The Brightest Star (2)
Her mother, who had given birth to her, passed away when she was too young to even remember. Her grandfather was nothing but strict and terrifying.
She had no friends. They were either intimidated by the weight of her name, idolized her from afar, or tried to use her for their own gain.
The clever girl had grasped her surroundings more keenly than anyone else.
Everyone treated her not as Jin Yeonhwa, but as Jin Yongseok's granddaughter.
In her world, there was only one person she could lean on, only one she could trust.
"Yeonhwa!"
"Daddy!"
Jin Yeonhwa threw herself into Jin Kanghun's arms.
Just the fact that he had come to see her—when he was always so busy it was hard to even catch a glimpse—sent her mood soaring to the heavens.
"Have you been good?"
"Yeah! What about you, Daddy?"
At her question, a shadow flickered across Jin Kanghun's face. The young Jin Yeonhwa didn't notice the brief darkness that clouded his expression. To her, a child, it was joy enough to be held in the arms of the father she adored.
"I've been helping Grandpa."
"I hate Grandpa. He always takes you away and leaves me out."
Jin Kanghun gave a wry smile at her grumbling.
"It's because your dad's so lacking. He's just worried because I'm so inadequate."
Jin Yeonhwa puffed out her cheeks. Even as a child, she knew that Jin Yongseok's feelings toward Jin Kanghun weren't mere "worry."
Jin Yongseok drove Jin Kanghun mercilessly. He never embraced him with claims of love, never offered a single warm word.
Does Grandpa actually hate Dad? She'd wondered that once or twice. Jin Kanghun had jumped up in denial every time.
"Once this job's done, things'll get better."
She narrowed her eyes at that. It wasn't the first time he'd said something like it.
As if sensing her suspicion, Jin Kanghun added with a smile, "No, really—this time it's true."
"When are you coming back?"
"Just wait one week."
He hooked his pinky with hers.
"Promise."
And yet, despite that promise.
Jin Kanghun didn't return after a week, or even much longer. At first, Jin Yeonhwa waited patiently, but after the month dragged on, she couldn't bear it anymore.
Three months after Jin Kanghun went missing.
"Grandpa."
Jin Yeonhwa sought out her grandfather, Jin Yongseok.
"Where's Dad?"
He scowled at the blunt question. He didn't like how she cut straight to the point without preamble.
"That's all you have to say after months without seeing your old grandpa? No greeting?"
"Where's Dad?"
"You mean your worthless father?"
"My dad's not worthless."
Even facing Korea's mightiest hunter, Jin Yeonhwa showed no intimidation. It was unbelievable that this bold girl before him was just a ten-year-old who hadn't awakened any talent at all.
Jin Yongseok looked at her and said, "No, your father was always a worthless fool. And now he's truly become one."
Her face twisted.
"What does that mean?"
Was that why Dad hadn't come back—something had happened to him? Her heart pounded wildly.
"I never liked him to begin with, but now he's completely ruined."
An ominous chill spread through her. What on earth had happened?
"I need to see him myself."
"I won't stop you, but steel yourself."
Ignoring the warning, she brushed past Jin Yongseok and opened the locked door.
Seeing the familiar silhouette, her lips trembled.
"Dad?"
The father she met after months had changed in so many ways.
"Heh heh heh."
At that idiotic laugh, Jin Yeonhwa froze in place.
"Y-Yeonhwaaa!"
Jin Kanghun came toddling over and hugged her tight.
What was this? The slurred speech like a child's, the foolish expression—it wasn't the Jin Kanghun she knew.
Where had her cool, kind father gone, and what was this dimwit in his place?
Chills ran down her spine.
"Get off!"
She shoved him away. Though it was just a child's strength, Jin Kanghun tumbled backward. Tears welled up in his eyes as he looked at her.
"S-Sorreee. Sorry, sorreeee."
Seeing him bawl like a baby, she backed away. This isn't my dad. I need to ask Grandpa where the real one is.
She turned to leave the room.
"Yeonhwa, sorreee, sorreeee."
Her steps halted abruptly. Clenching her fists, she turned back.
"Are you really Dad?"
She approached cautiously. At first, she'd thought it was a monster mimicking her father, but no—up close, it was truly Jin Kanghun.
"Why are you like this?"
"That fool's gone brain-dead."
The answer came from Jin Yongseok, standing behind her.
"Overused his abilities, fried his brain."
"What?"
From raiding a gate?
"What kind of gate was it?"
"No idea. He was fine when he came out after clearing it, but by the party afterward, he was like this. Guess his vessel was only that big to begin with."
Jin Yongseok remained pitiless. There was no trace of regret for his son's state—just irritation at something he'd invested in breaking down.
Jin Yeonhwa glared at him, fists clenched tight.
"Sorreee that Dad became a foollll."
Biting her lip as he clutched her hand and wept, she said nothing of Jin Kanghun's faultlessness. This foolish state wasn't his doing either.
"You don't need to be sorry, Dad. It's not your fault. I'll protect you."
Jin Yongseok looked away from his son. Even though he'd sent him on that reckless raid. Jin Yeonhwa knew what kind of man he was.
"I'll do whatever Grandpa says. But leave Dad alone."
At her impudent words, Jin Yongseok nodded with a smile. Unlike her weak father, she was a proper gemstone.
"Fine. Prove your worth, and I'll take good care of him. Even find a way to bring him back. But disappoint me, and nothing."
From that day, Jin Yeonhwa's life changed completely. Every day became a battle, trapped in a relentless schedule.
Awakener or not, you must be the best. No gaps, no respite.
But there was one time even Jin Yongseok couldn't touch.
Every day, one hour. She'd visit Jin Kanghun's room.
"Dad!"
"Yeees! Yeonhwaaa!"
Watching TV, he jumped up and hugged her. Her eyes drifted to the screen—some childish cartoon.
"Is that fun?"
"Yeees."
Blushing as he answered, she smirked.
"What should we play today?"
Toys she'd outgrown, fairy tales she'd stashed away as babyish—but with him, they were the most fun.
Jin Kanghun always accommodated her. Even as a child, he never forgot she was his daughter, cherishing her fiercely.
Watching him quietly, she asked, "Don't you hate Grandpa?"
He gazed at her face. In these moments, he seemed like his old self, and she couldn't look away.
Grinning broadly, he took her hand.
"Dad doesn't hate Graaandpaaa. It's Dad's fault, Dad's too lackinggg."
Even in his foolish slur, he defended Jin Yongseok earnestly.
Each time, her heart ached, and she'd clamp his mouth shut.
"Just eat."
"Okaay!"
This childish dad wasn't so bad.
She could see his face daily now, not once every few days. He always voiced his feelings honestly.
"Yeonhwaaa, Dad loves you so muuuch. Sorreee for becoming like thiiiis."
"I told you not to apologize."
"But Dad's a fool nooow?"
"You're not a fool."
"But nooow, Dad can't do anything for Yeonhwaaa, just gets in the waaayyy."
"What'd Grandpa say this time?"
"Noooothing. Reaaally."
He desperately changed the subject, but she already knew. How Jin Yongseok viewed him. How the household treated him.
Jin Yongseok was methodically erasing Jin Kanghun's name. An old gate injury had worsened, requiring rest—that was the official excuse.
He'd hidden Jin Kanghun from the world. A son reduced to a child was too shameful to expose.
I can't trust Grandpa.
Family or not, she knew his nature.
Unlike her kind-hearted father, she took after Jin Yongseok more than anyone. That's why she couldn't relax.
I need more power.
But at just eleven, unawakened and ordinary, her options were limited. For now, obey and bide her time.
Time's on my side.
She'd grow stronger; he'd only age. Once she surpassed him, she'd take Dad and leave this wretched house.
How naive that hope was.
Entering his room as usual, she faced a swaying shadow. Wind from the open window rocked the hanging corpse. Her eyes widened in horror.
She couldn't believe the sight before her.
"Why?"
Trembling, she grabbed the cold, stiff body, wailing.
"Why?!"
Servants arrived late, pulling her away. She fought with all her might, but her child's body couldn't break free.
When she opened her eyes, "Grandpa" was there. She bared her teeth.
"You did it? You made Dad like that?"
Staring at Jin Yongseok, she spat, "You can't hold back with your grandpa, huh."
"Dad would never choose that. Why? Because of me. He loves me!"
A brainless fool or not, Jin Kanghun still loved her. He wouldn't leave her behind. Unless someone intervened.
"Whatever you're thinking, it wasn't me."
Lies.
You always hated Dad.
Especially after he became like that—you wanted him gone. Out of sight.
If you'd just kept him alive, I'd have done everything you wanted.
She clenched her fists.
She held back the urge to lunge and scream.
To avenge Dad's killer, she had to suppress this now.
She was nothing—just an eleven-year-old girl. Jin Yongseok was beyond her reach.
So endure. Bottle it up.
Remember the rage, but don't unleash it.
Make him an enemy, and I'd die. He has no familial bonds.
In moments, she swept her emotions inside.
Jin Yongseok smiled at her. The grandfather and granddaughter, mirrors of each other, exchanged smiles.
"Then help me."
"With what?"
"Find who killed my dad."
"Fine."
Jin Yongseok murmured low.
"I'm curious too—who turned my son into that."
"People in the world don't care what I look like, whether I act like a kid or whatever. Hmph! They can't say a word to me, Sirius's sub-master."
Jin Yeonhwa whispered to Jin Yongseok.
"You were just ashamed. Of your fool of a son being exposed to the world. So you killed him, right?"
She smirked at his face.
"Hold on to that thread of life reaaal tight. Until I personally sever your heaaad."
Mimicking her memory of her father's slur perfectly, she cackled and adjusted her glasses.
Like the North Star slowly losing its brilliance over time, Jin Yongseok's heart had changed.
A man who'd eliminate even family to preserve the ephemeral—she could never see him as kin.
When Sirius became the brightest star in this night sky, Jin Yeonhwa would erase the North Star from her world.
Gazing at the brightest star in the night sky, Seol Rokjin tilted his head.
Again.
His plans had gone awry once more.
"Hmm."
He'd even sent a Tower villain, and kept Lee Hyewon as a second card.
Yet it failed.
Losing connection with Lee Hyewon was regrettable too. Well, if she'd lived, Yuseonje wouldn't have survived anyway.
Of course, Sirius took heavy losses. Their active 7-star hero dead, the rest of their first-string hunters wiped out.
Only Yuseonje returned, with four supporters.
But the gate raid was a "success." Even Seol Rokjin's target, Yuseonje, survived.
A disappointment for him, who'd aimed to crush Sirius completely.
"Holding up well."
Back when he'd ruined Jin Kanghun, he'd thought the North Star would crumble.
But then and now, the North Star—no, Sirius—staggered but held its place steadfastly.
A voice echoed in his mind, glaring: Think it'll go your way?
"I kept my promise—not touching your daughter."
Smiling at the sky's brightest star, Seol Rokjin said softly.
"It would've been nice if she'd broken just right before shining brighter."
Sorry about that. Looking up, he continued.
"Knocking down someone who thinks she's the brightest star? Sounds too fun."