Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Namgoong Hyu's Epiphany
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'When did it start?'
My obsession with food.
A question suddenly flashed through Namgoong Hyu's mind.
As he rummaged through his memories, he had to go all the way back to his childhood to find the answer.
'If it wasn't for eating, I couldn't have endured it.'
It would have been nice to be born the youngest.
That had been Namgoong Hyu's wish since he was young.
Being Namgoong Hyeok's second son was a burden.
Above him was Namgoong Seon.
His older brother, praised for inheriting their father's talent most strongly. No matter how much he trained, he could never catch up to his brother's level.
Below him was Namgoong Jin.
His younger brother, rumored to be as clever as their mother. He envied how his brother understood all the books that were too much for him even to read.
'It's actually a good thing.'
Namgoong Hyu decided to think positively. His nature was optimistic, after all.
I'm lacking compared to my older brother or younger brother.
Doesn't that mean I get the chance to work even harder than they do?
They probably don't know. What it's like to struggle. What that sense of accomplishment feels like when you overcome something difficult—it's more precious than anything.
So, I'm living a life just as blessed as theirs.
He was the embodiment of positivity.
'Of course, it wouldn't be true to say it never bothered me.'
No one would badmouth him to his face, but he was the sharp second son when it came to reading the room. He could guess the whispers people made about him. The mediocre second son in both martial arts and academics. That was Namgoong Hyu's self-assessment.
'Let's just eat something delicious.'
Namgoong Hyu was happiest when eating delicious food. In the moment when sweet flavors tickled his tongue, no stray thoughts entered his mind. Eating made him happy. It was the one luxury allowed to someone who devoted himself so earnestly to everything.
That was when it started.
His obsession with eating.
The food he devoured to soothe his emotional hunger.
It expanded the calories his body craved, like a snowball rolling down a hill.
That was why Namgoong Hyu had developed such a massive build.
'Habits are truly frightening.'
As one ages, one's core usually becomes more solid.
His efforts never betrayed him, and in the end, he gained abilities befitting a scion of the Namgung Family.
Now that he had cast off those wandering days of his youth as mere memories, his oversized body was a slight annoyance.
'Well, isn't this fine as it is?'
His wife, who smiled and said even his plump belly looked good. A woman who truly loved him. And now they had children who perfectly inherited her bright innocence. That should be enough.
'I thought it was incurable.'
A massive change came to Namgoong Hyu's life.
Yi Se-woong's scheme, secretly aimed at him.
The terrifying plan to force-feed him chicken breast and make him healthy. The result was a resounding success.
'Nothing's changed...?'
Namgoong Hyu, who had shed all the fat covering his body and transformed into a sculpted mass of muscle. What surprised him most wasn't that his eating habits could change. That was surprising too, but...
What bewildered him was that the way people looked at him hadn't changed at all. Their attitudes toward him were the same as when he was fat. He did get passing compliments here and there, but...
'I was the one who couldn't let go of that delusion.'
He had lived pretending to be nonchalant.
Deluding himself that he no longer cared about others' opinions.
When in reality, everyone around him had been treating him without regard for his appearance.
That realization dragged him back to his childhood memories.
'I was the only one feeling inferior.'
The notion that he was lacking compared to his siblings?
There was no such thing.
It was all an illusion born from his own inferiority complex.
A realization that came while eating chicken breast as usual.
Namgoong Hyu had finally reached the true end of his youth.
'Chicken breast is the best!'
The trigger that dispelled his inner demon.
From then on, Namgoong Hyu became serious about chicken breast.
It was the driving force that had allowed him to grow mentally.
'My brother-in-law betrayed me!'
It was shocking.
The quiet confession from his brother-in-law.
A sense of betrayal toward the trust he had placed.
'It must taste amazing.'
They say those who've tried good meat eat it best.
The grilled eel prepared by Yi Se-woong.
He knew the flavor.
The umami of the heavily seasoned lean meat came to mind.
But he had to hold back.
That would be the first step back into the chains of gluttony!
'I ended up eating it anyway.'
His resolve didn't last long.
The first bite was tough, but once he surrendered to the thought that what was done was done, it felt like he briefly lost control of his body. When he came to, there was a mountain of empty plates.
'I messed up!'
Was this how a monk felt at the end of his ascetic journey, unable to resist that one drop of dew? Namgoong Hyu couldn't hide his grief over breaking his vow to himself. To him, Yi Se-woong said casually,
"Brother-in-law. You don't have to be so obsessed with chicken breast anymore. Can't you already control yourself?"
It was like a thunderbolt.
The thunderclap that struck Namgoong Hyu's mind.
He felt the last thread of lingering attachment around him scatter away.
'Brother-in-law, you...'
Abandon obsession.
Obsession arises from not fully trusting oneself.
Only by emptying that can one reach true detachment.
Namgoong Hyu trembled with new enlightenment.
'Thank you!'
A ritual of gratitude.
From that day on, Namgoong Hyu devoured the eels with heartfelt thanks. Regardless of the process, Yi Se-woong's strategy had worked once again.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'That buys me some breathing room.'
Thank goodness his ploy had worked.
The result of tempting Namgoong Hyu and leading him to gastronomic corruption.
He was able to wipe out all that eel in an instant.
Because Namgoong Hyu had enthusiastically recommended it to everyone in the family, like some evangelist.
"Brother-in-law. I'm always grateful to you. Haha!"
He received inexplicable thanks, but if the man himself was happy, that was fine. Completely eliminating fat wasn't healthy anyway. Hmm. Good things are good, right?
"Young master-in-law, the eel is all gone."
"Really? What a shame."
"Shall I ask them to bring more?"
"No, it's fine. I hear eel prices have skyrocketed lately. It'd be better to eat a variety of things, don't you think?"
And so, I narrowly escaped Yeonhui's clutches(?).
'By the way, when is Namgoong Hyeok coming back?'
I had organized everything to report about the Moyong Family. The only issue was there was no one to report to.
Namgoong Hyeok, away on Murim Alliance business.
It had been nearly two weeks since he returned to the Namgung Family, but there was no sign of Namgoong Hyeok.
Well, what I had to report wasn't exactly urgent. If he was curious, he'd summon me separately to hear it.
I figured he'd come back eventually if I waited.
In the meantime, I spent time visiting the family elders. Since I'd been away from the family for so long, it felt proper to pay my respects.
"What kept you so busy that we never even saw your face?"
"Haha. I've been running around on father-in-law's orders, so it took some time to shake off the fatigue."
"Tch, what's a young buck like you whining about already!"
Perhaps because I hadn't come to pay respects right away upon arrival, Namgoong Hwan was quite grumpy. It might not be the most suitable way to speak to a man past seventy, but he had a cute side to him.
"I guess my training is still lacking. You might not notice since you're as hale as ever, Grandfather."
"You and your sharp tongue!"
"I even brought gifts for you, but you're just going to keep scolding me?"
The gift I prepared for Namgoong Hwan was a bamboo fan. It had the four noble plants elegantly carved into it with bold strokes that exuded grandeur.
"A fan out of nowhere?"
"Didn't you say Elder Hwangbo Chung keeps showing off with his pipe and it annoys you?"
"......"
"When you've seized the advantage, do it like this."
Whoosh!
I snapped the bamboo fan open with a flick, making a sharp sound. Then I waved it leisurely.
"Show your leisure. And when you want to offer advice, fold it up."
Thwack!
I pointed at the air with the folded fan.
"Use it with a condescending, finger-wagging vibe. Elder Hwangbo Chung will probably be too furious to bear it."
"That's a brilliant idea!"
Namgoong Hwan's face brightened in an instant. Grandpa was so easy to appease.
"But before I give you this fan... there's one condition."
"What condition all of a sudden?"
"Beat me in a game."
"Hmph, do I look like the same old man who struggled against you?"
"You lost to Elder Hwangbo Chung, didn't you?"
"......"
Grandpa's face fell in an instant.
"That scoundrel used dirty tricks! Bribing journalists and gathering a ton of them. How could I hold up when dozens of them dissected every move? And it was just once!"
"Ahem. Judging by how you're rambling, it must have been a thorough defeat?"
"Well......"
"I'm disappointed. Let me teach you from the basics again, step by step."
"Tch!"
Getting mad won't help.
Who told you to lose?
"One day, I'll repay this humiliation tenfold!"
"Grandfather."
"What!"
"Don't use such strong language. It makes you look weak."
"Arrrgh!"
They say emotions dull with age. But seeing him react every time I poked him like this, I figured Grandpa would live a long, healthy life without illness.