Chapter: 778
“Dad…”
“…What?”
The name that reached my ears made my thoughts freeze.
It was a word I had never used or even heard in my entire life.
What did I just hear?
‘Dad?’
I narrowed my eyes and stared at the unfamiliar word.
No matter how I looked at it, he had the same face as I did when I was little.
He looked to be at least seven years old, if not a bit older, but certainly no more than ten.
Just like my former small stature, which had remained consistent until I underwent transformation, his petite frame stood out regardless of age.
What is he so dissatisfied about, with those eyes wide open as if complaining?
Even though he seemed perplexed, that gaze was fixed squarely on me.
“…”
No matter how I looked at it, I knew it was me.
The real question was.
‘…What is that?’
So the ultimate question becomes: what is the identity of that guy?
Surely, he can’t be my past self.
What on earth is he doing here?
And why, for that matter, is he perched on Namgung Bi-ah’s lap?
“…”
“…”
After a moment of silently exchanging glances, the little guy made the first move.
The kid who had been comfortably nestled in Namgung Bi-ah’s arms slipped away.
“…ah…”
As he left her embrace, Namgung Bi-ah let out a short sound.
Was that a hint of regret I sensed? Surely just my imagination…?
The kid landed on the ground and calmly approached me, his eyes locked on mine.
As he got closer, it felt all the more real. He really has a face that could be described as rather disagreeable.
Perhaps it’s just because he’s so young, but I felt no immediate aversion—still, he definitely didn’t seem like a pleasant fellow.
That little guy took steadfast steps toward me.
Thud.
“…?”
Out of nowhere, he wrapped his arms around my legs and hugged me.
Perhaps due to the growth spurt after shedding his former self, his small body barely managed to hold onto my legs.
“What’s this?”
Just as I was startled by the unexpected hug.
“…Dad.”
The kid, still clinging on, repeated the title he had blurted out earlier.
Seriously, what’s going on? I thought to shake him off first.
Rumble.
“…!”
The moment we made contact, an unusual vibration rippled through my heart.
A short tremor. A subtle sensation that resonated, which immediately widened my eyes in astonishment.
‘Ah.’
Now I understand. The mystery behind this little brat’s identity.
What is going on…?
“Hey—”
With my realization, I wanted to say something right away.
“…Dad? You really said Dad.”
“Are you actually my dad?”
“…Dad? How old is this kid?”
“Wow. He’s way more manly than I expected. Yeah, that’s how a boy should be… Sister Nong-i, don’t give me that look.”
“…”
I had to keep myself shut in response to the noise coming from all around.
I lifted my head and looked straight ahead.
Everyone who had gathered was inevitably staring at me.
And their eyes…what a sight!
Of course, they were shocked, but the intensity of their stares was downright terrifying.
“Dad…? Are you really my dad…?”
In particular, Mo Yong-hee’s gaze was something else entirely.
Her expression shifted from suspicion to certainty, the way she alternated glances between me and the kid.
Seeing that, I let out a sigh of frustration.
“What in the world are you all thinking?”
I could tell they had some sort of ridiculous misunderstanding, but it was so absurd that I didn’t even know what to say.
“That’s not it.”
I felt compelled to clarify, but given the expressions I was receiving, I feared the consequences of silence.
“Not really?”
“No way. Do you think that makes sense?”
How old am I, and what kind of dad would I be?
Not to mention…
“Just look at how old the kid is.”
At the very least, he looks six years old, and I doubt he’s even reached ten.
If we calculate based on my age, this is utter nonsense.
“How old am I supposed to be to have a kid? There’s no way someone this big can just pop into existence.”
It’s not like I’m the one giving birth, but come on, that’s not the point.
At least five years ago… back then…
‘That’s when I should have been busy enjoying my carefree days.’
Considering I was just a few years post-regression, I was still too busy figuring out genuine plans.
Most of my time was spent training—it’s not like I could have just birthed a child.
‘Surely, if you count back, I should have had a child ages ago.’
That includes my past life.
This life, however, was different.
‘Honestly, even getting married is a bit late at this point…’
If I had gotten married, it should have been much sooner.
And if I were to have a child, it should’ve happened around now.
Unfortunately, I’ve just been putting it off for some unexplained reason.
‘How can I get married with so much on my plate?’
The same goes for both marrying and having children.
Piling on more responsibilities is the last thing I could afford.
With that reasoning, I’ve been delaying things as best I could.
“What kind of ridiculous story are you buying into?”
Perhaps they were oblivious to the situation; the expressions on everyone’s faces still brimmed with doubt.
Honestly, I didn’t want to admit it, but it seemed inevitable.
“…Yet, it’s clear to anyone.”
“It looks just too… similar.”
“And he’s calling you Dad, right?”
“…”
This was an undeniable truth I couldn’t refute.
If I saw the resemblance, how could others not?
And even when the kid clings to me calling me Dad, it seems to compel belief, even in the most absurd circumstances.
One…
“…Regardless, he’s not my kid. No way.”
That’s a painfully unfair statement for me.
‘Shit. If there was some loophole, it would be less irritating.’
I’ve lived a life of incorruptibility.
If it were my past life, that’s one thing, but this life is a lesson in cleanliness itself.
Frustration bubbled over, and Mo Yong-hee, with her face scrunched up, approached me.
“So then, who exactly is this kid?”
“…First, clarify. Why is he here?”
“Given your reaction, it seems the young master doesn’t really know this child.”
“…”
I swallowed dryly at Mo Yong-hee’s statement.
I considered the option of pretending not to know, but that seemed impossible as well.
‘Admitting ignorance in this case would complicate matters.’
With that familiar face staring back at me, it was foolish to pretend.
Wondering why he had such a resemblance made silence the worst option.
I fumbled, struggling to find the right words for the explanation.
“Just the other day, the sword dancer found him at the young master’s quarter. Apparently, he was sleeping there nude.”
“What?”
He was found in my quarters? By Namgung Bi-ah?
I stared at Namgung Bi-ah, confusion etched on my face.
It seemed to be around the time I had fainted after overindulging, but why was he in my room?
As I gazed at Namgung Bi-ah with bewilderment, she averted her eyes slightly. Did she feel uneasy about something?
I thought about asking what had happened, but her statement took precedence.
“I managed to put some clothes on him, but he just keeps asking for his dad. It’s apparent to anyone…”
Isn’t it obvious he resembles you?
That was the undeniable reality.
“…So you all gathered here thinking he’s actually my child?”
“Rather than knowing, I felt confirmation was necessary.”
“What do you mean by confirmation when you were so sure of it?”
You said you’d be in deep trouble if I didn’t come.
So, essentially, haven’t you already decided he’s clearly your child?
That’s still the case. Despite me stating a hundred times that I’m not, no one believes me.
Every hint of suspicion vanished from their faces, the expressions they wore blatant.
In that moment, Mo Yong-hee interrogated me.
“Really not?”
“That’s exactly what I said.”
Suppressing a sigh, I rubbed my temples.
I could feel irritation mounting.
“I get that we look alike, but that undoubtedly makes him my child…”
As I nearly lost my cool while trying to clarify again…
Grip.
I felt the hem of my pants being tugged.
Wondering what was happening, I looked down to see the little boy tugging at my clothes.
“What’s up?”
I asked, trying to gauge the situation, but his expression began to falter dramatically.
“…Ah… Dad…”
His eyes scrunched up, taking on a pitiful expression.
What on earth is that face…?
“Y-You’re not really saying Dad…?”
“…”
His eyes trembled as though shocked, and I noticed tears shimmering on the verge of spilling.
What in the world is going on here?
“Hey! Hey! Why are you getting all teary?”
“Dad…!”
“What do you mean Dad?! I’m not your dad! Get away from me!?”
I had that gut feeling: everything was going down the drain.
I tried to pull away, but alas, as expected.
“…Scum.”
“Scum!”
“Your Majesty, you’re going way too far…”
“…”
The atmosphere shifted into something rather creepy around us.
In their eyes, I was painted as a shameless individual pretending not to recognize my own child.
This little brat’s expression was only adding fuel to the fire.
Wondering how the heck I would cope with this situation, I angrily wiped my cold sweat.
“…Come here…”
Someone beckoned the child.
It was Namgung Bi-ah, who had been sitting quietly this whole time.
As she called, the whimpering boy turned, trotting over to her and leaping back into her arms.
I looked on in disbelief, but Namgung Bi-ah seemed unfazed, lifting the kid as if she were used to it and hugging him tightly, her gaze settled firmly on me.
“…”
Her expression remained calm, unchanging as she merely observed. Yet somehow, it felt like she demanded an explanation.
‘Even if it’s an explanation…’
Faced with such scrutiny, the only response I could muster was one.
“I say again, no.”
“No…?”
“Yeah. No. I’m not that kid’s dad…”
“…I see…”
“Hmm?”
After hearing me say that, Namgung Bi-ah nodded, which caused me to momentarily lose my words again.
Namgung Bi-ah swiftly resumed cooing and caressing the child as if it were the most natural thing in the world, gently stroking his hair.
Seeing this, the others wore equally flabbergasted expressions for a moment.
In particular, Mo Yong-hee’s face was mixed with a myriad of emotions.
She looked upset but also baffled.
To me, it just seemed like confusion.
“Sword dancer…”
Finally, Mo Yong-hee took the plunge, calling Namgung Bi-ah out.
“Is that all you need?”
“…”
Namgung Bi-ah tilted her head, clearly perplexed by the question.
“…What…?”
“Is that all you plan on asking?”
“…Um… well…”
She nodded, subdued, before adding,
“…Didn’t I just tell you he’s not that person..?”
I have denied it.
That seemed satisfactory enough for her. Yet Mo Yong-hee appeared to remain unconvinced by how easily Namgung Bi-ah bought into that.
“Do you seriously believe that?”
“…Um…”
“No… Why are you so quick to believe it…?”
“Hee-ah.”
“…”
Mo Yong-hee, who had been about to make a retort, fell silent at the sound of her name being called by Namgung Bi-ah.
That struck me as odd.
It was quite rare for Namgung Bi-ah to refer to her by name.
“Why did you suddenly call my name…?”
“Hee-ah already knows.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I just said, he isn’t that person. Then that means he’s not. I don’t know about anything else… but when it comes to this matter, it’s set in stone. Hee-ah knows too.”
“…”
At Namgung Bi-ah’s insistence, Mo Yong-hee had nothing to counter back.
If she had been her usual logical self, I was sure she would have immediately challenged that assertion, but her awareness seemed to have disappeared.
Clench.
Mo Yong-hee’s graceful hands balled into fists.
Her face showed an abundance of things she wanted to shout, but ultimately nothing escaped her lips.
Could this be an acceptance of the truth?
Thud.
Thud.
Only the soft sound of Namgung Bi-ah gently patting the child on the back echoed in the room.
As silence—an oppressive silence, continued to stretch on.
“…So, what exactly is this kid?”
Once again, Mo Yong-hee turned to me, asking.
“Uh…?”
“…He’s not even the young master’s child. He was in the young master’s quarters, and he’s exactly like you. What in the world is he?”
“…”
I swallowed hard again at Mo Yong-hee’s insistence.
It’s not that I’m denying what she’s saying. It felt like a demand for an explanation.
Well, it seems that it was odd that nothing just slipped by as nonchalantly as Namgung Bi-ah did.
Indeed.
I should explain.
However.
‘How in the world do I explain this?’
The child cradled in Namgung Bi-ah’s arms.
No, my mind whirled as I took that in.
‘Why did that little monster suddenly end up like this?’
My head was spinning.
Yeah, he was someone I knew.
I didn’t know why he looked like my childhood self or how he suddenly developed into this state and wound up in my quarters.
What I was sure of was that I recognized him.
Ideally, I would have figured it out the moment I laid eyes on him, but his changed appearance made that realization come slower than expected.
This kid’s true identity was none other than:
‘The clever little guy…’
It was none other than the clever little guy.
A red monster I had hunted in Sichuan a few years back.
He was a being birthed from the energy I had absorbed from the magic stone.
Initially, he manifested as a small snake, but as time passed, he grew larger and took on a more ferocious appearance.
As if he were tied to my own growth, he had been changing in tandem as I became stronger.
After all, these days, when he reached his maximum size, he was as large as a mountain; thus keeping him nearby was nearly impossible.
That must have been the case.
‘Then why did he change into this again?’
Now, he had shifted from a monster into a human form altogether.
Part of me wondered—could it be a case of mistaken identity?
‘That can’t possibly be the case.’
He was directly linked to me, and even now, I could feel the connection in my heart.
This little guy is indeed the clever one. No room for doubt.
But why had this truck-sized monster transformed into something akin to this?
If I tried to find the reason, one glaring thought crossed my mind.
‘Could it perhaps be my fault again this time?’
His form altering along with my own growth speaks volumes.
Which means that any alterations to my own being are likely the root cause behind his transformation.
After all, I had just begun to recover after fainting due to the aftermath of the magic stone. The changes in my body were all too evident, and linking it back left nothing else coming to mind.
Clearly, there was a shift, leading to Tottoli becoming human. That seems like a fitting conclusion.
If that is the case, the fact that he appears as my childhood self may signify that:
‘Could it be because he carries my energy?’
To put it plainly, being created with my energy could certainly explain such a transformation.
That leads us to a tantalizing conclusion:
‘…When considered this way, it’s possible to say he’s truly my child?’
Thinking it over, it wouldn’t seem completely off the mark to consider him a child.
‘…However, it feels truly absurd to state that he’s my son.’
The dilemma of having to explain this all while acknowledging each detail is bound to divide my conscience.
“Young Master!”
“…”
If he’s not my child, then what is he?
The demand for answers in their eyes only deepened.
What in the world was I supposed to do to navigate this crisis?
Should I just fess up?
‘Oh, but that’s a no-go.’
Even I know that admitting this would not end well for me.
Ah.
Isn’t that…?
‘Could I just launch into this shamelessly?’
He’s my kid. What’s it to you? We’re not exactly best buddies over here.
I didn’t share because I wasn’t asked.
I toyed with the idea of brazening it out for a moment, but in the end, the conclusion was:
‘…This is absolutely not an option.’
While logically it might fit, something deep inside was grabbing my brain and screaming ‘no’.
At the moment those words slipped out of my mouth, it would all be over!
‘So then what in the world should I do…?’
At that moment, when I was trapped in a mental loop of indecision,
“Ah.”
A fleeting thought struck me.
“Confucius? What were you saying…?”
“He’s my younger brother.”
“What?”
Mo Yong-hee wore an utterly flabbergasted expression over my spontaneous proclamation.
She appeared to have misheard something.
“What did you just say…?”
“He’s my younger brother. Yeah, he’s my younger brother.”
“What do you mean by that…?”
“Oh yeah. I’m definitely not his dad, you see?”
I pointed to myself, confidently stating my claim.
Then, I gestured toward Tottoli with my second point.
“Our father is his father.”
Crash!
“Huh?”
I heard something shatter. I turned around.
There was…
“…Oh.”
Remnants of busted glass littered the floor.
And then,
“…Madam Mi?”
Madam Mi stood there, frozen in shock.
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