Chapter 38.2

The Young Accomplices (2)

“Sang-Beom-ah. Is he someone you know?”

Beside him, a girl with long, straight hair turned to look between Sang-Beom and me.

Since this guy was three years younger than Ho-Un, he should currently be in middle school.

Wow. Although I had felt the same thing every time I met one of the members of my old family, time really is a harsh mistress.

“Um….well…”

Sang-Beom’s eyes darted around as he felt both our gazes rest on him.

This brat. The Sang-Beom I knew could never have been the type to cheerfully volunteer at a place like this.

In fact, he leaned more towards disliking children. If that’s the case, his purpose here must be to…

“This brat, it looks like you’ve really forgotten. It’s me, Ji-Hun-hyung. Is the person beside you your girlfriend?”

At the word ‘girlfriend’, both of their faces flushed red.

How envious. They’re in the prime of their lives! Shit.

“I-I’m not his girlfriend.”

Although the girl tried hard to deny it, the atmosphere between them grew awkward.

The moment that Sang-Beom opened his mouth to say something, I quickly pulled out my wallet.

“If that’s the case, it seems that the two of you really are just friends. Haha. But it looks like this hyung needs to give him some pocket money, since it’s been so long since we last met.”

Sang-Beom’s hand latched into a fist around the 10,000 won note that I handed him.

At first, his mouth hung open wordlessly, but he soon slipped on his characteristic smile and started acting as if he was close to me.

“Ah-ahah. So it was Ji-Hun-hyung. Sorry, my mind just went blank, so I couldn’t recognize you.”

This punk. So he had the temperament for cheating others in him ever since he was young.

I tapped Sang-Beom on the shoulder, signalling him to follow me.

We headed over to a small bench by the basketball court.

Although he was trying hard not to show it, I could feel that he was wary of me. He’s still too young to fool me.

“But who are you, really?”

I wanted to pull out a cigarette, but with this place being what it was, it looks like I would just have to endure the urge.

Instead, I unwrapped a sweet and popped it in my mouth.

“Mhm. You probably don’t remember me. I’m Sang-Ho’s friend.”

At my words, his face stiffened.

Sang-Ho was Sang-Beom’s elder brother.

He was someone who had raised Sang-Beom in place of their irresponsible parents, but when he reached the minimum age for military conscription, Sang-Ho suddenly ran away from home.

“Y-you’re saying that you’re friends with my brother?”

His expression showed some doubt. Of course, it was a lie.

It felt a little strange to be scamming a future scammer.

Let’s see… at his current age he should be around the 3rd grade in middle school.

If that’s the case, it must already have been five years since Sang-Ho ran away.

“Are you able to contact my hyung? W-where is he and what is he doing?”

“Sorry, but I haven’t been able to contact him either.”

“Ah. I guess that would be the case.”

Sang-Beom bit his lip in reluctance.

This was something that he had repeatedly lamented in my previous life.

When his older brother disappeared, Sang-Beom regretted that he was too young to do anything about it.

If Sang-Beom had only gone looking for him back then, things might have turned out differently.

“In any case, what are you doing here? It doesn’t look like you’ve come here just to volunteer.”

“But I am here to volunteer. Can’t you tell just by looking at me?”

He was wearing an apron that was fastened at the front.

Any square inch of it that wasn’t stained with paint, was spattered in dirt.

I replied with a shake of my head.

“Yup. A look is all I need to see the truth. You’re just trying to score points with her, right?”

“Ugh!”

“She’s got a pretty face, her personality seems good, and she also looks like a good student. Too bad, she’s picked up such a clingy stalker. Tsk.”

After I tossed a few insults his way, Sang-Beom’s eyes widened into circles.

Then he carefully sidled towards me.

“Could it… are you a mind reader or something…?

“Nope. Not at all.”

Did he really think something like that was possible?

Sang-Beom’s eyes still shone as if he was watching a magician pull off an act.

Hey now, wait a minute. This situation sounds just like something that I had heard about many times from a certain someone.

“Awesome. Can’t you tell me how to do it? The way you said that was so convincing!”

He did say that he had only gained his interest in hustling after watching a certain local snake-oil salesman charm a crowd with only his words.

Although this finally led him down the wrong path, and into the life of a con artist.

Shit. It looks like I’m the one who’s taken over that role in this lifetime.

I let out a deep sigh before shaking my head.

Well, this could be a turn for the better.

Since at the very least, once he’s following me, then he won’t end up as a scammer.

“You. How long have you been volunteering here?”

“About a week?”

“And your friend?”

“It’s been around a month for her.”