Chapter 18
Dinner Gathering [Illustration]
The time for the dinner gathering was approaching.
People from the Shingeom Do family were entering the dining hall right on schedule.
“They are really pouring in.”
Having freshened up in the private room, I sat quietly observing the scene.
Seven immediate family members, who were obliged to attend as the grandchildren of the grandfather.
In addition, five relatives from the side branches also attended.
With a total of twelve families gathering, the number was staggering.
As a result, the stream of people entering the dining hall was incessant.
“Even if we calculate four people per family, there must be at least 48 attendees.”
In reality, the actual number of attendees would be much higher.
Although I had attended the family’s annual event a few times, each time I couldn’t help but be awed by the sheer size of the family.
Indeed, it was the Shingeom Do family with a history spanning over 200 years.
“So, they must belong to the Ten Noble Clans.”
Eventually, as the line of people diminished and few seats remained vacant.
“Ah.”
It was around the time when the dinner was about to start that I could see people entering the dining hall, glancing around.
It was the Dosungwoo family.
In the past, they would have engaged in conversations with those around while taking their seats, but not this time.
“They seem embarrassed.”
Ignoring the gazes around them, they swiftly made their way to their designated seats guided by the servants.
Just a while ago, embarrassed by their conduct in the training ground, they couldn’t even lift their heads properly.
But coincidentally…
“Hello.”
“Dogyunwoo….”
Their assigned seats happened to be directly across from where our family was seated.
Dosungwoo’s face creased.
Especially Dosungwoo’s expression was a spectacle.
That guy growled at me.
Meanwhile, I, in a kind gesture, showed concern for such a guy.
“Didn’t get seriously hurt, did you? Do you know how shocked I was earlier? I never expected you to faint from just one attack from behind.”
“Well…”
“You need to build up your stamina a bit.”
Silence.
It was clear that Doseungwoo was clenching his teeth.
Meanwhile, I broke into a wide smile.
“By the way, did you change your underwear properly?”
…!
Doseungwoo’s face turned crimson, his eyes widening as if he could kill me any moment.
But I wasn’t afraid, and it seemed the people eavesdropping on our conversation felt the same way.
“Do you really need to change your underwear? You can just make it disappear with a cleansing spell.”
“Ah, but it still feels awkward. Would you wear the same underwear every day then?”
“But the clothes you’re wearing now are the same as before…”
Laughter echoed from all around.
The mockery, starting from the immediate family, spread all the way to where the distant relatives were seated.
Those who didn’t have a good relationship with Doseungwoo’s family or could stand up to their influence burst into laughter.
“Heh…”
The Doseungwoo family all blushed, grinding their teeth at the sound.
Even if they stood up to the mockery, they knew it would only make things worse.
‘If I had lost, our family would have faced such humiliation.’
Doseungwoo looked pitiful.
But that was all.
Before realizing my past life, I might have empathized with how Doseungwoo was feeling, but now, I simply felt relieved that it wasn’t my family facing the disgrace instead.
And then, it happened.
Thud.
“…!”
A loud sound, as if someone had slammed the floor with a cane, reverberated in an instant.
The chatter that was circulating around the banquet hall came to an abrupt halt at the sound that seemed to have originated right by their ears.
Everyone turned their heads in the direction of the door.
“Is everyone gathered here. Quite a turnout.”
…!
The head of the Shinjung Do Clan, Doyeik.
Grandfather stood there.
“But why aren’t you all sitting down? Do you plan to keep standing there?”
“Ah… No, Grandfather.”
Even though Grandfather must have grasped the situation from outside.
He pretended not to notice and addressed Doseungwoo’s family.
Upon which, the Doseungwoo family hastily took their seats, flustered.
Grandfather passed by them, taking his seat at the head, and spoke to the guests.
“I’m hungry, so let’s eat.”
The dinner party began.
◈
The reason why the noble families prospered in the game was because the game’s worldview was set in an era about 200 years after a great upheaval, and also because a certain ideology provided a foundation for the existence of noble families.
That ideology was to ‘create superior hunters’.
That was it.
A time when the world faced destruction once due to the great upheaval.
The survivors strongly desired beings who could protect them from monsters.
Those beings were the hunters.
Hunters who conquered gates, possessed the strength to fight monsters were revered as heroes.
Thanks to their existence, the world could be rebuilt.
Yet, people still feared.
Having already faced destruction once.
And there was no guarantee it wouldn’t happen again.
To create superior hunters.
As long as monsters exist in this world.
As long as gates exist.
True peace does not come.
Humanity had to continue fighting to avoid extinction.
To create superior hunters.
That’s why they were not satisfied.
In the face of threats to humanity, they sought to strengthen the hunters’ power in the new world.
To create superior hunters.
It was a global epidemic, a madness that spread.
People did not hesitate to do anything to create more and superior hunters.
Noble families were the result of such a process, a manifestation of madness.
A frenzy to ensure the hunter lineage continues, to strengthen existing lineages, and to increase their numbers.
A symbiotic relationship between ordinary people who want to live in a safe world and hunters who seek eternal power.
That’s how the noble families prospered.
And the outcome…
“It’s not just one grandma.”
I didn’t attend the dinner party.
It was quite absurd to realize that I had five grandmothers in my past life, forming a complicated family tree I would have found unbelievable.
Hence, making my direct lineage seven.
“And our father is the fifth among seven siblings, now the son of the youngest fourth grandmother….”
Truly, the family tree was unbelievably intricate.
As I mentally traced the genealogy, the servants served me food one after another, which I quietly savored, refraining from vocalizing my thoughts as praising the intriguing and delicious dishes might turn into a jest.
On the other hand, Yeeun was different.
“Oppa, this is delicious.”
“…Would you like to try mine too?”
“Really? Can I?”
For the first time, tasting lamb and expressing admiration, Yeeun whispered to me.
Yeeun’s eyes sparkled.
Finding her adorable, I immediately cut and placed the remaining meat on her plate.
“Gyunwoo, Yeeun.”
Mother seemed to be hinting with her lips moving as if to speak, but we pretended not to hear.
“What does it matter what others say? If Yeeun wants to eat.”
There was no need to be cautious about such matters.
Perhaps Mother also thought so, as she no longer reproached us.
“By the way, who is Grandfather talking to now?”
I subtly glanced at the head seat of the table where Grandfather was sitting in a row.
The family members were assigned to separate tables, and in the case of direct descendants, they were seated close to Grandfather according to birth order.
Since our father was the fifth, we were seated somewhere in the middle.
However, with many members from other families, the distance between us and Grandfather was quite significant.
Consequently, the conversation took longer to reach us.
“…Yes, continue to strive in the future.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Grandfather had just finished his conversation with the eldest grandfather’s family.
With six members in that family alone, exchanging brief updates already took a considerable amount of time.
“At least that’s over quickly.”
If more people who were either attending the current academy city or had special reasons for not being present were added….
It was a dreadful thought.
Around that time, Grandfather engaged in a conversation with the second eldest grandfather’s family.
Following that, the person to converse with Grandfather was the second eldest grandfather’s second child, and eldest daughter, Dohsieun.
“Next is… our Sieun.”
“Yes, Sir.”
With striking blue eyes, Grandfather was particularly fond of Sieun, the most impressive girl among his grandchildren.
“….”
The moment had come for her.
As if on cue, the members of the prestigious family paused their movements as if in agreement or anticipation.
To the extent of caution and admiration, she was considered the most promising among the third generation of the Hyeon Singum Do clan.
She was also a character in the game, Doshieun.
“Well, knowing that makes me quite pleased.”
The lightning flower of the Hyeon Singum Do clan.
In the academy where Kang Hanbyeol would attend, she was the strongest student council president reigning over the academy when he was a first-year student.
The mediator between me and Do Seungwoo.
After graduating from the academy, she would join the Regulus Clan in the Academy City, becoming a supporter who would assist Kang Hanbyeol.
I had never been involved in anything negative with her, yet recalling information about her made me feel inexplicably close to her.
And then, it happened.
“I heard news that you triggered the sign of the Thunder Bomb.”
“…!”
At the words her grandfather directed at Doshieun, a commotion swept through the room for a moment.
“The Thunder Bomb?”
“Shieun triggered the Thunder Bomb?”
“That’s impossible….”
“What could a middle schooler….”
Forgetting to lower their voices, those who had been eavesdropping couldn’t contain their astonishment.
It was understandable.
Triggering the Thunder Bomb was not something that could be done just because one belonged to the Hyeon Singum Do clan.
It was an area that required a certain level of accomplishment in the Suwangryu.
“Well, if it’s her, it’s quite plausible.”
The fact that she had done it at the age of fourteen was naturally astounding to people.
Of course, knowing Doshieun’s abilities, it wasn’t as surprising to me.
The fact that she was to be my ally only promised a bright future.
Meanwhile, amidst the murmurs of the people, the conversation between the grandfather and Doshieun proceeded smoothly.
“You’re still young, yet you’ve already achieved such a feat. Truly remarkable.”
“…Thank you. I will strive to deliver good results to you soon, Grandfather.”
“Yes, I am looking forward to it. If you make the Thunder Bomb yours, you will become the youngest person to trigger it after the 2nd head of the family.”
“…It’s too much for me.”
“No, it’s within your reach. I hope to see you grow into a lion who can surpass that person.”
“I will do my best.”
Despite receiving praise from her grandfather, Doshieun maintained a calm demeanor without showing any emotional disturbance.
Her grandfather chuckled, amused by what was so delightful.
Soon, their conversation came to an end.
The grandfather turned his attention to Doshieun’s younger sibling, and she…
“Huh?”
Cityeun suddenly turned her head.
She was quietly staring in my direction.
“What’s there?”
I looked around at the thought.
There was nothing noteworthy.
“….”
“What’s wrong?”
Yet she continued to gaze in this direction.
For some reason, it felt like her gaze was directed right at me.
“Could she be looking at me?”
It might be my imagination, but I couldn’t shake that feeling.
“Sister, hello?”
Did she catch me staring at her?
I lightly nodded towards her.
“….”
Cityeun also turned her head.
After that, she averted her gaze and quietly started eating.
“I should finish my meal too.”
I’ve hardly had a chance to talk with her before, but next time, I should at least try to strike up a conversation.
With that thought in mind,
I decided to wait for our family’s turn to eat.
◈
Before long, when Grandfather asked about the recent whereabouts of the Dosungwoo family,
“Come to think of it….”
As if a thought suddenly struck him, Grandfather spoke to the people around him.
“Not long ago, there was news about that Tuigwi (鬪鬼) fellow.”
Tuigwi.
There was only one person Grandfather referred to as Tuigwi without hesitation.
“Is it that person?”
A hunter who, despite living in the same generation as Grandfather, was considered an outsider.
Tuigwi, Seo Jungjin.
A figure also appearing in the game.
“He said something amusing. Truly… I didn’t expect that from him.”
That person was often mentioned in the game.
Well….
“I don’t know what got into him, but he took on a disciple.”
Because he was Kang Hanyeol’s master.