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Kang Chan looked into taking the entrance exam in the College of Physical Education.
The practical exam! Wouldn’t something like this work? He could just say that his specialty was something like ‘close combat.’
Since he had received an offer to be a close combat instructor even in France, shouldn’t he be seen as a student that got treated as a professor, at the very minimum?
“Get a hold of yourself!”
Kang Chan mumbled to himself. Yoo Hye-Sook soon called him from the living room. He walked out of his room and had watermelon with her.
“What are you going to do during the break?”
Kang Chan first explained the athletics exam that he saw before, and answered that he was thinking of getting ready for that.
“What about studying abroad in France? You said that they’ll even give you full scholarships, right?”
“I’m thinking of going there after studying in Korea for about two years. I also want to stay with you for a bit longer,” answered Kang Chan.
“Hurry up and eat, Chan. Do what’s best for you. You don’t have to take me into consideration.”
Yoo Hye-Sook, holding a watermelon slice, looked so full of happiness.
“Aunt Seong-Hee has been spreading rumors, so I’ve been getting a lot of that kind of calls nowadays. There were also a lot of calls asking me to look into studying abroad in France.”
Kang Chan wanted to ask if it would be okay not to go to university but stopped as he didn’t want to insist on breaking her happiness.
He left the house after dinner, using Seok Kang-Ho as an excuse.
“Have fun, Chan.”
Yoo Hye-Sook’s nasal twang got better with time. He could understand why Kang Dae-Kyung tried hard to be good to her, enough for him to look like he didn’t have a spine.
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Even though Yoo Hye-Sook acted cute and smiled a lot, she would risk her life and rush forward if put in a situation where she had to protect her husband and son. She had guarded a patient ward and was prepared to die for them. Kang Chan could understand why Kang Dae-Kyung acted that way. Seeing a woman like her be happy made him happy as well.
‘Would Mi-Young act like that as well?’
Kang Chan shook his head. Their vibe and atmosphere were too different in all respects.
Beep. Beep.
When he went out to the entrance of the apartment, a different klaxon sound from before called Kang Chan.
“New cars really are great,” commented Seok Kang-Ho.
They drove in a joyous mood and went to the outdoor table that was located in the restaurant they went to before.
“Have you finished preparing for the trip? Kang Chan asked.
“I just need to pack my clothes. Why? Are you worried?”
“Tsk! I’m asking because you’re still physically recovering.”
Kang Chan thought he would complain, but Seok Kang-Ho nodded.
“I won’t let myself die in a strange manner. If something happens, then I’ll run for my life. I’m pretty good at running, remember?”
Kang Chan just drank coffee. He was thinking of keeping the guards he had put on him a secret until the end.
“Let’s visit the beach after the retreat,” Seok Kang-Ho said.
“The sea?”
“Or the lower part of a mountain streamlet. It would be fun to take the athletics club members or Mi-Young there. Honestly, those places are just generally fun to visit with a group.”
“Let's do that.”
Even though Kang Chan didn’t know if they would actually go or not, there was no reason to insist on not going.
“It would’ve been a really fun break if only that fucker Sharlan didn’t exist.”
Seok Kang-Ho’s words were right on.
They drank tea and talked about their time in Africa, how they fought after they drank in France, and how stupid Smithen was, then came back home.
Seok Kang-Ho handed him the keys to the car after he parked it in the public parking lot.
“Keep that and use it when you need it. Since we’re on break, It’s going to be cumbersome if something happens and you need a ride.”
“Hey! I would rather take a taxi. Driving made me feel like I’m going to become a killer if I’m not careful.”
“Huhuhu. There’s nothing like driving to increase your patience.”
Seok Kang-Ho took the car that he originally rode and dropped off Kang Chan.
“Have fun,” Kang Chan said.
“Call me if something happens.”
Seok Kang-Ho left the apartment when Kang Chan patted the roof of the car twice.
‘I wouldn’t be able to live without that fucker.’
Kang Chan burst into laughter because of the sudden thought.
***
On Tuesday morning, Seok Kang-Ho called him to say “I’m leaving now,” and Cha So-Yeon immediately texted him.
[Please come if you change your mind, sunbae-nim. I asked the kids and they all said that they wish that you would come.]
Three days and four nights. Michelle had also said that she would tell him the results of their endeavor after this week had passed anyway, so Kang Chan decided to focus on working out, which he hadn’t done in a while.
“I’ll be back after I work out,” Kang Chan said.
“Chan! Drink this before you go.”
Kang Chan walked closer to the table as Yoo Hye-Sook poured a dark liquid from a plastic bag into a cup.
“What’s that?” asked Kang Chan.
“Working out has to be giving you a hard time, so I bought this.”
Kang Chan couldn’t help but smile. Not because of the medicine, but because Yoo Hye-Sook looked pretty while she cared for him.
“You should give that to my father instead. He’s the one that’s been having a really hard time,” Kang Chan replied.
“I prepared one for your father as well. Your dad will get sulky if I don’t do that.”
“What about you?”
She didn’t make herself one.
“Drink up. I’m okay. I feel full just by watching you eat, and I gain strength just by watching you take the medicine,” Kang Chan said.
“This isn’t right.”
“I’ll buy some for myself next time.”
The look in her eyes made him drink it.
“Where do you buy something like this?” asked Kang Chan.
“There’s a herbal clinic in front of the apartment. That’s where I bought it.”
He drank herbal medicine for the first time in his life. In his previous life, he never took vitamins. He was thankful and happy not because of the medicine itself but because he was getting this much love and attention.
“That’s amazing. I’m feeling strengthened already,” He said before leaving the house.
He wasn’t aware of it until now since it never interested him, but the building inside the entrance had a sign that said ‘Herbal Clinic.’
The Herbal Clinic quickly understood who he was referring to when he mentioned Yoo Hye-Sook. Kang Chan requested the medicine based on her previous medical records and then paid for it.
Fortunately, he had already gotten a debit card.
“Should we deliver it to your apartment?”
What should I do?
Kang Chan thought about it for a moment, then said that he’d come back to pick it up himself before heading to school. He needed to go home for dinner anyway, plus he thought the delivery would fluster Yoo Hye-Sook.
~
A school being empty didn’t feel right.
The ninth-graders that were on the sports field all greeted him, and he just smiled in response because they didn’t seem afraid anymore.
After warming up, Kang Chan went into the athletic club room and worked out using the equipment.
Water, exercise. Water, exercise. And when his muscles could no longer take any more strains, he practiced his close combat skills.
The main point was to pinpoint the middle of the opponent’s movement with the end of his finger.
Bare hands vs. bayonet. Bayonet vs. bare hands. Bayonet vs. bayonet.
The movements slightly differed according to who held the sword. It was such a subtle difference that even the gangsters who had a bit of talent wouldn’t be able to understand it properly.
“Huk huk.”
Kang Chan sat on a chair, feeling healthy fatigue after so long.
Buzz— Buzz—Buzz—
Kang Chan urgently picked up his phone when it started to vibrate.
[Where are you?]
It was Kim Mi-Young. Kang Chan called right away.
- Chan!
“I’m at school working out.”
- I finished with hagwon. Should I stop by there so we can go home together?
“Sure.”
It looked like even Kim Mi-Young had spare time since they were on break.
While Kang Chan was warming up again, the athletics club room door rattled open, and Kim Mi-Young went in.
“You’re here.”
Kim Mi-Young ran into Kang Chan’s arms as he spoke.
“I’ve been missing you so much since yesterday evening,” said Kim Mi-Young.
“You’re going to get sweat on you.”
He couldn’t even stroke her back because his arm was also full of sweat.
“It’s okay. I’ll just stay like this for a moment.”
Their roles seemed to have changed somehow, but that wasn’t a bad thing.
He was wearing a thin shirt and thin rubber band pants because he was working out. When he felt Kim Mi-Young’s chest, his body got hot, even though she wasn’t Michelle.
“Stop,” said Kang Chan.
“Okay.”
She now looked flustered for running and hugging him out of nowhere.
Kang Chan decided to go home. If he was going to walk, then there was no reason to insist on washing up in the night-duty room.
Chatter chatter.
As they talked about different topics, Kim Mi-Young told him that there were times when she occasionally missed him so much.
“I’ll be having two days off from hagwon. Since I’m going on a family vacation during one of them, we can use the other to go out,” Kim Mi-Young suggested.
“Sure.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. And if you have time, call me and come to school so we can go home together.”
“Okay!”
After Kang Chan sent home a happy Kim Mi-Young, he picked up the herbal medicine from the clinic before going up to the apartment.
“Welcome home. What’s that?” Yoo Hye-Sook asked.
Kang Chan wordlessly passed her the box of medicine while holding onto it with the handle.
“This is…!”
Yoo Hye-Sook raised her gaze from it.
“I received some money from Gong Te automobile for interpreting for them. I wanted all of us to have medicine together.”
Yoo Hye-Sook had a blank expression on her face.
“I’m going to wash up,” said Kang Chan.
Kang Chan got some clothes and went back out to the living room, finding Yoo Hye-Sook wiping her tears.
“What’s wrong?” Kang Chan asked.
“I feel like my heart is going to explode out of happiness.”
Kang Chan moved closer to her and hugged her lightly.
“Stay healthy, okay? When you were sick last time, my father and I didn’t feel happy at all.”
Yoo Hye-Sook ended up smiling with tears in her eyes.
After that, Kang Chan washed up and had dinner with her. Around 7:30 pm, he went to his room and turned on the computer.
However, just as the wallpaper on his monitor popped up…
Thump. Thump.
His heart began to beat in an unusual way. He had never felt this way since he reincarnated. After all, this only ever happened to him when he was on the battlefield.
Thump. Thump.
It meant that something dangerous was right around the corner.
Kang Chan glanced at the door.
Yoo Hye-Sook was in the living room.
Thump. Thump.
Was this a warning that Kang Dae-Kyung, Seok Kang-Ho, or Kim Mi-Young was in danger?*
Is it one out of the three of them? Where are they? Who do I have to protect?
Badum badum.
He first needed to call and talk to the security company’s Kim Tae-Jin.
Buzz— Buzz—Buzz—
Kang Chan had just stretched his hand to get the phone on his desk when it started vibrating. On the screen, the name ‘Seok Kang-Ho' appeared.