Captivated the Family Head 1
“Family head? The family head?”
River's eyes went wide as saucers.
“T-The family head...”
Leverat started trembling violently all over.
“If it's Gamigin's family head, the one who turns people into pills... and eats them...”
I'd heard that one before. It was a ghost story making the rounds among kids my age, right when we were all obsessed with scary tales.
“......”
But that was just a rumor. Seeing Violet's displeased expression, I hurried to smooth things over.
“Leverat, you can't even tell apart some childish ghost story?!”
I grabbed Leverat's head and bowed it low.
“Sorry. She's still just a kid...”
“Hah. Same kid nonsense. It's fine.”
Violet snorted and waved her hand dismissively.
“It's not exactly a false rumor, though.”
What?
My mind flashed alert.
Gamigin... was on that level?
The game hadn't described it in detail, so I'd assumed they just played around with corpses or something...
“River. You fast at running?”
“Nah, never gotten first place...”
“Never mind.”
But if it was where the family head lived, we'd already be at the heart of Gamigin territory. No turning back now. We had to press on.
At least it's the family head I'm meeting. That's a relief.
I might not know Gamigin's inner workings, but I knew plenty about its family head.
Dungeon & Fantasy was a roguelike at heart, so the family head's name, appearance, and traits changed every run. But some elements stayed constant—like the guaranteed opening dialogue on first encounter.
No matter the situation, he'd always start by asking about his first impression.
Whether meeting as a fellow house head at a conference or as enemies on the battlefield.
The “Gamigin family head's” first conversation was fixed.
And he was surprisingly reasonable if you knew the tricks. Plus a bunch of minor tips...
“Never, ever lie.”
Violet told me everything on the way.
“Lie?”
“Yeah. My father has an uncanny knack for sniffing out lies.”
Violet added cautiously,
“I can't explain more, but even white lies are out. Just politely say you seek instruction and bow out. Got it?”
“Yes!”
River nodded vigorously.
And so we headed toward the spire. Necromancers glanced our way, probably due to our mismatched outfits. As we neared the family head's building, their numbers grew—then suddenly vanished entirely.
How is no one around?
It wasn't hard to guess why. Far ahead loomed a massive gate. An immense presence emanated from beyond it, twisting my guts.
“Nael, my head hurts...”
“I-I can't go any further...”
River and Leverat collapsed to the ground.
We've been had.
This was a Charm contest. Like arm-wrestling for Strength or a race for Agility.
“Nngh...”
For Charm, you unleashed your presence to overwhelm.
“Don't push yourselves. If it's too much, wait outside. That okay?”
“No issue there.”
“Nael, sorry...”
I sent the kids out of the building, grimaced, and approached the gate.
A repulsive force hit me on an instinctual level. It felt like an invisible wave from the gate was trying to sweep me away.
Still, I walked forward slowly.
Violet eyed me curiously.
“You okay?”
“Yeah.”
Even suppressed by the mask, my raw Charm was no joke.
This much is bearable.
After a grueling few steps, I reached the entrance. Violet grabbed my shoulders for one last reminder.
“No lies, answer politely. Don't forget.”
For a moment, it felt like our eyes met through the mask.
“Yes. I'll keep it in mind.”
I stood before the door and took a deep breath.
First question's always about first impressions. The answer to give is...
I was like a job candidate who'd heard the questions in advance—with the model answers too. Failing would've been outright corruption-level favoritism.
Rehearsing it in my head, I shoved the door open with all my might.
“......”
And faced an unexpected sight.
Clink, clink—
The sound of cutlery echoed in the silent chamber. A vast space with a long table beneath a dim chandelier. The table could seat over ten, but only one figure occupied it.
“Father. Eat slowly.”
Violet approached him naturally, but I couldn't move.
His appearance was too bizarre.
Chomp, chomp, chomp—
An old man devouring tomatoes gluttonously. His back was hunched grotesquely, wrinkled skin bulging with dark veins. Context said this had to be the family head, but...
He looks like some dementia patient.
I'd expected maybe a five-meter monster with six eyes at worst. This guy seemed even less likely to reason with.
Brings back memories of volunteering at the nursing home.
One of the few rewarding yet agonizing times in my life.
As I clenched my fist and hesitated, Violet's voice called out.
“Nael?”
“Yes.”
Right. Get it together.
I started to slap my cheeks, then remembered the mask and adjusted it instead.
Violet nodded and lightly tapped the family head's shoulder.
“Father. It's Violet.”
“Violet? Nothing happen outside?”
The old man wiped his mouth hastily.
Violet bowed demurely.
“No. Actually, I brought back a gem.”
“A gem?”
Violet introduced me.
“This is Nael. He showed talent in necromancy, so I brought him.”
“Greetings, Family Head.”
I knelt slowly and bowed deeply toward him.
“Hm?”
The old man's eyes twitched.
Soon, a thick, nailed finger pointed at me.
“Talent? From this ridiculously young kid?”
“......”
Violet said nothing, just shot me a sincere, expectant look.
Now it was my turn.
I bowed until my forehead nearly touched the floor, voice as solemn as possible.
“Yes. I've come to seek instruction from you, Family Head.”
“Keh. Look at this bold one.”
The old man wiped his mouth and chuckled.
“Fine. But first, one question.”
And here came the prepared question.
“What d'you think of this old man's first impression?”
“To me, the Family Head is...”
I trailed off, peeking up at Violet for a cue.
She nodded fiercely. Don't get cocky—just answer honestly and politely, she'd urged.
Is what I planned a lie?
I closed my eyes tight. Eyes darted behind my lids.
“......”
But no matter how I thought it over, nothing changed.
After agonizing, I gave the prepared answer straight.
“Very charming.”
“...!”
Violet whipped her head toward me the instant I finished.
What the hell? her terrified eyes seemed to say.
She must think I flattered him with a lie.
“Keh, heh heh heh...”
The old man's body shook with laughter.
Tension filled Violet's eyes.
“A lie...”
“Father, he's just an ignorant kid, please—”
“It's no lie!!”
The shout exploded out.
Violet, who'd been coiled to spring, froze and stared at me in bewilderment.
Staring like that makes it kinda embarrassing.
No, it wasn't that I found the grandpa attractive or anything.
Conceptually, how could I not?
A family head's Charmhad to be sky-high.
“Hear that? The cheeky brat says I'm charming! Me, hearing that from a young boy in my lifetime!”
“Hah. What the...”
In Dungeon & Fantasy, Charm wasn't just good looks or sexual appeal. It encompassed leadership, drawing power, aura, and more.
That's why some posts suggested translating it as Charisma or Presence.
Anyway, look at the family head's face. Squinting eyes, one swollen lid. Hooked nose, gaunt cheeks. Gaps in his teeth visible through thin lips. Like a moldy Hahoe mask.
Now that I see it, he's a squinting old man.
A face that'd make you faint in broad daylight. Plenty intimidating.
And he didn't get family head by luck.
Spells like summoning, spirit arts, necromancy—all judgments for commanding other beings used the Charm stat.
Family heads had high Charm. Had to.
Undeniable fact.
“You pass.”
“Pardon?”
“You pass!”
Clap clap clap! The old man clapped like his arms might snap off.
A bizarre laugh leaked from his mouth.
“Nael. You really...”
Violet grimaced in dismay.
I sighed inwardly in relief.
Seeing his face had shaken my faith for a second. Among all the Gamigin family heads I'd seen in the game, this was the weirdest look by far.
Good thing it worked as planned.
I patted my chest and knelt quietly, waiting.
“Violet.”
A suddenly grave voice boomed.
I jerked my head up in surprise. It was from the family head, unmistakably.
Dementia old man who snaps lucid sometimes? That the gimmick?
Violet's dazed eyes sharpened as she stared at me.
Definitely a different vibe from before.
“You called?”
“Can't see you often with my condition.”
“Then...”
“Handle him normally. Bring him when I call. This old Notre Dame will teach him personally.”
So this run's family head was Notre Dame.
And just like that, our master-disciple bond was sealed.
“Now bring some food! Hurry!”
Lightness returned to the old man's voice like it'd never left.
“Nael, sorry. See you tomorrow!”
Violet gave a troubled little wave.
Bam!—And I was unceremoniously booted out.
Something off about grandpa's state...
But a crazy ally's the strongest kind.
“Whew...”
I'd been more tense than I realized; my legs buckled the moment I exited.
I slumped against the gate.
“Just... a quick break...”
Anyway, private lessons from the family head. Enrollment complete.
3. After Nael left.
Silence settled over the hall again.
Violet walked out demurely, soon returning with a plate piled high with massive chunks of meat.
“...You gonna eat all that?”
“Yes.”
“Aigoo. You'll grow big.”
And so the father-daughter meal began.
During the awkward silence, Notre Dame broke the ice first.
“What was that kid's name who just left?”
“Nael.”
“He's got talent. Keep an eye on him.”
As Notre Dame tore into a hunk of meat gluttonously, Violet sliced hers with a knife and muttered,
“You should've seen his face, Father.”
“Why? He's a looker?”
“......”
Violet wiped her mouth with a napkin in silence.
Notre Dame smacked his own forehead.
“Doh, Gamigin's full of beauties.”
“See for yourself. A little polish, and he'd be ready for high society.”
“High society? Next thing, we'll have Gamigins entering politics!”
Notre Dame cackled.
But as Violet kept her serious face, the laughter faded.
“I'm serious. How about prepping him as a debutant?”
“...That good? Then why the mask?”
Stunned by the unexpected proposal for a moment—
Clang!
Notre Dame tossed a picked-clean bone into the trash and leaned toward Violet.
“Anyway. His real talent ain't that.”
“Then what is?”
He mangled his meat with the knife.
Drip—
Red-tinged juices flowed out.
“Violet. What's a necromancer's talent?”
“To hold death close and life lightly.”
“Life lightly...”
Notre Dame sighed softly.
“That kid... doesn't even see us as living people. The line between life and death is blurry for him.”
“Pardon? What do you—”
“Beast, undead, living human—doesn't matter. He'll treat 'em all the same. No difference to him.”
Notre Dame sucked the marrow from a bone casually.
Clang—
The trash rang again.
He propped his chin.
From the moment the boy opened that door, he'd decided to take him as disciple.
Reaching this far wasn't easy to begin with, and Notre Dame's decades of experience had instantly pierced the aura around him.
Nael. He'd be a huge asset to Gamigin.
But too dangerous to keep close.
He'd allow some leeway, but the instant he got too near his daughter...
I won't just watch.
He was a father too, after all.