Chapter 43

“Oppa, look at this.”

“Where did you bring that from again?”

I looked at the pitifully crying kitten held in Seolhwa’s hand.

Cute… No, not you, Seolhwa, why are you opening your mouth like that?

“Seolhwa?”

“Huh?”

“Why are you opening your mouth?”

“Ah—”

Seolhwa, as if realizing something, smiled bashfully, hiding teeth that resembled more of a beast’s fangs than a normal human’s.

…Even if she hasn’t fully awakened her abilities, her essence remains unchanged.

“Seolhwa, can you hand the kitten over to me for a bit?”

“Why—?”

“This little one has a mother and a home, so we should let it go.”

There’s a saying that cats shouldn’t get used to human hands.

But just for a little while should be fine.

“No—?”

“What do you mean no?”

Are you saying we can’t keep it, or we can’t eat it?

I sighed, watching the kitten squirm more violently and Seolhwa.

This is so chaotic.

“Here, hand it over. I’ll make a lot of meat dishes for you today—”

“Okay.”

I obediently took the kitten from her and went outside to release it.

The kitten ran far away, looked back at me from a distance, chirped, and disappeared into the alley.

Was that a thank you?

I’m not sure.

“…Is it time to seriously think about Seolhwa?”

But there’s hardly anyone around me who knows much about abilities.

And I can’t just tell her not to use her abilities.

Abilities in this world are something close to bodily functions, so not using them is almost impossible. Especially for someone like Seolhwa, whose abilities are almost automatic.

Devouring.

The potential of the ability itself varies depending on how much money is invested.

What you eat, how much you eat, and the state in which you eat all affect the growth rate.

She’s probably still eating meat, so her ability should be maintained.

However, it’s not as efficient as eating something alive, so it might take a long time to actually affect her body.

In a way, it’s an ability that’s too good at absorbing nutrients.

The problem is that it awakens her wild instincts.

“…Sigh.”

Is there any point in worrying like this?

I turned around and walked back into the office.

—————

“Boss, we’ve got a lot more capital now.”

“That last job was a big one.”

The bonus attached to the fee Speed sent was quite substantial.

Thanks to that, we’ve accumulated enough wealth to live comfortably for a month or two without working.

It didn’t seem like a bad idea to take it easy and accept requests for a while.

Lately, I’ve been taking on requests and going in and out of the Gray Forest quite intensely…

“Can we eat a lot of meat?”

“Meat is the same as usual. Just because we have money doesn’t mean we should waste it.”

Especially in this world, which is utterly insane, spending money recklessly could lead to worse outcomes than in pre-possession Korea.

There’s no basic pension or unemployment benefits here.

“So today…”

“I’m thinking of going to the hospital for a bit. With Seolhwa.”

“With Seolhwa?”

“With me?”

I looked back and forth at Seolhwa and Mina, who were staring at me with surprised faces. Is it really that surprising?

Actually, it’s strange that we haven’t gone to the hospital until now.

“Don’t, don’t sell me~! I don’t want to be chopped into pieces!”

“I won’t sell you.”

Why does the conversation go there?

I patted Seolhwa’s back, who was sniffling, and tried to calm her down.

After patting her back for a while, Mina cautiously approached me and spoke.

“You’re going to check if there’s anything wrong with Seolhwa’s body, right?”

“Right.”

“…What about me?”

Mina puffed her cheeks slightly, looking dissatisfied.

Ah, I want to poke her cheeks.

But she’d get mad.

It’s a bit much to tease a kid in the most sensitive period.

She wouldn’t get mad, though.

“Do you want to come too?”

“Yes. I want to come too. Boss.”

“Alright, alright. But don’t expect much. You’ll probably only get a light check-up.”

That doctor I saw at the market before.

I’m thinking of going to that old doctor who looks at least in his 50s.

…And while we’re at it, check out some rumors.

Mina picked up some rumors while wandering around the market and told me about them.

So, if the rumors are true, it wouldn’t be bad to take on a request, and we might even consider expanding our business.

Relying solely on requests from hunters’ families or colleagues isn’t very stable, so taking requests from the market could be a big help for future operations.

“So, everyone, finish your meals and get ready to go.”

“Yes, Boss.”

“Oppa, are we eating out?”

How much do you love eating out? I ruffled Seolhwa’s head, who was emphasizing eating out.

Taking my answer as a yes, Seolhwa laughed and accepted my rough petting.

“Yeah, yeah. Let’s eat out today. I’m too lazy to prepare a meal after we get back.”

“There’s a shop in the corner of the market that’s been really popular lately—”

“Really?”

Then we can have dinner there.

“Then I’ll go prepare with Seolhwa.”

I watched Seolhwa and Mina go to wash up and got up from my seat.

I’ve already washed, so I don’t need to wash again, but I might as well tidy up before we go.

I started cleaning up the office before they returned.

About 15 minutes later.

As I was finishing up the cleaning, the two returned to the office.

“Boss, we’re ready.”

“Oppa, did you clean?”

“Just a bit. Let’s go now that it’s done.”

We locked the office door, flipped the sign to CLOSE, and left the building.

It’s early autumn, so the weather is quite cool.

Did global warming not reach here?

Or did the ozone layer get a hole and let all the heat escape?

With all the nukes being fired everywhere, it’s quite possible.

I swallowed my pointless speculation and walked to the market. The market was bustling, but there were fewer people than usual.

Maybe it’s because of the awkward time.

Walking leisurely, the hospital we aimed for came into view. The hospital, located in a shabby old building, was still crowded.

This is going to take a while.

We stood at the end of the waiting line, chatting while looking at the doctor visible at the front.

“Boss, what kind of ability do you think he has?”

“Hard to say. There are many abilities related to examining human organs, so it’s hard to judge.”

“It’s not X-ray vision, is it?”

Mina shuddered as if horrified.

Surely not.

Most of the people here are elderly, so…

If it were X-ray vision, he’d be forced to… never mind.

“There are many abilities that can be applied to examinations. Enhanced hearing, using vibrations to understand internal organ conditions, or penetration abilities…”

“Oppa, how do you know so much?”

“…I just said whatever came to mind.”

I can’t say I read it in web novels or webtoons before possession.

I don’t want to be treated like a lunatic. They wouldn’t understand anyway.

I brushed it off and changed the subject.

“Mina, what kind of food does the popular shop serve?”

“Tonkatsu…? It’s a dish.”

Ah.

Tonkatsu.

Nice.

It’s a dish that requires a lot of effort, especially with the oil. Is the hygiene okay?

They’re not using waste oil, are they?

It’s not like oil supply is smooth in this world.

If they’re sourcing from Seoul, it might be okay, but there’s no FDA or consumer protection here, so if hygiene is a mess, it’s hopeless.

“Still, I’m looking forward to it. Fried food is hard to mess up.”

“…Boss, have you ever had tonkatsu before?”

“A long time ago? Ah, it’s been ages.”

Why is the examination so fast?

Is it because the prescription is essentially just painkillers?

Thanks to his incredible speed, our turn came quickly.

I was the first to be examined.

I didn’t really need to, but since we’re here, I might as well.

We might find some unexpected issues.

“Hoho, it’s been a while since a sturdy young man came in.”

“Is that so?”

“Young folks these days treat hospitals like morgues. Now, I’ll start the examination, so stay seated.”

The old man put a stethoscope to his ears and placed the broad part on my chest.

“Even if it feels strange, don’t mind it and stay still.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a strange, tickling sensation swept through my body.

If he hadn’t warned me, I would have been startled.

After about three minutes, he looked up at me.

His eyes held a peculiar light.

“You… no, your organs are fine, but your muscles are slightly damaged. Avoid overexerting yourself.”

“Thank you.”

“No need for any medication.”

“Ah, doctor. I heard you’ve been having some worries lately… Would it be okay to talk after you’re done?”

“What do you want with an old man’s worries?”

“I’m in the business of listening to people’s worries.”

“Hmm…”

He stared at me intently, then nodded.

“Alright. Come back in about three hours.”

“See you then, doctor.”

I got up without hesitation.

—————