S Chapter 69

He knew he would be scolded tomorrow, but he had no regrets. It wasn’t a bad thing for a brother to visit his sibling, was it? Shin Jukyeong opened the door to his brother’s room and stepped inside. The child was already asleep.

His breathing was steady, a soft huffing sound, and his plump stomach rose and fell. “He’s so sound asleep, I could carry him away and he wouldn’t know,” Shin Jukyeong chuckled. “It’s truly amazing. Just watching him makes me happy.”

‘Baby smell…’

He slowly knelt and rested his arms on the bed, leaning forward. A faint scent of baby powder reached him. The sweet, calming aroma naturally eased his tension. A gentle smile spread across his face.

‘His sleeping face is like an angel.’

Of course, he was like an angel when awake too.

Shin Jukyeong watched his brother for a long time, then lowered his head. Smooch, a sound came from the cheek, which was like a ripe peach. Seeing the chubby cheek, he couldn’t suppress the impulse. Still, it was a good thing he didn’t bite it.

“Uhmng…”

The tiny child squirmed, annoyed, turning his small body.

It was so absurdly cute that Shin Jukyeong chuckled silently again.

“Good night, Eun.”

He hoped his soft whispered goodnight greeting was properly delivered.

After that, Shin Jukyeong familiarly pulled out a sketchbook and crayons. The crayons looked infinitely small in his large hands. Scribble, scribble. With awkward movements, he wrote a reply and placed it beside Eun.

[Thank you, I love you.

-Your eldest brother-]

“-Therefore, I sincerely congratulate everyone on their admission, and each and every one of you will protect this nation with pride…”

On the high podium, Hunter Association Chairman Won Chung-bae was delivering an inaugural address, holding a microphone. The atmosphere was solemn. Even if Shin Jukyeong wanted to secretly do something else, there were too many eyes watching to even attempt it. It had already been 20 minutes.

Shin Jukyeong stifled a yawn and clapped in time. Clap, clap, clap. Soon, a rhythmic clapping filled the auditorium.

‘It’s just as boring now as it was in the past.’

Shin Jukyeong’s gaze drifted to the new students in the center of the auditorium. They stood in formation, dressed in blue uniforms. They maintained an astonishingly identical posture, looking straight ahead. They were clearly well-disciplined.

Of course, it was all a manufactured image.

‘It’s the result of practicing for a whole week before admission.’

Shin Jukyeong suddenly recalled his younger brother complaining, ‘Why do we have to do this? It’s not like we’re elementary school kids… Who practices this kind of thing these days? It’s so old-fashioned.’

It wasn’t just his brother. Clearly, nine out of ten of those guys were cursing inwardly. Hmm, he understood completely.

‘Because I was like that too.’

Shin Jukyeong’s lips curled into a slight smile. Seeing it from the perspective of someone who knew everything, it was a little funny.

‘Back then, I couldn’t even bend my back, let alone go to the restroom.’

Memories he’d rather not recall came flooding back. He could only endure it due to nervousness, he supposed?

‘Bending down after the entrance ceremony will be hell. A groan will just escape automatically.’

“We will always be cheering for you.”

Clap, clap, clap! Another round of applause erupted.

Oops, he almost missed it while zoning out.

Shin Jukyeong shook off his thoughts and quickly clapped his hands together.

After that, Won Chung-bae stepped down, and next, the top student and the Runner-up came up to the podium. Naturally, the top student was Won Go-yu. The Runner-up was… someone Shin Jukyeong had seen briefly during his professional days.

‘Since I’m not here, that guy became the Runner-up.’

Originally, he had entered as the top student, and Won Go-yu as the Runner-up, and they had read the oath.

‘So this is how the future changes.’

Now, observing the Hunter Academy entrance ceremony as an outsider, he felt a strange sensation.

‘It feels like I’ve become an extra in a drama.’

It was while he was lost in such idle thoughts that some people around him began to whisper.

“Was there originally one more person?”

“No. That’s him. The special admission.”

“Is that him?”

He followed the source of the whispers with his gaze. The face that came into view was someone Shin Jukyeong knew well. It was his younger brother, Yang U-dam, whose appearance seemed exceptionally radiant today.

Following the top student and the Runner-up, he also stepped onto the podium. Suddenly, the surroundings seemed several times brighter.

‘His face is a spotlight.’

It was around then that Shin Jukyeong’s focus sharpened. His blurry gaze gradually became clear.

‘I’ll say it again… he’s really handsome.’

He looked more like a model on a photoshoot than a Hunter Academy freshman. Shin Jukyeong unconsciously opened his mouth in admiration.

Was the uniform always that cool? Seeing his brother confidently raising his head on the podium, his heart throbbed. If there weren’t so many eyes watching, he might have let out a tearful cheer. No, he definitely would have.

‘He really made it this far. U-dam truly became a Hunter.’

He felt not just moved but also a sense of exhilaration. Shin Jukyeong decided to savor this moment.

However, unlike the joyful Shin Jukyeong, the surrounding reactions were unexpectedly not hopeful.

“Isn’t he getting too much special treatment?”

A sharp remark reached Shin Jukyeong’s ears. He instinctively turned his head.

His gaze fell upon a group of people. They seemed to be families of the freshmen, gathered together, badmouthing his brother. They chattered incessantly, each with a sneering smile.

“Of course, a Hunter should protect citizens… but he’s being highlighted too much. Aren’t all the other kids gathered here also manifested? It’s like they’re just props.”

“I don’t know why natural Ability Manifestation is such a big deal. It’s not like it’s never happened before.”

“Exactly. The hero treatment is going on too long.”

“Look at his face. Honestly, isn’t it because of his looks that he’s become such a news story?”

Shin Jukyeong listened silently to their words, arms crossed.

In summary, it was, ‘He’s just an opportunist who seized a position without much effort, and he’s showing off too much.’ No matter how he listened, the words felt malicious. Adults were quite something, talking about a child like that.

‘How unsightly.’

Shin Jukyeong’s lips curled into a smirk. It was fine. No need to be offended. This kind of backbiting was more like a compliment. It meant U-dam was that famous. Receiving critical votes in a place where one should show superiority wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

While he was countering them internally, the oath of admission had somehow concluded.

The freshmen gave their final salute and exited the auditorium first. It was probably for dormitory room assignments. Shin Jukyeong briefly recalled the past.

‘Rooms were usually assigned as two people per room, right?’

Since roommates were decided in advance, they would just be given room directions and return. Then he would only have to wait for about 30 minutes.

’30 minutes… I’d like to rest for a bit until then.’

Shin Jukyeong turned his head towards a corner of the auditorium. His shoulders were stiff, and his eyes felt dry; it was the perfect time to take a break.

But, well. Of course not. When has Shin Jukyeong’s life ever been smooth?

‘I’m tired.’

Shin Jukyeong had to show his face here and there, led by his father, Shin Taekyung. Moreover, the sympathetic glances and overstepping remarks he received every time he greeted someone were all his to bear. People offered rude meddling under the guise of concern.

“Your father worked so hard, you should know that! Tsk, tsk.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Our Chairman Shin must be very disappointed. Student Jukyeong, no, you’re not a student anymore. Anyway, hmm? You need to work harder.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“If you don’t step up, you might even lose your successor position. It’s not even your biological brother, so you must be anxious. Hahaha.”

“No, I consider U-dam my biological brother…”

It repeated several more times after that.

‘So much talk.’

He wished they would just stop already. Shin Jukyeong subtly frowned in discomfort.

However, whether he was struggling or not, his father didn’t stop. He continuously met people and conversed. He clearly knew Shin Jukyeong was hearing harsh words but didn’t even pretend to intervene.

Perhaps his father thought this, too, was a burden a ‘failure’ of a son had to bear.

‘The air is suffocating.’

Shin Jukyeong subtly loosened his tie.

It was while he was pressing his eyelids, looking at his father who was actively participating, unlike at his own graduation ceremony, that the Hunter Association Chairman, dressed in a navy suit, approached from afar. Streaks of white hair were visible among his neatly swept-back hair. No matter how strong a Hunter, time spares no one, it seemed.

‘Well, he’s still a vigorous old man, though…’

“Our Chairman Shin! We seem to be seeing a lot of each other lately.”

“Indeed. Have you been well?”

“I’m always the same. Hmm, have you seen my grandson? I saw your family’s puppy well earlier, though.”

“Yes. He was very impressive.”

The two exchanged small talk and shook hands.

Both wore friendly masks, but Shin Jukyeong knew how sharp the blades hidden within their intentions were. It was truly a confrontation between a cunning snake and a venomous viper.

“-Therefore, please pay close attention to him.”

“Yes, yes, I’ll keep a good eye on him… Oh, and our eldest son.”

Sure enough. The Chairman’s gaze turned towards Shin Jukyeong.