Apocalypse’s Teacher

Chapter 27

Improvisation is a Talent (4)

***

One good thing about the post-apocalyptic world was that the concept of trade and currency had vanished.

Most goods could just be picked up and used for free.

Today was no exception.

“What’s that?”

“A guitar. And a reeeeeally expensive one at that.”

Hyesung’s mouth hung open in awe.

I patted her head while inspecting the guitar’s condition.

‘This is why they call it a masterpiece.’

The guitar, from a famous brand even I recognized, was displayed at the center of the music store.

Despite being left untouched for five years after the apocalypse, it was in surprisingly good condition, as evidenced by the seven-digit price tag it once bore.

‘The body is intact… The neck is okay too.’

It only needed new strings to be usable.

Knock. Knock.

Hyesung tapped the guitar’s body with her tiny fists, producing a dull sound.

Her eyes sparkled with curiosity.

“Ooh…!”

Her cheeks turned rosy; it was an adorable sight.

I smiled warmly and said,

“Hyesung, you’d be great at playing drums.”

“Drums?”

“An instrument you hit.”

“Hyesung is good at hitting things!”

Hyesung jumped up and started playfully punching me.

“Yap! Yap!”

“Well, maybe being good at hitting things isn’t bad in this world.”

Surviving required knowing how to fight.

As I received Hyesung’s affectionate punches, I looked over at Kang Ki-hyun sitting on the sofa, glaring at me.

Flinch.

Kang Ki-hyun’s shoulders twitched.

I smirked and said,

“Wait a bit. This uncle will play a fantastic song for you.”

Grinding her teeth, Kang Ki-hyun glared at me with eyes full of defiance.
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“…Idiot.”

“Haha…”

That’s why amateurs are no good.
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They lack the insight to recognize a master and act recklessly.

I lifted Hyesung and handed her to Jinwoo, then took out the strings I had set aside and began unwrapping them.

Rip.

“You underestimated the wrong person, kid.”

I decided to resurrect the old me, the guitar-playing butcher of my university days.

***

Strum.

A deep, resonant sound spread through the room.

Feeling the kids’ eyes on me, I stood in the middle of the living room.

“Ready?”

Kang Ki-hyun’s angry face was unusual.

Normally, I’d gauge her mood, but not this time.

“…Whatever.”

Kang Ki-hyun lowered her gaze.

She seemed to realize something was wrong, but it was too late.

Once the guitar-playing butcher Lee Seokho promised a performance, he never backed out.

“Here goes.”

My left hand held the neck, my right hand the body.

“What song are you going to play?”

Jinwoo’s question came at the perfect time.

I answered,

“The opening theme of ‘Duel Monsters’.”

It was a selection made from an entirely objective judgment that the kids would enjoy it.

As my right hand slowly touched the guitar, music began to flow.

Strum!

The song I had practiced until my calluses burst, reborn after 10 years.

The result… What more is there to say?

‘It’s over.’

I completely owned the stage.

***

Kang Ki-hyun thought,

‘…Is he an idiot?’

Expecting something impressive, she had tensed up, only to hear an anime theme song.

Even she knew that anime.

She remembered boys in her class waving cards from that anime by the window.

Kang Ki-hyun sighed in relief.

There was no reason to be so tense, but she had been.

Her pride wouldn’t allow her to experience defeat by Seokho.

As someone who had taken on the role of protector for the kids, she felt a sense of rivalry towards Seokho.

With her tension eased, she was about to mock him when,

“Wow!!!”

Hyesung cheered.

That wasn’t all.

Jinwoo wiggled his bottom.

Dabin and Dayoon clapped absentmindedly.

An unexpected reaction from the kids.

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Kang Ki-hyun felt her confusion rise.

‘…Why?’

Why were they reacting so enthusiastically?
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Kang Ki-hyun hadn’t considered that the kids knew almost nothing about music, and Jinwoo, who did, was part of a generation that lived for ‘Duel Monsters.’

To them, the anime theme song was a new and exciting stimulus.

Strum!

The performance ended.

Kang Ki-hyun stared at Seokho, bewildered.

Seokho grinned at her, a maddeningly smug smile.

Kang Ki-hyun felt her young neck muscles tighten in frustration.

“How was it?”

His confident question made her clench her fists.

She wanted to say it was trash, but that would ruin the kids’ mood.

As their oldest sister, she didn’t want that.

“Grr…”

Her teeth ground together, a habit Seokho had once said would ruin her dental alignment.

“Huh? How was it? Awesome, right? Exciting, right? Totally cool, right?”

Could this man be considered an adult?

His behavior was on par with Hyesung’s. Should I really see him as an adult?

Lost in thought, torn between pride and reason, Kang Ki-hyun finally blushed and muttered,

“I also…”

She tried to speak but choked up, closing her mouth.

Seokho’s movements paused.

The atmosphere grew awkward.

Realizing this, Kang Ki-hyun trembled and left the room.

“Big sis…?”

Jinwoo’s call didn’t reach her.

Their reliable big sister, Kang Ki-hyun, was still a highly sensitive 15-year-old girl.

***

‘I think I messed up.’

Kang Ki-hyun’s reaction wasn’t normal.

Her usually stoic demeanor was replaced by a murderous glare.

Cold sweat ran down my back.

I had gotten too carried away with my performance.

‘Oh, Seokho…’

Thinking about it, Kang Ki-hyun must have been really pissed off.

Especially about music.

Her reaction to music, like her expression when she saw the guitar, showed it held a special meaning for her.

Despite knowing this, I had let my short-sightedness ruin things.

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Scratching my head in frustration, I realized it was time for a decision.

‘…Apologize.’

I had to apologize.

Even if I couldn’t, I at least needed to go soothe her.

I got up from the bench on the rooftop and quickly returned to the penthouse.

I searched for Kang Ki-hyun there, but…

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“…Huh?”

She wasn’t there.

Instead, Dayoon was lying on the floor doing homework, with Dabin watching her.

Hyesung was talking to a bean sprout, and Jinwoo was organizing the closet in the corner.

I asked Jinwoo,

“…Jinwoo, where’s Kang Ki-hyun?”

“Huh? She went downstairs a while ago.”

“Hmm?”

“Oh, she took the guitar too.”

I glanced at the wall where I had placed the guitar before.

As Jinwoo said, only the stand was left.

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“Oh…”

Feeling awkward, I slowly nodded and went downstairs to find Kang Ki-hyun.

***

Strum.

In the corridor just below the penthouse, I stopped at the sound of a guitar coming from the far end room.

Strum!

The sound was off.

Anyone could tell it was a mistake.

‘…Not good.’

I knew because I had learned the guitar.

That sound was from not pressing the chord properly.

Should I go now?

As I pondered, the guitar sound rang out again.

Strum.
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I stood there, listening blankly.

Again, the play stopped at the same part as before.

‘F chord?’

From the sound, it seemed so.

One of the chords beginners struggled with.

Without proper calluses, it was too painful to hold correctly.

That was likely why the playing stopped at the same part.

Strum!

The guitar played several more times, each stopping at that part.

A sudden thought struck me.

Had I been neglecting Kang Ki-hyun while caring for the other kids?

She was so capable that I worried less about her, but I shouldn’t have.

As a teacher, that wasn’t the right excuse.

‘She’s only 15…’

If the world were normal, she’d be a teenager figuring out who she was, searching for her dreams.

At such a young age, she was trying to carry everything alone.

Among the kids, Kang Ki-hyun probably had the biggest burden, and I had overlooked that.

Guilt and a sense of failure filled me.

‘I should…’

I needed to talk to her, but how?
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As I pondered, I laughed at myself.

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‘…Since when do I hesitate like this?’

An upset child needed reassurance.

Fortunately, she hadn’t left.

I could still talk to her.

So, I should apologize and listen to her concerns.

‘Act like a teacher.’

I lifted my head and looked towards the room at the end where the sound was coming from.

Then, I started walking towards the struggling child.

End of Chapter