"Since this is my first time here, where should I start? Could you recommend some places, including the dental clinic that was mentioned?"
"The macarons in the Third Submarine Base are really delicious. If you like sweets, you'll enjoy them."
I nodded absent-mindedly at Priya's words. I had almost cut ties with sweetness. I don't get cavities, but I don't lose weight either. Surprisingly, giving up sweets doesn't make life unbearably hard, terrifying, or so sad that I want to give up on life. It just means I eat more bitter things. In my case, that's coffee.
"Where can I get good coffee?"
"There are two cafes in the Fourth Submarine Base. They use different beans. I think the [Red Coral] with Yirgacheffe beans is better."
So Red Coral is the name of the cafe. Or maybe they grind coral and sell it in coffee. Either way, as long as it tastes good.
"Thank you. I'll buy a cup of coffee later."
"Later, you should check out the beach and the aquarium and cable car in the Second Submarine Base. The beach was built when the island was constructed and is quite well-made. It looks even prettier at night. The First and Second Submarine Bases will open to tourists early next year, so it's best to see them before then."
"Thank you. Do you know where I can find the central elevator?"
I was reading the inscription inside the central elevator.
[Ecce extendit circum se lumen suum et fundamenta maris texit]
What does this mean? It's not English. Maybe something about safe operation? Or that it takes over 20 minutes to go down? Spanish? Latin? Probably Latin.
The latest translation device can translate 36 languages and all documents in those languages. It consists of a translator fitted over the teeth, installed beside the eardrums, and a lens placed over the eyeball.
My mother's old translation device, which is over 10 years old, can only read text and translate 10 languages. Moreover, it's old and bright red, making it very noticeable. I didn't have the money to buy a new one. A translation device that can interpret all the world's languages costs as much as a new car.
After paying for my younger brother's college tuition, I had no choice. Besides, old translation devices not only need to be installed in the ear but also require the user to have the device embedded in their lower teeth or worn on their lips for conversation. I'd rather have the old device embedded in my lower teeth, which is the size of half of a pinky finger, than wear it on my lips. I was absentmindedly touching my translation device, which was too large to be installed in my eardrums and hung by my ear like an earring, when I suddenly heard a voice.
"He spreads His light around Him and covers the foundations of the sea with it."
Fortunately, it seemed to be one of the 10 languages supported by my device. It translated, so it must be working. My mother said not to worry because it would work. I was relieved that Priya Kumari's conversation was perfectly translated, but meeting foreigners one after another made me nervous. It must be Latin.
"Is this from the Bible?"
I asked, guessing without much knowledge. I only remember a few phrases I learned from going to church with friends to get cookies. Love your neighbor. Throw stones. Stuff like that. Is this about God's light spreading to the deep sea? Would that kill all the deep-sea creatures?
"It's from the Book of Job. His love illuminates even the depths of the sea, where there is no light."
I wish that great love would be poured out on me. ...No, if their interpretation is correct, that love has already been poured out on me, which is why I'm here. Suppressing my disbelief and aversion to religion, I extended my hand first.
"I'm Park Mu-hyun, the new dentist at the submarine base."
A man with a firm handshake grabbed my hand and shook it. A well-dressed white man looked at me and said,
"I'm Michael Roach, the chief deep-sea engineer. Are you on your way to the dental clinic?"
"Yes. I'm curious about where my workplace is—"
I lost my words because the elevator, which had been on the ground, suddenly plunged into the sea. I was captivated by the scene reflected in the transparent walls of the elevator. It took me a while to regain my composure and finally see Michael's face. He said, understanding my reaction,
"Surprised? Most first-timers react like that."
"Sorry. I've hardly been to an aquarium. This is my first time seeing the sea directly."
As the transparent elevator descended, different fish and schools of fish appeared. The sea was a shade of blue, and there was a shark, wasn't there? A few people in the elevator chuckled at my open-mouthed gaze. We're in the sea! You probably had your mouth open like that before, too. Michael smiled at me and said,
"You'll get tired of this in three months. I'll see you at the dental clinic later."
The elevator door opened, and he got off at the Second Submarine Base. Most people followed him, and I was left alone in the elevator. A silver sticker on the wall of the Second Submarine Base elevator indicated -200m.
As the elevator descended to the Second Submarine Base, I saw many fish and the green and blue colors of the sea, but as it went deeper, I saw nothing. At first, I was excited and interested in the underwater view, but as the elevator went deeper, my expression faded. Is this normal? The outside of the elevator to the Third Submarine Base was pitch black. I couldn't see anything. Only thick darkness.
To comfort the passengers suddenly faced with darkness, several glowing holographic fish stickers were attached to the elevator walls. Seeing the stickers, which said that giant squids live at this depth, I started to avoid looking at the elevator walls. I don't have a fear of seafood, but looking at this in the darkness made me feel like I was developing a fear of the deep sea.
The elevator was brightly lit, and the darkness outside didn't seep in, but as the darkness continued, I was surprised inside but soon calmed down. It was an incredibly long ride. Normally, time doesn't feel twice as long in an elevator, but being alone in a dark sea felt like time stood still.
Riding in an elevator that could hold 100 people alone, I wondered countless times when I would arrive at the Third Submarine Base. Finally, the arrival signal sounded.
The door opened, and a woman with a strong bread smell and a blinding light got on the elevator. A woman with black hair, about 167cm tall, was holding a lot of bread and looked at my face.
"Oh, nice to meet you! Hello!"
Hearing her greeting, I hurriedly greeted her back.
"Hello. I'm Park Mu-hyun, the new dentist."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Yoo Geum. I work at the research center. I heard the dental clinic is opening tomorrow?"
"I haven't heard anything about that?"
The only dentist who will work there hasn't heard anything? I was surprised, and Yoo Geum laughed.
"Then you should cancel the reservations or re-announce it. You need to change the content in the submarine base program on your pad. Is this your first time at the submarine base?"
"Yes. ...Unfortunately, I don't even know where the dental clinic is."
"Wow, that's a problem."
Yoo Geum, who didn't seem to think it was a big deal, took a piece of bread from a paper bag and bit into it, then handed me a palm-sized piece of bread. The paper bag was full of bread, as if she had swept a bakery. Holding the bread I received, I split it in half when she explained it was a red bean paste bun, and it was full of red bean paste. The bread was very warm.
"Eat it while it's hot. It was just baked."
"Thank you."
It's been a long time since I had such a red bean paste bun. I devoured the steaming hot bun as if enchanted. It was completely sweet, soft, and delicious. Eating something sweet after a long time made my brain scream in delight. By the time I finished the bun, we had arrived at the Fourth Submarine Base. I covered my mouth and asked,
"Should I get off here?"
"Yes. This is the Fourth Submarine Base. The one you just rode is the central elevator. It runs throughout the submarine base, so you'll mostly use this for transportation."
The elevator door opened, and people rushed in as soon as I got off. Seeing this, I suddenly thought of something and asked,
"Does the elevator have a long wait time?"
"We're 3000m below sea level. It takes about 10 minutes for the elevator to run. If you press the button, you'll meet all kinds of people waiting for the elevator."
The central elevator is located in the central district, and most facilities, except for accommodations and mining-related ones, seem to be concentrated there. Yoo Geum, who was walking with me, said she was going to the research center and told me to turn right to find the dental clinic, then waved goodbye.
"See you later."
"See you, teacher."
I'm starting to worry about tomorrow's clinic. First, I don't know where the dental clinic is, and I'm not sure if the basic medical equipment is even in place. Isn't it supposed to open tomorrow? What if I go there and there's nothing, and they give me a screwdriver and tell me to treat patients?