Kim Seyun dashed to the tiled house, scattering her remarkable presence that overshadowed a hundred others. The house servants hurriedly followed her, but could only choke on the dust she left behind.
“Grandfather!!”
“Seyun? Weren’t you supposed to stay with Fetch?”
“I told you I didn’t want to, didn’t I?! Moreover, huh?”
It was only then that Kim Seyun noticed Park Jinsung, her eyes widening in surprise.
“Heheh. Ah, hello, are you perhaps, deputy?”
“Looking good? Why are you here?”
“It just happened….”
Park Jinsung tried his best to soften his intent and focused solely on his eyes. Then the light in his eyes faded, and the menacing aura threatening the entire tiled house disappeared.
“Looking good, no, Jinsung! Have you finally decided to marry me?! If you wanted to greet the family elder, why didn’t you come with me!”
“De, Deputy, jokes should be appropriate to the situation.”
Kim Seyun shook Park Jinsung’s shoulder frantically, shooting words like a machine gun. The longer Kim Seyun spoke, the paler the faces of the household, including the elder, became.
Eventually, the elder with a flushed face lifted his heavy hips.
“Umm! Tsk tsk! That fellow is a useless gene to our family! Make sure not to take him to heart!”
“Hmph! He’s a hundred times, a thousand times, ten thousand times better than that greasy Fetch?! And Grandfather, you were the one who said to marry a strong person!”
“There… Deputy…. my opinion is….”
“Sorry. I’ll get you out of here quickly.”
“De, Deputy…?”
Kim Seyun whispered in Park Jinsung’s ear like a child who hadn’t grown up.
“Grandfather! It’s okay about Fetch! But why did you call Jinsung here?! Huh?! Please answer quickly…!”
“Stop there, Kim Seyun. There are limits to absurdity.”
Snatch!
Just as Kim Seyun was about to point her finger at the elder, a mysterious young woman grabbed her wrist.
“Aunt.”
The woman, whose hair reached her waist, looked perfect in a modernized hanbok. Her skin was as white as jade, enhancing the elegance she possessed.
“If I knew you were going to jump around like an idiot, Seyun, I would have come earlier.”
‘Eh, eh? Aunt?! That is?!’
The woman Kim Seyun called Aunt looked to be in her late twenties at most.
The only person in the current White Jade Kim family whom Kim Seyun feared.
“Kim Seyun, maintain the dignity befitting the next White Jade Goblin.”
Kim Sejin.
Master of steps.
The White Jade Goblin of strength.
‘Her skin is so clean; she looks incredibly young…’
Park Jinsung squinted to verify the Edeya as he admired Kim Sejin’s appearance.
[White Jade Goblin]
World Spirit Ranking System: A+++
Previous Generation Goblin: Reproduces the strength of a creature imagined by the owner.
Overall Combat Ability: A+++
‘Wow, the power is short and powerful.’
Kim Sejin was a goblin from the generation before Kim Seyun, and was one of the people currently responsible for the power of the White Jade Kim family.
Where Kim Sejin had passed, people often said it was as if a dinosaur had gone through, such was the impact.
She hadn’t reached the ultimate in step techniques, but since there was no one to compare her to, it was fair to call it the extreme.
Kim Sejin had been a person of both strength and honor since Kim Seyun was young. Hence, even the greatest goblins of past generations found it difficult to deal with her easily.
When Kim Sejin appeared, Kim Seyun’s body started trembling slightly.
“Aunt. Oh, you’ve arrived?”
“I arranged the patrol teams. Starting today, you will also patrol the streets.”
“Until just a few days ago, you told me to focus on training.”
“At that time, I was busy and didn’t realize you were going off on a tangent.”
Kim Sejin glared coldly at Park Jinsung as she spoke.
“Then… Please let me patrol alone. I dislike Fetch because he’s greasy.”
“You must have heard about the Incheon International Airport. For the time being, we plan to operate in pairs or groups of three. Is this what they call camaraderie over there?”
“Wait a moment, Aunt. Incheon International Airport?”
Park Jinsung, who had been listening quietly, suddenly called out to Kim Sejin.
“……”
Nobody seemed to expect Park Jinsung to address Kim Sejin, and the entire household wore stunned expressions.
Not just Kim Seyun next to him and the elder watching from a distance, but even the servants focused on the ground were surprised.
“Heheh. Is it really that noteworthy that I called Aunt?”
“Of course. Because.”
Whoom!!
The ground under Kim Sejin sank deeply. It was a much more formidable presence than when Yuk Dongho pressed Ahn Sungho.
“People rarely interrupt me when I’m speaking.”
“Ah, I see. I’ll be careful next time then. Is that okay?”
“Jinsung, please.”
Kim Seyun timidly pulled on Park Jinsung using only her thumb and index finger.
“So? Aunt, what happened at Incheon International Airport?”
“Impulsive but quite an interesting friend, Seyun.”
“Heheh. Sorry. I know someone from Incheon. We’ve lost contact now.”
“Is that so? That’s a bit unfortunate to hear. Mr. Lee hurriedly cleared it up, but I heard the airport and surrounding areas turned completely upside down.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Park Jinsung momentarily wore a bitter expression, but it quickly disappeared from his face.
“Did you have relatives there?”
“No, no. They’re not really related to me, so it’s fine. Wow, saying this makes me feel like a really bad person.”
“Then let’s get straight to the point, Seyun?”
“Yes? Yes! Aunt!”
“Starting immediately, today, you are to patrol the streets. Your assigned hours are from eight in the evening until eleven.”
The White Jade Kim family, although exceedingly insular, was also involved in external activities.
They contributed in various forms, including material donations and even creating job opportunities.
Since they continuously reinvested in society, the local citizens had a positive perception of the White Jade Kim family.
Thanks to the White Jade Kim family, local prices stabilized, and the development rate of the area was twice that of other regions, a well-known fact.
[You can trust the White Jade Kim family.]
Fetch’s involvement with the White Jade Kim family was also a point in his favor, as it was seen as a practice of noblesse oblige.
The security system operated by the White Jade Kim family provided a sense of stability to the local citizens and practical experience to the family members.
They had received numerous commendations from national institutions.
As security improved, the number of troops was gradually reduced, but the recent appearance of a giant bear in Incheon had led to an increase in forces.
An elderly man, who had tucked away drawings in his arms, spoke to Kim Sejin with satisfied wrinkles.
“Sejin, I shall leave now. I entrust the matters to you.”
“Go inside, head of the family.”
Kim Seyun reacted hypersensitively to every action of Kim Sejin, shrinking back. Park Jinsung wondered if this was the same Kim Seyun he knew, as her demeanor was completely different from before.
‘Well, can’t be helped.’
Everyone present from the family had at least a B-grade combat ability, and half of them seemed close to A-grade.
‘I’d feel intimidated too.’
A-grades acting like S-grades, and B-grades who monitored him daily as if they were A-grades.
Kim Seyun had been considered a D-grade in overall combat ability in her childhood, and one wouldn’t want to imagine how tough her life had been.
‘It must have been hard…’
Kim Sejin must have rigorously pushed her to force growth.
And now, Kim Sejin was still naturally pushing Kim Seyun, even though she had grown up.
“Seyun, Fetch is waiting at the main gate. Get going.”
“Ah, Aunt? I have something to say.”
“Outsiders should stop there. I will consider today’s troubles when handling tonight’s matters, so leave it at that.”
Park Jinsung looked at Kim Seyun, who was trembling like a frightened deer.
He thought just being there during meals was enough, but apparently, that wasn’t the solution.
He felt he owed it to contribute a bit of strength since he had enjoyed a meal.
‘No, maybe I should ask for one more. Hehe.’
“Your name was Park Jinsung, right? Your answer?”
“Aunt, from your perspective, you’d prefer if Corporal Kim Seyun paired up with someone strong, right? Right?”
“I won’t deny it.”
“Then I’ll patrol with Corporal Kim Seyun nightly. Starting now, immediately, today.”
“Jinsung?”
Thump!
When Park Jinsung grabbed Kim Seyun’s shoulder, the trembling stopped as if by magic.
“I’m stronger than Bratislava Fetch. We clashed during lunch today, and I won.”
“What…?”
Kim Sejin’s enchanting face turned to confusion.
Murmurs spread among the other family members and servants.
A common dullard defeating the heaven sent genius who bears the title of the nation’s capital?
With no sign of fatigue or even a scratch?
“Don’t make claims you can’t back up.”
“Hmm. Do I look that unreliable? You can ask Fetch directly if you want. Shall I connect you with him by phone?”
Fetch, who prides himself as a noble, would rather die than endorse a flimsy lie.
He could prove it again if needed.
Park Jinsung, seeing Kim Sejin’s confusion, seized the moment to press further.
“Aunt, do you know the patrol route? It’s nearly eleven, so shouldn’t we head out soon?”
“Eh? Oh, yes.”
Park Jinsung strode towards the back door he had entered through. Kim Seyun, though reluctantly dragged along, kept glancing back at Kim Sejin until the last moment.
“…I need to meet Fetch now. You, go and report this to the head of the family immediately.”
With her sharpness returning, Kim Sejin took a smartphone from a servant.
* * *
Trudge, trudge!
Kim Seyun and Park Jinsung slowly left the White Jade Kim residence on foot.
Before they knew it, 30 minutes had passed.
It was already 10:30 PM. What kind of patrol was this?
It became clear that Kim Sejin’s order for them to patrol was merely a ploy to get rid of Park Jinsung.
Overwhelmed by the stifling atmosphere, Park Jinsung cautiously broke the silence.
“Um, Deputy?”
“I showed you something unpleasant today. I’m sorry.”
“Ah, there’s no need for apologies between us.”
“Ah, you probably don’t want to marry me for real now.”
“……”
“I told you to take me with you.”
“Uh, uh oh. Would Aunt and Grandfather come along then?”
“Heh, maybe.”
“Enough. Next time, just buy me a chicken.”
“Pfft. Alright.”
Kim Seyun let out a weary laugh, easing the atmosphere with her unguarded amusement.
“Ah, I’m tired. I just want to go home and rest.”
“Jinsung, did you know that our military doctor belongs to Maestri?”
“Eh? Was that so? Hmm. No wonder she’s so competent.”
“Huh? You’re not that surprised?”
Park Jinsung, who has faced Lee Shin and Kim Iljeong in person, finds little surprise these days. Seeing Kim Seyun’s expression, she doesn’t seem shocked either.
“Hehe. I’ll visit the nurse more diligently from now on.”
“The military doctor told me to enter Maestri, not as a swordsman but something completely different.”
“Oh, isn’t that fine?”
“If I stay in the family, I’ll definitely become a swordsman… I’m afraid if I go to Maestri, I might lose even the little hope I had.”
“Haha. You’re overestimating yourself.”
Bang!
Kim Seyun stopped walking without a word.
“……”
“Overestimating?”
Even those chosen by the white jade goblin are only a small part of those who reach the extreme.
Even Kim Sejin, just moments ago, hadn’t reached the ideal.
The goblin only suggests the possibility of reaching the extreme, not guiding directly.
“Jinsung, I…”
But Kim Seyun vaguely, just a tiny bit, but still intuitively felt.
“I, I can…”
She can reach it.
It might be right before she dies, but she will definitely taste the extreme of the sword.
Park Jinsung, facing Kim Seyun’s dilemma, spoke in a slightly lighter tone.
“…Sigh. Why think so hard about it?”
“Eh, eh?”
“If you learn how to harm others, you’ll also know how they can be hurt less. If you know what you really want to do, it ultimately doesn’t matter. So just.”
“Ah.”
“Do as you wish.”
All day long, harassed by the white jade Kims, Park Jinsung suddenly felt a surge of heat. He decided to just go wild this time.
“Whew… Wait? The more I think about it, the more it irks me? Do you even know how much I struggled today?”
“Jinsung?”
“It’s all because you weren’t sure about it. Did you start worrying when you bought me chicken? Oh, my head… From now on, instead of such sly worries, you should spend your time on more image training. Got it?”
“Pfft, pfuhahahaha!!”
Kim Seyun stared intently at Park Jinsung and suddenly burst into laughter.
“What’s so funny, how, and where? There was absolutely no funny timing.”
“No, no. You just look so funny.”
“Just now, I heard a crackling sound from your head. It’s infuriating, but what can I do? Isn’t that right?”
“Jinsung.”
Out of nowhere, Kim Seyun grabbed Park Jinsung’s hands. Then, with a face so clear it could make others blush, she smiled.
“Hehe. Thank you so much, Jinsung.”
“……”
Feeling a violent heartbeat, Park Jinsung unwittingly pressed his lips together.
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