Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Equipped a Stick

The blue light that dyed the cane was reabsorbed and disappeared as soon as I let go of my hand.

This time because there was distance from the [False One], it didn’t activate on its own and stopped at activation?

While clenching and opening my hand, I looked at the two women being chased by the security guard.

[False One]

[False One]

The text that doesn’t disappear even while going away.

“Student.”

“Yes, sir.”

I picked up the canes again.

[System]

-Equipped a stick.

-Can use skill ‘Divine Punishment’.

The ‘Divine Punishment’ skill also didn’t activate again.

“Student also be careful. If an unknown person in a friendly tone says parents’ friend or something, or says they’ll give a gift if you respond to a survey and asks to open the common entrance door absolutely don’t open.”

“Yes.”

The security guard moved steps letting out a big sigh.

“Ahyu. As the methods get more cunning, really.”

I returned home.

Sister was there.

“Where do you wander around every day like that? Huh? What’s that? Did you buy it to give me?”

“If you bought that many gifts in Japan it’s enough, what are you aiming for again. Have some conscience?”

“Then why did you buy that?”

“Just because I wanted to have it.”

“Are you a kid?”

“Sister you wear those sleep pants because you’re an adult?”

“Hey, what’s wrong with this. It’s cute.”

“Ugh.”

I shook my head with a disgusted face and entered the room.

Arong followed closely.

“Arong. This isn’t your toy. Don’t bite. Not good for teeth either.”

The 2 new canes with the box unopened deep in the closet. The one I was holding, I pushed into a high shelf of the bookshelf Arong can’t touch.

“Going somewhere again?”

When I came out of the room Sister asked.

“To buy something. Ah, tell me the impression of that guy.”

“That guy? Who?”

Ding.

I answered while checking the phone.

“The pitch-black guy who chased Sister.”

Happy Quokka sent a DM.

-[Hello, Plague Doctor-nim. By any chance···. Can I see you once before next week’s main round?]

-[I want to receive the Plague Doctor-nim’s cheerㅜㅜ]

Our singer, originally not a person who makes this kind of request.

Is she that nervous?

Or is there some matter? Did she catch a cold again?

I immediately sent a reply.

[Yes. Please decide a convenient date and time, place and inform.]

“···Did you hear from Mom?”

“Yeah.”

I put the phone in the pocket.

“If there was such an incident you should have told me earlier. I would have mobilized the hyungs and friends, younger brothers I know in this neighborhood and searched.”

Sister pouted her mouth while strongly pressing the cushion she was holding.

“What good matter to spread around the neighborhood.”

“Anyway organize and send by message.”

“······.”

Sister turned her head completely.

Seeming not wanting to show her expression, I also didn’t pester more and put on shoes.

“Arong, I’ll walk you after coming back.”

Bark!

When I came after buying materials to make a cane pocket, Sister had gone to the academy and wasn’t there.

Instead a message came.

-[Height late 160s to early 170. Big head and turtle neck. Didn’t see the face, but suspected as one of the customers who came when I did part-time then. That customer had a white scar less than 1cm between the left middle finger and ring finger. The bounce speed was fast and seemed to know the road well. And was thin.]

Memorized.

***

I added a cane pocket inside the frequently worn outerwear. So I can easily take it out anytime.

When sitting it’s a bit uncomfortable, but anyway I won’t carry it every day.

“Going somewhere again at this night?”

“To meet a friend.”

Today too I deliberately didn’t bring it.

Because I decided to meet Happy Quokka.

“I’ll come in not late.”

“Yeah.”

The place arrived was Hangang Park.

The cold wind blew hard so it was cold.

I headed to the appointment place with [Sorry for startling] written largely on a pure white sketchbook so people wouldn’t be startled.

“‘Plague Doctor’-nim!”

Happy Quokka fully armed with clothes that looked warm and a scarf, gloves waved her hand toward me.

“Hello!”

Bow.

“Really thank you for coming out. And there’s still a few days left but.”

Happy Quokka smiled and held something out to me.

“Happy New Year!”

A paper bag with a gift box.

So she wanted to meet to give this.

But I didn’t prepare anything.

···Ah, there was that?

I took out a thin envelope from the coat pocket.

“Uh···.”

Happy Quokka made a surprised expression.

“Did the ‘Plague Doctor’-nim also prepare a gift? I’m fine but···.”

I received Happy Quokka’s gift, and handed the envelope instead.

She who confirmed the contents smiled widely.

“Wow, musical reservation ticket···! Isn’t this expensive? Is it really okay to receive?”

Scratch scratch.

[I also received it from someone else, and I don’t know musicals well.]

“Then··· want to go see together?”

I shook my head, and turned the sketchbook to the front page.

[Fighting for the main round!]

A cheer message I wrote in advance in the car.

Happy Quokka smiled widely.

“Really thank you! Next week in the main round, I’ll definitely let you hear a good song!”

At that time.

“Huh? Aren’t you Happy Quokka-nim? I’m watching ‘Unknown Singer’ well~.”

A couple passing nearby greeted Happy Quokka happily.

Happy Quokka bowed her head with a shy face.

“Hello···.”

“Your friend also has a very unique style. I’ll cheer next week too, fighting!”

“I’ll definitely vote!”

“Yes, thank you···!”

Even if they say people watching TV have decreased these days, still the influence can’t be ignored.

SNS follows also increased enormously, and people who recognize even in places not Hongdae appeared.

Seeing our singer’s recognition rise I somehow feel proud myself.

If popularity increases more like this and the body price also rises, she’ll be able to concentrate on song work without money worries? Then naturally many good songs will come out?

Happy Quokka smiled small.

“A bit shy. Hehe.”

I nodded then waved my hand.

“Already trying to go? I want to talk a bit more···.”

Scratch scratch.

[It’s cold. You’ll catch a cold.]

“···Yes. Really thank you for coming out today. The gift too.”

Me too.

I held the gift received from Happy Quokka preciously in my arms and bowed. And after watching her get in a taxi, I returned to the parking lot.

“Phew.”

I took off the stuffy hat and bird-beak mask, and checked the gift box.

A crow doll wearing a gentleman’s hat and a cross necklace and a small card came out.

[Always thank you! Happy New Year☆ -Happy Quokka]

I started the engine in a good mood.

***

A meat restaurant in Gangnam.

“Yah, how long has it been everyone? Nice to see.”

“Park Tae-kwon, you’re late again?”

“Hey, let’s cut Park Tae-kwon some slack. He works at the zoo, how many things to pay attention to.”

“Indeed. Is zoo work manageable?”

“Except that the smell doesn’t leave the body all day it’s manageable.”

“Saying that it seems a bit smelly too.”

“Man, I came after washing cleanly? And this is new clothes.”

They were classmates who came out of the same veterinary school.

Since it was a meeting after a long time, they asked each other’s well-being for a long while accompanying meat with soju.

“Hey, the medicine that came out from your company this time wasn’t good? Did that properly go through clinical?”

“Oh. Are you suspecting our company?”

“Ah, Lee Do-han. Your hospital completely hit the jackpot? How did it happen?”

“Ah.”

Lee Do-han operating a small animal hospital smiled awkwardly.

“Luck was a bit good. A dog I thought really had no hope recovered miraculously, and that dog’s guardian uploaded on SNS. Thanks to that it was rumored as a famous doctor.”

“How much no hope was there?”

“That···.”

Lee Do-han explained about the dog ‘Boogi’ who miraculously recovered from the brink of death overnight on Christmas.

Including the classmate who was grilling while paying attention so the meat doesn’t burn, everyone listened blankly then made a dumbfounded laugh.

“Hey, does that make sense? Overnight the numbers that soared bright red all returned to normal?”

“Wasn’t the examination wrong from the beginning? That’s why, I said change that old equipment early.”

“Before that I examined twice, the equipment is fine. It wasn’t an error.”

“Really a Christmas miracle, what.”

“Anyway.”

Lee Do-han gently lowered his voice.

“It seems the ancestors helped.”

“Ancestors?”

“Yeah. Previously what happened was, a cat who caught panleukopenia came. Immunity was considerably dropped so it was a bit hard···. Overnight it suddenly got better, and the next day it became completely fine.”

“That’s why I said change the equipment.”

“If panleukopenia it can’t get better overnight···.”

“Panleukopenia? Lee Do-han you by any chance···.”

Park Tae-kwon hesitated for a moment then carefully asked.

“Did you use Kanggeon Pharmaceutical’s new drug?”

“No? I used the one I originally used?”

“Why Kanggeon Pharmaceutical? Did a new drug on the panleukopenia side come out?”

“Isn’t Kanggeon Pharmaceutical still weak on the veterinary medicine side?”

“Why suddenly there?”

Park Tae-kwon answered while putting down the chopsticks.

“Actually the tiger called ‘Kongkongi’ in our zoo also caught panleukopenia a while ago.”

“Tiger? Hey, is that okay?”

“If something goes wrong with the tiger the damage would be large.”

“Articles would come out and it would be a mess.”

“Of course it wasn’t okay. Couldn’t even grasp the infection path. Anyway the condition gradually worsened, so thoroughly isolated and watching but···.”

Park Tae-kwon paused for a moment.

“A strange instruction came down from above.”

“What instruction?”

“Indoor enclosure personnel, stay out for one hour.”

“Why?”

“Don’t know. Later secretly heard, a Kanggeon Pharmaceutical person came and went? Anyway I also went out for only one hour then entered then.”

Everyone’s eyes and ears focused on Park Tae-kwon.

Park Tae-kwon said with a face still unbelievable.

“Kongkongi had become fine.”

“Hey, does that make sense?”

“Even the cat doesn’t make sense, to the tiger?”

“······.”

Everyone except Lee Do-han burst into laughter.

“Did you two collude? Huh?”

“Really, meeting after a long time and saying nonsense. We must have gotten old.”

“Ahyu. Just drink alcohol, teachers. I listened concentrating for nothing.”

“Your zoo examination equipment also needs to be changed.”

“It’s real···. Even the CCTV was turned off only at that time.”

Park Tae-kwon was wronged, but actually even if he was a third party he would have shown a similar reaction.

So he couldn’t claim more strongly, and smiled looking at Lee Do-han.

Lee Do-han also scratched his eyebrows and shook his head.

***

From the weekend a long Lunar New Year holiday started.

Parents went on a trip to Jeju Island, and returned only on the day before Lunar New Year.

“Bong-sik will you come separately tomorrow morning? Even if you go today there’s nothing to do.”

“I’ll also go and help with the food. Mother, Father.”

“Stop. You’ll only be a hindrance.”

“If you go too, today Hyun-seo is alone.”

“I’m fine. Arong is also there.”

Mother looked at Sister with a worried gaze.

“They said they asked you for closing work today and tomorrow at the cafe. Can you come home alone?”

Sister smiled and waved her hand.

“It’s fine now. How much time has passed.”

I nodded and said to parents.

“I’ll go tomorrow morning. I have to walk Arong in the evening too.”

“Yeah.”

“It’s fine···.”

“I’m doing it because I’m worried about Arong not Sister?”

Thud.

“Ouch.”

“Drive carefully when coming tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

Parents packed luggage full, and departed to Grandfather’s house in Icheon, Gyeonggi-do.

That night.

I headed to the cafe Sister is doing part-time taking Arong.

Midway Arong did big business, and because he clung to one tree and didn’t want to fall off a bit late.

Is it because it’s the day before Lunar New Year.

There weren’t many people on the street.

“Oh. It’s off.”

When only about 10 meters left.

The internal lighting of the cafe Sister goes to turned off.

“Shall I wait here, and startle Sister?”

Bark!

“Hey. If you bark you’ll get caught right away.”

Whether hearing Arong’s barking sound, Sister coming out of the cafe tilted her head toward this side.

Under the still turned on cafe sign light.

It was when Sister’s face smiling discovering Arong was visible.

“······?”

Behind Sister beyond three or four buildings. Some pitch-black shadow-like thing stuck its head out then disappeared.

“Hey, Kang Bong···.”

“Shh.”

I naturally passed handing Arong’s leash to Sister.

And ran.

Because.

「Height late 160s to early 170. Big head and turtle neck.」

The shadow sticking its head out again resembled the impression Sister informed.

[System]

-Equipped a stick.

-Can use skill ‘Divine Punishment’.

[MP 140/140]

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