Yongbong Tournament (4): The Giant Father-in-Law
He was a massive middle-aged man. My height was pretty tall even by my previous life's standards—about six cheok, or roughly 180cm—but this guy towered a full head above me. Had to be around seven cheok, right? 210cm easy. In an era where the average height was short, this was straight-up giant territory. And it wasn't just his height that was freakishly long like a bamboo stalk; his whole body was wrapped in bulging muscles, making him wide as hell too. Looked like he had armor on under those hemp clothes. The man who was a walking human weapon finally spoke.
"I'm looking for my daughter."
With features that eye-catching, no way I'd forget him if I'd seen him before. Total stranger. But for some reason, that fierce, beast-like face felt familiar.
"Around twenty years old, height similar to that young hero over there. On her back..."
I figured out why only after hearing the rest of the description about his daughter.
Why the hell is Paeng Soso's dad here?!
According to her, the Five Great Families don't send their family heads personally to the Yongbong Tournament—they dispatch proxies. We were supposed to head back to Hainan Province casually with them after wrapping things up here.
So how did he end up here of all places...?
He—er, my father-in-law—stared straight at me and asked, "...Anything ring a bell?"
Uh... um...
Cold sweat trickling down without me even trying. My brain kicked into overdrive, same level of threat as staring down a sword flying right at my face. Simulations fired off.
* Me: She's probably upstairs right now, prepping for some bedroom arts practice with me. Sorry about making her strip naked and prostrate—my bad. But Soso loved it. Father-in-law: Y-you pervert...! I'll avenge my daughter by killing you! Future me, chopped in half. *
* Me: Pleasure to meet you! I'm Jin Sochan, the son-in-law who smacked Paeng Soso's ass bright red! Father-in-law: You madman...! My hand flies off at least. *
* Me: Yeah, I slept with your daughter. How could I ignore a woman who says she can't live without me? Sorry for not greeting you first, but as fellow men, cut me some slack. Father-in-law: No slack! If you want late-blooming approval, prove you're worthy of her—right here, right now! Grand heroic speech doesn't fix everything. Ends with us duking it out to near-death. *
* And the rest: Your daughter's smoking hot, pops... uh... Trouble... I stole away your precious baby girl you raised with such care! Know how many moles are on Soso's ass? Etc. Every possibility flashed through my head, but none were any good.
Took my worthless brain about two seconds to conclude it was utterly useless. But I couldn't stay silent forever.
Gulp.
I swallowed once to wet my throat, then slowly opened my mouth.
"No clue, sir."
I can't get caught now! Not like this! Even if I have to pretend later I didn't know and kowtow in apology, not right now! If there's no way to turn this around, best to hide it so it doesn't become a problem!
"I see. Heard she was around here somewhere, so I've been checking inns, but looks like not this one."
My father-in-law nodded calmly. Didn't expect him to grill me or look super disappointed—kinda surprising.
Well, yeah. No idea how he knew, but he'd been combing every inn in the area. Probably heard "no idea" a dozen times already.
But he didn't just leave. He let out a deep sigh, shoulders slumping as he started grumbling.
"Where the hell did she go...? She's not a kid anymore, all grown up, and she runs away from home. If something happens to her, you think she cares how her old man feels?"
"Haha... Kids never really get their parents' hearts, right?"
"Ain't that the truth. Part of me wonders if I ignored her feelings too much and regrets it; another part's miffed she doesn't get her parents' love... But mostly, it's worry taking up the top spot."
His drooping voice and shoulders. That massive frame somehow looked smaller. Ah, I get it. The guy in front of me wasn't some top-tier Fire Realm expert. Just a dad agonizing over his kid.
Thinking that way made him feel kinda approachable.
"Chin up, sir hero. Your daughter's gotta be fine."
"Yeah? Hope so..."
We chatted to ease his mind a bit. After a while, the mood softened up, and a question popped into my head.
"Ah, I've been a son before but never a parent, so just curiosity... but if something did happen to your daughter, what would you do?"
His already scary face twisted even fiercer in an instant.
"Show the bastard who touched my girl a taste of hell."
"......"
The intense aura hit like a demon crawling out of hell, bowing 90 degrees and diving back in. My breath caught.
Yup. Fire Realm confirmed. Even at Peak, a normal guy couldn't beat you no matter how many came, as long as your stamina held. Fire Realm lets you shred a horde of those Peak experts if your stamina and inner energy are solid. In other words, a monster among monsters I couldn't touch, no matter how many of me there were.
Ugh... The ones who tried to mess with Paeng Soso were the bandits or Eon Ju-won. Technically, I saved her. But in a way, didn't I mess with her too? Should I confess now and beg mercy...?
Seeing me wrestle with inner turmoil—probably blaming his earlier aura—he scratched his head sheepishly with an awkward grin.
"Sorry 'bout that. Got carried away."
"...It's fine. Just startled me."
He'd reined it in quick, no real damage.
"Good to hear. ...Hey, haven't asked the innkeeper yet. Owners know more than guests anyway."
Oh shit. Right, I'm not the only one here!
"Innkeeper, you? Anything come to mind? Even tiny details. If it's real, I'll reward you big—spill if you know."
"W-well, sir..."
Looking closer, the innkeeper holding a wooden tub full of water was blinking like crazy. Like he was deep in thought.
I could guess. Weighing whether to rat out that Paeng Soso was here as a guest or keep quiet.
I glared daggers from behind, but he was more scared of my father-in-law than me. Makes sense. To a commoner, we're both dangerous martial artists, but father-in-law's danger was on another level.
He figured even if it cost him a long-term guest like me, honesty was safer. Especially after seeing me tense up earlier. Done deal.
"Well, sir... actually..."
Block the innkeeper somehow? Or bolt upstairs to Hong Yeonhwa and Paeng Soso ASAP? Bolting's better. Plugging his mouth won't stop father-in-law from prying.
Resolved, I tensed my legs to run—
Thud thud thud!
"Geudaeyeo! Where art thou?!"
"Jin gaga! Are you okay?!"
Hong Yeonhwa and Paeng Soso, robes thrown on haphazardly, came charging down from upstairs in panic.
"Hm?"
My father-in-law's gaze naturally turned. Father-daughter reunion after months apart.
"Oh...! Soso! You're h...!"
"D-Dad?! What did you do to Jin gaga?!"
"What? Jin gaga?"
Not quite the reunion he had in mind.
"No, Soso. Gaga? What're you..."
"Why's Jin gaga's face so pale like he's seen a ghost! Don't tell me you threatened him or something?! That aura from before...!"
This time, his head creaked unnaturally back toward me.
"Geudaeyeo. You alright? You look pale as a sheet."
"Uh... I'm fine, so back off a sec. Any closer and I'll turn even whiter."
But that was also because Hong Yeonhwa had sidled up, standing on tiptoes like it was natural to wipe my forehead with her sleeve.
"...Young hero. Answer straight. Didn't you say you didn't know my daughter?"
"Well..."
"No need. I get wanting to hide it since you knew she ran away. But..."
My father-in-law pointed calmly at Hong Yeonhwa squishing my cheeks.
"What's the deal with that lady and you. And Soso."
The aura that had leaked out as a teaser earlier now poured full force toward me.
"This time, no lies. Spill everything."