Chapter 66
Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Don't Like Me. How Do You Do That?
Everyone, remember this.
A father's fist is strong.
Especially a father's fist protecting his daughter—it's unrivaled.
And I...
*Thwack-!!*
...experienced it firsthand.
"You bastard-!!"
"Ah, no. Sir Hero...! It's a misunderstanding-!"
*Smack-!!*
"Aaagh-! Fuck! I said it's a misunderstanding-!"
No, was this guy such a master?
In an instant, Yuhaseong's fist shot out, sending me tumbling backward.
On top of that, I must've hit a pressure point wrong because my body suddenly went rigid.
And Yuhaseong, with eyes rolled back, didn't miss the chance—he mounted me and started hammering down fists.
*Thud-! Thud-!*
"No, guh, th-there were circumstances. Circumstances-!"
"You see my daughter's state and still talk about circumstances-! You fucker-! What the hell did you do to her-! What did you do-!"
"What do you mean what? I didn't do shit-! Ask her-! Just ask her-!!"
As I screamed desperately, Yuhaseong finally stopped punching and turned to Yuso-myeong.
"Daughter..., what did this bastard do to you.... Are you alright...?"
Then...
"My body..., well..."
Yuso-myeong replied in a pitiful, trembling voice.
"My back..., my back hurts so much...."
"Your back...? Why your back..."
He froze.
For a split second, something grim flashed in Yuhaseong's mind, and he halted all movement. Then..., he glanced at Yuso-myeong's waist...
*Swish-.*
"......"
This time, he looked at my waist, his gaze naturally drifting down to my crotch.
"Father-in-law, that's not it, really...!"
*Chill-.*
......Despite my protests, the mood turned ice-cold. The temperature in this tiny shed felt like it plummeted below freezing.
Worst of all was Yuhaseong's expression.
First despair. Then rage. Then rage again. Endless rage.
At least(?) he stopped swinging his fists—that was a relief.
'Has he regained his senses...?'
For a moment, I thought so...
*Shing-.*
...but no.
He drew his sword from his belt and roared.
"Raaagh-!! You thought you'd get away with defiling So-myeong..., guh..., staining her-!!!"
"Nooo-!!"
"I'll cut off every part of you that touched So-myeong-!!"
He said every part, but his eyes were locked solely on my crotch. This guy... he was about to turn me into prime eunuch material.
"Fuck-!!"
Naturally, I panicked.
Fuck, my body won't move because of that messed-up pressure point, and the guy in front of me wants to castrate me—how the hell am I supposed to stay calm-!
Worse, Yuhaseong's eyes were completely feral.
How is that the gaze of a righteous sect guy-! That's the look of a Demonic Cult killer who's already offed a bunch-!
And with that Demonic Cult glare, Yuhaseong raised his sword high.
"No-! Just die-!!"
"Yu So-junior-! So-myeong-!! Save your big bro just this once-! Talk your dad down-!!"
Only Yuso-myeong could stop this now. Knowing that, I looked at her beside me with desperate eyes, but...
"Ah..., my back hurts."
...she avoided my gaze and just patted her own waist.
"You fucking bitch-! Your back hurts because you slept wrong, so why take it out on me-!!"
"You dare insult my daughter again-!!"
"Aaahhh-!!"
And so my screams only grew louder.
**
"Sorry."
"......"
"You always prank me, so I wanted to try it once."
"Fuck..., prank me twice and I'll be bunking with Master in hell."
I really almost died..., but somehow I survived.
'Dad! Hold on-!'
Whether daughter fool or daughter idiot, Yuhaseong stopped his sword just before it touched me, hearing Yuso-myeong's voice.
And after her explanation, I kept my life. Then we ended up with some alone time like this.
Not that I wanted alone time, but she said she had something to tell me.
"I'm leaving now."
"Then obviously go. You gonna join our bandits as some righteous sect lady?"
"When I get back..., I'll make sure the remaining Dragon Slayer Squad members get punished."
"...Obviously. If you don't, I'll hunt them down and kill them all."
"Then..., after that, can I come back?"
"......"
Her question left me sighing. She was asking, but her eyes burned with intent to return.
"If I tell you not to come, will you stay away?"
"No, I want to come. I..."
She hesitated a moment before continuing.
"I didn't get what I came here for. Not about the Yu Harmony Sword Art..., nor about you...."
"Then no need to come."
"Hm?"
I stroked the head of wide-eyed Yuso-myeong and went on.
"First, your Yu Harmony Sword Art. It's on the right path, from what I see. I guarantee it'll reach great completion."
This wasn't just from reading the novel. I felt it watching her swing her sword..., that she was properly reconstructing the lost Yu Harmony Sword Art.
"Great completion..., when?"
"Before you kick the bucket from old age?"
"......"
"No, you think mastering a sword art from scratch takes 10, 20 years? Wow, you really want it handed to you."
It's not like learning an established art from a master—it's a late bloomer reviving a lost technique. Of course it's not easy.
Unless there's some heavenly opportunity or special trigger, it'll take ages of training.
"And second..., you already know about me. I'm on a different path from you. Don't seek to understand me or learn from me."
Those near ink turn black.
Self-praising aside, I'm like black ink. No good can come from a pure white sheet like her staying near me.
Her staying by my side is bad for her and for the original plot. Thinking that way, it's best she leaves me.
Yuso-myeong pondered my words a bit before asking.
"Are the thoughts I'm having, the path I'm walking, truly righteous...?"
"Endlessly doubting yourself like that is proof you're on the righteous path. Get arrogant and think you're always right, and you turn into a prick like Dokgo Young."
"Dokgo Young...."
She shuddered, as if his face flashed in her mind.
"Anyway, you gonna be okay...?"
"What."
"I heard you signed a pact with the Murim Alliance. But..., the Dokgo Clan is still around."
"......"
"The Dokgo Clan has enough power to move without the Murim Alliance's orders if they want. You killed their blood kin..., think they'll forgive you?"
"If they don't, what? I don't forgive them either."
They couldn't manage their own spawn, so what right do they have to forgive or not.
"If they're pissed, let 'em come. We duke it out, and one side gets wiped clean."
Yuso-myeong gave a small laugh at my answer.
"That's a classic evil path response, fitting for someone running the evil path playbook."
"Classic evil path..., huh."
After that, we talked a bit more and wrapped up, heading out. The moment we opened the door, Yuhaseong greeted us with an anxious look.
"......Talk over? My earlier misunderstanding's cleared, but you didn't do anything weird in there, right."
"Grandson or granddaughter—which you prefer."
"You bastard-!"
Now I see he's really Yuso-myeong's dad. Even a little joke sets him off—perfect for teasing.
"Kidding, kidding."
"...Better be. The moment you cross our threshold for marriage approval or whatever, I'll gut you."
"...I said it's not like that."
Gotta be that much of a daughter fool.... Seeing him, I can picture Yuso-myeong dying an old maid.
I calmed the growling Yuhaseong and raised a hand for farewell.
Watching me, he spoke up.
"...And you treat Honam Province like your own home, kindly. If word reaches me of your tyranny, I'll lead a subjugation force myself."
"I'll handle that, so go already."
Ever since he saw me hold So-myeong hostage, trust vanished from his eyes.
I shoved his back like he was a kid playing by the water.
Resigned, he bid farewell.
"Take care. Ideally..., we never cross paths again."
"......"
It sounded harsh, but I got the meaning.
Murim Alliance and bandits.
Next time we meet as different factions, it'd be as enemies.
"Yeah, let's keep it that way."
I nodded, and Yuso-myeong waved at me.
"See you."
"I said don't come...."
"Even if you say don't, I want to. Next year's Dragon-Phoenix Meet prep might take time, but...."
"Ah, Dragon-Phoenix Meet."
The righteous sects' young experts gather to compete.
'The original protagonist's coming too....'
Show results there, get good scores, earn Dragon or Phoenix title. Protagonist joins to claim Dragon. Wins, obviously.
"I'll come back after getting the Phoenix title."
"I'll chase you out."
"Still coming."
"You little sh..."
Before I could say more, Yuso-myeong turned away like she didn't want to hear it.
Yuhaseong shot me one last glare, then walked beside his daughter.
Thus ended my strange ties with the willow father-daughter duo.
**
'Classic evil path....'
I watched their retreating backs, recalling her words.
She called me someone walking the classic evil path. I said I walked it too.
But looking at myself so far, that was wrong.
I was above the evil path, but not walking it.
I was lounging atop it, rolling on the floor—not walking. More precisely, I'd given up walking.
But...
'Can't do that anymore.'
...Too many to be responsible for now, just rolling on the floor.
Time to get up and take a few steps.
"Finally, that father-daughter duo's leaving."
Then Uncle Munseok appeared behind me, speaking as he watched their backs too.
"Heard Yu the Upright Sword Hero's a man who takes responsibility. With the pact signed, the Murim Alliance won't meddle much now. Congrats. You're Honam Province's real power now..., what's your plan?"
"Uncle, you dumbass?"
"Hm?"
"No, what, is the Murim Alliance the emperor? Gods? They say hands off Honam, and it's ours?"
No, it's not.
The Alliance is just one stakeholder. Them backing off doesn't make us owners.
Uncle Munseok blinked at my words, then asked.
"Then..., what're you gonna do?"
"Time to make Honam Province fully mine. Let's go—we got work."
With that, I clapped his shoulder and turned back together.
Still, a relief.
Plenty of folks to walk the evil path with this time.