The Returnee Wants to Live Comfortably

Chapter 166 : As Expected, People Don't Change Easily (2)

As Expected, People Don't Change Easily (2)With the appearance of Choi Seungjin, the atmosphere brightened completely.

It was a reunion between a student who once received defense and the lawyer who defended him.

The fact that they hugged each other suggested they had maintained a good relationship after the legal case.

Of course, the brightness existed only between those two.

"I'm glad to see you've been well, Seungcheol."

"Yes, dad..."

The juvenile named Seungcheol trembled when Choi Seungjin called him.

They seemed to be father and son, but Seungcheol instinctively seemed to reject his father.

Compared to the brightness on Song Minseok's side, Seungcheol's expression was excessively gloomy.

"But Seungcheol, why do you look like that? Is there a ghost clinging to me or something?"

"N-no..."

"Seungcheol. I let you work in the blacksmith guild just as you wanted. Originally, I considered hiring a private tutor for you, but I respected your wishes, in my own way. So why the long face?"

"..."

The more his father spoke, the heavier Seungcheol's lips became.

He was so tense, his lips were almost paralyzed, and he just rolled his eyes about.

Watching this, I could easily tell.

It was the instinctive fear one feels toward a parent.

"Counselor. There's no need to push him too much. Seungcheol is quite talented."

"Really?"

"Not as much as me, but he can craft equipment by himself in no time. Considering he's still just a high school student, that's impressive. The performance might be questionable, though."

Ah, so he was a high school student.

I regretted using informal language earlier when I called him "that kid".

"And right now, Seungcheol has received a solo request."

"What?"

Upon hearing that, Choi Seungjin turned his head toward me and Eunseol.

He seemed to realize we were the clients but wore a suspicious look.

"Hmm... You two don't look like hunters."

"He's a student from Hand. He needed some simple equipment for his practicum, apparently."

"So that was it. But Hand, huh..."

Choi Seungjin, having uttered the word "Hand", glanced at his son.

Seungcheol's shoulders flinched again at the word.

I suspected he regretted that his son hadn't been admitted to Hand.

"By the way, counselor. Did you come here today to see your son?"

"Ah, right! Actually, I have a commission for you two."

Almost forgetting, Choi Seungjin pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Song Minseok.

Song Minseok opened it and quickly grasped Choi Seungjin's intention.

"You want me to make this brooch?"

"An event is coming up soon. A lot of people I'm connected to will gather there. I need to make a good impression."

"Of course, I'll make it for you."

"How long will it take?"

"Around three days should be enough. For the lawyer who changed my life, I can do anything."

Song Minseok and Choi Seungjin exchanged a friendly handshake.

Oddly enough, it felt more like a father and son moment between those two.

"How are the others doing?"

"The others? They've adjusted well to society too."

"I feel like it was just yesterday we all wore school uniforms. I'd love to see them again."

Just the mention of school uniforms showed he meant his old school friends.

But considering Song Minseok had been a delinquent juvenile, the others were likely not "normal" friends either.

"If you want, I can set up a meeting."

"Really?"

"There's a congressional inauguration ceremony coming up soon."

"Counselor—! I mean, should I call you Congressman now?"

"Haha! Just call me whatever feels comfortable."

Even after hearing this good news about his father, Seungcheol still looked depressed.

"But by the way..."

At that moment, Choi Seungjin turned his eyes to Sang-gun, whom Eunseol was holding.

As soon as his eyes met the dog's, he grimaced.

"From now on, dogs are not allowed in this guild."

"Why all of a sudden?"

"There have been plenty of stores whose exhibition items got damaged by dogs causing trouble. It's advice for your own good."

"Okay. Take care."

"Sure. See you next time."

Choi Seungjin suddenly poured out scorn toward Sang-gun.

Then, he strolled out of the guild.

—Hrr?

Sang-gun tilted his head, as if asking what that was about.

He seemed to have some negative memory of dogs, but there seemed to be a separate issue with that man.

"Seongjin. That lawyer just now looked so dark for an instant. Like... like a criminal in a detective comic."

Eunseol said in a trembling voice.

She was sharing her impression of Choi Seungjin's aura.

"You thought he looked that dark?"

"Yeah."

"I felt the same."

"And that man, actually..."

Eunseol cast her gaze at the withdrawn Seungcheol.

"He kind of seems similar to me."

"Like you're seeing your own kind?"

"Yeah."

Since his last name was Choi, his name must be Choi Seungcheol.

It seemed Choi Seungcheol had simply met the wrong father in life.

But more than that, there was something else about him that bothered me.

"Excuse me... There's something I'd like to ask."

To figure it out, I had to briefly persuade Song Minseok.

****

"We're departing."

"Alright."

Choi Seungjin, having left the Vajra Guild, got into the car.

His private secretary in the driver's seat started the engine.

The secretary glanced at the back seat and asked,

"Is this the guild started by one of those juveniles you once defended?"

"That's right. He was really rough back then but he's turned into a completely different person."

That was Song Minseok, now the leader of the Vajra Guild.

Back in the second year of high school, he'd caused trouble everywhere just because he'd lost his chance to get into Hand.

He'd been such a delinquent, constantly picking on weaker students.

Things escalated, leading to a disciplinary hearing and later even a judgment hearing.

Song Minseok, coming from a poor background, was at risk of being expelled...

But Choi Seungjin, appearing as a human-rights lawyer, had protected him.

"There are no bad children in this world. Their childhood environment shapes who they become."

Thanks to Choi Seungjin's intervention, Song Minseok got his punishment reduced to a suspension.

At the time, Song Minseok sincerely apologized to his victims, even shaking their hands as a sign of reconciliation.

It was the very image of true rehabilitation.

"You're right. People who grow up in slums are often portrayed as delinquents."

"That's true. People always assume that those who grow up in poverty turn bad. I hate that stereotype."

If your resume isn't impressive, you can't find work.

With no way to make money, you end up pickpocketing.

With no chance for proper education, you can't think like a normal person.

Having lived in such inescapable circumstances, you almost inevitably become twisted.

—Let me ask you this.

Is the reason a child goes wrong really the child's fault?

"It wasn't just me... Even a friend of mine experienced that kind of childhood."

As a student, Choi Seungjin had struggled to escape that weakness.

He and his then-friend even staged protests to fight against unfair laws.

In the end, their efforts paid off and the law was amended as they'd wished, giving them great satisfaction.

A first accomplishment.

It would remain in their hearts forever.

That's why, even now, recalling those times fills him with emotion.

And yet...

'Ma Jun-sang, that bastard...'

He had met that friend recently.

Even after all these years, his friend's eyes toward him were full of contempt.

The guy was walking a completely different path.

'He grew up poor just like I did.'

Children don't go astray by choice.

There are more chances for them to live with kindness if given the opportunity.

But Ma Jun-sang had become the ruthless prosecutor standing in the way of that path.

After digging into his background lately, it seemed he'd only gotten harsher with time.

'It's really the pitiful people who pay the price.'

If a child isn't given a chance, they're forced to live under society's constant scorn.

Beaten down by people around them, some kids end up spiraling out of control.

Denying chances and calling only for punishment is foolish.

How is that any different from a cowardly jackal, which only sniffs and bites at the weak?

"Did you see that recent movie 'The Kindhearted Gangster'?"

"I did."

"The main character really reminded me of you, counselor."

It was a blockbusting hit that recently passed ten million admissions.

The movie is about a protagonist born into poverty who fights to survive.

After serving time in jail, he starts a company and becomes its CEO at the end.

A tale of surviving a tough upbringing and winning at life.

Maybe Ma Jun-sang should see it and have a change of heart.

'Wait, that kid at the Vajra Guild earlier...'

The boy who was with the girl with wings.

Something about his face seemed familiar.

Just as something clicked, a vibration came from his pocket.

"This is Choi Seungjin."

-...

"Yes, everything is progressing smoothly."

As he started the call, Choi Seungjin's expression brightened.

"Hahaha, I too am honored by your sacredness."

They were the people supporting him from behind, so he could only respond happily.

****

"That's over, then."

Ma Jun-sang, resting at home, was killing time watching a movie on TV.

The recently released 'The Kindhearted Gangster', which passed ten million viewers, was now available on demand.

Having watched the end credits, he understood why it had become so popular.

"It was fun, but..."

Its release timing was ill-fated.

It felt as if the film depicted the life of a former friend.

That friend was now about to be sworn in as a congressman.

Since people identified with the movie, they were bound to keep sympathizing with that friend's philosophy, which worried him.

"I'm home."

Just then, the front door opened and his son's voice echoed in.

With his wife out and his daughter still at the academy, Ma Jun-sang was happy that Seongjin had returned.

"Hello..."

Next to Seongjin was a friend.

Unlike the girls he usually hung out with, this time it was a boy.

That friend offered a polite greeting the moment he saw Ma Jun-sang.

"A friend?"

"Not really a friend. He's a hyung I just got to know. Seungcheol hyung, come in."

"Seungcheol?"

The name sounded familiar.

And the face also seemed familiar.

Having occasionally investigated his old friend's situation, he realized who he was.

He was that friend's son.

****

Choi Seungcheol, coming into our house, carefully sat on the sofa.

He bowed his head to the father sitting opposite him.

He showed not a hint of confidence.

Still, there was a reason I'd let Choi Seungcheol into our home.

'It's mainly about equipment making.'

His magic power was weak, but his talent couldn't be underestimated.

His equipment made with low-rank materials surpassed gear crafted from higher-rank materials.

Others tended to judge by materials alone, but my eyes, which could appraise in various ways, had never been wrong.

'What a strange talent.'

Plus, what Eunseol had said was also curious.

Hadn't she said he was the same type as her?

Maybe it meant he had also suffered a tough childhood.

But what if she meant something else?

To distinguish that, there was someone I needed to call on specially.

"Errand-boy, come on!"

I secretly clapped in my room and summoned someone.

Someone appeared ghost-like from behind.

"You called?"

He spoke in a ghostly tone, then removed the mask covering his face.

He was none other than Jay Hoon, leader of the Sura guild, whom I'd made into my 'tool'.

His other name was Jade, a demigod.

His heart had stopped, so he wasn't alive—but he wasn't exactly dead, either.

Having lost all hope and even his soul consumed, he'd become my eternal tool.

The reason I kept him around was that he still had his uses.

"You inherited the blood of those guys, so your eyes should be the same as theirs, right?"

"Yes."

"Then, check out that kid over there."

As always, Jade's voice sounded lifeless.

At my command, he quietly cracked the door and looked in on Choi Seungcheol.

"How interesting."

A glimmer of curiosity flashed across his lifeless face.

"I've never seen a 'vessel of the gods' like that before."

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

I can't understand why Seungjin is so harsh to his son, but considerate to other people...

【「(°ヘ°)?】