At this hour?
It was when Taesu tilted his head in confusion.
This time, a familiar man's voice was heard.
— We talked about everything at home. So what are you doing coming all the way here?
This was Gang Yeonghun's voice.
If so, it seemed Gang Yeonghun and his wife had come to visit a patient at this early hour.
They might have lost sleep over the Songhui matter as well.
It was around the time he had guessed that far.
Songhui's mother's cold voice was heard again.
— You said it yourself. If something goes wrong……. Hoo. Songhui is only eleven now. If something goes wrong, how is that child supposed to live?
— I said let's talk at home.
— What is there to talk about at home? Hyungnim, do you think hyungnim can be trusted?
Gang Songhui's mother called out to someone.
That form of address had an intensely Korean feel to it.
Soon, as if responding to that address, someone's slightly awkward voice was heard.
— I……. I……. have nothing to say.
The moment he heard that voice, Taesu's eyes gleamed slightly.
'Changgyu's mother?'
He had heard that both her body and heart were troubled. And she was the only person who could be guessed to be with those two at this hour.
As if confirming that thought, Gang Yeonghun's scolding voice rang out immediately.
— Why are you making things difficult for your sister-in-law?
— Why are you like this, hyungnim……. I'm asking what hyungnim thinks.
The two argued over I Changgyu's mother.
Then, I Changgyu's loud voice was heard.
— Uncle, auntie. Please stop.
— Ahem. I'm sorry.
Gang Yeonghun's apology was heard.
But Gang Songhui's mother's voice grew even sharper.
— Changgyu, what do you mean by that? I'm sorry to do this in front of you when you're sick…….
— Auntie. May I tell you what I think?
— Go ahead.
It was a voice of reluctant consent.
And inside the tent, it grew quiet to hear I Changgyu's words.
The same went for Taesu, who had his ear pressed to the tent. He wasn't the type to enjoy eavesdropping, but he was curious about what I Changgyu would say.
"…….."
While Taesu was listening intently like that.
Soon, I Changgyu's voice was heard.
— I think Songhui……. should be allowed to receive surgery from those people.
— Hey, Changgyu. We heard it together. How can you say something like that?
— I'm not just saying this for no reason.
I Changgyu's voice was firm.
Then, Gang Songhui's mother's slightly softened voice was heard.
— No, Changgyu. This seems like something the adults should talk about among themselves.
— I'm an adult too.
— Yes. You are. But this matter is…….
Gang Songhui's mother spoke as if gently rebuking, and yet seemingly respectful. But anyone listening could feel she was trying to persuade a child.
Perhaps sensing that too, I Changgyu cut straight to the point.
— Auntie, you know I like and cherish Songhui as much as a blood sibling, right?
— Of course. I know that.
— And I think of you, auntie and uncle, as my little mother and little father. No, you are such people.
— Yes. We are one family. So…….
The moment Gang Songhui's mother was about to add something, I Changgyu spoke a beat faster.
— So let Songhui receive surgery from those people.
— Changgyu, this isn't something you can so easily…….
— You said we're family. I'm Songhui's oppa, would I suggest this if something bad would happen?
— Th……. that wouldn't be the case.
Gang Songhui's mother answered with forced reluctance.
As if he had been waiting for those words, I Changgyu quickly continued.
— I personally received surgery from those doctors.
— I heard that.
— When I opened my eyes again, it wasn't the village but a place I had never seen in my life. Uncle was there, but it was unfamiliar and scary.
He was referring to when I Changgyu woke up at the NGO headquarters.
Gang Songhui's mother nodded with composure, perhaps because she had heard the gist of it before.
— Th, that must have been the case.
— There were so many foreigners. But those people said something to me. Right, uncle?
I Changgyu brought in Gang Yeonghun, who had interpreted for him at that time.
Having listened up to that point, Taesu made a strange expression.
'Hmm.'
From here on out, he had been busy elsewhere, so this was something Taesu did not know about either.
It was then.
A small voice was heard from right behind him.
"What kind of talk is he building up so much groundwork for?"
"It's not some drama. Damn, that kid's really mastered the divine art of cutting off dialogue."
Startled by the sudden voice, Taesu flinched.
Swish.
When he turned around, before he knew it, Gim Hyeokgwon and Jeong Minsu were pressing their ears tight against the tent in identical postures.
"Hup……. Hoooo."
As Taesu tried to calm his startled heart.
Perhaps because that breath was a bit loud, Gim Hyeokgwon and Jeong Minsu both brought their fingers to their lips.
"Shh."
"Quiet."
It meant there was nothing good about being caught eavesdropping.
Taesu felt the same way.
Still, he didn't forget to glance sideways at the two who had appeared without a sound.
"……."
That was all he could communicate with just his eyes.
Ssh.
Curious about the conversation inside the tent, Taesu too leaned his ear in again.
Soon, Gang Yeonghun's heavy answering voice was heard.
— Those words……. Is it okay to say them?
— I'll just say it. They said it was a miracle I was alive.
— Yes. They did.
— They said waking up without problems like this would be less than one in ten.
Because it was his own experience, I Changgyu could speak more strongly.
But there was also someone whose heart was torn by those words.
— Hiccup, heuu…….
— Mom, don't cry. I'm right here. I've gotten better like this.
— U, uung. Sniff.
The suppressed sobbing of I Changgyu's mother was heard.
For whatever reason, that sound weighed heavily on the hearts of those who heard it.
That included Taesu, Jeong Minsu, and Gim Hyeokgwon.
"…….."
"…….."
Outside the tent, only a heavy silence flowed.
The same was true inside the tent.
But from I Changgyu, a low voice was heard, as if he had been waiting for that silence.
— Those doctors are the ones who achieved that one in ten.
— Hmm.
— Honestly, every time I see them, I feel sorry. I'm so grateful, I'm thankful……. yet I can't even say those words.
— …….
No answer came from inside the tent.
To the point where it felt like I Changgyu was alone.
That moment of silence was brief.
I Changgyu spoke again.
— I don't know why we have to avoid those doctors.
— …….
— That's why I'm grateful, truly thankful, yet I can't say anything.
— That……. Hoo, I'm sorry.
A heavy heart could be felt in Gang Yeonghun's apologetic voice.
But perhaps that wasn't what I Changgyu wanted to say, as he immediately changed to different words.
— It's fine. You said you'd tell me someday.
— Ahem. Yes.
— So there's one thing I want to say.
When I Changgyu cut his words sharply, Gang Songhui's mother asked cautiously.
— What is it?
— Songhui will be fine too.
— Still, what if…….
Gang Songhui's mother still seemed worried.
I Changgyu answered that part short and decisive.
— I will take responsibility for her my whole life. And if there are kids who tease Songhui, I'll take care of them all.
— Changgyu.
— That's how much I trust our doctors.
I Changgyu's voice was resolute.
The three people listening were also surprised at that part.
"Changgyu?"
"That kid. He should have said something."
Taesu and Jeong Minsu nagged for no reason.
Still, calm smiles formed at the corners of their mouths.
Then Gim Hyeokgwon gave a cue.
"The conversation seems to be ending."
"Withdraw."
Rustle.
They quickly began moving away from the infirmary tent.
Soon, Gang Yeonghun's clear voice was heard from the other side of the tent.
"Take care going back with my sister-in-law."
Already?
They hadn't been able to get far enough yet.
They might have been caught eavesdropping.
It was a crisis as cold as the weather from early morning.
It was then.
Flash.
Taesu's eyes glinted.
At the same time, he quickly turned around and called out to Gim Hyeokgwon and Jeong Minsu.
"Minsu, Mr. Hyeokgwon."
"What. Why are we stopping?"
"I said let's go check on Changgyu's progress."
At Taesu's answer, Gim Hyeokgwon glanced at him with a dumbfounded expression.
"You want to openly advertise it too?"
"We've already moved this far away."
"What kind of sense does that……. Huh? It actually makes sense."
Gim Hyeokgwon's words, which had been about to argue, suddenly did a 180.
Looking at it this way, they were quite a distance from the infirmary tent.
If they walked slowly like this, they would naturally run into them.
"Oho."
"Iya."
Seeing the two people's reactions, Taesu subtly jerked his chin.
"Shall we go then?"
Thud, thud.
Taesu headed back toward the infirmary tent with a leisurely gait, as if on purpose.
The two also walked side by side with him.
It wasn't long after.
Women moving away from the infirmary tent were visible.
But they too seemed curious about this direction and glanced back.
At that moment, their gazes met.
At the same time, a woman with a cute feel similar to Gang Songhui reacted first.
"Oh my. Hyungnim, hurry."
"Yes. Ah, okay."
Clack, clack, clack.
The women moved away with quick steps, as if chased by something.
Their blatantly avoidant attitude left a bitter taste.
But it was then.
Feeling something strange, Taesu spoke in a low voice.
"Wait a moment."
"Hmm?"
"Huh?"
The two also hesitated, as if they had seen the same thing.
Among the women who had been hurrying away, I Changgyu's mother had stopped in her place.
Her clothes were shabby, and her body was frail.
Her gait was also slightly unbalanced.
It was quite a distance, far enough that only her overall appearance could be made out.
Suddenly, I Changgyu's mother hesitated.
That hesitation was brief, and she bowed her head deeply toward them.
Dip.
Calling it a 90-degree bow would have been rude.
It was so deep and respectful that her waist was visible over the crown of her head.
"……."
Not a single word of greeting was spoken.
But her actions alone were enough.
Everything I Changgyu's mother wanted to say was contained within that respectful bow.
After the women's figures disappeared.
Taesu alternated looking at the two standing on either side of him and spoke.
"We were greeted."
"Indeed. She's thanking us."
Jeong Minsu seemed bewildered, as if he hadn't expected it.
The same went for Gim Hyeokgwon.
He started with words he didn't mean in his own unique way of speaking.
"Damn it, this means we have to take even better care of Changgyu."
"Since we're at it, let's double his meals."
"Are you trying to burst the kid's stomach right away?"
"No. It needs to be an amount he absolutely can't eat alone, so that neither of them goes hungry."
Taesu spoke with conviction.
Both immediately understood what he meant.
"Ah, so that's why his vital increase was so small……."
"And he was sharing that too? This kid should have just asked for more, tsk."
Gim Hyeokgwon's irritation was through the roof.
But Taesu and Jeong Minsu naturally accepted that reaction.
Because it was irritation directed at himself for not having been able to pay attention to that part, since I Changgyu had said it was his past.
But then.
Taesu spoke with a heavy face.
"Let's check on Changgyu's progress quickly, eat, and then prepare for surgery immediately."
"Hmm?"
"I think it'll start before noon. Just a hunch."
After finishing his words, Taesu's gaze was fixed on the empty mountain path.