Chapter 161: A Distorted Hero (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 161: A Distorted Hero (2)
In the dim light of dawn, before the sun had fully risen.
“Shin Yu-jeong! Are you not going to get up?!”
“Eek…?!”
A shout that seemed to come from the depths of Jeong-hee’s soul shot through the ceiling, waking not only Shin Yu-jeong but me as well, killing two birds with one stone.
“What time is it…”
The numbers on my smartphone read 06:00.
We were supposed to leave at 7 a.m., so… we had an hour.
“Plenty of time, hmm…”
I had already packed everything last night, pushed into it by a nagging Jeong-hee who had shown up out of the blue.
All I had to do was wash up and get dressed, so an hour was much too early…
“I’m going up to wake Do-jin, so you be washed and dressed by the time I get back!”
My mind snapped awake.
Normally, I would have pretended to be asleep, but today, that might get me killed.
I hurriedly threw off the covers and was tidying up my bedding when…
Knock, knock, knock!
With excellent timing, Jeong-hee knocked on the door.
“Do-jin, are you sleeping?”
Her tone still held a trace of warmth.
To show that I was already up, I went straight to the door and opened it.
“Oh my, you’re already awake?”
“Of course. I got up a little while ago to get ready at a leisurely pace.”
“Aww, our Do-jin is always so prepared.”
I could tell she was mentally chewing out Yu-jeong as she subtly glanced downstairs.
Lifting her head, Jeong-hee smiled and patted my butt.
“Hurry and wash up, then come down. I’ve prepared a light snack, so let’s eat that before we go.”
“Okay.”
“Ah, and…”
Before leaving, she beckoned me closer.
Wondering what it was, I lowered my head slightly. She stood on her tiptoes and whispered in my ear.
“The ajumma prepared a gift for you, since you’ve been such a good boy lately…?”
“A gift?”
“Yes. So… look forward to tonight.”
“……”
With that whisper, Jeong-hee turned with a gentle swish of her skirt and tripped lightly down the stairs.
“What was that about?”
I was curious.
Coming from someone who never bothered with things like events, it made me even more curious.
What could she have possibly prepared to tell me to look forward to it?
“…Is there any magic to skip time?”
I wouldn't mind skipping the skiing part. I felt like I could just jump straight to the evening.
Muttering nonsense, I went to the bathroom, quickly finished my shower, and got dressed.
Slacks, a knit sweater, a coat—my usual style.
“…Should I study fashion or something?”
This was the limit of my abilities.
But it wasn't like studying it now would change much…
It would be better to just hire a stylist once I start making money.
After a final check of my appearance, I grabbed my luggage. As I was about to leave, my eyes fell on Kkamseul-i, who I’d be leaving behind.
“Kkamseul-i, you’ll be okay here by yourself, right?”
In response, the little thing on its head—I couldn’t tell if it was a horn or an ear—drooped.
My heart softened at its gentle refusal.
In the end, I opened my luggage bag and held it out in front of the creature.
Hop, hop!
Understanding my intent, it leaped energetically and tucked itself into the open bag.
What a clever little thing.
“You have to stay quiet, okay?”
Hop!
It answered with a small jump. I zipped the bag shut and headed downstairs.
Pushing open the slightly ajar door, I entered the kitchen, where Jeong-hee greeted me.
“You’re here? It looks like Yu-jeong will take a little longer, so sit down and have some of this while you wait.”
“Okay.”
On the table were aromatic coffee and sandwiches.
I set my bag down beside me and sat calmly, sipping my coffee.
Meanwhile, a conversation between mother and daughter was in full swing in the small room.
“I told you to pack your things yesterday!”
“I can pack in a flash anyway, what’s the big deal?”
“Honestly, who do you take after to be like this…!”
“You, Mom. I take after you.”
“You…!”
…Was this a conversation or a war?
I’d better stay quiet so I don’t get hit by any stray bullets.
I picked up a thick sandwich, generously filled with ham, cheese, and fresh vegetables, and took a large bite.
“Mm, this is good.”
Was it because she didn’t skimp on the ingredients?
Even with just the basics, it was incomparably more delicious than anything store-bought.
I finished one half of the sandwich and was reaching for the second when…
“Sigh.”
Shin Yu-jeong, finally ready, let out a deep sigh and plopped down in the seat next to me, glaring at me resentfully.
“Give me my mom back, you bastard.”
“…Anyone hearing that would think I swapped your mom out for someone else.”
I felt a pang of guilt.
She grabbed my half-finished coffee, downed it in one go, and started complaining.
“Is it because she’s younger now? Her nagging is no joke. I think my ears are going to start bleeding.”
“Then just do things right so she doesn’t have to nag.”
It’s what the kids these days call al-jal-ttak-kkal-sen—just handle it yourself, neatly and with sense.
Since it was someone else’s problem and had nothing to do with me, I gave a half-hearted reply. Suddenly, she poked me sharply in the side.
“You smug asshole.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
In a situation like this, being called smug could be taken as a compliment, right?
Figuring she would keep whining if I let her, I picked up a piece of sandwich and handed it to her.
If her mouth was full, she couldn’t talk.
I brought over another cup of coffee and was splitting it with her when Jeong-hee came out, ready to go. She saw us and frowned slightly.
“Why are you two sharing one cup of coffee?”
…Good question.
Now that I thought about it, we had been sharing one cup so naturally.
I immediately pointed a finger at Shin Yu-jeong and tattled.
“She’s the one who stole mine.”
Just like that, all the aggro shifted to Yu-jeong, who had been quietly munching on her sandwich.
“Do you really need to steal coffee from someone who’s about to drive a long distance?”
“No, this is his second cup anyway, so it doesn’t matter…”
“If you were going to get a second cup, you could have just gotten one for yourself. Isn’t that right?”
“……”
Shin Yu-jeong glared at me, her eyes filled with silent, overflowing injustice.
Sorry.
I didn’t think of that.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
After a tumultuous breakfast, we went down and loaded our luggage into the car that had arrived yesterday afternoon.
As I was about to get into the driver’s seat, I noticed Jeong-hee and Yu-jeong staring at each other with strange expressions.
Curious, I leaned in to listen.
“I’ll take the passenger seat, so you can sit in the back, Yu-jeong.”
“No, no. You should sit comfortably in the back, Mom. I should sit next to him to help with navigation.”
“…Don’t you always fall asleep the moment you get in a car?”
Seeing that scene gave me a strange sense of satisfaction.
A mother and daughter, bickering and pointing out each other’s flaws just to claim the passenger seat.
…But what if this deepens the emotional rift between them?
I had no choice.
This time, I had to step in and sort things out.
“How about you take the seat on the way there, ma’am, and Yu-jeong can take it on the way back?”
“That sounds like a great idea!”
Jeong-hee clapped her hands in agreement, while Shin Yu-jeong smacked her lips, looking slightly disappointed.
I really didn’t understand what was so great about the passenger seat.
Since they both saw the other as a nuisance, they wouldn’t be able to do anything even if they sat next to me. So why all the fuss?
With the small dispute settled, I got into the driver’s seat and started the engine.
Immediately, worried gazes from the side and back pierced through me.
“Do-jin… you have to drive safely, okay?”
“Hey, remember that all of our lives are in your hands.”
“……”
Man, they were really piling on the pressure.
Well… it wasn’t unreasonable.
Kim Do-jin was a novice driver who had gotten his license less than a year ago.
But fear not.
The one residing within him was a best driver with a shining 20-year accident-free record.
…Of course, for the past few years, I’d had a chauffeur, so the number of times I’d driven myself could be counted on one hand.
Still, the experience I’d accumulated over the years wouldn’t have just vanished. It should be fine.
“Alright, we’re off.”
Bearing the full weight of their worries, I slowly pulled the car out of the alley.
As I demonstrated smooth cornering and stable driving, the distrust and anxiety that filled the car began to subside.
From the back, I could hear a soft purring sound, as if she was pleased with my driving.
Just a moment ago she was so anxious her legs were trembling… honestly.
Jeong-hee glanced back and covered her mouth with her hand, smiling.
“Hoho… see? I told you she falls asleep as soon as she gets in a car.”
“…You’re right.”
If she pulls that in the passenger seat on the way back, I’ll have to give her a flick on the forehead.
It’s common sense that you’re allowed to use violence against someone who falls asleep in the passenger seat.
“When did you practice driving?”
I answered her question in a low voice.
“I practiced whenever I had time, just in case we went on a trip like this.”
“Hoho, is that so?”
Pleased with my answer, the smile on her lips deepened.
“Thank you, Do-jin.”
“For what?”
“We almost couldn’t have gone on this trip if it weren’t for you. All because I was being stubborn about going on the 31st…”
Jeong-hee’s expression turned slightly glum.
She must have been recalling her past self, who had underestimated how quickly everything would sell out for December 31st and had challenged it recklessly.
“Compared to everything you’ve done for me, ma’am, this is nothing.”
I decided to live this life as simply as possible.
If someone loves me, I’ll love them back just as much. If someone hates me, I’ll hate them back just as much.
This was a part of that life.
She cared for me and looked after me unconditionally, so I was simply doing the same for her.
Besides, didn’t I understand her heart more deeply than anyone else?
I knew just how vigorous that thing called ambition, which had returned with her youth, could be.
“Since you’re young again, you should do all the things you wanted to do back then but couldn’t.”
At my words, she glanced at me with an affectionate gaze and asked.
“…Will you do them with me?”
It was such an obvious question that a laugh escaped me before I knew it.
“Hehe, of course.”
Just as the mood was ripening…
“Uungh…!”
A faint moan and the sound of someone shifting came from the back seat.
Without a word, we both turned our heads and sealed our lips.
Then, at the same time, we burst out laughing.
“Pfft…”
“Hoho.”
It wasn’t like we were having some deeply affectionate conversation, but it was just funny how we were acting all unnaturally, as if we’d been caught doing something wrong.