Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Sneak Sneak (4)
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Wild beasts, always wary of humans, possessed an innate fear as if it were a congenital disease. That was why they fled at the mere sound of human footsteps and avoided places that smelled of people. Mountain animals often wasted away from diseases they had no immunity to after contact with humans, or they starved to death, refusing food and water.
But this boar, having gorged on hallucinogenic mushrooms and gotten high, had tangled intimately with a human. As it came to its senses in exhaustion, the realization that the one embracing it was a human sent shockwaves through its world. Suffocation was suffocation, and the shock was shock.
A suffocating death compounded by shock, perhaps.
'Definitely dead, right?'
Jin-hyuk checked the boar's breathing once more.
That was when it happened.
Grrr...
General approached the boar and sniffed it.
"What are you doing, General?"
He thought the sensitive General had sensed something...
But General, as if entranced, licked the boar's snout and nostrils.
Dogs licking things was a sight you could see twenty-four hours a day—Jin-hyuk relaxed.
'Phew, I was tense.'
General seemed to confirm the death sentence as well. He greedily lapped up the yellowish foam oozing from the boar's nostrils and mouth. Even when Jin-hyuk grimaced and pulled him away, General kept lunging back in.
"General, stop it."
Grrr...
Has this guy lost his mind? He'd barked after time travel, but never bared his teeth so fiercely.
Grrr-clack clack!
The sound of clashing teeth was frightening, so Jin-hyuk stopped trying to intervene.
Anyway.
'My little sister wants to eat it—what can I do?'
Jin-hyuk picked up Yu-jin and supported her sturdy with a strong arm. With his other hand, he grabbed the boar's hind leg. It was pretty heavy, but by putting strength into his back, lats, and arms, he managed to drag it along. He considered hoisting it over his shoulder but decided against it for hygiene reasons.
Heh heh hek...
General, eyes bloodshot from licking pig foam, wagged his tail with a blissful expression.
At that moment, the fact that he could lift such a heavy boar didn't matter.
'I look like a total mess.'
His shorts and T-shirt were torn by the pig's tusks, and one sneaker had a sole ripped off, making his foot keep slipping out. Every step made a floppy sound.
His discomfort with his ragged appearance was fleeting—something else was nagging at him.
Heh heh het...
General had somehow climbed atop the boar, wagging his tail happily. He looked like a triumphant general on parade. Triumphant general—fitting for General, with "dog" and "general" right in the name.
"Hup!"
He channeled his strength like he was venting frustration. His forearms trembled under the load. Even when the boar snagged on roots or rocks, a grunt of effort dragged it free. Somehow, he hauled it all the way to the bus road.
Emerging from the shaded woods, the dazzling early autumn afternoon sun greeted the siblings.
'Ha, what now?'
He could manage somehow, but he'd never butchered a pig before. He'd done chickens with Mom's help. Oh, speaking of chickens—Chicken Johnson came to mind. The one who'd greatly contributed to his sprint speed and replenished his dads' vigor.
That summer, when Dad and Hong Gi-jun were both laid low, he'd tearfully culled it for tonic soup. Mom offered, but he didn't want her doing the dirty work, so he did it himself. It hurt, but it was necessary. He'd set up a cauldron in the yard and simmered it for six hours.
'Tasted great.'
Impossible without the all-purpose farmer Choi Jang-hwan's help.
'Yeah. Uncle Choi can probably handle a pig.'
Jin-hyuk pondered briefly, then headed to Choi Mi-kyeong's house. The man who brought pigs in sacks on his tiller for village gatherings and butchered them himself—surely wild boar was no issue. Only possible in the countryside.
The sedan parked since morning was still there, with two men sleeping in the back seat. Chuseok holiday, napping in the car out here... And two more men perched on a nearby rock.
'Still watching our house?'
He'd thought they were land scouts, but they were fixated on one spot—his family's three-story house.
Drdrdrdr...
Dragging the boar with its heavy thudding, he startled the men in the car, who peeked out in alarm. The others feigned nonchalance but eyed him closely.
Jin-hyuk walked past like any ordinary rural middle schooler, ignoring them. Ragged clothes, little sister on one arm, boar in hand—peak countryside teen vibe.
His poker face flickered as he side-eyed them.
'They give off ghost vibes.'
Not the usual human scent. How did he know? No good explanation—just his body hairs standing on end, pores flaring, scalp tingling. Instinct.
Facing the red-eyed boar had made his nape and ears buzz; these guys made the back of his head prickle.
'Like seeing a ghost under moonlight?'
Those impassive eyes alone said it. No surprise or curiosity at a kid carrying a boar—just calm, drowsy gazes. That indifference tensed him up.
'Suspicious as hell.'
Needed to check them out before parents returned.
Ominous hunches were rarely wrong.
"Hellooo~!"
Yu-jin beamed innocently at the shady uncles, hugging her brother's neck tight.
Moon Seok-il was dumbfounded by the unbelievable sight. His friend beside him was the same, and the two juniors resting in the car reacted no differently.
'What... is that?'
He'd once seen a wild boar dragging a man by the pant leg—in training at Cheorwon, Gangwon-do. Maintaining stealth, he'd slit the boar's throat with his longsword to save the guy.
But here was a young man dragging a boar like trash.
'Military?'
In Hwacheon drills, they'd hunted boars for calories. Transport was usually legs bound to iron pipes, four men shouldering it, or truck bed... Wait, not the point. That size boar was nearly 200kg.
The young guy, haircut suggesting leave from service, tall and sturdy—looked barely adult, yet hauled the beast effortlessly, no strain.
Drdrdr...
Moon Seok-il finally spoke as the boar receded, mouth agape.
Shocked, his voice was weak, eyes still hazy like in a trance.
"Status..."
"Yeah...?"
"That guy came from that house, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then why's he heading that way?"
"Beats me..."
"The house owner's brother maybe?"
"Face looks similar, kinda..."
His friend's mind was mush too—barely answering, voice drowsy like he'd nod off anytime.
Moon Seok-il's lips dried, throat burned.
"Our junior?"
"...Probably the boss."
Talking down would be rude. The one called Status licked his lips.
That monstrous strength demanded respect, even from a lowly junior.
He tapped Moon Seok-il's arm lightly.
"Feels like we took the wrong job, huh?"
"Kinda, but he's not the target."
"If we mess with that boss, we won't even get our bones back? Dude's a powerhouse."
"We're four. We don't brute force ops."
Even saying it, Moon Seok-il's voice dripped helplessness.
He shook his head hard to clear it, exhaled long, nodded slowly—recalling the mission. Scanned his elite team: elites among elites.
"Don't know where they are, but they won't be gone long?"
"Nah. Village hicks hole up at sundown. Be back soon."
Strike then.
"Kyaaaah!"
Chaos erupted at Choi Mi-kyeong's house.
Villagers had gathered to watch Choi Tae-yang's wrestling match on Chuseok TV, but Mi-kyeong's scream at the boar sent everyone rushing to the door, scanning Jin-hyuk up and down.
"Aigoo! What happened to our Jin-hyuk? Roll in the mountains?"
"No."
The boar tore 'em. But Yu-jin and General are fine.
He did roll, just not that kind of roll—no lie.
"Dad, this... uh..."
"Huh? What's this? You caught it?"
Choi Jang-hwan finally spotted the boar, nearly fainting in shock. His yell drew more villagers, crowding to gawk.
"Went acorn picking up the back hill."
"Dead long? Starts stinking quick."
Less than fifteen minutes.
Choi Jang-hwan inspected it closely. Know-it-all Jo Il-heon squinted through cigarette smoke, probing. Wet nose and mouth, body warm, no rigor—pressing with lighter, flesh yielded.
"Hyung-nim, fresh kill—blood ain't clotted."
Agreeing, Choi Jang-hwan stroked his chin and nodded.
"Whoa—brand new. Perfect condition. Our Jin-hyuk carried this alone?"
"Nah, just... sorta."
Didn't carry, but solo delivery—how to explain? At a loss, Jin-hyuk vaguely waved toward the mountain, then bean field. Like a maestro missing beats.
"Share with the neighbors. See ya."
"Jin-hyuk, what's the rush?"
Choi Jang-hwan's voice hit as Jin-hyuk bolted with greetings.
Brought it for sister's craving, but wild game? Meh. What now?
Pondering, he met Yu-jin's pleading stare.
Many adults watching, she couldn't beg outright, but gripping and shaking his hand said she wasn't giving up the boar.
"Ung—ung—."
She shook his hand, even whimpering low—only for him. Unusual begging.
Ah, Yu-jin loves meat so much. How to ignore those pitiful eyes?
"Just a few ribs..."
Mumbling, Jin-hyuk replied—Jo Il-heon jumped.
"Ribs? For our Jin-hyuk? Gimme a hind leg!"
"Hind leg? Front legs and belly's the tasty bit!"
"No, no! Really, just a little! I'll go!"
"You got it! I'll clean it perfect—no gamey taste—come back evening!"
Ignoring Jo Il-heon—older than Dad but calling himself "hyung"—Jin-hyuk scooped Yu-jin and headed home.
Whispers followed from Choi Jang-hwan and Jo Il-heon.
"Edible?"
"Better than deer."
"Why'd it die?"
"Mushrooms, looks like. Powder on snout. This side's wiped clean—like licked."
"Boar dies from shrooms?"
"Gotta. Poison. Right here, dead."
Sounded like a joke, but drunk Jo Il-heon's face was dead serious.
"We eat it, we die too?"
"Ha! Hyung-nim's at it again. Moon rabbit or fairy meat? Gut it, eat the rest."
"Boars around here?"
"Who cares. Came and died. People's home is where they live; beasts' is where they drop."
Jin-hyuk found Jo Il-heon's words apt. Once, without parents' graves, he'd called Seoul home.
"Heh heh, what a sight. Did heaven drop our Tae-yang as Halla champ?"
Choi Jang-hwan's words stung. Champ? Hanwoo from sky.
Nearly turned cheapskate slaving for it—no way it fell from heaven.