Chapter 183: Family Service (1)
Chapter 183: Family Service (1)
Perhaps it was thanks to the commotion with Al’shel.
The heart that had sunk to the very bottom felt a little lighter.
Even so, I was merely praying that I could shove my doubts, emotions, and thoughts into some corner of my mind and forget them.
It wasn't like it was the first time.
The storehouse in my heart for such things might already be at capacity.
Even if it wasn't now, they might come bursting through the doors someday.
But at least for now, it seemed that wasn't the case.
I was at least in a good enough mood to head home energetically, chicken in one hand and beer in the other.
The only disappointing thing was that it wasn't night, but broad daylight with the sun shining brightly over the city.
But what did it matter? If you buy chicken, someone is bound to eat it.
It was hard to imagine my disciples refusing it, but even if they did, Un-ho and I could just finish it off.
Un-ho, in particular, was perfect for disposing of cold chicken; if left alone, he’d roll around on top of the pieces until his white fur was matted with sauce.
And while I was at it, I could just dump the sauce-covered Un-ho at the trash collection point and pretend I didn't know him.
Lately, that guy has been living way too comfortably. Acting all cute for the disciples and letting them treat him like a pet.
I really should send him on a special delivery to the dump like the old days.
Of course, this plan only worked if Un-ho was rolling around covered in frying batter and chicken sauce as usual, but I figured the success rate was about 20%.
* * *
‘Where did Un-ho go?’
‘Who knows? He probably got stuck in a hole somewhere while looking for snacks.’
‘I thought I was gonna dieeeee poyoook!’
* * *
Mm. Just imagining it made me happy.
My steps grew even lighter, and I soon arrived in front of my house.
Sweet home. Sweet home.
How long has it been since I last saw this place?
Of course, this expedition with the Librarian had lasted less than a week, but perhaps because that base was so incredibly boring, it felt like a much longer time had passed.
Once I get inside, I’m going to lounge on the sofa and the bed.
I’ve been living life a bit too intensely lately; I need to unwind.
As I was making plans for the immediate future and reaching for the Auto-lock—
‘Hahaha. Really?’
‘Of course. I’m serious.’
I heard a woman’s laughter coming from behind the door.
What’s this? Do we have a guest?
Well, it shouldn't matter.
Without thinking too deeply, I began punching in the passcode.
Beep. Beep. Beep. Bee-bee-beep.
Wait, how many women do those kids even know...?
As I pressed the buttons, I sensed a presence inside the door.
They were probably coming to greet me.
Tiroring. Clack.
Aside from Oxymoron... there isn't anyone else, is there...?
Prohibition isn't the type to visit a place like this.
It’s not like the Martial Alliance kids or Chris would have visited Korea.
Maybe a friend of Si-hyun or A-bin?
In that case, I’ll just hand over the chicken, keep the beer, and hole up in my room.
Having reached that conclusion, I opened the door and spoke.
“I’m back! Is there a guest—?”
I started to speak, raising both hands, but—
What welcomed me was—
“Where have you been all this time?!”
A flash of yellow lightning and a surge of sharp pain.
Specifically, right in the solar plexus.
“Guh-hurk.”
Perhaps because of the pain, time seemed to slow down.
“Master! Welcome back!”
“Ugh... Senior!”
Additionally, I heard my ever-easygoing disciple’s greeting and the voice of A-bin, the only one who actually sounded worried.
That stretched-out moment didn't last long, however.
It ended as my body, sent flying by the sudden assault, went rolling across the floor.
“Oh, it’s fried chicken and beer.”
Maybe it was because of the intense impact.
The two plastic bags that had slipped from my hands and were flying through the air were already being inspected by the Thunder God.
Right... the chicken is safe....
Now, all that’s left is—
“Thunder God... what are you doing here...?”
The question of why the Thunder God, who should be with The Society, was popping out from inside my house.
I squeezed it out while clutching my solar plexus, which was still throbbing with a tingling pain.
The Thunder God merely glanced at me, then without answering, she turned around and handed the plastic bags to my two disciples.
“You kids eat the chicken, and put the beer in the fridge or something.”
I... I bought that....
I wanted to protest, but I was silenced by the Thunder God’s sheer momentum.
After a moment, once the two disciples had taken their respective bags, the Thunder God turned and approached me.
“Right then. I’ll be borrowing your Master for a bit.”
She said that to the disciples with a cheerful wave, then grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and started dragging me away.
My shoes dragged along the floor as my home slowly grew distant.
What on earth is happening?
“Excuse me. Lady Thunder God? Are you not going to explain what’s going on?”
“You’ll know when we get there.”
I see.
Disciples! Help me!
I waved both hands to convey that message, but—
“Have a safe trip, Master!”
“...Take care.”
The two disciples merely waved back and replied.
Baek Si-hyun was infinitely bright.
Han A-bin avoided my gaze.
Fine. You two are definitely getting the full course of hellish training.
Despite my resolve, I was merely being dragged further away from my disciples by the Thunder God’s hand.
Ugh. My house is getting further away.
My rest.
My chicken.
My beer.
And so, without even getting to step inside my house, I was robbed of my chicken, my beer, and my sanctuary.
* * *
Eventually, I gave up and started walking on my own. About two minutes had passed.
I asked the Thunder God several times where we were going, but each time, she only repeated that I’d know when we got there.
I wondered what kind of amazing place she was taking me to.
The place we arrived at was—
“It’s just a back alley.”
And it wasn't even a slum back alley or anything like that; it was just a narrow alley adjacent to a main road not far from my house.
It wasn't a special place, and there was no one there.
I voiced my complaint with that in mind.
“Hmm. No one’s around, right?”
The Thunder God ignored me and looked around to see if anyone was there.
What do you mean, no one?
People are passing by on the main road right over there, and there’s even a CCTV camera on that telephone pole.
“There’s a CCTV camera right there.”
“Oh, really?”
And then, I regretted opening my mouth.
“Zap.”
The Thunder God pointed a finger and released a bolt of electricity, smashing the CCTV camera.
...Mm. Let’s pretend I didn't see that.
With that much power, the data must have been corrupted too, so there shouldn't be any trouble.
“Now there’s really no one, right?”
“...Probably.”
I’d better hope no one comes by.
If they did, the Thunder God would probably shove electricity into the innocent victim’s nerves while calling it ‘clearing the area.’
“What do you think?”
“Huh? I told you. I don't think anyone’s here.”
“I wasn't talking to you.”
Then who—?
The moment I was about to ask.
Squelch.
I heard a sticky sound.
Sliiiide.
The Thunder God’s shadow rose up.
Pitch black, in a form slightly larger than me.
The black bubbles sprouting from the shadow grew larger and larger, then—
Pop.
With a small sound, they burst.
“Dad!”
A Young Girl appeared from within.
“Linshua?!”
Linshua immediately lunged at me and hugged me, and I instinctively caught her and hugged her back.
No matter who I was, I wasn't cold-hearted enough to push away my daughter.
So, instead—
I glared at the Thunder God over Linshua’s shoulder.
‘Why is she here?’
I tried to convey that meaning.
“Why? Because her dad said he’d play with her but never called.”
The Thunder God countered my desperate non-verbal communication with direct verbal violence.
No, I mean, I remember that promise... but I’ve been busy lately, so I couldn't help it....
Those excuses rose up, but I didn't let them out.
Even to me, those excuses felt too weak. Besides, it was clear that this situation was my fault.
“It’s okay, Dad! We can go now!”
Linshua didn't seem to have any complaints, even after hearing that.
She stopped hugging me and spoke with a smile, which only served to deepen my sense of guilt.
“And I heard from Uncle Al’shel! You’re going to the Otherworld! So we have to play together now!”
With that tiny mouth, she uttered something shocking.
To be precise, the fact that Al’shel had betrayed me and spilled everything to my daughter.
That octopus-headed bastard.
Fine, just you wait until we go to the Otherworld. I’ll find a way to throw that octopus out of the Reality Anchor’s range no matter what.
However, my malicious plans for Al’shel had nothing to do with the current situation.
“...Let’s do that.”
I returned Linshua’s smile.
“Great! I’ve planned everything! First, we’re going to an art museum, then we’re going to see a movie!”
Linshua seemed happy at my response and began talking rapidly while clapping her hands.
I should have been listening closely, but seeing as it was the usual cycle of museums, movies, and shopping, I figured just watching her happily would be enough.
“Hey. Thunder God.”
I spoke to the one leaning against The Wall, watching Linshua with a smile.
“What.”
“Linshua aside, why are you here?”
“I’m The Society Leader’s guardian and escort. We’re basically always together these days. It was a bit uncomfortable having someone in my shadow at first, but I’ve gotten used to it lately.”
‘Wow, you’ve really moved up in the world.’
That joke crossed my mind, but I kept it to myself.
Instead, what came out of my mouth was something else.
“What do you think about me going to the Otherworld?”
Since I had to act happy from now on, I brought up the difficult topic.
“Are you confident you’ll come back alive?”
“Who knows. As you know, it’s a total mess over there.”
I had the will to return alive no matter what, but I couldn't guarantee it.
It was a place where lunatics as crazy as the Atlantic Nautilus roamed freely.
“Do you have a plan?”
“Not really. I’m just putting my trust in Al’shel.”
Though my trust in that Al’shel had plummeted since he betrayed me overnight.
Well, things will work out somehow.
“Octomundus?”
“Yeah.”
Come to think of it, that was his name as a Mutant.
“He doesn't seem very reliable. When I actually met him, he seemed incredibly airheaded.”
“That’s all an act. His true nature is different.”
A mage who, aside from his interests, dispassionately calculates gains and losses.
That was his true nature.
“Really? To me, that airheaded side seemed more like his true self. Maybe the Octomundus you’re talking about is the mask.”
Who knows.
It’s not like Al’shel and I are thousand-year-old friends, so I couldn't say for sure.
More importantly.
“So.”
“Yeah?”
“Are you against it too?”
Based on our conversation so far, I expected the Thunder God to be against me going to the Otherworld. Since I was stepping into hell without any guarantees.
“No? Go ahead. Why would I stop you?”
“...The atmosphere just a moment ago didn't seem like those words could possibly come out.”
“Well, that was when I was talking about you not being Lee Ha-ram.”
Grin.
The Thunder God smiled so brightly I could almost hear it as she pushed herself off The Wall.
“You’re the incarnation of recklessness and survival, Jin Hong-cheol-chu, aren't you? Go on. I believe you’ll find a way back somehow.”
The Thunder God said that, then placed a hand on Linshua’s shoulder.
“Come on, Linshua. Let’s go. If you keep talking, your fun time will disappear.”
“Oh! Right! Let’s go!”
Linshua seemed convinced. She shouted brightly and ran over to grab my hand.
“I’ll lead the way! Let’s go, Dad!”
“Let’s do that.”
As I replied with a sincere smile—
“Oh, Dad, you were talking about going to the Otherworld with Auntie Thunder God, right?”
Linshua suddenly changed the subject.
“Ah, did you hear? Sorry for not listening to everything you were saying.”
“That’s okay. More importantly, Dad! Don't worry about me and just go to the Otherworld!”
Linshua said that, then let go of my hand for a moment and spread her arms wide.
“Because you’ll definitely come back alive! Definitely!”
She smiled energetically, as if trying to cheer me up.