Chapter 65
Chapter 65
“Sniff.”
[“Nari Nari~ You’ll catch a cold if you keep that up,” the Lord of Chaos said as he patted your head.]
“I don’t care. I cried today, so now I’m really tired.”
Nari had taken the bus back down to Busan Station. Wiping her tears, she sat on a bench on a street crowded with neon signs and bright billboards, hugging her knees.
She had come out near the station because someone told her to go out and play, but in a strange city where she knew no one, she had no idea what to do alone.
It was early December, and families around her gathered in groups to head to restaurants or go out together. Nari had no one to meet.
“I was told there are supposed to be lots of places you can enjoy alone….”
Muttering discontentedly, Nari pulled out her phone. Since middle school she had cut off all human relationships, so the only friend who came to mind as someone she could call was Kang Ihyun.
[“Didn’t you say you shouldn’t contact him because he’s being wiretapped?” the Lord of Chaos said, sneaking a glance at you.]
“That’s about Lude. And besides, most people use messenger apps these days.”
No one knew Lude was her alternate identity except Kang Ihyun and Jeong Suho. Even Jeong Suho had never been fully convinced that Nari was Lude.
If Kang Ihyun was being tapped, the only thing that would come out was that Shin Bitnari and Kang Ihyun were on friendly terms.
Even that was burdensome, so she had refrained from contacting him. But right now, Nari wanted company so badly that she couldn’t care about such things.
[How are you feeling?] 1
Nari opened the messenger app and sent a simple greeting. The “1” disappeared, and soon a reply came. Nari let out a soft sigh and lowered her head.
[I’m fine! I’m completely better now.]
[Thank you so much for worrying! ><]
[And what about you, Nari?]
Thinking how he always used the same kind of emoticons, Nari let out a small laugh. She was about to ask if he could come out, but her fingers stopped.
“I bet he’s busy with the state funeral. I don’t know if he’ll be able to come out.”
The state funeral was the day after tomorrow. She also wondered whether he had really recovered completely, or if preparations were keeping him busy.
[I’m free right now] 1
[Do you want to hang out, if you’re okay with it?] 1
If she stayed alone like this, Nari would spend the entire twenty-four hours she was supposed to wait just tapping her fingernails. She needed someone nearby.
Suddenly she remembered Nan’s words. He had told her to go out with a friend, or even go on a date. Nari suddenly gripped her phone tightly.
“D-D-Date.”
[“A date?!” the Lord of Chaos shouted, whipping his head toward you.]
“No! Anyway, this whole trend of assuming that if a man and woman are together it must mean romance, that’s what’s weird, okay?!”
[“All right, sure~ I’ll just think what I want,” the Lord of Chaos grumbled.]
Nari bickered with the constellation through her Bluetooth earphones for a long while. Then she noticed something strange and glanced at her messenger. The “1” had disappeared, but Kang Ihyun’s reply still hadn’t come.
“…Huh?”
That had never happened before. Kang Ihyun always replied instantly.
[“Maybe he just went to the bathroom?” the Lord of Chaos suggested, eyeing you.]
“He always replies right away. Even if he’s going to be five minutes late, he texts that he’ll be late... Something’s off.”
But the message still didn’t come. Feeling uneasy, Nari called Kang Ihyun immediately. It didn’t matter if it was an overreaction. She was worried.
Riiiing, riiing. The call tone rang on and on.
* * *
A few hours earlier, that morning, Kang Ihyun had been having quite a rough day himself.
“Yes, Aunt. No, I’m being discharged today. Yes, I came back last night. I recovered quickly. Yes, I’m glad I was well enough to return before the state funeral. Really.”
At last his divine power had returned, and Kang Ihyun was declared fully healed. He changed into the casual clothes Min Jaewon had brought him for his discharge: a beige sweatshirt and jeans, chosen for comfort.
[Anyway, your grandfather’s been pushed back. Since you signed a contract with Lude, his influence won’t reach that far. He said he’ll let you rest this week.]
“Really?! Thank you so much, Auntie!”
Using Min Jaewon’s phone to avoid wiretapping, Kang Ihyun laughed.
[You know the state funeral is the day after tomorrow, right? I booked a styling shop, so be there in the morning.]
“Yes! Thank you, Aunt. Ah, what about Lude….”
[I included him in the leave list, so don’t worry. Apparently… he has someone he wants to pay respects to.]
“Ah…”
Kang Ihyun rolled his eyes. Nari must have gone to honor her mother. With that thought, he shrugged his shoulders.
‘Guess it’ll be hard to spend time with her this time.’
He looked disappointed, but he slung the sports bag Min Jaewon had given him over his shoulder. When his aunt asked what he would do now, he replied after a brief thought.
“I’ll go for a swim, then stop by my place to clean and prepare. After the funeral, I just want to sleep… I’m exhausted. Yes, yes, I’ll see you the day after tomorrow, Aunt!”
He stretched with a grin, then pulled his cap low so no one would recognize him.
‘My body feels stiff.’
For someone whose job had always kept him moving, lying still in bed for days had been torture.
Since his uncle Jaewon had prepared a swimsuit too, he thought he’d sign up for free swimming and spend the day in the water. He entered the elevator and pressed for the first floor.
“Ah. This is such a pain….”
He muttered about the ridiculousness of having to perform annual rituals for parents he didn’t even like. When the elevator reached the first floor with a ding and opened into the lobby, he sighed, his face sour.
“I’m glad you’ve recovered, young master.”
“You’re like a ghost.”
In front of him stood a bodyguard in a suit, bowing. He was his grandfather’s man.
‘…So Aunt didn’t know either.’
Kang Ihyun’s expression crumpled. His week of decent plans, though not perfect without Nari, had just been ruined.
Apparently his grandfather had tricked even Aunt Sujin, maneuvering to bring Ihyun to him.
“The chairman is waiting. He’d like you to join him for dinner.”
“He isn’t waiting for me, he’s waiting for information. Declining is…”
“As always, you can’t.”
“…I’m not dressed to see him though.”
“We have clothes in the car.”
“…Ha.”
Out of habit, Kang Ihyun ruffled his hair under his cap. With a sharp expression he never showed Nari or anyone else, he slipped his phone into the sports bag and handed it discreetly to the bodyguard.
“This is Uncle Jaewon’s. Please give it back to him.”
“Yes, young master. Now, let’s head out.”
With the eyes of the lobby already drawn to them, Ihyun could only sigh as he walked out.
A sedan limousine, its windows tinted so black the inside couldn’t be seen, waited. He slid into the back seat. Beside him lay a black shopping bag.
As the bodyguard got in front and started the car, Ihyun pulled out the clothes from the bag with a sigh.
“Honestly, the old m… My grandfather's taste is really something. Clothes like these for a family dinner.”
“He values dignity.”
Inside were luxury-brand suits. Almost letting slip the word “old man,” Ihyun checked the bodyguard’s face in the rearview mirror, then drew the blackout curtain between the seats.
‘That old man always has so many creepy demands from his grandson.’
[The constellation, “Staff of Purification,” tries to comfort you, saying you should think happier thoughts instead.]
‘Old men just want to turn their grandkids into dress-up dolls.’
Following protocol, Ihyun put on the shirt, jacket, and even a yellow tie. He glanced at the cufflinks. They were plain white.
“…”
He opened his inventory. Inside was the pair of cufflinks Nari had given him. Checking the curtain again, he swapped them carefully.
[The constellation, “Staff of Purification,” praises you, saying these look better on you.]
They were black, like her color. He stared at them with a faintly excited look. Meeting his grandfather was dreadful, but maybe he could endure it with these.
Dressed, Ihyun drew the curtain back and looked out the car window. Towering apartments pierced the sky.
The tallest, priciest one was his grandfather’s.
He had always thought of this place as a Tower of Babel. Someday everyone here would bring themselves down. He was thinking such useless thoughts when the car stopped.
“Young master, we’ve arrived.”
“Yes, thank you for your trouble.”
Checking his reflection in the window one last time, Ihyun stepped out.
A handsome young man with blond hair and blue eyes walked inside. Bodyguards bowed deeply.
“It’s been a while, young master.”
“Yes, hello. I’m here to see my grandfather.”
“This way, please.”
They led him to a special elevator at the end of the hall. Inserting a key with a click, the guard opened it. The elevator arrived with a ding.
“Thank you.”
Ihyun bowed and pressed for the top floor. As the doors shut, he scowled and sighed hard.
[The constellation, “Staff of Purification,” pities you, saying you shouldn’t force a smile.]
“That’s fine. I still have to do my part. I’ve gained things from this too.”
It was better to be depressed in a big house with ice cream and designer bags than to be depressed with nothing. That was something Nari had once told him.
“I was obviously the former. I enjoyed plenty. I need to endure this much.”
[The constellation, “Staff of Purification,” says even if you think that way, it doesn’t make the feelings disappear.]
“…”
With a bitter smile, Ihyun looked down at the obsidian floor of the elevator.
“Nari endured.”
He muttered it as he clenched his fist. Nari had endured those years. She hadn’t had an aunt, or an uncle Jaewon. She had borne ten years of nightmare alone.
“So I have to endure too. To protect Nari.”
The constellation looked at him in concern. The elevator chimed, and the doors opened.
“It’s been a while, young master.”
Fidgeting with his tie, Ihyun straightened and walked forward. His grandfather’s secretary bowed and guided him to the dining room.
“Hello.”
A long dining table. At its head sat his grandfather, with relatives in suits and dresses beside him. His grandfather, cutting his steak, noticed Ihyun and spoke.
“You’re late.”
“I’m sorry. I only got word to come late, so I arrived late.”
“There, the thirteenth seat is empty.”
The atmosphere wasn’t like family. It was like a business meeting. Ihyun sighed inwardly.