Ch.140Run Away! – 2

“We’ve already taken care of all the discharge procedures. You can go home right away. You’ve been through a lot.”

That’s what the man in the suit who was in charge of security had said.

I’ve been in and out of hospitals so much that everything runs smoothly now.

Even the government is trying to accommodate me as much as possible.

“How about getting your rank measured again? No matter how I look at it, this…”

Meanwhile, they were clearly hoping I would be S-rank.

In this world, the number of S-rank superpower users represents national strength.

The government must be panicking after losing two of their top forces.

And then I showed up, fighting on equal terms with those two traitorous S-ranks.

Naturally, they want to advertise that they’ve gained an even more impressive superpower user than Sujin Hyun or Hyuk Kwak.

But I declined, saying the results would be the same even if I got measured again.

‘Being S-rank comes with too many hassles.’

I don’t need to look far for examples—Jiyoon Han and Rina Lee are perfect cases.

Even the kind-hearted Jiyoon Han has been caught muttering curses when overwhelmed with work.

She’s already swamped as an Academy professor and clan master.

On top of that, S-ranks have to be on emergency standby and provide support whenever something happens.

And after the Elders’ surprise attack on England, she’s even doing VIP protection.

It’s fortunate that Jiyoon’s personality doesn’t have many rough edges.

If her pride was excessive like the Elders… well, she would have gone Elder herself.

‘And as for Rina…’

It’s actually quite strange that Rina never became an Elder.

Her pride is enormous, and she doesn’t particularly want to integrate into society.

The other S-ranks want to live among people as people.

They endure and persevere, quietly doing their duties for that reason.

Rina, on the other hand, could be described as someone who doesn’t have any particular attachments.

So I wondered why she continued to remain a superpower user.

But from yesterday until today as I prepared to leave the hospital,

I finally understood why Rina never became an Elder.

“Give it to me. Let mom carry it.”

“I’m fine! I can do it myself, so please go downstairs.”

At first glance, it looks like a child’s tantrum about not touching their belongings.

But subtly, her concern for her parents was faintly visible.

My goodness. Who would have thought that Rina was trying to be a filial daughter in her own way?

I wonder what people would say if they knew this fact.

‘Perhaps they’d tell her to cause fewer incidents as her parents ask?’

It’s quite peculiar. She seems to care about her parents like this.

Yet at other times, she stubbornly refuses to listen to them and causes incidents.

I can’t tell if she’s genuinely filial or some kind of chaotic filial daughter.

“Excuse me.”

Someone pokes my arm repeatedly.

When I turn my head slightly, I see Rina’s father standing there.

“Come to think of it, we haven’t properly introduced ourselves.”

“Ah… yes. That’s right. I’m Seojin Baek.”

“I’m Chang Lee.”

Chang? Chang?? Excuse me, is there perhaps another word in the middle or at the end?

I’m not childish enough to make fun of someone’s name, but still…

“Ah. My name sounds a bit strange, doesn’t it?”

Did I fail to manage my expression again? He noticed immediately.

Or perhaps mind-reading is a hereditary trait in their family.

“My original name was Spears, but when I used that directly as a name, I ended up with Chang Lee.”

So that’s the story. Now I understand.

Spears. Chang. Well, it’s still a bit strange.

“By the way, my wife’s name is Yeonju Park. Her original name was Harper. Oh, was that TMI?”

“Not at all. Anyway, it’s nice to meet you.”

I almost naturally added “father-in-law” at the end.

If I had actually said “father-in-law,” Rina would have immediately pounced on me.

And then she would have shouted, “Did you say father-in-law? Did you?! No take-backs!”

After a light handshake, Rina’s father speaks.

“I’ve heard a lot about you from Rina. And seen a lot on the news. You’re quite remarkable.”

“You flatter me. And if we’re talking about remarkable, your daughter is far more impressive.”

“Is that so?”

Of course, I mean that in a positive way, so please don’t misunderstand.

“Um, Seojin. If you have time, would you like to have lunch together?”

“Lunch?”

It was indeed lunchtime after completing the discharge procedures.

I was planning to buy something simple to eat on my way home.

“Please don’t refuse. I heard from Rina that you jumped into that dangerous situation to help her. Thanks to you, she was able to catch an Elder without much trouble.”

Um, excuse me. She had a hole in her stomach and her left arm was blackened with poison.

How can those two injuries possibly be described as “without much trouble”?

It suddenly occurred to me that these two parents might be fighting a battle no less difficult than their daughter Rina.

Perhaps even more difficult than Rina’s battles.

Rina, you’re not being filial for nothing. Since you’re doing it anyway, do more.

“A mere meal is too small a repayment for such a great favor… but I’d still like to repay you somehow.”

So please come with us. Let’s have a meal together. He keeps urging me.

If it were someone my age, I might understand, but it’s awkward when people old enough to be my parents do this.

All I could do was laugh nervously with a “Haha!”

If Rina had been forceful about it, I would have refused immediately.

Or if they were government officials, I would have politely declined, saying it wasn’t appropriate.

But their behavior was clearly that of well-mannered middle-aged people.

And currently, I’m not a government official, just an examiner working at the Academy.

In this situation, refusing becomes a bit… no, quite difficult.

“Will you grant me this favor?”

“Yes… alright. Let’s have lunch together.”

In the end, I couldn’t refuse and nodded in agreement.

Perhaps it’s because there are not one, not two, but four VIPs moving together.

As Rina’s family and I move, black security vehicles follow in a line behind us.

Twelve A-ranks and thirty-five B-ranks—an absurdly large security detail.

No, at that level, it’s not a security detail but a legion.

It’s too many. They could sweep through most gates or monsters without rest.

Except for Elders, no villain would dare to challenge such a force.

I don’t think even the president receives this level of security.

If anyone else had such a deployment, they would immediately become the center of controversy.

Excessive security, waste of personnel who should be at gates, and so on.

But when people learn who the security is for, no one would dare complain.

Rina’s parents. Non-powered individuals. If anything happened to them, it would be the beginning of a true disaster.

Even those crazy Elders couldn’t handle Rina and didn’t reach for her parents.

But some truly insane villains might plot kidnapping or murder.

Having this many personnel as a precaution was only natural.

‘…Still, this seems a bit excessive.’

It was so excessive that the security vehicles lined up behind our car were causing unintended traffic congestion in the area.

Black sedans following a single vehicle continuously.

It’s almost like… how should I put it? Like a boss of some huge organization moving around?

“Rina, isn’t there too many following us?”

Rina’s mother seemed to share my thoughts.

She kept looking back from the passenger seat, clearly uncomfortable.

Rina immediately pulled out her phone.

“…Hey, it’s me. Pull back all security personnel. Don’t worry. I’m with my parents today. And Seojin oppa is here too. With this much firepower, it would take four Elders to handle us. You guys are just baggage, so tell everyone to go home for today. Yeah. I won’t say it twice. Bye.”

If I didn’t mishear, there was a desperate scream from the secretary on the other end of the phone.

It’s unfortunate, but there’s nothing I can do about it.

Honestly, I was also uncomfortable with so many security personnel.

“Seojin, is there anything in particular you’d like to eat?”

Rina’s father, who was driving, asks the question.

I reflexively started to say “Anything is fine” but stopped myself.

I had a sudden premonition that if I said “anything,” we might end up eating something burdensome for lunch.

“You can say anything. Don’t worry about how expensive it is…”

“Dak-galbi.”

“…Huh?”

“Dak-galbi. Let’s have that for lunch.”

It’s definitely delicious, but the portion size is a bit awkward to buy with my own money.

But I can’t forget that seasoning taste or the rice fried at the end.

So I decided on that menu for lunch without much deliberation.

“Um… Seojin? The menu is a bit…”

“You can suggest something better!”

“Of course there are better options. But right now, I’m really craving dak-galbi.”

Do you know what’s most painful about being in a hospital?

It’s that you can’t eat any spicy food at all.

I understand it’s for my health.

But usually, things that are good for you don’t taste good.

Hospital food is the worst. Just thinking about it makes me feel sick.

After that, dak-galbi with its gochujang-based sweet and salty sauce is the ultimate truth!

“Sit here.”

The parents take seats on one side after offering me a place.

And I ended up sitting on the same side as Rina.

“Order for us. I need to use the restroom quickly!”

Rina quickly disappears toward the back.

I wish she’d received a call and had to leave.

But she’s probably excluded from calls since she still needs to rest.

As I set up the utensils and side dishes with that disappointing thought,

suddenly a pale white hand taps the table in front of me.

“Seojin.”

“Yes?”

“If our daughter is threatening you, please tell us now.”

Rina’s mother says with a very worried expression.

*Nod, nod*

And her father nodding in agreement.

Their trust in Rina was practically at rock bottom.