Side Story 1: That Day - Na Jeon-Il

Side Story 1: That Day - Na Jeon-Il

Na Jeon-Il could not hear anything. Not only the surprised exclamation from his wife beside her but also the noise from the television faded away in an instant. Only the face of his son displayed on the television caught his attention.

He had been desperately waiting to hear news of his son from the Final Stage. Moreover, ever since the day he found his son’s will, he had been so anxious that he could not sleep at all. However, he was now seeing his son from the television unexpectedly. Furthermore, his son was referring to himself as Odin.

“I am Odin. I am your Odin. I announce it to everyone. You are all safe now. Led by me, Odin, and followed by Mary, Jonathan, Joshua, Kwon Seong-Il and Lee Tae-Han...”

While he stared at the television with an absent-minded look, his wife, Mi-Hee, trembled with both hands clenched. She called out to her sister in place of her husband, who did not respond to her.

“Unnie. Unnie[1].”

It was not just her husband who was completely absorbed in the image of their son on the television. Her sister and brother-in-law were also looking at the television, holding their breath. Mi-Hee almost cried out.

“That is our Seon-Hu, right? I am not seeing it wrong, right? Seon-Hu is right there...”

She was asking everyone. Then, her sister finally answered not with words, but by embracing her.

That was when it started. All of their phones started ringing. Na Jeon-Il looked at his phone with a blank stare. It was a call from his third sister-in-law. He had not heard from her in a long time since his mother-in-law had passed away. It seemed that the calls coming into the other three were also from relatives who presumably recognized Seon-Hu’s mature face on the screen.

Until then, Na Jeon-Il’s mind was still in total chaos, but he soon came back to reality. The figure who had been hidden behind the veil all along was his son. He had been revered as a leader by the Awakened, and such a being was now revealed to the world.

He was his son, Seon-Hu.

My boy...

***

Just like usual...

What was needed the most now was to act as he did normally. He had to suppress the surging excitement and even the chills coming from beyond. Over-excitement would only belittle his son’s achievements. If he felt chills like the crowds did, it would make his son feel very uncomfortable, hindering him from coming back home.

He should not have let that happen as a father!

“Do not take any calls.”

Although his sister-in-law and her husband were older than him, he was the head of his family.

“Seon-Hu will call us. Our son Seon-Hu!”

“Yes, you are right.”

His wife and the in-laws began to turn off their phones as they could not stand Na Jeon-Il’s glances. The only phone left on was Na Jeon-Il’s. Even then, his phone was ringing with calls from their relatives.

He completely ignored them all and found a contact on his phone. An individual with the highest social status he could contact at the moment was the current Jeonil Bank President. Through him he could be connected to the Blue House[2] easily. Rêađ latest chapters on no/v/e/l(b)in(.)com

However, communication, which was working just moments ago, was now cut off. More precisely, it seemed the entire communication network was paralyzed.

<I am sorry. There is a delay due to high call volume. Please try again later. I am sorry. There is...>

“It... It is an honor...truly an honor to greet you...this way... I serve him. I was once known as Lee Young in my civilian days...”

Meanwhile, the family thought Na Jeon-Il was overreacting. It turned out the woman upstairs was one of the Awakened that Seon-Hu had placed long ago for their protection. Despite that, Na Jeon-Il did not trust her and kept the door shut.

“If what you are saying is true, then please protect us from there. I am sorry, but please.”

Na Jeon-Il remained on guard and brought the phone closer to his ear. Finally, the contact he had been waiting for a while connected.

<Hello?>

<It’s me. You must be very confused, but thank you for answering.>

<He declared an end to it. Oh my... How can this be...>

Na Jeon-Il could tell that the situation was a mess over the phone.

<You were the first person who came to my mind, so I called you. Let me ask you a favor. There is a matter that needs to reach the Sangchoonjae.>

Sangchoonjae was one of the buildings in the Blue House, and it was a euphemism indicating a matter that required a covert unofficial meeting.

<I would have helped if it was a regular day, but given the situation now... You know what I mean. I will contact you as soon as things settle down.>

The hard-earned call was on the brink of being disconnected.

<No, no. Please wait. Please don’t hang up.>

Na Jeon-Il hesitated for a moment. However, now that his son had publicly revealed himself and delivered his speech, it was easy for people to identify him and his wife. At this very moment, news about his son was spreading through those who remembered him. It was a matter of time, and the entire humanity would know of his identity.

And more importantly, the man whom he was calling was someone he could trust. If he had no faith in him, then he would have never succeeded his position to him.

Na Jeon-Il said with determination.

<My son Seon-Hu is Odin.>

After saying it out loud, Na Jeon-Il truly felt shivers running up his spine and spreading throughout his body. It was as overwhelming as the shock when he realized that his son was the Odin who saved the world.

My son... My Seon-Hu... The thought that his son was the Odin rang in his mind and tears welled up in his eyes.

<My son Seon-Hu...>

As he mentioned his son’s name for the second time, tears flowed from his eyes. It was hot tears of excitement. It was indeed the pride that a father could never hold back.

<...is Odin...>

My son Seon-Hu is Odin.

Yes, what else was needed beyond that?

1. How females call their older sisters or close female friends who are older than them. ????

2. The executive office and official residence of the South Korean president. ????