By Zephyria “Yes, I’ve answered the phone.”
Ki Jae-eon answered the phone in a voice that quickly calmed down.
It was Kim Ju-won who was surprised by his businesslike attitude. Of course. It was such a calm attitude that you couldn’t see him as the person who had been trembling in fear just a moment ago. The person on the other end of the phone probably wouldn’t even be able to predict what situation Ki Jae-eon was in.
‘He doesn’t complain even once.’
He thought, watching Ki Jae-eon repeatedly saying only “Yes.”
‘He could at least say that he’s having a hard time.’
Even the great Ahn Seo-myeong would rub his cheek against his grandmother and act unlike himself, saying, “Grandma, I’m hungry.” To that extent, the existence of an imprinted ‘protector’ plays a mental pillar role beyond imagination. In a society where you are eliminated if you don’t do your part, it is the only support that understands the ‘immature inner self’.
Of course, Kim Ju-won also had Kim Yeong as his support.
But Ki Jae-eon was different.
His disciplined appearance made it difficult to see it as an attitude toward a ‘protector’ from any angle. But this is also something that can be understood because he directly saw Ki Jae-eon’s [past life].
If he hadn’t seen it, he might still be cursing him, saying, ‘A rich young master who was lucky enough to be born with good talent because he was born to good parents.’
Wouldn’t that be too harsh on that guy?
“Kim Ju-won.”
It was Ki Jae-eon who broke the silence and called out to Kim Ju-won, who was lost in thought.
“Huh? Oh!”
“Why are you standing there blankly, aren’t you going?”
“Oh, oh…… I have to go.”
Kim Ju-won smiled awkwardly like an idiot and walked side by side with Ki Jae-eon. Had they walked about ten steps like that? His mouth started to itch. He wondered dozens of times if he should ask, pretending to be nonchalant, ‘Was that your father? Why did he call?’
It was during that time.
“To the main office.”
Ki Jae-eon was the first to break the long silence and start talking.
“Huh?”
“My father came.”
Ki Jae-eon said calmly as if he were talking about everyday things, ‘What are the dinner menus for today?’
The content was shocking, though.
Why Ki Tae-ho, not Ryu Seong-hee or Ki Jae-ha!
“Oh, uh…… oh.”
Ki Jae-eon gave a dry smile to Kim Ju-won, who was fumbling for an answer.
“You and the little ones might be a little uncomfortable.”
Don’t worry about the loud noises at night and just sleep. A somehow lonely murmur followed. In that appearance, a glimpse of Ki Jae-eon’s appearance before he lost his memory could be seen.
A kind person who prioritizes the discomfort of others over himself.
It’s the same now. Only his words have become rougher, but Ki Jae-eon was Ki Jae-eon.
Well…… just like you can’t become an adult right away even if you turn twenty at midnight from nineteen, he’s just a young punk in his early twenties no matter how much he pretends to be strong. If you peel off the shell of an Exorcist, he was younger than Kim Ju-won himself.
‘So stop pretending to be an adult and complain and get angry.’
Why are you trying to hold back again.
He felt upset for no reason.
But he couldn’t ask ‘Are you okay’.
A ‘Are you okay’ question mumbled to someone who is not okay is just irresponsible kindness and meaningless comfort.
Instead, he decided to say something he could really keep his promise.
“I’ll interfere.”
“What?”
“Contact me when you’re in a difficult situation. If it’s difficult to write a long message, you can just send a dot. Then I’ll go in and make a mess right away.”
*
“It’s sujeonggwa. I made it myself, so it tastes pretty good.”
“Hmm.”
Kim Yeong offered the sujeonggwa with pine nuts floating on top to the man with the bushy beard.
The man placed a heavy bag, like a turtle shell, on the floor, then picked up the offered teacup. Gulp—the drink went down refreshingly.
“Would you like more?”
“I’ll pass. But it tastes very good.”
The man politely declined, his tired eyes glancing at the door of the reception room. An unusually long and persistent gaze. Yes, it was a look of waiting for someone.
“He’ll be here soon.”
As if reading his mind, Kim Yeong smiled gently.
“He will. I called him.”
The man nodded as well. But there was something bitter about his tone.
“Even if he’s an unwelcome father, in the end, that child will open that door with his own hands.”
“Elder.”
“Of course. I never taught that child how to rebel or refuse.”
“……”
“I raised him painfully.”
The man, Ki Tae-ho, took out a drink from his bag. It was the drink Ki Jae-eon had ‘chosen’ for the first time in his life in front of Ki Jae-ha’s operating room. Well, perhaps that too was one of the multiple-choice options Ki Tae-ho had set up.
“Wandering the world for the Heavenly Land, I finally saw it.”
The framework of the Gi Clan.
The beliefs that had bound him his entire life.
The profession of Exorcist.
Only after abandoning everything he thought he couldn’t abandon did he see it belatedly.
His son.
A child who had to live the worst life as a hero of a chaotic era.
A sandcastle that endured and endured, only to collapse in the end.
“I thought he was special. He was just fragile.”
“……”
“So gentle, so kind… never once saying he didn’t like something.”
Ki Tae-ho smirked. Kim Yeong, thinking it was fortunate there was no alcohol in front of him, opened his mouth with a faint smile.
“I can’t deny that it was a difficult and painful time, but if you ask if it was a life full of regrets, that’s not quite right either. Ki Jae-eon is smarter and stronger than you, Elder, or rather, Jae-eon’s father, thinks. Of course, as a third party, I’m hesitant to comment on the bond between the two of you… but yes, I can be sure of this much. Jae-eon’s father, not everything was a wrong answer. In those days you regret, there was definitely his effort, his sadness, his joy melted into them. So at least, please don’t dismiss even the results that child has achieved as wrong.”
“……”
“I’m sorry. I presumed too much……”
“I thought the main office was inferior to the Heavenly Land.”
“Yes? No, no. Even so, that’s a bit……”
“The one who was inferior was me.”
“Ah, eh? Uh… Aha, hahahahaha.”
“You don’t deny it?”
“Ah, uh, yes, ah, no! No! I deny it!”
Kim Yeong sweated profusely, then quickly recomposed himself and cautiously revealed a question he had been holding in.
“Um, Elder… may I ask how the Heavenly Land’s progress is going?”
“Progress?”
“Yes.”
“What do you think?”
“Yes? Ah, um… of course, someone as capable as you, Elder, would have finished it long ago……”
“You have a sweet tongue too.”
‘Is it because he’s a member of society?’ Ki Tae-ho wondered, smirking.
But he didn’t seem to dislike the flattery itself.
“Ahaha… is that so? I pride myself on always being honest.”
“It would have been nice if I had finished it long ago, as you said. But there’s still one tree left.”
“Does that mean……”
“Don’t be too disappointed. Hey, you. Why do you think I came here?”
At Ki Tae-ho’s question, Kim Yeong’s eyes widened. His face was as if struck by lightning.
“Is the last tree here?”
“I’m not sure. I have to look. But the possibility is very high.”
“That’s wonderful news.”
It was around the time the two were exchanging words.
The sound of neat footsteps echoed from afar, and soon the door to the reception room burst open.
“I’m late. I apologize.”
It was Ki Jae-eon.
“Since it’s a rare occasion for the Family to meet, I’ll excuse myself.”
It was after Kim Yeong left, showing consideration.
An awkward atmosphere filled the reception room.
“Not sitting?”
“Yes.”
Like a well-trained dog, Ki Jae-eon pulled out a chair and slowly sat down only after the command to sit was given. Then, maintaining a straight posture with his back straight, he examined his father, Ki Tae-ho. In his fleeting gaze, a familiar yet unfamiliar person entered.
‘Is that really Father?’
He couldn’t believe it.
Because it wasn’t the kind of appearance that the person ‘Ki Tae-ho’ would have.
A bushy beard, old and shabby clothes, long and wavy hair that reminded him of a Korean Spitz.
…Honestly, it was shocking.
Unlike someone who valued cleanliness, he was dirty and unsightly.
He wondered if the king of the beggars, ‘Wang Cho,’ who appeared in the martial arts comics his brother Ki Jae-ha used to read, would look exactly like that.
‘To think the day would come when I’d have such impressions of my father, of all people.’
Wasn’t he the one who always emphasized neatness of appearance!
‘What’s the point if he doesn’t keep it himself.’
How could anyone trust the words of such a person?
He had thought it was strange from the moment he suddenly left for asceticism.
‘What is he really doing?’
It was the moment he unknowingly revealed his disappointment.
“Does it bother you?”
Ki Tae-ho asked, looking down at his attire. He must have been conscious of his son’s gaze.
Only then did Ki Jae-eon realize his mistake and quickly composed himself, answering.
“No. It’s fine.”
“If you’re uncomfortable, I’ll go take a bath.”
“It’s fine.”
“……”
“……”
“……Well, have you eaten?”
“Yes. Have you, Father?”
“I have.”
“……Yes.”
“…….”
“…….”
Silence resumed. Tick-tock—time passed relentlessly. It was a pointless waste of time, and he couldn’t understand what he was doing.
[If you have something to say, get straight to the point.]
That was ‘our’ way of talking, neatly cutting out unnecessary chatter.
Of course. He had been taught that time was money, and no one was not busy.
But why, now……
‘Is he watching my reaction?’