God of Blackfield

The soldiers’ stab-proof vests were in tatters, and blood was seeping through them.

“Captain Cha,” Kang Chul-Gyu called.

“Yes, sunbae-nim!”

“Let’s end our training here.”

“Yes, sir,” Cha Dong-Gyun answered.

Following Kang Chul-Gyu’s orders, the soldiers stepped back.

Kang Chul-Gyu sheathed his knife and then started taking off his protective gear.

“Are you okay?” Nam Il-Gyu asked Yoon Sang-Ki.

“I’m fine, sunbae-nim.”

Feeling bad for Yoon Sang-Ki, Nam Il-Gyu examined him. Just a moment ago, he had been swinging his knife at him with the intent to kill.

If Yoon Sang-Ki had met Nam Il-Gyu for the first ttoday, he definitely would’ve thought that Nam Il-Gyu was insane or a pervert.

“Dong-Sik went off the hook because you guys are here,” Nam Il-Gyu explained.

Suddenly curious, Yoon Sang-Ki, who was in the middle of taking off his gear, turned his head toward him. “Really?”

“Yeah. I thought Kang sunbae was going to beat Dong-Sik to death earlier.”

Yoon Sang-Ki discretely glanced at Kang Chul-Gyu.

Reading Yoon Sang-Ki’s mind, Nam Il-Gyu chuckled.

“Dong-Sik used to act out a lot. During his prime, he even once let his anger get the best of him. He ended up falling for a trap at the DMZ.”

Everyone had taken off their stab-proof vests.

“Please letcarry that for you, sir,” Yoon Sang-Ki offered.

“It’s fine. It’s not heavy anyway,” Nam Il-Gyu said.

The two walked to the barracks.

“What happened to him afterward?” Yoon Sang-Ki asked.

“To Dong-Sik?”

“Yes.”

Nam Il-Gyu was the one who looked at Kang Chul-Gyu this time.

“Kang sunbae ran to Dong-Sik’s aid with four other soldiers and rescued him.”

“I see,” Yoon Sang-Ki nonchalantly responded, realizing that there was nothing special about the story.

However, he was proven wrong when Nam Il-Gyu added, “That got two of our brothers killed.”

Yoon Sang-Ki quickly checked Nam Il-Gyu’s mood. He wasn’t aware that they had gone through something so heartbreaking.

“All that happened simply because Dong-Sik lost his temper and went after China’s baekrang team. He was already covered in blood by the tKang sunbae dragged him back into a warehouse. We were so outnumbered that day that we thought that place would be our grave.”

Yoon Sang-Ki didn’t know how to respond. All he could do was wonder if Kang Chul-Gyu had to beat up an injured soldier that badly.

“I still vividly remember the two men who died that day.”

Looking at Nam Il-Gyu, Yoon Sang-Ki found him staring at the sky.

“One of them had a pregnant wife at the time. The other had just cback from his father’s funeral…” Nam Il-Gyu trailed off.

Not long after, they arrived at the barracks.

Yoon Sang-Ki took Nam Il-Gyu’s stab-proof vest as if he was snatching it away from him, then went to the warehouse.

At the stime, Yang Dong-Sik opened the barracks and walked outside. The wound on his neck was covered with bandages.

“You good?” Nam Il-Gyu asked.

“I’m sorry,” Yang Dong-Sik replied.

“Then don’t fucking overdo it, asshole!”

Yang Dong-Sik just scratched his head.

One after another, the soldiers stopped in front of the barracks. Kang Chul-Gyu was the last to arrive.

“How are you feeling?” Kang Chul-Gyu asked Yang Dong-Sik.

Yang Dong-Sik’s head dropped in shame. “I’m sorry.”

“Dong-Sik,” Kang Chul-Gyu called.

“Yes?”

They were talking in front of all of the soldiers.

“I forgot you’re also old now. I was too harsh on you in front of our juniors.”

“No…”

“I’m sorry.”

Yang Dong-Sik’s eyes glistened.

Kang Chul-Gyu continued, “I’d understand if you’re upset, but…”

Saliva dripped out from Yang Dong-Sik’s open mouth.

Kang Chul-Gyu approached him and stroked his shoulder. “... I can still count on you in this operation, right?”

Among the soldiers from Jeungpyeong, only Yoon Sang-Ki had an idea why Yang Dong-Sik was crying.

***

While spending twith Gérard and talking about random topics, Kang Chan considered going hwith his parents.

Amid their conversation, his phone suddenly rang. When he picked up the call, Yoo Hye-Sook’s excitement cthrough.

- Channy! Be hby seven tonight.

Kang Chan and Gérard could just have the agents drive them to their new house. However, Kang Chan thought they should go hwith his parents since they had just moved and this was his first tgoing there.

Yoo Hye-Sook had clearly told them to chat a specific tbecause she wanted to make food for them.

Smiling, Kang Chan told Gérard about his conversation with Yoo Hye-Sook.

“Captain, I want to buy wine and flowers. Is there a place nearby that sells them?” Gérard asked afterward.

“Are you thinking of giving them to my parents as gifts?”

“That’s right.”

Fortunately, sshops on the way to their new hhad those items for sale. Since spending that much wouldn’t be a burden for Gérard and he would be giving them to Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook, Kang Chan thought it wasn’t such a bad idea.

Kang Chan got in the car that Lee Doo-Bum brought over with Gérard. They then headed to the big shopping center nearby.

The wine store was located on the first floor of the underground level.

It was rush hour, so many homemakers were at the shopping centers to prepare dinner. Women who dropped by on their way hfrom work stopped and turned around to stare at Gérard. They looked like hungry fish.

This was fascinating. In Africa and Afghanistan, Gérard was just an okay guy. Now, almost every woman they had walked past had turned, their gazes following him.

As Kang Chan entered the wine store with Gérard, a tall and slender female employee approached them.

“Hello. Do you guys need help with anything?”

Gérard looked at Kang Chan, seemingly asking him to explain in his stead.

Kang Chan decided not to go out with Gérard to buy things ever again.

Thankfully, there was a flower shop next to the shopping center.

After buying a bouquet, the two got back into the car and headed to Kang Chan’s new home.

They crossed the Hannam Bridge and went up to the right side of the hill. After taking another turn, they finally reached their destination.

After getting out of the car, Kang Chan softly gasped while looking at the villa before him. He felt as if Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook would find this house uncomfortable.

They walked to the entrance of the villa with a shopping bag filled with new clothes, Gérard’s old bag, a bouquet, and wine. Once they were close enough, the door automatically opened. Someone seemed to have been watching them through the CCTV.

They went up to the second floor and rang the doorbell.

“We’re home,” Kang Chan said.

“Welchome, Channy! Gérard!” Yoo Hye-Sook responded.

“Hello, Mother,” Gérard greeted in awkward Korean.

Smiling, Gérard handed the bouquet and wine to Yoo Hye-Sook.

“My goodness! Thank you.”

“Thank you,” Gérard responded, unaware that it wasn’t the right reply.

“Welcome,” Kang Dae-Kyung said as he walked toward the front door.

“Hello, Father,” Gérard greeted.

This was Kang Chan’s first tgoing inside this house as well. That was why when he was walking to the sofa in the living room with Gérard, the two looked around the house.

“You two haven’t had dinner yet, have you?”

“Of course not, Mother,” Kang Chan answered. “Where’s my room? I’d like to change before we eat.”

“Alright. This way.”

Kang Dae-Kyung turned around and went upstairs.

There were two rooms.

“We have already designated the room further down the hall as yours and decorated it accordingly. Your friend should use the one closer to the stairs,” Kang Dae-Kyung suggested.

“You two must have had to go through a lot to move here.”

“Not at all. We didn’t even have to lift a finger; they did everything for us. Anyway, dinner’s almost done, so be quick. We’ll wait for you two downstairs.”

“Alright.”

Kang Chan and Gérard first went into the room that Gérard was going to use.

“This is amazing,” Gérard commented.

“Use this room for now. After we change, we’re going to have dinner.”

“Alright.”

Leaving Gérard behind, Kang Chan headed to the room further down the hall.

His room was the sas Gérard’s room, but it was flipped.

The only furniture they moved from his previous house was his desk. Everything else, including the bed, was new.

On the bookshelf were books that were in his previous room. He was happy to see them, even though he had only read them a few times.

Kang Chan opened his closet and changed into comfortable workout clothes.

The house felt strange. He missed the apartment that they used to live in. This seemed more like a luxury hotel, not a home.

For Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook’s sake, he decided to do his best to grow attached to this house too.

After washing his hands, he headed to the kitchen with Gérard.

Since this was a split-level villa, they had to go down the stairs and walk past the living room to get to the kitchen.

If they weren’t initially hungry, after walking around this much, they would be.

The japchae, stir-fried pork, kimchi, and soup on the table made Kang Chan feel a bit better. Getting to see Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook did, too.

Considering his parents likely found this house even more unfamiliar and uncomfortable than Kang Chan, he did his best to hide his dissatisfaction.

“Channy! Go have a seat,” Yoo Hye-Sook said.

“Do you need help with anything?”

“I’m already done, so just wait at the table.”

As Yoo Hye-Sook filled separate bowls with soup, Kang Chan filled a cup with water.

“Tto eat! Dig in, Gérard,” Kang Dae-Kyung invited.

When he started eating, everyone else did.

Even though a fork had been prepared for him, Gérard insisted on using chopsticks.

People were certainly quick to adapt to the situation. Kang Chan didn’t expect Gérard would be able to use chopsticks by clenching and unclenching his fist.

Although Gérard was somewhat used to spicy food, he still seemed to be having trouble eating kimchi.

He also had a unique way of eating Korean food. Although he used chopsticks to make lettuce wraps, he grabbed it with his fingertips to eat it.

“Have you shown him around the city?” Kang Dae-Kyung asked Kang Chan.

“Yes. I first showed him the area around Gangnam.”

He technically wasn’t lying. They did look down at the city from a high building.

After answering, he gave Gérard a blank look.

After putting two slices of lettuce next to each other on the extra plate in front of him, Gérard put rice and stir-fried pork on top of the lettuce.

Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook also stopped eating to watch him.

He looked like he was clenching his fist every the moved his chopsticks. With a serious expression, he added more stir-fried pork to the lettuce.

Finally running out of patience, Kang Chan asked, “What are you doing?”

Instead of answering, Gérard carefully held up the lettuce wrap on the left with the tips of his fingers.

“Father,” Gérard called in awkward Korean, then held out the wrap to Kang Dae-Kyung.

“He asked why Mother feda wrap earlier today, and I told him that we do this with people we consider family. That’s probably why he’s offering you the lettuce wrap,” Kang Chan explained.

Like a proper businessman, Kang Dae-Kyung controlled his expression. He then opened his mouth to eat the lettuce wrap that Gérard was offering him.

Seemingly satisfied with Kang Dae-Kyung’s reaction, Gérard held up the next lettuce wrap.

“Mother,” he called, again in awkward Korean.

Yoo Hye-Sook glanced at Kang Chan.

Unfortunately, perhaps because Kang Chan knew about Gérard’s family matters, he couldn’t bring himself to stop him.

“Try it. It’s good,” Kang Dae-Kyung suggested.

“Please, Mother. Just this once,” Kang Chan insisted.

Yoo Hye-Sook raised her hand and ate the wrap that Gérard was holding out.

“It’s good, thank you,” she said.

Gérard smiled, causing the scar on his cheek to curve.

“Gérard, you only have to do that once,” Kang Chan said.

“Alright.”

Kang Chan sighed deeply.

***

The next day, Jeungpyeong had a cold morning.

The DMZ soldiers, already done with breakfast even though the sun was yet to rise, gathered in front of the bus.

“Sunbae-nim,” someone called.

“Yes?”

Nam Il-Gyu shook Yoon Sang-Ki’s hand.

Since the joint training only lasted for a day, they had only spent one night together. Nevertheless, the special forces soldiers looked very disappointed that the DMZ team was already leaving, making them seem as if they had been living together for a few years.

The Jeungpyeong special forces team felt bad because their sunbaes’ faces showed all the hardships that they had endured. On the other hand, the DMZ team couldn’t help but be worried about their juniors, who were so lively.

“I’ll see you soon,” Cha Dong-Gyun said.

Kang Chul-Gyu just nodded and smiled in response.

Looking away from their juniors, he commanded, “Get on the bus.”

“Sunbae-nim!”

Kwak Cheol-Ho yelled so loudly that he sounded as if he would injure his throat.

The DMZ team turned around.

As if on cue, the soldiers from Jeungpyeong simultaneously yelled, “We’re proud of you all!”

Nam Il-Gyu looked away, seemingly checking if they were yelling at someone else behind the DMZ team.

“Jeungpyeong’s special forces team! Atteeention!”

Military boots clicked against each other.

“Salute our sunbaes!”

The soldiers moved as one.

The Jeungpyeong special forces soldiers firmly saluted the DMZ team.

***

Gérard, Kang Chan, and his parents sat around the table and had cereal, toast, and fried eggs for breakfast. They likely prepared these for Gérard, but it wasn’t a bad idea to have a light breakfast.

“What did you two think of the rooms?” Kang Dae-Kyung asked.

“It was so large that I found it a little uncomfortable,” Kang Chan replied.

“Right?”

Kang Dae-Kyung seemed happy to hear that since he felt the sway.

“What about you, Mother?” Kang Chan asked Yoo Hye-Sook.

“It makesuncomfortable too. I’m not sure about the rest of this house, but I at least really like the kitchen.”

“Good to know. We’d probably find this house cozy once we’ve grown attached to it. We just have to give it a chance, right, Father?”

“Keep in mind that who you’re with is far more important than where you are. The first house that your mom and I lived in was as big as this kitchen, but I was still happy.”

Kang Chan laughed, amused by Kang Dae-Kyung’s cheekiness. Gérard just stared blankly at them.

“Dig in,” Kang Dae-Kyung told Gérard while pointing to the bread.

Smiling, Gérard thanked him in awkward Korean. He was quite tactful.

“Channy, what are your plans for today?” Yoo Hye-Sook asked.

“I’m thinking of going out with Gérard and touring him around the city a bit more.”

“Sounds fun.”

After breakfast, Kang Chan returned to his room and changed. He decided to go to the office with Gérard for now.

Picking up the call, Kang Chan greeted, “Hello?”

- It’s Kim Hyung-Jung. The agents from the counterterrorism team have left for Mongolia.

Kang Chan gazed toward the window.

He already expected Kang Chul-Gyu not to call him before their departure. He had always been that kind of person.

- Hello?

- He’s with them. Anyway, how flexible is your schedule today?

“Can I get back to you in two hours?”

- Sure.

Kang Chan quickly called Michelle.

Now that they had cleared up the misunderstanding with the DGSE, it wouldn’t be that much of a problem to ask Michelle to stay with Gérard.

Fortunately, Michelle happily accepted Kang Chan’s request. She seemed to have been worried about the recent incident.

After seeing Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook, Kang Chan stayed at hfor a bit longer before leaving with Gérard.

They got into the car that Lee Doo-Bum had prepared for them and headed straight to the office.

“Gérard, I have to go to the National Intelligence Service today. I want you to stay with Michelle until I return,” Kang Chan said in French.

Smiling, Gérard met Kang Chan’s gaze.

Kang Chan added, “You’d prefer that anyway, wouldn’t you?”

“You’re relieved that the DGSE no longer has a reason to killsince they have found Gabriel, aren’t you?” Gérard cheekily asked.

“What’s with that expression, Cap? Did you really think I was as stupid as Daye?”

“Hey! Daye has been using his brain a lot lately.”

“Even if that fucker uses his brain, it’ll be like beating his head against a wall.”

The two snickered as they crossed the Hannam Bridge.

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