Chapter 18
“If the Clan Head already gave permission, why do I need yours too? Are you higher than him or something?”
“T-that’s not it… b-but we’re direct descendants!”
“Oh, so because you’re such ‘honorable’ direct descendants, you all ganged up on a sick kid to threaten her? Then what? The Clan Head and your parents will pat your heads and say, ‘Well done, my precious boys!’?”
Raised pampered from birth because of their lineage, the boys of the Dokgo clan had always put on good behavior in front of adults—but their true nature came out whenever they were dealing with subordinates or anyone they thought beneath them.
After hearing about Eun Sowol from their parents, they were confident she ranked below them.
“…Goes to show how important proper upbringing is. Then again, with her as a mother, what kind of kid did they expect?”
What even are these kids…?
She was supposed to be five—but her behavior didn’t match her age at all.
“You… You really think you’ll get away with this? I’ll tell my dad and have you kicked out right now!”
“Oh please, go ahead. I’d love to be kicked out. Problem is, I can’t figure out how to leave yet.”
“Ugh! I will get you kicked out! Your mom’s dead anyway! What can someone like you, with no parents, even do out there?!”
“Anything’s better than living under the same roof as trash like you. And since we’re at it… What exactly do you know about my mom to talk crap about her? Do you even know who she was?”
“A traitor to the Dokgo clan!”
“A woman who betrayed her family for love…?”
Clearly, someone had fed them those lines. She didn’t even need to ask who.
“You do realize the person you’re calling a traitor used to be the Clan’s heir, right?”
Dokgo Wi-pyeong froze. His eyes wavered—he clearly hadn’t known that.
“If my mom hadn’t left, your dad wouldn’t have become the heir or anything close to it.”
“L-lies! That’s nonsense!”
“It’s true. If my mom had stayed, I’d be ranked higher than you by now.”
Sowol’s confident tone made the boys start to doubt themselves.
“So if anything, instead of trash-talking me and my mom, you should be thanking us. Everything you’re flaunting right now—you owe it to her.”
“Y-you…!”
“If you want to win an argument, come back after you’ve grown up, kiddo.”
She wasn’t about to play dumb in front of conniving little punks just because they were younger.
Maybe she’d have played it differently if adults were around…
But obviously, they waited for a time when no one would see them bully me.
Too bad for them—they weren’t dealing with a frail five-year-old. They were dealing with a full-grown adult in a child’s body.
Sowol stood up.
“…Oh, by the way… aren’t you supposed to die soon?”
Her body flinched. She turned her head with a scowl.
“Actually, Dad said we don’t even need to kick you out anymore. You’ll be dead soon enough.”
“What are you talking—?”
“Didn’t you know? Guess the head physician didn’t tell you anything.”
“You’re seriously joking about someone dying? That’s your idea of fun?”
“Look at her! She really doesn’t know!”
Dokgo Wi-pyeong burst into laughter while Wi-chan looked around nervously.
“Someone like you—no one would care if you died.”
“…Tch. What a joke.”
Sowol turned away, disgusted by the cruel prank.
As she tried to leave, Wi-pyeong gritted his teeth.
Smack!
“Ahh!”
A sharp pain shot through her left arm, and she collapsed onto the floor.
Cradling her arm, Sowol writhed in agony while Wi-pyeong burst out laughing, holding a wooden training sword.
“Look at her all scared! You should’ve acted like this from the start instead of making me pull out a sword!”
Furious, Sowol screamed.
“Are you insane?! You’re from a prestigious martial clan and you attacked a regular person with a sword?!”
“…Sh-she’s right, hyung. If someone finds out, Dad will kill us.”
Wi-chan trembled as he tried to stop him, but Wi-pyeong pouted.
“What? I’m just punishing someone who acted out.”
Wi-pyeong showed no remorse, casually shrugging.
“‘Punishing,’ huh? I’ll report you to the Administrator. You hit me with a sword!”
“Go ahead. You think they’ll believe you over us?”
Where did they even learn such rotten behavior?
These ‘noble’ descendants had worse personalities than back-alley thugs.
“If you crawl between my legs, maybe I’ll forgive you.”
Wi-pyeong dangled the sword, sneering. Sowol scoffed.
“Why should I? You’re not even a proper martial artist.”
He expected her to beg for mercy. But her defiance didn’t waver, and Wi-pyeong’s expression chilled.
“Fine. Then I’ll beat you until you obey. Dad always says—‘beat disobedient animals into submission.’”
He raised the sword. Sowol tried to dodge, but a sudden wave of dizziness left her frozen.
Why now of all times—?!
Grimacing, she grabbed her throbbing head and raised her injured arm.
She’d give up an arm if she had to—but she wouldn’t bow her head to scum like this.
Boom!
A loud crash rang out.
But the pain never came.
Sowol opened her eyes in shock.
“How dare you—!”
A familiar figure stood before her, his black hat pulled low enough to obscure his face.
Even before she saw his face, she knew who it was.
“…Uncle.”
It was Dokgo Ryung.
“You little shits. Who gave you the right to swing a sword at someone who can’t even defend herself?”
His words were vicious.
Wi-pyeong had been sent flying across the courtyard, landing on his back. Wi-chan was pale with fear, frozen in place.
Even the wooden sword in Wi-pyeong’s hand had snapped in two.
Just moments ago, they were taunting her without fear. Now, before Dokgo Ryung, they couldn’t say a word.
“Kiddo, you okay?”
Dokgo Ryung turned around.
Gone was the annoyed look he used to give. Now his eyes were filled with raw concern.
But when he got a good look at her, he frowned deeply.
He’d snuck in just to check on her—only to see those brats threatening her with a sword. He couldn’t help but intervene.
From afar, she hadn’t looked too bad. But up close…
“What the hell did they say to make you this pale? And your cheeks… all sunken again. Took me forever to fatten you up.”
Grumbling, he reached out and gently fixed her disheveled hair, helping her sit up.
Click.
She was lighter than the last time he held her. And dressed all in white, she looked ghostly. Her swollen, red eyes and scraped hand only added to the sorry sight.
He gently held her tiny scraped hand.
“Does it hurt?”
Just like before, his gruff voice held a tenderness behind it.
Drip.
A single tear slid down her round cheek.
Ryung stiffened. Before he could wipe it, tears were pouring down like a waterfall.
“D-does it hurt that bad? Where? Was it those bastards?!”
When she lowered her head silently, something inside Ryung snapped.
“I swear I’ll kill those little—!”
Murderous intent radiated from him, and the boys looked like they were about to pass out.
Just as his hand touched the hilt of his sword, he felt a tug on his robe.
“Hhic… hic…”
Sowol, still sobbing, opened her mouth between sniffles.
“Yeah? What is it? Just say the word. Want me to beat them up?”
With each blink, tears poured down. Ryung wanted nothing more than to give her whatever she needed—even if it meant killing those boys.
He waited for her to speak.
Grab!
Instead of answering, her tiny hand shot up and grabbed his hair.
“Waaaah! Why’d you leave me, you bastard?! You jerk!”
And she began yanking with all her strength.
