The Genius Decided To Live An Ordinary Life [EN]: Chapter 277

Meeeh-.

Son Yu-jin stuck her tongue out at the hollow eyes in the mirror.

*Shloop-.*

Son Yu-jin, who had been taunting with her tongue, withdrew her provocative gesture.

‘Can’t talk, huh?’

【……】

The shadow, almost falling for Son Yu-jin’s trick, kept its mouth shut.

How did it get caught? Even after pondering, it couldn’t recall making any mistakes.

It could erase the child’s memory and run away, but the child wouldn’t want that.

‘You’re the uncle who played with me every night when I was a baby, right?’

Knowing how much this child cherished the faint memories of them together, it didn’t even consider such a heartless plan.

This child must have recognized the shadow with the little bit of energy left in her body.

It wasn’t particularly threatening the child, and there was a human as strong as a bear staying by her side, so it could only hope that with time, the child would no longer sense its presence.

‘There’s no other way. I really should stop eating hamburgers.’

【……】

The shadow barely held back the urge to beg her not to.

It wasn’t the clingy type.

And there were many other delicious things in the world besides hamburgers.

Just going to the park near the stadium, delicious smells wafted from all directions.

It wasn’t just food that could be enjoyed.

Lively music played in the park, and grand music echoed from the stadium. Whenever Son Yu-jin swayed to the beat, the shadow sometimes felt like it had become human.

‘Baby, I’m sorry. I can’t reveal myself, even for your sake.’

All it could do was apologize by quietly planting a suggestion.

***

After breakfast, Son Yu-jin and Yoo Se-ra’s group moved to the stadium.

Her brother, who had placed first in the first race and second in the second race yesterday, was having his semi-finals today. Sports were harder than math. There was a lot of English and a lot of numbers too.

Centennial Olympic Park, outside the stadium.

The vast plaza, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Olympics, was filled with crowds of people leisurely strolling around from the morning.

Yoo Se-ra checked her wristwatch and called out to Yang Kang-wook.

‘It’s still a while before it starts. I’ll have a meeting inside for about an hour, so please take care of the kids, Team Leader Yang.’

‘Mom, can’t I come with you?’

‘You have to behave. Don’t go demanding more money for Jinyuk oppa’s ransom like last time.’

‘Okay-.’

This was Hong Su-jeong, who had demanded 50 million dollars, saying that 20 million dollars was too little, at a meeting with a sports brand. Whether it was an entrepreneurial spirit or a con artist’s, it was clear that she was not an easy daughter. That’s why Yoo Se-ra didn’t stop her daughter from attending. It was a kind of early education.

‘Manager Min, let’s go together.’

‘Yes, Chairwoman.’

Min Yong-rak, who was participating in business work instead of being a nanny for once, gladly followed. While carrying Hong Su-hyuk’s diaper bag.

Yoo Se-ra, holding Hong Su-hyuk, Hong Su-jeong, and Min Yong-rak headed to the stadium. Foundation and federation staff followed behind, and Liam Miller and SSS agents provided backup.

Now, Son Yu-jin, Yang Kang-wook, and three American SSS agents remained in Centennial Park.

‘It’s about two hours before it starts. Yu-jin, do you want to eat this?’

‘Yes! Hot dogs are yummy-.’

Centennial Park had many people and many things to eat.

It hadn’t even been an hour since she had breakfast, but Son Yu-jin could eat again. She really couldn’t resist delicious things.

Yes, hamburgers were good, but hot dogs were good too.

She could hear the thoughts of the inner Son Yu-jin. It’s a relief that she likes it.

‘It would be nice to have a cola too. Hehe-.’

‘Of course.’

Yang Kang-wook also bought her cola, promising to keep it a secret from her mom.

Maybe because he had three kids, he was good at understanding children’s feelings.

‘Wow-.’

Son Yu-jin, who was watching the hot dog being made, exclaimed in admiration, and the American lady making the hot dog in the food truck smiled contentedly.

*Shook-shak-shak-shak-.*

Opening the long bread, placing a long, reddish sausage on top.

And then on top of that, this and that……

‘It looks really delicious. Right?’

【……】

‘Huh? Right? Mr. Dugu Elil?’

Yes.

She couldn’t ask how this child had come to know of its existence, and it was a headache to ponder, but for now, it had no choice but to pretend not to know.

Did it get caught when they were riding the roller coaster?

‘Aren’t you going to eat, Bear Team Leader?’

‘I’m fine with coffee.’

‘Coffee is bitter, hehe-.’

American coffee tasted different from the instant coffee she secretly drank at home, hiding from her mom.

The hot dogs were also different from the ones sold in Korea.

Korean hot dogs had sausages skewered on wooden sticks, then coated in flour to make them chubby, but in America, they split the bread and put a huge sausage inside, and then, and then, chopped onions, and then, and then-.

‘Lots of pickles, please. And plenty of sauce.’

Ah, right. Pickles.

She remembered when she saw Bear Team Leader ordering.

She took the hot dog that Yang Kang-wook handed her.

‘Ooh-, smells delicious.’

*Waaang-.*

Just as she was about to take a big bite.

Son Yu-jin had no intention at all.

That meant she had no intention of turning her head. Even though she should have been focused on the food in front of her, her head turned towards the middle of the park on its own.

*Srrr-.*

‘Yu-jin, what are you doing?’

Yang Kang-wook asked, but Son Yu-jin’s strange behavior continued.

Even her eyes were out of control.

Son Yu-jin’s eyes, which had lost control, were not the usual sparkling stars.

‘Why is she like this? Her eyes are eerie.’

Seeing the child looking spaced out, Yang Kang-wook lowered himself and made eye contact with Son Yu-jin.

With a look that asked if she was sick.

The numerous crowds, bustling and chattering.

Son Yu-jin, alone, was putting on a bizarre display.

Following Son Yu-jin’s gaze, Yang Kang-wook’s eyes landed on an object placed next to the fountain in the middle of the park. It was a large black Boston bag.

*Srrr-.*

Son Yu-jin’s eyes, which had been staring intently at the bag, moved to find Yang Kang-wook’s eyes.

*Ooo-.*

A ghastly aura that would have made an ordinary human faint emanated from Son Yu-jin’s eyes. Yang Kang-wook’s spine tingled and his hair stood on end like needles when he met those eyes.

‘Why… are you doing this?’

Just as Yang Kang-wook managed to ask, Son Yu-jin’s lips moved like a machine, and a voice flowed out.

‘Ttrats ardo-pje tta lemok nevma.’

It was a language that could not be understood by ear at all.

But for some reason, Yang Kang-wook could understand the words.

【A bomb will explode soon.】

Yang Kang-wook, not avoiding Son Yu-jin’s eyes, instead glared back and asked.

‘How much time is left?’

Towards the ability user beyond Son Yu-jin’s retina, who easily infiltrated his consciousness as if humans were insignificant.

***

‘One hour and thirty minutes left.’

Jin Seon-gyu, who had been repeatedly lifting his knees and running on the track, approached.

‘How’s your condition?’

‘Hmm! Very light. I’m excited and feeling great.’

‘Do it without pressure, without regrets.’

‘You rascal. You’re giving me the kind of encouragement old people get-.’

Jin Seon-gyu grinned, not at all offended by the teasing.

It wasn’t wrong, and in the professional world, the person with the better skills was the elder, wasn’t he?

Jin Seon-gyu already acknowledged Jin-hyuk anyway.

‘You’re the best.’

He had promised to answer the awkward question of the person who had set a better record in the quarter-finals.

The night before going to bed, Jin-hyuk had given Jin Seon-gyu advice instead of using his question right.

– ‘When I ran behind you, Marsh’s condition didn’t seem too good. But he’s got his usual rhythm, so I think he’ll barely make it to the finals. Just focus on catching Marsh.’

Remembering those words, Jin Seon-gyu looked at Michael Marsh warming up in the distance.

‘I can see it too.’

Some people with insight, such as Kim Hyung-tak, were excellent at identifying and guiding opponents, but most people who were blocked by the wall of growth had eyes that were stuck there as well.

Was it because he had broken through the wall he had been trapped behind for over four years? Even Jin Seon-gyu could see the world-class athletes as opponents he could take on.

‘Marsh looks energetic, but his complexion is bad. Does he have a respiratory problem?’

He could only guess that he might have a mild cold. Athletes who had to be careful about even using medicine often had to live with colds. If they had a blood test after a race and it showed a drug reaction, years of effort for the Olympics would be wasted.

They had become friends while training together, but now they were enemies. He would just use the enemy’s weakness.

‘Maybe it’s because of the sauna, but my body feels refreshed and good. My muscles are taut too.’

‘If you sign with Sein, you can use the training facility in Yeouido.’

Jin-hyuk, not missing the opportunity, threw out bait.

The more excellent athletes there were, the more the agency would grow. Not to mention athletes with Olympic experience.

‘Yeouido?’

What training facility was in Yeouido?

Jin Seon-gyu’s eyes widened and he showed signs of excitement.

‘You know that Sein built an office building on the site where the construction materials company moved, right?’

‘Yeah. I know. You’re talking about that mirror building. The one that can’t be seen from the outside…’

Jin Seon-gyu squinted, recalling the building’s exterior that had been reported in the media recently.

‘The site there is large.’

‘Wasn’t there a park next to the building?’

‘There’s a training facility underground in the park.’

*Ppeok-ppeok-.* Jin Seon-gyu couldn’t speak and moved his lips like a goldfish.

‘It’s an underground training facility, so the ceiling isn’t very high, but it’s about- fifteen meters…’

Jin-hyuk gestured with his hand, as if measuring the height of someone taller than him.

‘It’s a dome, so it’s sturdy and you can train even in bad weather. On a standard track.’

‘Isn’t there usually a bomb shelter in a place like that?’

‘It was built to be used as a bomb shelter in case of an emergency. Usually, it’s used as a training facility for the Sein Foundation. It has to function as a bomb shelter, so there are a lot of pillars-.’

‘Have you been there?’

‘Yes. Once.’

Jin Seon-gyu asked again with a blank expression.

‘But why on earth did you build something like that?’

‘For the future.’

The future.

Jin Seon-gyu was dumbfounded and even felt empty at the overly broad expression.

Even though it was also a bomb shelter, an underground standard-sized track.

Both Chairwoman Yoo Se-ra’s boldness and the company Sein were beyond the ability of a mere track and field athlete to comprehend.

‘Everyone’s out of their minds…’

***

Yang Kang-wook wasn’t in his right mind either.

When he arrived in the United States, Son Jin-hyuk had firmly told him something when he was separated from his brother for training.

– ‘If Yu-jin does anything strange on her own, don’t be scared. Kids are unpredictable, you know.’

He thought it was a way to comfort Yang Kang-wook, who had followed him to the United States to take care of his brother.

‘I guess that wasn’t it.’

The monster’s strange younger sister.

If he were to briefly describe Son Jin-hyuk and Son Yu-jin in Yang Kang-wook’s eyes, it would be something like this, wouldn’t it?

Even in an unrealistic situation where a transcendent being was trying to control him, Yang Kang-wook did not let go of his reason.

The human free will to not have one’s thoughts and actions controlled.

Anyway, it was no coincidence that Jin-hyuk’s words came to mind the moment he met Son Yu-jin’s bizarre eyes.

‘What should I do?’

【Save the child.】

It was talking to Yang Kang-wook.

The words, imbued with an irresistible force, gave an order in Yang Kang-wook’s mind.

【Protect the child. There isn’t much time.】

Reality had more mysterious and incomprehensible events than novels or movies.

Especially soldiers working in special forces had more frequent experiences than civilians. Seeing a human-shaped object flying in the air in the forest, or finding human remains while digging and having them disappear without a trace while reporting it.

Of course, that didn’t mean this incident was understandable.

There was a clear voice echoing in his head, and the urgency of the bomb made it impossible to doubt or analyze logically.

‘If I were to receive a divine revelation, this is how it would feel.’

Yang Kang-wook nodded and reached out to hug Son Yu-jin to evacuate.

That’s when it happened.

Son Yu-jin’s pupils, which had shrunk, widened again, her eyes returned, and she mumbled something.

‘Nooo-. There are many people.’

‘There’s no time to explain. It could get more confusing because of the many people.’

‘People aren’t bugs.’

Bugs?

Ah, her eyes had returned to focus, but Son Yu-jin’s eyes were not looking at Yang Kang-wook. They were just wandering aimlessly in the air.

Only then did Yang Kang-wook realize that Son Yu-jin was not talking to him.

*

【Amazing.】

Both Son Yu-jin, who broke down her guard and was talking to it, and Yang Kang-wook, who refused to be controlled, were humans who were beyond expectations.

Even though it was just a part of a non-existent consciousness, to break free from the shadow’s suggestion so easily.

‘You have to give them a chance to escape-.’

The attempt to take over Son Yu-jin’s body and make her escape alone was also in vain.

Then, it had no choice but to appear in front and persuade her. The shadow had no choice but to reveal its voice to Son Yu-jin.

【Your safety is important. There is no reason to worry about insignificant humans.】

‘My brother said that each and every one of them is an independent person. You shouldn’t see lives as just numbers.’

‘You’re saying the same thing as your brother.’

‘Because I’m my brother’s sister-.’

Ha-. She was so stubborn.

The shadow sighed internally. Then Son Yu-jin touched her own forehead.

While Son Yu-jin was fretting alone like someone in conflict, Yang Kang-wook immediately began to assess the situation.

The being talking in his head was not the top priority. Because he couldn’t explain it.

It didn’t matter what kind of being it was.

It was a matter of believing or not believing.

‘I don’t know who planted the bomb, but the suspect is also a problem for later.’

Confirm the dangerous object, and then evacuate the civilians.

If he could announce that there was a bomb and quickly evacuate people…

‘Wait, could the guy who planted the bomb be watching?’

A place where many people were making their own voices and spending their own time.

A space where freedom had become poison. He didn’t know what kind of explosive it was, but it would be a problem if it was activated the moment the evacuation began.

He made eye contact with the American SSS agents.

‘You’ll see a black bag next to the fountain. Don’t turn your heads. Look for someone hiding nearby and watching it. Secretly. One of you stay by my side.’

The two American agents nodded and disappeared into the crowd.

‘I have to prepare for the worst.’

Now it was time to request cooperation from the authorities.

No matter how great Yang Kang-wook was, he didn’t have the ability to defuse a bomb or throw it high into the sky.

He called Liam Miller.

– Speak.

‘It’s an emergency. Call the police. There’s a bomb in the plaza.’

Bomb.

– What in the plaza? It’s noisy around here, so I can’t hear you. Ah, please don’t misunderstand. It’s a stadium, so it’s noisy around me…

Yang Kang-wook blocked one ear and recited the phonetic code clearly.

‘Bravo. Oscar. Mike. Bravo.’

B.O.M.B.

He could almost see Liam Miller taking a breath.

– …Are you kidding me?

Yang Kang-wook closed his eyes and growled softly and clearly.

‘Am I someone who would joke around with you?’

– I don’t understand Korean.

I don’t know these words in English either, you idiot!

‘Just call the police or whatever.’

Bomb in the plaza. That level of explanation should be enough to take the necessary measures.

He hung up the phone and took the pistol from the agent’s holster and tucked it into the back of his pants.

It was difficult to evacuate people, but it was possible to make them run away.

‘Geez. I’m going to end up shooting a gun in America.’

Yang Kang-wook, who was about to go to where the bag was, felt that one of his hands was empty and looked around.

The composure that had been firm despite the strange phenomenon crumbled.

‘Yu-jin?’

Where did she go?

The eyes that had lost something that should not have been lost shook in dismay.

Like when he was seven years old, when he had gone looking for his mother who was working at a restaurant and got lost.