Chapter 83: It’s Okay, Ahjussi Will Take Care of Everything

“Just wait here for a moment.”

Sang-woong sat Kim Junsu down at the Table and headed into the kitchen.

He took out some special cooking ingredients from his inventory, making sure Kim Junsu couldn’t see.

It was none other than ‘Slow-roasted Samgyeopsal’.

Slow-roasted Samgyeopsal was one of Sang-woong’s secret dishes, slow-cooked at a low temperature for hours until the outside was perfectly crispy and the inside was as moist and tender as pudding.

Sang-woong himself liked it, but Leon was especially crazy about it, so even though it took a long time, he’d make it often.

“Oh, right! I never asked your name.”

Sang-woong came out of the kitchen and asked Kim Junsu.

“Kim Junsu.”

“Junsu? Your name is as nice as your face. Would you like to come sit at this bar Table? Watching the cooking is even more fun.”

Sang-woong gestured for him to come to the bar Table.

Kim Junsu, still looking awkward, shuffled over and sat at the bar Table.

“I told you I prepared something special for you, right? This is it.”

Sang-woong brought over a large wooden tray topped with an irresistible slab of roasted Samgyeopsal.

The overwhelming size and golden color of the whole Samgyeopsal dish made Kim Junsu gasp in awe—he’d never seen anything like it.

“Looks good, right? The sound is incredible too.”

With a sharp knife, Sang-woong gently tapped the crackly roasted skin. A satisfyingly crisp sound echoed through the restaurant.

Skillfully, Sang-woong sliced the slow-roasted Samgyeopsal into perfect, bite-sized pieces.

Each time the knife slid through, that crisp sound made one’s mouth water.

Kim Junsu swallowed hard, completely focused on the sound and aroma.

The rich, savory scent of pork tingled at the tip of his nose.

Between the slits of the crispy skin, the moist, glistening meat peeked out, looking incredibly appetizing.

Sang-woong plated the neatly sliced pieces and placed them in front of Kim Junsu.

“Here, try it.”

“Th-thank you…”

Kim Junsu carefully picked up a piece with his fork and brought it to his mouth.

The outer skin, just as expected, crunched like a cracker—snap!—while the inside melted in his mouth, soft and moist as pudding.

The rich, savory flavor burst through his mouth—it was simply fantastic.

“Wow… This is really delicious…”

A faint smile finally spread across Kim Junsu’s stiff face.

The burden of repressed emotions and the weight of today’s events seemed to slowly melt away before the overwhelming taste.

“Today… because Ahjussi stepped in. Next time, they’ll probably torment me even worse…”

He still couldn’t shake off his unease.

‘But at least… I got to eat something this delicious. That’s not so bad, I guess.’

It wasn’t just a meal.

For him, it was comfort—a magical moment that let him forget reality’s pain for a little while.

“It’s good, isn’t it? Sometimes even I can’t believe I made this myself.”

Sang-woong grinned playfully, putting on an exaggeratedly proud face.

“It’s really good with Whole Grain Mustard, too.”

He spooned some Whole Grain Mustard from a small dish onto the meat for him.

“Th-thank you.”

Kim Junsu’s voice trembled as if he were holding back tears.

Except for Grandmother, he’d never experienced such heartfelt kindness.

“There’s plenty, so eat as much as you want.”

At Sang-woong’s words, Kim Junsu quietly set his fork down on the plate and spoke in a careful voice.

“Um, Ahjussi, I’m sorry, but… could I have a little wrapped up to take with me? I… I don’t have any money, but I’ll help out at the restaurant instead…”

His voice was full of longing—he desperately wanted to bring something delicious home to Grandmother.

“Haha, to give to Grandmother? Don’t worry, eat until you’re stuffed. I’ll wrap up enough for Grandmother to be full, and then some.”

Sang-woong couldn’t help but smile at Kim Junsu’s thoughtful heart.

He reached out and patted Kim Junsu’s head, feeling proud of the boy’s consideration for his Grandmother.

But in that instant, Sang-woong’s face stiffened, then relaxed again.

Kim Junsu’s sleeve had ridden up, revealing scars on his arm.

Several round wounds clustered together—obviously burns from cigarettes.

He’d guessed that the punks who’d done this weren’t ordinary, that they’d brazenly run away without a hint of remorse, but he never expected they’d do something this horrific.

For what possible reason had Kim Junsu been tormented so cruelly? No—reason or not, those punks had no right, no justification, to use violence like this.

From deep within, Sang-woong struggled to hold down a surge of rage and grief.

Forcing a smile, he withdrew his hand and spoke.

“Junsu, want to hear how amazing Ahjussi really is?”

At Sang-woong’s sudden words, Kim Junsu looked up at him, a puzzled expression on his face.

“Yes?”

Sang-woong took a breath before speaking.

This time, his voice was solemn rather than playful.

“Ahjussi is a very strong Hunter. And even though I’m retired and running this restaurant now, Ahjussi still has many powerful friends. So for those kids who bullied you… I’m planning to punish them, and punish them hard. I’ll make sure they never bother you again, so they know exactly what happens to people who torment others.”

At Sang-woong’s unexpected declaration, Kim Junsu’s fork fell to his plate with a ‘clink’.

His first thought was: ‘Why?’

“Someone like me… why?”

“Ahjussi doesn’t even know me. Why are you helping me?”

Kim Junsu’s trembling voice made Sang-woong smile gently.

His eyes shone with sincerity.

“Why wouldn’t I? You’re a guest at Ahjussi’s restaurant. Just like you trusted us and came here, the restaurant owner has a duty to do his very best for his guests. And, well, honestly… I just really didn’t like those punks. Not at all.”

Despite Sang-woong’s warm words and earnest gaze, Kim Junsu couldn’t bring himself to hope.

He’d already learned, painfully, just how high reality’s walls were.

“I’m grateful, Ahjussi… but… it probably won’t work.”

Kim Junsu shook his head with a lonely expression.

His voice was heavy with despair.

“Because… those kids’ families are really rich… Their parents are amazing people. One’s… the son of a doctor at the biggest Dungeon Disease Specialty Hospital in the neighborhood… another is… the son of a famous Hunter. And… one’s even the son of a city council member…”

Kim Junsu hadn’t just sat back and endured all this without resistance.

The first time he was targeted, he fought back with all his strength.

But in terms of numbers and power, he didn’t stand a chance.

In the end, his last hope was to go to his homeroom Teacher.

“Teacher. The kids… are bullying me…”

At first, the Teacher listened and got angry, seeming to take the issue seriously.

But as soon as Kim Junsu named his tormentors, the Teacher’s attitude changed visibly.

“Junsu… Sometimes friends play rough with each other. I’ll… speak to them.”

After that, during homeroom with the whole class listening, the Teacher gave a perfunctory warning.

“There are rumors about bullying among friends in our class. That’s wrong. I hope there won’t be any more of that.”

And that was it.

Afterwards, the kids bullied Kim Junsu even worse.

It was because he’d tattled to the Teacher.

“You bastard! You went crying to the homeroom teacher? Want to die?”

“This punk’s gotta learn. Grab his arm.”

Jang Taegun took the cigarette from his lips.

Kim Junsu realized, instinctively, what was coming.

What they were about to do.

“N-no! Please…”

Kim Junsu pleaded desperately, but the boys grabbed his arms, and without hesitation Jang Taegun pressed the burning cigarette to his skin.

“Aaah!”

Kim Junsu’s scream echoed.

Jang Taegun, watching him writhe in pain, sneered with satisfaction.

“Try tattling again, and next time I’ll put this out on your face.”

After that awful incident, Kim Junsu gave up resistance, gave up hope.

All he wished for was that time would pass quickly and this hellish stretch of life would end.

***

“Junsu, do you know the Taeseong Guild?”

Sang-woong suddenly asked Kim Junsu, who sat slumped, lost in despair.

Kim Junsu thought for a moment at the familiar name, then looked up.

“Ah, yes… I think I’ve heard of it before. It’s… a really big Guild, right?”

“That’s right. It’s huge. And the Guildmaster of that Guild is a very good friend of Ahjussi’s. So Ahjussi’s very strong. I won’t lose to anyone in this world. That’s why I’m planning to punish those kids who bullied you… so they’ll never touch you again. I’ll make sure they learn a real lesson from this.”

Sang-woong’s confident voice and overwhelming presence made Kim Junsu drop his fork to the plate again—‘clink’.

Could it be… if it’s this Ahjussi… could he really rescue me from this nightmare? A tiny—no, a powerful spark of hope welled up in his heart.

Seeing the surprise and hope in Kim Junsu’s eyes, Sang-woong spoke gently, but his voice was firm.

“But to do that… I need proof that those punks bullied you. From what I can tell, smart Junsu probably has some kind of evidence, right?”

At his question, Kim Junsu flinched and reflexively shook his head.

Without realizing it, he reached for his scarred forearm.

He remembered the burning pain, and Jang Taegun’s threat: ‘If you tattle again, I’ll put it out on your face.’

The scars told him to keep quiet, not to expect anything, not to cause trouble.

If things went badly this time, it wouldn’t just be another cigarette burn.

Who knew what those punks would do if they got mad this time?

Fear and mistrust clouded his eyes.

And this adult he’d only just met today… Could he really trust this man from the Gentle Breeze Restaurant…? The mistrust rooted deep in his heart was just too strong.

“N-no. I… don’t have anything like that…”

He tried to sound calm, but the anxiety in his trembling voice and eyes made it obvious he was hiding something.

Sang-woong could feel his fear.

But Sang-woong didn’t give up.

Looking at Kim Junsu, he spoke in a serious voice.

“Junsu. It’s only natural to be scared. When I was your age, I was afraid of lots of things. Even as an adult, there’s still plenty that scares me.”

Sang-woong bent his knees a little, lowering himself to Junsu’s eye level.

His gaze was steady, filled with deep understanding.

“I can guess how scared those punks made you… how hard it must’ve been, going through it alone… Ahjussi knows. The school Teacher, those kids’ parents… no one really helped you, did they? I know. It must feel like there aren’t any trustworthy adults in the world. But Ahjussi is different.”

Sang-woong’s voice was unwavering.

The weight of truth was in his words.