Translator: Wan ED/PR: Solarin
67. Gap (7)
Kim Sinrok knew very well how he was treated by the Ho tribe, and he thought he was accustomed to it, but today was different.
Because Jeok-ho was on his side.
‘For this to happen when Jeokho-nim is here…!’
Jeok-ho was tied to the rack for a long time, and after he was released, Kim Sinrok didn’t meet him in front of the Ho tribe.
So Jeok-ho never personally witnessed how Kim Sinrok was treated by the Ho tribe.
Who knows about the time before he and Jeok-ho opened their hearts to each other and talked, but now Kim Sinrok knew how much Jeok-ho cherished his son.
Jeok-ho didn’t react at all until he released the Red Smoke.
But after that, Kim Sinrok felt suffocated just thinking about what he should say or what expression he should make.
It was obvious that if Kim Sinrok stayed here, everyone would worry about him, but he had hoped that Hwang-ho, Jeok-ho and Jo Uisin wouldn’t do that.
‘They are probably very upset… If I did my job a bit better, wouldn’t they agree, regardless of my birth status…?’
Kim Sinrok self-reproach himself with completely meaningless suppositions.
Even if Kim Sinrok was outstanding, that wouldn’t change their thoughts about him, who was born with the blood of the Ung — he was pathetic to kept thinking about ‘what ifs’.
The moment he left the bamboo forest, Kim Sinrok headed to the west gate right away.
As the sight of Eungwang School entered his eyes, his heart somewhat settled.
‘… There is a lot to do these days, so my overtime got longer. Should I go back to work?’
Meeting with Seong Gukeon under the guise of picking up Hwang Yuho.
Dispatch to the Yong tribe’s territory to torture the Dragon Slayer Cadmus.
Hospital visits and spying on Gye Idam.
He worked a lot these days, so he neglected his school work.
As today’s schedule was canceled, Kim Sinrok blankly thought it turned out well.
It was indeed a question whether he could focus on the school administrative work, but he didn’t have anything else to say.
“Sinrok-ah, where are you going?”
On the road leading to the faculty office, Yong Jegeon appeared and called out to Kim Sinrok.
The club activities ended a long time ago, but seeing how he was still at school, it seemed that Yeom Junyeol was also working late at school today.
Seeing how Yong Jegeon just called him ‘Sinrok-ah’ instead of ‘teacher Kim Sinrok-nim’, it seemed that no one was around.
Kim Sinrok hastened his steps while he roughly replied.
“To work.”
“Your expression is not good. Don’t worry too much about what other Ho tribe members say.”
“…!”
Startled, Kim Sinrok was about to respond when he stopped in his tracks.
He belatedly realized that he fell for Yong Jegeon’s unique way of speaking, but it was already too late.
Yong Jegeon seemed to have already guessed everything from the energy of Ho tribe members he felt on Kim Sinrok, Kim Sinrok’s expression and his reaction.
“You heard some nonsense from the Ho tribe members again, huh?”
“… Nothing particular.”
“I guess there really was something.”
“…”
Kim Sinrok ignored Yong Jegeon and shut his mouth.
Kim Sinrok really didn’t hear anything particular.
The reaction of that couple was on a pretty gentle side, considering they lost their descendant.
Rather, perhaps he should be thankful that they left some room, saying they will think about it.
“I want to drink some tea, can I come over to play?”
“It will soon be time for Yeom Junyeol to get off the school. Go, out quickly.”
Kim Sinrok reminded him of Yeom Junyeol.
That Game category Yong was also one of the worthless things, who were mad for their descendant, so he thought that if he brings up Yeom Junyeol’s name, he will step back right away.
But Yong Jegeon shook his head.
“Junyeol-i’s master came back home. I can leave guarding him on the way home to that dragon.”
“… Weren’t you waiting for a chance to go back with them?”
“I did, but now I feel like drinking tea.”
Kim Sinrok didn’t agree yet, but Yong Jegeon headed to the residential area with a smirk.
It seemed he was walking towards Kim Sinrok’s room at the teaching staff residence.
Yong Jegeon was sometimes fickle like that, who knew whether it was to bother Kim Sinrok or not.
‘… Just shove one tea cup at him and send him off.’
As it wasn’t the first time he experienced Yong Jegeon’s stubbornness, Kim Sinrok finally yielded first.
Kim Sinrok sincerely wanted to punch that bad friend, whose personality he couldn’t figure out, and throw a push tack at him.
But Kim Sinrok was weak towards that dragon, who stayed at his side as a friend, regardless of his birth status.
So instead of getting rid of Yong Jegeon, Kim Sinrok worried about what tea leaves and refreshments alongside them, he should serve.
“Sinrok-ah, you can’t show any gaps.”
“Uh?”
Suddenly Yong Jegeon said something he didn’t understand the meaning of.
Yong Jegeon stopped in his tracks and looked outside the distant school gate.
“’Eyes are persistently watching around the Eungwang School these days.”
* * *
In the end, Kim Sinrok left as if fleeing.
Hwang Jiho looked at him with a soft expression and tried to hold him back, asking to go eat dinner with them, but he wasn’t able to stop Kim Sinrok from leaving.
The tigers, who gave up on forcibly holding him down, blankly stared.
It was obvious for Hwang Jiho and Juk-ho, but even Jeok-ho was the same.
After some time passed in silence, Jeok-ho opened his mouth.
“… Was it always like this?”
Jeok-ho’s expressionless face crumbled.
“When I wasn’t there for my child…”
“…”
Jeok-ho couldn’t finish, and Hwang Jiho also couldn’t answer.
He neither denied it, nor did he say anything to smooth over this situation.
Frankly, the reaction that Ho tribe’s couple showed today wasn’t the worst.
Because while they called themselves sinners, they never said it was because of Jeok-ho and Kim Sinrok.
Jeok-ho stared at Hwang Jiho, who didn’t say anything, with a twisted face.
“… I’ll leave first.”
In the end, Jeok-ho left first.
Seeing how he disappeared by wrapping himself in Red Smoke and erasing his presence, he didn’t seem to wish to run into anybody.
As such, Jeok-ho’s destination wasn’t the Hwang Myeong-ho’s great mansion.
Nothing would change even if we waited here, so we decided to just leave.
However, as the Garden still wasn’t completely stable yet, Juk-ho couldn’t leave the bamboo forest.
“It was a pleasure meeting You today. Contact me if anything happens.”
Before I and Hwang Jiho left the bamboo forest, Juk-ho handed me his device code, while saying goodbye.
That ‘anything’ probably included the wellbeing of Juk-ho’s disciple Kim Yuri.
After giving him my own device code, we stepped out of the bamboo forest.
Perhaps because the sun had set, or perhaps because the atmosphere was completely different from when we came, our footsteps were very heavy.
‘Usually, I would just say that I’m going back to the dormitory.’
But seeing how the tigers had looked, it was strangely difficult to say that I’m going to go.
I didn’t know what the answer would be to tactfully excuse myself.
Walking through the bamboo forest, I was filled with worries.
When we completely left the bamboo thickets, I came to a conclusion.
“I want to visit Eun-ho’s descendants today.”
Hwang Jiho, who was walking ahead of me, turned back to look at me.
Eun Seoho and Eun Yiho were busy preparing for the Eungwang School’s entrance exams, so I thought he might say I should go back in consideration of what they were working on today.
“Okay, those children will happily welcome you.”
But Hwang Jiho didn’t refuse and nodded right away.
While Hwang Jiho moved Hwang Yuho, who was stationed in the mansion, to prepare dinner, he drove a nail into my heart.
“Seoho and Yiho were studying until late today, so they didn’t have dinner yet. That turned out well, eh?”
How important it was to eat your meals on time! Yet the kids didn’t eat yet?!
As I spouted, I have no idea what was good about it, Hwang Jiho laughed.
We’ve quickly arrived at the mansion, while I listened to that laughter.
I often visited Hwang Myeong-ho’s great mansion, but I thought it had been a long time since I came to the main building.
The moment I crossed the entrance.
Poof! Bang bang!
With the sound of fireworks exploding, my vision was covered by confetti.
As I looked around in surprise, Hwang Jiho was already way behind me, as if he expected this to happen.
Looking forward, I saw Eun-ho’s descendants with fireworks, conical hats and a cake box.
“Happy birthday, Uisin hyung! Though it’s late.”
“We prepared it hastily, so the cake was a ready-made one. Next time, we will make a custom-made or handmade cake!”
“… I want to take a picture with You.”
Before, Eun-ho’s descendants said they wanted to see me on my birthday, but in the end I didn’t have time to meet hem.
I chose to go see the descendants after I met with Eun-ho, but for some reason, I was a bit reluctant.
In truth, it was no different from avoiding meeting with Eun-ho’s descendants, so seeing them congratulate me on my birthday, I felt truly sorry.
“Thank you, I’m sorry I couldn’t come to meet you in the meantime.”
“It’s fine! We will often see Uisin oppa in the future, so that’s no problem!”
“We’re going to attend the same school from next year, so that’s fine.”
Eun Seoho and Eun Yiho excitedly told me how they were preparing for Eungwang School and how they’re going to enter class 0.
… But was it already confirmed that they’re going to enter the class 0?
Why were they talking like it was already fixed that they would become class 0’s juniors?
“… They prepared a few star turns to show during the interview. I believe that if they do it, they will surely be assigned to the class 0.”
“Even Hwangho-nim said so! We’re certainly going to be class 0.”
“We will practice even harder until the interview.”
What the hell were the star turns they prepared for Hwang Jiho to say that?!
It seemed that the reason Eun Seoho and Eun Yiho were busy wasn’t just because they were preparing for the exams.
It seemed that the two siblings were busy preparing for the interview, no, the start turn.
“… I also want to go to Eungwang School.”
On the other hand, Eun Jaeho, who still had many years until he would become a highschooler, couldn’t hide his sadness.
Eun Jaeho took pictures with the device, and soothed his loneliness while looking at those pictures, but it seemed insufficient.
If possible, I hoped that the three of them would attend the Eungwang School together… but it seemed a tad difficult for a ten years old.
I knew it was difficult, but I still asked:
“Can’t descendants also manipulate their apparent age?”
“Not as much as Jin people, but it’s possible to a degree. But it’s difficult if they’re not an adult.”
Hwang Jiho spoke decisively.
Hwang Jiho was a fool for the descendants, he would transfer Eun Jaeho to the 1st year class 0 right now if Eun Jaeho wanted, so why did he spoke like this?
Eun Jaeho, who perked up his ears with a face filled with secret expectations, couldn’t repress his disappointment.
“However, I prepared another way. Don’t worry too much.”
Hwang Jiho looked at Eun Jaeho and said.
Eun Jaeho tiptoed to Hwang Jiho with a face full of expectations right away.
The eyes of Eun Jaeho were twinkling brightly looking up at Hwang Jiho.
“A different way? Can I too go to Eungwang School next year?”
“Hahaha! Eungwang School is a bit difficult. That’s not the other way I’m talking about.”
Hwang Jiho laughed excitedly, as if happy that Eun Jaeho tried to act spoiled.
The frequency of laughter decreased compared to usual, but it seemed he regained his energy right away at Eun Jaeho’s baby acting.
“I think I’ll be able to seize the Gwangli Elementary School next year. The safety problems, well… If you act with me in the guise of Hwang Yuho, there won’t be any problems.”
“That… then… perhaps…”
Eun Jaeho’s eyes gradually grew larger.
“Yeah, you can attend the elementary school with me. How about it?”
“Yes! I’ll attend! Thank You, Hwangho-nim!”
Eun Jaeho thanked Hwang Jiho with tearful eyes.
He seemed truly happy, as if he didn’t expect he would be able to attend school.
When the geezer said he was going to seize the elementary school, it sounded just like nonsense, but I guess he had a plan.
On my a bit late birthday party, I accepted all kinds of paper crafts made by the descendants, but the biggest gift was the news of Eun Jaeho enrolling in elementary school.
After the party ended and before I left the mansion, I spoke to Hwang Jiho.
“Can I get the contact information of Those People?”
“… Those People?”
I spoke, as I thought about the Ho couple, who lost their descendant.
“People I met today.”
*~*~*
Translator’s note: Haa, I guess the biggest gaps in our hearts are left by the people who are not here…
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