The Healing Solaris Cleric
Chapter 44: Mother’s Birthday

Chapter 44: Mother’s Birthday

Schwoop.

After logging into the game, Kai’s eyes flashed open.

"Mailbox! I should check the mailbox!"

The reason for his excitement was none other than a message that had arrived on his phone after he woke up from sleeping.

[Auction sale payments have been paid. Please refer to the mailbox for more details.]

It was a single, short but powerful message! That was what had made Kai so busy.

Kai pulled out sixteen letters from his mailbox.

"Phew... deep breaths, deep breaths."

After taking deep breaths, Kai carefully opened the first letter.

The moment he checked the content of the letter, Kai's face contorted.

[Fast! Safe! Gold loan consultations at Rush and Gold....]

"...."

Without a moment's hesitation, Kai tore up the letter!

"Dang it, starting off on a bad note..."

Then once again, with a good heart, Kai opened the second letter.

[We inform you that the Scholarly Gloves you registered in the auction house have been sold for 25 gold 5 silver. The sale payments can be collected at the auction house or bank....]

"Yes!" Kai, without even realizing it, raised both arms in cheer.

The Scholarly Gloves had sold for 3 gold more than the listed price! Having hit a home run from the start, Kai tore open all the remaining letters with a greatly relieved expression.

[We inform you that the Steel Helmet you registered in the auction house has been sold for 17 gold 43 silver....]

[We inform you that the Shoes of the Wind you registered in the auction house have been sold for 18 gold 70 silver....]

[We inform you that the Wyrm Lizard Leather Shoes you registered in the auction house have been sold for 1 gold 12 silver....]

[We inform you....]

All the items had been successfully sold!

Kai quickly did the math.

Let's see, 17 gold 43 silver plus 18 gold 70 silver plus....

The total price for the sold items amounted to 178 gold 19 silver!

Even after deducting the 10% auction house fee and taxes, that leaves about 16 million won!

Including the 45 gold in his inventory, that was a total of about 20 million won in cash.

"Phew, what a relief."

Kai breathed a sigh of relief.

It would have been slightly troublesome if the items hadn't sold today, but the timing was perfect.

Let's get moving then.

***

After converting the gold into cash, Han Jung-Woo went out for the first time in a while.

First, he got his long and messy hair cut neatly, and even got himself a new casual suit.

"Hmm."

After getting ready, Han Jung-Woo looked at himself in the full-length mirror and the corners of his mouth lifted upward. In the mirror stood a man who was well put together.

"I’m really handsome."

Although he might be just slightly easy on the eyes to others, he himself was very satisfied with how he looked. In fact, the current appearance of Han Jung-Woo was the complete opposite from when he had left the house. It was to the extent that one could say he was a prime example of turning over a new leaf!

"Oh my, look at that customer. Doesn’t he look quite handsome in a suit?"

"I know, right? The clothes he wore at first were really not it."

"It seems like this customer has a particularly poor sense of fashion."

"Ahem!"

Even the store staff murmured among themselves after seeing his changed appearance.

After clearing his throat, Han Jung-Woo paid for the clothes and left the store.

***

Maybe I'm a bit late.

He received a text from his sister that everyone else in the family had already arrived at the hotel restaurant.

Hurrying to the restaurant, he waved at his sister who came out to meet him.

"Noona!"

"...."

Han Ji-Hye glanced at Han Jung-Woo, then turned her head back to her phone!

"What, you ignore people just because they're a little late?"

"...Pardon?" Han Ji-Hye asked back with her head tilted. She looked around and then pointed at herself. "Are you talking to me?"

"...What's with this act all of a sudden?"

"Wait, this voice is... are you Jung-Woo?"

"...."

Only then did Han Jung-Woo realize the situation and his mouth fell open.

Could it be... that changing my clothes and getting a haircut made me unrecognizable to my own sister?

It felt as if he had been hit in the back of the head with a hammer!

As Han Jung-Woo wore a look of despair like a patriotic martyr who had failed in an independence movement, Han Ji-Hye let out an awkward laugh, "Haha... I was just kidding."

"...."

Her tone conveyed not a speck of trust!

However, since Han Jung-Woo was magnanimous, he didn’t take it seriously and asked, "Whatever. Where’s mom and dad?"

"They’ve been waiting for you. Follow me."

Following his sister, he entered a room reserved in the restaurant.

His parents, who had been quietly conversing inside, turned their attention to them.

"Hm?"

"Oh my."

His mother wore an intrigued expression, and his father looked surprised. His father, who was often busy and rarely saw his son, especially seemed pleased with his son's appearance.

"You look good. Come, take a seat."

"Okay."

Han Jung-Woo quickly took his seat. Even though he lived under his mother’s thumb, his father’s presence was not to be underestimated!

As Han Jung-Woo looked at each member of his family in turn, he reassured himself about his determination.

Today, I'll make a stand.

Han Jung-Woo had consistently felt the stress felt by people retaking university entrance exams, people studying for state exams, and unmarried older women during family gatherings every time his family gathered.

The topic of games will surely come up again today.

Sure enough, about five minutes later, his father’s gaze shifted toward him. "It's been hard to see your face at home lately. Are you still just spending your days playing games?"

"Of course."

"...Sigh. But what makes you so proud of that?" his father furrowed his brows. He was clearly not pleased that his son was spending all his time playing games. He then seemed to have made up his mind and said in a stern voice, "Jung-Woo, I thought you were a good and smart kid who would figure things out on his own."

"...So then, you don't plan on continuing to believe that?"

"I do not! So you better start preparing to go back to school."

"...I don’t want to."

"Hm?" His father looked at him.

He had been expecting an agreeable response because Han Jung-Woo openly refusing his father's words was something that rarely ever happened.

"Then you must have a way to convince me?"

"Of course." Han Jung-Woo took out a bankbook from his pocket and handed it to his father. "I've started making money from the game recently."

"Money?" his father tilted his head. "Making money from a game... Well, you wouldn’t be one of those top-ranked players, and at best, it would be a small amount."

"Oh, Dad. MID Online has recently surpassed 600 million players. It's become the biggest market in the world, how could it be a small amount?"

"That's for me to judge." His father took the bankbook and squinted to check the balance. "...You've made quite a bit."

When her husband's expression softened, Kim Hyun-Jung also looked at the bankbook.

Her eyes widened. "Oh my, you made 20 million won?"

"What, what did you say?! Jung-Woo made 20 million won from a game?"

Mother and daughter crowded around the bankbook, making a fuss.

However, his father maintained his calm expression and continued, "That’s not bad. But sustainability is important in everything. How long do you think this level of income will last?"

"Who knows?" Han Jung-Woo smiled as if he knew this question was coming. "Sure, I was exceptionally lucky this past week, but I believe the money I'll make in the future won't be little either."

"A week, you say...?"

As surprise showed on his father's face, Han Jung-Woo didn't miss this opportunity.

"Yes. That is the profit I've made over the last week."

"...Just asking, but you didn't get involved in anything bad, right?"

"Oh no, you guys know me."

As Han Jung-Woo waved his hand, his family nodded.

"We did educate our son well."

"He wouldn't go around causing harm to others."

"Ugh..." His father held his forehead and let out a groan for the first time.

He didn't like his son playing games, but he had to acknowledge the significant amount of money shown. If his son hadn't made money, he would have sold the gaming capsule by force and sent his son back to school, but now that seemed difficult.

After pondering for a while, Han Jung-Woo’s father looked at him. "So, are you saying you have no intention of going back to school now?"

"For now. But once my life and income become stable, I'll go back."

"...I trust you'll keep that promise."

His father eventually backed down!

Han Jung-Woo clenched his fists under the table.

I did it.

As Han Jung-Woo smiled brightly, having gotten what he wanted, his mother said, "Jung-Woo."

"Yeah?"

"You're making good money, huh?"

"Still a long way to go."

"No. It seems like our son is making good money. Seeing my son become such a responsible adult makes me really happy."

"...."

Han Jung-Woo swallowed hard.

Something doesn’t feel right.

For some reason, a chill crept up his neck!

Smiling gently, his mother continued, "Then, it's time we can comfortably let you be independent."

"In-independent, you say?"

"It means you should move out."

"No, why all of a sudden!"

"It's not out of the blue." His father, who had been drinking water, corrected his misunderstanding. "In a month, your sister will also be moving out since she's prepared to live on her own."

"...What does that have to do with me?"

"I've heard that lions drop their cubs off cliffs to make them stronger."

"I heard that's not true. Besides, I'm not even a lion."

"Stop." His father glared when his logical reasoning didn’t work.

As Han Jung-Woo avoided his father’s gaze, his mother said in a gentle voice, "Even if you weren't making money, we were planning to kick you out... I mean, encourage you to be independent when your sister leaves."

"...I think you just revealed your true thoughts."

"Haha, of course not," his mother laughed, covering her mouth. Then with a satisfied expression, she continued, "Our son being a jobless game addict... We were planning to support you with a monthly allowance so you wouldn't starve, but seeing your bank account today, it seems there's no need for that. I'm truly relieved."

"...!"

Han Jung-Woo regretted his decision deeply.

There was a reason why rich people complain about not having money every day!

He could have comfortably played games while receiving allowance! And now, because he wanted to show off his bank account, he wouldn't receive an allowance and had to move out!

"Umm...." Han Jung-Woo wore a suffering expression.

Watching him, his mother extended her hand.

But looking at that hand, Han Jung-Woo said bluntly, "...What consolation now. Forget it."

Her son was genuinely upset!

However, his mother shook her head, "What are you talking about? If you've made that much money, you must have bought a birthday present, so give it here."

"..."

His mother snatched Han Jung-Woo's gift out of his hand and smiled brightly.

"Oh, what a beautiful necklace. It looks quite expensive."

Han Jung-Woo clenched his teeth and replied, "...It cost 1.5 million won."

"I'll wear it well. Whenever I see this, I'll remember my son who's left home, haha."

Han Jung-Woo let out a slight sigh and put his brain to work.

This was a completely unexpected situation.

And he was even told to move out in a month! But honestly, he didn't feel too bad about it. Moving out meant he could focus on gaming without anyone's interference.

The biggest problem is securing living expenses, but for now, I have quite a bit of financial leeway.

Of course, from now on, he would need to consistently hunt and complete quests to sustain his lifestyle. Moreover, for Han Jung-Woo, who rarely went out, all he really needed was basic living expenses and food costs!

Several methods of making money came in and out of his mind.

So first...

A certain place came to mind.