Everyone is Young Except for Me - Chapter 77

Chapter 77
At this time, a sturdy man with white hair walked into a hospital in Seoul. His huge size didn’t look like it belonged to an old man. The scar that crossed his left eye created an unusual atmosphere. His name was Park Muyeol. He was Chuntaek’s friend for 40 years.

“Is this the place where Chuntaek was examined?”

He coughed once as he grabbed a passing nurse. “Where is the place for a physical examination...”

"Kyaaak! I-I’m sorry!”

“......”

‘I’m not that scary a person.’

What could he do when he was born like this? He was only at the hospital for a short time but he was seriously considering plastic surgery.

‘No, I can’t. This is a wound of glory.’

No matter what anyone said, this wound was something he was proud of. It was like a medal for distinguished national merit. Ironically, this was the only medium that could remind himself of his young self. Just then, a gentle voice was heard from behind him. “Grandfather, what are you looking for?” 

He looked back and saw a quite beautiful nurse. The slight widening of her eyes showed her surprise but she quickly smiled and didn’t seem afraid.

‘I’m glad that some people aren’t scared of me.’

Park Muyeol inwardly laughed.

“I am looking for the physical examination area. Will you help me?”

* * *

He followed the nurse’s instructions, entered the physical examination area, and submitted the application. Then he heard the sound of someone calling out, “Park Muyeol-nim~”

He got up from his seat and immediately entered the doctor’s office. Sure enough, a doctor in a white gown was sitting down.

“Hello... heok!”

‘Damn, it is starting again. Do I look that scary?’

In fact, it wasn’t like this had only happened once or twice so he just ignored it. Park Muyeol pointed to the chair in front of him. “This is for people like me to sit down in, right?”

“O-Of course! Please sit... no, sit down.”

“Yes. Then I’ll do so.”

The moment Park Muyeol sat down, the doctor asked in a trembling voice, “W-What do you need...?”

“Do you know the virtual reality game permit? I'm here to get it.”

“Heok!”

“Why? Is there a problem?”

“N-No. I just remembered the last person who requested that...”

“Is his name Choi Chuntaek?”

“H-How do you know that?” The doctor had a stunned expression the moment he heard the name. Based on the sweat dripping down the doctor’s forehead, Chuntaek must’ve been telling the truth.

Park Muyeol laughed. “He has been my friend for 40 years.”

“Huh...?”

“I heard a lot about you from Chuntaek. I hear you’re a very fussy person?”

“T-That...”

“I want you to do the same with me.”

It was sincere. Park Muyeol really wanted to be judged with a serious and difficult examination. He wanted to find out his current health and his physical ability. 

‘Did Chuntaek get an S-grade rating?’

In fact, they were friends but there was also a strong rivalry. If Chuntaek received an S-grade rating then Park Muyeol should receive it as well. That’s why he chose the hospital here. His lips gently curved up and the doctor shouted, “Hiik! N-Nurse Kim!”

* * *

[You have caught a fish.]

[The proficiency of the Fishing skill has increased.]

[You are now able to catch a wider variety of fish.]

I was pleased. “Ah. I really caught a tuna.”

“Wow, isn’t this a bit hit?”

I could now fish well. I smiled brightly as I watched the tuna squirming.

Kim Sujeong asked, “How about tuna sashimi today?”

“Didn’t you like the cooked muscle crab yesterday?” I wondered.

“No, it isn’t like that. There is just a limit to the number of dishes that can be done without feeling some dissatisfaction. I want to eat fresh sashimi today.”

This was also true. For now, I only had the recipe for the sun and could only cook fire-related dishes I had to find the cloud elemental quickly if I wanted to be a full-fledged Weather Chef...

Just then, someone screamed, “Wahhhh!”

I turned my head and saw many people gathered on one side of the deck. Their mouths were wide open with different expressions. Was my little brother fishing again? I was strangely jealous that I couldn’t do this. I regretted advising him to try fishing yesterday.

“Uncle Dragon is going to fish again.”

“...It looks good.”

He didn’t use an ordinary fishing rod. He said that fishing was also part of training and used a huge rod made of steel. It was also equipped with huge fishing sinkers and needles. It weighed around 2kg in total. It really looked like a crazy thing.

...Although I wasn’t in a position to say this. I wore sandbags weighing 10kg when climbing mountains so I could understand. Perhaps doing this would improve my stats. Should I try...? No, no. The training outside was sufficient. I didn’t want to train hard here as well. In fact, I had a lot of stats so there was no need to do this. Yes, for now.

Then blue lightning emerged from Zhen Sulong’s body. It moved down the fishing rod and entered the sea. Schools of fish started to slowly rise. I helplessly laughed. “Hey, that is a total scam.”

“Still, look at how much the sailors like it. He is a completely popular star here.” 

“Well, if he uses his ability then he can have a group dinner with the sailors.”

[The fist star, ‘Raitra,’ is interested in the fiery fishing.]

[The first apostle, ‘Prometheus,’ is nodding and saying there will be no food worries for a while.]

These guys were excited. Damn, I should get the power of lightning quickly. I could do the same thing as long as I had it. In fact, the cloud elemental was necessary to gain that power. I wanted it but I couldn’t get it straight away. In fact, I didn’t know where it was.

Zhen Sulong left the shouting sailors behind and walked over triumphantly. “Brother, fishing seems very good. It is an excellent wrist-training exercise.”

“Crazy guy. It is the first time I’ve seen an ignorant fisherman like you.”

“Hahaha. Brother is right.” Zhen Sulong smiled up at the sky. Just then, he suddenly stopped smiling. “...Uh? The weather?”

I followed his gaze and looked up at the sky. The sky was becoming cloudy. This phenomenon? It coincided with a phenomenon in Prometheus’ memories. The misty clouds that appeared. Every 12 hours, a mysterious sky where day and night seemed to intersect. In particular, the Northern Lights that could be seen at night were truly beautiful. It seemed we were almost there...

It was like I expected.

“I see land!”

Many people flocked to the bow at the sailor’s cry. Among them were me, Sujeong, Zhen Sulong, and Drain, who had just woken up. Once the fog cleared and the scene was revealed, exclamations burst out from the sailors.

“Ah! An adventure must have this taste!”

“I’m glad I came along! Isn’t it beautiful?”

“What type of place is this?”

Kim Sujeong was also gazing at the bright scenery. It seemed to still be daytime, a time dominated by the ‘Midnight Sun Wanderer.’ Maybe after a while, the ‘Black Night Wanderer’ would wake up. Land was quickly spotted. I looked at the ships and villages that appeared and was gripped with a strange feeling.

...I didn’t think it would still be there. I remembered the name of this village as I searched through the fragments of memories imprinted in me—Tantra. I didn’t know if it was still called Tantra. The memories I had were from the past. Still, the village I was seeing was consistent with Tantra in my memories. It was frozen in time, just like the cold of the North Pole.

“There is a glacier in front of us!”

Che. As expected, it was intact. Originally, this was a closed place that ordinary people couldn’t come to. It was a prohibited area 500 years ago. However, I could enter.

“Solar.”

“Did you call me, Master?”

 “Yes. Melt all the ice that you see there.”

"I understand. Hehe!”

Solar released a massive heat toward the glacier. It melted the ice in an instant and the sailors yelled.

"Wahhhh!”

Eyes were suddenly focused on me and I felt a bit embarrassed. As expected, this kind of thing didn’t sit well with me. I could see Kim Sujeong and Zhen Sulong raising their thumbs from the side and the corners of my lips curved up. Then Drain’s voice was heard from behind me, “Everyone, please wear my special winter clothes! Fleece!”

We hurriedly changed into the winter clothes that he handed over. It was made of thick ogre leather and as I put it on, I asked Drain, “I thought you couldn’t finish it because of your seasickness, yet you actually completed it.”

“Jesus. I was scared yesterday because of the muscle crab and my seasickness stopped. It is shocking because I thought it only applied to hiccups.”

I smiled as I heard the answer that was in his usual tone.

...I didn’t know if he would become sick if he got scared again. 

In any case, I was now going to see the second-grade constellation, Midnight Sun Wanderer. Such a constellation had a power comparable to the first-grade Zodiac, Aldebaran. They were mighty and huge because they were twins.  

There was the sound of the magic powered engine cooling down and the ship stopped at the shipyard. We hurried down and started walking with me in the lead. Kim Sujeong followed, footsteps being imprinted on the white snow. “Father, do you really know the way here?”

“Yes, I know.”

“How?”

...Hrmm. What should I say?

“I just know it from studying.”

“Wow, that’s great. It wouldn’t have been easy to learn.”

I was a bit embarrassed when I heard her compliment. In fact, I couldn’t believe it even if Prometheus’ memories entered my mind. I wouldn’t have believed it. “That’s right. Keke.”

We walked along with wide smiles and entered the entrance of the village. Then a message window opened.

[A place where the sun never goes down. You have entered ‘Diya,’ the daytime town.]

[You are the first to enter a village in the North Pole.]

[The title, ‘North Pole Pioneer,’ has been acquired.]

[Experience will double for a week in the North Pole.]

[The drop rate of items will double for a week in the North Pole.]

.......

.......

The countless messages captivated me but it was the first message that caught my eye. I looked at it and was a bit flustered. “A place where the sun never goes down...?”

[The first apostle, ‘Prometheus,’ is frowning.]