Chapter 46 : Adventure Level 35 (1)

The food was delicious.
It seemed the kimchi jjigae came from a proper restaurant.
As expected, food cooked by others tastes best.
Do Yugeon also ate heartily, but his mood remained downcast.
He seemed upset about being kicked out right before the business took off, just because he was a minor.
Thanks to that, I felt like I was sitting on pins and needles during the meal, but the food was still delicious.
I’m seriously worried about my own conscience.
I had to offer some words of comfort, so I made a vague attempt.
But I couldn’t manage any decent words before heading home.
It was because I had no idea how to console him.
I mean, he was let go according to the law because he’s a minor—what kind of comfort can you offer in that situation?
“You’ll grow up soon, don’t worry”? Like that? What is that, a curse?

I paced around the room, sighed, and gave up thinking about it.
Might as well do what I need to do.
“Login.”
I was worried about Do Yugeon, but that’s that. Thanks to him not logging in, I had the chance to look around first, and I got his permission, so let’s log in.
I wonder how much has changed with the open beta.
I felt the unpleasant sensation of spatial transition, and my vision changed.
Looking around, it was the Preparation Room, as always.
Various weapons sat in the corner, the hunting ground door was straight ahead, and on one side was the Gacha machine.
The Gacha machine was extravagantly decorated, advertising an open commemorative discount event, but ignoring that, not much had changed significantly.
The multiple doors had been reduced to one, and the overall design had minor refinements, but for a transition from closed to open beta, there didn’t seem to be any major changes.
Just in case, I turned around and saw a door whose purpose I didn’t know.
What’s this again?

“Schrödinger, come out.”
I called Schrödinger and waited a moment, but the white cat was nowhere to be seen.
He hasn’t been showing up when called lately—what’s he doing?
Thanks to that, my plan to interrogate him about why Yu Mina became a magical girl still hasn’t been carried out.
He’s around when unneeded but absent when needed. Useless.
Imagining what’s beyond the door, things like lava bursting out or being sucked into outer space came to mind.
But that’s just imagination, and as Do Yugeon said, nothing like that has happened so far, so there’s probably no need to be wary of every little thing like this.
It lowers productivity.
Honestly, if I open this door, won’t it just lead to game-like places like an auction house, training ground, or something similar?
Seems plausible.
This door’s design is very different from the one leading to the hunting ground.
Should I say it looks like more care was put into it? Hmm…

Putting aside pointless worries, I opened the door and went inside.
The first thing I saw was a dragon, curled up and sleeping.
It was large, but not large enough to dominate this entire massive cavern.
I strongly felt that waking it would be a bad idea.
There was also a small lake in front of the dragon, but calling it a lake felt strange since it was a red puddle.
A change appeared on the ceiling, and shifting my gaze, I saw letters.
[Auditor 109’s connection confirmed. Please proceed with the audit.]
Uh… What is this place?
I think I came to the wrong place.
I feel like the cat in the proverb “curiosity killed the cat.”

–Hello, Master! Shall I explain?
Lowering my head, Schrödinger was there.
I don’t know when he arrived. He didn’t show up when I called earlier.
“No.”
–I thought you’d say that!
His voice was bright.
I don’t know what this place is for, but I need to go back.
Turning around to leave, there was no door or passage at all.
What, this is seriously baffling.
“How do I get—”
A magic circle formed over the red puddle-lake thing, and a person burst out from it.
It was a scene that gave me déjà vu, making me wonder if it was a magical girl, but the transported person fell straight into the lake.
Bubbles rose to the surface of the lake for a moment, then disappeared.
I really came to the wrong place.

–Shall I explain?
“No.”
–How to get out?
“That you should explain.”
–Simple. Logout!
What, that’s it? Easy.
I thought I’d have to do some kind of escape room challenge.
“I have a lot to ask, so follow me.”
–That?
Schrödinger pointed at the lake with his front paw.
Just then, a magic circle appeared, and this time a blood-covered person fell into the lake. Uh… um.
“No. Mostly why Yu Mina became a magical girl and whether I’m the only one with the door to enter here.”
–Then I’ll explain here. I’m busy right now.
“You didn’t show up when I called until now because you were busy?”
–Of course. Unlike you, Master, I am busy. It’s troublesome if you keep calling me for trivial matters.
“Yu Mina becoming a magical girl isn’t trivial. I asked before if there would be any harm to the people around me, and you said there wouldn’t be.”
–That part was unavoidable. There’s a limit to watching over Ms. Yu Mina every time she wanders around at night. I’m a really busy body, you know.
“So, making her use magic as a magical girl was safer?”
–Yes!

What is this nonsense?
“Magical girl duties are more dangerous.”
–I’ve taken separate measures for that part. Ms. Yu Mina’s fellow magical girl uses space-time magic. I secretly requested protection through a deal!
I waited for further explanation, but Schrödinger just stared silently.
In the silence, the sound of a person falling into the lake echoed.
“And?”
–What? Ah! My explanation was insufficient. That magical girl can turn back time by paying a price. Even if Ms. Yu Mina dies, it can be undone once.
What, that’s a scam.
“Seriously?”
–Yes!
If such magic exists, they’d be the god of capitalism.
“Not kidding?”
–Is my credibility that low?
I nodded.
–That’s harsh.

The sound of writing filled the air. Scratch scratch.
Today, I’m studying with Do Yugeon at the library.
Strictly speaking, only Do Yugeon is studying—I just picked up a random book and am spacing out.
Do Yugeon has been solving problems without any playfulness for a while now.
I kept watching to see how long he’d stay focused, and remarkably, he’s still only solving problems.
This is a good situation.
But why is he studying all of a sudden?
That evaluation seems too harsh, but moving on… Do Yugeon usually starts studying when exams approach.
It’s not that he doesn’t study at all, but he only studies properly when things get urgent.
But right now, vacation is just around the corner, and I heard there are no cram school exams for a while either, yet today he was the one who suggested studying at the library first.
Why is he acting like this? Was the shock that great?

Perhaps finally sensing my gaze, Do Yugeon looked up.
“What’s wrong?”
“What are you doing this vacation?”
“This vacation…”
He tapped his pen a few times, then continued.
“Catching up on studying?”
No, why?
“Why?”
“What do you mean, why?”
“No, why studying? It’s vacation.”
“Studying is good.”
“It’s good, but still, you should rest during vacation. What if you get burnout?”
Do Yugeon chuckled.
“That’s needless worry.”
No, it’s not.
This is a proper worry.
The kid has lost his mind.
It seems necessary to help him change his mood.

Yu Mina practically crumpled onto the desk and took a picture of her coffee cup.
Checking the photo, she smiled contentedly.
“Perfect! This is new and fantastic!”
“Making trouble for yourself.”
What satisfaction is there in posting things like that on social media?
I lifted the espresso, blew on it—hoo hoo—then carefully took a sip.
“How is it? Doesn’t the coffee taste good?”
Yu Mina asked with eyes full of expectation.
Even if she looks at me like that, there’s nothing I can tell her.
I took another sip of coffee and savored the taste. Hmm.
“Not really…?”
“What part doesn’t suit you?”
“If I had to pick a point, the coffee lacks milk.”
“Of course! This is espresso!”
“That’s what I mean. Why is it espresso?”
“Talk about the coffee taste, not the type of coffee. The beans here are from the latest trending brand!”

Yu Mina pointed around the café.
Everywhere she pointed, there were common character stickers or merchandise. According to Mina, it wasn’t the café’s character but the character of the brand selling the beans.
“It is interesting. Even though it’s not a franchise, they’re occupying the space with their brand.”
“That’s not it!”
“Still, I don’t know coffee taste, so what kind of evaluation do you expect?”
“How can you drink coffee all the time and not know the taste? That’s a lie. I know everything.”
I sighed.
“You caught me. Fine, I’ll evaluate it properly.”
“What, was it really a lie?”

I savored the coffee’s aroma, then took a sip with a serious expression.
“Hmm. This coffee tastes good, but it lacks one thing to survive in the market of ever-improving bean quality.”
“What is it?”
“It lacks milk. Why is this espresso? Where’s the cappuccino?”
Yu Mina deflated with a psssh sound and drank her coffee.
“Our lady needs to learn to enjoy coffee.”
“I’m already addicted to caffeine.”
“That’s not what I meant…”
We chatted idly for a while.
Then, at some point, Yu Mina casually threw out a question.
“So why did we meet today?”
“Anyone listening would think we only meet when there’s business.”
“Not me, but you do, my lady.”
“What kind of person am I in your mind for you to judge me like this?”
“To put it nicely, you’re a strange young lady.”
“That’s putting it nicely? Okay, whatever. It’s possible. It’s a good evaluation. I have a concern lately.”
“See? I was right.”
“Yes, you’re right. Anyway, the concern is that Do Yugeon seems down.”

Yu Mina thought for a moment.
“Didn’t seem particularly so to me?”
“Visually, yes. But because he looks okay visually, he seems down.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means he looks okay but isn’t okay. He suddenly started studying.”
“Isn’t that good then?”
“It’s because it’s sudden. Good actions should stem from good motives—what if it’s resignation?”
“Really, our lady is stubborn about the strangest things.”
“So, I think it would be good to help him change his mood, but is there any way?”
Yu Mina clapped her hands.
“Simple! Go hang out together!”
“I don’t like hanging out.”

Wandering around is tiring, and if it’s a place worth going to, it’ll be crowded with people, making it doubly tiring.
“Suggest something fresh, not something common.”
“Then declare in front of Do Yugeon that you’re going to try dating. That’ll definitely change his mood.”
“Taking risky moves.”
Yu Mina drank her coffee, puffing out her cheeks.
“My lady. I’m not a magic lamp. What answer do you want?”
Actually, I have something in mind.
“I dislike going out, but a place I go often might be okay.”
“Where do you go often?”
“There’s a villa my parents drag me to during vacation. No people, secluded, good for resting. Home is better, but that place isn’t bad either, if I have to choose.”
“Ah, there? Nice. Why were you 고민 (gomin—worrying) when you have a place like that?”
“Well, it’s an island.”
“What’s wrong with that? Don’t tell me—”

Yu Mina leaned closer and laughed under her breath.
“Not that. It’s my island. How do I bring this up?”
“Wow… An unimaginable reason. Uh… Can’t you just ask him to come along? He’d probably adapt easily to this kind of situation? How many years have you been childhood friends?”
“No. That’s a bit…”
“Why are you hesitating over something like this?”
“I need a refined excuse to say it.”
“An excuse? Rather than an excuse, how about a situation where you don’t need one at all?”
“How so?”
“You need a reason to invite someone to join when you have no plans, but if you’re inviting them to an already planned trip, you don’t necessarily need a reason. Just say you were preparing to go with a friend, and suggest Do Yugeon come along too this time. Then what reason is needed?”

Wow, is this the advice of someone with many friends who travels a lot?
“I don’t have friends.”
Not helpful.
“What is our lady saying? I’m right here. It’ll be nice to see the island this time.”
“Okay.”
Yu Mina was taken aback.
“Wait, that answer was too fast. This feels like I was led into it.”
“Now that you’ve noticed, isn’t it better to just go along quietly?”
“Your appearance is refined, but your intentions aren’t elegant at all.”
“Was it ever different? Bring anyone along when you come.”
“Anyone?”
“Someone who won’t spoil my mood.”
“The conditions are too strict…”