The Golden Child
Following the attendant's lead, I made my way toward the Clan Head's study.
A crisp knock sounded against the wood.
"Clan Head, I have brought the candidate who passed the selection examination."
"...Send him in."
The heavy doors parted with a low creak.
Stepping over the threshold, I immediately cupped my fists in a formal martial salute.
"I am Jeong Ho-yeon, the one who passed the selection exam."
"I am Jegal Yeo-ryong."
The Clan Head of the prestigious Jegal Clan and Chief Strategist of the Murim Alliance, Jegal Yeo-ryong.
Though not blessed with extraordinary martial talent, his intellect and strategic acumen were hailed as peerless throughout the Jianghu. I had heard tales of his profound depth—a man who never sought petty dominance over others, possessed of an ice-cold, solemn composure that rendered him immune to any temptation. Seeing him in person only confirmed the rumors; he practically radiated an aura of quiet, unshakeable authority.
An awkward silence lingered in the study for a brief spell before he finally broke it.
"...It seems you encountered my daughter at the examination grounds. Is that correct?"
"Yes, Clan Head. That is correct."
"My daughter... Don't you think she is simply adorable?"
For a split second, I honestly thought my ears were playing tricks on me.
"......Excuse me?"
Out of nowhere, he was asking if his daughter was cute. How could I not be utterly flabbergasted?
Then, something I had overheard earlier flashed through my mind.
'They say she's a precious daughter he was blessed with late in life, so everyone in the clan dotes on her terribly. Even the Clan Head, a man who lives and breathes strict principles, is completely helpless whenever the young lady speaks.'
Wrapped around his daughter's little finger, they said. So the rumors were actually true.
He stared at me with strangely sparkling eyes, waiting eagerly for my response. For a fleeting instant, my brain stalled out entirely from sheer bewilderment.
Seeing my hesitation, he pressed for an answer.
"Come now, speak freely. What was your first impression of my daughter?"
However, I held a firm philosophy on such matters: parents should never look at their children through rose-tinted lies. Therefore, I decided to offer him the unvarnished truth.
"Lady Jegal is... quite like a 'golden child.'"
Having never heard such an expression, he blinked, visibly bewildered.
"A... golden child...?"
"Indeed. It refers to a child as precious as pure gold. Lately, people have taken to using the term to describe an utterly beloved offspring."
"I have never heard such phrasing before."
"Haha, it is only natural you haven't. It is a turn of phrase that only recently began circulating among the common folk."
Technically, it wasn't a lie. The literal meaning really was viewing one's child as gold. However, that phrase carried a modern, satirical second meaning—a spoiled brat who refused to grow up, throwing tantrums under the sheltered wing of overly indulgent parents.
Having no idea about the double meaning, the corners of his mouth twitched upward, clearly pleased.
"I-is that so? Ahem."
"Would I dare speak a falsehood before the Clan Head? However..."
"However?"
"It appears the young lady has yet to mature. I understand she has come of age this year, yet her speech and demeanor remain somewhat unruly."
At those words, he clamped his mouth shut. A heavy, resigned sigh escaped his lips before he confided in me.
"Haaah... You speak the truth. Because she is my precious daughter, I doted on her far too much. That is precisely why I sought a tutor to instruct her in proper manners and decorum. If someone like you takes charge, I believe my worries will finally be put to rest."
"Haha, you flatter me. Though I lack much, I will do my utmost."
I cupped my fists once more, and he returned the gesture with genuine sincerity.
"I leave my daughter in your capable hands."
No matter how soft he was toward his daughter, this man was still the supreme strategist of the Murim Alliance. In other words, his devotion to fundamental principles remained intact. That much had been obvious during our brief exchange.
Had I showered his daughter with empty flattery just to curry favor like everyone else, he never would have responded like this. On the contrary, he would have scolded me for attempting to become her tutor without even recognizing her glaring flaws.
In that regard, my answer was practically textbook perfection. Wrapping someone like you around my finger is child's play.
Compared to Master Jegal, dealing with you is a walk in the park.
That old coot Master Jegal was the type to threaten murder with his iron fan over the slightest annoyance, yet the atmosphere always shifted whenever the topic of his daughter came up. He would gaze wistfully into the distance with a lonely expression—looking back now, he was probably looking in the direction where his daughter lived.
Even among the other old masters where he was notoriously tight-lipped, Master Jegal would turn positively loquacious the moment his daughter was mentioned. He was that devoted to her. He would ramble on so relentlessly that even Master Paeng, with his boisterous bandit temper, had to step in and tell him to shut his trap.
On those days, he drank like a fish, and once hammered, he would brag about his daughter until calluses formed on my ears. Every single time, I genuinely wanted to stuff a rag down his throat.
When it came to doting on their daughters, both of these Jegal men were cut from the exact same cloth.
...Sigh. Being an orphan really makes you sick of the world sometimes.
My bitter musings were cut short as he offered one final instruction.
"Ah, one more thing. Please do not feel pressured to walk on eggshells around So-yeong on my account. I, too, earnestly wish for her to mature this time. As far as her education is concerned, I will support your decisions unconditionally."
Bingo. Hearing that straight from the horse's mouth saved me the headache of asking for permission later. What permission, you ask?
Truth be told, knocking sense into someone like her through ordinary methods was an impossibility. Spoiled nobles raised on silver spoons rarely ever fixed their rotten personalities. Whenever they committed a misdeed, the clan would just pamper and excuse them anyway.
To truly make her grow up, rough measures were required. The kind of treatment nobody else dared to dish out. Having him grant full authorization upfront was an absolute blessing.
"Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease, Clan Head. As I have much to prepare, I shall take my leave."
"Very well. Off with you."
Once Ho-yeon departed, Jegal Yeo-ryong spoke into the empty air of the room.
"...Jeong Ho-yeon. Bring me every shred of information on that man."
"As you command."
Meanwhile, Jegal So-yeong was storming down the corridor, her face flushed with incandescent fury as her maid scurried frantically behind her.
"Aaagh! So annoying! How dare he humiliate me like that?!"
"M-My Lady... please, calm your anger—"
"Yeon-ah, you only say that because you didn't see it! That bastard humiliated me in front of everyone!"
"I know how upset you are, My Lady... but really, you can't go in there...!!"
The maid tried desperately to block her path, but So-yeong had completely lost her temper and wasn't listening to a word. Marching straight toward one of the main pavilions, she shoved the double doors wide open.
Inside, an official council meeting had been taking place.
"Let us proceed with that for now... Hm? So-yeong, what brings you here? Did you miss your big brother so much you couldn't stay away?"
The man who spoke was Jegal Hyun, a bear of a youth with broad shoulders and a deceptively gentle face. He was her older brother and the current Young Patriarch of the Jegal Clan.
Reaching the Peak realm at the tender age of thirty, he was a powerhouse whose exceptional competence cemented his authority within the clan. In stark contrast to his gentle, bear-like visage, he had inherited the Clan Head's meticulous temperament, never letting a single mistake slip past him—a trait that made the clan's retainers tread very carefully around him.
Naturally, even a formidable man like him had moments where he melted completely.
"Brother!"
She threw herself into his arms without hesitation.
"Oof, what has gotten into our So-yeong today? My apologies, gentlemen, but would you mind stepping outside for a moment?"
"Understood, Young Patriarch."
Once the retainers filed out of the room, only the two siblings remained.
"I heard Father selected a tutor for you today. Did you come all the way here because you didn't like him?"
She blinked in surprise, staring up at him.
"H-How did you know?"
"Hahaha! Whenever you barge into my office like this, isn't it always for reasons like that?"
"...I-It's not always like that, okay? Hmph."
Knowing full well this was hardly her first offense, she couldn't muster much of a defense.
Jegal Hyun chuckled warmly and stroked her sulking head.
"Haha. Just bear with it this once, So-yeong. Father has high hopes for this. If a month passes and you still dislike his teachings, I will step in personally. How does that sound?"
"Really? You promise? You'll do that for me?"
"Have you ever seen your big brother lie to you?"
"Teehee! Thank you, Brother! Well, I'm heading out!"
Just as the Clan Head cherished the daughter he had been blessed with late in life, Jegal Hyun adored the little sister born when he was already fifteen with boundless, protective affection. Yet he knew better than anyone that this very indulgence was why she remained so dreadfully spoiled, even upon reaching adulthood.
Watching her skip away with a bright, innocent smile, he was left alone in the quiet room, choking back tears.
"I'm sorry, So-yeong. It's all for your own good, so you must endure... sob..."
It was said that his eyes remained swollen from weeping for days afterward.
The next morning.
It might sound strange, but I was currently sprawled out on an antique, lavish bed. Crafted from the finest materials, the mattress was so plush it felt as though my body were sinking straight into a cloud.
"Is this why people say to buy a house the moment you make money? It's too damn comfortable..."
It wasn't just the bed. Every piece of furniture, right down to the private bath, was magnificent.
"Ah, I don't want to leave. I just want to stay in bed forever. Urrgh."
How did I end up in a place this luxurious, you ask?
Yesterday, right after I stepped out of the Clan Head's study, a maid approached and told me to stay in the Detached Residence. Honestly, I figured an annex wouldn't be anything special, so I declined at first. Yet she practically begged and pleaded on her knees for me to take it, so I reluctantly accepted.
But how on earth was I supposed to know an annex could be this absurdly opulent? If I had known, I wouldn't have played hard to get in the first place!
"After spending my whole life in ratty shacks, a day like this finally comes to me!"
Just as I was thoroughly basking in my blissful solitude, I sensed a presence outside.
A polite knock echoed at the door, and a group of maids stepped inside, bowing courteously.
"It will soon be time to attend to the young lady. We are here to assist you with your preparations."
"S-Sure, let's do that..."
When they abruptly offered to assist me with a bath, I firmly turned that part down and only accepted their help with dressing. It certainly wasn't out of bashfulness. I merely refused because I couldn't casually forfeit the chastity I had fiercely guarded for thirty years.
...I'm telling the truth, damn it. Ahem.
Guided by the maids, I eventually arrived outside her room.
Now then, time to head in—
Swoosh—!
The instant the door slid open, a projectile whipped straight toward my face at breakneck speed. Luckily, I tilted my head aside just in time, but the metal chopstick she had hurled embedded itself deep into the wooden wall behind me.
"Tsk, what a shame. I almost had you."
"......"
She sneered at me with a look of genuine disappointment. In that precise moment, a profound enlightenment struck my mind.
Humans are creatures who only come to their senses after a thorough beating.
Now, at long last, I finally understood why those old fogies beat me half to death every single day.
"Hahahahaha. Shall we begin our lesson, then?"
"...Huh?"
For some inexplicable reason, a sudden wave of goosebumps broke out all over her skin.