Perfect World [EN]: Chapter 49

Beom-seok and Venus disembarked at the Osaha Passenger Terminal, set down their luggage, and gazed around at the scenery.

The clear, high sky and warm sunshine were inviting. Tourists in casual clothes hiked along the wide, palm tree-lined street, and near the azure beach, elves in swimsuits frolicked on the sand with their owners. It was mid-September, but Osaha, located near the equator, still radiated a summer vibe.

Thirsty from the heat, Beom-seok stopped at a tropical fruit juice stand and called out to the elf employee.

“Two pineapple juices, please.”

“Yes, sir.”

The elf employee grabbed two small paper cups, about 250cc each, and filled them with freshly blended pineapple juice. He handed one to Venus, and Beom-seok took the other, asking, “How much is it?”

“That’ll be 120 klang for both.”

Beom-seok’s eyes widened slightly. Even for fresh fruit juice, that seemed steep. But this was a renowned resort, so he figured there would be some price gouging. He pulled out two 100 klang bills and paid.

“By the way, how far is it from here to Ridge Hotel?”

“It’s about 5km to the left on the main road. You can’t miss it.”

That was quite a distance to walk. Beom-seok, receiving his change, continued his inquiry. “What about transportation?”

“There’s a hotel-exclusive flying car [a small, automated vehicle] that comes every 30 minutes. Taxis are also readily available. But if I were you, I’d rent a gyroboard [a personal hoverboard] for your stay. It’d be a shame to rush past the beautiful beach scenery in a flying car.”

Beom-seok nodded, agreeing with the logic. It didn’t make sense to visit a famous resort and not soak in the sights. He downed his pineapple juice in one go, exclaiming at the fresh, tangy flavor.

“캬~ Good stuff. Okay. Where can I rent a gyroboard?”

“Go straight ahead about 100 meters, then turn right from the passenger terminal.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

Beom-seok crumpled the paper cup and tossed it in the trash, picked up his luggage, and left the passenger terminal with Venus. He turned right and headed toward the gyroboard rental shop.

Woowoong! Woowoong!

A gyroboard was essentially a wheel-less motorcycle. It hovered about 50 centimeters above the ground, moving only horizontally. However, the speed was limited in this game environment, where designated roads were scarce. At best, it reached about 20km per hour—faster than walking, but slower than a full sprint. They were mainly used on sidewalks or in parks, so exceeding that speed was generally not possible.

“Hey, how much to rent a gyroboard?”

At Beom-seok’s call, a bald, middle-aged man in a floral T-shirt shuffled over in his slippers.

“Which one are you looking to ride?”

Beom-seok scanned the selection and pointed to a sky-blue gyroboard. It had two seats, perfect for couples, and a spacious luggage compartment in the back, which seemed ideal for their needs.

“I’ll take this one. What’s the rate?”

“90 klang per hour, or 400 klang for the whole day.”

After a moment’s thought, Beom-seok pulled out a 1000 klang bill.

“I’ll rent it for two days.”

The rental shop owner quickly took the money and handed back two crumpled 100 klang bills from his pocket, saying, “It’ll automatically return here when the rental period is up, so no need to bring it back. Just leave it on the side of the road.”

“Yes, I understand.”

When Beom-seok loaded their bags, the luggage compartment was nearly full, mainly due to the training equipment and suits he’d packed.

He sat in the front seat and gestured to Venus. “Venus, hop in the back.”

“Yes, Master.”

She sat behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He started the gyroboard, lifting it into the air. With a “woong woong” sound, it slowly moved forward, entered the main hiking trail, and began to pick up speed.

Whee-i-ing. Whee-i-ing.

As they cruised along, enjoying the cool breeze, they entered the beach road. Galdoogi [a type of local bird], now accustomed to humans, followed the gyroboard as if begging for food. A young local man climbed a nearby tree, picked yangja berries [a fictional fruit], and shouted down to warn them to be careful. Elves lined the beach, tanning, and hikers waved greetings whenever their eyes met.

“Venus, are you enjoying this?”

Venus was overjoyed. Traveling alone with her master felt like a dream, and she relished the gyroboard ride, feeling his warmth. She wished this moment could last forever.

“Yes, it’s wonderful.”

“But I’m going to train you hard, so be prepared.”

Beom-seok, without fail, poured cold water on the idyllic atmosphere. But Venus simply grinned, unfazed. Whether they were playing or training, it made no difference as long as she was with him.

“Yes, I’ll work hard.”

Soon, Ridge Hotel came into view. The short trip was ending as Beom-seok navigated the curved road and stopped at the hotel entrance.

As soon as they dismounted, elf bellhops rushed over, unloaded the luggage, and loaded it onto a waiting cart.

“Welcome! Welcome to Ridge Hotel!”

“Yeah, thanks.”

Beom-seok stretched and looked around. The hotel was about five stories high, not particularly tall, but it seemed capable of accommodating many guests, sprawling in an oval shape.

The tropical trees, the large swimming pool leading to the plaza, and the mini-golf course all emphasized the hotel’s luxurious nature.

Beom-seok nodded, entrusting the gyroboard to another bellhop and entering the hotel.

‘Oh, not bad. The Black Society guys put a lot of thought into this.’

The interior was truly magnificent. The lobby, resembling a grand plaza, extended to the fifth floor, with a fountain spraying cool streams of water in the center. Luxurious, thick carpets covered the floor, and flower arrangements and small wooden crafts adorned the walls.

He approached the counter, looking around in amazement.

“Welcome, sir. How can I help you?”

Beom-seok gave the counter employee a curious look. He was wearing a cotton T-shirt and simple shorts, and he’d arrived on a rented gyroboard. It wasn’t typical attire for such a luxury hotel, yet the staff, starting with the bellhops, had been exceptionally kind. In a high-end city hotel, he might have been turned away.

But this was a resort. Even the wealthy and newly rich wouldn’t wear suits and ties while vacationing. That’s why the hotel staff didn’t judge guests by their clothing.

“I’m here to check in. I have a reservation for two nights and three days.”

“What type of room would you prefer?”

Beom-seok reached into his pocket, pulled out the envelope Emma had given him, and handed it over. “I received this accommodation voucher as a gift. What kind of room does it cover?”

The staff member opened the envelope, checked the contents, widened his eyes, and quickly made a phone call. Moments later, a manager in his 30s rushed over and bowed to Beom-seok at a 90-degree angle.

“Oh, you’ve arrived! We’ve been expecting you.”

“Expecting me? Why?”

“Oh, never mind. Welcome! Please, come this way. Before I show you to your room, you’ll need to complete authentication.”

Beom-seok, assuming the Black Society had arranged special treatment, looked pleased. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be so attentive to a simple guest.

He nodded. “Yes, let’s do that. What do I need to do?”

The manager presented a small authentication device emitting a pink light. Thinking it was a fingerprint scanner, Beom-seok placed his thumb on it, then had Venus do the same.

The manager led them to a nearby elevator and took them to the fifth floor. Walking along the carpeted hallway, he stopped at a door with a nameplate reading “Room 501” and gestured to the door lock. “Since you’ve registered your fingerprints, the door will open when you press it now.”

Beom-seok placed his thumb on the door, and it opened, revealing a dreamy room.

Numerous decorations filled the spacious interior, and the emerald sea of Osaha stretched out beyond the full-glass window. Two cute pillows rested on the wide bed, and a small basket of wine and snacks sat on the table.

“Oh, this is pretty good. I like it.”

“Yes, it’s our hotel’s VIP suite, reserved for valued guests like you, Beom-seok.”

Beom-seok glanced at the bag the bellhop had brought. It contained clothes, training equipment, a portable stove, and cup ramen. Knowing that hotel and resort restaurants were expensive, he’d packed food for the three days.

But the thought of eating cup ramen in such a VIP room felt a bit pathetic.

“Ah, really? Thank you very much.”

The manager pulled out a card and handed it over. “This is a VIP card, valid not only at our hotel’s restaurants and for room service, but also throughout the Osaha resort. Your host is covering all expenses, so please use it as much as you like.”

“Ah, is that so? Then I’ll gratefully accept it.”

Beom-seok quickly took the card, thinking, ‘Why refuse free stuff, even if it’s poison?’ He grinned and tucked it away.

“Oh, and that person had a message for you.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a bit odd… They said our hotel casino is downstairs from the lobby.”

He tilted his head, then nodded, not understanding the message but wanting to dismiss the manager and spend time alone with Venus.

“Okay. Thank you. You can go now.”

“Yes. If you need anything during your stay, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’ll be up immediately.”

“Yes, I understand.”

The manager bowed again and left. Beom-seok closed the door and hugged Venus tightly. Then, he removed his shorts and underwear and pushed her onto the bed. Was this an attempt to build up physical strength before full-scale training?

============================ Author’s words ============================

Ah, it’s raining a lot today. We’ve had quite a bit of rain lately due to typhoons and monsoons, so I’m worried about potential flood damage. Everyone, please be careful during the summer rains. I’ll see you again at 0:00 on Friday.