Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Reawakening (1)
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Morning mist clung to Mount Taebaek at dawn.
In Red Cloud Temple, the quiet sound of wooden clappers echoed through the halls as the monks chanted.
Deep inside the temple's innermost building.
A white-haired elder monk sat alone in meditation before a massive Buddha statue.
Other monks passing by glanced at him with worried eyes.
"Has the abbot been like that since last night?"
"Yeah, they say he hasn't even taken a sip of water. Shouldn't we stop him? He's not as young as he used to be... I'm worried."
"Sigh, he's always been so detached from worldly matters. What troubles could weigh on him like this? Do you know anything?"
The monk pondered briefly before sharing what he'd heard from others.
"Word is, he got a call from outside yesterday. Some longtime patrons from his youth are coming to visit."
"Even great people are coming to see him?"
"Heh, do you think the abbot clings to worldly status?"
That much was true.
Even if the president of the United States showed up, he'd regard them no differently than a random stone rolling in the courtyard.
"They say it was a young man and woman's voices."
"Sigh..."
It only grew more baffling.
Unless it was some hidden child coming to claim him... no, surely not?
The questioning monk's eyes widened as if he'd attained sudden enlightenment.
Another monk shook his head pityingly at the sight.
"Enough with the scandalous fantasies. Rumors are flying that you've been glued to modern dramas late into the night."
It was a polite way of saying, stop watching so much TV.
"Ahem... oh, look, breakfast time's almost here. We'd better hurry if we don't want an earful from the patrons preparing the meal."
Caught in his daydreams, he was changing the subject to food.
"Very well."
With that, the two concerned monks headed to the dining hall.
Silence returned once more.
Abbot Jeonghye of Red Cloud Temple, who had been deep in meditation, slowly opened his eyes.
His clear yet profound gaze was filled with worry.
"Schemes are man's domain, but success lies in heaven's hands. We cannot force it..."
Planning was up to people.
But making it happen? That was heaven's will.
No one could compel it.
—Gunja. I just want this one to live an ordinary life. That's my humble wish.
He was a man stronger than anyone in the world, yet kinder than most.
But even that simple wish remained unfulfilled.
"Indeed, true ordinariness is the hardest thing of all..."
He murmured to the empty air like a sigh, his gaze drifting downward.
A small wooden box sat on the floor.
—Please, if fate should bring him here...
The request from the man who had sacrificed himself for the world was no great burden.
Simply deliver the item he had entrusted to its rightful owner.
Even if it drew all the blame upon him—it was karma, after all.
"Namu Amida Butsu..."
Jeonghye sank back into meditation.
The unwanted wheel of fate began to turn.
Near Mount Taebaek, at a campsite by the valley.
Kim Gunja decided to unpack before heading to Red Cloud Temple.
"Man, I'm dying."
"Tell me about it. Where'd you even get this ancient tent? What era do you think this is?"
"I should've doubted him when he bragged about it."
Gunja scratched his head sheepishly amid his friends' grumbling.
The tent he'd brought was quite old-fashioned.
Not the modern kind that popped open in one go—this one required assembling poles by hand.
It was labor-intensive, and without experience, nearly impossible to set up right.
With little camping know-how among them, the complaints rang loud.
"Haha... yeah, I should've handled it."
Truth be told, he could've done it solo, and normally they'd be cheering him on with excitement.
But he stepped up anyway—for Choi Se-yeon and Sin Yeji.
Standing idle while two beauties watched felt uncool.
Of course, the outdated gear turned it into a worse fiasco than sitting out.
The griping was inevitable.
Sin Yeji patted the finished tent and asked,
"So, mister, where'd you learn to pitch a tent like that? You're a pro."
"Oh, from my grandpa when I was a kid. He loved it."
He was strict most times, but softened up teaching tent setup.
—Pick a flat spot on the ground, clear the big rocks. Heh, you're a natural. Good. Now pull the ropes taut around a nearby branch or stone...
A touch of nostalgia softened Gunja's face as he recalled his grandfather.
Meanwhile, Choi Se-yeon smiled brightly and approached his friends with a tray.
"You all worked hard."
Americano iced with plenty of ice sat on the tray.
The friends lit up with gratitude as they took them.
How many could claim a top actress handed them coffee personally?
Few enough to count on fingers—this was bragging rights for life.
Gazing at the angelic Choi Se-yeon, they muttered,
"I could die happy now."
"Oh? Mind saying that to your wife?"
"...Just a figure of speech. Geez."
As Byunghoon and Jintae bickered, Hangil approached with a black lump in a foil pack.
"What's that? Charcoal briquette?"
"Heh, just wait. Texas brisket. The king of barbecue. King. Once you taste this, no other meat compares."
It looked unappetizingly charred, but anyone who'd savored the smoky crust and juicy interior would salivate at the sight.
"Ooh!"
"As expected from a restaurant owner's son!"
"No wonder you pulled an all-nighter. And all that weird gear makes sense now."
Hangil glanced at Choi Se-yeon, then thumped his chest proudly amid the cheers.
"Trust me. Tonight's BBQ party's gonna outshine any movie!"
"Whoa, big talk."
"Alright, I'm sold. My wife's on this cooking kick lately—been dying to offload it. Time for some real indulgence!"
With tents up, the friends proudly unpacked their camping hauls.
Gunja smiled at their cheer, glad he'd come.
His disability lingered, but once Hero Guild matters wrapped up, he'd scour the Vatican or wherever for a fix.
Choi Se-yeon approached with an Americano as he pondered.
He took it and asked,
"You sure you're okay? Not pushing too hard?"
"Huh? With what?"
"Your schedule. Isn't it packed? Your manager was yelling no when I called."
He'd mentioned visiting the temple and wanting her along; she'd agreed instantly, only for a frantic "No way!" from her manager.
She'd handled it, but still.
Her phone rang just then.
She checked the screen, powered it off, and smiled sweetly.
As if nothing happened.
...She's no ordinary personality. Whatever, she'll manage.
He knew zilch about showbiz, so no point meddling.
A cool breeze drew his gaze around.
Pristine valley views, happy friends, tasty prep.
Gunja's lips curved up.
This camping trip was shaping up better than expected.
...Nice.
As he closed his eyes to savor the calm, he reopened them to find Choi Se-yeon's face quite close.
"...What're you doing?"
She'd been staring intently; now she stepped back with a grin.
"Just... reminiscing. Feels so good, right?"
The oddly ticklish vibe made him about to mention their old promise when—
"Mister! Oh yeah, Red Cloud Temple? Weren't you stopping by? Better hurry before it gets dark!"
Sin Yeji bounded over, noticing their mood and blurting it out.
"Oh, right. Yeah. Byunghoon, I'm heading to the temple."
"Go for it."
"Yeah. Call if you need anything on the way back."
"Got it!"
The others were already heading down to the clear stream below.
Sin Yeji asked Gunja,
"Can I come too?"
"Huh? Sure, but it's just a quick visit. And..."
His glance at the friends held faint worry.
A couple other camping groups were nearby.
Probably fine, but better to leave an awakener behind.
Sin Yeji, a hunter herself, got it.
She peeked at Choi Se-yeon, then nodded.
"Bummer, but okay."
"Thanks. You're the only one I can count on."
"You only say that when you need something."
Despite her words, she beamed happily.
She headed back to the tents.
Gunja and Choi Se-yeon got in the car and started the engine.
"Gunja, you... doing this on purpose?"
"Huh? What?"
He tilted his head, gripping the wheel.
She burst out laughing at his clueless look.
"Yeah... wouldn't be you otherwise. Should I love how oblivious you still are, or...?"
Gunja just looked baffled as she shook her head.
Red Cloud Temple lay deep in the mountains.
It was a long hike from the parking spot—for normals.
For A-rank awakener Kim Gunja, it was a stone's throw.
He dashed up faster than sprinting on flat ground, reaching the main gate in moments.
Thud.
He landed, setting down Choi Se-yeon, whom he'd carried.
"Pretty cool, huh, Gunja?"
She grinned and thumbs-upped; he rubbed his nose sheepishly.
"What kind of woman has no fear or shame..."
She'd asked to be carried right from the mountain base.
No sense in a grueling hike when he could speed things up.
Skinship was nothing for an actress like her, especially after the homunculus incident.
"Actors need big guts."
"Born for it?"
"Damn right. Top-tier."
Fair enough—she ranked among the elite hunters too.
Chuckling, Gunja entered the temple grounds, Se-yeon following.
With prior contact, meeting the abbot was easy.
A monk guided them deeper inside.
There sat the meditating elder.
Abbot Jeonghye of Red Cloud Temple.
Ah... he hasn't changed.
Gunja found the silhouette familiar.
Thinner with age, but unmistakably the man from his childhood.
"Abbot, I hope you're well."
Jeonghye turned from meditation, smiling faintly and pressing palms together.
"It's been ages, patron. You've grown into a fine man."
"Sorry for taking so long. I owe you so much from my youth..."
"Heh, what matters such things? Meeting again like this is what counts."
His voice soothed the soul.
The very tone that comforted him after scoldings from his grandfather, when tears flowed.
Gunja's wistful expression lingered as he chatted with Se-yeon and the abbot.
The mood was warm.
Until a subtle shift.
"Haha, yes. I can still picture you and Grandpa playing baduk all the time."
Se-yeon's brow furrowed slightly at Gunja's words.
Again...
She'd sensed something off earlier.
"Grandpa" kept slipping from his lips.
At their first meeting during the awards, she'd assumed an unknown family member.
But this was about Red Cloud Temple.
In her memory, young Gunja here had no grandpa.
That scary "uncle" was his only kin.
"Gunja."
"Yeah?"
"Sorry to interrupt, but... who's this 'grandpa' you've been mentioning?"
"What? My actual grandfather, duh. The one you were scared of. Don't you remember?"
Se-yeon's face stiffened.
"...Not grandpa—uncle, right?"
"Huh? No, that doesn't—wait...?"
It hit in a flash.
—Pick a flat spot...
Her words triggered memories; suddenly, a stranger's face overlaid his grandfather's recollections, jumbling them.
"...!"
Gunja clutched his throbbing head, pupils shaking amid the tangle.
"G-Gunja?!"
Se-yeon panicked; Jeonghye gazed sadly at him.
Now was the time to seek forgiveness.
Jeonghye bowed to Se-yeon.
"Patron, might I speak with Gunja alone?"
"But his condition...!"
"He'll be fine. Just a memory glitch. Patron, can you trust me?"
His tone was gentle, compassionate.
Se-yeon stared, then nodded reluctantly.
"Alright. Then..."
As she left, Jeonghye retrieved the prepared wooden box.
Gunja steadied his mind with Heaven-Shattering Divine Art, regulating his breath.
"Hoo..."
He looked at the abbot.
The expression was complex now—pity, sorrow intertwined.
Yet calm, as if he'd foreseen this.
"Abbot...?"
Before speaking, Jeonghye slowly offered the wooden box.
The item prepared for Kim Gunja by the world's former No. 1.