The reunion was short-lived.
Even Yeona, who had shown fluctuating emotions of crying, laughing, and jumping, couldn’t help but keep her mouth shut at this moment.
The words that came out of Park Chang-joo’s mouth were shocking enough.
“I killed someone. I’ve been through various examinations and investigations, and I think it’ll be hard for Hyung to see me like this. So, I came here. There are people waiting outside, so I should go out soon…”
“Just a moment, Yeona. Go with your Uncle Trigo is upstairs. We’ll call you again after the adults finish their conversation.”
It didn’t seem like a conversation suitable for a minor. Jong-pal interrupted Park Chang-joo’s words.
“Okay. I understand. Uncle Trigo, let’s go together!”
A moment later, after confirming Yeona had left, Jong-pal spoke up again.
“I don’t understand what you mean by killing a person. You’re clearly lying still a few hours ago. It doesn’t make sense.”
“That’s what happened. It’s too long to explain in detail. But, Hyung, thank you so much for saving me.”
“Is that what’s important right now? Quickly, tell me what happened.”
“No. That’s important to me. I’m really, really grateful for saving me. I won’t forget this grace.”
With that, Park Chang-joo knelt down abruptly. He bowed once to Jong-pal and once to Jongsik. It all happened in a blink of an eye, leaving no room for interference.
“Park Chang-joo! What are you doing?”
“Yeona heard everything you said. I know I was able to get up because of you guys. You even brought the medicine yourself.”
“Let’s just get up first. Okay? You can sit on the chair and tell us slowly.”
Jong-pal supported Park Chang-joo belatedly.
Standing up like that, Park Chang-joo glanced at the clock.
Already twenty minutes had passed since entering the shop. Park Chang-joo recalled the purpose of his visit here.
“I have to leave soon. I’m allowed only thirty minutes here.”
“Ugh. I mean, seriously, why would you kill someone? I still don’t get it. You’re not the kind of person to do that, and I need to know what the hell is going on so I can poke around. Did some criminal break into rehab or something?”
Jong-pal also knew that what he said didn’t make sense. But he had reasons to think that way.
First of all, what caused Park Chang-joo to lie there in the first place? It was because of the injuries he sustained while saving an ordinary person.
And that’s not all. Park Chang-joo was a young hunter who was on the verge of going down the wrong path, but the Park Chang-joo Jong-pal knew was a decent human being even without the law’s interference.
So, for such a person to get up and immediately kill someone? Honestly, it was hard to believe. There must have been a reason if it was true.
“That’s impossible. Anyway, we’ll find out all about that later. And what I did, I take responsibility for it. But more importantly, Hyung, and Yeona’s uncle. I only have a short time, so let me get straight to the point.”
But Park Chang-joo brought up another issue. The point was this: Once he was transferred to the Hunter Hospital and the investigation started, would it be okay for him to tell the truth about how he got up?
“I think now is the only time to get our stories straight.”
Only then did Jong-pal realize why Park Chang-joo had hurriedly come here first. Because of the medicine.
He must have been worried that Jong-pal and Jongsik, who saved him, might get into trouble. If that’s the case, Jong-pal had nothing to say. Jong-pal looked at Jongsik.
“Hyung.”
On the other hand, Jongsik shrugged his shoulders as if to say, “What’s the problem?”
“Why are you looking at me? Just tell it like it is.”
“Uh, can I really do that?”
“What’s there not to do? I provided you with the formula for the medicine, right? Write it down and give it to your brother. I saw a lot of people lying down when I went to the rehabilitation center today. They all need to wake up and get their heads straight.”
Jong-pal and Park Chang-joo were surprised by his willingness to help. Why wouldn’t he be? Firstly, because he freely provided the formula for the medicine, and secondly…
“No, that’s not what I meant. I’m just worried that things might get complicated for no reason. Some people might criticize why you didn’t think about it earlier when you already knew about the medicine, and others might ask where you got the information from.”
Jongsik lowered his voice as if fearing that the uninformed public might throw stones at his brother. Jong-pal spoke softly in response. Jongsik replied nonchalantly.
“What’s there to get complicated about? I just wanted you to taste the new menu we’re going to introduce at the shop. But how did that make you wake up?”
“What do you mean?”
“Put it simply, that’s all there is to it,” Jong-sik said.
“It doesn’t make sense,” Jong-pal replied.
“If it doesn’t, then what can we do? The person involved said so. And I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Well, that’s true. So, are you really giving it to me?”
Initially, Jongsik hadn’t even considered the value of the medicine. It wasn’t his developed medicine, and even if it were, trading with someone’s life was out of the question.
Jongsik nodded, and Jong-pal hastily took out his phone. Soon, the recipe for the medicine sent by Jongsik was transferred onto paper.
Park Chang-joo silently looked at the paper he received. The handwriting was unremarkable. However, the content written on it was invaluable. To give away something like this without any cost.
“Yeah. There are people like this in the world…”
Park Chang-joo spoke with a bitter smile.
“Then I’ll tell it like it is. I woke up after eating the new menu. And when they wake up, they’ll surely be grateful. Like me.”
“If they’re that grateful, they should come and sell me some food. Right, Jong-pal?”
“Seriously, joking in this situation…”
Just as Jong-pal was about to retort, there was a thud on the door from outside. It was a signal to come out. Park Chang-joo scratched his chin and faced Jong-pal.
“I’m sorry. I really have to go now. If I can come back later, I’ll definitely come for a meal. Thank you and sorry, Hyung.”
And with that, Park Chang-joo left. Jong-pal let out a long sigh with a perplexed expression. Jongsik tapped his shoulder and said.
“He woke up just fine. But why does he look so gloomy? Huh? Let’s lighten up and have some food. Shall we call Yeona and Trigo again?”
“Just… sigh. I feel conflicted.”
“Just because he said he killed someone? He said he would take responsibility for what he did. You don’t need to worry beyond that.”
“Yeah. I guess so. Let’s just follow your advice for now and grab some food. We need to take care of our own family first.”
“A very appropriate thought.”
The next morning.
Park Chang-joo’s words, that they would find out eventually even if he didn’t say anything, turned out to be true.
However, they never expected to find out the root cause of the incident so quickly.
Today, the newspapers were flooded with articles about Park Chang-joo.
Yeona, who had come down to the shop for breakfast, exclaimed with her phone in hand.
“Park Chang-joo, the hunter, claims to have been continuously abused. Even on the day of his recovery, there was abuse from the caregiver, and Park Chang-joo used skills to resist it. What’s up with that? Self-defense?”
Yeona chuckled, and Trigo showed his curiosity.
“What does she mean by caregiver?”
“Um, a caregiver is someone who takes care of the elderly or sick. Haven’t you heard of it before? There must be some in the place where Uncle Trigo used to live.”
“Us dwarves leave the tribe when it’s time to die. We’d return to nature alone, just as we came. We don’t receive care from anyone.”
“Whoa! It’s not like that here. So, never, ever do that, even if something happens. Got it?”
While saying this, Yeona was still focusing on her phone. This time it was a video. In the video, Park Chang-joo leaving the Hunter Hospital was shown. Several reporters crowded around him with microphones.
└ Hunter Park Chang-joo. What is the reason for your crime? Why did you murder the victim woman? Do you have any comments?
└ What are the test results? Is your body fully recovered? Are you going to the Hunter Bureau now?
└ You brutally killed an ordinary person. Are you remorseful?
Eventually, Park Chang-joo stopped walking. The men beside him tried to pull his arm, but Park Chang-joo didn’t care and spoke up.
“An ordinary person? What I killed was a monster. And even if I go back now, nothing will change. I’ll kill the same way. How did I endure for six months? I endured to kill that woman. And am I the only one?”
The reporters were hesitant in the face of his sharp demeanor.
The comment section of the article with the video was filled with debates about Park Chang-joo’s attitude. Some comments suggested that he should have been killed if it had been so unbearable, while others suggested he should face the death penalty.
For a moment, even Yeona quickly typed with both thumbs, intending to participate in the comments.
└ Hunter Park Chang-joo should be punished, but if what he says is true, then the caregivers at the rehabilitation center should also be investigated…
However, she was quickly stopped. Jong-pal, who came out of the kitchen, swiftly snatched Yeona’s phone away.
“You shouldn’t be looking at this stuff.”
“Hey, Uncle saw everything, didn’t he? And Uncle Chang-joo’s case, how can we not look into it?”
“I’m an adult, and you’re a minor. These things can wait until you’re older. Got it?”
“Yeah. Yeona, let’s just eat the food Jong-pal made for us. Adults will take care of adult matters.”
“So let’s not space out in front of the Cockatrice stir-fry.”
Jong-sik interrupted Jong-pal.
Yeona pursed her lips. Meanwhile, Trigo, once again, immersed himself in the delightful food he had enjoyed the day before. The spicy yet sweet stew seemed like something one could eat every day without getting tired of it.
“Trigo, don’t eat too much. We also have stir-fried rice.”
“Stir-fried rice?”
“Yes. It’s mixing various leftovers with rice and stir-frying it. It’s another delicacy.”
“Oh. Then, can you give it to me now?”
“Stir-fried rice is a rule to eat last.”
“Got it! Then, let’s eat quickly.”
While Jong-pal and Trigo were chatting, Jong-sik had already finished half of his meal. He wanted to eat stir-fried rice faster than anyone else.
Seeing this, Jong-pal shook his head and said, “Hey, isn’t it too hot? Someone might steal it while you’re not looking.”
“Uh, it’s not hot at all. Besides, it seems even tastier than yesterday.”
“It’s usually tastier the longer it simmers. Oh, right. Hyung, are you taking a break today too?”
“Yeah, it’s a day off until tomorrow. But why?”
“I wanted to ask if you could help me with the employee interviews.”
“That’s not too difficult. Okay, I got it.”
Just then, his phone vibrated in his pocket.
“Wait a moment.”
Team Leader Dok!
It was Pyeong-ari. But his voice sounded urgent for some reason. It was supposed to be his day off today.
“What’s the matter?”
I want to ask. What exactly are you doing during your break?
Jong-sik’s brow furrowed at the unfamiliar words.
“What do you mean?”
A hurried voice came through the receiver.
Team Leader Dok, don’t be surprised. We received a call from the presidential office this morning. They want to meet your family. They said since you’re affiliated with our guild, they contacted us first… Haven’t you received any calls?
“I have no idea. How could the president know about our family…”
Jong-pal and Yeona both turned their heads at Jong-sik’s phone conversation. The two women looked at each other with puzzled expressions.
‘The president?’
It seemed like they would have to postpone the employee interviews for now.
