Father-in-Law (2): The Dragon Emperor's Shock
Ahajaka Eldark's eyes went wide in a most undignified manner at Seong Hyun-jin's bombshell statement. Completely oblivious to his own appearance, the corners of Ahajaka's eyes twitched uncontrollably.
"What... did you say?"
"Exactly as I told you."
Serena could only find her father's reaction baffling. She'd never seen him so flustered before.
Why is he acting like this?
If Serena had heard what Seong Hyun-jin had said, she would have understood his reaction perfectly... but he'd whispered it so quietly that she hadn't caught a word of their exchange.
"Dad, what's wrong? All of a sudden..."
"...Serena!"
Ahajaka suddenly called out her name in a booming voice and turned to her. Serena looked puzzled by his response and glanced at Seong Hyun-jin, wondering what on earth they'd talked about. He responded with an awkward smile. As her eyes narrowed suspiciously at his blatantly shady demeanor, Ahajaka strode over, grabbed her arm, and demanded, "You—why on earth would you give yourself to that man?!"
"...Pardon?"
"Why would you give your precious body to a scoundrel like him!"
Serena's eyes flew open wide. In an instant, her face turned beet red like a ripe persimmon, her ears and even her dragon horns flushing crimson.
"D-Dad!! What are you talking about...!"
"That's exactly what I want to know! That punk just admitted it himself!!"
"...S-Seong Hyun-jin!"
As Serena yelled, her face burning scarlet, clearly upset that he'd spilled the beans, Seong Hyun-jin shrugged helplessly.
"Well, Your Majesty said you'd never approve of our relationship no matter what, so I had to let you know it's already an irreversible one."
"E-Even so, who blurts it out like that...! Without even telling me first!"
"...There wasn't time—you came right over."
Serena understood his intentions, but that didn't change the fact that she'd been utterly humiliated. She shot him a pouty glare. He responded with a sheepish look and murmured apologetically, "...Let's go grab something delicious later."
His roundabout date invitation melted her mood in an instant. It was just a normal thing for lovers to do, so why did something so ordinary make her heart melt like this? Despite wanting to stay mad at him a little longer, she couldn't ignore the way her anger just dissolved on its own.
With a soft sigh, she turned to Ahajaka, who was still gripping her arm and staring at her in disbelief.
"Dad."
"......"
"I like that man."
"...What?!"
Ahajaka stared at her as if she were speaking nonsense. At first, he thought she was just lying to back up Seong Hyun-jin, but he quickly realized that wasn't the case. Her eyes brimmed with sincerity.
Shaking his head, he lectured her as if trying to snap her out of it. "Why would you like a guy like that? You should be with someone as magnificent as your father!"
"...Are you saying I should date you, Dad?"
"That's not what I meant!"
Serena sighed and took hold of Ahajaka's hand, gently prying it from her arm.
"I don't know how he looks in your eyes, Dad."
"He's short, scrawny and weak-looking, sure he's got a decent face, but he doesn't look like he could protect you...!"
"...His build is like that because he's a half-elf and hasn't fully grown yet. And what you just said is wrong."
"What's wrong about it?"
"That he can't protect me."
Serena met Ahajaka's gaze squarely. Recalling the moment she'd fallen for Seong Hyun-jin, she told her father.
"When I almost ran into trouble at the academy, the one who protected me was no one else but him."
"...What kind of trouble?"
"It happened. It's resolved now, so no need to worry. And you know I went up north, right?"
"I heard you got caught up in the war. Some student took down the Empire's knight commander, ending it on the spot."
"That student was the same scrawny guy you just called weak."
"...What did you say?"
Ahajaka looked at Serena as if to confirm if it was true. Then he turned to Seong Hyun-jin in disbelief, then back to her. Serena nodded firmly.
"Why would I lie to you, Dad?"
"......"
"'My darling' protected me back then too. Even after all that, do you still think it's wrong for me to like him?"
Serena spoke proudly. Ahajaka's face twisted in absurdity as he shot back, "...W-What did you just call him? My darling???"
"Yeah, that's what I said. We're dating, so it's normal to have pet names, right?"
With that, Serena brushed past her stunned father. She went to Seong Hyun-jin's side, flashed a bright smile, and met his eyes. Guessing her intent, he gave a small nod of approval. She leaned in and planted a light kiss on his cheek.
Mwah. The soft sound echoed lightly, and Clarice, who had been watching silently from the sidelines, felt her own cheeks flush faintly.
"......"
It was just that sweet a display of affection.
Of course, Ahajaka's expression twisted in horror at the same time. Ignoring him completely, Serena hooked her arm through Seong Hyun-jin's and beamed happily. She declared boldly to her father, "I love Seong Hyun-jin, Dad. That's why I gave him my body. And honestly... I don't think I'll ever feel this way about anyone but my darling."
Serena's voice rang with conviction. Her face glowed with happiness, her smile radiating pure joy at being by his side above all else.
Ahajaka stared blankly at the two of them before pressing a hand to his forehead as if his head throbbed. After a long moment of apparent contemplation, he finally spoke.
"...You."
"...Yes?"
Addressing Seong Hyun-jin, Ahajaka let out a deep sigh. "I have something to discuss. Come with me."
"...Dad."
Alarm crept into Serena's voice, but Ahajaka quickly reassured her. "I'm not going to harm the boy or anything. Don't worry."
"Then you can talk here. He's not feeling well as it is..."
"It's fine," Seong Hyun-jin said. "I was planning to step out briefly anyway. I'll hear what he has to say and come back."
"......"
Serena hesitated for a moment before giving a small nod. As she released his arm, he flashed her a light smile and told Ahajaka, "After you, Your Majesty."
"Who said I'm your... Hah, fine."
Ahajaka shot him a resigned glare and turned to leave the room first. Seong Hyun-jin followed, calling back to Serena, "I'll be right back."
"If anything happens, yell for help."
"Kyaaah~?"
Serena let out a soft chuckle at his joke. "Yeah."
"...Pfft, got it."
Seong Hyun-jin laughed as he left. Serena watched the door close behind him, then murmured to herself in confusion, "I wonder what they're talking about..."
#
Ahajaka, leading Seong Hyun-jin out, headed to the rooftop—apparently wanting a quiet spot. Seong Hyun-jin followed without protest.
Now alone on the deserted rooftop with Dragon Star Ahajaka Eldark, Seong Hyun-jin eyed his back. In his human form, Ahajaka looked far too young to be Serena's father—noble features, broad shoulders, towering height. He embodied Seong Hyun-jin's ideal of a truly masculine, handsome man.
If I looked like that, could I have won over Master more easily?
As Seong Hyun-jin entertained that irreverent thought, the hitherto silent Ahajaka finally spoke.
"...One question."
"Yes, go ahead."
"Was it you who stopped Wise Star Abraham Nobwells?"
"...Yes."
Afajaka spoke in a tone of disbelief at Seong Hyun-jin's affirmation. "Serena was telling the truth, then."
"Were you doubting your own daughter's word?"
"No, I was doubting you. Hard to believe a scrawny punk like you took down the Empire's knight commander."
Scrawny? Seong Hyun-jin grumbled a bit. "If my master heard you call me scrawny, she'd blow a fuse. She's put so much effort into training me."
"Why should I care who your master is?"
"Sword Star Hakodate Karin. She's the one."
"...What?"
Ahajaka whipped around in shock, forgetting all pretense of composure. "You're a disciple of the Sword Star?"
"That's right."
"...You expect me to believe that?"
"No point in lying about something that'd be obvious in a situation like this. You could verify it easily, Your Majesty."
Seong Hyun-jin continued, "I truly am her disciple."
"...Hah."
Only then did it all click for Ahajaka, and trust settled in. The feats were unbelievable for the scrawny guy before him, but for a disciple of the Sword Star? Entirely plausible.
"A woman who never took disciples—what wind blew her to make an exception?"
"I don't know her heart that well."
"...Fair enough."
Ahajaka sighed and asked, "You protected my daughter."
"It just happened that way."
"What was the reason?"
"Pardon?"
As Seong Hyun-jin blinked in confusion, Ahajaka stated matter-of-factly, "There had to be an ulterior motive. Something you wanted from Serena, or maybe because she's beautiful... You wouldn't just help for nothing."
"...I just helped."
"...?"
Ahajaka stared as if he'd spouted nonsense. Seong Hyun-jin, in turn, looked puzzled by the scrutiny.
"She seemed to be in trouble, so I helped. We weren't dating back then, but we were at least friends... You help a friend in a pinch, right? Unless it's a total stranger."
"...A worldly human helped with no agenda?"
"That's what my master taught me."
Seong Hyun-jin explained, "Help others, and it'll come back to you someday in some form."
"......"
"I didn't expect it to be Serena's feelings... but in the end, it worked out great. Dating a girlfriend as beautiful as her is a man's happiness..."
Seong Hyun-jin trailed off, startled. The moment he mentioned dating her, Ahajaka's aura turned menacing. The air pressed down oppressively, drawing a mental wry chuckle from Seong Hyun-jin.
Feels just like facing Master...
Not the sort of thing to say to your girlfriend's father, but the man felt like an absolute monster.
"...Anyway, that's how it happened. I didn't have any other intentions when I helped her."
"......"
Only then did Ahajaka vaguely understand why Serena had let Seong Hyun-jin into her heart and body. Unlike everyone else who'd approached with hidden motives, he'd been purely genuine toward her—and actively helped her, no less.
"...I see."
"Yes, that's how..."
"So that's how you seduced my daughter."
"...Pardon?"
He could see why an innocent girl like Serena would fall hard enough to give everything to such a man. But that was that, and this was this.
"Not content with that, you dared take her purity? Without even being married—or engaged, for that matter?"
"...Y-Your Majesty?"
Ahajaka Eldark didn't hide his emotions. He laid them bare and warned Seong Hyun-jin outright.
"Seong Hyun-jin, declare it clearly right here. Or my breath will incinerate you."
An overwhelming pressure crashed over Seong Hyun-jin. He couldn't twitch a finger, feeling long-forgotten helplessness as cold sweat beaded on his skin. His eyelids barely moved, his lips refused to part properly.
But instinct told him he had to answer right. Struggling, he managed, "...What... do you want me to say?"
Ahajaka demanded of him, "My daughter..."
Reluctance to ask warred with paternal duty, tormenting him. But as a father, he had to.
She was his most precious daughter—the first man besides himself she'd ever said she loved.
So.
"Can you take responsibility for Serena Eldark for the rest of your life?"
This, he had to ask.