An Unwelcome Letter

A space so packed with stacks of letters that not a single gap could be seen.

From amidst the clutter, Jegal Jin spoke.

"Sit."

Hearing his command, I asked, "...Where, exactly?"

Where on earth was I supposed to sit? At my question, Jegal Jin glanced down at the floor.

Then, he pointed to a spot with his finger.

"There. Clear that spot and sit."

"Can I just shove them aside?"

"Yes."

Following his instructions, I folded the letters on the floor, tidied them up roughly, and sat down.

There was a small table, so it seemed he wanted me to sit across from him with it between us.

But wasn't he going to offer me anything?

Not even tea.

I thought he would at least give me something since he was the one who called for me. There wasn't even water. My lips were drying up in this desolate atmosphere.

Just as I was debating what to do.

"The drinks are on the top right of the shelf to your left."

"..."

At Jegal Jin's words, I stood up. It seemed he meant for me to help myself.

What spectacular hospitality.

Or is it because he doesn't even consider me a guest?

That was highly likely. I had been summoned, but I doubted he would treat me like a proper guest.

Top right of the left shelf.

I walked over to the designated spot. Opening the shelf, I indeed saw a few tea leaves inside.

As I lightly caught their scent, one caught my eye.

They have this here?

It was a tea I hadn't seen in a long time.

It was a variety I used to drink often back at the Bang family estate.

"May I drink any of these?"

"Do as you please."

"Understood."

Ignoring his blunt reply, I pulled out the tea.

Where is the hot water...

Ah, over there.

I placed the tea leaves inside and let them steep slowly.

Before long, a subtle aroma began to drift through the room. As I waited for the tea to steep fully—

"...Why did you choose that one?"

A voice sounded from nearby. Turning my head, I saw Jegal Jin had approached me at some point.

"Pardon? Choose what?"

"That tea. I asked why you chose that specific one."

"Ah. This?"

It was Suryeong tea. It was made by drying Suryeong grass, which grew near valleys.

It leaned on the bitter side, but I liked it because of the subtle sweetness mixed in.

"I chose it because I used to drink it often at home. Was I not supposed to?"

"..."

At my answer, Jegal Jin's brow furrowed slightly.

What? Was it off-limits? He told me to do as I pleased, so I did.

Just as I was wondering if I should put it back—

"No. Do as you wish. I was merely curious why you would choose to drink such a strange thing."

Spitting out the blunt words, Jegal Jin sat down across from me.

Watching him, I asked, "Would you like some?"

"No need. I do not drink such tasteless tea."

"Ah, I see."

Then why did you keep it here? I didn't understand, but I didn't press the issue.

I slowly poured the fully steeped tea and took a calm sip.

Mmm.

It was a tea that people either loved or hated, but I was on the side that liked it.

As expected, it tasted good even after all this time.

After savoring a sip, I carefully set the teacup down.

Clack.

A small sound echoed, and I looked at Jegal Jin before speaking.

"I heard you were looking for me. Should I offer my formal greetings first?"

"No need."

"Understood."

I nodded at his firm refusal. If he didn't want it, I wouldn't do it. Simple as that.

"Then... Ah. How should I address you?"

At my next question, Jegal Jin let out a dry chuckle.

"Why? Do you wish to call me Grandfather?"

I furrowed my brows at his words.

"No...? I have no such intention. Do you perhaps wish to hear it?"

"I have no memory of having a grandson like you."

"Then let's settle on 'Strategist'."

After calmly tossing that out, I asked again.

"So, Strategist. For what reason did you call me...?"

Tension began to rise. A worry crept into my mind that something bad might happen to me right here.

My opponent is Jegal Jin.

The genius of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the realm. Among those who were not martial artists, he currently wielded the greatest influence in the Central Plains.

Setting aside the blood connection between us, if that old man made up his mind, sweeping me away would be child's play.

He's not just the Alliance's chief strategist; he's also the current head of the Jegal Clan.

The head of one of the Five Great Clans.

Even if Jegal Jin himself wasn't a martial artist, the people under him certainly were.

In terms of sheer clan influence, the Jegal Clan was at the absolute top.

There was nothing to gain by getting on the bad side of such a figure.

Ugh. That useless man.

It was incredibly frustrating that my very existence put me in a position to be hated by this old man.

Seriously, that father of mine has never been of any help.

How on earth did he seduce her?

How did he manage to run off with a daughter of the Jegal Clan? Just thinking about it gave me a headache.

Right then.

"Is that dog of the Bang family doing well?"

"..."

Jegal Jin asked in a chilling voice.

The dog of the Bang family.

I didn't need to ask to know who he was referring to.

"...Well... yes. He's... getting by... yes."

I couldn't bring myself to say he was doing well.

That felt like the wrong thing to say right now.

I basically implied he was barely breathing.

"He shouldn't even be breathing. What a pity."

"......Hahaha."

An even more bloodcurdling remark followed. Oh, what should I do?

Is my father going to die soon?

The possibility was extremely high. Honestly, it was a miracle to me that he was still drawing breath.

"Hmm."

After muttering that, Jegal Jin stared at me in silence. His wrinkled, sharp eyes locked onto me.

I couldn't help but tense up.

Those eyes.

The old man's eyes held the entire world.

His pitch-black pupils resembled the night at first glance, but the vast sky contained within them was striking.

He reminds me of Grandmother.

My grandmother from my past life.

His gaze was just like hers, causing me to stare back blankly without realizing it.

After a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠long silence, Jegal Jin spoke.

"You do not resemble your father."

Hearing that, I gave a small nod.

"I hear that often."

It was something I had heard my entire life. They said that while I inherited his good looks, I lacked the distinct vibe of the Bang Clan's head.

To me, it was a compliment. I had no desire to resemble my father.

When I confidently replied that I heard it often, Jegal Jin's eyebrows twitched.

"Your personality as well."

"Of course. There's nothing to gain from taking after that man."

"...Ha."

Jegal Jin let out a dry laugh. But he quickly wiped the smile from his face.

"I heard you performed well in the preliminaries. Do you have a talent for martial arts?"

"...I was lucky."

"Luck. Truly?"

His dark eyes swept over me. As far as I knew, Jegal Jin possessed no internal energy.

Yet, his gaze felt as if he knew everything.

It was a reaction that made it seem like he had completely read my body.

Worried? I wasn't.

"Yes. It was luck. Though my own skill played a part, of course."

How many times had I dealt with things like this?

Even if he possessed such eyes, it wouldn't change anything.

I was an expert in this field, after all.

"Hmm..."

Jegal Jin nodded with an expressionless face.

"It is a mystery. How on earth did you become the successor of the Sword Saint... and your entry into Cheongwol Gate as well."

"It just sort of happened..."

"That is a rather poor explanation."

"Well, you see..."

I trailed off and scratched the back of my head. I was starting to find this annoying.

"You've probably already investigated my background anyway. It's exactly as written in your reports. There's nothing more to say even if you ask."

"..."

Jegal Jin's eyes widened slightly. His expression showed he hadn't expected me to speak so bluntly.

"Hah..."

Was he flustered by my audacity? As Jegal Jin's eyes widened further, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I decided to get straight to the point.

"I don't think I came here to be interrogated. Strategist, why did you really call me here?"

This meeting wasn't for an interrogation. The questions he was asking now weren't actually important.

Unless this was driven by a grandfather's affection to see his grandson.

Why did he call me?

When I asked about it—

"...You are a thoroughly uncharming fellow."

"I'm past the age for acting cute. But if you want me to, I can try."

"Spare me your disgusting nonsense."

"Understood."

Tsk.

Clicking his tongue, Jegal Jin pulled a letter from his robes and tossed it to me.

Thud.

Looking at the letter that landed on the table, my face contorted.

"Oh, shit."

"...?"

"Ah, sorry. Slipped out."

I quickly apologized as Jegal Jin reacted to my foul language.

But honestly, I had a good reason.

Why is that coming out of his robes?

The crest stamped on the letter. The crudely and lazily drawn design was all too familiar.

How could I not recognize it?

It was the crest used by the Bang family.

"...Why is this..."

Before I could finish asking why it was in the Strategist's possession, Jegal Jin spoke.

"Read it. It is a brazen letter sent to me by that man you call a father."

"...I'm going crazy."

I really didn't want to read it.

But I had to. I carefully picked up the letter and unfolded it.

The tightly packed handwriting immediately assaulted my eyes.

As always, his writing was incredibly hard to read.

Clenching my teeth, I read ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it line by line.

"Wow."

The more I read, the only thought that came to mind was one.

"...What on earth am I supposed to do with this damn man?"

My head throbbed.

"..."

What was this? Where should I even begin swearing? I had so many curses I wanted to spit out, but none came to mind.

...Actually, it's not that none come to mind. It's that there are too many to choose from.

I didn't even know which part to criticize first. It was always like this with this crazy man.

Ah, my head really hurt.

Did I have to keep reading this?

I kept glancing at Jegal Jin. Only now did I understand his angry gaze.

It wasn't just that he looked angry.

He was absolutely furious.

Yeah, if I received a letter like this, I'd be pissed off too.

And the problem was...

The target of his anger is sitting right in front of him.

The son of that bastard.

And that happened to be me.

Tremble.

Suppressing my shaking hands, I let out a sigh.

I calmed my breathing and continued reading the letter.

Because, of course, the content was ridiculously long.

As I read further—

"Huh?"

I gasped mid-read.

"Wow. What a bastard."

Forgetting that Jegal Jin was right in front of me, I spat out a curse.

Goddammit.

It was the same in the past, and it was the same now.

There was only ever one reason my father would send a letter like this.

"Is he completely insane?!"

It seemed my father had caused a massive incident.

And a very big one at that.