I spent the whole day glued to Yeon Minha. And by evening, we got ready to head back to the dining hall from yesterday.
I had received word in advance from the staff that the head of the Jeokhwa family would be joining us for dinner tonight.
In a dark guest room, all the windows covered with curtains, only the sound of something being swoosh-swoosh was echoing.
“Hair… neat… clothes look good… scent is nice…”
After a while, Yeon Minha inspected my outfit and, as a final touch, brought her nose close to my chest before stepping back.
She nodded in satisfaction. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, as if she’d put on some makeup.
“What’s the use of putting something like that on your face anyway?”
As I felt the texture of the mask I placed in my hands, Yeon Minha shook her head vigorously.
“But we should still do it, right? You saw my mother yesterday, right? Our parents are really strict. It’s better to look a bit eccentric than shabby. Wizards tend to be quite lenient with eccentric people, whereas they’re very strict with the inept…”
She couldn’t hide her feigned disappointment.
“What a pity… Truly perfect…”
“I’m so sorry.”
Even a glimpse of my reflection in the window or a puddle triggers a near-panic rejection response.
“No, let’s go now. I feel like everything is almost ready.”
Yeon Minha shook her head and grabbed my sleeve.
I checked my appearance one last time and followed her out.
With the waiting staff leading us, we passed through the long hallway from yesterday and headed toward the banquet hall in the inner house.
As we walked past a familiar area, I quickly glanced sideways. The pictures of a couple who resembled Yeon Minha were still there.
When I looked ahead again, a woman who seemed to have popped right out of the photo was walking in step with me. She looked a bit tense, swallowing nervously.
This is a weird feeling.
As we arrived at the banquet hall, unlike yesterday, the atmosphere was quite vibrant and loud. The luminescent lights were shining brightly, and the busy staff were hastily preparing hot meals.
After a moment of waiting, a middle-aged man accompanied by several attendants began to approach.
Yeon Minha quickly walked up to him, bowing deeply in greeting.
“It’s been a while, Father. Have you been well?”
The man gestured for her to rise and spoke in a dry voice.
“Yeah. You look good too. It’s been three years, hasn’t it? My word.”
As Yeon Minha raised her head, surprise filled the man’s eyes in an instant.
He stopped mid-sentence and stared blankly for a moment.
“I thought you’d be a young lady, but you exceed my imagination. You resemble your mother so much.”
“I’m still unworthy of following my mother. I will strive harder.”
Yeon Minha kept a composed demeanor, but there was a hint of satisfaction on her face.
My gaze naturally shifted to the back of the man. There stood the head of the Jeokhwa family who greeted us yesterday.
Under the bright lights, she tried to maintain a solemn face, but her nervousness and anxiety were evident.
Isn’t she also a respected lady from a renowned family, despite being from the 27th family of magic?
I couldn’t possibly guess what made her so anxious.
What puzzled me even more was Yeon Minha’s reaction when the man remarked that she looked just like her mother.
In that brief moment, her face twisted as if she had heard the worst insult imaginable.
I didn’t exactly think she looked too much like her mother… but is it really reasonable to show such a face when a child resembles their parent?
The man who exchanged greetings with Yeon Minha approached me and requested a handshake.
“Welcome. I’m the head of the Jeokhwa family, Yeon Jeong-mun.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Yoo Jin-hyun.”
As I shook his hand, I faced him.
He felt like an older version of Yeon Minha, just with a broader age gap.
He still bore traces of the youthful boy in the photo, but time was slowly stealing his youth away.
His hair and skin looked dull and dry, and his eyes appeared dim, hidden behind thick glasses.
His pupils seemed to have lost their shine, appearing dark, but occasionally, a spark of some energy or madness flickered through.
Suddenly, the image of the principal, still retaining her youthful looks, crossed my mind. She must have still looked young during this man’s cradle days. They say a wizard with excellent talents can maintain youth until death. Did this man simply not reach that level?
A disciple looking older than his master…
He surveyed me just as I was observing him. It felt like his gaze would pierce through my mask. Beside me, Yeon Minha was glancing at us both, appearing somewhat anxious.
However, his sharp gaze swept over me in an instant and disappeared.
“I’ve been busy with an important research project, so I’m late to greet you. I apologize for my rudeness to a long-awaited guest. Please understand with a generous heart.”
“Oh, it’s fine. Thanks to you… I have been comfortable and treated beyond my expectations.”
I felt I should modify my titles in front of her parents.
But I was somewhat surprised by this unexpected kindness. Isn’t the Jeokhwa family infamous for their abusive temper due to mental contamination?
Even if it’s a facade of politeness, Yeon Minha was nothing compared to the person I met at first. Perhaps she is not just a mere resemblance of her mother but also inherited her personality. So was that compliment earlier not really a compliment? It’s quite confusing.
“Thank you for considering it that way. Now, let’s not dawdle and take our seats.”
He gestured toward the chairs placed at the table.
At the moment he turned his body, I suddenly heard a tiny metallic sound and looked around to find its source.
Around the neck of the head of the Jeokhwa family was some decorative item that looked religious, hanging like a necklace.
Unlike ordinary crosses, the upper part appeared oddly elongated. At a glance, it could seem like an upside-down cross was hanging there.
The necklace blinked into visibility for a moment before disappearing into his collar, and since I was completely ignorant about religion, I didn’t pay it further mind.
But I still recall he seemed considerably brighter after consulting with a nun. Is consulting with a religious person really that effective? Does it alleviate mental contamination and even help smoothen one’s personality?
If that’s the case, I might want to take my faith more seriously.
As people took their seats one by one, the staff began to bring food amidst soft music.
“Yeah. I had heard about your achievement of receiving the Golden Star Martial Honor. And that you ranked first in the Paecheon from Yohram.”
“Yes, Father.”
At Yeon Minha’s confirmation, the man slowly nodded in satisfaction.
“Naturally, if you are the heir to Jeokhwa, that’s how it should be. How could my face show if you fell behind those rats from Paecheon? It may have taken some time, but well done. Continue to uphold such achievements in the future.”
“Thank you, Father. I will work even harder.”
Though his voice was dry, Yeon Minha next to him looked like she could jump with joy. This kind of conversation continued negatively as the atmosphere became increasingly awkward, and I tilted my head in confusion.
He merely parroted back praises for the honor and the accomplishment over Paecheon’s defeat. He showed no interest whatsoever in her mental contamination or the near-death crisis she faced in the south.
Much like her mother, she silently downed her drink.
Yeon Minha, even if she took it as a compliment, only revealed a pleased expression…
“This is also thanks to my junior, who has helped me in every way. Without him, I would have been struggling quite a bit by now.”
“Ah, I see. The recommended student from the Heukryeon.”
At Yeon Minha’s gesture, the man’s gaze shifted back to me.
“I had been so absorbed in my research that I hadn’t paid much attention to outside matters, but I think I’ve heard bits about it. Apparently, it’s been 17 years since Heukryeon designated a recommended student. Was it through the sub-branch’s recommendation? They’ve long cut off interest in external activities.”
“That’s right.”
I nodded in response to his words.
“It seems quite unique. You must certainly have solid skills. Our Jeokhwa has maintained a close relationship with Heukryeon over generations, especially with the common enemy, the filthy Paecheon.”
Again, his gaze fell upon my mask.
“Though I’m not a direct descendant, I’m pleased that this relationship continues. Please treat my daughter well. Heukryeon is indeed a renowned family, but compared to our Jeokhwa’s storied history, they may fall short. Furthermore, that high-and-mighty Paecheon will soon hit the ground…”
“…”
Serve? Is it just me, or are there certain words that strangely rub me the wrong way?
When I stealthily turned my head to the side, I noticed Yeon Minha looking back and forth between her father and me with an anxious expression.
I guess I’m not hearing things incorrectly.
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