Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: King Crab and Father
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It took a lot of resolve to turn on that clarification stream.
Anyway, I've never admitted that the person in the photo was me, right?
But that excuse wouldn't fly—it was something I'd deliberately set up with clear intent.
And now, one person in the world knew the truth.
[Broadcast Title: I Will Clarify] I'll just power through it head-on.
"Looks like there's a weird photo going around claiming it's me, but that's not me."
Stream ends.
"Phew."
Clarification complete.
One major thing taken care of.
Now I can stretch out and sleep at night without a care.
I turned on the stream, did the clarification, and turned it off.
Anyone with my stream notifications on would have seen the 'stream has ended' message by now.
And if they check the replay, they can hear my clarification.
💬 Gallery — Anonymous [Title: Isn't Jeon Jeonseol that bitch totally insane?] Clarification stream lasts 7 seconds and ends lololol
> Is this what you call a clarification?
— What was it about? — └ She said it's not her in the photo — └ That's a clarification alright — └ What kind of clarification is this ffs she's denying it — └ Denying? Jeon Jeonseol is my mom... wait, are you my dad by any chance? — └ This guy's nuts too — └ That's the science of crazy — └ Do you even know what clarification means lololol Opening the gallery, it looks like my point got across just fine.
— Anonymous [Title: Wasn't today supposed to be ranked stream day?] Turn on Jeon Jeonseol's stream
> Gotta climb to Challenger
Sorry, but I'm resting today.
Oh right, Lunar New Year starts tomorrow.
I have to head back to my parents' house.
I'd forgotten about the witness interview because it was nagging at me.
So, I'll take a break for a while.
— Anonymous [Title: Breaking) Figured out Jeon Jeonseol's identity lol] Voice is fake, gender is fake, photo is fake
> Everything's fake
> So what's Jeon Jeonseol's real identity?
> I've discovered that shocking truth
> (Teamfight Arena official Illusionist illustration)
> It's the Illusionist herself
> Where are you looking? That's just my afterimage
> Illusionist Jeon Jeonseol eyes naa heeeung
— Crazy bastard lol — Is this for real? ↳ Reply Yeah yeah, shocking but it's true — Is Teamfight Arena real life? ↳ Reply Yeah this is real life — I knew it — All her viewers are weirdos The Illusionist was a sexy female mage character with massive... assets. A total bombshell.
I couldn't say her appearance didn't play a role in making her my main champion.
Though her high skill cap and tricky playstyle were big factors too.
But you can't resist a busty female mage.
Why am I even reading this crap?
Anyway, judging by the vibe, the clarification seems to have worked.
Though it feels like the clarification was already done before I even started the stream.
Good is good, though.
...The more I stream, the harder it gets to tell my family what I'm doing.
Why is the world so unfair to me?
Didn't you bring this on yourself?
What am I supposed to do about it?
Hmph.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ There's no such thing as a given in this world.
If something that shouldn't be fine is somehow running smoothly, it's because someone is making an enormous sacrifice behind the scenes.
Dae-in had learned that fact from his son.
No—from the daughter who used to be his son.
"W-Welcome home?"
She hadn't even been living on her own for a full month yet, but the family home felt utterly awkward to her now.
She seemed to have agonized over whether to say "excuse me" or "I'm home," finally settling on the latter.
"Yeah, good to see you."
"......"
His wife didn't greet her long-lost daughter.
Dae-in nudged his wife's side with his elbow.
Only then did she finally squeeze out a greeting.
"You're back?"
It was the kind of greeting that made it clear a deep rift still lingered between them.
"Let's eat."
Dae-in suggested a meal to dispel the awkwardness.
"Where's Seol-yoon?"
"Helping in the kitchen. She wanted to learn cooking."
"I'll wash my hands first."
The couple headed to the kitchen-dining area and sat in chairs by the table.
In the separated kitchen space, the housekeeper and Seol-yoon bustled about.
A variety of dishes were already laid out on the table.
It was king crab season.
No ancestral rites meant no need to obsess over holiday foods, so they'd prepared dishes centered around what their newly independent daughter liked.
Relying on a memo left by the long-time housekeeper who'd worked for them before they moved to America.
...The couple had no idea what their eldest son liked.
Not until they saw that memo.
They knew nothing.
They'd had no time to spare for their eldest son.
What a cruel fate.
Dae-in and his wife had two sons between them.
The first, Seol-hoon, and the second, Seol-young.
Seol-young had been frail since birth, spending most of his life in hospitals, with the couple practically living there too.
For their poor second son, who could die at any moment.
The eldest son was sensible and handled everything on his own.
He pretended to be strong so well that Dae-in never realized.
The simple fact that a young child needs their parents' attention.
That Seol-hoon's mind was wearing down in solitude.
Seol-hoon wasn't some acting prodigy.
Maybe he'd noticed but pretended not to, fooling even himself?
That the family could hold together only because of the eldest son's emotional sacrifices.
That at an age when he wanted to cry and scream for attention, he'd held back, lied, and yielded to his brother.
All Dae-in felt was endless regret.
In a bizarre twist, Seol-hoon and Seol-young both contracted the same strange disease at the same time.
A disease that changed faces, heights, and figures.
One that completely flipped gender and constitution.
Seol-young became healthy, and Seol-hoon became much smaller.
No one knew why it happened simultaneously.
So little was known about the disease.
Dae-in thought that for his two daughters—formerly sons—to live happily, they needed to erase all traces of the past.
Fortunately, the government was very cooperative, handling their identities cleanly.
In any case, the whole family moved to America.
Erasing traces domestically had its limits.
And then three years passed.
A lot happened in those three years, and Dae-in finally realized.
That Seol-hoon had been holding back tremendously, with deep wounds in her heart.
He understood.
Because he knew the weight of being the head of the family.
Because he bore the responsibilities a man must shoulder.
But his wife couldn't accept it.
She couldn't accept that her flawless eldest son had become a shut-in hikikomori too scared to even leave his room.
That the child who'd dropped out of school and barricaded himself in his room was beyond her ability to see sweetly.
Having washed her hands and finished chatting with Seol-yoon, Seol-ah sat down. Dae-in handed her a plate piled high with crab meat he'd meticulously extracted.
"Eat up."
"Ah, I could've done it myself."
"You gonna snap those king crab legs properly with those stick-figure arms of yours?"
"I-It's not that bad? Who can't even break a boiled king crab leg?"
"Whatever, just eat. I'll shell it all for you."
"......Fine, no more shelling. You eat some, Dad."
Dae-in kept his hands busy.
Not for his own meal, but to shell crab meat for his daughter home after so long.
"How's the new place?"
"Too big for living alone. Feels wasteful. Might as well rent it out and get a studio for myself."
"Absolutely not!"
What a dangerous world it was.
For a delicate flower like Seol-ah blooming lonely in the concrete jungle, a studio was out of the question.
What if she ended up in a crime-ridden area full of studios and goshiwons?
The Jeonseol Apartments—with strict access control for residents only and guards always at the entrance—were perfect for his daughter.
"Delicious. King crab."
"Have more."
Dae-in offered another plate of shelled crab meat.
Seol-ah refused.
"No, you need to eat too, Dad."
"I've had plenty."
A lie.
He hadn't touched any yet.
Dae-in had only thought about feeding Seol-ah, not himself.
This year's first king crab feast opener: Seol-ah.
Dae-in stretched his arm to place the crab meat plate in front of Seol-ah, but her short arms couldn't reach back to his side.
And he couldn't just stand up mid-meal to bring it over.
Left with no choice, Seol-ah started munching on the refilled crab.
The corner of Dae-in's mouth twitched.
He was thrilled to see Seol-ah eating the crab, but as family head, he couldn't let his composure slip.
My daughter's too cute. What do I do?
Why are there so many doting dads for daughters but few for sons?
Maybe it's an instinct hardwired into human genes from the start?
Take it or leave it.
"Here we go! Seol-yoon's special soybean paste stew is ready!"
A soybean paste stew with unevenly chopped pumpkin and tofu from clumsy knife work.
But isn't the most important seasoning in cooking love?
"Big sis first!"
Seol-yoon brought over a soup bowl and ladle, scooping stew for Seol-ah first.
Next, Mom.
Last, Dad.
This is the weight of being head of the family!
The couple were dual-income, but husband Dae-in was far busier.
So Seol-yoon prioritizing Mom over Dad was unavoidable!
She must feel more affection for her!
The grievances Seol-ah faced as a child must have been even greater!
So endure it! Jeon Dae-in!
Delicious!
Seol-yoon will make a great wife.
Thinking that suddenly made Dae-in bristle with anger.
I won't give my daughter to just anyone!
If you want to take my daughters, beat me in a duel first!
"I'm heading in."
"......"
The wife went straight to her room without a word to Seol-ah, who was home after so long.
Seol-ah's expression darkened a bit.
Dae-in felt conflicted.
Was reconciliation between them really so hard?
"Auntie, could you grab some soju from the fridge?"
"Yes, sir."
Seol-yoon had turned 19 last year, but America's drinking age is 21, so she'd never had alcohol.
Now in Korea attending university here, testing her tolerance was essential.
Seol-ah and Dae-in had set aside today to teach Seol-yoon how to drink.
Learning from family elders was safest.
The whole world was full of wolves—hunters everywhere eyeing Seol-yoon.
He absolutely wouldn't let her do anything foolish!