Chapter 898: You’ve waited a long time, haven’t you? (27)

Kim Junghyun’s grandfather.

At those words, everyone’s eyes widened.

‘Huh?’

Now that they looked—he did resemble him.

There was something of Junghyun’s face in there.

But the differences were far greater.

‘What kind of presence is that...’

He gave off the aura of a great general who could command the world.

Even among idols, Junghyun was known for having a strong, striking appearance.

If women picked Jiho as the second most handsome after Wooju, men tended to pick Junghyun.

With bold features and a sharp jawline, Junghyun was considered a masculine, handsome type.

‘Junghyun looks like tofu next to him.’

Compared to his grandfather, Junghyun looked extremely gentle.

A true tiger-like face.

"Hahahahaha!"

Every time he laughed heartily, it felt like the sound shook their eardrums.

It was the kind of presence that would intimidate most people—but Jiho and the others ran up to him happily.

"Grandfather!"

"Haha!"

"Can I get a hug?"

"Of course, of course."

Like meeting their own grandfather, the sociable youngest ran into his arms.

Well—

At first, he did.

"Waaah!"

Junghyun’s grandfather lifted Jiho effortlessly and spun him around like a ride.

Everyone’s eyes widened at the sight of him casually lifting a fully grown man over 180 cm tall.

Biju whispered,

"Junghyun is famous for being the weakest in his family."

"!"

That made immediate sense.

‘If Junghyun fought his grandfather, the grandfather would win.’

That was just the vibe.

If Junghyun was tofu, his grandfather was a brick.

"Have you been well?"

"Oh! Biju, long time no see~ Have you been well~?"

"Yes." ℴℴ𝘮

The grandfather greeted them warmly and patted Ri Hyuk’s shoulder.

"Our Ri Hyuk should eat more meat. You’re nothing but bones."

"Ugh—yes!"

Every time his shoulder was patted, Ri Hyuk shook like a shop-opening doll.

Meanwhile, the three [N O V E L I G H T] looked at Junghyun’s grandfather with sparkling eyes.

They were genuinely happy to see him.

At some point, their relationship had become like family, and each other’s families felt like relatives.

It was the same for Junghyun’s grandfather.

‘My cute grandchildren!’

His real grandson—and his precious grandchildren bound by money and contracts.

Junghyun’s grandfather asked,

"But where’s my grandson and Wooju?"

"They’re at home!"

"Oh, only the three of you came out?"

The members explained that they were filming a variety show.

Producer Lee Junhee quickly called the camera director.

‘Ratings!’

It was the first time Junghyun’s family had appeared on a broadcast.

An opportunity they absolutely couldn’t miss.

Junghyun had mentioned his family on various shows before.

-I’m the weakest in my family.

-I used to be really weak as a kid, so I took tonics. My grandfather would bring ginseng.

-I thought I was super weak as a baby.

When Junghyun appeared on a military variety show, even elite special forces members had told him to get checked at a hospital.

And at the hospital, he had been told his muscle-related stats were abnormally high.

Yet he was the weakest in his family.

The entertainers quickly gathered around like a guest had arrived.

"Hello, sir."

"Hm?"

"You might not remember, but I’m Kang Manho."

"Oh!"

Looking at Kang Manho, who had attended the same high school as Junghyun’s father, the grandfather nodded.

"The one who was good at studying?"

"Yes, that’s right."

"Seeing you on TV, studying must not have been that easy."

Everyone burst into laughter.

Kang Manho smiled.

"If you’re okay with appearing, could you introduce yourself briefly?"

"Sure, sure."

The old man looked around, unsure where the camera was, until NewBlack pointed it out.

"Ah, yes. My name is Kim Taekman. Nice to meet you~"

"Waaah!"

As everyone applauded, Biju asked,

"But what brings you here? Your home is quite far from here."

"Oh, that... I was on my way to have a drink of makgeolli with a friend in the next town."

"The next town?"

Ri Hyuk unfolded a regional map and asked,

"There isn’t really a ‘next town’ around here, though?"

"Well..."

Kim Taekman hesitated and looked away.

"When roads get blocked, you take other roads, and sometimes you just pass by by chance."

"Hmm."

"If you go with the flow, that’s life."

Everyone laughed at how he avoided eye contact.

‘He came to see NewBlack!’

After hearing they were here, he must have driven over immediately.

They could picture it.

Blending into the crowd, going ‘Hehe, my grandson... hehe...’ while looking for Junghyun—then stepping in when people panicked over the snake.

"I was hiding so well..."

He muttered while looking around.

"So where are you all going?"

"Ah."

They explained they were moving spots because they couldn’t catch anything.

He narrowed his eyes.

A look of disbelief.

"There are more fish than water here. Where would you go...?"

"We really can’t catch anything."

"Strange."

Wearing boots, Kim Taekman walked to the water.

Then he formed his hand like a blade and plunged it in.

Splash!

His palm struck swiftly, sending up white spray.

His hand left only a faint afterimage.

‘Is his hand a missile?’

When he lifted his hand again, a fish flopped in it.

A small crucian carp.

"Look."

"Yes."

"Come closer. There’s one here, and another carp over there."

Everyone laughed.

‘We can’t see anything.’

But he looked genuinely puzzled.

"There are fish everywhere..."

After releasing it, he asked for a fishing rod.

Baek Sanggyo laughed.

"Let’s see your skills. We’ve been here almost three hours without catching anything."

"Hmm."

Kim Taekman observed the water.

Then casually cast the rod.

"Wow..."

It flew incredibly far.

Everyone watched eagerly.

"Oh ho."

After a while, he smiled.

"You see..."

"Yes?"

"It’s not biting..."

People burst into laughter.

Scratching his cheek awkwardly, the old man said,

"There’s another way in times like this."

"What method?"

"You call the fish. Like ‘Woo-heoi~~~’"

He cupped his hands and called out, “Woo-heoi~~~,” laughing.

Ri Hyuk chuckled.

"No way that would actually—"

Creak.

The rod bent.

"...?"

"...??"

The old man skillfully reeled it in.

At first it seemed light—but soon, a large snakehead fish emerged, unable to resist.

Jiho hit Ri Hyuk.

"Hyung! That’s the one that stole your carp earlier!"

"...Huh?"

The final boss-like snakehead—

Now being dragged out like a tiny minnow.

Without even needing a net, the grandfather grabbed it with his hands.

"Here’s another fish."

"!"

"!!"

As the camera crew cheered, the trio exchanged glances.

"Waaaaah!"

"The Biriho team did it!"

"Biriho Taek! Biriho Taek!"

Holding the fish, the grandfather smiled as they cheered.

Jiho raised his hand.

"PD! This counts as our team’s catch, right?"

"Uh..."

"Counts?"

The entertainers protested.

"No way!"

"If it’s your team, you have to catch it yourselves!"

"Exactly!"

As arguments broke out—

Kim Taekman simply smiled at the PD.

"..."

"..."

Maintaining eye contact.

The PD broke into a cold sweat.

"...Approved."

"Waaaaah!"

They jumped in celebration.

Holding the now docile fish, Kim Taekman handed it over to be measured.

As it was released, everyone looked dazed.

"He caught a snakehead in one go... Were we just bad?"

"This is strange."

Ri Hyuk asked,

"Grandfather, how did you do it? That ‘Woo-heoi’ thing?"

"That? Woo-heoi~~"

With perfect pitch, Ri Hyuk mimicked it.

"Woo-heoi~"

"Woo-heoiii~"

Everyone joined in.

"No way that actually—"

Then—

"Huh?"

"Huh?!"

Every rod bent at once.

"...What?"

The fish had returned.

The PD grabbed the megaphone.

"We will not change spots!"

"Well then, I’ll be going~"

"Goodbye!"

As Kim Taekman left, NewBlack bowed.

Even the staff bowed at ninety degrees.

Near his truck, he said,

"If you have time later, come get some side dishes for dinner."

"Yes!"

"But..."

He checked his pockets.

"Where did my keys go..."

"Try looking under the truck."

"Oh."

He casually lifted the front of the truck with both hands.

"There it is."

Ri Hyuk smiled awkwardly.

‘That’s not what I meant...’

Driving off, the grandfather laughed warmly.

Everyone stared blankly.

"As expected..."

Jiho said,

"If your body is strong, your brain doesn’t have to suffer."

"True."

They returned to fishing.

Soon—

"I got one!"

"Finally!"

Fish started biting again.

The veterans cheered.

But—

The real MVP wasn’t human.

"Again..."

"That robot caught another one."

The robot kept catching fish.

Buzz—clank!

Flap!

Even using both arms now.

The students were stunned.

"Something’s wrong..."

Like facing Skynet, a sense of crisis spread.

‘We can’t lose to a machine.’

Humans united.

"Junghyun."

"Help me."

"It hasn’t even started."

"I’m tired already."

I smiled and played a melody.

"Listen. What’s the difference?"

"The first sounds better."

"Wrong. They’re the same."

"..."

"Don’t answer carelessly."

As we worked—

Ding.

Messages came in.

Biju: [We’re done, hyung..]

Ri Hyuk: [It’s over]

"Who won?"

Jiho replied.

[Humans... lost...]

[The machine wonㅠㅠㅠㅠ]

Junghyun and I looked at each other.

‘What happened?’

‘What the hell happened?’