Chapter 65

It was a bitterly cold winter day.

Unable to endure the harsh training, Siwoo once again ran out of the mansion barefoot.

“Master Siwoo, were you here?”

A tall shadow fell over Siwoo, who was crouched near the utility pole, sniffing.

An elderly man with a neat uniform and kind wrinkles, Na Ilseok.

He was the one who always found Siwoo first, no matter where he hid, and extended a hand to him. He was not a member of the guild but a long-time servant of the mansion.

“Grandpa…”

Recognizing Ilseok, Siwoo lifted his head from his knees. Seeing Siwoo's tear-streaked face, Ilseok took out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped Siwoo's dirty face.

“Your handsome face is all messed up. Come, let's go back quickly.”

“I won't go.”

Siwoo shrugged off Ilseok's hand and buried his face in his knees again.

Ilseok looked down at Siwoo with a troubled expression, then bent his knees to meet the young master's eye level.

“Is that so? Then let's go get some food?”

“I don't want to eat…”

“You have to eat even if you don't have an appetite.”

With a snap, Ilseok easily picked up Siwoo and started walking somewhere.

“H-Hey, Grandpa!”

Holding Siwoo in his arms, Ilseok headed for a nearby humble food stall.

Ilseok ordered clams soup, pancake, and egg custard, and Siwoo, sitting opposite him, stared at Ilseok with a sullen face.

“Master, you've never been to a place like this, right? Oh, by the way, the pancake has chili in it…”

Ilseok used chopsticks to pick out the chili pieces from the pancake, tore it into bite-sized pieces, and brought it to Siwoo's mouth.

“Here, try it.”

“…”

“Ah, are you worried it might be hot? Let's wait a moment—”

“Just give it to me.”

Siwoo reluctantly opened his mouth and took it. The crispy batter, crunchy scallions, and savory seasoning were quite good.

Watching Siwoo silently swallow the pancake, Ilseok smiled in relief.

“I'm only eating it because of your effort. I'm really not hungry at all.”

“Yes, of course.”

“…”

Siwoo glared at Ilseok with a pout. Regardless, Ilseok smiled contentedly and turned down the flame of the burner.

“Oh, there's a lot of green chili in the clams soup. Hmm, if I had known, I would have ordered something else. Master, you're still young, so such spicy food…”

“I can eat anything.”

“Pardon?”

“I can eat anything.”

Siwoo defiantly picked up his spoon, scooped a spoonful of clams soup, and brought it to his mouth. Then,

“Cough…!”

“M-Master?! Are you okay?”

“I'm fine. It's just this.”

“I'll order something else right away. I'm sorry, I was thoughtless.”

“No, I'm really fine.”

Despite Siwoo's protests, Ilseok ended up reordering almost all the dishes. It wasn't until Siwoo raised the white flag, saying he couldn't eat any more, that Ilseok took him back to the mansion.

“Where have you been?”

The deputy guild master, Ha Kyun, appeared suddenly at the entrance, as if he had sensed Siwoo's return. He was wearing the plain black mask he always wore.

“I was bringing Master Siwoo something to eat since he skipped dinner.”

“Dinner?”

“Yes. Deputy Master, Master Siwoo is still growing. Training is good, but it's more important to eat well and rest well.”

“…”

Ha Kyun stared at Ilseok through his black mask, then glanced at Siwoo.

Siwoo was hiding half his body behind Ilseok, glaring at Ha Kyun.

“Since it's late, perhaps it's best to let him rest now.”

At Ilseok's suggestion, Ha Kyun turned his gaze back to him. After a moment of silence, Ha Kyun turned around.

“…I'll set the training schedule for 6:30 AM tomorrow, Master Siwoo.”

Ha Kyun disappeared, and Ilseok took Siwoo to his room. He sat Siwoo on the clean, soft bed, fetched a first-aid kit, and applied ointment to his cheek.

“You don't need to apply this; it will heal in a few hours. I'm an Awakened.”

Siwoo grumbled but sat still. The gentle, soothing touch on his cheek wasn't entirely unpleasant.

“I know.”

Ilseok closed the first-aid kit and smiled.

“But just because it heals quickly doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.”

“…”

Siwoo said nothing.

Ilseok laid Siwoo down on the bed and turned off the light for him.

When the room darkened, did Siwoo feel a little scared? He subtly grabbed the hem of Ilseok's clothes with his small hand.

“I won't go anywhere.”

“…Really?”

“Of course.”

Ilseok gently patted Siwoo's chest over the blanket. Siwoo rolled his blue eyes and spoke softly.

“Grandpa.”

“Yes.”

“Why don't you scold me?”

“Why would I scold you?”

“You always run away from training.”

“I think it's fortunate.”

“…What?”

Siwoo, covered in the blanket, looked at Ilseok with wide eyes. Ilseok smiled softly and stroked Siwoo's head.

“I think it's fortunate that you can express what you dislike.”

“…”

“Now, go to sleep. It's best for children to go to bed early and wake up early.”

Ilseok pulled the blanket up to Siwoo's chin. Though hidden by the blanket, the corners of Siwoo's mouth curved slightly.

“Grandpa.”

“Yes.”

“…I just wanted to call you.”

Siwoo pulled the blanket over his head.

Actually, he wanted to say thank you. For not scolding him, for buying him food, for blowing on the hot food, for staying with him until he fell asleep, thank you.

But his mouth wouldn't move easily.

I'll say it when I wake up tomorrow.

Yes, when I wake up tomorrow…

***

“…”

Siwoo slowly opened his eyes. The sunlight breaking through the curtains was blinding. It seemed to be morning already.

His hand, which he instinctively raised to brush his hair, froze in mid-air. A large, sturdy hand. No longer that of a boy.

Slowly sitting up, he saw his reflection in the wall mirror.

The boy who was once small had grown into a full-fledged adult. So much time had passed.

Since Ilseok left Siwoo.

That morning, Ilseok, who had promised to stay by Siwoo's side, disappeared. Siwoo thought he had gone to do something else.

But Ilseok never appeared before Siwoo again, even after more than ten years.

When he asked the mansion servants and guild members, they said he had gone on a short trip. Siwoo, who was young at the time, believed it.

‘But.’

Even after one year, and then two years, Ilseok didn't return.

Siwoo, harboring doubts, continuously searched for Ilseok. And as a result, he learned that Ilseok had died in a traffic accident. It was a major accident, leaving no body intact.

It was an unbelievable story.

“…Huh.”

Siwoo got out of bed and left the room. He wanted to get some fresh air.

‘Why did I suddenly have this dream?’

Walking down the corridor, Siwoo slightly frowned. Could it be because of the contract termination declaration he heard from Yinhua yesterday?

If that was the case, it seemed Yinhua's declaration was somewhat shocking. He even had a dream he usually didn't have.

‘You've helped me a lot. The apartment and Manager Park. I don't want to cause any more harm.’

‘Don't worry. I'll try to compensate for the penalty fee somehow.’