Chapter 263: Reason behind the Smile (1)
Season said.
“Antonio Jefferson. Head to the newly discovered Quasar base immediately and take care of the matter yourself. As fast as you can.”
“Yes Chief.”
“Kang Ahjin, you support Christoph alongside Zhuge Haiyan. Constantly ask him what his instincts tell him and follow his senses. I will take responsibility for everything. Just help Christoph with everything he does until I’m back.”
“Yes sir!”
‘One. You go to South Sudan and assassinate Rank 399 Barun.’
– By Barun, do you mean the Wizard of the Desert, Barun sir?
‘He’s someone who held the Association back in all the iterations, calling for anti-humanism. Don’t leave anything behind and get rid of him.’
– Your will.
After giving out the commands, he also started to move himself. It was busy all around with no time to even sit down. He was more cautious than usual while preparing for the upcoming ‘Night’.
It was because he wasn’t hearing anything from Vintage Clock although it was about time for the Third Night to come.
Yu Jitae wasn’t the one that should be worried. Vintage Clock was the main subject of these incidents and it was Vintage Clock that should be worried instead, and it was also Vintage Clock who should be the first one to reach out to him.
However the clock was silent and it didn’t even reply to his calls. Perhaps it might even be in a situation where it couldn’t talk, as a side effect of having looked into the Definite Providence.
Like how the First Night and the Second Night weren’t very threatening, it was highly likely for the third to be the same, but Yu Jitae remained cautious and that was why he was even busier.
– What a surprise!
Even amidst the frantically busy days, he turned on the hologram TV of the command room right on time. On the TV, on Channel Lair, the superhuman live news of today was being displayed.
– They successfully managed to raid a shocking A ranked fissure.
Said the MC, standing in front of the foreign mountainous region. A black and long vertically-split fissure was in the middle of the forest with reporters lining up before it.
– It’s making everyone here excited as well.
Currently, there were 3 teams among the newborn superhuman groups that were gaining the most attention. Those were Team Mochi, Team Lair and Team White.
From them, Team White was the only team that had succeeded in an A ranked fissure raid so far. It was natural considering how it was a team with a current high ranker inside.
– That one and only record was finally broken today!
– It makes us astoundingly proud. After all, they are the first among this year’s cadets to do so.
– Ah, they seem to be making their way out now. Please stay tuned!
As light seeped out of the fissure, reporters walked towards it as several superhumans slowly walked out of the fissure.
A red-haired girl with bluish-black blood covering her body was at the lead. Her eyes were hollow from exhaustion and it was unclear what she had been doing inside but her reddened hands were ripped apart with red blood flowing down.
She was Yeorum.
Yeorum and Kaeul.
It had been two months since the two of them left their house and Yu Jitae was watching over them trying their best from a distance. Originally, he wasn’t planning to let the kids outside but he now had some faith in them.
The camera filmed Yeorum walking out in tatters. Three others walked out of the fissure behind her, looking almost the same as her.
Their eyes fatigued yet sharp with killing intent proved that the young cadets had turned into soldiers in merely two months.
A few of the reporters ran up and asked questions.
– It is a wondrous accomplishment. A word if you could please!
– What was the reason for hunting the A ranked Boss solo!?
– You have been repeating raids recently without taking any rest. Is your health alright?!
While the other three were cursorily replying to the questions, the seemingly exhausted Yeorum ignored the cameras. But suddenly, she turned towards a camera that was filming her. It was the one with the [Lair PR Team] mark attached.
With a bright expression and a faint smile, Yeorum grabbed the camera with her hands. “Aht, a word please if you don’t mind!” In response to the words of the reporter, Yeorum opened her mouth.
– You watching yeah?
– I’m doing fine.
– When I go back…
She put her index and her middle finger on her lips and made an audible ‘chu’ sound.
– Oki?
Her smile only lasted a few seconds. Once again with a fatigued look on her face, Yeorum entered the Lair Agency van.
– Woah. Did Superhuman Yu Yeorum just give a kiss?
– Who was she talking to I wonder? Does she have a boyfriend?
– Who knows… maybe it’s her sister, Miss Kaeul?
– It might have been to her peers in Lair.
Yu Jitae gave a nod.
She was doing fine.
When she comes back, he could go through a smoke or two together which was not that big of a deal.
Meanwhile, he couldn’t see Kaeul from any of the videos.
Unlike Yeorum who actively showed herself in various forms of media, Kaeul’s team was avoiding any official contact with broadcasting companies. It was because Tyr Brzenk wasn’t to be shown in the media.
Therefore, Kaeul sent him messages every Monday.
Today was one of those days.
[Kaeuli?: Ahjoosshii T.T]
[Kaeuli?: I miss youuu TT.TT TT.T]
It was a message from two hours ago. He saw it late but replied as soon as possible.
[Me: Are you doing well.]
[Me: I miss you too]
[Kaeuli?: Ohh!!!!]
She immediately replied.
[Kaeuli?: TT.T]
[Kaeuli?: Ahjoosshii TT.TT]
[Kaeuli?: Aree you doingg finneee?????]
[Me: Yeah whatbout you]
[Kaeuli?: Perfectly fine!]
A photo was sent and in it, Kaeul was wearing a bright smile. And sitting on top of her head was the baby chicken. Since she would be living at a dorm with Ling Ling for the next few months, she had taken Chirpy out with her.
[Kaeuli?: Ling Ling took it for me!!]
[Me: Very cute]
[Kaeuli?: I knoww hehe. I’m, you know, hehehe]
Every Monday, Yu Jitae looked forward to the photo of the two. The indescribable feeling he had when talking to Kaeul by the phone was something he did not hate.
[Kaeuli?: Are Bom-unni and Gyeoul also fine??]
[Kaeuli?: What about Cleaner ahjussi? TT]
[Kaeuli?: I miss home so muchhh TT.TT]
[Me: You tired?]
[Me: Want me to go there?]
[Kaeuli?: Noo!?!?]
[Kaeuli?: I’ll try my best and I’ll go back only when I really can’t handle it… T.T]
[Kaeuli?: Ah right! Gimme your photo!!]
[Kaeuli?: Photophoto]
[Kaeuli?: Photophotophoto TT.TT]
Yu Jitae also took a random picture of himself and sent it to her, as he had been doing every week.
[Kaeuli?: Ehng?]
[Kaeuli?: Who are youu T.T]
[Me: It’s me]
[Kaeuli?: Noo T.T Our ahjussi isn’t this ugly Q.Q]
[Me: io]
[Kaeuli?: Lolololol]
[Kaeuli?: In such a rush hahahah]
[Kaeuli?: Hihi kekekekek]
[Kaeuli?: You know it’s a joke rightt????]
[Kaeuli?: Luv you?]
He received another picture, and this time Kaeul was making a heart shape with her fingers.
Yu Jitae deeply observed those fingers.
Her usually white and small hands were turned red with protruding veins on it. It was usually the result of over-abusing mana and it seemed that she had been fighting against monsters just then.
[Me: Tell me when you’re tired]
[Kaeuli?: Okay~~~~]
[Kaeuli?: Please show it to unni, Gyeoul and Cleaner ahjussi for me as well ?]
[Me: Good luck. I’ll cheer you on.]
[Kaeuli?: Uuunnnn~~~]
Yu Jitae sent the photo to Bom and Gyeoul, before leaving the Association.
“Chief. Where are you headed to?”
He had no time to rest.
Today, he had to attend Gyeoul’s Parent Attendance Class.
***
All the boys nervously glanced at someone. They gasped, ‘Woah…’ ‘Wow…’
They were looking at Gyeoul. Since it was the gaze she had always felt inside the elementary school, it was nothing new to her so Gyeoul did not react in the slightest.
Early in the year, all the kids found Gyeoul difficult to approach because she always had an indifferent look on her face, was apathetic and mysteriously mature. Her status as a dragon was added on top of that.
It was to the point that the teachers were worried about her not making any friends.
However, as she started learning the sweetness of money, Gyeoul started having more interactions with her peers.
“I lost my OMR pen. How much is it Gyeoul?”
“…1 dollar.”
“A dollar? Why is it so expensive?”
“…Nn?”
“It’s 50 cents outside though.”
“…Go, outside then?”
She would be scolded by teachers if she were to sit in one place and carry out a business. Therefore, Gyeoul changed her business model and began preparing more than what she needed for the supplies that were required for the day.
That wasn’t the end. Desperation became money.
“Ah, I forgot today’s coloured papers. Gyeoul, do you sell coloured papers as well?”
“…3 dollars.”
“Ehng? Why is it so expensive?”
“…For 2 bundles.”
“We only need 1 bundle right? So why…”
“…”
“Ah, I got it. I will look for someone else to buy it with…”
What a corrupt peddler…!
Some of the kids didn’t like Gyeoul because she liked money so much.
“Oi! Aren’t you overpricing them too much?”
“…Am I?”
“Yeah! You’re like a scammer!”
“…I am.”
“Huh…?”
But Gyeoul wasn’t the type that tried to please her haters, and didn’t care no matter what people said. It was therefore kids that were protesting to her that got irritated instead.
Besides, she also had a lot of friends nearby that stood for her.
“Don’t buy if you don’t have money. Why are you harassing our Gyeoul?”
“I know right! Like, did Gyeoul force you to buy anything?”
They were the kids who had barely escaped troubling situations thanks to Gyeoul. For friends that stood up for her, Gyeoul gave them a 10 cent discount whenever she sold them something else down the track. And voila, those kids said thanks and even promoted it to their friends!
Gyeoul was slowly starting to learn marketing and VIP management systems.
And besides, the closer they got to her, the more they liked her honesty. They were attracted by her short yet cool and straightforward words.
Ever since the start of the semester, more and more kids started approaching Gyeoul and recently, there were 3 girls that always went around with Gyeoul like best friends.
Even today, the kids were sitting in a circle during their breaks chatting to themselves. They were in the 4th grade – and thus today’s topic was about boys they liked.
It was a topic that Gyeoul wasn’t really interested in because it wouldn’t net her any money.
This person wore these clothes and he was cool…
I bumped into a sunbae and he was really tall…
Kids our age are too immature so I hate them and I like these celebrities…
Throughout the conversation, Gyeoul repeated nodding her head with a bored look on her face.
“What about you Gyeoul?”
“…Nn?”
“Do you have anyone you like?”
“…No.”
“Someone you find cool?”
There was no-one in particular so Gyeoul quietly fidgeted with her hair.
“Why? Isn’t Aron-sunbae really handsome?”
“…Who is that?”
“You know, the kid model sunbae.”
Gyeoul shook her head after looking at the hologram picture.
“…Not really.”
It was a reaction they were all used to.
One of her friends wearing glasses pondered. Gyeoul always had a half-depressed look on her face but she would sometimes give a bright expression although it was very rare.
When did she tend to do that again? Thinking that, she remembered something.
“Kanna. Of course Gyeoul would find that ugly.”
“Aron-sunbae? Aren’t your standards too highh?”
“No, think about it. Gyeoul’s face is like this, so what would her family members look like?”
Aht, they gasped in realisation.
That was true.
Gyeoul was commonly referred to as the goddess of Lair Public Elementary School…
One of the other friends suddenly remembered something in shock.
“Right, right…! You know when Gyeoul’s sister? came last time? I saw her.”
“Ehngg? Really?”
“Yea yeah. I was super surprised back then.”
“Why? Is she pretty?”
“Nn nn. It’s crazy. She’s prettier than celebrities…”
Their eyes gathered towards her as Gyeoul floated an awkward smile.
The kids thought about other things – it was not just the younger sister that was pretty and even the older sister was pretty. So how handsome would her father or brothers be?
A man that looked similar to Gyeoul… if Gyeoul had been looking at a face like that everyday since her birth, it made total sense for Aron-sunbae the kid model to appear lame in her eyes…
With flickering eyes, the kids surrounded her. They then asked with a very careful voice.
“Gyeoul, do you have a brother?”
“…No?”
“What about a dad?”
No matter how much she was exposed to situations like this, Gyeoul just couldn’t get used to the reply so had to ponder a little. He wasn’t her dad, but publicly he was her dad. They didn’t share a single drop of blood so he wasn’t her dad but he treated her well just like a dad…
After some thought, Gyeoul gave a nod and soon, the kids created a fuss.
“Hul. Why didn’t you tell us earlier!?”
“How is your dad? How old is he?”
She wasn’t sure but wouldn’t he be about 400 years old? Gyeoul thought, before describing his outward appearance.
“…Around early 30s?”
Kyaa– they screamed.
“What? Why is he so young? He must have gotten married really early.”
“What about height? How tall is he?”
This was something Gyeoul had also asked out of curiosity.
“…189?”
“Woah, he’s tall as well…”
“That’s amazing… So he’s young, tall and his face…”
In early 30s, and a height of 189 centimetres. Added on top of that was his face that would have contributed to Gyeoul’s appearance.
The kids imagined Gyeoul’s father in their minds. Blue hair, tall height and the face of a young god!
Seemingly thinking about her father, Gyeoul had a remarkably brighter look on her face.
We must be right. Yeah. It’s insane…
One of the children was unable to hold back her curiosity and asked her.
“Gyeoul!”
“…Nn?”
“Can you please talk about your dad with us?”
Other kids also created a fuss.
“Yes yes. Me too me too! I’m curious!”
“What kind of person is he?”
Gyeoul blinked her eyes. She stayed silent for a bit, before giggling out, “Hihi”. It was extremely rare for her to smile like this and it was evident that there was something in her mind. “What is it!”, “Tell us!” shouted the kids in curiosity.
“…Do you want to know?”
“Nn!”
“Quick!”
“…Really?”
“Nnnn! Nn! Nn!”
“Stop hesitating and tell us!”
Gyeoul curled her fingers into a circle with a smile.
“…50 cents.”