Chapter 73
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: The Real First Meeting with the Yu Siblings
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While I Baekho fretted anxiously, the soy sauce egg rice was ready.
“Alright, it’s all done.”
Nam Giseok used a rice paddle to scoop the rice onto each plate.
“Firm rice soaked in soy sauce and sesame oil. The key is finely chopping and stir-frying green onions with it. It infuses the rice with a subtle green onion aroma.”
Nam Giseok launched into an eloquent explanation.
“The softness of the eggs, scrambled and mixed in. The firm, springy texture of the rice. The way they all come together in each bite is simply exquisite. And finally… a light sprinkle of pepper on top!”
With a flourish, he plated the rice on each dish and sprinkled pepper over it.
“Add a slice of cheese, which goes well with any dish…! And there, it’s complete.”
The cheese placed atop the soy sauce egg rice began to melt slowly from the heat.
“Th-that’s Uncle Nam Giseok’s soy sauce egg rice…!”
Kim Nari’s mouth watered.
An audience’s positive reaction always fired him up. Nam Giseok grinned and ladled some egg drop soup from the pot beside him.
“You can’t forget the harmony with a hot bowl of egg drop soup. I present this with confidence! Please, dig in.”
Cheon Doun stared at the rice and soup placed before him.
With a reverent expression, he picked up his spoon. He scooped up a spoonful, making sure to get some of the slightly melted cheese.
The moment he took a bite, a savory aroma filled his mouth. Just as predicted, the firm grains of rice had a springy chew.
The savory, salty flavor infused into the rice. The scent of pepper. The subtle hint of green onion that lingered after he swallowed.
“So this is… soy sauce egg rice.”
Cheon Doun murmured the name of the dish, his face filled with admiration.
The siblings also closed their eyes, savoring the taste.
“The curry and ramen we had before were incredible, but this has a different kind of flavor. It’s excellent.”
“I think I like this better than the curry. It’s more my style.”
The siblings exchanged their opinions.
Beside them, Kim Nari was holding her bowl and practically inhaling her food.
“Uncle Nam Giseok is the number one chef!”
As praise poured in from all sides, Nam Giseok’s face beamed with pride.
He’d only started cooking on a whim, but now he was genuinely enjoying it.
“I’m glad everyone is enjoying it. Hmm, should I give some to our little chimeras?”
Nam Giseok scooped rice onto thirty-odd plates and set them on the ground.
The chimeras, who now recognized him as the one who provided food, wagged their bodies with joy and began to eat.
“Phew, I’m full now. I can’t eat another bite.”
Kim Nari, who had already finished two bowls, said as she patted her stomach.
Everyone in the group was smiling with satisfaction.
“Looks like we’ll have to have dessert some other time.”
“Dessert?”
When the siblings asked, Cheon Doun glanced at the bag he had set down nearby.
“I picked some grapes. But it doesn’t seem like anyone’s in the mood for dessert right now. We should eat those tonight.”
“Ah, then I’ll wash them. I’ll bring them out for our evening snack time.”
Nam Giseok poured the grapes into a large colander. He took them to the stream to rinse them, then shot flames from his hand to lightly cook the surface and remove any toxins.
It was a satisfying meal for everyone, except for one person.
I Baekho, who had been too nervous to properly taste the food, cautiously raised his hand.
“Um, excuse me. What is the initiation test I have to take? What do I need to do?”
Cheon Doun looked at I Baekho without a word.
An initiation test. There was no such thing. But there was no reason to refuse someone who was willingly offering to be a worker.
Besides, they had plenty to do as they prepared for winter, like stockpiling firewood.
“Go and chop some wood.”
“W-Wood?”
“Yes. Wood that burns well would be best. Guu knows which trees are good for that. Just follow his instructions.”
At Cheon Doun’s words, Guu, who had been lying spread-eagled, sat up.
-You want me to go get wood with that brat?
“That’s right. I’m counting on you. You know the most about trees.”
-That’s fine, but that guy can’t understand me. I doubt he’ll be able to cut them as I instruct.
Guu looked at I Baekho with a skeptical expression.
A cold sweat broke out on I Baekho as the monster, which cooed like a pigeon, seemed to be sizing him up.
“First that plant monster, and now this. Mr. Cheon Doun, can you understand what monsters are saying?”
“Not all of them. Just a few.”
As Cheon Doun played along, I Baekho’s face filled with wonder.
“So cutting wood is the initiation test? How much should I bring back?”
“The more, the better. Kim Nari, you go with him. He’s a C-rank Hunter, so it’ll be dangerous for him to go alone.”
“Got it. I’ll protect that ahjussi.”
Kim Nari said as she shot to her feet. I Baekho’s face grew anxious at the thought of being accompanied by a child.
‘I can barely protect myself. Can I really manage with a child in tow?’
Judging by the atmosphere, that child was undoubtedly a stronger Awakened than she appeared.
But she was still just a seven or eight-year-old kid. If they ran into a monster, she would surely be too scared to move.
As he thought this, a look of realization dawned on I Baekho’s face.
‘I-I see! Being told to cut wood is just a pretext. The real test is to protect that child!’
Someone must be secretly following them to check how well he protected the child.
I Baekho’s imagination ran wild.
-If Kim Nari is going, I want to go too. I want to go for a walk.
The fox leaped to its feet and jumped into Kim Nari’s arms.
An animal was talking, but I Baekho was no longer surprised.
He had seen too many strange things to have the energy to be shocked anymore.
‘Stay calm. The test has already begun.’
Cheon Doun, the bird-headed man, the woman in the bone helmet. Their sharp eyes were scoring his every move.
I Baekho psyched himself up.
-Then follow me.
Guu took the lead. To I Baekho’s ears, it sounded like the cooing of a pigeon, but he shrewdly followed its gestures.
“Guu. Once you’re done cutting the wood, bring him back home.”
-I will.
With those final words, Guu disappeared with I Baekho beyond the thicket.
‘The firewood will be here soon. So now… I need a place to store it, right?’
Piling it up haphazardly in the yard would be pointless, as it would get soaked when it snowed.
“I should dig a root cellar in the yard.”
“A root cellar?”
“Yeah. I need to build a cellar. It can be used for storage in the summer, and as a shed for firewood in the winter. It seems like a good thing to have.”
I’ll build stairs, too. If I make it an L-shaped entrance, the firewood will be safe even when it snows.
‘Water will pool inside when it rains, so I’ll need to build a barrier at the entrance to keep it out.’
I’ll harden the earth and build a rounded roof over the entrance.
The image of the root cellar began to take shape in his mind.
Cheon Doun dusted himself off and stood up. He decided to start the work right away, now that he had the idea.
“Nam Giseok, you clean up here and then come back.”
“Understood. Don’t worry. I can now put my hands in the water with stability.”
Nam Giseok said confidently. Although he still got his hands bitten by fish often, he had gained a fair amount of confidence in wielding his mana.
“The rank-up exam is just around the corner. I have a really good feeling about it this time. I’m confident.”
“Yeah. That’s good.”
His growth was fast, so he’d soon be able to do the laundry as well. Cheon Doun smiled, satisfied.
* * *
After arriving home, Cheon Doun brought a large rock from the forest.
“What’s that for?”
“I think I’ll need a shovel to dig the ground. I’m going to make one first.”
The rock Cheon Doun brought was black jadeite, famous for its hardness.
Cheon Doun placed it in the yard and split it into three pieces.
With a stone in front of each of them, the siblings sat in the yard and began to carve.
As the quiet sound of stone carving filled the air, Yu Beom spoke up.
“You know, while I was flying over the slums, I remembered something I’d forgotten.”
“Oh yeah? What is it?”
“I saw a kid, about seven years old, steal some bread and run off.”
He had spotted the child while flying high above.
The boy had snatched a piece of bread from a street stall and was darting through an alley.
“I did something like that when I was little, too. The older kids in the neighborhood made me do it. They took all the bread, so I was basically their errand boy.”
Yu Beom said, searching through his hazy memories.
“Those punks used my sister as a hostage to make me do their bidding.”
A hostage, in this case, meant a group of ten-year-old boys shouting at him to listen.
It was nothing much, but for a seven-year-old Yu Beom, it felt like immense pressure.
“But there was a kid who saved me and my sister from that gang. He had a pretty unusual name. What was it again?”
“Cheon Wonman. You said it earlier in the slums, oppa.”
“Right. Cheon Wonman. That was his name.”
Cheon Doun’s hands, which had been carving the stone, stopped.
Cheon Wonman. The name he had used until he was eight, before it was changed, had just come from their mouths.
“The name of the kid who saved you… was Cheon Wonman?”
“Yeah.”
“What happened?”
Cheon Doun had no memory of the siblings.
Intrigued by the fact that they hadn't first met at the research institute, Cheon Doun asked with a curious expression.
* * *
Yu Beom was seven. Yu Jia was five.
Neither of them could remember how they had become orphans.
Whether they were abandoned, their parents had died, or they had gotten lost and couldn’t find their way back.
Whatever the reason, by the time they came to their senses, they were already living on the streets.
On that day, too, Yu Beom ran with three loaves of bread clutched in his arms.
Behind him, the bakery owner was shouting curses, brandishing a rolling pin.
He ran down an alley and arrived at a spot where some thirteen-year-old boys were waiting.
Behind them, a five-year-old Yu Jia was held by the scruff of her neck, looking anxious.
[I brought it. Let my sister go now.]
[Can’t do that. You’ve got to work for us for about ten more days.]
[You said that last time!]
[So what? You’re a noisy little brat!]
The boy raised his hand.
Seven and thirteen. It might not seem like much, but the difference in size at that age was significant.
Yu Beom reflexively squeezed his eyes shut. He expected to be hit, as usual, but no pain came.
Instead, he heard the sound of someone falling.
[It’s-it’s the psycho! Dammit, the psycho’s here!]
[Run!]
[What about the boss?]
[Leave him! He got clocked in the head and passed out! Who cares!]
The group of kids scattered in a panic. Yu Beom looked up in surprise.
Standing in front of him was a boy who looked to be his age. He was holding a brick in his hand.
[Uh, what… What is this…?]
The boy who had tried to hit Yu Beom was lying on the ground.
Cheon Doun smiled as he looked at the fallen boy. When his eyes met Yu Beom’s, he pointed at the boy with his hand.
[He’s the one I was looking for. He teased me the other day and ran away.]
Teased who? Someone who smashes people’s heads with a brick? No one in their right mind would dare tease him.
[What… What did he tease you about?]
[My name. My name is Cheon Wonman. Funny, right?]
Yu Beom shook his head. He had a feeling that if he said it was funny, his own head would meet the same brick.
[Not funny?]
[Yeah. It’s a… a good name.]
[Really?]
Guess I don’t have to hit this one. Yu Beom heard him mutter. It was a soft voice, but he definitely heard it.
So he was planning on hitting me. He swallowed dryly and looked at Cheon Doun.
Cheon Doun crouched in front of the fallen boy. He took out a marker from his pocket.
With it, he wrote a word on the boy’s forehead.
【Idiot】
It was childish. This was when Cheon Doun was eight years old.
He thought for a moment, then drew a goatee under the boy’s nose. He also drew a large mole with hair on his cheek.
[That’s a permanent marker….]
Yu Beom paused when he saw the word ‘permanent’ written on the marker.
It’s going to be a pain to get that off. He thought, but decided to pretend he hadn't noticed.
Having finished his work, Cheon Doun grabbed the unconscious boy’s feet and began to drag him away.
[Wh-Where are you going?]
[Home. I have to go to the orphanage. I’m going to put him on display in the yard there. I saw it in a historical drama. They cut off the enemy general’s head and put it on display….]
Cheon Doun paused for a moment.
[Or maybe not. I didn’t cut off his head, so it’s not really a display. Should I cut it off?]
[N-No! You don’t have to cut it off! Just leaving him in the yard is enough!]
He seemed to be genuinely considering it, so Yu Beom shouted desperately.
Did I just save that guy’s life today? Yu Beom thought as he watched the unconscious boy being dragged away.
[But you said you’re going to an orphanage? Are they still taking people? Do you think we could get in too?]
Yu Beom asked, holding his sister’s hand. Cheon Doun looked at the two of them, then pointed to the right.
[See that transmission tower over there? Head straight in that direction.]
[Is the orphanage there?]
[No. If you go that way, you can get out of District 13. It should take you about four days of walking.]
At Cheon Doun’s words, Yu Beom looked at the transmission tower.
[The orphanage I’m at is full. Especially in winter, food is scarce, and four or five kids die. Winter is coming soon. If a new kid comes at a time like this, the older kids will bully you, take your food, and you’ll starve to death for sure.]
Yu Beom’s face fell in disappointment.
[So go towards that transmission tower. Then you can leave District 13. District 12 probably isn’t much different from here. But if you can make it to District 11, life should be a bit more manageable.]
Listening to Cheon Doun, Yu Beom looked puzzled.
[If it’s better to live there, why don’t you go?]
[I have to wait for my mom.]
[Ah….]
[I’m waiting for my dad, too. If I leave here, my parents won’t be able to find me when they come looking.]
Yu Beom could only see Cheon Doun’s back.
Because of this, he assumed the boy was longing for his parents. He didn’t see the wide grin on Cheon Doun’s face.
[I’m curious who gave me this name. That’s why I’m waiting. There was a note that said they’d come for me.]
[I-I see.]
[It’s already been eight years, but they haven’t come. I wonder who named me. Mom? Or Dad?]
Yu Beom couldn’t answer. The mention of waiting for his parents sent a strange shiver down his spine.
This boy might just smash his parents’ heads with a brick the moment he met them.
He told himself it was unlikely, but the thought persisted.
[Anyway. Head towards that transmission tower over there. Rumor has it, it’s much better than here.]
It was a case of six of one, half a dozen of the other.
But for someone desperate, that small difference was huge.
Cheon Doun left with those words and exited the alley. The groaning of the boy being dragged along was a memorable sight.
[His name is Cheon Wonman. That is unusual.]
After that, the siblings walked and walked. When Yu Jia’s worn-out shoes made her limp, Yu Beom stopped and turned his back to her.
[Hop on.]
Yu Jia trotted over and climbed onto her brother’s back.
Yu Beom’s feet weren’t in good shape either. But he was older than five-year-old Yu Jia. An adult had to protect a child.
Yu Beom resolutely stood up with his sister on his back.
[Jia. You can sleep. We’ll be there soon.]
[Can we eat bread when we get there?]
[Of course.]
[Can we eat a lot?]
[Definitely.]
[Really? I hope we get there soon.]
Yu Jia kicked her feet excitedly while on Yu Beom’s back.
It was a harsh city to live in. But to say that every day was bleak would be untrue.
There were small moments of laughter. One of them was talking with his sister about which bread was the best.
Yu Beom smiled as he recalled his childhood.
“Something like that happened. We survived thanks to a weird kid who went around smashing people’s heads with a brick. His eyes were a little… psycho-like, but I’m still grateful to him. Because of what he told us, we were able to settle in District 11.”
“…Is that so?”
Cheon Doun’s expression was complicated.
District 13. The act of hitting heads with a brick. The hobby of writing ‘idiot’ on foreheads.
He remembered the director changing his name after he started displaying unconscious kids in the orphanage yard.
That happened right around the time he was turning eight.
“About that. That weird kid.”
I think that might have been me. Should I tell them?
Cheon Doun couldn’t help but smile at this unexpected connection from his childhood.