The Genius Decided To Live An Ordinary Life [EN]: Chapter 250

Puhwoo-oop!

A breath of air taken to a level no one else could reach, followed immediately by a lock.

The veins on his temples bulged.

There was a time when he thought studying was the easiest and best thing he could do.

It was a delusion.

It was merely the only means a person without the opportunity to demonstrate their talent could choose without going astray.

Puhwooooooo-.

He exhaled the breath he had briefly held.

There was a time when he evaluated himself as a conformist and upright person.

It was the arrogance of someone who lacked self-awareness.

He had only pretended to be a smooth stone, not fitting into the mold of the world, because he lacked the power to resist.

Puhwoo-oop!

He tried to act nonchalant about the opinions of those around him, but he thought the reputation of being a brave person who would speak his mind even to his superiors was quite fitting.

Even now, he thinks it’s fitting.

Hehe.

While running on the treadmill, he also thought that he might have had a talent for running that he had just let rot.

‘That’s for sure.’

Even running solely with human power, he was overpowering other humans.

The conviction that he wouldn’t fall behind anyone in training also fueled his confidence.

Hoo-oop-. He took a strong final breath.

The well-maintained track is good because there’s no need to look at the ground.

He only needs to focus on the finish line and run.

The spiteful headwind provoked him, responding to his running speed, but he easily tore through it with the arms that had once gripped mountains and climbed rocks.

His upper body, which had once swayed to the rhythm due to an imbalance in his physique, was now firmly fixed and shot forward like a torpedo.

Phew-oooooo-.

He slowly released his breath as he approached the finish line.

Along with it, his strength also faded.

‘Aigoo-.’

That wasn’t what he intended.

The habit he had developed in the preliminaries and semi-finals came out.

[Ta-aang-.]

His speed was too fast, and there wasn’t enough time to put in more power.

The race ended just like that.

***

Jeon Gyeong-won, the chairman of the Korea Association of Athletics Federations, who was seated in the VIP section, couldn’t sit back and watch leisurely.

It was understandable that Yoo Se-ra, the director of Sein Foundation, a VIP of the federation, had come since it was a national sporting event, but he was restless because of the person who was clinging to that woman’s arm and wouldn’t let go.

He would rather stand and look at the distant mountains. He couldn’t see the mountains, only the sea far away. That direction must be Gwangalli, right?

‘Chairman Hong Gi-jun.’

A powerful man who had just turned forty.

If he wanted to, he had the power to overthrow the country with money and power and restore it to a monarchy.

That’s what the baseless rumors said.

It was said that after establishing a defense industry company, he also formed the first private military company in the country through legislative lobbying. Of course, that was also just a rumor.

Was it SSS? It was a security company, but if you looked at the reality, it was no different from a military group. There were even widespread rumors that they had re-exported that private military company to the United States, an allied country.

It was said that they had not only focused on training combatants but also secured a lot of advanced military technology. In terms of scale, it was said that no country in Asia could match them, but because of the protection laws, even the National Intelligence Service couldn’t properly grasp the situation. He didn’t know how they had managed to win over the government to make such a thing possible, but it was obvious where the current and former high-ranking military officials would line up.

‘The rumors are beyond imagination, so it’s a relief that he’s just a businessman who only cares about profit and loss.’

The fact that such rumors were circulating even though there were no media reports or photographic evidence was suspicious in itself. Looking at history, rumors that swept the world often turned out to be true.

It was an unannounced visit.

As the spouse of Director Yoo Se-ra and the owner of the event’s sponsor, it wasn’t wrong for him to attend.

However, was the visit of a powerful person something to be taken lightly, like a walk in the neighborhood?

‘He should have given us a heads-up.’

They hadn’t been able to prepare any protocol.

His handshake with trembling hands was all the greeting he could manage due to the sudden visit.

His eyes were sharp, his physique hidden under his suit was sturdy, and the grip of his hand when they shook was terrifying.

Hong Gi-jun didn’t say anything to Jeon Gyeong-won other than that he was glad to see him and that he had worked hard.

Surrounded by stern bodyguards, it was difficult to even approach him.

‘Suffocating.’

Even in the cool April breeze of Busan, cold sweat ran down Jeon Gyeong-won’s neck.

“Honghong-.”

As if mocking him, Yoo Se-ra only made a cheerful nasal sound.

It was a forced display of affection from a woman who clearly had no talent for nasal sounds.

“The finals are soon, so why don’t you watch with us here, Chairman? Hohong-.”

“Ah, yes!”

At the woman’s light gesture, Jeon Gyeong-won’s old body moved quickly.

As he moved to a chair one space away from Yoo Se-ra, the bodyguards cleared a path.

“Honey-?”

“Hmm.”

Honestly, he was envious.

Young age, a beautiful wife, and power.

Hong Gi-jun’s composure must surely come from his possessions.

“The federation chairman definitely promised, didn’t he?”

At those words, Hong Gi-jun turned his head to look at Jeon Gyeong-won. It was with a faint smile that boasted of his composure.

Jeon Gyeong-won, who reluctantly made eye contact, also smiled awkwardly.

“If we can just make it to the Olympics, he said the federation would do everything it can for the athlete.”

He had never made such a promise…

It was better to stay quiet at times like this, if only because Hong Gi-jun’s gaze was frightening. If there was anything to argue about, they could settle it later with official documents.

When Yoo Se-ra visited unexpectedly before the competition, he thought it was a victory for the federation.

However, what came out of Yoo Se-ra’s mouth was unprecedented.

– “I’m thinking of establishing a sports association with my own hands. I’ll build a soccer field, a baseball field, a swimming pool, and while I’m at it, maybe even a ski resort, and create a boarding sports school. Track and field, gymnastics, rowing, kayaking, diving, so that no sport is left out. About… eight across the country? Wouldn’t we be able to secure ten or twenty times more promising athletes than we do now? How will the Olympic landscape change in ten years? I’m thinking of making a deal with the government with such a plan. If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be just a matter of time before our foundation takes the ‘Korea’ title?”

Jeon Gyeong-won’s impression of his first meeting with Yoo Se-ra was simple.

– ‘She’s a crazy woman…’

This woman had come to make a deal with the federation, but she was threatening the federation by saying she would make a deal with the government. With the most gentle expression in the world.

That’s why it was even more chilling. Because people who smile while cursing are more frightening.

He couldn’t just dismiss it as the ramblings of a naive person.

Numerous companies had shown that there was no history that capital could not make possible.

And if that company was Sein, and if Sein went beyond just sponsoring and started directly nurturing athletes, it would surely change the history of sports.

For now, he had no choice but to appease her. Because fighting with a crazy woman would only make him a crazy man.

To be precise, they reached an agreement in which the federation would concede that it would not stick to its existing policy regarding the issue of athlete eligibility.

– “Hohong-. I knew I could talk to you, Chairman.”

That’s how he sent her away.

‘But full support? When did I ever say that?’

He never expected her to package it like that.

Still.

If they could achieve it, there was nothing they couldn’t do.

‘It’s not that easy to get to the Olympics.’

It was the same for any sport, but for South Korea’s track and field sprint events, making it to the Olympics was truly unprecedented.

It was like a dream.

[Set-.]

The height of the athlete in lane 4 is abnormal.

His height itself isn’t the problem. There are many men who are taller than him even though they are younger.

The fact that he can run sprints with such a tall height was puzzling even to Jeon Gyeong-won, who was a former track and field athlete. This is South Korea, a country where sprinters are supposed to be short and sturdy, isn’t it?

[Ready-.]

But that athlete isn’t just running, he’s running the best.

Even after watching last year’s races over and over again, he couldn’t understand why he was doing track and field, which didn’t make money, with that physique and strength. Even if the Sein Group, which had money to spare, was nurturing unpopular sports as part of their social contribution.

[Bang-!]

Waaaaaaah-!

Most South Korean sprinters grit their teeth and run to the finish line.

That’s because they are at a disadvantage in terms of length compared to foreign athletes.

Visually, that’s what makes it more dynamic.

“Heunyaat-!”

At Yoo Se-ra’s strange exclamation, Hong Gi-jun, who had been lingering like a heavy dark cloud, jumped up.

Jeon Gyeong-won also kicked off the ground like a bee-stung colt.

‘Could it be!’

That athlete is different.

Even though he’s tall, he’s dynamic and full of power.

He thought his record would be similar to last year’s, but.

‘He’s faster.’

Is his growth rate fast? Or is he already complete?

He stands out from beginning to end, and then slows down as if enjoying the attention at the end.

‘That’s not it! Run to the end! You need to get the record!’

He unconsciously clenched his fist.

Nevertheless, because of the athlete who finishes the shortest race in the shortest time.

Waaaaaaah-!

The ceiling of the VIP viewing area shook as if it had gathered the voices of everyone in the audience.

The young athlete’s smiling face, which dominated the large electronic display, was full of composure.

Wasn’t his expression just like a copy of the composed smile of the powerful Hong Gi-jun?

「9.89」

That athlete must be sent to the Olympics.

No, he will go with his own power.

He had become a powerful figure who threatened the federation’s achievements with his own strength.

A sigh washed over him.

“Heo-. That’s… now…”

“Hahaha-. It’s my first time seeing it in person, but it’s fun-”

In the midst of history, the two chairmen smiled in contrasting ways.

“Hwonghwonghwong-.”

A seal-like sound was heard from somewhere.

Crying like a child, Yoo Se-ra was drawing circles in the air with her hand.

Puhpuhpuhpuh-!

Bba-ja-ja-ja-ja-jak-!

Five shots in total.

***

“Let’s forget any misunderstandings and do well in the future. We will spare no support.”

The federation bowed its head.

The front page of the newspaper was plastered with Son Jin-hyuk.

A photo showing the electronic display with the number 「9.89」 prominently displayed behind him, in a pose of throwing an uppercut high into the sky.

A photo of him alone, with the corners of his mouth raised, while other athletes were holding their waists and panting.

And another photo symbolically showed the reality.

It was a photo of the athlete shaking hands with one hand, and Chairman Jeon Gyeong-won, bowing his head while clasping that hand with both of his.

An extraordinary photo that went beyond the norm was widely reported through the media. Major TV news and sports news broadcast the race scenes endlessly.

「Breaking the Barrier in Busan」

「Only 16 Years and 7 Months Old」

Regardless of the media outlet, they couldn’t offer any opinions other than the raw results.

There was no reason to continue the war of nerves when an athlete had broken the 10-second barrier that they had so desperately wanted, and the federation, which had been one of the axes of the fight, had bowed down to the athlete, so the justification had disappeared.

However, that was the superficial reason.

「Chairman Hong Gi-jun’s Unprecedented Visit. Director Yoo Se-ra (Right), Moved, is Crying While Embracing Her Husband, Sein Group Chairman Hong Gi-jun (Left).」

A photo and explanation that filled an entire page.

Those who realized that it was Hong Gi-jun, not Yoo Se-ra, who was behind the athlete, must have taken the appropriate course of action.

*

Jin-hyuk organized, printed, and recalled the past Hong Gi-jun while organizing Hong Gi-jun’s emails.

In the past, Chairman Hong Gi-jun had been reserved about political or social issues. It was as if he had no interest in current affairs and was a dark person. But then, if he had a drink or two, he would often bring up stories, but even then, he was extremely cautious.

But what about now?

「In the era we lived in together, they were called ‘giregi’ [a derogatory term for journalists]. I have no intention of arguing whether it’s right or wrong. I am an emotionless person, and everything is self-inflicted. But you know what? When you look down from a high place, regardless of cleanliness, any gesture is just a trivial trick to make a living. That’s why sensible people don’t trust the media. Even the economic newspapers I occasionally look at are far from the truth. Those with wisdom judge the domestic and international situation based not on the content the media covers, but on the behavior they show.

Still, I’ll teach you a few things. You know that a dog doesn’t bark at the person who feeds it. It cowers and hides in front of the person holding a stick. The reason why a dog barks at the moon is because the moon doesn’t harm it.」

Poof-, a burst of laughter erupted like a hot bread exploding.

‘Is a person who claims to be emotionless comparing journalists to dogs?’

He continued reading, organizing the paragraphs into a document file for easier printing.

He thought that the old man, who was slow at typing, would be upset if he read it carelessly, after writing such a long message.

「They usually start by slandering celebrities. It’s a way to make their names known. Whether they write a novel or report the facts, it doesn’t matter to them or the public. What matters is the stimulation. A stimulation that is deadly to someone, and a stimulation that will addict the public to voyeurism.

To do great things, you must be free from them. Have you ever seen an article slandering me? I am the person who holds both the feed and the stick. And I am located on the moon. That is the only power of a person. Irreplaceable. To reach that level, you need to be tempered. It’s not a bad idea to forge yourself sufficiently before entering the world. This is a sensitive topic, so read it and delete it.」

Well, is he saying to go to the moon and hold a stick and give feed?

They were stories that he understood but didn’t resonate deeply with him.

‘It’s not like Hong Gi-jun is taking precious time out of his day to brag, ah-, to brag about himself, so he wouldn’t have written such a sincere email.’

He was able to confirm what he meant by throwing out such bait right after the competition.

*

SSS agents stationed at the Son residence were doing their job for once. It was because of the reporters who were loitering around for the purpose of coverage.

After the competition, he calmly responded to interviews at the press conference and expressed his determination for the future. Since he had an agency and was a minor, it had been decided that the agency would handle future official statements. However, the reporters, who had to sell newspapers, needed a story. The athlete’s skills and medal potential were not important. Materials such as heart-wrenching pure love, adversity and hardship, love and friendship were the prey that the reporters wanted.

He had heard that the athlete’s father was a brilliant man from a prestigious university who had settled in a rural area with no connections and built a company. If that was the case, it was obvious that curiosity would be aroused about what kind of person his spouse was, and where the reporters would head was something anyone who knew the media ecosystem could guess.

However, there was a lack of information about the people guarding that place.

“You have trespassed on private property. We warn you to leave immediately.”

Yu Tae-hwa’s thumb folded.

The reporters, who had expected to be treated to tea and scorched rice in a cozy country house and return with a lot of news, were faced with an unexpected situation.

“Are you infringing on the public’s right to know? South Korea is a country ruled by law!”

Yu Tae-hwa was calm even in front of the microphones and cameras that could tear him apart at any moment.

“There is no legal provision in the laws of South Korea that says you can trespass on private property and infringe on privacy to provide gossip to an unspecified number of people. If you do not leave, we warn you that we will use force delegated by the owner and the government in accordance with due process.”

It was a sophistry on the surface, but SSS’s force was a product that had been approved by the government as a legitimate business, so it wasn’t wrong.

Yu Tae-hwa’s index finger covered the thumb that had folded first.

Behind Yu Tae-hwa, six SSS agents, including Kim Sang-ho, were preparing for any eventuality. It was because so many people had gathered that Han Yu-young, who was holding Jeong-won in her arms inside the house under Jang Jin-nam’s protection, felt fear. She had heard about the visit from Hong Gi-jun, but Han Yu-young had complained to Yu Tae-hwa about her displeasure at the unannounced visit. She said she didn’t know so many people would come.

“No, I heard that the countryside is generous, but aren’t you being too harsh on people who parked their cars far away and walked all the way here? We are South Korean reporters!”

“You are the ones who came without getting prior consent from the athlete’s mother, and you ignored her when she said she didn’t want to be interviewed.”

Yu Tae-hwa’s third finger folded.

He knew very well that they were not people who needed or would understand a conversation.

“We, we’re leaving!”

The reporters turned tail as soon as they saw Kim Sang-ho and the other agents showing signs of stepping forward in front of Yu Tae-hwa.

That wasn’t the end of it.

Bbangbbangbbaaaang-!

Along with a horn that shook the mountain, a tirade erupted.

“What the hell kind of bastards parked their cars like this and made it so the tractor can’t pass! I’m going to push them all down the mountain, you uneducated bastards!”

It was tractor driver Jo Il-heon.