Chapter 16 · 9 min

Chapter 16

I Can’t Concentrate

Kim Yeong-geon carefully asked.

“Secretary Lee. Is that person really··· a pastor?”

Lee Mun-yeong answered smiling.

Quietly so the voice doesn’t echo in the hallway.

“I never said he was a pastor.”

“······?!”

Kim Yeong-geon who almost made a loud noise without realizing hurriedly killed the sound.

“Yes?”

“But the treatment prayer itself is real. To the point it feels like a miracle.”

“Yes···.”

Really?

Kim Yeong-geon swallowed the suspicion that was about to come out of his mouth. It was already all revealed on his face, and Lee Mun-yeong was making an understanding expression.

Kim Yeong-geon looked at the closed hospital room door with a worried gaze.

‘Grandmother Bok-seon···.’

His house was poor.

His parents were good people and worked hard but···. His older brother caught a big illness, and every month a considerable amount of money went out as hospital bills.

Kim Yeong-geon wanted to be helpful to his parents, so he studied hard. Because he thought he had to graduate from a good university and get a job at a good workplace.

But reality was not easy.

Up to barely getting into a good university and receiving a scholarship was good but···. Because of living expenses he did part-time and grades dropped.

As a result, he also fell from the scholarship support target.

It was really hard a lot.

Until then he came to compare himself with others whom he thought were naturally different, and the thought of wanting to give up filled his head with hopelessness.

It was then that he met Grandmother Park Bok-seon.

An envelope crookedly written ‘scholarship’.

The hand of Grandmother Park Bok-seon holding out the envelope was full of scars and wrinkled. But to him it was warmer and softer than any light in the world.

「Don’t give up studying.」

Thanks to Grandmother Park Bok-seon’s scholarship, Kim Yeong-geon was able to steady his wavering heart and concentrate on studying again.

So that she wouldn’t regret saying she used the fortune gathered by picking waste paper and scrap all her life in a useless place.

He resolved to become her pride.

But time indifferently took her time bit by bit.

“‘Plague Doctor’-nim.”

The man wearing the bird-beak mask came out of the hospital room.

He unfolded the sketchbook toward Kim Yeong-geon.

[Tomorrow at dawn, I will do the 2nd prayer.]

“Did some··· problem arise?”

The ‘Plague Doctor’ shook his head, then stepped aside next to the door as if to check directly.

Kim Yeong-geon was a bit dumbfounded.

Did it even take 2 minutes?

How much better does the condition get with one short treatment prayer, to tell him to check right away.

‘Surely he didn’t use some strange drug on the grandmother?’

CCTV was installed in this hospital room. Kim Yeong-geon thought of checking later and entered the hospital room.

“······.”

Grandmother Park Bok-seon was asleep with a face more comfortable than a little earlier.

Breathing was also stable, and she didn’t cough.

The condition improved noticeably.

Kim Yeong-geon couldn’t believe it.

‘How in just a few minutes···.’

Surprised he turned around.

The ‘Plague Doctor’ was carefully checking the hallway. As if worrying whether other people would see him and be startled.

‘What on earth··· how did he do it?’

The next day at dawn.

The three people visited Grandmother Park Bok-seon’s hospital room again.

This time the ‘Plague Doctor’ didn’t send the two people outside, and prayed with them standing in the corner.

Mumbling short in a very small voice.

[It’s over.]

The ‘Plague Doctor’ unfolding the sketchbook.

The hand of Grandmother Park Bok-seon who woke from sleep moved.

“Stylish grim reaper···. You came again···.”

“Grandmother···!”

Kim Yeong-geon approached in surprise.

“How is the body? Are you okay?”

“Aigo, Yeong-geon···. Were you worried I might die, so you kept staying here?”

The still rough and wrinkled hand was warm.

It wasn’t soaked with cold sweat or cold.

The voice that was thoroughly dry and cracked when he came during the day yesterday also returned to usual and joked with him.

Kim Yeong-geon swallowed tears and smiled.

“Yes. You promised, Grandmother. To come to my wedding dressed prettily in hanbok.”

And he turned his head to convey thanks.

The ‘Plague Doctor’ had already left the hospital room in the meantime.

***

“Really thank you. And···.”

Kim Yeong-geon honestly confessed that there was CCTV in Grandmother Park Bok-seon’s hospital room, and out of suspicion he played it back.

“But you really only prayed. Sorry for suspecting.”

I waved my hand saying it’s fine.

Even I would have been like that if a cultist in this appearance came.

“It’s the promised amount. I put in a bit more as an apology.”

The envelope thickness is unusual.

I didn’t refuse and received it politely.

After the 1st treatment prayer ended yesterday I heard from Lee Mun-yeong.

This person Kim Yeong-geon, since he’s a lawyer belonging to a well-going large law firm and earns a lot of money there’s no need to refuse.

“And this too.”

Kim Yeong-geon held out a business card.

“If you ever need help please contact anytime.”

I received that gratefully too.

Just in case.

Kim Yeong-geon entered the nursing hospital again.

Lee Mun-yeong lightly stretched, then looked at me with a smiling face.

“Then I should also be going now. If I don’t want to be late for work time. ‘Plague Doctor’-nim, you really worked hard.”

I nodded and fiddled with the phone.

[Did you receive the brokerage fee?]

Buzz.

When Lee Mun-yeong checked the DM I sent she burst into laughter.

Kang Nara was the daughter of the Kanggeon Pharmaceutical representative, and the [Contagious Disease Patient] with athlete’s foot was a researcher at Kanggeon Pharmaceutical.

Ju-hye was a child she personally cheers for, so she requested me wanting to help but···.

Kim Yeong-geon is not a Kanggeon Pharmaceutical person. Looking at the attitude they treat each other, it doesn’t seem like they have a deep private acquaintance either.

Just because the circumstances are pitiful, a person who has to go to work today wouldn’t have rushed all the way to this place far from Seoul.

[What percent should I give?]

“No, ‘Plague Doctor’-nim. A commission is not needed. Just owing a debt to Kim Yeong-geon is enough.”

Oho.

The secretary of a large pharmaceutical company representative who owed a debt to a large law firm lawyer.

Somehow cool.

[I’m not going to get involved in something scary later, right?]

“Yes. There won’t be such a thing so don’t worry. Then please go carefully. See you next time.”

I only got in my car after Lee Mun-yeong’s car left. And while slowly moving I stopped the car on the shoulder.

I took off the stuffy mask and hat, and changed the shirt and outerwear.

“Haaam.”

Because I woke up early at dawn and didn’t sleep properly I’m sleepy.

While yawning sprawled I checked the envelope.

“Wow···. 4 million won?”

No wonder it was thick.

But this money, is it okay to deposit in the bank account? Won’t it get caught as a tax problem later?

If they tell me to explain what kind of income, what do I answer?

“Eh, I don’t know. Let’s just keep it like this for now.”

I caught a suitable hotel and slept soundly until daytime, then drove the car and wandered around here and there. Since I came all the way here, it was regrettable to return right away.

Two days later.

I returned home.

“What is all this?”

“I heard there’s a famous 100-year-old bakery there, so I went and bought. Take to Mother and Father’s workplace, and share with colleagues.”

“Thank you but. Aren’t you spending money too recklessly? For just in case it’s good to keep a certain amount of lump sum in the bank account.”

“Then this Christmas allowance I won’t give···.”

“What are you saying to make me feel sorry, son.”

“Filial piety should be done in between when there’s a chance, so later regret is less.”

“Hey, mine?”

“Just take out anything from among these and eat.”

Bark! Bark!

“Yeah, Arong. Yours isn’t there.”

At the words ‘there isn’t’ Arong’s muzzle closed powerlessly.

Whine.

“Sorry. Tomorrow I’ll walk you long.”

I entered the room and organized the bag.

The cash envelope too, I took out only some amount put in the wallet and hid the rest in a suitable place.

“Going somewhere again?”

When I changed clothes and came out Mother asked.

“To see a play.”

“With a girl?”

“I wish it were.”

Among the people I’m meeting today there are women, but it’s not that side.

“Our son isn’t ugly in appearance either. Why no girlfriend?”

“Dad. That Kang Bong-sik, secretly high standards. He needs to know his place quickly.”

Where is there a guy who knows his place as well as me.

I snatched the bread in Sister’s hand.

“Don’t eat. I bought it.”

“Hey, shamelessly snatching what I was eating?”

“High standards I resemble. Right, honey?”

“Why is this person being so greasy.”

I left our harmonious home today too.

The place arrived was a cafe in Daehangno.

Park Jae-yoon raised his hand.

“Kang Bong-sik.”

At the table university classmates who decided to see the play together were gathered.

Including me a total of 5 people.

Two women, three men.

Seong Eun-ji steadily uploaded play promotion posts in the group chat, so Park Jae-yoon gathered people saying it’s noisy.

There is no [Contagious Disease Patient].

MP is fully filled, so if there was even one it would have been good to easily supply experience.

“Bong-sik, hi.”

“Yeah. Isn’t it finals period now? Is it okay for you guys to play like this?”

“One day is fine to rest, right.”

“I.”

“Leave of absence students don’t have to answer.”

“Hey. I also came out even though busy helping at my parents’ restaurant.”

“Kang Bong-sik you bought a car? Did you bring it today?”

“No? I’m going to drink later so why bring the car.”

“When I gave unused blankets to Bong-sik before I saw, it was small and cute.”

“Kang Bong-sik?”

“Not Kang Bong-sik the car.”

“Almost got excited for a moment? I’ll order drinks and come.”

“Yeah.”

We chattered moderately, then headed to the performance venue to see the play Seong Eun-ji appears in.

It was the basement of a quite old building, and with horror play promotion flyers plastered it was an eerie atmosphere.

“I heard there are many ghosts in places like this.”

At Park Jae-yoon’s words Jang Hye-rim looked disgusted.

“Don’t.”

“Eun-ji said, an actor appearing together experienced something strange. For real.”

“I said don’t, Park Jae-yoon.”

After issuing the tickets we entered inside.

Similar size to the small-scale performance venue where Happy Quokka announced a new song last time, the stage was extremely small.

“What. There are many audience?”

“Eun-ji was exaggerating.”

“······.”

After sitting in the seat, I quietly took out a mask and put it on.

Jang Hye-rim sitting next to me tilted her head.

“Suddenly why a mask?”

“It seems there’s a bit of dust.”

Front row.

A [Contagious Disease Patient] was sitting.

And.

[Natural Enemy Relationship Activated]

Above the stage lighting device.

[Mouse]

Bright red texts were wandering frantically. Beyond the door actors come and go [Contagious Disease Patient] texts were also moving.

Here, ventilation is not good and the space is narrow so it’s perfect for something to be transmitted.

It might not be something transmitted by respiratory, but a disease like athlete’s foot. Still being careful is good.

A few more audience entered and sat, on time.

The horror play ‘Turtle’s Eye’ started.

“······.”

Audience concentrating while fully tensed not knowing when something scary will pop out.

In the performance venue only the actors’ voices, sound effects, and desolate music resonated.

[At that time the turtle!]

Whoosh.

Suddenly all the lighting in the venue turned off.

“Kyaak!”

“Ah, startled!”

Not that a problem arose in the performance, but direction to give fear.

Squeeze.

Jang Hye-rim tightly grabbed my clothes whether scared.

But I wasn’t scared at all.

Even in the darkness the [Contagious Disease Patient] text floating above the audience seats.

The [Contagious Disease Patient] that was on the stage also boasting presence in clear green, crawling up the stairs was visible.

“······.”

On the ceiling bright red [Mice] were moving distractedly.

I can’t concentrate on the play at all.