The Hero
Volume 7 – Disjunction
Chapter 17
"The words that I just said were the words that my undutiful child used to say. Quite absurd, isn"t it? What reason is there if no one recognizes you. Either way, low ranking Heroes don"t get much honor anyways. Money isn"t that great for a job that"s so dangerous, and if you look at it realistically, it"s an occupation that holds no merit. Yet, for this son of mine, being a Hero………"
"However, he held true to the things he said. He liked it even if n.o.body gave him any recognition. It"s stupid, just like you said. However, there"s one thing that your wrong about."
Haneul lifted his head.
With wet and lonely eyes, she spoke.
"You said that there wasn"t any person like that in the world. However, he was that type of person. The person you came to look for, and the one who is my son. And, the person who was saved by such a person, was you."
Haneul clenched his teeth.
"I"m……….sorry."
"Don"t apologize. I know that you realize this as well. It"s weight that the living has to carry on with."
She walked closer to Black Walker"s grave and placed a flower on it.
"I think the way that I"ve been thinking has been wrong. I had thought that the only thing that this child had left me was this tiny grave, but I realized that he"s left much more. You and many of the people he had saved is also here."
The water that had gathered on Haneul"s eyes began to drop.
What can he say to Black Walker"s mother right now. All he could do for now was to drop his head and walk away.
"For me! My son"s name is HyunShik Choi, not some bizarre name like Black Walker. I would have been happy with whatever HyunShik would have done, as long as he continued to live."
Crunch.
Haneul"s footsteps stopped.
"What I"m trying to say is……..I don"t resent you. Although it"s weird to say that there is absolutely no resentment, it"s the truth. I just want to ask you for a favor. If you think that your life right now is time that was given to you, because of HyunShik……then do not live life so carelessly. Please."
Haneul stopped his tears from dropping.
The civilian that had been saved by Black Walker had now become a Hero.
Haneul turned his head, and within his eyes, a strong light could be seen.
"Betting with my life, I will make this promise with you in front of Black Walker. I will never give up, even if death surrounds me."
As Haneul was walking out from the National Cemetery, his eyes were filled with a determined resolution. Somewhere deep within him, he had declared that he would not waver any longer.
He will never sully Black Walker"s name.
No, he was going to make Black Walker"s name renowned throughout the whole world.
Haneul"s path was now set. He was going to let everyone know how much of an amazing Hero Black Walker was, and let them know who had received his strong will.
On the way back home.
Haneul called JoonYoung"s number that he had received today.
JoonYoung was Haneul"s closest friend in life.
At least in World A.
When he had heard the news of JoonYoung"s death in junior high, Haneul had received a huge shock. He did not go to school and had locked himself inside of his house for an entire week. That was the first time that Haneul had realized how vain, futile, and scary death was.
"But, what exactly am I antic.i.p.ating right now?"
The JoonYoung from this world must have lived a different life from his current memories, which meant that, this Joonyoung was someone that Haneul did not know.
Either way, Haneul could not stop himself from wanting to meet and talk with his friend.
The phone stopped ringing.
"h.e.l.lo."
Chapter 17 Completed.