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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: A Christmas Miracle
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[ Bureau Director Seo Do-cheol announced in an emergency press conference just moments ago that signs of a large-scale terrorist attack by an unidentified group were discovered at the promotion test site today... ]
[ While the Anti-Bureau Alliance is suspected, he stated that it is difficult to confirm at this time due to a lack of concrete evidence... ]
[ Although there was a commotion as everyone evacuated to the building's lobby, it was reported that there were no casualties thanks to the swift response of the Hunters stationed on-site... ]
[ Furthermore, it was revealed that S-rank Hunter Go Du-yeol, ranked 6th and serving as the vice guild master of the Solitad Guild, also known as 'Iron Man,' single-handedly led the initial response... ]
Bong-gu, who had been staring blankly at the anchor's face on the TV screen, soon shifted his gaze to glance at Kang-jun.
'How on earth did all the credit for stopping the terrorist attack go to Hunter Go Du-yeol...?'
Although he didn't know the full details, the brief explanation he'd heard from the two of them confirmed his suspicions.
'I just happened to stumble upon them and killed them all?'
He had pestered Kang-jun for the details, wanting to know exactly what happened, but the answer he received left him speechless.
'What is there to explain in detail? Why don't you try giving me a spectacular play-by-play of swatting a few mosquitoes?'
Just how powerful must he be to compare the Murderers from the Anti-Bureau Alliance to mere 'mosquitoes'?
Anyway...
The man who had actually resolved the incident, Kang-jun, seemed completely preoccupied, reading a Snow White storybook to Seol-i.
"And so, Snow White lived happily ever after with the prince..."
"Wooooow!"
"Alright, we've read it all the way through again. Now let's play something else..."
"No, read it again!"
As Seol-i whined, tugging at his sleeve, Kang-jun let out a deep sigh and opened the book back to the first page.
"A long, long time ago, on a winter's day, Princess Snow White was born with skin as white as snow, hair jet-black, and lips red..."
"Dat's wight."
"She was named Snow White because she resembled the pure white snow. But the joy of her birth was short-lived. Sadly, the queen passed away..."
"Dat's wight."
Watching from a few steps away, Crabslie spoke to Bong-gu in a low voice.
"Young man Bong-gu, is this not a truly horrifying sight?"
"Huh?"
"The Lord has completely memorized 'Snow White.'"
He added with a shudder.
"As of today, the Lord's total number of readings has surpassed a staggering five hundred. It would be stranger if he *couldn't* recite it from memory."
"Five hundred times..."
"In the imperial family, we call this the 'Infinite Streaming Torture.' Her Highness Subin, the Emperor's sister, personally gave it that name."
At that, Bong-gu nodded a few times and replied.
"Wow, that sounds like an incredibly fitting name."
Just then, Lee Su-bin, wearing an apron, came out into the living room and spoke to the family.
"Dinner's ready, so everyone come and eat."
Hearing this, Seol-i pouted. Lee Su-bin picked her up and said,
"Seol-i, you can ask him to read it again after dinner, right?"
"Hmph, but Seol-i doesn't wanna eat now..."
"If you act like that, you won't get any presents from Santa Claus."
At that, Seol-i quickly replied.
"Seol-i wants to eat now!"
"That's my good girl."
"Santa gonna give Seol-i a pwesent?"
"Of course, he will."
Her words reminded Kang-jun that Christmas was just a few days away, and he grinned.
"Tsk, so naive..."
"Huh?"
"I shall tell you the truth of the world..."
Just then, Lee Su-bin urgently shouted, "Don't you dare!" and smacked Kang-jun on the back with all her might.
WHACK!
Then, frowning slightly, she glared at Kang-jun and whispered in a low, growling voice into his ear.
"Kang-jun, you just try it."
"She'll find out someday anyway..."
"Enough. Just go and eat."
Just as Kang-jun started walking toward the dining table, gently rubbing his back,
"Seol-i, I need to talk to Daddy for a second. Can you go on ahead?"
Lee Su-bin put Seol-i back down on the floor, then approached Kang-jun and continued in a hushed tone.
"Kang-jun, I was thinking, apart from Santa's gift, maybe we as a family should each prepare a separate present for Seol-i."
"Oh?"
"If you haven't thought of anything yet, what about a kid's makeup playset? I asked her subtly before, and she said that's what she wants most..."
Just as Lee Su-bin was about to say more,
Kang-jun replied triumphantly, full of confidence.
"Don't worry, I've already thought of a mind-blowing gift."
"Huh?"
"It'll be incomparable to some kid's makeup playset."
Then, with a sinister "Heh heh..." he started for the table again.
Lee Su-bin watched his retreating back in silence for a moment, tilting her head slightly.
"What? He's already thought of something?"
Lately, Kang-jun had been showing a rather fatherly side, perhaps because his paternal affection for Seol-i was growing stronger.
They were spending much more time playing together, and although he'd grumble and complain, he usually ended up doing whatever Seol-i wanted.
Still, she'd never expected him to have already thought of a Christmas present for Seol-i, but it was definitely a positive development.
"Auntie, give Seol-i food!"
Seol-i's call snapped Lee Su-bin out of her thoughts. "Oh, where is my head," she muttered, hurrying toward the table.
The sight of her family gathered happily around the dining table instantly deepened the smile on her lips.
The harmonious scene warmed her heart for no particular reason.
That night.
Kang-jun, along with Bong-gu, revisited the large-scale private bank located in the deepest part of the Market,
「The Secret Financiers' Club」.
"Boss, what brings us back here, anyway?"
"Christmas is coming, so I need to prepare a gift."
As the two were chatting, the general manager, Kajan, rushed in like a shot and appeared in the VIP reception room...
"Kajan the goblin greets the great Immortal..."
He immediately prostrated himself before Kang-jun, bowing his head respectfully.
Kang-jun nodded a few times as if it were only natural, then got straight to the point without delay.
"There is something I need your help with."
"Whatever you ask, I shall serve you with all my heart."
"I want you to prepare a Christmas present for my daughter."
At those words, Kajan's eyes widened involuntarily, and he tilted his head slightly.
'The Immortal has a daughter?'
But he quickly recovered, putting on a professional, natural smile as he lifted his head slightly and asked,
"A present, you say? What kind of...?"
At that, Bong-gu, his eyes gleaming with curiosity, also turned to stare intently at the side of Kang-jun's face.
He was wondering what kind of gift would require a visit to a bank instead of a toy store.
"To capture my daughter's heart, a special gift is needed. A very special gift that cannot even be compared to what others will give."
"Yes, in that case...?"
"I deliberated for days on what gift would be best, but no matter how much I thought about it, it seemed nothing could top 'that'."
A moment of silence passed.
"By tomorrow, I want you to acquire a 'commercial building'."
At those words, Bong-gu's eyes went wide. "My god," he mumbled, clamping a hand over his mouth.
So...
He's planning to give a three-year-old girl an entire commercial building for Christmas?
'Wow, damn. I never would have imagined...'
Just then, Kang-jun raised his index finger and continued speaking in a calm voice.
"However, it must be a building that meets my conditions."
"Which are...?"
"There must be a thriving toy store on the first floor."
He added again.
"Inform the shop owner that they will be allowed to operate rent-free. In return, they are to give my daughter any toy she desires whenever she visits."
As Bong-gu let out a dumbfounded "Huh...", Kang-jun whipped his head toward him and added with a smirk,
"Everyone else is probably just thinking of some run-of-the-mill toy. This should be enough to completely capture the princess's heart, don't you think?"
Bong-gu nodded blankly and replied.
"Yes, I'm sure she'll love it..."
Then he swallowed the words that were stuck in his throat.
'Probably in about a dozen years or so, though...'
* * *
Several days passed, and soon, it was Christmas Eve.
"So cold, so cold..."
Lee Su-bin, who had just gotten off work from the factory at dusk as usual, walked down the street, blowing warm air onto her hands, which remained cold no matter how much she rubbed them.
A large Christmas tree stood in the center of the bustling street, and carols could be heard from all around.
'Wow, Christmas is really just around the corner...'
The thought brought a gentle smile to Lee Su-bin's face.
'I'll be able to have a happy Christmas this year...'
In fact, last Christmas had become one of the most painful memories of Lee Su-bin's entire life.
'Seol-i, we're going to sleep with a candle on tonight. It's dangerous, so don't you dare go near it.'
Struggling to make ends meet, she had fallen behind on several utility bills, and of all days, her electricity had been cut off right around Christmas.
'Seol-i, Auntie is so sorry...'
That day, Lee Su-bin had watched the soundly sleeping Seol-i and couldn't help but stifle her sobs for a long time.
She resented her reality.
Back then, with no one to look after young Seol-i, holding down a proper job was virtually impossible.
As a result, she took on any odd job she could do from home while watching Seol-i, without being picky.
From assembling pizza boxes to attaching eyes to dolls, trimming loose threads, and anything else she could find.
Of course, those odd jobs were barely enough to put food on the table, and she lived a life where even worrying about tomorrow, not just today, was a luxury.
But she never gave up hope that her brother would one day return, and after persevering tenaciously, she was finally able to reach her 'current life'.
'Just as they say, life is full of ups and downs...'
Lee Su-bin was happy.
'What should I make for dinner tonight that everyone will enjoy...?'
She loved the distinctly different atmosphere in her home since her brother's safe return.
She loved the warmth and bustle that now filled a house that had once felt merely quiet and desolate.
She loved eating delicious food with her family and spending time chatting with them.
'I hope things stay just like this from now on...'
Besides, she no longer had to worry about making a living, and she felt that was more than enough.
As she walked, she soon reached the bottom of the hill leading to her apartment complex...
...and saw the back of Iriel sitting at the bus stop near their house in the distance.
"Miss, what are you doing here?"
Iriel immediately shot up from her seat and replied.
"I came out to meet you, as it seemed about time for you to arrive."
"Miss, it's so cold out. You didn't have to come all this way to..."
Lee Su-bin trailed off, then said gently, "Thank you."
"By the way, you seem to be in a good mood today."
"I guess I'm just excited because Christmas is so close."
"It seems Your Highness enjoys the holiday known as Christmas."
Lee Su-bin shook her head and replied softly.
"No, actually, I think I was closer to hating it..."
"Is that so?"
"To be honest, last Christmas was a complete nightmare."
Then, as Lee Su-bin slowly walked up the hill, she began to explain in a quiet voice what had happened last Christmas.
"That must have been difficult for you."
At Iriel's serious tone, Lee Su-bin paused for a moment, then shook her head.
"No, it's okay. From now on, things will only get happier."
And with that, she started walking ahead a few steps as if it were no big deal...
"You may not know this, but the Lord also struggled."
"Yes, I'm sure it was much harder for him than it was for me."
Iriel nodded at her words.
She remembered Kang-jun's desperate efforts.
'My Lord, what is it that you write down every day?'
'I'm just writing about who I am.'
'But my Lord, you are the one who watches over the Anux Continent...'
'No, not that. About the me I used to be.'
The Lord feared that his memories were slowly fading away.
'Who I am, what kind of person I was, what I liked and disliked, how I grew up... things like that, things I never want to forget...'
Iriel could not offer any reply.
'I've told you a lot about my sister, haven't I?'
'Yes, you have.'
'These days, I can't remember her face at all.'
Because she had read the indescribable sadness in the Lord's eyes as he tried to speak nonchalantly.
It was a sadness so profound that it made her want to give him a warm hug, if only she could.
Before long, the two of them reached the house, located near the top of the steep hill packed with townhouses...
"Everyone must be hungry. I should hurry and start dinner..."
Lee Su-bin headed for the living room to start preparing dinner, and was about to open the refrigerator door.
"Huh? What's this lottery ticket...?"
Lee Su-bin tilted her head, having found a crumpled lottery ticket on the dining table.
"The Lord said he bought it for fun."
"I'll have to tell him not to buy these anymore."
She added, "It's a waste of money," and started rummaging through the fridge.
"Your Highness said that the past was like a nightmare, did you not?"
"Huh?"
"I believe it is now time for you to awaken from that bad dream."
At that, Lee Su-bin shrugged her shoulders once and replied in a cheerful voice.
"I think I already woke up a long time ago."
"Then I am truly glad."
"I'll have dinner ready in a jiffy."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"It's fine, please rest."
Left alone in the kitchen, Lee Su-bin went back to rummaging in the fridge, but then paused for a moment...
"Still, since he already bought it, might as well check it. Nothing to lose, right?"
She suddenly took out her phone and started fiddling with it.
"Uh...?"
A moment later, her pupils began to tremble like aspen leaves.
~ 9, 18, 19, 30, 34, 40 / 20
- 9, 18, 19, 30, 34, 40 / 20
All the numbers matched.
Which meant...
It was the first prize.
