episode_0054

I came to a large mart with my family to shop.

Since I consume a lot of food at home, I was thinking of buying a large quantity of groceries at once.

Choco-hyung is waiting at home.

At first I was very angry.

He said he would wait quietly on the condition that I buy him some beef jerky when he comes.

So I was driving two carts around the mart and filling them with items.

Mainly ingredients to replenish Dad’s energy.

[Look at your father! He’s really going to die.]

‘I’m really worried. I’ll get thinner if I don’t get pregnant.’

[What the heck, that thin arm! It’s just skin and bones! It can barely stand!]

I started counting the numerous items.

At that moment, a hand was suddenly extended to me.

The source was my mom.

“Give it to me.”

“What?”

“Your card.”

“No, why are you using my money?”

There is no other robber who tries to rob you as soon as he arrives.

however.

“CD exposes.”

“Here you go, Mother.”

I gave in right away.

The money in my account started decreasing in real time through the mobile banking app.

The remaining money disappeared in an instant.

[Everything is gone.]

‘There’s nothing I can do. It’s not good to be too obsessed with money.’

And he moved the calculated items while struggling.

Of course, me alone.

I couldn’t bring myself to ask my dad to do it, and my mom was already sitting in the driver’s seat.

As it happened, my mother rolled down the window and was looking outside.

I quickly tried to rebel a little.

“No, I paid with my own money, so please help me.”

“Stop talking nonsense and just move.”

Normally, my mom would have moved it, but she made me do it because I came.

I couldn’t help but get angry and kept protesting.

“Are you really unscrupulous? Why are you extorting labor instead of just money?”

“Mom, don’t talk nonsense and move quickly.”

“……First of all, my mom is my mom.”

“Oh, right.”

It was so heartbreaking.

I really wanted to meet Mamang.

‘Yuzu Maman. Alice Maman. Kotkoro Maman. I miss you.’

[Just fucking fuck. Please hold your breath and look for me.]

Then, I see a little boy in the distance.

Judging from the way he was lying on the floor crying, he seemed to be throwing quite a tantrum.

As I was moving the last of my luggage, my mother happened to see the little boy.

And my mother smiled broadly and said to me,

“Do you remember my son? I brought you here, crying and throwing a tantrum at the mart.”

A preemptive strike out of nowhere.

Can’t be helped.

“Yes, ma’am. Of course I remember.”

As soon as she finished saying that, my mom stepped hard on the accelerator and left the supermarket.

I tried to keep up somehow, but it was difficult to catch up with her driving skills, which had been honed through many years of experience as a housewife.

In the end, all I can do is walk home from the distant supermarket.

[Why on earth! Are you counterattacking that!]

‘Don’t avoid a fight that comes your way. That’s the top.’

Then I remembered the beef jerky I promised Chocohyung, so I turned around and bought it.

Choco-hyung greets me as soon as I get home.

We threw our fists and paws at each other.

[This guy is the main character…]

‘It’s okay. It’s better than a lot of hateful protagonists.’

I took Choco, who was in a good mood, for a walk.

***

“So what did you say, you idiot?”

“I hit the electric pole.”

This is the police station now.

There, Hyeji came to see me.

As expected, my parents didn’t come.

Contact with Mr. Kang Hyuk has been cut off.

The benefit came naturally through the method of elimination.

Hyeji grabbed me by the collar and started yelling at me.

Today, Hyeji’s words are especially sharp.

“What the heck! Why! While I was walking my dog, he crashed into a telephone pole!!”

I ended up at the police station due to a minor accident while out for a walk with Choco.

I unconsciously spoke politely to Hyeji, who was glaring at me fiercely.

“I was so excited that I ran and hit my head on a telephone pole.”

“Fuck, seriously.”

Hyeji grabs me by the collar and holds my head.

I guess he thought it was pretty absurd.

“And what? The puppy stayed by your side while you were passed out!!”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Are you crazy??? Why did you two switch intelligence!!!”

“First of all, since you’re the older brother, it’s natural for you to protect your younger brother.”

“아니, 도대체 왜 개새끼가 형이냐고!!!!!!”

Hyeji protested strongly, saying that it was even stranger that Choco was her older brother.

‘Oh, Hyeji doesn’t know that I’m sworn brothers with Choco.’

[……I really have no idea where to start pointing this out.]

So I gave a brief explanation for Hyeji.

They say that they became sworn brothers through drinking and having honest conversations.

Hyeji, who had heard my story, began to laugh.

A half-mad laugh.

“Ha….ha….ha….Fuck. How did I end up like this…”

Then Hyeji, who came to her senses again, asks me a question.

Why on earth are you at the police station?

“If you’re hurt, you should go to the hospital. Why did you come to the police station?”

“They say there was a power outage in the area because I hit my head. I’m being identified as a suspect.”

Hyeji grabs me by the collar again.

I find myself feeling intimidated by his even more furious appearance than before.

“Why is my head fine and the electric pole is shaking!!!!!!”

“….That’s right.”

[I think it would be more convincing to say that the telephone pole hit you.]

‘I should have said that.’

Then, Choco-hyung, who was next to her, started to stop Hyeji.

Hyeji asked me to explain, as if she didn’t understand what Chocohyung was saying.

“….I said this just in case…Shinwoo, what are you saying?”

“Don’t tease my little brother too much.”

“….Fuck…I’m going crazy.”

“There’s no one better than you.”

However, as this was the first time such a case had occurred, it was being discussed even within the police station.

The fact that there was no intention. And the fact that I am still a normal person in computer terms.

Moreover, the fact that a civilian caused a power outage simply by kicking someone.

These three things are causing the police quite a bit of trouble right now.

With a half-confident look on his face as if he were to report something and get criticized.

Eventually, the incident was quietly buried.

‘At times like this, it’s better to be incompetent.’

[Okay. But when does your registration end?]

‘I wonder if it won’t register until this piece is finished?’

The blackout ended with some bitter criticism.

That was fortunate.

“The walk was a waste.”

“Shinwoo, please just go home.”

“Okay. Anyway, thanks for today. See you next time.”

Anyway, at that moment when I was about to go home.

Suddenly Hyeji grabbed me.

“…Shinwoo, do you have time next week?”

“I have no friends, so I have nowhere to go.”

“Not bad.”

Hyeji looks somehow in a good mood.

Hyeji immediately makes me a suggestion.

“Then do you want to come over to my house next week?”

“Okay, I understand. Send me the address later.”

Hyeji, who heard what I said, grabbed my arm tightly.

A strong expression of intent, as if to say, “You must come.”

“You have to come alone!!! Got it!!!”

“…Okay, so can you let go of my arm? I feel like I’m going to get another joint.”

Luckily, Hyeji let go of my arm before my second elbow developed.

Even during the breakup, he repeatedly asked her to come alone.

I felt like if I didn’t go, something big would happen.

[You? Are you really going?]

‘Yeah, well. But since it’s someone else’s house, should I buy them a gift?’

At that moment, Peace expressed his bewilderment.

[…..What? What did you say?]

‘No, why is that? That’s basic.’

[You’re finally thinking a little like a human being… I’m so touched.]

‘……Peace, have I been too lax lately?’

It was Peace who cried out urgently that he was sorry, but it was already too late.

First of all, return safely with Choco-hyung.

And after a long time, I accessed the Mystic Gallery.

Because it was HAL’s time to work.

That night.

In my room there is one voice.

Two voices screamed in my head.

***

The day I promised with Hyeji.

‘Is this…is this correct?’

[That’s true, but… I never thought of that.]

Now I was really confused.

After purchasing a box of vitamin drinks from the pharmacy as a gift, I went to the address that Hyeji had sent me.

Up to this point there were no problems.

I bought a gift and the address that Hyeji sent me was normal.

However, after I arrived, what came into my sight was.

‘Fuck. Isn’t this the kind of thing where a commoner kid gets mocked at the entrance for coming in?’

[This body is also uncomfortable in places like this.]

It was a luxury apartment complex that didn’t feel realistic at all.

A place that doesn’t suit me at all.

I’m starting to worry whether my current appearance will qualify me to enter the apartment.

[No matter what, can’t you just go in?]

‘There is a minimum qualification required to enter that place.’

For example, Starbucks.

Going to Starbucks but they don’t have the new iPhone or MacBook?

It is impossible to enter, let alone order.

My apartment right now isn’t a bad one either.

The apartment in front of you now is of a different class.

Before I knew it, the thought of running away was slowly creeping into my head.

‘……Should I go?’

[…This time, I agree with you.]

If you keep hanging around, you’ll just get reported.

The moment when you try to run away quickly.

Hyeji suddenly appeared and greeted me.

“Shinwoo, are you here? Let’s go.”

“…Yeah.”

“Where does it hurt?”

Hyeji, conscious of my poor expression, looks at me with concern.

“I can’t get used to this kind of luxury apartment. I want to run away.”

“People live the same everywhere. Let’s go quickly.”

Eventually, I followed Hyeji into the apartment complex.

Still, people passing by didn’t glance at me.

That was fortunate.

“Still, I’m glad it’s different from what I thought.”

“…Shinwoo? What were you thinking that made you say it was fortunate?”

Hyeji tilts her head.

I opened my mouth, still trembling with fear that had not completely gone away.

“I was worried that I would have to show off my skills in front of people since I’m a commoner here.”

[It was scary.]

‘That’s what I’m saying.’

Hyeji listened to me and answered.

Instead of words, he delivers two powerful punches to the side.

For a moment, I was speechless and could barely breathe.

Hyeji dragged me, who was incapacitated by CC, to her house.

This time people glanced at me as they passed by.

Anyway, I got on the elevator, led by Hyeji’s hand.

Hyeji’s house is on the top floor.

Even though it was a fast elevator, it was so high up that it felt like it took a while.

‘Isn’t the top floor not well heated?’

[Why the fuck are you worrying about that in a fancy apartment like this!]

‘It could be a rooftop room.’

But I was wrong.

The moment I got off the elevator and entered Hyeji’s house.

A completely different scenery unfolded from my home.

‘Oh my god, shit. It’s a penthouse. This must be possible because Hyejin’s dad is a Samsung man, right?’

[It won’t be possible just by earning a lot of money. It’ll be possible only if the money rots away like crazy.]

At that moment, a man came into view.

They keep watering the plants, as if they don’t know we’re here yet.

It was a face that seemed vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t remember exactly.

“I’m back.”

“…Hello.”

Then I remembered where I had seen the man’s face.

The man who was sitting in the driver’s seat when Hyeji got in the car.

He spoke quietly enough for Hyeji to hear.

“Hey, Hyeji. Are you going to invite the driver to your house and have him grow plants?”

“What????? What the hell are you talking about?”

“No, isn’t that the driver who drove the car back then?”

“Are you crazy? No!”

Just then, the man started to look at us.

Black hair. Deep wrinkles around the eyes.

Golden eyes that don’t match her black hair at all.

A fairly tall man. A very well-trained body for his age.

He didn’t seem like an ordinary person.

In particular, the light emanating from the eyes was so sharp and fierce that it felt like a weapon.

At that moment, Hyeji opened her mouth.

“Dad. I’m here.”

“Yeah, that’s the guy next to me from last time.”

‘……It was Dad.’

[There is nothing similar except the eyes.]

Anyway, I quickly greeted him since I knew he was Hyejin’s father.

“Yes, hello. My name is Kim Shin-woo.”

“Yeah.”

“It’s a small but simple housewarming gift.”

“Yeah.”

Hyejin’s father only gives short answers to my questions.

It was quite burdensome to keep looking at it with such unpleasant eyes.

‘Why does Samsung look like he’s going to kill me?’

[Are you a gongdol? Looking at your eyes, they seem to be filled with people.]

‘I guess he’s in charge of alien torture.’

Hyeji said she would go into her room for a moment.

Then there were only two people in the living room.

Me. And Hyejin’s father.

“Sit down.”

“Yep.”

I sat down as Hyejin’s father said.

As I sat down, Hyejin’s father naturally sat across from me.

But it was a situation where we were facing each other.

There was only silence.

I didn’t know what to say, even though I didn’t know what the other person was thinking.

‘It’s a bit awkward.’

[That’s right.]

A very uncomfortable situation.

Somehow, it felt like my whole body was being pricked.

But the silence didn’t last long.

Because Hyejin’s father finally opened his mouth.

“Nice to meet you, Shinwoo. You are Hyeji’s father.”

“Yes, nice to meet you.”

“Let me introduce myself briefly first.”

“Please.”

“His name is Baekhong Kim. He is 50 years old.”

At that moment, I noticed some incongruous decorations in the living room background.

Although the letters were not visible, there were several nameplates and decorations that looked like medals.

It was like a medal given to a soldier.

‘……decoration?’

[Why are you doing that?]

At that moment, various keywords began to come to mind.

Kim Hye-ji. In order to implement weapons, you need to have access to numerous weapons.

An environment where you can create and produce blueprints. Excessive training that has continued since childhood.

Hyeji’s skilled swordsmanship and shooting skills. Hyeji’s father’s intense gaze.

Numerous medals.

The moment when each keyword is about to be combined.

Kim Baek-hong’s words became the final composition of the combination.

“My job is just a small job at the Ministry of National Defense.”

A combination of keywords that is completed with it.

One fact that came to light at the same time.

‘Hey, shit. My dad said Samsung, but it wasn’t Samsung (S), it was Samsung (3 stars).’

[…He was a very tall person.]

‘Your friend’s dad is a general? Why is he suddenly so uncomfortable?’

Lieutenant General Kim Baek-hong of the Ministry of National Defense.

It was Hyejin’s first meeting with her father.