“…Does it necessarily have to be a matter of taking down the family signboard?”
“Haha.”
Though I had spoken sincerely, the Poison King burst into a sharp laugh, as if something were funny.
“Even if I step down from a position of mere honor, my family will not be ruined.”
“Is this not a land filled with people who live and die for honor?”
“That is true. I was like that as well.”
Originally, that was how martial artists were.
For most of them, the reason they grew stronger was honor.
There were also many for whom gaining a single name was the dream of their life.
That is why they live and die for a mere alias.
I do not view that poorly.
What does another’s life have to do with me?
It simply meant there were quite a lot of such people.
And in such a place, to go so far as to—
“Is there a reason you must throw away your honor?”
Could there be a reason the Poison King must do so?
It was something I could not understand even after hearing his words.
“Young Master Gu.”
“Yes.”
“Do you know how to straighten an old tree whose roots have already rotted?”
I met his eyes.
My lips moved.
Facing the Poison King’s gaze, I had nothing to say.
He had already chosen.
“You must uproot it entirely and plant the seed anew.”
“…So, you mean to tear out the old tree whole and start over?”
“Those are the words, but surely it will not reach the roots? Haha.”
If it were revealed that the Dang Clan had conducted human experimentation and even carried out kidnappings for that purpose.
Not only the roots, but also their seat among the Four Great Clans—no, they could even be branded as not belonging to the orthodox faction in the Alliance.
Since the Dang Clan was originally of demonic origin, that would be all the easier.
Knowing all that, he still intended to do it?
Why on earth.
“Because it is shameful.”
“…Shameful?”
“It is too shameful to endure, Young Master Gu. I am sorry to the children, but this is something that must be done.”
Was it because I had no conscience, or because such emotions had already withered away entirely?
I did not know.
I was unable to accept his conviction.
At that moment.
“I am grateful.”
The Poison King suddenly expressed his gratitude to me.
My eyes widened at those words.
“…What do you mean all of a sudden?”
Why was he suddenly thanking me?
“I know that the reason you are so enraged is because of my daughter.”
“…!”
My heart sank heavily at the Poison King’s words.
It was because I realized a fact I had not known.
Was that the reason I had felt so stifled by the Poison King’s words?
I had vaguely known what Dang Soyeol would go through when the Dang Clan fell.
‘So it was because I was worried about that, that I had been so irritated.’
That seemed to be the reason.
It was a fact even I had not known.
“I am sorry to my son and daughter. But this is my choice.”
“…Lord Patriarch.”
“I will likely be very ashamed from now on, but doing this seems it will be somewhat less shameful. I have not discarded my honor. Rather, this is an act that preserves my honor.”
So say no more.
That was what the Poison King was saying to me.
So I closed my mouth.
Because I had nothing I could say to him with confidence.
It was always like that.
Those who possessed firm convictions and walked a path they need not take always made people shut their mouths like that.
As I was briefly averting my gaze.
The Poison King spoke to me calmly.
“I am shameless to ask this, but please take good care of my daughter, Young Master Gu.”
What meaning did this request hold?
Did it mean to save her when the Dang Clan fell?
Or did it hold another meaning? I was not sure, but.
There was only one answer I could give now.
“…Do not worry.”
I did not know about other things, but at least this much was sincere.
Hearing my answer, the Poison King nodded with a smile and spoke to me.
“Good. That is enough.”
The Poison King casually dropped his formality with me.
I did not point that out at all.
Rather, from that tone, I felt as though he had finally recognized me.
******************
I left the Poison King’s residence and moved my steps.
Since I could not hold back a gentleman who had a schedule ahead, it was time for me to do my work as well.
‘I should set my schedule soon too.’
I had organized the major plans, but.
I had not decided what to do first right away.
‘First, I need to return home.’
Return to the Gu Family.
I had to do that first.
‘…Though in my heart, I want to go somewhere else rather than home.’
Including the cave in Guangdong piled with hidden ten-thousand-year cold iron.
It was time to visit and consume the opportunities I had more or less arranged one by one, but.
‘Doing that immediately is too much.’
There were many things to take care of before consuming opportunities.
The promise with Shinui was one.
And the jewels to be used for Nahi.
Even aside from that, the most important thing here was.
‘I need strength.’
Time to train diligently.
That was what was most needed now.
‘…Still not enough.’
Of course, having reached the Hwagyeong and gained the increased power from becoming a dragon.
Even so, it was not enough.
To face the Heavenly Demon and the Blood Demon, I lacked both personal strength and the force to build.
Not only could I not yet react to the Dark King’s movements, but I was also utterly insufficient to reach those who had ascended high.
On top of that.
‘I must also ascend to Guseong.’
Along with training the Tuapacheonmu, the Nine Flames Fire Wheel Art also had to reach Guseong.
Because only then would Father tell me about Mother.
I needed time to accumulate strength.
And the circumstances under which I could do that.
“…Probably, there is no time but now.”
At least now was the most suitable time.
In just a few more years, incidents would erupt in succession.
Even excluding the events I had caused to deviate.
To withstand the great events that would occur, I had to build strength.
‘Now, what I gain from opportunities has reached its limit.’
My foundation was more than sufficient; it overflowed.
My body was also so well-forged that now, in the end, what I had to do was my own training.
Yes, let’s do it.
I have to do it when it must be done.
Since I had to return to the family for a while anyway, it was time to build strength.
As I made such plans and returned to my lodgings.
“Hm?”
I saw Father, whom I had not seen all night, standing in the courtyard.
And with him was….
‘Isn’t that Wi Seol-a?’
For some reason, Wi Seol-a was holding my clothes in her hands.
What the…?
As I entered, both of their gazes turned this way.
“Ah, Young Master.”
“What are you doing?”
“…That….”
At my question, Wi Seol-a hid the clothes behind her back and continued hesitantly.
“…I was doing… some laundry.”
“Laundry…? What? Surely not those?”
“Yes….”
I pointed at the clothes, and she indicated that was correct.
She had been washing my clothes?
“…Why?”
Why would you?
When I asked with such intent, Wi Seol-a’s face gradually reddened.
Because her skin was so fair, it stood out especially.
“I-it’s been a while…. For a moment I remembered…. Without realizing it, I just.”
At her awkwardly smiling words, I found myself furrowing my brows without realizing it.
Did she mean she unconsciously washed them because she saw the clothes? I wondered if that was some absurd instinct.
Trying to find the cause, my insides stung particularly.
‘…This somehow feels like my fault.’
Was it because I had brought Wi Seol-a here as an attendant?
It seemed some strange behavior had remained.
‘…Come to think of it, I feel like there had been many times lately when laundry was already done.’
When I returned from training or going out, my room had been cleaned.
I had thought it somehow smelled nice for no reason.
“Hey… Surely you didn’t clean secretly without my knowledge?”
“…!”
At my just-in-case question, I saw Wi Seol-a flinch and blush.
I had thought a maid of the Dang Clan had done it. So it had been Wi Seol-a?
“Why did you do that?”
“…Th-that, just…. I had some free time….”
“If you’re going to do it, at least say something. It’s not like you’re some dutiful daughter-in-law.”
The important thing is why she did it secretly.
At my absurd words, Wi Seol-a lowered her head.
“I’m sorry….”
Sneaking in might be a problem, but.
At least from my standpoint, I did not think this was something she needed to apologize to me for.
“It’s nothing to apologize for. That’s what I should say. Just… if you do something nice, tell me. So I can thank you.”
Smiling at Wi Seol-a’s reaction, I was about to pat her hair.
But realizing Father was beside me, I had to stop my hand.
At this, Wi Seol-a looked at my hand with disappointed eyes.
Barely ignoring that, I asked Father.
“Are you leaving?”
At my question, Father’s eyebrows moved slightly.
“How did you know?”
“What do you mean?”
“That I intend to leave.”
“…Well. Just.”
I had a feeling.
Perhaps because I had been observing Father often these days, I could tell his feel was subtly different.
“I just somehow felt you would.”
“…Hm.”
“But what were you talking about with her?”
“It was nothing special.”
He meant he would not tell me.
I immediately looked at Wi Seol-a, but.
“…Ngk….”
Wi Seol-a also avoided my gaze as if ignoring my words.
What the…? Making me uneasy.
I wanted to pry more, but decided to hold back for now.
“…Fine, let that pass. Are you really leaving now?”
“The request is finished, so there is no reason to stay longer.”
That meant he had finished the Poison King’s request.
That also meant he had dealt with all the elders overnight.
“Then, why not go together? I’ll be leaving tomorrow at the latest anyway.”
After saying it, I was surprised inwardly.
Normally, I should have cheered when he said he was leaving.
To think I would be the one asking Father to go together.
I was nothing but bewildered.
Perhaps surprised as well, Father widened his eyes—a rare sight.
“N-no…. Th-that, I just thought… I’d ask. Since you’re going anyway.”
I strung out words like an excuse. I somehow felt I had to say it that way.
Hearing this, Father spoke to me.
“That would be too much.”
It was a refusal.
“As expected.”
Feeling slightly awkward, I was scratching the back of my head.
“If things were as originally planned, that would have been fine.”
Father began adding an uncharacteristic explanation.
“But if I delay any longer, someone will be very angry.”
“Who?”
“…”
He did not answer, but his eyes looked quite troubled.
Amidst that, from within him.
—Three days… have already passed, after all.
A similar small voice was heard. What did that mean?
Anyway, it meant we could not go together.
“…Then, it can’t be helped. I’ll see you at the estate…?”
Just as I was about to give up lightly and at least say farewell.
Father held something out before my eyes.
It was his hand.
Father’s large hand.
“…?”
Wondering what this was, I looked at Father, but he simply stared at me quietly.
As we held such a staring contest, Father finally spoke to me.
“Take it.”
“Ah.”
Only after hearing those words did I realize Father’s intent.
I immediately took Father’s hand.
Because of the difference in hand size, my hand was practically wrapped in his.
Come to think of it.
‘Is this the first time?’
Holding hands with Father like this—I think it is probably the first time.
I had no memory of ever holding them like this before.
At most a few seconds. After a brief moment with no time for sentiment, the hand we had been holding was quickly released.
“I’ll go first. Return carefully.”
“…Huh?”
I had to pause at Father’s words.
What, wasn’t he trying to check something?
I had naturally thought that would be the case.
“Fath—?”
Poof—!
Before I could call out to him, Father vanished into a spark before my eyes.
“…He’s really leaving just like this?”
Disappearing right after a mere handshake?
This is absurd. Appearing out of nowhere and disappearing just as nonchalantly.
Father was still a difficult figure.
“Haha.”
Saying so, I examined my hand.
Father’s hand was hotter than I thought.
Was it the influence of the fire arts?
An awkward laugh came out.
What remained afterward was warmth and an indescribable emotion.
Pat pat.
After roughly dusting off my hand, I looked at Wi Seol-a.
Wi Seol-a was looking at me with her characteristically large eyes.
For some reason, the corners of her eyes seemed to be smiling.
She was pretty, but what should I call it….
‘Annoying.’
So I ruffled her hair outright.
“Uihk!”
It was Wi Seol-a’s cute scream, heard after a long time.
“Y-Young Master, wait…!”
“Who told you to look at me like that.”
After roughly ruffling her fine hair a few times, Wi Seol-a wrinkled her nose.
Only then did I withdraw my hand. I knew she would get sulky if I did more.
Stepping back slightly, I spoke to Wi Seol-a.
“Let’s go eat. I’m hungry.”
“Yes.”
It felt like it had been a while since I suggested a meal.
Fortunately, Wi Seol-a also had a happy expression.
Then.
“We should call the kids too while we’re at it. It’s nice to eat together.”
“…Yes.”
…Did she not like that?
Her expression seemed to darken somewhat.
‘It must be my imagination.’
There was no way Wi Seol-a would dislike a meal.
I roughly nodded and moved my steps.
The mealtime, held after a long while, was not very long.
Because of the Dang Clan’s situation, it could not be spent glamorously or cheerfully.
Especially, Dang Soyeol’s face was exceptionally dark throughout the meal.
‘It was a pallor of death….’
The Poison King had likely hidden what he could about the incidents in the Dang Clan.
He could not hide everything, and Dang Soyeol seemed to have learned of it.
Honestly, I had thought Dang Soyeol would gradually find out.
But I could not leave her alone because of that, so I had forced her to sit with us.
Namgung Bia and Wi Seol-a were staying close by Dang Soyeol’s sides and looking after her.
That could not solve everything.
Just enough to see each other’s faces after some time.
It was a time worth exactly that much.
“So, what have you decided to do?”
“What do you mean?”
Having eaten moderately, I was walking along a quiet promenade when I asked Moyong Hui-a.
Partly because our lodgings were in the same direction, but also because I had something to ask her.
“You knew that the Poison King had made such a decision.”
“I knew.”
Moyong Hui-a’s reaction was calm.
So rather, I was curious.
“How did you know?”
“Hm? Didn’t you know, Young Master Gu?”
“I didn’t know. That’s why I’m asking.”
How could she dare to predict it?
That the patriarch would show such actions intent on destroying his own family.
At such a question, Moyong Hui-a swept back her hair with jade-like fingers and spoke.
“I wasn’t particularly certain either. It was merely a prediction.”
“But you ran over like that?”
Moyong Hui-a had moved quickly as if she had realized something.
Yet it was not certainty.
Moyong Hui-a also blushed slightly, perhaps embarrassed that she had moved like that.
“…Even if it was not certain, there was a probability of it.”
“What probability?”
“The probability that Patriarch Dang would choose righteousness.”
“…”
At Moyong Hui-a’s words, I inwardly flinched slightly.
“I considered many possibilities. Given the situation at the time, there were plenty of better methods, but in the end, the only thing visible at the end of Patriarch Dang’s actions was that.”
Better methods.
That was from Moyong Hui-a’s perspective.
Even if they could not hide all of the Dang Clan’s shame, they had to control it so that the story did not leak out too much.
Before beheading the elders who caused the incident, they had to take time to absorb and control all their forces.
That was, in Moyong Hui-a’s eyes….
No, it would have been the best method in both my and Moyong Hui-a’s view.
But the Poison King did not do that.
What had he said the reason was?
‘Because it was shameful.’
As a martial artist, as a patriarch.
And as a member of the orthodox faction, he was embarrassed.
Had he said he could not do that because of it?
It was something I could not understand.
‘It is a difficult matter.’
Some would call this an incompetent choice.
And he might even hear that it was a foolish choice.
But I could not utter any such words.
The reason was none other than this.
‘Conviction.’
Because I judged that to be the Poison King’s conviction.
An action I would not do… no, could not do.
The reason I could not refute the Poison King, who had spat out words with the conviction that he was right, was ultimately.
Because I did not have a conviction that I could believe in and act upon as much as the Poison King did.
Thus.