Known as the strongest swordsman of his generation and reigning above all the disciples of the family, the head of the household bears an epithet before his name.
Beast King.
“I came out of curiosity, but I didn’t expect to see you lot fighting like this.”
“…”
“How old are you people supposed to be, not considering the dignity of the family?”
In front of that epithet, which commands respect, reverence, and awe from anyone in the family,
no one present dared to utter a word.
The fathers, who had been rolling on the floor until then, got up and quickly bowed their heads.
The mothers also swiftly stood beside them.
“If there had been people from other families here, they would have laughed at us, calling us not the children of lions but the offspring of mongrels.”
“I apologize.”
“Did you lot, grown men, really want to disgrace the Shinjeom Taoist Sect by fighting like that? If you wanted to fight so badly, you should have done it with swords, like a true swordsmanship family! I’m utterly disappointed.”
“…”
“You lot are no different. If you saw your brothers fighting so messily, you should have intervened or mediated instead of just watching with smirks on your faces. You’re no better than those brats.”
“I apologize, Head of the household!”
The head of the Shinjeom Taoist Sect of that generation.
Beast King, Do Ye-eok.
With the presence of the grandfather standing before us like Mount Tai, the situation was quickly brought under control.
Not a single person could raise their head in front of the grandfather.
‘The pressure is no joke.’
I couldn’t raise my head either.
It felt like I was being crushed by an invisible force.
And that feeling was not an illusion.
[Exposed to Pressure.]
[All ability values decrease by 10%.]
The grandfather was emanating pressure.
Reading the message that appeared before my eyes, I inwardly clicked my tongue.
Even without revealing his full might, the decrease in ability values was significant.
‘He could indeed be considered one of the strongest in Korea in the game.’
The game “Brave Hearts.”
In this game, almost all the storylines take place in the academy city where the protagonist, Kang Hyeonbyeol, is, mainly centered around the students.
As a result, the world outside the academy city, international affairs, and characters are not specifically dealt with.
The grandfather, as the head of the Shinjeom Taoist Sect, also falls into that category.
He was only briefly mentioned in scenes related to the Shinjeom Taoist Sect.
Each time, it was described that it wouldn’t be strange to consider him one of the strongest in Korea.
Having glimpsed a part of the power the grandfather displayed, I had no choice but to acknowledge it.
“So, why did you fight?”
Then, after giving us a thorough scolding, the grandfather inquired about the situation.
The oppressive atmosphere that had been suffocating us moments ago had vanished.
[Free from Pressure.]
[Decreased ability values are restored.]
The grandfather had retracted his pressure.
I subtly dismissed the message with my eyes and cautiously raised my head.
By then, the third eldest uncle was taking the opportunity to explain to the grandfather.
“Head of the household, it’s just that…”
Blah blah, blah blah.
The third eldest uncle explained about the duel between me and Do Seung-woo.
The explanation was somewhat biased.
“Head of the household, it’s not like that…”
Then my father, as if unwilling to lose, interrupted the third eldest uncle.
“Head of the household, look at Seung-woo’s face.”
“Head of the household, Gyeon-woo did it without reason…”
Do Seung-woo’s mother and my mother also tried to chime in.
As the situation seemed to flow similarly to before…
“Enough, stop.”
“…”
The grandfather, with his thick eyebrows twitching, cut off the conversation entirely.
It was an order from the head of the household.
My father, mother, the third eldest uncle, and Do Seung-woo’s mother all fell silent.
“I think it would be better to hear the story from the parties involved rather than from you lot. Gyeon-woo.”
“…Yes, grandfather.”
I had anticipated something like this since the grandfather arrived at the training hall.
Called by name, I walked forward to the grandfather without hesitation.
“Is it true that you challenged Seung-woo to a duel and won?”
“…”
It felt like looking up at Mount Tai.
Up close, the grandfather’s presence seemed even more colossal.
For a moment, I was overwhelmed by that presence, but I quickly gathered my wits.
Then I spoke.
“Yes, I did challenge him first, and I did win.”
“Well, how did you win? Did you use any unfair means…?”
“I just hit him from behind when he showed a vulnerability, and he passed out.”
“…”
“It’s hard to explain in words… Since many people watched the duel, you can ask them for specifics.”
I answered honestly.
I knew my explanation was lacking, but this was the best way to respond.
To my answer…
“Well, is that so?”
The corners of the grandfather’s mouth curled up.
“I suppose it’s understandable that you wouldn’t know, being focused on the duel. As you said, I’ll ask the other kids about this matter.”
“Yes.”
“So, why did you touch the unconscious boy after the duel?”
“It was to check if Seung-woo was dead or alive.”
“What?”
“I was scared because he wasn’t responding while unconscious, so I touched him to make sure.”
“…And that’s why you slapped him?”
I also answered honestly to this.
Then I could see the third eldest uncle glaring at me, and Do Seung-woo’s mother was sending a similar look from beside him.
I ignored those gazes.
On the other hand, the grandfather, after hearing my words…
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“How interesting.”
“…”
Now he was even chuckling, and suddenly burst into laughter.
From that laughter, Do Seung-woo’s parents seemed to sense a bad turn of events.
At that moment, the two of them opened their mouths as if to argue.
“Head of the household! You can’t believe that…”
“When did I give you permission to speak?”
But they couldn’t continue their words in response to the grandfather’s question.
“It was a duel between the parties involved, and upon hearing the story, it doesn’t seem to be a problem. Let’s just drop this matter here.”
“But Head of the household…”
“Are you planning to keep making a fuss about this?”
“…”
“Admit when you should. Or should I ask your son as well?”
“What? Head of the household, what do you mean by that…”
“Seung-woo, open your eyes now. I know you’re conscious.”
…What, he wasn’t unconscious?
Hearing the grandfather’s words, I swiftly turned my head.
Do Seung-woo, who had been lying with his eyes closed since a while ago, had his eyelids trembling.
Soon, the guy who had been clinging to his mother opened his eyes, got up from his seat, and greeted with proper etiquette.
“…Head of the household.”
“Tell me the truth. Did Gyeon-woo use any underhanded tactics? Do you think he won by cheating?”
“…No.”
The grandfather was the head of the household.
Even if Do Seung-woo disliked me, he couldn’t risk his life by lying in such a dangerous situation.
From the start, facing the grandfather’s presence, one would instinctively answer truthfully regardless of their own will.
Thus, Do Seung-woo had no choice but to admit his defeat with a contorted face.
“Even though your son has admitted this, are you still going to be stubborn?”
“…I apologize.”
“Stop bringing this matter up.”
With that, the situation was resolved.
The third eldest uncle lowered his tail, and Do Seung-woo’s mother could only grit her teeth, her eyes welling up with tears.
“Everyone has worked hard to come here today. It’s time to start the banquet, so let’s save the unfinished conversations for there.”
The grandfather then refreshed the atmosphere around him.
Then, he suddenly turned to look at me.
“After the banquet, I’ll assess your skills in the evaluation match.”
“Ah…”
“Look forward to it.”
After saying that to me,
the grandfather left the training hall with the people present.
The density of people in the training hall decreased.
It was then that my mother approached.
“Gyeon-woo?”
My mother was… smiling.
I’m dead.
I couldn’t erase that thought from my mind when I saw my mother, her hair disheveled like mine, smiling.
And that’s not all.
There were scratches from fingernails on my mother’s elbow, and the jewelry that had been on her clothes was now dangling, torn off.
Taking in that sight,
“Do you know what you did wrong?”
“…Yes.”
I couldn’t come up with any excuses.
With her arms folded, my mother’s smile faded, and her face turned cold as I bowed my head before her.
“What did you do wrong?”
“I challenged Do Seung-woo to a duel and involved mom and dad in it.”
“Are you saying that was wrong?”
“…”
Her voice was utterly cold.
I shrank back at the sound of it.
I had never been scolded by my mother like this before.
No.
―If only you hadn’t been born…
It was a common occurrence in my past life.
Hearing my mother’s words, I was reminded of the distant past that I had tried to forget.
―My life wouldn’t have been ruined! Because of you, because of you… If only a kid like you hadn’t been born…
My mother from the past life would often say such things while drinking and crying.
Sometimes she would even hit me.
―I’m sorry, I’m wrong, so please stop hitting me now. I’m sorry for being born, I’m wrong…
In that situation.
There wasn’t much a young me could do.
At best, I could curl up to take less of a beating or beg for forgiveness even when I hadn’t done anything wrong.
That was about it.
Eventually, my mother would come to her senses and hold me.
―I’m sorry, I’m really sorry…
My mother from the past life was prone to tears.
Perhaps that’s why she couldn’t stop crying even after hitting me.
―Mom, I’m sorry.
Every time.
I would hold my mother tightly.
I hated my mother who hit me, but I knew I had no one else to rely on besides her.
What about the father?
He left with another woman, and I don’t know what happened to him.
So I comforted my mother.
―It’s all my fault.
So please don’t abandon me.
I patted my mother’s back, pleading inwardly.
But my wish was not granted.
―When I make a lot of money later, I’ll definitely come to get you. Can you wait here quietly until then?
At the age of ten.
I was eventually abandoned at the orphanage.
Even if my mother deceived me with sweet words, I was old enough to know the reality.
―Yes, I’ll wait.
Still, I played along.
I eventually realized that no matter how much I clung to my mother, it was of no use.
―Take care.
My mother from the past life, even while abandoning me, never once, not even at the end, called herself my mom.
Perhaps she didn’t know.
As for how I lived afterward…
―Just because I don’t have parents, do I have no pride?
With nothing to lose and nothing to fear, I just went ahead and lived.
Still, the memory of being abandoned by my mother seemed unforgettable.
No wonder…
“I really don’t know what I did wrong?”
“…I’m sorry.”
To the extent that it was etched into my memory from my past life.
I projected the ghost of my past life’s mother from the scolding mother.
My mother, the mother from my past life, was telling me.
“What you did wrong is…!”
―If only you hadn’t been born…!
How should I ask for forgiveness?
Should I let my mother hit me like my past life’s mother did to make her feel better?
Or should I say I was wrong to be born to seek forgiveness?
When I clenched my eyes shut.
“It’s because… I’m angry that you didn’t tell me that Gyeon-woo had been bullied by Seung-woo all this time.”
“…”
Something settled on top of my head.
I opened my eyes to the gentle touch that was petting my head.
“I’m sorry.”
There was my mother, with a face that was hard to tell whether she was crying or laughing.
Immediately after, she hugged me.
“Ah…”
“I’m sorry for not knowing until now… I was wrong.”
“…Mom?”
As if to envelop me, she tightened her embrace.
She heaved her shoulders as if crying.
I could only stand there, stunned.
‘Ah, so that’s it.’
Before I knew it, a smile escaped me.
Still clinging awkwardly, I cautiously reached out into the void and placed my hand on my mother’s back.
And to my mother, who kept apologizing to me over and over, I whispered,
“I’m the one who’s sorry. I should have spoken up. I won’t do it again.”
“Gyeon-woo…”
Before I realized my past life, I had an overly considerate heart, so I suffered alone to avoid worrying my parents.
But now, reflecting on it, that mindset seemed to have caused even greater pain to my parents.
As I patted my mother’s back, I reflected on and regretted my past life.
“I’m really sorry.”
And I felt grateful to my parents.
I was thankful for having a father, and thankful for having a mother.
“Ugh… Mom, don’t cry…”
“Alright, let me hold Ye-eun too. Come here.”
“Okay!”
“Right. Oh, my pretty baby.”
“Mom, when you were fighting earlier, I stuck my finger in Third Eldest Uncle’s eldest aunt’s butt. Was I good?”
“Really? You did? Well done.”
“I poked her hard!”
“…I guess I’d better wash my hands before dinner. Well done.”
…Give me back my touching moment.
I promised not to cause any trouble, but in the end, I still caused trouble.
But somehow, it was resolved well.
“Well… I was going to scold them too, but if I step in now, it would be kind of awkward. Can’t be helped.”
Do Sang-joon saw the three of them, hugging each other with arms that seemed so fragile and small, and they looked adorable to him.
He even thought about joining them and sharing some family affection.
“Ugh…”
But time had passed.
By then, they had released their hug.
Do Sang-joon could only greet his wife, whose hair was disheveled but who looked somewhat relieved.
Soon, his gaze was drawn to the wound on her arm.
“Are you okay, honey? That must hurt a lot. Let me use a healing spell…”
“I’m fine. I want to leave this wound as it is.”
“Why not?”
“It’s a mark of a mother’s pride.”
His wife, Han Ji-ae, declined Do Sang-joon’s offer to cast a spell.
Then she puffed up her chest proudly.
Do Sang-joon was at a loss.
“Well, at least let me use a cleaning spell to tidy up your hair…”
“Leave it be, will you?”
“Huh? Why?”
“I’m going to cut my hair.”
“What? Why cut your hair all of a sudden?”
“I don’t want to get my hair grabbed again.”
“…What?”
“It seems inconvenient to have long hair. So I’m going to cut it now.”
“But I like your long hair…”
“Huh? What did you just say?”
Do Sang-joon tried to persuade Han Ji-ae.
But upon seeing the look in her eyes, he quickly shook his head.
“No, you look good in anything, so a short haircut would suit you too, right?”
“Do you think so?”
A smile spread across Han Ji-ae’s face.
Do Sang-joon breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.
But his crisis was not entirely over yet.
She changed the subject.
“And you were wrong too, you know?”
“Huh?”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“…”
“It’s water under the bridge, but for a while, I’m not going to sleep with you. You should know that.”
“What? What do you mean…”
“I’ll sleep in Ye-eun’s room for a while. You figure something out on your own.”
“No, honey…”
“Kids, you all look terrible. Hurry up and clean yourselves up and get to the banquet.”
“Honey?”
Leaving the bewildered Do Sang-joon behind,
Han Ji-ae left the training hall with Do Gyeon-woo and Do Ye-eun.
“Phew, really…”
Do Sang-joon was now alone in the training hall.
He let out a hollow laugh.
“Why does my son get forgiven easily, but not me?”
It felt so unfair.
Do Sang-joon sighed.
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