episode_0059

… … … … …

“Hey, you two… … please stop… … .”

I barely managed to muster up the courage to open my mouth, and a trembling voice came between them.

Then, time inside the store seemed to stop. The Sky Manager and the Sun looked at me at the same time, and their eyes, expressionless to the point of being scary, stared at me.

But that was only for a moment, and the expressions of the two people almost simultaneously changed to gentle ones. First, President Sky spoke to Sun-nim in a voice that had become soft as if under a spell.

“Oh, that’s right. I’m so sorry. How rude of you to treat a guest like this.”

The sun also changed his attitude immediately.

“I was a little rude. I apologize for my rudeness.”

Although the sudden change in the two people was a bit disconcerting, I was glad that it was resolved well.

Just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, President Sky reached out his hand to Sun.

“Let me introduce myself formally. I am the owner of this store, Yoon Ha-neul.”

The sun also took that hand elegantly.

“It’s Kim Taeyang. He’s the kid’s… … friend.”

The two smiled and shook hands as if nothing had happened. It was noticeable that their knuckles had turned white as they held each other.

“Oh, really? Nice to meet you, his friend.”

“Me too. I’m glad I found this ‘cool’ store. I heard it’s the store where the little kid worked.”

“Yes. He was a valuable employee of our store. He still is. He is practically like ‘family’ to me.”

There was a strange emphasis in the Sky President’s answer. She pronounced the word ‘family’ especially strongly.

“Ahaha, that’s really good. I thought you were arguing a little while ago.”

Seeing that their quarrel was somehow resolved, I felt very fortunate to have intervened between them. I felt the tension in their tense shoulders disappear.

To me, the CEO turned her head. She gave me an offer with a bright expression.

“Oh, by the way, since it’s been a while, you should eat something before you go.”

I was a little surprised by her sudden offer, but I was happy. I was glad that I came to see the Heavenly President. It was really bad of me to pretend not to listen to such a good person’s dissuasion and to run away so cruelly.

“Really? Thank you, sir!”

The Sky Boss smiled and pointed to the stairs leading to her mansion located in the basement of the store.

“Then go down first. I will see this guest off… … and follow you.”

I nodded and pressed a hidden switch on the wall of the store, opening the door leading to the stairs.

As I went down the stairs, old memories came back to me. The surprise I felt when I first climbed these stairs and saw the underground mansion, the fun times I spent with the Sky President…

Finally, when she reached the top of the stairs, a familiar, wide space opened up. Her house was just as she remembered, still decorated with luxurious and cozy interiors.

“You’ll be here soon, right… … ?”

As I sat on the sofa and looked around, a picture frame on a small table caught my eye. When I got closer, I saw a photo of me wearing a women’s hanbok jeogori at her suggestion.

“ Mr. President, you too… … .”

As I recalled those memories, I felt so embarrassed that my face turned red, so I put the picture frame down and decided to wait for the CEO.

… … … … …

As soon as the boy went down to the basement, the atmosphere inside the store changed dramatically once again. The mask of kindness that had been maintained until just a moment ago was instantly removed.

A sneer spread across Kim Tae-yang’s face, and his golden eyes, filled with hostility, burned eerily.

“You wanted to pretend to be good until the end? You inferior mongrel.”

Her voice was full of contempt and mockery. She continued to speak, slowly looking around the store.

“That’s really funny. You hired that kid in this shabby shop? And you called him ‘family’?

It’s a disease, it’s a disease. If you see a person who doesn’t matter to you as your family, you should go to a psychiatrist. ”

Yoon Ha-neul slowly turned her head toward Kim Tae-yang. Her expression still looked calm, but her eyes were filled with murder. A sharp tension, like a blade, cut through the two women.

“What do you know to say such nonsense? About that kid, about this store, about our great relationship.”

Yoon Ha-neul clenched her fists in anger, but her voice was cold and firm. She took a moment to catch her breath and control her anger, then opened her mouth again.

“If you want to fight, do it outside. But I can’t guarantee your life?”

There was a clear threat in her words. And Kim Taeyang raised his eyebrows as if he was interested in those words.

“Wow, that’s a brave statement. It’s really funny.

Yeah. Let’s solve it outside. I’ll teach you how worthless you are. ”

Instead of answering, Yoon Ha-neul opened the door to the store and stepped out. There was no hesitation in her gait. Kim Tae-yang watched her and followed her with the corners of his mouth raised.

The two women headed to the empty lot behind the store. The empty lot was surrounded by a high wall, so that the inside could not be seen from the outside. As if it had been prepared for this kind of situation, the morning sunlight was shining down on it, which was extremely hot for autumn.

Yoon Ha-neul and Kim Tae-yang glared at each other, and a tense atmosphere hung in the air.

“I’ll give you one last chance. If you give up my little one, I won’t spare your life.”

Yoon Ha-neul laughed coldly at Kim Tae-yang’s words.

“I think you’re underestimating me. That child is my family… …my son. He’s practically one with me.”

“Ha, you crazy bitch.”

As soon as he finished speaking, without any signal, Kim Tae-yang moved first. She rushed toward Yoon Ha-neul at a speed that was almost like a shell being fired. It was a quick, elegant, and yet deadly rush.

However, Yoon Ha-neul responded quickly as if she had expected the attack. Her reaction speed was not at all inferior to Kim Tae-yang’s.

The two people who collided in an instant grabbed each other’s wrists and began to struggle. Dust rose from under their feet and the ground shook slightly.

“Huh… … !”

The first one to groan was Kim Tae-yang. Contrary to what she had expected, who was going to destroy Yoon Ha-neul in one breath, Yoon Ha-neul was not an ordinary half-human, half-beast.

A look of bewilderment crossed Kim Taeyang’s face. Her arms, which were gradually losing their strength, began to tremble slightly, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead and ran down her cheeks.

On the other hand, Yoon Ha-neul’s eyes were calm. Her muscles were taut, and the strength emanating from her grip was getting stronger and stronger. There was not a single waver in her expression.

“Is that the end?”

“Tsk!”

Kim Tae-yang suddenly turned his body and delivered a powerful roundhouse kick. Her leg struck Yoon Ha-neul’s side like lightning. The speed and force of the impact would have been enough to burst the intestines of an ordinary person and kill them instantly.

But Yoon Ha-neul didn’t budge. She stood firm as a rock, and Kim Tae-yang’s kick was nullified by Yoon Ha-neul’s solid abs.

Rather, the shock was transmitted to Kim Tae-yang’s leg, which kicked him, and she frowned.

Yoon Ha-neul, still holding on to Kim Tae-yang’s wrist, began to slowly push her forward. Kim Tae-yang resisted desperately, but her feet were pushed back little by little.

“Give up. And leave her. Forever.”

Yoon Ha-neul’s calm voice was heard. At those words, anger flashed in Kim Tae-yang’s golden eyes.

“How dare you… …how dare you ask me to give up my smart child?”

Kim Taeyang’s golden eyes suddenly flared up. A mad murderous intent flashed from her eyes, a hot heat emanated from her body, and the air around her began to distort and tremble. An energy like an explosion on the surface of the sun enveloped her body.

“You… … You… … !”

Kim Taeyang’s voice trembled with anger. A red light began to leak out of her mouth, and the light grew stronger and stronger. Yoon Ha-neul sensed extreme danger and instinctively moved her body.

The moment Yoon Ha-neul let go of Kim Tae-yang’s hand and threw her body to the side, a dazzling light burst out explosively from Kim Tae-yang’s mouth.

Although it was considerably inferior to the original since it was emitted by a human body, it was nonetheless the breath of a dragon. A ray of heat as hot and intense as lava struck the spot where Yun Ha-neul had been.

Yoon Ha-neul narrowly avoided the attack, but the wall she was hit with began to melt in an instant. The sight of the solid iron and stone wall melting like butter was eerie.

Black smoke rose from the melted wall, and the surrounding air became hot.

“Haa… … Haa… … !”

Kim Taeyang exhaled heavily and looked back at what he had done. A strong expression of displeasure appeared on her face. She had used too much force on a mere human-bear hybrid.

Yoon Ha-neul rolled on the ground, shaking off the dust that had clung to her clothes. She barely managed to avoid it, but some of her clothes were scorched and her skin was red. Her eyes were full of caution.

“As expected, you… … are dangerous. We must definitely exclude you.”