episode_0019

Episode 19: Mom Crisis (2)

Maybe their patience is also reaching its limit.

Before that explodes.

“We’re doing our performance task homework together right now.”

I quickly added, gesturing towards my computer screen.

On my computer screen, several windows showing archive papers I saw earlier were open.

Of course, if it were in English, it wouldn’t make sense at a middle school level, so I had Google Translate running.

But it still didn’t make sense, regardless.

The important part was making it feel like ‘studying’ rather than a game.

While Mother’s gaze went to my computer.

“Hong Jahi. Didn’t you tell your mother?”

I quickly turned my gaze to Hong Jahi.

“I’ll tell her for now, so keep searching for data.”

Then I added, clearly audible to Mother right beside me.

“Uh, what was it. The principle behind the bullets of that Terian Marine from the UED that you said you’d like to present?”

Rolling my tongue as if it would twist, making it sound like something technical rather than a game.

“Uh, uh? That is…”

“You said it at school today. That depleted something or other.”

“Ah.”

As I subtly gave a hint, Hong Jahi finally caught on.

If she was the type to know that Stop Mine was a cheat, she must surely have grasped even the detailed settings of the game.

“That definitely uses depleted uranium rounds…”

“Ah, right. That was it. Depleted uranium. In English, it would be depleted Uranium.”

I continued, subtly checking that Mother’s gaze was directed this way.

“You said we should probably pay attention to whether the atomic weight is 235 or 238 and compare it with the atomic weight of existing iron, right?”

“Uh, huh? Huh, huh!”

“Then we can calculate which of the two, when using iron and when using depleted uranium, has how much higher momentum and try presenting it. I’ll do the calculations. You, um, could you find some pictures we can use as material that would be okay to show in Science Club CA class?”

“Uh, uh… U-uh, okay…”

“But instead, it might be good to think about the disadvantages too. Since it’s uranium… you know. That science something you talked about, that EMP? Something other than the electromagnetic pulse.”

I said that, giving a hint.

Honestly, at this point, just get it.

“Ah, ah! I-Irradiate?”

Yes, that’s it. You caught on well.

“R-right! That’s radiation, so it’s super bad for your body! Uranium, yeah. Since it’s similar… That sends even Mutalisks flying with one shot, as long as they’re biological types…!”

“Right, you made a good point.”

I forcibly cut her off and received it before the game feeling became too heightened.

“We can also present about the bad effects radiation has on our bodies. They say radiation is used for cancer treatment, right? How about linking that to the advantages in real life? Along with the disadvantages.”

“Uh, huh! Th-that’s good!”

After saying this much, I sent my gaze back to Hong Jahi’s mother and spoke.

“I’m sorry, Jahi’s mother. I don’t have a computer at home and not much time at the PC bang. I just ended up having her stand all this time.”

“No, it’s alright… But what are you doing right now?”

It worked.

She finally started to show proper interest.

Having gotten to this point, you can consider it virtually a game that’s half-won.

“We have CA time next week. Jahi and I joined the same Science Club, and Science Club, unlike other CAs, is where you study a bit, right?”

“Th-that’s right?”

“So Science Club, unlike other CAs, told us to prepare something to present on the first day.”

“Presentation?”

“Yes. The science teacher told us to research and present cases where science is applied in real life. Plus, I’m preparing for ‘Science High School’.”

I put emphasis on Science High School so it would be clearly heard.

At the same time, to look like someone clearly going to Science High School, I adjusted my glasses with my index finger once.

“Because of that, I wanted to prepare my academic record and student life record properly. I ended up forcibly borrowing your daughter without permission. It’s a group presentation, and Jahi was the only one in the same class who was in the Science Club. I apologize.”

Following this, I bowed a third time.

This time, to look truly apologetic, I clasped my hands in the center and bent at the waist almost 90 degrees.

“Ah, no, it’s alright, it’s alright! Why are you bowing so much. Raise your head, raise your head.”

Hong Jahi’s mother became flustered and gently raised my head.

With that, I judged that everything was finished.

There’s a reason they say in sales to first make the other person feel awkward for no reason.

“Anyway, about our Jahi being in the Science Club… That child who hated studying so much…”

“That’s not true, Mother.”

From now on, I just needed to handle her like I usually handle parents when I tutor.

“Even if Jahi doesn’t know much about studying, she seems incredibly interested in science.”

“Nah, that can’t be true. She’s a kid who only plays games at home, especially as a girl.”

This time, I shouldn’t agree.

I tilted my head instead.

“Hmm, is that so? I’m getting a lot of help thanks to Jahi right now.”

“Huh? Really? Our Jahi is?”

“Yes. I also learned thanks to Jahi that StarCrafton, which she enjoys, is actually a game that mixes imagination based on scientific facts. Jahi said it’s like science fiction, like Star Wars…”

“Ah, I know, I know. My husband loved it so much.”

“Oh, really? Then Jahi must take after her father. Perhaps your husband is in an engineering-related job…”

Fading off the end of my sentence as if about to ask something but not quite.

“Oh my, how did you know that? He just works at Samsung Electronics a bit~”

“Wow, Samsung Electronics. I’m preparing for Science High School with that as my goal… That’s nice, Jahi.”

Next, I gave a wry smile as if I was very envious.

“Oh my, this child? With our Jahi’s grades, Science High School? No way~”

“Hmm, is that so? After talking with Jahi a bit, her comprehension, especially regarding science, seems incredible…”

“Oh my, is that true? Our Jahi is?”

“Yes. If it weren’t for Jahi, I wouldn’t have been able to find the topic we’re doing now on my own. Especially since Jahi is good with computers, I’m getting a lot of help. I can’t play games, so I don’t know how to use a computer at all.”

“Oh dear, what’s so great about just playing games non-stop~”

As I praised Hong Jahi like that.

Along with that, her mother also got on board and laughed Ohoho! like a neighborhood ajumma.

“But our Jahi did handle computers a lot~ She just plays games day in and day out at home, you know.”

“Haha. Perhaps Jahi has a talent not just for science, but also for computers, that is, for programming, for coding…”

“Child, that’s not right. Isn’t that what kids from vocational colleges do?”

“Ah, yes…”

The image of programmers coding in 2008 was literally coding slaves.

Engineering wasn’t treated all that well either.

But if it was a large corporation like Samsung Electronics or Hyundai Heavy Industries, it was a different story.

But at this time, IT large corporations hadn’t gained power yet.

Especially because of the dot-com bubble in the 2000s, parents’ perception of computer-related professions was very poor.

They really couldn’t see the future.

An era was coming where, just 10 years later, if it wasn’t IT, everything would be rendered obsolete.

“That Yireb? You know, Mr. Lee Cheol-soo? He’s a doctor but also makes computer vaccines and stuff. I was just wondering, haha.”

“Ah, right, right. That was it, wasn’t it? It’s really strange that even that hunk of machine can have viruses and vaccines~ Will our Jahi be like that if she goes to medical school? Ohoho! Well, with her current grades, that’s not even close, though.”

“Nah, she’s only a middle schooler right now and all. Are current grades really that important?”

“Oh my, this child~ You speak really nicely, don’t you?”

Somehow changing the topic to the story of medical school, which mothers are crazy about at the mere mention of the name.

“Haha, so once the homework is all done, I plan to learn some games from Jahi. I’m so bad with computers.”

“Nah, why learn such useless things~ It’s good to be good with computers, but don’t learn games, don’t learn games~ If you get addicted, you’ll get sick, sick.”

Just like that, I carefully selected only stories that Jahi’s mother would likely enjoy and continued the conversation.

“Okay. Do that homework? The presentation well together~ And Jahi, don’t play games for too long just because you’re done. Mom is letting you stay at the PC bang just this once, okay? Huh? Know that there won’t be any leniency next time?”

“Ah, okay! I’m busy right now.”

“Child, what’s with that attitude when your mother is speaking? Eigh, tsk tsk tsk. Whew, then how about that Kyungjun student?”

“Yes. Han Kyungjun, that’s right.”

“Okay, okay. Kyungjun student. Please take good care of our Jahi. Jahi, you too, don’t just play games, learn some studying from Kyungjun, okay?”

“Ah, seriously. I’ll handle it myself.”

“Sigh, always just saying you’ll handle it yourself, handle it yourself.”

“Ack! Ah, why are you hitting me!”

Hong Jahi getting hit on the crown of her head with a ladle.

However, she wasn’t hit hard enough to get a bump, just enough to feel annoyed.

“Then this mother will pay for the PC bang fees, so be sure to contact me if it’s going to be too late! Don’t stay for too long! Those two students over there, right? Please use this when you pay.”

Hong Jahi’s mother left a 10,000 won bill at the counter, paying for my PC bang fee as well, and then left.

Just like that, the storm finally ended.

“Argh, I’m seriously dying of embarrassment…!!”

Hong Jahi vigorously ruffled her hair and hid her face between her knees.

Literally, she must be truly embarrassed.

It must have been embarrassing enough to have the scene of getting scolded by her mom live-streamed in front of strangers.

On top of that, being directly witnessed by a peer from the same class, and even leaving the solution to him.

Still, she tried her best in her own way.

The monitor screen in front of her, where she was huddled.

The traces of searching for things like ‘Principle of Uranium Bullets’ showed her effort to somehow present herself as studying.

Hong Jahi, who had buried her head for a moment, finally regained her composure.

She awkwardly turned her head, twisting only her bangs that were about to poke her eyes, looking embarrassed.

“Hey, but, uh, what the hell… Thanks. For saving me…”

She awkwardly managed to give thanks.

“But your way with words is amazing. Damn, it was like watching some cult leader. My mom was completely brainwashed.”

“Is that what you say even when someone just saved you?”

“Hey, it’s true! I seriously thought I was getting brainwashed next to you! Bbangsang. Kkaerakkarang. Doing CA performance task. Not playing games. Hong Jahi’s allowance came back to life. Huge gain.”

Hong Jahi made an antenna with her index finger and did a strange imitation.

It was truly absurd and childish, but I thought, ‘Yeah, this is what middle schoolers were like back then.’

“Uh, leaving?”

“Yeah.”

*Rustle.*

I took off my glasses and put them back, then packed my notebook and bag.

Since the incident was all resolved, the quest would probably be cleared if we parted ways and each went home now.

“Ah.”

That thing that suddenly occurred to me then.

“By the way, Hong Jahi, what CA did you choose?”

“What? I, of course, chose the Film Appreciation Club where you don’t have to do anything…”

“Then you’ll have to change it. To Science Club.”

*Click.*

I had already completed preparations to leave, even slinging my bag onto my back.

Thanks to someone’s mother paying on my behalf, there was no problem leaving right away.

“What kind of bullshit is that? Why would I join such a damn boring club… Ah.”

Only then did Hong Jahi realize the meaning of the question I had asked.

I decided to pronounce a sentence upon her.

“How about studying science a bit while you’re at it?”

“Aaaaaaa!! I’m doomed!! Noooooo!!”

Hong Jahi slumped onto the PC bang floor in despair.

No, did she hate studying that much…?

Well, yeah.

What middle schooler wouldn’t?

I’m the strange one for wanting to study even after regressing.

* * *

After parting ways with Hong Jahi and returning home, I immediately checked the status window.

[Subquest 『Mom Crisis!』 has been successfully cleared.]

[As a basic reward, you have gained 1 Life Point.]

As expected, the quest was cleared when I parted ways with Hong Jahi, and the reward was given.

“Huh? Wasn’t there one more?”

It was clearly something about being able to control Hong Jahi as I wished.

[Hong Jahi’s Wish Free Pass (not money-related, not impossible things) can be received directly from the quest NPC 『Hong Jahi』.]

“That figures.”

I chuckled in disbelief.

As expected, no matter how much it’s a status window.

It seems difficult to control another person’s mind and actions as you wish.

Honestly, I doubt I’ll ever need that.

For now, I’ll plan to request it from Hong Jahi if I ever need it later.

“Alright, there’s still more left. Status window.”

The rewards weren’t over with this.