Chapter 33 - Mutual Assistance
Mutual Assistance
Translator : Elizabeth
Chapter 33. Mutual Assistance
As the conversation ended, the screen turned off without a word.
Chairman Yoon Ji-cheol stared at the black monitor for a moment before rising from his seat. There was no room to immerse in lingering feelings. Given his personality, wasting time tied down by emotions was rare.
It wasn't that he wasn't worried about his grandson. But worrying wouldn't make the talisman arrive earlier, nor would it improve the situation.
Focusing on work was the best he could do right now.
He returned to his desk immediately.
Documents waiting for approval floated on the aligned screen. Fingers moved quickly skimming the tablet, and after a short review, approval marks were stamped one after another. Adjusted one meeting schedule, scanned only key points of external reports, then left instructions.
Inside the office, only the sound of documents turning and low notification sounds continued regularly.
In the meantime, the second hand of the clock moved silently.
How much time passed.
Knock knock.
“Come in.”
As soon as the knocking sound was heard, Chairman Yoon Ji-cheol threw off the appearance of being immersed in work and turned his head sharply, permitting entry.
As the door opened, the Chief Secretary entered and bowed his head. A briefcase was held in his hand. It was a black leather bag no different from usual.
Chairman Yoon Ji-cheol's gaze naturally headed to that bag.
“Talisman?”
He didn't say to take it out and show it, but the meaning was clear.
The Chief Secretary, who had been with Chairman Yoon Ji-cheol for a long time, noticed his inner thoughts but shook his head quietly.
“According to Ms. Yu Ah-jin's words, she said it is not recommended for anyone other than the person concerned to touch the talisman directly.”
Chairman Yoon Ji-cheol's eyebrow wiggled minutely.
“Reason?”
“Heard it gets ‘consumed’ uselessly.”
Regret flashed briefly over Chairman Yoon Ji-cheol's expression, but he didn't ask further. There was no reason to ruin things by touching it for no reason.
“Let’s go home straight away.”
The car departed immediately.
Usually, he was a person who used time efficiently by reading with an e-book reader even during travel time. But just for now, he couldn't focus on anything else.
Chairman Yoon Ji-cheol didn't look out the window. Only one thing, his grandson’s face floated in his head.
The car stopped and the door opened.
Chairman Yoon Ji-cheol stepped inside straight away. The Chief Secretary followed silently one step behind. The bag was still held in his hand.
Only when they climbed the stairs, passed the hallway, and reached in front of the innermost room did Chairman Yoon Ji-cheol stop walking.
It was in front of his grandson’s room.
No sound was heard from beyond the door.
He looked back at the Chief Secretary.
“Bag.”
The Chief Secretary held out the bag silently.
Chairman Yoon Ji-cheol received it and looked at the door for a moment. And inhaled deep breath.
Clack.
Opening the door, a wide room where almost no light entered revealed itself.
Curtains were lowered to the end, and inside the room was dark enough to be difficult to distinguish whether it was day or night. In the middle of it, a boy was sitting alone on the bed.
It was Yoon Seo-ho.
His gaze staring somewhere in empty air started moving slowly simultaneously as the door opened. And looked exactly at Chairman Yoon Ji-cheol and the Chief Secretary.
“C a m e.”
The voice flowing out of his mouth was somewhat disjointed.
“T o d a y i s f a c e b r i n g i n g g o o d n e w s.”
Tone like a shaman, slow yet piercing ears clearly. Eyes rolling back showing whites. Attitude as if already knowing everything.
“C a r d i d n ’t s t o p r i g h t a w a y r i g h t? O n w a y b a c k c a u g h t b y s i g n a l t w i c e.”
The Chief Secretary’s shoulders stiffened noticeably.
That wasn't the end.
“Grand-father….”
Suddenly the voice became thin. Yoon Seo-ho's face distorted, then started whimpering like a child.
“I-don't want to die… Sca-red… Don't get-rid of it….”
Appearance crying loudly covering face with both hands was no different from him in childhood.
But next moment.
Face buried in two hands turned sharply and glared at the Chief Secretary.
“There. You.”
Voice changed at once.
Authoritative tone, gaze looking down like an adult.
“That bag. Can't you throw it away right now? Aren't. You. Letting. Useless. Energy. Inside. Room!”
It was a shout toward the Chief Secretary.
Tone, posture, eyes. All changing to extent hard to believe it’s the same person.
However.
Amidst speech and behavior fickle enough to make mind dizzy, there was one consistent thing.
Yoon Seo-ho never left the room even once, but pierced through the tracks of the two people who visited him accurately to a marvelous degree.
Chairman Yoon Ji-cheol and the Chief Secretary moved cautiously as if already used to it, while feeling goosebumps. Had to deliver the talisman.
But the problem was….
The point that they cannot take out the talisman directly.
Their gazes crossed for a moment.
The Chief Secretary said low.
“Chairman-nim… how about trying to drop it on the floor first.”
Chairman Yoon Ji-cheol nodded after worrying briefly.
“Okay.”
He lifted the bag carefully and tilted it toward the floor.
Tuk.
What fell like that was an object too unmatched with the luxurious bag.
Toy card for children.
The moment that one card fluttered and fell onto the floor.
“WhykeepbullyingmejustleavemealonepleaseThenIwillbenicetoo-”
Yoon Seo-ho's mumbling.
“ ”
Stopped like a lie.
“….”
“….”
“….”
Inside the room became quiet suddenly.
The boy's gaze was fixed slowly on that card.
Not even blinking.
Like.
A person who discovered a star for the first time in darkness.
Spring.
Suddenly Yoon Seo-ho who was on the bed raised his body.
It was a movement without hesitation. Striding, approached toward the card fallen on the floor.
Chairman Yoon Ji-cheol and the Chief Secretary held their breath simultaneously. There was surprise, but both didn't move hastily. Because they knew too well the variables that pop out from this child.
Instead, the Chief Secretary lowered his center of gravity minutely. Keeping tension on the whole body so he could respond to unexpected situations anytime.
Yoon Seo-ho.
For this moment at least looked like an extremely ordinary boy. At the same time, gaze and consciousness were completely fixed as if only that card remained in the world.
He picked up the card carefully.
And next moment.
Pik.
Collapsed forward powerlessly like a puppet whose string broke.
“Young Master!”
The Chief Secretary threw his body immediately and caught the child. Impact was barely blocked, but the child’s weight loaded on his arm as is.
Almost simultaneously with that, footsteps running urgently from the hallway rang faintly. Probably Yoon Seo-ho's mother, Shin Kyung-hye, who was watching the situation through CCTV installed in the room.
Embarrassment flashed on Chairman Yoon Ji-cheol's face too for a moment. But made judgment immediately.
“Call attending physician.”
Order was short and firm.
Even in such dizzyingly tangled situation, Yoon Seo-ho didn't let go of the toy card for children held tight in his hand. As if believing everything will be solved if he does so.
On his face, a peaceful expression rose, strangely without even a bit of anxiety.
The boy fell into deep sleep like that.
“Ah….”
Yoon Seo-ho opened his eyes not long after. It was very fast waking up for someone who fell into deep sleep. At the same time, opened mouth to calm those visible in his vision.
“Ah… Mom. Grandfather. I, think I’m okay now. Completely.”
“Uheuhuk! Seo-ho-ya…!”
Grasped what words to say first priority even in this midst.
As if confusion until just a moment ago was a lie, his mind was clear. Tone, gaze, breathing, all that wasn't greatly different from ordinary boy’s.
“Uheu-eu…! Heu-euk…!”
Looking at mother crying clinging to him apologetically for a moment, Yoon Seo-ho hesitated for a while then soon said to Chairman Yoon Ji-cheol with a calm face.
“And Grandfather. This year global growth trend will slow down because of trade dispute between US and China. Each country will endure with low interest rate and easing policy, but unstable adjustment period will continue for the time being.”
It was insight too cool-headed and realistic to come from child’s mouth. As if a person who came after checking future.
“…!”
Yoon Ji-cheol stiffened unable to say anything.
‘…More, developed?’
Cool thrill crawled up along spine.
Jjorureuk-.
Chairman Yoon Ji-cheol tilted liquor glass alone in private office.
He usually rarely touched alcohol. But today was an exception.
Grandson's Divine Illness disappeared surprisingly cleanly, and that eerily accurate insight remained as is. And met a very mysterious Teacher.
Couldn't help but drink this.
Putting down the glass, he naturally fell into thought.
‘Hmm. What should I offer as price for talisman. First solving residence area problem seems most appropriate though….’
If following heart wanted to give even a building. But soon shook head. That was excessive.
Not because disparaging value of grace received. Rather opposite.
Yoon Ji-cheol possessed immense wealth like a chaebol, but never spent that money vainly. Especially he thought of his financial sense dividing into two subjects.
One is individual called Yoon Ji-cheol.
Other one is enterprise called Hyunwon.
Value of one building reaches tens of billions to hundreds of billions. That wasn't individual consumption but judgment of scale enterprise subject should handle.
Moment individual emotion starts invading enterprise’s judgment area, organization surely causes crack. Yoon Ji-cheol had seen those countless failure cases more than anyone.
Problem was from here.
Reward clearly had to be individual’s share. However, point is that weight of grace received is stimulating value judgment of enterprise level beyond individual area.
Jjorureuk-.
He approached conclusion slowly tilting glass.
There was a time words saying not believing in God came out while Yoon Ji-cheol was conversing with Yu Ah-jin. That was clearly true.
But just because of that didn't deny even area not revealed yet. Since understood there is place modern knowledge hasn't reached.
He didn't believe things like Saju Palja (Four Pillars of Destiny) or Physiognomy either. But believed statistics and tendency, and cumulative effect of unexplained variables.
Feng Shui was also same. Didn't believe energy of land. Instead believed population density, movement route, life pattern, energy consumption structure created by specific terrain. Meaning, ecology where small society forms naturally.
…Yes.
…He actually believed enormously.
Just accepting in form he himself can be convinced.
In that sense Yu Ah-jin was exceptionally special existence among all variables he met so far.
He was convinced.
That probability deviation named ‘Luck’ will be formed centering on her from now on. Must be able to ride that flow just by being around.
So.
‘Conclusion comes out that placing Teacher Yu by Hyunwon’s side will be helpful even looking from enterprise standpoint.’
But not near headquarters.
That place was already completed city. Wasn't appropriate to incorporate new flow.
‘If so….’
Yoon Ji-cheol's thinking naturally led to Hyunwon’s mid-to-long term business plan.
Hyunwon was enterprise grown with home appliances. And set Internet of Things (IoT) as future food for next stage.
Plan to create new integrated office building binding related affiliates and partners was also already under review.
Problem is direction.
How far to include AI. Will stay at simple IoT… or expand to AIoT, meaning Artificial Intelligence of Things.
AI technology was still uncertain in cost-efficiency and commercialization cases were limited. Computing resources were expensive and data was insufficient, and above all revenue model wasn't clear.
On the other hand moment including AI required capital and risk grow exponentially. Data center, power infrastructure, security system, to talent acquisition.
If wrong belly button could become bigger than belly.
So Hyunwon’s plan was leaning toward excluding AI.
But among data center candidate sites under review, coincidentally several terrains called Baesanimsu (Mountain back, water front) were included. Places with appropriate distance from city center, infrastructure secured, and sufficient room for expansion.
‘Isn't it very suitable place for Teacher Yu to reside.’
Subtle smile rose on Yoon Ji-cheol's lips.
Prepare Yu Ah-jin's house there. And build Hyunwon’s new future base around it.
Individual reward in individual area. Enterprise investment with enterprise logic.
Yet structure naturally sharing influence of luck that will flow centering on her.
‘Won't be bad story for Teacher Yu either. Since no one refuses real estate value rising. Heoheoheo.’
In Yoon Ji-cheol's view there was no more appropriate repayment than that.
After finishing conversation with Chairman Yoon Ji-cheol and delivering talisman to person who came for errand.
I fell into thought holding one topic.
Arcana that came to mind when trying to know concept of God. About that.
Clearly seemed caught in vision, but Arcana of strange nature becoming rather blurrier the more focused to see.
‘Probably, Moon Arcana.’
Must have come to mind interlocking with concept of unconsciousness. If thinking so could explain why it looked strange too.
‘Since existing in area of unconsciousness… moment trying to be conscious rather moved away.’
Conviction formed that if only can catch it can make into talisman.
Problem was method.
If doesn't appear if not conscious in the first place, and disappears moment being conscious.
How the hell to catch.
Truly contradiction.
But while staring at Moon card quietly, suddenly certain idea flashed through brain.
‘This… maybe.’
“Phew. A little nervous.”
I finished all preparations.
And looked around slowly.
Restroom connected directly to room, kitchen with only one gas stove, mold marks spread like stains on wallpaper, delivery boxes piled up dizzyingly.
Scenery of room always seen.
I nodded and approached front door.
Clack, creeeak.
And opened door without hesitation.
Whishhhh—.
Cold wind blew in.
Feeling hair fluttering took step forward slowly.
Bare foot touched asphalt.
But wasn't cold. Because strange warmth was wrapping body.
Thanks to that could walk outside without any hesitation in light attire always worn inside house usually.
I breathed in night air deeply and advanced to alleyway. Walked slowly as if taking a walk on quiet road without single person.
Daldongne was submerged in deep silence. Not a single house with light on and even streetlights in alley didn't shine.
Nevertheless world wasn't dark.
—Because.
I raised head and looked up at sky.
—Huge moon was floating.
Unrealistically large moon filling more than half of vision.
[THE MOON]
Eyelids half closed on face facing side. And lips closed firmly.
Moon in that sky had such face.
Hazy eyes as if mind went somewhere else heads toward me.
And lips moving quietly.
—You f o u n d m e….
.
.
.
“….”
I woke up from dream.
Tuk.
Simultaneously placed hand on Moon card put beside before sleeping.
Energy is contained.
“…This really works.”
Area of unconsciousness, meaning succeeded in obtaining Moon Arcana in dream.