Chapter 27
“So? What are you going to do?”
“You wanted to catch a fugitive… or more specifically, you wanted a request that could earn a lot of money. At first, I refused. There are people who don’t know their limits and end up dying in the process. I thought he was one of those types.”
“A request? Even though you look too young? Have you ever caught a fugitive?”
“No, this is my first time.”
“What? You want to catch a fugitive? Stop it, kid. You’re going to die like this.”
“No one knows whether I or the fugitive will die. I’ve heard they don’t care about experience here.”
“They don’t care about experience, but they care about age. Kid, if you act rashly, it’s not just a bruised ego. You could end up dead. Go back home.”
“Is it because I’m young?”
“Well… Yeah, it is. I didn’t want to give you a request like that. What if you die? That would haunt my dreams.”
“Then I’ll prove myself.”
“What?”
The young Dok Go-ryong looked around and took down a wanted poster from the wall.
“This person, I don’t need to get a request for. I can deal with him myself, right?”
“Wait, you’re going after him? Stop! He’s a vicious criminal, at the level of a second-rate expert! You, a kid, can’t handle him!”
Dok Go-ryong didn’t listen and left the inn with the wanted poster.
A few days later…
“How is he doing?”
“There was no word for a while. I thought for sure he was dead. But lo and behold, he came back seven days later.”
“Where the hell have you been? Ah, this blood… If you’re alive, you should have gone to see a physician! Let me see your wounds!”
“This blood isn’t mine.”
“What?”
“I wasn’t injured. But more importantly, do you remember the promise you made?”
The young Dok Go-ryong handed a bundle to Lee Ji-cheol.
Startled by its weight, Lee Ji-cheol opened the bundle and nearly fainted.
“You really caught a vicious criminal? Did you ever imagine this?”
“Wow… So, Uncle, you caught a second-rate villain at the age of sixteen?”
“That’s right. And the injuries I had at the time were just small cuts on my arms and legs.”
A second-rate criminal… definitely not someone a sixteen-year-old should be able to handle. It was impressive.
“Now that my abilities have been proven, I’m giving you the request we promised. That’s how our bond started.”
“So, you were close to Uncle from the beginning?”
“That’s not it.”
“Huh? Not close?”
“Eun Sowol, you’re too young to understand, but friends and comrades are different. If you can say we were close, I guess it was after that time.”
Dok Go-ryong’s fifth request was probably when the trust started to build. After completing the task on time and with precision, Lee Ji-cheol felt sure he could trust him. That’s when he started noticing Dok Go-ryong’s worn clothes and weapons, which didn’t quite fit him, but he used them to carry out the requests anyway.
“Are you eating properly?” Lee Ji-cheol asked.
“Money’s tight,” replied Dok Go-ryong, giving no more explanation.
After all, when he first arrived, there had to have been some reason for him to be in such a rough situation, so Lee Ji-cheol didn’t push further.
“Sit down. I’ll buy you some noodles.”
“I said I don’t have money.”
“You’re telling me you spent all the money you’ve made?”
Dok Go-ryong didn’t answer, but Lee Ji-cheol could tell that there was more to the story.
“Sit. I’m buying you food. And you’re staying here tonight.”
“What?”
“I’ll give you a room. Go take a bath! Looking like that will scare away any money. Understand?”
Lee Ji-cheol chuckled. “I tried to do something nice for you, and you look at me like that. You were suspicious even when I offered you a room. Do I look like a scammer?”
“I wasn’t suspicious! It was just awkward,” Eun Sowol replied, shaking her head.
“Awkward? Is that what it was?”
“Yeah! It was the first time I’ve seen someone like Ji-cheol Uncle! That’s why Uncle was awkward!”
“Awkward… I guess that’s understandable.”
Dok Go-ryong, so used to taking care of himself, must have had a hard life growing up. Lee Ji-cheol couldn’t help but sympathize with him even more, feeling protective toward the young man.
As they ate, Lee Ji-cheol continued telling stories of Dok Go-ryong. Sometimes he would joke about how the kid didn’t show gratitude, but it was clear that he cared for him like a younger brother.
“Ji-cheol Uncle.”
“Hmm?”
“Did Uncle ever tell you his real name? You said you knew it.”
Lee Ji-cheol paused, reflecting. “Yeah, about two years ago, he got really drunk and for the first time, he told me everything about himself.”
Eun Sowol tried to suppress a laugh, covering her mouth with her hands.
“Uncle really likes Ji-cheol, doesn’t he?”
“…What?”
“Uncle said he hated his name and told everyone not to tell anyone, but he told Ji-cheol Uncle himself.”
Lee Ji-cheol seemed taken aback for a moment, then laughed. “Haha, that’s what you think? Well, I guess I should understand that.”
As they continued their meal, Eun Sowol began to relax, her earlier concerns fading. She had a new understanding of how difficult life had been for Dok Go-ryong and the bond he shared with Lee Ji-cheol.
Eun Sowol looked up at Lee Ji-cheol, suddenly remembering something.
“Ji-cheol Uncle, do you know when Uncle first started talking about his real name?”
Lee Ji-cheol’s expression softened, and he smiled a bit. “Well, it was about two years ago. He came to me, drunk for the first time, and told me everything. I never expected it, but I could see how much he trusted me.”
Eun Sowol held back a grin as she covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
“So, Uncle really likes Ji-cheol, huh?”
Lee Ji-cheol looked puzzled. “What?”
“He said he didn’t like his real name and told everyone to keep it a secret, but he told you, Ji-cheol Uncle. Doesn’t that mean he really likes you?”
Lee Ji-cheol chuckled softly, a surprised expression crossing his face. “I see what you mean. Well, I guess I should understand it. He trusts me more than I thought.”
Eun Sowol couldn’t help but feel a little lighter now. “Uncle, you’re so nice.”
Lee Ji-cheol smiled at her. “You’re a good kid, too. Don’t worry. Your uncle is tough, and he’ll keep fighting for you, no matter how hard it gets.”
Later, after finishing the meal, Eun Sowol couldn’t stop thinking about what she had learned. The stories Lee Ji-cheol shared about Dok Go-ryong made her realize that her uncle wasn’t just someone who took care of her—he was someone with a past filled with hardships and strength. The bond they shared, though often unspoken, was strong, and she could feel it in the way Lee Ji-cheol spoke about him.
She looked up at Lee Ji-cheol again, her face serious now.
“Ji-cheol Uncle, do you think I’ll get better?”
Lee Ji-cheol nodded reassuringly. “You will. Don’t worry about a thing. Your uncle won’t give up on you. He never gives up on anything. He’ll find a way to help you, just like he did back then.”
Eun Sowol smiled softly, her heart feeling a little warmer despite her illness. “I won’t give up either.”
The day passed, and with each word from Lee Ji-cheol, Eun Sowol’s resolve grew stronger.
As the evening came and the lights dimmed, she felt a sense of security she hadn’t had in a long time. Despite her illness, despite the uncertainty of the future, she knew she wasn’t alone.
She had people who cared for her—people who would fight for her.
And with that thought, she fell into a peaceful sleep, knowing that her journey, no matter how difficult, would continue with the support of those around her.
Thank uuu💕
Thank youuu💕