The Genius Decided To Live An Ordinary Life [EN]: Chapter 298

How Not to Be Consumed by Darkness

Jin Yun-ho, meeting Hong Ki-joon’s chilling gaze, couldn’t speak right away.

“You, who used to work at Daejeong, helped with a terrible crime. Or should I say, you led it?”

“I, no, I-”

Jin Yun-ho tried to beg with desperate eyes, but Hong Ki-joon, raising his hand to cut him off, took out a piece of paper from his pocket and unfolded it.

“Thanks to your professor parents, you lived abroad in a house with a housekeeper? You didn’t have the brains to go to a domestic university. There are also testimonies that you ridiculed friends who couldn’t study because of poverty, saying your parents’ wealth was also a skill. You got tired of that too, so you distributed drugs to Daejeong scholarship students, and, ha, manipulated the bar exam scores-”

‘Ha, what amazing guys. I have to find them all and take them down.’ Hong Ki-joon, admiringly, paused for a moment.

“You only did the interviews yourself. You were last in your class at the Judicial Research and Training Institute. You got into the Daejeong Ministry of Justice using your parents’ connections, but you couldn’t hold on because your empty skills were exposed. You met Yonggari while looking for something to do with your license. Right?”

Hong Ki-joon’s mouth was smiling, but his eyes were emitting a murderous aura that seemed to melt the sun.

‘How could he be negligent in investigating key figures before a big event?’

Hong Ki-joon had ordered that the wicked Go Yong-kwon and Jin Yun-ho be captured and made to kneel before him.

Go Yong-kwon’s crimes were excessively heinous, and Jin Yun-ho helped him without any pangs of conscience.

“You’re a master of the dark side. Dozens of residents in redevelopment areas died, but thanks to your parents’ connections, Jeoksong didn’t even provide compensation… You’re a worse bastard than Yonggari.”

Hong Ki-joon clicked his tongue at Jin Yun-ho, who couldn’t even make eye contact.

“Yonggari had the excuse of being orphaned and not properly cared for. It’s also the fault of those who encouraged a man with only his fists and name to seize power. Of course, that can’t be an excuse for his evil deeds. How can we defend a man who is full of greed just because he is pitiful? But Jin Yun-ho, you did too many things you didn’t have to do.”

Hong Ki-joon turned his head to Go Yong-kwon.

“But does CEO Go Yong-kwon know that?”

“What…”

Go Yong-kwon cautiously looked up at Hong Ki-joon, as if he didn’t know what was going on.

“I’m talking about the money Jeoksong Construction gave to prosecutors, police, and lawmakers. That guy took almost half of it.”

Hong Ki-joon pointed at Jin Yun-ho with a bent fountain pen, and Go Yong-kwon gritted his teeth at Jin Yun-ho as if he would devour him right away. He wanted to curse, but he had no choice but to hold back because of the situation. Go Yong-kwon’s jaw trembled as if it would break, and the scar on his cheek was distorted hideously.

“An incompetent and stupid person who works hard will ruin the company and the country. That’s why people should be carefully selected regardless of their position. It’s too late now, though.”

Kneeling before the much younger Hong Ki-joon.

Watching the end of a world ruler, Hong Ki-joon clicked his tongue once more.

“Those who have lived like that will want to live even more. Because the world they’ve lived in was too comfortable and fun.”

Hong Ki-joon, putting the fountain pen in his pocket, moved his feet.

“Ah, it wouldn’t be fair if only I knew everything about you, right? It’s only right that I tell you about myself too.”

Hong Ki-joon turned his body.

“I’ve never been stabbed like Go Yong-kwon, nor have I experienced anything like a near-death experience. I also didn’t know how to live happily while ridiculing my friends like Jin Yun-ho.”

He took his hands out of his pockets and continued.

“I was a scholarship student, my father was a lame shoemaker, and my mother was a mute fishmonger. My father couldn’t hold my hand and run with me at the sports day, and my mother never sang me a lullaby or called my name. Even in my dreams, she limped and couldn’t speak…”

The muscles in his jaw tightened on his bitterly smiling face.

“…Life wasn’t fun.”

Hong Ki-joon moved to the back seat of the car, and Jung Sang-tae opened the back door.

Before getting into the car, Hong Ki-joon said with a consistently solemn expression.

“But I still have the conscience not to live like trash. That’s the difference between you and me, and that’s why you’re being punished by me.”

As Hong Ki-joon got into the car, Moon Seok-il took out two objects wrapped in newspaper from his pocket. The objects flew and fell between Go Yong-kwon and Jin Yun-ho.

Ting-.

Two sashimi knives escaped the newspaper with a clear metallic sound.

As Go Yong-kwon and Jin Yun-ho looked at them with puzzled eyes, Moon Seok-il took out a key from his pants pocket, shook it, and placed it on the hood of Go Yong-kwon’s car.

“Only one of you can survive and leave this place.”

Go Yong-kwon’s eyes gleamed as much as the shining blades, and Jin Yun-ho wore a blank expression.

Moon Seok-il, who was walking towards the car Hong Ki-joon was in, turned around.

“If Go Yong-kwon dies, his assets will go to the orphanage, and if Jin Yun-ho dies, they will go to his child in Singapore.”

“A child, a child in Singapore-.”

“To your child born to your housekeeper. It must have been fun to sow seeds during your studies abroad, but you’re too irresponsible. Your wife and parents will take care of your children in Korea.”

He added, watching Go Yong-kwon hesitate to grab the knife.

“Don’t blame anyone. It’s the punishment your sins have brought upon you.”

Before opening the passenger door, he sent a final warning.

“If both of you come down alive, you will die by my hand. So…”

He paused, feeling uncomfortable with his collar, and loosened it.

Go Yong-kwon straightened his body.

That man was someone who had broken the limbs of three or four of his subordinates in one blow, like paper dolls. Seeing that, the veteran Go Yong-kwon experienced his legs giving out for the first time in his life. He swallowed hard, knowing that the words about killing them both were definitely not empty threats.

“From now on, kill each other.”

*

As Moon Seok-il got into the car, the car driven by Jung Sang-tae began to move slowly.

Moon Seok-il was skilled in combat and battlefield psychology, but he wasn’t confident in figuring out the inner thoughts of such people. He cautiously turned his head and asked.

“Vice Chairman, are they really going to fight?”

“Of course. That’s the kind of guys they are. They’ll never change. They’re the kind of guys who would live like that even if they were reborn…”

Hong Ki-joon, who was unusually friendly to Moon Seok-il and spoke in detail, didn’t need a long explanation.

Ughhhhh-!

You bastard!

Dieeeeee-!

Ughhh-!

Because the sounds of a brawl came from behind the car.

“…In the end, they’ll both die.”

One will die there, and the other will die in a car fire caused by brake failure.

Or maybe they’ll both die in that spot. If so, their journey won’t be lonely.

The media will report that they had a knife fight over a power struggle, so there’s nothing more to do.

Moon Seok-il and Jung Sang-tae quietly nodded, and Hong Ki-joon took out a notebook and pen.

‘I should record my evil deeds that have begun in earnest.’

He would punish evil with evil, and by repeating it, he would purify the world.

That way, that person wouldn’t have to stain their hands with blood while living.

Once all the contracts are completed, he plans to make a wish.

– 【If you complete the contract, I will grant you one wish. It is a favor I bestow upon the only human who has stayed with me.】

What kind of wish should he make…?

Should he ask for punishment for his evil deeds?

Since the shadow had affirmed that there was no reason to intervene or punish him no matter what he did, it would be okay to ask for eternal rest.

Even if there is an afterlife or a next life, wouldn’t he be bound by the shackles of his evil deeds and be punished? Even now, his head feels like it’s about to break and it’s so painful.

In the middle of the terribly long heat wave, the car carrying Hong Ki-joon swayed and cut through the air.

Thud thud thud-.

Just as the dust settled, large raindrops hit the roof.

Jung Sang-tae, glancing at the rearview mirror, asked.

“Shall I take you straight home?”

“If you guys aren’t tired, let’s stop by Songchu and have a drink together.”

After all, he had told Yoo Se-ra that he was going fishing.

It’s been a while since he visited his parents’ graves.

Even though he has built a company worthy of being called an empire and is a person who is rewriting human history, he thinks of his parents’ faces first when he does bad things.

“I will take you to Songchu.”

**

Huh huh huh-.

“Honey! Honey! Oppa!”

“Ugh huh-!”

As Yoo Se-ra shook him roughly, Hong Ki-joon jerked his body up.

“Did you have a nightmare? How tired must a person as healthy as you be to be like this? Oh my, the sheets and blankets are all wet.”

“Se-ra… what time is it?”

“Four o’clock.”

Hong Ki-joon rubbed his sweat-soaked face as if washing it.

“Se-ra, let’s… go to the countryside for a bit.”

“Suddenly?”

“Let’s see Father, and meet Jin-hyuk’s family and rest a bit.”

Hong Ki-joon, saying that, had a look of sorrow filling his chest.

His eyes, filled with tears as if they would fall at any moment, lost focus and trembled.

Yoo Se-ra stroked her husband’s cheek with a pitiful look.

“Oh my, okay. You need to rest. You need to rest. How hard must it have been for a gentle person to run a big company? Take a shower first. I’ll change the sheets in the meantime.”

Except when meeting Son Kwang-yeon, he didn’t drink alcohol, and he usually only focused on health management and work. Even then, he had stopped going to the countryside under the excuse of being busy. Even though his father-in-law, who had handed over the chairmanship, was down there.

Before feeling sorry, she was thinking of him with pity.

Even at home, Hong Ki-joon was always on the phone with a frown, looking through documents, and typing on the keyboard, like someone being chased by something. He never rested.

“Are we going as soon as it gets light?”

“Let’s do that. Soo-jung is on vacation too.”

“Oh my, Soo-jung can’t. She’s completely obsessed with studying. She’s even taking lessons from a professor to become a singer. I wonder what she’ll want to be next week?”

Ah, that’s right. Hong Ki-joon nodded with a blank look.

Hong Soo-jung had too many things she wanted to do and didn’t leave anything untouched. In her past life, she would have lived abroad under the supervision of bodyguards, but this time, he was fully supporting her to live as she pleased. Hong Ki-joon had personally recruited the vocal professor from his university alumni.

“Then shall we just take Soo-hyuk with us?”

“Okay. I’ll call Deputy Kim Cheol-min.”

“No. Let’s leave the car behind.”

Hong Ki-joon, who was going into the bathroom, shook his head.

“Then?”

Are we going by bicycle?

Like Jingyeok?

“Then-?”

It’s over 100km?

Yoo Se-ra stretched her neck, but Hong Ki-joon staggered into the bathroom.

Click-.

Oh, come on. You should have answered before going in.

He looks like he’s dying, so I can’t even scold him.

*

Swoosh-.

The cool stream of water cooled his head, which felt like it was about to explode.

Phew-.

He blew out a rough breath, scattering the water on his lips, but he couldn’t shake off the nightmare.

‘I’ve been having that dream a lot lately…’

The incident that became the first step in the crackdown on the organized crime group.

It was a disaster that he had personally gone to check as the person in charge and to confirm the follow-up.

The scene of the site, confirmed by secretly obtained photos, flowed like a video in his dream.

Jin Yun-ho, who had spilled all his blood while fighting with a knife, collapsed, and Go Yong-kwon burned to death inside a car.

A vision of a mountain turning red and then being engulfed in blood-red flames tormented Hong Ki-joon.

‘It wasn’t something anyone could do.’

He had lived by relying on the contract.

It was a time he had endured with the blind sense of duty that he had to fulfill it as his two legs.

He had instilled it over and over again, to the point where he called it a hypnosis or brainwashing stronger than self-suggestion.

Was it because of that?

‘My head feels like it’s about to break.’

His memories were also jumbled.

He had accidentally run into a former employee who was the CEO of Sein Networks in his past life, and he had joked with him as he had in the past, and they had both been horrified. In this life, there was no reason for the group chairman and a sales employee to meet.

He guessed it was because of the time he had spent with the shadow.

For an ordinary human, 300 years was that harsh.

It twisted memories, erased them, and even instilled memories that had never existed.

There was a phrase he had repeated like a mantra while watching Jin-hyuk by Dugu Elil’s side.

– ‘Team Leader Son, don’t be consumed by darkness.’

It was the only support he could give to Jin-hyuk, who was crouching in the darkness, even though he couldn’t hear or reach him.

Jin-hyuk had eventually overcome the darkness.

But now, he was trying to walk towards the darkness himself.

‘I want to rest. How did you overcome it…’

Death.

Wouldn’t that be the only rest for Hong Ki-joon?

He thought he would regret giving up his life if he thought of his wife, daughter, son, and friend.

However, the temptation to let go of everything came to him all the time.

Like a night shadow knocking on the window on an autumn night.

He understood why the shadow had said that it was better to die than to cross the rift with memories.

‘It’s painful. I feel like I’m going crazy.’

When he reached the highest point in the forest of buildings, he would feel breathless and be seized by the urge to jump.

What would happen if he jumped, would he go to where Dugu Elil was, or would nothing remain and his existence be erased…?

‘I want to rest…’

Click-.

“Honey? Should I scrub your back? Oh my, why didn’t you turn on the bathroom light?”

“Don’t turn it on.”

Darkness was comfortable.

“Should I?”

Hong Ki-joon’s eyes, which had been blank and unfocused, instantly regained their focus.

Because of the woman who had entered the bathroom with only air on her body.

Wasn’t that a figure that could burn away the darkness and bring about dawn even without the help of lights?

Thump!

Rest? What rest, you idiot!

The weakling had momentarily entertained a vain thought because he was full.

“Oh my? Oh my? Why is a person who was dying acting like this? Wait, wait, wait a minute. I need to wash-.”

“It’s because it’s dawn. Let’s rest here for a bit.”

Ah…, this world is good after all.