Father-Son Reunion
p>After Doosik left.
p>Back Jong-du asked Ahn Sung-jin, “Did you really feel hope in him? Jumping into hunting without knowing anything might put that kid in danger.”
p>Ahn Sung-jin was buried deep in the couch, eyes glued to his smartphone.
p>“The Nightmare Lord… naming someone ‘Lord’ after Natalie Chaser from America is rare, huh?”
p>“It’s just a translation of Lord, isn’t it? There are classes like Emperor King or something. Isn’t Emperor or King better than Lord?”
p>“I don’t know. Honestly, lately everything is tagged with King God Emperor and all that nonsense. It feels forced. Lord sounds more dignified, don’t you think?”
p>“Again with that vibe?”
p>“Yes, that’s how it feels. Just a feeling.”
p>“Heh, still worried that the kid might go out of his way to hunt without thinking. Although there’s nothing wrong with it, I’ve never seen a summon this weak even among F-ranks.”
p>“I see it differently. The Nightmare Lord ‘Natalie Chaser’ was also treated as F-rank at first. All she could do was poke around in someone’s dreams for a few seconds. And even though Al Bladi, the vampire lord in Iraq, was cruel, he was just a zombie at the start.”
p>“That’s true… but still.”
p>“Look at them now. ‘Natalie Chaser’ is the only hunter who clears a B-rank gate solo in the whole world. Al Bladi who controls the Middle East… well, nothing more needs to be said. Anyway, Korea needs at least one irreplaceable hunter.”
p>“You’re right, but we have six S-ranks already. Compared to the population, we’re not falling behind anyone.”
p>“That’s true, but Ahn Sung-jin had his own stubbornness.”
p>“More than anything, I trusted my own eyes.”
p>“That dark power felt like the abyss, but his soul was surprisingly clear. Yin and yang? Peace, harmony, balance, Taiji. You know what I mean?”
p>“Now even Taiji? You’re the one with that N personality. You look at the world too much through feelings. Look at reality.”
p>“Brother, still jealous of the S-rank? MBTI or whatever, I’m going to try it once. Korea needs asymmetric power.”
p>“No way, you want to help him? Giving special treatment to one hunter would be corruption.”
p>“No, I just want to keep that memory. Lee Doosik. E minor. How far he’ll go.”
p>* * *
p>“Doosik-ah.”
p>A sigh of relief escaped at his father’s voice.
p>“Yes, Father.”
p>“Where are you?”
p>“I just finished registering as an awakened and am heading home.”
p>“That’s good. Want to have a drink together tonight?”
p>“It’s my day off, but…”
p>“How about it? The chicken place in front of the house. Kids your age like chicken and beer?”
p>“Chicken and beer… yeah.”
p>“It’s been a while since Mom passed, but Father acted like it was nothing. He was acting a bit too cheerful.”
p>“Sure, let’s go.”
p>* * *
p>“Pop.”
p>“Oh, son.”
p>Father at the shop entrance was smoking, then quickly put out the cigarette and threw away the butt.
p>“Half-sleeve isn’t cold?”
p>“I’m used to this dad.”
p>“Like he was trying to become a kind father from the day Mom died, playing mom for me too. Forced.”
p>“But somehow I was grateful and uncomfortable at the same time. My feelings were complicated.”
p>“It’s fine. It’s still warm during the day.”
p>“Let’s go in.”
p>“Yes. How was work today? You went out after a long time.”
p>“Forced cheer for forced cheer. Still, we’re matching the rhythm.”
p>“After the finger amputation accident, I just watched TV, drank a little, and slept a lot for six years. The conversations with Mom during those few days were probably more than the ones with you over six years.”
p>“Trying to get close as a father and son.”
p>“If we both make an effort, we’ll become closer.”
p>“But what is this awkwardness?”
p>“Yeah, it’s been a while. Do you remember Uncle Young-chul from the funeral? The big guy.”
p>“Yes.”
p>“Uncle Young-chul got me a job on the site. Opening doors or something. It’s quick if you just watch over the shoulder. But my hand is like this, so it’s annoying moving the door or hammering nails, but luckily the thumb is still there.”
p>“He sounds proud and satisfied. He drank alcohol but looked drunk.”
p>“You pulled it off.”
p>“Of course.”
p>“At that moment the waitress placed chicken rice, macaroon snacks, and a menu on the table.
p>“Sweet and fried, and beer 2000cc?”
p>“I’ll have the same.”
p>“You earned 200,000 won a day. You’re still okay, Doosik-ah.”
p>“There’s a hunter thing, right? Don’t do that.”
p>“Huh?”
p>“What? You’re supposed to be a civil servant instead of one? Coding?”
p>“Coding.”
p>“Yeah, that. Father will make money, so finish studying it or interior design. Father will teach everything and introduce you to everyone, you can easily earn 500,000 won a month…”
p>“People’s hearts are fragile.”
p>“I was trying to match Father’s forced cheer, but suddenly seeing him try to insert himself into my life like that felt disgusting.”
p>“Now you’re doing this?”
p>“Huh?”
p>“Cold words left my mouth instantly. I regretted it immediately.”
p>“But the regret didn’t stop the words from coming out.
p>“You can do it, why now?”
p>“Huh? Doosik, that’s…”
p>“You should have done it earlier! Earlier! Why didn’t you do it earlier!”
p>“I don’t know why, but my voice rose.”
p>“Something surged in my chest and choked my throat.
p>“Do you know how funny that is, Father? When was I ever like that?”
p>“Father lowered his head.
p>“Sorry. Yeah, it’s all my fault. Doosik, I’m sorry. Sorry…”
p>“Father’s voice was wet like worn-out sneakers.”
p>“Old, torn, stained sneakers.
p>“One shoe missing…”
p>“But still, Dad.”
p>“Father raised his head, tears streaming down his face.
p>“I don’t want the same regret. So… you shouldn’t hunt. I’m an incompetent father, but please. Father will do better… If I think about you becoming like that because of me, I’ll…”
p>“Something boiling in my chest wouldn’t let me speak. Father hit his own chest.”
p>“Father thought Mom’s death was his fault. If I become a hunter and die in an accident, he’ll think the same. How frustrated he must be. Father was living a harder day than me.”
p>“The waitress serving food noticed the tense atmosphere and carefully placed chicken and beer. Looking around, even the surrounding customers had stopped talking.
p>“...Hoo…”
p>“I stared at the yellow bulbs dangling from the ceiling, hoping they would comfort my eyes.
p>“Tears flowing… it was too weak to stop them.
p>“Just like us who are still too weak to step past losing loved ones.”
p>“A long silence. At the end I had no choice but to give in.
p>“I understand.”
p>“I gave Father the answer he wanted.
p>“I don’t want to become a hunter right now anyway.
p>“Besides, I’m an F-rank skeleton soldier. I can’t even if I want to.”
p>“Only then did Father slide the chicken basket toward me and say, ‘Let’s eat.’
p>“I poured 2000cc of beer into a glass and we drank silently, clinking glasses.
p>“The atmosphere in the old chicken shop slowly returned to normal.
p>“Father placed a fried chicken leg on my plate and I put sweet chicken on his. We tore chicken apart in silence. One chicken per person was enough, and we drank all 2000cc before speaking again.
p>“Actually, I didn’t even properly awaken. I never wanted to become a hunter from the start.”
p>“Really?”
p>“Back Jong-du and Ahn Sung-jin were shocked. The weakest awakened in history.”
p>“I took out my awakened ID card and showed it to Father.
p>“Father took it and stared for a long time. He looked like he had just seen it.
p>“Our son is better in person.”
p>“Huh? Ah.”
p>“I scratched my cheek awkwardly.
p>“It was less awkward than before.
p>“But Father pulled something from his pocket.
p>“I knew it was a money envelope without looking.
p>“It’s the daily wage Father earned today?
p>“From now on, manage the money.”
p>“Huh? Me? Why?”
p>“I’m stupid and can’t manage money well. But you went to university. Mom used to do it… I just took pocket money.”
p>“Mom’s story. I grabbed the envelope thinking Father might cry again.
p>“200,000 won. 50,000 and 10,000 mixed.
p>“And… sorry for doing it without permission, but half of the company compensation and insurance money for Mom’s mom… I sent it to your grandmother. Still, there’s quite a bit left. It should be enough for your wedding.”
p>“Yes, you did well.”
p>“I could never forget Grandmother’s cry.
p>“It was too difficult to express my sadness in front of her.
p>“Can that money wash away even a little of Grandmother’s grief?
p>“Probably not…”
p>“More silence followed, and only chicken bones remained.
p>“Then the new 2000cc beer ran out again.
p>“I’m full, shall we go?”
p>“Yeah. Beer just fills the stomach, it’s just drink.”
p>“Father stood up from the chair and staggered.
p>“The alcohol took effect in the gap where sweat had been lost from crying.
p>“I supported Father’s staggering body.
p>“But what did you awaken with? Did you use skills?”
p>“Pure curiosity filled Father’s eyes with drunkenness.
p>“I smirked.
p>“I’ll show you later.”
p>“But… is studying coding worth it?”
p>“Yes. It’s fun.”
p>“Fun? Yeah. Doing anything fun is the best.”
p>“Are you going to work tomorrow too?”
p>“I have to.”
p>“But how much allowance did Mom used to give you?”
p>“Huh? Uh… th-thirty, no forty.”
p>“Anyway, our stingy Lady Lim Hanbyul…
p>“She gave thirty.
p>“But now that Father earns the money,
p>“From now on I’ll give you fifty.”
p>“Really?”
p>“Father’s face lit up.
p>“His mood improved along with mine.
p>“Father is late, but I’ll repay my filial duty now.”