Chapter 3

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 3

Chapter Title: The Special Ability Passed Down to the Eldest Grandson?

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After coming to accept Father's words about how I had to work with pretty women.

A small doubt lingered, so when I was in middle school, I'd once asked him about it.

"Dad. But even if I work at a company full of pretty women, will they actually like me?"

Even I knew I didn't have a handsome face.

Just your average guy.

My only advantages were my tall height and broad shoulders, inherited from Father.

Oh, and my thick head of hair too.

Nothing else worth bragging about.

I'd never once been called handsome.

I'd thrown out the question because I worried I'd just get ignored—or worse—if I wasn't the friendly type.

"Don't worry about that. Our family line's eldest grandson gets a very special ability. Plus, there's the basic perks."

"What's that?"

"Hahaha. You'll find out someday."

I hadn't seen Father puff out his chest and speak so proudly in ages.

Back then, I had no idea what that special ability was.

I didn't think too deeply about it either.

But it seems like it's finally come to me.

A phenomenon right before my eyes gave me that feeling.

"Eek!?"

-See that reaction? Looks like you're seeing something, right?

"Wh-what is this? Dad?"

-Ah. So my glorious life ends here. It's all yours now in the end. How tragic.

"Cut the weird ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠talk and explain, please."

-I've had my fun all these years, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠so no regrets, I guess. Sigh. Still, it's hard to let go.

A white glow shimmering before my eyes.

It felt like one of those systems you only see in novels.

-I told you. Our eldest grandson gets a special ability.

-Who are you talking to?

-My son. We're having an important chat, so step back a bit.

-Tch.

-Go make some pasta or something.

-Got it, Master.

Huh?

What was that conversation I just overheard?

"......Master? Dad. What the hell are you doing right now?"

-You heard that? Eh, I'll explain later.

"......"

-You seeing the system prompt to designate a Conviction Target?

"So it is a system."

-Surprised? I fell flat on my ass the first time I saw it—cracked my head open and everything.

"......So what the hell is it?"

-It's an ability. Now you can live the life you want with it.

"The life... I want?"

-Your dad here awakened his too late, so I regretted it. But I loved your mom so much I never strayed. Instead, I focused on making money.

"Yeah, I know that all too well. You've been traveling abroad for over five years on that cash. So what's the point you're trying to make here?"

-You're on your own, unlike me. Use that ability to live freely, happily, and have fun. You're, what, twenty-six? Man, prime of your life—fresh and full of vigor. Jealous. So jealous.

"......"

-I couldn't use mine freely because of my promise to your mom, but you—go wild.

"So what exactly am I supposed to 'go wild' with?"

-You've got questions. I can't tell you everything—it's the rules. You'll have to figure out the rest through experience.

"You're calling that an explanation......"

-One thing, though. Conviction. Think hard about what that word really means. Use it right, and... heh heh heh.

Father's sleazy chuckle made my skin crawl for some reason.

-Remember I said the company has lots of pretty girls? Right. And you'll see celebrities all the time too? Heh heh heh. Kinda jealous of that.

"......"

-You'll thank me later. I set you up with this broadcasting gig, after all. Hahaha!

"You're not seriously gonna leave me hanging like this, are you?"

-Hahaha. Son, you know about the other gift passed down to the men in our family, right?

"......"

"Use that well too, and the world's yours starting today. Live happily. Your dad's gonna enjoy his kingdom a bit longer before heading back."

"Wait... what kingdom?"

-Take care! Fighting! Son! Live up to your name! That's why I named you that!

Doo doo doo doo—

"......"

The call ended.

I frantically tried calling back, but no answer.

This means months—no, years—before we talk again.

"This is driving me insane."

Who knew Father could be this unhelpful?

Conviction

To naturally accept, affirm, and understand another person's words, actions, or circumstances.

This is what I found in the dictionary.

In a way, it aligns with 'understanding.'

But it carries a stronger connotation.

Conviction implies not just understanding an opinion, but agreeing with it.

The system window still floated before my eyes.

I had no clue who or how to pick as the target.

My head was too muddled and my body exhausted, so I decided to sleep on it.

As the maknae, I couldn't even sleep in.

I had to wake early, check the menu, relay it to the seniors, and handle props and chores for the morning mission.

I bolted up and wandered around with the props and equipment team, holding flags for the morning mission.

"Yes, there. Right there."

"That's the spot Kang Writer recommended. Yes. Perfect."

"Han Writer said this one's good. Looks decent, right?"

The performers had to find the hidden flags to eat breakfast.

Couldn't make it too hard or too easy, so I just followed orders.

Soon, music blared, and the half-asleep cast set out to hunt flags.

Three managed to find theirs; three didn't. Joy and despair intertwined.

Only after they ate could I finally grab my meal.

"Eat up, Min-seong."

"You too, sunbae."

Han Yu-ra's soft smile and voice washed away my morning fatigue.

But then came the voice that soured it all again.

"Hey, Min-seong. Get me some post-meal coffee. Lots of sugar, make it sweet. You know my taste."

Go Nan-young, belly bulging from stuffing his face.

I couldn't fathom what Kang Writer saw in this guy to get engaged.

"Huh? No answer? Why the glare?"

Strangely, my irritation wouldn't stay bottled up today.

A urge to snap back burned hot inside me.

Morning exhaustion, maybe?

'Ah!'

That's when I remembered the system window.

From yesterday till now, I'd pondered the system and Conviction endlessly. It was rough, but I'd reached one conclusion.

Just from the prompt to pick a Conviction Target, it seemed like I'd gain the power to make that target accept something.

Absurd, fantastical nonsense, sure.

But the system window itself was already impossible.

'Alright then......'

Time to test it and pick a target.

"Conviction Target: Go Nan-young."

"Whoa...!!!"

The crystalline text sparkled before my eyes.

My heart pounded the instant I read it.

My hunch had been spot on.

'No way.'

Hard to believe, yet undeniably real.

The glowing words on the screen proved it.

"That punk's ignoring me, right? Yeah? Huh?"

It had a once-per-day limit.

But the power to make others accept my words had me thrilled.

'D-Grade, Sprout of Persuasion, huh.'

Cool name.

Low level means low grade, I guess.

Fun part was Go Nan-young's feelings toward me.

Favorability and Trust that low?

That's bug-level treatment.

The Conviction Tip was gold.

With others around, he'd have to play along and accept what I say.

'Basic Conviction only, so gotta use that tip smart.'

Forced Convictions would fail.

"Sorry, Go PD, but that's tough. As the maknae, I've got a ton to do right after eating."

I'd done it.

Normally, he'd explode.

How dare the maknae talk back to a PD?

Who do you think you are, embarrassing me in front of everyone?

Face red, yelling up a storm.

Wondering if that nightmare would come true, I endured my racing heart and stared at Go Nan-young.

"Uh... ah. Yeah, I guess. Busy, huh?"

"Yes."

He glanced around at the others.

"Even busy people need coffee sometimes... Ahem. Right, makes sense if you're swamped. Go get to work after eating. Someone else can brew it."

"......!!!"

Insane.

It worked.

There was a flicker of resistance, but Go Nan-young—the guy who'd normally rampage like a wild boar—accepted my words.

'Jackpot!'

I was thrilled but couldn't celebrate.

Kang Seo-yoon, Go PD's fiancée, was watching me.

I slipped away like a fugitive.

'Not bad?'

The maknae writer talking back to Go PD.

Hard to imagine, but it happened right in front of me.

Star PD Go PD and still-on-contract Min-seong were worlds apart in status.

Talking back just didn't happen.

Not even questioning him should've been easy.

'Come to think of it.'

One month since he started.

Most maknae hires quit in 1-2 weeks.

Working with Go PD was pure humiliation.

Women usually lasted 1-2 weeks. Men barely hit a month.

Plenty of applicants, so no staffing worries.

But constantly retraining was stressful.

So I'd paid little attention to the maknae.

'He's different.'

Seems determined.

Passionate about the work too.

Makes mistakes, but not trash-level.

Actually decent compared to past hires.

'Physique's... not bad either.'

Finally noticing Choi Min-seong's build.

A spark of interest.

'Fun to toy with?'

Looks like an intriguing plaything just arrived.