505

 [Chapter 138]

[Another Strategy (3)]

Actually, a date with Jeong Ha-yang was scheduled for the weekend.

So Eunha had to ask for her understanding first before meeting On Tae-yang's family.

Of course, though she was sulky, she nodded and agreed.

'—Then should I go together?'

'Hmm... no. If you come too Ha-yang, those people will be very uncomfortable.'

'Tch, so you're going on a date alone with Ara now?'

'It's not a date...'

'When a man and woman go out alone, that's a date.'

'I'm not going out to play, I'm going for work. I have a girlfriend, how could I possibly go on a date with another woman?'

'Hehe, Eunha.'

'What?'

'You don't just have a girlfriend, you have a fiancée too, right? For someone like that to talk about other women is a bit...'

'...I was wrong.'

Of course, there was a small argument with Jeong Ha-yang.

She seemed uneasy about him going out alone with Jo Ara.

In fact, Jo Ara wasn't the only person she was wary of.

Jeong Ha-yang had been showing wariness towards all the women he knew since becoming his girlfriend.

Eunha wondered if he was really that untrustworthy.

'—Of course.'

As if reading his mind then.

Jeong Ha-yang dismissed it.

'I should trust you Eunha but... trusting you who's two-timing is a bit...'

'...'

'Seo-hyun unni said she wouldn't mind if you made a harem, and I agreed with Seo-hyun unni but...'

'When did you two talk about that?'

'But to be honest, I hope you won't make a harem. Just... me and Seo-hyun unni is enough.'

'...'

'But if you want to Eunha... I guess that can't be helped.'

'I won't. Why would I make a harem?'

He had somehow ended up two-timing.

As a result, Eunha could understand what anxiety she had.

He firmly declared to alleviate her anxiety this time.

Meanwhile—

"—Am I really that untrustworthy..."

Both Jeong Ha-yang and Han Seo-hyun.

Though he understood their feelings, he didn't know why they wouldn't trust him.

Eunha muttered while walking to the house where On Tae-yang's family lived.

Then Ara who was guiding the way beside him said as if it was obvious—

"—Isn't it obvious? It's human nature to want to check many times whether the other person really likes you or not even when dating. But you're not just dating one person, you're dating two people so of course they'd feel uneasy."

"I'm not dating two people. One is just my fiancée."

"Yes, yes."

"And how does someone who's never dated know that so well?"

"Who said I've never dated?"

Jo Ara looking back at Eunha who fell behind panting while climbing the hill.

She made a fierce face.

Unlike her, Eunha who was breathing evenly retorted as if it was obvious.

"There's no way you who are single-mindedly devoted to On Tae-yang have dated."

"...What is this. I'm strangely annoyed, but also strangely happy that you know me so well, I don't know if I should be happy or not."

"Just be happy."

"You're not trying to seduce me like this, are you?"

"Why are you suddenly like this? I'm someone with a girlfriend and fiancée."

"Hmph, someone who's two-timing has no reason not to three-time."

"I'm telling you I have no intention of doing that?"

"I think I understand why Ha-yang is anxious. I thought you might be interested in me because you know me too well."

Jo Ara slowly backs away.

Eunha let out a dry laugh seeing her fleeing as if sensing a life-threatening crisis.

Meanwhile, the corners of Jo Ara's mouth kept twitching.

Eunha who had already realized she was joking decided not to play along.

"More importantly, how much further do we have to go?"

"We're almost there. We're very close."

"Do you live here too?"

"...Why are you asking that? What are you going to use that information for?"

"Can't I just ask?"

"You're not..."

"No. I'm not. I'm telling you I'm not."

"I'm sorry but I'll refuse from my side. I hope you live happily with Ha-yang and your fiancée."

Jo Ara was really into her role.

Eunha sighed seeing her run away laughing brightly.

Anyway, they live in a really high place.

They climbed up terrain with layers of low stairs piled up.

He who somehow ended up playing rock-paper-scissors with her while climbing the stairs looked back at the path they came.

They had climbed quite high.

On Tae-yang's house was located in a considerably high place.

"—We're here."

"Is this it?"

"Yeah, this is it."

Time had passed before they knew it.

They arrived at On Tae-yang's house.

Eunha stood in front of the green-painted front gate.

As he stood there blankly, Jo Ara pressed the doorbell.

[—Yes, who is it?]

"Tae-hee, it's me."

[Huh? Unni?]

A young and delicate-sounding voice.

That was Eunha's impression hearing the voice of On Tae-yang's sister who was 4 years younger than him.

Are they living here alone with just their mother?

While Ara was saying something.

Eunha looked around the house surroundings.

It was quite isolated. Apparently the school Tae-hee attends is also somewhat far from home.

I don't know about during the day... but it must be scary to go alone at night.

There seemed to be some empty houses here and there too.

Eunha recalled the path they took to get here.

Just then—

[—Come in.]

On Tae-hee who seemed to be happily chatting with Jo Ara through the intercom soon opened the front gate.

☆

Of course it was kept secret from On Tae-yang.

It was obvious he would be furious if he heard Eunha was going to visit his house.

So, Jo Ara led this without On Tae-yang knowing.

...The house is a bit small.

Well, I guess it can't be helped.

There are two rooms.

One master bedroom and one small room.

Eunha looked around the room while On Tae-yang's younger sister On Tae-hee went to get drinks.

According to Jo Ara, until On Tae-yang entered the academy, On Tae-hee lived in the master bedroom with her mother.

Currently she's using a room that looks like an attic by herself.

"—Please have some."

"Thank you. I'll enjoy it."

A moment later.

On Tae-hee brought orange juice.

Eunha realized there wasn't much height difference between her and his younger sister No Eun-ae as he received the drink from her.

As a result, he felt strangely fond of her.

Her personality seems a bit like Eun-ae's too.

On Tae-hee's attitude is quite friendly.

Eunha quietly giggled recalling how On Tae-hee had happily welcomed him when they first met.

Her facial expressions were so varied then.

"Huh? Why are you like that?"

"It's nothing."

"Does the juice suit your taste? I made that juice for the first time..."

"Really? No wonder it's delicious."

"We have a lot at home, do you want to take a bottle later?"

"Is that okay? Then I'll take a bottle."

"Okay, I'll prepare it for you later!"

She's like that now too.

While Ara was exchanging recent news with On Tae-yang's mother.

On Tae-hee spoke to him beside him so he wouldn't be bored.

Honestly, she had a completely different personality from On Tae-yang.

She has no wariness towards people at all.

Even when she heard he was from Sirius Group, she just marveled and didn't seem to have preconceptions like On Tae-yang.

"—You're from Sirius Group..."

"Yes, hello."

And meanwhile.

Ara finished talking with On Tae-yang's mother.

The mother who had received some explanation beforehand raised her upper body with On Tae-hee's support.

"I'm sorry. I'm not feeling well so I can't properly entertain you."

"No, it's fine. And please speak comfortably, mother. I'm On Tae-yang... Tae-yang's friend."

"...Okay. Then I'll speak comfortably."

The illness On Tae-yang's mother was suffering from was mana depletion syndrome where mana escapes from the body.

In other words, it was an illness where life force was being depleted.

As if to prove that, On Tae-yang's mother looked lifeless and very gaunt at a glance.

"I didn't know Tae-yang had such a good friend. Is that child... doing well now?"

"Huh? Don't you get calls from Tae-yang? He told me he calls every weekend..."

"He does call every weekend... But it's just asking if anything happened at home. When I send a message, oppa always says he's busy and replies late. Eunha oppa, is academy life that busy? Too busy to even contact?"

"...It is busy. But not so busy you can't contact."

On Tae-yang's mother asks about her child's wellbeing.

Tae-hee grumbled that On Tae-yang doesn't contact well as if the topic came up at a good time.

"Tae-hee."

"But mom."

Afterwards, Tae-hee continued to complain that On Tae-yang is so busy he doesn't come home often.

As Eunha listened to what she was saying, it seemed like she was spilling everything out at this opportunity.

Eunha gave a bitter smile.

"Who said they wanted oppa to become a player... I'd be happy just living with mom and oppa..."

However, she didn't dislike On Tae-yang.

Affection for On Tae-yang was evident in her tone.

"I'm sorry... Was I too harsh?"

"It wasn't even about me. It's okay. It seems On Tae-yang hasn't been able to pay much attention to you."

"...Yes, that's right."

Then as if sensing Eunha's gaze.

She who had unconsciously revealed all her inner thoughts to Eunha blushed and lowered her head.

Eunha chuckled seeing her fidget in embarrassment.

It wasn't just him.

Her mother and Jo Ara burst out laughing too.

"But why did you want to meet separately today without coming with Tae-yang?"

The conversation deepened.

While Ara was continuing the conversation by bringing up the topic of On Tae-yang.

On Tae-yang's mother expressed doubt and asked Eunha.

On Tae-hee also seemed inwardly curious as she glanced sideways at Eunha.

To this, Eunha—

"—I heard from Ara and Tae-yang that mother was ill. As a friend, I wanted to help even a little. That's why I came to visit like this today."

The words flowed smoothly.

Eunha said the words he had prepared.

On Tae-yang's mother and On Tae-hee had already heard through Ara that they would receive sponsorship from Sirius Group.

So Eunha deliberately didn't mention the word sponsorship.

"Yes... I was so grateful when I heard Sirius Group would help us. Even without that, I felt bad for burdening Tae-hee, so it's a good thing."

"Mom, that talk again? When did you ever burden me?"

"But what I don't understand is why we can't tell Tae-yang about receiving sponsorship?"

Of course, that didn't mean On Tae-yang's mother was purely happy about receiving Sirius Group's sponsorship.

Even if Eunha declared himself to be On Tae-yang's friend.

From her perspective, suddenly hearing they would receive sponsorship must have felt uncomfortable.

There's no money without reason in this world.

"Are you perhaps trying to bind Tae-yang with the sponsorship..."

"That's not it."

"..."

"Truly purely... I just wanted to help as Tae-yang's friend."

"That's right. Eunha isn't like that."

On Tae-yang's mother is suspicious.

Though struggling with illness, she was wary as a mother whether her son was being led astray.

So Eunha quickly answered.

Jo Ara chimed in just then.

"—The reason we're asking not to tell Tae-yang is because he would surely refuse my goodwill if he knew."

"That's right. Tae-yang is prideful in this aspect, right?"

"...Is that true?"

"You can carefully check the clauses when signing the documents later."

This was also expected.

Eunha calmly continued speaking.

On Tae-yang's mother who heard she could check the documents later finally withdrew her suspicious gaze.

Eunha inwardly felt relieved.

Though he said it was goodwill in words—

—There's no lie like goodwill.

There's no such thing as goodwill in this world.

Of course there's no such thing as blind money either.

Eunha was not sponsoring them out of pure intentions.

Of course he didn't lie.

The contract will not impose any obligations on them.

However, the human heart—

—How can the human heart be at ease?

Can they really not feel indebted while receiving continuous sponsorship?

Moreover, if the elixir is completed.

On Tae-yang's mother will think of him as a lifesaver who treated her.

In that situation.

Could even On Tae-yang with his strong sense of responsibility completely ignore him?

Eunha could assert.

On Tae-yang absolutely cannot ignore him.

As long as On Tae-yang dearly cherishes and loves his family.

I just need to hold onto these people.

Then On Tae-yang won't be able to escape my grasp.

Now it's fine whether I bring On Tae-yang into the party or not.

If he can't smoothly operate the party, I'll just sponsor On Tae-yang to create his own force separately without bringing him into the party.

What Eunha needed from him was the gift <Brave > after all.

"—Thank you. Really... thank you."

"Come on, I told you to speak comfortably?"

This is truly another strategy.

On Tae-yang's mother thanks him with tears in her eyes.

Eunha waved his hands.

☆

Quite some time had passed.

It was almost evening.

Eunha was thinking he should get up soon.

"—I have a lot to be sorry for to Tae-yang."

On Tae-hee brought a family photo.

On Tae-hee in her mother's arms, On Tae-yang clinging to her legs.

And On Tae-yang's father.

On Tae-yang's mother touched the photo and gave a bitter smile.

"This is something Tae-yang doesn't know. So... I hope you won't tell Tae-yang either."

Thanks to Jo Ara's help.

Eunha was able to implant the perception in On Tae-yang's mother that he was On Tae-yang's closest friend.

Moreover, he got along very well with On Tae-hee.

Perhaps because of that, On Tae-yang's mother brought up a story she said she had kept in her heart until now.

"—How should I describe Tae-yang's father, well... he was a meddlesome person."

"""..."""

"It's the first time I'm telling Tae-hee too, but all this time I said Tae-yang's father worked at YH Sugar..."

 On Tae-yang's mother opens her mouth.

The three people couldn't join in the story she was confessing as if admitting a sin.

Eunha checked the expressions of Ara and On Tae-hee sitting on either side of him.

The two's faces were slowly hardening as they listened to her story.

This is a completely different story from what I heard from Ara.

Eunha maintained his composure at least.

Originally, all he knew about On Tae-yang's past was what he briefly heard from Ara on the way here.

So he could easily accept it even if the story was wrong.

"Then mom... was the reason dad died not what I knew?"

"No. What you know is correct, Tae-hee. I just said, didn't I? He, Tae-yang's father was meddlesome."

On Tae-hee asks as if arguing.

On Tae-yang's mother smiles sadly.

Eunha organized the situation while listening to her story.

A meddlesome person...

Listening to the story, it does seem that way.

On Tae-yang's father was working at YH Sugar while alive.

Then he joined the labor union and demanded wage negotiations, but got into a fight with thugs and unfortunately passed away.

It was all a lie.

"It's true that Tae-yang's father was angry at YH Sugar's injustice. But he never worked at YH Sugar."

On Tae-yang's father had only moved between construction sites his whole life, she says.

But he had such an excessive sense of justice that he couldn't stand seeing injustice and constantly intervened in others' affairs.

That was also why he joined YH Sugar's labor union, she says.

Then his identity was discovered and he was chased out.

"""..."""

He was completely drunk that day.

Then he got into a fight with thugs and lost his life just like that.

It was a shameful death.

"Tae-yang was very young then... But what could I say to that child who loved him?"

On Tae-yang followed his father very well from a young age, she says.

He admired his father.

So On Tae-yang questioned his father's absence.

His mother says she made up lies to protect his innocence.

That his father lived and died as a hero endlessly fighting against injustice.

She beautified the past.

"But now... I can't tell Tae-yang the truth. He probably wouldn't believe it anyway."

In fact, On Tae-yang's father didn't spend much time with On Tae-yang, she says.

On Tae-yang's father was often out.

So On Tae-yang rarely talked with his father, and even when he saw his father, he only saw his back, she says.

In the end, the father On Tae-yang remembers—

—Was nothing more than an illusion.

His father's back.

The father his mother talked about.

On Tae-yang ultimately created an illusion of his father through the given information.

He firmly believed that was real.

And that led to the current On Tae-yang.

"The reason I'm telling you this now Tae-hee is because I think you've grown up now. I'm sorry for not telling you until now."

"...It's okay. I'm okay, mom."

On Tae-yang's mother says.

On Tae-hee approaches her bed and hugs her tightly.

Then she cries.

She repeatedly says sorry while patting her daughter's back.

"—So I have a request for you."

She who had been comforting On Tae-hee for a while.

She separates On Tae-hee from her embrace and bows her head to Ara and Eunha.

"Please continue to be good friends with Tae-yang in the future."

""..."" 

"I'll ask like this too."

The atmosphere became solemn.

Eunha and Ara couldn't say anything on the spot.

They just nodded.

Nevertheless, one thing Eunha realized was—

—So in the end, the <Braver > I knew wasn't a hero.

Not a hero who saved the country or anything.

<Braver > On Tae-yang was nothing more than an immature boy trapped in the illusion of a father he created.

Eunha realized again how delusional his thoughts about <Braver > had been.

"..."

There were no heroes in the world.

There are only things wearing the mask of a hero.

Nevertheless, he longed for a hero to appear who would drive away the calamity that would someday loom.

However, that hero's name will no longer be called <Braver >.