A Flawless Archery Machine

  “Jaehwang.”


  “Yes, Director?”


  “Your hand…… how is it?”


  Jaehwang lifted his right hand revealing his scars spanning from his fingers to his wrist and to the back of his hand. He made then gathered his hand into a fist and answered her question.

  “The important thing is that it’s healing. The doctor said that it will take some time but I will recover soon and get my strength back.”


  “That’s a relief.” The director said as she took a deep breath and leaned back into her chair.

  She stared at Jaehwang who was sitting in right in front of her in a chair across from her desk. He was tall, muscular and had facial features that resembled those of ancient Greek gods. He was very handsome, well…… at least he used to be.

  People used to call him an Archery Prince. He was a prodigy since elementary school and was also a part of the national team.

  [A Flawless Archery Machine]

  In middle school they would call him the ‘Archery Machine’.

  He was gifted with great talent. Jaehwang would participate in every archery competition he could enter and he would set a new record every time even if he was up against older and more experienced archers. He was only getting better with time. People even started calling him the nation’s unbeatable archer.

  Jaehwang was living the time of his life. That was until an unfortunate event changed his life forever. He was driving with his family one day when a drunk van driver went across the lane and hit them. He lost his face, two of his fingers, one of his eyes, and his parents.

  And since that day, the world’s archery genius has lost confidence in his skills.

  The worst thing that could happen to an archer was to lose his hand or fingers. He was lucky to be able to make it to the hospital where the doctors were able to stitch his fingers back on.

  The accident happened at night on a dark and windy road, and he only arrived at the hospital around 12 AM. It was a miracle that he lived.

  One of his uncles from his mother’s side took all of his family’s insurance money, sold their house, and disappeared without a trace. He had cut all ties with his uncle when he found out about it.

  “The anniversary of your parents’ death is soon, right?”


  “Yeah.”


  The director knew Jaehwang’s parents. She didn’t know his father well, but she knew his mom. They were considered legends in the archery world 10 years ago. His dad was an archery master like his mother. People looked up to him for so many years and they soon had Jaehwang who had inherited the same talent.

  Since the day he was born, his father gave him a bow as a toy that he would play with all the time. He carried a bow with his little hands before he could even learn how to walk and talk. He has been pulling bow strings since he was three, and by the time he reached the age of six, he was already hitting targets from 500 meters away.

  “The national competition…… Are you thinking of participating?”


  “Yeah. If I enter the medal contention ranking in the next meeting, then that will be enough.”


  Jaehwang did not hesitate when he gave his answer. But the director already knew what he would say……

  “I see.”


  With an injured hand and eye, he thought that he would be unable to hold a bow and arrow anymore. But after one year, he suddenly returned to school and his skills that unbelievably fell went up along with his rankings to the point that he could even now compete in the national competition.

  There could only be one winner. All he needed to do to overcome his injury was to change his way of shooting as well as his stance. To adjust to his right hand’s condition, he just has to train his remaining hand more

  “Jaehwang.”


  “Yes?”


  “About the competition…… How about resting?”


  “?” Jaehwang kept his mouth shut, unsure of what she was implying. There’s no way that she could be saying what he thought she’s saying. He thought that she wanted him to enter the team selection.

  “You seem to be having a hard time. I’m worried. You said that you ranked second in the last meeting…… It seems that your skills have been failing because of your condition.”


  Jaehwang wriggled his eyes after hearing what the director said. His skills have actually been falling since before the accident. But……

  “The maximum score is 360. It takes a lot to be number one.”


  “Weren’t you ranked 2nd last time?” The director continued to talk and it felt as if her words went through his ear and left out on another.

  “It was a new meeting record. The person who ranked first only had 1 point more, right?” What Jaehwang said was completely right. His skills were in decline but, he couldn’t compare himself to his talent before the accident.

  Besides, focusing on his recovery was his current and utmost priority.

  It was not like he hasn’t lost everything, everyone still praises him.

  “Huwu…… Jaehwang.”


  “Yeah?”


  “You’ve only been resting for a year, you should get some more rest.”


  “I’ve already finished resting. Well…… I’d say that my condition is about 90 percent”


  Jaehwang listened without saying anything back……

  “That’s it! That’s it! You have to do something for yourself. That dog-like uncle of yours is a problem, and you haven’t even gone to the army yet but you rested for a year!

  The director yelled, and they both sat in silence for a moment.

  “Director……”


  “What……”


  Jaehwang stared at her from the other side of the desk without an answer to her response. He had a cold look in his eyes which made the director unknowingly lower her head as a reply.

  “Director……”


  “What is it?”


  “I……”


  “.……”


  She was the first person there for him whenever Jaehwang felt unhappy. Even when he was in a coma, she came to see him every day and when his parents passed away, the person that he trusted more than anyone else…… was her.

  “Just say one word. Whatever you say, I’ll follow along.”


  “Anything?”


  The director nodded as she showed him her sad eyes. Jaehwang’s lips slightly moved as he said that one word but, the director’s eyes suddenly grew bigger in surprise before she bit her lips. The office was then filled with silence.

  ‘Ugh…… Idiot.’


  Jaehwang took a short breath and cursed himself. He questioned himself how could he have said that in front of his director.

  She didn’t answer back or maybe she’s just thinking about how stupid he was. Maybe she’s waiting for him to leave to feel relieved. That’s what he thought.

  “About school…… I’m quitting that…… And archery.”


  After hearing that, the director glared at him as she instantly stood up from her chair.

  “What are you talking about!”


  “Maybe archery was only my mom’s wish…… I don’t have to go through with it since she’s gone…… It’s just no use if I keep trying. But I’m thankful for everything during that time,” He replied.

  “You must be crazy! Why would you stop archery?! It has only been one year!” She lowered her head and yelled at him from across the table.

  “It’s just…… that’s what I’m going to do now. I’m sorry.”


  “Jaehwang, your ranking is falling. But don’t you think that you can improve them again, right? Please don’t say you’re going to stop.” The director desperately tried to stop him.

  Jaehwang was an honest person who had never lied. If he had said something like this, she knew that he was serious even if it meant that he would never come back her once again.

  ‘I can’t.’


  The generation’s prodigy was crumbling in his hands, he felt guilty. Maybe if he dies, he could shoot an arrow board with his sunbae archery players for a thousand years in the afterlife. But no…… Right now…… All he could feel was guilt like crazy.

  There was then a hand placed on his shoulder. It was the director who reached out to him.

  “Director……”


  “What is it?”


  He looked down towards the director, not with eyes filled with disappointment or hatred but the eyes filled with disgust and sadness.

  “You have eaten, right?”


  “Ha……?” The director froze on the spot…… She sat back into her chair, she was left unable to move as well as to focus her eyes.

  “I…… I……”


  She just stuttered. Jaehwang then bowed his head politely and turned around to leave.

  Click……

  “Phew……”


  A Flawless Archery Machine, The end.