75 - Murim Login

Episode 75 It's amusing that the way to distinguish between the modern world and the martial arts world boils down to scent and temperature. The smell of sweat inside the VR helmet. The warmth of the capsule moderately heated by the sunlight filtering through the window. "Phew." I felt a sense of relief as I took off the helmet and emerged from the capsule. Even though it was just a mild change from a hot bath to a warm bath. 'How much time has passed?' I checked the watch on my wrist. A twelve-thousand won cheap digital watch I'd bought at a stall in front of the Hunter training center about seven years ago, boasting functions like an alarm and stopwatch. Beep. [02:05:35.] Two hours, 5 minutes, and 35 seconds. Considering I had stayed about 20 days in the martial arts world, it roughly matched the time ratio from last time. 'Now that I'm back in the modern world, the time ratio must have reversed.' Having logged out, ten days in the modern world equate to one hour in the martial arts world. After washing up in the communal shower of the rooming house, I returned to my room. As I was about to close the door, a dark shadow suddenly sprang up. "Whoa!" Right. I figured it would be this guy, Seong Jin-ho. "Hey. Gu. You. Surprised. Me." "...Why are you reacting like that? Did you know?" "Your breathing was quite intense. Jin-ho, seemed like you were excited." My senses have sharpened to the point where I don't need [Ki Sense] to detect sounds and movements around me. Though he seemed to have waited silently, I could hear each of his small movements and breaths as if they were thunder. "Could you breathe more quietly? It's problematic if the complaints start pouring in due to the loud breathing of the rooming house manager." "Damn. How did you know? Aren't you an F-rank Hunter… Oh, you ranked up to C recently, right." "Look at you, always finding chances to mock the F-rank." "Hey, wait till you're my age. I can't even remember what side dishes I had yesterday, let alone something from just a week ago." "A week?" Is that all it was? What to me felt like well over a month was merely last week for Jin-ho hyung. A subtle sense of alienation washed over me. "Why the face? Is there a problem?" "It's nothing. So, what brings you here?" "Listen to this kid's tone. Do we need a reason to meet just because we're business partners now, huh?" "Just get to the point. Quickly." Jin-ho's face stiffened. Did I go too far pretending to be angry? Thinking back, it seems I've been neglectful lately. Before returning to the martial arts world, there were many issues, and we couldn’t see each other often... "Dinner. Treat me." "Pork belly. Iron plate grill. Fried chicken and beer." Oh, sure enough. Even amidst all this, he chooses the menu himself. "Did I leave money with you?" "Your money is my money and my money is my money, right?" "Enunciate clearly if you don't want a taste of a C-rank Hunter's fist." Jin-ho hyung flinched and rubbed his palms together. "Please, with your finances, ease the hunger in my empty stomach." Look at him change gears fast. Even Udyr would weep. Though it was absurd, I chuckled. My stomach, which hadn't had decent food for almost a month, was screaming. 'Let's have a good meal for a change.' I spoke in a solemn tone. "Your attitude pleases me. Lead the way." "Where shall we go?" "I'm tired of pork belly and iron plate grills. Let's have something more expensive today." "Sir, if that's so!" Jin-ho's eyes widened. "Korean beef! The one raised free-range with exquisite marbling?" "What nonsense. We're going for intestines." "Refuse, and you can starve." Tap. Seizing my shoulder with a resolute face, Jin-ho said, "I've always dreamed of dining like that." That early dinner, starting from five in the afternoon, ended at a third round of a makgeolli house, with Jin-ho dead drunk. "Kuwooo." This scene feels oddly familiar. While experiencing peculiar deja vu as I carried the sloshed Jin-ho hyung, my phone rang. [Same time tomorrow. Same place.] A short message. The sender was Chief Choi. The downside and upside of Sleep Mode is that it reduces sleep time. Apart from when I sustained major injuries from battles like the one with Cho Pil, I never slept more than three hours. 'Good for training though.' Three in the morning. I opened my eyes in optimal condition and sat cross-legged. Since when, the start and end of my day have always involved meditation and qi cultivation. Shwaaah. The flow of qi began. The 15 years of cultivated internal power surged from the dantian, purifying the impurities within my body and invigorating the dormant meridians. Ding. -I finished [Qi Cultivation]. -My power slightly increased. By the time I opened my eyes with the system alert, two hours had passed. If I were in the martial realm, I'd head straight to the training grounds to loosen up, but reality has many constraints. Especially in a rooming house, crammed like a chicken coop. 'Damn rooming house. I have to escape soon.' It's an era where even training requires money. The well-off can afford several spacious private training rooms, but those, like me, not so fortunate, must adapt to dire environments. "Hoo. Hop." I spent the entire morning running around the neighborhood, and upon returning, continued with basics: bodyweight exercises without rest. Thanks to my elevated stats, rather than feeling tired, I brimmed with energy. Watching me, Jin-ho asked with an exasperated expression, "You're not tired?" "Not really." "I've never seen anyone do one-handed push-ups so easily like you. How many so far?" "Dunno. I counted up to three hundred and then stopped because it got tedious." "You're a monster. Is that typical for a C-rank Hunter?" “But, Seong Jin-ho.” "Huh?" "Why are you here?" Even ten minutes after showing up in a dazed state, Jin-ho hyung remained in my room. "Isn't it obvious? I came to eat ramen." Tap, splash. He naturally cracked a raw egg over the noodles as they cooked. The way he controlled the burner to achieve half-cooked egg perfection was masterful. “Give me three reasons why you need to eat that here.” "First, I don't have a TV in my room. Second, there's a TV in yours. Third, ramen tastes best while watching TV.” Listen to the smooth flow of words, and my blood starts to boil. "Why don't you just buy one yourself! If you don't have money, just take it!" "Ah, that's a bit much. I'm planning to leave soon, what's the use in accumulating more stuff?" "Then don't keep bothering me by coming over... Wait, what did you just say?" "What?" "Oh, that." Jin-ho hyung scratched his groggy head. "It’s just how it happened. I haven’t set an exact date yet, but I'm planning to move out soon. I can't stay cooped up in this place forever." “Why are you looking at me like that?” "Oh, nothing." I awkwardly averted my gaze. People living in these rooming houses all have their stories, don’t they? Jin-ho hyung and I included. Asking for reasons would be impolite. ‘Still, it’s a bit bittersweet.’ This is someone I've lived with like a friend, like a brother, for years. To hear he’s suddenly leaving... Caught up in my complex emotions, I carefully opened my mouth. "Hyung, do you think maybe… “I know what you’re thinking, and I'll politely refuse.” Did he guess what I was about to say? Jin-ho hyung interrupted me sharply. “Kiddo, I’m thirty. I can take care of my own meals.” “Well, if that’s how it is, I guess there's nothing to be done.” I thought maybe we could live together, but my rash suggestion must have offended his pride. Hyung opened the pot lid with a slightly bruised expression. “You could have just said so from the start.” “It’s not like I was planning on it anyway.” “What nonsense. I only made one because you said you weren't eating.” "...?" Wait a second. How did the conversation take this turn? After a few moments of silence, I spoke up. "What are you talking about? Suddenly cooking what?" "Of course, ramen." Jin-ho hyung glared at me with a fierce gaze. “There are always those guys who claim they won't eat, but when you cook something tasty, they ask for a bite. Hasn't it happened a couple of times with you?” “And a C-rank Hunter snatching food from his poor hyung’s bowl? Can you really call yourself human?” So when he mentioned my food bowl earlier, he literally meant a food bowl. I'd like to throw those words right back at him. ‘Is this guy even human?’ I must be an idiot for even considering living with someone like this. Filled with self-reproach, I started getting dressed. It’s about time to meet Chief Choi. Bang! I slammed the door behind me and left, Jin-ho hyung’s parting cry echoing in my ears. - If you’re going to the mart, get some kimchi! Oh, I feel like killing him. ‘Where was the meeting place again?’ I retraced my memory from around 20 days ago and arrived at the agreed location. A large café located in the heart of a cluster of buildings. A handsome man sitting by the window spotted me and waved. "Over here." I didn’t need any words to know. Despite there being dozens of tables in the store, Choi was the only customer seated. ‘As handsome as ever.’ Chief Choi looked as if he’d stepped right out of a fashion magazine, dressed in a thin, casual suit. A successful life for someone in his twenties—looks, wealth, personality... well, not that one. Personality is terrible. We exchanged a light handshake and took our seats. “Have you eaten?” “No.” Chief Choi tilted his head slightly. “Really? But you seem to have had ramen.” Damn it, this guy has the nose of a bloodhound. It's too embarrassing to explain in detail the events at the rooming house. I quickly changed the subject. “It’s lunchtime, but there’s no one here.” “That’s because we’re not open.” “Excuse me?” “The glass windows are covered with curtains, and there's a closed sign on the door, so obviously, no one comes in.” Looking around, it indeed matched what Chief Choi said. Come to think of it, I realized I hadn’t noticed since I just assumed it would be open because it was our meeting location. The situation was so unusual I blinked in surprise. “But you’re open right now.” The lights are brightly lit inside, and the place is cool with the air conditioning. Why keep it closed when there are at least ten staff members visibly working? Chief Choi replied nonchalantly. “We have to be. We have a customer.” “But you said it’s closed?” “Well, that’s up to the owner’s discretion, isn’t it?” “Uh…Chief, just checking, but…” “No need to ask. This café is mine.” Yeah, I thought so. Come to think of it, the last time we met, it was just the two of us in the café too. ‘This guy’s wealth is endless.’ I clicked my tongue and said, “You seem to be loaded, Chief.” “I have just enough not to lack anything. That’s how I can offer contracts like these.” Chief Choi smoothly smiled and handed over a folder of documents. “Shall we discuss business now?” There’s no reason to hesitate anymore. I nodded energetically. “Sure.” An hour later, as I finished my final signature, the system alert chimed. Ding.