Chapter 77

#77 <Ingkum Ingkum (3)>

Son Kwang-yeon and Hong Ki-jun each rented an open car and drove around Oahu Island.

It was a free-spirited trip, unbound by time or routes. The coastal road had as few cars as a rural village, so they could drive slowly without worrying about others.

“Wow! Oppa, this reminds me of the old days, right?”

Yoo Se-ra, who loves driving, got excited and started chattering away, which in turn got Hong Ki-jun pumped up. The fluttering feelings from their dating days came rushing back, making him feel like he was young again.

‘Those were good times. Dodging those stalkers was thrilling.’

Son Kwang-yeon was also happy because this was his first overseas trip with his wife.

People fishing in crystal-clear waters, others swimming or sunbathing. Oh, that woman isn’t wearing anything on top! She was lying face down on a sunbed, so it was a bit of a shame, but he still got a good look while driving. Still, watching his wife in the passenger seat enjoying herself was the greatest happiness for Son Kwang-yeon.

“Ah, this is so nice. I guess this is what heaven looks like.”

“Should we buy some land in Hawaii?”

“Can we really do that?”

“Of course. Even if it’s not possible, we’ll make it possible.”

Just last night, Hong Ki-jun and Son Kwang-yeon had discussed spending their retirement in Hawaii over dinner. It seems everyone thinks about living in a place they visit at least once. For Son Kwang-yeon, who was on his first overseas trip, and Hong Ki-jun, who traveled so often that his passport had no space left for stamps, Hawaii’s charm was irresistible.

“Is inheritance possible there?”

“Of course it is.”

If it’s not possible, we’ll find a way.

Already thinking about inheritance? Even in this moment, my wife is thinking about the kids back home. It’s okay to enjoy yourself just for yourself sometimes. But Son Kwang-yeon, who always puts family first, understood his wife’s feelings.

“Maybe we should buy the land under Jin-hyeok’s name.”

“Oh, that’s a good idea too.”

Son Kwang-yeon decided that as soon as they returned to Korea, he would buy land in Hawaii through Hong Ki-jun.

But what kind of farming should we do in Hawaii?

The pineapple they ate this morning was so delicious.

Even after Hong Ki-jun left to meet a business associate who flew in from the mainland, Son Kwang-yeon and Han Yu-young continued talking about the land.

While strolling along Waikiki Beach.

“Land!”

“Land!”

While having dinner.

“Land!”

“Tada!”

Yoo Se-ra found the Son Kwang-yeon couple fascinating.

‘They’ve been talking about land all day.’

Aren’t they tired? They’re like people obsessed with land. But listening to them was oddly entertaining, like watching kids play.

“It’d be nice to live next to Ki-jun.”

“Then talk more with Su-jeong’s dad. You might have different preferences for locations.”

When Hong Ki-jun returned from his meeting and overheard their conversation, he chimed in.

“Why buy separately? Just buy it under Jin-hyeok’s name. Big.”

It felt natural. Like they were already a family living together.

No idea why, but Son Kwang-yeon and Han Yu-young nodded in agreement, and Yoo Se-ra clapped like a seal, impressed by her husband’s decision-making skills.

They were such natural people.

Han Yu-young’s eyes wavered as she thought of the kids again.

“Do you think Yoo-jin is looking for me?”

“Oppa will probably hold her tight, so focus on the vacation. Our Su-jeong is alone at her grandfather’s house without any siblings.”

Well, it’s not exactly comforting, but thanks to Yoo Se-ra, at least she didn’t feel like a bad mom.

***

Meanwhile, Son Jin-hyeok, who suddenly became a landowner in Hawaii, was wrestling with a wild boar.

‘Ugh, this feels so awkward.’

Had he ever hugged someone this tightly before? If he had this skill in dating, he’d have been a stalker. Jin-hyeok only remembered grabbing a belt during a wrestling match at a sports festival. Judo? Nah, he never really used pins or chokes.

Anyway, this boar charged past Jin-hyeok and went straight for Yoo-jin.

It was the boar’s mistake to attack the weaker one, following the wild’s natural order.

After a brief moment of fear from encountering this strange beast, Jin-hyeok’s eyes sparked with fury. The boar had touched his family, the tripwire of the Son Jin-hyeok landmine.

“How dare you!”

Who do you think you’re messing with!

Instinctively, Jin-hyeok wrapped his arm around the boar’s neck. Like hugging a boulder, the boar, true to its wild nature, was full of strength. Jin-hyeok was dragged along for a moment.

But only for a moment.

If he got dragged around, he couldn’t protect his sister. He planted his feet firmly on the ground, using a thick tree root as leverage. He locked his ankles and knees, turning his legs into logs, his thighs swelling as if they’d burst.

Jin-hyeok had long arms, but the boar’s neck was too thick to wrap one arm around. It was questionable if it even had a neck. He locked his wrists together tightly.

Kwee-! Kwee-!

The boar struggled.

“Ugh! Huff!”

Jin-hyeok gave it his all.

‘Die! Die!’ He screamed internally, not wanting to scare Yoo-jin by shouting out loud.

The thrashing boar’s tusks stabbed his side and stomach. Luckily, it only tore his clothes without causing any wounds or bleeding.

***

The boar was confused.

It had just entered this unfamiliar land today, following the scent of wind and mushrooms, ready to become independent. Other pigs had warned that outside Gubong Mountain was dangerous. But even after leaving the mountain, trotting along the path, it found no danger—just a boring adventure.

Following its instincts, it entered a dark, rotten-smelling forest full of mushrooms. The kind it loved. It didn’t know their names, but experience told it these mushrooms made it feel good. Yellow, round ones; bright yellow, flat ones; white and light brown ones.

It didn’t know humans avoided them, calling them hallucinogenic mushrooms.

There were rumors of a deer eating too many and drowning, but self-control wasn’t a thing in the wild where meals were unpredictable.

Maybe it ate too much. Its head felt dizzy, and its blood rushed faster. Its breath quickened, and its pig heart pounded. But it kept eating. Tearing away at the mushrooms, it encountered a two-legged human.

Big, dark, and strong-looking.

Its blood boiled, and its breath grew ragged, but it wanted to fight. To prove its strength and claim this mushroom-rich land as its own. It couldn’t back down.

At this moment, the humans and dogs were just intruders. Its fighting spirit ignited, drool dripped, and a deep, guttural sound rose from its throat.

An unavoidable fight. It charged at the big human.

Then, it saw the small human with its back turned. That small human was weak—one charge would take it down. The boar instinctively charged at the small human. It was in a straight line, an easy target.

But the big human didn’t allow the sneak attack. Faster than a squirrel, it grabbed the boar’s neck.

They fought for a while. Well, more like the boar struggled as it was choked.

Its breath grew shorter.

The boar pleaded with the human.

Kwee-, I think I’m coming to my senses. Can you let me go now?

The human didn’t understand pig language. Or maybe it had no intention of letting go.

Kwee-! The boar gathered all its strength, roaring like a lion. It felt the energy it had stored since spring condensing into a single point. With this power, it could break free from the human’s strong arms!

It unleashed its strength.

Crunch-.

***

Kwee-! The boar suddenly let out a scream.

Startled, Jin-hyeok tightened his grip on the boar’s neck, putting all his strength into it.

In the midst of the struggle, Jin-hyeok suddenly smelled a strong, foul stench.

He remembered what Cheon Gil-ryong had said: animals in mortal danger defecate. Jin-hyeok gained courage from the thought. How long had he been holding on?

Kwee-.

Finally, the boar collapsed.

‘It’s completely drained.’

Jin-hyeok’s stomach churned, and he felt a heavy pressure in his lower abdomen.

He had pushed himself to the brink, and the aftermath was hitting hard.

‘I need to poop… I really need to poop.’

Poop or not, Jin-hyeok plopped down.

“Ah, you scared me. Come here, baby. Are you okay?”

“Yep, hehe.”

Yoo-jin came over and hugged him when he opened his arms.

It was warm.

As Yoo-jin patted his back comfortingly, Jin-hyeok’s heart melted, and his eyes grew hot.

‘She’s not even scared. Yoo-jin is tougher than me.’

She must have been scared, but Yoo-jin was smiling brightly.

There was something else surprising too. Hugging Yoo-jin not only warmed his heart but also restored his energy. His breathing quickly calmed down, and his tense muscles relaxed.

‘Oh, this must be the power of family.’

Yoo-jin felt even more precious to him now.

Jin-hyeok looked up at the sky with emotional eyes, touching the scratches on his stomach from the boar’s tusks.

Yoo-jin tilted her head, looking at her brother. His serious expression while touching his stomach didn’t look good. Like when Dad touches Mom’s chest at night with a serious face. Did Oppa roll around hugging a boar?

She put her hand on his scratched stomach.

“Oppa, does it hurt here?”

“Haha, it’s fine. Just a little sting.”

“Yoo-jin will make it not hurt, okay?”

“How?”

Don’t tell me, Yoo-jin… Jin-hyeok’s eyes sparkled for a moment.

Ptoo-, Yoo-jin spat on her hand and rubbed Jin-hyeok’s stomach.

Hey, you… Jin-hyeok didn’t show his disbelief.

Yoo-jin’s expression was serious, without a hint of playfulness.

‘What is this, grandma’s remedy?’

Jin-hyeok’s eyes quickly filled with disappointment as he watched Yoo-jin. The wound just glistened with baby spit, but the pain remained.

He had hoped for something, but all he got was a stinging sensation from the spit.

Yoo-jin’s attention soon shifted elsewhere.

“Oppa, what’s this?”

“A boar. A wild boar.”

“Boar?”

Yoo-jin tilted her head, looking up with wide eyes.

Then, as if remembering, she smiled brightly.

“Boar is yummy, right? Mom said boar, jijiji, right?”

Yoo-jin waved her hands, pretending to cook.

“Haha, yeah. Boar is yummy.”

He didn’t know about wild boar, but regular boar was tasty.

Who knows what dish she was thinking of, but seeing her drool, it must have been really good.

“Our baby must have been really scared, huh?”

“Oppa fought the boar, right?”

Despite the shock, Yoo-jin was all smiles.

But what should we do with this boar?

Catching a big wild animal. He had rushed in without fear, thinking his sister was in danger, but now he had to deal with the aftermath.

‘Is it dead?’

Jin-hyeok felt the boar’s thick neck for a pulse. Was this even the neck? The coarse fur pricked his skin like needles.

It seemed definitely dead.

‘Let’s see. How to handle this…’

In this heat, leaving it would attract maggots and flies. While it would be good for the forest’s ecosystem, as a human, Jin-hyeok wasn’t thrilled. This forest had been his playground since childhood.

‘We should bury it.’

For both aesthetic and sanitary reasons, and out of respect for the opponent he had fought to the death, it felt like the right thing to do.

He decided to bring a shovel at dawn and bury it.

“Yoo-jin, let’s go. Yoo-jin…?”

But Jin-hyeok’s chivalrous plan to bury the boar never came to fruition. Yoo-jin, unafraid, squatted in front of the boar, poking its snout with a stick.

Mumble mumble-.

“Ah-, looks. so. yummy.”

Oh, Yoo-jin…

Her mumbling was too clear.

She looked up at her brother with round eyes, seeking agreement.

“Oppa, boar is yummy, right?”

Her sparkling eyes weren’t asking—they were demanding.

If he said no, she might hit him.