I became a childhood friend of the middle boss. - chapter 17

Episode 17

In the strongest family of the era, the head of the family, who reigns over all the warriors, is accompanied by a title before their name.

The Beast King.

“I came out of curiosity, but I never expected to see you fighting like this.”

“…”

“How old are you that you don’t think of your dignity?”

Before the title that should be called with respect and reverence, no one present dared to speak.

At that moment, my father and third uncle, who had been rolling on the floor, quickly stood up and bowed their heads.

My mother and Do Seung-woo’s mother also hurriedly stood beside them.

“If there had been people from other families here, they would have laughed at us, calling us not the children of lions but the pups of mutts.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Is that how you wanted to disgrace the Shin-Geom family by fighting like that? If you wanted to fight, you should have done it with swords, like a family of swords! I’m utterly disappointed.”

“…”

“You too. If your brothers were fighting so disgracefully, you should have intervened or mediated instead of just watching. But you just stood there, smirking? You’re no different from those brats.”

“I’m sorry, Head!”

The head of the Shin-Geom family of the era.

The Beast King, Do Ye-ik.

With the appearance of my grandfather, who had the presence of a mountain, the situation quickly settled.

Everyone, without exception, could not lift their heads in front of him.

‘The pressure is no joke.’

I couldn’t lift my head either.

It felt as if I was being crushed by an unknown force.

That feeling was not an illusion.

You are exposed to pressure.

[All stats decreased by 10%.]

My grandfather was emitting pressure.

Reading the message that appeared before my eyes, I clicked my tongue inwardly.

Even though he hadn’t shown all his might, the decrease in my stats was significant.

‘No wonder he’s mentioned as one of the strongest in Korea in the game.’

In the game “Brave Hearts,” most of the story revolves around the academy city where the main character, Kang Han-byul, is located, primarily focusing on students.

As a result, the external world, international affairs, and characters were not specifically addressed.

My grandfather, the head of the Shin-Geom family, also fell into that category.

However, he was occasionally mentioned in scenes related to the Shin-Geom family.

Each time, he was described as one of the strongest in Korea.

Having caught a glimpse of some of the power my grandfather possessed, I had no choice but to acknowledge it.

“So why did you fight?”

At that moment, my grandfather scolded us thoroughly and began to inquire.

The tense atmosphere that had been suffocating us moments ago disappeared.

You have escaped from pressure.

[Decreased stats are restored.]

My grandfather had lifted the pressure.

I discreetly dismissed the message with my eyes and slowly lifted my head.

At that moment, my third uncle seized the opportunity to respond to my grandfather.

“Head, it’s not what you think.”

Blah blah, blah blah.

My third uncle explained about the spar between me and Do Seung-woo.

The explanation was somewhat biased.

“Head, that’s not it.”

Then my father, unwilling to lose, interrupted my third uncle.

“Head, look at Seung-woo’s face.”

“Head, Gyeon-woo did it for no reason.”

Do Seung-woo’s mother and my mother also quickly tried to add their comments.

As the situation began to flow similarly to before

“Enough, that’s enough.”

“…”

With his thick eyebrows twitching, my grandfather cut them off entirely.

It was the head’s command.

My father, mother, third uncle, and Do Seung-woo’s mother fell silent.

“I think it would be better to hear from the parties involved rather than listening to you. Gyeon-woo.”

“…Yes, grandfather.”

I had a feeling this would happen once my grandfather arrived.

Called by name, I walked forward without panicking.

“Did you challenge Seung-woo to a spar, and did you win?”

“…”

It felt like looking up at a mountain.

Seeing him up close, my grandfather’s presence felt even more enormous.

For a moment, I was overwhelmed by that presence and quickly regained my composure.

Then I spoke.

“Yes, I asked for the spar first, and I did win.”

“Okay, then how did you win? Did you perhaps use some underhanded tricks?”

“I just hit him from behind when he showed a gap, and he fainted.”

“…”

“It’s hard to explain in words. but many people saw the spar, so you can ask them for specifics.”

I answered honestly.

I knew my explanation was lacking, but this was the best response.

In response to my answer

“Is that so?”

My grandfather’s lips curled up.

“Well, it’s understandable that you wouldn’t know since you were focused on the spar. As you said, we can ask the other kids.”

“Yes.”

“Then why did you touch the kid who fainted after the spar?”

“That’s because I needed to check if Seung-woo was alive or dead.”

“What?”

“I was scared because he was unresponsive while fainting, so I touched him.”

“…”

“I slapped him because of that.”

I answered honestly again.

At that, I could see my third uncle glaring at me. Beside him, Do Seung-woo’s mother was giving me a similar look.

I ignored their gazes.

Meanwhile, my grandfather

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“Interesting, very interesting.”

“…”

Now he was shaking his shoulders and suddenly burst into laughter.

From that laughter, it seemed that Do Seung-woo’s parents sensed an unfavorable turn.

In that moment, the two of them opened their mouths as if to protest.

“Head! Do you really believe what he said?”

“When did I permit you to speak?”

But they couldn’t continue in response to my grandfather’s question.

“It was a matter resolved between the parties involved, and from what I hear, there doesn’t seem to be anything problematic, so let’s end this here.”

“But, Head…”

“Are you going to keep this up?”

“…”

“You need to acknowledge what needs to be acknowledged. Or should I ask your son?”

“What? Head, what do you mean?”

“Seung-woo, open your eyes now. I know you’re awake.”

… What? He wasn’t fainting?

Hearing my grandfather’s words, I quickly turned my head.

Do Seung-woo, who had been keeping his eyes closed, suddenly fluttered his eyelids.

Soon, the kid who had been in his mother’s arms opened his eyes and got up to bow.

“…Head.”

“Now, you tell the truth. Do you think Gyeon-woo used underhanded tricks? Do you think he won because of that?”

“…No.”

My grandfather was the head.

Even if Do Seung-woo disliked me, he wouldn’t risk his life to lie.

When faced with my grandfather’s authority, he instinctively answered as he was questioned.

Thus, Do Seung-woo had no choice but to admit his defeat with a grimace.

“Even though your son has admitted this, are you still going to be stubborn?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Don’t bring this up again.”

With that, the situation was resolved.

My third uncle lowered his head, and Do Seung-woo’s mother gritted her teeth with red eyes.

“Thank you all for coming today. It’s time for the banquet to begin, so let’s share any unfinished discussions there.”

With that, my grandfather redirected the atmosphere.

Then he suddenly turned to me.

“After the banquet, we can check your skills in the evaluation match.”

“Ah…”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

After saying that to me, my grandfather left the training ground with those present.

The population density of the training ground decreased.

It was then that my mother approached me.

“Gyeon-woo?”

My mother was smiling.

I was dead.

I couldn’t shake the thought as I looked at my mother’s smiling face, her hair disheveled.

Not only that.

There were scratches on her elbow from her nails, and the jewelry that had been attached to her clothes was torn and dangling.

Seeing that made me feel

“Do you know what you did wrong?”

“…Yes.”

I couldn’t make any excuses.

With her arms crossed and a cold expression on her face, I bowed my head.

“What did you do wrong?”

“I asked Seung-woo for a spar and dragged mom and dad into it.”

“Are you saying that’s wrong?”

“…”

Her voice was chilling.

I shrank back in fear.

I had never been scolded like this by my mother before.

No.

If only you hadn’t been born.

In my past life, this was a common occurrence.

Hearing what my mother had said to me, I recalled distant memories that I had long forgotten.

My life wouldn’t have been ruined! If it weren’t for you, if you hadn’t been born,

My past life’s mother often said such things while drinking and crying.

In severe cases, she would hit me.

—I’m sorry, I was wrong; please stop hitting me. I’m sorry for being born; I was wrong.

In those situations, the only thing I could do as a young child was to curl up to avoid getting hit or to apologize even for things I hadn’t done.

But that was all.

Eventually, my mother would regain her composure and hug me.

—I’m sorry, I’m really sorry.

My past life’s mother was very emotional.

Maybe that’s why she didn’t stop crying even after hitting me.

Mom, I’m sorry.

Every time that happened, I would hug my mother tightly.

Even though I hated my mother for hitting me, I knew I had no one else to rely on.

My father?

I had no idea what had happened to him after he fell for another woman.

That’s why I comforted my mother.

I did everything wrong.

So please don’t abandon me.

I would pat my mother’s back and desperately wish in my heart.

But my wishes didn’t come true.

—When I make a lot of money later, I’ll definitely come to get you. Until then, can you wait here quietly?

At ten years old, I was eventually abandoned at an orphanage.

Even if my mother sweet-talked me, I was old enough to know that fact.

Yes, I’ll wait.

Even so, I played along.

Eventually, I realized that no matter how much I clung to my mother, it would be useless.

—Take care.

My past life’s mother abandoned me without ever referring to herself as my mom.

Perhaps she didn’t know.

After that, I lived

—I have no parents; do I have no pride?

Without anything to lose and without fear, I just lived recklessly.

Yet the memory of being abandoned by my mother lingered.

How could I forget?

“Don’t you really know what you did wrong?”

“…I’m sorry.”

It was so deeply engraved in me from my past life.

I projected the image of my mother scolding me onto my current mother.

My mother, my past life’s mother, was telling me.

“What you did wrong is wrong!”

—If only you hadn’t been born!

How should I ask for forgiveness?

If I let my current mother hit me like my past life’s mother did, would that relieve my feelings?

Or should I just say I was wrong for being born to seek forgiveness?

At that moment, I tightly closed my eyes.

“I’m… I’m angry because you didn’t tell me that Gyeon-woo has been bullied by Seung-woo all this time.”

“…”

Something settled on my head.

I opened my eyes to the gentle touch caressing my head.

“I’m sorry.”

My mother was right in front of me.

She had a face that seemed unsure if she was crying or smiling.

Immediately my mother hugged me.

“Ah…”

“I’m sorry for not knowing all this time. I was wrong, Mom.”

“…Mom?”

As if to hold me tightly.

My mother tightened her embrace.

She was shaking her shoulders as if she were sobbing.

I couldn’t help but be dumbfounded.

‘Ah, so that’s how it was.’

Before I knew it, a smile escaped from me.

In the awkward position I was in, I cautiously reached out and placed my hand on my mother’s back.

And I whispered to my mother, who kept apologizing to me.

“I’m sorry too. I didn’t say anything. I won’t do that again next time.”

“Gyeon-woo…”

Before realizing my past life, I had only thought about others and kept my worries to myself to avoid causing my parents trouble.

But reflecting on my past life, it seemed that such feelings left an even greater wound in my parents’ hearts.

I patted my mother’s back, reflecting and regretting my past life.

“I’m truly sorry.”

And I felt grateful to my parents.

I was thankful that my father was my father and that my mother was my mother.

“Ugh… Mom, don’t cry.”

“Okay, Ye-eun, let’s hug Mom too. Come here.”

“Okay!”

“Good. Oh, my pretty baby.”

“Mom, did I poke the first aunt of the third uncle when you were fighting earlier? I did well, right?”

“Really? You did? Good job.”

“I poked hard!”

“Before dinner, you should go to the bathroom and wash your hands first. Good job.”

Return my emotions.

I said I wouldn’t cause any trouble, but in the end, I ended up causing some.

Still, it was somehow resolved well.

“Anyway… I was going to scold you, but with this, I wouldn’t know how to step in. It can’t be helped.”

Do Sang-jun found the three of them hugging each other with their fragile and small arms to be adorable.

He even thought about joining them to share some family affection.

“Oh dear…”

But time had passed.

By then, they had released their embrace.

Do Sang-jun had no choice but to welcome his wife, who had a relieved expression despite her disheveled hair.

Soon, his gaze turned to the wound on her arm.

“Are you okay? That must sting a lot; let me use healing magic.”

“I’m fine; I’ll just let this heal on its own.”

“No, why?”

“This is my mother’s pride.”

His wife, Han Ji-ae, rejected Do Sang-jun’s hand as he was about to cast magic.

Then she proudly puffed her chest.

Do Sang-jun was taken aback.

“Then at least let me use cleaning magic to tidy up your hair.”

“And by the way, you.”

“Uh, what is it?”

“I’m going to cut my hair.”

“Why all of a sudden?”

“I don’t want to have my hair grabbed again.”

“…What?”

“I think it’s uncomfortable when my hair is long. So I’m going to cut it this time.”

“I like long hair.”

“Hmm? What did you just say?”

Do Sang-jun tried to persuade Han Ji-ae.

However, seeing her expression, he quickly shook his head.

“No, you’d look good no matter what, even with short hair.”

“Really?”

A smile spread across Han Ji-ae’s face.

Do Sang-jun felt relieved inside.

However, his crisis was not completely over yet.

She changed the subject.

“And you know you did something wrong, right?”

“Huh?”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“…”

“Since it’s already over, there’s nothing I can do, but just know that I won’t be sleeping with you for a while.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“I’ll be sleeping in Ye-eun’s room for a while. You can just sleep alone.”

“No, honey…”

“Kids. You all look a mess. Hurry up and clean up so we can go to the banquet.”

“Honey?”

Leaving Do Sang-jun, who was dumbfounded, Han Ji-ae took Do Gyeon-woo and Do Ye-eun and left the training ground.

“Hah, seriously…”

Before he knew it, Do Sang-jun was left alone in the training ground.

He let out a hollow laugh.

“Why is it that the kid gets forgiven so easily while I don’t?”

It was so unfair.

Do Sang-jun sighed.