Chapter 53: If it’s a fight, then there’s only one way! (3)
“And just what is he doing...?” (mom)
Park Seon-Duk looked at her son with quizzical eyes. Now normally, he’d be busy pounding on the keyboard as if he was kneading bread dough, while playing that ga of his. But, he was actually studying the contents of a website with a serious face.
She checked to see if he was reading a webnovel, but that wasn’t the case, either. After all, her son already had this fixed posture when reading those novels – his torso leaning back, his legs perched on top of the desk, and snacks busy disappearing down his gullet...
“Ji-Hyuk-ah, it’s already four in the morning. Why don’t you catch so sleep first?” (mom)
“Okay, mom. After I finish checking this one thing first.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“What are you looking at right now?” (mom)
Yi Ji-Hyuk smirked slightly.
“Just, you know, this and that.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Seeing her son acting like this, Park Seon-Duk was overco with anxiety. She certainly didn’t feel assured, seeing that sowhat insidious expression of his.
“Didn’t you say you’d et up with those people tomorrow?” (mom)
“Yep.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“You sure you can handle yourself well?” (mom)
“Mom, I’m dealing with those guys, so there’s no need to fret, really. They are just a couple of dumba*ses, after all.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“But, still....” (mom)
After a brief hesitation, mom finally spat out what was on her mind.
“I’m still unconvinced whether this is the right thing or not, son.” (mom)
“What thing?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“Do you really need to work in a dangerous place like that? I can’t stop worrying about you getting hurt out there....” (mom)
Yi Ji-Hyuk’s lips twitched slightly while he looked at mom’s anxious expression.
How should he explain this...
“Mm.... Mom?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“Yes, son?” (mom)
“You don’t have to worry. Even if I start working for them, there won’t be any... losses for us, you see.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Well, the only ones suffering losses would be them, actually. Because, he was planning to drag as many Gates their way...
If he attempted to solo all those Gates by himself, he’d not have enough ti to rest, let alone get a good night’s sleep. However, by surrounding himself with a number of capable ability users, the burden on Yi Ji-Hyuk would be decreased quite significantly.
Of course, those folks at the KSF wouldn’t know what hit them, in the anti.
‘I’m sure they would eventually figure out sothing’s wrong, when so many Gates start appearing near them as soon as I join their little group...’ (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
If they already had thought of this, yet still wanted to get Yi Ji-Hyuk by their side, then that could only an there was a bigger picture they were aiming for, but... for now, that didn’t matter to him.
‘You see, I may have fooled around every now and then, but hell, I’ve never led a foolish life until now.’ (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“But, why wouldn’t there be losses for us?” (mom)
“Mom, really. I’m telling you, there won’t be. Please rest easy.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“Hmm...” (mom)
Mom sighed out as if she was still unconvinced.
“It’s alright, mom. You had to go through so much already. So, let treat you right from now on. That’s my duty as a son, right?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“....But, your mom didn’t go through all that much.” (mom)
“Ohh.... You’re probably right.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
He was mistaken, sowhat. Now that he quickly thought about it, mom and the family had been living quite nicely until.... Until he ca back, and everything seed to go down the drain afterwards.
Dad even got fired from work, and almost got killed. Even though he tried to sound reassured, saying that it’s all good now his son had brought ho a lot of dough, he must’ve accumulated a lot of stress in the last couple of weeks.
Feeling the slight pangs of guilt, Yi Ji-Hyuk got up from the seat and began massaging mom’s shoulders.
“Mom~.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“You are being creepy, so let go.” (mom)
“...Okay.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
She didn’t even need three seconds to completely deflate Yi Ji-Hyuk. He opened his mouth while looking like a sullen kid.
“There’s nothing to worry about, mom. For real.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“Well, truth be told, I’m still confused about this whole thing. I an, we need to move house out of the blue, and also, I have to sell the restaurant, too. I can’t wrap my head around it all.” (mom)
“I’m going to make lots of money from now on, so you don’t have to work in a restaurant, you know.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“Doesn’t an a person with a healthy body should do nothing and stay at ho, son.” (mom)
“But, mom. You do chores around the house, so that should be enough. Right?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“That’s nothing much, my boy...” (mom)
Mom shook her head as if that was nothing to sweat over.
‘But, it is sothing, though.’ (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
He had already spent several hundreds of years cooking for himself, or for so unfortunate others. That was why Yi Ji-Hyuk knew oh-so well how botherso and annoying ‘doing the chores’ around the house could be.
“Mom, a person can’t continue living while doing only the things he or she wants to do all the ti. We are supposed to adapt and change with the tis, you see.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
He was telling from the experience gleaned from the long life he had went through.
“My son, you’ve grown up a little, haven’t you? Saying sothing like that to your mother and all.” (mom)
Of course, he had grown up a lot, that’s for sure. Since, you know, he was over a thousand years old and stuff...
Actually, he didn’t know exactly how old he was. All he could vaguely rember was that a thousand-plus years did pass while he was stuck on that side.
Good thing, then, that his mories were frozen still. Otherwise, his brain might have lted by now! Or, he could’ve even suffered a psychosis.
Well, there was no way a human’s brain could store a thousand year’s worth of mories, after all.
“Don’t worry, mom. I’ll take care of this. Trust .” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“Mm. I trust you, son.” (mom)
“Thanks, mom.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Park Seon-Duk patted Yi Ji-Hyuk’s head.
“By the way, what have you been staring on the computer until now?” (mom)
“What, this?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk grinned slyly.
“This... well, basically, this is the thod on how not to look like a fool.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“Huh?”
Unable to understand the aning behind his words, Park Seon-Duk’s head tilted slightly.
*
And in the following morning...
For the first ti in, like, forever, Yi Ji-Hyuk opened the door to his wardrobe.
“Huh.....”
Looked like he needed to buy so new duds. Besides the ones bought at the departnt store not too long ago, there was nothing decent to wear.
“Should I buy sothing while on my way?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“Here, wear these.” (mom)
“Mm?”
Hearing mom’s voice coming from behind, Yi Ji-Hyuk turned around to look. Park Seon-Duk was standing there with clothes in her hands.
“Hul... Mom, what are those!!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“I bought these just in case, since we suddenly began having visitors lately. I figured you wouldn’t want to go shopping with again, so I went ahead and bought them” (mom)
Mom, you’re the best. Thanks.
However....
How did you find out my sizes? (Yi Ji-Hyuk’s inner monologue)
Yi Ji-Hyuk received the business suit with a face full of questions. As a high schooler, he did buy a suit, but there was no way he’d willingly wear that now.
‘What was I even thinking while walking around wearing that?!’ (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
He must’ve lost his mind really badly back then.
Yi Ji-Hyuk swapped out his clothes and stepped outside his room.
“A simple change of clothes changes the perception of a person, doesn’t it?” (mom)
“I look good, don’t I?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“You’re my son, but even I....” (mom)
Yi Ji-Hyuk’s expression crumpled unsightly, and he left the apartnt while grumbling out.
“I’m going now.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“Be careful, son.” (mom)
Left alone at ho, a long sigh leaked out of Park Seon-Duk’s mouth.
*
“Hmm, hmm.”
Yi Ji-Hyuk smoothed out his suit against the reflection of the elevator’s mirror, and smirked slightly. Kitted out in this semi-casual suit, he looked like a new person who was worth a million bucks.
“Well, I was pretty popular back in Berafe, too.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
The only problem with that... Well, I was popular with weird-a*s individuals, wasn’t I. Most of them weren’t even humans, and those who were, they were all insane, too...
Yi Ji-Hyuk shuddered from the unpleasant recollection.
If he were to recall so of the worst mories from his stay in Berafe, those would have been the first one to pop into his head. Just how badly did he suffer because of those insane b*stards?!
Exiting the elevator without thinking too much, he was about to take another step, before he ca to a sudden halt. He then looked around the foyer of the building.
“There’s no way, right?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Definitely, no ways...
She... wouldn’t, would she?
Eiii....
No ways. She’s a human, after all.... (Yi Ji-Hyuk’s inner monologue)
“Excuse ....”
Flinching noticeably, Yi Ji-Hyuk quickly turned around.
....And, he spotted a rather familiar blondie acting all shy and the like, half of her body hidden behind a pillar.
“You?! You!! Why are you here?! Why?!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
PLEASE STOP IT!!
You ain’t even so dang fairy living in a building’s foyer, you know!! (Yi Ji-Hyuk’s exasperated inner monologue/screaming)
“Please, here....” (Kim Dah-Som)
“Eh?”
Yi Ji-Hyuk dazedly received the gift Kim Dah-Som ekly handed over to him.
‘A scarf?’ (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“I thought you’d look good in one...” (Kim Dah-Som)
“Uh, sure.”
After making his awkward reply, Yi Ji-Hyuk asked her out of curiosity.
“Why aren’t you at school today?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“The school’s on a break....” (Kim Dah-Som)
“Oh, really? Yeah, sure....” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
But, of course. There was that huge chaos a couple of days ago, after all.
“Okay, fine. But what are you doing here so early in the morning?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“I wanted to give you this scarf as soon as possible. Well, then....” (Kim Dah-Som)
Kim Dah-Som bade her farewell by lowering her head, and trotted away.
“Hmm....”
Yi Ji-Hyuk stared at the scarf with bothered eyes, before taking another look at his own suit.
And then.... he shuddered again.
This is so weird.
Why do I get the feeling that she matched the colour so perfectly?!
Seriously, anyone would be able to tell this scarf was ant for this suit!!
How the heck did she foresee that I’d wear this suit today?!
Hell, even I learned of its existence only a few minutes ago! (Yi Ji-Hyuk’s inner monologue)
“.....No, it must be a.... coincidence....” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Ha.
Hahaha....
*
Seo Ah-Young seed anxious as she took another look at the ti.
“It’s only been 30 minutes, ma’am.” (Choi Jung-Hoon)
“He’s late by 30 minutes.” (Seo Ah-Young)
“You weren’t seriously thinking that he would actually arrive here on ti, were you?” (Choi Jung-Hoon)
“Well, that, I wasn’t, but...” (Seo Ah-Young)
Still, wasn’t this matter incredibly important? He should at least try to arrive at the promised ti!
Feeling sick with anxiety, Seo Ah-Young began desperately sucking in the Iced Aricano with a straw. It was then, Yi Ji-Hyuk entered the coffee shop.
“Hmm?” (Seo Ah-Young)
“Ho-oh?” (Choi Jung-Hoon)
Seeing him wear a clean-cut suit like that, when they were so used to seeing him wear those worn-out blue tracksuit and a pair of wonky slippers, Seo Ah-Young and Choi Jung-Hoon found it very... odd.
It was as if they finally had encountered... a normal version of him.
‘We shouldn’t lower our guards.’ (Choi Jung-Hoon)
No matter how nicely dressed he was, the actual article was the sa thing as before. The man they were going to deal with from now on was the world’s foremost wackjob, so they couldn’t be caught with their pants down.
“Huh. You guys ca early, eh.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Early?
Of course, they were indeed early, compared to Yi Ji-Hyuk.
The thing was, they had arrived at the cafe 30 minutes before the appointed ti. So, basically, they had been waiting for one hour straight...
“....And you aren’t that late...” (Seo Ah-Young)
Seo Ah-Young did her best to suppress the rising tide of anger and ford a fake smile. anwhile, Choi Jung-Hoon got up from his seat, and pulled a chair out for Yi Ji-Hyuk.
“What would you like to drink?” (Choi Jung-Hoon)
“Hmm, what was it again? Fraf? I think it’s a slush, a smoothie, sothing.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“I’ll order an appropriate drink for you.” (Choi Jung-Hoon)
Choi Jung-Hoon raised his head, and an agent of the KSF waiting to take orders quickly approached him and... took the order for the drink.
Hoh? It’s pretty convenient, isn’t it? (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk nodded his head in satisfaction, after rembering the usefulness of one’s high social standing once more.
He rembered that, in the past, he’d order his lackeys around with a flick of a hand, which would result in the said lackeys excavating rare permafrost from the other side of the continent for his enjoynt...
Why would he do that? Well, he found freezing stuff with magic was just too annoying, that was why.
As soon as Yi Ji-Hyuk’s drink arrived, Choi Jung-Hoon began the conversation in earnest.
“Should we take your appearance here today, as your willingness to work together with us?” (Choi Jung-Hoon)
Choi Jung-Hoon’s intense stare was trying to pressure Yi Ji-Hyuk.
“Mm....”
Yi Ji-Hyuk slowly nodded his head.
“Yep.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“As I thought!” (Choi Jung-Hoon)
Choi Jung-Hoon clenched his fists tightly under the table.
He did it!!
He caught the target!!
He had finally caught this irritatingly alluring big fish that teasingly waved those juicy fins at him all this ti!!
Choi Jung-Hoon found it increasingly hard to suppress a victorious smile from breaking out. He knew very well that smiling too brightly right now would prove to be disastrous.
“You’ve made the right decision. I can guarantee that this decision is the best possible one you could’ve made.” (Choi Jung-Hoon)
“Mm. We’ll have to wait and see about that.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“I’ll make sure that’s the case.” (Choi Jung-Hoon)
“However....” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Suddenly, Yi Ji-Hyuk leaned his head in a strange manner.
“Actually, there’s sothing I’m worried about.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“Regarding?” (Choi Jung-Hoon)
“How should I put this delicately... You know, that old saying? Entering a toilet and exiting afterwards makes you a different person?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“.........?”
“You know, when a newbie private enters the army, the instructors would broadcast how well they will treat the precious son to the parents... And as soon as they go around the corner, out of earshot from everyone, they start hurling all sorts of abuse? That kind of situation. Get my drift?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“.....Eiii~. We wouldn’t dare to do that.” (Choi Jung-Hoon)
“...Well, I don’t think so, especially after I saw how other people addressed a certain soone in this cafe.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Choi Jung-Hoon silently glared at the certain soone in this cafe.
And she hurriedly avoided his sharp, criticising glare.
“Well, that, uhm.... Mm....” (Choi Jung-Hoon)
Unable to co up with a suitable, plausible excuse, Choi Jung-Hoon ended up glaring at Seo Ah-Young once more.
Seo Ah-Young continued to avoid him and instead, ordered another drink.
‘She’s completely useless!’ (Choi Jung-Hoon)
That was why he always told her to curb that fiery temper of hers!!
In any case, he needed to control this situation, fast.
“I give you my word no such situations will occur to you. Actually, I think you’re under the mistaken assumption, as well.” (Choi Jung-Hoon)
“I’m sure that’s the case. But, still. I’m a living, breathing person, so I can’t help but be anxious.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“Please, believe in .” (Choi Jung-Hoon)
“Believing in you... That’s a nice notion. But, unfortunately, there’s nothing more empty and ti wasting than ‘believing’ in soone, you see.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk was talking from experience once more.
He had witnessed countless number of people getting killed in the most unexpected ways after they trusted and believed in the others. Hell, just the line ford from every one of those suckers standing in a row would be long enough to circle around a mid-sized city.
“Mm. Okay. So, how will you...?” (Choi Jung-Hoon)
Yi Ji-Hyuk smirked slyly.
“I wish we could resolve this with nothing but words and promises, but well, life isn’t kind enough for that. So, it’s better to make sure, don’t you agree?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“Making sure, how?” (Choi Jung-Hoon)
“As I was saying.... Like this.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk pulled out several docunts from a bag he was carrying.
“And these are?” (Choi Jung-Hoon)
“Taking our sincere words and hearts, and converting them into texts that would exist in perpetuity; sothing we can share among us. These are the culmination of humanity’s desire to make sure that promises are kept.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“Eh?”
Taking a quick look at the docunts Yi Ji-Hyuk pushed forward, Choi Jung-Hoon’s eyes began trembling.
“These, could these be...?” (Choi Jung-Hoon)
“Yep.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk smiled brightly.
“It’s a labour contract.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
“........”
Choi Jung-Hoon’s expression crumpled almost instantly.
< 53. If it’s a fight, then there’s only one way! -3 > Fin.
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