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Chapter 22
I looked toward the western side. This place was already large, but the area with even more and bigger old houses lay ahead.
It almost looked like a small village of the wealthy—if that’s not an exaggeration.
In reality, it housed the direct and collateral family members, pharmacists, doctors… warriors, attendants, and maids.
If you counted everyone coming and going, the number of residents was enormous.
After all, he was the lord of this city.
“Then let’s go to the main estate! Right now!”
“No need to rush. I sent word last night. We can leave once a reply arrives.”
My eyes widened.
…Wait, that fast?
He was surprisingly proactive. I blinked.
“Why the surprised look?”
“Just didn’t think you’d be so eager…”
At that, Dad gave a faint smile—barely there.
“Even if I help, it’s still a problem?”
No, that looked like a sneer. Why does he love sarcastic smiles so much?
“If you want to be treated peacefully, didn’t I tell you to shut up and listen?”
“When did I ever say that?!”
“The culprit never remembers, they say.”
Huh, wow! I was speechless.
Culprit? Culprit??
The real culprit would be the wind mage who suddenly threatened his own daughter.
I puffed my cheeks and turned my head sharply.
“Where are you going?”
“Home.”
I’d worried he might get beaten up by my uncle, came all this way, and even gave a warning…
“Fine. Just let me know when the reply comes.”
If it’s delayed, I’ll just insist we go to the main estate. We can’t afford to wait anymore.
Today’s plans were ruined.
I should go gather herbs and make some medicine. As I took a step, a shadow fell beside me.
It was Dad, keeping pace with my steps.
“What are you doing?”
“Playing bodyguard.”
“Huh?”
“You said to accompany you home.”
“….”
Dad shrugged.
“I’m the one who needs something, so I’d better behave.”
Then he suddenly waved his hand. A gust of wind lifted me gently off the ground—but only for a moment.
“Uwaaah, w-wait a second!!”
“I’ll make sure you arrive the fastest way possible.”
You crazy father!!
I’m three years old!!
Is this what it feels like to suddenly be flung onto a roller coaster without mental prep?
While floating mid-air like a character from a wuxia novel, Dad suddenly stopped running.
“Now that I think about it…”
He sounded serious, so I caught my breath and looked up.
W-what is it?
“…Where do you live?”
“….”
Is he actually insane?
I glared at him in disbelief.
Can I really use this dad to go to the market?
Thump!
Thump thump thump!
I pounded the mortar and pestle in fury.
“Ugh…!”
Because it was an adult-sized mortar and pestle, my hands kept slipping.
“Give it here.”
The pestle disappeared from my hand. I pouted and looked up.
The one who took it was Big Brother Gye-won.
He looked down at me with his usual blunt expression.
“Give it back.”
I held out my tiny hand, but he didn’t respond.
“What are you doing? You were up late again last night, weren’t you?”
“Can’t you tell? Making medicine.”
It had been two days since I’d returned from seeing Dad. I went again yesterday, but they said no reply had arrived yet.
‘I’ll wait one more day.’
Any longer would be a problem. If nothing came by tomorrow, I’d grab Dad and head to the main estate myself.
“…What can you even do with those tiny hands?”
Excuse me? I helped your dad, didn’t I?
“I can do it. Where’s all that confidence from earlier? Why don’t you ever put the people around you to use?”
“…Because I can do it myself.”
“You’re really bad at asking for help, you know.”
Well…
‘I was alone my whole life.’
I thought back to my third life. I thought everything would go well once I left the family, but all I learned was how harsh life was without a name behind you.
I did eventually become the best on the continent.
‘I like that about you, my pharmacist.’
‘I’m a doctor now, you jerk.’
‘Yeah, the best physician who cured an incurable disease. And super pretty too?’
‘…What does my appearance have to do with anything?’
‘Because you are pretty.’
I suddenly recalled the only person I could truly call a friend from my third life.
The first person for whom I used my forbidden ability that consumed lifespan.
He was weak, but after treatment, he got stronger. And then…
‘He betrayed me.’
My mood plummeted.
“Fine. You do it, Oppa.”
I brought over a bunch of herbs that had been stacked behind me.
“Take these too.”
At first, Black Gye-won smiled and nodded, but as the pile of herbs grew, his face turned pale.
Think making medicine is easy, huh?
“Where’s Baek-bbun?”
The annoying guy who always ran over the moment I sat down—either to stir up trouble (usually saying he’d beat up Dad) or to act all cutesy—was nowhere to be seen.
“He went to meet someone.”
His answer made me curious.
‘He has someone to meet…?’
“Baek-bbun has… friends?”
“You’re kind of rude, you know.”
“…Um, sorry.”
“I didn’t mean for you to apologize. I think so too. Dad could lose friends with just three words from his silver tongue.”
Isn’t that too harsh on your father…?
“The person he’s meeting is from the main estate. He’s going to tell them he’s quitting the butcher work.”
I blinked.
‘Because I told him not to?’
I broke into a bright smile.
That’s great!
The image of my first-life uncle suffering from madness felt more distant now.
“That’s awesome! Good job! You too, Oppa—don’t ever do that kind of thing.”
“……”
“Use your divine beast and strength for better things! You have amazing power!”
Gye-won scratched his cheek awkwardly. His face turned slightly pink.
“By the way, where’s Uncle?”
I stopped mid-question as I guessed the answer.
‘Oh, he must be asleep.’
Our Sleeping Beauty Father—he’s in his nap cycle again.
I quickly changed the subject.
“Where’s that fuzzy chick-thing?”
“Chick? Ah, Neosu.”
Gye-won whistled out toward the open door.
Fweeet—!
A fluffy ball of fur floated toward us with a cute noise. I watched it float and marveled.
‘Wow, it’s actually floating?’
It looked more like a dandelion puff than a chick.
Squeak! Squeak squeak!
I hadn’t seen it for a few days, and Neosu seemed excited, rubbing itself all over my cheek.
“Ah-choo!”
“Tsk, come here. Stop bothering Biyu.”
Squeak!
The furball didn’t listen at all and clung tightly to my neck. Sniffling, I muttered,
“…So stubborn. Just like you, Oppa.”
“…I’m not stubborn.”
Yeah, right. I sneezed again and pulled Neosu off.
“Is he going to stay a furball forever?”
“Dunno. Uncle said… if it absorbs natural lightning and grows with me, it’ll change.”
“Oh?”
“It’ll take on a more animal-like form.”
Right now, it looks like a white chick. When it grows up, will it become a big chick…?
‘No way… it’s not gonna become a chicken, is it?’
A lightning-controlling chicken sounds terrifying.
“Apparently, divine beasts that resemble natural animals from the beginning are much stronger.”
Hmm? In the original, the female lead got her divine beast the moment she awakened—it was some kind of small bird.
‘As expected of a main character.’
“But how does Uncle know all this?”
“Oh, that… He said he used to dream of being a scholar.”
Cough!
What?! A scholar?
‘That doesn’t suit him at all!’
Black Biryang as a scholar? I can only picture him getting frustrated and throwing papers in the river.
Or strangling someone mid-debate shouting, “Shut up, I’m right!”
He’s insanely powerful too. Being a scholar must’ve been… hard.
“Doesn’t suit him.”
My cousin agreed, shrugging.
“Old story. I just heard it in passing from Dad.”
“Aha.”
“And apparently your dad was the same. They both studied hard for some ‘girl’ back then.”
