30 With mother (1/2)
Joonbum drove through the night and drove to the gateway. When he arrived at a small hill filled with nothing but some trees and grass, she seemed confused. She seemed to have expected something more as he told her that this was his workplace.
His mother asked Joonbum, trying to hide her disappointment, ”Is this your workplace?”
”Yeah.”
She seemed to be apologetic. He moved through a small road and arrived at a place with a trailer full of supplies.
”Wait here, I need to connect this trailer to the truck.”
”Do you need help?”
”No, I just need to place the hook.”
Joonbum moved the truck so that he could connect the trailer. Soon, dawn passed and the morning sun started rising.
”Mom, don't be surprised.”
An alarm broke out, signaling it was time for the swirl.
The world started swirling and his mother's eyes widened at the sight.
”What- what's-”
'I was more surprised the first time.'
She was so surprised that she put both her hands to her mouth, which Joonbum watched while grinning.
”Joonbum, what is this? What is this?”
The swirl became severe and his mother shook Joonbum, quickly asking him.
”Let's go.”
”What? Ah!”
The truck moved through the swirl and his mother closed her eyes, screaming. Joonbum cackled as he saw his mother screaming for the first time in his life.
”Ohh…”
She seemed dazzled as she could not walk right after she got off the truck. The cubs got off the truck and ran toward the fortress, leaving her behind.
”What… What is going on?” his mother asked, and Joonbum started to explain.
”I don't know. I don't know where this is, but did you see that just now? That leads to this world. I call it the 'Gate' as it seems to be a gate that connects the two worlds. I came here accidentally and started capturing this place on video. That gate stays open for a minute before it disappears. It opens up every morning at the same time. That's why I come back home once every two days. And…”
Joonbum was explaining when his mother blankly looked at the 'Gate.' When the Gate closed, she came back to her senses.
”Oh! Huh?”
She started looking around wildly. It took a while for her to realize that this wasn't a dream.
'I was worse.'
”So this is where you have been working?”
His mother recognized the fortress she saw in the videos as she drew close.
”Yeah, this is the place.”
”Monster!”
His mother gasped at the sight of Galfus as soon as she stepped inside the fortress. Joonbum quickly grabbed her from falling down on the ground.
”Mon-”
”That's Galfus. Remember? These cubs grow that big too.”
”Ga- Galfus? Oh… oh!” she nodded. Galfus was one of the big reasons why the videos were so popular. Man coexisting with such a noble monster was anyone's dream.
”Isn't she dangerous?”
”No, she isn't. They exist with people in peace. They're also very intelligent.”
”Really?”
Joonbum nodded. The cubs who were playing with each other ran towards Galfus. Galfus did not bother with the cubs and came close to Joonbum and his mother. Joonbum's mother shivered as Galfus closed in and sniffed her.
”Don't be afraid.”
The cubs were circling around her, whining and barking to be noticed. It was a pleasant sight to behold.
”Huh?”
”So Galfus is the mother to these cuties?”
Joonbum was surprised to see all fear disappear from his mother's face. She watched Galfus with a warm smile.
'Wow, she's not scared.'
His mother was scrubbing Galfus' muzzle. It seemed that Galfus enjoyed her touch as she moved her head around, wanting to be scrubbed more.
”No, she's not the mother. I think they were the pack's cubs, but the entire pack died.”
”I see.”
His mother started looking around the fortress as she moved toward the center.
”So did you make all this?”
”Yes.”
”And those people are real?”
”Yes.”
”The monsters, they were real too?”
”Yes.”
Joonbum nodded and felt sudden force turning his face away with a loud sound. It was his mother, who turned around and slapped him as hard as she could. Joonbum could not say anything as her eyes were filled with tears.
”How could you!” she shouted as she started pounding on Joonbum's chest softly, crying at the same time.
”Those monsters… What were you thinking… you…!”
Joonbum's eyes welled with tears. He felt sadness filling his mind as she continued pounding him.
'But I am here with her now.'
Joonbum hugged his mother who kept sobbing and smiled.
There were a lot of concerns he had as he continued to travel back and forth across the worlds. The first concern was that someone might find out the truth.
It took a while for Joonbum to realize it, but if someone noticed the existence of the other world, it would have been uncovered and turned into government property. He would only be considered as the founder of the place and soon be forgotten. This world was like a goose with a golden egg. He needed to protect it, so he had to act discreetly. He also avoided causing any troubles. A person like Jinpok was dangerous in that regard.
But as the time passed, the concern diminished. Then came the next concern. It was about the 'Gate'.