NOVEL NEXT Chapter 294
Chapter 294. Question (5)
Half-Elf, the hero who saved Korea and traveled to another world, and the subject of an experiment.
Yoo Ji-han briefly suspected he had misheard.
‘The term “subject” refers to Si-hu.’
They clearly referred to Kim Si-hu as the subject of an experiment.
There was no misunderstanding here at all.
Kim Geon-oh also didn’t deny the words of the female researcher, who seemed to be his new lover.
‘What kind of experiment are they talking about?’
According to the dictionary, an experiment is an activity of observing and measuring theories or phenomena in science.
It can also mean trying out a new method or form.
The word that refers to the subject being dealt with is “experiment subject.”
If so, Kim Si-hu must be linked to some experiment conducted in the past.
Perhaps it was even an experiment that is still ongoing.
‘All I can think of is negative things.’
No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t see it as a positive experiment.
The amount of clues given was too little for him to grasp the truth.
Yoo Ji-han focused on overhearing the conversation between the two researchers to gain additional information.
—Are you finally going to show it? The tree?
—It’s time. They might react to each other.
—And after that? If Yoo Ji-han’s party is full of righteous characters, it could become a big problem. Are you ready for that?
—I can control them well enough.
—Geon-oh, you’ve prepared for such a long time! If anything goes wrong…
—…
—Don’t get angry.
—I’m not angry.
Unlike Geon-oh’s words, there was a hint of annoyance in the way he looked at the female researcher.
It felt like she was bothering him.
‘Is this conversation annoying enough to get angry about?’
He was a bit different from the friendly and caring fatherly figure he appeared to be at the dining table.
The female researcher clinging to him made him seem more human.
Perhaps in the workplace, he had a more sensitive personality.
—The subject and the spirit… the changes are…
—…not exactly. And no more…
—In Grudia…
—…
—…
“Damn it.”
Yoo Ji-han frowned at the ongoing conversation.
It sounded like they were talking about something, but he couldn’t hear it clearly.
The magical power left in the magic stone fragments was insufficient to read another person’s memory fully.
The scattered sounds gradually became completely muted.
“Silph! Pull yourself together.”
—Impossible! This is the best I can do.
No matter how he urged the Sylph, nothing changed.
In the dark, blurry memories, there was no sound at all.
Only the scene of Geon-oh and the female researcher hugging each other, moving their lips, continued.
‘I don’t get it.’
Understanding the meaning just from observing their lips was quite difficult.
Besides, due to the fading visibility, Yoo Ji-han eventually closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, he saw the wall of a bathroom.
—So, what do you think?
“It’s suspicious. Very much so.”
—Hehehe! I knew it!
Showing the transformed Florun with some hidden intention.
And using his son Kim Si-hu for a specific experiment, researcher Kim Geon-oh.
It was clear that he was not a pure person.
*
Three days later, time flew by in Kyoto.
Yoo Ji-han was waiting for Kim Geon-oh in the hotel lobby.
He had requested a private talk.
“Ji-han.”
“Oh, Father.”
Kim Geon-oh approached Yoo Ji-han, who was sitting alone.
Soon, the two men sat facing each other.
“Is the Silph…?”
“Still not talking.”
“Hmm.”
The Silph had not shown her face to Geon-oh until the end.
Having become accustomed to this situation, Kim Geon-oh quietly nodded his head.
“So you’re leaving this afternoon?”
“Yes. It’s about time to go back.”
The day to leave Japan and return to Korea had arrived.
In the afternoon, he was supposed to take Nam Ho-yeol with the vehicle arranged by Raiku.
‘How much has he grown in seven days?’
Honestly, he didn’t expect too much from such a short training period.
Even if he just learned the mindset of a blacksmith, that would be a gain.
He only hoped it had helped Nam Ho-yeol even a little.
“Time flies so quickly, doesn’t it?”
Kim Geon-oh scratched his cheek, looking quite regretful.
He had taken a vacation for the first time in a while to spend time with his son, Kim Si-hu.
Considering how busy both he and Kim Si-hu had been recently, it was understandable for him to feel disappointed.
‘If it weren’t for that conversation…’
The conversation between Kim Geon-oh and the female researcher, who called Kim Si-hu a subject.
Yoo Ji-han vividly recalled that conversation from three days ago as if he had just heard it a few moments ago.
“Please take good care of my son from now on.”
Kim Geon-oh’s request to take good care of Kim Si-hu.
Bowing deeply to a junior hero, he showed none of the bravado or pride typical of a senior hero.
Only the sincerity of a father could be felt in his actions.
“He has great talent, and he was incredibly mature even after losing his wife, but I worried he wouldn’t find his place because of his race.”
“Such talent can’t be overshadowed by race.”
“However, in the past when Ji-han wasn’t around, he couldn’t do anything at all, that’s the reality.”
Kim Si-hu, who was concerned about his race and found it hard to mix with other guilds.
That’s why, after much contemplation, he chose to establish a guild himself.
But before Yoo Ji-han’s arrival, “Sweet Fun” had no official activities.
“I couldn’t help him directly. All the people I knew retired.”
As a retired Rank 3 hero, most of Kim Geon-oh’s connections were with fellow retired heroes.
There were almost no people who could provide meaningful help to Kim Si-hu.
“I believe that Si-hu’s progress so far is all thanks to you, Ji-han.”
“That’s too much praise. If it weren’t for Si-hu, I wouldn’t have made it this far.”
The two continued their light-hearted conversation about Kim Si-hu.
At that moment, Yoo Ji-han suddenly asked.
“What kind of experiments are mainly conducted at the Monster Research Institute?”
“Experiments? The types of experiments are very diverse. Some take skin tissue from monsters to test their durability with magic power, while others try to neutralize the poisons they possess…”
“How long do those kinds of experiments usually take?”
“It varies greatly among experiments, so it’s hard to pin it down.”
“Is there a long-running experiment that has been going on for over 23 years?”
“23 years?”
At the mention of 23 years, Kim Geon-oh briefly frowned.
His expression relaxed quickly, but Yoo Ji-han didn’t miss that moment.
‘Kim Si-hu is 23 years old this year.’
He asked about the number of years that matched Kim Si-hu’s age to gauge his reaction.
After a moment of contemplation, Kim Geon-oh spoke.
“…Yes, there is.”
“That’s amazing! A long-running experiment like that!”
“Yes. It’s a valuable experiment.”
“May I ask what kind of experiment it is?”
“Unfortunately, that’s a bit difficult. It’s classified information even within the institute.”
“That’s a shame. It wouldn’t be some unethical experiment that you can’t even speak of, right?”
“Of course not.”
It was regrettable not being able to reveal the details, thought Kim Geon-oh.
And Yoo Ji-han felt quite disappointed by his answer.
Both men wore small smiles, concealing their true thoughts from each other.
‘He likely understood roughly what I meant.’
This was a kind of warning from Yoo Ji-han.
Kim Geon-oh was smart enough to produce numerous achievements as a researcher.
There was no way he wouldn’t understand the implications of the 23 years mentioned.
“Dad! I’ll contact you when I get back!”
And in the afternoon, when the car sent by Raiku arrived.
Yoo Ji-han’s party exchanged farewells with Kim Geon-oh.
“It was really enjoyable!”
“Chilla, you should say goodbye.”
“Zap! Take care!”
As each party member introduced themselves one by one, Yoo Ji-han stared intently at Kim Geon-oh and said.
“I’ll see you again later.”
“…”
“When we do, let’s have a more sincere conversation.”
Vroom!
The car carrying Yoo Ji-han’s party left the hotel.
Kim Geon-oh stood watching as the vehicle receded.
And when the car finally disappeared from view.
The smile on his face faded completely.
“How on earth did he find out?”
He knew Yoo Ji-han wasn’t an ordinary person.
Yet, he never expected him to mention Kim Si-hu.
“…Exactly how much does he know?”
The confusion brewing in Kim Geon-oh’s mind continued unabated for a while.
*
“Si-hu, you are Kim Geon-oh’s biological son, right?”
“That’s right. I’ve done paternity tests multiple times.”
Kim Si-hu, confirmed as Kim Geon-oh’s son through paternity tests.
Being born as a Half-Elf, he often had to submit paternity test papers here and there.
Thanks to that, there was not a shred of doubt that he was the bloodline of Kim Geon-oh and Erna Hass.
In fact, there were quite a few similarities in his facial traits, notably his eyes.
‘Using his own son as a subject for an experiment…’
Given Kim Geon-oh’s position as a researcher, it seemed somewhat understandable.
Yet, it was a story that didn’t make sense in Yoo Ji-han’s common sense.
And another thing that didn’t make sense to him.
The mention of Grudia, the hometown of Kim Geon-oh’s deceased wife.
‘Is the answer there?’
The Rank 1 hero Baek Kang-cheon, who was transferred to Grudia.
The request from Angels Garden to find Sian Pierce.
And the events linked to Kim Si-hu’s past.
All the questions pointed to one single world.
Yoo Ji-han looked down at the message that appeared on his mobile phone screen.
[Yang Ji-cheol: It’s ready.]
A message with a photo attached of various documents stamped.
It was about the nearly completed procedures to go to Grudia.
Now, he could leave whenever he wanted.
“Zap! The captain’s expression is serious!”
“Ji-han? Is something wrong?”
“Nothing important.”
While he was lost in thought, the car arrived at its destination, Raiku.
Upon getting out of the car, Yoo Ji-han followed the staff member who guided him inside the building.
After passing a giant hammer-shaped sculpture, they reached the reception room.
Nam Ho-yeol was there, drinking green tea.
“Ho-yeol!”
“Ah! Everyone has arrived!”
After a seven-day reunion.
Nam Ho-yeol, who got up from his seat, warmly welcomed the group.
Kim Si-hu commented on his apron outfit, which was a first to see.
“What’s that outfit?”
“I received it as a gift from my masters.”
Nam Ho-yeol casually referred to the Tamura Brothers, the co-representatives of Raiku, as his masters.
He gently brushed the apron he said he got as a gift.
Grease stains and colorful wounds were on his palm.
It seemed he had spent a rather fruitful seven days.
“How was the training?”
“I learned and realized so many things. Honestly, if I had been on my own, it would have taken me an eternity to acquire the knowledge I gained in just seven days!”
Nam Ho-yeol’s voice was quite cheerful.
But it didn’t sound like he was flattering the Tamura Brothers.
‘It was worth bringing him along, even if it meant giving up the artifact.’
Yoo Ji-han felt pleased with his attitude.
“I was thinking of saying hello before we depart. Where are the two of them?”
“They should be coming now… Ah! There they are.”
He saw the Tamura Brothers running from a distance.
However.
“Master!”
“Masters!”
“No! The masters are you guys, not me?!”
For some reason, Nam Ho-yeol was being called “master” by the Tamura Brothers.