It’s been five years since I regained my memories.
These five years have brought many changes to my body.
I’ve grown taller, my shoulders broader, and my once-babyish face has matured as the baby fat faded, highlighting my features.
The down around my mouth has thickened to the point where I need to shave every few days, and my voice has deepened, becoming richer.
…And I’ve been circumcised.
There were other changes too.
“I look similar to the game Do Kwon-woo, but maybe a bit different?”
I feel taller than him.
My once-round face has become somewhat chiselled.
After five years of relentless effort, I should’ve seen some results.
I hoped the game’s influence wouldn’t make me grow exactly like him.
“Since my initial stats are better than Do Kwon-woo’s, I must’ve changed, right?”
Standing in front of the mirror, dressing up, I took in my changes and felt a sense of accomplishment.
Of course, there was some regret.
“I wanted to be tanned and muscular…”
Though I’ve changed from the game’s Do Kwon-woo, my physique is still…
I wanted to build a body that would attract girls, but my efforts didn’t pay off.
The saying “if you try, you’ll succeed” seems like a lie.
Exaggerating, I might look like a man who needs protection from girls.
This was the first time since my rebirth that I faced the harsh and cruel reality.
“Before entering the academy, should I tan my skin… Maybe dye my hair blonde and get piercings to differentiate myself from game Do Kwon-woo? That might give off a tougher image. Or would this face just make me look like a playboy?”
This was a real dilemma.
I stared into the mirror, lost in thought.
Then, a voice came from downstairs.
“Kwon-woo! Ha-neul’s here! Come down now!”
“Ah, already this time? Yeah! Just a minute!”
I’d lost track of time staring at myself.
It was time for Yeon Ha-neul to arrive at our house.
I hurriedly buttoned my shirt and grabbed the bag I’d packed last night.
Of course, I didn’t forget the Junjeong Sword.
“I’m coming down now!”
Today, we’re heading to Academy City for the Gangnam Academy practical exam.
The academy entrance exam usually consists of a written and practical test.
The written exam isn’t held in Academy City but in special metropolitan areas to save candidates from wasting time and money travelling.
“In reality, it’s to keep underqualified candidates from flooding into Academy City.”
Academy City is located in an area with unstable atmospheric mana and dimensions.
Gates, dungeons, and monster spawns are frequent, and other mysterious phenomena occur, making it unsafe.
In other words, it’s an ideal place to train excellent Hunters and research skills.
Thus, Academy City isn’t keen on opening its doors to outsiders to maintain security and prevent leaks.
The written exam is held outside Academy City for this reason.
To filter out candidates who applied on a whim without preparation or those lacking basic knowledge and character.
“After filtering them out, the practical exam is held in Academy City.”
Naturally, Yeon Ha-neul and I weren’t among the filtered.
We took the written exam last fall and received acceptance letters last winter.
Now, with the new year in January, it’s time for the practical exam.
That’s why we’re leaving for Academy City today.
“Did you pack everything? You’ll be there for two weeks—double-check you didn’t forget anything.”
“I checked everything yesterday. Ha-neul nagged me so much, I checked several times.”
“When did I nag?”
“And if you forget something, you can buy it in Academy City.”
“Sigh… Yeah. Kwon-woo, you might not but don’t hesitate to use the card I gave you. Academy City is expensive—don’t try to save money unnecessarily.”
“That card is technically mine…”
“Your dad isn’t incapable of earning money, is he? Ha-neul, the same goes for you. The Witch of Seven Colors told you too—don’t hesitate to use the sponsorship funds. They’re meant to be spent. Use them when you need to.”
“Yes, I will! Thank you.”
Mom followed us to the front door, earnestly advising us as we prepared to leave for Academy City.
She seemed worried about us leaving for a distant place.
I smiled brightly to ease her concerns.
“It’s okay. Don’t worry. Can’t you trust me? I can handle it.”
“I’m worried because I can’t trust you.”
“…”
Mom cut me off.
I was speechless, betrayed.
“You should’ve shown more trustworthy behaviour. Put your hand on your heart and think.”
“Even if I put my hand on my heart, I’ve been filial and a good son…”
“That’s your opinion.”
“…”
“I can’t help but worry when I see what you do. Ugh…”
Did I really have no credibility?
I looked at Dad, standing behind Mom, hoping he’d understand.
Dad gave a wry smile.
“Yeah, you should’ve caused fewer troubles.”
“When have I caused trouble?”
“You don’t realize it, which is even more annoying.”
“…”
“I doubt you’ll understand even if I say this… But in Academy City, try not to cause trouble. Don’t make your dad, who covers for you, work so hard.”
I couldn’t believe Dad wasn’t on my side either.
“Oppa! I’ll miss you! Buy me something tasty from Academy City!”
“Right, Eun-ah’s the best. Mom and Dad aren’t needed.”
At least my younger sister Eun-ah was on my side.
I left my nagging parents behind and hugged Eun-ah, still in her pajamas.
Eun-ah patted my back.
Anyway, after saying goodbye to our family,
“We’re leaving now.”
“Okay, let us know when you arrive.”
“If there’s anything you want to eat when we come back, let us know. Ha-neul too. We’ll prepare what you want.”
“Yes, we will! Leave Kwon-woo to me!”
“Oppa! Unni! Do well on the exam!”
The morning air was cool.
Yeon Ha-neul and I turned our backs to our family, facing the chilly air.
“We’ll come back after passing.”
“We’re off, Mother! Father!”
Meeting her husband was fate.
Han Ji-ae never hesitated to think so.
“Are you okay? Ah…”
“Yes, thank you for saving me…”
In her youth, Han Ji-ae was caught in a sudden dimensional distortion while walking and attacked by a monster.
The one who saved her was her future husband, Do Sang-jun.
They fell in love at first sight.
Without any prompting, they grew close, desired each other, and pledged eternity.
But love wasn’t smooth.
“Where have you been before marriage?”
“Huh? Oh… just a company accountant…”
“Oh, really? That’s surprising. I thought you worked at a bar or something.”
“Sister-in-law, what are you implying…”
“So, how does it feel to snag a man and climb the social ladder? In common terms, did it give you a thrill? I was born into a prestigious family, so I wouldn’t know.”
“…”
“Do you think you’re Cinderella now? You should know your place.”
“At first glance, you seem cheap. I wonder what our family head was thinking when he married you… He really has no taste.”
Do Sang-jun was from the Shin-Gum Do clan.
One of the Ten Great Clans with immense influence in this country, known as the premier swordsmanship family.
For Han Ji-ae, born into an ordinary family, it was an impossibly high-class clan.
After marrying into the Shin-Gum Do family, she struggled to adapt and faced disdain from its members.
To keep her husband from awkward situations, she had to humble herself, endure, and keep enduring.
That was her mistake.
“Got it, Kwon-woo? Don’t fight with your cousins and get along with them, okay?”
“Yes, Mom!”
Her mindset affected Do Kwon-woo too.
When dealing with family members, Do Kwon-woo became cautious in speech and avoided conflicts, even at the cost of his dignity.
Just as animals have innate hierarchies, humans, as rational and social beings, inevitably have subconscious hierarchies.
For the Shin-Gum Do clan, competing across generations to produce excellent swordsmen, this was especially true.
Thus, Do Kwon-woo’s attitude toward family members was self-deprecating.
Among children, where irrationality often overrides reason, this was fatal.
“You seem to grasp things quickly—when I teach you one thing, you understand ten. You also know how to instinctively unleash the King’s Flow.”
“Thank you!”
At least Do Kwon-woo had talent worthy of being called a prodigy by the head, Do Ye-eok.
That talent let him tightrope-walk within the family’s hierarchy.
Then, he slipped off the rope.
“S, Sung-woo!”
In his first evaluation match,
Do Kwon-woo injured his cousin Do Seung-woo during their duel.
“Ah, what do we do? There’s blood…”
“This is!”
Do Kwon-woo was thrown into great confusion.
Do Seung-woo seized the opening to launch a counterattack.
As a result, Do Kwon-woo was publicly humiliated, taking a beating from Do Seung-woo in front of the entire family.
At that moment, Han Ji-ae wanted to intervene in the duel to stop Do Seung-woo.
But she couldn’t interfere in the evaluation match.
All she could do was earnestly wish for the match to end.
And when it finally did,
“Kwon-woo!”
“Mom…”
“Look at you, what a mess…”
Han Ji-ae was at a loss seeing him return with his face streaked with tears.
Seeing her son crying so painfully, her own eyes welled up.
Then, Do Seung-woo’s mother approached.
“Sister-in-law! This is going too far, don’t you think?”
“Huh? Brother’s wife, what are you saying?”
“What if Kwon-woo’s sword had accidentally severed an arm or left a scar on his face? Tell that boy to be more careful in the future! Got it?”
It was the height of hypocrisy.
While Do Kwon-woo had struck Do Seung-woo, the injuries Do Seung-woo inflicted on Do Kwon-woo were no minor matter either.
Both had fought fairly, so there was no need to assign blame.
Yet, despite trying to swallow her anger,
Do Seung-woo’s mother had immediately made such a remark.
Han Ji-ae felt utterly speechless and furious.
“Brother’s wife, then what about Seung-woo attacking Kwon-woo…?”
“Are you arguing with me now?”
But Han Ji-ae couldn’t stand her ground.
Do Seung-woo’s mother wielded influence within the family, and provoking her could lead to unknown retaliation.
“…I’m sorry. I’ll make sure he behaves.”
“Sister-in-law, really teach that boy a lesson!”
In the end, Han Ji-ae apologized.
Not only could she not stand up for her son’s grievance, but she also had to apologize in front of him, which felt utterly humiliating and shameful.
Most of all, she felt terribly sorry for her son.
“Kwon-woo, I’m so sorry…”
“No, it’s okay. Don’t cry, Mom.”
Do Kwon-woo was exceedingly kind-hearted.
He’d grown up just as she and Do Sang-jun had hoped—gentle, upright, considerate, and willing to yield.
Their son forgave and comforted his inadequate mother.
Han Ji-ae leaned on her son’s kindness.
At that moment, she knew she shouldn’t have.
Even if it meant grabbing her hair and fighting, she shouldn’t have backed down to Do Seung-woo’s mother.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Because she’d shown weakness,
Do Kwon-woo, with his tender heart, had endured the bullying from his cousins without burdening her.
Upon learning the truth,
Han Ji-ae felt guilty as a mother.
It was her fault.
That’s why…
“Your son’s such a wimp, isn’t he? Is he like you, making me want to slap him every time I see him? Don’t worry, Kwon-woo! Good job!”
When her son stood up for himself and knocked down Do Seung-woo,
Han Ji-ae faced a situation reminiscent of the past and resolved not to repeat her mistake.
A mother, a parent, is a sword and shield that protects their child without expecting anything in return.
No matter who else turns their back, a parent must stand by their child.
Believe in them, support them, and cheer them on.
At that moment, Han Ji-ae praised her son’s actions, regardless of right or wrong, to keep his spirit from being crushed.
She fought back against Do Seung-woo’s mother tooth and nail.
Ironically, it was then that she truly became a mother.
“I’m thinking of cutting my hair.”
She vowed never to forget that resolve.
No matter who the world turned against, she would stand by Do Kwon-woo.
Of course, she believed her son would never truly do wrong.
He was such a kind boy.
“Still… seeing that child makes me so anxious.”
Yet, she couldn’t shake that feeling.
Do Kwon-woo’s actions were perilously reckless.
It was a relief he hadn’t caused major trouble so far.
Parents naturally worry about their children, but her son was especially worrisome.
In some ways, even more than the troublemaker Do Ye-eun.
Now that her son was heading to Academy City, where she couldn’t reach, her anxiety was inevitable.
“Thankfully, Ha-neul is there. If I’d sent that child alone to Academy City, I’d be constantly worried.”
Do Kwon-woo’s childhood friend, Yeon Ha-neul.
Her presence was a comfort.
“So, Ha-neul.”
Cheering on the children as they stepped into the world,
Han Ji-ae smiled tenderly.
“Please look after Kwon-woo. I leave him to you.”
“Speaking of which, I’ve been curious since earlier.”
“Yeah, what is it?”
“When did our mom and dad start calling them ‘mother’ and ‘father’?”
“Oh, that? Last time, mother and father mentioned they’d known each other for five years, but still called them ‘lady’ and ‘sir’ without any respect. They felt hurt by it.”
“So?”
“They said we could treat them like real parents and call them more casually, but how could we? So we compromised and started calling them ‘mother’ and ‘father’.”
“Hmm, I see.”
“No other meaning, so don’t misunderstand.”
“What misunderstanding?”
“Never mind. Anyway, it’s getting late. Let’s hurry. The twins are waiting at the station.”
“So what if we’re late? Why rush because we feel bad about making the twins wait?”
“Well… what do you think?”
“We have a lot of luggage anyway. Let’s go slowly. They can wait. It’s fine if we’re late.”
“I’ve known you for five years, but you’re really nonchalant.”
“Ah, right.”
“Why?”
“Now that I’m entering the Advanced Academy, I’m thinking of changing my appearance. What do you think?”
“…Why? What’s with the sudden change? Are you trying to pick up girls in Academy City?”
“Why are you looking at me like that? You’re scaring me…”
“Hmph, whatever! So, what changes are you planning?”
“First, I’ll dye my hair blonde…”
“Black suits you better.”
“I haven’t finished. Let me finish.”
“Ugh… go on.”
“I’ll get piercings and tan my skin…”
“Kwon-woo.”
“Yeah.”
“What if I dyed my hair bright yellow, wore clothes that show my collarbones and legs, got piercings on my navel and everywhere, got weird tattoos, and tanned my skin? Would that suit me?”
“No, absolutely not. You’re not actually planning to do that, are you?”
“That’s what I want to tell you.”
“…”
“I don’t know why, but you’re perfect just the way you are. And what would mother think?”
“…Would she hate it?”
“You might get kicked out of the house.”
“…”
“Just stay as you are. Don’t try to change unnecessarily. You’re bad at styling, so listen to me.”
“Phew… Alright, I’ll stay like this.”
“Good choice.”
And so, chatting back and forth,
we ventured into the world.
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