Chapter 126

<The Season That Couldn’t Be Sent>

***

It was a warm autumn.

Every evening, Jin-hyuk tried to improve his relationship with Yoo-jin by secretly sharing a spoonful of powdered milk. Not that he gave her the whole can. It was his one and only thrilling act of rebellion at home, and he couldn’t just give it up easily.

“We’ll share a spoonful every day, okay?”

“Yes. Hehe-.”

As if there was any other option.

Yoo-jin clasped her hands together and bowed her head in agreement.

As he poured the powdered milk into his sister’s wide-open mouth, Jin-hyuk internally justified his parenting.

Yoo-jin needed to learn that the world is dirty and unfair. If she grew up too sheltered, she might turn into a spoiled rich girl who throws tantrums. It was obvious that as their father’s business grew and his relationship with Hong Ki-jun deepened, they would only get richer. She might even gain the power to ground a plane just because someone didn’t peel her peanuts.

If that happened, the family would be criticized. While he was willing to bear the blame for his own actions, he wanted Yoo-jin to grow up without causing harm to others. As her older brother, he felt it was his duty to teach her.

‘I have to teach her because I’m her brother. I didn’t have anyone to teach me!’

It might have seemed like a petty power move over powdered milk, but Jin-hyuk found meaning in it.

On weekends, he and Yoo-jin would go to the hills to collect acorns and chestnuts.

When he was young, he used to fill his pockets with them every autumn. Back then, if you collected enough over a month or two, mom would make acorn jelly and serve it.

Now, with more mouths to feed but also more hands to help, the harvest was plentiful. Jin-hyuk’s sharp eyesight contributed the most, but having more hands definitely helped.

“Jang Gun-i, don’t swallow the chestnuts.”

He laughed as he watched Jang Gun-i, his loyal dog, carry the fruits with his fellow canine subordinates.

Even if he swallowed them, he’d just poop them out, but if the chestnut seeds sprouted in the compost pile, that would be a whole different story.

Grrr-.

Jang Gun-i seemed to glare at him for a moment, but it was probably just his imagination.

Well, it was probably his way of saying, “Don’t make me look stupid after you fed me this.”

*

Yoo-jin was becoming a normal kid, training the four dogs with a frisbee her brother had made by cutting a cardboard into a circle. It was hard to tell who was training whom, as Yoo-jin seemed more exhausted than the dogs, but that wasn’t anyone else’s business.

After exhausting herself to the point of collapse, Yoo-jin would often get nosebleeds. At first, Han Yu-young panicked, but she later said it was just a sign that Yoo-jin was growing fast. Instead, she taught her how to handle nosebleeds.

As she stuffed crushed mugwort into her daughter’s tiny nostrils, Han Yu-young laughed.

“Don’t be surprised. Your brother used to play until he was exhausted and got nosebleeds too.”

“Brother? Nosebleeds?”

Yoo-jin’s eyes widened in shock.

It was a surprising story. He’s stronger than a wild boar, but even he was a snotty-nosed kid once? Did he wet the bed too?

Patting her daughter’s head, who was sniffling from her stuffy nose, Han Yu-young laughed again.

“Yes. He even bled on his pillow while sleeping.”

“Wow-.”

It wasn’t shock but a sense of kinship.

Having something in common with someone you admire is exciting. Yoo-jin decided she would work hard to have more nosebleeds in the future and stuffed a handful of mugwort into her pocket.

With all her preparations complete, she ran to the fields and hills, followed by Jang Gun-i and Hong-shi.

When Jang Gun-i barked once as they left the house, Cheon-ma and Gwang-ma stayed behind to patrol. They were thoroughly under Jang Gun-i’s control.

While Jin-hyuk was at school, Yoo-jin followed in her brother’s footsteps and became a child.

*

The SSS agents who had settled in the town became welcome guests during Chuseok. Even though they saw each other every day, sharing the warmth of neighbors and daily life made them feel like family. Despite being busy and tired, Son Kwang-yeon smiled brightly, saying it was good to have more brothers.

The time spent eating together and walking along paths filled with cosmos flowers was a gift even to Son Kwang-yeon, who had lived only for his family.

A peaceful smile spread across Son Kwang-yeon’s face as he picked the crimson cosmos petals.

“I used to dislike the idea of power.”

“Didn’t you say we’re family?”

“Yes. In a way, we’re better than family.”

Yang Gang-wook, quick to catch on, understood what he meant.

Son Kwang-yeon couldn’t feel closer to anyone than his family. The household registry might have been settled, but he was referring to the people in town who had once been connected to Han Yu-young as family.

Moon Seok-il, who also caught on, chimed in.

“Leave it to us.”

His tone was concise and dry, as expected of Moon Seok-il. He believed in cleanly removing any obstacles, a habit ingrained from years of operations.

Son Kwang-yeon, who had been quietly enjoying the autumn sunlight with his eyes closed, shook his head.

“Seok-il.”

“Yes, brother.”

“Unless the kids’ mother wishes it, don’t harm anyone. I don’t want it either.”

“Yes.”

Moon Seok-il took a step back.

Son Kwang-yeon was the head of the family.

The leader of a rapidly growing power in the region. No matter how closely Moon Seok-il worked with Jin-hyuk or carried out Hong Ki-jun’s secret orders, he couldn’t act without Son Kwang-yeon’s approval. Besides, they were like brothers.

“Where are the kids?”

“They went to the hills.”

“Hmm.”

Son Kwang-yeon’s lips curled into a contented smile. Whenever he heard that the kids were playing in the hills or by the sea, he felt as if he were the one playing.

He had never been able to enjoy the seasons or wander aimlessly in the harsh city. He only wished for Jin-hyuk, Yoo-jin, and Jeong-won to be happy in the yard he had cultivated and preserved.

To have a mischievous childhood and a healthy adolescence.

Nodding, Son Kwang-yeon looked up at the blue jewel-like sky and took a deep breath.

“Ahhh-, it’s a good season. I always feel reluctant to let it go.”

Even though I know it will return.

Carrying the scent of grass seeds blown by the wind.

Longing for autumn is the sentiment of a countryman.

*

Yoo-jin, along with her brother and uncles, picked chestnuts and dates. They stopped by where mushrooms grew and even paid respects to the wild boar’s grave. It was where they had buried the ribs after roasting a wild boar last year, and Jin-hyuk had stuck a cross made of two branches. Nearby, bright yellow flowers bloomed beautifully.

Jang Jin-nam, holding Yoo-jin’s hand, widened his eyes.

“They’re small and pretty. What are these flowers called?”

“Wild boar flowers.”

“Oh-, Yoo-jin knows a lot.”

Behind Jang Jin-nam’s admiration, Jin-hyuk tilted his head.

Yoo-jin shrugged, ignoring her brother. She had just named them on the spot because they grew near the wild boar’s grave.

She had hoped that burying the boar’s bones would make the boar come back to life, but instead, inedible flowers bloomed. Well, it was the kind of fantasy any kid might have. Didn’t everyone bury candy wrappers hoping candy would grow? In the countryside, one out of ten candy wrappers dug up was probably buried for that reason.

With more people, Jin-hyuk caught and prepared more fish than usual. The event, which used to be just him and his father, now included his uncles, and Yoo-jin proudly took her place. Watching his sister giggle among the uncles, Jin-hyuk’s eyes filled with affection.

‘I thought I’d miss Yoo-jin when she grew up.’

There were times he wished time would stop as he watched his adorable sister. He knew it was a fantasy, but human desire is hard to control. But he realized he was wrong.

Yoo-jin was a blessing of a sister, bringing different joys as she grew. The baby Yoo-jin would remain in the photo album, having done her part.

‘Yoo-jin has to live in the world too.’

As a human.

*

Son Kwang-yeon threw a lively 100-day celebration for his youngest, Son Jeong-won, as if to prove his growing influence. He set up tables in the yard and garden, inviting not only the villagers but also people from the company.

He said it was to show off the baby, who had inherited his grandfather’s name, to the world. No one knew the hidden sorrow of not being able to honor his father’s remains.

Jin-hyuk shared Jeong-won’s 100-day celebration rice cakes with his class.

He considered sharing them with the whole school but decided to save that for the first birthday. Raising the level of goodwill too high could upset the balance of friendships over small mistakes.

The warm autumn wasn’t just warm because the house and surroundings were peaceful.

‘Nothing. Nothing.’

Even as October ended, there was no news of a passenger ship accident in the newspapers.

Just in case, he turned on the news, but it was the same.

He read a short article about an investigation into lobbying suspicions by a passenger ship company, as the approval for increased weekend operations by a small business seemed suspicious. The company representative claimed innocence, and the approval officer was under internal investigation.

To Jin-hyuk, who knew the inside story, it was nothing but a comedy.

‘No matter how good the aftermath is, prevention is always better.’

Jin-hyuk’s childhood proved it. Isn’t it better to endure a little fatigue and inconvenience by washing your hands than to suffer after catching a cold?

I don’t know what kind of people they are.

There might be good people, bad people, and even those who might commit heinous crimes in the future. But even if all humans were evil, I wouldn’t wish for innocent sacrifices. That’s why Jin-hyuk didn’t see humans as viruses, unlike some pessimists.

‘Hooray!’

Most people don’t realize what triggers the system’s advancement. Whether intended or not, things move forward. Like the wind from the sea affecting the land, the ripples from Jin-hyuk’s actions reached other areas.

He had no intention of influencing the system. That would be denying the system itself.

He just wished.

‘I hope no one dies meaninglessly.’

Like his parents in the past.

***

I was worried Yoo-jin might feel neglected by her mom, who was busy taking care of the baby, but Yoo-jin had too many friends to cling only to her mom. She couldn’t even meet all her friends every day.

Yoo-jin’s day started with a fake cough after breakfast, hands behind her back, as she stepped into the yard.

“Ahem-. Did Jang Gun-i sleep well?”

Outside, the four dogs waited like loyal soldiers, and the new neighbors had kids her age. Chatting with Grandpa Cheon Gil-ryong was also an important part of her routine.

“Hae-bi-ji is taller than my brother.”

“Hehe-, your brother will soon be taller than me.”

“Do you know Uz-ca?”

“I know everything-. Hehehehe-.”

If you eat that much and don’t grow, it’s a waste. Cheon Gil-ryong laughed, stroking his beard.

Yoo-jin sat on the porch of Cheon Gil-ryong’s house, swinging her legs.

“They’re building another house next to Eun-mi’s.”

“Hehe-. That’s because your parents are so well-respected.”

More people were moving in from the city and other neighborhoods.

There weren’t enough houses, so new ones had to be built.

Each time, Han Yu-young would talk to her dad and give them land. Even Uncle Kim In-rang was building a house to take care of his mother. He said he’d farm after retiring.

“Goodbye.”

“Hehe-, alright. Come again.”

Cheon Gil-ryong laughed until his eyes disappeared.

Still, she properly greets when coming and going.

It’s surprising she doesn’t say “I’m going” with her unique way of speaking.

After walking around the village with her hands behind her back like an old man, Yoo-jin now headed towards the town with Cheon-ma and Gwang-ma in tow. With her newly long legs, she walked briskly, the four dogs following, stopping and going.

“Is Jjong-i at Ajji’s house?”

“Huh? Yoo-jin, why are you so early today?”

“I’m taller.”

Yoo-jin stood on tiptoe, raising her arms.

Her limbs had grown so much that she didn’t need to stand on tiptoe to look like a proper kid.

It was a pity she didn’t see Choi Mi-kyung, who had started attending academy, often, but Yoo-jin had plenty to do.

‘No one’s watching.’

With eagle eyes, Yoo-jin scanned the surroundings and stepped into the earthen kitchen.

After putting pine needles into the stove, she took a deep breath, focusing her mind.

Stretching out her hand, she whispered.

“Dnaru-deu-.”

Hey, what are you doing?

No one knew what she was trying to do, but nothing happened.

Is this not it?

“Ddol-ssi-.”

Sssss-. Frost formed on the pine needles.

“No-, this isn’t it.”

Yoo-jin was already pulling at her tangled hair.

The words she used unconsciously but never actively spoke aloud were tormenting her, stuck in the swamp of forgetfulness.

The power lingering around her heart was still strong. She hadn’t had a chance to use it, and the vessel had expanded since the day she saved her sister.

But.

“I can’t remember.”

The language of shadows was slowly leaving Yoo-jin.

The more she played hard and slept deeply, the faster it faded.

Less than a month later, in November, Yoo-jin completely forgot that she had once been a being who performed miracles and became a full-fledged human.

Whenever something vaguely came to mind, she just tilted her head in confusion.

‘It feels like something fun happened.’

With a slight sense of unease.

***

Yaaawn-.

The warm sunlight had retreated far away, and it was a rainy Saturday evening in autumn.

Jin-hyuk threw down the book he was reading and stretched lazily.

‘No wonder I was so bored.’

There were no incidents or accidents around. He had left external activities to Moon Seok-il and was just swaying in the waves of time like seaweed at the bottom of the sea, so it was only natural to feel bored.

But the power he possessed was excessive for daily life. His strength and influence were unnecessarily strong for what he did, making it nothing but surplus.

‘But I can’t just get rid of it.’

You can’t achieve self-defense by reducing military power just because it’s excessive. Such flexibility was unacceptable in the territories of Son Kwang-yeon and Son Jin-hyuk.

There was no way to reduce it either.

To clear his tangled thoughts, he inserted a cassette tape into the mini-component.

Jin-hyuk liked Guns & Roses’ 〈November Rain〉.

Not that he liked hard rock bands. It was just that one rainy night in his 20s, the song playing on the taxi radio had struck a chord in his heart.

The gentle intro, the powerful yet restrained vocals giving life, the chorus wrapping around like a morning breeze, the melody gradually building tension, and the guitar solo completing the sentiment.

He listened to it over and over.

He didn’t know how much he had longed for this song to play again after coming back to life.

He closed his eyes and enjoyed the music. Just sitting there with his eyes closed.

Knock knock-.

Just as the song was about to reach its climax, there was a knock at the door.

Jin-hyuk, who had been nodding his head with his eyes closed, turned down the volume.

“Yes.”

It was Moon Seok-il.

Moon Seok-il, unknowingly bowing slightly, entered the room. As always, the polite uncle.

Jin-hyuk stood up from his chair, greeted him properly, and offered him the chair.

Sitting on the bed, Jin-hyuk’s eyes lit up as Moon Seok-il spoke.

“There are two matters to discuss.”