The class continued throughout the day. Kwang invited him to play dodgeball during lunchtime, but Jung demurred. He has other plans.

When he was preparing breakfast that morning, he found out that the gas in their stove is gone again. The lower temperature this season made them use up the tank rather quickly. So Jung resolved to find a way to help out, just as usual.

He also couldn’t do anything after school since he still has gym training in Gungho. Besides, he received a new quest from the system.

Quest:

You promise your mother to do the extra laundry today. Try to return home as early as possible so you can do the chore or else your mother will do it for you.

Come back home before 6:30 PM this evening, local time. You get additional XP points for every 30 minutes you arrived earlier.

Reward for success: XP points, random (conditional)

Penalty for failure: lose 1 level in one random skill

So during lunch, while the rest of the kids took their break by eating and playing on the school grounds, Jung looked around for any witnesses and then secretly climbed the school walls to reach outside. Next to the school is the town administrative building, and Jung knows of a particular low-hanging citrus tree that is in full bloom this season. Jung had marked almost every fruit-bearing tree in and around the town, and he has a general idea of when they are in season. This citrus tree is ripe for picking. Jung silently whistled as he surreptitiously look around, then jumped on a nearby trashcan and somersaulted to the inner wall of the government building. The building is almost deserted in the afternoon and the only guard is an old dog, and Jung had long since befriended the old mutt. Even so, the dog lifted his head when he smelled Jung.

Bad pup. This my territory, the dog projected. Using his skill, “Animal whisperer” Jung could sort of understand what the old dog is saying but he didn’t have the same connection as Bongcha.

Jung smiled. He kept his hands to his side as he slowly approach the old dog.

When Jung scaled the wall partition, the dog scarcely moved from his place on the front porch and simply lazily wagged his tail when Jung approached him.

Your territory. Just passing by. I have a treat for you. Jung projected back and offered a small pile of chicken bones he grabbed from the cafeteria. Jung left it to one side of the stairs the dog is laying down in. The dog sniffed it for a moment and knew he liked what he smelled. But then he stared back at Jung.

What you want?

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Oooh. Your fur is so thick. May I pet you? Jung asked.

The old dog huffed. He was no fool. Its been years since he was wash by anyone and he knew his fur were dirty. But it was a long time since a human pet him. He remembered when he was a pup, he had a master and for the life of him, he cant remember his face. He was there one day, and then gone the other. He miss his master rubbing the back of his ears and …

Oh! Right there! Yeeeaah, that’s the spot.

Jung smiled and rubbed the old dog’s back. He straightened his fur as best he could but what the dog really wanted was the kneading massage he gave him at the muscles of his back. The dog didn’t know it yet but he has arthritis. His back hurt if he moves a certain way and because his simple mind thought that he just like to lay down more often than before. Jung’s massage made his muscles in certain area relax in ways it hasn’t able to do so for years.

Congratulations!

you have upgraded your general skill "Massage" to level 3.

Requirements: Body 1 (already met)

Current level: 3

Needed skill points to upgrade to the next level: 1

Remaining Skill Points: 0

Jung smiled at the groan of satisfaction coming from the dog and he was slightly disappointed when the dog fell asleep after only a few more minutes of massage. Jung sighed and patted the snoring dog’s head. "Sleep well, old one."

Jung already prepared a few plastic bags he grabbed from the canteen cafeteria just for this occasion, and he carefully picked the chosen tree clean. He returned back to his school and offered the bag to his schoolmates at a significantly reduced price.

It didn't take long for the kids to buy all the fruits. Kwang alone grabbed half of them. At the end of the day, Jung Hee saved just over 25,000 won or the equivalent of just over 10 US dollars.

He smiled to himself. At least he can contribute a little money to his parents when they replaced the gas kerosene in the stove this week.

Then the day is over, and Jung patted Kwang and his other friends goodbye. He'd hope to escort Eun mei back home, but her own friends surrounded her that day and Jung can only look at her longingly.

Kwang was looking at him sagely. "Man, you fell for that girl real hard," he said.

Jung can only sigh. "I can't help it, buddy," Jung turned and slapped his friend at the back before walking away. "That's just how it is."

Kwang watched his friend walk away. Again Kwang wondered a millionth time if he is doing the right thing hiding the rumors about the girl to Jung. He just doesn't want to upset his friend.

But he just knew the girl was bad news. The only thing good about the entire affair is that the cosmic universe seems to be working its miracle by not letting the two get together.

He sighed. "Well, its none of my business," he said to himself., then left the school ground the other way.

***

By quarter to 5:15, Jung finish cleaning the Gungho gym and coach Dongyun released him.

Jung hee began jogging once he was out of sight of the town. He now has level 9 in "Running," which was just enough for him to sprint for 12 minutes straight before slowing down, and by then, he is only several miles away from home. But Jung decided to pause every now and then to take in the scenery.

In exactly 21 minutes, he stepped on the welcome mat of their humble home. And in that precise moment, a new pop-up appeared right in front of him.

Congratulations!

You successfully finished your mission to arrive back home before 6:30 PM. It is now 5:36 PM, and you accumulated a total of 823 XP, including your bonus for arriving more than 30 minutes early.

You’ve earned 823 XP points

You’ve earned 1 skill point.

Congratulations! You leveled up!

Current level: 10

-You received 5 Skill Points (SP)

-You received 1 Attribute Point (AP)

-You received 1 Perk.

Current XP: 76,132

Total XP needed for the next level up: 95,165

Jung opened the door of his house and he could not stop grinning. “I’m home!” he said.