I felt a great many things from Mo Yong Tae’s laugh. First of all, none of them were positive.

“You read my energy? Haha.”

I had not sensed it completely. It had been faint. Faint, but—

The sense of wrongness was clear.

I had definitely felt something from him. Calling it energy was a little off. To be more precise—

His soul itself is different.

Those who have reached a certain level as martial artists possess different souls. It is true that their vessels are broad to begin with, but the achievements they have built are contained in their souls and form a certain rank.

In that sense, Mo Yong Tae’s rank was quite high.

It was simply impossible for me not to recognize it.

“I have heard stories now and then. They say you became the inheritor of Yoo Cheongil. That dead old monster.”

“......I got a little lucky.”

“Lucky? Lucky, is it? For you to say that—”

Mo Yong Tae’s sharp eyes swept over my body.

“You have achieved no small amount. For a Bang bastard, it seems you have not lived lazily.”

“......Thank you.”

That seemed to be the only compliment worth hearing. Being told that, for a Bang bastard, I was not much like a Bang bastard.

“But.”

Mo Yong Tae’s white eyebrows twitched.

“It seems you could not remove that damned family’s particular nature, could you?”

“......Pardon? What—”

“Using that fine face of yours to swap women in and out.”

“......”

That was not on the level of a dagger. He had just thrown a bomb. At the vicious remark, a hollow laugh slipped out before I knew it.

“You laugh?”

“Ah, my apologies. It was such a perfect summary.”

Was there any phrase more perfect than that for pricking at the Bang Family?

“I have never particularly used anyone like that.”

“Oh? With that many girls around you?”

“......What am I supposed to have—”

“Truly none?”

“Yes. None.”

I was confident. I had no idea what this old man was thinking, but I was genuinely, insanely wronged.

What women do I have?

When had there ever been a woman in this life? In my previous life, I had spent all my time working and never even held someone’s hand, and this life had not been particularly different.

After the broken engagement with Mo Yong Yeongsun, there had been no women.

“......Look at this brat?”

At my answer, Mo Yong Tae narrowed his eyes.

“You really look as if you don’t know.”

“It is not that I look that way. There truly are none.”

“You are not usually that slow-witted. What is this?”

“No, because think about it.”

I protested, feeling wronged.

“The feelings they hold for me are their feelings. I do not hold them back, so it is not a sin. I have never used them either.”

“......”

Mo Yong Tae flinched at my words.

I was not stupid, so I understood other people’s feelings to a certain extent.

However—

I cannot accept them.

And I simply did not want to use them to do anything.

“Ha. What a shameless brat.”

“Please call it sincere.”

“......Look at this?”

The corners of Mo Yong Tae’s mouth rose. Then he began adding more strength to the hand gripping my collar.

“You. It seems you do not fear me.”

“......No. I am extremely terrified.”

My back was already covered in cold sweat, so what did he mean I was not afraid?

“For someone terrified, you are terribly bold.”

“There are several reasons for that...... but it is mostly because I cannot think of any reason I deserve to be threatened by you.”

“Oh?”

His eyes seemed to say, Go on, then.

“I have done you no wrong. Especially against the Mo Yong Family, I have committed no......”

Had I?

For a brief instant, my mind spun. No. I had done a few things worth being scolded for, but if I considered what I had done for White King, that much should be overlooked.

“I have committed no crime. Right now, I am being treated unfairly—”

“After making my precious puppy cry?”

“......”

“G-Grandfather!”

My mouth shut. I was fucked.

It really is that? 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

At Mo Yong Tae’s words, Mo Yong Yeongsun hurriedly cut in.

Leaving aside the fact that Mo Yong Yeongsun had been called a puppy, had he really called me here because she cried?

Uh, if that is the case—

The story was getting a little different. It had been one of the possibilities I had considered, but I had not thought that would actually be it.

“I endured it at first.”

WOOOONG!

Mo Yong Tae’s clothes shook with inner qi.

“The engagement. That thing your grandfather forced through. I swallowed that down while weeping blood.”

So it had been forced. Well, of course.

How would an engagement with the Mo Yong Family even happen?

How could an engagement between the Bang Family and the Mo Yong Family have been arranged? I had assumed it was possible simply because the two grandfathers were close.

But if Mo Yong Tae hated my grandfather, then that was strange.

What kind of absurdity did he have to pull to make that possible?

What absurdity had led to the engagement being settled? Just as I found that curious—

“And in the middle of that, you dared break it off?”

“......No, that was......! The Mo Yong Family wished for it first.”

Had I brought up the broken engagement first? No.

“Your granddaughter spoke of it first, and I merely accepted.”

Had I said we should do it? She had come wanting to do it herself, and I had only accepted. He should not be getting angry at me for that.

“Ha. So you intend to excuse yourself that way.”

“What is he talking about......?”

I had only spoken the truth, so how was that an excuse?

Was this old man insane?

“I endured it then too. I barely stopped myself from cutting down the Bang Family and settled for cutting down a mountain instead.”

“......”

At those words, one piece of information flashed through my mind.

The day Mo Yong Tae had shown himself in Liaoning.

The time he had supposedly cut down a great mountain and disappeared.

That had really been because of this?

“If your grandfather had not stopped me, I would not even have done that much.”

“My grandfather?”

My grandfather came out? My grandfather stopped him?

“I dislike every last Bang bastard. Even now. You even made tears gather in my puppy’s eyes?”

“......I did not intentionally bring sorrow to your puppy, sir. I had circumstances too......”

“Stop calling me a puppy!”

Mo Yong Yeongsun shouted from the middle. Then she rushed in and seized Mo Yong Tae’s wrist.

“......Grandfather. Please let him go. Young Master Bang came here as a guest after receiving your summons. You should not be doing this.”

“......Grandfather? There is no need to call me so coldly......”

Mo Yong Tae looked wounded.

“......Grand...... Father. Please don’t do this.”

She struggled to change how she addressed him. I could see her glancing at me as she spoke.

“I cannot understand it, Yeongsun. How could you be bewitched by a rogue like this and make yourself suffer?”

“Grandfather......! I’m not bewitched!”

“Do not lie. I heard from the Family Head that you spend every day in tears!”

“I said that isn’t...... I said that isn’t true!”

Yeongsun’s face reddened. In the middle of that, so he called her Yeongsun? That was cuter than I expected.

“I didn’t cry...... If I cry, I think I’ll cry from embarrassment right now. So please stop.”

“......Hngh.”

Mo Yong Yeongsun spoke seriously. Only after seeing that expression did Mo Yong Tae release his grip on me.

Tap, tap. Once my collar was freed, I finally straightened my clothes.

“Follow me.”

Mo Yong Tae spat out those words and climbed the mountain. I followed behind him with an uncomfortable expression.

As we silently moved, Mo Yong Yeongsun spoke beside me.

“......I’m sorry.”

She apologized.

“It’s fine. This much is nothing.”

If the reason was that she cried, then I could understand.

“......But did you really cry?”

“I did...... not cry.”

Seeing her avoid my eyes, it seemed she had. At that, I let out a quiet sigh.

“......I see.”

Even if I tried not to care, it bothered me. But I could not let it show.

I simply followed Mo Yong Tae without speaking, and before long, we reached ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) the summit.

The mountain summit had been neatly cut down into flat ground. Anyone could tell it had been artificially maintained.

At the center stood a small, beautifully built residence.

That seemed to be the house where Mo Yong Tae lived.

We did not enter the house. Mo Yong Tae approached the table placed outside.

WHOOOSH!

When he stretched his hand into the air, chairs leaning against the residence flew over and were caught.

Thud. Several chairs were set at the table.

“Sit.”

Immediately after saying that, Mo Yong Tae entered the residence.

“I will head down first.”

Perhaps because his guidance was finished, the guard paid his respects and descended the mountain.

We sat on the remaining chairs.

“......”

“......”

There was no particular conversation after we sat. Mo Yong Yeongsun’s expression was a sight.

She looked utterly drained.

Looking at her, I asked,

“You were the one who warned me, but your expression is very entertaining.”

“......What about it?”

“You said he cherishes you too much, so I might be surprised. Looks like you were right.”

I had been surprised.

“So he calls you Yeongsun?”

“......Shut up.”

I was not asking to tease her. I asked to confirm. No, honestly, I was asking to tease her.

It was a little funny.

“Then you’re Yeongsun the puppy.”

“......”

“Sorry.”

Mo Yong Yeongsun moved her hand to her waist. Since she looked like she was about to draw her sword, I apologized for now.

“Yeongsun the puppy sure has a temper—really, sorry.”

I did it one last time. If I was going to do it, I thought I should do it properly.

“Haha.”

“......Is this funny?”

“Yeah. Very.”

I had not known she had this side.

Interesting.

“Who do you think I’m standing here because of? Is this funny right now? Does laughter just come pouring out?”

“Doesn’t it for you?”

“......Who do you think I’m here because of?”

“It’s not because of me.”

As I had been explaining since earlier, it was not because of me.

Just then—

“Do you really think it isn’t?”

Mo Yong Yeongsun asked seriously. After hearing that, I had to pause briefly.

“......I bear some responsibility. Let’s leave it at that.”

“How ridiculous.”

I preserved my last bit of conscience. As Mo Yong Yeongsun looked at me in disbelief—

Creak. The door opened, and Mo Yong Tae appeared. He was holding two teacups.

He placed tea in front of himself and Mo Yong Yeongsun, then poured it with a trickle.

I stared at that and asked,

“Sir. What about mine?”

“There is none.”

His expression said, Why would you ask that? I nodded as if I understood. Fine. Tea was not important.

Seeing that, Mo Yong Yeongsun sighed and handed me her tea.

“Drink it. I’m fine.”

“I’m fine too.”

“......Y-Yeongsun. How could you......!”

“Please stop calling me that...... Grandfather, you stop acting childish too.”

“Tch......”

Mo Yong Tae clicked his tongue briefly, then used remote object control to bring over another teacup.

“Grandfather.”

Only after tea had been poured did Mo Yong Yeongsun ask,

“Why did you call us here?”

“To scold that bastard, of course.”

He was confident......?

“No. Isn’t there another reason?”

Mo Yong Yeongsun spoke, unable to believe him.

And—

“......Hmm.”

Mo Yong Tae exhaled through his nose while looking at me. It seemed he had something to say.

“You dog of the Bang Family.”

“Dog?”

Why was the title so filthy? Just as I flinched at those words—

“Your grandfather left something for you.”

“Pardon?”

Mo Yong Tae continued, and I froze in response.

My grandfather? My grandfather?

“......Did my grandfather leave some kind of keepsake for me?”

I immediately asked the most fundamental question. Was there even anything he would have left? That family was not the sort of place to have such things, was it?

When I asked in surprise, Mo Yong Tae’s expression changed this time.

“Keepsake?”

“Is it not a keepsake?”

“No, why would something belonging to a bastard who isn’t dead be a keepsake?”

“......Pardon?”

What was this now?

“......My grandfather is not dead?”

“......Why would that lowborn bastard be dead?”

“......What?”

He was not dead?

My grandfather is alive?

It was a world-shattering statement.