<The Demon Lord of the Swordsmanship Family Chapter 105>
There was a little commotion due to some rather unremarkable people, but the first day of my healing trip with Spring went very smoothly.
We walked on the beach, stepping on fine sands, and we ate a fish as big as Spring’s forearm.
Spring seemed pretty satisfied, as she was happily saying, “Dad, I like it. Dad, I’m happy,” and giggling all the way to the hotel.
Then at the hotel, she soundly fell asleep, looking angelic.
It was a perfect start to the trip.
The next day, we headed to a nearby aquarium.
As we mixed in with the crowd and went inside, we were greeted by walls made entirely of glass. And within them, there were fishes swimming around.
They were truly enormous.
Jokingly saying that even a moderately sized sea monster could comfortably fit in.
We also saw penguins there.
“Penguin! Dad, look at the penguin. Over there, right there. Waddling, waddling.”
“You’re doing well there? Show me how a penguin walks.”
“Like this. Waddling, waddling.”
We saw a mermaid princess too. Of course, it wasn’t a real mermaid but one wearing a breathing apparatus.
“Wow… Princess! It’s a princess!”
“Yeah, it’s a princess.”
“Hello, Princess! Waive waived waved.”
All the kids, not just Spring, were sticking to the wall and waving their hands as the mermaid made a graceful turn and winked. Indeed, a capitalist’s wink. Even a simple wink had its elegance.
In addition to those, Spring said things like, “Dad, that thing’s crying,” while looking at a stingray, and exclaimed, “Is Lord Dragon here too?!” upon seeing a turtle.
Enjoying ourselves like that, we finally reached today’s highlight and the ultimate purpose of our visit to this aquarium: ‘Square.’
“Wowwwwww!!”
“Hoo.”
“Dad, there’s Square! Blue color. Stripes. Big lips. Definitely Square!”
“Is it?”
“Yes, absolutely… Wait? Wait? There’s a Square over there too. And there, and there!”
“A family of Squares, it seems.”
“There’re so many Squares. Extremely many. More than fingers and toes. Wowww!”
As the ‘group of Squares’ swam along one side of the aquarium wall, Spring nearly lost her mind. Honestly, this was justified.
The sight of a school of blue fish rushing overhead was spectacular, even to me. Building an aquarium in such a way was truly ingenious.
Very impressive.
On the last day at the sea, we rode a cable car.
To be honest, this was a letdown. Not for me, but Spring’s reactions were telling.
“Pfft. Dad, this is boring.”
“Is it?”
“Dad, come here. Here’s my ear.”
“Hmm? What’s wrong?”
“Spring, flying with Dad is way more fun.”
Our body naturally seeks stronger stimuli than before. That’s what makes it thrilling.
But Spring had already experienced flying in the sky. Now her body has become accustomed to the slow-moving cable car and can’t find it amusing anymore.
But don’t be disheartened. There’s still the highlight to come.
Fireworks, right there.
Our Spring absolutely cherished Dad’s fireworks show in the night sea.
“Dad, Dad.”
I carved ‘Apocalypse’ into the air.
As the ‘Hexagram’ rose into the sky.
Kwaajiijijijjjik-!!
Ice fills the sky.
A groundbreaking start to fireworks that aren’t made of fire! Flowers of ice bloom in the sky. The vibrant ice flowers then fall and scatter, leaving behind tiny droplets. A white mist settles onto these droplets, burning brightly.
Next, actual fiery fireworks. The fire grows into a massive flower.
Then, wings formed of fire emerge from the flower, and a fiery bird takes flight. The bird circles over the sea and leaves behind a streak of lightning before disappearing.
Stars.
Stars envelop the entire area.
And then, the starry waves mimicking yesterday’s Square family surround the sea.
“WAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!
Clap Clap Clap!!
Not just Spring, but everyone around erupted in cheers as if they would fall over.
“Dad, you’re amazing!!”
“Heh. Am I amazing, Dad is?”
“Yup Yup! The best in the universe!”
This time, I need to take some credit.
Considering all the effort that went into requesting the city with an official document and acquiring the permits to show these fireworks.
This deserves some praise.
Thus, the first schedule of the Sword Master Family’s healing trip was completed successfully.
We were heading to the next destination.
Time flows, and as Park Ki-hyuk’s and Park Bom’s healing trip reached its final phase.
A café in Seoul.
At a trendy hotspot with hip interior design, a woman opened the door and stepped in.
And moments later, everyone in the café turned their gaze toward her.
They were surprised.
First, they were surprised by her attire and then by her appearance.
Red tracksuit. No, the term ‘tracksuit’ doesn’t quite fit. It was more like a ‘sweat suit’, a torn-up suit everywhere.
The women all thought,
“I know what that is! That’s pajamas!”
The raggedness and dampness—100% pajamas!
Regardless of how Korea celebrates freedom of expression, stepping out in the middle of the city wearing pajamas is quite a shock. As curious eyes rose to decipher her identity.
They were surprised again.
“Whew.”
“What is it? A goddess of beauty.”
She was stunningly beautiful.
There seemed to be a radiant halo of beauty (‘美’) behind her.
Isn’t it that way? Ah, such a person could become an entertainer, right? That person was this woman.
Her messy hair had become wavy, and her face, which looked like it hadn’t even been washed, not to mention makeup, emanated a pitiful charm.
But at this point, that frayed sweat suit seemed to shine with brilliance. The modeling indeed matters.
However, this woman paid no heed to such gazes.
“Hnnngh, why’d you call to bother me?”
Rather, she loudly yawned and scratched her itchy head vigorously.
At that moment, a woman ran towards her, vigorously scratching her head.
“Senior! Senior Yoo-Ri!”
“Late, TMI.”
That’s right.
The woman’s identity was Jin Yoo-Ri.
It was Jin Yoo-Ri who, two weeks after the start of the vacation, had stepped out for the first time.
……
…
Jin Yoo-Ri and Kim Ha-ni relocating their seats to this floor.
“Senior, why are you in such a state?”
“What’s wrong with my state?”
Jin Yoo-Ri glanced around self-consciously and checked herself out.
“I don’t see anything wrong?”
“Are you saying you think, in such a state, you could stand in front of Senior Ki-hyuk?”
“Absolutely not. Ki-Hyuk should only see my best side.”
“Haa, if you just showed half that best side more often.”
“Hmph. This woman here is only beautiful to her man.”
“Waah… I feel sorry for the face if you’re going to use that way, hand it over to me.”
As Kim Ha-ni made a fuss, Jin Yoo-Ri smirked and sipped her strawberry ade.
“……Hmm, it’s fine. So why did you call me?”
“No particular reason. I just missed you and called you. You mentioned earlier that you wouldn’t leave your house. So I thought you might be bored and called you… but I didn’t expect you to not step out even a foot.”
“Did I say I hadn’t taken a step outside?”
“Just by looking at Senior’s condition, anyone could figure that out.”
“I’m lazy. Not doing anything when I rest is my motto. I wouldn’t have even picked up your call if it wasn’t you.”
“Is it an honor?”
“Do you realize now? It’s an honor, you know.”
“Phew. Then how about Senior Ki-Hyuk?”
“Are you calling that a question? I’d fly if necessary. For Ki-Hyuk, I can do anything. Anything.”
Jin Yoo-Ri chuckled after saying this, possibly finding it absurd herself, and Kim Ha-ni also laughed, saying there’s nothing she can do.
“Since you like Senior Ki-Hyuk so much, why don’t you join and go with him? Even though Senior Ki-Hyuk appears stoic, he listens well to his sister’s requests, doesn’t he?”
“That’s why dating amateurs are frustrating. Tsk tsk.”
“Huh?”
Kim Ha-ni was taken aback.
What’s an amateur?
Kim Ha-ni had experience in dating, but Jin Yoo-Ri was a singleton.
Regardless of this, Jin Yoo-Ri kept speaking her mind.
“For a relationship to deepen, you must respect each other’s boundaries. Ki-Hyuk’s boundary is Spring, and I respect that boundary.”
“Waah… It’s so strange hearing the word ‘boundary’ come from Senior.”
Kim Ha-ni teased, “Sister has really grown,” and Jin Yoo-Ri smirked, “Hmph.”
The two thus exchanged their stories gently.
Kim Ha-ni explained the rumors that arose during the vacation classes, and Jin Yoo-Ri explained things about magic practice.
In summary, it’s more efficient to train practically rather than studying magical formulas…
And when ‘practical training’ was mentioned, Kim Ha-ni hit her palm and exclaimed.
“Oh, that’s right! Senior! There’s something I need to tell you.”
“A surprise… What is it?”
“Um! There’s this rumor about the fourth-year volunteer activity, right?”
“What?”
“There are rumors that the police, local authorities, and the Academy are collaborating on some project. Something about law enforcement, I think.”
“Hmm, what is it? Do you know more?”
“Not exactly. I heard it from my mother.”
“I see…”
What on earth are they doing? If it’s something like Gate, that would be excellent.
It would mean more time together with Ki-Hyuk.
It has been too long since I have seen him as a human being.
“Anyway, Sister TMI, thanks for sharing the information. You’ve done your part. Let’s go eat. I’ll buy you dinner as compensation for your efforts.”
So, Jin Yoo-Ri and Kim Ha-ni moved on to eat, leaving that mystery behind.
Upon returning home, Jin Yoo-Ri immediately ran to someone.
If Kim Yeon-hee is Park Ki-Hyuk’s omnipotent key, then for Jin Yoo-Ri, it’s problem solver Yoo Hae-ryun.
Mother knows everything, so she should know.
As always, Yoo Hae-ryun reassured her daughter, “They’re talking about exterminating underground organizations.”
Korea has gone through a lot in recent years.
There was a mass abduction caused by the Evolutionary Group, and although people don’t know, Celutis had awakened the disaster known as Red Gate.
Fortunately, thanks to swift action, both incidents were successfully eliminated.
However, one problem arose.
As the vacancies left by these two large organizations filled up, underground organizations also began to spring up, one after another.
Just like how a greater wound raises a higher risk of infection, these underground organizations spread like bacteria quickly.
They were tenaciously and persistently expanding their influence.
And those suffering from this expansion of underground organizations were the civilians, the ordinary people living normal lives.
“…So, the government suggested that superhumans should step in to handle this, and after searching for the most suitable location, they settled on the neutral Academy. Do you understand?”
“Ah! I understand.”
“But, not many people know this yet, so where did you hear it from?”
“It’s a secret. I promised the information provider confidentiality.”
“Ho.”
Do you know how to keep a secret? Jin Yoo-Ri has grown a lot.
Yoo Hae-ryun smiled at her daughter’s quirky behavior.
“You’re doing pretty well. Whoever your information provider is, they’re doing a great job. A kid who’s quick to get information like that is valuable in itself.”
“Don’t worry. I bought her snacks and also bought her dinner.”
“Stop stating the obvious. You know how much your allowance is, right? So think of it, you’d never ask someone else for food, would you? You have to buy it yourself.”
“Mom says things but…”
Yoo Hae-ryun ignored her daughter’s complaints and continued drinking her tea.
“Anyway, prepare yourself. It seems like you’ll be deployed immediately after returning to school.”
“It’s not a big deal.”
“Not necessarily.”
Because of the two events, ‘Ecological System Collapse’ and the executed ‘Gate All Reset,’ many small to medium-sized parties, who were struggling with revenue, disbanded.
“…And there’s information indicating some of them have joined underground organizations.”
“Why would they do that? They can hunt, can’t they?”
“That side pays more than hunting.”
Is it really so hard to question whether risking one’s life to k*ll monsters is easy, compared to extorting civilians who can’t use mana? It was such an obvious query.
“I understand completely. I’ll go check it out.”
“Wait. Sit down.”
Yoo Hae-ryun opened her mouth with a calm face.
“How’s it going with Ki-hyuk these days?”
“Ah, why again?”
“Yoo Ri, do you not see me? I’m being very serious here.”
“Things are going well. We talk often.”
“Good good.”
Yoo Hae-ryun continued with a satisfied smile.
“The fourth year will probably be the only ones deployed. If that’s the case, you’ll likely move in groups and there’s a good chance you’ll get to work with Park Ki-hyuk, the man you’ve been pining for so much.”
“Mom, it’s Ki-Hyuk, not Western Mr. Park.”
“I, as a mother, sincerely root for your relationship with this so-called Western Mr. Park. I really earnestly hope you two make it. It’s not just me.”
“Mom, it’s Ki-Hyuk, not Mr. Park.”
“Do you realize how high your father’s expectations are? He’s been singing praises of ‘Western Mr. Park’ since before you went to Red Gate. Can you believe it? The man who’s known for being difficult!”
“Really, it’s not Western Mr. Park!”
“Is that all? I saw the memorial pillars when you came up, right? Every member of Jin-ryong Mountain worked together to establish them, did they not? Our entire Jin dragon clan supports you two. Sincerely.”
“Ah, really! Who am I talking to?”
“A human being is given three chances, isn’t that right? I thought you had used up all of your chances. You know how ill you were. Just your existence now, having grown up this far, felt like you’d used all three of your chances. So I didn’t dare to wish for more.”
With a sudden grip, Yoo Hae-ryun took her daughter’s hand.
“Yoo-Ri.”
Startled, Jin Yoo-Ri.
“Mom, why, why?”
“You need to secure Ki-Hyuk.”
“Ah, why, Mom?”
“Money? Spend it recklessly. You can take everything out of the warehouse if you need to. If Dad says anything, I’ll block him. Just take it all.”
“…Mom, weren’t we talking about dismantling underground organizations?”
“Parasitic bastards? I’m not scared of them. I’m only scared of you, my dear.”
“… Am I scary?”
“……Ignore the trivialities.”
Gulp, Yoo Hae-ryun tightly gripped her daughter’s hand.
Gulped.
Jin Yoo-Ri automatically recoiled at the desperation in her mother’s eyes.
“Remember this. It’s Western Mr. Park. Park Ki-Hyuk, and there is no one else who can hold you.”
Volunteer activities for underground organization clearance. And now, Park Ki-Hyuk.
Jin Yoo-Ri realized it as she looked at this illogical progression.
I’m exactly like mom.
