Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Sneak Sneak (5)
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His eyes had sunk in from using his energy, but he couldn't just collapse and rest.
"Many mouths to feed."
So this was the toil of a family head. Feeling that sense of responsibility anew made his shoulders heavy, but as always, it was a welcome burden. The fact that he wasn't alone touched him deeply, making each of Jin-hyuk's days still fresh and happy.
The moment he got home, he changed the water for General. He figured the panting sounds meant the dog was thirsty, and sure enough, General guzzled the water like mad—not lapping it with his tongue, but dunking his whole muzzle in the bowl and slurping it down, just like a cow drinking.
"Good job, General."
"General worked hard, huh? Ehehe."
Yu-jin, past her naptime, stroked General with half-closed eyes.
Jin-hyuk went inside, bathed Yu-jin, and tossed her clothes into the washing machine. He was worried she might have picked up some zoonotic disease from the wild beast. While his sister played in the living room, he scrubbed himself raw too. The warm water eased his stiff muscles, and the fresh soap scent relaxed his mind.
"Oppa, feed Yu-jin milk pleeease."
"Is our baby hungry? Let's see. What should we eat?"
"Pork."
Whoa, look at this kid's determination.
Jin-hyuk, who had underestimated a baby's focus, nearly lost his balance opening the fridge door.
"Pork for dinner. Oppa will grill it for you."
"Yesh, ehehe."
Yu-jin was such a good girl. She never threw tantrums or fits. She accepted whatever Oppa said without conditions, which he was grateful for.
"How about egg rice for our baby?"
"Yesh, ehehe. Egg rice yummy?"
She wasn't picky either. Just watching her enjoy the catfish hot pot that Oppa avoided proved she was better than him.
Jin-hyuk placed a half-runny fried egg over rice, added a spoonful of sesame oil and half a spoon of soy sauce, and mixed it up. The nutty aroma made his mouth water involuntarily. Had he been so hungry from overexerting himself? He wiped away drool he hadn't noticed.
Slurp.
"Hand-foot-mouth disease?"
Still, his sister came first.
He rinsed clean kimchi in water, tore it into small pieces, and placed one on each spoonful for Yu-jin.
"Yummy, baby?"
"Yesh, ehehe."
She chewed so cutely. How could kids be this adorable? Watching her moved him to tears. Was she only pretty because she was his sister, or were all kids like this? Who knew—maybe it was because an old man's soul lurked inside him.
"All done, ehehe."
"Let's rinse with water."
After feeding water to Yu-jin, who had finished her meal, he let her play in the living room for a bit.
By the time he finished the dishes, she was dozing off on the sofa, nodding away. She'd had a big adventure up the back mountain with Oppa, so she must be exhausted. For such a young kid to fall asleep without fussing—what a sweet child. Of course, she came from Mom's belly.
"Lullaby, lullaby."
Worried food might be stuck or her tummy upset, Jin-hyuk picked her up, patted her back, and paced the living room. It was a familiar routine from her baby days. When he heard a satisfying buuuurp by his ear, he laid her down in the master bedroom.
"Sleep well, our little one."
He kissed her cheek and forehead, then quietly slipped out the front door.
General looked wobbly but had flopped onto his back with all four legs up, fast asleep.
"That rascal looks like he's smiling?"
For a moment, Jin-hyuk wondered if he was dead, but the slow rise and fall of his belly and chest confirmed he was breathing. His long tongue lolled out, caked in dirt.
Jin-hyuk carefully picked him up, but General didn't stir.
He moved General to his doghouse and sneaked up to the rooftop. It was a place for usual relaxation, overlooking vast fields, mountains, and the distant sea. He and Dad had made flower beds for Mom and planted dwarf fruit trees, but unexpectedly, it doubled as a great hideout. Perfect for evading pork cutlet terror or, like now, observing shady men.
"What are those guys up to?"
He'd noted earlier: the sedan they came in had Seoul plates.
Hong Gi-jun and Yu Se-ra were off to Hawaii with Jin-hyuk's parents, and Hong Su-jeong was spending time with Grandpa, so these weren't their people. If they were, they'd have driven straight to his house.
"Extraordinary."
I'm no ordinary guy either. He muttered to himself, though no one was around.
Seeing two men in the distance pointing at his house while talking sent chills down his spine. Their auras weren't those of ordinary real estate agents or asset managers.
"If I can feel it from this far, they've got something special."
And it's weird that I can sense it. Jin-hyuk's brows furrowed.
Maybe it was the ominous energy he'd felt passing close earlier lingering, but he couldn't explain how he sensed people so far away. Not important right now anyway.
"Gotta probe deeper and find out."
Ignoring what's happening around me would make me no better than General. That's what Jin-hyuk thought. No more passive living—that was his resolve.
He'd heard neighborhood elders talk about modern grim reapers. Jo Il-heon was the main storyteller, of course. Two men in black pointing at a house meant someone inside would die. Even lying in bed, the marked one could see them. Rumors said it happened more than once or twice locally.
It was nonsense not worth minding—meant to scare kids into avoiding strangers—but...
He couldn't dismiss it as mere superstition.
"My own reincarnation is even more far-fetched."
Jin-hyuk had never taken his existence lightly, nor the world for granted. It was his self-imposed restraint to avoid sloth or blind faith.
Anyway, leaving them be worried him for his parents and little sister. Who knew what mischief they'd cause when he wasn't around?
That was when it happened.
"Jin-hyuk! You home?"
Choi Mi-kyeong's clear, jade-like voice rang out from the wide yard.
Already done butchering the boar?
Grrrumble.
Oh right, I haven't eaten.
"Holy holy ho-ly—gracious Lord—."
A tall old man in hemp robes, wearing a bamboo hat and rubber shoes, hummed a hymn. Never properly learned it, so pitch and rhythm were all over, but his resonant voice was pleasant enough.
"If the crane perches, it's none other than Jehovah—not anyway—."
It started as a quest to explore religion as a seeker. Mostly worldly reasons, though. Hearing church served food for the holidays, he'd trekked far and scored a Bible and hymnal too.
"Properly taught folk came. Holy holy—sip—."
The pastor was polite. Bowed deeply to this elder and offered a van next time.
"Ain't goin' back. Ya rascal. Sip—holy holy ho-ly—."
The chapel floor for kneeling prayers? No kneeling for him—not even to heaven. A sage bows to none.
"My knees ache somethin' fierce—holy holy sip ho-ly—."
He kept mimicking the congregants singing hymns. Trouble breathing? Saliva buildup? Midway, he'd sip sip like someone eating spicy food.
Cheon Gil-ryong's holy strides soon reached Choi Jang-hwan's house.
"Elder! Where ya been? Just et at the hall?"
One of the rowdy youths in the yard called out. Jo Il-heon, who clicked with Cheon Gil-ryong.
Cheon Gil-ryong tucked the hymnal behind him.
"Whatcha all doin'?"
"Ji-nek brought back a boar."
"Our Tae-yang's a big shot now, throwin' a village feast, he says."
Ji-nek? Who's that?
Cheon Gil-ryong lifted his hat for a better look. On the wide plastic sheet, the wild boar lay stretched out impressively.
"Heh heh, fine boar."
"Grab a piece. Chuseok and all—stay the night, why don'tcha."
Choi Jang-hwan knew Cheon Gil-ryong's visits had ramped up lately.
Even without that warm smile, Cheon Gil-ryong was inwardly pleased. Retired from guardian god play, time to enjoy life.
"This the house where Yi Boksu lived."
The woman who bore the three gods' fates, lured by brother Choi Gi-ryeong into midwifery from youth.
Brothers stayed put suppressing village yin energy. When out, Yi Boksu was busy with out-of-town kids. Never praised her toil before she passed.
"Gotta pour a drink on the ancestral table."
Guilt weighed on him.
With that resolve, Cheon Gil-ryong nodded to Choi Jang-hwan.
"Be right back from up top."
"Come on back. Plenty rooms."
"Yup, yup."
Grinning contentedly, Cheon Gil-ryong set off.
Passing church, he'd eyed those guys. Business with the pests.
Choi Mi-kyeong's heart felt like bursting.
Parents away on trip, so she'd come to deliver songpyeon and Chuseok foods to Jin-hyuk minding his sister alone. Now Jin-hyuk's hand rested on her shoulder as they walked to her house.
"What if he wants a kiss? Gotta refuse once...?"
Old enough to know it all. Girls matured early, curiosity rivaling boys. Dreaming romance with crushes, spinning fantasies—same deal. While pondering Kindro or Daesung academies for her second daughter's English classes, Jin-hyuk spoke.
"Gotta say thanks for the food."
Mi-kyeong's red lips pursed inward. Pubescent girl's fantasies, flutters, fears—gone in an autumn gust. Jin-hyuk held her bowls, topped with apples and fruits from his fridge.
"Sigh."
She sighed inwardly. Son Jin-hyuk had always been mature beyond years. No—more like an old geezer.
Never mad at kids' pranks, laughed like a big bro or real uncle. That's why she couldn't get closer than friendly. Other kids teased across genders playfully, but Jin-hyuk acted cautious, like he'd hurt them. Couldn't pinpoint it, but he kept an emotional safety distance.
"He'd reject even if I threw myself at him."
Throw what?
Anyway, closest friend Mi-kyeong saw Jin-hyuk that way.
A geezer.
"Problem with that? Being geezer-like?"
What?
Don't put your hand on my shoulder then, jerk.
And it wasn't nothing. Neighborhood buzzed.
Jin-hyuk, ever vigilant, glanced briefly at teen Mi-kyeong.
Those guys are probably watching. Natural acting for that. But a cold wind blew from Mi-kyeong.
Jin-hyuk thought she seemed upset, scratched his cheek. His obliviousness was armor-thick here.
Her house yard bustled with boar butchering. Thick kimchi-making plastic spread wide; Jo Il-heon and Choi Jang-hwan at work. Despite raw red meat, Jin-hyuk felt oddly calm—unlike Mi-kyeong, who fled inside squeamish.
Uncles paced with soju glasses, munching something. Raw boar? Wild animal raw? Jin-hyuk eyed worriedly; they held jerky.
"Thank you, ma'am. We'll enjoy the food."
"Oh, no need for returns between us."
Mi-kyeong's mom beamed at his manners. Quiet but polite unlike most kids. Wished he were her son. Same talk with husband Choi Jang-hwan: "If only he were ours."
After greetings at Mi-kyeong's, Jin-hyuk didn't head home. Took a different path toward the men's spot—the boar trail. No need to crouch; hilly bean fields hid him.
"Yu-jin sleeps three hours once down."
Gotta check.
Why these guys came to this quiet countryside, surveilling my house all day.