Ch.84Episode 17. Home Visit (4)

“What’s so fast about this? I can’t understand a thing…”

As the elder muttered, Yeon Muhee had already come to stand beside her grandmother, watching the video.

She must be curious even though she was at the scene.

Well, since Muhee couldn’t react to my full-speed movements, she probably couldn’t see clearly how I fought.

I’ve watched the video several times since receiving it from the Association President, and I can understand why it’s been heating up the internet.

How many people could overwhelm Yeonhwaryong so one-sidedly like this?

At least none of the Akcheon executives I know could do this.

The “Breaking” technique that completely crushes the opponent’s will, combined with high-speed movement, thoroughly destroyed his fighting spirit.

“Is this instructor really you in the video…?”

The elder asks while staring intently at the phone, as if she can’t believe it. I nod vigorously as I answer.

“Yes.”

For reference, the video I have is playing at 0.1x speed.

Even so, the movements of myself and Yeonhwaryong in the video were still extremely fast. As if we existed in a different world.

“What in the…”

The two seemed lost in the afterglow, staring blankly at the paused video.

“This is the electric shock from the video.”

Crack!

I flicked out an electric spark. Might as well provide a proper demonstration.

“That rotten bastard, it’s satisfying to see him get beaten… But he’s not dead, is he?”

Despite her harsh words, she seems concerned about her former son-in-law.

“No. He’s very much alive. From the beginning, it was just a sparring match, so neither of us intended to kill the other.”

Of course, just watching the video, it does look like we’re fighting with killing intent.

“What speed is this playing at?”

“0.1x speed.”

“So even slowed down to a tenth, we can barely follow it with our eyes…?”

She seemed to realize once again the level she needed to surpass.

“Muhee. To surpass Yeonhwaryong, you’ll need to reach a level where I have to use my full power against you.”

I don’t think she’ll collapse just from having reality impressed upon her.

But she’ll certainly become impatient. After all, her wish is to plant her fist in his face as soon as possible.

“I’ll give this video to you, Elder.”

“Why?”

“So you can watch it whenever you feel rage building up because of Yeonhwaryong.”

This way, the elder will surely show the video to Jin Subin.

I’d prefer if she watched it today, but I can’t expect that much.

“Could I have your phone number?”

“I don’t have a mobile phone.”

That’s an unexpected variable. Does she only have a landline?

“Then I’ll send it to Muhee. She can show it to her mother or you whenever ‘necessary.'”

She’ll be coming here often from now on anyway.

By now, Jin Subin must be curious too. She’ll surely contact Muhee soon, unable to contain her curiosity.

It would be even better to hear Subin’s thoughts on the video after they naturally get in touch.

“Muhee… do you contact your mother often?”

“Well… just basic greetings.”

I thought as much.

She probably just calls occasionally to ask annoying pleasantries like “Did you sleep well?” or “Are you eating properly?” How can they improve their relationship this way?

From now on, I’ll have Muhee call her mom every day and speak at least five sentences beyond basic greetings.

“I’ll give you my number too. Please call me if anything happens. I’ll come faster than most heroes.”

“Alright.”

I neatly wrote my number in block letters on the notepad the elder provided and handed it to her.

“By the way, what was that promise you mentioned earlier with that rotten man?”

“That… he would not interfere with Muhee in any way.”

It was a one-sided promise, but I don’t think he’ll break it. If he does, I can just beat him up again.

“Not interfere in any way?”

“Literally, he agreed not to interfere with whatever Muhee does.”

“What? That’s not like him at all.”

“If he breaks his word, I’ll put him in his place again.”

Even heroes are ultimately not that different from villains in essence.

Survival of the fittest. Strength is truth.

“Muhee is my precious student. It’s only natural for an instructor to prevent his student from going down the wrong path.”

“Precious student…”

Muhee softly repeated my words, savoring them.

I’m probably the only instructor who can say this about her to Yeonhwaryong’s face. Might as well score some points by showing off a bit.

“So please stop ‘blaming yourself’ now.”

“…?”

Both Muhee and the elder looked puzzled at my sudden remark.

While Jin Subin’s fear is part of why she’s been avoiding Muhee, the biggest reason is “irresponsibly abandoning Muhee.”

She might have anthropophobia due to violence, but what’s festering in her heart is not fulfilling her duty as a parent.

But in her situation, where she can barely take care of herself, she probably thinks it’s too much to suddenly act like a parent now.

So nothing changes. And with no change, she just rots inside.

Of course, my words alone won’t stop Jin Subin from blaming herself.

Still, if I can make her think about this issue, I consider that a success.

“What do you mean by ‘blaming yourself’?”

“Who knows. Just something that came to mind.”

“I don’t think so.”

“It is.”

“It’s not.”

“…Why aren’t you speaking politely to me?”

“…Sir.”

This is quite useful.

I should use this at the academy too. I’ll threaten to tell the elder if she speaks informally at the academy.

“…With the instructor around, I don’t need to worry about Muhee.”

The elder interrupted our bickering. She was smiling while watching the video, as if relieved of a burden.

“Yes. There’s no need to worry. In about two years, Muhee will be a proper hero. So, Elder.”

“Yes?”

“Would you forgive my rudeness from now on?”

“Rudeness?”

“I won’t open that door. But may I say a few words to Muhee’s mother?”

I pointed at the old wooden door behind us.

“…To Subin? What do you want to say?”

“Just this and that. Ah, you can listen if you’d like. I’ll speak right here.”

“It’s nothing trivial, is it?”

“No.”

“Alright then.”

“Thank you for allowing me.”

I stood up and slowly approached the wooden door. I could hear rustling sounds from inside. It seemed she was listening at the door but now retreating further into the room.

“Ma’am. Are you there?”

As expected, there was no answer.

“I won’t open the door. I just want to talk. Is that possible?”

“…W-what is it?”

I took a deep breath of relief at the delayed response.

What I’m about to say will reveal that I know more than I should.

Muhee and the elder will realize I know more than just the basics of their family situation.

After this conversation, I’ll surely have to explain how I know all this.

“Do you want Muhee to be happy?”

“What?”

“I’m just asking. Do you want your daughter to be happy?”

“O-of course… I do.”

“Then when will you come out of there and face Muhee?”

“What?”

She hesitates to answer.

“I don’t know if I deserve to face her…”

“You must have done something wrong to Muhee?”

“…I did something terrible.”

I looked at Muhee upon hearing this response.

She was shaking her head vigorously. She seemed to want to say it wasn’t true at all.

“But the person herself might not think so. Has Muhee ever resented you?”

Of course not.

Since Yeonhwaryong was the cause of this situation, in Muhee’s mind, Jin Subin was always the ‘victim.’ And only perpetrators blame victims.

“That’s…”

I’m sorry, but I didn’t ask to hear the answer.

“She never did, right? That’s why she went out to meet you a few days ago, on her birthday.”

“Well, that…”

“Did you wish her a happy birthday?”

She remained silent. As I expected.

“The more you act like this, the worse the conflict between Muhee and Yeonhwaryong will become. They might even end up fighting with knives drawn against each other.”

“That can’t happen!!”

An agitated voice came from inside. I glanced back at Muhee and the elder. Both were too shocked to close their mouths, swallowing hard.

“That absolutely… can’t happen. Really…”

I hope Muhee realizes from this reaction that she’s just being stubborn.

“Right. It shouldn’t. I know you don’t want that either. So all the more reason why you can’t stay like this, isn’t it?”

“But what can I do…”

“I’m not asking for anything grand. Just facing Muhee and having a light conversation would be enough.”

“That’s impossible…”

“…I understand you’re afraid because you see Yeonhwaryong in Muhee. But please don’t misjudge her.”

No matter how persuasive I am, her condition won’t improve immediately. If it could be fixed with a few words, it would have improved long ago.

But doing nothing means nothing will change.

“Like before… How can I do that when it’s not up to me? I’m frustrated too. The more I imagine saying ‘happy birthday’ or ‘I love you’ to Muhee, the more it feels like I’m deceiving her.”

This must be guilt. She probably feels it’s shameless to have abandoned her daughter and escaped alone.

“Have you considered that Muhee might want to hear even that ‘deception’?”

“…Please stop. I don’t want to hear this.”

The voice from inside grew slightly louder.

Regrettably, it was time to back off. If Jin Subin’s emotions explode, the good impression I’ve built with the elder could become meaningless.

“I understand. But please know this. I intend to take on the responsibility you couldn’t fulfill for Muhee.”

I spoke firmly even without a response.

“Muhee will surely become a hero who surpasses Yeonhwaryong. She might even become a hero representing South Korea. When that time comes, I hope you’ll embrace and congratulate her.”

There was no response even after I finished speaking.

Still, it wasn’t without gain.

She will surely think more deeply about this than before. If she can’t make a choice this time, I can come back and stimulate her again.

Change begins with small acts of will.

“Excuse my rudeness. Just a meddling instructor overstepping his bounds.”

Though I knew she couldn’t see me through the closed door, I bowed deeply.

This isn’t for Jin Subin to see. It’s a performance for the two people behind me.

It will make things less awkward when I visit again.

Still, it’s a shame.

I wanted to hear Jin Subin’s thoughts after watching the video. That would have really driven the point home.

Of course, Muhee would probably argue that me defeating Yeonhwaryong isn’t the same as her defeating him.

“I should be going now.”

My home visit ends here.

The rest is up to Muhee.