but ran around inside the store as if completely in panic.

Like the hamster I encountered at the animal hospital before.

“Mouse! Mouse!”

“Mouse?!”

In an instant the inside of the store became noisy.

The employee at the counter was surprised and picked up a broom, and the employee in the kitchen also came out then hesitated.

Some among the customers climbed onto chairs.

“There! It’s there!”

“Drive it outside, outside!”

Sister and Sister’s friends all grabbed my arm or clothes and used me as a shield.

This···.

Is it my fault?

The commotion was settled only after the owner trapped the mouse in a trash can and cleaned it up in that state.

“Really sorry. It seems it came in through the back door when taking out the trash earlier. Really sorry.”

The owner served alcohol and side dishes as service to the customers who would stay, and discounted that much to the customers leaving.

“Really sorry.”

No.

I’m more sorry.

Apologizing inwardly I came outside.

“Ah···. Startled so the alcohol all wore off.”

“Me too.”

“Where did you park the car?”

“Over there in the parking lot. But there are only two umbrellas.”

“Using two or three each will do.”

I handed one umbrella to Sister’s friends, and used it together with Sister.

“Stay a bit away?”

“You don’t stick. But did you spray perfume? Now that I see you set your hair too? Why?”

“I said stay away.”

“Hey, you’re getting rained on.”

“You get along well~. The last time I talked with my younger brother was a week ago.”

“Did you fight?”

“No? Usually there’s nothing particular to talk about, right?”

Even after getting in the car the sisters chattered noisily. Dropping off in order of the person living farthest, only after exactly one person remained did it become quiet.

“Drop us off at your apartment together. Since it’s nearby we can walk.”

“It’s late so dangerous. No.”

“Eh, it’s right next door what.”

“No. Kang Bong-sik, go further and U-turn.”

“Yeah.”

The last remaining Sister’s friend is Lee Yun-jeong.

“Turn right from this side and enter.”

“You can just walk···.”

It was a really close other apartment.

“Stop here. If you go inside it’s complicated when exiting. At this time there are so many cars.”

“Yes.”

“Thanks for the ride.”

“Go in, Yun-jeong. See you next time.”

“Wait a moment, noona.”

Turning on the hazard lights I also got out of the car.

I gently pressed down the umbrella of Lee Yun-jeong who was looking at me puzzled.

“What? Why that···.”

[This is a Contagious Disease Patient. Do you wish to treat?]

[(Estimated MP cost 80)]

Thanks to the ‘Silver Cross Necklace’ equip effect, the MP needed for treatment recovered just barely.

Pitter-patter.

“Treat, yes.”

My voice was buried in the noisy rain sound hitting the umbrella.

[System]

-Used ‘Plague Treatment’.

-‘Plague Treatment’ proficiency +1

-Experience +3.94%

[MP 0/110]

Actually, from when I saw her at the bar earlier I was itching wanting to treat.

“Let’s switch umbrellas. And when the body isn’t well don’t drink alcohol.”

“Huh?”

Making an appropriate umbrella excuse I returned to the car again.

Sister looked at me with a puzzled face.

“Why switch the umbrella? That one’s mine.”

“That’s why I switched.”

“I thought you went out separately to say happy birthday.”

“Ah. Was Yun-jeong noona’s birthday?”

Lee Yun-jeong stood in that spot waving her hand toward us until I turned the car and got farther.

But other than the eyes being a bit bloodshot she didn’t particularly look ill.

Was it something like asymptomatic corona?

Three days later.

“My eyes hurt too much.”

Sister came out to the living room carrying [Contagious Disease Patient] above her head.

“Did I catch pink eye? Hey, my eyes are bright red bloodshot, right?”

[This is a Contagious Disease Patient. Do you wish to treat?]

[(Estimated MP cost 100)]

“······.”

I pressed the remote control hard.

“Ah, noisy. Turn down the TV volume a bit.”

“Treat, yes. ···The eyes are fine what are you saying.”

“Huh?”

Sister stood in front of the mirror.

“Until just now they were red? And throbbing too.”

“Because you keep looking at the phone the eyes hurt. Do it moderately.”

“Hmm···. Is that so?”

Buzz.

A DM came from Happy Quokka.

-[Hello, Plague Doctor-nim!]

-[I’m going on TV!]

-[Does the Plague Doctor also want to come as audience?]

Haha.

No way I can go.

“Ah, Kang Bong-sik. Later Yun-jeong said she’ll buy dinner, bring you too. Thanks for the ride before.”

“I have plans with a friend so no.”

Just this morning.

Lee Mun-yeong from Kanggeon Pharmaceutical sent a DM.

-[Plague Doctor-nim, sorry but···.]

-[Do you also accept 100,000 won prayer requests? It’s a child with too pitiful circumstances···.]