Chapter 17
Known as the strongest swordsman of the prominent clan of the era, the head of the clan, who ruled over all the clan’s lions, had an additional title affixed to his name.
Beast King.
“I came out of curiosity, but I never expected to witness you fighting like this.”
“….”
“How did you grow so old without considering your manners?”
In front of the title that demanded respect, reverence, and awe from all members of the clan.
No one present dared to utter a word.
At that moment, my father and the third eldest uncle, who had been rolling on the ground until then, quickly stood up and bowed their heads.
Mother and Doseungwoo’s mother also promptly stood beside them.
“If people from other clans were here besides our family, they would have probably mocked us not as descendants of lions, but as offspring of dogs.”
“I apologize.”
“Did all you big shots want to disgrace the Shingeom Dogam by fighting like that? If you wanted to fight so badly, you should have fought with swords like a noble sword family! I am utterly disappointed.”
“…”
“You are no different. If your siblings were fighting so disgracefully, instead of just watching silently, you should have stopped them or intervened. But you just watched without saying a word? You are no different from them.”
“I apologize, Lord Gaju!”
The head of the Shingeom Dogam in those days.
Suwang, Doyeik.
With the appearance of the grandfather who seemed to stand like a mountain in front of them, the situation was quickly resolved.
Everyone, without exception, could not lift their heads in front of the grandfather.
‘The sense of intimidation is no joke.’
I couldn’t lift my head either.
I felt like I was being crushed by an unknown force.
That feeling was not a misconception.
[Exposed to Pressure.]
[All abilities decrease by 10%.]
The grandfather emitted pressure.
Reading the message that appeared before me, I inwardly clicked my tongue.
Even though he didn’t fully reveal his momentum, the decrease in abilities was significant.
‘He could easily be considered one of the strongest in Korea in the game.’
The game “Brave Hearts.”
In this game, almost all stories take place in a school city with the protagonist Kang Hanbyeol, mainly centered around students.
As a result, the world outside the school city, international affairs, and characters were not specifically addressed.
The grandfather, the head of the Shingeom Dogam, could be said to fall into that category.
However, he was casually mentioned in scenes related to the Shingeom Dogam.
Each time, the grandfather was described as someone who wouldn’t be out of place among Korea’s top ranks.
Having glimpsed a part of the power the grandfather displayed, I had no choice but to acknowledge it.
“So, why did you fight?”
At that moment, the grandfather let out a deep sigh and probed into the situation.
The tense atmosphere that had surrounded us just a while ago had vanished in an instant.
[Escaped from Pressure.]
[Decreased abilities are restored.]
The grandfather had lifted the pressure.
I discreetly cleared the message with my eyes and slowly raised my head.
Around that time, the third eldest grandfather seemed to be responding to Grandfather as if seizing an opportunity.
“Sir, it’s not that….”
Blah blah, blah blah.
The third eldest grandfather explained the sparring between me and Doseungwoo.
The explanation was somewhat biased.
“Sir, it’s not like that….”
At that moment, Father seemed to interrupt the third eldest grandfather’s words as if he couldn’t accept them.
“Sir, look at Seungwoo’s face.”
“Sir, Gyungwoo for no reason….”
Doseungwoo’s mother and my mother tried to intervene quickly.
As the situation seemed to flow similarly to a little while ago….
“Enough, that’s it.”
“….”
Grandfather, with his thick eyebrows furrowed, completely cut off the conversation.
It was an order from the head of the family.
Father, Mother, the third eldest grandfather, and Doseungwoo’s mother fell silent.
“Rather than hearing the story from you all, it might be better to hear it from the parties involved. Gyungwoo.”
“….Yes, Grandfather.”
It seemed like this would happen since Grandfather arrived at the training ground.
I, when called, did not hesitate and walked up to Grandfather.
“Did you indeed challenge Seungwoo to a sparring match and win?”
“….”
It felt like staring at a mountain.
Up close, Grandfather’s presence felt even more imposing.
I was momentarily overwhelmed by that presence but quickly regained my composure.
Then I spoke.
“Yes, I did request the sparring match first and it’s true that I won.”
“Okay, then how did you win? Did you perhaps use unfair means…?”
“Just when I showed an opening, he struck me from behind, causing me to faint.”
“….”
“It’s hard to explain in words… but there were many people who witnessed the sparring, so if you ask them, you can get a more detailed account.”
I answered honestly.
I knew the explanation was lacking, but this was the best way to respond.
To my response….
“Is that so?”
Grandfather’s mouth lifted slightly.
“Well, considering you were focused on the sparring, it’s understandable that you might not know. As you said, you can ask the other children about this matter.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you touch the one who fainted after the sparring ended?”
“We needed to confirm whether Seungwoo was dead or alive.”
“What?”
“She didn’t react at all when she fainted, so I got scared and touched her.”
“….”
“So, I slapped her.”
I answered honestly.
Upon hearing my response, I could see the third grandfather glaring at me. Next to him, Doseungwoo’s mother was also giving me a similar look.
I ignored their gazes.
Meanwhile, having heard my words, the grandfather said…
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“Interesting, very.”
“….”
Now, suddenly, my shoulders shook, and I burst into laughter out of the blue.
From that laughter, Doseungwoo’s parents seemed to sense an unfavorable turn.
In that moment, the two of them seemed to be about to protest.
“Sir! Do you really believe what I said…?”
“When did I give you permission to speak?”
However, they couldn’t continue their argument in response to the grandfather’s question.
“It was settled between the parties through a duel, and from what I’ve heard, there doesn’t seem to be any issue, so let’s end it here.”
“But sir…?”
“Do you intend to keep embarrassing yourselves like this?”
“….”
“You should just admit it. Or should I ask your son?”
“What? Sir, what do you mean…?”
“Seungwoo, it’s time to wake up. I know you’re conscious now.”
…Wait, wasn’t he unconscious just now?
Upon hearing the grandfather’s words, I turned my head abruptly.
The eyelids of Doseungwoo, who had been keeping his eyes shut, trembled.
He soon opened his eyes, detached himself from his mother, and stood up respectfully.
“…Sir.”
“Tell the truth. Do you think Gyounwoo used dishonorable tactics? Do you think you won because of that?”
“…No, sir.”
The grandfather was the head of the family.
Even if Doseungwoo hated me, he couldn’t risk his life to stubbornly lie in front of his grandfather.
Faced with the grandfather’s authority, his responses came instinctively, contrary to his will.
And so, Doseungwoo had no choice but to admit defeat, his face contorted in defeat.
“Even though your son has admitted, will you continue to insist?”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Don’t bring this matter up again.”
With that, the situation was resolved.
The third grandfather lowered his tail, and Doseungwoo’s mother reddened her eyes as she ground her teeth.
“You’ve all worked hard coming here today. Now that it’s time for the banquet, let’s save the unfinished stories for there.”
Soon, the grandfather looked around.
Then, suddenly, he turned to me.
“After the banquet, we’ll assess your skills in the evaluation match.”
“Ah…”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
With those words to me, Grandfather left with the people at the table and headed to the training ground.
The density of people in the training ground decreased.
It was then that Mother approached.
“Gyunwoo?”
Mother… was smiling.
***
I was dead.
I couldn’t erase the thought as I looked at Mother, with her hair disheveled like a mountain, smiling face.
Not only that.
There were scratches on Mother’s elbows, and the jewelry attached to her clothes was torn off, swinging loosely.
Seeing her in that state.
“Do you know what you did wrong?”
“…Yes.”
I couldn’t make any excuses.
I folded my arms, withdrew my smile, and bowed my head in front of Mother, whose face had turned cold.
“What did you do wrong?”
“I challenged Doseungwoo to a duel, involving Mom and Dad.”
“And you think that was wrong?”
“…”
It was an endlessly cold voice.
I shrank at that voice.
I had never had such a falling out with Mother before.
No.
―If only you hadn’t been born….
It was a common occurrence in my past lives.
Hearing what Mother said to me, I recalled a distant past memory that I had long since forgotten.
My life wouldn’t have been ruined! Because of you, because of you…! If only a person like you wasn’t born…
In my past life, my mother would drink and often spew such words while crying.
In severe cases, she would even hit me.
“I was wrong, I was wrong, so please stop hitting me now. I’m sorry for being born, I was wrong….”
In such situations, there wasn’t much a young me could do.
At most, I could hunch my body to minimize the blows or ask for forgiveness even when I hadn’t done anything wrong.
That was all I could do.
And then, my mother would come to her senses, embrace me, and say, “I’m sorry, I’m truly sorry….”
In my past life, my mother cried a lot.
Perhaps that’s why even after hitting me, her tears wouldn’t stop.
“Mom, I’m sorry.”
Every time,
I would tightly hug my mother.
I despised the mother who hit me, but I knew I had no one else to rely on besides her.
As for the father figure?
I didn’t even know what happened to him after he left with another woman.
That’s why I comforted my mother.
“I was completely wrong.”
So please don’t abandon me.
I patted my mother’s back, silently praying earnestly.
But my wishes went unanswered.
“When I earn a lot of money in the future, I’ll come back to get you. Can you wait here quietly until then?”
Ten years old.
In the end, I was abandoned at an orphanage.
Even if my mother sweet-talked me, I was old enough to know the truth.
“Yes, I’ll wait.”
Nevertheless, I fell for it.
In the end, I realized that no matter how much I held onto my mother, it was all in vain.
“Take care.”
Even though my past mother abandoned me, she never once referred to herself as “mom,” not even once.
Perhaps she didn’t know.
And since then, how did I live?
“I don’t have parents, so I have no dignity, huh?”
Living without anything to lose, without anything to fear, I just carried on. Yet, being abandoned by my mother, the only memory that remains is unforgettable.
To the extent that it was engraved even in my past life.
I projected the specter of my past mother onto the one who scolded me, my current mother.
My mother, my past mother, was speaking to me.
“What you did wrong…!”
“If only you hadn’t been born…!”
How should I seek forgiveness?
Should I confess my wrongdoings after birth to be forgiven?
It was when I tightly shut my eyes.
“I… I was angry because you didn’t tell me that Kyungwoo had been bothering you all this time.”
“…”
Something rested on my head.
I opened my eyes to a gentle touch caressing my head.
“I’m sorry.”
In front of me was my mother.
She had a face that seemed neither to cry nor to smile.
Immediately, she embraced me.
“Ah….”
“I’m sorry for not knowing all this time… I was wrong.”
“…Mother?”
As if she would comfort me.
She hugged me, her arms tightening around me.
Her shoulders trembled as if sobbing.
I could only stand there dumbfounded.
“Ah, so that’s what it was.”
Before I knew it, a smile crept onto my face.
In an awkward position, I cautiously reached out my hand that had been fumbling in the air and placed it on my mother’s back.
Whispering to her, who was apologizing repeatedly for her mistake, I said, “I’m the one who should be sorry. For not speaking up. I won’t do that again.”
“Gyeonwoo….”
Before realizing my past life, my heart needlessly worried about others, so I suffered alone just to avoid causing my parents any concern.
But upon reflecting on my past life, it seemed that such a heart had caused even greater pain in my parents’ hearts.
I patted my mother’s back, reflecting on my past life and feeling remorse.
“I’m truly sorry.”
And I expressed my gratitude to my parents.
Thankful that my father was my father, and my mother was my mother.
“Oh… Mom, don’t cry….”
“Okay, Ye-eun, let Mom hug you. Come here.”
“Yeah!”
“That’s right. Oh, my beautiful child.”
“Mom, when you were arguing earlier, did I do the right thing by siding with the eldest grandmother of the third eldest grandfather? I did well, right?”
“Really? You did that? You did well.”
“I poked them hard!”
“…Before dinner, go wash your hands in the bathroom. You did well.”
…My emotions, returned.
* * *
Though I promised not to cause a scene, I ended up causing one after all.
Nevertheless, it was somehow resolved.
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“Anyway… I was going to scold them too, but if it’s like this, what’s the point of me stepping in. It’s unavoidable.”
To Dosangjun, the three people, supporting each other with their thin and delicate arms, looked lovely.
He even thought about joining them to share the warmth of family.
“Oh dear….”
But time passed.
By then, they had let go of their embrace.
Dosangjun had no choice but to welcome his wife, who, despite her disheveled appearance, had a relieved expression on her face.
Soon, his gaze fell on the scar on her arm.
“Are you okay? It must sting a lot, I can heal it with a spell….”
“I’m fine, I want this scar to heal on its own.”
“Why not?”
“It’s a matter of pride for a mother.”
His wife, Han Ji-ae, reached out to stop Dosang-jun as he was about to cast a spell.
Then she smirked as if she were showing off.
Dosang-jun was taken aback.
“Well, at the very least, I can use a cleanliness spell to tidy up your hair….”
“And I am doing just that, dear.”
“Huh, why?”
“I’m going to cut my hair.”
“What? Why all of a sudden, your hair?”
“I don’t want my hair to be grabbed again.”
“…What?”
“It feels uncomfortable when my hair is long. So, I’ve decided to cut it this time.”
“I like long hair….”
“Huh? What did you just say?”
Dosang-jun tried to persuade Han Ji-ae.
However, he quickly turned his head sideways upon seeing her gaze.
“No, anything would suit you, even short hair.”
“Is that so?”
A smile spread across Han Ji-ae’s face.
Dosang-jun secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
But his crisis was not completely over yet.
She changed the subject.
“And you know you were wrong too, right?”
“What?”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“….”
“It’s already over, but I know we won’t be sharing a bed for a while.”
“What? What do you mean….”
“For a while, you’ll sleep in Ye-eun’s room. You’ll have to manage on your own.”
“No, honey….”
“Kids, you’re unbelievable. Hurry up, freshen up, and let’s go to the dinner party.”
“Honey?”
Leaving the dumbfounded Dosang-jun behind,
Han Ji-ae took Doh Geon-woo and Doh Ye-eun and left the training ground.
“Ugh, really….”
Before he knew it, Dosang-jun was left alone at the training ground.
Soon, he let out a bitter laugh.
“Why does my son forgive easily while I don’t?”
It’s so unfair.
Dosang-jun sighed.