Chapter 29
It was impossible to refuse the grandfather’s offer to teach.
I had to receive at least one lesson.
As a result, those who came to watch my match ended up facing off against the grandfather.
“Gah!”
“Running away is also a tactic! But if you keep running aimlessly without a purpose, you’ll end up being preyed upon by the predator.”
“…I’m sorry.”
The eldest grandfather and the second eldest easily received the grandfather’s sword and stepped back.
Next was the third eldest, Dobumjun.
Seungwoo’s father received a scolding from the grandfather and bowed his head.
His ears were turning red, perhaps out of embarrassment.
“Next!”
Soon, the third eldest grandfather took his turn and turned back.
Auntie walked out to the training ground, her shoes clacking.
Grandfather frowned.
“Are you planning to fight in those shoes?”
“Did you expect something like this to happen? If I knew, I wouldn’t have worn high-heeled shoes.”
Unlike the uncles,
Auntie found it relatively less difficult to deal with grandfather.
Perhaps that’s why she nonchalantly took off her shoes, neatly arranging them to the side.
“I fight without shoes, so you should take that into account.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
Auntie polished her shoes diligently.
While grandfather chuckled, he didn’t seem entirely displeased.
Soon after, the swords of the two clashed.
‘…Impressive.’
It seemed grandfather understood to some extent why he was lenient towards Auntie.
Auntie’s swordsmanship was splendid.
Combining agility with illusion, her swordsmanship pushed back grandfather’s movements as if sealing them.
The first uncle, the second uncle, the third uncle, none of them could push back grandfather as much.
“You’ve improved a lot.”
“To catch up with my brothers, I have to do this much, right?”
“But you’re still far from beating me.”
“…!”
Grandfather swung his sword widely, clashing with Auntie’s sword.
Auntie’s hand holding the sword recoiled, interrupting the swift flow of her swordsmanship.
The illusion vanished.
Grandfather’s sword moved through that gap, reaching near Auntie’s neck.
“You must know what was lacking.”
“I’ve learned a lesson. Thank you.”
The match was over.
Auntie humbly bowed her head and moved to where she had placed her shoes.
“Wow… Oppa, I want to learn swordsmanship like Auntie too! It’s so beautiful!”
“Yeah. She’s quite remarkable.”
Yeeun, who was complaining of being sleepy just a while ago, now had eyes shining.
I understood that feeling too.
I was becoming interested in illusion swords after watching Auntie’s swordsmanship.
‘Is it father’s turn now?’
And eventually,
Father stood before grandfather.
“Dad! Be strong, Dad!”
Yeeun cheered loudly.
In response, father could be seen smiling faintly.
Clang!
The competition had begun.
Father swiftly engaged.
Unlike Grandfather’s elegant sword, Father’s lacked flamboyance but was pristine.
His movements were precise, showing immediate adaptability.
However, after a few exchanges, he started to be pushed back by Grandfather.
Just when it seemed to be ending…
“What are they talking about?”
Though the words were indistinct from afar, it seemed like Father and Grandfather were exchanging words as their swords clashed.
Soon after, Father’s movements shifted.
Ching!
Father used Grandfather’s sword to create distance through a recoil.
Then, he dashed towards Grandfather, relentlessly attacking without pause.
Ching!
Father’s actions became bold.
There was no hesitation in his thrusts.
Delving deep into Grandfather’s defense, he pushed to prevent Grandfather from wielding the sword.
“Why is Dad acting like this?”
Could it be that Grandfather’s earlier words had triggered a change in his mindset?
Such questions arose.
But that was the extent of it.
Swish!
Before Father’s sword could reach, Grandfather’s sword had already touched Father’s neck.
“…I’ve lost.”
“But your skills haven’t dulled.”
“I’m constantly rolling in the field every day.”
Father acknowledged his defeat.
Only then did Grandfather sheath his sword and exchange a few words with Father.
Returning to his place, Father wore a somber expression.
“I never knew you could handle a sword so fiercely as if you’ve changed like a different person.”
“You’ve realized that now? I’m still the same person when it comes to it.”
“Dad! I was cheering for you to win, what now if you lose!?”
“Oh dear, our daughter! Did you? I’m sorry for losing. And thank you for your support.”
As Mother and Yeeun spoke, Father’s face softened a bit.
Yet, Father still seemed deeply pondering something.
I asked Father about it.
“What did the elder say?”
“Hm?”
“Earlier, it seemed like you were talking to the elder, and your movements changed since then. Is something going on?”
“…It’s nothing. Kids need not worry about it. Let’s just watch the competition to the end.”
Father abruptly turned my head as he spoke gently.
“If you say it like that, you can’t escape it.”
I tidied up my messy thoughts.
I was curious about the conversation we had, but out of consideration for Father, who didn’t want to answer, I decided not to press him.
Not long after that….
“Next is… Si-eun.”
“Yes, sir. Please take care of me.”
As Father’s generation passed, it was the turn of the next generation.
Grandfather smiled as he saw Si-eun, who appeared at the training ground.
“Show me all the strength you have. Where do you want to test your granddaughter’s prowess?”
“Before that, I have a request.”
“A request? Alright, speak.”
“I want to experience one of your moves, just like Gyun-woo did.”
“….”
Why is she acting like that?
It’s not about gaining courage.
I stared intently at Si-eun.
The people around us also showed bewildered reactions.
“Please. I want to awaken myself through my own body as well.”
“Oh.”
Nevertheless, Si-eun didn’t care about the gazes around her and made the request.
Grandfather did not refuse.
“Alright, fine. Where shall we begin?”
“Yes.”
Si-eun grasped the Su-yeon sword.
‘How did she move like that?’
Grandfather, who had been holding the sword, switched it to a wooden sword and assumed a stance.
I tried not to miss even the slightest movement as I observed Grandfather’s sword.
But in the blink of an eye, I lost sight of Grandfather.
From Noble mtl dot com
‘When was…’
A distance of about ten steps away.
Grandfather, without any sign of using mana, had reached right in front of Si-eun in just one step.
I saw it and felt it that way.
And he swung the sword down.
Basic Form 1, the Hunter’s Stance.
With a simple downward strike.
Thud! Clang! Thump!
“Ugh….”
“…”
Just as I said a little while ago.
Dosi fell without any response.
The woman who received Grandfather’s sword momentarily floated above the ground and was thrown back into the wall behind her.
The onlookers were speechless, unable to close their mouths.
On the other hand.
“This time, you flew properly. Perhaps you avoided it after all…”
“…”
Grandfather, watching Dosi coming down as if stuck to the wall, muttered incomprehensible words.
For a moment, it seemed like Grandfather’s gaze was directed at me.
It might have been my misconception.
I just had that feeling.
‘Sieun noona indeed can’t lose to Grandfather.’
Meanwhile, I worried about the staggering Dosi getting up.
She leaned on people for support and walked towards Grandfather.
“You’ve learned well.”
“Yes, it was a pleasure to spar with you. Just in case, go to the supporter and have your sword checked.”
“Okay.”
“…”
Staggering.
That’s how Dosi left with her family.
“I hope she’s not hurt. She shouldn’t be someone who gets hurt…”
Should I send her a message later?
I pondered while looking in the direction she left.
But then I tried to focus on watching the next people’s sparring.
“Sir, I request your teachings…”
“Would you like to receive my sword as well?”
“…Me?”
“Come, try receiving it once.”
Suddenly, the person following Dosi received Grandfather’s sword and flew back.
“Next! You, come try receiving it.”
“Next!”
And then, even after that…
For some reason, Grandfather slammed his grandchildren into the wall as people were hit by the sword and thrown into it.
Amidst people getting hit by the sword and thrown into the wall…
“Next! Good, Seungwoo.”
“Alright, I’ll do my best…”
“You, try receiving it once.”
“…”
It was Doseungwoo’s turn.
My lips naturally curled up.
“Seungwoo is really soaring high.”
I couldn’t just stand and watch this.
I had to keep this moment safe to cherish later.
I took out my smartphone to capture Seungwoo’s sparring match on video.
Right when I pressed the record button.
Bang! Whirrr! Thud!
“…Ugh!”
The guy who took a hit from Grandfather’s sword had his feet leave the ground and float into the air.
Then, just like others before, he made a strange noise as he flew through the air and crashed into the wall.
“Oh.”
Was it due to the repeated impacts in the same spot?
The training ground wall had a slight dent.
Seungwoo was stuck nearby, unable to move.
His family had to rush to get him out.
“Did I capture it well?”
I recorded every scene.
Seungwoo was flying so fast that it was hard to focus properly, but I decided to be satisfied with this level.
“I can’t be the only one seeing this.”
I have to show Young-haneul, too.
I tried to message her.
“Oh, right.”
Finally, I realized.
Since arriving at my ancestral home yesterday, I hadn’t checked her message.
I had been too preoccupied with fighting Seungwoo, competing, and receiving teachings from Grandfather.
In the message that came in after the date changed, there was a message from her.
[Young-haneul]: Am I at the summit now?
[Young-haneul]: (Photo)
[Young-haneul]: Ta-da! A proof shot
Young-haneul had sent a photo.
It was a selfie with the sunset over the mountains in the background.
Embarrassedly, Young-haneul was making a peace sign.
“Ah, goodness…”
Come to think of it, I did ask her to take a proof shot and send it.
But I meant to capture the mountain summit, not take a selfie.
Seems like there was a misunderstanding.
Leaving that aside.
“Hmm….”
The photos came out quite well.
As I sweated my way to the top, it was evident that my sky-blue hair was sticking to my cheeks.
The shy rabbit ears were quite adorable too.
“…I should save this.”
I saved that photo.
Then, belatedly, I replied to her.
[Me]: Sorry, just saw your message. Had something to do at home, so I was busy.
[Me]: The photo came out nicely.
At that moment, the ‘1’ mark disappeared.
Yeonha-nyeo had read my message.
[Yeonha-nyeo]: It’s okay ^^
[Yeonha-nyeo]: What’s the harm in being a day late
[Yeonha-nyeo]: It could happen
[Yeonha-nyeo]: We’re not anything special
“Huh? What’s this?”
The message was suddenly deleted.
I blinked my eyes.
[Yeonha-nyeo]: It’s okay ^^
[Yeonha-nyeo]: What’s the harm in being a day late
[Yeonha-nyeo]: It could happen
[Yeonha-nyeo]: (Message deleted)
[Yeonha-nyeo]: The nursery kids were playing a prank!
[Yeonha-nyeo]: Don’t misunderstand!
It seemed like a message sent in a hurry, causing quite a fluster.
“Are you playing with kids at the nursery right now?”
I tilted my head in confusion.
Even if the nursery kids were playing a prank, was there a need to delete it?
I decided to simply respect Yeonha-nyeo’s thoughts.
[Me]: Okay 😀
[Yeonha-nyeo]: Anyway, I sent it
[Yeonha-nyeo]: So you should too
“A selfie? Do I have something to send….”
I rummaged through the gallery.
Since she had sent me a photo, I felt like I should send one back.
“Ah, this should do.”
Luckily, I had a photo I took yesterday.
I sent the photo from the gallery.
[Me]: (Photo)
[Me]: Here’s a selfie for you.
It was a selfie we took in front of the mud castle where our tongues got tied at the gate yesterday.
[Yeonyaenul]: Where is this? Looks like a forest…
[Yeonyaenul]: Weren’t you at your family home?
[Me]: It’s at the gate. The artificial gate at the family home.
[Yeonyaenul]: Wow… I’ve never seen anything like this.
[Yeonyaenul]: But nothing ordinary?
[Me]: Ordinary? What’s that?
[Yeonyaenul]: Um…
[Yeonyaenul]: Something worthy of a profile picture?
[Me]: I don’t usually take those.
[Yeonyaenul]: If not those, then…
[Me]: Look at this instead.
[Me]: (Video)
[Yeonyaenul]: What’s this? Who is it?
[Me]: My cousin.
And it continued.
Yeonyaenul and I exchanged texts, sharing the unfinished stories from yesterday.
***
I realized this time.
Whether Dogyeonwoo intended it or not.
In the future, the son will continue to cause trouble.
Just the recent incident at the family home was proof of that.
“Isn’t Seungwoo challenging you to a duel, speaking boldly to the lord…. Even if the kid has changed, he’s changed too much.”
It had only been two days since the incident.
Dogyeonwoo’s actions were not just a one-off.
Especially, he went as far as displaying his martial arts skills in front of the family members.
By breaking the record of the 2nd strongest head of the clan in history, he achieved the record of being the youngest head.
As a result, it left a deep impression on the members of the clan.
It was a good thing that the evaluation of the son, who was once mocked as a “rabbit” for not being able to hunt even a single rabbit, had changed, but he couldn’t just be happy about it.
“The more outstanding you are, the more enemies you attract.”
To a lion, a small rabbit is nothing more than a target that doesn’t even catch its attention.
As Dogyeonwoo had told the head of the clan, lions almost never go all out to hunt rabbits.
But if the target becomes a lion cub, the story changes.
Especially if that lion cub shows exceptional traits.
He would only appear as a threat to his own position.
It was obvious that he would face their restraint.
Perhaps there would be those who would scheme against him even before he became fully grown.
“I can’t just stand by and watch that happen.”
Not only the people of the clan.
In the future, Dogyeonwoo would go out into the world and encounter numerous enemies.
As a father, Dosangjun believed it was his duty to protect his son from being hunted by them.
But he knew well.
“It can’t go on like this.”
He was inadequate to protect Dogyeonwoo, who was rapidly growing in strength, with his own power alone.
If it was challenging to deal with his brothers, he certainly had no power to face other predators.
The title of head of the Regulus Clan could provide for the family, but it was not enough to protect them.
To protect them, a higher position was needed.
―”Is this all the power you have? At this rate, you won’t be able to protect Gyungwoo.”
The head of the Shingeom Doga, Doyeik.
Dosangjun’s father saw through his son’s worries accurately.
At that moment, Dosangjun was taken aback.
“You used to say. You don’t want to fight with your brothers, you’re satisfied as long as you have your family. Is that still your unchanged belief?”
“…”
“Your son’s weakness must have come from you. But in my view, that child seems determined to live as a beast rather than just surviving by grazing on grass. Yet, is your mindset still the same?”
“I…”
“Do you think you can handle and protect that child?”
“If you don’t have the confidence to handle it, entrust the child to me. I will be the shield that protects the child and pass everything on to him.”
…!
Upon hearing that far.
Dosangjun, who had been hesitating all along, could finally come to a conclusion.
Like engaging in combat with a monster, as if trying to defeat the enemies threatening Dogyeonwoo.
He swung the sword fiercely.
“Your skills haven’t rusted, after all.”
“…Thank you.”
“To protect, one must snatch.”
“…Yes.”
Doyeik seemed satisfied.
Dosangjun engraved the last words he received in his heart.
Then, he repeated them over and over.
“To snatch to protect…”
“Huh? What did you say?”
“It’s nothing.”
In this dog-eat-dog world, one might really have to do that to survive wholly.
Regardless of being carnivorous or herbivorous.
To snatch to protect.
To fight to live.
Even if the opponent is one’s own brothers.
“…They’re all sound asleep.”
“The kids must have been really tired.”
On the way back home from the ancestral house.
Dosangjun, who stopped driving at a red light, looked back at the back seat.
He saw Doyeongu sitting and sleeping with his head on Doyeeun’s lap.
The sight was endlessly endearing.
That’s why he didn’t want to lose it.
“I have something to tell you. I might be coming home later from now on.”
“Is it because of the conversation with your father earlier?”
“Yes, something like that.”
An observant wife she was.
He nodded to Han Jiae, who was in the passenger seat, asking.
“I’ll climb as high as I can, aim for a promotion.”
“Are you eyeing your father’s position?”
“Well, I’m not sure about that… I’ll definitely climb higher than now.”
“So, coming home late now to increase your performance.”
“Yes, something like that. Luckily, with what I’ve done so far, I might secure the sub-lord position by the end of this year.”
“I’ll support you. I need to properly support you as well.”
“You don’t have to do that…”
“Where does it say that only you have to protect our children? Isn’t a mother a parent too? No, I’ll fight too.”
“…Alright, then I’ll rely on your support.”
“I was already thinking about when to go, but I should go get a haircut later.”
“Jiae.”
“Why, Sangjun Oppa?”
“…Are you really going to cut it?”
“Why? Don’t you like it?”
“No, anything you do looks good. And it’s almost summer, so it’s fine. It’ll be refreshing. Short hair suits you, yeah…”
The signal changed.
With a smile that failed to reveal his true feelings.
Dosangjun drove the car.