Chapter 15
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 15: Fallen Chaebol 3rd Generation Baek Ha-rin (3)
It was a very awkward atmosphere.
We are putting appetizing food set on the living room table into our mouths, but.
There was no conversation between us sitting opposite each other.
Should I say something?
What topic should I bring up?
...I should say sorry about that day.
My brain spun fiercely, but no clear answer came to mind.
Perhaps the future is just eating like this and parting ways, the moment I thought that.
"That..."
Ha-rin Senior opened her mouth first.
"How many years has it been since then?"
3 years in prison, and spending nearly 3 years after that, so a whopping 6 years.
"6 years passed."
"Time is really fast, right?"
Well, Senior might not know, but for me, it was a time like an eternity.
When there was no answer, Ha-rin Senior scratched her head awkwardly.
"Anyway, how did you buy this house? Loan?"
"Who lends 14.5 billion to a newcomer in society."
"Ahaha, is that so?"
Saying I copied money by obtaining a Mythic Grade Unique Trait in Fantastia was too much TMI, so I spoke indirectly.
"Just happened to earn some big money by chance. I was lucky."
Maybe noticing I didn't want to talk about details, Ha-rin Senior didn't ask in detail either.
"Still, I'm really glad you succeeded."
"...."
"I've never seen a person as desperate as you. I knew you would succeed."
Surely she meant it in a good way.
I almost got angry for no reason.
What am I doing being steeped in inferiority complex still, against a bastard with lots of money.
Let's snap out of it.
I changed the topic of conversation.
"That, Senior. I called a few times recently."
"To me?"
It was when I was running around desperately to prepare 500 million.
I left contact with Ha-rin Senior too, but there was no reply.
"...Yes."
"I was in the middle of escaping... no, traveling back then so I probably couldn't answer? Oh, there really are a lot of calls."
Checking the missed call list, Ha-rin Senior gets slightly surprised.
"Was it urgent?"
"It was urgent back then."
Now I earned money so it's done.
"It's resolved now. It's okay."
"What kind of business was it?"
Saying my female friend was in danger of dying so I contacted because I needed money was also too much TMI, so I passed.
"It's nothing. And actually, I have something to say."
There is something I really have to say separately.
"Hm?"
"When we last saw each other, I... cursed a bit severely."
Ha-rin Senior recalls that day.
Surely she remembers too, but acting as if she doesn't know, shrugging her shoulders perhaps to be considerate of me.
"Did you?"
"...I did."
I pledged so much in prison to apologize first if we met again.
I opened my mouth immediately.
"I was sorry. Really."
Perhaps she didn't expect to hear an apology suddenly, Ha-rin Senior blanked out.
Soon she answered with a bewildered expression.
"...No, I'm sorry. I treated you too severely right? Mad Dog Do-hyun and all that."
"I did it because I wanted to. You don't need to apologize."
"It was something I definitely wanted to say if I met you. I was sorry, really."
I could have refused if I wanted to, but I'm the one who sold my pride for money.
In the first place, for 30 million won, I just think I worked.
Just like it's abnormal to criticize streamers doing internet broadcasts as weird, Senior didn't need to apologize either.
The atmosphere became somewhat awkward.
Ha-rin Senior staring blankly at me chewing and swallowing meat munch munch.
At a thought that suddenly occurred, I brought up words first.
"Anyway, are you okay Senior?"
"With what."
"Conversing with me. You know too, Senior. What I committed."
I forgot lately, but I am an ex-convict.
And a parricide ex-convict, a crime among crimes.
I thought facing a man who killed his own father would be uncomfortable for Ha-rin Senior too.
She really looked like it was nothing.
Rather, she only looked glad.
"Ah that?"
Soon after, a shocking remark came out of Ha-rin Senior's mouth.
"You have absolutely no fault, so why would I be uncomfortable."
I have no fault?
"I killed my father though?"
"Didn't you take the blame for that?"
"Yes?"
Why does this person know the secret I never told anyone except Yoon-seo?
What does this mean.
Looking at my puzzled expression, Ha-rin Senior spoke in a shocked tone.
"Wait, Do-hyun-ah, don't tell me you thought the police really believed your perjury?"
Me staring blankly.
"Oh my, Do-hyun-ah. The police aren't as incompetent as you think."
Ha-rin Senior sighing looking at me like that.
"Doing the on-site investigation, of course it all came out. That the real culprit would be the younger sister."
"...What does this mean?"
It was nonsense.
I wiped the fingerprints on the liquor bottle and put my fingerprints on it.
I even put blood on my clothes.
"There is something called estimated time of death. At that time you were doing a convenience store part-time job, so the police would totally believe it."
Then why did they believe my testimony at the trial?
Ha-rin Senior continued speaking in a tone as if it was nothing.
"I used some power for that."
"...You did, Senior?"
"I'm a chaebol. Because you looked like you didn't want your sister to become the culprit."
"No, wait a moment... I don't know how things are turning."
Ha-rin Senior moistened her throat taking a sip of the drink.
"So. I put some pressure to make them believe your testimony. Okay?"
The hidden shocking truth was revealed.
"Wow, did you really not know? You're smart so I thought you would notice, but to not know. It's a bit of a shock, boy."
I ended up dropping the chopsticks I was holding.
"In the first place, do you know what the sentence for parricide is? Minimum 7 years, otherwise death penalty or life imprisonment."
I thought the sentence was reduced because I was a juvenile back then and there was evidence of domestic violence.
"Do you know how much I suffered to make that not guilty? Why do you think suspiciously capable lawyers didn't approach you?"
That was also Senior's achievement.
Ha-rin Senior was using power from behind.
While I didn't know.
Why on earth...?
She smirked.
"Making a face asking why."
"...."
"I spent my school life happily thanks to you, can't I do even this much?"
When my expression turned serious, Ha-rin Senior picked up a piece of meat with chopsticks and shoved it into my mouth.
"Mmph, mmph!"
"Why be so serious about past events? Everything turned out well. Then it's done."
And propping her chin, she stared at me and said.
"Do-hyun-ie, still cute?"
The bully girl who made me a clown is actually the Queen of Support!?!?
Actually, if she gave 30 million won, she's not a bully girl, nor did she make me a clown.
To think I tried to cast away a senior who only gave help to my life like that, oh damn it.
"I'll clean up."
"No, I will clean up. Ha-rin Senior please stay seated."
"No, I'm the guest..."
"Tsk, please stay still."
I cannot let a single speck of dust get on the hands of the greatest benefactor of my life, the Great Senior Baek Ha-rin.
"Ah, and we graduated high school too so Senior is a bit much. Call me Noona (Older Sister) now."
"Yes, Noonim."
"Noona."
"...Yes Noona."
"Speak informally too."
"...That is a bit."
"Tsk."
"...Okay, Noona."
Calling her like this is more ticklish than I thought.
Leaving Ha-rin Senior... no, Ha-rin Noona behind, I cleaned up the table neatly and set up the dessert ice cream ordered from Baedal Minjok in front of her.
"Mm, yummy."
Her appearance taking a scoop satisfactorily.
Overlaps with those days I lived as a servant in high school.
Back then I was inwardly displeased, but now I am only grateful.
Such errands are nothing compared to the grace I received.
What if Senior wasn't there?
No 30 million won, no lawyer, I get taken away for perjury too, sister gets rumored all over the neighborhood and lives branded as a murderer for life.
Terrible, terrible.
"This is a really expensive brand here, you order it like it's nothing. Do-hyun-ah, you succeeded more than I thought?"
"Of course, it's thanks to Noona."
"Just saying. If I thought you were living hard after release, I was going to put you in a position. But the need for that disappeared."
"Can I call you Master?"
"No."
I thought about the future of a timeline where I didn't curse that day.
Getting a job at a large corporation through connections.
And being on a roll.
I regret the events of that day intensely.
As expected, people should live kindly.
Fortune rolls in on its own.
Don't curse, know how to be grateful. Huh?
If I just didn't go overboard back then, I would have gotten a job after prison, traveled with Noona, and just totally.
'Stop.'
Thinking about it makes it gloomier.
I slapped my cheeks lightly tap tap and came to my senses.
'It turned out well so it's fine.'
If so, I wouldn't have met Yoon-seo and wouldn't have obtained Probability Manipulation.
I cleaned up the dessert Noona finished eating.
Noona, naturally lying down on the sofa, looked for the remote control with familiar hand movements.
Appearance pondering what to watch while flipping TV channels.
Suddenly checked the watch.
9 PM.
Grateful is grateful, but until when is she intending to stay?
"...Noona."
"Huh?"
"Shall I see you home?"
As I tested the waters, suddenly Ha-rin Noona rolled her eyes here and there as if flustered.
She seemed to be talking to her parents earlier, did something not go well?
"Ah right."
Then she suddenly raised her body and turned her head to meet my gaze.
Words spat out while shining extremely sparkling eyes.
"Do you want to marry me?"
"Yes?"
"I'll support you well."