Ark gave a bittersweet smile as he looked at Ronnie. Although Ark had experienced similar situations before, the crucial part that differed was Ronnie. Despite Ark giving him profit, Ronnie was overly honest. He was a pure boy who felt guilty about possible cheating Ark. Ark had abandoned his honesty early in his difficult life and truly hoped that Ronnie wouldn’t lose that. But Ark couldn’t help for nothing.
‘Well, although it doesn’t look good for me…..’
“Eh? Really? I’ve only bought a few so far so I had no idea.”
Ark put a deliberately surprised expression on his face and said.
“Hey, thanks for letting me know this good information. 5% of 50 scrolls is 1 gold and 25 silver. Then wouldn’t 200 scrolls by 5 gold? Ugh, if everybody buys scroll then wouldn’t I be able to save hundreds of gold? It is unfortunate but luckily I know now. Then……”
Ark smiled and grabbed Ronnie’s nose.
“This guy, aren’t you being foolish?”
“Ah, ouch! Ark hyung, it hurts.”
“You’ve got to learn the basics.”
“Huh? The basics?”
“For a merchant, they have to endeavour to earn profits even if the sky is collapsing. If you’re unsure about the customer then you should use whatever sales pitch possible. How will you make money if you don’t do that?”
“B-but…..”
“Be quiet, I don’t want to hear anymore then bring me the items quickly.”
“Huh? Then?”
“Although I understand that I can use the store, I’ve already given you the deposit. And I can save money from now on thanks to you so just buy it this time.”
“H-Hyung……!”
Ronnie looked at Ark with eyes brimming with tears. Then Ark scratched his head and shouted with embarrassment.
“Don’t misunderstand. Don’t keep dawdling back and forth or do you not want me to buy items from you anymore?”
“U-understood. I’ll be going.”
Ronnie rubbed his eyes with his sleeve and turned around. Suddenly someone ran from the other side and shouted.
“Ronnie, Ronnie! It’s serious!”
“Eh? Tarun ajusshi? Is it serious? What’s wrong?”
“Your mother is having another fit!”
“Uh, my mother?”
Ronnie’s face turned white and terrified.
———————————————————————————–
Was this Ronnie’s house?’ Ark looked around with an uncomfortable expression. After listening to the man called Tarun’s words, Ronnie urgently left for home. At that time, Ark had run after Ronnie to ask for the deposit back. When considering Ronnie’s character, of course he would return with the items but Ark had to continue doing the repeatable quests. Since there was no time, he ended up coming along to Ronnie’s house.
The rich and poor lived in completely different worlds. Once of the richest neighbourhoods in Korea was called Gangnam, where they people living there had allowances of millions of won a day. Meanwhile, the poor had to gather together to rent a 100,000 won room. And that rule also applied to New World. It was natural for money to be important in the commerce town of Ciel in Bristania. But just on the outskirts of Ciel was the slums where the poor lived, who had to worry about getting a meal every day. Ronnie’s house was 10 minutes away from Ciel on the corner of the slums. Ramshackle houses were placed here and there with boarded up planks.
“Mother!”
Ronnie threw his baggage into the house and ran to the bed. The only household goods was an old pot. A middle age woman coughing could be seen lying on a wooden bench in the corner of the shack. With just one glance, it was obvious that the lady was sick. She had black and red spots all over the body, while her face was pale and sweaty.
“Huk huk huk, R-Ronnie…… Ronnie……”
“Mother, I’m here! It’s me! It’s Ronnie!”
“Ahh, Ronnie…… Ronnie….. My son…..”
The middle-aged woman struggled to reach out her hands in order to grab Ronnie. He fidgeted with tearful eyes and shouted.
“Painkillers, the painkillers!”
“She’s already taken the painkiller. But…….”
“Oh, Mother, Mother!”
Ronnie cried and howled at Tarun’s answer. At the same time, the body of the lady bent like a bow and she moaned. Then, Ark had a thought and his heart dropped. A middle-aged lady struggling with pain with a boy held her hand and didn’t know what to do! He had seen this scene before. No, he had experienced it. The scene unfolding before his eyes was just like Ark holding onto his mother’s hand in the ICU while praying. The rage and despair Ark felt at that time couldn’t be described in words. He felt a horrified fear seeing this familiar scene occur in front of him.
‘Damn, indeed……’
Even though he had experienced it a few times, he still couldn’t get used to it. The feeling was so unpleasant that Ark felt like closing his eyes and turning away. However, he couldn’t pretend not to see the scene.
‘This will be dangerous if I leave!’
Ark had taken care of numerous sick people in New World and intuitively sensed the danger. If this was reality then it would end like that, but this wasn’t reality. Hyun-woo was only a gamer but Ark was a great warrior, a cook and a caretaker! Ark pushed Ronnie away and gasped the hand of the lady.
“Have courage. I know it is painful. Other people might not understand but I know. I’m not saying I understand your pain. Who in this world would be able to understand the pain of a sick person? But I know. I know the pain of watch someone you love being in pain and being unable to do anything.”
“Ahh, Ronnie…… Ronnie……”
“Yes, that’s right. Be strong for Ronnie’s sake!”
Ark grasped the lady’s hand as he prayed and gave her hope. Then a faint light started to appear around their clenched hands. The feeble light gradually expanded like a candle and lit up the room until it entered the lady’s body. Then the lady’s pain eased and her breathing gradually stabled. After a while, her breathing became peaceful and she fell into a deep sleep. The effects of Advanced Nursing was shown and the crisis was conquered.Tarun and Ronnie looked at Ark with amazed eyes and murmured.
“Oh, such a thing! You didn’t even use painkillers!”
“H-Hyung. Thank you!”
“…… It’s not a cure.”
“I’m aware of that. But…… After having a seizure, she suffers for several days. To see her fall asleep with a relaxed expression…… Thank you. Thank you very much.”
Ronnie cried out in a tearful voice and bowed repeatedly. Ark’s chest throbbed with every bow. A long time ago, Ark had repeated the same words to a doctor. After he bowed, Ronnie seemed to remember something and took out his purse.
“I’m sorry. Here is the earlier deposit. I’m sorry but today…..”
“That’s it. I’ll take care of the scrolls so you just take good care of your mother.”
Ronnie nodded and sat down beside the bed, wiping his mother’s face with a wet towel. Ark couldn’t watch anymore and exited the house.
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