Chapter 44

44. Genius Baduk Academy

"Are you going to ride the kickboard?"

"Yep!"

Dojin took out the kickboard from the trunk and placed it on the ground.

It was a kickboard that the target actor Song Junyoung had given him at the beginning of the year, and it was painted in various colors, as if he had decorated it himself. On the platform, the three characters 'Siwoo's' were written in neat letters.

He decided to keep to himself the thought that it would have been prettier if it had been given as it was purchased.

...It was much better than Seunghyun's bicycle, anyway.

Siwoo put his foot on the kickboard and zoomed forward.

With a body as light as down, Siwoo moved his short legs busily, propelling himself forward.

"Look, he's even changing direction by leaning his body."

Dojin watched Siwoo riding the kickboard in the playground within the apartment complex with a proud look.

"He really rides well. The kid has good motor skills. Does he take after me?"

"Everything good is like you. Anyway... from next month, we'll be residents here too."

"Right, Mr. Jihoo strongly recommended it. He said it's a good place to live. Let's give it a try."

"Sure~ Let's give it a try~ Siwoo seemed happy to have his own room."

Dojin and Hyunju took Siwoo, who was zooming around, for a tour of the complex.

Although they had visited a few times while looking for a new home as their lease was nearing its end, it looked even better now that they were going to live there.

"Siwoo, what do you think of the apartment? Do you like it?"

"Yep~ I like it~ But the place we live in now is also nice~"

"Is that so? Wasn't it too small?"

"It's small, but it's nice because I live with Mom and Dad~"

Dojin and Hyunju felt a warmth in their hearts at Siwoo's answer.

Zoom zoom zoom zoom-!

Dojin called out to Siwoo.

"...Siwoo! It's dangerous! Slow down!"

After finishing their walk, the Siwoo family left the complex together.

Their destination for the day was a large commercial building across the street.

In front of the crosswalk, Hyunju, holding the kickboard in one hand, looked up at the commercial building in amazement.

"Wow, we didn't have such a big commercial building in our neighborhood."

Dojin took the kickboard from Hyunju and replied.

"It's the commercial area of the apartment complex. There's also a pediatrician nearby."

"That's right. It was a famous place. But our Siwoo is so healthy that he only goes to the hospital for vaccinations and check-ups..."

"Still, you never know what might happen in the future. It's good to be close."

"Right, of course~"

Siwoo, holding his parents' hands, crossed the street and glanced at their faces alternately.

'Hospital... Hmm, come to think of it, I've been hurt many times, but I can't remember being sick...'

Except when he was poisoned.

Well, he detoxified himself anyway.

'The poison was actually quite tasty. No, it was tasty because I added poison to something delicious. Ah, I'm turning into an idiot.'

Lost in silly thoughts, Siwoo closed his eyes tightly and shook his head.

He felt his mind had become lazy along with his somewhat lethargic daily life this year.

The Siwoo family entered the building and got into the elevator.

The elevator stopped at the 5th floor.

As soon as they stepped out, a beautiful piano sound could be heard.

A fairly large music school was right in front of them.

Dojin said,

"Oh, the facilities are really good. Did my dear wife play the piano in such a place when she was young?"

The walls were made of glass, allowing a clear view inside.

A grand piano was beautifully displayed in the spacious room, and several children were writing something diligently on their notebooks at a large table in the center.

They seemed to be studying theory.

Several doors lined up next to the grand piano, which appeared to be individual practice rooms.

Hyunju and Siwoo also stuck to the glass wall and looked inside for a moment.

"I didn't have such a good piano school when I was young. The interior design is really well done. It's pretty. Should we visit here later?"

"Sure. Since we're here, let's check it out. Siwoo, do you like listening to the piano?"

"Yep~!"

Dojin patted Siwoo's head, who answered enthusiastically.

Hyunju said,

"Let's find a baduk school first. It's right across from here... Oh..."

Hyunju's voice trailed off.

The baduk school was indeed right across from the music school, as Mrs. Jihoo had mentioned.

...It looked shabby.

Although they were in the same building on the same floor, right next to each other, they were different.

First, the 'g' in 'Baduk' and the 'g' in 'Academy' were missing from the name 'Genius Baduk Academy'.

"...Genius Baduk Academy. It's a name that makes you want to leave before you even start."

Dojin stroked his chin and shook his head.

"Hey, what should we do? Are we going to go in?"

Hyunju asked cautiously.

At that moment, the elevator stopped at the 5th floor again.

Ding!

A young man in jeans and a white shirt stepped out.

He was quite tall and very handsome.

The man walked steadily toward Dojin and Hyunju.

Dojin, Hyunju, and Siwoo were impressed by the well-groomed and composed air the young man exuded.

Swish-

The man passed the Siwoo family and opened the door to the baduk school.

Before entering, he turned to look at Dojin and Hyunju.

"..."

"..."

After a moment of silence, the man asked in a soft, deep voice.

"Are you here to learn baduk?"

Dojin and Hyunju answered simultaneously.

"Yes."

"Oh~ How cute~ You came to learn baduk~?"

The man, who introduced himself as Coach Choi, seemed to be around the same age as Siwoo's grandfather.

Coach Choi greeted the Siwoo family with a broad smile.

It had been a while since he had seen children coming to learn baduk, as he usually only saw children going to the music school.

Dojin and Hyunju sat on the sofa and listened to a brief introduction to baduk from Coach Choi.

Coach Choi spread out some books related to artificial intelligence development on the table and began to speak.

"I won't talk about the usual things like improved concentration. I'll just tell you one thing. Do you know what the world's many large companies teach their artificial intelligence when they develop it?"

Dojin, who had been looking at the books, answered.

"Baduk...?"

"Exactly! Even when they invest astronomical amounts of money to develop artificial intelligence, they teach it baduk. Our child... what's your name~?"

"Siwoo~"

"Right, Siwoo. You seem familiar. Anyway, to develop Siwoo's brain... wouldn't it be good to teach him baduk?"

Coach Choi's short and powerful persuasion made Dojin and Hyunju exchange glances.

Somehow... they were getting drawn in...

It felt like teaching baduk would turn Siwoo into a genius...

And he would grow up to be a well-mannered adult like the young man they saw earlier...

Hyunju asked,

"He's only 4 years old. Isn't it too early?"

"It's a good age to build a solid foundation. There are actually 4-year-old children attending the school."

"Oh, really?"

"Instead of just talking, why don't you come in and try it out~ In fact, we don't just teach baduk to 4-year-olds. We also teach them manners, numbers, and the Korean alphabet. Siwoo~ How about it, do you want to try~?"

"Yep~ I want to try~"

"Siwoo. Yes~ Do you want to try~?"

"Yep~ I want to try~"

"We also teach polite language. Siwoo listens well and is very smart~"

Coach Choi led the way to the beginner class.

When they opened the door, there were about seven elementary school children and two kindergarteners sitting quietly, playing baduk.

The young man who had been looking after the two kindergarteners stood up from his chair.

It was the same young man they had seen outside.

Coach Choi introduced him formally.

"This is my son. His name is Choi Taek. Have you seen 'Reply 1987'? The name of the baduk player in the show is the same as his."

Choi Taek smiled shyly.

"Choi Taek is usually a teacher for the advanced class, but he's helping out today because the beginner class teacher is on leave. Taek, this is Siwoo. He's 4 years old. Teach him something simple."

"Yes, Coach."

"Then I'll see you after the class."

Coach Choi left the classroom, entrusting Siwoo to Choi Taek.

"Mr. and Mrs. Siwoo, please sit over here."

Choi Taek offered seats to Dojin and Hyunju.

Dojin and Hyunju carefully pulled out chairs and sat down, being careful not to disturb the other children who were quietly playing baduk.

It was amazing that not a single voice could be heard with so many children gathered.

Meanwhile, Siwoo, sitting across from Choi Taek, was smiling cutely.

After a long time, sitting in front of a baduk board, his old memories came flooding back, and he felt a sense of joy.

'Come on, teach me! Coach Choi! This 4-year-old will show you what he can do!'

As Siwoo was eagerly waiting to see what Coach Choi would teach him, Choi Taek showed him a baduk stone.

"Siwoo, what color is this stone?"

"Black."

"What about this one?"

"White."

'Wait, this... is where we start... from, right? Yes.'

In the past, there was a man in China who was called the god of baduk.

He was currently... learning about black and white stones at a children's baduk school.

After teaching Siwoo a few simple things, Coach Choi gradually moved on to the main lesson.

"Okay, Siwoo. Let's learn how to capture stones."

Coach Choi sat Siwoo down and explained patiently, then created a few problems on the baduk board.

"Let's try what I just taught you. Where should the black stones be placed to capture this white stone?"

For a 4-year-old who found it hard to sit still, this was not an easy problem.

At the very least, he had to understand and process everything that was said to solve it.

However, seeing the sharpness in Siwoo's eyes, there was a glimmer of hope that he might be able to solve a few problems.

'He's listening so attentively for a child... Can he do it?'

As Coach Choi looked at Siwoo with curiosity, Siwoo was inwardly sighing as he looked at the five problems on the baduk board.

This was like giving a math major a '1+1' problem.

'Hmm... What should I do... Since baduk is a field where talent trumps age, I don't need to match the level of other kids my age. Alright. I'll solve them.'

Siwoo picked up the black stones with his small hands and placed them one by one on the baduk board.

As the stones found their places, Coach Choi's eyes grew wider and wider.

"Oh, oh oh?"

Siwoo, who solved the five stone-capturing problems in an instant, looked up at Coach Choi with an innocent face, as if to say, "I don't know anything~"

Coach Choi, alternating his gaze between the baduk board and Siwoo, created more difficult problems with a slightly flustered hand.

"Let's try this one?"

Once again, five problems were placed in front of Siwoo.

However, the method to solve them was the same, even though the number of stones to capture had increased.

Swish swish swish-

Siwoo's hand moved without hesitation.

Oh