Ryu's House # 4

Anyway, we ate and talked. I was nervous at first, but this is a home like any other. Eating the food off my plate while chatting naturally eased the tension. It's a really nice family.

Wow, it's so delicious I can't stop eating.

As I was happily eating, Ryu elbowed me from the side.

"You sure eat a lot."

"Because it's delicious. No, why are you picking at your food?"

"Can I eat comfortably next to you?"

"Just eat comfortably. Heh heh heh."

No, but I know this guy likes to eat. He's definitely enjoyed cola and donkatsu before.

Could it be?

"What, Ryu? You don't mean..."

"What are you going to say now?"

"Is the food not to your liking?"

"Hah, impossible."

Ryu gave a dumbfounded scoff, but...

"Do you need cola and ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠donkatsu?"

"Wh-what...!"

The moment I said that, he visibly flinched and shuddered.

"This bastard is busted."

"No, shut up! There's no way I'd like something like that!"

"But they are tasty."

Honestly, who hates cola and burgers? Unless you're a psycho, everyone likes hamburgers.

"Hey, don't hide it. Let's go to the snack bar together and eat next time."

"Just shut the hell up...!"

"Why are you embarrassed? Hey, it's natural for people to like them."

I don't see why his pride is hurt here. Anyway, he's a weird guy.

"What are you talking about so enjoyably?"

Ryu's mother asked.

"Oh, well, it's... Ryu, hurry up and tell them."

"It's about... food preferences."

He spoke politely to his mother.

"Why, Cheon-hwi? Does it not suit your taste?"

"It's not that..."

At that, the two siblings joined in.

"Hey, Cheon-hwi. Mom made this food, you should eat well."

"That's right, Cheon-hwi."

Really, that house is a ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠den of nagging. Well, but it looked pretty affectionate. Since they're family, that's how it can be, right?

Family, huh.

This makes me miss my mom and dad again. It's been several months since I entered the game. Now I can't remember my parents' faces.

Just kidding, I remember.

No, wait, do I really remember?

Yeah.

Hold on.

"...?"

Suddenly I felt a strange sense of déjà vu. My parents' faces... what did they look like? Of course, the strange feeling only lasted a moment, and soon I remembered again.

"Our friend Kim Geun-cheol?"

While I was thinking that, Mr. Ryu Seong called me.

"Yes."

"Anyway, thank you for being friendly with Cheon-hwi. He's always had a prickly personality."

"Oh, sir. It's not about being friendly with him; we just got along and became friends naturally. In a friendship, there's no 'being friendly to' someone. A friend is just a friend."

"Hoo! Is that so!"

Mr. Ryu Seong nodded as if he liked that. Originally, friends are made when hearts happen to align. There's no such concept as someone "becoming a friend" to you. Even if you become friends that way, you'll just grow apart quickly.

"So, what do your parents do, Kim Geun-cheol?"

Suddenly Mr. Ryu Seong asked something like that. Classic Korean uncle and auntie trait—curious about a kid's family background. Seeing that, even a highest-rank Awakened and major corporation chairman has a real human side.

"Ah, well..."

But this is a bit awkward to answer.

"Actually, they're not around. So I can't answer what they do."

"What?"

At that, Mr. Ryu Seong's eyes went wide.

"No, dear!"

"I had no idea..."

Immediately, Ryu's mother stopped Mr. Ryu Seong. He scratched the back of his head sheepishly and drank water.

And there I go, oversharing.

"Ah, I made a slip of the tongue."

"No, it's not a slip. It's fine."

"Eat a lot..."

"Thank you."

Let's pick up our spoons again.

"Tch."

Ryu clicked his tongue beside me.

"Why are you reacting so seriously? Just treat him normally."

And wasn't he saying that for my sake! Wow! Ryu, you've got some consideration!

And so we continued our meal.

* * *

The meal was very enjoyable. After dessert, we said goodbye to Ryu's parents and came out into the hallway.

"Ryu! I really enjoyed the meal today! Thanks a lot!"

"Don't exaggerate, you bastard."

"This seems like exaggeration? Ryu, if I really go overboard..."

"Enough! I get it, so stop!"

"Tee-hee."

I was about to show him what real exaggeration looks like.

"Seeing you eat well makes inviting you worthwhile. Cheon-hwi, bring him often."

"That'll never happen!"

"He's acting coy again."

Anyway.

Right now, Ryu A-ra looked like an older sister teasing her younger brother, but she was actually a remarkably powerful Hero. That made me curious. What did Heroes of her caliber do for a living?

"Do you have something you're curious about?"

Ryu A-ra said, noticing my gaze.

"Ah, it's nothing. You're an active Hero, right, A-ra?"

"Yes, I am. Why? Curious what active heroes do?"

"Oh, that's exactly it. Since I'll be a hero after graduation, I was a little curious."

"Hmm... but listening to me probably won't help much. I don't do ordinary work, I do something a bit special."

"Special work?"

What is it?

"I'm often dispatched abroad. To ruined North Korea, devastated China, destroyed Russia, and so on."

So she was active on the international stage.

North Korea, China, and Russia are completely ruined now. There is no nation to speak of in that vast land, just lawless territory where monsterkin, monsters, villains, and brutal Awakened warlords fight over territory.

Working in those places must be extremely dangerous. The fact that she works there proves her strength.

"Ooh... International. So do you hunt monsters there?"

Ryu A-ra nodded at my words.

"And also, I raid monsterkin communities, hunt villains... I do a lot of things."

"Ooh! That's really cool!"

"Cool, huh. Oh, and sometimes when a high-rank monster appears, I take on reconnaissance missions too."

Still fascinating.

"Really amazing. But to receive those kinds of missions as a hero, you need some kind of credentials, right?"

"Yeah, that's right. Not all heroes have the same skills. The stronger you are, the more dangerous missions you take on."

"It's not all good, I guess."

"It depends on your perspective, I suppose."

Ryu A-ra smiled meaningfully. As expected. She's a completely different type from Ryu, who has a bit of a ditz side. Can siblings be this different?

Anyway, we said goodbye after chatting.

"Then, goodbye. Please take good care of my weird brother."

"Leave it to me, A-yeong."

"Who's looking after who?!"

I left with Ryu, who was shouting.

"Ryu, I'm scared, walk me home."

"Cut the crap! You sissy!"

"Ah, why? We're friends."

Of course, they provided a car.

But Ryu suddenly stopped. He looked at me and said, "If you want to call yourself my friend, get stronger first!"

That's what he said!

Th-this crazy bastard, what is he saying! Saying something like that so shamelessly!

Is he saying he'll be my friend if I get stronger...!

As I stood stunned, Ryu continued.

"You're a guy who doesn't even reach Lee Si-hoo's toes, don't act so cocky! You're just Taliban! Mere trash!"

"Ah, so then, did you beat ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Leona?"

"Gah!"

"I heard you got beaten by Si-hoo on the deserted island."

"Shut up! I won in the ranking battle!"

That ranking battle isn't absolute. Anyway, while talking like that, I got into the Ryuseong Group car. As soon as I got in, he turned away without looking back.

"Ah, I'm full."

Now, let's go home.

Today was fun. I definitely seem to have luck with food.

* * *

-The government announced that they are tracking the monster's movements and will dispatch heroes as soon as it moves south.

-If only it doesn't come south, that would be good. This giant monster will move freely and smash other monsterkin and monsters.

-Be especially careful. The moment you consume this otherworldly drug, you can never live a normal life again.

-Heroes are already tracking the villains and monsterkin who distributed the ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠drug. Citizens, please be careful not to be exposed to the drug.

-Phenomenon of gates appearing without warning is being reported. The government has officially acknowledged its existence and is taking preparations.

-If a gate suddenly appears, call emergency number 201 without an area code.

-Investigating which route they entered through.

"Whew."

I watched the news while brushing my teeth.

"The news is really bloody."

This kind of incident happens every day. Heroes and soldiers are fighting their hearts out, but we at school are just being educated safely.

"Fwoo."

After washing up, I put on my uniform and left the dorm. Si-hoo was already waiting outside.

"Yo, Geun-cheol. You're out?"

"Yeah. Let's go quickly."

"Okay. Oh, how was yesterday? You went to Cheon-hwi's house, right?"

"Got a free meal. And you know Chairman Ryu Seong? Cheon-hwi's dad, I ate with him too."

"What?! Geun-cheol, if it's that uncle, then Geun-cheol, you definitely insulted his parents..."

"Quiet! We agreed to bury that in our hearts!"

Ryu didn't say anything either. In fact, he probably doesn't want to remember that his dad got insulted because of his own actions. Let's take this to the grave.

—Clomp, clomp.

I walked to school chatting with Si-hoo as usual. When we arrived at the classroom, there was Ryu sitting.

"Hey! Ryu! Good morning!"

"Tch!"

Ryu turned his head away when he saw me.

"That crazy tsundere. Ryu! Want to go to the snack bar together at lunch!"

"Shut up!"

"Crazy bastard."

I put away my things and sat down. Let's see. Has Leona not come yet? Yu-ri was sleeping face-down over there. Somehow sleeping suits Yu-ri best.

—Creak.

Soon Leona entered with Instructor Lee So-ra. Leona, who had run urgently, went to her seat and sat down. She narrowly avoided being late.

"Alright, everyone sit down. I have some news. An outdoor class schedule has been set. Have any of you heard of the Monster Zoo?"