Translator: Wan ED/PR: Personal Ghost
64. Faith and test (1) [1]
Tao Wonu’s childhood.
He was an arrogant and haughty chaebeol young master, who would appear in old stories or morning dramas.
Tao Wonu’s parents were rare examples of sane people among the dysfunctional members of the Tao family, but in his younger days, they were busy moving for the next head position, so they couldn’t pay him much attention.
What’s more, on top of his outstanding appearance and talents, Tao Wonu learned how to come by — so he knew how to hide his personality in front of adults with power, like his parents.
The power-tripping acts a kindergarten kid could do, like covering side dishes and monopolizing snacks, or designating class time as his nap time, were one the cute side.
But the worries of people around him, thinking of what will become of him when he grows up, were growing bigger day by day.
Those worries grew even more when the elementary school student Tao Wonu awakened his superpowers quite early.
— Young master Tao Wonu-nim awakened superpowers…?
— He can’t use Gwangrim yet, but He already fights so well?
— It reminds me of the early days of the Ship King. I mean in the sense of his talents only, not personality.
Tao Wonu was the son of the next head of one of the Four Groups that represented Korea.
His brain was clearly much more outstanding than his peers, his looks were better than the child actor models, and he even had powerful superpowers.
The ego of Tao Wonu, who was born with everything, grew so big it could no longer be controlled.
When Tao Wonu’s actions began to resemble those from the young days of representative philanderers and debauchees of the dysfunctional Tao family, and the anguish of aids deepened.
— Wonu-ah, do you want to join a superpower center?
— … Superpower center?
— Yeah, I heard there are some kids of Wonu’s age at the superpower center.
Tao Wonu knew about superpower centers.
They were places that educated children, who were born with superpowers at a young age, regardless of their social status.
Tao Wonu thought that the ideology itself was good, but he hated to mix in there.
The immature Tao Wonu believed that all people were born with predestined background, talent and life, and didn’t want to mix with people, who lived a different life than him.
Just before Tao Wonu was to refuse the suggestion, his parents added a few words.
— Hyeji is also going there, how about it?
— I heard that Suhyeok-i plans to go there when he enters the elementary school next year.
Tao Wonu knew well of the names of Oh Hyeji and Ju Su-hyeok.
Oh Hyeji was his age, and Ju Su-hyeok was two years younger.
Be it their families or abilities, the two had nothing lacking.
‘Increasing the points of contact and solidifying friendship would be of help later, eh?’
Tao Wonu judged that using this opportunity to become close with the two people wouldn’t be bad.
After finishing his shallow calculations, Tao Wonu nodded, pretending he didn’t know anything.
— Yes, I also want to get close with Hyeji and Suhyeok-i.
Like this, Tao Wonu’s entrance to the superpower center was decided.
And Tao Wonu ended up having his values turned upside down with a certain meeting at the superpower center.
Tao Wonu lived just a little over ten years at that time, but he, who was extremely intelligent and had an inflated ego happened to meet a being so powerful he would stop drinking and eating and fell into thought.
That was Yu Sang-hui.
— I heard there is a child that has healing superpowers at this superpower center!
— … Ya, she is the same age as us. Didn’t she already receive a blessing, and when the usage of Gwangrim becomes possible, will be able to use Acea’s power?
At the words of Oh Hyeji, who was the only person he talked to at the superpower center, Tao Wonu couldn’t hide his surprise.
Because he knew how rare healing superpowers were.
In front of Yu Sang-hui’s superpower, Tao Wonu’s superpower was nothing but ordinary.
‘Compared to healing superpowers, my superpowers are common. It’s powerful, but it’s nothing special!’
Even without considering the superpowers, Yu Sang-hui was truly the outstanding sort.
The students, who applied to the superpower center, took a common subject test for their year, and Tao Wonu took the 1st place in overall rankings, but Yu Sang-hui took the 1st place in some subjects.
At first, Tao Wonu refused that partial defeat, and went through the grade re-review a few times, only to finally accept the defeat.
— You got the 1st place in overall rankings. Are you so disappointed that you can’t be 1st place in all subjects?
— … Humph.
Since a certain day, Tao Wonu’s gaze always followed Yu Sang-hui.
Unlike Tao Wonu or Oh Hyeji, Yu Sang-hui was always surrounded by people.
In the sunlight, there seemed to be something like a halo behind Yu Sang-hui, who shared conversations with a gentle face.
Seeing that, Tao Wonu’s imagination ran wild regarding Yu Sang-hui’s background.
‘Where did she come from? I don’t think she can be from the Oh families I know. Maybe she is a daughter of some famous capital family from a foreign country? There is a chance she is connected to a star Player, who hides their name. No, perhaps she was born with the blood of the Korean Peninsula’s dynasty?’
Oh Hyeji threw a hint to Tao Wonu, whose imagination was unfolding its wings.
— I know what you’re thinking, but that kid may be a bit different from what you imagine, you know, Tao Wonu?
The words that she was different were proven with a simple investigation.
Compared to Tao Wonu, Yu Sang-hui was born with an extremely ordinary background.
Yu Sang-hui’s parents were both ordinary working people, and there was no famous Player in her close family or among relatives.
Tao Wonu realized anew how useless and small-minded his standards of judging people he had in his head were.
But it took a long time until Tao Wonu spoke up to Yu Sang-hui.
The task of tearing down his values and pride he piled up until now was not easy.
— … Hey.
— Uh? Wonu-ah, hi. It’s the first time you greeted me.
Yu Sang-hui looked right in the eye of Tao Wonu, who spoke up to her for the first time, and smiled.
In that instant, Tao Wonu developed a crush on Yu Sang-hui.
The values of rudeness and arrogance he judged ordinary people with were destroyed, and he was reborn as a humble genius.
Tao Wonu’s world grew bigger, and everyone welcomed that change.
— Wonu hyung, thanks for help!
— … Sihu-ah, if you hate to die early, just stop swimming.
— Ye, I hate it! Teach me how to swim!
— ….
What changed the most was his relationship with Tao Sihu.
It was well-known that though Tao Sihu was the Ship King’s son, he couldn’t swim, and even though he couldn’t, he was a fool, who jumped into water.
Tao Wonu completely ignored Tao Sihu, who looked like a loser, who would have a short life, but at some point, he ended up unknowingly helping Tao Sihu.
The reason for all of it was because the world he saw in his eyes changed.
Of course, Tao Wonu didn’t just change for the better.
— Brother-in-law, long time no see!
— Crazy fucker. What noise is that again.
— Wonu-ah, why are you making crazy noises to my dongsaeng.
Tao Wonu became obsessed with Yu Sang-hui.
Yu Sang-hui drew a line, but Tao Wonu didn’t easily give up.
Because he knew very well how Yu Sang-hui dealt with people when she really pushed them away.
Till then, Yu Sang-hui didn’t give any room to anyone who confessed to her.
Among them were famous Players, people, who were from powerful families like Tao Wonu, people of the same age as Yu Sang-hui and people from Eungwang School.
Whatever was the person’s status or background, Yu Sang-hui drew a thorough line in front of anyone she thought was a ‘no’.
Except of Tao Wonu.
So Tao Wonu thought.
‘There must be a reason why she can’t accept my heart. I can’t give up until then!’
Yu Sang-hui shared ordinary daily conversations with Tao Wonu, and accepted Tao Wonu’s offer of the position of the Student Council’s secretary.
It was possible for her to push Tao Wonu away in many ways, but Yu Sang-hui accepted Tao Wonu to a degree.
Yu Sang-hui was giving Tao Wonu a special space — Tao Wonu believed in it without doubt.
Moreover, Tao Wonu wasn’t the only one who thought this way.
Some perceptive people around them were certain there was something between the two.
As such, there were people like the Student Council’s vice president Ji Myeong-su who cheered for the two, without being seen.
So, Tao Wonu believed that he would one day be with Yu Sang-hui, and acted corruptly towards people who Yu Sang-hui didn’t draw a line with, for example, the 1st year junior Jo Uisin.
That faith ended an unexpected way.
— I have something to talk about Sang-hui noona.
— If possible, I want to talk in a place without eyes.
At the time of exchange with the Military Academy, Tao Sihu, who was selected as the Basketball Club’s main athlete and was busy, called him.
Tao Sihu was an unreliable fool, who was such a poor swimmer, it was absurd, but he had a good head, so he wasn’t one to say something on a whim.
— I heard that the TC Research Institute is trying to make Sanghui noona participate in a dangerous project.
— … What?
Tao Wonu knew that Yu Sang-hui was recently worrying about future career problems.
To lessen those worries, she investigated research positions at the TC Research Institute that would match Yu Sang-hui’s aptitude and offered them to her.
But that was a dangerous project!?
Tao Wonu spoke without hiding his fury.
— There is such a project? Don’t worry. Sang-hui won’t be made to go to such a place.
— … I guess Wonu hyung doesn’t know about that project.
Tao Wonu didn’t know about that project, and naturally also didn’t know that Yu Sang-hui was harassed by strange offers.
The fact was, Tao Wonu was very clingy towards Yu Sang-hui.
But excluding the time when he investigated Yu Sang-hui’s family during the elementary school, he never tried to use his family power to do anything with Yu Sang-hui, so he didn’t know anything.
Tao Wonu spoke as if making excuses for his ignorance.
— Unlike you, Sang-hui is a person who values herself. She won’t thoughtlessly put herself in such a project.
— … That’s true.
— Even if I don’t step forward, she will refuse.
When Tao Wonu said that, Tao Sihu shook his head.
— Wonu hyung, I happened by chance to overhear a conversation of people, who are working on that project, and something is not right.
— Something is not right?
— Those people are certain that Sang-hui noona won’t be able to refuse.
— …. What? Why the hell?
Tao Wonu questioned Tao Sihu, but it seemed there was a limit to what Tao Sihu, who had no connections or power, knew.
From that day on, Tao Wonu investigated the matters related to Yu Sang-hui and the TC Research Institute.
And as a result, he learned about the TC Research Institute’s interference in the Yu Sang-hun’s superpower awakening process.
It wasn’t the only thing that Tao Wonu learned.
‘… No way, then Sang-hui would also tolerate me to a degree in the meantime.’
The reason why Yu Sang-hui couldn’t refuse the TC Research Institute’s suggestion.
The reason why Yu Sang-hui was tolerant of Tao Wonu.
Those reasons were clearly the same.
‘Isn’t it because she owes Sanghun-i’s life to TC…!?’
Anyone at the TC knew that Tao Wonu was affectionate towards Yu Sang-hui.
Among them, there would be people who knew that Yu Sang-hui had a debt of gratitude towards TC because of Yu Sang-hun’s case.
But no one informed Tao Wonu of this fact.
Tao Wonu belatedly lamented and regretted his ignorance, but it was already too late.
Tao Wonu didn’t act corruptly towards Yu Sang-hui anymore.
To the point that the members of the Student Council, including Ji Myeong-su, thought it was strange.
‘It’s already too late, but it’s not like I can’t do anything.’
Tao Wonu mobilized all his abilities and investigated everything.
The secrets related to the TC Research Institute.
The being that awoke Yu Sang-hun that day in the superpower center.
The ‘Higher Being Artificial Descent Project’ Yu Sang-hui was being forced to participate in.
And today, after finishing investigating everything and making a plan, Tao Wonu moved.
At the TC Research Institute’s main gate.
Stood Tao Wonu.
‘… I have to do it.’
Tao Wonu made a resolution and took a step towards the Research Institute.
On the other side, the eyes of a certain tiger were observing Tao Wonu.
*~*~*
[1] Faith and test — Faith, belief, trust; 믿음(mideum) is a belief or trust in some person or a fact; or faith in a religious meaning. Test is 시험 (siheom), meaning to test or examine someone/something. The other meanings I can come up with don’t really seem to fit… Is this title testing my belief that every chapter title has a double meaning??
Translator’s note: Tao Wonu, anyone or anything who set you up to meet Yu Sang-hui and saved us from the snobbish young master trope deserves an applause… I mean you still are a snobbish young master trope, but you are fine when Yu Sang-hui is out of the picture.
Patron thank you note:
Thank you patron, Nobody, please accept this Phlox adsurgens’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Al, please accept this Phlox alyssifolia’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Dust, please accept this Phlox amoena’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Maru, please accept this Phlox austromontana’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, kamisonk, please accept this Phlox bifida’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Kasimir Ilmonen, please accept this Phlox buckleyi’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Tara Hess, please accept this Phlox caespitosa’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Ice, please accept this Phlox carolina’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Hematite, please accept this Phlox condensata’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Deflubs, please accept this Phlox cuspidata’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, TheFloorGuy, please accept this Phlox diffusa’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Akemidy, please accept this Phlox divaricata’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, vicky moch, please accept this Phlox douglasii’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Diana-Maria, please accept this Phlox drummondii’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Links to support this translation and access to 8 advanced chapter (Patreon & Kofi)
> Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LibraryKeyTranslations
> Kofi-Euro: https://ko-fi.com/wanthetranslator
> Kofi-USD: https://ko-fi.com/wanthetranslatorusd
Did you see a mistake? 🐞
Leave a Reply