“You know what? When you first see Surströmming, you might wonder why that kind of food exists, but once you try it, you’ll understand the exquisite taste,” the boy[1] said.
The elderly man[2] added, “Hmph. Why would I intervene? At my age, watching things like this is entertaining.”
“You’re harsh! That’s why people call you an old water flea!” the woman in glasses, who had been harassed by the Mohican thug, snapped at the elderly man.
The elderly man, however, flew into a rage. “What are you even doing? You’re now the Master Alchemist of the Alchemist Office Master, but you’re now here acting as if that street thug actually intimidates you! What kind of roleplaying is this?!”
This remark startled the Mohican thug even more. The woman, the Master Alchemist, pointed at the thug and protested her innocence.
“R-roleplaying?! Look at his face! He’s terrifying!”
“Please, you are the walking terror! Do you know how much your student complains to me whenever he gets the chance? ‘Teacher is too scary. When I go back, my teacher will scold me again. Professor McCalister, please tutor me just a little more…’ and so on.”
“What?” The Master Alchemist adjusted her glasses firmly with her thin fingers.
This brunch cafe, Cafe Planetarium, was made from the Great Library of All Life. The great library gathered fragments of many worlds under the name of apocalyptic books, so the cafe drew in the essence of many worlds from just beyond a thin sheet of paper.
Perhaps because of this, even though the ambiance of any place was usually decided by how people at that place behaved and what they said, the ambiance of Cafe Planetarium changed drastically every time there was a commotion.
When the Mohican thug was being loud, the cafe felt like a cheap bar. After the OJP Sect members showed up, it gained a bizarre edge for some reason. Yoo Soo-Ha’s yelling almost caused a conflict to break out, while the Master Alchemist’s simple gesture just now brought a winter night in the cafe.
“Ahaaaaaaa, so that is how it is. I see... How should I scold my rude student? I suppose I should head back first…”
Feeling a strong sense of duty, the Master Alchemist stepped outside the cafe. The boy stared at the elderly man.
“What?” the elderly man asked.
“Don’t you feel sorry for Miss Chemist’s student?”
“No one told him to become her student. That’s his fault.”
The boy nodded. “You know what? I’m starting to like your character[3]…”
The elderly man snorted. Meanwhile, the Mohican Hunter slipped away, almost crawling on the floor.
Yoo Soo-Ha, who had watched it all, held his forehead with his palms. “All of you are nuts…”
The OJP Sect members, dispirited, looked at Yoo Soo-Ha, feeling as if they were walking on eggshells around him. That only poured oil on his anger since they were still his seniors.
Yoo Soo-Ha pounded his chest in frustration. “Ah, seriously. Gong-Ja, you bastard! Do you see this? Do you?! This is the world you created!”
“It doesn’t seem like a bad world…”
“Senior, please shut it before I do it for you. You have three seconds. One, two, three…”
Haruto closed his mouth.
Seeing this, Yoo Soo-Ha’s anger rose again. He took a deep breath before exhaling. “I shouldn’t have let him go when he suddenly started dancing the hopak… I should have made him dance more and put him in a dark space where no one can see him so he can dance there alone forever…”
[The Void-Dancing God expresses serious concern and mild regret.]
Yoo Soo-Ha couldn’t hear the Tower’s words. He pulled his hood down, walked to the elderly man, and said, “Hey, old man… Pack me some food."
“What kind?”
“Ah, the usual. You know what the other old man in my sect likes. What was it? Risotto? Yeah, that one.”
“You really show no respect to your elders… You’re just like me when I was young. Ugh.”
The elderly man took the order and skillfully lit the stove. Then he took out some water bottles, which was way better than Avian, and began to cook.
Watching this, Yoo Soo-Ha turned back to his seniors. “Hey, what are you guys doing? Hurry and get ready to go up. Lunch break is almost over, you know?”
“But we haven’t even finished eating yet...”
“Then eat while you walk! Act like seniors for once!”
“But…”
Despite their flustered looks, they were still the Righteous Path’s elites. They held their bowls and chopsticks and finished their meal without difficulty.
Yoo Soo-Ha glanced back at the elderly man. “And… you know, my sect’s old man wants you to take a break and come visit sometime. Bring Sword Star, too.”
“Why?”
“Why do you think? I guess he misses you guys because you’re all old. Why don’t you go play Go with him or something?”
“That Buwolseon…”
Though he complained, the elderly man finished cooking with a somewhat satisfied look. Yoo Soo-Ha took the packed food and turned to his seniors.
“Let’s go.”
The OJP Sect members laughed softly as they gathered their bowls and chopsticks.
“Right, Junior.”
“Let’s return to our castle.”
“To the peak of the Righteous Path, the OJP Martial Alliance—”
Yoo Soo-Ha sighed. “Kim Gong-Ja, if you’re really a god, please realize your grave sin by now...”
From somewhere, the Tower’s voice rang out again.
[One of the Nine Keys has been forged.]
[All the apostles you recruited have offered you their heartfelt prayers.]
[The ninety-second floor has been cleared!]
Once again, Yoo Soo-Ha couldn’t hear the Tower’s announcements. He just uttered curses and complaints before leading his seniors out of the cafe. Behind them, someone who heard the Tower’s voice followed.
[Entering the ninety-third floor.]
✦ ✦ ✦
1. Hamustra. ☜
2. The Medicine King. ☜
3. Hamustra is saying that he likes the Medicine King’s personality while also seeing him as if he’s a fictional character in a story. ☜
✦ ✦ ✦
Translator's Thoughts