Chapter 573: Dang Clan Part 1

When I opened my eyes, I was in an unfamiliar place.

A grand and magnificent hall, the kind you’d expect to find in an imperial palace.

I was seated on the highest throne in that hall, looking down below.

Countless people were showing their respects to me.

Their appearances and clothing all differed, but I remembered each and every one of them clearly.

Because they were the S-rank heroes I had raised.

So where is this?

The last thing I remembered was boarding the train as winter break began.

I had moved Seo Ye-in, who was trying to sit on my lap, to the seat across from me, and after chatting for a bit, I decided to take a short nap.

Then this is probably a dream.

But I had a strong feeling.

Even if it’s a dream, it’s not something to just brush off.

It feels like I’ve been here before.

Had I? If so, when?

As I retraced my memories, something suddenly crossed my mind.

The Illusion Demon.

During the Fixed Zone tournament, the Blood Cult infiltrated elders into Dungeon Island to retrieve the Blood Wind Sword (or not).

Afterward, the Illusion Demon approached me and used a soul-manipulating technique, but it couldn’t affect me in the slightest due to the [Monarch]’s mental barrier.

However, in that process, this place was unintentionally revealed, buried in my subconscious until now, only to resurface.

If that’s the case, then this place is probably—

My inner world.

A place where a part of what makes me has taken form.

Considering the time, effort, and passion I poured into <Dragon Slayer Academy>, it made perfect sense.

As this thought reached its conclusion, a strange sense of emotion washed over me.

Like discovering an old, memory-filled object while cleaning a room.

I thought everything had disappeared when I received the reincarnation quest and entered the world of the game.

But it seems they had remained here all along.

I slowly took in each of the heroes one by one.

The saintess in white robes Lee Seo.

It really makes me feel the absence of a healer again.

Still, team composition depends on how you set it up.

Hong Hyeon-ah, the Master of the Ruby Magic Tower.

In appearance, personality, and even her main field, she shares quite a few similarities with Hong Yeon-hwa.

Though in terms of potential, that scruffy little puppy far surpasses her.

The Black Knight, Go Yo-han.

If it were up to me, I’d want to ask to borrow that armor.

Since it’s a growth-type item that has already fully matured, it’s practically his main body.

For reference, the macho trio member Lee Seong-hyun has a similar equipment set.

The Vampire Queen Carmilla.

She crossed over right after reaching S-rank, so I never even got to test her out.

It’s a bit disappointing and slightly guilt-inducing that she’ll likely be left as she is for a while.

The time spent reminiscing continued.

I would’ve even gone on all the way to a thousand, but I was interrupted midway.

Across from the throne stood a huge heavy door as grand as the great hall itself.

I thought it had been tightly shut this whole time, but now it was slightly ajar.

Through that tiny gap, something seemed to be moving, so I looked closer and saw a gray-furred cat and a black fox.

“…What are you doing there?”

Instead of answering, the cat pushed its head into the gap.

But it seemed too narrow even for it, and it couldn’t quite squeeze through.

So it changed tactics, slipping a front paw into the gap and waving it around.

As if trying to pull something out from inside.

As if finding that amusing, the black fox joined in.

“Yelp.”

It climbed on top of the cat and stuck its paw into the gap as well.

Does doing it together make any difference?

And did it really have to climb on top?

With a growing list of questions, I simply watched the two animals.

It goes without saying, but the door didn’t budge at all just from them pawing at it.

I was debating whether to help them or just leave them be when I suddenly opened my eyes and found myself inside the train cabin.

As expected, it had been a dream.

The first thing I saw was Seo Ye-in sitting across from me.

Resting her head on the table, she stared straight at me with sleepy eyes.

“……”

“Why?”

“Just because.”

Dang Gyu-young was also leaning on my shoulder, looking up at me.

She smiled faintly without saying anything, so I asked,

“Didn’t you sleep?”

“I just woke up.”

“You could’ve woken me.”

“Why would I? You were sleeping well. And it looked like you were having a good dream.”

“Feeling my consideration?”

I nodded.

“It was a good dream.”

“Why? What did you see?”

“Faces I haven’t seen in a long time.”

At that, curiosity filled both Seo Ye-in and Dang Gyu-young’s faces.

“Who? Old friends?”

“They were friends but also colleagues and even students.”

“Tell us more.”

“You know how I said I graduated over 200 times, right?”

“Mhmm, mhmm.”

“They graduated with me back then.”

Dang Gyu-young’s expression turned a bit strange.

“They must be super seniors. Where are they now?”

“Very far away.”

For a moment, Dang Gyu-young hesitated.

Then she carefully asked,

“…By ‘far away’ do you mean the kind of far where they can’t come back?”

“Not that. There’s another reason.”

“Ah, you almost made me feel bad for asking.”

“I’ll introduce you if I ever get the chance.”

“Okay.”

Manifesting (them) would realistically be impossible, but if it’s about meeting them in the inner world, I think there might be a way.

Even if it was just a dream, a cat and a fox had come all the way to my door.

Then Dang Gyu-young who had been smiling pleasantly suddenly paused again and narrowed her eyes.

“Wait, I didn’t ask this.”

“What is it?”

“…ius there a woman among them?”

“Gender isn’t what matters, is it?”

“The moment you answered like that, there’s no doubt.”

Dang Gyu-young slowly brought my arm close to her mouth.

As if she might bite it at any moment.

And in an interrogating tone, she asked,

“Is she a backup bus?”

“There’s no such thing.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

If I’d said, “It’s not a bus, it’s a palace~” she would’ve gone into a furious biting spree, so I just plainly told the truth.

Dang Gyu-young who was still holding my arm grumbled,

“You keep talking about buses, so it makes me suspicious first.”

“You know it’s a joke. I don’t hit on just anyone.”

“Then keep earning my trust.”

“Understood.”

“Nom.”

Just as she was about to let go of my arm, Dang Gyu-young suddenly bit down on it.

I asked, dumbfounded,

“Why are you biting me?”

“It just feels like I should.”

“So now there’s not even a reason.”

“Nom.”

Meanwhile, Seo Ye-in watched the two of us with sparkling interest, then slowly reached her hand out.

Since her intention was obvious, I grabbed her hand midway.

“You’re trying to bite me too.”

“…Challenge.”

“You don’t need to challenge yourself with this kind of thing.”

“…Challenge.”

I defended my forearm from the two piranhas.

As we were bickering like that, Dang Gyu-young suddenly turned her head toward the train window, a glint appearing in her eyes.

“We’re here?”

I looked out the window as well, and sure enough, a cityscape spread out before us.

Sichuan.

However, it was safe to say this was a completely different place from the well-known Sichuan.

After all, both its location and era were far removed.

Modern buildings stood in neat rows, and cars traveled along well-paved roads.

And here and there, there were old-fashioned wooden and stone buildings that looked like they’d been pulled straight out of a wuxia or fantasy setting.

Considering all the different genres that encompassed it, it wasn’t all that strange.

My guess was that they simply borrowed the name out of a thought like, “Still, the Dang Clan should be in Sichuan!”

After all, things like Uijeongbu Dang Clan, Chicago Dang Clan, or Osaka Dang Clan would be completely unacceptable.

Before long, the train gradually slowed to a stop, and Dang Gyu-young, Seo Ye-in, and I stepped out onto the platform.

Looking around, I saw a group of martial artists gathered on one side, dressed in suits or dark green martial uniforms.

Among them, a familiar middle-aged man stood out.

Uncle Qyu.

Dang Mun-hyeong also seemed to have spotted us, as he waved with a gentle smile.

Dang Gyu-young gave a small bow.

“We’ve arrived, Uncle.”

“Welcome, Gyu-young. You all, come along as well.”

Seo Ye-in and I also bowed in greeting.

“It’s been a while.”

“Hello.”

Amid the warm atmosphere, we exchanged light pleasantries.

On the other hand, there was a noticeable difference in the attitude of the Dang Clan’s martial artists.

Some gave a small wave or a brief greeting, but most simply glanced over with expressionless faces.

A few even frowned.

A complicated expression briefly crossed Dang Mun-hyeong’s face, but he tried not to show it as he said,

“Let’s continue catching up inside.”

We boarded the sedans lined up in a row and began heading toward the Dang Clan.

“……”

Meanwhile, Dang Gyu-young’s expression looked just as complicated as Dang Mun-hyeong’s.

With her arms crossed, she fell into thought before casually asking me,

“…You saw that, right?”

“The others?”

“Mhmm. It’s not exactly a welcoming atmosphere.”

“That’s true. May I ask why?”

“Because I left the family.”

There had been many reasons, but in the end, it amounted to turning her back on the Dang Clan in pursuit of freedom.

From the perspective of the family members, it was understandable that they would feel betrayed.

On top of that, Dang Gyu-young was a direct descendant, and it was said that her skill with poison and hidden weapons had been close to that of a promising talent.

Even the Sword Queen had made a remark while watching a tournament.

– If he had trained in hidden weapons or at least walked the path of martial arts, he would have achieved greatness long ago. Such a pity.

That was how high the expectations placed on her by the clan had been, so kicking all of that away must have doubled the sense of betrayal.

“And now, showing up like this…do you think that’d look good to them?”

“I can understand their side a little.”

“Mhmm, me too.”

Dang Gyu-young leaned back crookedly in her seat.

“Anyway, that’s why I asked you to come with me. It’s already like this even with the three of us….imagine if I came alone. For the entire break, no less.”

“That does sound suffocating.”

“Mhmm. So when we get there, hang out with me a lot. Don’t let me get bored.”

Dang Gyu-young grinned as she looked at us.

At that, Seo Ye-in’s eyes lit up.

“Got it.”

Even as we talked, the sedan carrying us continued forward.

Before long, among the buildings, a huge estate appeared. Something utterly out of place in the middle of the city.

Calling it an estate was an understatement; it was practically a palace.

And on the signboard at the main gate, written in sharp calligraphy, were the words:

As we arrived at our destination, the family members who had been accompanying us as escorts took their leave.

Together with Uncle Qyu, we stepped into the Dang Clan.

“……”

Dang Gyu-young silently looked around.

It seems that, returning home after a long time, old memories are coming back to her.

Seeing that, Dang Mun-hyeong made a suggestion in a somewhat cautious tone.

“How about greeting your elder brother first?”

If he meant the elder brother of her uncle, that would be her father. In other words, the head of the Dang Clan.

I didn’t know the full story, but judging by the situation, it seemed there was quite a deep emotional rift between father and daughter.

However, as if she had already prepared herself, Dang Gyu-young answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“Yes, let’s do that.”

From a guest’s perspective as well, if you visit a noble house, it is proper to meet the head first.

So, all of us headed toward the lord’s residence together.

Before long, Dang Mun-hyeong who had been leading the way stopped in front of a firmly shut door.

Then, in a low voice, he announced their arrival.

“Brother, it’s Mun-hyeong. I’ve brought Gyu-young and the guests.”

After a brief pause, a reply came from inside.

“Come in.”

Soon, the door opened, revealing a neatly arranged room.

At the table sat a middle-aged man working; at a glance, he bore a strong resemblance to Dang Mun-hyeong.

He must be the head of the Dang Clan.

“……”

Even after we entered, the clan head kept his eyes on the documents for a while.

Only after finishing what he was doing did he slowly lift his head.

The gazes of the Dang father and daughter met in midair.