The Genius Decided To Live An Ordinary Life [EN]: Chapter 278

“I must be out of my mind….”

Divine revelation-like voices and even a bomb.

Even after becoming accustomed to a comfortable life, how could the beast Yang Kang-wook lose his only charge in such a disturbing situation?

It was just a moment.

That was when Yang Kang-wook’s eyes, which had been darting around in self-reproach, were filled with shock.

*Shloop-* *Shloop-*.

Like a small rocky island appearing and disappearing in the waves.

A small child stood still in the middle of a space where an irregular crowd was milling about.

Son Yu-jin was squatting in front of the bag, as if petting a puppy.

No one among the passersby paid any attention to the child, who was fidgeting in that position.

“Tollssi-.”

*Saaaah-*.

As if a winter fog was descending, or frost was forming, the air around Son Yu-jin’s outstretched hand cooled and froze.

“Ohoho-, that was good-.”

Son Yu-jin was utterly carefree, even with a dangerous object in front of her.

She could be brave because Dugu Elil had promised that he would protect her no matter what.

Dugu Elil, who couldn’t control her body, had no other choice with the child who insisted on not evacuating alone.

*Glug-glug-*.

Oh, what a waste-. Without stopping her chattering lips, Son Yu-jin poured cola into the slightly open bag.

“Kratz Lav-.”

*Crackle-crackle-*.

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

【You’re doing well.】

“This is what I used to say when I made a snow house with my brother a long time ago-, to keep it from melting. If I say this, um-, um, what was it? Ehehe-. I can’t remember because I’m scared.”

【It will freeze solid. It’s a command that can create a freezing core and freeze anything.】

Even souls.

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

Seriously.

I taught you that, you little brat.

【Freeze it more. Thicker. Opaque. Create ice teeth and tear the inside to shreds.】

“Kratz Lav, Derden!”

*Squeak-squeak-squeak-*.

Even without seeing it, one could tell. What had first frozen like thin ice, later froze solid into a single mass without any gaps.

“Can’t you take this, mister? To a faraway land? To a neighboring country?”

Ah, maybe a neighboring country is not a good idea? Son Yu-jin tilted her head, smiling like a child playing house.

【I can only go where you are. However, I must not go there.】

“Why can’t you come-? I’ll buy you a hamburger if you come. I have one thousand dollars-. My brother says it’s a lot of money.”

My brother, my brother. Geez, can’t she say anything without mentioning her brother….

【I don’t plan to go for you in the future either.】

“Are you scared to take this because it might explode-?”

Ugh, I went through the trouble of thinking and telling her, and both her brother and this brat talk so carelessly.

The shadow ground its teeth inwardly. *Inner grinding*.

Even old man Hong Ki-jun used honorifics when addressing the shadow, but that guy Son Jin-hyuk just spoke casually. He even insulted me by calling me stupid. Suddenly, I’m getting angry?

【Little one, I am not afraid of the crude objects of insignificant humans. There is only one being I fear-.】

“Ehehe-. Just kidding-. Don’t be upset, okay?”

This little thing is playing with people, no, with a shadow….

There was no way he could fight with a child, so Dugu Elil suppressed his resentment.

“So, you can’t take anything?”

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

It wasn’t that he couldn’t do it because he lacked the ability, but rather that he was bound by the laws and restrained himself, but either way, the result was the same.

“Ooh-, that’s a shame. It would be so nice if you could take it.”

【I feel the same.】

Especially the hamburger.

Yang Kang-wook rushed towards Son Yu-jin, who was squatting in front of the bag, fiddling with it.

“Yu-jin! What are you doing here! It’s dangerous, let’s go with uncle.”

“Yes, ehehe-.”

Yang Kang-wook picked up Son Yu-jin and reached behind his back.

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

【Bear.】

Another Son Yu-jin urgently called out to Yang Kang-wook. Staring intently with both eyes.

“Huh? Yes?”

【Are you tight-lipped?】

Yang Kang-wook smiled weakly.

“Who would believe it even if I told them? They would just think that Yu-jin is a chosen child.”

Isn’t that the truth?

The words that rang in his head telling him to protect the child, the child who was so calm in this situation, nothing was normal.

Dugu Elil moved Son Yu-jin and nodded.

This bear-like human had a physique that reminded one of a savage warrior, possessed a strong pride, and even had a quick mind.

From Son Jin-hyuk to Moon Seok-il’s group, the general Saniel. And even Chun Gil-ryong, who once watched Jin-hyuk with a sharp eye. The existence of the shadow was no secret to the people around Jin-hyuk.

Even if one more person knew, it wouldn’t endanger the shadow, nor would it disrupt the order of the world. Besides, they were mayflies who couldn’t even live for 100 years, so what did it matter if they knew?

【Understood.】

Dugu Elil gave up on the idea of manipulating Yang Kang-wook’s memories.

Since it wasn’t something Son Jin-hyuk desperately wanted, there was no reason to get involved in this bear’s life.

Living as a human is tiring. Dugu Elil muttered as he entered Son Yu-jin’s subconscious again.

Contracts and contracts, and restrictions.

There were so many things to do and not to do in this world. He couldn’t understand why Son Jin-hyuk wanted to go back and live in a world that wasn’t free.

Humans who had power but didn’t abuse it, who wanted to possess but didn’t reach out and take it, who suppressed their desires and protected so many rules in the name of reason. Weren’t they the true power users?

Did he leave? Yang Kang-wook tilted his head and rummaged around his waist.

Just as Yang Kang-wook was about to pull out his pistol, someone grabbed his hand.

It was an American SSS agent.

“The cops are coming over there. Someone must have reported seeing the gun. If you pull that out while holding the child, you could be in danger.”

Indeed, a citizen was pointing at Yang Kang-wook and guiding the American police behind him. They seemed to be personnel working to maintain order in the plaza.

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

“Uncle, it’s not dangerous anymore.”

Son Yu-jin had already returned to her normal self.

“Not dangerous?”

“Yes, it won’t explode anymore. Ehehe-.”

Ha-, seriously.

It’s hard to keep my head on straight. Am I dreaming? Yang Kang-wook muttered and placed his hand on Son Yu-jin’s cheek instead of grabbing the gun.

Should I talk to her, would she answer if I asked? He pondered for a moment and then hardened his expression.

“I don’t know who you are… but can you tell my mother?”

“Huh? Tell who-? What is it? Ehe-.”

Son Yu-jin asked back with a blank expression, but Yang Kang-wook ignored her and stated his business. He took a deep breath.

“I’m sorry for causing her trouble with my fights when I was young, I’m sorry for not getting close to her because I hated the smell of the intestines, I miss her, aren’t you curious about your grandchildren’s faces….”

Come to me even in my dreams….

The bear-like man, Yang Kang-wook, couldn’t finish his words. His eyes, which were quickly filling with tears, and his throat, which was gulping as if swallowing something, were heartbreaking.

【I understand.】

Was that the feeling?

Did even someone with such a strong ego believe in my existence so easily because of his desperation? The shadow thought.

He had been inwardly wondering why the question ‘Who are you?’ didn’t come back, like it did with other ordinary humans.

It was said that the smarter the beast, the wider it saw the world and believed in another world it didn’t know. The human perspective of seeing the universe and the deep sea as mysteries and infinite possibilities was a prime example. You are a remarkably brave and intelligent person, Dugu Elil nodded inwardly.

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

“Thank you.”

Yang Kang-wook didn’t cry in the end. The sense of responsibility of a person who couldn’t collapse even if his heart was desperate. It was the source that made the beast Yang Kang-wook so strong.

However, a single tear fell, unable to resist gravity, onto Son Yu-jin’s hand that was caressing his cheek.

Son Yu-jin, who had been stroking Yang Kang-wook’s cheek as if comforting him, soon regained her bright smile.

“Please buy me another hot dog. Okay?”

Come to think of it, Son Yu-jin only had an empty cup in her hand, and there was no sign of the hot dog she hadn’t even taken a bite of.

“Yes, yes?”

“Okay. Let’s buy a hot dog and a cola.”

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

***

Jin-hyuk, who had no idea what was happening outside, smiled happily.

How much relief did the sight of a person in their rightful place give?

Someone had defined it simply as ‘scenery’.

[Sun-kkyu-jin-.]

Jin Sun-kyu, standing in front of the starting block in lane 4, raised his hand high.

Kyaaaa-!

Yu-jin, who had become the mascot of the Olympic Stadium instead of ‘Izzy’, the bizarre mascot of the Atlanta Olympics, also roared from her rightful place.

[Ladies and gentlemen, please remain quiet.]

Ehehe-. It was as if he could hear Yu-jin’s laughter, embarrassed by the warning.

For Jin Sun-kyu, who had made history just by passing the preliminary round, this race was as good as the final.

Even on his home country’s broadcast, some panelists had said that Jin Sun-kyu’s 9.99 record in the preliminary round was amazing and touching, but that was probably his limit.

[On your mark.]

Unlike the other athletes, the sight of him sitting down alone after the race, struggling, must have influenced the judgment of those watching. The lazy genius Jin Sun-kyu is only good up to that point. It’s always been like that.

[Get set.]

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

He was excited like a child about to ride a roller coaster, thinking about catching up to Michael Marsh as hard as he could, as Son Jin-hyuk had advised. A roller coaster, what a strange approach, but this ultra-positive mentality was also a kind of ability.

[Bang-!]

Wow-!

It was openly said that it was a miracle for a Korean athlete to advance to the finals of the Olympic 100m.

A sports journalist even quoted that statement from a drinking session. Just yesterday. A Korean journalist.

[Bang-!]

And right now.

Kyaaaaaaaaa-!

Kkyuuuuuu-!

A miracle had 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

Did he really chase after Marsh just because I told him to? Jin-hyuk muttered, rubbing the tip of his nose with his index finger.

‘He’s a senior who listens so well.’

Still, his senior’s back, which was catching his breath while sitting down, no longer looked pitiful. It was the back of a winner who had done his best and achieved results.

He wanted to tell him to chase after the faster Frank Fredericks, but he was worried about over-pacing due to the difference in leg length and stride width.

In the case of Donovan Bailey, who was 185cm tall and similar to Jin-hyuk, the difference with Jin Sun-kyu was even more obvious.

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

On the other hand, what about Marsh?

His height, weight, and leg length were all similar to Jin Sun-kyu.

Thanks to their familiarity with each other, he could see the athlete’s habits better, and he could also check his condition.

Jin Sun-kyu, who had once again overtaken the Japanese athlete to reconfirm who was superior, had thus secured his place in the final.

‘Now what should I do next….’

Once he gets to the final, no one can predict the outcome.

The pressure of the final stage had a weight that even the world’s number one could not avoid.

‘Didn’t Uncle Linford get disqualified after two fouls?’

In the past future.

As he focused on the competition and the people, the past he had encountered in print, which had nothing to do with him, vaguely came to mind.

And in Daegu, wasn’t there a history of Usain Bolt being ejected after the foul rule was changed from two to one?

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

The moment had come to put aside his worries about others, but for Jin-hyuk, ‘we’ was more important than ‘I’.

Standing alone on the podium while his friends looked on with envy was neither joyful nor exhilarating. There was also a sense of guilt mixed in with the emotions he felt when he put medals on his friends.

‘The B group’s record will be better than the A group’s.’

Looking at the athletes, he could roughly predict it.

Atto Boldon, Dennis Mitchell, Linford Christie, and Jin Hye-ok.

‘Looking at the records and rankings, Marsh will probably be in lane 1 and my senior will be in lane 8. So, if I want to be in lane 7….’

He planned to pull Jin Sun-kyu forward in the lonely and fearful final stage.

‘I have to come in 4th.’

When he was just running alone, he could empty his head and just aim for first place, but now that he had people to take care of, he had to use his head.

‘It’s fun.’

Planning strategies, predicting results, and watching the results match those predictions was more fun than Go. That was probably the thrill of being a Go piece and moving directly, rather than being a Go player.

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

He provoked the monster in lane 6 and entered lane 5.

He had a kind smile, but Linford Christie, who was 188cm tall and the only one taller than Jin-hyuk in this competition, must have felt very uncomfortable.

Because he was an athlete who committed fouls due to his anxiety about getting old.

Oppa-aaaa-!

It was Korean that didn’t need translation.

Yu-jin’s voice.

Oppa-aaaaaang-!

This time it was Hong Su-jeong’s voice.

He was reminded of the little kid who had fallen into the stream and was struggling.

Oppa, run-!

Mother….

Oh, please.

Because Yu Se-ra’s voice was so clear, that sound must have been picked up by the broadcast cameras, and the people watching in Korea right now must be in an uproar for various reasons.

The amazing event of Jin Sun-kyu’s advancement to the finals, and the funny event of the bizarre Korean audience.

It was a good thing that they were all good things.

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

It was a language that was fun to translate literally as it was heard.

It felt like he had come on an adventure to a mysterious land in a fairy tale with his younger sibling.

It was as if he had become a hero who was climbing the tower step by step, competing with the strong instead of the villains. His heart was pounding.

After the Olympics, he should go on an adventure on a boat with Yu-jin… hehe-.

[On your mark.]

He did it. On my mark.

[Get set.]

There were guys who knew dogs well.

General, Hongsi, Chunma, Gwangma, Geomma, Lucky and Lucksoon… are these dogs doing well?