The Returning Patriarch
Han A-in World Hero Management Association. A place that literally manages heroes.
And the Hero Management Association was always busy, but right now it was twice as hectic.
The reason? The return of one of the Transcendent heroes.
Transcendent—the pinnacle humans could reach. The peculiar thing was that most Transcendent heroes had vanished from sight.
There were Transcendent heroes running guilds, of course, but everyone knew that successors or vice-guild masters handled the actual operations in most cases.
Han Cheon-wi. One of the first heroes and one of the few Transcendents in Korea.
One of those reclusive Transcendents had finally revealed himself.
Han A-in rubbed her eyes and sat up in bed.
Then she received one shocking piece of news.
Her grandfather was back.
“……”
Han A-in's face hardened in an instant.
There was no way they'd tell her this for no reason.
“Ha……”
Han A-in let out a breath and bit her thumbnail. A habit she fell into unconsciously whenever she felt upset.
Crunch… crunch…
Her brother, her sister, and… even her mother.
Her chest tightened.
Was this what it felt like when nothing ever went right?
Dragging her unease with her, Han A-in headed to the shower to get ready for school.
Bang—
“Hm, up early, huh?”
As she stepped out of the bathroom, a familiar face greeted her. Sky-blue hair like her own, similar build.
The differences were the long hair and the gleaming Thousand-ri Eyes.
“…What do you want?”
Han A-in scowled as she asked.
“You heard, right? Grandpa's back.”
Han Sia shrugged with a grin.
“It's been ages. Time for a family reunion.”
“…You serious?”
“Of course.”
Han A-in couldn't hold back and bit her nail. She felt utterly rotten.
Crunch.
“Still haven't kicked that nail-biting habit, huh?”
If there was the largest hanok in Korea, it was probably this place.
The Han family main house, you could say.
Unlike usual, it was bustling today.
From the busy household staff to the crowds drawn by news of Han Cheon-wi's return.
Even reporters had swarmed, making it hard to pass through.
“Everyone here?”
Han Cheon-wi nodded and spoke. His wrinkled, aged face belied an aura that overwhelmed active heroes.
The atmosphere befitting Korea's greatest swordsman.
“W-Well… one person's still…”
Han Cheon-wi clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“Forget that wench. Start without her.”
Han Sia, Han Seong-jin, Han A-in.
The promising future hero candidates gathered in one spot.
Han Cheon-wi sighed at the sight. Still trash, except for Han Sia.
They hadn't inherited the Thousand-ri Eyes. Nor his traits.
Obviously because of that pathetic woman.
Han Cheon-wi pointed at Han Sia.
“The rest of you, get out.”
“Haa……”
Han A-in let out a deep sigh. It was so hard to suppress this revolting feeling.
Han Seong-jin sighed softly too and pulled a cigarette from his pocket.
“Whew… fucking bullshit.”
Han Cheon-wi—read as murderer.
His father had been a 1st Grade hero. True to the Han family, he'd inherited one Thousand-ri Eye and his traits.
And his mother…
She'd been ordinary. Far from a hero.
The level of using simple everyday magic. Grandpa had fiercely opposed their marriage, or so he'd heard.
‘I have a younger brother as successor. He's more talented than me—he'll take good care of you.’
But…
‘Aaaargh!!!’
It was the first time he'd heard his father scream like that. Not his usual stoic self, but a raw grief hard to describe.
He later learned his uncle had died in a gate.
‘You're the successor now.’
And so they'd come to live in the Han family house.
Grandpa was a bit strange.
Cold glares at them, but oddly kind to Sis.
Was this the grandpa friends at school talked about?
But it was fine. He had parents who showered him with love.
“Uh… ugh…?”
Her mind went blank, strength draining from her body. She hadn't learned it yet, but instinct told her.
“M-Mom… Dad's acting weird… not moving.”
She didn't remember much from that day. Just that her parents' screams sounded alike.
Horrific, unbearable, screams she never wanted to recall.
The funeral was grand. Famous heroes, politicians.
Crowds came to his father's funeral.
Strange. People he'd never even met.
But what was truly bizarre and incomprehensible was:
‘Why that expression?’
Sis and Grandpa standing silently, as if nothing had happened.
Mom vanished after the funeral.
‘……’
As she grew, she realized those Thousand-ri Eyes didn't see them as kin.
It terrified her. Sis growing more like those eyes.
But she couldn't just meet Sis and Grandpa whenever she wanted.
‘Bro. Um…’
The day after confessing her true feelings to her brother, she was chased from the Han house.
Something… something was deeply wrong.
Haha…
A hollow laugh escaped.
The Han family-run orphanage.
Don't joke. This is seriously messed up…
Why am I even here…?
Her head spun, stomach churning.
‘Am I here because… I'm not good enough?’
She stopped trembling and exhaled.
Yeah. Time to make them see me again.
Time passed, she entered Orbis Academy, and heard one piece of news.
‘The greatest genius in history, Han Sia.’
“……”
So high. Unreachably high.
How could she ever get there?
Time passed, and Han Sia emerged from the room, scowling and waving her hand.
“Didn't I say cut it out?”
Han Sia shot at Han Seong-jin, who shrugged.
“We'll start again tomorrow anyway.”
“What'd that old fart say anyway?”
“Even after all this time, same old crap from Grandpa.”
“Dementia?”
“…No way.”
“Oh, and I'm dropping out.”
Han Seong-jin lit a cigarette as he spoke.
“Graduation's soon.”
“……”
“Hang in there a bit longer.”
“Not dropout, then…”
“Both.”
Han Sia gazed at her right hand.
“I'm still not ready.”
The Han family basement.
Han Cheon-wi stroked his beard and headed to one spot.
After unlocking dozens of seals, a demon was bound there.
Demon Blade Muramasa.
妖刀 (Yodo)
“What is it?”
“Was what you said before true?”
“What do you mean?”
“The ‘most perfect sword.’”
“True. Gather all my scattered brothers, and the ‘most perfect sword’ completes.”
“Your other brothers—are they on your level?”
“More or less. Big shards or whatever, but equally divided in the end.”
“Think I can gather the rest?”
Han Cheon-wi tilted his head.
“Obviously. Strongest human I've seen.”
“I see.”
“If you're collecting shards, draw me.”
“Was planning to.”
Han Cheon-wi shattered the chains binding Muramasa. A murky demonic aura filled the basement.
“You human brat dare—!”
Muramasa's foul mana took form as a warrior.
“……”
Han Cheon-wi watched silently.
“Not at full power then. This time, I'll take your head!”
Muramasa's domain enveloped Han Cheon-wi. Seconds later—
Slash—
Han Cheon-wi returned, brushing off the murk and sheathing his sword.
He picked up the rolling Muramasa from the floor.
“Too obvious.”
Rip rip rip!!!
In an instant, parchments plastered Muramasa's body. Only then did the demonic aura fade.
“Hey, so where do we go?”
“Wait a sec.”
“Hm? Han Cheon-wi? What brings you here?”
A man in a tattered black outfit, wide-brimmed hat pulled low.
“Il-do-sal?”
And…
In front of him, a swordsman wearing a red demon mask.
“Han Cheon-wi?”
“You know me?”
Han Cheon-wi's Thousand-ri Eyes gleamed, revealing a startling truth.
“You're… human?”
“The old man's at it again.”
Il-do-sal waved dismissively, treating Han Cheon-wi like a senile geezer.