Picnic at the Blue House
“Picnic~ Picnic~ Picnic picnic~!”
Maybe because it had been so long since we'd gone out together, Jiyoon's energy was sky-high, even higher than usual.
“Jiyoon, stay still. Alesia can't braid your hair if you keep moving.”
“Yeees!”
Alesia was smiling broadly too, probably because it had been ages since she'd seen Jiyoon this excited.
“There, all done. How's that, miss?”
“It's always pretty when Alesia braids it!”
“Aaaah! Miss!”
Now those two were being all mushy...
Once we finished getting ready and stepped out of the mansion, the servants came swarming out to see us off.
“Miss! Have a safe trip!”
“Young master, don't forget your lunchbox.”
“Have fun!”
It really drove home how affectionate the staff at our house were.
“Yep! We'll be back!”
Jiyoon gave them a proper bow at the waist, then grabbed my hand.
“Let's go, oppa!”
“Alright.”
We got into the waiting car, and it pulled out right away. The one silver lining was that no security detail was tagging along this time.
Normally...
'Even so, young master and miss going out together—you need security for that, right?'
The head of security had pleaded in that earnest tone, and even Father had pushed for it since safety first...
'Gwak Chunsik senior and his granddaughter are coming along this time.'
'Well, that should be fine then.'
One mention of Gwak Chunsik coming, and Father gave the okay. The security chief looked downright sulky about it, but what could you do? Picnicking with one of Korea's strongest.
The car soon left Calione territory, hit the highway, and entered downtown Seoul.
“Oppa, where are we going anyway?”
Jiyoon finally asked, peering at me curiously.
“A place in Korea nobody can just visit.”
“Nobody can go?”
“Yeah. Even it's my first time.”
I never dreamed I'd pick a spot like this for a picnic, that's for sure.
Fewer cars started passing by outside. Gyeongbok Palace came into view ahead—but we blew past it. Finally, what appeared was a checkpoint.
The man at the gate waved us through casually, and Han Seojun stopped the car.
“What brings you here?”
The man peered in through the driver's side window.
“We're here on invitation from Gwak Chunsik senior. I heard he'd already cleared it.”
“Ah, yes, you're confirmed. Enjoy your time.”
Dropping Gwak Chunsik's name got us through in seconds.
Passing the checkpoint, the building ahead came into sight—
“Aaah! Oppa! Oppa! I saw this on TV! It's super famous!”
“Right? Never thought I'd actually come here.”
The pinnacle of power in Korea. The Blue House.
The car headed to the parking lot. Han Seojun parked and turned back to us.
“I'll wait here. Have a great time, young master, miss.”
“Thank youuu!”
“You rest up too. I'll call before we head back.”
We got out quietly, and I took Jiyoon's hand, heading off right away.
Gwak Chunsik had texted the meetup spot: 'Blue House Garden.' Even I felt awkward coming in like this—I rarely entered through the front gate.
Man, how long's it been since I came in the main entrance?
“Hey. You there yet?”
“Just got out of the parking lot. Where do I go?”
“Eh? Never been to the Blue House?”
I have—in another life. Though back then, I was there to steal something.
“Why would I ever come here?”
“Fair enough. Just wait. I'll send someone.”
Someone else in the group? Besides the senior and his granddaughter?
As I waited, wondering, a man in a suit came running toward us from afar.
...Huh?
“Haa... haa... You're Han Eugene and Han Jiyoon, right?”
“Yes, but who...?”
“Ah, haha! Right. I'm Kang Sangrok.”
He let out a hearty laugh and offered his hand. That's right—the president of Korea in this CS world, Kang Sangrok.
* * *
“Hey. You made it?”
Gwak Chunsik sat on a mat in the distance, beaming and waving at us.
“Senior.”
“Aaah! The grandpa from before!”
“Hahaha! Good memory on you.”
“Hellooo.”
I sighed as Jiyoon greeted him and he nodded back.
“Seriously, sending the president to greet us? You scared the hell out of me.”
“He's my friend first, kid. Right, Sangrok?”
That's right—they were old pals. I'd known that setting, but it was so minor I'd shoved it to the back of my mind.
“If he weren't an Awakener, I'd smack him.”
“Try it, punk. Wouldn't flinch even if you brought a tank. Kahahah!”
The president of Korea brawling with the nation's top Awakener. Hilarious in a way.
“Grandpaaa, where's your friend?”
Jiyoon set her pink bag neatly on the mat and looked around.
Gwak Chunsik pointed toward the fountain.
“Went to see the flowers over there. Why not go check it out?”
“Flowers? Okay!”
I watched her excited dash off, then sat quietly beside Gwak Chunsik.
“A picnic at the Blue House. Nobody but you could pull this off, senior.”
How many people in Korea could? I could count 'em on one hand, no doubt.
“All thanks to keeping good friends. You benefiting too, eh, Sangrok?”
Gwak Chunsik had indeed gotten major favors from the president. Ending up in Gangwon instead of prison after slaughtering villains, free to roam there—all because of presidential grace.
“Yeah, can't argue that, and it pisses me off more. Oh, didn't you say one more was coming?”
“Huh? Yeah, supposed to be soon. Kid's not texting back.”
Huh?
“Senior, someone else coming here?”
“Yeah, someone you know—not that you'll be thrilled. Bringing your friend too, he said.”
Someone I know? As I puzzled over it—
“Ah, there they are.”
We looked back the way we'd come and spotted two familiar faces.
“...You called the Sword Sage senior?”
“Kahaha. Picnic in a spot like this—more the merrier, right?”
Choi Seonho trudged over with a sigh, and beside him walked a woman side by side.
...So that's what he meant by bringing my friend.
Choi Yeon. She'd spotted me too and gave a small wave.
This was...
“A gathering of Korea's most influential elders?”
“Oh, put like that, yeah? What to call the group? 'Gwak Chunsik and the Scrubs'? Kahahah!”
Living to see Gwak Chunsik, the president, and the Sword Sage together. Unless the government collapsed, I'd never imagined it—yet here it was, unfolding in the Blue House garden on a clear day. Absurd.
“Greetings, Sword Sage senior.”
I stood to bow, and he gave a curt nod.
“Yeah, been a while. Good to see the president too. Keeping well?”
“Ha! Thanks to you. Never thought we'd meet like this.”
“Indeed.”
The president and Sword Sage kept it formal, like acquaintances through official business. The vibe of meeting a friend's contact.
“Eugene. Hi.”
“Hey. Hi.”
I greeted Choi Yeon naturally amid the awkward air.
“Thanks to good little siblings, touring the Blue House. Full of surprises today.”
Choi Seonho fanned himself with a fan from his robes.
Gwak Chunsik laughed heartily.
“How great is this! Weather's perfect, company's great, spot's prime! Where else like it? Sit, brother Choi! Hey, Sangrok—get that. That thing.”
“...Fine. On it.”
Kang Sangrok signaled a Blue House staffer, and massive carts—like mobile buffets—rolled toward us. Buffets started setting up in the garden. Most eye-catching on the mat: premium soju.
“You said you wanted this last time, brother. Had 'em prep some.”
“Ahem...! Hits the spot. Must've been a hassle for you, Mr. President.”
“Light compared to your exploits, Sword Sage. Ha! Forget president today—think of me as a little brother.”
“W-well, if you say so. Little brother Kang?”
“Yes. Big brother Choi.”
Something felt off sticking around here.
...Already smells like booze.
I stood quietly to head to the kids, but Choi Yeon grabbed my sleeve.
“...Where?”
“To check on the siblings.”
“Siblings?”
“She bolted off to see flowers earlier. Wanna come?”
“Yeah.”
Right—couldn't leave her in this old folks' home vibe.
“Let's go.”
We left the elders clinking glasses and headed where Jiyoon had run off. The presidential grounds really were something—ancient trees and manicured bushes soothed the soul just looking at them.
“Where'd those kids go...?”
“There?”
Choi Yeon pointed far off as we searched.
Two little kids squatting by a flowerbed. Headband confirmed it—Jiyoon. So the other was Gwak Chunsik's granddaughter?
We approached slowly, and their giggling grew audible.
“Jiyoon.”
They turned at her name.
“Oh? Oppa! And... pretty unnie! Hellooo.”
“Hellooo.”
The kids greeted us. For some reason, Choi Yeon bowed 90 degrees right back.
“Hello.”
Were kids from those families drilled extra hard on manners young? Caught up in it, I bowed too.
“Jiyoon, what're you up to?”
“Dunno! Figuring out what to play!”
That explained the flowerbed squat. Nothing much.
“Cool. What about your friend here—any ideas?”
I asked the girl beside her. Gwak Chunsik's granddaughter? Adorably cute—easy to see why he doted and babied her. She furrowed her brow, hummed thoughtfully, then lit up and looked at us.
“Tag! Let's play tag!”
“Tag? Sound good, Jiyoon?”
“I like it too!”
Majority rules: tag it was. Rock-paper-scissors to pick the tagger first.
“Ah.”
Choi Yeon threw scissors alone while the rest went rock. She was it.
“Eugene.”
“Yeah?”
“Can I use aura?”
“You'd need it.”