Chapter 88
“It’s been a while, Chairman Yoon Dae-ho. We last met at the late Chairman Shin Hyeong-cheol of Bukseong Group’s funeral, was it three years ago? You’re still in good health.”
Yeo Moon-beom greeted Chairman Yoon with a deliberately respectful expression.
Chairman Yoon Dae-ho of Wooshin Group, a corporate organized crime group hostile to Jang Gitae.
He had come hoping to run into him after getting information that he was preparing a lavish first birthday party for his second great-granddaughter at this hotel. If necessary, he planned to leave Eun-hwi here to escape Jang Gitae’s threat.
The safest way to hide a tree was in a forest. Even the infamous Jang Gitae wouldn’t think to hide a weapon in the middle of enemy territory.
Seeing Yoon Dae-ho in person, the rumors that he had become a doting grandfather and a toothless tiger were clearly false.
Judging by how he was ready to attack without hesitation the moment he deemed something harmful to himself.
This actually made Yeo Moon-beom feel more at ease. Chairman Yoon snorted derisively at Yeo Moon-beom’s calm and composed attitude.
“You’re still as ill-mannered as your father. Didn’t I ask why you crawled in here?”
Like your father Jang Gitae.
That was the most insulting and humiliating statement to him. But Yeo Moon-beom wasn’t foolish enough to show his strangely twisted sneer outwardly.
“I’m on vacation and came to stay, but…”
“Stay?”
Chairman Yoon burst into hearty laughter. The sound was so loud and resonant that it echoed throughout the lobby. Frightened by this, Eun-hwi quietly took his hand. Chairman Yoon’s gaze fell on the white, slender wrist.
“Your eyes hold a knife.”
Chairman Yoon raised his lowered head to meet Yeo Moon-beom’s eyes and continued, staring intently into his smooth, shining black eyes.
“But the blade is pointed somewhere other than at me.”
…This old man is like a ghost.
Was it because he was closest to the final destination of life that Jang Gitae had not yet set foot in? Or was it because he had inadvertently let slip fragments of emotion despite thoroughly concealing them?
He didn’t expect him to hit the nail on the head so calmly. Yeo Moon-beom looked at him directly with a faint smile on his lips.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Sometimes it’s necessary to reveal a knife rather than hide it.”
“Well, that’s not wrong, but you shouldn’t give such advice to me. Who knows what I might do with that knife.”
As Yeo Moon-beom feigned ignorance and replied, Chairman Yoon laughed loudly in a different tone than before.
“Hey, child.”
“M-me?”
“Yes, you. The little one wearing a hat.”
Chairman Yoon bent his knees to lower himself and asked Eun-hwi with an infinitely generous expression, as if addressing his own great-grandchild.
“Why did you come here?”
However, his gaze demanding only the truth was as sharp as a blue-tempered knife blade.
Eun-hwi, who had been shrinking his shoulders and fidgeting with his fingers nervously, raised his eyes diagonally to seek Yeo Moon-beom’s permission. When he gave a slight nod instead of answering, a youthful voice flowed from between the bright red lips that were moving hesitantly.
“To travel to Hanya… Seoul with Yeo Moon-beom…”
“Seoul travel, is it? I see you’re not from around here. So, which region did you come from?”
“…A southern island.”
He was such an innocent child who didn’t know how to lie that Yeo Moon-beom thought he would spill everything without hiding anything. But seeing Eun-hwi answer carefully after thinking it through in his own way, Yeo Moon-beom was inwardly impressed.
Indeed, blood will tell.
He suddenly remembered the time when he had a bet with the Jangseung dokkaebi. It had been a challenging opponent that seemed easy but was absolutely not. That’s why it was also an opponent that aroused his competitive spirit even more.
“You have fair skin for an islander. My wife also had white skin that rarely tanned in the sun…”
Chairman Yoon muttered as if talking to himself while reminiscing about old memories, then asked Eun-hwi once again.
“Where do you most want to go in Seoul? Since you’ve come all this way, shouldn’t you enjoy it to the fullest?”
“Umm…”
The square in front of Korea University.
Yeo Moon-beom already knew the answer to the question. Just as he was wondering why Eun-hwi was hesitating to answer, after much deliberation, Eun-hwi finally spoke.
“Wherever Yeo Moon-beom wants to go.”
Chairman Yoon’s eyes narrowed curiously at the unexpected answer. Yeo Moon-beom also stared at Eun-hwi with an undisguised look of confusion. The small hand holding his gently applied pressure.
As if to say that any place he takes him would be special, so he couldn’t pick just one.
“General Manager. Give these guys the 19th floor suite.”
Chairman Yoon ordered the Wooshin Hotel’s general manager standing guard behind him.
“But Chairman. That person is…”
When the general manager expressed concern, Chairman Yoon cut him off with one word.
“We can’t turn away precious guests.”
“I understand. I’ll prepare for check-in right away.”
The general manager, who seemed displeased with Yeo Moon-beom voluntarily entering as a hostage, scanned him with suspicious eyes. However, unable to disobey Chairman Yoon’s order, he picked up his radio and gave instructions to the staff below.
The sound of staff members’ shoes moving busily echoed amidst the soft flowing music. As that sound gradually faded, Chairman Yoon said with a smiling face to Eun-hwi, who was still standing stiffly with tension:
“Welcome to Wooshin Hotel. I hope you have a safe journey.”
“Phew…”
Eun-hwi, who had been holding only Yeo Moon-beom’s hand with his lips tightly closed even inside the moving square box, finally let out a breath after arriving in the room.
He had expected the trip wouldn’t be entirely easy, but he didn’t expect to have a conversation with a human more difficult to face than the mountain god as soon as he arrived in Hanyang.
All the energy drained from his body. The half-dokkaebi took off his hat and bundle and sat on a high-legged chair he had only seen on TV, then asked Yeo Moon-beom who was unpacking:
“Hey, Yeo Moon-beom. Did I seem human?”
He had tried his best to speak and act like humans. He used polite speech as if addressing an adult, and didn’t wander around staring at big-nosed people. He even walked through the lobby pretending to be familiar with it, like the Mr. Kims he had seen over shoulders.
It was because he didn’t want Yeo Moon-beom to be treated strangely because of him.
Yeo Moon-beom, who had been taking out clothes from the magic bag, came over and patted his head while replying:
“Of course. Even that sly old chairman was completely fooled. No one knows you’re a dokkaebi, so don’t worry.”
“Actually, I was so scared earlier I almost shouted ‘Waaah!'”
“You did well holding it in. I’m proud of you.”
“But that white-haired Mr. Kim from earlier, he didn’t seem like a bad Mr. Kim.”
Maybe it was because they considered him a human like themselves, but every Mr. Kim he had encountered so far had shown him kindness.
The convenience store clerk, the Mr. Kim who opened the car door, and even the white-haired Mr. Kim everyone was flustered by.
When he traveled with Gabi before, the Mr. Kims had found him suspicious or didn’t pay him any attention, so it was fascinating how they now showed him goodwill.
Even though he hadn’t changed much from then to now.
“By the way, Eun-hwi.”
“Yeah?”
As if trying to change the subject, Yeo Moon-beom spoke firmly with emphasis:
“From now on, you can’t call me ‘Yeo Moon-beom’ outside. Try not to use informal speech either.”
“Why?”
“Even though it’s just a numbers game, people are still sensitive about age. Although we’re close friends, it might look strange to others, so let’s be careful.”
That seemed to mean they should act as if they weren’t friends in front of other Mr. Kims.
Wondering if this was also a kind of game like the bank play they did before, the half-dokkaebi’s eyes sparkled with interest as he asked:
“Then what should I call you from now on?”
“Well, what would be good to call me…”
Unable to think of an appropriate title, Yeo Moon-beom stroked his chin thoughtfully for a moment.
“…Mister?”
“Mister?”
“I guess ‘mister’ would be better than ‘brother.'”
He slowly shifted his gaze, looking Eun-hwi up and down from head to toe. He didn’t forget to check his own reflection in the glass window as well.
“Now, try calling me ‘mister.'”
“Yeo Moon-beom… mister…?”
Ha.
Suddenly, Yeo Moon-beom let out a laugh.
“What’s wrong, Yeo Moon-beom mister?”
Eun-hwi looked up blankly, wondering what was wrong when he had done exactly as told. Leaning his back against the chair, Yeo Moon-beom gently touched the horns with his fingertips and muttered to himself.
“This is fucking arousing.”
“…Arousing?”
Yeo Moon-beom rubbed the tip of the protruding horn with the middle of his index finger, then trailed down the shaft and lightly scratched it with his nail.
“Baby. Are you tired?”
“Ahh… No?”
Involuntarily overcome with sensation, Eun-hwi’s shoulders trembled. With an amused voice, Yeo Moon-beom whispered in his ear:
“I’m not tired either. Shall we finish what we couldn’t do yesterday, mister?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
