Goroshi
....Pardon?
To my proposal, Park Jin-su, the State Affairs Coordinator's eyes shook.
A word that could fluster even the government's real power broker.
"If you just do that, I'll put in a good word for you."
I said flatly.
But Director Park still wore a dazed expression.
He seemed not to understand what I'd said.
"...Sorry, Mr. Kim Ji-hoon. What is goroshi?"
"Oh, there's this thing."
I chuckled and kindly explained it step by step.
"First off, from beginning to end—why I got dragged to the police station, who gave the orders, who carried it out, who turned a blind eye. Uncover it all thoroughly and report back to me."
"......"
I stared straight into Director Park's eyes.
"If even one part of the investigation turns out false, or I spot any cover-up for your own people?"
"......"
"Then I'm done negotiating with the Korean government."
At my firm words, Director Park's Adam's apple bobbed heavily.
He wiped cold sweat from his brow and nodded.
"A... alright. I'll compile it and report back."
"Yeah. Appreciate it."
I'd said my piece and opened the car door.
Cold wind rushed in, but my heart felt refreshingly clear.
As I stepped out, I spotted my uncle and Lily waiting under the streetlamp.
"It's cold out. Why not head inside?"
"Hehe."
Lily came scampering over and latched onto my arm.
"I'm not letting go this time."
She rubbed her cheek against my arm like a puppy reunited with its long-lost owner.
That warmth melted the ice that had frozen in my heart.
I was truly grateful for Lily.
In truth, the time I'd spent dragged to the police station was only about 12 hours.
I'd gotten out before even a full day had passed.
But in that short span, the terror Lily must have felt was beyond imagination.
Yet she hadn't run away.
Not from that place packed with relatives she'd never met before—everyone except my parents and Jimin.
Not from the unfamiliar funeral hall in a foreign country.
Dressed in mourning clothes, she'd stepped up as the chief mourner in my place.
Since they'd find out anyway, in the early hours when the guests had thinned out, I'd gathered my parents and relatives and given them a brief rundown.
Of course, all hell had broken loose.
Dad had been furious.
And rightly so.
The authorities had interfered with Mom and Grandma's final farewell.
But silver lining in the tragedy: over the past three days, I'd bid Grandma a regret-free goodbye.
I'd wailed my heart out at the altar, regretted what I couldn't do for her, vowed to live well from now on.
I'd sent her off with no lingering attachments, cherishing her in my heart.
If I hadn't been able to do that?
I probably would've lost my mind.
I already carried the eternal regret of not visiting her often enough; if I couldn't even see her off on her final journey, it would've been an indelible burden, a lifelong trauma.
12 hours.
Now it was my turn to settle that score.
"Here."
My uncle's car pulled up in front of me.
I got in the back seat with Lily.
"Heading home, right?"
"Yeah. Looks like I'll be in Korea until things wrap up."
"Got it. You couldn't even go home during the mourning period and must be exhausted. Let's get you there quick to rest."
"Uncle, thanks. For everything."
"What're you talking about? Family sticks together."
Uncle grinned at me through the rearview mirror.
The car smoothly pulled away from the funeral hall.
In the car gliding along the road, a brief silence fell before Uncle asked curiously,
"So, what'd the government offer as compensation?"
He must've been wondering about my conversation in the official car earlier.
I gazed out the window and answered calmly.
"I turned down their monetary compensation."
"Huh? Turned it down?"
Uncle's voice rose an octave.
"What're you saying? You take what's offered."
"Taking that money could breed resentment later."
"Resentment?"
Uncle looked puzzled.
I fiddled with Lily's hand as I continued.
"Right now, everyone's on my side because it's a hot issue. But what I want isn't money—it's punishment for those involved."
"True."
"But if I snatch up a huge payout? Public opinion could flip. 'He got compensation and still complains? Was it all a show for cash?' That kind of talk would definitely come up."
Korean society is peculiar.
It's natural for victims to get compensated, but if the amount's big, this weird jealousy kicks in, people trying to tear you down.
Sneering that you scored a fat payday.
I didn't want to give them even that opening.
"Plus, I didn't miss the entire vigil—it was just delayed 12 hours... The bigger the compensation, the more backlash I'll get later."
I narrowed my eyes.
"But if I reject compensation and demand only punishment?"
"......"
"Then they've got nothing to say. The moral high ground is all mine."
I grinned.
"And money? Eh, I make enough to get by."
Uncle stared blankly for a moment, then burst into helpless laughter.
"Hahaha! Right, right. Forgot my nephew's a success story in America."
"Success? Gotta work harder."
"Fair enough. If that's your thinking, go for it. Uncle'll do his best to help. Don't worry about the legal side."
"Thanks, Uncle. I trust you."
As we talked, the car barreled down the road without hesitation.
"Wow...!"
An exclamation of awe burst from Lily's lips.
I wrapped an arm around her waist and naturally guided her through the gate.
Mom and Dad would've arrived first.
Our family home nestled on a quiet hill in Bukchon, Seoul.
The exterior preserved the classic elegance of a traditional tiled-roof hanok, but the interior blended modern comforts for easy living—a fusion hanok.
It must all look brand new to Lily.
She'd flown in from America only to get hauled off at the airport, then straight to the funeral hall upon release.
"Ugh..."
I rolled my neck lightly.
My bones cracked with a pop.
In Korean funeral customs, chief mourners can't leave the altar, so for three days straight, you'd eat and sleep right there.
Without proper showers, just catnaps—naturally, my whole body felt sticky and grimy.
I was dying for a hot shower and bed.
"This way."
Our house had the main building for family living and a separate guesthouse, divided by a garden.
We crossed the garden.
On one side, dozens of earthenware jars Dad cherished gleamed under the moonlight; beside them, Mom's little vegetable patch for passing time.
A stone path of flat slabs laid for easy walking.
As we strolled, Lily looked around in wonder.
"The house is so pretty, honey...!"
Lily whispered, clutching my arm tight.
"So this is what our home looks like...!"
My steps faltered for a moment.
Our home.
Legally and emotionally, we were fully one family now.
'Our home' from Lily's lips felt perfectly natural.
If anything, it made a warm fuzziness bloom in my chest.
"Yeah. This is our home."
I smiled and squeezed her hand tighter.
We reached the main building.
We neatly slipped off our shoes on the quiet porch.
The cool wooden touch underfoot.
Passing the grand hall, we slid open the door to the family living room.
Warmth and the familiar home scent welcomed us.
In the living room, cozy air enveloped us.
Mom, Dad, and my brother—freshly showered in casual clothes—waited for us.
"You're late. How'd it go?"
Mom asked with worried eyes.
I shrugged off my outer clothes as I replied.
"Yeah, wrapped up well. Just need to wait a bit now."
"Good. Whew, you've been through hell since landing in Korea."
Mom clucked her tongue sympathetically.
Three days in mourning clothes, catnapping on the funeral hall floor—my appearance must've been a mess.
"Tired? Go wash up quick."
"Got it. I'll shower. Lily, let's go."
"Okay! Mom! Dad, see you soon."
Lily greeted them politely in Korean.
Mom and Dad beamed proudly at her.
Thankfully, every room had its own bathroom—super convenient.
I led Lily to my room.
"Lily. This is my room from when I was a kid."
The room must look alien to her.
Yellow ondol flooring.
Thick mattress and cotton blanket laid out on top.
Truth be told, I preferred sleeping on a thick mat on the warm floor over a bed.
Growing up that way, it was easier on my back.
"You didn't use a bed, honey?"
Lily eyed the lone bedding in the room's center curiously.
No bed frame made it look odd.
"Nah. Korea has ondol heating, so we lay mats on the floor. It's comfier than you think."
"Really?! So cool!"
Lily reached out curiously and poked the mat.
It sank plushly, and she looked pleased.
I set my suitcase in the corner and said,
"Lily. I'll use the shared bathroom outside, so you shower here—there's one attached."
I hugged her shoulders.
"You've been through so much these three days."
Unable to properly wash at the funeral hall, catnapping, sharing public bathrooms—it must've been rough.
Lily nodded.
"Yeah, I feel so grimy. Ugh... I smell."
She sniffed and scrunched her nose cutely.
"Let's hurry and shower, honey."
"Sure."
Lily opened her suitcase, grabbed comfy pajamas, and headed to the bathroom.
I grabbed a towel and left the room.
Passing the living room, I went to the shared bathroom outside.
Whoosh—
Turning on the faucet unleashed a torrent of water.
Just thinking of the hot stream made tension melt away.
Men's shower speed is one of life's mysteries to women.
Not even rushing, and suddenly you're done.
I was no exception.
Letting the warm water cascade over me, the accumulated fatigue from three days at the altar washed away in an instant.
"Hoo..."
My oily face turned fresh and fluffy with one soaping.
Toweling off and blow-drying my hair, I felt light as air.
I tossed the grimy clothes into the laundry bin outside the bathroom.
Changed into fresh ones and returned to the room, where the sound of water still poured from the bathroom.
Whoosh—
Lily was still going strong.
I shook out my damp hair and looked around the room.
My room after so long.
Desk, bookshelf, even the wall stains.
Memories of years spent here flashed by like a montage.
"Groan~"
A groan escaped me.
Dragging my sleep-deprived, leaden body, I flopped onto the thick cotton blanket on the floor.
Thud.
"Haa... perfect."
The sensation against my back was heavenly.
So plush.
Worlds apart from the thin blanket on the hard funeral hall floor—a overwhelming coziness.
Like lying on clouds.
As tension ebbed, my eyelids grew heavy on their own.
The water sounds from the bathroom lulled like a lullaby.
'Just rest till Lily comes out.'
My mind said wait, but my body was already one with the blanket.
The warm ondol floor and cozy cotton collab.
I couldn't resist the sweet temptation and drifted off into sleep.