As I walked across the space between the buildings, the head family hall soon came into view.
But standing in front of it were several middle-aged and elderly men.
As if they had been waiting for us.
I had seen each of them once at the formal banquet on the first day, and among them, the elderly man with the calm impression was especially familiar.
“The head of the Elders Council.”
Soon, he fixed his gaze on me as well.
Unlike his outward appearance, he carried a sharp, venomous presence like a viper, and even his voice had a metallic edge to it.
“I’ve wanted to have a conversation with you at least once.”
“I feel the same.”
“Let me first offer my respect. At your age, with that level of skill. At least when it comes to poison resistance, you’ve reached a realm that the warriors of this family can only dream of.”
“You flatter me.”
“You were treated with the utmost hospitality as a guest. Though that might not have been the case if you hadn’t come with that child.”
“I don’t feel any lack in how I’ve been treated even now. And I think your premise is a bit off.”
I smiled faintly as I continued.
“I may be a guest, but I didn’t come because of her. If anything, I came for her sake.”
Originally, my winter break plan had been to go back to Hye-seong New City.
Or to visit the Ruby or Topaz Mage Tower.
After all, a dragon and a tower master were practically handing out hidden pieces.
Even so, the main reason I chose the Dang family was to improve Dang Gyu-young’s family relationships, even if just a little.
According to Uncle Qyu, it had been a very long time since they had called her back.
But since the elders didn’t know that, it probably sounded like I was looking down on them.
As a tense atmosphere formed, the head of the Elders Council spoke again.
“How truly arrogant. But you have the right to be.”
“Because I’ve proven it.”
Not only with poison, but I had also taken down Dang Jun-yeop and Dang Hee-yeon, siblings who were considered quite skilled.
Now, to discipline someone labeled as “arrogant”, the Dang family would have to bring out one of their deadliest poisons or send someone on the level of the Twin Heroes.
Fortunately, the head of the Elders Council didn’t seem inclined to take things that far.
“With things already in disorder, there’s no need to create more enemies within. Let’s end this here.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.”
“But just because we cease hostilities doesn’t mean goodwill will suddenly appear. The family’s attitude will remain the same.”
In other words, they would continue to see Dang Gyu-young as a thorn in their side.
I answered casually.
“That’s fine. That’s not what I came here for in the first place.”
“Then was there any reason for you to come to this family at all?”
“I’d say there was more than enough reason. I met my uncle, my father, and my cousins, didn’t I?”
“……”
The head of the Elders Council frowned as he stared at me, then spoke again.
“…Compared to a clan, family is something trivial. For the sake of survival, it’s something you sometimes have to endure and give up. But it seems you neither understand nor accept that.”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t. I believe even the small things matter.”
“I won’t bother trying to persuade you. In any case, make yourself comfortable while you’re here.”
With that, the elders turned and left.
After watching them go, Dang Mun-hyeong gave me a warm look and patted my shoulder.
“Let’s go in.”
Soon, we entered the head family hall, and just like on the first day, Dang Mun-hyeong stood in front of the office door and announced us.
“Brother, it’s me. I’ve brought the guest.”
“Let him in.”
As if he had been waiting, the response came immediately.
Since it was meant to be a private meeting, Uncle Qyu let only me inside and then closed the door again.
“Have a seat.”
The Dang family head said it bluntly.
So I sat down across from him, and he personally brewed tea and poured me a cup.
After a moment of silence, he set down his teacup and began.
“I’ve received reports about everything that’s happened. I can only apologize for not being able to stop it.”
“I understand the bigger picture. You must have had your position to consider as the head of the family.”
“Even so, it’s nothing more than an excuse. You are an outsider and a guest, yet you ended up suffering alongside my daughter.”
“Strictly speaking, we were the ones who stepped forward. It’s not someone else’s problem.”
At that, the head of the family’s gaze seemed to shift slightly.
He studied me for a moment before speaking again.
“I had a feeling when I first heard about you from my younger brother, but it seems your relationship isn’t just that of a senior and junior. Il-bi and Han-bi said something similar.”
“..….”
“It’s true that it’s too late for me to suddenly act like a father. Still, would you be willing to tell me?”
It was understandable. After all, she had practically cut ties and only returned after a long time. He could hardly be blamed for feeling it was shameless to ask something like this.
That said, there was no real reason to hide it either, so I met the head of the Dang family’s gaze and answered.
“It’s not difficult to tell you. I’d just ask that you keep it confidential.”
“…Go on.”
“We’ve formed a Monarch Bond.”
“……!”
A ripple passed across the otherwise impassive face of the family head.
He looked at me with eyes filled with admiration.
“I thought you were exceptional, but to think you’re a Monarch. And at that age, no less.”
“I hope that answers your question.”
“It certainly does.”
Since a [Bond] is nearly impossible to break, it’s essentially a lifelong commitment.
Because of that, it’s not something people enter into unless they share the same path and are extremely close.
There’s not much to gain from letting this be known everywhere.
But since I had already told the Seo and Hong families, it was only fair to tell the Dang family as well.
Though unlike before, this wasn’t asking permission. It was more of a notice after the fact.
The next moment, the head of the family’s eyes flashed.
“…Then have you also formed a bond with the young lady of the Hye-seong Group?”
“I have.”
I answered as naturally and confidently as possible.
Given the flow of the conversation, it could easily sound like I was saying, “I’m involved with both your daughter and another family’s daughter at the same time.”
In reality, there were even more.
In situations like this, it was better to act confident rather than guilty.
“..….”
As expected, a trace of displeasure crossed the head’s face, but there was no undoing what had already been said.
Seemingly deciding to let it pass, he continued.
“In that case, I can understand why you took such an active role in my daughter’s affairs.”
“She’s one of my people.”
“I hope that sentiment won’t change in the future.”
“It won’t.”
With that firm answer, his expression seemed to soften slightly.
As we talked, we had nearly finished our tea, so he poured another cup for me.
We spent some time in silence, sipping our tea.
Then he spoke again.
“You still haven’t told me what it is you want.”
He had told me to think about what I wanted in return for helping Dang Gyu-young’s growth.
In response, I brought up something rather unexpected.
“I’ve heard that the conflict with the Blood Cult is escalating.”
“That’s true.”
At first, the businesses and sects that were attacked had carefully concealed the perpetrators, but now there were many cases where they were acting openly.
Then, as if realizing something, a glint appeared in the head of the Dang family’s eyes.
“Then your request is—”
“As you’ve guessed. Please allow me to assist.”
“I cannot permit that.”
As expected, he immediately shook his head.
Then he continued in a firm tone.
“It’s true that our family could use another expert, but we are not in such dire straits that we would put even young students in danger.”
“I wasn’t suggesting joining the front lines.”
“Anything else would be just as dangerous.”
“Haven’t I already proven my ability?”
By defeating Dang Jun-yeop and Dang Hee-yeon.
Part of the reason I had accepted that unnecessary spar, pretending to fall for their provocation, was precisely for this.
I continued persuading him.
“Next year, we’ll be second-years and will be assigned field missions anyway. Would it really be a problem to take one a bit earlier?”
“I admit that makes some sense. However, I’m not sure there’s any task suitable to entrust to you.”
“I’ve thought about that as well.”
“…….”
Just like Dang Gyu-young sometimes did, the head of the family showed a look that seemed to say, “So you had this all planned?” and “I’ve been led right into this.”
Soon, he gestured for me to continue, so I explained.
“There are a few locations I’d like to check.”
Because of the aftermath of the EX-rank reincarnation quest, both the characters and the flow of events had become completely twisted.
Still, there were a few places where I thought, “If it’s the Blood Cult, they might be hiding here.”
So I intended to investigate them, figuring I had nothing to lose.
As the head of the Dang family, he would have no way of knowing the vast pool of “stagnant water” data, but he seemed to have grasped my intent at least.
Still, it didn’t seem to sit well with him, as he frowned and asked,
“If, as you suspect, that place is a base of the Blood Cult, wouldn’t that create a situation even more dangerous than a full-scale battle?”
It would be like stirring up a hornet’s nest without having any measure of the enemy’s strength.
For instance, what if three elder-level figures were gathered in one place?
Of course, in my experience, that possibility was extremely low.
They would need to maintain secrecy until the decisive moment, so they would likely be scattered in small groups.
Even if my prediction turned out to be wrong, I would still be more than capable of withdrawing safely.
On top of that, I had other things I could rely on, but they weren’t something I could reveal to the Dang family head.
So I gave a relatively convincing answer instead.
“I intend to stop at identifying the location.”
“It sounds like an operation where the losses outweigh the gains. The risks are far too high.”
“There is something I’d like to ask in that regard.”
As if he had already anticipated what I was about to say, the Dang family head frowned.
If the risk was high, then it could simply be lowered and to do that,
“You want me to assign you an expert?”
“If possible, someone of A-rank.”
“Among them, the only ones favorable toward you would be Il-bi and Han-bi.”
“That’s correct.”
The head of the family was not in a position to act rashly, and any experts with ties to the council of elders would clearly refuse outright.
That said, it wouldn’t be easy to mobilize the Twin Heroes either.
Even more so, judging by the Dang family head’s still-negative reaction.
“You expect me to assign not only you reckless youths but also the core experts of the main house to such a risky endeavor? I trust you would understand even if I refuse.”
“But you haven’t refused yet.”
Nor had he ordered me to leave.
Rather than outright disliking my proposal, it seemed he simply needed more certainty.
As expected, the Dang family head looked into my eyes and said,
“……I’ve heard some things about you.”
“I assumed you had.”
He must have heard it directly from Uncle Qyu, and with the Dang family’s intelligence network, they would have conducted their own background investigation as well.
What was publicly known was that I had survived after facing the Witch of Death and the Illusion Demon, an elder of the Blood Cult.
And that I had played a decisive role in the subjugation of the Witch of Exhaustion.
Naturally, there was far more that remained unknown.
The Dang family head seemed to have inferred as much as well.
“If you survived after going through such things, it would be difficult to dismiss it as mere luck.”
“It’s a bit embarrassing to say it myself, but it was skill. And I’ll survive this time as well.”
“You’re certain? To what extent?”
“100 percent. Completely certain. Please trust me and leave it to me.”
The Dang family head seemed to think for a moment longer before nodding.
“……Very well. I’ll leave word with Il-bi and Han-bi.”
At the same time, a notification message appeared at the edge of my vision.
[Main Quest 4]
▷Objective: Dispel the dark clouds looming over Sichuan
▷Reward: Varies depending on completion rate
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