Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: The New Breadwinner
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Heuk Bihu's daily life was always the same.
He would wake up in the morning, go to the tree, and sit there until the sun went down.
Sometimes, something strange would cross his mind, but he would forget it just as quickly.
He would feel an impulse to go somewhere, but the crushing apathy would make him simply close his eyes.
It was an old sickness.
‘How tiresome. No, is it bothersome…?’
Despite these symptoms, a persistent image would appear whenever he closed his eyes.
Red silk, hanging on a clothesline.
It wasn't hard to recognize the light purple hair between the fluttering fabric.
Who could it be?
The woman looked at him, raising an index finger to her lips in a hushing gesture, as if sharing a secret.
‘I won’t tell you. Their gender.’
He couldn't see her face.
It was painted over in white. All he could see was a picturesque smile and the sound of clear laughter.
What happened next was always the same. The dream would end abruptly before the woman could approach.
When he opened his eyes, his chest always felt ticklish.
“Haaah…”
Occasionally, assassins targeting his listless self would appear. Sometimes, interrogation would reveal who was behind it.
It was the only time he did anything resembling an activity.
‘Mother, no, Family Head. We have to kill Heuk Bihu. What if he completely loses his memory and becomes an enemy of the Heuk family? With that cruel personality of his! If he loses his memories too! Who knows who he’ll point his sword at.’
‘Indeed, brother-in-law… is too dangerous. Wouldn’t he be easy to brainwash? Since his head is empty up here.’
‘Hahahaha!’
Whether it was his mother, the family head, or his sister and brother-in-law, he had no intention of dying as they wished.
‘How is it? My treatment?’
‘Shh, it’s a secwet. A business secwet.’
A change came to this daily routine.
A young child, who had suddenly appeared claiming to be his daughter, cast a ray of hope on the illness he never expected to cure before he died.
And she had declared, confidently and shamelessly.
‘I’m goin’ to the market! Help me!’
* * *
“Hnngh…”
Oh, I’m so tired.
Ugh, this is exhausting. I’m beat. Groaning, I barely managed to open my eyes.
‘How did I get home yesterday…?’
Ah, right. I remember being excited because that man, my father, said he would help.
He helped by using a bit of his life force, right? Using that forbidden ability.
‘Using it is so draining. Especially for a child’s body with so little stamina…’
I also remembered boldly declaring to my dad, ‘I’m going to the market, so you better help!’
And I even remember toddling off, saying I’d see him again.
‘Ah, so I must have collapsed on the way?’
The last thing I saw was the floor. But why did I wake up here?
A familiar ceiling.
I’ve been living with Eldest Uncle and Heuk Gyewon lately.
‘Did they bring me here?’
Hwaaah. I let out a big yawn and rubbed my eyes. My hands are so small, even rubbing my eyes is hard.
The moment I turned my head.
“Eek! Y-you scared me!”
Seeing the man, I thought my heart was going to leap out of my chest. Wow, I do not want to experience a heart attack like this!
“Wha-what are you doin’?”
The person crouching with his chin in his hands was none other than my eldest uncle, Heuk Biwon. The man flashed a grin with his coolly handsome face.
“Observing?”
His gaze fell on my curly hair, and he gently lifted a strand.
“Me, why?”
“Because you’re my savior~”
His smile was somehow ominous.
I slowly scooted back on my bottom.
‘If I just jump up and run!’
But my escape was not to be. Before I could even bolt upright, he grabbed me under my arms with both hands.
“Now this is sad~ Trying to run away. Hmm?”
A sly voice reached my ears. When I looked up, Heuk Biwon was beaming.
Isn’t this a completely different vibe from when his eyes went crazy?
“What did Eldest Uncle even do?”
“Eldest Unca.”
“Eldest Uncle.”
Whatever. I’ll call him what I want.
I stared at him with a pout.
“Put me down.”
“You want me? Alright, you can have your eldest uncle!”
“Wha-chu sayin’, put me down!”
“Okay, okay, if you want me, I’m all yours.”
No, let go! Let go of me, you man! Even as I struggled, Eldest Uncle just grinned, clearly enjoying himself.
“Want to take my son too? I’ll sell them as a set.”
“No!”
“…I see.”
Startled by the sudden voice, I turned my head.
There stood Heuk Gyewon, holding a tray. He looked a little downcast and hurt.
“It’s understandable you wouldn’t want me.”
“No, n-no, that’s not it…!”
Why am I making excuses?
“Forget it. Eat your food.”
My cousin smiled calmly as if he’d just been joking. Just then, Eldest Uncle finally put me down.
I sat down sheepishly, even though I hadn’t done anything wrong.
Why do I have to walk on eggshells around them?
“Ahem, hope dere’s no misunnerstandin’, Gyewon.”
“Okay, I won’t.”
Heuk Gyewon lowered his head and pointed at my food bowl.
“If you finish all of that, I won’t misunderstand.”
“…Weally?”
He’s going to be this childish?
The mature one—me—will give in.
“Awight. I’ll eat every last bite!”
I was curious why I got porridge while Heuk Gyewon and Heuk Biwon had bowls piled high with meat.
But since my porridge had finely shredded meat in it, I decided to let it slide.
“Did you know? The stuff in our bowls is chicken, and what’s in the princess’s porridge is beef.”
“*Cough!*”
“Father!”
I was busy trying to stifle my cough, but it was too late—a grain of rice had already flown onto Heuk Biwon’s face.
“Wow, so spirited.”
Eldest Uncle wiped it off nonchalantly.
“How could you say that to a child! Don’t you think it puts pressure on her?!”
…So it was true?!
“Why? You have to show off these things to be loved~ Right?”
Loved? I nearly choked on my food.
‘Those two are huge. They should be the ones eating the beef.’
I looked at my porridge. If I didn’t eat it, my cousin looked like he would shoot lasers from his eyes, so I finished it all.
‘But where did they get the money for beef?’
From my experience, the food rations here weren’t exactly generous.
In my past lives, I barely interacted with them, so this was all very confusing.
“We take care of strange fellows every now and then and get paid for it, little one.”
Eldest Uncle said, as if he had read my mind. With the spoon in my mouth, I tilted my head.
“But you said you can’t go outside.”
So you can’t go to the market?
“Ah~ that was a joke?”
What?!
“Y-y-you twicked me?!”
I went through so much trouble in front of that man I call a father because of that!
“Sit down, Biyu. It’s a lie. Father is always like that.”
I sat down meekly. How frustrating.
“The Heuk family treats us like butchers. They only use Father when there’s someone to be dealt with.”
As Heuk Gyewon spoke calmly, my expression turned strange. What is that supposed to mean…
‘So they kicked them out, but they’re still using them for all they’re worth?’
Being used… I knew all too well how cruel this ‘Heuk’ family could be to someone without backing.
‘Squeezing pus? Make her do it. Heuk Biyu. Ugh, it’s so dirty. Let’s make her do all of it.’
‘An epidemic? I said make her do it. It’s not like she can complain.’
‘Hey, why go to a place where you could die? Send her. No one will care if she dies anyway. Perfect for dealing with a madman.’
I opened my mouth, then closed it again.
“It’s ’cause of money, wight?”
“Huh? Uh… And… for Father’s medicine.”
“The anesthetic, you mean.”
This father and son were adept at speaking so frankly. It was good because I didn’t have to hold back either.
“If it’s for money, den dat’s gweat! You don’t have to do it anymore. Not Eldest Unca, not Gyewon!”
I pointed to each of the two men with my tiny hand.
“Don’t go earnin’ money.”
“Huh…?”
“Fwom now on, Biyu will earn the money.”
“…”
The two men blinked in bewilderment. I puffed out my chest and thumped it.
“I’m da head of da house.”
So just listen to me. I declared proudly.
Three regressions into this life.
If you just listen to me, good fortune and money will fall right into your laps