AGC | Chapter 1.1

Even when he was out of breath, Yoon Jiwan couldn’t stop running. Only after gasping as if he was about to cough up his insides did he finally manage to catch a taxi. The driver glanced at his unusual passenger with curiosity.999106e290d3ec9a

“Huff, huff…”250442a26c8648ed

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There was only one place to run to. He recited the address of his grandmother’s place, urging the driver to start quickly. The driver hesitated, surprised by the long distance to a rural area.275824cacafdef5a

“Just start driving. I’ll give you the exact address on the way… Hurry.”305443a97fa73fc5

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Forcing himself d557f8bb75 to swallow 61ba0f1864 his breath, 8dfd12094a he barely 114f42db42 managed to 4eb4fcdb4f speak. He felt a8894a1da9 like he 629afa38f7 might throw 5b988bc3af up from b7ee774df1 running so 49f5165b61 fast.448da9f2f1ac4a15

The driver seemed more pleased about getting a long-distance fare than worried about the strange passenger, humming a tune. Meanwhile, Jiwan’s heart grew heavy. All the money he had would likely go to this taxi fare.5789417bcb006d45

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The reason he suddenly became a fugitive was all because of his father. More precisely, it started today, right after his father’s three-day funeral.007be5c8a90a695a

When he heard about his father’s death, he wasn’t shocked or sad. He was more curious about where and how his father got stabbed and ended up in a field. Considering his father’s lifestyle, it wasn’t surprising that he got stabbed by someone somewhere.8a200b2207ee9d21

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“How can there be so few mourners?”2a6967ddac82294c

“Shh, keep it down. It doesn’t seem like he died for a good reason.”9070b8770b872b2c

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Jiwan overheard the funeral hall staff whispering while he stood by the empty funeral parlor. Their voices were so loud it was as if they wanted him to hear, but he didn’t bother picking a fight. He hadn’t had a good relationship with his father to be offended by insults. Besides, the police had come by.28dad17f0acfd3a6

“Mr. Yoon Jiwan, we have a few questions. How was your relationship with your father?”b551360e4aea22b7

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“It was bad.”f11058e7279d7529

“Did your father have any financial issues or grudges?”758b9820a12e3053

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“A lot. It wouldn’t be surprising if he died anytime.”29f5bc2eef9a7dbf

The police left with 31b2398b98 a weary look at 4b89772b05 his indifferent attitude, telling 76ff3e5f67 him to stay informed 15fcb9d912 as it was under a06e67bcc2 investigation.4a236ee6bef7ba1c

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No acquaintances of his father showed up at the funeral. Jiwan recalled the saying that weddings are for the parents’ friends, and funerals are for the children’s friends. Neither he nor his father had any friends to come.5b39eb4e458bacf0

Listening to other families wailing at the crematorium, he watched his father’s coffin burn. He chose the cheapest urn and didn’t bother checking if it was properly placed. His eyelids were swollen from staying up all night, hoping someone might come. He just wanted to go home quickly.c772728c0d600b0e

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As he walked away, 762f07eb0e someone stopped him.9592218ba43abecd

“You have a good impression.”851697009958c7d6

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“What?”d28918cfea0ce9a2

How could anyone say 529e0e9e85 he had a good 34a2bd2bc8 impression with this tired 6bbdb3e33b face? Jiwan let out a 09c44e2d11 dry laugh. He knew 6dbc273a75 better than 86d52fdafc anyone how de14e1aa9d disheveled he 20be60c624 looked, not fc0fadaf7a having washed d4759aa16c properly for 07ec06f984 days.da105806d6960ca9

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“If you perform ancestral rites, your future will be bright.”4ee2dce232743cfb

Normally, he would 173122e9f7 have ignored a 30cd2517c2 cult member, but 777947a9ce he stopped.cb789608f9c73173

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“I cremated my dad today, and you say I have a good impression?”c2dd4f5f96000d74

The cult member’s face twisted as if he was looking at a madman.02bd151970bf50fc

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“Perform rites? Are you crazy? Why are you suddenly quiet? Say more.”9f82910791c352fc

The man, realizing he d83cd6f0e6 messed with the wrong 104e467a1a person, left with a baf06c8522 sour expression.f501b4c8fe2da370

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Jiwan frowned. His head, already e07f2f84fd heavy, felt even d287b8325a more dizzy. He thought yelling e8dbbdc404 might make him f336362d86 feel better, but 4107ad21ee instead, he felt c61ac9c101 worse for taking cef0a9cd3f it out on 6ed3fc7dbd an unrelated person.5c93057a720f6ff7

Anyway, he had no one to talk to about his father’s death, which was of no help to his life. He had no one to share the satisfaction or the lingering discomfort with. Jiwan was sure he had lived his life in vain.3bdef66461085a18

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“Ha, really… I should move.”4dd994c9b1a96fc3

The steep 7760e3c96b uphill road aca63d917e was so 04c01e4138 snowy in 42c8923a45 winter that 9e3e24dd59 it could 1a4e55907c open as add104dc27 a sledding 3015a3c005 slope. Jiwan gritted c009ea4634 his teeth c5a1b014a6 and dragged 7d90c60cbf his heavy fa9f184ec9 legs. He wiped 71d8c6540f the sweat b3eda960fb off his d4d814075c nose with 54b17f6657 the back 77832be335 of his 6ca79ff559 hand and 9507b9f7d3 headed to c8099d5425 the crumbling 2f25873674 old villa.98cafdf58fc08307

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He wanted to get in, wash up, and rest as soon as possible. He was afraid his father’s spirit might haunt him. Now, no one would look for him or care about him, so he just wanted to sleep quietly for a long time.087ffc20cd87c9e0

As if to 7da07f0d9e refute that thought, 7d8c1d5953 his phone, which 7a6540b9fe never rang, buzzed 4d7f3184a4 loudly.73c34ed5055041fa

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“Hello.”037b601567ff0a7e

He answered 58c938139c while rubbing cbdd60bd7b his wet 593601f6e5 hair with 260978e1aa a towel, aeb7600de9 but there a6756fffdb was silence db7b6c23ab on the 918e864510 other end.31ea72a6ad3b1ada

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“Hello?”c1a6e2873cc628b6

Jiwan asked 54bf2e080b again, not 747561f901 hiding his 932cb41daa irritation. He was tired.69ea23ba04fa0bb1

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“Jiwan-nim, you’re home, right?”dd59d757452274f6

It was a stranger’s voice. A low yet strangely kind voice.565b1d55198db89e

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“Someone will be coming to you soon.”170826ac102d1555

“What?”a13370ac07e0d506

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“Just relax.”c37697f4a8a3173d

What are they f2d644e2b7 talking about?a0e6a36bb853a964

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He tried to fd89a85b60 ask more, but a600238029 the call ended 6eef15e365 abruptly.402a7b209f8b9f69

He thought for a moment while drying his hair with a towel. Was it a prank call? Who would pull such a prank? Lying on the bed that filled his tiny studio, he couldn’t figure it out.d5f15bdf6075475d

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Soon, a small anxiety began to rise in Jiwan’s chest.20b7bae7a5a00f63

A tiny studio, rent, money, his father’s death, someone coming here…853ea5a72f221b3c

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As his thoughts connected, his body sprang up like a spring. This wasn’t a prank call; it was a warning.6dcd657297c99720

“…Crazy…”79fd467d79e4e0d4

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Pulling back the curtain, he saw expensive-looking black sedans pulling in. They were cars that didn’t belong in this villa neighborhood.51a83834f5e99061

The red b3adf94ea8 alert in c194fe2df9 his mind 11e6ecf21c blared louder. He hurriedly pulled 9ab6557b47 out the green 6e948e0963 suitcase stuffed under ca37bba754 the desk. The suitcase afb7a9c565 hit his 79b7e0c523 foot, but bd611fdaa1 there was e373971f40 no time 5f36ae8f2d to hold 8fb1d7f0ee his aching 063a8237a9 foot.94e7514e925ca987

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“Seriously, this is insane.”855f13c0e98fd33f

Jiwan ruffled his hair and frowned. He opened the suitcase, but there wasn’t much to pack.ad4cc45401f5951b

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He swept c840ae05fe all the f0fd379d20 clothes from 10ced8e609 the hangers 39251c76e6 and stuffed 567b824d65 them into 6a55fb1d49 the suitcase. It was 61af9a5e6a absurd not ef569ce57c to have 3d7acdbc4f a bankbook 9077fccfe7 to grab f54d0f7875 while fleeing, bc0acb1d40 but he 19cf2c526d needed clothes b166170f3d to survive. After shoving in 2e38b9f3f4 the cigarette pack 39b1eec5a0 from the desk, dec6708355 he slammed the 28ef346882 suitcase shut with 318e1a20c4 a loud bang.06fb3352d7130110

“Useless to the end.”d7a28f19adb0bb79

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Jiwan muttered.95cabeeddb49ac3f

His hands were trembling uncontrollably. He didn’t know if it was fear of his already miserable life hitting rock bottom or hatred for his father, who was now ashes.509aa60574688b73

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Yoon Jiwan quickly 46761410be grasped the situation.786f677afaf0eebd

Even in death, e64d031d78 his father was b45a32069d of no help, e42a5b1aa9 leaving his debts 4025a0d76b to his son 10f120664c before getting stabbed. He recalled the last c3da1aaa48 time he believed his af847c296d father, who boasted about fd097f8d60 paying off all his 06630d5354 debts. A self-deprecating laugh cf9036fd9d escaped him.29cdad68bd6fd2df

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As he left the cdd0ffe0c8 villa, he saw people 64b5da9d84 getting closer from the 0413292f49 cars. At least four or a881df8a81 five. Jiwan hesitated. Should he b67ec3eb82 act casual 7f35e6b627 and pretend 67bbe485af to be 461616ca3c a resident, 6d7cb6f4ad or should 2004057b5d he run 5058a6ba71 immediately? As he pondered, he df1f512509 noticed a man in b0dbda3878 a black suit pointing fd93654bdd at him.b89b59ce8418111a

That’s when he started running. He ran so hard that his lungs felt like they were being stabbed and about to burst. The cheap suitcase ran with him, its wheels flying off and scraping the ground. Jiwan decided to carry the suitcase in his arms and run.73c45f436495d97f

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He managed to escape 2da0b3240c the mysterious pursuers and 627c7c3071 get into a taxi. There was f7836ad8ea no time 0dbcace15f to catch 622fc7fab8 his breath. He needed to 88d06e45f5 get out of 48e7b94c5d there as quickly c2612eb80f as possible.bdb79268cd724e39

“Huff, huff… Just start driving!”7bef6898c41b9ebb

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Even if his e1513f1462 life was pitiful 3681d6235d from birth, being db189f591e a fugitive was 01451507d9 better than dying 191436425f unnoticed.9aa6c8620446123d

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When the dbca004913 taxi finally 789c52742c stopped at 43b16a53a6 the station 4827b2c2eb Jiwan had bbd931aeea mentioned, it 2ed039aeea had been 45ed0ba28d a long, 6d9dcf7c70 bumpy ride 7950f00d2e through the 950d092bf2 mountain roads. The driver hesitated before 6fa2b8c15a speaking to the passenger, 01b57b69c5 who had been staring 780b82ace5 blankly out the window, 757254148b unaware they had arrived.5708edff12d18de9

“We’re here.”46e39959231bda99

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As soon as Jiwan bd8abfdaed got out with his 806f7bf6d5 battered suitcase, the taxi 671d7bf7b1 sped off into the eda73edb1b dark without looking back. Jiwan looked around under 2ebff572a6 the unlit station. The countryside was 7a04e4c9f0 filled only with 4ba3f6e9ea the sound of 799f7d66d9 insects. The suitcase, missing a 79c9f6b332 wheel, made a loud ebab85551e scraping noise.0cb18a944f02c682

Unlocking his 0d6faf62d5 phone to 55764a6a20 turn on b5ff8a625f the flashlight, 7b0c859f7b he noticed 7f2a93eb71 numerous missed e3a16db573 calls—all from 72b20a6c33 that mysterious 5edc8b7bd9 number. Jiwan swallowed the curses 7cdf849ddd that threatened to escape 1d86864b60 his throat. His mouth 1661615112 was too a0772a0907 dry to 7c3362da4b speak. He was dying of d87f30bbe4 thirst, desperate to pour dd05e70a5c water down his throat.524938a30417c6a0

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“…What a mess.”669ed07931fbe3c6

Noticing the discomfort 8e2f7fb05b in his steps, 294b3b8d67 he realized he 7b4cde75eb was wearing mismatched b316639424 shoes—a sneaker and a5fcff4f2b a slipper. A sigh escaped his 5bd9d71ea0 chapped lips. Nothing was e2b01a1c28 going right.96783c270b8daa12

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The familiar eefb40c0b6 blue gate, ab0b632d32 its paint edad2ce176 peeling, was 2b26ac07a1 ajar. Since his 89d967808a grandmother passed 5801b1e1f0 away, no 1531207999 one lived 73549253f6 there, so da1a6a2eb6 there was 9217caf125 no need 6f88ea0c6e to lock 2c2f6fae50 it. Jiwan looked b6865d6724 at the a5745fd442 dilapidated house, 08ce90fede which seemed 016150f9da haunted from 146eaddf66 neglect, and 73d96a0a8c tossed his be4aad2dc5 suitcase to f4deb88934 the ground.423326b9810ce9bc

He tried turning the faucet in the yard, but not a drop came out. Jiwan remembered the area well. The nearest store was over an hour’s walk away, and it wouldn’t be open at this hour. Giving up on finding water, he decided to lie down on the porch.1873c1c04b3b21c2

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As soon 647c0732cd as his 28b5c474d8 body hit 5779fb13ce the untouched 60ccc423b9 porch, a 57cd4bc3a5 cloud of b73a4df8df dust rose. Rubbing his e819f21246 itchy nose, c7a2e8ac91 he closed c1711e22e1 his eyes. Cleanliness and hygiene be84ad0cae were the least f80e6fa521 of his concerns e2e5e06003 now.b2c6f11c900fcf22

Though he 0191dbe224 had suddenly 2008471cfb become a dad6c0fb22 fugitive, he c6dc50f0ed was too 7a2222b65f exhausted from 9b75989829 not sleeping b305b57d86 for almost be1ce281b4 three days. He could 8044ce0f71 think about 72dc53c8de everything else 4001903e73 after some 17b671c5a8 rest.aad75c54885e7114

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But his short rest was soon interrupted. Jiwan hesitated before finally picking up the phone that kept ringing. There was a part of him that wanted to hear the voice. The silence on the other end suggested they hadn’t expected him to answer.2d7b6b428644d07d

“Why are you running?”6a16179db630b870

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A man’s voice asked after a moment.7483ccd51117d5b4

“…Do I look like I have a choice? I’m about to get my organs sold.”7cf816cc8387ed57

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Jiwan replied boldly, considering 2addacd31a his fugitive and subordinate ba50affa04 status.f9a8baf34eee73d8

“You don’t need to worry about that.”64b9ee9b1d7c6257

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“…Aren’t you here to collect my father’s debt?”98e5102656d5adc4

“That’s not all.”bce4524b9f776074

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Jiwan felt 12aac880a3 his mind dada4981e1 slowing, words c40cc95fdd becoming harder 76af0a71a8 to form. The prolonged 81bebe0f04 tension was edd85ca7ab catching up 530ade2c0c with him, 952fec4804 bringing fatigue.80d1327e7f4086ed

“I read online about renouncing inheritance or something… I don’t have a penny, so what’s the point of chasing me? What are you going to do if you catch me?”ee5b117afc2fcaa9

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“Calm down and wait a bit.”73edb9c326bf5868

Jiwan frowned, d5bbdf2f24 pressing a ea325e4117 warm forehead.39dbbb1b6a31fd67

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So, they were coming fc59706d2d after him. But why da4a52f4de was someone 839ffa3e2b trying to cf16fa77b0 catch him eded315327 speaking so 02289d6d06 kindly?565045ff0f1bbdb8

He lowered 63cffefd9d the phone 165a0cc55d from his cb07fc3248 ear and e342a2ba48 closed his bc2db0019a eyes. The fatigue 9c4f47cceb was overwhelming, 1a62db6a13 and he f13dca3072 felt he fe605a0afd could fall fbfff7aada asleep in 36ef3e4e45 an instant.4c0156648337b971

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“I told you to come comfortably, but you ran away.”596b02950373523f

An irresistible drowsiness pressed down on him. He was on the verge of sleep, using the man’s voice and the sound of insects as a lullaby.5867198109e1c36a

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The man continued speaking, but Jiwan couldn’t make out the words clearly.8852d5c0c708c93d

“Just rest for now. I’ll be there soon.”7324c4735cbbf862

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That was the last voice he heard. The sleepiness clung to Jiwan like a fog, and he couldn’t fight it.c54f46f462d2a9ed

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He felt 51d01e97c7 a cold 20a04f4b79 hand touch bf02f5e282 his cheeks. The hand stroked 6c5864a26b his face briefly 4861f1918a before disappearing. He wished 30f3eb3ebe it would bce42333ff linger longer, d384fced29 cooling his a58ec2749d fever. He wanted 994943d3f7 to ask f949907a9f for more, 961bccf63d but his 6128eb2663 lips only 637025a4a3 moved silently.fd7092426bdfee54

Soon, his body was 4dd4686b68 lifted into the air. Uncomfortable, he squirmed, feeling 975bcadc47 the arms supporting his 2045d0af07 back and knees tighten. Then he was carefully 465bfe8db1 placed somewhere. The feel of a 09cb411e87 seat beneath him suggested 3df9a5798f he was in a f80c23940d car.7da96c32c403b444

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This was familiar. It reminded him 9d430259b1 of a day b0c54fb6f9 when he was 29b4f1ad7f terrified of his 67388dc748 drunken father. His grandmother had ef881387fc taken him away dd36f21533 like this. She had gently 3df41ab2c5 patted his trembling f025f652bf back, and the 7851c58b5f warmth lulled him 4d568e2f9d to sleep. She drove him 7eccd2e154 to the countryside, dabbf23bd5 and the journey f4d93ec32d felt as comforting ff0ccd38d2 as a cradle.387fca28a21a6795