episode_0252

Beyond the door that opened without permission, a massive man entered.

‘…Is he a thug?’

That was exactly the impression I got upon seeing the brawny man in an unremarkable black suit.

He was similar in build to Sergeant Kim, whom I’d met before.

However, unlike the cheerful and somewhat clumsy Sergeant Kim, this man appeared taciturn.

The stern-looking man was pushing a wheelchair, his back bent low.

Very delicately, very carefully.

His movements were ingrained with utmost politeness, as if serving a revered superior.

An old man was seated in the wheelchair that the man was pushing.

“Let me hear it too.”

“……”

My impression upon seeing the old man, who was grinning at me, was rather subtle.

Instead of hostility or malice, a profound aura flowed from his eyes.

Not everyone who lives a long life gains such eyes.

These were the eyes of a person who had faithfully spent a long time.

He was short in height and small in stature.

His hair was faded white, to the point where it seemed like it might have been dyed.

Outwardly, he was clearly an ordinary, insignificant, shabby old man.

‘…Was there such a person here?’

He was a man who had devoured all his manners [a rude person], yet he sparked interest.

The eyes directed at me held profundity, yet they were sharp.

The wrinkles around his mouth, where a gummy smile bloomed, showed traces of a stubborn personality.

But what piqued my interest wasn’t his outward appearance.

An extraordinary presence.

His presence, on a different level from ordinary people, was extremely impressive.

He was clearly that small, diminutive, and scrawny old man.

But he felt quite large.

To the extent that it felt natural for the hulking man behind him to attend to him.

A heavy, intense aura, seemingly meant to overwhelm people, emanated from that small frame.

Through the old man’s presence, a forgotten longing stirred within me.

An aura I had only felt from high-ranking knights, mages, or true heroes.

That atmosphere I sometimes felt from the true ‘nobles’ over there.

Among those I had encountered since returning to the modern era, he was the first person to exude such an aura.

‘……’

His face was gaunt and dark, looking as if he would die soon, yet there was also a sense of vitality.

He was the type I remembered.

The type who keeps moving until their body finally gives out.

Not common, but a type I had occasionally seen.

I immediately got a sense.

He was by no means an ordinary person; he was a tenacious, stubborn individual.

The old man I met today also piqued my interest, but…

‘Why does he look familiar?? Ah.’

Sharp eyes and an unnecessarily high nose bridge.

He looked exactly like Chairman Kim.

“Chairman Kim.”

“Yes?”

“It seems like your grandfather came because he misses his granddaughter. Go entertain him.”

“Uhahahahat!”

‘…Did he boil and eat a furnace [a loud person]?’

My ears rang from a voice as powerful as any young person’s.

“Did you know I was Sugyeong’s grandfather?”

“No.”

“Then?”

“No ‘then’ about it. Your eyes and nose are identical; it’d be stranger if I didn’t know.”

“Hoo~ You have good observation skills.”

The old man found it very amusing, but I didn’t.

“Chairman-nim. Welcome.”

The leaders of the Konkuk University Shelter jumped to their feet and bowed deeply.

The old man, accustomed to such greetings, remained cheerful.

“I am Kim Daeho of Daesan.”

“My surname is Shin, my name is Seonghan.”

“Hoo~ Your name shines brightly.”

“You’re quite small for a tiger, though.”

“What? Hahahahat!”

I frowned at his booming voice, disproportionate to his small frame.

Regardless, the old man, tapping the armrest of his wheelchair, burst into laughter and kept laughing for a long time.

“Se-Seonghan!”

“?”

“He is the Chairman of Daesan Group!”

“But Chairman Kim is here, isn’t she?”

“Ah, no…”

“This rascal is right.”

The old man, refuting the flustered Chairman Choi, still wore a smile.

“It’s true that CEO Kim Sookyung is leading Daesan now.”

An old man who nodded and agreed was the Chairman.

I asked the uninvited guest nonchalantly.

“Knowing that, why did you come here? We’re busy.”

“This rascal! Your words are quite short, aren’t they?”

“You were short with me first, Old Man.”

“Eeiik!”

“If the outgoing words are beautiful, the incoming words are beautiful [a proverb about how one’s attitude influences others’ responses]. Why are you acting like this, knowing that?”

“…!”

He was laughing, then trembling.

‘Is it his time to go?’

As I seriously considered whether I’d have to attend his funeral.

*Swish-*

“Show respect.”

The brawny man standing behind him warned in a low voice.

To me.

I gave the old man, who was staring intently at me, a look.

And then I spat out without hesitation.

“You show respect. You brainless bastard.”

“……”

“The owner is talking; where do you, a dog bastard, get off growling and acting out?”

At the raw sarcasm, the air in the conference room froze.

People merely opened their mouths, unable to utter a single word.

“Impudent…!”

*Grin-*

“…?!”

While seated, I let out killing intent with a light smile.

Slowly, and continuously.

Not scattered wildly, but directed at just one person.

The brawny man standing behind the old man gradually lowered himself in response.

“Gasp…!”

“I’ve seen it enough times to know that guys like you often make mistakes.”

The color drained from the brawny man’s face as he stumbled back.

Despite that, his gaze didn’t leave me.

Given his defiance, he wasn’t just some random nobody.

So I didn’t hold back.

“Ugh…”

“You mistake your master’s authority for your own. That’s why you think you’re something.”

“Ah, no…!”

“What do you mean, ‘no’? You’ve already done it all.”

I quietly murmured to the brawny man trying to deny his misconception.

“If your loyalty was real, you would have kept your mouth shut. You arrogant bastard.”

When I growled, the opponent lowered his gaze.

“That’s enough.”

At the old man’s calm words, I retracted the aura I had been focusing on him.

“Old Man. Don’t order me around.”

“……”

“I’ll let it slide this time for those three people. But there won’t be a next time.”

“Ugh….”

The old man, who groaned for a moment, soon issued an order for dismissal.

“You may withdraw. Tell Secretary Seong to come in.”

“…Yes, Chairman-nim.”

The brawny man, drenched in sweat in an instant, stood upright despite staggering.

He then adjusted his attire, bowed deeply, and withdrew.

“That was an interesting experience.”

“……”

“He’s quite useful among my people, you know.”

“That guy?”

The old man burst into hearty laughter and waved his hand at my frown.

“Don’t be so harsh.”

“Are you really that short on talent?”

“Where would I find someone like you? Cluck cluck~”

I said a word to the old man, who was letting out his characteristic aged chuckle.

“Old Man. Since when do you call me ‘rascal’?”

“And since when do *you* call *me* ‘Old Man, Old Man’? Why don’t you use honorifics!”

“Ha!”

“I! Huh? I am the Chairman of Daesan! Even if you’ve eaten, I’ve eaten hundreds of bowls more! You rascal!”

This kind of… Chairman?

“Ah, stop shouting! You’re scrawny, so why is your voice so loud!”

“Th-this rascal, even so!”

He looked about to jump out of his wheelchair, despite having no strength in his body.

“Gr-Grandfather.”

“Chairman-nim. Please calm down.”

“Seonghan.”

“Chairman Choi-nim. Just stay still.”

This utterly childish old man… I swear…

“Seonghan-ah. Miri is watching.”

At my calm older brother’s words, I shut my mouth and turned around.

“……”

“……”

Miri was staring blankly at me, seemingly having woken up from her nap.

“Hmm……”

“See? The child woke up because of you, you rascal.”

“What?”

I was dumbfounded seeing the old man trying to pin the blame on me.

Regardless, the old man examined Miri with a wide grin.

“What a truly adorable child.”

This crazy old man?

“Take that lewd gaze away.”

“L-Lewd?!”

“It’s not good for a child. Don’t even look at her.”

“You cheap rascal! Will she wear out just by being looked at?!”

“She will.”

“What?!”

“Miri’s innocence will wear out.”

“Hoooo……”

The old man seemed to have lost his words and was dumbfounded.

“Hyung-nim.”

“Why?”

“…You’re childish.”

“What, you punk?”

Dong-woo shook his head, telling me not to be like that.

Such an ungrateful younger brother.

‘This damn old man.’

What kind of situation is this in front of my younger siblings?

This is all because of that old man.

To exude such charisma and yet be so childish is truly astonishing.

Thanks to him, I, who was unnecessarily dragged into this, am the pure victim.

That such a childish old man could be the Chairman of Daesan and a giant in the business world.

‘He must have fooled the world.’

I couldn’t help but ask the exasperating old man again.

“Old Man. Why exactly did you come?”

“Well, because I asked about Taesung—”

“No, why did you *come*?”

“……”

“If you’d just stayed quietly in your hospital room, Chairman Kim or whoever would have told you everything anyway. Why did you have to come all the way here?”

“Hmm.”

The old man crossed his arms and stared at me intently.

“I was curious.”

“About what?”

“You all who extended a hand to us.”

“……”

“I was curious about you all who instilled hope in people.”

The old man shed his previous childishness and adopted a serious demeanor.

“When I woke from a long sleep, the situation had changed a lot. But they say it happened not because of a large organization, but with the help of a few individuals. How could I just stay still?”

“You must have received all the reports.”

“Hearing it verbally and seeing it with your own eyes are different things.”

“That’s… true.”

He’s annoyingly right.

“And while I was at it, I also wanted to see the face of the fellow who made my granddaughter so well-behaved.”

“That’s me?”

“Then who else would it be?”

‘Oh, crap…’

He’s a chairman, but can’t he do something about that cheap way of speaking? Seriously.

I glanced at Chairman Kim, whose face was as red as an apple.

“It wasn’t me.”

“Hmm.”

“So. Are all your curiosities satisfied?”

The old man, with his arms still crossed, merely wiggled his fingers and stroked his chin.

“On the contrary, my curiosity has only grown.”

“It’s a burden, so put it back away.”

The old man, turning his gaze from my grumbling, swept his eyes over my family members and soon nodded.

“I see.”

“What do you mean, ‘I see!’”

Despite my grumpy words, the old man wore a profound smile.

It was somehow a contented smile.

“Choi Junseong.”

I flinched at the old man’s words.

Chairman Choi, whom I turned to look at, rose from his seat and bowed respectfully.

An unprecedented gentlemanly aura emanated from Chairman Choi.

It was impressive, as if saying, ‘This is the real deal!’

“It’s been a long time since we last met.”

“Indeed. You are still wonderful. Even in this world, you remain unwavering. Truly a paragon of a gentleman.”

“Thank you.”

I wasn’t the only one surprised; everyone’s eyes widened.

“Why did you only come now?”

“Because I only received word that the Chairman-nim was taking an important rest.”

“Hmm hmm. So that was it. If I had known you were so close, I would have gotten up sooner.”

The old man overtly showed that he was genuinely pleased.

But I couldn’t just laugh it off.

“Old Man. Do you know where we are?”

At my blunt, low voice, the old man nodded.

“If it’s on Korean soil, there’s nothing I don’t know.”

“……”

“Well, not anymore, I suppose. I didn’t even know the Choi family was still alive nearby. I guess I’m past my prime too.”

“Chairman-nim. Please take your words back.”

Chairman Choi and all the executives bowed their heads.

“It’s fine. Reality is something one must accept.”

“Alright. How did you know, Old Man? Did you follow us?”

Everyone couldn’t help but keep their mouths shut at my slightly sharp reaction.

“You foolish rascal.”

“What?”

“With how dangerous it is outside, would I carelessly send people out?”

I blinked, surprised by his very logical statement.

“But you did just that, didn’t you?”

“Don’t treat Taesung and me the same.”

The stiffened old man lowered his voice.

It wasn’t scary at all, though.

“Taesung?”

“Seonghan. I mean Taesung.”

“Ah. So. Answer me.”

“Eei!! You impudent rascal! Tsk~”

The old man clicked his tongue and demanded something to drink.

As soon as Secretary Choi brought him a drink, he took it and downed it in one gulp.

This old man had quite an appetite.

“How did I know?”

“Yeah.”

“It wouldn’t make sense if I didn’t know about the incident where you struck a blow against that Bok family rascal who lives for his own glory.”

“?? Ah!”

Suddenly, I recalled the hidden backstory of our shelter.

“Cluck cluck~ It was so satisfying that I can’t forget it even if I try. You rascal.”

“So? What does that have to do with anything?”

“The Choi family has a safe house. And the Choi family is alive. And they’re nearby. Plus, you all encountered them in Myeonmok-dong, right? Then isn’t it obvious?”

“……”

“Hmph.”

The old man, tapping his temple with his index finger, wore a sly smile.

Damn it, how can someone be so annoying?

“And there’s also an interesting rascal there, you know.”

“I told you not to call me ‘rascal’.”

“If the outgoing words are beautiful, the incoming words are beautiful [a proverb about how one’s attitude influences others’ responses].”

“……”

“Hahahahat~”

This old man must have been very lonely.

It’s pathetic to see him trying to win against me, decades his junior.

“So… are you a person of the Choi family?”

“No, Chairman-nim.”

Chairman Choi answered instead.

I thought of him as family, but for him to flatly deny it—

“I am Seonghan’s person.”

“What?”

“Hoo…. So that’s how it was.”

I spoke to the two leaders, who seemed to be falling into their own world, excluding me.

“Put the complicated stuff aside.”

“Aside?”

“Family.”

“Hmm?”

“Forget about who belongs to whom.”

How dare they try to claim my family as their own.

I stared directly into the old man’s eyes, which shone with curiosity.

“It’s true that my companions are alive because of me.”

I didn’t turn my head, but I felt my family members nodding.

“Dong-woo and Hyung… if I hadn’t met my companions, I wouldn’t be who I am now. I wouldn’t even be here.”

“You speak with certainty.”

I nodded slightly.

“Because if it weren’t for that, I’d probably be stuck somewhere alone.”

“…Indeed… that seems likely.”

“What nonsense. Anyway, Chairman Choi and Hyung’s opinions were very important in me being here. I’m grateful to both of them.”

“Uhahahahat~! Well, well.”

The old man, who laughed heartily, nodded.

“I’ll remember that.”

“……”

The old man looked at Chairman Choi with a relaxed expression.

“As expected, Choi Junseong certainly has a keen eye for people. And he’s capable.”

“…That’s too high praise.”

“No, no. The Bok family really did something wasteful.”

“……”

“The moment they cut ties with such a man, it was already over. They’re foolish rascals.”

Although it was a blatant jab at his birth father, Chairman Choi showed no reaction.

“The more I see you, the more amazing you are.”

*Frown-*

“Even if Choi Junseong values people, he’s not the type to easily trust them, you know.”

“…Can you say such things in front of the person themselves?”

“Didn’t you do just fine yourself, you rascal?”

“……”

“Hmph, Hahahahahah~!!”

‘…Oh, seriously.’

It seems he must have heard everything from outside.

In words, they are evenly matched.

Now, as they exchange blows.

Just one hit.

I really wish I could hit him just once.

“They say if I do this, it’s romance, but if someone else does it, it’s an affair, don’t they?”

“Huh…”

“So, ‘naeroneambul’ [I’ll do it, but you can’t, a double standard]… good! Cluck cluck cluck~”

I slowly closed my eyes.