Ryu Family Trip # 6
Ryu Family Trip # 6
"Hoo. I trust you understand it clearly now. The difference between you and me."
"..."
Once the demonstration was over.
Grinning ear to ear, the Ryu prick said it with genuine, dick-swinging confidence.
"Between you and me, a gap this enormous exists. And yet, just because you got fifth place, you ran your mouth as if you'd won the whole world. I trust you've realized now how utterly ridiculous that horseshit was. The difference between you and me goes beyond overwhelming despair. To a loser like you, I am an eternally insurmountable wall."
This little shit is so pleased with himself right now he's spouting this garbage in a long speech with a deeply satisfied face. The ridiculous one here is you, not me, you bastard.
"Kuhk."
But it's all facts.
The Ryu prick's skill I just saw... now that I've seen it, I can analyze and mimic it a bit, but the gap is still overwhelming. I definitely won't catch up without serious training.
"Why so silent? Normally you blabber on like a broken radio that won't shut off even when you're told to cut it out. Ha-ha... as expected. Seeing my true power, you had no choice but to shut up."
"Hey, Ryu."
Even so, I've gotta say this.
"I read you. Your full power."
"What?"
"You really are strong. It was magnificent and intense. I'll give you that. From your mana operation ability, your precision... your speed. Flawless."
"Hmm..."
At my honest praise, the Ryu prick uncrossed his arms, lowered his head just a little, and started savoring the compliment with a dead serious expression. His attitude's so goddamn obvious it's actually making me laugh.
ㅡBobbing and bouncing.
As if that wasn't bad enough, his shoulders were bouncing. Completely like one of those shoulder-bopping memes. Seriously, he's so weak to compliments.
He's a funny clown of a guy, but his skills are real. Can't deny it.
"Still, I saw through it."
"What?"
"Thanks, Ryu. From watching your family's training method, I got a hint for my next step of growth."
"I wondered what nonsense you'd spout! You! You think you can imitate it just from watching?!"
"What if I do?"
"It won't happen!"
Nothing's impossible!
"If! If I pull it off! What then?!"
"Pathetic, talking about the impossible! Fine! If you succeed, I'll grant you one wish!"
This little shit just now—
"Oh! You said it!"
"Uh."
Did he realize he slipped up?
Too late, pal!
"I am not remotely flustered! Because I know all too well you cannot imitate it! That promise! I shall honor it exactly!"
But the Ryu prick isn't one to bend. He stubbornly pushes his point forward. He looks like a goof, but in the end this little shit's a real man. A man with the spirit to clash against me!
"Fine! Hey! When break's over, we're having a proper spar! I'll finish you off!"
"A spar I absolutely do not desire, but for the sake of smashing you, I'll gladly participate! You saw with your own eyes and failed to grasp it, so I'll personally educate you with these hands!"
ㅡFwoosh!
A radiant glow bursts from the Ryu prick's eyes!
Good!
The moment break ends, I'm challenging you!
"I'll go at it with the mindset that I'll win, no matter what."
Even if I train like crazy over break, bridging this gap will be tough. But as always, I'll train and chase him down with the mindset that I'll win.
And thus I'll seize victory!
The Ryu prick dropping to fifth place isn't a dream either!
"Brace yourself, Ryu! I'll make you fifth place!"
"That actually sounds entertaining. If such an impossible thing happened, that is."
The Ryu prick smirked as he said that.
My blood's boiling.
Soon as I'm back, it's training time.
* * *
After carrying on clowning around like that with the Ryu prick, I crashed at night. I got the sofa, and this bastard got the bed. Truly a grave injustice. Anyway, woke up in the morning feeling quite refreshed.
Didn't expect to share a room with the Ryu prick, though.
"Whoof."
I got up and got ready.
"Cheon-hwi? And Geun-cheol? Ready? Breakfast time."
Ryuna came in and let us know it was time to eat.
Now it's just eat and go home.
"Ah, yes. Good morning, ma'am."
"Yeah. Did Geun-cheol sleep well too?"
"Of course. The lodging is great. Hey. Ryu. You greet her too."
"Don't talk like my mother."
So your mom tells you that every day?
Mannerless little bastard.
"Ho ho ho, Cheon-hwi. You should greet your sister, hmm?"
"Kuhk... fine. Good morning."
"How nice. To hear those words from you."
She looked really happy that her little brother was listening so well. Then Ryuna, who'd been fawning over Cheon-hwi, came over to me and asked.
"But Cheon-hwi's being so well-behaved? Geun-cheol, how was yesterday?"
"It was normal. We talked a bit. Did some indoor training in the room, had a good time. Heh heh heh, I learned a fair bit from the Ryu prick. It was a good opportunity for me."
"Oh, really? Then it must've been a good opportunity for our Cheon-hwi too."
Ryuna smiled, looking pleased.
Seems she likes that I got along well with the Ryu prick.
"Let's head out, then."
"Okay."
Thought we were heading to a barbecue place, but no.
We went into a samgyetang place, the kind you usually find near valleys. Naturally, since it caters to superhumans, it was strictly legal. A proper, law-abiding restaurant.
"Oh, hello. Good morning."
The moment I stepped in, I smiled wide and bowed my head to the Ryu prick's parents.
"Ah, yeah. Sleep well?"
"Yes. Slept great."
"Good. Have some chicken soup."
"Thank you."
A cool answer from Ryu Seong, the old man. Then the Ryu prick's mom asked if Cheon-hwi had thrown any tantrums yesterday, so I said absolutely not.
"Wow. My weird brother actually slept in the same room as his friend. This is a first."
"Heh heh heh, really?"
Ryu A-yeong seemed to find the sight of her well-behaved older brother intriguing too.
The Ryu prick was currently just sitting there quietly.
A pretty pricey chicken soup came out.
"Keu-ha!"
And I ate it with goddamn gusto.
"Hohoho, my. Eating so heartily. Cheon-hwi. Wouldn't it be great if you ate that enthusiastically too."
"I am enjoying it, Mother..."
Flustered by the compliment about my hearty eating, I scratched the back of my head and laughed. Ah, eating with a friend's parents is always awkward.
"Hmm, Geun-cheol? Want more?"
"Oh, if you're offering, I'd love some!"
"Yeah. Have some more."
Ryuna really is a born big-sister type.
Just takes care of everything.
"Whoof."
Eventually, after absolutely demolishing two whole chickens, a mud-roasted duck, plus potato pancakes and iced sikhye, we finally stepped outside the restaurant. Honestly, I felt a bit self-conscious about it, but Ryuna ordered it all for me, so I ate well.
"Thank you very much for the meal!"
"Yeah, yeah."
Bowing my head to greet them, I felt a little more at ease.
"Ryu. I ate seriously well. Thanks, for real."
"I told you not to speak to me without reserve."
"So if I speak to you with reserve, is that okay? Reserve-ly-reserve."
Immediately, I hugged myself, made my body tremble intensely, and spoke to the Ryu prick with heavy reserve.
"Cut the crap!"
"Ah, shit, which tune am I supposed to dance to? You don't like it when I talk without reserve. Then you don't like it when I talk with reserve either. Kid's so damn fussy."
"The point is, don't speak to me at all!"
"Kikikik. Hey, pal. How does a person not talk. You want me to be a mute?"
Seriously, this shit's killing me.
We were chatting like that when the two of them finished their business and came out.
"I ate very, very well!"
"Hohoho, Geun-cheol really does enjoy his food. Come again next time, dear."
"I will!"
The Ryu prick's mom is so generous.
"Anyway. Geun-cheol. Truly, thank you. Thanks to you, Cheon-hwi had a good time on the family trip for once. Didn't expect that shy kid to get along so well with a friend. Thank you so much."
"Oh, ma'am. You're too kind."
I'm the one who got a free meal and am more thankful.
"The Ryu prick definitely isn't the type to approach people first, but once you actually talk to him, he's a really good friend."
"Hohoho, thank you for saying so. It makes me so happy you're getting along so well. As his mother."
"Oh, but it's not exactly all smooth sailing. Actually, I've got a pretty fiery rivalry burning against the Ryu prick. So honestly, part of the reason I'm working pretty hard is to beat Cheon-hwi, and we butt heads over that sometimes."
"Really?"
She reacted as if stories about her son were fascinating.
"That's what friends are."
Ryu Seong the old man answered indifferently after listening in.
"How can you say the likes of you can beat me...! I told you to stop that drivel."
Since we were talking about him, the Ryu prick weighed in like he wanted to join.
"Drivel, my ass. I'll definitely beat you within this year, no question."
"Yeah. A student needs that kind of fighting spirit. Cheon-hwi, that kid, got strong too young. So he's a little lacking in that drive."
"Ah, is that so?"
"Because there's hardly anyone as strong as Cheon-hwi. He's stagnated. Geun-cheol, if you become as strong as Cheon-hwi and become a worthy opponent, that's something I'd welcome."
He thinks that highly of me!
"I'll definitely make it happen!"
"Yeah. I like that, very spirited."
"Heh heh heh, thank you. I suppose you could call it the blood of youth."
And like that, the Ryu family vacation wrapped up.
Felt a bit like I tagged along, but I had a great time and ate great. More than anything, the Ryu prick's parents are all good people. Ryuna too.
* * *
"Goodbye, then!"
I waved back at Geun-cheol, who'd said his vigorous farewell. This family trip was really fun. Especially because my dear little brother Cheon-hwi had a good time.
"..."
Ryu A-ra thought while watching Kim Geun-cheol leave.
"Hohoho, what a funny kid."
To think he got along that well with Cheon-hwi, who has zero social skills. Seeing that unreserved, energetic presence naturally gives me that thought.
"I want to make him my junior."
Would he consider joining the Special Operations Division?