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Chapter 8
Children of the Heuk family either become warriors or choose the path of a doctor or herbalist.
Heuk Dae-wi was one of the unlucky ones born with no talent at all.
But thanks to being the eldest aunt’s son, he got more than his fair share of opportunities.
“Why don’t you just give it up already? I mean, your dad was… you know, crazy. Right from the start.”
“Ahahaha! That’s hilarious.”
Heuk Gye-won glared while hugging a basket of herbs, growling low.
“…Don’t start with me. Just beat it.”
“Ooh, so scary! What, are you gonna hit me? Come on, hit me! Then people will start talking.”
“…”
“They’ll say the crazy bastard’s son is violent, just like his father.”
I clicked my tongue.
‘Right, that’s the same issue he had when he got older.’
If only he were as smart as the eldest aunt.
Unlike the first and second timelines where he was either used and died young or spent his days studying medicine, the third round was completely different from the original story.
The female lead suddenly disappeared.
‘It was seriously weird. She just went out briefly and vanished…’
Grandmother, the head of the family, died early, and the position was passed to the eldest aunt. But then she also died suddenly, and this guy became the head.
Under Heuk Dae-wi’s lead, the Heuk family constantly obstructed me.
They were the biggest obstacle to my success.
‘Damn bastard. You were just my toy. And now you expect me to watch you thrive?’
Back then, I couldn’t stand it anymore and tried to personally destroy the Heuk family he led…
That’s when this cousin, Heuk Gye-won, showed up.
He was a promising talent, taking after my uncle, a great warrior.
‘I remember he helped the female lead in the original story…’
I guess the misfortune for Heuk Gye-won started with the incident we’re seeing now.
He beat the crap out of Heuk Dae-wi and some kids around the same age, and ended up thrown into the main house’s prison.
Because of that, my uncle couldn’t receive proper care and his illness worsened.
Eventually, he reached a peak of madness, went on a rampage, hurt others, and died.
Then the female lead met a regretful Heuk Gye-won who had lost his father. She comforted him, and they became allies.
But in this third round, things were different.
The female lead disappeared, I left the family, and a huge fire broke out.
Heuk Gye-won, who had been imprisoned for beating Heuk Dae-wi, escaped during the chaos.
Later, when he became an adult—
‘The Heuk family fell by his hand.’
Back then, I was so desperate to leave the family that I didn’t notice. But there must have been a reason why the third timeline was different from the original.
‘I need to think more about that this time.’
Meanwhile, Heuk Dae-wi smirked with his fat, pig-like face.
“You little freak.”
“…”
“Oh wait, I guess that’s just normal for you. Your dad was a freak too, after all.”
I couldn’t just let that go.
‘This time, I’ll stop both the female lead from going missing and my cousin from going to prison.’
I dashed toward a nearby bush.
I quickly gathered visible herbs and berries. I even popped a few into my mouth and chewed furiously.
‘Here comes the best doctor in the world!’
Just wait, future villain of the family!
“Hey, you bastards!”
I barely managed to stop Heuk Gye-won from grabbing Heuk Dae-wi by the collar.
There, I saved this bright young man’s future!
“Huff, huff, pant, attacking one, huff, with many, huff, that’s not right!”
“…Who is this kid?”
It was a tough distance to run and gather herbs and come back for a three-year-old!
Heuk Dae-wi’s group stared at me in disbelief.
“Did our family ever have someone with purple hair?”
“First time I’m seeing it.”
“Oh! I know!”
Someone raised their hand high.
“That’s Heuk Bi-hu’s daughter. She married a foreigner. People said she had gorgeous purple hair!”
“Oh, ah?”
Heuk Dae-wi clapped and laughed obnoxiously.
“Is this some kind of freak show gathering today?”
As expected. That pig’s foul mouth was too much.
“This is your warning. Back off.”
“What’s that nonsense, you idiot.”
“My final warning.”
“You mean warning. You can’t even talk right, dumbass.”
Heuk Dae-wi snickered and pushed me. I would have fallen if Heuk Gye-won hadn’t caught me.
“Heuk Bi-yu, it’s dangerous. Get out of here. I’ll handle it.”
I smiled brightly.
“Knew it, I knew you were a good guy.”
“…What?”
I also know how much of a devoted son you are. Let’s try being happy with your dad this time.
Leaning on him, I whispered very quietly—but loud enough for him to hear.
“I’ve got a plan. On three, fall back. Need me to cover your mouth too?”
“What? What do you—?”
“One… three!”
Bang!
I threw the berry I held with all my strength.
‘Even if I told him to move, he probably wouldn’t have… Wait, what?’
I looked back in surprise.
‘Whoa. How’d he get all the way over there?’
As expected of a warrior’s son. He was covering his mouth after seeing the smoke.
‘Of course. A good assistant has to be sharp.’
I didn’t feel betrayed by my soon-to-be assistant cousin. Just proud.
“Cough, cough. What is this?”
Heuk Dae-wi coughed like a pig and shouted.
“Don’t panic! It’s just a sycamore fruit!”
The plants here have similar or identical names to ones I knew in Korea.
But due to a different ecosystem, they often looked or behaved slightly differently.
For example, the sycamore fruit I used was a basic ingredient in smoke bombs.
When crushed on the ground, it emits smoke that causes coughing.
I narrowed my eyes at them.
‘Even rotten mackerel is still a fish, huh?’
Heuk Dae-wi noticing the fruit was impressive, but…
I spat out the pulp I’d been chewing.
As the herbal juice hit the air, the smoke changed color.
‘Bet you didn’t expect this, suckers.’
Now it was poisoned smoke.
“Cough! Fall back! Something’s wrong! This isn’t normal smoke!”
“Ugh… Heuk… Dae-wi-nim, my stomach…! Gah!”
“Argh! It’s so itchy!”
One person scratched themselves violently, another rolled around in pain.
Only Heuk Dae-wi, who had built up resistance to poison from childhood, remained somewhat okay.
Well, aside from the spots appearing on his face.
“Wh-what’s wrong with you… Why are you fine?!”
“How’s the taste?”
“You damn runt…!”
When I waved another sycamore fruit in my hand, Heuk Dae-wi shrieked and stumbled backward.
His lackeys also looked terrified.
“L-let me help you up, sir…!”
“Out of my way. I’m not letting that brat get away with this!”
Like a pig charging, he rushed toward me with his hand outstretched.
Perfect. Just what I wanted.
Then—his hand was caught mid-air.
A leg appeared out of nowhere and kicked him hard. Heuk Dae-wi flew through the air.
He slammed into a structure and crashed down with a loud bang.
Serves him right.
Heuk Dae-wi passed out on the spot.
“Heuk Dae-wi-nim!”
“Back off. Unless you want the same.”
My savior was none other than Heuk Gye-won. He glared menacingly at the remaining group.
“L-let’s go!”
“Help me lift him!”
Pathetic. The guys slung Heuk Dae-wi over their shoulders and limped away.
“Go chew some shepherd’s purse or something! The poison will wear off soon!”
One of them looked back, seeming to understand.
I clicked my tongue, and a shadow fell beside me.
“You… are you okay?”
His expression was completely different—worried now.
He must have noticed the scratches on my hands from rushing through the bushes.
Seeing him not knowing what to do, I was reminded: yeah, he’s still just a kid.
I smiled brightly.
Or at least I meant to.
Drip.
Blood trickled from the corner of my mouth.
“…Ah.”
“……!!”
I thought it was saliva, but when I wiped it—yup. Definitely blood.
Even though I built up some resistance in the third round, I was now a child again. The pain surged in.
But I didn’t regret it. This much poison was no big deal anyway.
‘Just need to rinse it with water and I’ll be fine.’
I left my water bottle over there…
“Hey, oppa?”
I meant to ask him to grab it for me—but then he grabbed my shoulders.
“You…!! Are you hurt?!”
His face had gone pale.
Well, technically yes. It’s from the poison, so if you could just—
“You still helped me even though you were in pain?”
That’s true, but seriously—just get me the water bottle.
‘Quit shaking me and let go, will you?’
The fierce little wolf from before was gone. Instead, Heuk Gye-won now looked on the verge of tears.
“You… are you gonna die?”
Uh-oh. Looks like there’s been a big misunderstanding.
