Became an American Retro Novelist - Chapter 236



Only Noblemtl

236.

Halloween.

A day when children make jack-o’-lanterns by poking holes for eyes, nose, and mouth into pumpkins and place them in front of houses, and then go around to their neighbors dressed up as ghosts and shout ‘Trick or Treat!’ to receive candy.

Modern Halloween is clearly marked as the Catholic feast day, All Saints’ Eve, but in fact, its origins are related to the Celtic paganism of Ireland. When the lands where the Celts lived were conquered and their culture was absorbed into Roman Catholicism, the title All Saints’ Eve was given to it.

In other words, Halloween was a culture spread by Irish Americans who immigrated to America during the Irish Famine, and it originated from the culture of people dressing up as ghosts and chasing them away on October 31, the day before winter when the living and the dead are connected in Celtic polytheism.

When children visited their neighbors’ houses and shouted “Trick or Treat,” it was an imitation of ghosts from the afterlife, and the adults handing out candy every time they did so could also be seen as a modern-day reenactment of the witchcraft to ward off ghosts.

However, since Halloween is not a legal holiday, over time it has become a form of culture similar to a masquerade ball.

Adults and older people who are tired from work prepare to welcome children, and young children run around excitedly wearing costumes like Superman or Spiderman that they bought at toy stores.

And the young people among them gathered together and held parties.

Surprisingly, those who were more proactive in preparing for the Halloween party event were the so-called ‘nerds’.

In fact, it had to be that way.

Because it’s one of the few days when you can wear whatever costume you want and have fun without worrying about what others think.

Kitten’s Comic Book Store, which was like a psychological hideout for the four of us, and numerous related businesses held parties every year targeting nerds.

And although we haven’t really participated in any events so far and have mostly spent Halloween with our family, we decided to attend the party this year.

It was because one guy said he wanted to wear the ‘Kung-fury’ costume together.

His name was Doofy Kingston.

And he was a true cowboy.

Alexa was excited by the suggestion and joined in, saying that she wanted to wear a Sodapop costume too, and Jiwoo, who was with her, agreed that it would be fun, so the motion to participate in the Halloween party was passed without even listening to my opinion.

I’m Kung Fury, Alexa is Sodapop, and Doofy is Star Chaser.

And while thinking about which character Jiwoo should be in ‘Kung-fury’, the story of ‘Liberty Queen’, one of the superheroes appearing in the work, came up, but due to his strong request, he decided to wear Shifu’s costume.

‘If not now, then when else would I grow a beard?’

‘Oh, that’s right.’

I suddenly remembered how I looked back at Alexa with a bewildered expression at her sympathy.

······What on earth is right?

Anyway, the costume making that Dupi had taken on because he said he ‘knew how to do it’ was quiet for a while, but then brought about unexpected results.

Each costume was made with great care, step by step, and ended up as a wonderful result with a quality that transcended the times, just like ‘Oparts’.

‘I should have noticed a long time ago when you were being so obsessive about measuring my clothes.’

The scalp in front of his eyes, no, the Star Chaser, looked like something straight out of a comic book.

Honestly, the costume was so well made that I thought it would be okay for a model to wear it at a related event later on.

Or, the scalp itself can take on that role.

The color scheme is inspired by the American flag, and the large star shape on the mask.

In addition, my scalp had lost a lot of fat, so I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all.

“How much did you subtract?”

“About 25 kilograms?”

“You’re crazy.”

Hasn’t it only been four months since you started your diet?

The scalp had changed so completely that it was impossible to remember what it used to look like.

Before the diet, he was so big that it seemed dangerous, but now he has lost some weight and his body shape is in good shape.

What was especially surprising was that the stomach had become completely thinner. However, the size remained the same, and the inverted triangle shape was very impressive.

“It’s all thanks to you, God.”

“Right? If you eat healthy and don’t rush, the weight will go away on its own.”

“That’s not what’s important.”

“then?”

“It’s ‘Kung-fury’. Your wonderful work, the characters there gave me courage.”

“······Star Chaser.”

“······Kung Fury.”

“Star Chaser.”

“Kung Fury.”

We were having a touching conversation in front of the garage, and we slowly went up to the second floor, still feeling the warmth of our friendship.

I was looking forward to seeing Alexa and Jiwoo’s surprised expressions when they saw my scalp, even though it wasn’t their job.

And when I knocked and opened the door, as expected, two people’s eyes widened at the sight of the scalp.

“Two, scalp? Is that a scalp?”

“······.”

“No, that’s not a scalp, Alexa.”

“Then who is it?”

“Star-Chaser.”

The scalp opened its halo wide and struck a comic pose.

······You guys are more excited than I thought.

“Wow, wow, wow! Star Chaser! I’m a fan!”

“I’m your fan too. Sodapop.”

“Yohoho-. Seeing the two heroes makes me feel good too.”

“Jiwoo, that’s Santa Claus.”

“Tch! If you have money, the world will turn somehow!”

“Shifu. Even though you say that on the outside, you have an unchanging message.”

“······.”

Oh my, when did I enter the ‘Kung-fury’ world?

As I was holding back the feeling of being dumbfounded but also on the verge of bursting into laughter, Star Chaser soon handed me the bag he was holding.

“Kung-Fury, what are you doing?”

“Uh, yeah?”

“Suit up.”

“······.”

shit.

I’m really starting to look forward to this party.

***

Kung Fury’s black gi is the type of clothing that is commonly thought of when you think of ‘Chinese style’.

A style that fastens horizontally long buttons on a China collar at the center of the body. The back of the clothes that fit my body perfectly has a gold dragon engraved on it.

When I asked how he had carved such a dazzling embroidery, Doopi replied, “I worked hard.” When I heard that, I was deeply moved.

‘I could wear this as everyday wear.’

The material was much better than the clothes I usually wore, and it wasn’t uncomfortable to wear.

But it didn’t end with just a slightly skinny and flashy gi-style outfit.

He wore a mask made of black leather, resembling the Green Hornet’s ‘Kato’, and a red hood.

I became Kung Fury.

I felt like I could knock out a bunch of people with kung fu right away.

After all the preparations were completed, Halloween arrived.

Before going to a party that was to start in the evening, I was waiting for my friends to come to my house. When I heard the doorbell ring, I went outside, wondering who it was.

When I opened the door, I saw three boys standing there.

“Ugh?!”

“Koo, Kung-Fury!!”

Hispanic children who don’t fit in with the neighborhood where most Koreans live.

One of them was particularly impressive because he was wearing clothes that were very similar to Kung Fury’s. He was wearing a black T-shirt with his face painted in black ink and a red headband, but he was definitely recognizable.

“······Um, hello?”

Normally, it would have been the right time to shout ‘Trick or Treat’, but everyone’s eyes were wide open and they couldn’t even speak properly, which was really cute.

And then, a moment later, a Hispanic kid dressed as WWF wrestler Bret Hart, standing in the center of the crowd, opened his mouth.

“Is this real Kung-Fury?!”

“How could that be!”

A boy with a sword next to him blocked the attack. I don’t know what character he is.

Instead of answering, I looked at the three boys for a moment.

At first glance, I thought he must have come from far away.

He was drenched in sweat, and his face was covered in soot. The basket he was holding was already full of candy, but he still looked like it wasn’t enough. He must have thought he had me this morning and had been running around diligently from afar.

I asked cautiously.

“Where are you from?”

“South LA!”

······Even at a leisurely pace, it was a place that took two hours to walk from here.

“Would you like to come in for a moment?”

“Yes? Why?”

“······Ah, to show you guys kung fu.”

“Haha! Don’t joke around!”

“I’m joking. I’ll give you each a glass of orange juice.”

The kids were wary, but maybe because I was wearing the Kung-Fury costume, they eventually came in cautiously at my beck and call. However, when I told them to take off their shoes as per our house rules, they looked a little embarrassed.

I wiped the soot off the children’s faces with a suitable towel, then took them to the table and chatted with them while feeding them cool juice and ice cream.

“You came all the way from South LA?”

“It’s Halloween today! It’s a day to get as much candy as you want! If I get a lot today, I won’t have to worry about candies and snacks until next year! That’s why I skipped school!”

“We’ve already collected a basket for each of us!”

“······Hey, what if I tell you that! If we keep doing this, we won’t be able to give it to you!”

“I’ll give it to you, so you can talk comfortably.”

When the boy with the sword scolded me, I calmly tried to appease him.

“Then where did you put all the baskets?”

“I hid it in a good spot on the way here! Hehe!”

He chuckled at Bret Hart’s words and continued with the next question.

“Does everyone like ‘Kung-fury’?”

“Of course! It’s so much fun!”

“······Where?”

As I tilted my head, wondering if the content might be a bit heavy for children, Mini Kung-Fury shouted.

“You fight really well!”

“Soda pop is pretty too! Her butt is huge!”

“······.”

“Mom told me to date a woman with a big butt!”

······These days, kids are maturing early.

Kids who eat orange juice and ice cream without even giving it up and go on and on about how fun Kung Fury is and how popular it is at their school.

After quietly listening to their story, I gave them a bundle of all the candies and snacks I had in the kitchen.

“Wow, there are so many!”

“Can I give you this much?!”

“Okay. I’m Kung-Fury.”

It was a small service for the Kung Fury fans who came all this way.

As we sent the Hispanic kids away, Jiwoo, dressed in a Shifu costume, came down to the first floor, stroking his beard.

She heard the conversation, roughly figured out the situation, and spoke solemnly.

“Who was it just now?”

“Oh, they were kids who came to get candy. I gave them some juice and ice cream because they came from far away.”

Jiwoo opened his eyes wide at my words and shook his head.

No, it was Shifu.

“Murgun. Kung-Fury. Showing mercy to children.”

“······No, isn’t it natural to show mercy to children?”

“Go! Why are you doing something that doesn’t pay? Go and hand out flyers for the kung fu gym!”

“I can’t just let that go, Shifu.”

“What······! Are you going to rebel against me!”

Our conversation somehow turned into an interlude.

Jiwoo put one foot forward and struck Shifu’s fighting pose as depicted in ‘Kung-fury: Comics’.

“There’s nothing I can do! Since it’s come to this, I have no choice but to teach you by force!”

“You think you can beat me?!”

I ran straight to it.

“Yap! Yap! Yap!”

Jiwoo’s cat-like punch came flying. It’s cute.

We sparred excitedly for a while, patting each other’s hands.

That’s why I didn’t know.

“······.”

The fact that Alexa was standing in front of the unlocked front door, looking a little bewildered.

“······.”

“Uh, um.”

How should I react?

After a moment of hesitation, Alexa looked at Jiwoo and me with a completely pale face and said this.

“What the hell is going on? Kung-Fury is a swindler in a kung fu dojo?”

“ah.”

······Me, again.

I’m sorry, but I wish you wouldn’t take this so seriously.

Maybe it’s because her acting skills have improved a lot these days, but I thought she was really flustered.

“······I got caught.”

On the other hand, Jiwoo steps forward with a cute performance reminiscent of an elementary school art festival.

“Go, Kung-Fury. Take care of that woman.”

“Ah, no, I can’t hurt you. I’m a hero.”

Somehow I couldn’t shake the feeling that Jiwoo’s Shifu was a villain version of himself.

Alexa burst out laughing at our poor acting, ran over to us and hugged Jiwoo and me tightly.

“You two look great together! We’re going to be awesome today!”

We couldn’t help but chuckle in front of the excited golden retriever.

And after a while, finally, we reached the scalp.

The guy came from home in costume, so there wasn’t much to prepare. Alexa did her own makeup and changed into costume, and the four of us prepared to head to Kitten’s Comic Book Store.

And just as I was about to leave the house.

“Oh, let’s take a picture and go!”

At Jiwoo’s suggestion, we went out to the back garden and took some photos with our Sony camera set up on a tripod.

Click-!

The time when the sun is setting.

I couldn’t tell if using the camera flash was a good idea. Until I took all twenty-four shots and developed the film, there was no telling how the photo would turn out.

But I pushed those thoughts out of my head as I took a few photos with Alexa, Jiwoo, and Doofy.

‘This definitely has its own flavor.’

Should we call it the aesthetics of waiting and slowness?

For some reason, I remembered the prom party that happened a few years ago.

And I had a feeling that today’s Halloween party would be just as fantastic.