Kim Chae-Young checked her phone once again before looking up at the tall, multi-storeyed building. This was the address Bek Hyung-So lived at. Taking a breath, she stuffed her phone in the pocket of her coat and pushed open the glass door that led into the lobby. The security guard sitting at the desk quickly put down the magazine he was reading and straightened his hat.
“Where to, ma’am?”
“Which apartment is Bek Hyung-So living in?”
The guard frowned slightly.
“Apologies, ma’am, we have a policy to not let unknowns up to our tenants. Would you mind telling me who you are, and what business you have with tenant Bek Hyung-So?”
Chae-Young bit her lip, mildly irritated.
“His training overseer, here to check why he didn’t show up to the clinic today.” She said, rather tersely. The guard quickly looked down at his keyboard, clearly a bit embarrassed.
“Apartment 1107, 11th floor. The elevators are just past here.”
Chae-Young walked past the desk swiftly, and as she did, the guard added, in a soft voice.
“Apologies for the inconvenience, ma’am.”
The elevator made its way up the towering building, music being piped through the tinny speakers. Dr. Chae-Young tapped her foot impatiently, arms crossed, as she stared at the doors. She was quickly regretting ever bothering to check up on her student. She hated breaking out of the routine she had established for herself, as it almost always meant interacting with more people, something she liked to avoid at all costs. The elevator pinged and the doors opened, and she walked on through, letting her thoughts return to the back of her mind, as she focused on the work at hand. Turning to the right, she strode down the hallway, passing multiple doors.
“1104…1105..1106…”
She stopped at the door marked ‘1107’. Taking a moment, she pressed the bell, and a low, shrill bell responded from inside the apartment. After waiting for a minute, she pressed and held the bell for a bit longer than before, making the bell ring for longer than usual. Even as she held the button, she heard, in addition to the trilling of the bell, the sound of knocks and bangs, as if someone was struggling to get up. The knocks went on for a few moments, and were replaced by footsteps as someone stumbled to the doorway and struggled with the lock. A few agonising moments later, the door opened slowly.
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Bek’s deep sleep was shattered by the shrill sound of the doorbell ringing. He struggled to open his eyes, which felt like they were glued shut with sand. Looking around groggily, he found that he was still face down on his bed, where he had collapsed… some time ago. Looking around, he found the soft, digital glow of the alarm clock, and tried to focus on the numbers.
“Tuesday, November 12, 20XX” said the cold blue numbers.
Squinting harder, he managed to make out the time.
“18:47”
It was the evening of the next day, which meant that he had been asleep for the entire day. Before he could wrap his head around that revelation, the doorbell rang again, for longer this time. Bek struggled to get up on his feet, knocking over the alarm clock when he tried to grab the bedside table for support. Standing shakily, he stumbled over to the door, bumping into the dining table and chair. The door lock gave him some trouble, but he managed to undo it and pulled open the door.
As it opened, it revealed Dr. Chae-Young, standing with a somewhat annoyed expression, which quickly changed into one of concern as she took in Bek Hyung-So’s appearance. Bek hadn’t looked into the mirror, but he assumed he looked terrible, judging by how quickly her expression changed once she got a look at him. Almost immediately, Bek remembered what he had been forgetting.
“Dr. Chae-Young, I’m so sorry. I-”
She didn’t let him finish.
“Dear god, you look terrible. I was wondering why you didn’t come in today. Seems like I was right to check in on you.”
Dr. Chae-Young abandoned her previous plan of just checking in on Bek Hyung-So, and maybe chewing him out a bit for not showing up. He was obviously quite sick, so she decided to stick around for a bit and help him recover.
“Get in and lay down. I didn’t expect you to be in such bad shape. If you had just told me yesterday, I’d have given you more time to rest up and get well.”
“But ma’a- Dr. Chae-Young, I-” Bek was interrupted.
“You don’t need to make any excuses. Just go and lay down, and tell me where the kitchen is.”
“It’s just here, but I really must-” He was interrupted again.
“No buts, go lay down, now.”
Bek didn’t argue anymore, but lay down in bed after he showed Chae-Young the kitchen. As he lay down and listened to her work in the kitchen, he smiled faintly. His memories of Dr. Chae-Young were still a bit foggy, but she was obviously a very nice person, which she tried to hide under her stern demeanour.
In the kitchen, Chae-Young took out pots and pans, and checked the refrigerator to see what her sick student had. Pursing her lips together, she eventually decided to make some baesuk. As she put on the water to boil and began cutting up the pears, she wondered why she was helping out Bek Hyung-So. Sure, he was under her charge for the period of his training as a vet, but that was all. She had no obligation to look after him outside of the clinic, yet here she was. She sighed, finding no answer for her questions. Putting those thoughts aside, she focused on making the baesuk.
"Here, drink this." Chae-Young handed Bek a cup of steaming baesuk.
"Thank you, Dr. Chae-Young."
As Bek sipped at the cup, Chae-Young sat down in a chair near the bed and looked at him, crossing her hands across her chest.
"Now," she said, "tell me what happened to you."
Bek stopped with the cup at his lips, as he tried to think of something to say, which wouldn't make him sound like a lunatic.
"I, uh, caught a bad cold, you see. I was feeling a bit better yesterday, but it came back in the evening after I left the clinic." Bek blurted out.
Chae-Young narrowed her eyes as she stared at him.
"And yet I saw absolutely no signs that you were sick yesterday. Even your story about a headache felt a bit weak, but I let it go since you are never tardy." She shook her head
"I don't think you have a cold, Hyung-So. Even now, I don't see any signs you have one."
Her face softened and she smiled.
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"You can tell me what's wrong, Hyung-So. I'll help you regardless."
Bek Hyung-So stayed silent. Chae-Young looked at him for a while and then sighed.
"Very well, Hyung-So, if you have nothing to say to me, then I'll take my leave. I hope to see you at the clinic tomorrow." She got up, picking up her coat and bag.
"Wait…" Bek spoke up. Chae-Young stopped and turned around to look at him. Bek gritted his teeth, debating whether to say anything or not. Finally, he decided against it.
"I'm feeling better now. Let me atleast walk you to your house."
Chae-Young looked at him for a few seconds, and then smiled.
"Alright, Bek Hyung-So. Come on."
They walked to the elevator and Chae-Young pressed the button. As they waited, Chae-Young spoke up again.
“You are not someone who hides things from people, nor are you involved in things which might compel you to hide them.”
Bek looked at Chae-Young.
“Whatever you are going through right now, if it’s something you can’t tell me, then I’ll respect it. But promise me one thing, Bek Hyung-So.” Chae-Young looked straight into Bek’s eyes.
“Promise me that you will stay out of trouble, and you’ll come to me for help if you are in trouble. You are under my charge for the next year or so, and I don’t want to see anything happen to you.”
Bek was taken aback. Chae-Young’s sudden compassion and offer of help had caught him off guard. He regained his composure and replied stutteringly.
“O-Of course, Dr. Chae-Young. I’ll try my best to stay safe. I can’t thank you enough for your help.”
Chae-Young smiled at him.
“No need to be so formal with me. I might be your overseer, but I’d rather you not treat me like a superior.”
“I’ll try, Dr. Chae-Young.”
The elevator pinged and opened, and they got in.
They chatted as they walked along the street towards Chae-Young’s apartment, which was within walking distance of Bek’s apartment. The streets were emptying, as the crowd getting off from work made their way into the city, and those who didn’t have any plans headed back home. As they walked, Chae-Young told him about the cases that had come into the clinic that day.
“We had an odd one today. This dog came and just stood in front of the doors. It looked rather unwell, so I had him carried in and examined, but couldn’t find anything wrong. He didn’t have a tag or a collar, so I kept him at the clinic for the night.”
“That is rather odd. I’ve never heard of a dog going to the vet on his own.” Bek said with a smirk.
They were crossing an alleyway when suddenly, they heard a voice call out.
“H-heyyy, girlie, where’s you going at such a time?”
Chae-Young and Bek turned towards the alley and saw three men, quite obviously drunk, stumbling towards them.
“They’re drunk, Dr. Chae-Young, ignore them.” Bek said. But Chae-Young ignored him.
“What do you care where I’m going?!” Chae-Young frowned and sized them up.
“N-Now now girlie, no need to get so fired up. We was just wonderin’ what such a pretty creature like you were up to. Y-you know it’s dangerous for you out here at night.” The man in the front slurred.
He came to a stop in front of them and raised his arm and put it on Chae-Young’s shoulder.
“W-we’d be more than happy to escort you to your home, missy. Noone would dare mess with the likes of us, would they, boys?” The other two men laughed and nodded.
Chae-Young slapped his hand away and stepped back, with a look of pure disgust on her face.
“I’m perfectly fine, now fuck off and leave me alone.”
The leader of the three men made a show of nursing his hand.
“O-oi missy, I think you broke my hand! It hurts like hell!”
“Y-yes you did, we both say it! How are you gonna pay back for this!” The guy on the left piped up.
“Yea, pay up missy. Of course, if you don’t have the money, you can pay us back in… other ways.” The man on the left said, eyeing Chae-Young’s body hungrily.
Without waiting for an answer, the two men lunged for Chae-Young. She stumbled back and raised her arms to fend them off, but they never managed to touch them.
Bek Hyung-So had been watching the whole time, and stepped in quickly in between Chae-Young and the two drunks, grabbing one’s hand and twisting it behind his back painfully until a loud crack was heard.
“AAHHH MOTHERFUCKER YOU BROKE MY HAND!” The man screamed deliriously.
Before the other man could react, Bek kicked him behind the knees, forcing him to the ground, and stepped on his outstretched hand, putting his full weight on it.
“AGGH. Let me go fucker!” The man struggled underneath Bek uselessly.
“Leave us alone and I will.” Bek said, with acid in his voice.
Suddenly, he stumbled forward, as the third man hit the back of his head with a stone. Bek put his hand to his head and it came away bloody. Turning around, he glared at the man, who was still holding the stone and preparing to have another go at him. Before he could charge, however, he suddenly dropped the stone, and collapsed. Behind him stood Chae-Young, her handbag, ready to strike down anyone else who came near her. She had a wild look in her eyes.
“Are you all right, Hyung-So?!” She cried out.
“Yeah, I’m all right. Come one, let’s get out of here.” Bek quickly went to Chae-Young’s side and they left the three men collapsed in the alleyway.
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry, Hyung-So. This is all because of me.” Chae-Young apologised to Bek hysterically, trying to hold back tears as they walked quickly.
“I shouldn’t have said anything and just walked away. Now because of me…” She looked at Bek, failing to stop the tears.
“Come to my apartment, Hyung-So. I’ll-I’ll patch up your head and give you something to drink.”
“It’s fine, Dr. Chae-Young. I’ll just-”
“NO. Please. Come with me. I’ll feel terrible if you don’t.” Bek saw that refusing her would make things even worse, so he relented.
At Chae-Young’s apartment, she made Bek sit in an armchair and fussed over him. Looking at his head closer, she sighed in relief.
“Thank god, it’s just a small cut. I’ll just disinfect it and bandage it up.”
While she went to fetch the alcohol and the bandages, Bek looked around her apartment.
It was similar to his, with a single bedroom, kitchen and a living room. However, it was rather sparsely decorated, with only the bare minimum of comfort. It somehow fitted Chae-Young’s character.
As he sat back in the chair, a sudden notification popped up in his mind.
“Ending combat. Experience earned: 27. Progress towards next level: 24.7%. Congratulations on your first victory, user!”
Bek stumbled to his feet. The notification disappeared from his mind as he did so, leaving him stupefied. So it was not just skills, but also the method of progression which had stayed with him. Sure, he didn’t have any status screens or whatever as Trobek Ur back in Greayknell, but the concept of getting stronger by fighting was the same. Only now, it was presented to him in a much more visual manner, whereas, back then, he just got a vague feeling of getting stronger. As he stood there musing about this new discovery, another thought came to him.
If he could see his own status, could he also see other people’s status as well? The thought revolved around his head and he mused on it.
“Hyung-So, are you feeling alright?” Chae-Young’s concerned voice broke his reverie.
“Y-Yeah, I’m alright.”
“You were just staring at the wall, so I feared you might have gotten a concussion from that wound. Are you certain you’re all right?”
“Yes, Dr. Chae-Young. I’m sure.”
Chae-Young still looked concerned, but she didn’t say anything else. Moving closer to Bek, she opened the bottle of alcohol and put some on a ball of cotton.
“Hold still, this will sting a bit.”
Bek winced as she disinfected the wound, gritting his teeth and trying to hold still. However, he suddenly got a thought as Chae-Young worked on him. Looking towards her, he muttered under his breath.
“Show Status?”
Almost immediately, another notification popped up in his mind.
“Cannot read Status of unknown individual. Please learn more about individual, or unlock skill [Scan] to gather full data.”
Bek clicked his tongue. It hadn’t worked, but it had given him some more info. He had to unlock a skill to read Status Info, which he could presumably unlock only by levelling up. Which meant that he now had to figure out how he could level up, without resorting to beating up people on the streets. Sighing, he stopped thinking, and let Chae-Young bandage his head. He had to get home and think.
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