I Will Save the World and Retire Chapter 290

Things to do (3)

“… … That’s what happened. Do you understand?”

“… … .”

Kang Tae-woo remained quiet for quite some time.

I left him alone to collect his thoughts without saying anything more. Kang Tae-woo blinked his eyes a few times and then lowered them. Kang Tae-woo, who had been staring at his hands on his knees for a while, finally opened his mouth as if he had collected his thoughts.

“Sohee is safe.”

“okay.”

“So where is Sohee staying now?”

Rather than worrying about his own future, Kang Tae-woo first checked on his younger brother.

Is it a complacent mindset that everything will work out somehow? Or is it that such a vague future is out of reach?

Without even having to guess the complicated details, you can’t help but worry when your little brother gets thrown into the middle of a dungeon break. Even if you hear that he’s safe, you’ll want to check on him several times to see if he’s doing well.

Fortunately, the hunters from Daseon who came to me told me in detail about how the child was doing. I’m not sure if Kang Tae-woo wanted to know, but they also told me about the other children that Gamble and Hope had stolen.

“I’m staying here for a while due to an identity issue before I can enter the US. I’d like to be able to make a phone call if possible, but….”

Even though Hong Seok-young grumbles that I am putting off work, I know myself now. It was no use trying to deny it. It would be even worse if I did not know about various things, even if it was not about the children.

Yeah, I feel bad.

Why not me?

Back in the days of the management office, if you brought me something that wasn’t under my jurisdiction, I would have naturally said, “What should I do?” But isn’t this under my jurisdiction? Since Hong Seok-young put the guild hat on me, it’s under my jurisdiction. It’s my job. If that’s the case, I should know. That way, if something happens, I can respond immediately.

“I said no just in case. No, it’s okay. I can understand that. It’s better to be careful.”

Kang Tae-woo answered much more calmly than I expected.

“You said there were no injuries?”

“Yeah. I’m worried, but….”

“… … .”

Kang Tae-woo slightly avoided my eyes. Hmm. I looked at Kang Tae-woo. Just now, something… .

“That… There are other kids besides Sohee. What about them? Will they be okay too?”

“… … .”

I slightly frowned. Well, it was natural for Kang Tae-woo to be curious or worried.

Other children are also watching from the other side. Fortunately, no additional dungeon breaks or unidentified monsters appear around the children.

As Hope had initially expected, Henry Lehman must have targeted only one person. No matter how much I think about it, the feathered serpent was definitely aiming for Hope. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have appeared at that time and place as if it had fallen from the sky. Hope will be able to hear more when she wakes up.

“The other kids….”

Kang Tae-woo is quietly waiting for my answer. His hands are on his knees, his body is slightly leaning towards me. However, his eyes are not meeting mine, and he is looking down.

A model student who is trusted by researchers.

“… … .”

I paused for a moment. I thought I wouldn’t press him for an answer, but Kang Tae-woo was still waiting for me to speak. Should I really call him a model student?

I raised my finger and tapped my knee. I could see Kang Tae-woo tense up as I moved.

I stopped because I felt like I was bothering the kid for no reason.

Anyway, Sohee, that child is from the research institute. The reason they targeted that child was probably to threaten Noah Michelle that they would tell him if they got into trouble.

Well, that would have been useless since both Hope and Sohee were considered dead. It’s easy to blame dead people for everything that goes wrong. It’s hard to hold dead people accountable.

First, I gave the answer to Kang Tae-woo.

“The other kids are safe too.”

“That’s fortunate.”

Kang Tae-woo paused for a moment before opening his mouth again. This time, he was looking straight into my eyes.

I thought maybe this was what they really wanted to ask.

“That monster too… Are they the ones that came to this hunter’s pension before?”

For a moment, I couldn’t understand what Kang Tae-woo was asking.

But soon I could recall the excuse I had given to the kids. I was sure that the criminal organization Hong Seok-young was chasing had done something or other.

It’s not a completely wrong explanation. I shouldn’t explain it in too much detail, but this much is okay. If an emergency were to occur, it would be better for at least one person to know how things would work out.

I nodded.

“Yeah. And they’re connected to the lab.”

“……yes.”

Kang Tae-woo wasn’t that surprised by what I added. Since Woo I-rok was there… Kang Tae-woo would have guessed.

“… … .”

Kang Tae-woo was silent again.

But that’s why Kang Tae-woo’s actions became more and more obvious. It’s probably because I’m the one who sees it. If it were Kim Chae-min, I would have completely overlooked it and let it slide, and if it were Lee Mi-sun, I would have felt a little uncomfortable, but I wouldn’t have really known what it was.

If it were Hong Seok-young, he would have known nothing like Kim Chae-min, or he would have pretended not to know even though he clearly noticed everything.

I used to think it was the former, but now I know. My father must have known everything I did. I can’t imagine that quick-witted old man didn’t know.

I’ve never heard anyone say that I’m oblivious to anything… but the fact that I immediately noticed Kang Tae-woo’s actions had nothing to do with being oblivious.

I just knew because I once acted like Kang Tae-woo.

“Just now.”

Kang Tae-woo spoke in a cautious voice. His voice was locked, and his fingers held his clothes tightly and then released them as if he was nervous.

“Just now, what the teacher was talking about… Where Sohee and I will be staying, stuff like that.”

“… It’s okay if you don’t answer now. I’m not trying to burden you, and the teacher has prepared some solutions.”

“No. Well, that is… .”

Kang Tae-woo hesitated for a moment and then said.

“I… I like it.”

“I guess it’s good?”

“Yes. Well, we are minors. It is true that having a legal guardian or guardian will help us in our future lives.”

Kang Tae-woo added hesitantly.

“I can stay in the dorm, but Sohee is still young.”

Although he hesitated to open his mouth, it was clear what he wanted to say, as if he had thought about it beforehand.

Kang Tae-woo steadily observed my complexion.

“You know, you were at the research lab too, sir. And Irok is there too.”

“… … .”

“I… I know it might sound too hypocritical to say this, but I want to have at least some kind of solid fence.”

That’s not a lie. It’s something that humans naturally want.

“Because my mom couldn’t do that.”

Instead of Kang Tae-woo, a second-year high school student who hangs out with kids his age and makes pointless jokes, the third test subject from the ‘River of Promise’ research lab is speaking.

Number 3 spoke in a tone that sounded like a self-abandoned adult, like when he used to give medicine to whining children every morning.

“I don’t want Sohee to experience that. It’s already too late, but at least a little bit more…”

Researchers who were able to start their mornings quietly thanks to No. 3’s help would sometimes activate their consciences that they normally didn’t have. No. 3 would take note of things and on days like that, he would sneak up on the researchers and start a conversation.

‘Because there are so many pills, the kids have a hard time taking them as soon as they open their eyes in the morning… Could you possibly give them something like candy after they take their medicine? I think that would help calm them down a bit.’

It’s nothing special.

I’m not asking for anything great.

But in the lab, a few candies were a big deal, unless you were in a position where you could openly beg for candy like me by rolling around on the floor.

Perhaps it is a kind of survival skill that No. 3, Kang Tae-woo, learned to survive while taking care of his younger brother at the research institute.

Not afraid to put themselves in a vulnerable position for their own benefit. Desperate to elicit sympathy from adults.

But even though I noticed it clearly, I didn’t say anything.

“… So, I’m okay, even if it’s Sohee.”

This is because I could feel the child’s true feelings that he could not hide. No matter how mature a child is, no matter how clever he is, in the end, there is a childlike side to him.

I know best what kind of life Kang Tae-woo lived, not anyone else.

Kang Tae-woo, who was ridiculed as someone who had no self-respect and only bowed down to adults when I was young, now that I am an adult, he seems like a desperate child struggling to survive.

…ah.

Now I’m in a position to help these kids.

Just like my father reached out to me.

I also want someone….

widely.

I lightly flicked my finger on Kang Tae-woo’s forehead, which was gradually lowering. The sound was loud, but it didn’t hurt. Kang Tae-woo also looked at me with his eyes wide open.

“If I only wanted to help your little brother, I wouldn’t have brought you here in the first place.”

“… At that time, the teacher didn’t even know that his younger brother was alive.”

“Oh, that’s what you say.”

Still, Kang Tae-woo’s eyes are alive. He has gained enough confidence to be able to challenge me without being scared by my criticism.

You might be thinking that if things get tough, you can just hold your little brother’s hand and run to Seungyeon Lee.

“Don’t overthink it. The teacher said so. I’m not trying to burden you.”

“… … .”

“I’ll do my best to make arrangements so that you and your brother can live together… Do you understand?”

Kang Tae-woo’s eyes waver. He says he wants to have a strong fence, but he is afraid of the fence.

That’s why they’re young.

“answer.”

“…yes.”

Well, what can I do? This too needs to be fixed one by one.

While I was thinking about Seungyeon Lee, I spoke to Taewoo Kang just in case.

“I don’t think so.”

“yes?”

“If any of you kids try to sneak out of school without telling the adults, you have to tell the teachers right away. Do you understand?”

“… … .”

“It’s still dangerous. Especially you. They might be targeting someone from the lab.”

“Yes, got it.”

“Especially don’t go out secretly like Seungyeon Lee did last year.”

“At that time… .”

Kang Tae-woo blushed slightly and looked embarrassed. It seemed like this might be the first and last time he would go astray in his life.

Still, Kang Tae-woo quickly spoke with a serious face. It seemed like an attempt to change the subject, but it worked quite well.

“… Then, teacher, is Irok okay?”

* * *

In front of the mother taekwondo gym.

Perhaps because it was the time when the children were going home, the area in front of the Taekwondo gym was filled with elementary school students gathered in groups of three or five.

A man who had been peeking at the children near a telephone pole seemed to have discovered something and quickly approached a group of children.

“… …Jeongmin? Is it Jeongmin?”

A fleshy body. A baggy suit. Glasses roughly held in place with a broken leg and taped up.

The children’s wariness increased at the suspicious-looking appearance.

“Who are you, sir?”

“Jeongmin isn’t here. Go away!”

“I told you Jeongmin isn’t here!!”

Despite the children’s answers, the man reached out and grabbed one child’s wrist tightly.

“No… It’s Jeongmin. Right, right? Jeongmin! Don’t you remember the director? The director treated you so well!”

Wooirok’s face was completely wrinkled.

Fantasy, contemporary,