Chapter 59
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: United Front (1)
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Chapter 59. United Front (1)
First to speak was Yoon Ah-young.
"...Mother."
"Silence."
Yoon Ji-ae cut her off.
"I have no desire to be called 'Mother' by you."
"..."
Ah-young's eyes grew misty.
But she held back steadfastly.
Absolute obedience to the family head.
That was the fate bestowed upon the Yoon sisters who served the head.
She had been chosen, but it had never brought her happiness.
Still, Yoon Ah-young endured.
She bore it just as she had persevered all this time.
She endured for the sake of her sisters, who had given her life meaning.
Yoon Ji-ae lifted the corners of her mouth.
"Raise your head."
She approached Yoon Seo-hyun and gently stroked her cheek.
Yoon Seo-hyun didn't flinch.
"You will one day lead this family. Never kneel lightly to anyone."
"Mother... I..."
"One day, you'll understand everything your mother says."
Tae-hyun could sense the weight the Yoon family head held for them just by being in that space.
"...We'll meet in the finals. I'm looking forward to seeing how much you've grown."
She straightened up with a bright smile.
In a mere ten seconds, Yoon Ji-ae had dispatched all forty spirits.
In terms of sheer strength, she was comparable to Yoon Ji-yeon.
But no one knew where or how she had gained her power after vanishing.
Rumors ranged from contracts with demons to powers surpassing even S-Rank Hunters with ease.
She was a complete enigma, shrouded in uncertainty.
And now, Yoon Ji-ae had returned to the Yoon family for none other than the 'Advanced Mana Manual'.
A blue portal enveloped Yoon Ji-ae's body.
At that moment, Kang Tae-hyun stepped forward boldly.
Yoon Ji-ae, noticing his footsteps, turned to look at him.
"Whether you're the Yoon family's former head or whatever, the Advanced Mana Manual is mine."
Yoon Ji-ae laughed at his words.
She kept her smile until the portal fully vanished.
"What a foul temper. Auntie."
The cube where she had stood remained silent for a long while.
"Why now?"
"Have you been well? The family has changed so much. Back when I was head, there was never anything this... insignificant."
Yoon Ji-ae gazed at the family garden as she spoke.
"The Yoon family raises resilient mages. Training grounds are all we need—nothing else. A flower garden like this is just extravagance for mages."
"...The head won't want you here, Mother."
Yoon Ji-yeon stared at Yoon Ji-ae, tension etched on her face.
Her presence was as imposing as ever.
Age hadn't diminished her beauty, and her sharp tone still commanded respect.
Yoon Ji-ae glanced at Yoon Ji-yeon's legs.
"I heard you lost a leg. How's your body holding up?"
"That's not the issue."
"Is there anything more important between mother and daughter?"
Yoon Ji-yeon clenched her fists tightly.
"...What I want to know is why you've come back now."
"Do I need permission to visit my daughters?"
"That's not what I—!"
"Hold on."
Ssssh—!
Yoon Ji-ae closed the distance in an instant.
A binding spell that immobilized its target.
An advanced incantation.
Dangerous enough to make her legs tremble.
Yoon Ji-yeon swallowed hard.
"Of course. I've come to reclaim what's mine."
Yoon Ji-ae smiled brightly and pulled her cloak's hood over her head.
"Don't worry. Once I have it back... I'll vanish quietly."
Yoon Ji-ae's body began dissolving into petals.
What she sought to reclaim.
The Advanced Mana Manual, born from Yoon Ji-yeon's spirit.
But Yoon Ji-ae had already mastered the Advanced Mana Manual.
She didn't need it in the first place.
'She definitely has some ulterior motive...'
Yoon Ji-yeon pressed her forehead.
"..."
"..."
"..."
In the reception room, Yoon Seo-hyun, Yoon Ah-young, and I were having a meal.
Servants attended to us nearby.
The butler approached Yoon Seo-hyun and whispered in her ear.
"Miss, the bath water is ready."
"Yeah, okay."
Screeech—.
Yoon Seo-hyun pushed back her chair and headed for the door.
She'd grown unusually quiet, and her complexion looked poor.
I slurped down a bowl of seaweed soup, lost in thought.
'Does she hate her mom that much?'
Parents, siblings.
I had none left.
So I couldn't offer comfort or understanding for their family drama.
Whatever the case, Yoon Ji-ae's appearance was enough to stir massive waves among the sisters.
But one thing was clear: her actions in the arena had been wrong.
I called out to Yoon Ah-young.
"Hey, Ah-young."
"Y-Yeah??"
"You've been through a lot."
If it were me, I'd have smashed everything and stormed out, tournament be damned.
Yoon Ah-young enduring over ten years in this dysfunctional family was impressive.
'Come to think of it...'
She and I were alike in many ways.
She'd quietly done her duty amid all the abuse and pain.
Solely because she was a child of the Yoon family, she'd endured torment from her own mother.
I knew those feelings better than anyone, which made it all the more heartbreaking.
Twenty-two years of being scorned, shunned, and ostracized for lacking mana.
Twice as much as her, but numbers didn't matter.
I fished a piece of meat from my seaweed soup and placed it in Ah-young's rice bowl.
Giving away my meat meant acknowledging her as a friend.
"I'm rooting for you."
"Uh, yeah?"
Ah-young stared at the meat in her bowl, visibly flustered.
Then she burst out laughing, her face blooming into a smile.
"Pfft, hahahahaha!! Oh, seriously."
It wasn't just a smile—she was roaring with laughter.
Id never seen Yoon Ah-young laugh like this.
The tense reception room filled with her laughter.
The servants attending us exchanged glances and chuckled softly.
"Oh, seriously. For real."
Ah-young laughed so hard tears welled up.
She wiped them away with her hand.
"Ah... That was hilarious. Thanks, Tae-hyun. It's been ages since I laughed like that."
"Uh... yeah. Glad you laughed. You like meat? I'll give you all of mine."
I offered my soup bowl.
She politely declined, saying she was fine.
Still smiling faintly at me, she said,
"That's why I like you."
My brain froze for two seconds.
"Uh... yeah... thanks."
If that were a love confession, it'd be great, but it was clearly just as a friend.
In my past life, I'd misread similar moments and gotten into awkward spots.
'No way. Not happening. I've got forty years of life experience. No more dark history.'
Ah-young set down her spoon and carefully stood.
"I'll head out first. Kinda tired today."
"Yeah, go ahead. You did great today."
"Yeah, night."
Ah-young waved and stepped into the hallway.
Now the reception room held only me and the three servants attending me.
'As long as she laughed, it's good.'
Should I finish eating? I tore into some ribs.
While I ate, one servant approached.
"We owe you our thanks, Tae-hyun."
"Pardon?"
He spoke politely to me, much younger than him, with a kind face.
Among the Yoon servants, he looked the oldest.
Gray strands dotted his hair.
"It's been so long since I saw the young miss smile."
He was genuinely grateful.
"Thank you, Tae-hyun. For making her laugh."
"Oh, no need. I'm the thankful one. For this delicious food..."
I meant it.
This caliber of meal wasn't available everywhere.
"...And I have one request."
"Oh, sure. Anything. Name it."
I accepted readily.
Their kindness had been immense.
This was the least I could do.
"I'm just an old man who's watched over the two young misses since they were little, with not much time left."
"Don't say that..."
"I have one earnest plea."
He bowed to me.
The servants behind him bowed too.
"...Please stop Yoon Ji-ae."
His words hit like a shock.
Yoon Ji-ae, the former Yoon family head.
Now rejected by the family itself.
Contradicting the daughters' stance.
'...'
Whatever happened between Yoon Ji-ae and them wasn't my concern.
My focus was solely the Advanced Mana Manual.
Their issues were theirs to resolve.
I wanted minimal involvement.
I asked cautiously.
"What do you mean by 'stop'?"
"Exactly that. Tae-hyun, please keep Yoon Ji-ae from getting the Advanced Mana Manual. We beg you."
It simplified things.
I gripped his hand firmly.
"Don't worry about that."
"...Pardon?"
I chewed on a rib as I replied.
"I'm winning anyway."
The Advanced Mana Manual was mine.
That condition made it no request at all.
I accepted gladly.
Huh? What's up, Tae-hyun.
Heading over.
'What the heck. Suddenly.'
Seo-hyun peeked toward the reception room.
Kang Tae-hyun sat there alone now.
"What's this about?"
Tae-hyun looked deep in thought, seated.
Then, as if struck by an idea, he stood.
"The finals are the day after tomorrow. Both of you, do exactly as I say."
"Huh?"
"What? Suddenly?"
He tapped a pen and continued.
"Your goal is to knock out Yoon Ji-ae. Mine's the Advanced Mana Manual."
"...And?"
"Follow my plan, and we'll wrap this tournament smoothly. Any objections?"
Tae-hyun raised his hand.
Ah-young asked hesitantly.
"Tae-hyun, even so, beating the former head seems impossible."
"I'll prove it."
His sharp retort left her speechless.
"This stage proves it too. The board's set. Time to show everything you've prepared. You're ready, right?"
"O-Of course! I haven't shown my all yet... so in the finals."
"Hold on. I still don't get it. What's in it for me? I don't get the Advanced Mana Manual."
Tae-hyun scratched his head this time.
"Nothing for you? Hmm... I doubt that."
"...Ugh."
Tae-hyun knew Seo-hyun wanted to reconcile with Ah-young.
Hed felt it clearly during CDT and left it as their issue.
But if he created the opportunity, failing to seize it would be foolish.
A perfect chance.
United front with her sister. Collaboration.
Kang Tae-hyun was handing her that.
"...A perfect plan where I get to do what I want?"
Seo-hyun stammered, hit right on the mark.
Tae-hyun grinned.
"Yeah. A perfect plan where everyone's wishes come true. Gather close."
Ah-young and Seo-hyun leaned in.
"The plan is..."
(To be continued next time)