Chapter 13 · 9 min

Chapter 13

Divine Punishment

Looking in the mirror, vital points didn’t appear like when I held a knife and saw Park Jae-yoon last time.

I looked at Arong.

Several small red circle marks appeared.

My mood worsened.

It felt like saying everything except me is an attack target.

“Our cute Arong, what is there to attack.”

Arong tilted his head, then ran to the entrance door.

Beep, click.

Bark! Bark!

“Arong, I’m back. What are you doing, Kang Bong-sik?”

An attack target entered.

“Arong tore the padded jacket.”

“How much did he not like it.”

“I mastered a new needle attack technique. Want to get stabbed once?”

“Hey.”

Sister roughly touched Arong then asked seriously.

“Did you say something to Yun-jeong before?”

“Nothing why?”

“That girl···. Never mind, whatever.”

“······?”

Sister entered the room. I threaded the needle and sewed the torn padded jacket.

Bang.

Sister suddenly popped out.

“She asked if you have a girlfriend?!”

Startled me!

Prick.

“Ah, I got stabbed!”

“Sorry.”

“Hiss.”

The tip of the left index finger stabbed by the needle. Blood welled up very small.

[System]

-‘Bloodletting’ proficiency +0.1

-Experience +0.3%

“······.”

I’m not even surprised anymore, this half-finished system.

Even if my vital points don’t appear, if I draw blood myself experience comes in, what is this.

Let’s treat this skill as nonexistent from now on too.

“But what’s this? She asked if I have a girlfriend? Yun-jeong noona?”

“Yeah. She said to me it seems you got a girlfriend.”

“By any chance she asked because she’s interested in me···.”

The corners of Sister’s mouth twitched.

“Puhaha.”

“······.”

“Puhahaha.”

“···Noona do you know a place where you can buy a Harry○ter wand offline?”

Sister stopped the mockery.

“Wouldn’t they sell at a pop-up store? Hey, want to eat fire chicken later?”

“Call.”

After finishing repairing Arong’s padded jacket, I searched ‘Harry○ter pop-up store’ on the phone.

Just in time a pop-up store was open at H Department Store.

The next day.

There were tremendously many people at H Department Store.

Could it be pop-up store customers?

I was surprised for a moment but.

“It’s not here.”

It seemed some event was being held at another store on the same floor. Most of the customers lining up were young female students or young women, holding idol goods or something.

[Contagious Disease Patient]

When there are many people [Contagious Disease Patient] is always mixed in.

I put on a mask, then circled in the other direction and entered the Harry○ter pop-up store.

The movie series my parents often showed in childhood. Seeing the variously displayed goods old memories welled up fresh.

I used to play with friends holding sticks and reciting magic spells.

And only I was always the villain.

「Kang Bong-sik is exactly there. Sly○rin.」

Kindergarten friends whose faces I can’t remember well now.

We parted when our house moved.

Everyone is living well, right?

Putting recollection and sightseeing aside, I looked for a wand.

“Hieek.”

As expected of genuine goods, the prices were all vicious.

Still fortunately one sample was displayed, so while gauging the staff I gently grasped it.

······.

There was no reaction at all.

This wasn’t it either.

Indeed, the setting and genre are different from the ‘Plague Doctor’ in various ways.

Since Mother also likes this movie series, while I was here I bought a few gifts for Mother and came out.

Growl.

“···Ah. Why of all times.”

A signal came to the stomach.

Tsk. Is the fire chicken eaten last night the cause.

I hurriedly entered a nearby restroom.

There were no empty stalls so I came out again, and entered another restroom farther away.

“Hey, there···!”

Some people tried to block me, but I jumped into the stall with the door wide open.

Phew.

Safe.

“Uwek.”

At that time the vomiting sound from the stall right next to me.

A yellow [Contagious Disease Patient] was vomiting while retching.

So bothersome.

Just in time a noisy bell sound rang outside, so I raised my hand toward the next stall.

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

[(Estimated MP cost 150)]

Around 150 the body would be quite unwell, yet they came to the department store well.

“Uuk···.”

Mutter.

“Treat, yes.”

[System]

-Used ‘Plague Treatment’.

-‘Plague Treatment’ proficiency +2

-Experience +5.42%

[MP 0/110]

The log came up, and the system window newly appeared again.

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

[(Estimated MP cost 70)]

A bit better now, right?

Get out quickly.

Soon the sound of flushing water was heard.

I also emptied my bowels at ease. The presence of several people disappeared and it became quiet.

“Phew.”

Shaaa.

After finishing my business I came out and washed my hands cleanly.

It wasn’t that I should have eaten fire chicken level 3 following Sister.

“Um···.”

“······?”

A little earlier.

The person who tried to block entering the restroom came in again.

“By any chance did you see an earring dropped here?”

“I didn’t see it.”

“Yes. Ah, where did I drop···.”

The man checked the stall where the vomiting sound came from earlier then crouched.

“Found it.”

Squeak.

I locked the faucet and shook my hands, pulled a tissue and wiped.

“Um.”

The man who picked up the earring and was about to leave turned to me again.

“Sorry but the vomiting sound heard a little earlier, could you keep it secret?”

“······?”

“Ah, you don’t know who it is. Never mind, then.”

The man left while bowing repeatedly.

I’ve seen all kinds of bland people.

I left the restroom and walked leisurely.

The event banner of the store where the line was long earlier was visible.

[Jin Se-hyeok autograph session]

Whether the event ended, the front of the store was quiet unlike a little earlier.

By any chance was the one who vomited in the stall next to me earlier that celebrity?

“Jin Se-hyeok in real life is really handsome.”

“It would be hard to smile like that for hours, and he carefully wrote comments well too.”

Women passing by holding postcards with the person’s photo in the banner.

Celebrities must have it hard too.

Even while that sick they have to not show any sign and smile brightly.

“Hmm.”

On the other hand this thought arose.

My ‘Plague Treatment’ skill.

Wouldn’t the maximum demand place be the entertainment industry?

I heard popular idols earn really a lot of money every time they do one concert. But if they just happen to catch the flu or corona and have to miss it?

If the lead actor of a drama or movie with tremendous funds invested catches a vicious cold and the packed filming schedule all goes awry?

In exchange for eliminating that damage, couldn’t I earn quite a bit?

Later after graduating university if I don’t get a job, shall I seriously consider it then?

***

A certain clear day.

I smiled while looking at the phone memo app.

“Heh.”

Finally the day I waited and waited for came.

[Experience 96.8%]

[Plague Prof 70]

Today, I become level 7.

“Wait, doggies.”

I drove the car to the abandoned animal shelter.

The place where there are always guys who caught light contagious diseases, where experience can be stably supplied.

“Welcome, Bong-sik. Really thank you for coming today too.”

Today of all days the shelter staff welcomed me more gladly.

“Hello. By any chance am I the only volunteer today?”

“No. The weather is really good today so we were going to take off all the kennel blankets, shake them, disinfect in sunlight, and also do laundry. But the blanket laundry pole is high so a tall person was needed.”

“If even me who is under 180cm is okay.”

“Oh my, no? You look about that much? Strange.”

“Haha. I’ll just put on the dustproof clothes and go right away.”

“Yes. Take it slow.”

I collected the blankets and quilts of the kennel together with the shelter staff, volunteers, and the director.

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

[(Estimated MP cost 60)]

In the meantime I also treated a dog that caught a contagious disease.

“Treat, yes.”

[System]

-Used ‘Plague Treatment’.

-‘Plague Treatment’ proficiency +1

-Experience +2.95%

[MP 50/110]

“Good boy. You come here. The blanket under there has to be taken out too.”

A sick dog approached whining.

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

[(Estimated MP cost 70)]

Don’t worry.

When I level up MP will fully fill, so I’ll cure the rest completely.

“Treat, yes.”

[System]

-Used ‘Plague Treatment’.

-‘Plague Treatment’ proficiency +1

-Experience +2.46%

-Level up!

-Acquired skill ‘Divine Punishment (Lv.1)’.

[MP 120/120]

Becoming level 7 a new skill appeared.

“Divine Punishment···?”

No way. Did they ‘set’ that whipping as Divine Punishment?

When I searched on the internet, the ‘Plague Doctor’s’ cane was mainly used as a medical assistance tool. But at the time diseases were regarded as God’s punishment, so some patients requested whipping for atonement.

Then is this an attack skill different from Bloodletting?

When I was briefly lost in thought, the dogs looked at me bewildered then headbutted.

Wanting to be pampered.

“Okay. Just a moment.”

After treating the dogs that caught contagious diseases with the refilled MP, I finished collecting the blankets and quilts.

They said many blankets and quilts are donated to the shelter, but the speed they become unusable is faster so they’re always lacking.

The director sorted what to throw away, what to wash, and what to only disinfect in sunlight.

“The ones to wash have to be shaken first too. Bong-sik hang these on the clothesline, and shake with that stick over there. Fur or dust might get in the eyes so wear this too.”

“Yes, thank you.”

I put on a mask, safety goggles, even the dustproof clothes hood and tightened the strings firmly.

“Cough, cough.”

Even covered this thoroughly, when I hung the blankets a cough came.

Finally I picked up the stick the director pointed to.

[System]

-Equipped a stick.

-Can use skill ‘Divine Punishment’.

“Oho.”

The cane wasn’t something with a separate equip effect like the necklace, but a tool dedicated to the ‘Divine Punishment’ skill.

I lightly hit the hung blankets with the stick.

Dog fur and dust fluttered and scattered.

I checked the surroundings.

Everyone had gone back in to clean the kennel so there was no one.

The director went to get a large basin.

“Skill window.”

[Kang Bong-sik (Plague Doctor Lv.7) possessed skills]

[Passive Skills]

-Immunity Lv.1

[Active Skills]

-Plague Treatment Lv.1 (74/100)

-Bloodletting Lv.1 (0.1/100)

-Divine Punishment Lv.1 (0/100)

As expected the skill usage method was not shown.

“Di, Divine Punishment skill use, yes?”

······.

“Activate Divine Punishment?”

Sssk.

A faint blue light that flowed from my hand wrapped the stick. Above the system log window the ‘Divine Punishment’ skill icon also activated small.

[MP 0/120]

The MP gauge border darkened red.

Since there’s no MP, the power won’t be that great, right?

Gulp.

I swallowed dry saliva, checked the surroundings again then swung the stick.

Lightly.

Bang.

The blanket spun greatly.

Dog fur and dust scattering under the bright sunlight.

“···Cough. Cancel Divine Punishment activation.”

The light disappeared from the stick. The ‘Divine Punishment’ skill icon and MP gauge emphasis effect too.

[System]

-Attack power greatly decreases because MP is insufficient.

-‘Divine Punishment’ proficiency +0.1

-Experience +0.2%

“···Ha.”

A dumbfounded laugh came out.

This is what greatly decreased attack power?

The part I hit just now tore and is ragged?

If there had been MP···.

“Bong-sik?”

While lost in thought, the director approached and tilted her head.

“The blanket···.”

“Huk, sorry! I’ll bring a few sheets when I come next time!”