Chapter 77
***
Sakamoto Ryusuke had recently been through something unpleasant.
The person who had been his bodyguard since high school and taught him what women were was actually someone sent by a cult.
He had eloped with her, but they were caught before long and forcibly separated.
His first love had crumbled.
Perhaps that was why?
He had grown cynical about everything in the world, and everything had turned negative.
To him, his grandfather—
the Japanese tycoon Sakamoto Ryuichi—spoke firmly.
-I raised you too gently. It can't be helped. Go out and experience how frightening the world is.
And so began his life as an international student in Korea.
It was called studying abroad, but aside from tuition, he had been sent to Korea with only enough money to last about a month.
The one fortunate thing was that he wasn't unintelligent, and he spoke Korean as fluently as a local.
Thus began his life in Korea.
To earn money right away, he chose a part-time job.
"Welcome~!"
As Korea's popularity around the world had recently risen, Myeongdong was one of the places many tourists visited.
Accordingly, Korean, Chinese, English, and Japanese—
being fluent in all four languages was a major advantage.
That was why, among his many part-time options, he chose to work in customer service at the Olive Young in Myeongdong.
Responding to customers in their respective languages and recommending good products to them.
That was his first job in his life.
"Whew... This is hard..."
That was how his working life began.
It took only about a month for him to realize.
His grandfather had been right.
The world was cold and cruel.
Within his grandfather's protection, everyone had been kind to him, but the moment he took even one step outside it, society was frighteningly harsh.
Customers who threw things at employees working part-time.
People who lost their tempers as they pleased.
There were also plenty of foreigners who stubbornly insisted on doing things their country's way.
Watching them.
And experiencing them, he gradually came to understand the world.
It was during those difficult days.
that he met an angel.
Difficult customers did not discriminate by nationality.
A woman who gently smiled and handed him a canned coffee as he sat crouched down, exhausted after dealing with difficult Japanese customers.
A woman who continued to visit from time to time and smile warmly at him.
After they had met several times at Olive Young, when he awkwardly introduced himself, she blushingly told him her name.
Yang Hye-jeong.
A new love lodged in his heart.
It was summer.
***
After checking Ryusuke's past, I chuckled.
He's genuine. This guy.
There's no need to worry.
"How has Mr. Ryuichi been lately?"
"Uh... Well, he was doing fine until I came to Korea..."
"Really? I should visit him sometime. But you're working part-time at the Olive Young in Myeongdong. How is it? Is it manageable?"
"It's not easy... But I have to earn money for living expenses."
His grandfather paid his tuition, at least, but he had to earn all his other living expenses himself.
That was why he had started a part-time job that made use of his language skills.
"With credentials like yours, aren't there plenty of better part-time jobs? Tutoring, or working at an academy... You graduated from the University of Tokyo, after all."
"Yes. But there aren't any openings there right now..."
Ah.
Can't be helped if there are no openings.
There had been a few positions available, but judging by the reviews, the owner was supposedly trash, or the students he would have to teach were supposedly hopeless.
"The place I'm working now let me start the quickest, and it suited my current situation best."
"Oh-ho."
"Thanks to it, I've been able to earn enough for my living expenses. Well, I plan to move if a better job comes up later. I took this job under a contract I can quit at any time..."
Anyway, this guy's identity is definitely legitimate.
There was no way the only grandson of one of Japan's most renowned tycoons could be a loafer.
On top of that, although the honey trap had left him distrustful of people, meeting Yang Hye-jeong was curing him of it.
There was nothing particularly problematic about him.
The problem was the woman sitting here.
How should I explain this...
I sipped my coffee and opened my mouth in front of the couple gazing passionately at each other.
"Mr. Ryusuke."
"Yes?"
"Please step outside for a moment."
"Huh? Why me..."
"I have something to discuss with her privately."
"...Am I not allowed to hear it?"
When I, a man who knew other people's pasts and futures, said we should talk alone, Ryusuke's expression hardened.
He clasped Yang Hye-jeong's hand tightly.
"It's not that serious, but it's not something you'd be glad to hear either. Do you still want to hear it?
Ryusuke thought for a moment, then nodded.
Yang Hye-jeong also seemed to want Ryusuke to stay beside her.
They were a couple who trusted each other...
"I'm fine with Ryusuke hearing it too. We'll overcome anything together."
"That isn't the wisest decision..."
"It's all right. The two of us will always be together."
Huh.
What a tearjerker of a love story.
They were saying this much, so I might as well tell them.
"Ms. Yang Hye-jeong. Ryusuke's birthday is in four days, so you're preparing a surprise party, aren't you?"
"What?!"
"Huh?!"
The two of them were flustered.
Ryusuke was shocked, while Yang Hye-jeong was horrified.
They hadn't expected it to be this sort of thing.
But what could I do?
I'd already said it.
"It seems you're planning to prepare a meal yourself for Ryusuke. Don't cook it yourself."
"....Wh-why?"
"You said the only dish you confidently know how to make is ramen, yet you're suddenly attempting an advanced French dish... Even if Ryusuke will eat just about anything, he won't be able to appreciate the philosophy behind your cooking, Ms. Yang Hye-jeong."
.......
"Just because you follow a YouTube recipe doesn't mean it'll turn out well. You'd hate for all your hard work to end with your boyfriend getting food poisoning and ruining his birthday, wouldn't you?"
"...Sigh. I-if that's true..."
Yes, it was true, so wouldn't it be better for everyone's sake to give up on that plan?
Yang Hye-jeong looked at Ryusuke apologetically.
"I wanted to cook for you... but apparently I'll fail..."
"Mm-hmm. No. I'm satisfied just knowing you tried."
"I'll practice more on my own until people say it's delicious no matter who eats it. Then I'll make it for you."
They were really in the sweetest part of their relationship.
I watched them warmly.
Good. Then it seemed our business was finished.
"Um... Teacher?"
Yang Hye-jeong spoke cautiously.
Then she hurriedly tried to open her bag.
"What are you doing?"
"I-I have to give you a divination fee."
"Your father already said he would take care of that."
"Even so..."
"If you're offering, I won't refuse."
I quietly accepted the bundle of checks from her wallet.
Ryusuke, who had been gazing at them, asked cautiously.
"Mr. Kang Noah."
"Yes."
"Did you tell my grandfather about what happened to me last time?"
"Yes."
"....Thank you. Thanks to you..."
"I only did it after getting what I was owed anyway, so don't worry about it too much. Oh, and you haven't told your grandfather that you're dating Ms. Yang Hye-jeong, have you?"
"Yes..."
"Do you hate your grandfather?"
"I did at first... but I don't anymore."
Ryusuke muttered weakly.
His grandfather had forced him to part with the woman he loved.
On top of that, he had ended up coming to Korea as though he had been driven into exile.
At first he had hated his grandfather, but through living in society and meeting Yang Hye-jeong, he now knew that everything he had believed was wrong.
"Then call your grandfather."
.......
"You got angry with him when you came to Korea and said you'd never see him again, didn't you?"
"...He must be very angry, right?"
"Right? But he's just as worried about you."
Ryusuke did not answer me.
.
.
After Ryusuke and Yang Hye-jeong left, evening came.
I was in the middle of hunting in a dungeon when I got a call.
"Hello?"
-Mr. Kang!!!
"Oh, Old Man Ryuichi. How have you been? Did you get your grandson's call?"
-Yes! Yes!
The old man's voice on the other end of the phone was thick with tears.
A torrent of rapid words followed.
He had reconciled with his grandson.
He said he would come meet me with his girlfriend soon.
And he apologized, too.
While listening to a story that was half sniffling and half sobbing, I killed the boss, listed the unique item on the auction house, and said,
"I'm glad to hear it."
-It's all, all thanks to you, Teacher...!! How can I ever repay this kindness...!!
"You'll have a chance to repay me someday."
-Instead of this, why don't I come meet you right away and treat you to a meal...
"It's all right."
-Sigh... Then at least let me help with your business...
"My business... Ah. You mean the one I'm doing with President Hong?"
The Japanese business I had received from Kim Seok-chun.
He said he would help the company that Hong Si-yeon was currently running so well on her own.
Well, they say what's good is good, so I would gratefully accept what he was offering.
After ending my call with Old Man Ryuichi, I went back into the dungeon, killed the boss, and came out, only to receive another call.
It was Hong Si-yeon.
-Noah! I just heard from Old Man Sakamoto. He says he's going to make a huge investment in your company! It's called an investment, but he's practically just giving you the money... What happened?
"Yes. Well, you see..."
When I told her what had happened today, Hong Si-yeon was impressed.
-Wow... So that's how the connection continued...
"I know."
-Oh, right. That's not why I called you.
"Huh? Then what is it?"
-My grandmother wants to meet you, Noah... Are you free?
Hong Si-yeon's grandmother.
She was supposed to be a big shot in the private lending industry, right?
"Certainly."
Well, there shouldn't be any problem.
.
.
.
"Would you consider becoming my adopted son?"
That was the first thing Hong Si-yeon's grandmother said as soon as she saw me.