The Way to Save the Crazy Returnees Chapter 76 - The Butterfly Effect (3)

Ch 76 The Butterfly Effect (3)

 

“…Hello?”

 

—Why did you take so long to answer?

 

“I had something to take care of. Have you arrived?”

 

—Yeah.

 

Lee Man-deuk let out a long yawn and asked,

 

—What time is it in Korea right now?

 

“It’s 5 p.m.”

 

—Really? It’s just past 1 a.m. here.

 

It couldn’t be helped because of the time difference. Knowing that, instead of complaining, Lee Man-deuk asked,

 

—What about the kids?

 

“They’re at home.”

 

—So CEO Kwak isn’t there?

 

“I told you, I had something to deal with.”

 

—Finish up quickly and go back.

 

He said that because he was worried about Lee Deok-sun and Lee Soon-deuk. His younger siblings were staying in an unfamiliar place, so of course he was concerned.

 

—Tell the kids I’ll call them tomorrow. Then I’m hanging up.

 

“Wait a second.”

 

I hurriedly stopped him as he tried to say his piece and end the call.

 

“Mr. Lee Man-deuk.”

 

—I haven’t met Ji Geon-hyuk yet. But I think I’ll find him soon, so don’t ask.

 

I hadn’t even planned to ask about Ji Geon-hyuk.

 

—I’ll try to talk things out with him first. Well… if that doesn’t work, I’ll fight him like a dog.

 

“And the curse?”

 

—I’m going to see how that bastard behaves before lifting it.

 

Lee Man-deuk laughed, clearly expecting a fight.

 

—Oh, right. You’re going to book my return ticket too, right?

 

“Yes. After you lift Ji Geon-hyuk’s curse, I’ll get you the earliest flight back.”

 

—So in the end, no matter what, you want me to come back only after breaking that bastard’s curse?

 

“You’ve got it.”

 

Lee Man-deuk laughed irritably. Somehow, the conversation had drifted back to Ji Geon-hyuk.

 

‘That’s not what I meant to talk about.’

 

There was something I wanted to ask him carefully. Afraid I’d miss my chance, I blurted it out.

 

“Um… Mr. Lee Man-deuk.”

 

—What.

 

“If you were to meet your parents—”

 

—I’d kill them.

 

He answered before I could even finish the question.

 

—Why are you suddenly bringing those people up?

 

“It’s… just something that came up.”

 

—CEO Kwak, you really work hard even on weekends.

 

He must have thought I was asking because of something related to WF Entertainment. If that was the case, it was a relief—though only barely.

 

“…Yeah.”

 

I couldn’t hide my complicated feelings.

 

—Ah, my taxi’s here. I’m hanging up.

 

Without waiting for my reply, Lee Man-deuk ended the call.

 

“Yoon-hoo oppa.”

 

“Yoon-hoo hyung.”

 

No sooner had the call ended than I heard voices calling me. It was Lee Deok-sun and Lee Soon-deuk.

 

“You’re here?”

 

The kids nodded.

 

“We thought you were on the phone with Oppa, so we waited quietly.”

 

“So it really was Hyung?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

Lee Deok-sun and Lee Soon-deuk’s expressions darkened.

 

“When will Hyung come back?”

 

“He’ll be back within the week.”

 

Knowing Lee Man-deuk, he’d lift the curse no matter what—simply because he’s worried about his siblings.

 

“He’ll be here in time to see your father’s last moments.”

 

Lee Deok-sun and Lee Soon-deuk flinched and bit their lips.

 

“Guys?”

 

They looked like they had something on their minds, so I spoke gently.

 

“Yoon-hoo oppa.”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“Can you make our oppa stay in the U.S.?”

 

“I mean… until after our dad passes away.”

 

“Please. If Oppa comes back now…”

 

Lee Deok-sun trailed off and lowered her head.

 

Only then did I understand what they were really afraid of. They were worried Lee Man-deuk might do something unthinkable—kill his own father.

 

Hadn’t he just said it himself? That if he met his parents, he’d kill them.

 

Remembering how he’d answered without hesitation, I spoke.

 

“Okay. Not this week—next week. No… I’ll try to arrange it so he only comes back after your father has passed.”

 

“Thank you!”

 

“Don’t thank me yet.”

 

Lee Man-deuk was a mage.

 

Savior of the World. Great Tower Lord. Noble of the Slums. Punisher of Trash. Mage of the Stars…

 

With countless epithets attached to him, he wasn’t someone who would stay away just because I didn’t book a flight.

 

‘What should I do?’

 

How could I possibly stop Lee Man-deuk from returning by force? The company he worked for didn’t even have a branch in California.

 

With a heavy heart, I looked toward the hospital room where his father was admitted. Lee Deok-sun and Lee Soon-deuk were holding the hand of the man barely clinging to life, aided by an oxygen mask.

 

Honestly—

 

“He’s different from that sapa bastard.”

 

Han Yeong-won spoke the thought I hadn’t said aloud.

 

“He’s really kind.”

 

“…Deok-sun and Soon-deuk are different from Mr. Lee Man-deuk.”

 

“I’m not talking about the sapa bastard. I’m talking about you.”

 

Me?

 

“That guy—he’s a vermin, and he only has a few days left to live anyway, right?”

 

It seemed she found it admirable that I had personally arranged for such a vermin to be admitted to the hospital.

 

“If you want, I can kill him for you.”

 

“Ms. Han Yeong-won, this isn’t the world where you were the Heavenly Demon.”

 

“So you’re telling me not to kill people carelessly?”

 

At her crooked smile, I nodded quietly.

 

“You piece of shit, are you daring to give me orders?”

 

“It’s not an order. It’s a request.”

 

Han Yeong-won scowled and turned away.

 

“Boss, I don’t like that guy.”

 

“Ms. Han Yeong-won probably doesn’t like you either, Seo Do-hwan. What about Yoo-seong?”

 

“He went to the convenience store. He hadn’t eaten dinner.”

 

Well, it was still a little early for dinner anyway.

 

“Tell Yoo-seong he doesn’t need to buy my share.”

 

“Where are you going?”

 

“I’ve got something to check.”

 

“By yourself?”

 

“Of course, by myself.”

 

“Hey. Kwak Yoon-hoo.”

 

I added reassurance to his irritated tone.

 

“I’m going to visit the kids’ mother.”

 

“Isn’t she in a state where she can’t meet anyone?”

 

“Seo Do-hwan, have you forgotten who I am?”

 

This was AMA Seoul Hospital. At a place carrying the AMA name, there was nothing I couldn’t do.

 

“…Annoying.”

 

“Thanks for the compliment.”

 

I smiled and left.

 

***

 

The psychiatric ward of AMA Seoul Hospital was in the adjacent building.

 

“Master, grant us grace and mercy, save us. Of the five precepts: one is to be loyal to the master, two is to never betray the master, three is to dedicate everything to the master, four is to generously offer even one’s children to the master, and the last is…”

 

The woman with her hands clasped in prayer looked utterly insane.

 

“She seemed to be getting a little better, but now she’s doing this,” the nurse whispered to me, but I said nothing.

 

Well, the Five Precepts that Lee Man-deuk’s mother was reciting were ones I recognized.

 

The religious group I’d asked Han Yeong-won to help with—commonly called a cult—was the one promoting these precepts.

 

When we found her with Han Yeong-won’s help, I came prepared, thinking I might recognize some familiar words.

 

‘Seems like a good find.’

 

After a quiet exhale, I told the nurse,

 

“Let me know if her condition gets any worse.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Lee Man-deuk’s mother continued reciting the Five Precepts until I left the room. When I finally stepped out of the psychiatric ward—

 

“Yoon-hoo hyung.”

 

“Yoo-seong?”

 

Lee Yoo-seong greeted me.

 

“How did you get here?”

 

“Do-hwan hyung told me.”

 

Lee Yoo-seong smiled brightly and handed me a convenience store lunchbox.

 

“You haven’t eaten dinner, right? I got you a bulgogi rice box since I know you like it!”

 

“Yoo-seong…”

 

I was grateful even for a triangular kimbap, but a bulgogi rice box? I couldn’t believe he’d thought of me like that.

 

“Thanks. I’ll eat well. Did you already eat?”

 

“Yes, I did!”

 

He said he’d eaten with Seo Do-hwan as he chattered away.

 

“Deok-sun and Soon-deuk said they weren’t hungry. But skipping meals isn’t good for them, so I made them eat at least a spoonful. And Han Yeong-won? I got her something too. She told me to get some byeokgokdan—or whatever they’re called.”

T/N: Byeokgokdan is a traditional martial-arts or cultivation food made from compressed grains, nuts, and herbs. In fiction, it’s often portrayed as a strange-tasting, energy-sustaining pill or rice ball used during long training sessions.

 

For now, what Lee Yoo-seong bought would be what they ate.

 

“But eventually, they ate because they were hungry!”

 

“Thank goodness.”

 

If they hadn’t eaten what Lee Yoo-seong brought, all they would’ve had while staying at my place was byeokgokdan. Top-class chef’s byeokgokdan, no less—I was curious, but not exactly eager to try it.

 

“By the way, hyung… do you know what byeokgokdan is?”

 

“Think of it as a tasteless rice ball. No MSG at all—basically plain white rice with some mint powder and a drizzle of durian juice, if I exaggerate a bit.”

 

“…Why would anyone want to eat something like that?”

 

Probably to train their internal energy. If that was the goal, they might as well have gone into seclusion training.

 

“What about Deok-sun and Soon-deuk?”

 

“They’re staying by that man’s side. Do-hwan hyung is keeping an eye on him too, making sure he doesn’t do anything weird to the kids.”

 

Then…

 

“Yoo-seong, come with me for a moment.”

 

“Eh? Okay! Sure!”

 

Lee Yoo-seong beamed brightly. He could’ve asked where we were going, but he didn’t.

 

I felt grateful, yet also concerned. With that much kindness, how would he survive in such a harsh world in the future…

 

“Yoon-hoo hyung?”

 

After patting the child’s head with a smile, I said, “Let’s go.”

 

“Okay!”

 

I led Lee Yoo-seong toward Gangnam-daero.

 

“Why are we here?”

 

“There are some people I need to find.”

 

Lee Yoo-seong tilted his head in confusion. These were people who weren’t exactly normal humans—it was understandable that he’d be puzzled.

 

Fortunately—or maybe unfortunately—it didn’t take long to find the people we were looking for.

 

“Everyone! Our Master will show grace!”

 

“And mercy as well, saving this world!”

 

Grace, mercy, salvation…

 

“Be loyal to the Master and have faith! Do not betray! Give everything to the Master! Your wealth, your children, everything you possess!”

 

It was exactly the same as what Lee Man-deuk’s mother had been reciting.

 

Lee Yoo-seong muttered as he watched the people handing out pamphlets and proselytizing.

 

“Is this… a cult?”

 

He saw right through it.

 

“Yoon-hoo hyung, do you need to see these people?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

Lee Yoo-seong looked startled.

 

“Well… no. I mean, in the Republic of Korea, you’re free to accept or refuse any religion.”

 

“Yoo-seong, I’m an atheist.”

 

I hurriedly clarified before any misunderstandings arose. Lee Yoo-seong visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

 

“Then why did you come here to see them? What business do you have?”

 

“Actually, the one who has business here is Han Yeong-won.”

 

I had asked Han Yeong-won to investigate the religious organization those people belonged to. Before that, though…

 

“I just came to check something, and now I’m done.”

 

That made things clear.

 

Lee Man-deuk’s mother had definitely been affiliated with the religious organization I’d asked Han Yeong-won to look into.

 

Calling it a “religious organization” was generous. In reality, it was a small group where a few individuals, centered around the leader, exploited followers and engaged in criminal activities.

 

‘The Ark Church of Universal Salvation.’

 

The reason I knew this place—and its rather long name—was simple.

 

Lee Deok-sun and Lee Soon-deuk.

 

Those two occasionally got involved with the organization. Each time, Lee Man-deuk caused incidents far too big for him to handle, so I had started cleaning up the aftermath in advance.

 

‘So this is how it happened.’

 

Whenever Lee Deok-sun and Lee Soon-deuk got entangled with the Ark Church of Universal Salvation, I always wondered why they were drawn to it.

 

‘It had been because of their mother.’