Just then, Kim Hyeokgwon showed his doubt with a solemn expression.
“You said you hated and despised it so much, yet you taught the children speech and writing.”
“Because we are people of the Republic of Korea.”
“That doesn’t really add up—”
Snap.
Just as Kim Hyeokgwon was speaking, a hand blocked him.
It was neither Taesu’s nor Jeong Minsu’s.
It was Brad Kim’s hand.
“The Korea the elder is speaking of is not a country.”
“Then is it North Korea?”
“No. It is the true Korea these people wanted to reclaim. Not the Korea where turncoats run rampant.”
“I… I suppose so.”
Kim Hyeokgwon, who had been protesting, faltered and admitted it.
As if Brad Kim’s interpretation was exactly right, Elder Jeon nodded.
“That’s right. Those words are exactly correct.”
“So that’s why you said they were people who belonged neither to Korea nor China.”
“You still remember that?”
“It was rather shocking.”
Taesu’s hand was clenched tight as he answered.
The more he chewed it over, the more anger boiled up inside him.
And it wasn’t only Taesu.
Jeong Minsu, Kim Hyeokgwon, and Brad Kim were trembling with surging rage as well.
Putting everything else aside, they were furious that young children had been forced to endure a journey across China just to survive.
And toward those who had instigated them into driving the children into the jaws of death, they could only grind their teeth.
Grit.
No matter how he thought about it, his anger would not subside.
Then Elder Jeon gave a smile that was both bitter and sorrowful.
“Heh. I suppose I really have grown old.”
“Why would you suddenly say that?”
“Even after telling this story, I no longer feel angry.”
Elder Jeon spoke calmly, but Taesu did not think so.
“No. I think it’s that you no longer give it your attention.”
“Is that so?”
“You’re exhausted.”
“That may be right.”
Elder Jeon did not particularly deny it.
At his reaction, everyone’s chest throbbed.
It was difficult even to imagine how empty Elder Jeon’s heart must be.
Then Taesu, who had been turning it over in his mind, carefully opened his mouth.
“I don’t know if it would be rude to say this to you, elder.”
“Don’t put on airs. Just say it.”
“Even after liberation, countless crises came.”
“Mm.”
Elder Jeon did not know what he was talking about and merely looked at him solemnly.
Since it was not a sharp reaction, Taesu was able to continue.
“Each time, people united and overcame them.”
“What is it you want to say?”
“That the spirit of liberation you elders held is still being carried on.”
Taesu calmly finished speaking.
Jeong Minsu added a word to that.
“There are probably still problems now. And there won’t be none in the future either.”
“And?”
“Little by little, the wrongs of the past are being corrected. If that continues, the people here may also be able to go to Korea…”
Just as Jeong Minsu was about to continue.
Swoosh.
Elder Jeon raised his hand and cut him off.
“I know what you want to say. But even if we were to go to Korea now, what would change?”
“Pardon?”
“For us, it would only be an extension of moving to another place.”
“But… even so, you want to go to Korea, don’t you?”
Jeong Minsu forced the words out, as if in protest.
Elder Jeon smiled warmly with an understanding expression.
“Perhaps if it were only to have a look once.”
“Why? There are children too, and it could be far better than here.”
“A change in one’s life is not as easy as words make it sound.”
After Elder Jeon repeated that, Taesu stood on Elder Jeon’s side and stopped Jeong Minsu.
“Dr. Jeong. I think you should stop.”
“You shouldn’t be standing on that side.”
“Then did you come here easily? And did you adapt all at once?”
At Taesu’s question, Jeong Minsu flinched.
“N-no, I didn’t.”
“Their position is very different from ours. I think forcing it on them would be wrong.”
As Taesu admonished him, Brad Kim agreed.
“That’s right. I couldn’t adapt when I immigrated to America either. In the end, I never fully adapted, and now I’m wandering around outside like this.”
“That’s true.”
“It’s right to respect what the people here think more.”
“……”
Nod.
In the end, Jeong Minsu showed with a nod that he understood.
Even so, it seemed some regret remained in one corner of his heart.
In truth, Taesu felt the same.
‘You think you’re the only one whose blood is boiling? Mine is too.’
He muttered inwardly and only gave him a look.
Even so, he had no choice but to take the opposite stance from Jeong Minsu.
Because he could not offer any solution right away.
That was what enraged him.
It seemed not only Taesu, but everyone else felt the same.
Before they knew it, a deep silence had settled over the table.
A little later.
Creak.
The hospital door opened, and Elder Jeon came outside and said,
“It was something that would be known someday, so I told you first, but it seems I disturbed your peace of mind.”
“To be honest, I am very angry. But on the other hand, I’m also relieved that my questions have been answered.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Every time I spoke with the villagers, it kept bothering me. There were times when conversation didn’t go smoothly either.”
“Now that we know each other, there should be nothing to watch our tongues over.”
When Elder Jeon understood, Taesu also gave a bitter smile.
“That’s right. I think we’ll be able to speak a little more lightly now.”
“If so, that’s a relief.”
“Thank you for telling us something difficult.”
Bow.
Taesu and everyone who had come out with him lowered their heads.
Elder Jeon looked at them and smiled softly.
“Why are you bowing so many times?”
“We should when we ought to.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Settle your hearts and rest.”
“Will you really be all right going alone?”
Taesu showed concern because the night road was dark.
Elder Jeon, on the contrary, looked dumbfounded.
“It’s a road I walk every day. Who would be receiving whose help?”
“That is true, but still.”
“No need. Then I’ve had the tea well. Ahem!”
Turning around, Elder Jeon gave a loud cough and walked away at a leisurely pace.
Bow.
Everyone lowered their heads in farewell once more.
Then they stood still and watched him recede.
At that moment, Elder Jeon’s voice, carrying a sorrowful melody, came to them.
“Brother, sister, where is our hometown? They say the red mountains and rivers were once green—where might that place be…”
It was a song they had never heard before.
The grief of being hunted in those days had melted into the lyrics exactly as it was.
And yet, it called the Republic of Korea their hometown.
There was no resentment in it.
Even though he had lived his entire life being chased, his longing for the Republic of Korea had remained unchanged.
That must have been his true heart.
Soon, Elder Jeon’s singing faded away.
And yet the song he had heard just once seemed to keep lingering in his ears.
For a long while, everyone stood there like that, each lost in their own thoughts.
Early the next morning.
Taesu, Jeong Minsu, and Kim Hyeokgwon were in a place other than the house.
Before them stood burial mounds.
Among them, they were bowing before the largest mound.
It was Elder Wang’s grave.
After finishing their bows, the three lowered themselves side by side.
Their eyes were hollow, making it clear that they had slept poorly.
Then Kim Hyeokgwon calmly offered a greeting.
“Are you doing well? As for us, well, we’re getting by.”
There was no way a grave would answer.
At that moment, Taesu beside him gave a faint smile.
“He may be cursing you up a storm for speaking so impolitely.”
“Let him curse. I can’t hear him anyway.”
“That’s true. No matter how much we speak, we can’t hear an answer.”
Taesu spoke with a bitter expression.
At that, Kim Hyeokgwon grumbled even more.
“Chit. Does it feel refreshing, leaving after hiding it so tightly?”
“Why did you show Taesu the Taegeukgi? If you were going to keep it a secret, you should have pretended not to know until the end.”
Jeong Minsu also added a complaint.
Taesu, on the other hand, only quietly looked at the grave.
What would it have been like if he had heard it from Elder Wang?
That thought suddenly came to him.
But even so, nothing would have changed.
Perhaps he might not have wanted to remember at all.
Because Elder Wang had been the leader who guided the children at the time. He had been young too, so it must have been unbearably hard for him to shoulder all of that.
Then it was possible that he had not wanted to remember.
Taesu looked at the grave like that and thought over various things alone.
As each of them was thinking of Elder Wang for a while.
Rustle, rustle.
The sound of footsteps approaching them could be heard.
When they looked that way, they saw Elder Jo approaching, supported by Namgung Hyeoncheol.
They looked so affectionate that one could believe Namgung Hyeoncheol, not Jo Jeongmin, was his grandson.
Elder Jo nodded as he looked at Taesu and the other two.
It seemed he was pleased that they had come to visit Elder Wang so early.
Then he asked in a low voice,
“They say eldest brother told you everything last night?”
“Yes. We heard it all.”
“Has the frustration gone down a little?”
“That has gone down, but anger has taken its place.”
At Taesu’s answer, Elder Jo gave a bitter smile.
“There’s no need for that. We didn’t tell you so you’d worry about it.”
“……”
“And it wasn’t because Hyeoncheol told us to tell you either. I have no intention of telling those Korean bastards who came yesterday.”
When he added that, Kim Hyeokgwon asked,
“You mean you only told us?”
“Is it something good to go announcing all over the village?”
“Then why did you tell us?”
“Because I was tired of everyone pretending not to know while knowing.”
At Elder Jo’s words, everyone faltered.
Then Taesu asked carefully,
“You knew?”
“When you ask in such minute detail every time you treat us, what fool wouldn’t know?”
“That was strictly to determine the direction of treatment…”
“There you go talking back again. Tsk!”
When Elder Jo cut him off, Taesu protested with an aggrieved expression.
“Why do you only do that to me?”
“If you’re dissatisfied, you should have been born earlier.”
“It’s not as if I can be born before my own parents.”
“…Does it work out that way?”
The moment Elder Jo faltered, Namgung Hyeoncheol subtly stepped in.
“I’ve had some experience with Dr. Choi, and he’s just saying things.”
“Is that right?”
“Still, he’s not a bad fellow, so please look kindly on him.”
“If Hyeoncheol says so, then I should. Ahem. Dr. Choi.”
Even the way Elder Jo addressed him had changed.
At that reaction, Taesu grumbled with an absurd expression.
“This is a bit hurtful. I operated on Jeongmin, and I looked after your health, elder, and did all sorts of things… Wow.”
“If you feel wronged, become my friend’s grandson.”
“I told you, that isn’t something I can decide.”
Taesu showed his hurt feelings to the fullest.
Kim Hyeokgwon and Jeong Minsu also added their own comments.
“Come on, this is a little much.”
“You’re favoring him too much.”
The more they did, the more tightly Elder Jo held Namgung Hyeoncheol’s hand.
“You’re old enough to know better, yet you’re getting jealous.”
“Whoa.”
“Stop saying strange things and move aside already. Our Hyeoncheol needs to pay his respects.”
It was not merely words.
He even came closer while glaring at them.
Taesu and the other two smacked their lips bitterly and stepped aside.
“We were about to go down anyway.”
“A very wise thought.”
“Yes. Then please pay your respects. Hyeoncheol, it must be nice to be so adored.”
At Taesu’s lingering, resentful words, Namgung Hyeoncheol showed his own sense of injustice.
“Why do I have to be stuck in the middle, reading the room?”
“It can’t be helped, even if you feel wronged.”
“Haha.”
“I’m sure you can laugh. Then we’ll be going down.”
Swoosh.
Taesu and the other two turned around first.