Translator: Wan ED/PR: Personal Ghost
19. Eternal Lake’s team master’s performance in Korea (6)
When the carnation’s giving ceremony was finished, it was dinnertime.
The dinner’s menu was Han-jeongsik[1].
Shiitake mushroom pancakes, pallack pancakes, pumpkin pancakes and gujeol-pan[2] with thinly sliced, spicy braised beef ribs.
The main dish was sinseollo[3] and as its other name ‘beautiful meal’ suggested, every bite was a delight for the mouth.
I helped out the youngest, Eun Jaeho, who couldn’t reach the sinseollo and was flustered, and the oldest and the second also immediately stretched out their bowls.
“Gingko and shiitake please…!”
“A lot of fried shrimps please!”
“Okay, eat a lot.”
“Thank you.”
The three, who didn’t do that before, were asking to be fed.
Eun-ho’s three descendants siblings said they made as many carnations as the number of the Ho tribe members and descendants they knew, so that may have been the reason.
‘I guess they’re really tired.’
As the three were tired, after observing what side dishes they reached out to most often, I handed them my portion. They were delighted.
Then, Hwang Jiho, who was observing this scene with shining eyes, had an incident.
“Eat.”
Imitating me, Hwang Jiho filled the youngest, Eun Jaeho’s bowl with abalone and sea cucumber.
‘But this kid doesn’t particularly like seafood.’
Eun Jaeho couldn’t even eat it and looked down at the plate in front of him with tearful eyes as if he couldn’t move his hand to eat.
Tok.
“Ah…”
Baek Ho-gun, who watched this, silently changed the plate to the plate filled with beef ribs.
“Haa. Hwangho-nim, Baekho-nim. Thank you…”
Eun Jaeho, who was freed from the oppression of the seafood, thanked them late.
Hwang Jiho made a subtle expression and Baek Ho-gun continued the meal with a cold face.
It seems that Baek Ho-gun is better at looking after children than Hwang Jiho.
***
On the road leading towards the dormitory.
Me and Baek Ho-gun slowed down our steps to match Snare’s pace, who walked slowly and carefully in small steps.
Usual Snare would frantically run between me and Baek Ho-gun, but I guess today it was worried about dropping the paper flower crown.
‘When it ran in the corridor earlier and dropped the flower crown, it made an expression like it lost everything in the world.’
In that moment, Snare had stopped as if someone pressed a pause button.
It stood frozen until Baek Ho-gun put the paper flower crown on its head again.
I think the three siblings took a recording of it, so I should ask them for it later.
***
After ending the long walk with Snare and Baek Ho-gun, dormitory.
Before crossing the 1st year building’s entrance I put the carnation in the inventory window.
While heading towards my room, thinking I may be able to sleep soundly today, I ran into an unexpected person and halted.
“… Uh, vice president.”
17th floor public-use central lounge.
The hour was quite late, but Maeng Hyodon was absent-mindedly sitting on the sofa in the lounge.
Usually there were always three or four people reading a book or playing something on a hologram in the lounge.
Now there was no one but Maeng Hyodon.
‘Many people among 2nd and 3rd years remain in the dormitory, but most 1st years go home. Sawol Seeum also said he is going home today… Today’s Parent’s Day so Maeng Hyodon’s mind will be complicated.’
The lawsuit between Maeng Hyodon and his father who sold him was still in progress.
After the Birthday Cake Smash case Maeng Hyodon didn’t touch the topic of his father even once.
He may not talk about it, but it wasn’t that he didn’t have thoughts about it at all.
“What are you doing here?”
“Just existing.”
My plan to head towards my room was changed as I turned around and sat on the sofa opposite of Maeng Hyodon.
“Are you not going home today?”
“I canceled the contract before coming to the dormitory, so I don’t have a home.”
“What are you saying?”
I answered Maeng Hyodon’s question too honestly.
I tried to find appropriate words.
It was regrettable, but I just spoke factually without hiding the information.
“It’s been some time since my parents and younger siblings departed. There was no one to look after the outside house when I left, so before coming to the dormitory I made arrangements.”
“… Uh, sorry.”
Maeng Hyodon had an ashamed expression as if he thought he made a tongue-slip.
“… When was it?”
Maeng Hyodon forced himself to speak, trying to somehow lighten the heavy atmosphere.
It seems I made a mistake saying ‘it’s been some time’.
From my perspective it was a long time, but in this world it happened last fall.
“Last year.”
Clang!
At my reply, Maeng Hyodon banged his head against the wall behind the sofa.
I didn’t think he would injure his stone head, but I was worried about the dormitory’s wall.
“Aaai, ah, fuck… sorry.”
“What are you sorry for?”
“Ah, anyway, I say I’m sorry!”
The atmosphere became heavy.
There were no people, and the conversation was suddenly cut off.
While I was contemplating if I should take a beverage from the vending machine, Maeng Hyodon spoke up first.
“… Hey, homeroom teacher and lawyers said to never contact him. I don’t know what I should do.”
I could guess who the subject of ‘not contacting’ was.
Maeng Hyodon was obviously talking about his father who sold him to the Fight Club and was currently an unemployed, jobless trash with multiple lawsuits from different moneylenders hanging on him.
Maeng Hyodon chose to escape from the Fight Club, but I guess internally he couldn’t completely cut connections with his father.
‘Maeng Hyodon is only 17 years old. Even after undergoing all of it, it would be difficult for him to cut the connection with his father in one fell swoop.’
He forced his gaze to turn from the wall he banged his head against towards the ceiling.
“… I heard that watching him pay for his sins and obtaining a chance to rehabilitate is also filial piety, but I’m not sure.”
He was a trash who achieved nothing beyond providing Maeng Hyodon the opportunity to be born.
I wanted to simply say he shouldn’t contact him.
‘In any case, there is no need to tell it again to Maeng Hyodon who didn’t contact him.’
Even though he said ‘I’m not sure’, Maeng Hyodon didn’t touch the device.
Though he was agonizing, he wasn’t the type of guy who would not listen to advice given by Ham Geun-hyeong or lawyers who had helped him.
Swish—.
The conversation was cut again and I only heard the sound of the air cleaner turning.
As the silence prolonged, I decided to start talking to change the conversation topic.
“Did you eat?”
“… No.”
I was waiting for Maeng Hyodon’s usual taste review.
The gourmet and big eater Maeng Hyodon, who had memorized all the menu items in the dormitory cafeteria, skipped dinner!
I guess he was seriously worried.
When you’re hungry, you will have more useless thoughts.
He has to eat something.
“Let’s go to the convenience store.”
Inside the elevator descending to the 1st floor.
As there were no people around, I expected it would go straight to the 1st floor, but it stopped mid-floors.
“Our classmates.”
“Uh? Hi…!”
As Maeng Hyodon said, it was Lee Lena and Han Yi.
Those two didn’t have a home to return to, so they stayed in the dormitory, huh?
“We’re going to a convenience store. Where are you going?”
“We wanted to go on a walk. Lena was in the lounge continuously refreshing the page, so my head hurts.”
I guess Lee Lena was still in the cancellation ticket’s hell.
I finished my conversation with Hwang Jiho, so I should quickly liberate Lee Lena from hell.
“Let’s go to the convenience store together then. If they have a 3+1 event, let’s divide what we buy and eat together.”
“Okay.”
“Yeah….! I hope they have an ice cream discount.”
While moving towards the convenience store located outside the Eungwang School’s grounds, I talked about the staff seat that may be available.
After hearing that, energy returned to Lee Lena’s tired face.
“Wow, woah! Really? I want to do it, for sure!”
“Well done, Lena.”
“Yeah…!”
In case there was not only one staff seat left, it seemed to be a good idea to ask for other kids afterwards.
Though Han Yi and Maeng Hyodon said they already secured the part time jobs on the day of Kwon Jane’s Korea performance so there was no way for them to come.
The four of us bought a lot of gimbap triangles, breads, snacks and ice cream in the convenience store.
We spent the time until the end of 8th May together, eating the snacks in the 1st dormitory building’s 1st floor lobby, men&women public lounge.
***
The time was still before midnight.
Kim Sinrok visited Hwang Myeong-ho’s mansion.
“My apologies. I had some matters to discuss with the Head of School Affairs-nim, so I’m late. Hwangho-nim, Baekho-nim. Did Jo Uisin-gun already go home?”
Hwang-ho and Baek-ho sat on the sofa in the living room. The two Mythical category Ho tribe members’ collars were decorated with paper carnations.
“Yeah. The talk is finished. And Jo Uisin also returned to the dormitory.”
Hwang-ho was making a somewhat mischievous expression.
‘What kind of order is He thinking of giving out again?’
Beforehand, when Kim Sinrok said he may not be able to come here, Hwang-ho threatened him ‘Be certain to come to the mansion today’.
After Hwang-ho recently regained his enthusiasm, the Ho tribe’s work became rough.
The Ho tribe members were happy about Hwang-ho’s change, but because of the increased workload, they felt like dying.
Even descendant Kim Sinrok had his sleep time significantly reduced.
“This flower is your share. Kids were waiting for you, but they fell asleep. As this day didn’t end yet, I was entrusted with it.”
Hwang-ho picked up one of the paper carnations lying on the table and handed it over to him.
As he approached the sofa, he saw Eun-ho’s three descendants and the divine beast sleeping on the sofa and on the rug.
Kim Sinrok couldn’t even imagine receiving a carnation.
Even as he received the carnation from Hwang-ho’s hands, he had a dazed expression.
“… Thank you.”
He took the treasure-like paper carnation and put it on his chest.
“There is also a paper carnation made for Jeok-ho, but wouldn’t it be good if you handed it to him?”
Kim Sinrok was a teacher mixing among humans for dozens of years while changing his identities.
He was well aware what day today was and what meaning the carnations had.
Kim Sinrok couldn’t even glance at one artificial flower remaining on the table.
“No. I think it would be better for the children to give it to Jeokho-nim.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Yes. I think so.”
Kim Sinrok’s expression was unnatural as if he put on a mask.
“If the business is finished, then I shall go back. I have to submit records for the National and Seoul Assembly Hall for this week. Hwangho-nim, Baekho-nim, I’ll be going.”
Kim Sinrok didn’t give Hwang-ho a chance to speak more and after giving a polite goodbye, he turned his back.
After Kim Sinrok disappeared outside of the mansion, Hwang-ho opened his mouth again.
“It doesn’t look like he even believes in what he is saying, so I guess he hates it quite a bit.”
Hwang-ho looked at Baek-ho as he spoke:
“Jeok-ho and Kim Sinrok are both stupid. Don’t you think so, Baek-ho?”
As Hwang-ho expected, Baek-ho didn’t even reply.
***
On the weekend, Yu Sang-hun and Jang Namuk, the three of us met to play.
“Hey, why do you look so tired?”
“I was playing with the dormitory guys last night, so I went to sleep late.”
“What, Uisin. As teenagers, it’s important to get an appropriate amount of sleep. Your growth development will drop and your learning capabilities will decrease. The studies on the influence of particular lack of sleep on the growth of supernatural powers are in progress, but…”
Even today Jang Namuk’s nagging was unchanged.
Pretending to listen to Jang Namuk’s nagging, we arrived at the movie theater.
Yu Sang-hun said there was a movie he wanted to see, so the first on the schedule was the movie review.
The movie Yu Sang-hun chose was a Hollywood blockbuster with a cameo of the Korean Wave[4] star Player.
Contrary to what excessive posters advertised, there were only a few lines and scenes featuring that Korean Wave star Player.
Even so, after the movie ended, Yu Sang-hun mentioned those very few scenes quite a few times.
‘I guess Yu Sang-hun is a fan of that Player.’
Activating the supernatural power just before landing was exquisite, and the shooting style in the scene where he played basketball with the main character was perfect.
I guess that Korean Wave Player also played basketball, so Yu Sang-hun liked him.
Then the topic changed.
“I heard that you and Sihu’s second cousin hyung are childhood friends. Especially Sang-hui noona was said to be cherished as that second cousin hyung’s benefactor…”
“Ah, what shit childhood friends.”
I guess we’re talking about To Wonu.
Yu Sang-hun cut Jang Namuk’s words, expressing violent animosity.
“Did something bad happen? I heard nothing but compliments on their side.”
“… He turned a complete madman into just a madman.”
In the end, either way a madman seemed to be of the same mad kind.
Saying that, Yu Sang-hun’s expression crumbled terribly.
It looked like Yu Sang-hun had no thoughts of talking about what the story with To Wonu was.
As if Jang Namuk also thought as much, he changed the subject.
“Ah, I heard that from Sihu. I think it may be good if you leave some free time on the next or next-next weekend.”
“Why?”
“I heard that Ju-Oh and TC groups plan to hold a party and give prizes on their level for the Children’s Day Jamsil Baseball Stadium incident.”
They’re doing something like that?
If there is something like that, the school will be contacted next week.
‘It’s a chance to participate with the main character. If they will hold a party, I want to participate for sure.’
After the three of us suffered a terrible defeat eating naengmyeon[5] and grilled pork belly for five people, we played in the VR games room.
Was it because I didn’t particularly play games besides PMH?
My win-rate was the lowest among the three. The overwhelming victor seemed to be Yu Sang-hun.
We played until Jang Namuk’s curfew time drew near, then we promised ourselves next time and bid farewells.
***
The weekend ended and it was a working week again.
It was time for the Eternal Lake’s team master Kwon Jane’s Korea’s performance.
*~*~*
[1] Han-jeongsik – Korean Table d’hote – set meal of traditional dishes served with soup and rice.
[2] gujeol-pan – a set of eight vegetables and meats served in an octagonal wooden box.
[3] sinseollo – a type of luxurious hot-pot, sometimes called ‘royal hot pot’. It contains many vegetables and meats and the preparation time is quite long, so in the past it was said to be mainly served in royal court.
[4] Korean Wave – social phenomena of drastically rising global popularity of Korean media and culture since the 90’s.
[5] naengmyeon – a type of cold (usually) noodle soup.
Translator’s Note: I don’t think Jo Uisin looked tired just because he played with kids for the entire night…
Did you see a mistake? 🐞
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