Father, Tae-shin Lee's office was eerily silent, unlike any other part of the bustling main house, where the sounds of warriors training and the busy movements of attendants were constant.
The small, single-story modern hanok was neat and elegant, but it lacked the grandeur one might expect from a household of Sungmuiga's stature.
Seohyun and I stood at the entrance, having sent word of our arrival, waiting.
"What do you think Father called us for?"
Seohyun, uncharacteristically tense, fidgeted anxiously.
"It's probably nothing serious. Try to relax."
"How am I supposed to relax? You should be nervous too! You're the only one who can stay so composed in front of Father."
She scolded me instead, making me chuckle.
'It's not like I'm not nervous.'
I was, in my own way.
Father was a formidable man.
He subjected his children to harsh trials and coldly reprimanded any behavior unbefitting of the Sungmuiga name.
But that was all.
Though intimidating, he was not a man who ruled through fear.
After all, he was still our father, and I understood that the hardships he placed upon us were meant to test us, to strengthen us.
'It's the old folks of the family who are more troublesome.'
Unlike Father, whose intentions were clear, those elders were unpredictable, making them far more difficult to deal with.
"You have waited long. Lady Seohyun, Young Master Cheol."
After a brief moment, Steward Choi appeared to greet us.
Seohyun and I followed him inside.
"Steward Choi, how is Father's mood today? He didn't call us just to reprimand us, did he?"
Seohyun, still nervous, asked cautiously.
The steward smiled gently.
"My lady, you need not fear the head of the house so much. Though he expresses it differently, he loves his children just as any father would."
"W-what?"
Seohyun's expression was priceless.
I silently observed Steward Choi's back.
'His footsteps, his presence, even his aura… everything seems normal. And yet… what is this feeling?'
For the first time, I felt a strange sense of discord around him.
It was a sensation I had never experienced before.
Though he was right within reach, it felt as though he were impossibly far away.
I couldn't gauge the distance between us.
"We have arrived. Please straighten your attire."
Steward Choi's words broke my concentration.
I glanced at his serene smile before adjusting my collar.
Knock, knock—
Once Seohyun and I had composed ourselves, he knocked on the office door.
"My lord, Lady Seohyun and Young Master Cheol have arrived."
"Let them in."
I pushed the door open and stepped inside.
"We greet you, Father."
Seohyun and I bowed respectfully.
For the office of the head of the great Sungmuiga, the space was surprisingly cozy.
Dark brown bookshelves lined with a few books, a mahogany desk with a soft texture, an aged leather sofa, and sunlight filtering through the latticed window—it all created a peaceful scene, as if time itself had slowed.
It felt like a world removed from reality.
Amidst this tranquil setting sat our father.
A middle-aged man, silently reading through documents at his desk.
And beside him, resting against his seat, was a long sword.
'…It doesn't feel out of place.'
Despite the serene atmosphere, despite the presence of Tae-shin Lee—the legendary warrior—and his cherished sword, nothing seemed jarring. It all blended seamlessly into the space.
This wasn't just an impression.
Father's presence was completely undetectable.
He simply existed there, like a force of nature.
'Has he grown even stronger?'
Or had he reached an entirely different realm?
Even that, I could no longer discern.
"Come in."
I only actually looked at my father for about ten seconds.
He put down the documents and gestured toward the sofa for me and Lee Seohyun.
"I had some free time and wanted to have a conversation. I heard you've completed your first-year cadet training."
"Yes, that's correct."
"Yes… yes…"
Lee Seohyun hesitated, almost as if she were a criminal.
It was her choice, but in the end, despite being a direct descendant of the Soongmu family, she hadn't even ranked.
However, to Father, that wasn't what mattered.
"What did you feel?"
After taking a sip of tea, Father asked in a calm voice.
Lee Seohyun held her breath for a moment.
Then, she glanced at me.
'Why are you looking at me?'
As if she had read my expression, she immediately turned her head toward Father.
Then, in a much steadier voice than before, she continued speaking.
"I saw the true nature of our family."
Cough-
I coughed unintentionally.
Because I had caught onto the real meaning behind her words.
'She was so nervous just a moment ago, and now suddenly?'
Father examined Lee Seohyun with interest.
"The true nature, you say?"
"I… I know about competition and rivalry. But I saw things happening so naturally that I just couldn't accept… Things that don't match the meaning of the word 'Soongmu.'"
"So, what did you think?"
"I-I know it's presumptuous… but I think I've found my own path."
Lee Seohyun swallowed dryly.
She was still tense, but at least she wasn't stuttering anymore.
"I prefer fairness. Whatever I accomplish, I want it to be with my own sword, my own strength."
"Fairness, huh?"
Father repeated her words with a thoughtful expression.
"Not bad."
Though he said that, Lee Taeshin looked at his daughter with a newfound gaze.
'So this is why the Holy Sword chose her.'
A few years ago, she hadn't been like this.
She had talent, but she was whiny and fragile.
But now, she had a clear sense of self.
Perhaps it was an idealistic perspective, even naive, but for her, it suited her well.
When did she change like this?
It must have happened while he was away on his travels.
Looking at the two children before him, it wasn't hard to guess the reason for that change.
'It's you, isn't it?'
Lee Taeshin turned his head to look at his youngest son.
"And you, youngest? What did you feel?"
I thought for a moment.
I had felt many things.
My own shortcomings, the family's corruption, the instructors, and the cadets.
But if I had to pick what I felt the most, it would be one thing.
"Disgrace."
"Cough."
This time, it was Lee Seohyun who coughed.
"The cadet training program is the foundation of the Soongmu family. It's where future talents who will influence every aspect of our family grow."
I took a moment to steady my breath.
"But there were too many cadets—and even instructors—who were unworthy of the name of Sunguiga. The current cadet corps is flawed."
"Flawed, you say?"
Lee Taeshin's brow twitched.
It was a peculiar feeling.
Criticizing the cadet corps was no different from criticizing Lee Taeshin himself.
His children either tensed up or feared him, but none dared to utter such provocative words so recklessly.
Come to think of it, this child had been the same during the naming ceremony.
He might have found him intimidating, but he had never been afraid.
Lee Taeshin gazed at his son and pointed out,
"You are still young. Do you not think it's because of your narrow perspective that you fail to understand?"
Calmly, I responded to my father's remark.
"I don't think so."
"And why is that?"
"Of course, I am still young and lack knowledge. But this is a fundamental issue beyond such things. Because of that, I am certain that I am right."
"Very well. Then what is this issue you speak of?"
"They… did not fight."
The second-year cadets and many of the instructors.
Even my own squad and Lee Jung-ho—before they changed because of me—had been utterly disgraceful.
"They may be weak, and they may lose. But those who stop fighting do not belong in Sunguiga."
I continued.
"And I have seen far too many cadets like that. If they have become this way, then there must be a problem with the instructors' competence or the way they teach."
After speaking, I studied my father's expression.
'Did I go too far?'
My words had been raw and unfiltered.
Father set down his teacup.
"Arrogant."
A scolding tone.
I flinched slightly but then widened my eyes at my father's face.
'Did… did he just smile?'
It was faint, barely perceptible, but there had definitely been a smile at the corner of his lips.
It vanished in an instant, making me question whether I had imagined it.
"You have built the foundation of your own thoughts while living as a cadet. That is commendable. However, always be wary—once you fall into the pit of narrow-mindedness, it is not easy to escape."
That my father was giving direct advice left Lee Seohyun beaming as if flowers were blooming on her face.
"Thank you! I will engrave your wor—ah, ow!"
Trying too hard to sound formal, she bit her tongue.
I barely held back a chuckle at her misfortune.
"Thank you. I will keep that in mind."
Father took another sip of his tea.
As I watched him, I thought,
'Now, he'll bring up the real topic.'
This short exchange had been a light test, a bit of fatherly advice.
And, as expected—
"I have heard about what you two have accomplished as cadets this past year."
I straightened my posture.
"The missions I assigned to you this year may have differed in difficulty from those given to official Jeongmusa warriors, but in essence, they were no different. You recognized them as my tests and carried them out accordingly."
"I… I only did my best because it was my duty," Lee Seohyun said humbly, bowing her head.
Father gave a small nod and continued.
"The reason I called you here today is to reward you for your efforts."
Both Lee Seohyun and I widened our eyes.
Leaving aside our evaluation in the Forest of the Faces—
The missions given to our squads had always been unimaginably difficult.
And yet, we had accomplished them all.
Father was now saying he would grant us a reward.
'Father, strict as he is about rewards and punishments, is actually giving us a prize for this?'
For a moment, I wondered if this was some whim brought about by a shift in his mindset.
"Oh, no, really, it's fine! If we were of any help to you, that alone is an honor!"
Lee Seohyun waved her hands frantically.
"Your efforts have been a small help in my preparations. This is a rightful reward, so don't refuse it. If you have anything you desire, speak."
Lee Seohyun stiffened for a moment, looking at a loss.
She was struggling with what to ask for.
"Ah, um, in that case, I…!"
After a brief moment of contemplation, she seemed to make up her mind.
"I would like… a Yongringeop!"
A masterpiece-grade breastplate, Yongringeop.
Though categorized as a masterpiece, its utility and unique abilities made it nearly an artifact.
"Very well. I will inform Bigo in advance. You may collect it tomorrow."
"Y-yes…!"
Lee Seohyun's eyes sparkled.
Now, my father turned his gaze toward me.
"My son, what do you desire?"
While Lee Seohyun was still deliberating, I had already made my decision.
"I would like…"
The moment I spoke,
Lee Seohyun gasped.
And my father's brow furrowed ever so slightly.
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