Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: A Father's First Duty
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‘We just have to sneak out!’
‘The youngest will take all the responsibility!’
‘What? What are you talking about? Are you crazy? That's not what we agreed on!’
Uncle said he'd sneak out, and Eldest Uncle said Uncle would take the blame…
They declared it with such confidence and shamelessness. But would it really work like that?
Besides, it would be a problem if we were caught breaking the rules.
It could easily affect the work I'm doing now and become a huge headache.
They said we'd be tracked if we went outside because of the tracer incense.
It would obviously be trouble if people said, "Those who escaped are at the clinic Heuk Biyu is running these days."
‘I wanna go wif Eldest Uncwe and Uncwe too, but not wight now.’
‘Hey! She said she wants to go out with us, right?’
‘Ah, well, what can we do? The princess is begging us to go outside with her…’
…What is wrong with them?
Just as I was about to scowl, unable to stand how they were twisting my words more than usual.
‘Kiddo. We couldn't get the outing restriction lifted, but we took care of the tracer incense. So there's no problem, right?’
‘Huh?’
I didn't know what was going on, but the two of them said they were no longer affected by the tracer incense.
So no one would know even if they snuck out.
I wasn't sure of the details, but it seemed related to how they'd been gone for a few days, visiting the main building.
Even when I looked at Gyewon, he just shook his head with a blunt expression, as if he didn't know either.
Despite my hesitation, I asked for only Uncle, whose skills would be useful, to come along, but…
The way my damn Eldest Uncle acted was a sight to behold.
‘Why are you leaving Eldest Uncle out! Why! I'm gonna lie down and cry~!’
‘I get it, so get up! Awen't you embawassed in fwont of the kids?!’
‘Nope!’
‘…I'm embarrassed, Father.’
Anyway, that's the story of how my Uncle and Eldest Uncle ended up joining the outing.
I heard later that they'd managed it by having a good 'talk' with the manager in charge of the tracer incense.
‘…Did they really solve it with a ‘talk’?’
Perhaps because I was overthinking it, Dad whispered to me that day.
It seemed he was trying to be considerate of me in his own way.
‘You seem to have a plan, so I'll leave it be. If it looks like you'll be caught, I'll take care of it. As long as they aren't seen, it's fine, isn't it?’
‘…Why does ‘take cawe of it’ sound wike ‘ewase them fwom the wowld’?’
‘Hm? If necessary, I can do that.’
‘No, no, no, no!’
In any case, it all worked out for the best.
‘Because it was a success.’
Jeok Yunha was certainly a capable person, but her merchant guild was not yet fully established.
None of the people under her command were powerful enough to overwhelm the Sinion Family's envoys.
‘If they can come out, I might as well use them.’
Wasn't this why I had sweet-talked Dad, Eldest Uncle, and Uncle in the first place?
So I did my part, while Eldest Uncle and Uncle launched a joint operation with Jeok Yunha.
I thought they would be competent, but… they were far more so.
On the first day, they not only found and dealt with the infiltrator on their own.
They also worked with Kanin to capture a large number of culprits who were systematically trying to distribute low-grade herbs.
‘Haha, this is way too easy compared to what we used to do.’
‘Hey, this is bland. Isn't there more? Like someone we can beat up?’
Aside from the fact that they were so good they were getting bored.
I mean, it felt like using a secret service agent to catch a neighborhood punk.
Thanks to them, everything was sorted out in an instant. It would have taken me at least a month on my own.
‘What on earth did these people do for a living when they were healthy?’
I had a rough idea about Dad, but I'd have to ask them properly later.
"So this is the end for those bastards."
And today was the final day.
The plan was to obtain the last piece of decisive evidence, and then Jeok Yunha would use her abilities to burn everything down.
It was all pre-planned.
Though the great fire would also serve to erase the traces of Eldest Uncle's lightning strikes.
In addition, the processing plants that illegally made fake medicine or mixed in low-grade herbs, the places extensively prepared to spread plagues, and so on.
These places would also be struck by lightning and go up in flames.
‘There aren't many lightning mages around here, so it's best to avoid having it traced back to Eldest Uncle.’
This opportunity would give Jeok Yunha wings to fly. She would grow even faster than in my third life.
‘And I get free medicinal herbs for life. Hehe…’
Big sis, you cast me out in my third life. In this one, I'll bleed you dry…!
As I was lost in such playful thoughts, a voice reached my ears.
"You look pleased."
"Huh?"
Dad was resting his chin on his hand, observing me.
"Well… evewything tuwned out fine."
In truth, personal gain aside, what relieved me the most was that Uncle Woondeok and Jeok Yunha wouldn't have to suffer in this life.
‘I'd give all my luck for you to be happy, Bima.’
I really wanted to be on their side.
So much so that as I walked into that final deathtrap, I wondered what it would have been like if I had been on their side.
"Anyway, what about you, Dad? You didn't get to wun wild wike Uncwe and Eldest Uncwe. Must have been bowing."
"…I am not a wild colt. It wasn't like that."
Dad, who had just branded his older and younger brothers as wild colts, patted my head.
"I had an obsessive thought that I must never leave my house and that tree… but since you are here, it's fine."
That's an important clue. His house and the tree where I first met him—what did they mean to him in the past?
"This place has been educational in many ways."
"Educationaw?"
Dad glanced toward the door. It was a short break, and I had sent Gyewon and Tak Minjae out to rest as well.
A time when even Raon, who had been running around, and Baem-baem, who had been working hard wrapped around my wrist, were asleep.
Dad spoke quietly.
"There were many parents who brought their children."
Children require different treatment methods and medicines than adults.
"They cherished them, each in their own way."
There aren't many physicians who know how to treat children, as there are many things to consider.
Some physicians or apothecaries even refuse to see children.
"I'm saying I learned a lot. I will try to put it to use."
"Ooh."
I wasn't sure what he'd learned, but I nodded anyway. It would be great if this helped him remember something.
"Dad, maybe…"
I asked carefully.
"Do you wemember anything about Mom?"
His face, which had been softer than usual, instantly hardened.
"I don't."
I instinctively knew I'd made a mistake.
"…"
"I don't even know that I was married."
‘Arin.’
I recalled Dad's face, smiling brightly, so different from now.
It was time to change the subject.
"Dad…"
"By the way, you looked like you were enjoying yourself."
"Huh?"
"Is making medicine and treating people that enjoyable?"
Me? Was I?
I was grateful he changed the subject first, but the new topic was rather random.
"Enjoyabwe…"
I wasn't sure. In the first place, I had honed my knowledge and skills to survive in a family of physicians and apothecaries.
It started as a means of survival, and in my third life, it became a way to get home.
"Yeah."
Still…
"I wike it."
It was nice to see people genuinely happy to see me. There weren't many like that in my past life.
"They wike me when they see me. I wike that."
I spoke nonchalantly, recalling memories from the past.
"They don't cuwse me. They don't hate me. And they don't hit me."
For some reason, Dad looked displeased.
Just then, a strong wind gusted, so powerful it lifted my bangs.
I blinked, taken by surprise.
"I'll give you a brush and paper."
"Ooh?"
A large brush was placed in my hand.
It's too big. This is a brush for adults!
"Write them down in order. The ones who cursed you. The ones who hated you. And finally… the ones who hit you. For the record, you must write down the last one."
I was bewildered. What was this situation?
"It's only natural to dream of revenge. It is your right."
So suddenly? Well, he was right. I hadn't let Heuk Daewi, who tormented me in my third life, get away with it.
"It seems this will be my first proper act as a father."
I tilted my head, then let out a soft laugh.
"So you wewen't acting wike a dad untiw now?"