NOVEL NEXT Chapter 21
021 – Aim for the Scorpion CD-ROM #1
The school volunteer activity “Picking Up Trash” has ended.
Not long ago, I lived in a junkyard, so picking up the random junk lying on the ground was no big deal for me.
Now, it’s already 5 PM, and it’s about time to head home.
I’ve been worried about Seoga-eul, who has been left next door. Even though she was tightly bound with chains, I was concerned that her extraordinary strength as an Awakened might have allowed her to escape.
To be honest, I was rather anxious and couldn’t focus on my tasks.
What if I installed a “home cam”? You know, like those cameras single women set up in their apartments to keep an eye on their dogs when they go out to work?
If I put one in Seoga-eul’s basement and checked in on her with my phone, I’d have a real-time surveillance system in place.
I’m genius! The smartest drop-out in the world!
“What are you thinking so deeply about?”
Thud.
Just then, someone tapped my shoulder.
Turning around, I saw Yu Yeoreum, holding a cold drink in each hand, offering me one.
Hiss—.
A refreshing soda after work. It reminded me of the lengths I went to in the ruined world just to drink this cola.
I felt like crying. No, I was already shedding tears!
Drip, drip—!
“…Is it that delicious? You’re a bit weird. Was Seoga-eul’s absence from school really that shocking to you? Or are you just always a bit odd?”
Yu Yeoreum looked concerned as she examined my state.
At that moment, a chill ran down my spine.
I wasn’t sure why Seoga-eul was classified as “sick leave” instead of “missing,” but I had no idea how long this “sick leave” could last.
Eventually, they would have to start a missing persons investigation on Seoga-eul. If I were acting suspiciously by then, I’d be caught red-handed.
Damn!
I was angry. That meant I had to keep coming to this ridiculous high school, right? What if I suddenly quit or started skipping classes after Seoga-eul went missing?
I would draw suspicion like a magnet.
Thus, I needed to maintain a semblance of a peaceful life on the surface.
While I was thinking this, Yu Yeoreum crumpled her can and casually tossed it into a nearby trash can before pointing toward some kids in the distance.
“It looks like your friends are waiting for you. I guess I’ll head out first.”
Thud.
Yu Yeoreum hopped away lightly like a feather.
In her place, Geum Tae-seong, Choi Chang-sik, Baek-Yeoul, and O Deok-soon rushed over to me.
“Nam Jina, why aren’t you checking the roll call? We’re planning strategies for the group project at Chang-sik’s house tomorrow. What do you say? You’re the group leader.”
Hearing Geum Tae-seong’s question, I recalled what we learned in class today. I think the captain said, “We have group practice again tomorrow, so prepare well.”
“Are we going to Chang-sik’s house today?”
“That’s right! My friend! You absolutely must come over!”
Of all days, why today! I need to go home to check on Seoga-eul, and here Chang-sik is inviting me over.
I could easily refuse, but with everyone’s eyes on me, the atmosphere didn’t feel right for that.
“Let’s go! Let’s go!”
# # #
It wasn’t quite my neighborhood, but Chang-sik’s house was located in a rather rundown area as well. The difference was that it had the smell of people living there.
It felt like a cozy slum.
There were many cat mom feeding bowls and a lot of cats, which I particularly liked. The people in this neighborhood wouldn’t go hungry.
“Here’s our house,”
“Supreme Resources.”
Chang-sik’s house was, to put it simply, a junkyard. Various types of waste like paper and glass bottles were piled up in a fairly spacious yard, all organized, and everyone seemed busy with their mouths agape in admiration.
“…It might feel a bit messy, though….”
Chang-sik’s face turned red as if he was embarrassed by his home.
While scratching his nose and observing everyone’s expressions, I was honestly quite impressed.
“This is a treasure trove!”
He had collected so many recyclables. The quality was so good that it felt wrong to call them junk.
“Chang-sik, did you collect all of this?”
“No, most of it was collected by my father….”
“Your dad has a real knack for spotting valuable things.”
“Is that so? Honestly, it’s the first time I’ve heard that. Because…I mean, it’s a junkyard. It’s not easy to say it out loud. But…”
Swish.
Chang-sik looked at me.
“My friend, seeing you makes me think I’m not doing too badly. I guess you could say I feel braver. Anyway, come on in. It might be even more chaotic inside!”
Creak—
As the side door swung open and I stepped inside, a rather spacious house filled with countless items came into view. Most of them were—
“Bottle caps!”
More precisely, they were crown caps.
You know, like the caps on beer bottles.
They were stacked up like treasures, and I was so happy I felt like I might bubble over.
So many bottle caps? With this many, I could probably strut around like a rich person even in the ruined world! Even Jack Sparrow, discovering a chest of gold, wouldn’t be happier than I was right now!
“Chang-sik! What’s all this!”
“Collecting bottle caps is my dad’s hobby. Every drawer in our house is filled with them. Honestly, I hated that about him. I didn’t like bottle caps.”
Swish.
Chang-sik picked up a bottle cap that was lying around the house.
Then he blew a breeze and turned it into a chocolate coin of similar size.
“There have been many times I’ve been mocked for having a house full of this junk. So I thought, what if these bottle caps were real money instead? If only they were something else—.”
“Is that your awakening motivation?”
When Geum Tae-seong commented on Chang-sik’s fascination with bottle caps, Chang-sik nodded.
With a strong desire that all the bottle caps filling his home could be something else, Chang-sik acquired the concept of “Transformation” and became a candy person capable of creating infinite candy.
He can even make chocolate from bottle caps!
In terms of sheer significance, he could be considered the next most important Awakened after Seoga-eul!
“Chang-sik, let’s stay close from now on. Don’t forget me when you succeed later.”
“…I won’t forget you or the tiger pants. By the way, there’s also a mini car track here! Your mini car that you gifted me is here—”
“Chang-sik, do you happen to have CCTV or a home cam?”
“Well, I think we might have a few in the camera section. Do you need one?”
“I have a feeling that the cat moms keep scattering cat food in our yard while I’m away, so I’d like some surveillance. If possible, also hand me a fly swatter to chase the cats away.”
It was around the time evening was approaching.
As Chang-sik and I cooked ramen, he seemed curious about something.
“My friend, you have two concepts, right?”
“That’s correct.”
“Honestly, acquiring even one concept isn’t easy. I was wondering how you ended up with both ‘Leap’ and ‘Emotion.’ If it’s not too much trouble, could you share that with me?”
“Me?”
It was difficult to explain ‘Emotion’ since I received that from Seoga-eul, but ‘Leap’ was simple enough to explain.
In fact, it wasn’t anything incredible to boast about.
“About two years ago, a large shopping mall caught fire.”
“Are you talking about that N Mart incident with the deranged Awakened arsonist?”
“Right. I was on the first floor at the time, and my mom and dad were on the fourth floor. Because of the raging flames, both the elevator and stairs were completely cut off, and there was no way to go up or down.”
That’s where my explanation ended.
Chang-sik’s expressions turned multifaceted as if he were deep in thought, before quickly turning somber, placing a hand on my back.
“My friend, I’m truly sorry about your parents. If I had known that would lead to this kind of story, I wouldn’t have asked.”
“It’s okay. It’s been a long time, so I’m fine with it now. More importantly, don’t you think we need to add some ssamjang and ketchup to the ramen?”
“No, even so, that’s just too much….”
We enjoyed our delicious dinner together.
However, Baek-Yeoul seemed a bit dissatisfied.
“Today, there’s something a bit lacking in the taste of the ramen.”
See, I told you we were short on ssamjang and ketchup.
Before I knew it, late afternoon had arrived. In the end, we didn’t discuss any strategies for tomorrow’s group project due to all the chatter.
“Well, since I’m going in the same direction as Deok-hee, I’ll head out first.”
“…….”
As Geum Tae-seong disappeared in the same direction as the unusually quiet and shy girl, Deok-soon, Baek-Yeoul said to me,
“Don’t you think those two are acting suspiciously?”
“You’re the most suspicious one here. Who colors their hair pink?”
“I’m not joking! I think Deok-hee likes Tae-seong. Should we cheer them on or help them somehow?”
Students our age had this tendency to associate any interaction between boys and girls as romantic relationships. Maybe because of the pink hair, Baek-Yeoul seemed filled with only pink-colored air in his head.
“Hey, Baek-Yeoul, why don’t you help me and Seoga-eul out?”
“…….”
Crinkle—.
Baek-Yeoul frowned.
It looks like his ‘fall allergy’ is going to last a while.
“I’m going too!”
Baek-Yeoul, looking increasingly displeased, eventually disappeared around the distant corner.
Now, I was the only one left.
I waited until I felt everyone’s presence fade away, then dashed home as fast as I could. To be precise, I arrived at the basement next door.
# # #
Click, creak—. Tap—.
Opening the basement door and switching on the light bulb, I saw Seoga-eul lying quietly in the dark basement.
She didn’t escape!
That relief flooded me, and simultaneously, an odd sense of joy filled my chest.
It felt like the world was just me secretly raising a Pokémon? I don’t know, this feeling was hard to explain since I had never experienced it before.
In any case, the mere fact that I returned home to find Seoga-eul there excited me.
“We really do look like a newlywed couple, don’t we?”
“…….”
Of course, Seoga-eul said not a word as she glared at me with a terrifying gaze.
“You didn’t even drink any water, huh?”
Seoga-eul hadn’t even touched the water bottle I left behind.
Her throat must have been really dry. She must be hungry too.
Awakened individuals consume more calories than ordinary people due to their active metabolism, so skipping meals is quite torturous for them.
Still, she didn’t drink even a drop of water; how stubborn could she be?
This isn’t good. I have a duty to keep Seoga-eul in good health.
Before that, I should install the home cam I salvaged from Chang-sik’s house first—.
Clatter clatter.
As I set up the camera on the ceiling, Seoga-eul, who had been silent until now, suddenly yelled like an angry fox.
“If you install that, I’ll bite my tongue and die.”
“What?”
“If you install the camera, I’ll die.”
That didn’t seem like a mere threat.
She really seems the type to go through with it.
If Seoga-eul were to die, my “squishy” would vanish too. So I really had to regretfully withdraw from installing the camera.
What a bummer! Am I going to have to be anxious about whether Seoga-eul ran away or not from now on?
“Is my body the purpose?”
“What?”
“I’ve been thinking a lot today about why you locked me up. In the end, my body is your goal, right? All men are like that. So how about you hurry up and do what you want and let me go?”
Seoga-eul subtly pulled the blanket I had covered her with and revealed her fair skin. Despite having rolled around in dust all day, her thighs were still like pure white jade.
It felt good.
Finally, Seoga-eul seemed to be considering cooperating with me!
“Gaeul, let’s start with some push-ups. We can kick things off with 100 reps for the first set—.”
“…What? You said I could do whatever I wanted, right? Since my body is your goal!”
“Just as you said. My goal is to train your ‘body’ and make you strong. I know how tremendous potential you possess. So you shouldn’t treat your body cheaply like that.”
“…Huh? What? Cheap?”
I remembered a scene from the movie “Perfect Tutor.” If you fall for a desperate woman’s first seduction, it leads to utter catastrophe.
Knowing this, Seoga-eul’s allure was so powerful that even I, the smartest and most clever drop-out, almost wavered for a moment.
In that sense, I picked up the fly swatter I had grabbed from Chang-sik’s house.
“…What are you going to do with that?”
“Seoga-eul, you need to value your body more. Just know that every time you try to use these absurd temptations, you’ll end up like this! The stick of love!”
I swung the fly swatter and struck Seoga-eul’s white thigh!
Smack!
“AAAH! You crazy bastard!”