Chapter 26
Chapter 26.
The Poison Demon and Valentine's Day (1)
Ding!
[Someone shouts that they're happy because of you. +10 Happiness]
[Someone shouts that they're happy because of you. +5 Happiness]
The notification messages kept ringing.
Pfft.
"They're all doing well."
I laughed to myself while baking Bungeoppang.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Something amusing happened."
Mother asked.
"What is it? Let me have a laugh too."
"Did you know? It's not that you're happy because you feel happiness, but that you become happy by saying you're happy."
"Where's this happiness theory coming from all of a sudden?"
"Other people say they're happy because of me."
"Really? Ho ho ho. That makes me happy too."
Mother's smile.
I felt even better, and recalled what had happened at the Choi Brothers' home not long ago.
***
"We will provide you with information on the bypass route for the 21st floor. However! There are conditions."
"Speak your mind."
"We will also accept all of Gukmubon's terms."
Chief Han and Goryeo Sword Sect's Kim Guk-bong listened closely to what the Choi Brothers had to say.
Choi Jae-jun stated his conditions for sharing the information.
"First, this information is limited to our Republic of Korea."
"Of course."
Chief Han agreed, while Kim Guk-bong pushed back.
"You're releasing this to all Korean sects?"
Choi Jae-jun shook his head.
"No. We're releasing it only to Gukmubon and Goryeo Sword Sect."
"Now we're talking!"
Kim Guk-bong cheered.
"The second condition. This exclusive rights to the limited information applies for exactly 6 months."
Chief Han and Kim Guk-bong both nodded.
It was vital information they would keep confidential, but humans being are humans, 6 months was practically the limit for keeping a secret.
"And after that?"
Chief Han asked back.
"After 6 months, we'll inform all Korean sects."
"Then foreign parties will end up finding out as well?"
"It's impossible to keep it secret forever anyway. You'd know this well."
The youngest, Choi Jae-hwa, said.
"To be clear, this information doesn't come free."
"Of course not. What are the conditions?"
"Grant our Baekgyeong Group the new city development rights."
"……Understood."
Chief Han pondered briefly before nodding.
Baekgyeong Group, which had extended its reach into food, distribution, and construction. Rather than having some mediocre company develop a new city, it was better to leave it to the major conglomerate Baekgyeong Group.
Gukmubon wasn't the Ministry of Land and Infrastructure, but since this concerned the tower on which Korea's survival depended, cooperation from the Blue House would be possible.
"There's more. I know that Gukmubon is currently using the National Tax Service to investigate our Baekgyeong Group. Close all investigations with a finding of no charges."
"Of course."
"This must never happen again in the future. Please give me your firm promise."
"I promise."
He also addressed Kim Guk-bong.
"We have demands for Goryeo Sword Sect as well."
"I'll agree to anything."
"Please appoint my brother and me as Elders of Goryeo Sword Sect."
"……Well now."
Kim Guk-bong paused in thought for a moment.
Appointment as Elders.
In other words, grant them a status from which they could aim for the next position of Sect Leader.
And under any circumstances, expulsion would be impossible.
"The other elders will protest fiercely."
"If you don't like it, go ahead and expel us."
"You have to read between the lines. It means I'll appoint you. I'll convene a meeting tomorrow and send the appointment documents."
Kim Guk-bong waved his hand dismissively.
The Choi Brothers looked at them and thought.
'Everything turned out exactly as Senior said. Not a single thing missed.'
Information gains its value through monopolization.
But by slightly expanding the scope of that monopoly, hadn't he turned them into beneficiaries—no, accomplices—of that gain?
Turning suspicion and misunderstanding into respect and profit in a single instant.
An unforeseen strategy, and what tremendous wisdom!
'Remarkable. Simply remarkable.'
While marveling, Choi Jae-jun stated the final condition.
"Now for the last condition. And it's also the most important one."
"What is it?"
"When you enter 21st through 23rd floor using the information we've provided……"
Gulp.
"You must shout it unconditionally. Ahem."
Choi Jae-jun cleared his throat and shouted loudly.
"Nameless Hero! I am happy thanks to you!"
"……"
Chief Han and Kim Guk-bong couldn't close their mouths.
It was the remarkable foresight of their benefactor, Senior, but the embarrassment belonged solely to him.
Choi Jae-jun trembled as he pleaded.
"P-please don't look at me like that."
***
[A Goryeo Sword Sect climber shouts that they're happy thanks to you. +10 Happiness]
The notification messages rang a total of 15 times and stopped.
Goryeo Sword Sect and Gukmubon said they were sending 50 people for this 21st floor assault, right?
5 people per team, 10 teams. 50 people total.
All of them would have shouted that they were happy, yet it only rang 15 times—there had to be a reason for that.
Even if you shout that you're happy, it doesn't mean you're truly happy.
"A natural result. If anything, 15 people genuinely feeling happiness is a higher number than I expected."
When Goryeo Sword Sect and Gukmubon's period of information exclusivity ended and this information spread throughout Korea and further across the world—
The Happiness Points would undoubtedly increase further.
Because.
"Climbers are weak to superstitions."
In the Murim Tower where sword energy ran rampant and shamanistic arts like Demon Wind Manor existed, climbers who staked their lives on a single blade had no choice but to put faith in superstition.
'Nameless Hero! I am happy thanks to you!'
So the phrase I had passed on would spread widely as a powerful superstition, something like a talisman.
Now then!
You don't say you're happy because you feel happiness.
You become happy by saying you're happy.
So shout it!
I am happy!
[A Gukmubon climber shouts that they're happy thanks to you. +10 Happiness]
***
"It's a bit slow today."
"So it is."
Bungeoppang usually had to sell out within 3 hours, but today it had taken nearly 4 hours.
"Maybe because it's gotten a bit warmer?"
Spring was just around the corner.
As I said this, Mother smiled and said,
"Today is Valentine's Day, you know."
"Valentine's… What?"
"Valentine's Day. February 14th."
I searched through Kim Tae-yang's memories.
Valentine's Day, the day you give chocolates and confess your love.
A product of vulgar capitalism, the nation needs to be overthrown……
I marveled once again at Kim Tae-yang's warped knowledge.
"Ah."
Perhaps that was why.
"Oppa, please take this."
Min-jeong held out a box to me.
A heart-shaped box, neatly wrapped with a pink ribbon.
"What's this?"
"It's my heart."
"Put it over there by the gas tank."
"Oppa!"
Smack!
Mother slapped my forearm from the side.
"Oh goodness! Clueless about a girl's feelings. Min-jeong, our Tae-yang just doesn't know any better. Thank you, dear."
Mother, this girl is still a student!
I packed up the cart and took the box in hand.
Min-jeong—who had been watching me from afar in her short ski—no, in jeans.
She was wearing jeans. Much better.
When I undid the ribbon, prettily made chocolates came into view.
"It's chocolates."
"Try one, they look delicious."
"Please have one first."
"My goodness, the person who received the gift should eat first."
I took one out.
Hard. A jet-black surface with a faint sheen.
Without much expectation, I put the chocolate in my mouth.
In that instant.
Srrr—
A sensation of smoothly melting teased the tip of my tongue.
The rich sweetness unique to chocolate and a subtle, faintly bitter aroma.
A sweetness spreading throughout my entire mouth!
To think a mere piece of chocolate could……
"The heart stirs, and the tongue attains enlightenment."
"How is it, delicious?"
[You feel happiness. +20 Happiness]
When I made an expression of wonder, Mother laughed.
At the same time.
Ding!
[Min-jeong sees your expression and becomes happy. +100 Happiness]
Do you know the essence of sweetness?
I do.
It is this very chocolate.
The smoothly melting chocolate seemed to wash away accumulated tension and fatigue in a gentle sweep.
It was a different feeling from Bungeoppang.
I quickly took out the next piece and stuffed it in my mouth.
[Min-jeong sees your expression and becomes happy. +100 Happiness]
Mother also tried a chocolate and was pleasantly surprised.
"My! It's truly delicious. Much better than what they sell at convenience stores."
To think Min-jeong had a talent like this.
I trembled at this fateful encounter and gazed at the sign that read 'Handsome Bungeoppang'—
Clap!
I clapped my hands together.
"My goodness, what is it?"
"Mother. I've found it."
"Found what?"
"Bungeoppang we can sell in spring too."
Nod nod.
I beckoned to Min-jeong, who was hiding and watching me.
Min-jeong approached hesitantly.
"It's delicious, right? I saw you. That moved expression on your face, Oppa."
"How did you make this chocolate?"
"Pardon?"
"If you tell me the recipe calmly, no bloodshed will occur."
"N-no way!"
Min-jeong was too embarrassed to say anything. In that case.
"Drink this."
Just as I was hurriedly preparing a glass of Gu Poison—she spoke.
"I, I can't tell you just like that."
"Alright."
I took out my wallet. Thick wads of cash.
"Not money!"
"……?"
"Go on a date with me."
What?
***
A date I never expected in my life had begun.
After packing up the cart, Mother cheered me on.
"What sort of cheering on is this with a student?"
Maybe in Gangho, but this was the Republic of Korea.
19 years old was not an acceptable age.
I firmly deflected the incoming cheering.
"What should we do?"
"Tell me the chocolate recipe."
"Ah, I said I'd tell you after the date is over."
"If you hand it over quietly, I'll spare your li—"
"Should we go eat something delicious?"
"Bungeoppang?"
"Pardon?"
"Chocolates are good too."
"What kind of date involves chocolates!"
The place she took me was a Tteokbokki restaurant.
"Delicious, right?"
"Spicy, salty."
"……"
"Sweet."
The Tteokbokki turned out to be tastier than expected.
And the people enjoying Tteokbokki.
"One more bowl."
"Oh, you liked it! This one's incredibly spicy."
Of course.
[The Great Law of Reversal is applied. Poison becomes medicine. A small amount of energy is enhanced.]
The poisonous plant that became a spice as humanity learned to enjoy the pain it gave—that is the chili pepper.
Good. Let me keep note of this too.
The more ways to spread happiness, the better.
We left the restaurant.
"Now tell me. The recipe."
"The date isn't over yet."
"Why is it dragging on like this?"
"It hasn't even been an hour since we started!"
"What else are we doing?"
"Hmm……. Shopping?"
I was dragged off by the hand to a clothing store.
"Why is everything so expensive?"
I clicked my tongue looking at the price tags.
This isn't even silk—isn't this all synthetic fiber?
I thought of the pride of our Sichuan Province, Shu Brocade silk.
Its soft texture, its refined patterns.
"Pathetic compared to Shu Brocade."
I was dumbfounded seeing a single jacket priced at enough to buy more than 50 Bungeoppang.
Min-jeong held up this outfit and that against me, grinning from ear to ear.
"Try this one on and come out."
"I'd rather not."
"Then I won't tell you."
"Give me 30 seconds."
When I came out wearing it.
"Wow! Oppa……"
What's that expression?
"You look incredibly cool!"
[Min-jeong is amazed by your appearance. +20 Happiness]
So I can even earn Happiness Points this way.
Good.
After trying on this and that as she asked, I said to her as well.
"Pick one for yourself."
"Me too?"
"Yes. I'll buy it for you."
……That was a mistake.
I spent more money at the clothing store than expected.
Urgh!
Well, it's not a huge waste.
Min-jeong had made my Bungeoppang sign, and she had been the first customer at opening. She'd even been a customer-caller who brought her friends.
But what made the shopping take 3 whole hours!
"I need to circulate my energy."
Feeling my energy drain, I barely made it out with both hands full of shopping bags.
"Oppa."
"Shopping is over."
"I…… Really love this."
"Hm?"
She held both ends of the newly bought scarf with both hands and looked at me.
"I really…… Haven't done something like this in a long time."
Min-jeong tapped the tips of her feet against the ground.
"After my father passed away, our household fell into difficulty and we had a lot of debt."
"……"
"That's why I went to a technical high school too. Technical schools have better job placement, after all, don't they?"
She's more resilient than she looks.
But I didn't take it all at face value.
She had a past as a delinquent.
In Gangho, I had seen many kids like her.
Walking the right path was harder than one might think.
The wrong path looks easy, looks comfortable.
Those who have strayed from the right path find it hard to return.
……I was the same.
They say people can't be changed.
Her skirts used to be too short too. Tsk.
Min-jeong said to me.
"I don't know what I should do."
"Do what you want to do."
Whether that's making money or getting married.
……Or revenge.
This time I was the one who asked.
"University?"
"Psh, someone like me? My grades aren't great and tuition isn't exactly pocket change."
Tuition really is expensive.
"What about you, Oppa?"
I didn't answer. Instead I asked again.
"Have you decided where you'll work?"
She was a third-year. Final year.
"My homeroom teacher gave me a few leads on places to work……"
"Gave you leads but?"
"I don't think I can do it."
Her expression had darkened. What could be going on.
"Ah, this is boring! This is a date I had to fight so hard to get, I can't ruin it."
Wrap!
She linked her arm through mine.
"Let's walk a little."
Is it still not over?
I kept this thought in my mouth and didn't let it out.
Min-jeong's voice was bright, but only her mouth was smiling……
Walking like that for a while, a bustling entertainment district came into view.
An entertainment district—in my past life's Gangho, there were red-light districts.
A van stopped in front of establishments called room salons and karaoke bars.
Women in short skirts—like Min-jeong used to wear—streamed out and went into the building.
Out on the street, there were also some rough-looking thugs.
It was then.
"O-Oppa. Let's go back."
She grabbed my arm and pulled.
In her urgency, she even snatched up several of the shopping bags I had been carrying.
"Why all of a sudden?"
"Let's just go."
As we turned around.
"Hey! Isn't that Jennie?"
Someone called out loudly from behind.
……Jennie?
I looked at Min-jeong—her face had gone completely stiff.
"Jennie! Where are you going?"
Another shout. Min-jeong's steps quickened.
Going along with her as though I couldn't help it—
Grab!
The man who had called out ‘Jennie’ seized Min-jeong's arm.
He was a thug.
"Hey. Where do you think you're going, you little b*tch."
"S-Sangcheol Oppa……!!"