Chapter: 19: Returning to Lock [1]
“Jiwoo, dinner will take a while, so why don’t you go and take a bath first?” I heard Jihye’s voice coming from the kitchen which was behind the sofa.
“Okay.” I answered as I stood up from the sofa.
Turning the tv off. I put the remote down and looked at Jihye.
When I had entered the apartment, it was quite clean. The corridor leading to the living room.
The kitchen to the left of the corridor, and on the right side to the living room were mine and Jihye’s room.
I opened the door to the washroom and entered.
Taking my clothes off, I put them in the basket near the washing machine and entered the shower.
There was a shower and a bathtub in here.
Turning the faucet, soon warm water fell over my body. The water felt pleasant to the touch.
‘How long has it been since I took a bath? I think almost two and a half weeks.’
Seriously, baths were a real delicacy.
Taking the shampoo bottle from the stand, I squirted some shampoo out off the bottle, and started to shampoo my hair.
Cleaning them thoroughly, I went under the shower and the foam cleared.
Finishing my bath, after cleaning my body with the body wash. I wiped my hair and body with the towel, before putting a trouser and a white shirt on.
Walking out of the washroom, my nostrils took in the delicious fragrance of the food that Jihye was making.
Walking up to the kitchen, I looked at Jihye who was preparing the food.
“Need any help?” I asked Jihye.
“Yeah, Please put the plates over the dinning table.” She said as she tasted the curry to check it's seasoning and taste.
With a satisfied look, she put the curry into a bowel and walked out of the kitchen.
I took the plates and followed Jihye from behind.
Placing the plates over the table, I sat down on the seat and watched as Jihye took rice out of the rice cooker and put them on to my plate. Then she poured the curry on the side of the rice and gave me my plate.
“Here, enjoy.”
I took the plate and picked my spoon up. Taking a spoon full of rice mixed with curry, I put the spoon into my mouth and ate the curry and rice.
I had no words. The curry tasted delicious, no, delicious was an understand statement. The moment I chewed the rice and curry, the bomb of flavours and spices explodes and stimulated my taste buds.
After one spoon full, I took another and soon the rice and curry completely disappeared from my plate.
“You like it that much?” Jihye asked. Her lips curled upwards seeing me savour every last grain of her food.
“Yeah, seconds please.” I gave her my plate and she put another plate full of rice and curry.
***
[Why have you come back? You left me to inherit your family’s business! So why have you come back, Lee Jun?]
[Because of you! I don’t care about the family business or inheritance! All I care about is you!]
“Huaam....” I yawned whilst watching the drama that Jihye was enjoying.
I seriously never understood dramas.
Even with my profound knowledge, that I had accumulated over two life times, I still didn’t understand why people enjoyed watching these drama serials.
Snip—! Snip—!
I saw Jihye beside me crying.
A sigh escaped me. Seriously, to cry over a drama, come on!
All drama were the same.
Main character is the rich son of a famous business tycoon. He inherits his father’s business. He's always told by his father to put the business before anyone and anything, so he locks his real self behind a facade and becomes a cold hearted man. Then he meets the Female lead who works in his company as an employee.
Slowly they interact with each other, and then the female lead helps the male lead realize the joys of life. Causing his facade to crumble on the way and making him realise his true feelings for the female lead.
That’s about it.
And that same scenario that I explained was happening in this drama.
God, they just repeat the same storyline by changing the characters and scenarios a little.
Just like anime. It’s become generic.
[Happy ending!]
The drama ended and I stood up from the sofa.
Walking into the kitchen, I reached the sink and started to wash the dirty dishes.
“I'll do it.” Turning her head behind, Jihye said.
“It’s fine. I'll finish in a sec.” Turning the tap on, I washed the dishes and placed them over the rack to dry.
“Huaam...” I yawned again washing my hands clean of the soap.
“Go and sleep, it already past eleven.” Jihye said turning the tv off and walking up to the washroom.
“Yeah, I’ll do that.”
Soon afterwards I opened my rooms door and entered.
Slumping down on my bed, I placed my hand over my eyes.
“System!” The interface appeared before me.
----
----
NAME: SEO JIWOO (???)
HP: 1213
LEVEL: 30
STRENGTH: 74
STAMINA: 77
AGILITY: 71
VITALITY: 70
INTELLIGENCE: 61
MP: 701
POINTS: 527
_____________
FATIGUE: 7
PERSEVERANCE lv.2
PROFESSION: Swordsmanship (Lv.1)
_____________
{SKILLS}
[{E} Acausality] (Sealed)
This skill allows the user to tamper with the flow of time. Allowing the user to stop time for a brief moment.
Note: An equivalent amount of the host’s Mana will be drained as long as the skill is active.
Cool down: 2 weeks
______________
【Returnee’s Privilege】 [Time: 168 hours ]
–MIND’S EYE (Sealed) (Unlocked: 20%)
–????
–????
–????
–????
______________
【?????】
–????
______________
----
----
“Huh?!”
The Returnee’s Privilege’s had a timer on it again.
“A hundred and sixty-eight hours?” I gazed at the interface with confusion.
One week? In one week I would get one of my old skills back.
But why in one week? I contemplated over a series of thoughts.
One week later was the Lock’s tournament! So why after one week will I get one of my old skills back?
The system always gave me a skill which was beneficial to me. Just like my first skill Mind’s Eye.
Like it knew what was going to happen or what was going to happen to me? Or it was maybe just me overthinking things?
Well either way, its a good think I will get an old skill back.
“Which one will it be this time?” I said as I placed the blanket over me.
“Huaam... but either way I just want to get some good shut-eye.”
Then with that, I fell asleep.
***
Inside an office. A man could be seen standing near the wide glass window and looking over the vicinity of Seoul.
His hands were clasped behind his back as he elegantly gazed at the city below. Behind him was a desk and chair. And over the desk rested many documents and files.
The man looked extremely handsome. His jet black hair which were perfectly styled and his ocean blue eyes which shone in the dimly lit office. He wore a black suit which perfectly outlined his well-developed physique.
His eyes which solemnly looked down on the streets and buildings, presented a subtle charm.
Knock—! Knock—!
There was sudden knock on the door.
Opening the door a man entered the office. He wore a butlers uniform.
He was an old man in his early sixties. His long white hair were tied into a bun. There were wrinkles around the edges of his eyes but he looked fairly handsome even for his old age.
“Master!” Putting his right hand over his chest, he respectfully bowed to the man in front.
“How is the progress going?” The man asked with his authoritative voice. His voice sounded gentle but powerful at the same time.
“It’s going smoothly. We can initiate any moment.” He exclaimed.
“Good! And...” He turned around and sat down into his chair.
“... the other thing I told you to look into?” He questioned the Butler.
But with a swift movement, the butler walked up to his desk and placed the tablet over the desk, which he held in his left hand.
The man tapped on the tablet twice and a holographic image of a youth appeared before him.
The youth had glossy black hair and obsidian black eyes. His rank and other information regarding his stats and personal information was displayed on the image.
“Seo Jiwoo?” He looked at the youths image as he read through the information.
He carefully read through his data on the image. His brows knit together as he solemnly looked through the boy's information.
Tap—!
He tapped once on the tablet and the holographic image disappeared.
“Interesting!” He said in a low voice. Leaning back into the chair, he addressed the Butler.
“Good work, you can now leave.”
The butler once again bowed, before leaving the office.
“Seo Jiwoo...”
***
Wiping the plates dry and putting them in the closet.
I took the left over curry and put it inside the fridge.
Cough—! Cough—!
Suddenly I started coughing.
Placing my hand over my mouth, I coughed a few more times before I saw my palm.
It was dyed with blood. My blood!
Turning the sinks tap on, I washed my hand.
My condition has gotten worse.
“I should go get checked in the hospital again?” I said.
I did once go to the hospital before, but the doctors couldn’t find the cause as to why I had coughed up blood.
They just said that it was due to stress and overexerting myself.
I didn’t tell Jiwoo about my condition, because I didn’t wanted to make him anxious. He always jumps the gun quickly.
But I should get myself checked again one of these days.
After drinking a glass of water, I went to my room to sleep.