The Support Ate it All

Chapter 115: Downtown Area (6)

Just like I guessed from seeing the people dressed as researchers, the building was actually a biological experiment laboratory.

On one hand, research was underway to inject drugs into captured wild animals to increase their muscle mass and make them more ferocious,

On the other hand, research was underway to mix several different animals and harness the power of each one of them.

The creatures we had encountered in the previous stages had all been created here.

The two explorers trembled with horror at the horrific sight.

– Such a cruel thing…!

And they began destroying the devices used in the experiment one by one.

Of course, the researchers weren’t just going to stand by and watch.

Just when it seemed they would flee, they quickly mounted humanoid robots and retaliated.

Seo Ye-in fired her gun repeatedly, but the bullets only made a pinging sound as they were blocked by the solid steel, leaving only minor scratches.

“Aim for the side. The side.”

“Mhmm.”

Upon closer inspection, one could see that a sophisticated mechanism made up of intricate parts was attached to the side of the robot.

When targeted, the robot fizzled and stopped moving.

Until this realization, one had to shoot randomly at anything that appeared, during which time the researchers mounted on the robots would happily pummel us.

It was a malicious design intended to drain 300 points, but knowing this in advance, it was not much more difficult than the previous stages.

Tutututututut!

We took turns taking down the robots and mutant wild animals that appeared and destroying the experimental devices one by one.

At the same time, when the wild animals trapped in the cages were released, the laboratory turned into complete chaos.

[Warning!]

[Warning!]

Red warning lights flashed everywhere,

– Kuwoong!

A robot even larger and heavier than the ones the researchers had ridden descended into the arena.

Aboard it was a mad scientist.

He was the final stage boss.

Just like I had done throughout the mini-game, whenever the boss made a threatening move, I signaled to Seo Ye-in.

“He’s swinging down his left arm. Dodge lightly.”

“Lightly.”

The explorers moved lightly to either side and dodged the giant robot’s swinging left arm.

“Count to three and then jump. 1, 2, 3. Jump.”

“Jump.”

The giant robot swept the floor but the explorers timed their jump perfectly and leaped up.

“Now shoot.”

“Mhm.”

Tutututututut!

As bullets continuously struck its weak spots, the giant robot’s health gauge steadily decreased.

And when the health dropped below a third,

Red lights flashed across its body.

“Laser beams are coming.”

And a lot of them.

It was the final boss’s desperate attack pattern, and the problem here was that these lasers were shot in a highly complex pattern.

There wasn’t enough time to explain each dodge move to dodge.

So, I had no choice but to say,

“Watch closely and try to dodge.”

“Okay.”

And if that fails, just use a continue.

We’ve come this far, so you can afford about 300 points, right?

Soon after, the giant robot crouched down. Then it spread out and shot dozens of laser beams at us.

Left, right, diagonal, jump, left, forward, pause, right, back, pause longer, diagonal, diagonal, jump…

I danced a frenzied tap dance while dodging every single one of the laser beams with dazzling moves.

I glanced over to see how Seo Ye-in was doing,

…Alive?

Contrary to my expectation of seeing a gray “Continue?” screen, Seo Ye-in’s avatar was alive and firing away.

“How did you do that?”

“……”

Seo Ye-in slowly raised her hand and formed a V-sign.

I had meant it as a way to tell her to dodge as best as she could, but Seo Ye-in had actually watched closely and managed to dodge everything.

A truly devilish talent.

Not only did she perfectly adapt to the game, but she also became stuck in it with me.

I let out a bitter smile.

“Let’s finish this.”

Tututututututu!

After defeating the mad scientist, the male and female explorers turned the giant robot into a heap of scrap metal.

They led the animals out of the crumbling laboratory.

After watching the lab collapse with the animals, they all walked off towards the sunset…

[- The End -]

Slowly, the ending credits began to rise from the bottom of the screen.

It had been a rough journey but we had finally completed the

“Good job. High five.”

When I raised my palm, Seo Ye-in lightly tapped hers against mine in a silent high five. Clap.

As a prize for successfully completing the mini-game, Seo Ye-in received the tiger doll.

It was about the size of a large dog so Seo Ye-in had to wrap her arms around it.

She held the tiger and gently shook its paw at me.

It reminded me suddenly of Park Na-ri’s tiger.

Having easily met the conditions of ‘Using less than five tokens’ and “Watching the ending credits”, I too received my prize.

[Random Rank Up]*3

I’d keep that in the inventory for later use.

Before suggesting another game, I casually checked Seo Ye-in’s expression.

She seems sleepy.

Normally, she would have taken a nap long before now, but today, having spent the day roaming around and playing mini-games, she was evidently reaching her limit.

“Shall we call it a day?”

“Mhmm…”

Seo Ye-in slowly nodded her head up and down.

***

On the way to the entrance of the downtown area to catch the shuttle bus,

I glanced sideways. Seo Ye-in was still walking while tightly hugging the tiger doll.

It seemed she really liked it since she kept holding it even though she could have put it in the inventory.

I asked in a light tone.

“How was it today?”

“…It was fun.”

I’m glad she enjoyed it.

It had been a beneficial day in many ways.

As I was about to look forward and continue walking, the tiger’s front paw tapped my arm.

Wondering if there was something more she wanted to say, I turned my gaze back to her. Seo Ye-in was staring intently and opened her mouth.

“I want to come again.”

Seo Ye-in usually spoke little, and when she did, she had a tendency to cut things short and omit many things.

I guessed the word “together” was likely missing from her statement, “I want to come again.”

She also seemed to be expecting an answer from me as she kept staring at me.

I smiled and nodded my head.

“Yeah, let’s make time to come here often.”

“…….”

For a brief moment, Seo Ye-in’s lips curled into a gentle smile.

“It’s nice when you smile. Smile more often.”

“……?”

However, she seemed unaware of this fact and merely tilted her head in confusion.

Seo Ye-in returned to the dormitory where Ahn Jeong-mi politely greeted her.

“Have you returned, Miss?”

“Mhmm.”

“Did you have a good time with Kim Ho-nim?”

“Mhmm.”

Though her responses were typically short and her expression impassive, Ahn Jeong-mi who was an experienced butler quickly discerned the subtle mood surrounding Seo Ye-in.

She seems to be in a good mood.

It appeared that she had sufficiently relieved stress with Kim Ho in the downtown area.

Having had the “recharge time” she needed, she would likely manage to pull through another week of mentoring.

Ahn Jeong-mi thanked Kim Ho inwardly for taking her place and easing Seo Ye-in’s burdens.

This naturally led her to wonder,

I wonder how the request I made to Kim Ho-nim turned out…

Did he choose an item with the [Coupon] that was suitable for the young miss and to which she could become attached?

This skilled butler’s keen eyes sparkled sharply.

Before leaving the dormitory and after returning, she scanned Seo Ye-in from head to toe while looking for any changes.

Then she noticed a white bracelet hanging on Seo Ye-in’s wrist.

“Miss, may I take a look at your bracelet for a moment?”

“Mhmm.”

As Seo Ye-in extended her hand, Ahn Jeong-mi checked the item’s description.

She slightly squinted her eyes at the unexpected discovery.

Fluffy Cloud Bracelet… A-rank?

It was indeed a surprising find.

She had clearly given Kim Ho B-rank coupons, yet it returned as an A-rank item.

She would have to find out how he did it, but one thing was certain.

I did well to entrust it to Kim Ho-nim.

Once again, Kim Ho had proven to be a help to Seo Ye-in.

This would also bolster her own reputation in the Future Strategy Office, and she could support the two of them more actively in the future.

Then, as Seo Ye-in rummaged through her inventory,

“I also got a doll.”

She suddenly pulled out shark and anaconda dolls.

And the next moment, even Ahn Jeong-mi flinched when a tiger’s face appeared.

The detail was so vivid that for a moment she thought it was a real tiger.

“It seems you went to the game center. I’m glad to see you had a good time.”

“I also bought a gift for the butler.”

“…Huh?”

Jeong-mi blinked her eyes.

What did she just say she bought…?

Seo Ye-in then took out a neatly wrapped paper bag.

Judging by the bakery mark on it, it seemed she had brought back some bread.

In fact, the bakery coupon was something she had obtained with difficulty for her own use, but she had willingly given it up for Kim Ho and Seo Ye-in.

She was human too and felt a tinge of regret but Seo Ye-in had thoughtfully packed the bread for her.

Ahn Jeong-mi shivered with the rush of emotions.

“Miss… You’re all grown up now…!”

Her eyes felt like they were warming with tears.

After years of perseverance, Seo Ye-in had matured into someone who knew how to express gratitude.

“Open it.”

“Yes, I’ll open it right now!”

However, the moment Ahn Jeong-mi tore open the packaging and unfolded the envelope,

An unusually spicy scent hit her nostrils sharply.

“!?”

Ahn Jeong-mi froze with a smile still on her face.

She slowly looked down to inspect the contents more closely.

What appeared to be a pizza bread.

Instead of tomato sauce, it seemed as if hellfire lava was bubbling, and within that inferno, all sorts of spicy toppings seemed to be screaming to set her tongue ablaze.

It was the notorious specialty of the downtown bakery, Hellfire Pizza Bread.

Ahn Jeong-mi paused to reflect for a moment.

Did I do something wrong?

Was this the young miss’s way of expressing her dissatisfaction?

No, it didn’t seem like that.

She had spent more than a year or two in Seo Ye-in’s service, so she had become adept at quickly detecting any signs of displeasure, and there seemed to be none at the moment.

The bread itself had been brought with good intentions.

However, the fact that it was Hellfire Pizza Bread was somewhat problematic.

Ahn Jeong-mi thought to herself.

As a butler, it is my duty to gratefully accept any gift from the young miss, whatever it may be.

“…”

Seo Ye-in continued to gaze intently at Ahn Jeong-mi.

Her look seemed to ask, “Don’t you like it?” which prompted Ahn Jeong-mi to force a broad smile onto her face.

“Thank you, Miss. I will enjoy eating it.”

And with that, she took a big bite of the Hellfire Pizza Bread.

Ahn Jeong-mi experienced hell that day.

TN: Poor butler…lmao