Chapter 140
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 140
Chapter Title: The Mayor and the Evil Spirit
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.
[Come home for Chuseok.]
[Your grandpa]
"Family home...?"
That's right. The family home.
The root of it all.
The place where I was born and raised.
Where the roots are.
But I don't have a place like that.
I'm an outsider in this world.
A poor soul suddenly thrown into the shell of "Lee Garam" one day.
"Family? Did I have family...? No, of course I do."
Come to think of it, it's obvious.
Lee Garam wasn't born from a rock, or dropped from the sky, or grown in a vat as a homunculus.
Anyway.
Family.
"This is bad."
The family knows "Lee Garam."
Not me, but the original owner of this body.
The villainous mayor from the original story, filled with corruption and greed, debauched and pathetic.
But what about me now?
Not on purpose, but in the end, I've become a hero who saved the city.
I acted incompetent, but somehow ended up revered as a competent mayor.
My head is full of plans to embezzle the city budget, but to the citizens, I'm seen as the best worker.
A righteous, kind, diligent(?) person.
Completely different human.
What if this me shows up in front of them?
Will it end with something like, "Oh, our Garam has grown up"?
No way.
Absolutely not.
The family will notice.
That's not my brother.
That's not my grandson.
That's not my older brother.
Who the hell is that guy?
Evil spirit? Doppelganger? Or a mental parasite?
'Get out, you scum! How dare you covet my descendant's body!'
They'll definitely call in some renowned shaman and hold an exorcism ritual.
I can already hear the gongs and cymbals.
No.
Absolutely not.
I shook my head vigorously.
I can't go. I mustn't go. If I go, it's over.
Right. There's a way.
I'm the mayor. The mayor of Neo Incheon.
Chuseok? Holidays? I gave those up for the citizens.
"Sorry, Grandpa. I'm too busy with official duties."
Villain incidents popping up every second, endless complaints, mountains of paperwork.
I can just say I'm insanely busy.
Can some old man block the mayor's duties?
No way.
I was about to ignore it and tear it up.
As expected.
The old man called Grandpa seemed to have anticipated my reaction.
[Don't you miss the pocket money your grandma gives?]
Hmph. Pocket money.
How much slush funds are piled up in my secret vault.
[Don't you need help buttering up those city council geezers?]
Hmph. Ridiculous.
As if that kind of threat would work on me.
I'm someone who wants to be impeached, Grandpa.
A free soul ready to bolt from this position anytime.
I snorted and was about to crumple the letter.
Then the last line caught my eye.
[If you insist on being stubborn, I'll send your little sister Gaeun.]
Gaeun.
Little sister.
Lee Garam's sister, mentioned a few times in the original comic.
An S-rank ability user who forms the top duo with Kang Jiyeong at Neo Incheon City Hall.
The problem is her personality.
To sum it up in one word: psycho.
Simply put, sadistic. In other words, psychopath.
I imagined that kind of woman storming into City Hall.
Horrifying.
Just thinking about it raises my blood pressure.
No choice...
Time to activate Plan B.
"Seria! Seriaaa!!!"
I shouted urgently.
Seria, flipping through her tablet on the sofa, replied without looking up.
"What now."
"Um... ahem, I have a favor to ask──"
"No."
Firm. Like a blade.
She drives the nail of refusal before the period even lands.
"Hey, I haven't even said it yet!"
"It's bound to be some ridiculous demand anyway. Like appointing a penguin as vice mayor, or putting Nero in as Minister of Education."
"Not that bad!"
Wait a second.
A penguin vice mayor does sound kinda cool?
Edward waddling around in a suit...
As I muttered, Seria's brow furrowed.
"Get to the point."
I took a deep breath and put on my most serious face.
"Hey, Seria. Got any plans for the Chuseok holiday?"
"Pardon?"
One of Seria's eyebrows twitched slightly.
"No particular plans."
"Perfect! Then come with me... to the family home!"
"I see."
Seria's fingers paused.
She slowly lifted her head.
Her beautiful turquoise eyes turned toward me.
A faint crack appeared in her usual expressionless face.
"What did you just say?"
"Uh, no! I mean! Come to the family home with me!"
Seria stared at me blankly.
The pressure tightened around my throat.
Finally, she spoke.
"Me?"
"Yeah! You!"
"To the mayor's family home?"
"Yes!!"
"Why?"
"Why? You're my secretary! A secretary has to assist the boss in everything! No exceptions for Chuseok! That's an order!"
Evil boss mode ON.
As arrogant and obnoxious as possible.
But as expected.
Seria didn't bat an eye.
If anything, her gaze grew colder.
A chilling sensation that made every hair on my body stand up.
"Mayor."
She stood from her seat.
Click. Click.
Her heels struck my heart.
She stopped right in front of me.
"What's your angle?"
"Angle? What do you mean!"
"Normally, you wouldn't even think of seeing me during the holiday. You'd be plotting how to dodge me and slack off. But inviting me to your family home? That's suspicious."
She hit the nail on the head.
This woman knows me too well.
"Th-that's..."
I racked my brain desperately.
I need an excuse.
A plausible one.
'Actually, I'm a pitiful everyman who possessed Lee Garam's body, and if I face the family alone, my cover's blown, so I'm asking you to cover for me!'
I can't say that.
"W-well! You don't have anything to do! What were you gonna do for Chuseok anyway? Sit home alone working! Right?"
Even I thought it was a pathetic excuse.
"Could you logically explain the causal relationship between me having nothing to do and you trying to drag me to your family home?"
"Uh... um... well..."
I was at a loss for words.
I tore at my hair.
Brain full throttle!
I have to convince her somehow!
"Songpyeon! Right, songpyeon! My grandma's songpyeon is out of this world! Let's go eat that! And sebae! If we do sebae, we get sebaetdon!"
"I've never heard of doing sebae and getting sebaetdon on Chuseok. We can buy songpyeon at Insimdang."
"Ugh."
Seria pointed it out coldly.
"A-and! Nero's coming too, you okay not seeing Nero during Chuseok!?"
"Uh... what else... Ah! My grandpa's study has tons of rare books! You like books!"
"I'll show you my old room too! The one I used as a kid, it's super... uh... cool!"
"Anyway! Let's go! Yeah? There's lots of tasty stuff! It'll be boring! It'll be boring if I go alone!"
I was practically begging.
Dignity as mayor? Tossed out long ago.
Right now, survival is all that matters.
"Haa..."
Seria watched my desperate struggles for a moment, then let out a long sigh.
That sigh held a mix of emotions.
Pity, annoyance, and a faint hint of amusement.
"Really. You have the worst sense of humor, Mayor."
"Huh?"
Worst sense of humor?
What does that mean?
Seria gave an enigmatic smile.
"You wanted to see me meet your family that badly?"
A chill ran down my spine.
A foreboding feeling that I'd made the wrong choice.
But I shook it off.
Now's not the time for minor worries.
I took her response as a 'yes.'
"Thanks! You're the only one, Seria!"
Overjoyed with relief, I spread my arms to hug her.
Swish.
"Huh?"
Seria, who had been right in front of me, shifted aside like a mirage.
My momentum carried me forward, tumbling headfirst.
"Ow!"
Thud! Roll roll.
I sprawled nicely on the floor.
It hurts.
My nose feels broken.
Meow─
Then something soft landed on my chest.
It was Nero.
Poke. Poke. Poke.
The little guy started kneading my chest with his paws.
Come to comfort his fallen master.
Or just excited about the new cushion?
Meow meow?
Nero licked my face as if asking.
'So I'm going too, meow?'
"Yeah! Yeah! Let's all go. All go eat songpyeon! Jeon! Galbijjim too!"
And so.
My family home visit was decided.
With Seria and Nero.
Those two should make it work somehow.
...Probably.
Neo Incheon's official government vehicle.
Bulletproofing is standard.
Even limited hovering capabilities. The pinnacle of cutting-edge tech.
Riding in this amazing car, I'm crossing the Ganghwa Bridge right now.
Isn't this a kind of triumphant return?
Come to think of it, gold might be overkill, so let's call it silver return.
Out the window, the West Sea spread out.
Vast tidal flats.
Gulls crying kree kree.
"Wow, first time on Ganghwa Island. Nice."
"......?"
At that moment.
Seria in the passenger seat turned her head slightly.
Her gaze met mine through the rearview mirror.
Oh no.
I slipped up.
"Ah! No! It's been so long! So long!"
"So long?"
"Yeah! Super long time! So long it feels like my first time! You know that feeling! The mindset of seeing everything fresh like the first time!! Right! It was a profound statement about not losing that beginner's mind! Haha!"
I have no idea what I'm saying.
Blabbering nonsense.
A word salad.
Tilt?
Nero in my arms cocked his head.
'Master's at it again' face.
Ignored even by the cat.
Seria said nothing more.
Just gazed at me steadily through the rearview.
Damn. Off to a rocky start.
The car wound through rural roads toward the foothills of Mani Mountain.
The scenery flashing by outside changed gradually.
Rice paddies and fields.
Low rural houses.
And finally, a massive hanok mansion came into view.
An imposing sight of dozens of tiled-roof buildings stretching endlessly amid a pine forest.
This is Lee Garam's family home.
I recalled the original knowledge.
Lee Garam's clan.
The Lee family of Ganghwa.
Its origins trace back to the late Joseon era.
A time when the nation weakened and foreign invasions grew overt.
The clan's ancestor, awakening to superpowers, used that power solely to save the country.
During Japanese colonial rule, he threw himself into the independence movement as the "Pro-Japanese Hunter."
During the 6.25 Monster Wave, he held the front lines against the beasts.
And in the Vietnam Villain Subjugation and the democratization movement against superpower dictatorship.
A prestigious family that pierced through Korea's turbulent modern history with their bodies.
Lee Garam's parents, born into that great lineage, were heroes who fought for the nation and died in the line of duty.
And the grandparents who raised Lee Garam.
Grandpa is a Vietnam War veteran and five-term National Assembly member, a political heavyweight.
Grandma hails from the owner family of a top-10 conglomerate, a massive asset holder.
Politics, economy, and heroes.
An elite group wielding immense influence across all fields.
That's right.
I, Lee Garam, am the sole blemish on this perfect family.
Second of two boys and one girl.
A sandwich in the middle with no powers or talents.
The genius older brother.
The already S-rank little sister.
Growing up amidst endless comparisons and disdain, I inevitably turned crooked.
If it were a novel title, it'd be something like this.
[The Prestigious Clan Has Become an Incompetent Scoundrel]
And caught Seria's eye, used as her pawn, walking the path of a corrupt villainous politician.
Of course, that's the original Lee Garam's story.
The current me is...
Just a civilian who wants to run away.
The car came to a smooth stop.
We've arrived.
"Young master, you've arrived."
As soon as I stepped out, an elderly man in butler attire approached and bowed politely.
White hair neatly combed back.
Wrinkled face.
But his straight posture and sturdy build showed he wasn't an ordinary old man.
'Who is he?'
No memory.
Whatever, probably a superpowered butler.
Eh, whatever.
"Ah, yes. Hello. Long time no see."
I smiled awkwardly and nodded.
Being polite with honorifics should get me by.
But.
"Gasp! The young master using honorifics!?"
The old man's eyes widened.
"Th-this must be something wrong... Young master! Did you hit your head somewhere? Or are you being threatened? Blink twice! I'll rescue you!"
Blink blink.
"...No, really, nothing's wrong. I've just... matured a bit..."
"The young master has matured!?"
Oh, wrong again?
Just brush past it for now.
The butler led me to the sarangchae.
We crossed a wide courtyard, passing several buildings.
After twists and turns, we reached the sarangchae.
Two people sat inside the room.
"You're here."
A low, dignified voice.
My grandfather, Lee Ha-jun.
Sharp eyes and firmly pressed lips.
Long retired, but the authority emanating from his entire body was undeniable.
"Come in, Garam dear."
A warm, gentle voice.
My grandmother, Kwon Se-hee.
Graceful in her expensive silk hanbok.
Her refined face seemed untouched by time.
Her gaze was especially indulgent toward me.
I offered the prepared gift.
"Grandpa, Grandma. It's nothing special."
Superpowered beans, chroma beans, harvested from the city hall backyard garden.
Gathered by Nero from some poor employee's retirement fund.
"They're good for your health."
"Ho ho."
Grandma took the wrapped bundle and her eyes widened.
"Garam, these are chroma beans! Such vivid colors! Top quality! Where did you get these?"
No, Grandma. Just picked from the garden.
I couldn't tell the truth.
"Just... from someone I know..."
"Ho ho, our Garam is building proper connections now."
At that moment.
Meow─
Nero slipped from my arms and landed lightly on the floor.
Then he sauntered proudly to Grandma.
Rub rub.
Nero rubbed against her leg.
Ultimate charm attack.
You sly little─
Sensing wealth like a capitalist cat.
"My goodness."
A bright smile bloomed on Grandma's face.
"So you're the famous Nero. I've seen you on TV."
Grandma gently picked up Nero.
Nero purred contentedly in her arms.
"Oh my, so pretty. And smart too."
Grandma opened a box nearby.
Shine.
Gold-dusted golden songpyeon.
"Here, Nero. Try some."
Nom nom.
Nero chomped down the gold songpyeon heartily.
He devoured it in a blink and licked her hand for more.
"Oh my, eats so well. Here's more."
Grandma was completely smitten with Nero.
I let out a sigh of relief watching them.
First hurdle cleared, it seems.