episode_0214

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“So, did you find the head of the family whom you just saw?”

“Sorry. The head of the family. I’ve been busy lately…”

When the head of the family pointed out the current situation, I felt a little embarrassed. Right now, I am teaching Dok-ui, who is aiming for the head of the family and trying to hit Takbam.

“I apologize. I should have come to see you sooner…”

During the Sichuan incident, I asked the party for help. As a result, the party also received sweet benefits, but regardless of the gain, the fact that I asked for help from the party does not change.

Well, considering the circumstances of this era, it wasn’t ridiculously late… but the situation was a bit different. Even if it’s true that he hasn’t visited in over a year, there’s nothing he can say about the fact that he was caught in the Bicheon carriage that was sent to Rongin Gaekjan for confirmation, even if there were ten mouths.

“I didn’t call you to blame the teacher. Hehehe.”

Dang Gaju said with a generous smile.

“Yes, I heard the story from Do-kyung. You’ve reached the peak, but you can’t create sword energy yet?”

“Well, that’s right. The story that reached the climax was just before getting on the raincoat…”

“I see. Once the old man’s work has been completed to some extent, talk to Lord Pungyeong. As you may have heard from Do-kyung, Danga has his own vision of injecting energy into weapons. You can stay as long as you want and get some special training.”

“Thank you. The head of the family.”

Let’s take a moment to have a conversation on the topic of personal security with a light Gongchisa.

“Yes. You, who are supposed to be teaching a skill to an old man, do you think coming to me like this means that you have figured it out to some extent?”

The head of the household suddenly got to the point.

“Now we can take one step forward.”

“It means that the way has been found. After all, he is a teacher…”

The matriarch let out a long sigh.

“Do you know how many years the old man returned to the party?”

“I don’t know, but…”

“The last time you visited the party was 7 years ago. Even so, he left immediately after recovering from his illness. As for whether you stopped by often before then, that’s not true. Before that, you only stopped by once every few years.”

“Hmm…”

“ Moreover, this time, they brought in someone who I don’t know whether they were servants or disciples…whew, how must the head of the family feel.”

Was there such a situation?

Certainly, when you become an elderly person, there is no need to wander around the mountains and valleys in search of poisons or herbs. The old man said that he could not stay at the Dangga because of the patients coming to visit him, but considering the power of the Dangga, it was not persuasive that he could not provide an environment where he could comfortably conduct research.

“So this time, I prescribed a rather extreme drug. The elder is also old, so we can’t let him wander around the countryside forever, and it’s not good to keep distancing himself from the family like this.”

“Of course.”

“So, I would like to ask you a favor. Can you adjust the pace appropriately so that the elderly can stay in the house?”

“…I understand what you are saying.”

For a moment, the matriarch looked at me intently.

I know the story and thoughts of the head of the family, but the person I owed my debt to was the old man in the dock. The old man was currently concentrating on gambling with the sole intention of repaying the fortune to the head of the family.

I’m sorry to the head of the family, but the actions of teaching roughly or gently were difficult for me to accept as a teacher of an elderly person.

The matriarch looked at me for a moment, as if that thought was reflected in my tone of voice, and eventually nodded and smiled.

“Hehe, that’s right.”

“Thank you for your understanding.”

“No. I guess I’m asking too much. I failed to consider your position too much.”

The matriarch said with a grin.

“Okay, when are you planning on taking on the challenge? I also need to be prepared.”

“Um.”

The head of the family was smiling peacefully, but there was a strong fighting spirit in the eyes visible through the smile.

Since I rejected the family head’s offer, I guess he decided that he had no choice but to continue to win against the old man in order to keep him in the family.

Would rejection backfire?

After thinking for a moment, I shook my head. No, this was just a background to decorate the confrontation between the old man and the head of the family.

The head of the family was also a gambler.

Is there any gambler who would want to lose at a gambling table?

Is it gambling if money is at stake? The two decided to gamble with their own important values. The old man decided to gamble for his own pride, and the head of the family was waiting for the old man to challenge him in order to keep him in the family.

Even if I had accepted the matriarch’s offer, the two of us would have ended up clashing over each other’s values.

It was just a difference between late and early.

“The head of the household is an elderly person. I am just an advisor. Let me ask the old man.”

“Hehe. That’s right too. Well then…I’m looking forward to it.”

I clearly understood the matriarch’s intentions.

Instead of an amicable agreement or compromise, the intention to crush the other party’s will only through competition was clearly conveyed.

This was no longer a fight over who would let go of Takbam or not.

I understood that the essence of this game was a struggle for leadership between the elder and the head of the family.

There is a conflict of opinion between the poisonous elder who left the family solely to develop his medical skills and the head of the family who wants to return the poisonous elder to the family.

A fight between two people who can be said to be the pillars of the party and to enforce each other’s will.

It was a gambling game that took place when the dissatisfaction accumulated over a long period of time was vented in the form of the head of the household.

I thought as I looked at the head of the family, who was burning with fighting spirit.

This fight won’t be easy.

*** ***

Ryeo’s face opened wide these days.

She seemed quite happy playing with her sisters. It looks like she is spending quality time with Yeo Il-ye and Heukmyo every day.

“I’ll go to the academy! Sisters!”

“Do your best in martial arts training.”

“Hehe, I hope you come back.”

Perhaps his feelings for me have eased to some extent, and he hasn’t puffed out his cheeks much these days.

“It looks like you and Ryeo-ah have become very close?”

“Hmm…sometimes it’s a little burdensome, but he’s basically a cute kid so I can’t push him away.”

The black cat expressed somewhat complex and subtle feelings, and Yeo Il-ye just smiled at the black cat’s sentiments.

“Eungong, do you know that? It is said that Ryo-ah is considered the leader among her peers at the academy. The reason he is known as the leader is because he is very popular with children by using the magic trick he learned from Eungong.”

is it. Still, it looks like he’s been diligently practicing the magic he learned and is putting it to good use.

It was worthwhile to stay up all night and write a memorial record(?) before leaving the party.

“He was really controlling the kids. Feeling like a soldier following the general?”

“That’s right.”

It has been more than ten days since I stayed at Dangga. In the meantime, the two people giggle about the memories they had with Ryeo.

I am glad that the relationship between Heukmyo and Yeo Il-ye seems to have become a little closer due to the common denominator of Ryeo Ara.

“By the way, is today the day of the decisive battle?”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm. When I saw you at Gajujeon on the first day, you were almost being made fun of.”

To the head of the family, ‘Left? right? In fact, Yeo Il-ye also nodded in agreement with Black Cat’s impressions after seeing the back of the old man who was being stabbed.

“Isn’t it because the old man or King Eun saw the odds of victory and was ready to win?”

“Prepare well, senior. I still want an older person I know to win, right?”

“Me too. Would you please tell the old man in Dog that you are cheering him on?”

“I understand.”

In their own way, the two people seem to be praying for the victory of the old man.

Today is the day of the decisive battle.

It was the day when the old man and the head of the family competed.

A real sword fight between two people in a space where only two people are present.

The old man was checking his skills one last time before the match.

Efficient and clean movement. Excluding any deceptive movements to deceive the eyes, only the simple movements of moving the glass and rolling the dice inside were unfolding neatly.

Rattling. Rattling.

Perhaps knowing that it was the day of the decisive battle, the only sound that could be heard was the sound of the dice rolling in the glass as the old man moved the quiet house, where no sign of Makgi was normally noisy.

The old man’s glass stopped drinking.

“Are you here?”

“How is your physical condition?”

“Well. I’m not sure. I can’t even remember the last time we competed so intently. I am not sure that it is in perfect condition now.”

“Then I should check.”

Could it be that even the poisonous elder in the world couldn’t help but feel nervous about competing with the head of the family? As I sat down at the gambling table, the old man swallowed dryly and picked up his glass.

Rattling.

And the old man’s glass began to move.

The Yabawi techniques that the old man had honed over the past week unfolded, and I silently observed those techniques.

And when the glass stopped.

“You’re great.”

I had no choice but to say this with sincerity.

“You’re perfect.”

“….Thank you. If I hadn’t had you as my teacher, I wouldn’t have even dreamed of competing with Gwangryeol. No matter what the outcome is, I owe you a favor.”

“I will receive your thank you later.”

I smiled and stood up.

“First, focus on winning.”

“…I see.”

The old man got up from his seat.

“I hope you win and go home. Black Cat, Yeo Il Ye, and So Jeo are all cheering for the elderly.”

“Hehe. I guess…I’m thankful that there are people who support me.”

The old man smiled one last time and then began to walk away.

Dang Gwang-ryeol, the head of the Tang family, is the wife of the Dog.

A true sword battle between two people that will take place in a place where only two people are present.

For that match, the old man headed to the Gaju match.