Chapter 63

#63 <A Joyful Mission (2)>

It is said that the red-bellied snake mainly absorbs poison from toads it eats in the fall and stores it in its body. This also means that its toxicity is relatively weaker in the summer. If handled calmly, even a small child might not end up in a dangerous situation.

‘Easy for you to say!’

As if things go as planned. Could a child who got bitten by a big snake while picking flowers stay calm? The same goes for the guardian. The person bitten is the younger sister they cherish dearly. Jin Hyuk’s heart was probably beating faster than Yoo Jin’s, who got bitten by the snake.

Jin Hyuk was in a hurry. But he couldn’t run off alone, so he carefully pulled Hong Soo-jung to the water’s edge.

After making sure the toothless dog was okay, he ran to Yoo Jin.

Yoo Jin was surprisingly calm. She just sat down, her rabbit-like eyes wide open, but she didn’t cry or make a fuss. She was always a cheerful kid, but even in this situation, her calmness was astonishing.

“Yoo Jin! Stay still!”

Grrr- Whimper!

Jang Gun-i seemed to be in more urgent trouble.

He bit the snake’s tail and shook it, but got bitten on the bridge of his nose. Even with the snake’s fangs stuck in him, Jang Gun-i chewed the tail fiercely and shook it violently. It was a lion-like ferocity.

Jin Hyuk rushed over and snatched the snake’s tail from Jang Gun-i’s mouth, gripping it tightly. The snake’s texture was disgusting, and its pattern was eerie. But Jin Hyuk wasn’t the type to be scared.

The snake raised its head toward Jin Hyuk.

But Jin Hyuk’s arm was stronger and faster.

‘Sorry, Yulme-gi, but you’re going to have to die.’

Jin Hyuk swung the snake like a flail.

Thud! The red-bellied snake’s head hit the hard ground. The snake’s vital spot. If unlucky, even a slight graze could kill it instantly. But with Jin Hyuk’s monstrous strength, its head burst open. The red-bellied snake, called Yulme-gi in Jin Hyuk’s hometown, went limp like a deflated rubber band and died on the spot.

“Yoo Jin!”

Leaving Jang Gun-i, who was rubbing his nose on the ground in pain, Jin Hyuk ran to his sister. From safely setting down Hong Soo-jung to reaching his sister, it felt like a long time to Jin Hyuk, even though only a few seconds had passed.

As soon as he reached his sister, he checked her ankle.

“Let me see.”

Now, if he ties above the wound and sucks out the blood…

Jin Hyuk’s eyes widened in disbelief as he examined Yoo Jin’s ankle.

‘No wound?’

There was blood on her ankle and a clear liquid that looked like snake venom.

But there was no bite mark.

‘What’s going on?’

He looked at Yoo Jin’s expression.

She was crying but looking at her brother with clear eyes.

“Yoo Jin, are you okay?”

“Yeah, hehe-.”

This kid even smiled at her brother. Jin Hyuk checked her over and over, but Yoo Jin was fine.

Jin Hyuk approached Jang Gun-i. Maybe used to the pain, Jang Gun-i sat still. He was breathing heavily, poking the snake’s corpse with his nose.

His nose bridge was swollen like he’d been stung by a bee, but he seemed to be breathing fine.

‘Is this how it’s done?’

He pulled out a fang from the snake’s corpse and sniffed it. During his military days, he caught venomous snakes and extracted venom. He heard that venom itself has no smell, but if you focus, there’s a faint fishy odor.

Soon, Jin Hyuk’s brow furrowed.

‘How can I tell if this is venom or just the snake’s smell?’

Apparently, not all information can be applied on the spot.

Even with his sharp senses, he couldn’t be sure.

He threw the snake fang away in frustration.

He felt like his brain had stopped from sheer confusion.

“Yoo Jin didn’t get bitten?”

“She didn’t, right? Hehe-.”

Seeing his sister’s bright smile, Jin Hyuk finally felt relieved.

She could tell the difference, and he had checked with his own eyes.

‘Then why did she scream and cry?’

He was about to ask but stopped himself. Kids scream at the sight of a snake, so what’s the big deal? He also remembered Hong Soo-jung, who was holding Yoo Jin tightly, tears in her eyes. If he pressed further, the little one might feel guilty.

Jin Hyuk reconstructed the situation that might have happened behind him.

Yoo Jin saw the snake, screamed in surprise, and fell.

Jang Gun-i bit the snake’s tail and shook it to protect Yoo Jin.

Then, the liquid on her ankle must be…

‘Does the red-bellied snake spit venom like a cobra?’

Sssss-?

He hit a snag in reconstructing the event.

Maybe the liquid on Yoo Jin’s ankle wasn’t venom but saliva or tears.

For now, he’d leave it as a question mark and move on.

‘But whose blood is that?’

It wasn’t clear.

It’s not like he could do a DNA test in the middle of nowhere.

‘No one to consult with, this is driving me crazy.’

For the first time in a long while, he felt lonely.

If he told his dads, they’d start talking about aliens and all sorts of things.

“It’s good no one got hurt. Let’s go home.”

“Yeah, hehe-.”

Hong Soo-jung helped Yoo Jin up. She brushed off the dirt on Yoo Jin’s clothes and checked if her little hands were scraped. Such a brave little one.

Jin Hyuk threw the snake’s corpse far into the reservoir and took the kids home.

‘Ugh, I’m exhausted.’

All the energy drained out of him.

His rough breathing wouldn’t calm down. Even though he used violence, instead of getting excited, his pulse was calm. But his heart almost burst from just one snake. It’s because his family was in danger, but still.

To calm his startled heart and reassure his siblings, he started singing.

“Toothless Jang Gun-, don’t go to the stream-.”

“The fish are playing-.”

Hong Soo-jung, who was startled by the snake attack, joined in.

But what does Jang Gun mean? It’s a song his mom used to sing when he was a toothless kid, but he doesn’t know the meaning. Is it Jang Gun or Jang Gu?

‘Who cares.’

Jin Hyuk looked at Hong Soo-jung and Yoo Jin, each holding one of his hands. They were startled but didn’t have a fit and walked bravely with their brother. They were so admirable.

“What will you be, oppa?”

Jang Gu looked up at Jin Hyuk’s face and asked.

Seeing the little one still shaken, Jin Hyuk chuckled.

Normally, he’d ignore such questions, but since the kid went through a lot, it’s better to be kind.

“You’re curious?”

“Yeah. Dad said you’re a genius, so you can do anything.”

“I try to do everything I can while living an ordinary life. Our dad says living an ordinary life is the hardest.”

Jin Hyuk had a family and lived without want, so he didn’t have many desires. He didn’t bully anyone, nor was he bullied. A life of tending the garden, exercising, and fishing seemed fine. Peaceful.

“You decided to live an ordinary life?”

“Yeah, Soo-jung.”

“Then I’ll live like that too.”

Here with oppa. Hong Soo-jung muttered to herself.

Hearing a sniffle from Jang Gu, Jin Hyuk looked and saw tears still in her eyes. She must be recalling what happened as the tension eased. Maybe she felt guilty because it was her vacation homework that caused all this.

Such an admirable little one.

Soo-jung and Yoo Jin will grow through these experiences.

“Soo-jung, don’t feel sorry.”

Hong Soo-jung nodded silently.

Looking at the little one’s small head, Jin Hyuk felt sorry.

‘She’s always showing interest in me.’

Jin Hyuk, then and now, never paid much attention. He lived a life not caring much about others, but maybe he should treat Seoul Jang Gu specially.

What should he ask in times like this?

“Soo-jung, what do you want to be when you grow up?”

“Hehe-.”

Jang Gu smiled a gummy smile.

She seemed embarrassed to answer, but Jin Hyuk thought he knew.

Maybe change the question.

“Soo-jung, what kind of person do you want oppa to be?”

“Yeah, yeah. You know. A famous person. Yeah, rich.”

Hong Soo-jung’s dream was simple.

She wanted her brother to be famous so she could brag to her friends and have more pocket money than what Yoo Se-ra’s mom gave. She wished he’d earn a lot and give her 10,000 won bills without hesitation.

Jin Hyuk furrowed his brow and shook his head roughly.

‘Famous?’

Maybe I’m not the right match for this kid…

Maybe that’s why I kept my distance in my past life too.

Yoo Jin toddled along well, and Hong Soo-jung, still in shock, sniffled now and then.

Jin Hyuk comforted Hong Soo-jung by patting her head.

‘Protecting someone is tough.’

Bullying seems easy, though.

Huff-huff.

Jang Gun-i’s breathing wasn’t great.

His nose bridge was swollen, making it both funny and worrying.

‘Is it snake venom or a bacterial infection?’

The swelling seemed to be rising, probably making his vision uncomfortable.

“Yoo Jin, want to touch Jang Gun-i?”

“Yeah. Like this? I touched him?”

“Yeah. That’s enough.”

Unable to let go of the ‘Yoo Jin’s healing hands’ theory, he checked again, but it was just an ordinary baby’s hand. No matter how much he patted or stroked, Jang Gun-i’s swelling remained.

Feeling sorry and guilty, Jin Hyuk picked up Jang Gun-i.

Sss-sss. Jang Gun-i made a sound like a snake.

Whimper. He occasionally made pained sounds.

‘Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve seen Jang Gun-i in pain.’

He might not beat a fighting dog, but he bares his teeth and stands his ground.

Jang Gun-i is also a life Jin Hyuk is responsible for.

But he failed to protect him properly.

His steps home were as heavy as his heart.

***

Back home, he checked on Yoo Jin, who was taking a nap, multiple times. There were still no wounds, and her complexion was normal. She slept so soundly, snoring and even drooling.

“Should we spray some pesticide?”

Son Kwang-yeon, who heard about the snake attack, wore a rare serious expression. When they first settled in the countryside, he was startled by leeches and felt blood drain from his head when he saw a snake. Now, he’s used to them, but recalling that shock still makes his hands tremble.

“Where’s Jin Hyuk going?”

Snapping out of his bad memories, Son Kwang-yeon heard his wife calling for their son.

Jin Hyuk, wearing a straw hat, carried a bucket and a fishing rod.

“To the stream.”

Son Kwang-yeon jumped up like he was startled.

“The stream? To catch a snake? Are you brewing alcohol?”

…It didn’t seem like he was just startled.

It didn’t take long to figure out Jin Hyuk’s intention.

Hong Soo-jung, wearing flower-patterned boots, quietly held Jin Hyuk’s hand.

“Fishy.”

“Heh! Soo-jung wants to catch fish.”

Jin Hyuk suppressed a laugh at Hong Soo-jung’s pronunciation.

In the stream, fish from finger-sized to palm-sized were caught, too many to count.

Han Yu-young used to make fish porridge when her son caught fish, and it was an unforgettable, delightful taste.

‘Fish porridge with noodles and makgeolli, yum-.’

Slurp-.

Son Kwang-yeon wiped the drool from his mouth.

He remembered why they didn’t spray pesticides. The snails, loaches, and carp from the rice fields and streams. Delicious creatures.

Son Kwang-yeon thought snakes were life too and shouldn’t be harmed.

After all, they’re rightful members of the ecosystem.

Snakes are innocent.

Watching his son walk confidently and Hong Soo-jung hopping excitedly, Son Kwang-yeon smiled.

Maybe this is the picture Hong Ki-jun wants for the two kids.

“But whose dog is that?”

A small, bulldog-like ugly dog followed Jin Hyuk’s heels.