“I looked into Korea National University’s judo team, just like you asked.”
I nodded, and Ma Seokdae began his report.
“There seems to be a lot of noise surrounding the national team selection. Your friend, Park Hyunseong, was no exception. The head coach and assistants instructed first- and second-year students to deliberately throw matches. Mr. Park Hyunseong was the only one who didn’t follow those orders.”
I listened without much reaction. In this era, that sort of thing was all too common.
“It seems there was consistent physical punishnt as well. On the day of the incident, the beating was particularly bad. After a hospital visit, he was on his way ho when the hit-and-run happened.”
“Yeah, I heard about that. Is there any ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) connection between the two incidents?”
“We can’t say for sure yet. Should I look into it?”
Would soone really run a person over over a national team spot...?
...Couldn’t be. Just a coincidence, right?
I gathered my thoughts and stood up from my seat.
“Look into it. And find out everything you can about that bastard Jo Chanseong who asked Hyunseong to throw the match. His background, especially. For now... just focus on that.”
I patted his shoulder as he bowed, then stepped outside.
I headed downstairs and walked into my grandfather’s study.
“How have you been?”
“Fine. How did things go in the States?”
“Well. I had to co back to Korea suddenly, so I couldn’t take care of everything, but I got the important things done.”
Grandfather nodded and stared at .
“You have sothing to say, don’t you?”
“I need your help.”
“Help?”
“Yes... I’d like you to look into the hit-and-run involving my friend. I still don’t have enough power to investigate it quickly.”
He said nothing and just stared at .
After a mont, he finally opened his mouth—sounding slightly disappointed.
“You’ve never once asked for help... and now you do, over sothing like this?”
“Yes. Because to , this is more important than anything. One of the few people I call mine was hurt. Even if it was just an accident, the other side needs to pay.”
I didn’t avert my gaze.
Eventually, he gave in and called out.
“Myeonghun, co in.”
At his call, Ha Myeonghun entered the room.
It had only been a few days since I’d last seen him, but I gave him a respectful nod.
“Muhyuk has a favor to ask. Look into it as quickly as you can.”
“I’d like you to help us identify who caused the hit-and-run involving Hyunseong. I heard there was only one witness. The police may look into it since it involves one of their own, but still...”
“Understood.”
Ha Myeonghun nodded and looked at Grandfather.
He returned a small nod, and once Ha Myeonghun left the room, Grandfather turned back to .
“Isn’t it about ti you stopped playing at friendship? It’s hard enough just associating with people who benefit you.”
“He’s more than a friend. He’s one of mine. Soone who’ll follow without question if I tell him to. You know how rare that is.”
“Oh? So you’ve won over Chief Ma too?”
“Yes.”
A slight smile ford on his face.
“Always stay cold-headed. Even if my own family was hurt, I never delayed my duties. A leader must be able to prioritize. You understand what I an?”
“Grandfather, your era is different from mine. Maybe you lived like that—but I’ll always put my people and family first. Before work, before anything—my friends, my family, the ones I give my heart to...”
He looked intrigued by my response.
“You’re one of them too, Grandfather.”
“Hohoho.”
He chuckled warmly, clearly pleased with the last part.
“Your era, huh... I suppose you’re right. It’s about ti I started stepping back.”
“I didn’t an it like that...”
“Don’t worry. I’m not retiring just yet. I’ve still got plenty of energy.”
I couldn’t help but smile.
He lightly patted my shoulder.
“Myeonghun will handle it quickly. Just wait a bit.”
“Thank you.”
“What about the Myeongdong bosses? Did they surrender?”
“For now, yes. I’m going to keep watching them.”
“Use them if you can. Anyone who rose to the top in that field is good with numbers and has deep connections.”
“That’s why I gave them a chance. That Mr. Shin seed especially loyal to you. He stood up and said, ‘If the Chairman tells to follow, then I will.’ And walked out.”
“Seongil, huh?”
He closed his eyes for a mont, reminiscing.
“He was still in high school when I first supported him in the wrestling circuit. Then he got caught up in an assault case and was forced to retire. After that, he ca to . He climbed from the very bottom of Myeongdong to where he is now. Sure, I helped—but that was all his ability.”
I nodded.
Grandfather let out a small sigh.
“He’s the hardest one to read. He’s good at doing what he’s told... but beyond that, I don’t know.”
“I think he’s got a dependable side. I plan to et him one-on-one.”
“Up to you. I’m handing them over to you. Whether you keep or cut them is your choice. But rember—it’s hard to find people like that. Try making them yours.”
“Understood.”
After finishing my conversation with Grandfather, I changed clothes and headed to the hospital.
His parents were still there when I arrived.
“Ma’am, please go rest for a bit.”
“No, I should be here.”
“But you’ll collapse at this rate. I booked a hotel nearby. Please go wash up and rest for just a little while. If Hyunseong wakes up, we’ll call you imdiately.”
After much persuasion, his mother finally left, guided by his father.
I asked Ma Seokdae to take them to the hotel and returned to the ICU waiting area with Myungsoo.
As we waited for the next visitation window, we talked.
“Did you get any sleep?”
“Yeah, hit the sauna nearby and napped for a bit. That punk Hyunseong’s got us all worried. Still just lying there...”
He said it like a joke, but he kept glancing nervously at the ICU window.
“Damn... he’s gonna miss the national selection now. What a joke. He trained so damn hard for that, especially after your promise.”
I rembered what I’d told Hyunseong at Myungsoo’s house.
* * *
“Hyunseong, get a dal at the Asian Gas or Olympics. Get that military exemption. Then co work with .”
He’d looked at silently and nodded without hesitation.
It made laugh.
“You’re not even gonna ask why? Just nodding like you expect to give you sothing?”
“You’ll figure it out.”
“...Crazy bastard.”
* * *
The original plan was to make him my shadow, like Chief Ma.
He was quiet, but always did what needed to be done—soone I could trust.
“I wonder when he’ll wake up.”
“He will. That bastard’s been tough since we were kids. I’m not worried.”
Even after resting, Myungsoo still looked exhausted.
“You get so sleep.”
“Okay. Wake when visiting ti cos.”
“Got it.”
He closed his eyes, still seated.
About an hour later, the visitation period arrived.
We entered the ICU together.
Seeing Hyunseong in casts on his left arm and leg made my chest ache.
But at least he wasn’t on a ventilator—he looked peaceful, as if asleep.
Myungsoo held his uninjured right hand and muttered,
“You bastard... wake up already. I won’t yell at you for eating too much anymore. Do whatever the hell you want. Just get up...”
They bickered all the ti, but the affection between them was clear.
I stood behind Myungsoo, quietly looking at Hyunseong’s face.
“Hey! Hey!”
Suddenly, Myungsoo shouted.
“His finger moved! Hey! Hyunseong! Can you hear ? It’s ! Myungsoo!”
But there was no response.
“No, I swear it moved... Ah! There! Look!”
This ti, I saw it too.
Leaving Myungsoo by his side, I went to the nearby nurse.
“Excuse , that patient just moved his finger. Could you call a doctor?”
The nurse nodded and picked up the internal line.
A mont later, a doctor rushed in.
“You said his finger moved?”
“Yes, twice! That’s good, right? Right?”
Ignoring Myungsoo’s barrage of questions, the doctor began examining Hyunseong.
Just then, his eyebrow twitched.
“Doctor! His eyebrow! Just now!”
Still calm, the doctor lifted Hyunseong’s eyelid and examined his eyes.
Then, he turned to us with a smile.
“He’s going to wake up soon.”
“Really? For real? Wow...”
Relieved, Myungsoo collapsed into a chair.
I kept my composure and asked,
“When exactly?”
“That, I can’t say. Judging from his pupils and other signs, it’ll be soon. I’m not God—I can’t give you an exact ti. But the scans show no major brain damage, so let’s be patient.”
“Thank you.”
I bowed slightly and looked down at Hyunseong’s face.
Visiting hours ended, and we stepped out.
Now clearly relieved, Myungsoo started swearing nonstop.
“Shit... of course. That bastard Hyunseong was never gonna stay down. Once he wakes up, I’m gonna curse the hell out of him.”
“Hahaha.”
Only then did I finally laugh from the heart.
A few hours later, Hyunseong woke up.
We imdiately called the hotel and brought his parents.
As soon as she saw him awake, his mother burst into tears.
“You brat... you trying to kill your mom from worry?”
She scolded him, but the tears kept coming.
“Mom...”
“You recognize ?”
“Mom...”
She gripped his hand tightly.
“You know ? Yes, Mom’s right here.”
Even his father had misty eyes as he stood behind her. I turned away, pretending not to notice.
That evening, Hyunseong was transferred to a general room—insisting they move him to a private one.
“Stay here comfortably.”
“Oh please, why a private room? Too expensive.”
“Ma’am, it’s —Muhyuk. Your son Muhyuk. It’s okay to accept a little kindness from .”
“Still...”
“It’s fine. Take it. Right, Muhyuk?”
His father took my side. I smiled at him.
“Of course. What I owe you two is worth more than any hospital room. You ca all this way—stay a few days and rest.”
Later, his father and I spoke outside about the case—but there was still no sign of the culprit.
The total lack of evidence was... unsettling.
Back at ho, I received Ma Seokdae’s report.
“That student Jo Chanseong—he’s a senior. Son of Jo Hyeongu, vice chairman of the Korea Judo Association. Jo Hyeongu is also president of Geukseong Construction. A major sponsor of the association.”
“Geukseong Construction?”
“Yes.”
Geukseong Construction... I’d never even heard of them.
“What’s their national ranking? I don’t recognize the na.”
“42nd. Apparently, they’re quite well-known in Chungcheong Province. Jo Hyeongu was also once a notorious thug in that region.”
The mont I heard that, I felt it.
What I suspected... might be true.
‘There might be a connection to the hit-and-run after all.’
< My Grandfather’s Era Is Different From Mine > End
User Comments
0 comments from readers