Chapter 17

Chapter 17

I’ll Treat Anyone

“How was the play? Was it fun?”

A noisy bar with many customers.

Seong Eun-ji who joined late asked with shining eyes.

“Yeah. It was really scary. Eun-ji weren’t you scared while acting?”

“It was creepy at the beginning, but as I kept doing it I only saw the technical side.”

“Saying that you really seem like an actor?”

“Hehe. Still only a few lines of dialogue.”

I said to the classmates.

“I’ll pay Eun-ji’s share.”

“Oh! What’s this, Kang Bong-sik? No way···!”

“It’s the value of the blankets and quilts donated to the shelter. Eun-ji gathered an enormous amount and gave them.”

Seong Eun-ji made an openly disappointed expression.

“Then of course. I thought spring came for me too.”

“Rather than spring isn’t the Christmas a few days away the worry? By the way the actor playing the turtle ghost role seemed to have caught a cold. Is it okay?”

“Really?”

“Yeah. It seemed there was a bit of a fever.”

“With pale makeup it wouldn’t have shown much. How did you know that?”

I answered brazenly.

“Because I felt the cold aura.”

“Is there such an aura too?”

“Is Kang Bong-sik already drunk?”

Because there were many people the conversation topic quickly changed rapidly. The sitting time lengthened, and empty alcohol bottles also increased.

Parting with everyone and returning to our apartment was around after midnight.

I got a bit drunk after a long time.

Bow.

“Thank you. Work little and earn a lot.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Getting off the taxi I headed not to the apartment entrance but to the convenience store.

Ding.

“Welco··· me.”

“Hello.”

I bowed to the familiar part-timer, and chose a hangover remedy. A lot of snacks for Arong too.

I have to soothe Arong who is sulking.

“You don’t have to give a bag.”

“Yes.”

Beep, beep.

“It’s 18,000 won.”

“You didn’t scan the hangover remedy?”

“This··· I’ll buy. As thanks for chasing away the weird person before.”

“Ah. Thank you.”

While bowing I handed over cash.

“No. Sorry for calling you uncle then too···. This, I’ll calculate the plastic bag too. Somehow it seems you’ll spill one or two while carrying.”

“It’s fine. Thank youu.”

Bow.

While bowing again I received the bag.

“Please go well.”

Bow.

“Yes···.”

Tying the bag string and spinning it I headed home.

The apartment security office window opened.

[Contagious Disease Patient]

“Student from 503, coming in now?”

“Hello, sir. Did you catch a cold?”

“Huh? How did you know?”

“Because of the voice. Did you say you also raise a dog? I bought a bit many dog snacks.”

I approached naturally.

The security guard was sitting on a chair, so pretending to show the bag I casually raised my hand.

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

[(Estimated MP cost 80)]

Rustling the plastic bag noisily.

“What shall I give···. Treat, yes.”

“We don’t raise a dog at home?”

[System]

-Used ‘Plague Treatment’.

-‘Plague Treatment’ proficiency +1

-Experience +3.94%

[MP 40/120]

“Really? Was it someone else? Then would you like this at least?”

The security guard smiled.

“It’s a hangover remedy. The student should drink it? It’s fine so go in quickly. It’s cold.”

“Yes. Always thank you.”

Bow.

“Hehe. Yeah, yeah.”

Entering the house, Arong came out to the entrance wagging his tail happily.

“I’m back, doggy Arong.”

Hugging tightly and rubbing.

“You’re not some kid spinning a bag while coming···.”

Sister came out while turning on the living room light.

Pale face staggering.

“Sister why are you dying.”

“I ate the bread you bought and got indigestion.”

“That’s why, you should have eaten in moderation.”

“What, man? Ugh···. Even after taking medicine it feels like I’ll die···.”

Sister groaned while stuck to the wall.

I grinned.

“Shall I prick your hand?”

“You?”

“If you don’t want then don’t.”

“···Do you know how?”

“I learned from a senior in the military.”

It’s a lie.

Sister hesitated for a moment then nodded.

“Yeah. Try once. If successful, I’ll boil bean sprout soup tomorrow.”

“Call.”

“But Mom and Dad are sleeping now···. Hey, why is the needle coming out of your room?”

Worried parents might wake, we entered Sister’s room.

Because Sister said she doesn’t want my room.

“Ah, alcohol smell. If you deliberately pretend to be drunk and make me hurt you’ll die.”

Recalling what Grandmother used to do for Sister before, first I massaged Sister’s shoulders. And lightly swept down the back and left arm as if hitting.

‘Bloodletting’ skill proficiency, when would I raise it if not at times like this.

I don’t know if there’s a need to raise it, but anyway when an opportunity comes isn’t it good to raise it?

“Uhehe.”

“Ah shit, already regretting.”

Sweeping with the left thumb so blood gathers, then tightly wrapped with thread. And picked up the needle disinfected with alcohol in advance.

[System]

-Equipped a needle.

-Can use skill ‘Bloodletting’.

Several bright red circle marks appeared on Sister’s body. Also on Arong sitting next to her tilting his head.

“Going.”

Without reciting ‘Bloodletting’ activation, poke.

Boldly, with appropriate force I stabbed the lower part of Sister’s left thumb nail.

Soon pitch-black blood came out roundly.

[System]

-‘Bloodletting’ proficiency +1

-Experience +1.8%

“Huh?”

Compared to when I stabbed the octopus while activating the skill, proficiency and experience rose a lot.

Because the target is human?

But when I accidentally stabbed it was very modest. That must be because it was myself.

“Hey. Too much blood is coming out···.”

Buuurp.

Sister stopped talking and burped grandly.

It was a cry a dinosaur might make.

I was startled and fell back.

“What are you doing in front of a person’s face? Wow, shit. Almost cursed.”

Sister also seemed flustered by the burp sound she made herself, looked around then smiled slyly.

“Heh.”

“Aoh, dirty. Aoh, smell.”

“Hehe.”

“Wipe the blood.”

I returned to my room.

By the way it’s amazing.

I heard pricking the hand when having indigestion is a folk remedy whose effect isn’t scientifically proven, but looking at burping so refreshingly.

Anyway without consuming MP experience increased by as much as 1.8%.

Should I say it’s really petty, or appropriate.

Bark!

“Yeah, Arong. Shall we eat one snack?”

The next day.

As promised Sister boiled bean sprout soup.

“Tastes bad.”

“Originally things good for the body taste bad.”

Parents went to work early in the morning so only me, Sister, and Arong were at home.

“But Sister is that the only clothes? The neck is all stretched, and kimchi soup stains. Tsk tsk.”

“Anyway it’s clothes worn at home what does it matter. And no money to buy clothes.”

“You do part-time. Academy fees Mom and Dad all pay.”

“How much money is a few hours part-time. And clothes don’t raise my specs. Just wear well only when going to interviews.”

I looked at Sister while drinking bean sprout soup.

Slurp.

“······.”

“What are you looking at like that.”

“Because you’re ugly.”

“Want to die? But what will you do for parents at Christmas? Did you say you’ll give allowance?”

“Yeah. That’s the most practical.”

“How much?”

“300,000 won each?”

Sister’s chopstick movements stopped.

“······.”

“I’ll say Sister also contributed.”

Sister nodded with a slightly deflated face.

“···Yeah. Thanks.”

***

Christmas Eve.

The SBC music audition program ‘Unknown Singer’ that Happy Quokka and Ju-hye went on was broadcast.

Last week the 1st preliminary ended, and from today it was the 2nd preliminary.

The 1st preliminary allowed both original songs and cover songs, but the 2nd preliminary all sang cover songs. However arrangement was free.

Our Happy Quokka, does she arrange well too?

Even without arranging, since she sings well it should be fine?

“Mom, doesn’t that kid sing well? They say she’s still a middle school student.”

When Ju-hye came out, Sister who was watching the broadcast together said to Mother.

“Yeah. She sings well. Good that there’s no age in the voice.”

“I saw on the internet, that kid’s nickname is ‘Today’s Advertisement Girl’? In the first broadcast when they told her to say the preliminary pass impression, suddenly ‘Today’s advertisement~! Advertisement, ad~.’ like that.”

“Why did she do that?”

“How would I know?”

“······.”

Because of me who didn’t subscribe to YouTube Premium.

Ju-hye’s song ended.

The judges each chattered their impressions, and proceeded with voting together with the audience.

The 1st preliminary the judges decided pass or fail, but the 2nd preliminary only the top 10 by votes are selected so it’s a structure where tension can’t be let go until the end.

And usually in cases like this early order is disadvantageous often, so I was a bit worried.

“Parents would be proud. Still young yet coming on broadcast and singing vigorously well.”

“They say parents aren’t there. Lives at a welfare facility.”

“Oh my, really? I hope it goes better. Can’t we vote for that?”

“From the 3rd it might be possible?”

[We will announce Yang Ju-hye’s voting result.]

I clasped both hands and glared at the TV.

Even if she can become a rival to Happy Quokka, still with the heart of hoping it goes well.

[247 votes!]

Ju-hye bowed repeatedly then exited the stage.

Only then I saw.

A small crow doll hanging behind Ju-hye’s waist.

“······.”

Somehow I feel like she regards me as a lucky charm.

Happy Quokka only briefly appeared in next week’s broadcast preview. But since up to the 2nd preliminary is recorded broadcast, the result would already be out.

If I ask by DM will she tell me?

Shall I wait with the heart of expecting one more week?

“Where are you going at this time?”

When I came out of the room wearing an outerwear Mother asked.

“A short walk.”

At the word walk Arong stood up abruptly.

“No. Arong is cold.”

“If I hold him inside the clothes it’s fine.”

“If Arong catches a cold doing that.”

“He won’t.”

Even if he catches I can cure him.

“Arong, shall we go?”

Bark!

I put clothes and shoes on Arong and also put on the leash, then held him inside the outerwear.

The gaze of Mother who was quietly looking at me changed to pitiful.

“On Christmas Eve night not even a date but walking the dog.”

“Haha, I’ll be back.”

Coming outside breath came out.

I moved my steps a bit quickly while muttering.

“Skill window.”

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

[Passive Skills]

-Immunity Lv.1

[Active Skills]

-Plague Treatment Lv.1 (99/100)

-Bloodletting Lv.1 (5.9/100)

-Divine Punishment Lv.1 (0.1/100)

This morning.

At the abandoned animal shelter I treated two and hit ‘Plague Treatment’ proficiency 99.

[MP 86/120]

Thanks to the ‘Silver Cross Necklace’ equip effect the MP recovered so far is 86.

Thinking that the MP consumed for ordinary cold treatment is 80, it’s just a good number.

I opened my eyes wide and checked the surroundings.

“Anyone come into my eyes, anyone.”

I’ll put forward our house’s cute Arong and approach slyly, then treat.

I passed the convenience store I often go to.

Far away a clear green text was visible.

[Contagious Disease Patient]

Happy I smiled widely without realizing.

“Rudolph, Rudolph~. Rudolphhh, yop.”

“······.”

It was a weird drunk.

I just put on a mask and passed.

As expected it’s a waste to treat just anyone.

© TofuSpirit#1bejl