Chapter 342 – Kkakkodak

A narrow bar suffused with the potent yet sweet scent of liquor.

– Jorrrrr.

Filling a wine glass halfway with alcohol, I gaze at the black uniform draped over the chair.

Old clothes that must have hung over someone’s shoulder for well over a decade.

It had been quite some time since I grew attached to those garments, which were becoming increasingly forgotten.

I thought I had forgotten them, and now I would focus solely on my quest for vengeance.

“It doesn’t matter what… I was arrogant. Do-won, it seems human affection isn’t so easily forgotten.”

Resting her arm on the table and her chin on her arm, Hong-Yeon intently observed the clothing on the chair.

“Thank you.”

The man’s attire still bore bloodstains. Without it, I probably wouldn’t be where I am now.

– Gulp.

Hong Yeon, with alcohol in her mouth, grimaced as she fought back the rising nausea and laughed bitterly.

“…May the day come when you take that seat.”

The aroma was potent yet sweet, pleasantly swirling around her.

* * * * * * * * *

“Bap!”

Shiba, her mouth full of rice, stuffed in finely chopped kimchi and chewed it contentedly.

The branches on her head had grown considerably more than before. She might be around eight years old now. With this rate of growth, she worried about Shiba wandering off before winter passed.

“Is it tasty, Shiba?”
“Beep! It’s even better because I’m eating with Daddy!”
“Aaaagh!”

She was so adorable it made her want to scream.

“I’m sorry, Shiba. Daddy couldn’t take care of you properly. Give Shiba a kiss.”
“Heehee. Kiss!”

-Smooch.

Now, he understands me well and even bestows kisses upon my cheek. I can comprehend why fathers in this world endure all manner of curses at work, consume alcohol they detest, and cling to their financial lifelines.

Tears seem ready to fall for the joys and sorrows of fathers striving to create better homes for their families.

“Is it to your liking?”

Azalea, having untied her apron, presents me with a bowl of well-simmered soup. With its green and translucent broth, the maesaengi soup elicits admiration.

Large oysters emerge, at least two at a time, each time the spoon is stirred. Our Shiba mother, who said there was no need to hold back, has prepared a vast array of dishes to the point of exhaustion.

“Maesaengi is good for relieving stress and for anemia. I prepared it, thinking you might return injured… Is it satisfactory?”

She expresses her gratitude, but also inquires cautiously.

I gaze at Azalea, eyes wide with surprise.

“…Why? Don’t you like it?”

“No, it just reminds me of the first timewe met.”

It’s astonishing, I merely pondered.
In such a short time, the bonds between people can grow this deep.

The Azalea in my memory remains ever prickly.

– Do you have something to say to me?
– No, I was just startled to see someone I recognized from the newspaper.
– Oh, is that so?

I recall the icy stare that met my eyes first during the entrance exam, only to turn away.

“Who would have thought we’d end up like this?”
“…”

That day, Azalea, seemingly embarrassed, bowed her head and offered a timid excuse.

“Back then… I just didn’t know any better.”
“Me neither, I didn’t expect things to turn out this way.”

I chuckled softly, grasping the soju bottle on the table.

It wasn’t filled with alcohol, but sesame oil. The world I once knew and this one are the same. As soon as I opened the slightly shimmering lid, a rich aroma filled the air.

A light sprinkle of seasoning on the soup brought forth its fragrant aroma, and thus, the savory and delectable seaweed soup was complete—an essential part of the process.

First, Azalea placed a large oyster, roughly the size of two sections of an index finger, on a spoon and gently blew on it before putting it into Shiba’s mouth.

“Shiba, open up~”
“Yum~”

Munching away.

Our little one, who might detest bibimbap, seemed to absolutely adore seafood, her eyes sparkling with delight.

Observing this, Azalea placed an oyster on her spoon and offered it to me.

“Ahh~”
“Am I a child too?”
“To me, you’re both equally endearing.”

Every word she spoke was so lovely.
I wondered if she had taken a class on charming others somewhere.

As I opened my mouth and accepted the oyster, a radiant, joyful smile bloomed on Azalea’s face—a happiness that seemed to fuel her effortlessly. It was something I found quite enviable.

“Now, Shiba’s dad, it’s your turn to eat quickly.”
“Mom is all set.”
“Hehe.”

Azalea stroked her neck as she began her meal, the lingering kiss marks and fingerprints serving as evidence of our passionate intimacy.

Faint scars lingered all over, beginning from the inner thighs.

Occasionally, I fed Shiba by placing food in her mouth as we ate breakfast. Azalea would usually be the one to do this, but Shiba was insistent, and I couldn’t resist my daughter’s affections.

Even after finishing her meal, Shiba refused to let go. So, I decided to take a break and lay back down in bed.

“Lying down right after eating? That’s not healthy.”

Having finished the dishes, Azalea entered the bedroom and giggled as she observed our father-daughter moment.

“It’s fine for today. It’s Daddy’s day after all, right? Isn’t that right, my dear daughter?”

“Daddy!”

Shiba excitedly raised both her arms. As she jumped and ran around on my stomach, I felt a series of small shocks.

“Shiba, be careful… You’re going to hurt Daddy. Ouch.”

“Ouch?”

Even though I was tired, I could withstand it multiple times. Regardless, Azalea seemed to be considering our daughter’s habits as she slightly furrowed her brow. Seeing this, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Oh dear.”
“Beep!?”

Pretending to be in pain with the intention of indulging her, Shiba jumps down from my stomach in surprise. She burrows into the blanket and quietly clings to it, leaving only her arms and legs resting on top.

“Do you even need to change your habits?”
“…Beep.”
“Really…”

What thoughts crossed Azalea’s mind as she watched the two of them? She hung the towel she had used to dry her hands on the doorknob and lay down next to Shiba. Shiba found herself nestled between Azalea and me, and somehow, we ended up facing each other.

The bed was incredibly spacious, easily able to accommodate four or five people.

“I’ve always wanted to try this.”

She stretches her arms wide and pulls me into a hug. Naturally, Shiba is embraced by both Azalea and me. Shiba rests her head on Azalea’s chest, using it as a cushion, and seems to be enjoying the feeling as she rubs her head against it.

Inside a warm room that isn’t too hot yet, soft morning sunlight seeps through the cracks in the window.

It was the perfect time to sleep in, so we both leaned our foreheads together and closed our eyes.

*Sigh.*

It felt as if all the fatigue in my body was being washed away.

I could understand the feelings of fathers all around the world. The more I thought about it, the more my determination and resolve began to blossom in my mind. I had to work harder, to somehow tear apart and mend the wretched future.

“What are you thinking about?”
“Why?”
“You suddenly furrowed your brow. We’re a couple, right? If something’s bothering you, we should talk about it.”
“…Hmm. It’s not a big deal, but were we a couple? Weren’t we still just lovers?”

Azalea opened her eyes and grinned like a fox.

“Well… are we a couple or not?”

I never expected the timid and affection-craving Azalea to approach me so fearlessly. I chuckled and left a fleeting kiss on her lips.

“Beep?! Bba! Shiba wants a kiss too!”

At Shiba’s jealousy, which had been watching silently, laughter erupted within the room of our home.

* * * * * * * * * *

[Blue Cat] – 2 cases
[Acorn] – 14 cases
[Peach Sisters] – 7 cases
[Jinseong Gamdori] – 11 cases
[Jung Si-woo] – 2 cases
.
.
.
.

“This is quite a mess.”

As soon as I turned on my phone, a flood of missed calls and message notifications poured in, causing the battery to drop by 20%.

I had returned home during the early hours and had eaten breakfast before taking a rest, so perhaps this was a natural consequence. Considering that even my acquaintances from the academy, whom I barely knew, had reached out, it appeared that this situation had escalated significantly.

My supervising professor had also contacted me. In fact, every person I had ever interacted with seemed to have reached out.

‘Well, in a way, I am considered missing.’

I hadn’t bothered to resolve the issue and instead had become intoxicated by the sweet embrace of my daily life.

[Baobab] – 61 messages.
[Hey, pick up.]
[Won’t you answer?]
[I helped you, so I’m heading your way. Tell me the address.]

“Wow… crazy girl.”

Overwhelmed by the number of missed calls, I instinctively pressed the block button.
Of course, I left one contact before doing that.

[Me: You won. I’m leaving the last known location of Do-won-hyang and your brother Bob’s phone number. Handle it yourself.]

Blocked right after sending.
I’ve dealt with one issue for now.

“Let’s see… I need to contact the academy about coming back, too. We can’t just sweep the dead under the rug. Jung Si-woo and Se-young…”
“Are you talking about another girl?”

– Squeeze!

My waist was pinched. It wasn’t that strong, but somehow it felt painful, so I gently pulled my body back.

“Stop… stop.”

Two people who never sleep. The mother and daughter were determined to catch me sleeping, but they never closed their eyes.

Still, as I rested, my fatigue was somewhat alleviated.
There still remain aftereffects from my self-destruction, but a week of gradual treatment should suffice.

“Regardless, I must make contact.”

Having made my decision, I immediately called my Master.

The phone was answered as soon as the first ring sounded. A voice echoed through the line afterward.

[What is it?]

It’s White Peach.

“Ah… why of all times?”
[Do you wish to perish?]
“No, second Master. If your disciple has returned from the brink, why only now do you make contact? Huh? I waited a long time. At least show some concern…”

White Peach gritted her teeth, her voice strained from exhaustion.
The sound of her chest being pounded could be heard through the phone.

[Should I bother waiting for contact in three shifts for a single disciple I don’t even like? I nearly lost my voice waiting.]
“Oh.”

[And. If you only left a message until morning and finally called now. I’m sorry I’m a bit late. Something like this happened and caused a problem. What do I do? Why? Why now? Do you really want to drive me mad?]

I stealthily removed my ear from the cellphone as the rapid-fire barrage of curses came through.

[Open your ears and listen properly! That’s always the problem with you!! How much do you think Zodiac and I had to… Sigh!]

I was caught immediately.

In truth, it doesn’t matter who it is. Oddly, when it comes to White Peach, my body involuntarily reacts.

Azalea, laying down with her eyes wide open, giggled.

“You’re getting scolded~”
“Is dad being scolded?”

It’s not being scolded. I’m being tormented.
Seeing the mother and daughter teaming up to tease me, I chuckled.

[Anyway. Heaven told me to relay the message. I’ll be there in a week, so handle the hotel reservations and make sure you have time available. Hanging up! Seriously…]

-Click.

After delivering the essential information with a rapid-fire technique, I hung up the phone.

I tapped my ringing ears and asked Azalea,

“…Hey, are my ears bleeding?”
“No, they’re not. You should’ve been better at soothing the women around you, though.”

How many times must I perform this action? I attempted to chop down a few trees but ended up with my arm in terrible shape.

Hesitating, I reached out to the next person.

– Click.

[Where are you?]
“Uh, Se-Young…”
[Where are you now? How’s your body?]
“I’m fine. I’m at L Academy right now.”
[Wait there. I’ll be there shortly.]

At the forceful tone, I trembled like a terrified puppy. Before I knew it, Azalea and Shiba were stroking my hair.

[I’ll contact you when I arrive.]

– Click.

As the call ended, silence approached. Azalea, who had been lying with me, grinned as if deep in thought.

“You.”
“Yeah?”
“Let’s go together this time.”

“What?”
“They all are people who Siheon loves. Shouldn’t we meet? Your daughter is there too.”

Something is happening.

* * * * * * * *

Cafe. A perfect place to sit and spend time with loved ones.

“Teacher, it’s been a while.”
“Ah… Dal-rae, is it?”

The star’s eyes were trembling intensely.

“…Eek!”

A frightening person encountered another frightening person.
Undoubtedly, they felt intimidated by a 20-year-old who had just become an adult.

The stars remember.

Lee Se-young and Jin Dal-rae. The resemblance between the two’s appearances.
Fixating on their comic books, looking down with feral eyes, saying “Why are you looking at this?” Terrifying bullies!

If they only wore a school uniform, it would be perfect.

– Shiver, shiver, shiver, shiver.

The body responds.
The defensive psychology of the outcast is etched into the body, no, the DNA.

Women are terrifying.
They fight over the strangest things, striving to be on top.
I’m not sure about those two, either. Lee Se-Young may be different from the rest, but what about Azalea?

‘Beta females… they can’t even put up a fight.’

Byul, who innocently followed along to play the newly released game together, huddled up like a baby rabbit, trembling uncontrollably.

“Pathetic.”

Byul wasn’t the only one pushed back by the power struggle.