Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Understanding Born from Misunderstanding
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In the yard, I burned pine cones and twigs to create embers, then added firewood. It was to keep my promise to Yu-jin to let her eat pork for dinner.
Eating wild animals felt a bit off-putting, but it should be fine if I cooked it thoroughly. Thinking that, I waited until the firewood turned completely into charcoal.
I prepared the ribs Jo Il-heon had given me. They were coated in a green powder that looked like ground dried plants and a powder similar to ramen seasoning—probably to remove any gamey smell. The ribs I'd eaten while working in society were short, but these were long since they hadn't been cut. They had an arch shape reminiscent of dinosaur bones in a fossil exhibit.
Even General, whose mushroom pong effect had fully worn off, sat quietly next to Yu-jin, basking in the fire's glow.
"Ehehe, the pig looks delicious."
Hehehek—.
Yu-jin and General crouched side by side, drooling. Their resemblance made Jin-hyuk burst out laughing. He stroked each of their small heads once and picked up the grill grate for the first time in a while.
"Ooh, lots of meat too."
"Wow, so much. Oppa hunted the pig, right?"
"Yeah, Yu-jin."
Yu-jin kept asking if it was that pig from the back mountain. There was a hint of determination that she wouldn't forgive it if it was any other pig.
'Damn, it's hot.'
Even with two layers of work gloves, the heat from the coals was intense. He switched hands back and forth while grilling the meat. Amid his struggles, he heard Yu-jin grunting from the dark corner over there.
Is she pooping again? No way the cultured Yu-jin would display that in the yard like General.
"Yu-jin, what are you doing?"
"Oppa hot? Hard. Use bu-ro-kko."
Ah, she meant to stack bricks under the grate since Oppa was struggling. Wondering if he was that smart at her age, Jin-hyuk drew a blank. He quickly ran over and grabbed the bricks for his sister.
She must have learned it from adults, so calling bricks "bu-ro-kko" was understandable, but "him-deu-reo-wa-yo" meant "it's freaking tough." Yu-jin truly was a language magician.
It was during vacation when Jin-hyuk was exercising.
His sore back had improved, so excited Jin-hyuk had done sit-ups with his feet under the sofa. Naturally, Hong Su-jeong, Son Jin-hyuk's gum-like tag-along, was groaning next to him.
—"Hnyanya— Eeik—."
—"Oppa's doing sit-ups, Unnie's doing gum-ups, right?"
Yu-jin had said that while lifting Hong Su-jeong's lip, where she was gritting her gums without teeth. The whole family had clutched their stomachs laughing.
Jin-hyuk sprinkled sea salt on the well-grilling ribs.
Sizzle sizzle sizzle—.
"Kahaha—!"
Amazed by the sound, Yu-jin clapped and laughed. Seeing his happy sister warmed his heart. Even so, he thought of Moon Seok-il's group and didn't lower his guard.
'What to do about those guys.'
He'd told them to investigate quickly and call. They'd contact him once they found out who was behind it, and the security team land-dwellers would help for now, but until he made a plan, he'd have to live with unease.
'Gotta tell Dad and Uncle Hong Gi-jun too.'
He didn't know what Hong Gi-jun thought of him, but Jin-hyuk was glad to have a powerful ally. As one of Korea's top businessmen who adored his dad, he'd surely help.
Living quietly and ordinarily was so hard.
"Oppa, it's on fire."
"Huh?"
Lost in thought, one rib had caught fire and blackened. Jin-hyuk blew on it to extinguish the flames and scraped off the burnt part against the bricks. Without hesitation, he tossed it to General.
He'd eat it once it cooled.
Hehet— Kerplunk!
"Eat it after it cools, man."
Having rubbed his snout on the ground from the heat, General rushed to drink water like someone desperate for the bathroom.
Jin-hyuk and Yu-jin laughed together at the sight. It had been an exhausting day mentally and physically, but this happy time with his sister diluted his worries.
"Oah—, so tasty—."
Even though it was hot, watching Yu-jin grab and tear into the ribs with her own hands made Jin-hyuk think about happiness again. Happiness wasn't much. Sure, he had cheat keys like his dad being the richest in the area and his dad's best friend the most famous businessman in the country. But the sight of the life beside him being happy was the greatest reward.
'If only there were no saboteurs, this could be my life. All cleared up.'
He bit into a grilled back rib.
Jo Il-heon the know-it-all had perfectly handled the gamey smell, as expected. It was a bit tough without time to age, but no off-flavors, and it tasted good. An indescribable feast of smoky flavor and meat juices filled his mouth, stirring nostalgia.
'Craving some beer.'
Better mouthfeel than beer, refreshing, but forbidden to minors. Sneaking one would be amazing, though. Nostalgia for past and future experiences.
Smack. He smacked his lips, recalling days of solo drinking without prying eyes.
What a long day.
Battle with a wild boar, then a nerve war with humans...... Moon Seok-il's group probably saw it differently, but anyway.
A warm breeze from the distant sea enveloped the crouching siblings in the yard like an embrace.
The salty wind teased Jin-hyuk's tear glands. Just thinking of that day still made his chest ache and heart pound.
'I miss Mom and Dad.'
Carefree Yu-jin chomped away at the ribs with smacking sounds.
Then she stared at her brother blankly, as if she had something to say.
"Yu-jin, what? Something to tell Oppa?"
"Hee—."
With meat juices smeared around her mouth, Yu-jin showed her ugly smile for the first time in a while. It was what she did when happy, but also when she had something hard to say.
"......No soy sauce in fridge, right?"
Ah, Yu-jin.
Her eyes and tone looked like she'd cry if he confirmed, but her face showed she knew it was gone.
"None right now. Oppa'll buy some next time."
"Yeah, ehehe—."
Jin-hyuk was puzzled inwardly.
He vaguely felt like he'd promised her cola once. But he didn't remember making such a promise.
Anyway, glad she wasn't upset. It was bedtime, prime whining time, but Yu-jin never begged. Except when she wanted meat.
Now, brush her teeth and sleep, and this turbulent day would end.
'No, not yet. Still got something to do.'
Jin-hyuk stared at his feet.
Bathed in the full Chuseok moonlight, his dark shadow swayed, even catching the charcoal glow.
'You...... who are you?'
He'd been confused entering puberty, but after growing pains, both body and mind had matured. It was natural suspicion from compiling and analyzing evidence, not mere guesswork.
He might call himself slow, but even if oblivious, Jin-hyuk wasn't stupid. Ignoring that gazes coming straight at him weren't at his eyes but above his head? Only an idiot would. Especially in serious situations.
Jin-hyuk knew a way to confirm.
*
In a world where you understand with your head but can't accept with your heart—or vice versa. How many things can't you believe even seeing them?
Late at night, after Yu-jin slept, Jin-hyuk went to the rooftop. General the discerning dog, gnawing pig bones in his doghouse, was summoned too.
Long story short: nothing.
Even clearing his mind and body through meditation, General didn't growl. He just sat at Jin-hyuk's feet wagging his tail. No choice when the guy who barked at full moons was this calm.
"General, nothing there?"
Hehehek—. He stared blankly without even tilting his head, so who knows what he meant.
Thinking to try another way, Jin-hyuk attempted conversation.
Staring intently at the shadow at his feet.
"Come out."
Even calling.
"You twenty-something bastard."
Even cursing.
"Your IQ two digits?"
Even personal attacks.
Whatever Jin-hyuk suspected didn't appear.
He almost said, "You only got your dad's toes, huh?" but held back—pad rip wasn't appropriate. Not when it might harm family.
He'd felt their unnatural gazes on Choi Mi-kyeong's grandma's passing and when Grandpa Cheon Gil-ryong visited.
Moon Seok-il's sudden attitude change was decisive. Even if pupils shook, no reason not to meet eyes properly. Clearly, Moon Seok-il's gaze was on something behind Jin-hyuk.
"Hm. I'm not confused now."
Meaning it wasn't baseless suspicion. Not puberty angst or delusions.
But he couldn't wait blindly. Had to watch over sleeping sister.
His self-set time was short. No one to consult or confide in, so he'd do his best alone.
"If you don't come out, I'll starve? Jump from the third floor. Call a shaman for an exorcism? Eat ten tubes of raw garlic daily? Eat with a silver spoon? Hold my breath for five minutes."
Despite unleashing baseless exorcism knowledge in breathless threats, the shadow stayed still.
"I'll show you the video in the master bedroom."
Ah, shouldn't have said that.
After the appeasement, Jin-hyuk felt needlessly uneasy himself.
"Not coming out? Voyeur?"
General tilted his head at mumbling Jin-hyuk, but he ignored it and glared at the shadow. Once suspicious, he dug to the end.
"I know you're there. Were you with me in a past life? That's why I returned? Know Uncle Hong Gi-jun's true nature too?"
No use. Only moonlight shadow visible, early crickets audible. No moving objects around.
Mumble mumble—.
Until the full moon tilted west and yawns came, Jin-hyuk paced the rooftop.
Unable to bear talking to silence, Jin-hyuk surrendered.
"Don't know why you're attached, but don't harm people. No need to force help. Humans live among humans, but humans must stand on two feet alone too."
With those final words, Jin-hyuk side-eyed the shadow with narrowed eyes.
Threats and appeasement failed, so maybe emotion would make it confess.
But the unresponsive shadow just added embarrassment.
"Mm. Did I overdo it again?"
Maybe a misunderstanding.
Scratching his head, he turned toward the first floor. His trudging steps lacked energy, but he soon shrugged. Whatever.
Hehehek—.
General didn't follow, sticking out his tongue to watch the full moon. Nothing new, visible twice a month.
Worried about waking his sister, he quietly opened the front door and entered.
"Hik—."
Yu-jin had crawled to the entryway and fallen asleep in frog pose.
He'd clearly put her in the master bedroom bed. How'd she get here? Normally she climbed to the second floor and slept at her brother's door—no one could explain.
What a mysterious kid.
***
The rest of the holiday passed peacefully—no wild boars, no encounters with fixers weaker than boars.
He woke early, washed his sister, and dressed her in the colorful hanbok.
It wouldn't fit when she grew, so wear it while it does. Every occasion has its time, and wearing colorful hanbok was one.
"Aigoo, so pretty, our baby."
Holding his sister's hand, carrying the pear box Dad bought on his shoulder, he headed to Choi Mi-kyeong's house. She'd called inviting them for breakfast. Besides Choi Jang-hwan's family, Grandpa Cheon Gil-ryong was there too.
Kim Sun-bok placed steaming braised ribs on the table. Slightly tense thinking wild boar, but it looked like beef short ribs, not pork.
"Eat lots, Jin-hyuk and Yu-jin?"
"Thank you, ma'am."
"Yeah—, ehehe."
Cheon Gil-ryong's eyes widened.
"Oho, so you're Jin-hyuk."
"Yes."
Seeing Cheon Gil-ryong's childlike eyes like he'd discovered something, Jin-hyuk anticipated inwardly.
But Cheon Gil-ryong just happily smiled, recalling the tasty boar from last night.
"Ahem. I'm Cheon Gil-ryong of the Cheon family."
"Yes...... sir."
Sure, formal intros at Chuseok table.
He already knew the name, but Jin-hyuk bowed politely.
Unlike Jin-hyuk's hopes, Cheon Gil-ryong showed no reaction. He focused on mixing rice with beef seaweed soup and kimchi.
'Something's there for sure. Can't Grandpa see it? Gotta figure it out myself somehow......'
Thinking some things couldn't be helped, he vowed to uncover it someday.
From now on, he'd confirm everything thoroughly.
"Nom nom—, tasty—."
Yu-jin was being fed by Choi Mi-kyeong.
Hunger stirred by Cheon Gil-ryong's appetite, Jin-hyuk shoveled big scoops of white rice into his mouth.
Rice is the best.
"Jin-hyuk, going to Fairy Rock today too?"
"Mmgh—."
Unable to do anything with his hamster cheeks, he just nodded.
Why does this rice monster always ask while eating? At least pick off the rice grains on her cheeks.