The Genius Decided To Live An Ordinary Life [EN]: Chapter 291

*Ding-.*The cabin lights went off, and it was time for everyone to sleep.Son Yu-jin was moving her pencil to write in her diary, something she hadn’t missed a single day. It was already her third diary in a month. Thanks to reading books and practicing writing in addition to chatting with Hong Su-jeong every night, Son Yu-jin’s Korean skills had improved remarkably. It was all thanks to Hong Su-jeong’s care, who looked after her even more than her own older sister.*Chop-.*Sticking her tongue out and licking the tip of her pencil was another fun thing she couldn’t miss.She could write well without doing it, but she saw her mom doing it when she was organizing the household accounts, so she started doing it too.「I think I’ll remember this clearly even when I’m a very old grandma, old enough to be full of age.When I look up at the sky, I’ll miss not seeing the night sky of Atlanta with its twinkling stars.When I look ahead, I’ll be upset that I won’t see Su-jeong unnie’s eyes, which shone brighter than the stars.When I look at the ground, I’ll be sad that I won’t see my kind shadow.So, I closed my eyes.When I close my eyes, I can see everything.Goodbye, Atlanta.good-by. AT.. Atlanta.」Hong Su-jeong deliberately didn’t teach her English.She said that you should learn a foreign language after you’ve mastered Korean to improve your expression, and that’s how she learned from her dad.Still, Son Yu-jin was a smart kid, so she knew how to write ‘goodbye’.”Dugu ajusshi?”She whispered, but Dugu Elil didn’t appear.「My dream is to become an engineer.I will definitely become an engineer.I want to build a spaceship and go on an adventure to find the goblin ajusshi.」Dugu Elil had left.How they became connected when Son Yu-jin was a baby, why the sun, moon, and earth were created, where humans came from, he would explain every night, and the goblin ajusshi, who would unravel stories about who lived far away in the invisible and unreachable universe and what was happening there, had left.It was when the announcement came that they could unfasten their seatbelts after takeoff.– 【Child, I hope you fully enjoy the joy of living as a human. The beginning of that is my departure.】– “Don’t go. Play with me. I’ll eat lots of hamburgers. I can be happy eating only hamburgers for the rest of my life.”As long as there’s cola, it doesn’t matter if it’s a hamburger or a hot dog.She whispered with a desperate heart, but the goblin ajusshi was firm.– 【It’s a decision for you. There’s a saying in your world, ‘Those who meet must part.’ Child, please don’t be sad.】Dugu Elil left a wistful blessing.– 【May the light of Tulosso shine upon you, may the grace of Tulosso protect you, may the will of Tulosso guide you… May you forget me in the future, overwhelmed with happiness.】The goblin ajusshi, whose face she didn’t know and who never told her his real name, erased his existence like that.Son Yu-jin wasn’t sad.Because she had many family and friends to meet when she returned.Even if Dugu Elil hadn’t said it, she could vaguely understand.The meaning of his words that she could only become a complete human if he left.Even if the power she inherited from her brother didn’t fill her heart as much as before, she could accept it because she had already prepared herself, but also because of the persuasive power of her brother’s constant saying, ‘like a human being’.Her brother always emphasized that living like the ordinary and kind majority of people was the way to live like a human being.So, Son Yu-jin wasn’t hurting.’Ajusshi, let’s meet again.’She wrote in her diary so she wouldn’t forget.Even if memories fade, diaries remain.There was never a time when she was as happy as she was now that she could read and write.「Those who meet must part. But Grandpa Cheon Gil-ryong said that those who part will surely return someday. If they don’t return, you can go and meet them.」Son Yu-jin was a smart kid, so she knew that too.*Tap-.*She blinked, and a drop of dew fell on her diary.*** *Woong- woong-.*Jin-hyuk, who had fallen into a light sleep, lost his sleep.It wasn’t just because the cabin noise and dry air were tormenting his senses, which were several times more sensitive than those of ordinary people. He could endure it if he ignored it.*Sniff-.*His eyes opened when Yu-jin, who was asleep, started to sniffle like a child having a sad dream. He was about to go to his sister, worried about her, when the shadow appeared.*Thump-.* With a force that constricted his heart without fail.【The contract has been fulfilled.】’Could you at least turn on your blinker before coming in…’He told me to live happily, but is he trying to kill me by making my heart explode?*Hiss- Hooo- Hooo-.*Jin-hyuk sat back in his seat and gathered a little strength.It was a direct flight to Seoul, a whopping 15 hours.There was plenty of time to talk.There was nothing more he desperately wanted, so why wait for him to appear? He was going to resolve all his questions before he ran away like a loach.’I have a lot of questions.’【Speak.】The shadow, which always had a monotone tone, sounded calmer today.Jin-hyuk first asked about the identity of the power.*’Gilmodke?’【Yes. It means the power of God. The size is different, but the power I possess is not different in essence.】’Why? How did it happen?’【I do not know. By what route, for what reason it became so.】’That’s absurd. Does that mean that such an ability came to me because of a delivery accident?’【The only clear fact is that I did not give it to you. Tulosso also does not know.】’Then who gave it to me?’【As far as I know, no one gave it. It can only be seen as being engraved on the soul by itself.】’By itself? Does that mean it just happened by chance? Spontaneously?’【Perhaps.】He asked the being who was higher than Dugu Elil, but he only heard that nothing had intervened.As Jin-hyuk felt it, the shadow didn’t lie.Or maybe he was just naive and didn’t know how to lie.Anyway, he was a guy who said he didn’t know what he didn’t know.There was no reason to lie, even if he revealed his identity, right?’You said you look down on all things in the universe, but it seems there are things you don’t know.’【My not knowing means that I cannot prove the cause and effect. That means-.】’It just means you don’t know the cause. The result is that, as we already know, a power called Gilmodke or Gilmok is trying to devour me.’【You are indeed intelligent.】Intelligent my ass… I just listed facts that anyone who isn’t an idiot could list, you moron!【If God intended everything, all things would live by begging God for blessings without any effort to live, calling it prayer. He also said that it is the truth that results are obtained through one’s own efforts.】So, God doesn’t know everything, and he’s making a big deal out of saying that he doesn’t grant all wishes.【Do not worry. It will not grow any larger unless it is filled to the brim, and even if you use it a little, you will be able to control it.】’What about my sister? It seems like she’s gathering it little by little by following me.’【Their personalities are different.】It was a delusion, but it seemed like the shadow was shaking its head.’So, you’re saying it’s safe because it’s a power of creation or life?’【And the vessels that you and the child possess are also different. The power that the child can possess cannot be a threat. Even if it grows throughout her life.】’It might get bigger, like me.’【She does not have the talent to grow it as large as you. The child does not.】’What are you talking about? Our Yu-jin is so smart.’Jin-hyuk clenched his fist, feeling like he was looking down on Yu-jin.【Humans have a teacher. Because they cannot grow on their own. Isn’t that so? And most of the time, even if they have a teacher, they are bound to hit a limit. There is such a difference between you and the child. The memories engraved on the soul and the talent discovered by chance cannot be the same. Most humans, even if they discover a talent by chance, cannot grow it and end up losing it.】It sounded like Jin-hyuk grew on his own, and Yu-jin was maintaining the ability that was transferred by chance with her brother’s help.’Anyway, about that Gilmodke or divine power. So, you’re in bad shape because you were eaten by this power? You said it’s the same in essence, right?’Are you a senior who got eaten?In the dark cabin, the shadow, which was darker than the darkness, trembled like an aspen at Jin-hyuk’s feet.Did I hit the bone too hard?But it’s the truth.His voice was full of force, but the shadow’s tone and way of speaking were similar to when a person with low intelligence pretends to be smart. It reminded him of Kim Eun-jeong, the know-it-all from elementary school. Even though Kim Eun-jeong had improved a lot now, she was still like that.【That is a question I am not obligated to answer.】See, see? He’s avoiding the answer.That’s right, that’s right.He got eaten, he got eaten.Feeling sorry for the gloomy shadow, Jin-hyuk changed the subject.’I heard from my sister. Thank you for taking good care of her.’【It was a contract.】’I hope you had fun.’【It was a sufficiently satisfactory contract.】The shadow said that he had stayed by Son Yu-jin’s side and felt sensations and emotions that he didn’t know when he had last felt. He also tasted a sense of happiness that he didn’t know if it had existed in the distant past.’I’d appreciate it if you’d check on her from time to time.’The shadow hesitated.’Everyone has their own life, so I can’t live with my sister forever. Please.’【That is impossible.】’Why?’【I can feel that the connection between you and me is weakening. You, as a human, are the passage through which I use this world. If the connection is severed, it is the end. I can observe from afar, but it becomes impossible to intervene.】Jin-hyuk, who didn’t miss the shadow’s words, grabbed the tail of his words.’Severed?’He pulled out a clue from his memory like a pair of tweezers.The words that the time when Hong Gi-jun’s contract ends is the time when the relationship between the shadow and Jin-hyuk ends.If so, it means that Hong Gi-jun’s contract is also coming to an end.’Does it end when I’ve achieved everything?’Hong Gi-jun was not a person who said frivolous things.He was a person who put bones in his words even when he was joking with his dad, whom he treated like a blood relative.That kind of person had asked Jin-hyuk.If a phone call to the Olympic Committee, if one event would achieve what you want.【You have found out a lot.】See? He can’t lie.When Jin-hyuk nodded inwardly, a somewhat angry voice returned.【Did the old man tell you? Or did you ask him?】’I didn’t dig into anything because I was worried you’d be in danger.’【Is that so… I don’t feel any lies.】’I also thought about the words, the warden of the great prison.’The shadow listened silently.Because he was a human who was unpredictable about what he would say.’Aren’t you both a warden and a prisoner? Did you imprison yourself? In my shadow?’【Wrong-.】Don’t make weird sounds with a solemn voice like a cave!Ah, I guess not.Feeling awkward, Jin-hyuk scratched the back of his head. The longer the conversation with the shadow went on, the hotter his upper dantian [an energy center in traditional Chinese medicine] became, as if it were steaming.’Then let’s think about it this way. The universe is a prison. You’re the warden who manages it, and humans are the prisoners. How about that?’【Oh-.】’Is that right?’【It is similar. However, the premise that humans are prisoners is wrong. Occasionally, there are those who imprison prisoners in human bodies. However, that is just one of the ways that a higher species uses a lower species.】’They’re nasty guys. Then what are the prisoners you manage?’【A prisoner is just a prisoner.】’You… you say you’re a warden, but you don’t have a single prisoner, do you? Is that why you’re just hanging around here?’The shadow couldn’t answer right away.I guess that’s right. This guy was unemployed. Just as Jin-hyuk was thinking that, the shadow’s voice rang out.【There is one prisoner.】’Who? Someone I know? Is it me?’【He is not an Earth human. He is also a human from a returned time. Do you want to hear more? It is not important to you, is it?】It seemed like he was saying it was a waste of time, so Jin-hyuk backed down.’I guess not. I’m too busy focusing on my current life, so it’s better to see such stories in storybooks.’Even if there was a lot of time, focusing on important issues and wasting it on gossip were clearly different. In terms of the value of time.【Storybooks-, that is a good method.】The shadow was also quirky, so it seemed to be interested in strange things. It was just a passing remark from Jin-hyuk.’You said it was a favor, but you’re also being punished, right?’【Hmm… You are sharp.】’Don’t sigh when you don’t even have a body. It feels like my brain is tickling.’【That is correct. I am receiving the same punishment as the contract I made with the old man.】’For turning back time.’【That is also correct.】’Is it harsh?’【It is not. It only requires the mental strength to pull out a single strand of hair.】So, he’s not bald.【The generous Tulosso cherishes me.】He’s subtly bragging about himself.You sounded similar to Hong Gi-jun ajusshi just now.’Was there a condition that you had to be kind to me?’In a way, it was the most questionable point.For a serious being, a guy who talks about the universe and all that, he’s too much of a pushover.【Let’s just say that is my favor.】’Thank you for your kindness. Thank you for helping me even while receiving a punishment you didn’t have to receive.’【I understand it as a responsibility rather than a punishment. The old man’s contract cannot be seen as a punishment either. A contract is just a contract.】’I’m satisfied now. I’m happy, so go find your freedom. Release ajusshi.’【That is not the truth.】’I’m really happy.’【It is not that your happiness is a lie. You have not achieved everything. If a contract could be ended with words, the cause and effect of all things in the universe would have no meaning. The heart and will must support it.】’What else is left?’【I do not know the resentment that remains in your heart. However, the fact that the connection continues proves it. You have a task left.】So, Park Woo-jung is still left.In the end, it sounded like he had to deal with everything he had in his heart to free Hong Gi-jun.*Hoo-*, a sigh escaped him.But he couldn’t commit murder, could he?【A task is something that can appear and disappear. I do not know what it is. Humans are such beings. Endless desire. A being that dies when desire disappears. In the end, you and I may have to be punished together until you die. It is a pity for the old man. He is naively expecting that the contract will end with just a word. That cunning old man might try to induce an answer.】He had already experienced it.Hong Gi-jun’s leading questions.For Jin-hyuk, it wasn’t a bad punishment.He could just call him when he needed him.Wasn’t he the guy who wouldn’t even help with things he could do on his own?He didn’t think he would interfere with his life.Anyway, for Hong Gi-jun’s sake, he had to resolve all the grudges and regrets left in his heart.Jin-hyuk thought that the first thing to do was to resolve the immediate questions.’I have another question. You know it too.’【If it is about the past, I have already told you before. You cannot understand.】’I’ve been having strange dreams every day lately, and no matter how I look at it, it’s not Earth. The people, the animals, the grass, the trees, they’re all unfamiliar. But it’s too vivid to be a dream.’The shadow stopped breathing.To the point where its presence became faint.’At first, I couldn’t remember? But the dreams keep continuing. When I dream the next day, I remember the dream from the previous day.’The shadow was silent.To be precise, it was being careful with its words. It felt like it was crouching in the dark, only rolling its eyes.Jin-hyuk, who sensed the change in Dugu Elil, asked as if driving a nail.’Is that perhaps my past?’【Tell me in detail.】