### Chapter 433 – A Clan with Structure (9) Fin
—
[Han Kain]
—
I thought while touching the lid of the jar.
This was the last variable of this incident and the tagger for the second game.
Trapped inside the jar was my great-grandfather, the real Han Jin-seong’s soul.
—
“…”
—
What kind of person is he?
I realized this while experiencing the repeated dreams of my great-grandfather who fell into despair alongside me.
The sane Han Jin-seong was not an evil person at all; he was rather a kind old man who cared for his descendants, albeit a bit grouchy.
After all, the Administration Bureau, where he dedicated his youth, was fundamentally a group devoted to protecting the world.
—
— Creak!
—
The moment the jar opened, the employees began to panic upon seeing the suddenly appeared name tag.
—
“Oh my! W-What is this?”
—
“It looks like a name tag? Sir! Are you alright?”
—
I calmed everyone down with a firm voice.
—
“Everyone, calm down! This jar is originally a sacred object, so there’s no need to be startled. Seungchan!”
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“Yes!”
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“Is Kain securely held?”
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“Not moving an inch.”
—
After half a day of harsh punishment and squats, Han Minsang was on the verge of fainting.
He knew that the game had begun again but not even a finger moved.
He merely raised his head slightly, wearing a desperate expression.
—
“…”
—
Knowing that he was occupying my body made me feel complicated.
—
— Thud!
—
As I removed the name tag “Han Minsang” stuck to my chest, my body dropped to the floor like a machine that had its power cut off.
—
“…”
—
Now, all I needed to do was transfer the name tag that appeared on my chest, “Han Kain,” back to my original body.
—
“Can everyone hear me?”
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“Yes!”
—
“Yeah!”
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“There’s nothing to worry about, so move to the next room. You can’t go outside, so don’t waste your efforts.”
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“Understood.”
—
The employees left the room, their expressions showing that they didn’t understand the situation but obeyed my orders anyway.
Now, in this room, there were just me, the jar, my slumped original body, and the name tag of Han Minsang in my hand.
—
“Come out now. No, please step forward.”
—
…
—
“Grandpa, I’ve cleared everyone out. My younger brother’s name tag is just in my hand.”
—
…
—
“If you don’t speak, shall I just put the name tag back into the jar and close it?”
—
As I began conversing with my great-grandfather, my speech began to return to its original pace.
Suddenly, accompanied by a noisy sputtering sound, a familiar voice reverberated.
—
“Dear child… Please pause for a moment.”
—
“…”
—
“Listen to me.”
—
“I’ve paused.”
—
Gradually, a ghostly figure resembling a hazy fog emerged in the air.
Despite having lost his physical form, my great-grandfather’s spirit was unable to depart for the world of the dead due to the jar’s magical power.
—
“Thank you. How long have I been stuck in that jar?”
—
“You became trapped last night. It’s been about 16 hours.”
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“Only that much… and it’s already so cold and harsh…”
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“…”
—
“Poor Minseong, my little brother.”
—
I have no intention of denying that statement.
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“Grandpa, I have a question; please be honest with me.”
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“Ask away. Now that things are this way, is there any secret I could hide?”
—
Who initiated the ongoing second game?
It was me.
From outside the jar, I brought the jar over and opened the lid, which signaled the start of the second game.
—
Recognizing this raises a question.
Who started the first game?
—
Was it Han Minsang trapped inside the jar?
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“No matter how I think about it, the sacrifice trapped in the jar can’t escape by its own power, can it? If that were possible, why would Han Minsang have been trapped for decades?”
—
“…”
—
“Someone had to bring the jar and release him.”
—
“…”
—
“The only one who could do that is you, Grandpa. Why did you let him out?”
—
The person who started the first game was my great-grandfather.
When I pointed out this fact, the hazy smoke suddenly began to twist.
Before long, I saw smoke rising from the dark hollows of something resembling a face, and I realized.
—
Right now, my great-grandfather was weeping in a spiritual state.
—
“… Grandpa.”
—
Looking back, the evidence that my grandfather started the first game was glaring.
He was the only one who knew of the jar’s existence and always collapsed next to it whenever the first game began.
—
“Why did you do it?”
—
Did he feel pity for his younger brother suffering in the jar?
To this point, I could understand the psychology as a fellow human, but the next part eluded my understanding.
—
Why, specifically, did he release him while his young descendants were gathered here?
—
“Did you let him go out of pity as your time was nearing? Were you worried that no one would release him after you died?”
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“Dear child…”
—
“But why exactly did you release him in this house, when we were all together?”
—
At that moment, the old man’s weary voice came through.
—
“You’re a rather clever lad, but you’ve misunderstood one crucial thing about me.”
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“What’s that?”
—
“I never intended to release my brother… Think! Minseong was my good little brother over 70 years ago?”
—
“That’s right.”
—
“You’re more aware of Minseong’s behavior than I am. What does this child appear to be?”
—
“… An evil spirit. A creature that shouldn’t exist in this world.”
—
“I’ve worked at the Administration Bureau for decades. Do you think I wouldn’t know that?”
—
My great-grandfather spent his youth in the Administration Bureau.
Even if he was a good person, after being twisted by this evil magical tool for decades, it was clear he only retained wickedness.
—
“So what exactly happened?”
—
“I was going to break the jar.”
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“…”
—
“Break the jar! Release my brother, and call the Administration Bureau to take away the assets!”
—
I couldn’t help but be amazed.
What my grandfather intended to do aligned perfectly with my plan.
As he shattered the jar, the only way for his descendants to escape the curse was to have the assets taken by the Administration Bureau.
—
“If that were the case, you would have lived without incident.”
—
“Even so, you would be cursed.”
—
If after breaking the jar, the Bureau took all the assets worth over 1,000 billion, the descendants might be freed, but my great-grandfather couldn’t escape that fate.
He had already lived using the wealth granted by the jar.
—
“What’s there to fear? I’ve enjoyed fortune for decades that wasn’t even in my fate; it’s just right for me to die!”
—
“How did it end in failure?”
—
“… A demon grasped my hand.”
—
A demon?
Did Han Minsang inside the jar somehow have a hand in this? Is that even possible?
—
“I can tell just by looking at you. You’re among those thinking Minseong held me back, right?”
—
“Am I wrong?”
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“Incorrect. There was a real demon that couldn’t be compared to Minseong.”
—
The true demon that prevented my grandfather from breaking the jar.
—
The fog was now pointing its arm in a gesture that seemed to grasp all around.
—
“Do you know how much this house is worth?”
—
“…”
—
“Do you understand the value of the green tea fields where your father is picking tea?”
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“…”
—
“The market price of the Seulyk building in Gangnam is currently 22 billion.”
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“…”
—
“Grandchild, do you know what it means to have so much money?”
—
“Grandpa…”
—
“Do you really think this land of Joseon is completely equal?”
—
“…”
—
“Of course not! There are clear hierarchies, and I have lived my life at the top. That was my fortune.”
—
My great-grandfather passionately explained just what the over 1,000 billion meant.
—
“All of this… I would hand over to the Administration Bureau. Thinking that, my hands would tremble. This enjoyable fortune I’ve savored forever… I can’t give it to you.”
—
“Is this why you couldn’t break the jar?”
—
“I tried to break it, but as I suddenly laid eyes on this hanok, I lost strength in my hands. And before I knew it, only the lid opened.”
—
The truth about what transpired overnight was ridiculous in many ways and seemed empty in a certain sense as well.
—
“If that’s the case, it’s fine now. I’ve already contacted Lawyer Park to notify the Administration Bureau. They’ll probably arrive tomorrow or the day after.”
—
“What?! You’ve already contacted them?”
—
“What would you do with 1,000 billion and a cursed fortune? I intended to let them take it all.”
—
The hazy smoke began to flutter and pulse.
I could sense just how shocked my great-grandfather was, despite having no physical form.
—
“What the heck! You’re so young! How could you understand that? Do you not know what 1,000 billion means? How could you…”
—
“…”
—
“No. I, this old man, was truly foolish! Regardless of whether it’s 1,000 billion or whatever, there’s nothing more precious than a human life, how could I be so blind even though you realize it at your young age?”
—
To be honest, I’m not a completely greed-free person.
Given that I already know everything happening is merely an illusion of the past, I’m simply detached.
—
“It’s time for me to return to my body.”
—
“… I’ll help you. The moment you detach the name tag, you’ll faint, so it won’t be easy to move.”
—
“Right.”
—
…
—
…
—
When I came to, I was back in the body of a handsome, smart, and kind boy.
—
… The very moment I returned, I screamed.
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“Eek! W-What the hell! This hurts like crazy!”
—
“Hmph! You were acting so smart until a moment ago, but is it that painful after just a bit of hitting?”
—
My great-grandfather had also regained his original body.
—
“It hurts like hell, you know?”
—
“Who can you blame? This all happened because you tormented that poor child, Minseong.”
—
“…”
—
That’s true.
—
At some point, my great-grandfather looked down at the jar with a bittersweet expression.
In his hand was the name tag of “Han Minsang.”
—
“… Grandpa.”
—
“I just had a thought again.”
—
“…”
—
“What if we put Minseong’s name tag back and close the jar?”
—
“…”
—
“Like I will die soon, but you will live your entire life and die on top.”
—
“…”
—
“Humans… can be so cruel. Is this not the work of a devil?”
—
“Shall I break it for you?”
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“… Indeed.”
—
“Yeah?”
—
“You are better than me.”
—
“…”
—
My great-grandfather stepped back two paces with a gloomy expression.
I approached the jar, enduring the pain.
—
“Here goes.”
—
“Just do it without asking. Didn’t you just say you’re better than me?”
—
I picked up a pillow lying near me and—
—
— Snap!
—
Suddenly, the surroundings grew dark.
A solid hand emerged from the darkness and grabbed my arm.
—
“It’ll hurt, so why don’t you sit back down?”
—
“…”
—
“Sir, long time no see.”
—
A whirlpool of thoughts whirled in my mind.
Who was this? Not one of the employees but an outsider?
The space around us was controlled by the jar’s magic, preventing random entry, right?
The body type and size appeared to be that of a well-trained adult man, but I couldn’t see his face due to the darkness.
—
“… KD. I heard from Kain that you’d be here tomorrow or the day after.”
—
“Are you disappointed that I’m here early?”
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“Not at all. I’m actually very grateful.”
—
So this was the KD that Lawyer Park had called?
He was connected to the Administration Bureau on a personal level that my grandfather knew.
Thus, it made sense he could break through the jar’s closed space.
—
This person could not be ordinary.
—
“I’ll take the jar with me.”
—
“I initially intended to break it.”
—
“Were you going to release your brother trapped inside? Oh, but right now, his spirit is out.”
—
“… How do you know so much?”
—
As my grandfather handed over the name tag with a reluctant expression, the man nonchalantly tore it in half.
—
“Ugh! Wha— Suddenly—”
—
“Your brother is now free of pain. I’ll take the jar with me.”
—
The man confidently approached and picked up the jar from the floor, closing its lid.
In that moment, the name tags on my and my grandfather’s chests disappeared.
—
The game was over, even though no name tags had been placed in the jar!
—
At that moment, I felt more bemused than pleased, and it was slightly disillusioning.
The man before my eyes was handling the situation without any regard for all the struggling rules we had just uncovered through our trials.
—
My grandfather opened his mouth, looking dazed.
—
“The… assets—”
—
“Unfortunately, you cannot inherit this wealth. You know the reason, right?”
—
“… I do know.”
—
“Soon someone from the company will come. The aftermath will be handled neatly, so you need not worry.”
—
“…”
—
No one.
Not a single person had explained the rules of the jar or the cursed assets to this man.
—
Yet, KD was more aware of the situation than anyone else here.
—
“Congratulations!”
—
“… Congratulate what?”
—
“Of course! The problem that troubled your heart for so long has now ended, right? I wish you a peaceful remaining life.”
—
“My… my children…”
—
“What’s with all that worry? Even without 1,000 billion, they’ll manage just fine. After all, Kain’s father works at a well-known company.”
—
“…”
—
“Congratulations.”
—
“… Thank you.”
—
This chaotic ordeal had come to an end.
—
And once again, the solid hand in the darkness grabbed me.
—
“Huh?”
—
“Let’s talk in the light.”
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