# Chapter 13

Gyungho glanced at Taesung who was eating sullungtang at the hall.

‘I knew this system is like a game, but we now have a quest too?’ thought Gyungho at a random pop up of quest and looked at Snowball.

[You might know this, but Guardians gain Divine Energy when people respect and honor it.]

Of course Gyungho knew this more than anyone in this world. Snowball continued as Gyungho nodded.

[Also, we can prevent disasters or fulfill people’s wishes.]

Gyungho knew this as well. He just found the quest system to be unfamiliar and had a point he could not understand.

[Is it in the system that if I finish this Wish Fulfillment Quest, I get a reward from it? If so, I’ll help you deal with a big one so you can level it up a bunch. What do you say?] said Gyungho.

[I can’t register something too big because my Divine Energy is too low right now. This seems to be my limit for now.]

[Ugh, tell me that first.]

Gyungho, who thought about helping Snowball level up even if it was annoying, sighed and nodded.

‘Yeah. I suppose he would not have tried to make me a Guardian if it was that easy,’ thought Gyungho. He knew that the world was not that easy.

[Alright then. Try your best so that they don’t get trashed by their captain. I hope you succeed.]

[Whoa. You really don’t sound encouraging at all.]

Gyungho then looked at Snowball, asking with his sight what else he wanted.

[Gyungho. Can you-]

[No.]

[I haven't finished yet. I-]

[No. No.]

[I mean-]

[I said no.]

Snowball, having no other choice left at Gyungho’s stubborn answer, had to bring up his final ditch effort.

[Gyungho. If you want to heal your mother, then I need my Divine Energy recovered as fast as we can. Please help me.]

[...]

[Please.]

[Ugh, can you stop bringing up mom whenever you’re in a bad position? You’ll make a habit out of it.]

[Will you help?]

[Ugh, I can’t hear!]

[To be frank, I am trying to restore your mother’s energy from time to time, but this is only a bandage. If we need her fully healed, then I need to be at least level 5,] said Snowball.

[What, so you want me to be your Apostle or something?]

[Oh? Do you know about the Apostle?]

[I know a lot of things.]

Apostle. It was like an avatar to the Guardian. If Gyungho, who was a hero, was a partner, then the Apostle was like a servant. Mir also had Apostles whom he called ‘Four Kings’ that Gyungho knew well about. Snowball shook his head with a surprised look.

[I don’t know how you know, but I’m not asking you to be my Apostle. Besides, I can’t have one at such a low level anyway. Also, one with such strength like you would require a very high level.]

[So?] asked Gyungho.

[Quests that we get right now aren't that hard. But it’s not so easy for a small puppy who has no Divine or Life Energy,] said Snowball.

[So, you’re saying that it’s easy so I should check it out and help you? Just get to the point.]

‘That’s because you won’t do shit for me if I don’t say it like this,’ thought Snowball but he couldn’t yell it out like he would have wanted. All he could do was to softly touch on Gyungho’s shoes and act cute.

[Yeah, well. So are you going to help?]

[No.]

Gyungho shook his head with an evil smile.

***

“Bro, having something good cheers me up at least. We’ll get trashed one way or another, so we should eat better at least.”

Chulmin, who had been depressed for a while, smiled brightly. Taesung also laughed.

“Yeah, let’s eat first.”

Taesung kept on eating as he nodded. And it was when their bowls were almost empty, something vibrated within the pocket. The screen showed ‘Damn Captain’ in red. Talk of the devil.

“Gosh… Hello?” Taesung answered.

[Taesung. Where are you right now?]

“We’re investigating the Minsuk Kang case, sir.”

[You’re still on that? What have you got?]

“We found candy and a murder weapon that are linked to the case, but we have sent it to the FMEL for further investigation.”

[Embargo ends tomorrow, and you’re still just sending it? We have to have something to say at least! Get over here now!]

Taesung had his phone distanced from his ear, but still frowned from the high pitched screech.

“Now?”

[YES! Or you want to come tomorrow at the press conference?]

“I didn’t even have anything to eat yet. Can I at least finish dinner…”

[Now is not the time to EAT!]

The phone then hung up. The way he was being angry even though he knew the case wasn’t easy, meant that he had been trashed from upper management. Of course, the Captain did not have a good temper to begin with.

“What? He wants us to run over there without eating?” asked Chulmin.

“He’s telling me there’s no time for that. Ugh. Doesn’t he always go out at lunch time to treat clients and even drink?” said Taesung in an annoyed look. His bowl was already empty.

“Bro, I’m done eating too.”

“Yeah, but getting trashed by him over the phone brings up my craving,” said Taesung. He then added, “What about you, Chulmin?”

“Soup lovers like me should always have two pots.”

“Yeah, we don’t need to hurry. Let’s fill ourselves up before we get trashed,” said Taesung.

“Alright, bro.”

Chulmin then turned to Gyungho who was playing with a puppy by the kitchen entrance and flashed two fingers.

“Can we have two more bowls?”

“Of course. It’ll be right out,” said Gyungho. He took out a tray to retrieve an empty bowl, wiped the table with a clean cloth, and went to the kitchen.

“Do you think we’ll get something this time?”

“No. The candy just seemed regular health supplement sold from a market, and the murder weapon will just labeled defective artifact. Ugh, if we don’t get any answer by today, the captain will be really pissed off,” said Taesung.

“I’ll take the beating as much as I can, bro,” said Chulmin.

“As if that will help,” said Taesung.

There had been tens of victims in just a month's time. Even numbers of suspects were going over double digits but nothing common could be found between them. Taesung had been investigating even newly found cults, but there was nothing. It was even understandable why the Captain was hitting his peak in frustration these days.

“Hah… What's up with them? They are all just crazy bastards and there’s no correlation between them even with psychological analysis,” said Taesung.

That’s when Gyungho came back with a steamy bowl of soup and spoke to them.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but should I explain a better way to eat this?” said Gyungho with a kind smile of capitalism.

“Of course. I was surprised that sullungtang here is much better than a specialized restaurant,” said Taesung with a thumbs up.

It was of course tastier because it was made from Ironhorn Bull’s bones.

“Thank you. My mother is a good cook,” said Gyungho.

“We’ll definitely visit for our company dinner. Oh, but I doubt we’ll have one soon at the current rate,” said Taesung.

“Just call us anytime if you will. If you have anything in particular you want to order, we can take it into account,” said Gyungho.

“Thank you,” said Taesung.

“You can just eat it the way it is, but if you add the radish kimchi soup, it will add a different flavor,” explained Gyungho.

“Oh! That’s right!”

“You had one without, so I want to recommend you try that this time around. Both sullungtang and radish kimchi are good by themselves, but it makes a different taste when added,” Gyungho added.

“Making a new taste out of two different tastes, eh?” Taesung repeated the words Gyungho said.

“Yes. My mother made this radish kimchi with a radish in season, so it is especially tastier. We can refill as much as you can, so try it out,” said Gyungho.

Chulmin, the soup lover, did not hesitate at Gyungho’s recommendation and immediately poured the radish kimchi soup into the bowl. Striking red colored soup mixed into the white soup, which made a better looking pink. Taesung just looked at him doing it without words. Chulmin’s eyes opened wide with a spoon in his mouth.

“This is a different world!” said Chulmin.

“...”

Taesung however, remained silent despite Chulmin making fussa about it.

“What are you doing? Have it before it goes cold. Come on,” said Chulmin.

“That's right… two can add up to make a different outcome.”

“What are you mumbling about, bro?”

“Chulmin, I think we may be onto something,”

“What you’re not onto, is the world’s best soup rice!’’ said Chulmin.

“Hey! Stop eating and listen,” shouted Taesung.

“Ow, you startled me! What is it?”

“What if the candy and the defective artifact is like sullungtang and radish kimchi?”

“What do you mean? What is it?”

“Ugh, did you cheat on your police exam?” asked Taesung.

“Uh, so if the health supplement and artifact is like the sullungtang and radish kimchi... “ Chulmin mumbled to himself.

“What if two when mixed up, brings a different effect?”

“Wait-”

Chulmin became shocked and Taesung nodded.

“You feel it, don’t you? We did ask for a test on both of them, but we did not test for the reaction when both of them are combined,” said Taesung.

They did request a Federal Magic Engineering Laboratory or FMEL for a test on both substances, but did not ask for an effect when both of them are applied at the same time.

“What do you say?”

“I think it seems far-fetched, but…” said Chulmin.

“But?”

“What have we got to lose? Let’s go to FMEL first and try it out. If it doesn’t work on demonic beasts, I’ll try it on myself. If my eyes turn red, then you can stop it.”

“Alright.”

Taesung and Chulmin then finished the entire bowl at once and took out the phone. Taesung found Dr. Kim Daehyun of the FMEL was on the contact list and made the call.

[Huh? Mr. Lee. Anything wrong? Why the call at such an hour?] Dr. Kim answered the call.

“Oh, Dr. Kim. Are you at the lab right now?” asked Taesung.

[No, I’m at home. Why? Something wrong?] asked Dr. Kim.

“I’m sorry but can you meet me at the lab right now?”

[Now? I thought I can give the result back to you by tomorrow,] said Dr. Kim.

“Yeah, but I have a different idea. I need your help. Please.”

[Can’t we do it tomorrow morning? I can be there early.]

“No. I need you right now. Please?” asked Taesung.

[I just got home and showered.]

“Dr. Kim. Do you remember my team member that I brought along last time?”

[...]

“You told me she’s your style. I’ll try to set up a blind date,” said Taesung.

[I’ll be right there. I’m helping you because you seem to be in a hurry, okay?]

“Yeah, of course. See you there,” said Taesung.

He then hung up the phone and took out two 50 thousand won bills and placed them over the table.

“Let’s go then,” said Taesung.

“Bro, what about the change?”

“We don’t have time. And we had good food and a hint, so I can use this much,” said Taesung.

“Okay. Thanks for the food,” said Chulmin.

“Say that to the owner,” said Taesung as he saw Jisook coming out from the kitchen. Taesung thanks Jisook.

“Thank you for the food. Money’s on the table. Please keep the change as a token of my gratitude. I’ll visit again,” said Taesung.

“Of course. Please call us when you come for company dinner,” said Jisook.

“Yes. Just call us and we’ll prepare the food you order,” said Gyungho.

Two of them then bowed and left the restaurant.

“They left so early at the last moment. Did something happen?” thought Jisook as she began to clean up the table. Gyungho stopped her.

“I’ll do it, mom. Go in and rest. I’ll keep out for another hour and close. Rest up, will you?”

“I’ve done this alone for ten years. Don’t worry,” said Jisook.

“I wasn’t there to help for the past ten years. Let me help you now,” said Gyungho.

“It’s okay! I can do it.”

“No, no. I can do it! You go rest!”

Jisook insisted she would clean up, but had to rest at Gyungho’s constant plea.

“Alright, alright. I’ll get some rest then.”

It was then.

[Wish Fulfillment Quest (shared) : Captain is pissed off… COMPLETE]

‘...!’ Gyungho became curious.

[You have exceeded the goal amount, and extra karma is being awarded.]

‘What?’

[Two Million Karma is rewarded.]

The quest that Snowball shared had been completed.

‘How did it complete when I didn’t do anything?’

Gyungho had a karma of 12374264303028342, so extra two million didn’t seem like much. It was as if a rich guy had picked up a few coins on the street. But of course, there were those who weren’t like that.

[Two million! I will level up if I get just a little more! Hahahaha!]

Snowball was grinning like a mad dog, rolling on the floor.

“Son! Snowball is acting weird!”

Gyungho had a hard time stopping Jisook from calling 911 to help Snowball.