#30 Like Father, Like Son
Cheol-du meditated at home.
Barbarian meditation begins with introspection.
Look inside, heal any wounds, and train any weaknesses.
Training both the inner and outer self is the Barbarian warrior's way of training.
'That was fun.'
It had been a while since he met such a cool guy.
He was incomparable to those guys from Yonggu, who were full of talk before fighting.
A great guy with a cool personality became his subordinate.
The areas he was hit were bruised, and many muscles were ruptured.
If it weren't for the characteristics of Ogre Skin, Cheol-du might have been in danger.
After healing his body for a while, Cheol-du opened his eyes and smiled brightly.
"Heh, interesting."
He wanted to go to Nova quickly.
There must be many strong people there.
Moreover, if you add monsters, Nova is a world full of goals to overcome and achieve by defeating them.
The young Barbarian is still hungry for growth.
Cheol-du opened his eyes.
"Hoo."
If only he could receive the soul of his ancestor...
He felt disappointed that he could move on to the second stage of Barbarian meditation.
He looked at his watch, and it was 3 o'clock.
It would be a while before Grandpa came.
Ring ring.
"Grandpa's a real traditionalist."
Cheol-du picked up his phone as it rang.
"Wh-what's going on here?"
"So, what do you think of your grandson's skills?"
"Wait, is this some kind of scam?"
"No. It's the money I told you about yesterday."
"Wow, this is. Wow. Huh, really."
"Let's eat chicken when you come home later."
"Huh, okay. Hang up now."
"Heh, he's surprised."
His grandfather's voice sounded excited, probably because he received the money. He seemed to trust Cheol-du more after seeing the money than when he took out the axe yesterday.
"A man's gotta earn a living, that's for sure. You're not a man if you can't put food on the table."
"It's time I took over for Grandpa."
Now Cheol-du is the head of this household.
He should retire his grandfather.
I'll have a serious talk with him over drinks tonight.
Ring ring.
He picked up his phone again, which was popular today.
"Jin-tae."
-Cheol-du.
"Speak."
"Can I sleep at your place tonight?"
"Why are you asking such a thing? Come on over."
"Huh, thanks."
He still sounded down even though it hadn't been long since his girlfriend dumped him.
Cheol-du shook his head after hanging up.
He didn't know what happened to Jin-tae, but it seemed like things weren't going well.
It was about an hour later when Kim Jin-tae came to Cheol-du's house.
"You're here?"
"Yeah."
"Heh."
"What are you doing?"
"Just doing a body check."
Cheol-du was lying on the floor, holding one leg up. His slow movements looked like he was doing yoga.
"Hmm."
Jin-tae came to the sofa and plopped down.
"That Barbarian training you talked about, is that it?"
"Heh, that's right. Barbarians can focus on each and every tissue of their body. It's something humans can't normally do."
"So that's why you adapt to the stat stones so fast."
Jin-tae nodded.
Cheol-du, feeling the sensation of his muscles and ligaments stretching, asked casually.
"Tell me. Who's giving you trouble?"
"Who else? Dad."
"Want me to deal with him?"
"Are you nuts?!"
"Heh, you don't have to be ashamed to receive help from a friend."
"Ha, never mind. I just cut him off."
"Huh? Cutting ties?"
"I'm not his son anymore. Period."
"Didn't you say you weren't his son from the start?"
"Shit. Lay off the truth bombs."
Jin-tae lay down on the sofa as if collapsing. He covered his face, hating even the fluorescent lights.
"Are you crying?"
"I'm not."
"Heh, a man can cry when he wants to."
"Ha, I just feel like a total loser."
Jin-tae was angry at this cruel fate.
Cutting ties?
He was a son who wasn't even registered in the family registry in the first place. There was nothing to cut ties with; he was just going to live his own life now.
In the first place, the only emotion his father had for him would have been 'responsibility.'
"Shit, I'm just not going to think about it. My brother was a jerk anyway, so good riddance."
"Heh, Jin-tae."
Cheol-du, who had finished stretching and sat down, said seriously.
"Just because you share blood doesn't mean you're brothers."
"......"
"I am not related to Grandpa, but we are family. To me, Grandpa is only Kang Yong-cheol."
"......"
"I will become your brother."
"......Ha, shit."
Jin-tae lowered his head, tears welling up in his eyes without him realizing it.
"Heh, cry, Jin-tae."
Kang Cheol-du smiled contentedly as he looked at Jin-tae.
Standing together on the battlefield is all the bond we need.
Jin-tae and he were already brothers.
"Heh, I'm going to go wash up."
Cheol-du led his sweaty body from stretching to the bathroom.
"Ha, shit."
Jin-tae, sitting alone on the sofa, wiped away his flowing tears. He didn't expect comfort from this big lug.
Why doesn't my real family recognize me as family?
He was resentful of his father, who wouldn't listen, even when I told him about Nova and showed him proof.
He wanted to punch his brother for laughing off the whole 'end of the world' thing.
"It's for the best. Shibal."
Father and brother who don't recognize me as family.
Since they, who share blood, rejected me first, I will reject them now.
There is no more Jin-tae who lived quietly to be recognized and not to be out of favor.
No more sucking up to them.
Beep beep.
At that moment, the door opened and Kang Yong-cheol entered.
Kim Jin-tae jumped up and bowed deeply.
"Hello, Grandpa."
"Oh, yeah, you're here?"
"Yes. Here, let me take that."
Kim Jin-tae quickly ran and received the bag.
The smell wafting out of the bag was chicken.
"Where's Cheol-du?"
"He went to wash up."
"Why are your eyes so red? Did Cheol-du hit you?"
"Ah, no!"
"That jerk. Why'd he hit his friend?"
"Ah, it's really not that, Grandpa."
Kim Jin-tae set the table and set up the chicken, feeling awkward for no reason.
"Heh, Grandpa's here?"
"Did you hit Jin-tae?"
"No. Jin-tae cut ties with his dad and came out. He's going to live at our place now."
"Huh?"
Seeing Kang Yong-cheol flustered, Kim Jin-tae quickly added.
"Ah, no, Grandpa. I'll crash here for a bit, then get my own place."
"Don't worry about it. I don't know the circumstances, but stay comfortably until you leave. Cheol-du's friend is practically my grandson, too."
Kim Jin-tae is also quite a special person to Kang Yong-cheol.
Since he's Cheol-du's only friend, and Cheol-du's not exactly Mr. Social.
"Heh, make yourself comfortable, Jin-tae."
Cheol-du roughly dried his hair and sat down at the table.
"Hmm? Four whole chickens?"
"I bought ramen too."
"Good. Let's eat."
Cheol-du sat down and only looked at Grandpa.
Jin-tae also sat next to him and waited quietly.
Grandpa took off his coat and said.
"Eat first."
"Jin-tae, don't be fooled."
"Huh?"
"The elders eat first."
"......"
I know that much common sense.
"Last time you told me to eat first, and then you yelled at me."
"......"
Kang Yong-cheol chuckled as he sat down.
"You watch yourself, kid. Now, dig in."
As soon as Kang Yong-cheol picked up a piece of chicken and put it in his mouth, Cheol-du's hands started moving busily.
"Jin-tae. So, are you done with everything?"
"Yeah, There's nothing left for me there."
Originally, Kim Jin-tae's plan was to imitate a large corporation with his father's support.
Gathering manpower and building a pioneer village with those people. Successfully settling the group in Nova.
Playing a central role in that and being recognized for his contributions.
Being officially recognized as a 'son' by his father.
"It's all pointless now."
"I didn't know you had such a plan."
Cheol-du, who had heard everything Jin-tae said, said confidently.
"My plan is to keep getting stronger."
"And then?"
"That's all there is."
"......"
Sounds like you.
I can't say anything with Grandpa here.
"Heh, Jin-tae. Build a village. I will keep getting stronger and protect the village. You make that village thrive."
"Hmm, there needs to be a base. Honestly, if you have the power to protect it, it's all about who claims the land first."
Kang Yong-cheol listened silently to the conversation between the two friends and felt a sense of pride.
'Look at him, he's all grown up.'
He only knew how to exercise, had no interest in studying, sweated every day, and didn't have good social skills, so he didn't have many friends.
Seeing him seriously drawing his future like this, he felt proud and bittersweet, as if he had really grown up and was about to become independent.
He's really all grown up now.
He doesn't need his old grandpa looking out for him anymore.
He's trying to live his own life on his own.
I'm relieved. I'm really relieved.
Kang Yong-cheol's eyes welled up with tears for no reason.
Kang Cheol-du flinched at his grandfather's moist eyes.
"Grandpa, are you angry?"
"About what?"
"J-just one leg left..."
"Don't worry about it. Dust got in my eye, that's all."
Kang Yong-cheol rubbed his eyes for no reason and started eating chicken.
"Anyway, Grandpa, if there's a disaster like last time, get yourself to that doomsday test, pronto."
"Huh?"
"The first one is just luck to get caught up in, and the second one you can take if you prepare. Just catch one goblin, change jobs, and run straight to the portal."
"Don't worry about it, nothing's going to happen!"
"Grandpa!"
"Grandfather. I think it would be good to do as Cheol-du says for now."
"What's all this nonsense? I'm staying put, no matter what."
"It can't hurt to become a Novice, just in case."
"Don't worry about it. Let's eat chicken and sleep. Grandpa's going to watch his shows."
Kang Yong-cheol went into his room in a huff, and Cheol-du and Jin-tae looked at each other.
"He's reacting differently than my dad, but it's the same deal."
"Heh, but the response is different."
"What are you going to do?"
"I gotta tell the gym manager."
"Manager Park?"
"Yeah. Might as well go tomorrow."
Park Bong-pal, the gym manager, who is still young, would still take Cheol-du's words seriously.
Since he has dependents, he would do something to prepare for the possible end of the world.
He can ask Grandpa for help then.
"Do you think Manager Park will believe you?"
"Even if he doesn't believe in the end of the world, he'll believe in the test once he sees the inventory."
"That's true."
"Let's go to Nova tomorrow."
"Departure is on the 1st, right?"
"Who cares?"
"No, but today is Christmas."
"Do you have a girlfriend?"
"......"
Kim Jin-tae was silent.
"Yeah. Let's just go today. Earth sucks right now."
"Hehehe. Good, let's go today."
"What about Jong-du?"
"You mean 'Mr.'?"
"I mean, he's ten years older than us. It feels weird..."
"He's working for me, end of story."
"Wow, you're a piece of work, even for a friend."
"Heh. We don't have to go together. Anyway, going to New Seoul is for supplies."
"That's true."
"If you're thinking about the first-time reward or something, maybe the Cheongju portal zone is more of a gold mine."
"That's true. Looking at the people with good equipment coming... it's probably been about 8 days there already."
1 day on Earth is 5 days in Nova.
"Let's go tomorrow and come back on the 31st."
"And then decide whether to operate in New Seoul or Cheongju?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, deal."
"Heh, good."
Cheol-du and Jin-tae told Kang Yong-cheol and left the house right away.
