Ch.149Epilogue 10. There’s No Way I Could Raise a Hero’s Daughter (9)

After sending Lu-a’s quantum portal to return Carrot Man, I went to report Ra-hee’s running away to Lena.

As soon as she heard the story, Lena snapped the fountain pen she was holding, completely forgetting about writing a order as she lunged at me and grabbed my collar.

“Ui-seok! What have you done!”

“I messed up.”

“Bring Ra-hee back right now! My daughter becoming a hero? This is absurd!”

Seeing Lena jumping up and down in anger made me irritated too.

“I’ve done everything I could. I just don’t understand why Ra-hee is acting this way. I thought we were close enough, and I’ve treated her well all this time. I don’t know what else to do.”

“If the situation was this serious, you should have explained it to me clearly! I trusted you!”

“You’re just avoiding responsibility.”

“No, you’re the one avoiding responsibility, Ui-seok. Who caused all this work I’m doing now? Do you think I enjoy flying from office to office? Who else would run the company if not for me and Cha-mi? Lu-a? Somi? Or you?”

It had been a long time since I’d seen Lena this angry.

She wasn’t wrong. There’s no one in the world as excellent as Lena except Lena herself. That’s an obvious fact.

My head hurt.

The way to love a woman and the way to love a child were vastly different.

These two shouldn’t use the same word. Damn dictionary.

“Ui-seok, let’s hear your excuse. Lu-a’s kids are happy every day, so why is our Ra-hee acting like this?”

“Do you really not know why?”

Somehow Somi had silently appeared beside us.

“I don’t know, I really don’t, Somi. What should I do? What should I do about Ra-hee…”

“I told you both when Ra-hee was born. That you both needed to quit working.”

Somi spoke coldly to us.

“You should have spent more time with Ra-hee. Listened to her, understood what she wanted.”

“She doesn’t talk to me.”

“That’s because you’re always one step ahead, Ui-seok. Most of your actions made Ra-hee uncomfortable. But Ra-hee knew it was your way of caring, so she stayed quiet all this time. Because Ra-hee is a good child. The gap just grew wider over time.”

Somi turned to look at Lena.

“Fathers and daughters are bound to be that way. That gap needs to be filled by the mother. But you weren’t by Ra-hee’s side, Lena.”

Lena painfully vented her frustration.

“So you’re saying I should give up everything? Somi, didn’t you agree with Ui-seok’s vision too? To make a better world for our children…”

“Ra-hee would have been happier with her mother, even if the world was a mess.”

Lena leaned her body against the desk, resting her arms on it and biting her lip.

“What should I do?”

“Let her do what she wants. Give Ra-hee freedom, even if just for a while.”

“What if she gets hurt?”

“She’s your daughter, how could that happen? And didn’t Yerin take her? She’ll take good care of her.”

I was actually more worried because it was Kang Yerin, but I decided to agree with Somi for now. Everything I’d done so far had proven to be wrong.

“When the time comes, I’ll contact Ra-hee. Don’t worry too much.”

Somi reassured Lena.

And so I was separated from Ra-hee for the time being.

It was quite a sense of loss.

But the sentimental feeling didn’t last long.

Not long after, Kang Yerin formed a new S-Sentai called the True Dragon King Sentai and began activities.

Unlike before, they didn’t attack Vengeance at all, instead only appearing during disasters or accidents to focus solely on rescuing citizens.

As a result, the popularity of heroes kept rising.

Since they interfered with Vengeance and made villains look incompetent, they were definitely targets for elimination.

The problem was that Ra-hee was included among the members.

“Stop! Cease villain attack! Dragon King Sentai has arrived!”

“That’s the Lord’s daughter! If she gets even a scratch, we’re in big trouble!”

“Retreat!”

Even in the midst of battling heroes, villains had to tuck tail and run when these guys started rescue operations.

They were using their heads properly.

But I couldn’t issue an elimination order either.

If I did, my relationship with Ra-hee would truly be ruined, and Ra-hee might get hurt.

What made me even angrier was:

“Haha! What, is this your first time seeing the legendary hero Red Dragon? If you need an autograph, just ask!”

Kang Yerin wasn’t wearing her usual Sulphur outfit but a red suit, going by the name Red Dragon.

Somehow she had managed to recruit other members too, bringing Ji Se-hwa, Shin Yukyong, and even the Yellow Cloaker version of herself.

And the role Ra-hee took was Pink Wings.

The very same position Somi had when she was a hero.

Of course, she didn’t have powers so she wore a normal suit, but you don’t need special abilities to rescue citizens.

Ra-hee’s movements were getting better, probably from training with Kang Yerin.

Thanks to the Dragon King Sentai’s activities, Vengeance’s approval ratings dropped over time, and more citizens began supporting heroes and the Dragon King Sentai.

The balance of power had been broken.

All because of a single person, my daughter Jung Ra-hee.

During all this time, Kang Yerin didn’t contact me once, as if she really intended to turn the world upside down.

And just like that, a year passed.

***

“Ungh.”

I barely managed to dig through the shattered rock with just my right hand and climb to the surface. The sky was already dark, filled with stars.

“Hah…”

I slumped down in place.

This happened after my wives discovered my contract with Kang Yerin and attacked me.

They must have already left to have dinner without me, as I was alone on the damaged road.

Kang Yerin contacted me after a year, asking me to help stage the defeat of Red Dragon so she could retire the True Dragon King Sentai, and this is what happened.

It was probably Ra-hee’s idea. From forming the Dragon King Sentai to today’s plan to humiliate me.

She must have really wanted to drive a wedge between me and Lena.

Or maybe it was just a message to make me angry.

My severed left arm can be treated later.

But where can I go to heal this aching heart?

“Master, Master.”

Boksil quickly jumped to me and rubbed her cheek against mine.

She must have already forgotten that she was the one who put me here.

Since Boksil listens well to anyone in our family, it’s not her fault.

When I pet her, she climbs onto my stomach, curls up, and purrs.

This is why people keep pets.

Pet therapy.

Now, what to do.

Ra-hee still seems angry with me.

Lu-a, Lena, and Somi must be furious with me too after learning about my relationship with Kang Yerin.

Honestly, I wasn’t having an affair. I never gave my heart to Kang Yerin nor was it a relationship of desire.

But I did wrong. I felt a bit guilty, which is why I kept it secret all this time.

For a year, heroes have been excitedly expanding their territory with the Dragon King Sentai backing them.

“Sigh.”

The dignity of Gerogius, Lord of Evil, is in shambles.

Exploding the universe, twisting dimensions, changing history.

To think I’d become so weak not because of a powerful enemy using such forces, but because of family issues.

Maybe I’ve been steeped in peace for too long.

“There’s no enemy.”

That seemed to be the biggest reason why this situation couldn’t be easily resolved.

I’m better than anyone at beating enemies down, but there’s no target anywhere.

In a way, I created this world’s structure, so I’m reaping what I sowed.

Then I’ll just have to use my head to break through.

“Hey, Boksil.”

“Woong.”

“What should I do?”

“Give me beef jerky.”

I have plenty of that. I took out a long piece of dried beef from my pocket and put it in her mouth.

Boksil has it good. No worries, just breathe and food and shelter come automatically.

A dog’s life is a good life.

“Hehe, Boksil loves Master the most.”

“Is that so? If only Ra-hee would cling to me like you do.”

“Master Ra-hee loves Master too.”

“No, she doesn’t. She even went to become a hero because she hates me.”

“Why’s that?”

Boksil didn’t understand my words and perked up her ears.

“Heroes are enemies of villains.”

“Really? Boksil didn’t know.”

That’s Boksil for you. This is truly healing.

Well, what do heroes or villains matter to Boksil? My enemy is Boksil’s enemy.

…Hmm.

“A hero’s enemy doesn’t have to be a villain.”

I stood up. Boksil hopped down and scratched her ear with her foot.

“It’s no problem if a hero’s enemy is another hero. That used to be the norm.”

I had forgotten because it was so long ago.

I created the full-fledged opposition between villains and heroes.

In the past, villains were weak, and at one point, heroes were extinct.

When the balance is off, sides always fight among themselves.

“I can’t deal with this situation because I’m a villain.”

Conversely.

“If I were a hero, it would be simple.”

That way, I can create an enemy.

Kang Yerin.

The root of all evil who provided information to drive a wedge between me and my wives, and who bewitched Ra-hee.

You picked a fight with me just because I met with Se-hwa? Now that I think about it, I’m getting angry.

You’re dead.

I summon my power. I concentrate the Red Dragon and materialize it in my right hand.

After a long time, I face the Red Dragon contained in the Switch.

“Transform… oh, I’m missing my left arm.”

This is ridiculous.

“Master, Master!”

Boksil, understanding my thoughts perfectly, brought a transformation device from somewhere and put it on my right arm. Cute thing.

“Transform.”

I bit the Switch and inserted it into the transformation device. The emerging Red Dragon opened its mouth and swallowed me.

A clean red suit. My left arm also returned to its original form.

“This is the real Red Dragon.”

I’ll show them what a true Dragon King Sentai is.

And I’ll get my beloved daughter back.

***

“Whoo! Did you see Gerogius’s face at the end? He was completely shocked! What a rare sight!”

Sulphur happily flopped onto the bed. The other Kang Yerin smiled.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen you so happy. Our activities end today, right?”

“Yes, yes. Everyone worked hard.”

“It was fun reminiscing about the old days for a year. It would have been better if Hayoung was here too.”

“There she goes again! Why would you want to call someone busy with their real job just to get lectured? Are you a masochist?”

Ji Se-hwa had an outburst at the mention of Park Hayoung. Kang Yerin shook her head.

“Like I don’t have a real job? I’m a successful lawyer, you know.”

“There she goes teabagging again. Yes, you’re amazing.”

“Haha, everyone gets along so well. I’ve made dinner reservations at a really expensive place! You can look forward to it. Our Ra-hee should fill her stomach too.”

Sulphur put her arm around Jung Ra-hee’s shoulders in a friendly manner. The other Dragon King Sentai members encouraged her as well.

After a year of activities, they had become quite close. Jung Ra-hee didn’t dislike these heroes either.

But somehow today, she wasn’t feeling as excited.

“Ra-hee, are you okay?”

Ji Se-hwa worriedly brushed Ra-hee’s hair aside. Kang Yerin signaled the other three to give them space.

After Ji Se-hwa, Shin Yukyong, and Kang Yerin left, Sulphur asked Jung Ra-hee:

“Why the long face? We gave your parents a good lesson, just like you planned.”

“Yeah, but…”

She thought she would feel good like Sulphur, but what was this unsettling feeling?

Jung Ra-hee absently scratched the pink helmet she was holding.