Episode 202
A few days later, the day I promised with Yoo Ha-on finally came.
I went to the meeting place and met her, and immediately gave the words I had in my head first.
“Your father didn’t officially work under his name. That’s why not many people have the information.”
“that… … .”
It’s probably not a very unfamiliar story.
At the time of the Baekgwi Nights incident, a monument commemorating those who died without even knowing their names was erected right in the middle of Seoul Plaza.
Of course, the cases were slightly different, but Yoo Baek was one of them.
“So if you want to follow the trail, you’ll have to think of another route.”
Recalling the memories of the original, I gave hints to Yoo Ha-on as much as possible and guided her to the correct answer.
From here on, she has to figure it out herself.
“… If that’s the case, there’s a place to point out a little.”
Before long, the place we headed to was the former nursery school where Yoo Ha-on had been before adoption. However, it has already disappeared and has been turned into a park frequented by local residents.
“Actually, I don’t really remember that time.”
They were adopted at such a young age, and the environment itself was so poor that it seemed that there was nothing to think about.
But, nevertheless, she had a reason to come here.
“I remember the lady who lived over the fence next door as vividly as she did.”
Among the many children, the person who cherished and favored Yoo Ha-on most of the time.
“At first I thought he was just a good person, but now that I think about it… … .”
There is something uncomfortable. At least, he seemed to feel that way.
And it was, to be sure, the correct answer.
‘It was probably mentioned in the original.’
As Yoo Ha-on carefully knocked on the door, an old woman with whitish hair appeared.
And she glanced at Yoo Ha-on, who had become a full-fledged girl, and made a complicated expression as if she recognized her identity at a glance.
A truly bizarre expression of joy and sorrow coexist. Perhaps the reason will be revealed by now.
“… It’s been a long time. Come on in.”
It was as if he knew that Yoo Ha-on would come one day.
At that, Yoo Ha-on followed behind her, unable to hide her trembling eyes.
After he sat down in the prepared seat, the first person to open his mouth was Yoo Ha-on.
“Do you remember me?”
“then. Of course I remember Even though his appearance has changed, he can clearly recognize it as much as his eyes.”
As if recalling memories, the old woman gave a bitter glance for a moment and picked up the teacup.
“So, is there something else you want to ask?”
“… Yes. I have some doubts about it. Maybe Grandma knows something about my past?”
In fact, looking at the old woman’s reaction, the truth was already clear.
As the pre-determined question appeared, she slowly began to unravel the words she had kept inside.
“I can’t know. I was the one who entrusted you here as a baby.”
“then… … .”
“okay. I know who your parents are.”
Yoo Ha-on hesitated for a moment, shaking his hands. Then, as soon as he had made up his mind, he opened his mouth again and said.
“Please tell us. I don’t want to live without knowing about them anymore.”
“… … .”
At that resolute will, the old man nodded his head and handed him a small business card.
“It is not difficult to simply say the name, but I have heard only fragmentary information. If you really want to know everything, go to the owner of this business card.”
“this person is… … ?”
“He is the one who asked me to take care of you and was a close friend of your parents. Maybe he could tell you everything you wanted to know.”
Yellow River product, fingerprint stone.
It was the name of the man on the business card the old woman gave him.
***
‘Did you reach the fingerprint stone like this?’
I nodded my head inwardly, grasping the end of the matter.
The meeting with the old woman was only revealed as Yoo Ha-on’s recollection in the original, so I didn’t know the details either.
So we found the Gyeonggi branch of the Yellow River Products, and we went straight into the building, held out our business cards, and spoke to the staff at the desk.
“I want to meet this person… … .”
“Oh that. Yes. Could you please wait a moment?”
As it was the name of the person at the top of this branch, the staff was quite embarrassed and began to contact the upper level in a hurry.
However, the answer that came soon after was a categorical denial.
“sorry. The branch manager says he doesn’t know anything.”
“yes?”
If you put the words in properly, there’s no way you wouldn’t know Yoo Ha-on’s identity.
In other words, this had to be seen as the euphemistic meaning of refusal with the intention of the fingerprint himself.
“… Do you not want to meet me?”
“It seems so.”
As it happened later in the original story, Yoo Ha-on made full use of his position and attacked Fingerprint Seok’s office with an almost right-of-way.
However, Yoo Ha-on is just an academy cadet. Of course, the same method cannot be implemented.
So I decided to ask for special help at this point.
tik.
Turrr.
“How have you been?”
[Oh, is it you? of course you’ve been fine Because of you, I am booming day by day, how can I be worried?]
He was Hwang Jin-cheol, a big hand in the magic industry, who previously traded simple barrier stones with me.
In fact, in this case, the performance of the simple barrier was great, so Hwang Jin-cheol has also gained tremendous fame and support.
It was only natural that his mood reached its peak.
“Sorry for the sudden, but I need a little help.”
[Just say anything. If it were you, there would be no reason to refuse.]
And this Yellow River Product is a company under the control of none other than Hwang Jin-cheol.
With a single word from him, it was not difficult to meet one branch manager.
After finishing the business and cutting off contact, a few minutes later, an employee who received a call from the superior spoke to me with a pale and tired face.
“Gee, the branch manager told me to bring you two. You can come this way.”
So, following the guidance of the staff, we took the elevator and walked for a while.
What immediately unfolded before my eyes was the entrance to the office made of high-quality materials.
rattle.
profit.
At the desk of the office that entered the front office, a wrinkled middle-aged man sat with his chin in dissatisfaction.
Soon, a hoarse voice that was different from what it looked like came out of his mouth.
“It’s such a mess, there’s nothing that can be resolved. What else did you do with that raccoon-like old man?”
“I am sorry for not being polite.”
“done. Also, ability is ability. That bastard made a good friend.”
Unsurprisingly, Fingerprint Seok was already aware of what happened to Yoo Ha-on. Knowing that, he refused.
In other words, it was also consistent with the fact that it was up to Yoo Ha-on himself to draw his story from here.
“… Do you know my parents?”
“Then don’t you know? He was my best friend.”
“I have to know about them. I’m sorry, but I won’t step out of here until you tell me.”
Yoo Ha-on held the pulpit as if he had made a firm decision.
It was so clear that the words were sincere, so Fingerprint Seok grabbed his forehead and shook his head as if in pain.
“It’s my freedom to say it or not, is that what you, the young blue child, decide?”
“I don’t force it. I will wait until you make your choice.”
“Have you ever seen a goal-slacker like this, that’s called coercion!”
Even if it wasn’t, as if he was having a fairly busy day, Fingerprint Seok couldn’t hide his impatience.
Soon after, Yoo Ha-on pulled up a chair with an indifferent expression and sat down, and at last, fingerprint-seok opened his mouth with a sigh.
“No matter how hard I try, I cannot speak. No, I will not tell you.”
“… Why?”
“Because a promise with my friend is more important than an ignorant gnome like you.”
At first glance, these words may sound cold, but it seems that he cares for Yoo Ha-on quite a bit.
It’s just that he values the promise he made with Yu Baek, who was close to him.
“… Did he want me to break all ties and live as a completely separate human being?”
“Then you must have done such a ridiculous thing.”
“Still, I don’t want to do that.”
There was no one here who could not understand his feelings.
But nevertheless, the attitude of fingerprint-seok was firm.
So, Yoo Ha-on opened his mouth again.
“Did you say you made a promise with your father?”
“okay.”
“Then I will make a promise.”
“What?”
After arranging his breathing for a while, Ha-on Yoo continued to speak with infinitely clear eyes.
“Even if you don’t speak up here today, I will find the truth in one way or another.”
“… … .”
“There may be information that is distorted, and content that is not true. But I will believe it straight up.”
“what… … .”
“Are you really okay with that? Even if I live and die while drawing a fantasy of the two of them, believing that what is not true is the truth?”
It was a very transparent, very sincere appeal.
Fingerprint Seok’s attitude, who was like his counterpart, also began to shake a little.
“I can’t do that. It’s better to die knowing nothing than to live with a lie in your arms for the rest of your life. If I don’t hear the truth today, I’ll just drop out of the academy. And I’m going to marry a very naughty person, uh, I’m not going to build a grave for the two of you in my lifetime… … .”
“Stop, stop. It is now.”
At Yoo Ha-on’s declaration, who gradually began to fall into the three thousand-poo, Fingerprint Seok waved his hand as if defeated.
“It’s just like that guy who doesn’t really listen. I lost.”
“then… … .”
“okay. I’m going to tell you everything I know. Hey.”
Yoo Ha-on’s expression brightened at the words of fingerprint-seok.
Seeing the two of them like that, I turned my feet and headed towards the door.
“Then I will be out for a while.”
“No, you too, come and listen together.”
The moment Yoo Ha-on was about to say something, it was fingerprint-seok who unexpectedly spoke first.
When he asked the reason with his gaze, he gave the answer with a meaningful expression.
“If you’ve come this far, isn’t it that you’ve already seen everything you want to see? There is nothing wrong with having at least one person with whom you can share your concerns.”
Fingerprint Seok must have already noticed who I was through the phone call with Hwang Jin-cheol.
In other words, he was hoping that I, a rising rookie, would be more involved in the situation and become Yoo Ha-on’s strength.
Although the intention was clearly visible, there was nothing that couldn’t close my eyes.
Fingerprint Seok, who sat us down like that, finally opened his heavy mouth.
“… Your father, Yu Baek, was simply not a person of this age.”
At those words, Haon Yu’s eyes grew as wide as a candle.