Chapter 66: Memories.

The aspiring pro gamer applied <Pack Slime> to his face and put on glasses over it.

While game skills are most important for a pro gamer, having good looks helps build a solid fan base. He started using it to manage acne, but now he always applies it before starting a game.

As an aspiring pro gamer, he spends an incredibly long time staring at a monitor. It’s natural for his eyes to feel dry while gaming, but since using <Pack Slime> on his face, the fatigue in his eyes has noticeably decreased.

There’s also the small convenience that wearing <Pack Slime> on his face prevents his glasses from slipping down.

“Ah, damn.”

The aspiring gamer swallowed his curse. If he’s going to become a pro gamer, he should avoid the habit of swearing as much as possible.

It might be fine during personal broadcasts, but if a pro gamer swears constantly, it creates a bad image.

‘Is this Top for real?’

Seeing his teammate pick a ranged character without considering the team composition, the aspiring gamer cursed inwardly. His skills had improved since using <Pack Slime>, and he’d finally reached a higher rank, only for his teammate to drag his score down.

Before the game started, he considered giving up and leaving but checked his teammate’s record instead.

“Crazy….”

Is this a human win rate?

Is it a hack?

In the end, the game began.

[First Blood]

Not long after the game started, an alarm popped up indicating that his teammate had taken down an enemy.

A little later, another alarm for another kill.

[SL1me is going on a rampage.]

[SL1me is unstoppable.]

…

His teammate completely dominated the game.

Thinking that the pro world must be crawling with such monsters, the aspiring gamer felt a bit discouraged but soon pulled himself together and moved on to the next game.

Then, feeling his vision blur, he stopped playing.

‘Have my eyes gotten worse?’

Eyesight is crucial for a gamer. If the screen looks blurry, performance inevitably suffers.

With no other choice, the aspiring gamer visited an optician.

“Sir, it’s not that you need a stronger prescription. Your current prescription is too strong, which is why you can’t see well.”

“What?”

“Many people think a stronger prescription is always better, but that’s not the case. It can actually make things harder to see and even cause dizziness.”

The aspiring pro gamer, with 10 years of wearing glasses, couldn’t believe the optician’s words.

How could his eyesight improve after playing games so much?

***

Among my <Slime>, the most popular is <Pack Slime>. This <Slime> not only removes makeup and cleanses facial skin but is also used as a cosmetic, remedy for skin diseases, remedy for rhinitis, remedy for dry eyes, deodorizing pad, sweat-absorbing pad, vitality booster pad, and even a mask.

With steady demand across all ages and genders, stock has never lasted more than 10 minutes after sales begin.

However, new challengers have emerged to threaten the throne of <Pack Slime>.

<Random Jelly Slime (Mild Flavor)>, which shows excellent ability in preventing adult diseases.

<Random Jelly Slime (Extremely Spicy Flavor)>, which has some effect on dementia.

The penguin set of <Raincoat Slime>, <Glove Slime>, and <Boot Slime>, soaring with winter demand.

The ambitious <Humidifier Slime>.

These are rushing to catch up with the sold-out speed of <Pack Slime>.

To solidify its dominance, <Pack Slime> has unveiled a new technique.

[<Pack Slime> causes an astonishing change when worn on the face for a long time.]

This video explains that technique quite well.

The name of the technique is Taking Off Your Glasses.

It’s a technique that restores eyesight.

There’s no discomfort in keeping <Pack Slime> on your face continuously.

Unlike the early <Pack Slime>, its lifespan doesn’t decrease with frequent use, so many people have started living with <Pack Slime> on their faces without removing it.

As a result, it was quickly discovered that <Pack Slime> helps with rhinitis and dry eyes.

On the other hand, the fact that it has an eyesight restoration effect wasn’t widely known, likely for several reasons. The biggest reason is the slow recovery speed.

Since the eyesight recovery happens so slowly, it’s hard to notice.

Few people go to the eye doctor just because their vision seems better, so checkups rarely happen.

If someone does get checked at the eye doctor, their eyesight might have slightly improved. But eyesight naturally varies depending on condition, so small differences are often overlooked.

It’s been about 5 months since I released <Pack Slime>.

During this time, people who have lived with <Pack Slime> on their faces have started to clearly notice the eyesight recovery.

Based on collected personal experiences.

It’s not very effective for farsightedness due to aging, but it’s quite effective for treating myopia and astigmatism.

‘What’s the percentage of people wearing glasses in Korea?’ Search.

Over 50% of people wear glasses or contact lenses.

Is there a product that can beat this?

Since it holds hostage the sense of sight, which humans rely on the most, there’s likely no product that can compete.

While <Humidifier Slime> handles water, which is essential to humans, there are many substitutes. No matter how tasty the water in <Humidifier Slime> becomes, many people still prefer coffee or cola. Since <Humidifier Slime> removes all scent and flavor, it can’t hold beverages other than water.

Maybe <Gargle Slime>, <Pure Jelsl>, or <Popcorn Cotton Candy Slime> could put up a fight?

<Humidifier Slime>. You’ve got to step up your game.

Ah, but don’t try too hard.

Even a Banana Kick can hurt if it hits wrong.

“Should I study again?”

Having refreshed my mood, I opened my book again.

To minimize the number of people I hire, I need to know a lot myself.

Everything that can be done with <Slime> should be done with <Slime>.

The current trend is automation, after all.

***

My friend Gisu, who seems like he’d slice up any monster before it could even open its mouth.

Thinking he was coming to my house, my hands automatically crafted traps filled with murderous intent.

That’s strange.

Did my thoughts lean that way because I’ve been making amusement rides?

Even if it’s Christmas, I’m not planning to film ‘Home Alone.’

Gisu isn’t a thief, after all.

No matter how much of a trendsetter I am, throwing Slime at a guest’s face as a welcome greeting is about 10 years too early for humanity.

“….”

It’s scary to think that such a trend might actually emerge within 10 years.

Throwing <Pack Slime> at someone’s face as a way to say, ‘Make yourself at home.’

It could also double as a way to check their identity, making sure they’re not in disguise.

Anyway, I should greet them differently.

If I throw <Slime> at Gisu’s face, who hates monsters, I might get a punch in return.

It’d be better to distract him with something else so he doesn’t focus on me.

Where’s that album?

It must be at my parents’ house. I’ll have to go get it.

My strategy is nostalgia and dark history attacks!

Having known him for years, how could I not know at least one piece of dark history?

***

After preparing the traps, I made a meal.

I’d like to feed them <Slime>, but since they might freak out if they find out, I’ll prepare it with pure ingredients.

The menu is the classic tteokguk.

I got glutinous rice, ground it into powder, added water and salt, kneaded it, and steamed it.

Ah, even if the ingredients are pure, I didn’t say I wouldn’t use Slime in the cooking process, did I?

Garaetteok complete.

I stir-fried beef in oil, then added water and broth extracted from beef bones.

I added minced garlic and adjusted the seasoning with soy sauce.

Broth complete.

Later, after adding the rice cakes and boiling them, top it with scallions, red chili peppers, egg strips, seaweed powder, and meat garnish to complete it.

It’s complete, but….

My white-haired Korean friend, who’s the owner of a bizarre palate, says Gochujang songpyeon is a no-go, but Marmite songpyeon is fine.

Should I drizzle mayonnaise on top?

Would it be good to add rare steak as a garnish?

Ah, right. Let’s add dumplings.

I can make the dumpling fillings more diverse.

You said Marmite songpyeon is fine, right?

Try saying Marmite dumplings are fine too.

***

Time passed, and finally, the doorbell rang.

After checking that there was no problem with my appearance, I opened the door.

“Isn’t this Gisu, who went to America alone and is living the good life?”

“Did you chug booze from the first day of the New Year?”

“Sorry. I misspoke just now. Come on in.”

Gisu tossed the black bag he was holding.

“Didn’t you say you liked that talisman last time?”

Inside the black bag was a delivery box. I opened the box with a knife and then repackaged it with tape.

“Gisu, this might be hard for you to understand, but there’s a culture called gift wrapping in this world, you know?”

“So what?”

“At least peel off the shipping label.”

“Too annoying.”

The talisman I received last time, huh. That oddly funny-looking ornament-did it help or not when I overcame the curse of gluttony?

Having more of them wouldn’t hurt. It might help if I eat it in an emergency.

“Is that so? Anyway, thanks for the gift. Come in.”

“Did you clean up the Slime?”

“Did some deep cleaning before winter.”

“Much better.”

Gisu stared intently at my mascot suit.

“I’m not changing out of this outfit, just so you know.”

“Did I say anything?”

“You did with your eyes.”

“My eyes are just like this, okay?”

Bickering, we went inside.

“Wait a moment.”

Gisu sat at the dining table and opened the booze first.

After finishing the tteokguk and bringing it out, Gisu suspiciously sniffed the broth of the tteokguk first.

“You didn’t put anything weird in this, right?”

“I don’t trust the words of a guy who puts Gochujang in songpyeon.”

“What’s wrong with Gochujang songpyeon! And the suspicious ingredients are in the dumplings, okay?”

“Did you put them in?”

“I did. Not gonna eat it?”

“I’ll eat it.”

I ate the tteokguk carefully so Gisu couldn’t see inside my mascot suit.

“This is pretty good.”

“Did living in America make your tongue get pickled in oil?”

How can anyone say mayonnaise dumplings are good?

“This one’s not great.”

“The tofu dumplings are just ordinary, you know?”

As we chatted about this and that, we almost finished the booze and tteokguk with dumplings.

Gisu asked casually, almost tossing the question out.

“What’s that?”

“My secret weapon.”

An item I prepared in case Gisu suddenly showed strange behavior, insisting on seeing my face.

If that didn’t happen, I planned to let it slide, but since it came up, I have to use it.

“Ta-da!”

I yanked the cloth off the frame, and Gisu’s face instantly twisted.

“Put it away.”

“How did such a cute human end up looking so rough?”

“I said put it away.”

“What’s with the fist? Gonna hit me?”

Gisu sighed and lowered his fist.

Photos from embarrassing times tend to deal critical damage to most people.

And if you enlarge it to a huge size, the damage is even greater.

“Back then, you were really deep in your middle school emo phase, huh?”

“It wasn’t an emo phase.”

“Swinging a baseball bat, claiming you’d kill monsters-if that’s not an emo phase, what is?”

“….”

At school, acting like all the despair in the world was gathered on him, and after school, sneaking into dungeons with a baseball bat in hand-that was the high schooler Gisu.

That was Gisu right after losing his father to a monster.

I gave him a headbutt so hard it rang in his skull to snap him out of it.

After a round of squabbling, I dragged him to the Peace Guild and asked for a part-time job for him.

The negotiation I pulled off back then is still a legend at the Peace Guild, or so I’ve heard?

The photo in the frame is one taken with Gisu after I made that legendary move.

“We weren’t close back then, were we?”

“Just knew each other’s faces.”

Funny thing is, back then, I wasn’t even close to Gisu. Just knew his face since we were from the same middle school?

Back in those days, to put it nicely, I was brave; to put it badly, I was reckless and lacked consideration.

“I was pretty crazy too, wasn’t I?”

“You’re still crazy now.”

“I don’t wanna hear that from a human whose eyes flip out at the sight of a monster, okay?”

Gisu, since it ended well, we can laugh about it.

If I think about the cases that didn’t end well, I can’t laugh.

As we reminisced about those memories, the liquor bottles and dishes emptied.

It’s about time to part ways.

Gisu stood up, walked toward the door, and stopped.

He hesitated slightly, then sighed and spoke.

“<Slime> is good for health, right?”

“Finally thinking of using <Slime>?”

“No.”

“Stubborn as ever.”

“I don’t like it, but I think it might be okay for my mother to use a little.”

Back when I said I’d send some gifts to your mother, you refused.

Looks like the news about my <Slime> being good has spread quite a bit.

“I’ll send a comprehensive set specially made with extra care.”

“Thanks.”

“No problem. Why don’t you use it too? Once you try it, you won’t be able to stop, you know?”

“Don’t need it.”

I saw Gisu off at the front door.

“Take care. Stay safe.”

“You look tired too, so don’t overdo it.”

Back in my room, I mulled over the words Gisu left behind.

Am I tired now?

No way.

A Slime that doesn’t even need sleep can’t possibly be tired.

Then, should I keep studying?

***

In the end, the job posting went out.

Hans selected two successful candidates with a suspiciously vague statement about valuing passion, creativity, character, and open-mindedness.

Th-this person!

They look like someone who’d leave malicious comments on my video!

And this person looks like they’d betray me!