Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Sneaky Sneaky (2)
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Yu-jin, the five-year-old, had been eating well lately, but her smell was seriously adult-level. Still, Jin-hyuk never wrinkled his nose, taking care of her like she was his own daughter. He'd been clumsy at first, but spending more time together had made him pretty adept at childcare.
'Mom and Dad must've raised me just like this.'
His nose tingled sentimentally.
He was grateful to his little sister, too.
'As long as she's like Yu-jin, I couldn't ask for more.'
Never catching a cold, growing up healthy and spirited—Yu-jin was doing her part perfectly.
"Yu-jin, come here. Gotta wash up with water to get clean."
"Yeees~. Hehe."
Son Yu-jin toddled backward from the kiddie potty toward the washbasin, sticking her butt out toward her brother like a puppy.
"Whoa—smelly."
"Aku—smelly, right? Ehe-he-he."
The whole family used polite speech, so five-year-old Son Yu-jin had picked it up too. It really showed how important your environment was for growth. Yu-jin even spoke politely to General.
'Wonder when bidets will become common.'
It was a thought that crossed his mind while holding his breath and washing her. Of course, it was more for himself than Yu-jin. Bidets from the Middle East were available domestically, but there weren't many, and they lacked hot water functions. Probably because in warm countries, the tap water wasn't cold, so they just used room temperature.
'Should I make and sell bidets?'
Thanks to his time at Sein Electronics, he remembered the basic principles for simple appliances like bidets, water purifiers, and air purifiers. Of course, he was aware of the practical hurdles.
'Finding parts manufacturers won't be easy right now.'
Even if he managed the designs, just making molds for each part would cost more than the product itself. Without capital, it was impossible.
'Gotta ask Uncle Hong Gi-jun.'
It was the gripe of regressor Son Jin-hyuk, who had to wash with water every time for cleanliness and freshness. Life had been easy with bidets in his previous one. His tastes were 21st-century, but his body was stuck in the 20th—full of inconveniences.
"Oppa, let's go outside. Play outside."
"Is our Yu-jin bored? Wanna go chestnut hunting with oppa?"
"Yes, chestnuts. Let's pick 'em."
It was still early September, but Jin-hyuk knew a good spot for harvesting chestnuts. A sunny area on the back mountain with plenty of rotten wood and fallen leaves where mushrooms grew—thanks to the fertile soil, the chestnuts dropped early. Go too late, and bugs would ruin it. Now was better.
Jin-hyuk plopped a large basket over Yu-jin's head. To shield his sister from unpredictable falling burrs. He pinched the cheek of his sister, who gazed up at him with sparkling eyes from under the basket.
"Aigoo—so cute."
"Kekeke—."
How were kids' cheeks so soft and springy? Watching toddlers walk and babble, he finally understood his friends who wished kids wouldn't grow up.
"General, walkies."
"General go. Chu chu chu—."
Heh heh hek—.
The guard dog General followed the siblings.
"Sparrow—."
"Tweet tweet!"
"Duck—."
"Quack quack!"
"Frog—."
"Ribbit ribbit!"
"Pigeon—."
"Coo coo!"
"......Huh?"
Ah, Yu-jin really was a genius!
"Heh heh heh—."
The sister-obsessed fool grabbed his little sister's hand and headed to the back mountain.
As they climbed the slope and crossed the bus path, a luxury sedan came into view, parked off to the side so it wouldn't block the buses.
'It's been there a while?'
It felt off for no reason. It had been there since morning, and now late afternoon, still not gone. No houses nearby, just bean fields. Not bean-picking, and different from the land speculators who'd all left early after the holidays.
'The land guys vanished right on cue once the holidays hit.'
That's why he hadn't investigated them.
Just from their pocket-stuffed strolls and chatter, they looked different. Brown sunglasses and pinstripe suits felt out of place.
'Suspicious.'
The crystal-clear, dazzling peace cracked like thin ice—his nerves sharpened. It was beyond instinct; his sharpened precognition reacted like a blade.
"Oppa, go. Let's go."
Yu-jin urged her hesitating brother, gently shaking the hand she held.
"Yeah. Okay."
Monitoring the out-of-towner was important, but his sister came first.
He let Yu-jin walk on longer stretches, carrying her through dense underbrush. General, being a dog, followed fine on his own.
Still early, not many fallen chestnuts.
"Wow—chestnuts here."
"Wow—chestnuts, right?"
"Ow, poked by a burr."
"Ow—hurts, right."
"Yu-jin, squirrel over there."
"Ooh—cute~."
Kids marveled easily. They mimicked adults over trivial things. For his sister's emotional growth, Jin-hyuk exaggerated his reactions to teach expressions.
Even without that intent, adults around kids naturally baby-talked—it was an unwritten rule. Like whole families babbling with shortened tongues in homes with babies.
He picked a few glossy chestnuts shining from spiky green casings. Early harvest, but enough to fill a plastic bag instead of pockets.
"Yu-jin, head home now?"
"Go home—yes, now."
Oh right. Jin-hyuk suddenly veered off.
"Yu-jin, let's go see mushrooms."
"Yes, go. See mushrooms."
After greasy holiday foods from relatives, savory doenjang jjigae sounded perfect. He salivated thinking of boiling it with honey mushrooms, tofu, and zucchini.
Mushroom spots meant pushing through tough, thorny brush and shrubs. Mostly azaleas, ivy, oaks—stubborn lifeforms blocking even trails. Only Jin-hyuk came here, so no paths formed.
Jin-hyuk scooped up his sister and plunged into the deep woods.
Heh heh hek—.
General panted behind, tongue out.
"What's that?"
"Squirrel."
"What's that?"
"Woodpecker."
"What's that?"
"Zelkova."
Yu-jin spotted treetop things with her wide view.
Pointing eagerly, learning every one.
"What's this?"
"Hazel nut—no, hazelnut."
"What's that?"
"Marten......"
A marten glared down from a high branch.
Jo Il-heon had said they pounced like aerial assaults, biting necks—especially targeting frail elderly or kids.
'Ugh, you little punk. Come at me and you're done!'
Jin-hyuk glared back marten-style and quickly skirted the tree. He'd win any fight, but didn't want his sister seeing gore.
Parting fresh greenery, they reached the deep mushroom spot.
"What's that?"
"Boar—?"
Jin-hyuk sharply inhaled at what Yu-jin pointed to.
'Why's that here......?'
Thump thump—.
***
As her son Jin-hyuk said, September in Hawaii was truly wonderful.
No idea about other times, but anyway, it was great.
Han Yu-young, ascending Windward, clutched her flapping skirt in awe. Her other hand pressed her hat against the breeze.
'So amazing. Next time, gotta bring our son and daughter.'
Flying on a plane she'd thought beyond her fate, to a tourist spot like Hawaii—emotions overflowed. She missed the kids at home, of course.
Son Gwang-yeon stuck to his wife like glue.
"Wow! Wind's super strong. Feels suffocating."
"Honey, honey! This hill's called Windward 'cause of trade winds."
"Oh, I see."
"They've made the cemetery like a park."
"Honey, that's 'cause in American culture and sentiment—."
"Oh yeah? Peaceful and nice."
"Mountain looks just like in calendars."
"Honey, that's Diamond Head—."
"Oh, gems come out?"
Ask who the king of mansplaining is? Look up at Son Gwang-yeon.
The guide explained it all—why bother?
Hong Gi-jun shook his head at Son Gwang-yeon chattering glued to Han Yu-young. Never letting go, hand in hand—irritating. His old college buddy had been so quiet. Family trip acting like newlyweds—what gives?
'Ah, for them, it's basically a honeymoon.'
Then he spotted Yu Se-ra sightseeing alone, arms crossed. Expression dim. She'd been agonizing over her slip about Son Gwang-yeon in front of his father recently.
Contrasting Han Yu-young's bright smile, Hong Gi-jun felt something. He quietly approached and hooked his arm in hers.
"Yeobo~?"
"Ugh, what. Hot."
"Yeah? Kinda hot here. Hawaii must be summer."
Shot down.
Even cut security team's vacation short, set aside busy work for this trip.
Hong Gi-jun felt sad.
***
He first learned that excessive bewilderment turns to sorrow.
His happy holiday drama with his sister flipped to horror flick.
Grunt grunt—. A massive beast dug the ground with its snout, making weird noises.
Grrrr—, General bared teeth fast, but shut at Jin-hyuk's waved hand.
'Why's a wild boar here?'
Deer, badgers, hares were common, but no boar mentions. Back mountain was hemmed by reservoir, paddies, cliffs—limited wildlife. Boars lived in remote deep mountains, right? Plenty food on Gubong Mountain in September—why here?
Jin-hyuk didn't know boars roamed sniffing food, scraping earth. Not important now.
'Just head back.'
As he turned—
Squeal—!
The boar startled at Jin-hyuk, tensing legs. Same shock as him—'Why's a human here?' Red, bloodshot eyes eerie.
Followed mountain scents on wind, no people till now from Gubong to here.
Grrr-gluck gluck—bad sign. Instinct screamed: not warning, attack prelude.
Boar tensed hind legs, revving up.
General, tenth its size, instinctively blocked.
'Incoming.'
Jin-hyuk held Yu-jin in left arm.
Dodgeable solo, but forest too rough with sister. Can't ditch her and dog.
Eyes locked on boar, gently set Yu-jin down.
She seemed to grasp, stood quietly, backed away.
"General, take Yu-jin home first."
Got it?
Whine—, General flattened ears, looked at Jin-hyuk, then tugged Yu-jin's dress hem. When she didn't budge, nudged her calf with head, grunting.
Not crying at first-seen boar—brave or stunned?
Good she's following General.
Jin-hyuk scanned, swallowed low.
'Damn.'
Need to stall. Small woods, dense trees—no people, no metal tools.
Clenched fists to forget helplessness.
Black plastic bag in right hand whimpered pathetically.
'Even if boar bites, stay sharp—.'
Something like that proverb......
But the red-eyed brute, no culture or mercy, gave no time for Korean outings.
Squeal—!
Boar charged.
Thud thud thud—earth shook, leaves quivered, hinting massive weight.
Hoo—, Jin-hyuk inhaled, crouched like wrestler bracing.
Grrrk—!
Split second.
Boar swerved past Jin-hyuk—straight at Yu-jin.