Actually, Dad Was a Hero

Chapter 2: The Man Who Hides His Power

“Oh, Mr. Jin. Long time no see?”

The construction foreman, with a face as wide as a catfish, greeted him with a friendly face. Jin Beom-Min bowed his head in greeting while gathering some work equipment.

“It’s been a while. How are you?”

“I’m always the same. I was at the Anseong site until yesterday. Have you been busy, Mr. Jin? You didn’t answer your phone?”

“Yes, I had some things to take care of…”

Jin Beom-Min trailed off, but the foreman nodded understandingly and said,

“Ah, I know what you mean. It’s been quite unsettling lately. Just yesterday, there was some kind of terrorist attack in Seoul, right? And the economy isn’t doing well either…”

“That’s right.”

“It’s the end of the world, the end of the world. Anyway, are you doing the usual today?”

“Yes.”

The foreman patted Jin Beom-Min on the shoulder and said quietly,

“Okay. Just finish it quickly like usual, so do it meticulously.”

“Thank you.”

Jin Beom-Min scanned the construction site, familiarizing himself with the layout. The unfinished commercial building had already undergone electrical work and basic interior construction.

His task today was to lay large tiles across the entire area that would become a hair salon, creating the floor.

It was a workload that would take two or three people working together three days to complete.

However, for him, it was just a day’s work.

He overheard the conversation between the foreman and a plasterer as they walked away.

“…He’s doing the tiling alone without any assistants?”

“I don’t know. He says it’s a trade secret. But if you leave it to Mr. Jin, it’ll definitely be finished. Even though his daily wage is expensive, it’s cheaper than hiring a sloppy team for three days.”

“Huh, really? What kind of skills does he have…?”

“I don’t know. He doesn’t let anyone in while he’s working. He doesn’t even hire assistants, the greedy guy.”

“Well, I guess if he finishes the work on time, he’ll make a decent amount of money.”

“Of course, he will. He probably earns more than you, even without assistants.”

Jin Beom-Min listened to their conversation and lingered for a moment. Then, when he was sure no one was around, he started working.

He easily lifted five bags of tile adhesive, stacked together, at once.

Each bag weighed 25kg, totaling 125kg, but he didn’t even show any sign of strain.

He also carried several boxes of tiles, each weighing dozens of kilograms, without using a cart, effortlessly lifting and moving them.

Within minutes, all the materials were in their designated places.

It would have taken an ordinary person an hour just to organize the materials and prepare for the work.

But for him, it was only a ten-minute task.

After finishing the preparations, Jin Beom-Min pulled a small knife from the belt around his waist.

The handle was roughly wrapped with electrical tape, but the shape of the blade was archaic, not a modern object.

He held the knife and scanned the floor of the work area. If he found a part that was excessively protruding, he lightly swung the knife.

Crack!

The knife, emitting a faint blue glow, easily cut through the cement floor. It was a task that would require a hammer drill or grinder and considerable effort for an ordinary person.

But for him, it was a simple task completed with a single flick of the wrist.

Once the floor was prepared, the tile installation began.

Applying the mixed tile adhesive, smoothing the surface, and attaching the tiles. It was repetitive work, but Jin Beom-Min skillfully and steadily completed the floor.

His extraordinary ability proved quite helpful when he had to cut tiles to fit the shape of the floor.

Instead of using a grinder, he just needed to lightly score the thick ceramic tiles with his knife, and they would cut like paper.

Apply, smooth, attach.

Apply, smooth, attach.

The work continued tirelessly at a steady pace.

“Phew… Should I eat lunch and continue…?”

By the time he finally stood up with a deep breath, more than half of the store floor was neatly covered with tiles.

It was a speed that would leave anyone with even a little experience in tile work wide-eyed.

Jin Beom-Min rummaged through his bag and pulled out a small lunchbox.

Inside the lunchbox were rice, kimchi, and a few simple side dishes.

And that simple lunch disappeared into his stomach within three minutes. His eating speed was as fast as his working speed.

After finishing his meal and taking a sip of water from his water bottle, Jin Beom-Min’s gaze stopped at a rolled-up piece of paper lying carelessly in his bag.

It was an item he had found on the High Orc’s body a few days ago.

“Tsk…”

Clicking his tongue while removing a piece of spinach stuck between his teeth with his tongue, Jin Beom-Min put down the water bottle and took out the scroll.

“This is…”

It was definitely a magic scroll. A kind of disposable magic item that contained magical power.

Even a person without magic power could release the magic contained within it if they knew the proper method.

However, with his limited knowledge of magic, he couldn’t tell what kind of magic was contained within this scroll.

Part of the intricately drawn magic pattern looked familiar, but that alone didn’t tell him anything.

The bigger problem was why this object existed here.

Like the monsters he defeated yesterday, this magic scroll was also a foreign object unrelated to South Korea… no, Earth.

‘It definitely seems like it came from the world I used to live in…’

Jin Beom-Min recalled yesterday’s events.

Skeleton Soldiers made from the corpses of the dead, Wraiths, a type of ghost created magically, and a High Orc with a massive physique.

They were all monsters that existed in Jindar, the world he used to live in.

He could easily recognize them just from the silhouettes he saw on the news, and he even confirmed it with his own eyes when he fought them directly.

However, he couldn’t understand how these monsters appeared in this world.

Perhaps it was related to how he came to this world 28 years ago.

He racked his brain, but no matter how much he thought about it, nothing came to mind.

“Well, come to think of it, that’s true. I don’t even know why I’m here…”

He shook his head with a bitter expression and rolled the scroll back up, throwing it into his bag.

He didn’t know how it happened, but one thing was certain. If these monsters continued to appear, the military of this world would have a hard time dealing with them.

Skeleton Soldiers, for example, wouldn’t stop moving until their skulls were shattered. Since their flesh had completely rotted away, leaving only bones, it would be difficult to even hit them with ordinary rifles.

Moreover, Wraiths were monsters created by magic. It was pointless to attack them with weapons that didn’t contain magic power.

And the High Orc. Unlike other monsters, it was even protected by defensive magic. So, it wouldn’t have been possible to damage it with weapons that didn’t contain magic power either.

“Ah, I don’t know. I should just get off work.”

He shook his head and picked up his tools again. He had to hurry to prepare dinner for his children.

******

“Dad, we’re okay.”

“Yeah, that’s right. We understand.”

Jin Beom-Min looked at his son and daughter with a puzzled expression.

His son and daughter, who were now quite grown up, seemed to have a determined look on their faces.

However, he couldn’t figure out what they were talking about.

“What do you mean…?”

Then, his son Seong-Gyun, who was in his third year of middle school, hesitantly replied,

“About… what happened yesterday…”

“Ah…”

Jin Beom-Min seemed to understand and quietly placed the earthenware pot filled with boiling doenjang jjigae on the table. The salty and savory aroma tickled his nose.

“It’s okay, Dad. We’re not embarrassed about that.”

“Huh…?”

“You’ve been working hard, so it’s okay for you to have a hobby now. We can understand that.”

“…What’s there to be embarrassed about…?”

Were they saying that they weren’t embarrassed that he was actually a hero?

Being a hero was a position that everyone envied and admired in the world he used to live in…

“These days… even older people do… things like cosplay.”

“Yeah, that’s right, Dad. In places like Japan, even elderly people… do that kind of thing…”

After hearing his daughter Su-Yeon, who was in her second year of high school, it was clear that the children were misunderstanding something.

And elderly? He had two children, but he was only in his mid-40s.

He was still young, even for middle age.

Jin Beom-Min smiled bitterly and waved his hand.

“No, that’s not it…”

“Ah, really, it’s okay. You should have a hobby, Dad. Cosplaying as a game character… It’s a bit surprising, but…”

“No, it’s not cosplay… I’m a real hero.”

When Jin Beom-Min answered seriously, Seong-Gyun and Su-Yeon seemed speechless for a moment, exchanging glances.

“Uh… is this… ‘method acting’…?”

“No, it’s not acting… Sigh, well, I guess you wouldn’t believe me even if I told you…”

At this point, the children’s faces became worried. They seemed to have a feeling that this wasn’t an ordinary situation.

Su-Yeon, who was two years older than her brother, carefully spoke again.

“Um… Dad… If you’re having a hard time… you can take a break…”

“That’s right. After Mom passed away, raising us…”

The atmosphere instantly froze. Seong-Gyun had broken the unspoken taboo that had been maintained between the three family members.

In the awkward silence, the bubbling earthenware pot slowly cooled down.

“…Okay. Let’s eat.”

Jin Beom-Min pretended to be nonchalant and picked up his spoon.

Just a moment ago, he had thought he would clear up the misunderstanding by talking to them, but the moment Seong-Gyun said the word ‘Mom,’ his thoughts couldn’t continue.

Lee Soo-Jin. Seong-Gyun and Su-Yeon’s mother and his wife.

It had already been three years since she passed away, but they still hadn’t recovered from their grief.

They all knew that not talking about it wouldn’t solve anything.

But they couldn’t bring themselves to speak about it.

Because they knew it would only bring deep pain to themselves and each other.

In the silence, only the awkward clinking of spoons echoed across the table.

******

Ding dirididi ding ding diding―

Just as they were almost finished with their rice bowls in the awkward silence, a cheerful melody made of crude electronic sounds broke the stillness. It was the sound of the old doorbell in the old apartment.

Jin Beom-Min jumped up and went to the front door. There was no one who would visit at this hour, but any event that could break the awkward atmosphere was welcome.

“Who is it?”

“Are you Mr. Jin Beom-Min?”

“Yes, I am. But who are you?”

“Could you open the door for a moment?”

Jin Beom-Min tilted his head, looking at the intercom screen.

A middle-aged man with droopy eyes was standing at the door. He had never seen this face before.

“What’s this about?”

“It will only take a moment.”

“Ah, I’m not buying anything.”

He answered firmly and put down the intercom. He was sure it was a salesperson, a newspaper subscription offer, or a religious solicitation.

But then, he heard unexpected words from outside the door.

“Um… I’m from the National Intelligence Service.”