Chapter: 792
Around the time the conversation was dragging on.
I had to leave the place with a very uncomfortable expression on my face.
It’s totally understandable.
I mean, after being called in, just when I tried to have a chat, it felt like being interrupted at a very inopportune moment… like, taking a dump or something?
‘What is this?’
So what’s the conclusion?
Why did the old man, the first Lord Danju, call me, and why did he specifically ask about the Gu family?
What could that old guy possibly want from me?
I was curious about it all, but now everything is just a mystery.
‘…Hmm.’
Just then, Mrs. Mi barged in unexpectedly, and thus the cold war began. Ultimately, not only was I called in, but I was also kicked out without even getting a proper answer.
It was just a painfully sad situation where I couldn’t even vent my frustrations.
‘…Should I spy on what happened?’
Feeling disgruntled about being shown the door, I was even considering placing a bet to bug the room.
Tsk.
I quickly dismissed that idea.
The fact that Mrs. Mi interrupted the conversation means she must have overheard the whole thing, even if she played it cool.
It was probably some ghostly power at work, and if I had attempted to eavesdrop, she likely had a means to detect it.
‘If it’s related to eavesdropping, then maybe it’s the Cheong-eo-seok.’
A few items came to mind, but the most likely suspect was the Bluefish Stone. It doesn’t see much use, but it’s discreet enough to hide and, as long as the distance is right, provides decent clarity.
But.
‘It’s an easy-to-detect ghost item, which is why I don’t often use it.’
Normally, I would have started by using my senses to detect such ghostly items.
I never thought that Mrs. Mi would have hidden it in my quarters.
That must be why I was clueless.
‘Did she anticipate this and hide it?’
Did she think ahead and stash it away because she figured I wouldn’t pick up on it?
That might be the case. If anyone could foresee this, it would likely be Mrs. Mi.
‘…’
It’s a bit late to be realizing things now.
‘In any case, the conversation has already been cut off.’
The moment I recovered what I lost, I realized another barrier had been set up in the room.
‘The level of the barrier is akin to a flower market.’
Judging by the density and firmness around me, it looked like a flower market level setup.
I could probably try to pierce through it, but…
‘That seems more like gambling.’
In my current state, the possibility of being detected by the other party was also high.
And on top of that…
‘That old man’s reaction was strange from the get-go.’
The response from the person who invited me over.
His reaction was utterly puzzling. What on earth did he hope to achieve by calling me?
‘Was he wondering if I’m willing to be a lord?’
Did he originally ask me if I even knew what being a head of the Gu family meant?
Did the old dude truly call me just to ask that?
Doubt sprung up in my mind about this.
‘Something…’
It doesn’t seem like that’s all there is to it. If that was his real intention, then using this opportunity feels quite off.
What this implies is…
‘He must have had some other intention from the start.’
Something beyond simply asking me something.
Sure, he did want to see me at least, but I doubt that’s the primary reason.
To put it precisely, it felt like he was trying to leverage me to gain something.
What he likely aimed to achieve was something related to—
‘Mrs. Mi?’
Right when I tried to broach the subject of the Gu family, Mrs. Mi stormed in out of nowhere.
From where I stood, it appeared as if that was exactly what the old man was aiming for.
‘Hmm.’
What could that be?
What’s the deal with that old man, and why on earth would Mrs. Mi react so fiercely?
Just as I was pondering this, a familiar sound caught my attention.
“Hehehe!”
“Oh my, is this fun?”
“Yep!”
I turned my head towards the sound.
On the porch outside, there was Gu Hee-bi, grinning widely and waving her hands.
I could even see that little rascal, Ddoldol, happily smiling in midair.
“…What on earth are they doing?”
Every time a hand waved, it seemed the height of Ddoldol changed too. It looked like they were using something like air manipulation.
‘Is she using air displacement to play with that kid?’
I couldn’t help but wonder what sort of lunatic would do that, and surprisingly, it was Gu Hee-bi who was at it.
She was smiling for no reason while diligently entertaining Ddoldol.
Even Ddoldol seemed to be responding as if he was having fun…
‘Look at that little brat.’
It was utterly ridiculous to me.
‘What’s so amusing about a guy who can fly enjoying that?’
Ddoldol can fly without any of that fancy stuff.
He was pretending to play along, as if making an effort to match Gu Hee-bi’s rhythm.
That was nothing short of a sight… to behold.
“What the heck are you doing?”
I approached with a crumpled expression, observing the peculiar scene.
“Huh? You’re here.”
“…”
I furrowed my brows and reached out.
I grabbed Ddoldol by the back of his neck and yanked him down.
“What’s going on here?”
I questioned Gu Hee-bi while holding onto Ddoldol.
In response, Gu Hee-bi looked a bit sheepish and replied, “No, I thought the kid looked bored…”
“And so you’re using air manipulation to entertain him? Are you nuts, sister?” “If I have the ability, I can use it, right? It won’t run out or anything.”
What the heck does “it won’t run out” even mean?
How completely unreasonable and completely inefficient is it to use air manipulation?
It might be fine for a quick trick, but keeping a child floating in the air is just absurd.
Knowing that, I gazed at Gu Hee-bi with a somewhat pathetic expression.
“So. What is this kid, anyway?”
“…”
I had to stiffen my face at Gu Hee-bi’s question.
“Younger brother.”
“…”
What should I even say?
I thought about it briefly.
Well… how should I introduce him? At that moment, it hit me.
“…He’s my father’s son.”
I decided to repeat the answer I used last time.
Since Mrs. Mi gave her silent approval, it should be fine, right?
“Oh, I see. Father’s son… wait?”
Gu Hee-bi, who had been nodding in understanding, suddenly froze.
“…Younger brother. What did you just say?”
“Didn’t you hear? I heard everything.”
“No, I’m saying this because it doesn’t make sense.”
“Then, do you think he’s my son?”
“…”
Gu Hee-bi’s expression twisted in disbelief.
The look on her face suggested she thought the opposite was true.
Even if I looked like him, there’s a higher chance that’s not actually the case…
“…That’s impossible. Do you know how old I am?”
“Then it’s entirely possible that this could be the son of a head of the family…”
“That’s something that could occur in life.”
“What’s that bit of nonsense? Younger brother, what kind of life are you living to be able to say something like that?”
“I’m a bastard child.”
“…”
Gu Hee-bi’s mouth snapped shut.
“No, that’s… why on earth is that suddenly coming up here?”
She looked utterly perplexed.
I felt a twinge of guilt, but there was nothing I could do about it.
“Isn’t it possible even for him… that’s what I’m trying to say.”
“…That’s questionable.”
“Let’s move on from that. Where did he go?”
“Huh?”
When I asked where “he” was, Gu Hee-bi looked puzzled.
She seemed unsure who exactly I was referring to.
“Uh, you know, that guy.”
“Who are you talking about… oh.”
Only then did Gu Hee-bi react as if she figured it out.
“Are you talking about Yeon-i?”
Yeon-i. That was what Gu Hee-bi called Cheonma.
“…Yeah, him.”
He just seemed to be going wild a moment ago, and now he’s gone.
That’s what I was curious about when I asked.
“Yeon-i went home.”
“He left?”
I nodded at Gu Hee-bi’s response.
He left just like that?
“Didn’t you try to keep him here?”
“He said he was going home, so I didn’t see the need to. Plus, he was gone before I had the chance to catch him.”
“…”
I thought there would be more to it since he was throwing a tantrum earlier, but just like that, he vanished.
It felt like a deflated balloon.
An uneasy sensation started creeping back up again.
At that moment.
“Oh, by the way. Little brother, I heard you’ve been doing great lately?”
Gu Hee-bi inquired about my current situation.
“I heard you’re quite exceptional! You must be happy, huh?”
“…Happiness? More like a pain in the neck.”
“I knew our little brother would turn out this well!”
She tried to sneakily pat my butt, to which I reflexively dodged.
“What is wrong with you?”
“Whoa? Big sister is trying to compliment you, and you’re running away?”
“Compliments from a distance, please. Not up close.”
“How boring.”
As she said this, Gu Hee-bi erupted into laughter.
Seeing her like that made me shift the conversation to something different.
“Well, sister.”
“Hmm?”
“I’m asking because I find it rather unexpected.”
“What?”
“Why didn’t you come?”
“…”
Her expression turned serious upon hearing that.
Although it was a somewhat abstract question, Gu Hee-bi seemed to understand what I was alluding to.
Why didn’t she come?
That was in reference to the raid and monster incident that happened in Hanam.
At that time, many martial artists appeared.
But there were even more who remained unseen, and Gu Hee-bi was one of them.
Yes, Gu Hee-bi had stayed in Hanam but had not shown up during the incident.
“Honestly, I hoped you wouldn’t come.”
I wanted her to be absent even if chaos ensued. However…
“Still, with your personality, I thought you wouldn’t stay away.”
Gu Hee-bi is certainly not the type to stand idly by during a catastrophe.
Her temperament wouldn’t allow her to ignore the disaster unfolding before her.
“But you didn’t come. What happened?”
I’m not trying to blame you for not coming.
I couldn’t presume to hold that against her.
As I mentioned earlier, this was merely a matter of curiosity.
Gu Hee-bi remained silent for a brief moment. Time flowed slowly.
It didn’t seem like she wasn’t going to answer, so I waited.
And shortly after.
“…Indeed.”
Gu Hee-bi finally spoke.
“Why on earth did that happen?”
“…What?”
“She told me not to go.”
“Who?”
“Yeon-i.”
My eyes widened involuntarily.
‘Cheonma told you not to go?’
Are you saying that Cheonma prevented Gu Hee-bi from attending the incident?
What could have been the reasoning behind that?
And add to that…
‘So you didn’t go just because Cheonma said so?’
Even if Cheonma warned her not to, it’s strange that Gu Hee-bi had heeded it.
Thus, I felt compelled to inquire as to why.
“…”
I couldn’t bring myself to say anything.
The expression on Gu Hee-bi’s face was utterly unfamiliar.
She appeared despondent, and there was an unspoken request for me not to pry further.
So ultimately, I refrained from asking.
“Okay.”
I just hope nothing had gone wrong.
I nodded, thinking about that.
In the awkward atmosphere,
I turned to ask Gu Hee-bi another question this time.
“By the way, sister.”
“Hmm…?”
“About his name.”
“Name?”
“Hey, why do you call him Yeon?”
“Oh.”
Why is Cheonma referred to by that name?
It was something I’ve been curious about since last time but hadn’t found a moment to ask.
Why was Cheonma given that name?
I put the question to her.
“It’s because of fate.”
She made her explanation.
“…Fate?”
“Yeah. It’s fate (因緣). An unexpected relationship. That’s why he’s called Yeon.”
“…”
“It’s a pretty name, isn’t it? Even I think it’s well-chosen. Though that kid doesn’t really like it.”
It is indeed a lovely name, Gu Hee-bi explained while smiling.
Yeah, that’s a pretty name.
It was incredibly fitting—too lovely for Cheonma.
Maybe that’s why.
“Little brother?”
“Huh?”
“What’s wrong?”
“What?”
“No, I just thought something looked odd on your face. Did you eat something bad?”
“…”
I touched my face with my hand upon hearing her words.
As Gu Hee-bi said, I realized there was indeed something strange.
Naturally, it wasn’t that I hadn’t eaten.
‘Something.’
There was something inexplicably off.
‘…Yeon.’
Fate.
I felt an odd sense of alienation hearing Gu Hee-bi call Cheonma that.
What is this… like.
‘It’s uncomfortable.’
It’s not his true name, yet it seems she’s referring to him as such.
An uneasy and dense discomfort enveloped me.
That is exactly how I feel right now.
What came after was outside the door.
It wasn’t that way when I entered; I felt as if I was walking out after being weighed down by myriad thoughts.
Gu Hee-bi mentioned she had something to discuss with Mrs. Mi.
Not wanting to bother the kid, I decided to leave him to his fun.
Since they seemed to hit it off quite well, I figured they would entertain each other.
After arriving at that conclusion, I stepped outside.
“Oh, you’re here now.”
“Elder?”
The elder was waiting outside the door.
I widened my eyes to see him. Now that I thought back, we had come together, but Elder Il hadn’t entered.
Why was this massive fellow standing at the door like a dignitary?
“Why aren’t you coming in?”
“I thought it would get noisy in there.”
“…”
That was a truly remarkable insight.
“Besides, looking at your face, it seems like the old man’s choice was wise. Hehe. Looks like you’ve been through a lot inside.”
“…But you were the one who brought me here, Elder.”
“Hahahaha.”
Is this old man trying to smooth things over with a laugh?
I was left completely speechless.
That laugh was raising my irritation levels.
“What on earth is going on with him?”
“Who are you talking about?”
“I’m referring to the first Lord Danju. What sort of nonsense is this about being a head of family or whatever?”
“That old man said that to you?”
“Yeah.”
I spoke emotionally, and the elder suddenly chuckled.
“That cunning old man.”
To be precise, it was a laugh tinged with ridicule.
“You said you’d act rationally, yet the tricks he pulls are exactly the same as before.”
“…What the heck?”
“Enough of this! Don’t sulk just because that young man pushed you around a little. A big vessel grows through experience!”
Whoosh-
He turned his head, and a hand passed over me.
I dodged to escape the elder’s crafty attempts to tussle my hair once more.
“Heh, what do we have here?”
“Don’t do that. I’m exhausted…”
I would typically humor him, but right now, I felt mentally drained.
I was already in a tangled-up state of mind, feeling extra sensitive.
“It’s exhausting because of your lack of training!”
“Training is not the universal cure for everything…”
“Oh really? If that’s the case, how about I have a spar with you to relieve some stress?”
“…”
Something far more bothersome seemed to have emerged.
I didn’t even want to train, so what on earth was sparring going to accomplish?
I hated training in normal conditions, and now I was being asked to spar with Elder Il? It was utterly impossible at this moment.
I’m mentally fatigued, and my body feels weird.
So naturally, I was planning to decline.
“…I’m not confident in my control over my strength right now—”
I opened my eyes wide and halted my words midway.
Simultaneously, I covered my mouth with my hand.
“I’m not confident I can control my strength.” That was an obvious slip of the tongue.
I had unwittingly displayed an utter lack of respect to my opponent.
I had just blurted that out to Elder Il.
Did he happen to miss that? I glanced at Elder Il to gauge his reaction.
“Ha ha.”
‘…This is not good.’
He evidently caught that.
As clear evidence, while Elder Il had a cheerful expression, he had veins visibly bulging from his forehead. It seemed he was getting increasingly annoyed, and the ambient heat on his body was rising.
Seeing that prompted me to quickly offer an explanation.
“No, Elder, that wasn’t what I meant. I’m just feeling tired and made some mistakes…”
“Yang-cheon.”
“…Yes?”
I answered while bowing slightly.
Bang—!
An explosive shock resonated through the air.
It was the dramatic result of Elder Il swinging his fist.
If I hadn’t dodged, it would’ve connected straight to my face.
“Elder…?”
“I’m sorry for not being able to pay attention to my grandson lately because I’ve been busy…”
Whoosh—!! Snap—!
“It’s all the fault of this old man.”
“…!”
A giant hand reached out and grabbed me by the collar.
“So today, let’s set aside all that business and have a heartfelt conversation for the first time in ages.”
“…Elder, I can’t help but feel this barely qualifies as a conversation—!”
Before I could finish speaking, a rush of wind hit me.
The surrounding landscape warped as pressure enveloped me.
It was the consequence of Elder Il yanking me by the collar and hurling me with all his might.
Crack—!
My body was powerfully shot across the area.
I clenched my teeth to muster my energy.
Whoosh—! Flames erupted furiously around me, radiating heat.
The resulting feedback allowed my body to come to a halt amid the chaos.
Crackle—!!!
The soles of my feet scraped brutally against the floor, leaving obvious marks.
Just as I was barely managing to bring my speed down.
Shriek—!
“…!”
I heard hissing steam from somewhere. Reacting instantly, I twisted my body to evade the source of the sound.
Boom—!!!
The ground erupted violently, sending debris flying.
I distanced myself, scanning the central point of the explosion.
The previously solid floor had caved in, turning into a jumbled mess.
From within, someone was rising.
Hiss—!
A steam-emitting figure.
The elder, who had smashed the floor with a single punch, was slowly retracting his fist.
“Goodness.”
Looking at that, I clicked my tongue, feeling a blend of embarrassment and trepidation.
‘…This is somewhat problematic.’
His expression indicated he was genuinely furious.
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