Everyone is Young Except for Me

Park Muyeol roamed the streets of Mulan. He grumbled for 30 minutes as he recalled Chen’s stinginess.

“Urgh. It already happened. Why drive me out?”

It was too much no matter how he thought about it. He had repeatedly apologized but Chen refused to accept his apology. Rather, he looked at the weapons he worked hard to make and shed tears. Then he ordered Park Muyeol to leave.

‘I just swung a staff.’

He wandered around and now he saw Mulan’s market. There were many merchants soliciting customers and a delicious smell pierced his nose. Some sold weapons and others sold armor. He wanted to buy weapons but he had no money. He saw it at this time.

[Recruiting soldiers! Weapons are provided at the end of training! — head of the training camp, Kunta.]

“Training camp?”

Suddenly, he had an idea. It was embarrassing but he had actually gone to Samcheong College of Education once. Well, it was during a time of upheaval. Still, he thought it would be a bit different here. It was virtual reality so Park Muyeol wondered what the training camp would look like here.

However, it seemed lonely if he went there alone. According to Chuntaek, the young people here didn’t get along well with those who were over 50. Well, he roughly understood it but still thought it was a bit too much. No, did he want to get older?

“Damn, I suddenly feel sad.”

Park Muyeol thought about something for a moment before pressing the log out button. The lid of the capsule opened and Park Muyeol called someone as soon as he came out. It was a person who was usually like his shadow. Once he pushed the number 1, the phone called straight away. Someone picked it up with a shout.

-Yes, Chairman-nim.

“Gitae, come here now.”

-Yes?

He didn’t order only one capsule.

“Let’s do something fun.”

He ordered two—one for himself, and one for his grandchild.

* * *

[Scanning your iris.]

[Looking for your ID.]

[Connecting to Arkstar.]

Park Muyeol lent his grandson’s capsule to Kim Gitae. He thought it would be fun to play the game with Gitae. He actually wanted to call that guy Seokdu but he was busy now due to the Legless Bird meeting.

‘There are guys who don’t know anything and are harassing merchants these days.’

In fact, Legless Bird wasn’t an ordinary organization. It was a peace group that valued righteousness and cooperation. Park Muyeol, Chuntaek, and Dongbaek created this organization to protect merchants who couldn’t fight against other organizations.

In this world, the man called Kim Muhan, the ‘Godfather,’ went down such a path and they wanted to be like that person. In the old days, they protected the merchants for only a small amount of labor fees but as the years passed, they increased the scale of their business. Now it was possible to protect the merchants without the labor fee.

‘In any case, that salamander reached out his hands here. I’ll have to investigate this thing.’

The world suddenly brightened with a burst of light.

[Welcome to Arkstar.]

He opened his eyes and saw the place with the same recruitment signs as before. Park Muyeol hurried to the place where he decided to meet Kim Gitae. After a while, he was able to meet Gitae. “Chairman-nim.”

“Yes. You came. By the way, what is with your name...?”

“You don’t like my name?”

In this world, Gitae’s name was ‘Haeba.’

‘What is with Haeba...?’

He replied, “Rather than disliking it, I’m more curious about what it means.”

“My nickname among my older brothers was ‘Sunflower.’” [1]

Park Muyeol wondered, “So that is why you’re called Haeba. It is my favorite flower.”

“It also means I will look at Chairman-nim like you are the sun.”

“...Nasty guy.”

Park Muyeol glanced at him contemptuously and led him to the training camp. Kim Gitae looked around with an expression of wonder. “I’ve only heard about it. It is amazing, Chairman-nim.” 

“Yes. Everything is as vivid as reality. It is something I lived long enough to see.”

“Live long, Chairman-nim.” 

“Stop it. I told you not to call me Chairman-nim.”

“Even if you step down, you are the eternal chairman.”

“You are annoying.”

During the conversation, the two of them reached the training camp recruitment sign. Kim Gitae had a question mark. “Training camp?”

“Yes. We will enter here from now on.”

“No, you can go in alone...”

“Shut up.”

“This isn’t where I want to go...”

“You don’t have a choice. I will go in first, Haeba.” 

Thus, the two men enlisted unexpectedly.

* * *

At this time, I was sitting on the bow of the ship and looking at the wide sea. It was half a day after leaving the North Pole. The aurora that led us disappeared and I closed my eyes as I listened to the sound of the waves in the sunset.

...It was my fault. I should’ve listened to Prometheus’ words when he said it was dangerous. Maybe I hadn’t inwardly trusted him.

During my brief meditation, I could feel a seagull sitting on my head. I opened my eyes and could hear Mudur’s voice.

[Hey, human. Chwiiik.]

‘What is it?’

[Why am I in such a trivial body?]

This jerk was still having a fit. It seemed to be true that Mudur’s personality was rubbish. I didn’t want to be defeated in an argument with him. In fact, I had such a personality. ‘That’s what I want to ask, you rotten guy.’ 

[Chwiiik! Impertinent! Do you know who I am?]

‘An ugly guy.’

My conversation with him was still unchanged. What was his sense of prestige? He didn’t seem to have forsaken it even when he died. Well, I wasn’t the one who was in a hurry. Maybe time would resolve it. 

I tried to ignore Mudur as I came out to the deck. Looking up, Captain Gold was watching the sunset with a telescope. His eyes would become bad if he kept looking like this. Well, it wasn’t my business. I turned my head to another place and saw Gyeonso Dragon who was still engrossed in training. Next to him was Kim Sujeong, who was fishing. I sat next to her and also cast the line of a fishing rod. I saw the fishing bobbers floating on the surface side by side and smiled. 

She asked me, “Did you finish your meditation?”

“Yes.”

“Have strength. Prometheus can wake up.”

She seemed to be forcing a smile. I was grateful that she was trying to cheer me up.

"Thank you. What about Camille?”

In fact, I had wanted to focus on meditation so I cut off the connection with constellations for a while. Camille was the master of the star cluster now that Prometheus was asleep.

“Would you like to check for yourself?” She raised her fist and I met it with mine. A short time later, there was a message that I was connected to the star cluster.

[You have connected to the star cluster ‘Nepomuk Cathedral.’]

Nepomuk Cathedral...

The saintess, Camille Nepomuk. She was a well-known constellation among humans. Nepomuk Cathedral was originally a place where she stayed for a long time. She treated people with her divine power but her natural medical skills were also outstanding. She was good enough to save the dead so the Underworld was overturned.

The supreme god Jupiter was forced to sentence her to death for the sake of the Underworld’s order. She threw herself into the river and saved many people with her excellent medical skills and divine power, but she was the unfortunate saintess who had to die for it. This was the identity of Camille Nepomuk.

[The firefly star, ‘Camille,’ has stopped eating and drinking.]

Stop eating and drinking... this didn’t mean much. She had already risen to the position of a constellation. She wouldn’t die even if she didn’t eat. However, the impact on her seemed bigger than I had expected. “Camille.”

[The firefly star, ‘Camille,’ is looking at you.]

“Have strength. I will surely wake up Prometheus.”

[The firefly star, ‘Camille,’ is tearing up.]

[The firefly star, ‘Camille,’ says that her medicine doesn’t work either.]

“I suppose so. He is a god. You know that as well.”

[The firefly star, ‘Camille,’ is nodding.]

“I will do it somehow. So stop ignoring food and water.”

[The firefly star, ‘Camille,’ is nodding and saying she knows.]

[The fist star, ‘Raitra,’ is handing her a cup of ssanghwa tea.]

“Raitra, ssanghwa tea isn’t good for an empty stomach.”

[The fist star, ‘Raitra,’ is amazed!]

[The fist star, ‘Raitra,’ claims it is good with an empty stomach!]

“That is just your idea.” 

I pulled out the floating pot straight away. Then I summoned Solar. I watched the swirling flames of the sun and realized it again. Originally, I wouldn’t even have to say it and Solar would come out. Now it was coming out by name. I could feel his absence again.

“Hehe! Master! Solar has come!”

“Let’s cook, Solar.” 

“What are you going to make today?!”

I spoke to the sky, “Camille, what do you want to eat?”

[The firefly star, ‘Camille,’ is troubled.]

[The firefly star, ‘Camille,’ says she wants to make a dish made from a star fish.]

Star fish? This...

I was a bit surprised by the menu choice that I hadn’t even thought about. It was because the star fish was a fish Prometheus obtained for Camille. According to the stars in the sky, he had proposed to her using the star fish and was rejected. I hadn’t expected her to want to eat it...

[The firefly star, ‘Camille,’ says she wants to eat a star fish by any means.]

“...I understand. I just don’t know if there will be a star fish.”

Still, I called out to Gold watching the sunset from the watchtower. “Hey! Gold!”

“Oh! What is it? Huhaha!”

He was still a hot guy. 

“Do you have any star fish?”

Gold came down the ropes in an instant and said, “Oh! A star fish, is it? I think I’ll have to search for it. It is a precious fish! Huhaha!”

“That is true. If you have any then save one for me. It is a request.”

“Why are you talking so sadly? Haha. Please wait a moment.”

After a while, he brought up a large barrel. There was a large fish shining inside it. I was glad. There was a star fish.

[Adult Star Fish]

[Rating: Heroic

Expiration Date: 1 hour.

It is a rare fish that lives in the deep sea. This name is given because the scales shine like stars when hit by light.

It is hard to find and the taste is said to be amazing.]

“Huhaha! You are lucky! There was only one!”

“Thank you. You will be protected by the stars.”

“I want to be protected by Sea God Neptune rather than the stars! I will be a naval king! Huhaha!”

“Yes, yes, you can do it well.”

[The firefly star, ‘Camille,’ has a bit of color in her face.]

I started cooking right away. If we didn’t eat the star fish in an hour, the taste and quality would be very poor. I poured the water straight into the pot and took out a steamer. I could cook steamed dishes simply by adding the steamer to the floating pot.

Kim Sujeong asked with a surprised expression, “Eh...? You aren’t roasting it?”

“If I roast this fish then it can’t hold the stars.”

“Huh?”

[The firefly star, ‘Camille,’ is looking at you with a smile.]

Perhaps Camille knew what I was talking about. Kim Sujeong puffed up her cheeks. “What? It seems that both Camille and Father know something? What is it? What? I’m curious!”

“Just ask if you are curious. Keke.”

I left her behind in a dazed state and put the star fish in the steamer. It struggled with a great power. In fact, cutting off the head could make it calm down but I intentionally didn’t cut it. It was a fish dish that would be going to a constellation so I needed to take care.

...I have to be careful.

I trimmed the fins on the tail, chest, and belly. I cut the star fish as carefully as possible so that the scales wouldn’t be damaged. The important thing now was that the scales didn’t go bad. It smelled a bit fishy but I could get rid of it with something else. I would use this.

[North Pole Snow Salt]

[Rating: Heroic

Expiration Date: 30 days

It is made from snow, one of the specialties of the North Pole. Please note that since the expiration date is short, it will melt if you don’t use it quickly!]

It was a magical spice that helped to control various smells, including the fishy smells. “I did a great job bringing this.”

I had been in such a rush that I almost didn’t bring it. Fortunately, Diya had a salt shop and I somehow acquired some. If I had forgotten about it, I wouldn’t be able to cook like this now.

I started sprinkling salt on top of the star fish.

[The fishy smell of the star fish has been removed by the North Pole Snow Salt.]

I made a satisfied smile and placed it in the pot. The water already placed in there emitted mild steam. The important thing wasn’t to steam from the beginning but to put the fish in after the water had boiled. Otherwise it would just become mushy later.

I grabbed the flopping star fish and quickly closed the lid. The lid was rattling quite roughly. “Kuock. This guy has tremendous strength.”

The lid was almost blown off. The fish was probably flopping around in the pot. After a while, the star fish had calmed down and I opened the lid again. 

“...It is steamed.”

I moved it to a plate and applied a pre-made sauce.

Ttiring~

[Please set the theme of the dish.]

“It has been a while since I’ve seen this message.”

I didn’t think about it for too long. “Love.”

[Superior quality! Steamed Star Fish Seasoned with Love!]

[Simplicity is more difficult than complexity!

Every chef will know that this dish is made with the best workmanship.

The ingredients are simple but the fish dish is filled with the skills of a chef.

In terms of appearance and shape, everything is faithful to a superior quality dish of a weather chef!

Anyone who eats this dish will fall in love.

-Star Taste: ☆☆☆☆☆

-Expiration Date: 10 days.

-Health Recovery: 500. Magic Power Recovery: 500.

Efficacy: Once you eat this dish, memories of your first love will come to mind.

All stats are increased by 15% for one day.

Water attribute damage will increase by 20%.

Water resistance will increase by 50%.

Defense will increase by 50% for 30 minutes.

* Sun’s Blessing: Strength, defense, fire damage, and fire resistance is increased by 50% for 30 minutes.]

“Wow! The fish is shining! Amazing!” The moment Kim Sujeong exclaimed, the light of the setting sun fell on the scales of the star fish and the scales shone like starlight. Perhaps Camille was thinking of someone as she watched this dish.

 [The firefly star, ‘Camille,’ is recalling her memories of ‘Prometheus.’]

I could feel Camille smiling as she looked at the red sky. The sea breeze blowing was very pleasant. At this moment, a surprised voice was heard. “Ehh? Why is Solar like this?!”

I followed Kim Sujeong’s gaze and saw Solar enveloped with a white light. Then a message appeared in front of me.

Ttiring~

[Solar’s evolution has begun.]

 [1] Haeba is the first two characters taken from the Korean word for sunflower