Chapter 235: An Unexpected Family Reunion (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 235: An Unexpected Family Reunion (3)
“Do-jin…?”
The familiar name made the ajeossi narrow his eyes in thought.
I hoped he would immediately recall the shut-in who was mooching off his wife on the rooftop of her building, but…
“You know, Hunter Kim Do-jin, the one who’s been all over the news, Mr. Shin.”
The woman who had opened the door earlier sent the ajeossi’s thoughts in a completely different direction.
“Ah… Ahh! That young Hunter who’s been on TV so much…!”
Well, I suppose so.
Even if I told him my name was Do-jin, it wouldn’t be easy for him to connect me to the fatso from back then.
The change had been far too drastic.
“Haha! Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Goodness, I just thought… I happen to know a fellow named Do-jin myself.”
The ajeossi tentatively extended his hand.
I reached out and shook it, then opened my mouth to clear up the misunderstanding—or what wasn't quite a misunderstanding.
“The young lady here is right, and so are you, Ajeossi.”
“Pardon? What do you mean by that…?”
Even after I said that, his face showed he still didn’t get it.
“The Kim Do-jin you know.”
“……?”
“That’s me.”
A moment of silence hung in the air.
Then, every opening on the ajeossi’s face—his eyes, his mouth—widened as if they would tear.
“N-No…! You’re that Do-jin?”
“Yes.”
“You mean, the… fat, shut-in who never left the house…?”
“Yes, that Kim Do-jin.”
“N-No, how is this…”
His wide eyes scanned me from head to toe.
“Wh-What happened, Do-jin? Huh? How did you…”
How could a person change this much?
It’s simple.
You just have to swap souls.
“I happened to Awaken. One thing led to another, and here I am.”
“Hah… I’m truly speechless. For a person to change this much just by Awakening…”
“Hehe, I was pretty surprised myself.”
I’d played along enough.
Shall we steer the conversation back to its original course?
“Anyway, I’m glad.”
“Huh? Glad about what…?”
“Yu-jeong and the ajumma are worried sick right now because they can’t get in touch with you.”
“Ah… r-right! Goodness, the barrier must be blocking the signal. I completely forgot to let them know.”
“That’s why I came all the way here, to put their minds at ease.”
As I said that, the ajeossi started ruffling my hair, showering me with praise.
“Aigoo, you thoughtful kid. You came all this way to save me? Huh? Haha, my oh my! I’ve lived long enough to see all sorts of things, I really have, yes! Hahaha!”
This ajeossi still doesn’t seem to grasp the situation.
With a smile, I immediately pulled out my smartphone.
“Perfect timing. I’ll call the ajumma right now.”
At that, the hearty laugh on the ajeossi’s face instantly crumpled.
“N-No… you mean right now?”
His hesitant gaze darted to the woman beside him.
He was probably picturing exactly what would happen if I called at this moment.
He began to tremble slightly, as if having a seizure, and hastily spat out an excuse.
“B-But the signal won’t work here right now…”
Hehe.
“Don’t worry, Ajeossi. My smartphone is connected to a network managed directly by the Association, so I can make calls even from inside a barrier.”
It was originally provided by the Association for smooth communication during operations, but who knew it would come in handy like this?
This situation has become very interesting, indeed.
“Since we’re at it, let’s make it a video call.”
Taking it a step further, I mentioned a video call, and the ajeossi frantically reached out and grabbed my arm.
“H-H-Hey, Do-jin!?”
“Yes, Ajeossi.”
“I-I don’t think calling right now is a good idea.”
“Oh… why not? The ajumma and Yu-jeong must be waiting anxiously.”
“W-Well, um… the t-time! It’s too late, isn’t it? Yu-jeong and her mom are probably asleep by now. We shouldn’t disturb them!”
Ah, this is killing me.
I barely suppressed the laugh that threatened to burst out at the sight of his desperation.
I should probably stop teasing him over the phone here.
After all, there was something else to tease him about.
“Ah… you have a point. Should I call tomorrow morning then?”
“Y-Yes! That would be better, yes.”
The sight of him nodding without a second’s hesitation made my smile vanish.
How pathetic.
Did he really think he could just blindly walk down the path I’d offered, thinking it was an escape route, without knowing where it led?
I just couldn’t understand.
What did Jeong-hee see in a man like this to decide to marry him?
Now, it was time to deal with the woman who was standing there watching us like a spare part.
I was about to casually ask who she was, but…
“Mr. Shin, are you just going to leave me standing here?”
The woman beside him spoke up first, drawing attention to herself with a flirtatious voice.
Look at this woman.
She clearly knew what this situation felt like, and she chose to jump in at the perfect moment when the conversation paused?
Thanks to her, the ajeossi was in an even tighter spot.
His face growing paler by the second, the ajeossi laughed awkwardly and introduced the woman to me.
“Ah, r-right! I haven’t introduced you to our Miss Kim yet.”
“I was just about to ask.”
In truth, I already knew.
This must be that woman.
The one the ajeossi was caressing when Jeong-hee secretly came to visit.
Just as the ajeossi was about to speak, the woman stepped forward and extended her hand.
“I’m Kim Ji-won. I run a small bar here.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Ji-won. As I said, I’m Kim Do-jin.”
“Hoho… I’ve seen you on TV a few times, but you’re much more handsome in person.”
“You’re too kind.”
We exchanged a few pleasantries as we shook hands.
Just then, the ajeossi, who had been watching us with an anxious expression, frowned.
How should I put it?
He looked like a male animal deeply displeased that his female was praising another.
It was laughable to see him showing jealousy not even three minutes after escaping a crisis.
Shall I tighten the noose a little more?
“So, Ms. Ji-won, what brings you here so late at night?”
“Ah~ here…?”
Kim Ji-won began with a suggestive tone, glancing at the ajeossi.
The ajeossi, with a look of alarm, quickly cut in.
“Miss Kim came to borrow a lighter from me.”
“A lighter?”
“Yes, Miss Kim enjoys a smoke.”
“I see. And here I was thinking you two were living together, since you were the one who opened the door.”
At my light, joking remark, Kim Ji-won gave a strange smile, while the ajeossi broke into a sweat and laughed.
“Ha, hahaha! Hey, you rascal. You shouldn’t say things like that, even as a joke.”
“Hehe… right?”
I guess the saying ‘reality is stranger than fiction’ exists because of people like you, Ajeossi.
You’re taking what should be a joke and acting it out in real life, aren’t you?
I clamped my itching mouth shut. The ajeossi, clearly wanting no more trouble, fumbled in his pocket, pulled out a lighter, and handed it to Kim Ji-won.
“Here’s the lighter, Miss Kim.”
“…Thank you, Mr. Shin.”
Taking the lighter with a bright smile, Kim Ji-won quietly turned and headed for the door.
She was making a show of leaving.
So I decided to leave too.
I’d teased him enough, and I held all the cards.
What more was there to say with just the two of us left?
But, one more jab.
“You’re going for a smoke now, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s go together. It’s about time for me to have one, too.”
Kim Ji-won stared at me, taken aback by the sudden proposal.
Then, a light smile spread across her face as she nodded.
“Sure. It’s boring to smoke alone, so this is perfect.”
I turned to see what kind of face our ajeossi was making now, and sure enough, he looked like he’d just chewed on shit.
“Do-jin, you… you started smoking, too?”
“It just sort of happened. Being a Hunter isn’t easy, you know.”
“I-I see.”
“I’ll be going now, Ajeossi. I’ll come find you tomorrow morning so we can call the ajumma.”
The ajeossi shook his head firmly.
“N-No, that’s alright. I’ll come out, so let’s meet outside.”
If I asked why, he’d obviously get nervous again, but…
“Alright. I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
I knew this wouldn’t produce a scene more amusing than the one before, so my interest waned.
Right now, I was more interested in…
“Ms. Ji-won, let’s go.”
“Hoho, okay.”
…this.
As we walked down the hallway side by side, I could feel a piercing gaze on my back.
The owner of that gaze was obviously the ajeossi, and the emotion contained within it was…
“He’s quite the jealous type, our ajeossi.”
“Pardon?”
“Ah, it’s nothing. Just talking to myself.”
A man’s jealousy.
I get it.
I’d probably lose my mind too if I saw my woman flirting with another man.
But, Ajeossi.
The target and direction of your jealousy are completely wrong.
I gathered my mana and created a small gust of wind.
And with that wind, I pushed the door he was peeking through.
“Ugh!”
I heard the ajeossi’s choked scream as the suddenly closing door caught him.
Of course, Kim Ji-won didn’t hear it.
I had already blocked out the sound.
Why?
Because that way, he’d feel even more jealous watching me and Kim Ji-won walk away, oblivious to his screams.