Translator: Wan ED/PR: Solarin
31. Ghost stories, paintings and clues (5)
Children born into famous bloodlines could be divided into two types.
First, the type which lives up to the expectations of those around them.
Star Player Yeom Junyeol, whose father was the team master of Red Lion, Yeom Bangyeol and mother was a Yong tribe’s descendant, was one of them.
And second, the type which completely fails to meet the expectations of those around.
Song Daeseok was like that.
Min Guerin was the only one who treated that Song Daeseok as a childhood friend living next door and not as Iron Arm’s grandson.
‘She said that she is going to the study group with the class children today, but we will eat dinner together.’
Min Geurin started to wear glasses, which she said she received from the class vice president, and attend school.
At first, she was only listening to the morning class and then came back straight away.
However, soon she started to eat lunch together with the class friends and spent time with them and then came back.
Then she sometimes remained in school until afternoon and even went to her friend’s house to play after classes.
‘Geurin is changing.’
While Min Geurin went out with friends, the time Song Daeseok spent alone gradually increased.
He thought that was good, but on the other hand, there were times when his anxiety surged.
‘Isn’t Geurin like this because of me? I have to congratulate her if she starts to change.’
The harassment that became a trigger of Min Geurin’s trauma.
The reason for it was Song Daeseok.
His tall and good-looking appearance seemed like a reenactment of Great Hero Iron Arm Song Manseok’s youth days.
Song Daeseok was born with excellent superpowers and a good family.
Because of that there were children who didn’t think nicely about him being close with Min Geurin and burned with even more jealousy.
‘I should be happy. Why can’t I do that?!’
Song Daeseok realized too late the harassment Min Geurin suffered and that he was one of the reasons.
It was just when Song Daeseok himself was on the edge, because he was crushed by surrounding expectations.
In the end, Song Daeseok who realized the reality, became truant like Min Geurin.
‘A hour passed since the time we usually meet. Did the study group got prolonged? I may disturb them if I call, what to do?’
In front of the house.
Song Daeseok stared at the device’s clock as he leaned against the wall.
‘Let’s wait just 10 more minutes and then contact her. No, just 5 more minutes.’
3 minutes didn’t pass after he thought so, but Song Daeseok ended up calling Min Geurin without even realizing it.
5 seconds… 12 seconds…….. 30 seconds.
No matter how much he waited, Min Geurin didn’t accept the call.
One time, second time… fifth time.
In the head of Song Daeseok, who heard the robot voice say that she is absent and to leave a message, only frightening him and horrible ideas appeared.
‘Let’s try to call a different person!’
The first person to come to mind was his and Min Geurin homeroom teacher-nim, Ham Geun-hyeong.
However, he couldn’t contact him.
‘Teacher-nim is not picking up!’
Next person to recall was Min Geurin’s master, Painter Hong Gyeongbok.
If he thought calmly, there was no way she was going to visit Hong Gyeongbok, who was currently in a remote mountain area of Gangwon province.
Song Daeseok didn’t think rationally even for a moment.
“Painter-nim! This is Daeseok. Geurin, Geurin, she didn’t come back from school. I can’t contact her. Perhaps, did Geurin go to visit painter-nim?”
[… Daeseok? Daeseok! What was that you said about Geurin?]
“Currently there are people harassing Geurin by posting strange comments in Eungwang School! Right now malicious comments aren’t coming up. I said I can’t contact Geurin!”
Song Daeseok’s nonsense-like words continued.
Hong Gyeongbok, who received a call after a few years, was embarrassed, but he quietly listened to his words, as Song Daeseok was no different from his own grandson.
After he finished all his words while fumbling, Hong Gyeongbok opened his mouth:
[I’ll look into it. Don’t be too worried and wait. Got it?]
“… Yes.”
[And did you try to contact Geurin’s family?]
Min Geurin’s family.
After the incident, Song Daeseok couldn’t face them, so after just apologizing to them, he continued to avoid them.
If not for Min Geurin who endured waiting in front of his door every day until he opened the door and let them meet, he would also distance himself from her.
“Not yet… I’ll contact them.”
[Okay. Take care of yourself. Let’s see Geurin together next time, okay?]
After his call with Hong Gyeongbok ended.
Song Daeseok hesitated for a few minutes, and then finally called Min Geurin’s mother.
[O my, for the world! Who is this!? Daeseok, did something happen? Were you living well?]
Min Geurin’s mother, even though he contacted her after a long time, responded with joy.
However, because Song Daeseok was in a hurry, he didn’t even greet her and spoke about his business without warning.
“Is Geurin home?”
[Geurin is going to study at her friend’s house today and then come back. Geurin’s class friend even contacted to say she will be late.]
“Did you talk with Geurin personally?”
[No. Geurin was sleeping, so we couldn’t talk.]
She said that she didn’t personally talk with Min Geurin?
It seemed that Song Daeseok’s vision was turning dark.
Having no idea about his mindset, Min Geurin’s mother chatted as she was in a good mood.
[Geurin’s class president personally contacted me. How well-behaved and kind this class president is! It seems that Geurin’s friends are good and kind, so I’m really…]
Before Min Geurin’s superpowers bloomed.
Once she was dragged away by the children who took a lead in harassing her and almost suffered a serious accident.
If she miraculously didn’t awaken her powers and couldn’t escape…
He hated to even imagine it.
Rather than stop thinking, Song Daeseok panicked and shouted:
“How do you know if Geurin is really sleeping at a friend’s home? You didn’t even hear Geurin personally speak, remember? She may be in such danger that we can’t even contact her, you know!?”
After such a sound, the voice, which was heard through the device, was suddenly cut off.
He regretted making a loud sound too late, but current Song Daeseok didn’t have time to apologize.
“Did you hear the so-called friend’s address? If not, can you please contact them and ask? I’ll check whether Geurin is there or not.”
After he forcibly received the address.
Song Daeseok ran towards the address without stopping.
He never went outside, but following Min Geurin’s suggestion, he trained together with her every day.
Thanks to that he wasn’t tired, but his insides were bursting with worry about Min Geurin.
‘It’s here!’
House with a garden like a painting.
It didn’t feel very dangerous, but Song Daeseok’s nerves were tense just like before.
‘The dog bastards who harassed Geurin appeared sane on the surface. I can’t be careless!’
Song Daeseok ran to the door without stopping and then started to repeatedly press the doorbell.
Ding, ding, dingdingdingding.
But the door didn’t open.
He senses several people moving inside and having a conversation, but there was no trace of Min Geurin.
Anxious, Song Daeseok pressed the doorbell even faster.
Dingdingdingdingdingdingdingdingdingdingding.
Ping–!
At last, with a mechanical sound, the front door opened.
And on the sofa.
He saw Min Geurin sleeping with a very serene expression.
***
Song Daeseok searched inside with bloodshot eyes, and then his gaze fixed on Min Geurin after discovering her.
‘Seems like nothing enters his eyes but Min Geurin.’
After Song Daeseok discovered Min Geurin, he started to run towards her straight away.
Because he entered with such great force, he almost hit the shoulder of Hwang Jiho, who was at the front to press the door shutting button, but…
Shhak.
Hwang Jiho very provocatively and lightly avoided it.
Pity.
“Geurin.”
Song Daeseok kneeled down on his knees and looked down at sleeping Min Geurin.
Because of the noise around, she half-opened her eyes as if waking up.
“Calligraphy paper… not rubber, paper weight made from wood… horsetail brush…”
Hearing Min Geurin talk nonsense, it seemed that she was still half dreaming.
Song Daeseok stroked her head, as she continued to list the names of art supplies.
“Okay. Got it.”
“Daeseok…?”
“Sleep more.”
She, who was blinking her eyes after that, closed her eyes again and started to breathe evenly.
Song Daeseok, who quietly looked down at her sleeping, lightly took her, still in a blanket, into his arms.
“Hoh!”
“Wow…”
In the 1st year class 0, Min Geurin was the shortest.
Song Daeseok was similar in height like the tallest in our class, Hwang Jiho.
Maybe it was because of the height difference, his princess carrying’s posture was very stable.
The children, who saw this scene, which no matter how one looked, looked like nothing but a salting couple[1], lowered their voices to whisper:
“This Person had a scary atmosphere, but He is warm-hearted.” [2]
“This is the first time I see a princess carry in reality. What to do!?”
Kwon Lena’s face turned red while she looked at Min Geurin held in Song Daeseok’s arms.
On the first day of school, I held Kwon Lena in my arms to move her, but it didn’t seem to count.
“His complexion isn’t good, but his physical strength seems fine.”
“Looks like he has an aptitude, eh?”
In the midst of that, Han Yi and Hwang Jiho were evaluating Song Daeseok.
The two had a common corner besides Taehokwon, huh?
The most trustworthy person to take action in this situation was as expected the talented class president with her maxed level of sociability, Kim Yuri.
“You’re Geurin’s childhood friend Daeseok, right? I heard a lot about you from Geurin.”
Song Daeseok, who was about to step outside, halted.
“Don’t go straight away, sit down for a bit and then go. Are you hungry? There is still pizza remaining!”
After hearing those words, as if we entered Song Daeseok’s eyes, he started to look around.
Cozy living room space which Kim Yuri decorated with great effort to look like a cafe.
Opened textbooks and scattered writing supplies here and there.
Chicago deep-dish pizza lying on the living room table.
There was nothing that could be dangerous for Min Geurin.
‘Song Daeseok should have realized that.’
He would feel it as he looked at our class’ kind children and peacefully sleeping Min Geurin.
“…”
Song Daeseok, who stood without a word for a while, shook his head.
When Kim Yuri replied with a friendly ‘Shame… Then come to play next time!’.
He hesitated and then asked:
“… Can I borrow the blanket?”
“Of course! Please give it back tomorrow through Geurin.”
Song Daeseok, who was about to leave while holding Min Geurin in his arms, stopped at the doorsteps and opened a holographic screen.
“If something happens to Geurin in the future, contact me first.”
On the opened hologram was Song Daeseok’s device code.
After Song Daeseok, who appeared like a storm, disappeared.
“You know, I think those two are dating.”
“I-I think the same! What should we do?”
Kim Yuri and Kwon Lena’s faces turned red and then they closed their mouths.
In any case, I failed to capture Song Daeseok today, but I secured a method of contact.
Like this, the first 1st year class 0’s final exam preparation study group came to an end.
***
Dormitory room I returned to after finishing the study group.
Even today, unread messages piled up on the device.
The most messages were sent by Ok Toyeon.
[Ok Toyeon] Benefactor, benefactor.
[Ok Toyeon] I heard that benefactor is close with Seoho, Niho and Jaeho.
[Ok Toyeon] So my ban to enter the Eungwang District is going to end tomorrow and I’m going to meet the descendants! What do you think will be good to buy for the descendants?
[Ok Toyeon] Benefactor…
[Ok Toyeon] Hey.
[Ok Toyeon] Quickly, answer me! __ __
I was starting to greatly sympathize with Hwang Jiho’s attitude of being annoyed with Ok Toyeon.
It was a gift someone already decided to give, but it was a gift that Eun-ho’s descendants seemed will like the most.
[Me] It’s an amusement park.
I thought that a reply like ‘Don’t joke around’ would come, but Ok Toyeon’s reaction looked different.
[Ok Toyeon] Amusement park? You’re talking about theme parks? Good. I’m going to look into it now! Thx thx!
Don’t look into it, there are no amusement parks you can buy because you want to buy it.
And, nevertheless, the one amusement park to be sold was decided to be bought by Hwang Jiho.
There is a way to build a fresh new amusement park, but thinking about selecting the site and making attractions, it would take a few years.
After a moment, a message arrived from Ok Toyun.
[Ok Toyun] Benefactor-nim. Please don’t tease Toyeon too much.
[Ok Toyun] Though I understand benefactor-nim’s feelings.
I couldn’t think of Ok Toyun who would suffer in the middle of this.
I reflected for a bit, and then checked the next message.
[Hong Gyubin] Uisin, have you been well?
[Hong Gyubin] These days I don’t have to work overtime, so I have a lot of time! ^^!
[Hong Gyubin] Among those, is there a place you want to go eat or want to go see? I’ll buy everything. ^^!!
[Hong Gyubin] (Link)
Clicking the link, a list of great restaurants and department stores from everywhere opened.
Why is Hong Gyubin suddenly like this?
Before I even checked the end of the list, Hong Gyubin sent an additional message.
[Hong Gyubin] I want to also go together with the Newspaper Club children, can I ask you to call them? There is a lot to talk about ^^!!!!
I have a guess as he suddenly talked about the Newspaper Club.
‘Did he still not give up on his lingering feelings for the Jegal Jaegeol magazine 1st print edition?!’
Even if they feel sorry, the members of the Newspaper Club had no thoughts of giving away the 1st edition.
Didn’t they responded they can’t give it even when 2nd year class 0 raided?
After leaving the words there is no way that other Newspaper Club’s members will hand over their 1st edition, I checked the next message.
[Seong Siwan] Uisin, is ghost stories investigation going well?
It was a message which came from my ghost stories investigation partner this time, the Earthly Wings Council president Seong Siwan.
[Me] Yes. I received guidance from the 3rd year class 0’s class president senior-nim about Heavenly Wings Mountain and we also talked about different ghost stories.
In addition, I attached and sent a map with the organized information obtained thanks to Woo Gihwan.
[Seong Siwan] Gihwan takes good care of his class 0 junior, huh? ㅎㅎㅎ [3]
It didn’t exactly seem like Woo Gihwan gave me this information to take care of me.
[Seong Siwan] I also heard plausible information, so I planned to check it out!
[Me] Plausible information?
[Seong Siwan] I heard there is a secret passage between the Student Council Hall and Guideline Club Hall in the central zone.
It was information I also heard for the first time.
*~*~*
[1] salting couple – salting in the meaning of someone’s actions arousing someone’s anger, jealousy or generally ‘I’m sick of it’ vibe.
[2] “This Person had a scary atmosphere, but He is warm-hearted.” – Sawol Seeum’s sentence.
[3] ㅎㅎㅎ – ‘hahaha’
Translator’s note: My chapter title ㅠㅠ You’re back ㅠㅠ I’m glad…
Did you see a mistake? 🐞
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