Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Our Little Breadwinner
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Eldest Uncle tilted his head, his foot still on the warrior's back.
“Wait a minute, you look familiar.”
“Keuk, wa-wait, keuk!”
“Aha, you're Jigon, who used to work under me, right? Nice to see you.”
Eldest Uncle grinned as if he'd just figured it out.
“Alright, alright, let's start with a little massage from me~”
Sparks of static crackled each time he pressed down. It was clearly painful.
‘…So that's this world's version of a high-frequency massage.’
I quickly turned my head away.
“Were you wif Eldest Uncle?”
“What makes you think that?”
Well, the timing was just too perfect. They showed up at almost the same time.
I hesitated before finally managing to say it.
“Thank you.”
As expected, my father's expression didn't change.
He looked as if he was asking ‘So what?’ and also as if it were only natural.
I got down and ran to Heuk Gyewon, then quickly began my diagnosis.
‘Thank goodness.’
Aside from some minor scrapes, there were no major injuries.
‘His wrist is fractured, though.’
I took a bandage from my bag and tried to wrap it skillfully… but I struggled a little.
My hands were too small.
My father and Eldest Uncle were watching me as if I were some curious spectacle.
“Wow, our Little Chick carries bandages around?”
I mean, I could understand my father…
Heuk Biwon, what's so fascinating about watching me treat your own son?
“Ah, his wrist is fractured? Tsk, tsk. Not enough training. Not enough.”
“…But my bwother is only nine? And he was fighting a real warrior?”
“Come on, Princess. If it were me, I would've gone like this, and this! Sliced his sword in half and then—zap!—with some lightning! Back in my day…”
I shook my head from side to side.
I understood why Heuk Gyewon was so fed up with his father. You should be grateful to have such a filial son.
“It's true! When I was nine, I could chew rocks!”
“If you eat a wock, you have to cut open your tummy to get it out, depending on the size.”
“…”
After silencing my eldest uncle, I got the two of them to help me put Heuk Gyewon to bed at home.
It was good to be home, but when my Brain woke up, it cried so pitifully that I had a hard time consoling it.
“Goodness, whose kid is that Brain? Such a crybaby.”
“Is Eldest Uncle's Bwain diffewent?”
“Of course. Mine is actually too stoic, which is no fun. No charm, none at all.”
Eldest Uncle laughed.
“After all, a divine beast is bound to resemble its master.”
Doesn't that mean Heuk Gyewon is a crybaby too?
I've only known him for a short time, but I've never seen him cry. It wouldn't suit him, either.
Which must mean he's been holding it in all this time.
“Eldest Uncle, you shouldn't waise a child to never cwy.”
If you do…
“…they won't be able to cwy when they want to.”
They won't know when it's okay to cry.
I glanced up at the sky for a moment.
I realized two pairs of eyes were fixed on me. My father and my eldest uncle.
‘Now, there's something else to take care of.’
Heuk Daewi's plot had ended in attempted murder, so it was time for him to pay the price.
He, his companions, and the two warriors weren't just tied up tightly with ropes; they were in a windswept prison.
On top of that, Eldest Uncle's lightning had formed a double barrier of sorts.
‘There's really no escape.’
If their other uncle, Heuk Birang, who was probably asleep right now, joined forces with them, could anyone possibly defeat these three brothers?
‘The hand I'm holding is basically a lottery ticket with a 100% chance of winning.’
My hands were itching with anticipation.
Once I laid the groundwork, making the female lead the head of the family would be a piece of cake.
“Daddy. You said a message awwived?”
My father, who was sitting on the veranda, looked at me and gave a slow nod.
Whoosh!
The wind blew.
A piece of paper rode the wind and landed in front of me.
It was the letter my father had received.
“It's just as it's written there.”
My expression grew a little serious as I read it. What is this?
“They said they couldn't grant permission right away and that we should come in person.”
I shot up from my seat and tugged on my father's sleeve.
“Let's go wight now!”
The sun is still up!
Besides… we have other business at the main building now, anyway.
‘I'm talking about Heuk Daewi and his cronies…’
Eldest Uncle, who had been watching, raised his hand.
“I wanna go too~”
* * *
The main building.
This referred to all the buildings on the west side of the estate, relative to where I lived.
It was such a vast place that each section had different responsibilities.
We were headed to where the administrator for personnel in the restricted-access area was located.
It was the department that managed all the people confined to the eastern wing and all matters related to them.
“How scandalous… What on earth is that?”
“Isn't that Lord Heuk Daewi?”
“Why is he tied up like that…?”
Whispers followed us wherever we went. They didn't seem to be trying to lower their voices, as I could hear them perfectly.
I snickered to myself.
‘You must be so embarrassed, you jerk.’
Trailing behind us were Heuk Daewi and his companions, bound in ropes.
It looked like they were walking, but a closer look revealed they were floating just above the ground, being dragged along.
‘Eldest Uncle's knot-tying skills are on an artisan level.’
Those fools must feel like clowns.
“Our little fairy, are you having fun?”
I was currently riding on Heuk Biwon's shoulders.
It was nice being so high up, but…
I felt a bit like a landmark, drawing even more attention our way.
Anyway, he was the type of person who couldn't even hold a child normally.
‘I wanna go too~’
A moment ago, when Eldest Uncle had insisted on coming along.
I finally understood how Eldest Uncle, who was supposed to be out, had managed to show up with such perfect timing.
‘Actually, I ditched my work to come here. Haha.’
He'd set up a lightning barrier of sorts around his residence, and came to check when an intruder was caught in it?
And that was why he had to come back.
‘But I'm sure Heuk Gyewon said Eldest Uncle was going to quit his post today.’
So is it okay for him to just ditch his meeting like that?
Feeling a little worried, I gripped Eldest Uncle's hair tightly, and he patted my leg.
“It's okay~”
Does he have eyes on the top of his head? His words seemed to read my mind.
“I'm quitting anyway, so it's fine to make a scene today.”
“…Weally?”
“Of course. Our princess is going to be the one feeding her eldest uncle and her brother from now on, right?”
Heft! Eldest Uncle lifted me up and held me in his arms this time.
I could clearly see his bright, smiling face.
Eldest Uncle took one of my hands and waved it to the side.
What is he doing?
“Little brother, you should greet our new breadwinner too.”
“What disgusting nonsense.”
My father, walking beside him, wore a faint but utterly fed-up expression.
“What do you mean, nonsense? How rude to our savior and breadwinner, our baby fairy!”
“Eldest Uncle. I told you not to call me that.”
“Oki-doki. Eldest Uncle was wrong.”
With that, Heuk Biwon promptly kicked my father. It was a playful kick, not meant to hurt, but it made a rather loud sound.
My father whipped his head around.
“What do you think you're—!”
Still holding me, Eldest Uncle deftly dodged the incoming gust of wind. A cry of ‘Waaah!’ came from behind us.
“If you want to be treated, you should suck up to her too.”
“Why should I?”
“Our dear niece needs to be in a good mood to give you good treatment, you freeloader.”
“…”
My father stared at me for a moment before suddenly speaking. He looked as if he'd accepted it.
“What kind of flattery would you like?”
“…That's enough, just huwwy up and go.”
What is he talking about?
These lunatics.