Dark's gaze led the way.
I strained my eyes, but nothing particularly noteworthy caught my attention.
Was he just spacing out?
Sensing the stare directed at him, Dark turned around.
"Come closer."
As I approached, Dark placed a hand on Jin-hyuk's shoulder.
Swoosh...
In the swirling blizzard of empty air, a faint shape began to form.
"Oh?"
"Good. It wasn't just visible to me."
"What is this?"
"No idea. It appeared out of nowhere. Doesn't seem like random scribbles, though."
After speaking, Dark focused back on the shape.
Jin-hyuk leaned in a bit more, trying to make it out.
In the middle of some snowy plain stood a girl.
She ran around with her arms spread wide, seemingly loving the snow.
That said, her clothes looked awfully thin— wasn't she cold?
"Luca."
Dark murmured softly, and I turned my head.
I didn't ask who it was.
Dark was utterly absorbed in the shape, like he was being pulled in.
This was a first.
The ever-indifferent Dark, focusing this intensely.
The girl's image in the shape drew closer.
Was someone in front of her?
She smiled brightly, saying something.
But since it was just a shape, no sound came through.
"She used to say it all the time, like a habit. 'Have you ever seen a flower blooming in the snowfield?'"
It must have been Dark she was talking to in the shape.
"I told her no. That snowfield is incomparably cold to this place. Without a body built for it, you'd freeze to death instantly. Forget flowers—life itself couldn't take root there."
I rubbed my chin.
A flower blooming in the snowfield, huh.
Did such a thing exist? Actually, I wasn't even sure if it was possible.
There were flowers that bloomed in winter, sure.
Like camellias, cyclamens, poinsettias—a few came to mind.
But if the setting was a full-on snowfield, that changed everything.
Constant blizzards, brutal cold year-round.
As far as I knew, no flower could bloom in conditions like that.
Rustle.
The drawn shape faded away.
After a brief silence, I cautiously spoke up.
"Luca was your friend, Dark?"
"A childhood friend. About a thousand years ago?"
I swallowed dryly.
These guys' sense of time was still hard to wrap my head around.
"Boss. What are you doing? Momo gathered up all the scattered flesh and hides."
Kancho approached, ears perked up, and I picked him up.
"Kancho. Do you know of any flower that blooms in a snowfield?"
"No such thing. Even the toughest seed would drop dead if left in a snowfield."
"Oh."
Kancho was even picking up four-character idioms these days.
"Hmm."
Dark let out a low hum.
He looked like he was straining to recall something.
"That's strange."
"What is?"
"I can't remember her face. And she was someone I liked."
"Huh?!"
"What?"
Jin-hyuk and Kancho froze on the spot.
Dark, the immortal, liked someone?
Kancho's ears, which were always twitching except when he slept, had gone still—he must have been pretty shocked too.
"What's with you guys?"
"It just sounds romantic."
"You're cool, Captain Dark."
Kancho stuck out his stubby thumb.
If Elia or Camella had said something like that, he'd have burst out laughing like, "Pfft! What, the old hag had a crush?!" But since the hierarchy was sorted out, he was being all polite.
Anyway, the shape couldn't have appeared on its own.
Why had it suddenly become visible to Dark?
Ding!
The notification sound rang out right as the question crossed my mind.
Jin-hyuk furrowed his brow.
If you're gonna tell me anyway, make it quicker.
[You have glimpsed a fragment of Dark Castro's memory.]
[The 12th floor of the Myth Tower has been altered based on the memory fragment.]
[Entry requirement changed: Clear 65th floor of Tower of Despair → Clear 62nd floor of Tower of Despair]
'Huh?'
It was such a short, hazy memory.
I figured it wouldn't have much impact, but it even changed the Myth Tower.
Ding!
[Immortal Dark Castro's Epic Promotion Quest 'Flower Blooming in the Snowfield' has been added!]
Required: Clear 12th floor of Myth Tower.
Clear Rewards: Unique → Epic Promotion / Relic Awakening.
My chin-rubbing sped up.
Epic promotion alone was a win, but relic awakening too?
Very nice.
"Your face is full of greed, Boss."
"Call it joy, will you?"
I smiled and set Kancho down.
[Cleared the 61st floor of the Tower of Despair!]
Level-up messages popped up along with accessory acquisition notices.
Hit level 89.
Normally, the level gap with the floor would mean just a trickle of EXP.
But thanks to the level-matching trait kicking in, I gained two levels.
[Exiting the 61st floor of the Tower of Despair!]
I rubbed my hands together.
Time to head to the 12th floor of the Myth Tower, pronto.
As soon as I left the tower, I quickly got dressed.
I hadn't visited the Yeonsang Guild in ages, what with running around everywhere.
Figured I'd drop off the accumulated accessories and handle some outside business while I was at it.
Slipping on my shoes, I glanced back.
Kancho and Momo were standing right in front of the TV playing games, ignoring the perfectly good couch as usual.
The others were out of sight.
Seira was probably meditating, Elia at the Star Forge, Camella in the raccoon den, and Dark somewhere on the roof.
"Momo, what are you doing? You think you can win playing like that? Back off a bit, will ya?"
'Refine that.'
Just correcting the word for a sec.
Spotting Jin-hyuk, Kancho scampered to the entrance.
"Heading out, Boss?!"
"Yeah. Might be late, so make sure you eat well."
"No worries with me around."
Kancho fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a phone.
It was just for delivery apps—I'd installed them so he could order food.
'VVIP, huh?'
He must have ordered a ton.
Reached the top tier on the delivery app.
Maybe I should make another account?
"Huh? Review King? What's this?"
I tapped the star button.
A massive list of reviews scrolled down.
The chewiness is excellent. Will order again.
Short on salted shrimp, but the tender collagen was great. Keep it up.
Russian cheese? Stretchy and nutty—total thumbs up. Best in the neighborhood.
Every single one packed with five stars.
Kancho ate just about anything except Elia's potions, so it made sense.
"Did the review event for free drinks."
I looked at Kancho.
Resourceful in his own way.
"Good job. Lots of people get the freebie and skip the review. Order plenty today."
"Got it. If something super tasty comes, I'll save some for you. Don't worry about greedy Momo—I'll handle him."
I vigorously patted his twitching ears.
What a reliable Yodel Ranger.
'Even if we move, it has to be somewhere with delivery.'
Can't strip the fun out of the gang's daily life.
With that firm resolve, I stepped out.
"Hot, so hot."
Global warming, they say—the sun was already stinging.
Instead of heading to the subway, I walked the opposite way today.
Maybe because I'd been hitching rides from Cheon Se-yeon or Jin Seo-hee all the time.
Lately, the inconveniences of being carless had started to bug me.
So, I decided to splurge and get one.
Thud.
After about ten minutes, I arrived at the fanciest bike shop in Hannam-dong.
"Ooh."
The showroom lined with gleaming motorcycles drew out an admiring gasp.
Why a motorcycle instead of a car, you ask?
First off, no car license.
But I had a motorcycle one.
Unlimited displacement, at that.
Got it early on from riding my dad's bike on country roads.
And the second reason for a bike?
It's cool. And I love them. A lot.
Taking a deep breath, I opened the door.
First time in a place like this—kinda nerve-wracking.
"Welcome. This is the Ducati brand shop."
As expected from a ultra-high-end bike dealership.
All the staff in crisp suits.
"Hello. Here to look at some motorcycles."
The employees' eyes turned toward the entrance.
It hadn't even been 20 seconds since Jin-hyuk walked in and greeted them.
But that was plenty for the veteran salespeople to scan him.
Way too young, innocent and boyish face, not a single luxury item in his outfit.
Not a real buyer.
At least he wasn't holding a camera—that was a plus.
No YouTube filming rampage through the store.
Either way, if he wasn't buying, no need to waste time.
The salespeople's gazes shifted aside.
"Ah."
Only then did the youngest staffer jump up, startled.
"Hello. I'm Manager Oh Jun-tae. What model are you here for?"
"Hello. I've searched a few online, but wanted to see them in person. I'm a total newbie to bikes, so I'd love some expert advice."
They say vehicles are best bought after seeing them in the flesh.
Planning to grab whatever screams "this is it!" at first sight.
Jin-hyuk showed Oh Jun-tae the models he'd looked up.
"But I'm open to others. Recommend whatever, as the pro."
Oh Jun-tae let out a hum.
A bit tricky.
The cheapest bike in the store was over 40 million won.
What model to show this kid?
After a moment's thought, Oh Jun-tae smiled.
He wasn't buying anyway.
Seemed like just a bike enthusiast, so might as well satisfy his curiosity.
"We have something exclusive to our Hannam-dong branch at Ducati—want to check it out?"
"Please."
Oh Jun-tae led Jin-hyuk to the center of the store.
Fresh from headquarters two days ago.
"This is the Ducati Panigale V7 Lamborghini. As the name suggests, a collab between Ducati and Lamborghini."
"Ooh."
Jin-hyuk's eyes sparkled fiercely.
Matte dark gray with neon yellow accents.
Like something out of a cyberpunk comic.
"Careful, newbie. One scratch and our yearly salary's gone."
"Yes!"
With a booming reply, Oh Jun-tae continued the pitch.
The bike's backstory, features—stuff any enthusiast would eat up.
"1,100cc displacement, 0-100 in 2 seconds. Pull the throttle and it flies."
That's why I'd held off on riding even with money.
Too dangerous if you crash.
But now it's fine.
I'm way tougher.
Straightening up, Jin-hyuk looked around.
Maybe because I'd seen the king right off the bat.
Nothing else caught my eye.
Grinning ear to ear, I spoke up.
"I'll take this one. Can I ride it out today?"
"??????"
Silence fell over the store.
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T/N:
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