Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Three Lives (9)
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The race with General continued.
They even changed up the course. The distance got longer, and the inclines more varied.
They finally reached the frozen reservoir beyond the back mountain and caught their breath.
Across the reservoir loomed the tallest peak in the area. It had nine summits, earning it the name Gu-bong Mountain, standing at an impressive 360 meters above sea level. In regions famous for towering mountains and ranges, it might draw a scoff, but around here on the west coast, where hills were mostly low and gentle, it was something else.
'Not bad height.'
It resembled a miniaturized version of Gwanak Mountain, one of Jin-hyuk's favorite spots from his old life, especially with all the rocks making it look even more alike.
Just 40 or 50 years ago, tigers and wolves roamed there. Even ten years back, foxes howled at dusk. It was still a blessed place where wild ginseng and rare plants turned up now and then. Legends of ghosts and goblins swirled around it, making it a mountain of renown.
Gazing at Gu-bong Mountain, Jin-hyuk nodded firmly, like he was making a vow.
'Someday, I'll climb that mountain every day.'
For now, his short legs made it impossible.
Kiiing-.
General let out a pathetic whine, sensing some inexplicable chill.
Jin-hyuk had been two finger-widths shorter than the other kids, but after winter break, he'd shot up to the tallest in his class. He was even two finger-widths taller than Park Jung-im, the second tallest—a girl. Sure, they were all just ten-year-old kids, but it was remarkable growth. Plenty of upperclassmen brothers and sisters were shorter than third-grader Jin-hyuk now.
Three lives.
That's what the voice had told him from beyond the dark veil. He could save three people. Two had been his parents, and...
"Bet you're thrilled to have a little sibling, Jin-hyuk."
Mom smiled like morning sunlight, a mix of shy and blissful.
Thump-thump-.
A sibling!
'The third one was my sister!'
No wonder Mom had been dry-heaving sometimes during winter break. He'd thought she was just under the weather since she rarely went out and walked so carefully. But remembering how she'd clung to Dad's arm like a bride, Dad must have known.
'Damn, can't trust any dads in this world!'
And everyone but him was a wolf in sheep's clothing. As he stroked General's exposed belly, Jin-hyuk muttered. This mutt had too many fleas. No wonder his neck had been itchy lately.
By the end of spring break, Mom's belly started to bulge. Thanks to Dad, she wasn't overdoing it, but Jin-hyuk ran home faster just in case.
Along the way, racing General—who'd come to greet him at the stream—was a key part of his daily routine.
'General's seriously fast!'
No one could beat him.
Gritting his teeth in determination, squeezing every muscle, flailing his arms like mad—General just pulled further ahead. He truly was the king of short-distance sprints on these dirt paths. And since they ran together every day, maybe it was only natural.
"Huff—huh-huff! General, let's change your name to 'Dog Lewis.'"
Heh-heh-hek-?
General tilted his head, tongue lolling long.
Soon you'd know, General.
In two months, when the 1988 Seoul Olympics hit, a track star by that name would appear.
He toyed with borrowing a female sprinter's name to match the gender, but nothing came to mind. Green Peace? What was it again? It lingered on his tongue then vanished.
'Dog Johnson' had a nice ring, but the vibe was off.
Not just the sound—felt like it came with poisoned dog food.
As summer break loomed, the time finally came.
Unable to relax, hovering at home anxiously, Dad got an urgent call from Han Yu-young.
"Oppa! I think the baby's coming!"
"Jin-hyuk! Hold Mom's hand tight!"
Dad rushed off across the big field to fetch Mi-kyeong's grandma.
Dad wanted the hospital, but folks in the countryside weren't used to that yet. He couldn't sway his wife's stubbornness to birth at her family home.
City versus country. Clashes like this popped up in unexpected places. The silver lining? They respected each other's domains and compromised—no real conflict.
'She said we need to stoke the fire.'
Jin-hyuk dredged up wrinkled memories, sifting old knowledge. Even on hot days, the mother's body got chills. To prevent postpartum pain and gynecological issues, warm the room thoroughly.
"Mom, I'll go light the fire."
He brushed back his way-too-young Mom's forehead and headed to the kitchen. Pine cones and twigs into the furnace, then skilled hands sparked a blaze. It was routine—helping Mom prep dinner after afternoon play—so no sweat. His parents always marveled how the fire roared to life the moment he struck the match.
'Mom's twenty-nine? Thirty?'
A kid having a kid.
He hadn't even considered she'd had him at twenty. Chuckling wryly, his heart still raced with excitement for the sibling soon to arrive. All while praying for an easy delivery.
'Please, please.'
Knowing too much about the world wasn't always a blessing. Ignorance might be bliss, but Jin-hyuk believed knowledge was power.
Thick logs into the roaring furnace. Pine and twigs burned hot but fast; logs sustained the heat.
Steam rose from the pot, water warming nicely. He set a washbasin in the room where Mom lay, then shuttled scoops from the cauldron—trip after trip.
'Spilling if I carry too much at once could be dangerous.'
Haste makes waste—a lesson learned the hard way in his past life.
Water done, he soaked a towel in warm water and wiped Mom's hands, feet, and face.
"Mom, you okay?"
"Yeah. Don't worry, my boy. Mom's tough."
Tough, huh. Skinny as she was, her bravado was something else. But her expression was decent, color good—Jin-hyuk relaxed a bit.
"Be right back—kitchen."
At the sink, water for soaking seaweed. Useless trivia from forty lonely years, never thought it'd shine like this. Heart pounding, yet amazed. Guess no knowledge was truly worthless.
Haah, haah-.
Color drained from Mom's face. Breathing shallow, eyes half-lidded like the exhausted. Dad and grandma not back yet. Call 119 now? How long till they arrive?
"Mm-."
Faint breath, weakening pulse. Focus left her eyes; lids drooped. Something was wrong.
Not after getting her back!
Screaming inside, he gripped her hand, pressed his palm to her forehead.
"Mom, don't lose consciousness. Stay awake."
He prayed desperately.
All he could do.
It was cold and dark. A chill wind whistled from somewhere. No light, yet sight was clear. Starless black sky; before him, black waves lapped a river.
He caressed his protruding belly—front-heavy only.
From behind, just a girl's figure.
'Must be a girl.'
Old folks bet on gender by a pregnant woman's rear view: slim waist meant 'girl belly.'
Where was this? Who was he? Odd to recall that amid ignorance. Han Yu-young just shrugged it off.
The baby's vigorous kicks slowed.
Suddenly dropped in alien surroundings—enough to panic—yet it felt like arriving where she belonged. Who she was mattered less; curiosity about the child inside? Gone.
The human drive for life, joy, soul-enriching curiosity—evaporated. No longer human.
Regret? With each step, inexplicable tears fell.
The mournful river before her brimmed with the dead's tears, he realized.
Foot in the shallows—a pristine white arched bridge appeared.
As she lifted her foot to the faintly glowing span, natural as breathing...
A voice filling the ashen sky, grave and majestic—defiance unthinkable.
Han Yu-young withdrew her leg.
Mom? To me?
Consciousness? I'm awake.
That voice... familiar.
Turning toward it.
Fierce wind suddenly howled, as if to blind her. The black river surged waves house-high, ready to swallow. Yet she had to see. Intuition screamed regret otherwise. Curiosity sprouted; human feelings budded.
A star?
Solitary light in the black sky.
That star called her Mom.
She knew. It shone for her alone.
Faint as firefly glow, it brightened, swelled.
Finally, blinding light exploded, engulfing everything.
And.
'Ouch-.'
The baby kicked vigorously inside.
Mom's eyes opened.
Color returned; hazy gaze cleared.
"Guess Mom dozed off a bit. They say not to sleep during birth. Jin-hyuk, stay by me till Dad gets here."
Han Yu-young was scared.
Of drifting off before husband and midwife arrived. Of not waking.
The dreamlike scene had burned away in fierce light—no memory lingered.
"Yeah. I'll stay."
Jin-hyuk was scared too, clutching her hand. Like cheering the weary sibling, he gently stroked her belly. Through his palm, the baby's fierce life force pulsed.
*
"Wahhh—!"
The baby's first cry rang out.
Two anxious men bolted from the yard into the room. Mom had birthed Jin-hyuk's sister without major crisis; both mother and child looked healthy.
Wow!
'Whoa—so pretty.'
He'd never known newborns could be this cute.
Past life: no close encounters with babies, no marriage even. Gazing at his fresh-faced sister, features sharp even as a newborn, Jin-hyuk teared up like she was his own.
"Jin-hyuk's family is truly blessed. A fine boy, and now a sturdy girl—makes my job easy!"
Mi-kyeong's grandma praised Jin-hyuk in her shrill voice.
From stoking the fire to warm water, towels, mother's hygiene—better than any midwife or doctor, she boasted loud for parents to hear.
"Thank you, ma'am. You worked hard."
As grandma headed to the yard, Son Gwang-yeon followed, offering a yellow envelope of cash politely.
"Oh my! Don't do that! Just make some seaweed soup—tend to your wife and baby. Goodness, look how smart our Jin-hyuk is. Even soaked the seaweed. What a world..."
Ah, she wasn't leaving.
Sheepish, Son Gwang-yeon scratched his head.
*
"Dad, what's the baby's name?"
Kuwing-kuwing-.
Watching her nurse, Jin-hyuk asked.
"Yu-jin. Son Yu-jin."
Taken one character each from wife and son's names, no doubt.
Jin-hyuk murmured her name.
"Yu-jin."
His little sister's name.
Seeing the newborn squirm and suckle, Jin-hyuk thought.
'Gotta make money.'
Goal was happy rural life with parents. Dad was rich anyway; money held no interest. But human dreams shift. Still, ten months fixated on farming showed his resolve.
Anyway, nine-year age gap. He'd vow to be a great big brother—a towering tree for shade and shelter.
'Hah—even at twenty, Yu-jin's still in elementary.'
So what.
Jin-hyuk felt like flying.
'I have a little sister!'
Whoosh—
He dashed to the yard.
Arms wide to the sky, legs spread.
Standing tiptoe like stretching, he shouted.
"Hooray—! Hooray—! Hooray—!"
Three lives saved.
Even the sister absent from his past life. Indescribable thrill. Chest bursting with cheers, emotion unrelenting. Tears welled like volcanic eruption. Like monsoon-swollen streams, they poured, eyes burning hot.
Dad Son Gwang-yeon joined in the yard.
"Hoor—"
"Wahhh—!"
Han Yu-young glared at her husband while soothing the crying baby.
Shoulders shaking at aggrieved Dad, Jin-hyuk finally let tears fall.
'Sniff. Feels like it's 'cause of me...'
Still happy.
Son Gwang-yeon grinned like a good simpleton.
"Heh-heh-heh-."
"Eh-heh-heh-."
The two men laughed like fools in the yard.
Laughter differed, but thoughts aligned.
'Dad'll handle everything.'
'Big bro'll handle everything.'
Outside the gate, General wagged triumphantly.
I got a minion.