Chapter 2

Chapter 2

I Awakened as a Plague Doctor (2)

Entering the bar Lee Jin-seok had told me to come to, an unpleasant face smiled and raised a hand.

“Hey, Kang Bong-sik.”

I frowned.

“Fuck, you called Kim Jae-won too?”

At this moment, the green [Contagious Disease Patient] text floating above Kim Jae-won’s head didn’t properly register in my eyes.

“Hey, hey. Would I have called him for no reason?”

Lee Jin-seok spoke quickly while gauging my reaction.

“Kim Jae-won said he wanted to make up with you, so I told him to come. Still, it’s not like we won’t see each other for the rest of our lives···.”

“I have no reason to see him for the rest of my life. I’m leaving.”

“Hey, Kang Bong-sik.”

Kim Jae-won blocked my way.

“Back then I was really wrong. There are things a person should do and shouldn’t do, and I was really stupid and lacked common sense so I did that. I’ve reflected a lot, really. You’re smarter than me anyway. Think of it as generously overlooking a stupid guy. Huh?”

“Get lost, bastard. Unless this is some scheme to turn a normal person into a criminal record holder.”

When we were high school students, Kim Jae-won came to our house and stole the money envelope that was in my desk drawer.

It was the last pocket money my grandmother gave me before she passed away.

It had my grandmother’s touch on it so I had carefully kept it in the envelope···.

This bastard stole that and spent it recklessly.

Not satisfied with that, he even spouted bullshit like ‘Can’t I just pay it back? I was planning to pay it back. Are you going to act like this over a few coins to a friend?’ so I beat him.

In response Kim Jae-won said he would report me for school violence, but when I reported him for theft first, only after getting beaten like a dog at home did Kim Jae-won make a show of apologizing.

“Hey. Still, it’s been years···.”

I raised my hand to push Kim Jae-won aside.

“Move, ba···.”

At that moment.

A pale blue system window appeared.

Along with the ‘Plague Treatment’ skill icon.

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

[(Estimated MP cost 80)]

“······?”

Suddenly?

I lowered the hand I had raised.

The system window disappeared.

I raised it again.

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

[(Estimated MP cost 80)]

“······.”

“Hey, I said I was wrong···. From now on I’ll live with my head on straight···.”

Thinking he might get beaten by me again, Kim Jae-won backed away hesitantly.

The system window disappeared.

This.

Does the skill only activate when I raise my hand within a certain distance of a ‘Contagious Disease Patient’?

Earlier at home when we were eating dinner Sister ate separately in her room, so it made sense that I noticed late.

“Hey, Kang Bong-sik. This is the first time I’m seeing you since we were discharged from the military too. Just sit down for now···.”

But knowing the activation condition is one thing, and using it is another.

I ignored Lee Jin-seok’s words as well and left the bar.

Whether it’s the bastard who stole money from a friend’s house and acted self-righteous, or the bastard mediating to reconcile with such a bastard.

“Fuck. I just became some guy who came out for a late-night walk.”

If I had known it would be like this I should’ve brought Arong. He likes walking at night.

Forgetting unpleasant things quickly is good for mental health.

I walked while thinking about the system text that had appeared earlier or our house dog.

Before I knew it I had arrived at the apartment.

Before going up to the house I looked at Mother’s car.

Seeing this made me feel a bit better.

The model year was a bit old and there were small scratches, but thinking it would soon become my car made it look pretty.

How did the wheels end up looking so cute.

“Who’s there···. Ah, the son from 503?”

“Hello, sir.”

The security guard approached while turning off his flashlight.

“Were you looking at your mother’s car? I thought it was a car thief again.”

“Are there people like that in our apartment too?”

“Those kinds of people are everywhere in the country. But why? Is there a problem with the car?”

“No. I got my license this time. Mother said she’d give me this car, so just for a bit.”

“Oh, congratulations. Drive safely.”

“Yes, thank you.”

I exchanged greetings with the security guard and went up to the house.

The next day.

“Sigh, since it’s a promise I can’t not give it. Here.”

Mother bestowed the car keys.

“Thank you, Mother! I love you!”

I hugged her tightly.

“Why is this kid being so creepy? Anyway, drive carefully so you don’t cause an accident. The hospital said it’s fine, but just in case, if your body feels even a little off absolutely don’t touch the steering wheel.”

“Yes!”

Sniff.

Sister asked while swallowing her snot.

“Then what is Mom going to ride now? BMW?”

“BMW? Did we have that car at home?”

“Bus, Metro, Walk. Abbreviated as BMW.”

Mother turned away from Sister.

“Mom signed a contract for a new car. It’ll come out in two weeks.”

“Whoa.”

“Wow.”

Anyway, I had a car now.

With a joyful heart I put on my outerwear and went down to the parking lot. Mother and Sister followed too.

“Shall we see the driving skills of a son who just got his license?”

“Let’s go to the mart first, Kang Bong-sik.”

“Wait. I’ll adjust the seat a bit.”

Since it was adjusted for Mother the seat was very narrow and high.

I adjusted the seat moderately to fit me and fastened the seatbelt.

Vroom.

“The engine starts well.”

“Before moving, don’t just look at the side mirrors, turn your head directly and check the surroundings carefully. Look behind with the rearview mirror a bit too!”

“Yes.”

“Hey hey, a motorcycle is coming over there. Be tense.”

A mart five minutes away on foot.

It took five minutes by car to arrive. While listening to Mother and Sister’s nagging.

“Look at that crooked parking.”

“It’ll get better as you practice.”

“You absolutely don’t drive at night for a while. Once you get a bit used to it, only short distances from then.”

“Yes···.”

Five minutes that felt like an hour.

I thought learning to drive from family wasn’t the way, but even for the first real practice you shouldn’t bring family.

“Lock the doors properly too.”

“Oops.”

Beep.

“Mother, did you hear that? The security guard uncle said car thieves are roaming around our apartment too.”

“Those guys have two feet so they’ll roam around.”

After grocery shopping and returning home, I only ate and then came out alone.

Carrying car washing supplies.

“Hehe.”

Mother said to just do an automatic wash comfortably, but still, this is the first car of my life, how could I do that.

For this I watched over ten self-car-wash videos on YouTube.

First I slapped the ‘Beginner Driver’ magnet sticker I bought at the mart earlier onto the back of the car, then headed to the car wash. There I reviewed the car wash videos again and washed diligently.

When I returned home again it was evening with the sun setting.

Hoo.

A rewarding day.

I gathered the car washing supplies and got out of the car.

Ah. I mustn’t forget to lock the doors either.

Beep.

That night.

While lying long on the sofa, petting the dog and watching TV.

“Hey, Kang Bong-sik, Kang Bong-sik!”

Beyond the wall where the TV was installed, the [Contagious Disease Patient] text moved and then Sister came out of the room.

Even when a person isn’t visible it’s caught on the system radar, interesting.

“What.”

“Dujjonku restocked at the convenience store! Go buy it! Right now!”

“When was that dujjonku from.”

“Hurry.”

“Why me?”

“That umbrella was one I really cherished. My friend bought it as a birthday gift before going abroad.”

“······.”

I got up without further argument.

Mother spoke as if she had been waiting.

“Bong-sik, while you’re out throw away the trash too.”

I had been taken to the hospital from the lightning that struck right beside me, but since I’ve been running around so energetically yesterday and today Mother seems to have put her worries down a notch.

Seeing her give errands as usual.

“Yes.”

I put on a hooded zip-up jacket and left the house wearing only slippers on my bare feet.

It’s chilly at night in October, but the convenience store is right in front anyway.

“No, it really was like that?”

When I got off the elevator, in front of the shared entrance an auntie with [Contagious Disease Patient] text floating above her was on the phone spitting as she talked.

Is she a cold patient like Sister.

On the surface she doesn’t seem to have a cold, but even though Sister’s condition has improved she was still carrying [Contagious Disease Patient].

I held my breath briefly and swiftly passed by the auntie.

“···Phew.”

Even after coming outside I only breathed after getting quite far.

I only recently got over a cold myself, so I don’t think I’ll catch it again···.

Contagious diseases aren’t only colds, right?

Thud.

After throwing the trash bag into the recycling station I turned my body.

“······?”

A green [Contagious Disease Patient] text quickly passed by at a very low position.

It was a cat that still looked young.

“Oh dear.”

I clicked my tongue.

I heard stray cats often catch infectious diseases.

No, but this appears for animals too?

Then does that mean treatment is possible?

Catch one and experiment··· what if something goes wrong with the cat.

“Is there a suitable experimental subject somewhere?”

Someone I wouldn’t feel particularly sorry for even if something went wrong.

A short while later, the convenience store.

[Contagious Disease Patient]

“You bastard! When a customer speaks you should move briskly! Huh? Am I not paying money? Does it look like I won’t pay?”

An uncle who seemed thoroughly drunk was causing a ruckus with the part-timer.

The part-timer flinched and trembled with a thoroughly scared face, then upon discovering me standing in front of the door sent a desperate look.

It was a convenience store I often visited after being discharged.

We had never particularly talked, but how many people would ignore a familiar part-timer sending a signal for help and run away.

And just in time.

I can also see an experimental subject I wouldn’t feel particularly sorry for even if something went wrong.

Surely··· it won’t kill him, right?

“Fuck! Can’t you hear what I’m saying?!”

Ding.

I forcefully opened the door and went in.

“Sir, is there a problem?”

In a loud, resounding voice.

I’m not particularly tall or well-built, but these kinds of drunks hesitate once the other party is a sturdy young man.

To begin with, if he were truly in a state where he can’t see anything because of alcohol, he should already be rolling around on the street to be normal.

“Is there somewhere uncomfortable? Do you need help?”

“Wh, what? Are you an employee here?”

I approached with big strides.

“If your body isn’t well shall I treat you?”

When I gently raised my hand the system window appeared.

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

[(Estimated MP cost 80)]

Will this really work?

What if a flashy effect occurs?

Now that I’m actually about to do it my heart is pounding from curiosity.

It would be safer to lure him outside and try, right?

“···What? Do I look like a patient to you?!”

Eh.

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