The early bird wakes up!
My eyes opened up as soon as the morning ca. An energetic morning! As soon as I woke up, the first thing I did was check the progress of the restoration of the status window.
Status window!
Whoop-!
[Status system recovery initiated.]
[Status system being reinstalled onto Ghost.]
[Reinstalling 92.33%]
[Ti left: 2 days 5 hours 21 seconds]
Good.
Thanks to absorbing the massive amount of mana from the Onikumo, the progress reached the point where the restoration would be completed in a few days.
And there was sothing else that I could feel.
Now that I had possessed Baek Cheol-yeon, my abilities were magic detection and auror. But I could feel sothing else now, perhaps due to my increased sensitivity from overcharging my mana.
It was common for the Awakened to have other minor side abilities on top of their main ones, but
I dont know what it is. Is it so kind of passive ability?
In the case of auror, I could infuse weapons I held in my hand with mana, and in the case of magic detection, if I concentrated, I could feel the flow of mana around .
Its easy to know active abilities that are activated only through actions. Still, passive abilities that are only activated in certain situations are difficult to tell by oneself unless they get an Awakened ability test or can use the system.
I should be able to know once my status window is restored, so whatever.
I got up, took off my sleeping clothes, and changed into my school uniform. It wasnt a school day, but in this day and age, a school uniform was the regular formal wear for a student, even outside school. And more than that, I didnt have anything to wear to go out.
While putting on my school uniform, I looked at myself in the mirror and suddenly thought.
I wonder, why did I co back to life in this body?
It was strange that I had possessed the body of a person still alive. Just think about it, wouldnt it be more natural to possess the body of a dead person instead of that of a person still alive?
This guy, Baek Cheol-yeon, did he die drinking?
Co to think of it, what the boarding house daughter said when I first woke up was, Are you still drunk after coming ho so late from drinking?
Maybe that was what happened. I wondered what this guy even did. Even the small trashcan in the room I was using was full of bottles of soju and snack wrappers.
You died from drinking so much at such a young age.
If you want to live long, you must drink moderately with hearty als.
Thinking this, I opened the door and went outside when,
Are you going out?
The boarding house daughter asked, sitting on the veranda, dangling her feet.
YesOh, thats right. My trashcan is full. Where can I empty it?
Just leave it. Ill clean it.
Oh, okay.
I answered and put my shoes on, but then I suddenly wondered.
Her father worked as a rickshaw puller, so he left early in the morning and ca in late in the evening. Due to this, I had only heard his voice coming from the next room, and Id never actually seen him, but
But this girl never seed to go anywhere else. It felt like she stayed ho all day long. And even more, I didnt think there would be much housework in this little house.
She looked about one or two years younger than , aning she was at the age to be a 3rd grade middle school or 1st grade a high school student. For a kid like that, to be stuck at ho all day, wasnt sothing I could easily imagine. (note: Korean school system goes: 6 years elentary school, 3 years middle school, 3 years high school)
Unlike the 21st century, there were smartphones or computers, nor did the TV or internet exist. What did she do at ho all day long?
What are you stuck at ho all day long? You should go out and play.
I asked.
What would I do outside? Id just waste my money! Like soone.
She answered back sarcastically. I felt like that soone was referring to .
You dont even read the newspaper?
Is there anything fun in the newspaper? Thats just how the world goes round.
It felt like she didnt have an interest in anything. I asked again.
Im gonna go check downtown. Do you want to co with ?
What?
She was surprised, eyes open wide,
Ah! Mister, what are you saying? Soone will hear you
She answered, waving her hands in a hurry. I an, I was just offering her to go out and have fun. Its even more embarrassing for if you freak out like that and put up a wall.
Ah Im sorry.
I hurried out of the gate, embarrassed.
***
Having co to the tram stop, I stopped and thought for a mont.
I wanted to buy books and magazines the day before yesterday but couldnt.
My plan to buy books and magazines had broken down as, suddenly, a Gate opened and monsters appeared. So I thought about whether I should return to the used bookstore, but
No!
Since I was thrown into this world anyway, it would be better to dive in and experience it rather than read about it in a book. They say a picture paints a thousand words, so lets just experience it personally.
So, I made up my mind to walk around town this ti. I got on the tram going to downtown Gyeongseong.
My heart was pounding.
Its said that different eras are pretty much different countries.
Of course, right now Im in a period where Korea is ruled by Japan, but.
Anyway, even the air was different. It felt like I had travelled in ti. Of course, I didnt co to this era because I wanted to, so I couldnt call myself a traveler. Then, what should I call myself? An illegal ti immigrant? A ti refugee?
As I looked at the surrounding scenery from the tram, the tram had entered downtown Gyeongseong, and at a distance, I could start to see a vast white building with an imposing baroque style.
The Japanese Governnt-General of Joseon building.
It always blows up to pieces in movies.
However, unfortunately, in real history, it would remain firmly in that place until YS (note: YS is the nickna of ex-president Kim Young-sam) blew it up in 1996. The tram stopped in front of the Governnt-General building then turned left and proceeded down a wide road.
Gwanghwamun Street. It would beco Gwanghwamun Square in the future.
Oh I think Ive seen that building before.
To the right of where the tram was passing by, I saw a square, white building with one of its corners rising high like a tower. That would probably beco the Seoul tropolitan Council building in the future.
I kept looking at the scenery passing by outside the window, and eventually, I got off the tram when we arrived at Namdaemun. I wanted to see what Sungnyemun Gate looked like before it was burned, but more than that
This is the Honmachi Ive only heard of!
Honmachi, or Bonjeong, coming down from the Namdaemun Five-way Intersection, the street that would beco Chungmuro in the future, was crowded even on the morning of a weekday. (note: Bonjeong is the Korean pronunciation of Honmachi())
Even though were in the middle of the Second Sino-Japanese War.
However, surprisingly, you wouldnt be able to tell there was a war going on, on the streets. The only way you could tell was from the front page of a newspaper rolling on the floor that contained a black-and-white photograph of Japanese soldiers marching on destroyed streets in China, with titles like The Imperial Army Proudly Marching Into Muryeong.
When looking at the hustling streets and people just walking around, watching through show windows, the war seed like a story of distant lands.
As I walked the streets looking around, I found a sign that read Paradise Caf.
Coffee!
A modern Gyeongseong boy should obviously get coffee!
I hadnt even had breakfast, but I walked into the caf without a seconds hesitation. There werent too many custors compared to how big it was, so I chose a seat and sat down. The seating was laid out in such a way that there were sofas on either side of each table.
Its unusual for a caf.
It was quite luxurious, but for so reason, the windows were all covered with curtains, and the interior lighting was dim. Maybe that was the trend in this period.
Having ordered a cup of coffee, I sat down on the sofa, but then,
Oh my, what is a student doing in a place like this in the morning?
Soone ca close to and sat next to . It was a woman who was reeking of perfu.
Youre cute-. Joseon person? Or perhaps, a Nihon-jin?
What would it matter if he was a Joseon person or a Nihon-jin?
No, it wasnt just one person. Three or four ladies covered in thick makeup and wearing short clothes sat down on the sofa next to ,
By the way, why arent you drinking? Why only coffee?
Nobuko, look at her, trying to get a custor to drink in the morning!
Whats wrong with it? He looks like the son of a rich man who ca for a drink because its a hot morning Banto-san! Please get a Kirin beer!
She said, and then they sat down next to , flesh rubbing against my flesh, giggling, ordering whatever they wanted to drink. I was certain I had co into the wrong shop.
I think I should leave.
I shook off the ladies and ran to the counter. I took out my wallet as I said.
How much is it?
Its 1 won and 50 jeon.
The bus cost 5 jeon, and the gukbap I had yesterday had cost 15 jeon. But a cup of coffee was costing 1 won and 50 jeon? This was a sketchy store, and they were ripping off like no other. But I didnt want to cause a commotion, so I just put down a 1 won bill and a 50 jeon coin and ran out of there.
Huff, puff.
I was bent over, trying to catch my breath, when,
Hey! You there! Are cadets allowed to enter shops like this? And whats more, a cadet from our school Hey wait, arent you cadet Shirabayashi?
I looked up at the voice, and a well-dressed man that seed to be in his mid-30s was standing there.
Who is this?
Why did people recognize wherever I went?
No, this ti, he sohow seed familiar. As I pondered, I realized that this man was one of the professors that cheered when I was coming down the mountain after hunting the Onikumo.
Shit.
Running into a professor in a place like this, out of all places. And on top of that, the young professor said this.
Now, I thought you were a diligent cadet, but you entered such an indecent caf! I should tell the Head of Cadets about this.
Anything but that! It had only been yesterday that I had been sweating bullets, trying to make an excuse for my use of Joseon language.
No, wait, theres a misunderstanding. I only ca here for coffee,
Only coffee?
Yes! Only for coffee! I didnt know it was that kind of place! Its my first ti in Gyeongseong.
The smart-looking young professor patted on the shoulder and said.
Haha! If you wanted to just calmly drink so coffee, you should have gone to a tea house, and not a caf like this. Now, since weve t, lets go together.
***
The place where the professor led to was a place with bright lighting, variously decorated orchids, and smooth jazz playing. Compared to the other spots, this looked more like a modern caf.
Phew.
Hmm Okay then. So, you will probably take swordsmanship lessons, right?
Yes.
Im a professor of general studies, so we probably wont et very often, but Im looking forward to teaching you.
Professor Saigane Seiji ( ), the young professor said as he extended his hand.
He said he was a professor of general studies in other words, similar to Korean, English and Math sothing thats even taught at regular schools. Of course, considering our school, the proportion of students taking these classes was low (note: these three are general subjects every Korean student takes)
After talking to him, I realized that this person, professor Saigane, was a nicer and kinder man than I had first thought. Well, after all, not all Japanese people were bad.
However, the more I conversed with him,
Sothing sohow seems off
There was a sense of that.
It would be great if we had a lot of Joseon students like you. Then Joseon would gradually beco a better place to live.
I could feel a sense of him looking down on .
What do you an by Joseon students like ?
I dont know, Shirabayashi-kun. You must be very in favor of the complete assimilation of Joseon by Japan, right?
He was probably saying this due to my surna, Shirabayashi. Since I was using a Japanese-style surna, he probably thought I was utterly pro-Japan.
Ah, yeah.
If Joseon becos one with Japan, it will develop even more, or so I think. Its the sa with culture. Just as water flows downstream.
I want to throw my coffee in his face.
I couldnt stand hearing him anymore, so I completely changed the subject.
Well, not only good things flow.
At my answer, professor Saigane burst out laughing and said.
Haha! Of course, that can happen as well! Just as in that indecent caf earlier, they started in Ginza and flowed into Gyeongseong. But, after all, those are also part of culture. Haha.
He probably didnt have any malice in his words, but that made it even more unpleasant.
But then,
Nobody move!
I turned around, and three masked n were standing there, with sothing in their hands. What they had in their hands were pistols.
Robbers?
Eek!
At the sudden appearance of the robbers, several female custors who were peacefully drinking coffee scread. One of the robbers pointed his gun and shouted out.
Sh-Shut up! Its not funny if you scream!
Was that a real gun? I an, they wouldnt attempt a robbery with toy guns. The robber shouted, still moving his gun to and from.
A-All of you, take your wallets and all your belongings and place them on the table!
Damn it. Should I step up? But I had, of course, left my training sword at ho. And I couldnt see anything that could be used as a weapon around.
Whats more, pistols werent the only weapon they had. Out of the three, the one in the middle stepped forward, and a green cloud-like looking thing started rapidly spreading from his hands.
Soon after, the people closest to him started to fall onto their tables. It was an anesthetic poison fog.
He was an Awakened?
Ridiculous. He had an Awakened ability, but this was all he could do? Rob a coffee shop? Eventually, the anesthetic poison fog had spread to where the professor and I were standing.
Argh!
When professor Saigane inhaled so of the fog, he hurriedly covered his face. Hives were starting to swell up on him, and he desperately tried to hide his face as if he was in pain.
Professor! Are you okay?
M-Make them stop! I-Im allergic to certain substances!
Dammit.
However, the gun was pointed at us, and there was no room to move. On top of that, I had covered my nose and mouth with the collar of my shirt, but the poison had ended up seeping in.
Is this how I go down?
***
The daughter of the boarding house had remained sitting on the veranda and looking up to the sky long after the student guest had left,
She had been reflecting on the student guest, asking her if it wasnt boring to stay ho all day.
However, she couldnt afford to go out and have fun, and she didnt even have friends to play with. Moreover, it was because she couldnt leave the house unattended.
Excuse .
Creak, the gate opened, and soone ca in. A man in a leather jacket and wearing a hunting cap pulled out a notepad and a fountain pen and abruptly said.
Lets see Ham Seo-ju.
Yes.
Wheres Ham Won-sam? Is he inside?
The man blatantly called her father by his na. The boarding house daughter, Ham Seo-ju, stayed sat down on the veranda as she answered bluntly.
Hes not in. He went out to work. In the morning.
But the man kept opening every room door as if to check for himself. When he opened the door to the room at the end, he saw the bedding and clothes hanging and asked.
Wasnt this room empty?
Its our guests room.
Guest?
Its been about two weeks. Hes a student and said he was looking for a boarding house.
Ha! Getting a room in this house out of all places. No matter how severe the housing shortage is in Gyeongseong these days.
The man wrote sothing down on his notepad and said,
If you touch the guests belongings, you know, right? Youre going straight to jail like your dad.
Ham Seo-ju didnt answer back to what he said.
.
Ill be back soon again, so stay put.
The man wearing the leather jacket strode out of the gate as he finished speaking. Ham Seo-ju remained sitting on the veranda as she stared at the gate that the man had left open.
Detectives would visit her house like this from ti to ti.
She didnt like it.
It was because her father, Ham Won-sam, who now was a rickshaw puller, had a criminal record.
So even now, detectives often co to keep a watch, and the detectives attitude toward her is the sa. Since she was the daughter of a criminal, they expected her to have bad habits.
Ham Seo-ju didnt want to admit to it.
Sure, so what if the parent is a criminal? That makes the children criminals, as well?
She didnt like that.
I havent even done anything wrong.
Ham Seo-ju stayed sat down like that for a while, and then she went to the gate the man had left open and closed it. Afterwards, she looked at the room the student guest was staying in. It was still open, the way the detective had left it.
Yeah, why did that guest get a room in our house, out of all places?
In fact, this was also sothing that Ham Seo-ju herself wondered.
About two weeks ago, a student guest ca out of nowhere. The student was two years older than her. He said that he was going to enter the Yeopsa Vocational school and so he ca to Gyeongseong looking for a boarding house.
First, listening to his na, she thought he was Japanese, but then she realized that it was only his na and he was, in fact, a Joseon person.
Ham Seo-ju had wondered what kind of person this guest was, but the student guest would always look gloomy and co back late after being out all day drinking.
Then, after returning to the boarding house late at night, he would ask her to run an errand for more drinks and start drinking again. One day, she told him,
Stop drinking so much.
But he answered that drinking that much didnt get him drunk. Even though he lived wholly subrged in alcohol, the student guest would never talk about himself.
However, Ham Seo-ju was able to learn a little about him from the gossiping of the people in the neighborhood.
She had listened to them talk about how his parents were pro-Japan, and how they had received their title from selling their own country.
But Ham Seo-ju didnt care about that. No, in fact, she was against all this gossiping.
So what if his parents are pro-Japan and betrayed the country?
Since she had also been looked down on due to her father, she couldnt agree to all this gossiping. Whoever the student guests parents were, what did that even matter?
This is why Ham Seo-ju thought that this student, who was drunk every day, probably was in the sa position as she was.
But what was interesting was what had happened the day before yesterday.
The student guest, the day before starting school that is, the day before yesterday had seed to beco entirely soone else in a day.
He had completely stopped drinking, and he had beco a confident and cheerful person. It was as if he had managed to start ignoring what the other people said.
How could he overco that, despite being looked down upon like that?
That right. He asked to empty his trashcan.
Ham Seo-ju, who had been standing absent-mindedly, suddenly rembered, so she went into the guests room, took the trashcan out, and toppled it over in the corner of the yard. It was to burn the paper and separate the empty bottles to sell.
But Ham Seo-ju found a small brown bottle among the soju bottles. The small brown bottle had a sign that read .
Ham Seo-ju managed to read it.
Potassium cyanide?
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