By Zephyria It was impossible to cram knowledge that even gifted individuals learned over several years into their heads in just a few days.
Mu-hae’s best was to understand just enough to pretend he knew. Even that was thanks to having a top-tier instructor by his side, picking out only the essentials to explain.
“The efficiency formula changes when you go to Type 3. If you start talking about regenerative batteries there, anyone can tell you’re a fraud.”
“Then, ha… what should I talk about?”
“Wouldn’t it be better to just pretend you can’t speak?”
It was a scathing rebuke for such a gentle tone. Teacher Jung was good at thoroughly beating down his opponent without ever raising his voice.
Only after a painful cram session was Mu-hae barely able to load their ‘basic common sense.’ He didn’t particularly want to know more detailed theories, and Teacher Jung didn’t seem willing to explain them either.
“He’s going with you, right?”
“Yes. I said he’s a dependent, so there shouldn’t be any problems.”
“Then you memorize this.”
Teacher Jung handed over a pad with a tired face. The screen was filled with text so dense that Mu-hae didn’t even want to read it.
Mu-hae looked back and forth between the blank-faced Joo-oh and the pad, asking,
“This, to him?”
“He seems good at simple memorization. I don’t expect him to understand it.”
“I can do it.”
“See? He says he can do it.”
Joo-oh took the pad with a delighted expression. He shoved the wire puzzle, which he had already solved long ago, into his pocket, and his eyes began to sparkle as he examined the contents.
“But I can’t read these lines and scribbles.”
“Don’t worry about the symbols, just memorize the names of the formulas. And where those formulas can be used. If Mu-hae says something different from what’s written there, pinch his arm or poke him to bring him to his senses.”
“Hmm. Okay.”
Slurp. Before even thinking, Joo-oh smacked his lips. As if expecting it, Teacher Jung took a handful of jelly from the cupboard and placed it in his hand.
…Now that he looked, he was blocking the refrigerator with his body. He had never once been indebted to him for a meal, but from some point on, he had been strangely wary of Joo-oh’s appetite.
No matter how much he ate, could he really be robbing other people’s houses? Mu-hae felt a little uneasy at the overreaction to Joo-oh.
“Didn’t you scare me by saying I’d die young if I ate that kind of stuff?”
“Scare you? It’s true. You have to get into the habit when you’re young to last a lifetime.”
“Joo-oh is already all grown up, so it doesn’t matter?”
“Even if he’s grown up, it’s better not to touch it. He’s just… okay.”
Teacher Jung muttered something incomprehensible and went to sit on the sofa. He lightly touched his forehead as if he had a headache.
Ever since hearing about the NPS, Teacher Jung had a suspicious look on his face whenever he had the chance.
‘Intense, what?’
‘An intense passion for observing the truths of the world, especially Blue Energy, is at the heart of our research and collaboration, and on this basis, all explorers are expanding their academic pursuits.’
‘The wonder of the natural world, the intense truths of the world… are they gathering researchers and taking drugs as a group?’
He had clicked his tongue several times after hearing the introduction to the NPS that Joo-oh had rattled off.
Even to the eyes of a layman, it was a somewhat strange greeting, but it seemed that it was indeed crazy.
“What kind of welcome party is held in two weeks?”
“They’re sending a Small aircraft. It seems they’re also providing room and board.”
“That’s why I don’t understand it even more. If they regularly gather in other cities to laugh and chat, they must have a job to make a living. How can those guys’ schedules be adjusted in two weeks?”
“If it’s strange, I’ll back out right away. I didn’t sign up with my real identity anyway.”
Mu-hae was just curious if Dmitri had left anything behind there.
It seemed more likely than finding the West Wind, which he didn’t even know existed, and getting information for a Return flight.
“Anyway, go and be careful. The weather outside is unusual.”
“It’s enough for a plane to take off. I’ll tell you right away if I find anything.”
As he began to prepare to leave, Joo-oh came running with the pad. Teacher Jung didn’t even tell him to take it and use it, but he rolled it up and put it in his pocket.
“If it breaks, the repair costs will be charged to Mu-hae.”
“That’s what he said.”
“What do you mean, that’s what he said? I’ll deduct it from your allowance, so handle it carefully.”
No matter what Mu-hae said, Joo-oh didn’t seem to care. He hummed and pulled down his hood, as if he was happy to have something to do.
‘Bay City…’
He had traveled far and wide doing mercenary work, but unless there was something special, Mu-hae hadn’t stayed in other cities much either.
Exploration requests coming into Goryeo City were mostly only up to the vicinity of Seogyeong City. Even areas with joint mining zones like Buckta were eventually divided up by the surrounding cities.
From what he had learned, Bay City was a place that had developed as much as Goryeo City, with a large safe zone.
Opportunities to visit an unfamiliar city comfortably weren’t common. Honestly, he was looking forward to it.
“Bye.”
Joo-oh greeted briefly and secretly placed a plastic toy on the dining table chair. Mu-hae glanced at Teacher Jung’s expression and just pretended not to see it, turning his head away.
He was a little curious about what kind of decent-looking figure he had chosen in his own way.
If he bought a souvenir and gave it to Teacher Jung when he returned from Bay City, he wouldn’t say anything.
Whiiine- Pshh-!
A sleek aircraft landed on the wide airfield. The outer skin of the aircraft changed color smoothly to match the blue floor.
“Wow.”
It was a luxurious Small aircraft that looked like it could seat at least six people. Hearing Joo-oh’s exclamation, Mu-hae quietly moved his Adam’s apple.
Beep-.
When he swiped the Link Watch on the door, the key code sent by the NPS immediately worked. The door of the aircraft opened smoothly, and plush seats and a fixed table came into view.
“Jin Mu-hae. Look at that. There’s a refrigerator.”
There was even a mini-bar attached to the cabin. As soon as he got on the Small aircraft, Joo-oh opened the door of the transparent refrigerator and took out a bottle of alcohol.
“It’s not a drink. Put it back.”
When he manipulated the monitor, the entrance closed smoothly. Mu-hae sat in the red velvet chair and looked out the window.
He had never seen such a fancy and comfortable Small aircraft before. The vehicles that the Company had sent for requests were all cheap lumps of metal.
Even the shaking during takeoff was minimal. As soon as the seating sign disappeared, Joo-oh fluttered around the cabin.
“Look at this.”
He rummaged through the refrigerator again and took out several square containers. The packaging had cooking instructions on it, so it seemed that even meals were prepared.
“This is chicken pot pie. This is cauliflower gratin. And roasted sweet potato?”
“They put all sorts of things in it for a trip of only two hours.”
“Can I eat it now?”
When he gestured roughly, he started to heat the containers.
There was no time to watch him and scold him. The moment he discovered all sorts of functions on the monitor, Mu-hae also forgot his suspicious feelings and clicked on the news icon.
“I didn’t know because they didn’t show the moving scenes. It’s fun.”
Joo-oh muttered anything and opened the cabinet. He managed to find a blanket inside and draped it over his shoulders like a cape, then placed the warm food on the table.
“Jin Mu-hae, do you want to eat?”
“You ate before we came.”
He pretended not to hear and started his second lunch. He was definitely ignoring him. How presumptuous.
[Muryang Town Angered by Energy Regulations… Central’s Support? – Bayrecord]
[Education Facilities Open for Preschoolers, a Blessing or a Curse? – Newtimebay]
Looking at the names of the news agencies, it was news from Bay City. It was amazing how the scenery of an unfamiliar city could be drawn in his mind with just simple lines of text.
Such minor news from the outside didn’t usually reach Goryeo City. Mu-hae was so engrossed in the information that he didn’t even realize how much time had passed.
Crack-!
It was only after hearing an ominous sound that he suddenly came to his senses. He mechanically raised his head, and Joo-oh was gulping down a pink liquid in front of him.
A number that made him realize was engraved on the bottle cap he had thrown away.
‘11.5%’
“Give it to me.”
He hurriedly snatched it away, but he had already drunk it all. It wasn’t a sponge, but he had absorbed 700 milliliters in one go.
“It’s a drink.”
“It’s alcohol.”
“It’s sweet.”
Joo-oh licked his lips with a regretful expression. His eyelashes fluttered as if someone had been bullying him.
Mu-hae closed his eyes tightly and calmed his rising anger.
Right… Joo-oh had memorized all the crazy papers for him.
For some reason, he seemed to be hungrier when he used his head than when he moved his body a lot, so he could fully understand if he kept putting things in his mouth for the next few days.
Whiiine-.
A little over two hours passed like flying. Mu-hae buttoned the top button of his shirt and got up from the plush seat.
He had seated Joo-oh next to him in case he got drunk, but he didn’t slouch at all and kept looking out the window with clear eyes.
“Stop looking and come out.”
When he poked him, he stood up quickly, showing no signs of intoxication at all. He looked as clear as if the 11.5 percent indication was the fruit juice content.
“Who are you?”
“I’m Lee Haemu’s half-brother. I can’t be alone at home.”
“If someone talks to you.”
“I won’t answer and go to Hyung.”
Joo-oh created a pitiful story in an instant and smiled proudly.
After ruffling his hair, he got out of the Small aircraft, and the silhouette of a huge Comfort zone was visible in the distance through the drizzle.
“Lee Haemu?”
Just in time, someone entered the airfield and called out to Mu-hae. It was an older man with long hair tied down.
“Yes, but are you NP…”
“I’m Hawkins. At Chairman Dunham’s request, I will be in charge of your schedule and convenience for the next three days.”
The machine attached to the breath pocket smoothly translated the man’s greeting.
He politely held up an umbrella and guided the two to a Hover Car. The overly money-smelling vehicle soon passed through the entrance of Bay City.