The Poison Demon’s Strategy for the Martial Tower Chapter 85

Chapter 85: The House Where Everything Goes Smoothly

I had co ho after a long while.

It was because our stingy father had called the whole family together, saying he would treat everyone.

"I'm ho!"

Father returned from work and walked through the door.

The leg he always limped on looked a little more at ease today.

"What is everyone doing? Aren't you ready to go out?"

Father urged us to go out for a al right away.

"Since when do you do this? You."

"Dad, did sothing happen?"

"Heh heh heh. Just go and get dressed."

With Father leading the way, we headed to a pork belly restaurant near the house.

Right next to it was a place that sold premium Korean beef, but Father hesitated in front of it.

Mother was quick to step in.

"I feel like having pork belly today."

Father's wrinkles smoothed out, and he pushed open the pork belly restaurant door with a proud stride.

"One serving of 5 portions packed into 4 portions, please."

"If it's 4 portions, it's 4 portions—there's no such thing."

The owner lady's tone was playful, but timid Father deflated imdiately.

Once again, savior Mother stepped in.

"10 portions, please."

The owner lady asked again.

"That many?"

"There are 3 n here."

Bo-reum asked,

"Dad and Oppa. That's only 2 n, isn't it?"

"Including you."

"Mom!"

Heh heh.

I found it so funny I laughed to myself and got smacked on the back by Bo-reum.

I said to Bo-reum.

"Mother, please don't tease our Bo-reum so much. What do you an she's fat at 164 and 77?"

"Hey! It's 53!"

"Yeah, your skin age."

"Mom! Oppa keeps teasing !"

Mother said,

"It's fine to tease Oppa a little."

"Dad! Can't you say sothing to him?"

"Ahem. If Oppa says so, then that's that."

"Ugh, seriously!"

Heh heh heh. You see that?

The firm and steady presence of this household's new pillar.

"Oh my gosh!"

Bo-reum, feeling wronged, slapped on the back with a thwack.

I felt good.

Sizzle—.

The at was grilling away.

Father cleared his throat with a hmm hmm.

It seed there was a big announcent.

"Kids. Honey."

"Yes."

Father grinned and spoke.

"I got promoted to Division Manager."

"Oh my, Dad!"

"My husband, the eternal Section Chief, got a promotion?"

"Heh heh heh."

Father's shoulders swelled with pride.

It looked like they might shoot straight up to the sky.

【Father rejoices, saying he has finally settled a lifelong grudge. 2,000 Happiness】

"It sounds like your performance was great."

Mother said.

"My performance has always been great. And yet I was always Section Chief."

Bo-reum asked,

"Then you must have more subordinates under you now, right?"

"……That's the sa."

Father's expression suddenly darkened.

A small factory of only 7 people.

The boss, the boss's wife, the boss's son, the boss's nephew, Father, and 2 foreign workers.

Bo-reum asked again.

"But your salary must have gone up at least."

"……That's the sa too."

Father grew even darker.

I knew.

Father's pay was even less than the foreign workers who piled on overti and weekend shifts without limit.

Bo-reum realized her mistake and looked at .

This dimwit.

My turn to step up.

"Oh! Does that make the son of a Division Manager now?"

"Mm……Yes……"

"Can I brag about it? The son of a Division Manager! It feels like a dream!"

"Th, that's right."

Father brightened a little.

Mother took hold of Father's arm and leaned against him.

"A Division Manager husband……. That ans I can be called a respectable madam, doesn't it?"

"Is that so?"

"A respectable madam—I could die happy right now. I'll let my hair down tonight."

"H, honey. Why the hair?"

As the lavish praise continued, Father's face lit up again.

"Now let's eat."

Father popped a piece of pork belly into his mouth.

The way the corners of his lips twitched showed just how pleased he was.

And so we ate for a while, when Father's mobile phone rang.

Bring bring—.

Father suddenly jumped to his feet and answered the call.

"Ah, yes. This is Division Manager Kim, sir."

Calling even after work hours.

I frowned.

He stepped outside to take the call.

"Yes? My salary? No. I have no complaints. Yes? You're raising it?!"

He must have been excited, because his voice carried all the way to us.

"Wh, why so suddenly? A g, governnt special subsidy? Just for ?"

Father ca back looking utterly dumbfounded and dropped into his seat.

"Honey……"

"You've worked hard. Congratulations."

Mother gave Father a nod as she looked at him, and the corners of his eyes grew moist.

I nudged Bo-reum in the ribs.

As if she had been ready for it, Bo-reum's shout burst out.

"Ma'am! More at, please!"

【Father rejoices, saying he has settled the grudge of a thousand autumns. 3,000 Happiness】

The good news did not stop there.

The next day, Bo-reum flung off her shoes and shouted.

"Mom! They're giving a scholarship!"

"A scholarship?"

"Yeah! A full scholarship!"

"The scholarship deadline already passed."

"I don't know! They said they're giving it anyway."

"That's wonderful!"

Bo-reum stamped her feet as if she could die of happiness and went on.

"And that's not all. They're sending abroad to study!"

"Where to?"

"Arica! England! France! They said I can pick anywhere!"

【Bo-reum finally declares she is a study-abroad student too, and bounces up and down. 1,000 Happiness】

I had been listening quietly when I asked.

"You're in the Japanese Language departnt, aren't you?"

"What does that matter? Where should I go? Hm? Where should I go? France must be the right choice, right? Or England?"

"Go to France."

"Why?"

"You look like Napoleon!"

"Want to die?!"

"Napoleon Bo-reumparte."

"Mom!"

"Tae-yang! Stop teasing your little sister!"

【Kim Tae-yang clutches his stomach and rolls around laughing. 300 Happiness】

My sister's face was full of anticipation.

I had a feeling.

‘Chief Han must have stepped in.’

It was sothing I had expected, but seeing my family actually rejoicing made feel warm too.

‘Good work, Chief Han.’

‘As expected, you do your job well.’

The good news did not stop there.

Actually, for the past month, Mother's expression had not been good.

As ‘Handso Bungeoppang’ took off, a competing business appeared almost imdiately.

One in particular made Bungeoppang that looked almost identical to mine and promoted it aggressively.

The na was ‘Handso Bungeoppang’.

It seed like Miraejegwa Departnt Store—a rival to Baekgyeong Departnt Store—was pushing it with serious intent.

It was just Bungeoppang, yet a massive TV ad campaign was underway, featuring the hottest celebrities of the mont, with all kinds of influencers constantly plugging it.

[Handso in shape, handso in taste!]

"I'm amazed that ad even passed the review board."

I was speechless.

Of course, they couldn't replicate the unrivaled flavor of my Bungeoppang, but the problem was price competitiveness.

"Opening special: half-price for 3 months."

It was already cheaper than my Bungeoppang at 4,000 won, and they slashed it to half-price on top of that.

On top of that, the male celebrity from the TV ad personally grilled the Bungeoppang, and if you visited the departnt store, you could even take a photo with him.

"Tae-yang. Sales have dropped sharply."

"It's fine. If there are tis when it goes up, there are tis when it goes down."

"I feel bad toward Baekgyeong Departnt Store."

"Don't worry about it."

But the custors kept dwindling.

It wasn't simply because the competitor was doing well.

It was because of malicious press coverage and articles.

[In a world where the cost of living has risen to the point where a single Bungeoppang costs 5,000 won, we ask: how did the symbol of affordable food—Bungeoppang—beco a luxury? Reporter Hong is standing by at the scene.]

They used a mosaic, but anyone could tell it was my Bungeoppang brand on the screen.

Whether a comnt brigade had been deployed, malicious comnts were piling up on the NuTube news video too.

└ 5,000 won for Bungeoppang is crossing the line.

└ The owner marketed himself on his looks and now he's getting what he deserves.

└ Honestly, he's not better-looking than a film actor.

└ Stood in line for an hour then just ate a different Bungeoppang. Wasn't worth the wait.

└ So you still ate one in the end. Tasty, right?

└ Drop the paid promotion act.

Public sentint was not good.

Then Division Manager Jeong of Baekgyeong Departnt Store called.

"Sir, have you seen it?"

"Yes."

"We are preparing a press response as well."

"You don't have to."

"Even so……"

"Watch and wait. It will be resolved."

True to my word, it was resolved exactly 1 week after I t with Chief Han.

I was watching the news when:

[Miraejegwa Departnt Store's ‘Handso Bungeoppang’ which had been taking the market by storm recently, has been hit with a 6-month operating suspension for violating food hygiene laws. ‘Handso Bungeoppang’ had been using falsely labeled ingredients and expired food materials to keep costs down—]

This ti there was no mosaic at all.

One report after another followed.

[A massive slush fund scandal has erupted at Miraejegwa Departnt Store. The National Tax Service has launched a sweeping investigation, and after the prosecution conducted a search and seizure, evidence has been found suggesting that funds were embezzled under the brand na ‘Handso Bungeoppang’.]

There was more.

[The idol who had been riding high on the wave of the ‘Handso Bungeoppang’ advertisent has been booked by police for drug use. The psychotropic substance in question—]

"Well, that's nice."

But isn't this going a bit far?

There are always going to be competing businesses.

Instead of just shutting down that one brand, they took down the whole departnt store and dragged in the celebrity who appeared in the ad too?

"……Heh heh heh."

[Amid disreputable businesses causing social controversy, one business that quietly continues on its own path has beco a topic of conversation. Baekgyeong Departnt Store's ‘Handso Bungeoppang’, with its carefully selected ingredients and high quality—]

A news segnt that read like an advertisent followed imdiately.

Broadcasters from a TV station in which the governnt held shares were deployed, all taking bites of my Bungeoppang and exclaiming ‘Delicious!’ one after another.

"This is even more extre."

Even I was at a loss for words.

Mother called right away.

"Tae-yang. Did you see the news?"

"Yes."

"What on earth is going on?"

"I wonder."

"Anyway, it's sothing to be grateful for. Everything has been working out strangely well lately."

"Heh heh heh. Did sothing else good happen?"

"Well, I was walking along when soone suddenly told to do a prize draw. Said there'd be so kind of prize."

"And?"

"They were so persistent I played along, pretending I had no choice. And then."

"And then?"

"A 1-year free costic dermatology treatnt voucher ca out. Said it was incredibly expensive, and suddenly they were setting off fireworks and making a fuss. Oh! It works for the whole family too, they said."

"Ha ha ha ha!"

"I've already made a reservation with Bo-reum. Your father says he won't go, but I convinced him with so effort, saying a Division Manager should at least take care of his skin. Tae-yang, you co too."

"I'm fine."

"Sothing else strange has been happening! Packages keep getting misdelivered to the house?"

"Packages?"

"Yeah. When I call to return them, there's no return address. They just tell to keep it. When I get curious and open them, they're packed full of expensive things—the latest model phones, laptops, all high-end stuff."

"Well I'll be."

"This is the 3rd ti already. Oh! The doorbell's ringing. Another package must have arrived. Oh my? This ti it's a large refrigerator!"

I told Mother.

"Don't use the electronic devices. Just collect them and donate them."

"Why?"

"It just feels off."

‘Chief Han might have planted a wiretap in them.’

I ended the call, and this ti Division Manager Jeong rang .

"Sir Kim. Have you worked your magic again?"

"No."

"Still, how does all this good fortune co at once?"

"It must be because you have accumulated a great deal of virtue over the years, Division Manager Jeong."

"Goodness……. People have started lining up again starting today."

"You're going to be busy for a while."

"Yes, I'll do my best. And while we're on the subject, about raising your Baekgyeong stake—"

Click.

I hung up.

Streetch—. I stretched with a yawn.

A smile kept breaking out on my face without my knowing.

‘Should I have revealed my identity sooner?’

‘Whatever I do, it goes well.’

‘A household where everything flows smoothly.’

‘That's our ho.’

【Kim Tae-yang says he has worked hard enough. 1,000 Happiness】

Slide—.

I pulled the secret communication device I had put in the drawer and turned it on.

ssages ca flooding in right away.

I didn't read them and called Chief Han instead.

"Kim Tae-yang!"

"Chief Han, may I see you?"

* * *

It wasn't a café this ti.

Late in the evening. The banks of the Han River.

I t her in front of the vending machine where I had once bought Im Ye-rin a barley tea.

"Would you like so barley tea?"

"You're calling old right now."

"That's not what I ant."

"Coffee, please."

I put in the coins and pulled out a coffee.

She took the vending machine coffee, sat on a bench, and said to .

"You have a good physique. Must have trained a lot."

"The training was grueling."

"Even diving into the river and all?"

"Heh heh heh."

She turned her head toward and asked.

"Have you thought about appearing on Super Climber K?"

"No."

Even though I'd revealed my identity, appearing on a show like that would an my family would find out too. Father and Mother would probably faint on the spot.

"That's a sha. It looks like you have the skill to aim for the championship."

"Aren't you going to enter, Chief Han?"

"If I enter, would the ga be fair? I have other important matters……"

She let her words trail off.

"Let's talk about sothing else."

"Like what?"

I spoke up.

"A lot of good things have happened lately."

"Congratulations."

"Thank you. Thanks to you."

"Was it obvious?"

She gave a smile.

"Yes. Quite a lot."

"Did it feel like too much?"

"The packages were a bit……"

"If you'd like, I can hand over the company your father works for too. Looking into it, there's no shortage of corruption in that owner family—I could easily throw them behind bars."

"Aren't the jails running out of room lately?"

"We'll make room. For a request from Kim Tae-yang."

"I'll decline that."

‘Father wouldn't be able to sleep a wink if he sat in the owner's chair. The pressure would be too much.’

"If it feels like too much, I'll stop now."

"I only said the packages felt like too much."

"Greed, too."

"Greed is only greed when you indulge it while you still can."

"Did the Hero teach you that?"

No.

‘……The world did.’

I smiled without a word.

She said to .

"I'll keep looking out for you."

"Thank you."

"When will I be able to see the Hero again?"

"I don't know. Only my master decides that."

"……Please put in a good word. I've shaken off all the tails too."

"He knows."

The tails who had been investigating the Naless Hero were now guarding my family.

True to their nature as Gukmubon agents, they followed discreetly, and my family had no idea.

Chief Han sounded bitter as she took a sip of her coffee and muttered to herself.

"Back then……. I guess it wasn't the right ti."

"For what?"

"My desire to et the Naless Hero. I should have held back then."

I watched her for a mont, then brought up the real reason I ca.

"Your right arm hurts, doesn't it? You've received treatnt, but the pain keeps lingering."

"……My goodness."

"That's why you've also stopped climbing lately, isn't it."

She rubbed her right arm and said.

"It made contact with the 37th Floor's poison. Luckily I got hold of an antidote flown in from Arica quickly, so it kept from spreading further. But they say the poison energy has stayed in my arm."

"I see."

"I'm using a new drug. Outrageously expensive, and who knows what the side effects are, but there's no choice. The country's hopes rest on my shoulders……"

Chief Han let her words trail off, then continued.

"Still, thanks to that, I've improved a great deal. I've also done a lot of training to be able to use the spear with my left arm, and the Hero gave the Blue Dragon Spear as well, so I think it'll be fine now."

She let out a short sigh.

"Of course I trust the Hero, but I can't keep depending on him forever. I'm looking at the week after next. My rechallenge of the 37th floor."

"So the other important matter was the 37th floor climb."

"It's my first climb in a long while, so I'm a little nervous."

"You'll succeed."

"Thank you. For cheering on."

"I an it. You'll succeed."

"You sound as though you're certain of my success."

"Because I have this."

I took out what I had prepared.

"My master says to give this to you."

An object wrapped in silk cloth.

She opened it imdiately.

It was a small ceramic jar with a sealed mouth.

"What is this?"

"It is the 37th floor antidote."

"……!"

"You may indulge in greed today."

Chief Han's pupils shook violently.

Thud—.

The paper cup slipped from her hand and rolled across the ground.