Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Cult vs Cult

[I’ll pack.]

I held back wanting to write like this immediately.

Information about the requester isn’t even there yet, worried it would openly look like a cultist crazy for money.

And until tomorrow I decided to do the Hertz manager assistant part-time. If an adult I should responsibly handle the promised work first.

I calmly washed, dried my hair, and found and confirmed the passport.

The passport made thinking just in case as soon as becoming an adult. Never used even once so very clean.

“Hehe.”

I checked the DM Lee Mun-yeong sent again.

In the meantime information about the requester had come up.

Similar to Grandmother Park Bok-seon yet different.

Grandmother Park Bok-seon was requested by lawyer Kim Yeong-geon who received grace from her, but this time the elderly patient himself directly requested.

There is work that needs to be finished urgently, but because of catching the flu a hitch in the schedule so in a difficult situation.

The location is Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan.

[I can depart on Monday.]

-[Yes, I will convey to the requester. If you want I will reserve both the plane ticket and accommodation!]

I declined saying it’s fine. To do that I have to hand over my personal information.

First I have to pay everything with my money, but it’s not 1 million won but a 1 million yen request. As it has been so far it should be seen as an amount including expenses.

I set the place and time to meet Lee Mun-yeong in Japan, then packed with an excited heart.

It’s sudden, but finally I’m also going on an overseas trip!

***

Sunday evening.

Hertz’s fan meeting ended.

Together with the manager Hertz members packed the gifts received from fans neatly in boxes and loaded them in the car.

“You really worked hard for three days, Bong-sik.”

“You also come eat dinner together. You’ll go, right?”

“No, it’s fine.”

After finishing the music broadcast the fan meeting proceeded, so Hertz members were still in the state of having received stage makeup.

In places without lighting it looks too thick, so burdensome to look at.

“I have to take a plane early tomorrow morning, so it seems hard.”

“Plane? Where are you going? Jeju Island?”

I boasted smiling.

“I’m going on a Japan trip.”

“Oh, nice. Alone? Or with a girlfriend?”

“Where in Japan are you going?”

“Fukuoka. And I’m going alone.”

The real destination is Nagasaki, but tomorrow there was no direct flight to Nagasaki so I decided to take the plane to Fukuoka.

“Alone? Envious. Take me too.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Bong-sik was richer than us. Going on an overseas trip alone too.”

Hertz members who were envious. Burns made a regretful expression.

“If you have to take a plane early in the morning there’s no choice. Go carefully.”

“Yes.”

“Next time if you have time come do part-time, Bong-sik. I’ll wait.”

“Yes. If the timing matches again.”

“Bong-sik. Calculating 120,000 won daily wage, after deducting tax it will be deposited on the 20th.”

The original promise was 100,000 won, but it rose to 120,000 won.

I bowed my head toward the manager.

“Thank you.”

“Oh, Bong-sik.”

Burns asked me.

“Jin Se-hyeok said to tell him your contact. Is it okay to tell?”

“Why?”

“If you have time next he wants you to help their schedule too.”

I nodded.

The broadcasting station is a good experience hunting ground.

The more admission tickets the better.

“Yes.”

When I came home it was somehow 9 at night.

“I’m back.”

“Good work today too, son. What time is the plane tomorrow?”

“10 o’clock.”

“Have to leave early.”

Bark! Bark!

“Yeah, Arong. Shall we go for a walk with hyung?”

Departure preparation is also important, but walking Arong is also important.

If I go tomorrow I won’t see for several days.

While putting clothes on Arong and putting on the walking leash I requested.

“Arong. You must not catch a cold while hyung is gone. Got it?”

“But what wind suddenly blew for you to go on a trip to Japan?”

“I want to play as much as possible before returning to school. I’ll go for a walk and come.”

“Yeah.”

“Hey, I’ll go together too.”

Sister hastily packed an outerwear and came out. I held Arong and ran to the entrance.

“Hey!”

Sister followed immediately.

“Let’s go together a bit!”

“I was going to go cozily with Arong why are you interfering.”

“It’s my heart. I’ll be back!”

It was chilly because it was midwinter, but Arong wandered around well twitching. Sister also briefly stopped by the convenience store, bought ice cream and steamed buns and came out.

“Are you a crazy person? Why eat ice cream outside at midnight on a cold day?”

“This is evidence that I’m strong. Weak ones eat steamed buns.”

Since she gave it I received it.

I hadn’t eaten dinner yet so I was hungry.

“What do you need from Japan.”

“This is why quick-witted Kang Bong-sik.”

“What do you need.”

Sister shone her eyes.

“Chick manju and pudding! And they say you can buy good hand cream cheaply at the duty-free.”

“Got it. Give money.”

“I’ll repay when I get a job.”

“Did you follow out to do this? Trying to extort your younger brother’s money?”

“Hehe.”

“Creepy so let go of this arm?”

“Hehehe.”

The next day early morning.

I arrived at Incheon International Airport.

As previewed on YouTube I smoothly went through several procedures, looked around the duty-free then sat in front of the gate.

Click, click.

I also took a few selfies for boasting to upload on SNS later.

A few hours later.

I safely found the luggage and came out to the Fukuoka International Airport lobby.

I was inwardly worried they might tackle seeing the bird-beak mask in the carrier, but there were no particular words.

Indeed.

It’s not a dangerous item just a mere mask.

“Yes, Mother. I arrived at Fukuoka Airport.”

-[Really? Turn it to video call.]

I showed the surrounding scenery to Mother by video call.

-[Cool. Always be careful of cars, careful of people, careful of lightning.]

“Yes. When I arrive at the hotel I’ll send a photo.”

-[Yeah.]

After finishing the report as previewed on YouTube, I took the bus going to Hakata Station.

At Hakata Station I lightly ate lunch. Taking the train then transferring to the Shinkansen and arriving in Nagasaki was around a bit past 3.

The world has really gotten better.

Even on the first trip and not good at Japanese, to come this far smoothly with just one smartphone.

Meeting Lee Mun-yeong was at 8 in the evening.

There was still plenty of time left, so I checked in at the reserved hotel then peeked around nearby tourist spots and snacked a bit then took a taxi.

“Please go to this address.”

The taxi driver who saw the Papago app translation answered that he understood then departed.

Around the time of arriving at the destination I wore a mask and sunglasses. Because if I wear the bird-beak mask it seems I’ll get reported to the police as a suspicious guy right away.

“Thank you!”

After coolly paying the taxi fare much more expensive than Korea I got off.

“You worked hard coming this far, ‘Plague Doctor’-nim.”

Today too Lee Mun-yeong had arrived earlier than the appointment time.

“Seeing the appearance without the mask is novel?”

I gestured to wait a moment.

With my back turned, I took out the bird-beak mask and pitch-black hat from the bag and put them on.

Behind Lee Mun-yeong burst into small laughter.

“I’ll inform the matters I couldn’t fully say in DM. The person who wants to receive the treatment prayer is Hashimoto Kichiro-nim who is close with the former Kanggeon Pharmaceutical representative, a former entrepreneur from Japan, and also a Kanggeon Pharmaceutical shareholder.”

After organizing the bag I turned to Lee Mun-yeong.

“He has been living a convalescent life in this mansion for quite a while, but the flu caught recently doesn’t get better easily. Due to existing diseases there are also restrictions on drug use. But···.”

“······?”

I who was nodding tilted my head.

Phew.

Because Lee Mun-yeong let out a deep sigh with a strange expression.

“‘Plague Doctor’-nim. Do you believe there is a curse?”

Where is that kind of thing···.

No.

Even I an Awakener who cures colds in one go exists, there’s no law that a curse doesn’t exist.

“Even going to the hospital, calling a doctor Hashimoto-nim’s health doesn’t improve, so it seems the family called a monk. Quite different in texture from Korean monks··· anyway that kind of religious person.”

Lee Mun-yeong turned her head.

I also looked at the long mansion wall. Well-tended garden trees swayed in the cold wind.

Saaa.

Somehow it was a bit eerie.

“They said it’s because of a curse descended on this household. Also that the cat Hashimoto-nim cherishes is sick.”

Scratch scratch.

[How old is the requester?]

“In his 80s.”

“······.”

“That’s why. It’s because of age and underlying diseases, what curse. Anyway that monk is also inside, I requested so we don’t encounter so don’t worry too much. Moreover the ‘Plague Doctor’-nim is a guest Hashimoto-nim directly invited.”

I followed Lee Mun-yeong and entered inside the gate.

It was a mansion of quite large scale. It felt old yet very well managed.

Passing the quiet garden and large building and entering inside, another gate came out.

“As I said in DM, Hashimoto-nim’s personal secretary is waiting in front of the annex.”

Passed the gate and arrived at the annex.

In front of the door a middle-aged man in a suit was standing.

Whether he heard the story about me in advance, he bowed his head without a surprised look.

“Welcome. I’m Sato.”

Accurate Korean pronunciation.

“I will guide you to where the chairman is.”

Entered the annex and took off shoes.

Passing the maze-like complicated interior, came out to a passage where the courtyard was clearly visible.

Paused.

“Why···.”

Lee Mun-yeong who was going ahead stopped.

Sato uncle also frowned then spoke in Japanese.

The Papago app turned on in advance just in case translated.

[I said to move aside.]

Because of the goggles the vision is limited, so I stuck my head to the side and only then could confirm what they were looking at.

Courtyard corner.

A monk in attire like something seen in Japanese comics was standing blankly.

[Sorry. But bad energy. Worried about the chairman’s health. Please understand. Is that him?]

Is this being translated properly?

The sentences are much shorter than what the monk is saying?

The monk looked at my appearance then openly frowned.

[Isn’t it a Western cult?]

Oh, this seems translated correctly.

Lee Mun-yeong tried to say something then looked at Sato uncle.

Sato uncle stepped forward.

[He is a guest the chairman directly invited. Please move.]

[I will guard this place. Bad energy. I will drive it away.]

“It doesn’t seem like he’ll easily back down. ‘Plague Doctor’-nim, sorry.”

Scratch scratch.

[It’s fine.]

I lightly clenched both fists then spun the index finger. And pretended to point in the direction the two people originally wanted to go.

Let’s go.

Lee Mun-yeong smiled and nodded.

“Yes.”

The Japanese monk quietly watched me with a weighty gaze.

I held back the laughter that was about to come out.

Because the clear yellow [Contagious Disease Patient] text gradually approaching was clearly informing that it’s not a curse.

A cult insisting there is a curse that doesn’t even exist.

A cult who came to do treatment prayer pretending to be a religious person.

Cult vs cult.

But I’ll win.

***

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

[(Estimated MP cost 190)]

The [Contagious Disease Patient] also looked at me without a surprised look, and only nodded his head while lying in place.

“How is it? Will you be able to get better?”

I knelt beside and sat and nodded toward Sato uncle.

Saying I couldn’t leave only me and the [Contagious Disease Patient], I asked to stand far away and he stood quietly next to the door. Lee Mun-yeong together too.

I took out the phone.

Music on.

Tararan, tarararan.

Music that seemed to make the heart peaceful just by listening played.

[Today’s prayer.]

Tarararan.

Biriri.

I made the sign of the cross then pretended to pray for a moment.

Tararan!

Mutter matching the briefly louder sound.

“Treat, yes.”

A warm-colored heat haze was absorbed by the [Contagious Disease Patient].

[System]

-Used ‘Plague Treatment’.

-‘Plague Treatment’ proficiency +2

-Experience +8%

[MP 0/130]

“···Ooh.”

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

[(Estimated MP cost 50)]

Thanks to wearing the ‘Plague Doctor Mask’ it’s the equivalent of pouring about MP 160.

The effect he himself would feel best.

Vitality turned in the eyes of the [Contagious Disease Patient] who was slowly blinking.

Grab.

He grabbed my hand.

[By any chance···.]

Tarararan.

[Are you an apostle of God···?]

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