“Joo Kyung-heon, manifested.”
“Huh? So he’s not a beta?”
“He’s an alpha now.”
“Holy shit!”
“And apparently a tremendous alpha. You know how strong people in our house are.”
“I know well what kind of people they are.”
“But there’s no comparison. I’ve never felt pheromones like that in my life.”
At the completely unexpected news, Seong-jae couldn’t close his mouth easily. He just kept saying “Wow…” so the conversation stopped. He seemed to fall into thought alone for a moment before muttering.
“Is this that late manifestation thing?”
Young, who had been sprawled with the back of his head against the sofa armrest, suddenly turned his head toward him.
Late manifestation…. It was a story anyone would have heard at least once.
Generally, when manifestation occurred around reaching adulthood, one was determined to be alpha or omega. If not, they were confirmed as beta. Rarely, manifestation occurred much later than that period, and such cases were called late manifestation.
When manifesting this way, it was known that ability levels were very excellent. There was also talk that they displayed unlimited excellence in various areas, as much as they’d been suppressed for a long time.
Though they said it was rare, in reality it could be considered almost nonexistent. So it was like an oral tale handed down from long ago, or a unicorn story that was said to exist but no one had actually seen.
It had been dismissed as unrealistic talk that could be heard and forgotten, but the story Seong-jae suddenly brought up sounded plausible.
“I think that’s really it.”
Young looked at Seong-jae with his brow deeply furrowed. Then he rolled his eyes diligently, tracing his memories.
Come to think of it, all the words Chairman Joo had said seemed to share the same context.
‘Are you in your right mind? Sending Kyung-heon somewhere?’
‘I’ve told you several times that Kyung-heon needs to be watched for a long time!’
He must have been exasperated that they’d try to connect a talent who would display extraordinary abilities when the time came with a gangster family as if disposing of a burden. Given the circumstances, it was a naturally understandable situation if Chairman Joo had already told the family several times, but President Joo, blinded by ambition for succession, acted independently, making him even angrier.
And what about the words he’d subtly told only Young after calling him aside during the schedule?
‘If any changes happen to Kyung-heon, let me know first.’
If he was worried about his beloved grandson, it would have been more natural to say contact him if any ‘incident’ occurred. However, Chairman Joo specifically said ‘changes.’
“Ah, goosebumps!”
Young vigorously rubbed his own forearm where he lay. Thanks to that, the briefly frozen atmosphere completely broke. Seong-jae, who had become serious and reduced his words accordingly, suddenly looked Young over.
“Wait, so you ran away on your first day of marriage looking like you’re going to the convenience store in front of your house?”
“I had no choice, okay? I was going to ask how he’d handle dinner when that mess happened. If I’d stayed there a bit longer, I felt like I’d lose my mind. Really, I practically ran out on survival instinct.”
How shocking an incident it had been—he’d even forgotten his innate need for hunger until now. At his own mention of ‘dinner,’ he suddenly became intensely hungry.
“Hey, but let’s order something first. Did you eat?”
“I ate.”
“I’ve been wanting chicken since earlier. Eat again, then.”
“Okay.”
After all, even Geumgangsan is better viewed after a meal. If Joomyeong takes back Joo Kyung-heon, who they’d given away as a useless beta, now that he’s become an alpha, what would happen? Would his independent life end as a one-night dream? He figured he should fill his stomach first before looking into such numerous worries.
***
He’d thought he’d fall asleep by 9 o’clock because he was so tired, but it was a huge miscalculation. Young spent the first night, which should have been peaceful if not sweet, with his eyes wide open.
It was because of confusion. There was nothing to argue about the marriage being broken off or whatever. Just—this situation where Joo Kyung-heon, who had been treated as an unwanted burden as a beta, manifested as an alpha without warning. The explosive alpha pheromones he’d experienced for the first time in his life. Everything was confusing.
Because of that, he couldn’t sleep and only tossed and turned all night before facing morning. Young only left Seong-jae’s house after receiving a summons from Chairman Joo.
After barely changing clothes in the already empty newlywed home. The place he headed straight to was Kyung-heon’s main house. The place where he’d visited to pay his respects before the marriage, where the two Joo elders had quarreled shouting at each other.
“Hello. Everyone gathered early.”
When Young arrived, the Joo family members were already seated.
“You’re here? You must have been very surprised last night.”
Joo Seong-jin, dressed as neatly as always, as if not a speck of dust would come out even if shaken, was the first to greet him. Young gave an awkward answer of “Yes, well, a little,” while taking in those seated around the sofa in turn.
To the left of Joo Seong-jin, who was no different than usual, President Joo was seated. Despite Chairman Joo’s warning, he had pushed forward with the marriage believing without doubt that Kyung-heon was a beta—he only gave an eye greeting with a rather troubled complexion, and Joo Won-ho, seated at the very end, was openly displaying a displeased air.
‘Fierce, it’s fierce.’
No matter how much Joo Seong-jin showed his characteristic leisurely attitude, the tension and wariness flowing from both his sides created an extremely uncomfortable atmosphere.
It was an air that made one shrink back even without doing anything wrong. Young, who had been slowly approaching the sofa, belatedly turned his gaze to the sofa opposite Joo Seong-jin.
“……”
There sat Kyung-heon, who last night had emitted more powerful pheromones than anyone and achieved an unbelievable transformation. He had been sitting in an upright posture, and immediately gave an eye greeting when his eyes met Young’s.
Though he was just sitting still, somehow it felt different from before. His thick and clear features, clean impression, the posture of sitting with shoulders and waist properly straightened, neat attire. Though it was hard to say anything had changed, it was like that.
It seemed like a difference from the energy he gave off. The somewhat blank expression compared to his strong features had disappeared. The clear features and previously dim gaze now had a distinct brilliance swirling in it. The appearance of always trying to read the moods of those around him also had composure.
“……”
Young bowed silently to Kyung-heon and moved his steps that way. As he sat in the empty seat next to Kyung-heon, pheromones not yet fully settled swirled at the tip of his nose.
Still intense, but at a much better level compared to yesterday. He’d been unable to do anything but flee even from in front of the door, but now he could endure it even sitting right next to him.
Young, who calmly settled into his seat, kept glancing sideways.
Well, the visible image had changed, but he hadn’t confirmed exactly what changes had occurred. So he didn’t know whether Kyung-heon properly understood the gazes directed at him.
However, from the outside, he seemed to pass by calmly without reacting to every trifling wariness. Very confidently, without any sign of fearing the changes that would occur from his manifestation or shrinking because of it.
Young looked at Kyung-heon’s composed appearance without minding those around him with fascination. And how long had it been?
“I assume you’ve all heard the news.”
The person who had summoned them all, Chairman Joo, revealed himself.
The family members all stood up at once and bowed their heads to Chairman Joo. Young also stood up with tact and followed their actions.
Chairman Joo lightly raised his hand to receive the greeting. Then he said concisely.
“Sit.”
Though an old man past eighty, he was incredibly vigorous. Not only his upright posture without a single slouch, but his gestures and gaze overflowed with charisma like an alpha in his prime.
At Chairman Joo’s single word, everyone moved in unison and sat down. Chairman Joo also leisurely took his seat at the head. With everyone’s gaze directed at him, Chairman Joo swept a glance over those gathered and opened his mouth again.
“I won’t take much of your time. Kyung-heon will be very different from what you’ve seen until now.”
“……”
“I trust him without a shred of doubt, but you’ll need time.”
No one dared to open their mouth. As if accustomed to this atmosphere, Chairman Joo continued speaking while giving brief glances to those seated around.
“Entrust Kyung-heon with the bio integration transfer project.”
At those words, everyone froze unable to react for a few seconds before President Joo barely managed to ask back, “To Kyung-heon?”
