S Chapter 23

“Damn it…!”

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Someone blocked Jukyeong, who was trying to rush out. That was the moment Jukyeong lost his reason. He just wanted to create good memories. Jae-min had even given permission for them to eat the lunchbox his stepmother packed! He just wanted to see their smiling faces!

But reality was cruel. Eun, sobbing and wetting himself, and Jae-min, pale with fright, holding their youngest brother. …He brought them here for nothing. What if they were left with trauma? What if they were seriously injured somewhere? What if they regretted coming to play with him?

Jukyeong’s self-reproach soon turned into rage.

“Hey.”

A fist flashed right in front of the person’s nose.

“No time for this.”

An unusual dark red aura pulsed around him. Then, one punch. A violent boom echoed through the air.

Jukyeong left the person, who was falling helplessly, and quickly changed direction. Bang! Thankfully, he wasn’t too late. He kicked away a metallic mass that was about to fall on his brother.

“…!”

Jae-min looked at him. Although he knew his face wasn’t visible, he subconsciously turned his head. Then, realizing his mistake, Jukyeong hurriedly turned back around.

‘…Damn it.’

Why is that bastard lying there? With his eyes rolled back. And not even twitching.

‘F-f….’

Jukyeong sensed he was intensely screwed. The worst-case scenario had finally come true.

‘Let’s bolt for now.’

After dealing with the person, Jukyeong frantically fled, evading the hunters who were charging at him. It wasn’t a situation where explaining it was a misunderstanding would be believed.

‘This is why I tried to avoid it as much as possible. Damn it.’

“Haa… ha. No one followed, right?”

Jukyeong asked, catching his breath, and Eve replied.

“( ´ ▽ ` )~ Nope. Eve checked. No energy fluctuations detected.”

“That’s a relief… Hwoo.”

He leaned his head against the wall. He was a little far from the original spot, but with several explosions, he could probably just mumble something about being blown over and get away with it. The real problem was something else entirely.

‘This will definitely get me wanted… 100 percent.’

Jukyeong buried his face in his hands, messing up his hair. How was he supposed to accept this crazy turn of events? He felt like posting on Jishik-on. Well, even if he did, he’d probably only get answers like ‘KIN’.

“Haa…”

He knew better than anyone the Hunter Association’s persistence. They clearly wouldn’t give up until they caught him.

‘Tsk! Like leeches…’

The (former) leader of the leeches clicked his tongue. But there was no other way, so since things had turned out this way, he just had to evade them.

‘…As long as I don’t get caught, it’s fine, right?’

Jukyeong was too tired to think anymore! And what was urgent wasn’t ending up in jail. It was his brothers.

‘I need to rejoin the kids.’

Just as he was wondering whether to wait a little longer or get up. He heard a voice calling his name from afar.

“Shin Jukyeong!”

It was Jae-min. He was about to wave his hand in welcome, but for some reason, immense fatigue washed over him. His body swayed without a chance to resist. That’s strange. Eve should have covered a certain amount of magic, so why… Oh, don’t tell me.

‘Eve.’

“Yeah.”

‘…Did you eat?’

He asked just in case, and heard giggling.

“Yeah. I woke up and was so hungry! I ate a lot of Jukyeong’s energy. But it’s still not enough. I’ll eat more when it accumulates. Jukyeong is in danger right now.”

…Gee, thanks for the consideration. It would’ve been even more appreciated if you’d told me beforehand. Hmm, so you just sucked up the energy I barely had.

“From now on, tell me in advaaance…”

He collapsed like a bear hit by a tranquilizer dart. His tongue even lolled out slightly. If there were variety show subtitles, they would have put various pitiful captions. For example, ‘Jae-min, I’m sorry. Carry me… (thud)’.

The next day, early in the morning, his father’s summons came. It had been a long time since his failed Manifestation. He had a rough idea. Given his father’s personality, it wouldn’t be to check on his injured son’s condition.

‘This… is the road to getting lectured.’

Rumors would be circulating that the UA Group’s son was taken hostage. Because he hated being talked about by people for bad reasons.

“Father, it’s me. I’m coming in.”

Jukyeong knocked, then opened the study door. Amidst the wooden furniture, his father was visible. As always, he didn’t spare him a glance.

‘Still the same.’

He subtly tried to gauge his mood. He wondered if his mood was “extremely angry,” “moderately angry,” or “slightly angry.”

“Is that Jae-min?”

As he was squinting, playing ‘Guess Father’s Anger Level,’ a question suddenly came. How should he answer being suddenly asked if he was Jae-min? No, it’s Jukyeong? Hmm, it seemed like there was a set answer, but he didn’t know it.

Jukyeong pondered, then put his hands behind his back and entered “repentance mode.” Whether he was singing “Yalliyalli Yallashyeong Yallali Yalla” from Cheongsanbyeolgok in his head or not, his outward appearance had to convey a strong sense of ‘I’m guilty’. Only then would he get hit less. His calves, absolutely must protect.

“You’re not answering.”

How can I answer if I don’t know what you mean? Jukyeong quietly defied him.

“Shin Jukyeong, I asked if it was Cha Jae-min’s doing, taking Eun out without my permission and wandering around undignified.”

Ah… that’s what he meant? Jukyeong secretly clicked his tongue. Then he raised his head and responded firmly.

“No. I took them out.”

“…You?”

“Yes.”

It was enough for him to be the only one to suffer the consequences. And since it was true that he had taken Eun out, he wasn’t lying.

“…So, you took them out, did you.”

He didn’t regret protecting his brothers, but he feared the repercussions.

“By what right do you do this?”

His father asked, taking off his glasses. Jukyeong swallowed dryly once, then answered a half-beat late.

“Because… I’m their older brother.”

“Older brother?”

He heard a scoffing laugh. Despite that, as he stubbornly affirmed, stars flashed before his eyes.

‘…Did I get hit?’

His reaction was slow. He knew he’d be scolded, but he hadn’t expected to be slapped outright.

“Older brother? You have to be like an older brother to be one. You couldn’t even Manifest your abilities, you lost your health. What kind of older brother is a pathetic bastard who becomes a hostage right in front of his younger brothers? What makes you think you can talk back?”

“…”

It seemed this time he’d won the “extreme rage” prize. His luck at draws was truly awful.

“You’ve become very ill-mannered.”

His father muttered, heading towards the glass cabinet.

“Get up there, take it off.”

Jukyeong forced a bitter smile. Why had he never gotten used to his father’s caning? Funnily enough, he was afraid.

“…”

The smell of blood was strong. Blood seeped from his skin, dripping onto the floor and forming round stains. It was a good thing he had Eve contained beforehand; otherwise, she would have attacked his father.

Jukyeong praised Eve for waiting patiently, and frowned, his calves aching. It was more painful than he thought. Was it because a lot of emotion was involved?

‘…I’ll suffer for a while, it seems.’

He tidied his clothes and subtly glanced at his father. He was carefully wiping the blood-soaked cane and placing it back in the glass cabinet. There was no question of whether he was okay. Well, that was to be expected. After beating him thoroughly, next would be the nagging session.

As Jukyeong stood quietly, waiting for the remaining lecture time, a photo flew right in front of him.

“…?”

He picked it up first.

“Did you witness it yourself?”

That meant he should look. Jukyeong lowered his gaze and checked the photo. Oh, damn it. He almost swore. The blurry figure in the photo was Jukyeong. More precisely, the ‘Dreamland Eve version’. He was saved because his face wasn’t visible. His heart seemed to ask, ‘Am I going out again?’, and he shook his head. Stop coming out, you rascal.

“Answer.”

His father urged him.

‘I don’t know.’

He wanted to answer in an equally rude tone, but then it wouldn’t end with just sacrificing one calf.

“No… I didn’t see it. I’m sorry.”

“Tsk.”

Huh? You’re giving me a look? I’ll just collapse, then? Don’t underestimate the Ocean Sunfish. He might just throw up loudly in the street and call out his father’s name. Jukyeong grumbled inwardly.

“If only you had manifested as a Hunter, you would have easily caught a guy like that.”

…Does that mean he wants me to shadowbox in front of a mirror? Listening to it was like sitting on a bed of thorns. They say you have to be born with the talent to make people uncomfortable, and his father was truly a genius at it.

Anyway, after that, his father continued to express his disappointment.

“-So, you see.”

Fish eyes for mental health, activated.

“Shin Jukyeong?”

He flinched.

“Yes, uh, yes. Father.”

“-So, this guy.”

Having finished all his reproaches, he finally began to elaborate on the reason he had called Jukyeong. In summary, he was saying that the person in the photo was suspected of being involved in the club incident shown on TV and the clearing of an S-grade dungeon.

‘As expected, the Association has started to move.’

He had somewhat expected it.