Chapter 36. Festival
“…Hyeon-yul.”
Jeong-min called Hyeon-yul, and he raised his head.
“Yes.”
“Can’t… I grill it?”
Jeong-min looked pitifully at the burning meat.
“I’m buying this out of gratitude. So it’s right for me to grill it.”
“I know, I know your heart, but the meat didn’t do anything wrong, did it?”
Jeong-min held out his hand.
Hyeon-yul was more stubborn than he looked.
In times like these, it was right to gently coax him.
Hyeon-yul’s eyes narrowed.
“I’m definitely grilling it properly, why isn’t it working?”
“I’d like to know too. You have good dexterity.”
“Teacher. This seems to be an aftereffect too.”
At Hyeon-yul’s brazenness, Jeong-min was dumbfounded and, at the same time, moved.
As Jeong-min’s gaze deepened, Hyeon-yul handed over the tongs.
He was clearly about to say something.
“Should have done that sooner.”
Only then did Jeong-min grill the meat to his heart’s content.
The surface of the meat, beautifully marbled, was being grilled until shiny.
“Hyeon-yul. Compared to the job you used to do, how is the current job?”
“It’s not hard.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
When Jeong-min asked again, Hyeon-yul let out a short sigh.
Why wouldn’t he know that those words were worries?
As much as the years they spent together, it was easy to infer what Jeong-min would say.
“Honestly, I thought you would like it, Teacher.”
Even though he entered a company run by villains, the reason he didn't kill anyone other than villains was because of Jeong-min.
That was the first time he knew even a grown adult could cry.
―…Revenge, I know I can’t stop that. I know, but you shouldn’t. Hyeon-yul, you… at least you, shouldn’t become like them.
He begged him not to become a monster, even kneeling down.
So for Jeong-min’s sake, for his own sake, he said he wouldn’t become a monster.
Jeong-min didn't stop him further from becoming a villain for his hospital bills.
“It’s good. It’s really good, but it looks just as dangerous, that’s why.”
Jeong-min was always worried about Hyeon-yul.
He just wanted him to live an ordinary life.
“This place, it’s a good place. I clocked out today and am eating with you, Teacher. That would have been impossible there.”
“That’s true. It is, but you didn’t do anything dangerous today, right?”
“Yes…?”
Hyeon-yul reacted as if asking what he meant.
“You backed away as soon as you saw me. Remember?”
Jeong-min’s gaze sharpened.
‘That’s true, but…’
Hyeon-yul hesitated.
He backed away because he was concerned about the poison from the new weapon he had detonated several times on the mountain earlier.
Although he had erased the poison, who knew if that poison might affect Jeong-min?
Was that brief action something worthy of attention?
Hyeon-yul didn’t open his mouth.
“You, what did you do before coming here?”
As Jeong-min pressed him, Hyeon-yul drank water.
He could lie to others, but lies wouldn't come out of his mouth in front of Jeong-min.
“I don’t know what you’re doing wandering around unilaterally, but absolutely do not do anything dangerous.”
“I won’t.”
The poison contained in the new weapon had no effect on him at all.
It was just like touching a toy.
No matter how many times he thought about it, it wasn't a dangerous task.
“I’m on your side. Whatever you say, I have no intention of mentioning it outside.”
“Then, Teacher.”
“Look at that, look at that!”
At Hyeon-yul finally confessing, Jeong-min pointed with his chopsticks.
His behavior of hiding the dangerous parts completely and then spitting it out when it seemed like he would be forgiven was the same as when he was young.
“How should I deliver a new weapon I happened to pick up?”
“……”
“Please tell me.”
“……Hyeon-yul.”
“Yes.”
“What on earth are you wandering around doing?”
Jeong-min’s voice rose, but Hyeon-yul was composed.
“I just examined it.”
At those words, Jeong-min grabbed the back of his neck with a slap.
Why was he doing that himself?
His words and actions were completely different from saying he wanted to live long.
“Teacher, you should eat.”
Not knowing if his insides were burning, Hyeon-yul smiled faintly and offered meat.
After realizing he easily gave in to Hyeon-yul’s smiling face, his habit of smiling whenever he felt disadvantaged was also still the same.
But what could he do?
He was the child he had raised.
“…Alright.”
Jeong-min put the meat in his mouth.
He didn't know who bought it, but it was amazing.
***
“…Team Leader, did the collection results come out?”
Ji-hwan asked, looking at Hae-ryeon.
“They came out.”
“How are they?”
“Identical to the traces of the new weapon.”
At Hae-ryeon’s answer, Ji-hwan’s expression hardened, and Na-yoon thought deeply.
“Ji-hwan. You said you found these traces on the mountain, right?”
“…Yes. It was a patrol mission.”
Ji-hwan bit his lip.
The mountain was too close to the city.
What if the new weapon had exploded in the city?
He heard they still couldn't make an antidote because so many different poisons were mixed.
“Was there anything near there?”
At Na-yoon’s question, Ji-hwan shook his head.
“There was nothing, Noona.”
“That’s strange……. It’s different from last time, isn’t it?”
Na-yoon fiddled with the corner of her mouth.
Last time, let's say the villain used the new weapon to prevent documents from being taken, but that place was a mountainous area far away from the city.
This time, it was a mountain close to the city.
If they intended to use it from the start, they would have tested it in a crowded place, but it differed from the villains' usual methods.
“What… could be the intention?”
Na-yoon looked at Hae-ryeon.
“In my view, I think they might have used the new weapon to keep nearby villains in check.”
According to Hyeon-yul, competition among villains happened much more often than they knew.
―There’s no need to consider villains joining forces. Unless they are all about to perish together, such a thing will never happen.
“Ultimately, they’re dragging us into their own affairs, aren’t they? Telling us to handle the checks ourselves?”
Shin-woo, who had been listening quietly, opened his mouth.
Hae-ryeon affirmed his words.
“That’s just what I think, it’s not certain, so let’s not assert it.”
“I understand.”
Shin-woo nodded.
“Anyway, Mr. Ji-hwan.”
At Hae-ryeon’s call, Ji-hwan, who was spacing out, belatedly looked at her.
“There were no victims. Don’t worry.”
“…Team Leader. I’m worried about the fact that there are no traces. It wasn’t magic either. Nor was it related to psychic powers.”
Ji-hwan hesitated as he spoke.
Since he happened to be free, he flew off immediately as soon as the mission popped up.
The time it took to fly there by eagle was only about 2 or 3 minutes.
How could all traces be erased in that time?
“You said the location of drone couldn’t be found either.”
“It’s not a good sign, but it’s not something to worry too much about either.”
Hae-ryeon comforted Ji-hwan.
Nothing had happened yet.
They couldn't move rashly, nor was it something to bring up in a meeting.
“I agree with the Team Leader.”
Na-yoon also grinned at Ji-hwan.
“Team Leader. Noona……”
Ji-hwan looked back and forth between Hae-ryeon and Na-yoon and nodded.
Shin-woo patted Ji-hwan’s back and chuckled.
“Always worrying so much.”
“It’s… close to the city.”
“When was it ever not close?”
“Something was different, I tell you.”
Ji-hwan clenched his fists tightly.
It wasn't an ordinary villain.
He felt it as soon as he saw it.
“Alright, alright.”
Shin-woo resisted the urge to tease Ji-hwan and looked at the empty seat.
“Oh right, where’s Hyeon-yul?”
“He took leave today.”
“Hyung, is he sick somewhere?”
Ji-hwan asked, surprised.
“No. Today’s the last day of the festival.”
Hae-ryeon smiled slyly.
She herself had been waiting for this day too.
As soon as she noticed Hyeon-yul liked festivals, she immediately thought of letting him off.
She let him off on the last day when the fireworks were held.
“Then Team Leader. Can I also take the rest of the day off today?”
When Shin-woo asked confidently, Na-yoon was exasperated.
“Where do you think you’re going? If anyone goes, it should be me. I used less leave, didn’t I?”
“Wow…. You’re gonna play it like that?”
“Hyung. Noona. If that’s the case, shouldn’t I be the one resting instead?”
Ji-hwan smiled brightly.
As a magician, he was called upon here and there for many things.
Besides dealing with villains, things like searching, rescuing, or support tasks.
“Right?”
Ji-hwan smiled and rested his chin on his clasped hands.
“Too bad for everyone. Nobody gets off today.”
Hae-ryeon looked around, then brought fatigue recovery drinks and placed one down for each of them.
Roughly guessing, it might get incredibly busy.
“So, today, let’s work hard.”
Everyone’s expression hardened.
Giving fatigue recovery drinks foreshadowed that missions might flood in until closing time.
Everyone sighed simultaneously.
***
“…Ajussi(Uncle)!”
Se-rin waved her hand and approached Hyeon-yul.
“Se-rin! You’ll get hurt if you run!”
Perhaps the teacher was leading them, as she ran following behind.
“It’s okay. If I get hurt, I can just put on a band-aid. Right?”
Se-rin hugged Hyeon-yul’s leg tightly, looked up, and smiled slyly.
“Yes. If you get hurt, you can get treatment.”
Despite the dry words and gaze directed at her, Se-rin smiled even wider.
“Ajussi.”
“Yes.”
“Guess how much Se-rin missed Ajussi?”
“I don’t know.”
“I missed you super duper much!”
“…Is that so?”
Hyeon-yul answered a few seconds late.
“At times like that, you should answer that you missed me too.”
Jeong-min hit Hyeon-yul’s back, approached Se-rin, and crouched down.
―Would you… like to go to the festival together?
He didn't know how much he cried that day at Hyeon-yul’s suggestion.
‘He made the promise, and since it’s troublesome, he brought me along. Very annoying, so annoying.’
Jeong-min’s insides burned with regret for the tears shed that day.
But what did it matter?
Hyeon-yul had become capable of making plans with others, inviting them, and coming together.
“Hi, Se-rin.”
Jeong-min greeted Se-rin.
“…How do you know Se-rin’s name?”
“You kept saying it.”
When Hyeon-yul pointed it out, Se-rin went ‘Heop’ in surprise and covered her mouth.
“It’s a pretty name.”
When Jeong-min praised her, Se-rin lowered her hands, approached Jeong-min, and bowed from the waist.
“I’m Lee Se-rin.”
“I’m Lee Jeong-min. Do we have the same last name?”
“Are you my daddy, Ajussi?”
“Is that so?”
When Hyeon-yul added to Se-rin’s words, Jeong-min freaked out.
“No, no, this ajussi isn’t even married yet!”
The teacher following behind barely held back her laughter at those words.
“Then is Jeong-min Ajussi, Hyeon-yul Ajussi’s daddy?”
‘Hyeon-yul Ajussi…?’
Jeong-min burst into laughter at those words.
True, the appearance changed due to the Smartwatch now looked much older than his original appearance.
Still.
“……Hyeon-yul. Why are you being called Ajussi?”
Jeong-min teased Hyeon-yul, knowing full well.
His laughter wouldn't stop.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Really?”
“Yes. It’s not like there isn’t an age gap.”
After answering, Hyeon-yul looked at Se-rin.
She looked back and forth between Jeong-min and himself.
It seemed like a gaze asking for an answer quickly.
Hyeon-yul glanced at Jeong-min once, then spoke.
“He’s not my real father.”
“He’s not?”
“Yes. But I think of him that way.”
It had been a whopping 14 years.
If they spent that much time together, wasn't it okay to think that way?
“Then Se-rin likes it too!”
Se-rin ran to Jeong-min and clung to him.
“……”
Jeong-min froze and looked at Hyeon-yul.
Really?
Really?
Seeing the numerous questions, Hyeon-yul nodded and then approached the teacher.
“I will take care of the child until the festival ends. I will protect her so she absolutely doesn't get hurt.”
It was a heavy yet cool voice.
The teacher looked at Hyeon-yul.
Although he wasn't wearing a uniform, she knew the man before her was a Black Eagle.
This was also an instruction that came down from the Black Eagle.
“You may leave work now.”
“…Yes?”
“I will drop the child off at the kindergarten. So, Teacher, you may leave work now.”
No matter how she looked at it, it seemed she couldn't leave work because of Se-rin.
Since it was partly his fault that Se-rin came to the festival, it was right to let the teacher leave work.
“…You don’t have to do that.”
“It’s alright.”
Hyeon-yul knew very well that those words were insincere.
What person would want to postpone leaving work?
“Then, please go carefully.”
Hyeon-yul bowed politely and turned around just like that.
“May… I know your name?”
“Ah, it’s Seo Hyeon-yul. If a problem arises later, you can speak to me through that.”
During theoretical training, he heard not to mention names outside if possible.
But today was different.
“…Thank you.”
The teacher bowed to Hyeon-yul.
It felt strange.
Black Eagles had come to the kindergarten several times, but they were still distant beings.
To even show such consideration.
“Is the child doing well?”
Hyeon-yul was about to take another step but stopped at the rising question and looked at the teacher.
“Se-rin?”
“Yes. Last time I looked, you didn't even seem to know the child had disappeared from the kindergarten.”
It sounded like a warning.
No, wasn't it a warning?
The teacher heard her heart pounding.
“Because Se-rin can't handle her power well… I separated her for a moment……. I’m sorry. It’s my negligence.”
“She’s a smart child, she will learn well.”
Hyeon-yul bowed his head again and turned around.
The power of fire Se-rin possessed was always strong enough for villains to covet.
She absolutely had to be taught well so she wouldn't become a villain, and that role belonged to the teacher.
Hyeon-yul walked towards where Jeong-min and Se-rin were.
Jeong-min’s eyes were moist.
He seemed like a person with many tears.
“…Do you know the highlight of the festival is the food?”
When Jeong-min opened his mouth, Hyeon-yul nodded.
“I read it in a book.”
“Eat it yourself, and feel it.”
“I……”
“You think I can’t even buy this for you, who’s like a son to me?”
Jeong-min was a stubborn person.
When he made an expression that absolutely wouldn't yield, it was difficult to stop him.
“No. I will eat well.”
Hyeon-yul smiled lightly.
At his smile, Se-rin beamed.
“Ajussi.”
Se-rin reached out her hand to Hyeon-yul.
Hyeon-yul hesitated, then held out his hand.
It was small and warm.
“Ajussi’s daddy too.”
Se-rin looked at Jeong-min.
At Se-rin’s brightly shining eyes, Jeong-min couldn't refuse.
Se-rin, holding Hyeon-yul’s and Jeong-min’s hands, hummed a tune and walked forward.
It was the festival.
Festival.
‘She must feel unfamiliar, yet she’s so friendly.’
Jeong-min chuckled as he followed Se-rin.
Whatever it was, there wouldn’t be a better day than today.
It felt exactly like bringing a son and even a granddaughter.
‘I’m not married, but it’s not bad.’
Jeong-min glanced at Hyeon-yul.
His face had changed, but he read the joy revealed beyond the blunt expression.
‘Indeed, it’s not bad.’
The festival too.
This situation too.
Jeong-min followed Se-rin, swung his arms a few times, and naturally headed towards the food market area following the crowd.
***
「Numerous people come to enjoy the festival.」
There was such a passage in the book Hyeon-yul read, but this was beyond imagination.
There were too many people.
Wherever he looked, there were people.
Feeling numerous gazes directed at him, Hyeon-yul’s gaze shifted slightly downward.
As always, it felt unpleasant.
“Hyeon-yul.”
“…Yes.”
“You’re not okay, are you?”
“It’s bearable.”
“Ajussi, are you sick somewhere?”
Se-rin asked, surprised by their conversation, looking at Hyeon-yul.
“No. I just don’t particularly like gazes.”
“Then close your eyes tightly. Se-rin will lead you well!”
At Se-rin’s words, Hyeon-yul actually considered closing his eyes.
“Don’t you dare think about actually closing them. It’s dangerous.”
When Jeong-min spoke curtly, Hyeon-yul nodded.
“I brought something just for this.”
As Jeong-min rummaged through his pocket, the corner of Hyeon-yul’s eye lifted.
‘……It’s the smell of blood.’