Why Is He Like This? (2)
'Maybe I... got the wrong idea about something?'
In front of the girl's rundown studio apartment, Kang Tae-woo stood before the battered door, deep in thought. Yesterday had been right after the young miss barely escaped death. The guilt of failing in his duty as her bodyguard. The surreal sight of a little girl demolishing an orc. All of it piled up, clouding his judgment, hadn't it?
'No matter what, a girl that young being a battle-hardened veteran who's crossed the line between life and death...'
After a good night's sleep, his reason had returned, and doubt began to creep in.
"Well, talking to her in person should clear things up."
Kang Tae-woo let out a short breath. First things first, he had to express his gratitude. Thanks to that girl, the young miss was safe. That alone made her a huge benefactor in his eyes. Treating her to a meal and properly thanking her was the least he could do.
'Hmm. What should I get her?'
Kang Tae-woo pondered for a moment. He personally loved a steaming bowl of cheap gukbap, the taste of the common man, but...
'Can't serve her something like pork soup, though.'
He should take her somewhere nice. Luckily, working as a bodyguard for a chaebol family meant he naturally knew a few high-end restaurants with stellar reputations. A mental list of spots popped into his head. The girl was a kid, after all. A premium steak should make her happy without issue. Sure, it'd cost a fortune, but as the head bodyguard for a major conglomerate chairman's family, his salary was more than generous. A meal like this was worth every penny.
"Ahem."
Kang Tae-woo straightened his suit and pressed the doorbell.
Ding-dong—
A moment later, the creaky front door swung open.
"Uh..."
Peeking through the gap was the same tiny girl from yesterday. Kang Tae-woo bowed politely in greeting.
"Good day. I'm Kang Tae-woo, the head bodyguard for Miss Chae Yu-ra."
The girl accepted his greeting with a dazed look. True to form, Kang Tae-woo got straight to the point, concise as always. Even as he spoke, his eyes scanned the glimpse of the apartment beyond the door.
'...'
Kang Tae-woo's eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
'Less like a little girl's room and more like an adult man's.'
The place was barren as hell. No way could anyone call it a kid's space. Not a single doll or cute decoration in sight. All he could make out were empty instant ramen cups and a few soda cans rolling around the floor.
'Definitely didn't have a normal childhood.'
A heavy weight settled in Kang Tae-woo's chest. At the very least, she was clearly living alone.
A short while later, Kang Tae-woo escorted the girl to the most upscale steakhouse in the bustling downtown district.
"Huh?"
The girl froze in front of the building, staring up at the sign. Once inside, her eyes widened even more. Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead, the interior screamed luxury, and in the open kitchen, chefs sizzled premium cuts on the grill. It was a spot even the elite raved about. The girl seemed totally out of her element, fidgeting and glancing around nervously. Places like this were pricey enough that regular folks rarely set foot inside—but she acted like she'd never even seen a restaurant like it.
Once seated, the girl hesitantly spoke up.
"Um, eating at a place this fancy feels a bit..."
Her eyes wavered, filled with wariness. The look of someone unused to kindness without strings attached.
Kang Tae-woo bowed his head quickly.
"Not at all. You've done me a massive favor."
He spoke with utter sincerity.
"Thank you for saving the young miss. You did something incredible. So please, let me treat you to a nice meal. For my own pride, if nothing else."
"Ah."
Only then did the girl let out a small sigh of relief, her tension easing. Watching her relax, Kang Tae-woo cautiously broached the main topic.
"And... I have a personal question, if you don't mind."
Was his hunch just a mistake? At his words, the girl's shoulders twitched and stiffened visibly.
Kang Tae-woo hesitated a moment before asking.
"I heard you talk to yourself quite a bit."
It was something the young miss had mentioned yesterday. The girl had been muttering to thin air like she was chatting with someone.
"Oh. That."
The girl made a troubled face. She glanced at the empty space beside her.
'Hmm.'
Kang Tae-woo had seen his share of hellish battlefields in his special forces days. He'd witnessed countless soldiers broken by the loss of comrades—corpses piled high, survivors haunted by the aftermath. Post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD, as it was commonly known. Talking to dead squadmates in empty air? Pretty standard symptom.
His voice grew heavy.
"Do you ever see... hallucinations, maybe?"
"Hallucinations?"
"Yes. I've known plenty of people who've dealt with similar symptoms."
His comrades who crawled back from hell. Their hollow eyes flashed through his mind.
This little girl in front of him had no doubt endured the same inferno.
"Hallucinations... kinda like that, yeah."
The girl admitted it bitterly. Just then, her gaze flicked back to the empty air.
"No, it's not just that—it's hard to explain... Ah."
She clamped her mouth shut. Apologizing to whatever invisible thing she'd labeled a hallucination, squirming awkwardly.
"As I thought."
Kang Tae-woo nodded solemnly, his expression grim. She was terrified of having her delusions denied. Treating the hallucination not as a mere trick of the mind, but as a living, breathing being. How deep must her trauma run to cling so desperately to it?
He asked carefully.
"What kind of relationship do you have with that... vision?"
The girl couldn't answer. Instead, she whispered to the air.
"Master?"
Like asking someone's opinion. Then she shook her head on her own, face shadowed with some profound backstory.
Finally, she spoke.
"Well, more like a comrade. Yeah, a comrade."
Comrade!
'Knew it.'
A battle buddy who'd fought back-to-back on the battlefield. Someone who'd taught her how to survive—and probably sacrificed themselves in her place. The guilt and loss eating away at this child. That's why she could stay calm amid a sea of blood. Her heart had died on that hellish field long ago. Now she just dragged her unbroken body through life, haunted by her dead comrade's ghost.
Kang Tae-woo's vision blurred. From the eyes of the iron-willed giant poured thick teardrops.
'Whoa, is he... a little messed up in the head or something?'
I tilted my head, watching Kang Tae-woo sob openly.
"Um..."
I thought it over again.
'Like, why the tears all of a sudden?'
No matter how I racked my brain, there was no reason for him to bawl like this. Was he just super sensitive?
"Hey, um."
Awkward. Felt like I had to say something.
I cleared my throat lightly and got to the point.
"Anyway, you said something about the ID..."
Wasn't that the whole reason for this meal?
At my words, Kang Tae-woo blew his nose and nodded.
"Ah, of course. Excuse me for a moment."
He straightened his clothes and sat up properly. But the way he looked at me had changed—warmer now. I appreciated the kindness, but honestly, it was getting a bit overwhelming.
Kang Tae-woo pulled an envelope from his inner pocket.
"I was hoping you'd pick a name yourself."
"A name?"
"Yes. The young miss said it'd be best if you chose it personally. Here's the list."
Name Options
[Hwang Geun-chul]
[Kwae Heung-tae]
[Beon Hang-gae]
A neatly printed sheet of paper. Oh, right—he meant the name for my new identity. Yeah, better than some random person picking it.
"Hmm."
I scanned the list and turned to Kang Tae-woo.
"Can I just pick whatever I want?"
"I'm sorry. Administrative procedures make it tough to freestyle a name. This is... well. Ahem. Given the circumstances."
He glanced around as he spoke.
'Guess not.'
Makes sense—we were illegally whipping up a whole fake identity here. Some restrictions were par for the course.
Looks like I'd have to choose from the list.
"How about this one?"
That's when Heukryeon, standing beside me, pointed to a name on the paper.
"The characters radiate intense spirit. It's got the bold, rugged aura of a fierce warrior."
A name praised by the martial spirit of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. I sighed deeply.
"Hwang Geun-chul is a bit much..."
It did scream unapproachable badass energy. But a pre-teen girl walking around with that? I'd never show my face in public.
I ignored Heukryeon's nonsense and skimmed the rest.
'Ugh.'
Even for a fake ID, these names looked like they didn't exist in the real world. What kinda backstory forces someone to crank out garbage like this?
'Better hunt for something normal.'
Filtering out the murder-y ones left slim pickings.
"Oh?"
Tucked away at the bottom corner was one plain, ordinary name that caught my eye.
"Ah, this one's good."
I pointed to it with my finger. Honestly, nothing else was viable. For any shot at normal society, this was it.
"Kim Cheon-ah. I'll go with this."