Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Great Magician
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Late July Saturday, finally the start of summer vacation.
Jin-hyuk rushed straight to the courtyard faucet as soon as he got home from school. With each passing day and every run, his breathing grew more comfortable, but the hotter weather left his body steaming with heat.
The underground water sitting innocently in the red rubber basin, soaking up the sunlight, looked utterly mesmerizing.
He stripped naked and doused himself with the cold water.
Splash-.
'Kuhhh! This is the stuff!'
The refreshing chill of the underground water swept from the crown of his head down his entire body.
This raw, testicular thrill that only a man could savor!
He lathered soap all over, scrubbing every nook and cranny. Even when suds got in his eyes, he didn't care. Jin-hyuk was a real man. As the saying goes, a true man stares down the sting of soap in his eyes without flinching.
He rinsed off the soapy body and scrubbed his hands vigorously. They had to be extra clean if he was going to hold the baby.
"Is our Jin-hyuk back?"
The inner room door opened, and Mom greeted him warmly.
Oh no!
Jin-hyuk quickly grabbed a dipper to cover his privates.
"Don't look!"
He was seriously flustered. Covering up was fine, but in his panic, he turned around, flashing his plump, jiggly butt in an act of ultimate filial piety.
"Eheheheukheuk-."
Mom closed the door while snickering, her shoulders shaking with laughter.
Just a year ago, this son who used to knead her breasts while acting spoiled was now shy. Even when bathing the baby in the inner room.
- "Want Mom to wash you too, Jin-hyuk?"
- "N-nooo, I'll do it alone in the yard!"
He'd waved her off, face flushed red. Taking it further, he couldn't even bear to watch the baby nurse, turning his head away. Han Yu-young thought he was growing up too fast, leaving her arms early.
Of course, the truth was light-years away...
The Son father and son strolled through the fields for some exercise.
Once the rainy season passed and humidity and temperatures rose, rice farmers' eyes lit up as they headed to their paddies. They had to check for rice blast disease, and if it had spread, apply fungicides. This rice blast lingered over winter, so they disinfected seeds, sprayed pesticides, avoided excess fertilizer, and kept water temperatures steady.
"Everything okay?"
"Yeah. Doesn't seem as hot as usual this year."
Ten years ago, some kind-hearted uncle from the city thought the rice must be sweltering in the heat and flooded the fields with freshly pumped cool groundwater—accidentally spreading rice blast to neighbors' fields too.
The identity of that naive Seoul-city fool remained a mystery. Thanks to Choi Jang-hwan's cover-up out of goodwill. He'd encouraged him, saying everyone learns from mistakes one by one.
As soon as the walk with Dad ended, Jin-hyuk washed his hands and face, then picked up his little sister.
Dungae-dungae-dungaeyah-.
"Whine-."
"Looks like nap time for the little one. Guess I'll head out."
Jin-hyuk handed the fussy baby to Mom and went to the outer courtyard. He wanted to touch her sleeping form to show affection, but he knew babies grew best in peace.
He climbed onto the porch and spread out the newspaper.
「President Roh Tae-woo Presents Credentials to Free China Ambassador」
Right, there was a time when Taiwan was called Free China. Feels so fresh.
He read diligently to grasp world events, but boring was boring. The pages flipped quickly.
「[Topic] US Ice Cream Lands in Soviet Union. Poised to Draw Crowds at Moscow Opening」
Soviet Union—reviving a forgotten name today felt so novel.
When did the Soviet Union dissolve? Not too far off. They probably joined as the Commonwealth of Independent States for the next Barcelona Olympics. Without ingrained memories, the future was murky. Anyway, boring—skim and move on.
「[Topic] Indian Police Bribed, AIDS Patient Escapes Hospital」
Oof, the global village has always been this dynamic.
「"US Cigarette Exports Immoral" — Domestic Flights "No Smoking," Overseas "Smoke More" Threats」
Those Yankees... Jin-hyuk shook his head.
Craving a smoke. But did he smoke?
No, he didn't. Weird.
「Pro Baseball: Lotte Climbs to 2nd with Injuries. Youngest Ace Seo Jeong-ryong Dominates」
Shocking.
Wait, were they this good? Even without much baseball interest in his past life, he remembered fans cursing them as "garbage." With a genius hitter and a hidden fastballer, they must be thriving this year.
He rolled around reading, then naturally draped the paper over his face. The inky smell lulled him into drowsy bliss.
The porch fully shaded by the hackberry tree felt so comfy, his body melting—then came pattering footsteps.
"Jin-hyuuuk-."
It was little Choi Mi-kyeong.
Rural kids rarely hung out after school. Different genders kept them apart, but mainly because homes were scattered in these mountains. Even Mi-kyeong lived nearby, but Jin-hyuk found kids awkward and didn't play often.
So why was she here?
Mi-kyeong held an orange dipper.
"Answer when someone calls you!"
"Uh, c-come on in."
She yelled, then narrowed her eyes. Son Jin-hyuk was always weird. "Come on in"? Nobody local said that. Only TV Seoul folks greeted like that.
'Old soul kid.'
Mi-kyeong pouted.
"Let's pick wild strawberries."
"Kinda hard with the baby."
"Auntie's watching the baby. I want strawberries, but snakes scare me."
Wait, Mi-kyeong wants strawberries, Mi-kyeong fears snakes—why me? Jin-hyuk blinked, lost for logic.
He'd heard women were hard to talk to, but with few real conversations in life—mostly work or listening to crazy Hong Su-jeong's rants silently—this was tough. Even adult Mi-kyeong meals were prim; this version felt alien.
'What'd I do wrong?'
Jin-hyuk felt wronged.
Couldn't argue with a kid. No excuse for a fight. He had to protect Mom and baby from dangers.
"Going or not?!"
"...L-let's go."
Mom liked strawberries anyway.
He grabbed a faded sky-blue dipper from the faucet and headed to the back mountain.
Mi-kyeong followed at a distance.
Typical gender-segregated village.
*
A few snakes slithered away at their footsteps; luckily, only tails spotted. General wagged at fleeing snakes. So friendly to them—why the rage at Jin-hyuk last year?
"Mi-kyeong picked a lot-."
-ni?
Seeing the flushed ten-year-old girl with rosy cheeks and hands, his mouth snapped shut. Mi-kyeong balanced her dipper on her head, cheeks puffed like a chipmunk, glaring defiantly.
Sigh-.
Jin-hyuk divided his strawberries into her dipper, equalizing amounts.
"Take some for your parents too."
"Yeah. Thanks."
She snapped her lips shut, trapping a squirting strawberry fragment mid-word.
Impressive reflexes. Or food obsession.
Why bring a dipper if she's eating nonstop?
Kids are mysteries.
They parted at the fork.
'That brat! Still munching on the way!'
Adult Jin-hyuk let it slide.
Hehehek-.
Had to feed General some too.
Crazy—dog knows the taste, follows only if fed every few steps.
"These are for Mom now."
Kiiing-.
His regret proved he understood Korean. General was one smart pup.
Careful not to drop any, he navigated the downhill to home.
Washing strawberries at the faucet, Jin-hyuk's chest warmed inexplicably.
Catching loaches for parents' joy, grilling sparrows, picking strawberries.
Ordinary daily life.
Yet so precious.
'Wish strawberries grew well near the house.'
Thorny barriers, and Mom would love them.
Odd thing. Such hardy plants withered near home. Tried transplanting with soil, piled compost—nine in ten died.
But now reborn, knowing this made Jin-hyuk content.
He gave washed strawberries to Mom, then watched sleeping Yu-jin.
'Hya-, how is she such an angel.'
Touched tiny fingers, compared hand sizes, pressed hers to his cheek. Sniffed her baby scent.
Covered her head gently with his palm against chills, praying inwardly.
'Grow healthy.'
Money? Bro'll earn it.
Can't? Sell some Dad's land secretly.
No need to memorize land deals—he knew moneymaking basics. Survived solo thanks to that. Land knowledge? Basic.
'Sneak seal stamp, forge power of attorney with family registry, stab contract-.'
Knowledge might be outdated. Ask a broker for unknowns.
Sure, ordinary landowner's son sells land on the sly.
Rural summer passed easily avoiding sun. Pine shade cooled you; earthen ondol walls kept midday temps pleasant.
Jin-hyuk loved the forest midway between home and sea.
Sitting there overlooked streams, ocean, reservoir, Mt. Gu-bong—the village panorama. Cool breezes constantly chased heat.
Never skipped runs or meditation under that tree.
Cross-legged, breathing calmly—tree and earth scents cleansed him, filling some unseen void.
'Amazing. If I'd known this before...'
Probably impossible. Cowering from drunk foster dad's fists killed peace needed for meditation.
A strong gust blew. One deep breath filled lungs heavy with forest life. Pine resin and herb scents deepened calm.
'Mm-, smell-.'
Hehehek-.
General seemed to meditate too.
Truly a wise dog.
Jin-hyuk's summer break was special.
Thanks to Dad, Mom rested over a month tending baby indoors—better than any modern recovery center, with Jin-hyuk on full baby duty.
"Mom, have your meal."
Slurp-.
Mom tasted the beef-seaweed soup, eyes widening.
"Oh my, did our Jin-hyuk really make this?"
"Yeah. Must take after you—got your touch."
Lie, Mom.
Twenty-five years adult solo living. Tired of takeout, cooked often—young body remembered.
"School starts soon, and you barely played."
Mom looked genuinely sorry.
Whenever she bathed or used the bathroom, Jin-hyuk guarded the baby.
He'd heard elders' tales of civets or weasels snatching infants. Old stories, sure, but town had cars and crowds—mountains teemed with those beasts. Fearing an attack on baby scent, he stuck close.
"Playing with baby is the most fun."
Jin-hyuk smiled, holding two-month-old Yu-jin. Adorable as she gazed up, lips wiggling.
"Ahruru- ahkung-!"
"Kkoing-kkoing-."
No laughs at peekaboo yet, but seemed to recognize bro, babbling. Matched eyes, wiggled brows, wide-eyed stares.
Jin-hyuk thought he'd have married well in his past life. Never knew he loved babies till now.
Pre-regression, he'd faced marriage crossroads.
'Chairman's daughter.'
Five now?
Five years younger, direct boss. Probably thriving in Seoul.
'No fate this life.'
Chaebol heiress—unless he sought her, paths wouldn't cross. Even then, unlikely. Thinking of her fluttered ten-year-old Jin-hyuk's heart. She alone pierced his friendless, tearless, stoic life.
'Her antics seem cute now.'
Great Magician. Nickname from her perpetual frown, like monthly cramps 365 days. Early heir training in core affiliates, brilliant mind and drive conquered the group—no doubts on succession. World never knew Son Jin-hyuk backed her.
Now, new bonds with past folks.
Past acquaintances lived only in memory.
Future intel? Meh.
If another time-traveler, good luck succeeding.
People mattered most to Jin-hyuk.
'But if we cross paths by chance...'
I'll treat you right.
"Heumaaaah-."
Yu-jin yawned, muffled hand-wrap raised high.
Looked just like a flower crab.
