Chapter 278

“Clearly, I must be going crazy…”

With a voice like a divine revelation and even a bomb thrown in, even though Yang Gang-wook had gotten used to a comfortable life, losing the only person he was supposed to protect in such a shady situation was a moment of pure self-blame.

His eyes widened in shock as he looked around.

*

Swoosh—swoosh—.

Like a small rocky island appearing and disappearing in the waves, a small figure stood still in the middle of a space swept by an irregular crowd.

Son Yoo-jin was crouched in front of her bag, petting it like a puppy. No passerby paid attention to the child fidgeting in that position.

“Tol-ssi—.”

Saaa—.

Like winter fog settling or frost forming, the air around Son Yoo-jin’s outstretched hand cooled and froze.

“Ohoho~, nice~.”

Son Yoo-jin was unnervingly calm, even with a dangerous object in front of her. Dugu Elil had promised to protect her no matter what, giving her the courage to stay.

Dugu Elil, unable to take control of her body, had no choice but to let the stubborn child stay.

Glug-glug—.

“Ah, what a waste~.” Mumbling without pause, Son Yoo-jin poured cola into the slightly open bag.

“Kratz Lav—.”

Crackle-crackle—.

Soon, the sound of something rapidly freezing inside the bag could be heard.

【You’re doing well.】

“This happened when I made a snow house with my brother before~. I said, ‘Don’t melt,’ like this, like this~. What was it again? Ehehe~. I’m too scared to remember.”

【It will freeze solid. A command to create frostbite and freeze anything.】

Even souls.

“Ooh~, that’s right. You’re pretty smart, mister~.”

Seriously.

I taught you that, kid.

【Freeze more. Thicker. More opaque. Create icy teeth to tear through the insides.】

“Kratz Lav, Derden!”

Creak-creak-creak—.

Even without seeing it, it was clear. What started as a thin layer of ice had now frozen into a solid, unbreakable mass.

“Mister, can’t you take this with you? To a faraway country? A neighboring country?”

Ah, a neighboring country might not be the best idea. Son Yoo-jin tilted her head, laughing like a child playing pretend.

【I can only go where you are. But I cannot go there.】

“Why can’t you come~? If you come, I’ll buy you a hamburger. I have a lot of money~. My brother said this is big money.”

My brother this, my brother that. Geez, can’t this kid talk without mentioning her brother…?

【I have no intention of going for your sake in the future.】

“Are you scared it might explode if you take it~?”

Ah, I thought hard about what to say, but both the brother and the sister are so careless with their words.

The shadow gritted its teeth internally. Grinding away.

Even old man Hong Ki-jun uses respectful language with the shadow, but that Son Jin-hyeok guy speaks so rudely. He even insulted me, calling me stupid. Why am I suddenly so angry?

【Child, I do not fear the crude creations of insignificant humans. What I fear is only one thing—.】

“Ehehe~. It’s Jang-nyang-i, right~? Don’t feel bad, okay?”

This little kid, playing with the shadow like a toy…

Since he couldn’t fight with a child, Dugu Elil swallowed his frustration.

“So, you can’t take it, right?”

【That’s right. It’s a rule for balance.】

It’s not that he can’t because he lacks the ability, but because he’s bound by the rules and restrains himself. Either way, the result is the same.

“Ah~, what a waste. It would be nice if you could take it.”

【I feel the same.】

Especially the hamburger.

*

Yang Gang-wook hurriedly approached Son Yoo-jin, who was crouched in front of her bag, fiddling with something.

“Yoo-jin! What are you doing here? It’s dangerous, come with me.”

“Okay, ehehe~.”

Yang Gang-wook quickly picked up Son Yoo-jin and reached behind him.

Now, if he fired a few shots into the sky, people would panic and evacuate.

【Bear.】

Another Son Yoo-jin urgently called out to Yang Gang-wook, staring straight at him.

“Huh? Yes?”

【Are you tight-lipped?】

Yang Gang-wook laughed weakly.

“Who would believe me if I told them? They’d just think Yoo-jin is a chosen child.”

Isn’t that the truth?

The voice in his head telling him to protect the child, the child’s calmness in this situation—nothing about this is normal.

Dugu Elil made Son Yoo-jin nod.

This bear-like human, with a physique reminiscent of a barbarian warrior and a strong sense of pride, also had a quick mind.

From Son Jin-hyeok to Moon Seok-il’s group, and even Jang Gun-i the dog. Even Cheon Gil-ryong, who once watched Jin-hyeok with sharp eyes. The shadow’s existence is no secret to those around Jin-hyeok.

One more person knowing wouldn’t endanger the shadow or disrupt the world’s order. Besides, these mayflies who don’t even live 100 years—what does it matter if they know?

【Understood.】

Dugu Elil abandoned the thought of manipulating Yang Gang-wook’s memory.

Since it wasn’t something Son Jin-hyeok desperately wanted, there was no reason to interfere further in this bear’s life.

Living as a human is exhausting. Dugu Elil muttered as he delved back into Son Yoo-jin’s subconscious.

Contracts, agreements, and restrictions.

This world has too many things to do and not do. What on earth did Son Jin-hyeok find so appealing about returning to a world where he wasn’t free?

Humans who have power but don’t abuse it, who desire things but don’t recklessly seize them, who suppress their desires and protect countless rules under the name of reason. Aren’t they the true ability users?

Is he gone? Yang Gang-wook, tilting his head, fumbled around his waist.

Just as Yang Gang-wook was about to draw his gun, someone grabbed his hand.

It was an American SSS agent.

“The cops are coming over there. Someone must have seen the gun and reported it. If you draw that while holding a child, you could be in danger.”

Sure enough, where the agent pointed, a citizen was pointing at Yang Gang-wook, leading American police officers behind him. They seemed to be on duty for maintaining public order in the square.

“That’s a dangerous object. To safely evacuate people—.”

“Mister, it’s not dangerous anymore.”

Son Yoo-jin had returned to her normal self.

“Not dangerous?”

“Yeah, it won’t explode now. Ehehe~.”

Sigh, seriously.

It’s hard to keep my sanity. Am I dreaming? Yang Gang-wook muttered, placing the hand that was about to grab the gun on Son Yoo-jin’s cheek.

Should I talk to her? Will she answer if I ask? After a moment of hesitation, he hardened his expression.

“Whoever you are… can you deliver a message to my mother?”

“Huh? To who~? What is it? Ehe~.”

Son Yoo-jin looked puzzled, but Yang Gang-wook ignored her and brought up his request, taking a deep breath.

“Tell her I’m sorry for causing trouble with fights when I was young, sorry for not coming close because I hated the smell of tripe, that I miss her, and ask if she’s curious about her grandchildren’s faces…”

Even if it’s just in a dream…

The bear-like man, Yang Gang-wook, couldn’t continue. His eyes quickly filled with tears, and his Adam’s apple bobbed as if swallowing something.

【I understand.】

So that’s how it was.

Even someone with such a strong sense of self so easily believed in my existence out of desperation, the shadow thought.

I was inwardly curious why the question “Who are you?” didn’t come up, like it does with ordinary humans.

The more intelligent the beast, the more it sees the world broadly and believes in another unknown world. Humans who see the universe and the deep sea as mysteries and infinite possibilities are a prime example. You are remarkably brave and intelligent among humans, Dugu Elil nodded inwardly.

【I will definitely find her and deliver your message. Even if your mother doesn’t remember you.】

“Thank you.”

Yang Gang-wook didn’t cry. The responsibility of someone who can’t let their body crumble, no matter how desperate their heart is. That’s what makes the beast, Yang Gang-wook, so solid.

Only a single tear, defying gravity, fell as Son Yoo-jin’s hand caressed his cheek.

Son Yoo-jin, who had been comforting Yang Gang-wook by stroking his cheek, soon regained her bright smile.

“Buy me one more hot dog. Okay?”

Come to think of it, Son Yoo-jin’s hand only held an empty cup, and there was no sign of the hot dog she hadn’t taken a bite of.

“Okay, okay?”

“Sure. Let’s get a hot dog and some cola.”

The beast with bloodshot eyes raised the corners of his mouth, responding to the child’s smile.

***

Jin-hyeok, unaware of what was happening outside, smiled happily.

How reassuring it is to see someone where they should be.

Someone once defined that simply as “scenery.”

[Sun-kyu Jin~!]

Jin Seon-kyu raised his hand high at the 4th lane starting block.

Kyaaaa—!

Yoo-jin, who had become the mascot of the Olympic Stadium instead of the bizarre Atlanta Olympics mascot “Izzy,” also let out a roar from where she should be.

[Ladies and gentlemen, please remain quiet.]

Ehehe~. You could almost hear Yoo-jin’s awkward laughter after being scolded.

For Jin Seon-kyu, who had already made history by qualifying, this race was as good as the final.

Even on Korean broadcasts, some panelists had said that Jin Seon-kyu’s 9.99 in the preliminaries was impressive and moving, but that might be his limit.

[On your mark.]

Unlike other athletes, Jin Seon-kyu’s habit of sitting down alone after a race, looking exhausted, might have influenced the observers’ judgment. Lazy genius Jin Seon-kyu, that’s as far as he goes. Always has been.

[Get set.]

Jin Seon-kyu’s pulse was faster than ever.

Following Son Jin-hyeok’s advice, he was excited like a child about to ride a roller coaster, determined to catch up to Michael Marsh. A roller coaster? A strange approach, but this ultra-positive mindset is also a kind of ability.

[Bang—!]

Whoaaa—!

It was openly said that a Korean athlete advancing to the Olympic 100m final was a miracle.

Even a sports journalist had quoted that exact phrase from a drinking session. Just yesterday. A Korean journalist.

[Bang—!]

And right now.

Kyaaaaa—!

Kyuuuuu—!

A miracle happened.

Semi. A.

1. Fredericks. NAM. 9.94s

2. Bailey. CAN. 10.00s

3. Marsh. USA. 10.08s

4. Jin. KOR. 10.09s

5. Asahara. JPN. 10.16s

6. Thompson. BAR. 10.16s

7. Tuffuor.GHA. 10.22s

8. Markoullides. CYP. 10.35s

“Chasing Marsh, huh? You really chased him.” Jin-hyeok muttered, rubbing the tip of his nose with his index finger.

‘You’re such an obedient senior.’

But the sight of his senior catching his breath, sitting down, no longer feels pitiful. It’s the back of a winner who gave his all and achieved results.

I wanted to tell him to chase the faster Frank Fredericks, but the difference in leg length and stride width made over-pacing a concern.

Donovan Bailey, who is 185cm tall, similar to Jin-hyeok, had an even more pronounced difference with Jin Seon-kyu.

Above all, there was a lack of analysis on the current physical condition of Fredericks and Bailey.

On the other hand, what about Marsh?

Jin Seon-kyu and Marsh are similar in height, weight, and leg length.

Having spent time together, Jin Seon-kyu could better see Marsh’s habits and check his condition.

After overtaking the Japanese athlete once more, Jin Seon-kyu confirmed his place in the final.

‘What should I do next…?’

Once you reach the final, the outcome is unpredictable.

The pressure of the final stage is something even the world’s number one can’t escape.

‘Uncle Linford was disqualified after two fouls, right?’

In the past’s future.

Focusing on the competition and the people, even the past he had only read about vaguely came to mind.

And in Daegu, wasn’t it? After the foul rule changed from two to one, even Usain Bolt was disqualified.

[We will now proceed with the Semi-Final B race.]

It was time to set aside thoughts of others, but for Jin-hyeok, “we” mattered more than “I.”

Standing alone on the podium while friends looked on with envy wasn’t joyful or thrilling. The feeling of hanging medals on his friends was mixed with guilt.

‘Group B’s results will be better than Group A’s.’

Looking at the athletes, you could roughly guess.

Ato Boldon, Dennis Mitchell, Linford Christie, and Jin Hyuk.

‘Judging by records and rankings, Marsh will likely be in lane 1, and my senior in lane 8. So, if I want to be in lane 7…’

The lonely and fearful final stage—I plan to pull Jin Seon-kyu from the front.

‘I need to place fourth.’

When running alone, you just empty your mind and aim for first place. But when you have someone to look after, you start thinking.

‘It’s fun.’

Planning strategies, predicting outcomes, and seeing the results match up is more fun than playing Go. That thrill probably comes from being the Go stone, moving directly, rather than the Go player.

“Linford, I’ll catch up to you, so let’s see who’s faster.”

He threw a challenge at the monster in lane 6 and stepped into lane 5.

He wore a kind smile, but Linford Christie, at 188cm, the only one taller than Jin-hyeok in this competition, must be feeling uncomfortable inside.

He’s the type to foul out of anxiety about getting old.

Oppaaaa—!

No translation needed for that Korean.

Yoo-jin’s voice.

Oppaaaaang—!

This time, it was Hong Soo-jung’s voice.

The image of a little kid flailing in a stream came to mind.

Oppa, run—!

Mother······.

Please, just a little.

With Yoo Se-ra’s clear voice, that sound must have been picked up by the broadcast cameras. People watching in Korea must be going crazy right now.

The amazing news of Jin Seon-kyu making it to the final, the amusing sight of strange Korean spectators.

All good things, thankfully.

[We will proceed with the race shortly. Ladies and gentlemen in the stadium, please remain quiet.]

There’s a fun charm in translating as you hear it.

It feels like taking a younger sibling on an adventure to a magical land from a fairy tale.

Like a hero climbing a tower step by step, facing strong opponents instead of villains, my heart races.

After the Olympics, I should take Yoo-jin on a boat adventure… Hehe~.

[On your mark.]

There. On your mark.

[Get set.]

If it’s a dog, there are some who know it well.

Jang Gun-i, Hong-shi, Cheon-ma, Gwang-ma, Geom-ma, Haengun-i and Haengsun-i… Are these dogs doing well?

Shoot. Gun.

[Bang!]

Oh, right—.

Crash—!

Jin-hyeok, who had been relaxing his senses, took a half-step slower toward the final.

Whoaaa—!

Kyaaaaa—!