Chapter 222

< Sprint (3) >

*

As the vacation was coming to an end, Jin-hyuk alone had set up all those trees.

Restoration after destruction, it was history made by a historical strongman.

Is that really something a human body can do? If you tell him to set them up, he actually sets them up.

Cheon Gil-ryong’s eyes, clear for his age, sparkled, and Jang Gun-i, who would be second to none in sparkling eyes, kept peeking at the bamboo forest next to him.

“Jin-hyuk, how many did you set up?”

“Three hundred and fifty-eight.”

“Wow, that’s a lot.”

“Huh?”

“No, no. I misspoke.”

Now that everything was set up, the other guys who had been wandering around with nowhere to go would come looking.

It’s a good thing, really. What they call a virtuous cycle. Those who need to leave, leave; those who need to come, come.

If the waiting time gets too long, guests get tired of waiting and look for another place, and those hands end up causing trouble elsewhere.

Hehe-.

“You got cursed, Jin-hyuk-.”

“Hehe-.”

This kid, so funny.

Cheon Gil-ryong also burst out laughing. He thought that kid had changed a lot.

Even though it was his own doing, coming every day to a house that doesn’t even pay him and sweating bullets, isn’t that admirable? Maybe I should give him a bowl of cool, spicy makgeolli.

“Jin-hyuk, if you go to my house, there’s a jar stand by the pond in the backyard, let’s go together-.”

“Uh, uh, goodbye! Jang Gun, let’s go!”

Jin-hyuk hurriedly bowed and called for Jang Gun.

Seeing the panicked look in his eyes, it seemed like he had seriously misunderstood. But before Cheon Gil-ryong could explain, Jin-hyuk had already run off.

“Hey-. I wasn’t going to make you work.”

Whoa-. That kid is really fast.

Cheon Gil-ryong admired the kid running like the wind for a while.

‘But…’

Cheon Gil-ryong’s round eyes narrowed.

While admiring Jin-hyuk disappearing like a gust of wind, he suddenly felt an unusual sensation.

“What kind of strange power is there, talking about yin-yang and the five elements?”

It was more like numbness than sensation.

Even though he had been watching from the side the whole time, he hadn’t felt any strange energy.

It’s just a strange thing, a strange kid.

When they met years ago, there was a strong yin energy comparable to a full moon, or a chilling ghostly energy like a thousand-year-old fox, but recently, the refreshing energy that had been faintly emanating like pine scent had disappeared.

‘Something must have happened while I was away.’

Even if there’s no spiritual energy, if there’s an extraordinary flow, how could Cheon Gil-ryong not catch it?

But recently, Jin-hyuk only had an overflowing yang energy, fitting for a boy, and no mysterious energy was detected.

‘Did he drive it all away with his yang energy?’

If so, that’s truly a strange thing.

His caterpillar-like eyebrows wriggled as he pondered.

He was so curious that he asked, but as expected from a kid who could go off on a tangent, he got a nonsensical answer.

– “I just sat and breathed. Really.”

To Cheon Gil-ryong, it was unbelievable nonsense.

He must not want to tell.

Secrets are like that.

“Chang-rim, you rascal, weren’t you trying to pin the trouble you caused on that kid?”

It was a stretch.

Even the speaker knew it was a stretch.

Having seen the twisted forest himself, he knew it wasn’t the work of the guests, but he threw out the joke because he didn’t like seeing the dead spirits cowering.

Saaa-.

Until yesterday, Chasa Chang-rim, who had been shouting, “That kid is a vicious kid!”, shut his mouth like a ghost with aphasia.

After all, no one can beat this old man with words. Whether ghost or human.

It’s better to just take the curse as a ghost’s fate.

This is the human world where ghosts are tormented by humans.

But he wanted to run out of the bamboo forest like the wind and shout.

The king’s ears are donkey ears!

Even if he can’t run without legs, even ghosts have dreams.

***

Facing the start of school, he boldly reduced the time spent exercising at school. The limits of a human body were too clear to maintain the same routine as before. Excessive exercise only brought unbearable fatigue, not opportunities for growth.

“President, why are you only climbing ropes these days?”

“I do the horizontal bar too?”

Instead, he spent more time hanging out with friends.

He took to heart the words of Grandpa Cheon Gil-ryong that there’s no way to run faster than time, but there is a way to walk together.

Just like elementary and middle school, this enjoyable and happy high school life is also a first. If you have friends and your heart isn’t closed, isn’t this a time everyone deserves to enjoy? There were thoughts of wanting to grow up quickly because youth wasn’t enough, but knowing that hanging out like this is only for now made it precious.

“Seung-hoon, Woo-sung. Let’s have a pull-up contest.”

“Wow! Melon, you’re challenging us!”

Lee Seung-hoon had quit ssireum due to severe back injuries.

In this life, his training level is good and well managed, so he’s not too worried. But Jin-hyuk still wanted to temper him more through play. It’s a well-known fact that the more you train, the stronger you get.

“Then I’ll forfeit as a matter of course!”

Shin Woo-sung, who is overweight and passionately admires Jessie from Team Rocket, confidently gave up.

Smack-!

“Ow!”

“Ugh! That’s a brag!”

High school student Choi Mi-kyung kicked Shin Woo-sung’s back as she climbed onto the platform.

She was massaging her arms, so I thought she was going to participate as a player.

“Hey, hey! This noona will count for you, so buy me a Ssang Ssang Bar!”

Choi Mi-kyung raised both hands wide.

Efficiency-minded Jin-hyuk didn’t miss the timing and suggested.

“Then Woo-sung goes first to buy it. The loser can pay later.”

“I’ll probably lose, so I’ll pay first. Here, take it.”

The smart Lee Seung-hoon, who analyzed the situation, gladly took out his wallet.

Shin Woo-sung, who took two 1,000 won bills from Lee Seung-hoon’s wallet, hesitated for a moment and then grabbed one more.

“Seung-hoon, can I eat two Cold Hunts?”

“Yeah, man.”

Hahaha-.

Even though they were close, they were usually quiet, but with Choi Mi-kyung joining in, the atmosphere became even more lively.

Of course, it wasn’t a bad thing.

Seeing his friends chattering and fooling around, Jin-hyuk also smiled broadly.

Hehe-.

*

After finishing classes and coming home, he adjusted the sprint distance and tested the suitability.

After training to sprint past the four points and getting his body fully heated, he measured his 100-meter record in a tired state.

“Great! It’s the best record!”

Min Yong-rak gave a thumbs up.

「10.24」

Jin-hyuk also nodded in satisfaction after checking the record.

A single nod is enough to express the will of a determined man.

‘It was indeed a shackle.’

The paradox of strength.

It helped him not to get tired, but didn’t it confine his body to its limits?

“Want to run one more time? The machine seems a bit off.”

“No. I’ll run again tomorrow anyway.”

But what about now?

Although his stamina quickly depleted and fatigue accumulated faster, his speed improved. His consistently trained body began to shine, freed from the shackles.

“Do you look very tired today?”

“It’s hard, but strangely I feel good.”

There was no regret even if the strange power disappeared.

Just in case, when he did brain breathing, energy immediately gathered in his heart and dantian.

“Then shall we call it a day?”

“Yes. It’s about time for Yoo-jin to bring Jeong-won.”

It’s a bit late, but realizing the method of emptying and filling was a satisfying achievement. Even though he struggled alone without anyone to guide him, he found and solved the problem, which in itself was something to be proud of.

“Director Yoo Jae-woon should have left work by now, but I don’t see him. By the way, where’s Dr. Joo-?”

“They came to exercise but got a beep and left together. Kim Chun-sik’s cow collapsed while giving birth.”

Was it Kim Chun-sam? Min Yong-rak tilted his head indifferently.

Giving birth in this heat, Eun-jeong’s cow must be having a hard time. Jin-hyuk turned his body towards the shower room.

“Good work. And cut down on snacks. You might not get married.”

“Sigh-, even you······.”

Min Yong-rak bowed his head deeply and put the last vanilla-flavored Waferz into his mouth.

After measuring the record and finishing the meeting with Min Yong-rak, Yoo-jin would cling to him like an adorable weasel. Jeong-won, holding his sister’s hand, would also follow.

“Oppa, are you done exercising today? Can we go swimming together now?”

“Yeah-. Wait!”

“Okay, let’s play in the water. Our Jeong-won should shower with his brother first-.”

“Yeah-! Wait-!”

Jeong-won ran his feet to catch up with his brother.

After living almost like a bear with his brother and sister all vacation, Jeong-won’s leg strength improved, and he preferred running over walking.

His center of gravity leaned forward because of his head, and it seemed like he moved his legs faster to avoid falling.

His un-baby-like footwork and growth speed. It was more like a sprint.

“Oops, this kid. You’re going to fall.”

He picked up the adorable youngest in his arms.

Babies might like to run around freely, but as an older brother, he can’t give up the happiness of holding them tightly.

They say nothing is faster than time.

The vacation, which had given so much, passed in the blink of an eye.

***

The cool night air of September.

Son Yoo-jin slept soundly last night.

She slept so soundly that she almost crushed Haengun-i.

As an apology, they went bug hunting together.

“Jin-hyuk-!”

On Sunday morning, Choi Mi-kyung noona came looking for him.

She was holding a plastic bag, and I heard that even when she was a baby, she would come looking for her oppa with a plastic bag. The only difference from back then was that the bag color was black instead of white translucent.

“Son Jin-hyuk, come out-!”

Son Yoo-jin, who was playing with Haengun-i on the rooftop, tiptoed to peek and then shook her head slightly. Not long ago, Cheon Gil-ryong Habiji came calling like that, so I guess our oppa got into trouble again.

“Haengun-i, what do you think our oppa did?”

Beep-.

How can he be so smart? Haengun-i shakes his head every time Son Yoo-jin asks something. I guess it means he doesn’t know.

“Right? I don’t know either.”

She decided to finish what she was doing and not pay attention.

Son Yoo-jin poked around the rooftop garden with a thin branch.

Originally, she was digging through the compost bin, but oppa stopped her because there was too much dirty stuff there. When she tried to dig through the muddy ground next to the waterway, oppa stopped her again, saying she could fall into the water.

– “Princesses don’t go to dangerous places.”

– “Why am I a princess?”

– “If oppa says you’re a princess, then you’re a princess.”

Hmm…, it sounded plausible, so Son Yoo-jin couldn’t argue further.

If oppa says so, then it must be so.

After seeing a snake while digging through the grass next to the field, she complained to oppa. She wanted to feed Haengun-i, but where could she hunt? Haengun-i is a smart bird that hunts on its own, but Son Yoo-jin wanted to prepare food for him too. After all, Son Yoo-jin is Haengun-i’s mom.

Then oppa shoveled well-rotted manure and moved it to the rooftop.

The manure from the compost bin that he wouldn’t let her near because it was dirty.

Thanks to oppa, there are many bugs in the rooftop garden.

“Haengun-i, can you eat this?”

Beep-. Chomp chomp-.

Haengun-i even swallows grubs as big as his body. According to Jjolong-i Ajji, these big ones are probably longhorn beetle larvae, and there are many in the compost bin. The larvae are too big for Son Yoo-jin’s palm, so she only picked the small ones to feed.

They eat so deliciously that Son Yoo-jin once almost swallowed a bug while watching.

But what did that noona come all dressed up for?

“Haengun-i, go eavesdrop and come back.”

Beep-.

Haengun-i just opened his mouth wide and shook his head, not taking any action.

“Hehe-. In cartoons, everyone does that.”

I guess Haengun-i doesn’t have that ability.

Embarrassed, she scratched her head with the branch she was using to catch bugs.

“Haengun-i, but birds should be able to listen. My dad said that. What was it again…?”

Daytime words are heard by birds, and informal speech is heard unwillingly.

So listen to daytime words a bit.

Haengun-i, full from eating, buried his head in his wings.

It seems like Haengun-i’s education went down the drain again today.

“Ahhh-!”

A scream from oppa was heard in the yard.

Son Yoo-jin moved like a thief cat and leaned her chin on the rooftop railing, and Haengun-i also poked his head out, curious.

***

“Hey, man!”

“Why are you pinching me-.”

“What are you talking about, you don’t even have nails? Huh?”

Choi Mi-kyung looked at her hand in surprise.

Jin-hyuk, who was like a rock, making her hesitant to hit him, but today she definitely felt the pinch.

“Son Jin-hyuk, you······.”

Jin-hyuk took a deep breath.

Oops, did this sly fox notice my secret?

“Son Jin-hyuk, did you gain weight?”

Nope.

Only then did he let out the breath he was holding.

“I didn’t gain weight.”

If I gain weight while exercising every day, that’s a problem.

“Anyway, I didn’t come to pinch you. I was talking to Su-jeong and heard something. Are you the pervert who writes strange numbers on beepers?”

Damn, calling a man’s true love pure romance a pervert.

Let’s fight, you X.