### Chapter 426 – Clan with Structure (2)
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[Han Kain]
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Administration Bureau.
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This refers to a secret organization that handles demons, heretics, ghosts, and monsters that threaten civilization.
Sure, it’s a bit ironic that a middle school student like me knows of its existence, but for the average Joe, all they really know is maybe that “there’s this organization called the Administration Bureau.”
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“I’ve heard about it on TV sometimes…”
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“What did you say?”
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“There are people who deal with demons, ghosts, and monsters—”
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Before I could finish, my great-grandfather chuckled and waved his hand.
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“Listen closely, kiddo.”
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“Yes.”
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“Normally, talking about this sort of stuff all willy-nilly can get your neck snapped, but look at me—how old do you think I am?”
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“… I heard it’s nearly ninety.”
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“Do you think I’m scared of losing my neck at this age?”
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“…”
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“Kain, back in my young days, I had a lot of dealings with the people from the Administration Bureau. I’ve poked at wriggly lumps down in cold country basements after endless train rides, and I’ve even talked to a three-headed giant in Hawaii. You heard of it?”
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“Yes.”
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“That sounds like nonsense, right?”
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“No, not at all. Were you one of those, uh, Administration Bureau agents?”
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“Agent… Well, something like that. My most brutal memories are from working with the Bureau, but also, my most fun ones too. Without working there, I wouldn’t have known how weird this world can be even at my age!”
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My great-grandfather chuckled again and brought up another topic.
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“Hey, kiddo. Do you like scary stories?”
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“Nope.”
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“Well, then I’ve got to tell you one!”
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“…”
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“When I was a kid, my father got a strange jar from Japan.”
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“Japan?”
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“I can’t quite remember if it was obtained in Japan or if a Japanese person brought it to Joseon.”
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“Oh, I get it now.”
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“The person who gave the jar said that if you keep it safe, your home would thrive, farming would go well, women would pop out squishy toads for sons, and your males would hit the jackpot for government positions!”
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That sounds like a typical superstition about golden toads.
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“So, did your grandpa believe that?”
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“Not so much believing, more like he kept it tucked away in the storeroom, thinking whatever. Doesn’t your house have stuff like that?”
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“Yeah.”
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“Strangely enough, after that day, all the household matters went smoothly, like noodles sliding down. I shouldn’t go into details, but let’s just say our land tripled in size in three years.”
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Acquiring a magical jar from Japan led to a threefold increase in fortune in three years?
Hearing such a bizarre tale, I couldn’t help but ponder.
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“That’s quite amazing. But…”
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“But?”
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“…”
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“Oh come on! If you’re going to talk, finish your thought!”
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“Isn’t there always a scary catch to things like that? Like, didn’t your grandpa die due to that jar?”
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“…”
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Suddenly my great-grandfather’s expression became serious.
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“… Granddad?”
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“A price… a price… Indeed. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. If there was a god or a demon in that jar, they certainly desired something in return.”
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“…”
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“Kiddo, do you have a younger sibling?”
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“My sibling? Heekang?”
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“Is that his name, Han Heekang?”
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“Of course! You remember my name, right?”
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“Whoaaa! You’re calling me out on my memory, huh?”
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“Well, not exactly…”
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“Look, I have three sons and two daughters. There are fourteen grandchildren and, oh dear! I lost count of the great-grandkids.”
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“…”
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“Think you can keep all that in mind?”
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“Maybe…”
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After hearing him out, I definitely understood his point.
Honestly, it’s remarkable that someone almost ninety is still so coherent and can walk around fine!
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“Is your sibling, Heekang, well-behaved?”
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“Yes.”
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“Sweet and cute?”
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“Definitely.”
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“Pretty enough to put in your eye?”
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“Er… that might hurt…”
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“…”
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“…”
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“Ahem! What I mean is, do you love your little sibling a lot?”
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“I love him a lot.”
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“Kiddo, love, love is meaningless if it just ends with words.”
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“Huh?”
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Love becomes meaningless if it’s just words?
Why’s he suddenly saying that?
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“How much you love someone isn’t about how many times you can say ‘I love you’, but about how much you’re actually willing to give.”
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The degree of love depends on what you’re willing to give, not how often you say it.
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“For instance, how much does my son Minseok love you? That can be measured by how much money he spent taking care of you; after all, just breathing costs money.”
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So, my parents’ love can be summed up by how much money they spent on raising me?
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“From the milk you drank after popping out of your mom’s belly, to the meals you have every day. That’s all love.”
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“Isn’t that a bit weird?”
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“Weird? How’s that weird?”
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“It just seems that richer parents might spend more on their kids, but that doesn’t mean they love them more than less wealthy parents.”
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Hearing this, my great-grandfather nodded lightly and added:
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“You’re right, Kain. What I’m talking about isn’t about absolute amounts but rather ‘how precious’ the amount is.”
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“How precious?”
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“The money a poor parent spends might be relatively low, but to that parent, it’s probably significant.”
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“Aha, I get it.”
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With more explanation, I could finally grasp it.
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“Now, summarize what this old man said.”
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“How much I love someone depends on how much preciousness I’m willing to share with them?”
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“Wow!”
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“…”
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“Wow! Are you sure you’re just an elementary school kid?”
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“I’m in the first year of middle school.”
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“Sharp as a tack. Must be from me, right?”
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“…”
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Honestly, I didn’t think I deserved that loud praise.
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“Well then, kiddo, what are your prized possessions?”
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My most precious thing?
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“My life, I suppose?”
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“Haha! Exactly! The most precious thing for a person is their life. You can’t buy it with money, and you only get one in lifetime. What could be more precious?”
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“Right?”
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“Now, what’s the second most precious thing?”
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“Uhh…”
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“Isn’t there something similar? Something you can’t buy, and only have one of?”
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Something that’s almost as precious as life.
Something you can’t buy, and only have one.
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“… The body?”
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“Wow! Look at this genius! A brilliant mind like Einstein’s five times over was born here!”
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What on earth is happening here!
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“Grandpa! I got it right, right?”
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“Of course. The body is the next most precious thing after life. In fact, it’s nearly identical.”
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“Yeah…”
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The old warehouse fell silent for a moment.
I thought I could finally escape the weird hands of this old man.
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Just then, my great-grandfather looked at me firmly.
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“Kiddo.”
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“Yes?”
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“You said you loved your sibling, right?”
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This had started as the first story.
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“Of course.”
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“Would you give your body for that love?”
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“…”
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This was the culmination of our long conversation.
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I do love my sibling.
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Love is proven by giving away what I hold dear.
And my most cherished possession is my body.
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Therefore, the ultimate love is the kind that can give up my own body.
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“… I love him, but not enough to that extent.”
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“I guess not. People are generally like that.”
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“…”
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“That’s just being human.”
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“…”
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“Kain.”
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“Yes?”
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“I’ve seen love that’s willing to give even the body away.”
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What on earth does that even mean?
I looked at my great-grandfather with a puzzled expression, but instead of answering, he gestured me to go back to the Hanok.
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*
Back at the Hanok, the phone was ringing loudly.
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“Yes? You’re coming tomorrow?”
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Thanks to my great-grandfather’s whims, adults had all gone to pick tea leaves, and now they say they’re extending their stay.
There were mentions of suddenly experiencing heavy rain or car troubles, which sounded suspicious even to me, a middle schooler.
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Indeed, as I hung up, a nearby person named ‘Lawyer Park’ smirked.
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“It seems the tea leaves are less abundant than expected.”
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“Excuse me?”
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“Know this, Kain, there’s no such thing as an easy job in this world. If city folks can roll around in a tea field for a day and have great results, that’d be odd.”
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“…”
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Are they seriously trying to count tomorrow’s leaves along with today’s because they didn’t gather enough today?
I couldn’t help but chuckle, but it didn’t anger me; it was just a ridiculous situation.
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After all, my great-grandfather offered ten million won per kg. So I guess they really needed to work hard for it.
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Thanks to that, I spent the whole afternoon helping lively kids struggle in the bamboo forest.
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*
Late at night.
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Amidst a haze, I overheard strange people conversing.
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“We’re back here again. Guess we’ll stop here this time?”
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“Wasn’t Kain supposed to be just an ordinary high school student outside?”
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“He probably thought so. Who knows? Maybe Seungyub or Songyi too…”
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“Ah! Everyone hush! What’s important is Kain—”
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Strangely, each voice felt both familiar and welcoming.
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…
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— Locked on!
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I woke up in the midst of an intense pain wrapping around my neck!
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