Chapter 243

***

Chirp chirp- chatter chatter-.

It felt like I had returned to my kindergarten days, which I can barely remember now.

Thanks to the incessant chattering of Choi Mi-kyung, the oriole, and Kim Eun-jung, the alien, next to me.

Choi Mi-kyung poked Jin-hyeok’s side with her elbow, which was like a wing.

“That friend named Seol-chan, he’s the one with the heavy dialect, right?”

“Yeah. Mi-kyung, you’ve seen him a few times too.”

If we’re just talking about accents, Jo Seol-chan’s dialect is probably thicker than Yook Seong-chan’s.

It must be because he spent so many years living alone with his grandmother.

“Jin-hyeok, since it’s a hospital visit, shouldn’t we bring something? Even aliens bring drinks made from the Milky Way as gifts when they visit the sick, and when you drink that-”

Okay, that’s enough.

“There’s a store in the medical center.”

Inside the medical center, there’s a store the size of a medium-sized supermarket, so they have everything.

I picked up two boxes of drinks and a fruit basket. I also added the sweet and sour snacks and A-grade crackers that Choi Mi-kyung and Kim Eun-jung, who were pretending not to care, had put on the checkout counter.

Jin-hyeok, who was walking ahead carrying the gifts, stopped in front of the VIP ward.

“Huh?”

“Jin-hyeok, what’s that?”

Choi Mi-kyung and Kim Eun-jung reacted simultaneously.

Murmur murmur-.

The entrance to the VIP ward, which should have been quiet, was blocked by students in dull school uniforms.

A fairly neat and model student-like student, a student with a mysteriously yellowish head that looked like it had been washed with beer, a student limping and shaking his leg, and a student with his hands in his pockets, spitting three times in a row towards the flower bed with clenched teeth. Click, click-, screech-.

At a glance, there were about six or seven of them.

A burly security guard blocking the students raised his voice.

“This is not a place anyone can enter. Only authorized personnel are allowed.”

The VIP room at the medical center is a place even the president can’t enter without permission.

The VIP-registered individuals, in order of code, are Yoo Myung-sun, Cheon Gil-ryong, Son Kwang-yeon, and Hong Ki-jun. Only their families and those they approve can enter. That’s why SSS security guards are stationed here to protect it.

“Ah, geez······.”

“Uncle, we came ’cause our friend’s here-.”

“Isn’t this a bit too much······.”

“Yeah. It’s a dictatorship hospital-.”

The students each reacted according to their tendencies and intellectual levels.

But they seemed to restrain themselves from making extreme remarks, intimidated by the security guard’s authority.

“Uncle, then can you at least pass this on? We’re Seol-chan’s friends-.”

To Jin-hyeok, who had been silently watching, it was quite a touching scene.

He had once told Jo Seol-chan, who was transferring to another high school:

– “If anyone tries to bully you or hit you, run away. Run to me. No matter who it is, I’ll protect you. But before that, it’s better to make a lot of friends. Make them your allies.”

Even though Seol-chan seemed playful and cheerful, he was shy and found it hard to make friends. It seemed like he had grown a lot. How much effort must he have put in to gather such a diverse group of friends?

My nose tingled.

The security guard who spotted Jin-hyeok’s eyes widened.

“Oh, you’re here? This way-.”

The security guard, with familiar movements, turned his back to the vocational school students and made way for Jin-hyeok’s group.

Only then did the vocational school students turn around and frown.

With expressions that were quite rough and dissatisfied, Choi Mi-kyung and Kim Eun-jung hid behind Jin-hyeok. Though they can be endlessly aggressive with close friends, vocational school students are naturally intimidating. After all, they’re the ones who, according to other friends, get into fights at the local arcade or terminal, or stroll around the market drinking alcohol from early afternoon. Though I’ve never met anyone who’s actually witnessed it.

The vocational school students, who had been looking at them with dissatisfaction, suddenly had varied expressions.

Partly because they were intimidated by the three bulky Taeyang High students blocking the entrance, but also······.

“Whoa! Damn, you scared me!”

“Huh?”

“Isn’t that the guy from TV?”

“Yeah-, the one Seol-chan always brags about-.”

“Hey! Even if Seol-chan lies, he wouldn’t lie about this-.”

Jin-hyeok handed the gifts to Lee Seung-hoon and Shin Woo-sung, who looked tense. Then he approached Seol-chan’s other friends, who were fidgeting and murmuring, and extended his hand.

“Are you Seol-chan’s friends?”

Even though they’re Seol-chan’s friends, since they’re from another school, it’s right to use honorifics, right? Even in the military, soldiers use honorifics with soldiers from other units, even if they’re lower in rank. Those young guys call each other ‘uncle.’

The vocational school students took turns shaking Jin-hyeok’s hand.

“Ah, geez-.”

“Hey, it’s an honor-.”

“Dad’s prize, what’s going on here-.”

“Wow-, you’re even better looking than on TV-.”

Someone might mistake him for a politician. Choi Mi-kyung, who was peeking out from behind Lee Seung-hoon, giggled.

Jin-hyeok had only extended one hand lightly, but the vocational school students grabbed it with both hands and bowed, so it was understandable that Mi-kyung reacted that way.

After a brief greeting, Jin-hyeok looked at the security guard.

“These friends will come in with me.”

“Yes.”

The security guard stepped aside, and a crowd of about a dozen visitors followed Jin-hyeok into Seol-chan’s hospital room.

*

The hospital room was bustling.

Despite the doctor’s orders for absolute rest, Seol-chan and his grandmother looked very healthy.

“Ah, geez-, our Jin-hyeok skipped school and came to save grandma-.”

“The hospital is good-. Grandma’s knees, back, and neck were all fine, but look at that? She’s been acting like a goat looking for roots for hours-. The doctor said she shouldn’t leave the room, so she’s doing that-.”

Pushing an IV stand with transparent bags hanging all over, she was busily circling the room like a patrol officer possessed.

Seeing his grandmother like that, Jin-hyeok laughed inwardly.

‘So that’s what it means to be reborn.’

Just like Yoo Myung-sun, who Yoo Jin had touched, it seemed that his grandmother’s aged joints and nerves had regenerated. When I last saw her, she couldn’t straighten her legs due to knee pain and couldn’t straighten her hunched back. But now, she was standing straight, taller than before.

Even without changing positions, I could understand how she felt. How excited she must be.

“Seol-chan looks fine too, that’s a relief.”

“I didn’t expect Woo-sung and Seung-hoon to come-.”

Seol-chan greeted each of his friends one by one. Though he was too shy to make eye contact, he thanked Choi Mi-kyung and Kim Eun-jung as well.

Jin-hyeok sat far away to let Seol-chan comfortably talk with his friends from another school. It was the right thing to do, giving priority to guests who had come from afar and arrived first.

Choi Mi-kyung and Kim Eun-jung also sat on a sofa in one corner, chatting among themselves.

While munching on the sweet and sour snacks they had extorted from Jin-hyeok.

Perhaps because of the grandmother and the girls from another school, the vocational school students were careful with their language.

“Even though I’ve been friends with someone since kindergarten, when I was hospitalized, my girlfriend didn’t even come to visit-.”

“Wow-, Seol-chan’s connections are narrow······.”

A guy who was about to say something inappropriate quickly shut his mouth and rolled his eyes.

“-not at all-.”

“Right, right. Even famous people came to visit-.”

It seemed difficult since half of their usual vocabulary was swearing, but at least they had the sense to be careful.

When Son Kwang-yeon and Han Yu-young brought the kids, Seol-chan’s school friends awkwardly made way.

“Excuse me-, can you sign this for me-?”

“Sure.”

As soon as he agreed, the vocational school students opened their bags and took out notebooks and notepads.

Clatter clatter-.

As expected of vocational school students, steel rulers, triangles, and the like fell out of their bags. A monkey wrench and a folding saw also came out, and though I don’t know why such things were in their school bags, seeing how they treated Seol-chan, they seemed like good-hearted guys.

“Alright, see you-. Seol-chan, see you at school-.”

“Yeah-. Don’t go too far-.”

The vocational school students, who had collected Jin-hyeok’s autographs like trophies, left the room with excited faces.

Looking around the lavish corridor they hadn’t noticed earlier.

*

Son Kwang-yeon explained his plan to Seol-chan and his grandmother in a soft voice.

Careful not to make them feel pitied.

“Seol-chan, listen carefully. This is a plan our Jin-hyeok came up with, and he wanted to tell you himself, but since the opportunity arose, I’m telling you.”

“Yes, Dad. Please go on-.”

“It might be inconvenient to go to school, but come stay at our house for a while with grandma. I’ll drop you off at the terminal in the morning on my way to work. I know you’ve grown attached to that house, but it’s time to move on. There aren’t any neighbors nearby to help in emergencies. The house is old, and there’s no guarantee something like this won’t happen again.”

Seol-chan listened silently to Son Kwang-yeon.

He was being told to stay at Jin-hyeok’s house for a while since a vacancy would soon open up in the company housing, and then move in with his grandmother.

It wasn’t meant to be a free offer.

Son Kwang-yeon was the type who believed that generosity beyond what the other could handle should remain anonymous.

“It’s not free, so don’t feel burdened. I heard that vocational schools have internships in the third year? Don’t go to a difficult place for no reason, there are plenty of internship spots, so come to my company next year. Work there, and when your military service comes up, you can work as a research assistant or production manager at my company.”

Since Seol-chan has less than three dependents, he doesn’t qualify for military exemption due to livelihood difficulties. He also hasn’t been in a child welfare facility for over five years, so he can’t be exempted as an orphan.

It’s unclear if he’ll be drafted since he hasn’t had his physical yet, but given that he was healthy enough to do track and field through middle school and has no other physical issues, he’ll likely get a Grade 1 in the physical exam.

Though it’s unlikely, even if the state were to make an exception for Seol-chan, preparing for all possible scenarios is the right attitude for a broad-minded manager.

General Farm and the research institute, collectively known as the General Family, have completed their application for designated military exemption companies. This was done at Jin-hyeok’s request.

He planned to reveal it to his friends one by one when the time came. He was worried that if it was announced too early, they might slack off in their studies, relying on their friendship with Jin-hyeok. But with Seol-chan’s situation, Son Kwang-yeon decided to step in directly. He felt it was necessary to hold him steady so he wouldn’t waver or struggle.

Because he’s an adult.

“Study hard, and get a lot of certifications. It’s to build up your skills so no one can say it’s favoritism. Do you understand?”

He’s the type who can’t ask for help when he needs it. As someone with the means, it’s right to reach out first as an adult.

“I’ll do as you say, Dad······.”

Fortunately, Seol-chan was the type to gratefully accept kindness.

With reddened eyes, Seol-chan bowed deeply.

Sometimes, a single gesture is more powerful than ten words. Son Kwang-yeon simply patted his back in encouragement.

***

At that moment, Moon Seok-il, who had stayed in the office waiting, greeted his colleagues returning from their investigation.

The first investigation was about Seol-chan and his grandmother, focusing on any actions that might have caused resentment, like unpaid debts. But due to his dislike of owing favors, there was no record of him owing even a single briquette or a block of tofu, and with no neighbors nearby, there was no petty information about fights.

With the target investigation complete, it was time to investigate the suspects.

As Moon Seok-il was about to start, Jeong Sang-tae licked his lips.

“Hey, doesn’t Jin-hyeok seem more like the chairman now?”

“Maybe he’s a hidden son or something-, ouch!”

Kim In-rang, who had taken the bait and spouted nonsense, got a knuckle sandwich from Kang Heon-chang.

“You, get serious for once.”

“Even the hyungs and my friends hate me, damn it-.”

Moon Seok-il laughed at Kim In-rang, who was pretending to be upset. It wasn’t just because the goofy Kim In-rang was funny.

‘He’s becoming more and more similar.’

The decisiveness Jin-hyeok showed today was that of a leader who fully understands and wields his power.

If in the past he would have cautiously requested, today he gave orders as if it were natural.

– “Stop!”

······I almost got chills.

Though Jin-hyeok brushed it off as a mistake, Moon Seok-il and his team internally shouted ‘attention’ at the loud sound that hit their eardrums.

He once asked Hong Ki-jun.

What exactly should they do by Jin-hyeok’s side.

– “Do what he asks or help him. Only report if you see something you can’t agree with. Once you realize his potential, you don’t need to report anymore.”

Hong Ki-jun had attached them to Jin-hyeok not to monitor him, but to see him grow properly. Rather than whining about being ordinary, it was better to do it openly.

Now, it seemed they no longer needed to report Jin-hyeok’s movements to Hong Ki-jun.

He had finally started to wear the boss’s clothes.

‘A swordsman only needs to wield his sword well.’

What kind of person Hong Ki-jun is, or what kind of vessel Son Jin-hyeok is, no longer matters.

Beyond the heavens. Even Moon Seok-il, who flies high, can’t reach the realm where those people walk. Not stepping on the clouds they tread is the best way to survive as a swordsman.

Having reaffirmed his position and role, it was time to convey the next plan to his colleagues.

“Listen up. We’ll proceed with three things simultaneously.”