TFSG 20

Chapter 20

The daily life of Heukbihoo (Black Consort) was always the same.

Every morning he opened his eyes and went to sit beneath a tree, where he remained until the sun set.

Sometimes strange thoughts would surface, but they would vanish just as quickly.

He would occasionally feel a sudden impulse to go somewhere, only to shut his eyes again in the grip of overwhelming lethargy.

It was an old illness.

“So tedious… No, just bothersome, maybe…”

Despite these symptoms, there was one image that inexplicably kept returning whenever he closed his eyes.

Red silk was hung on a laundry line.

It fluttered in the breeze, and amidst that motion, it wasn’t hard to recognize soft lavender-colored hair.

Who was it?

The woman, looking at him, placed a finger to her lips in a secretive “shh” gesture.

“I won’t tell you. Not even my gender.”

Her face was unrecognizable.

It had been painted over in white. All he could hear was a clear, cheerful laugh and see the curve of a smile that looked like it was drawn in a painting.

Then always the same—the dream would end just before the woman approached.

Whenever he opened his eyes, his chest tickled strangely.

“Haa…”

Sometimes, assassins came for the lethargic man. If he questioned them, he could often find out who sent them.

That was the only time he acted like he was truly alive.

“Mother—no, Clan Head. We have to kill Heukbihoo. What if he completely loses his memory and becomes hostile to the family? With his cruel personality—if he loses his memories—who do you think he’ll point his sword at?”

“Honestly, your brother-in-law is… way too dangerous. Isn’t he the perfect candidate for brainwashing? He’s empty up here.”

“Hahahaha!”

Whether it was his mother, the clan head, or his sister and brother-in-law, he had no intention of dying as they wished.

“How’s my treatment?”

“Shhh, secret~ It’s a trade secret.”

Then, a change came to his monotonous life.

A child suddenly appeared, calling herself his daughter—someone he never expected in a life where he had no hope.

She boldly and shamelessly declared:

“I’m going to the market! Help me!”

* * *

“Huuuuung…”

Ugh, I’m so tired.

Ohhh, I’m exhausted. I groaned as I forced my eyes open.

“How did I even get home yesterday…”

Ah, right. I remembered being super excited when that man—my “dad”—said he’d help me.

Didn’t he use some kind of forbidden power by burning up a bit of his life span?

“It makes you tired when you use that stuff. Especially in a kid’s body with barely any stamina…”

And then I’d confidently declared to him, “I’m going to the market, so you help me!”

I even remembered trotting off afterward saying we’d meet again later.

“Ah, I must’ve passed out on the way.”

The last thing I remembered seeing was the ground. So why did I wake up here?

The ceiling looked familiar.

Lately, I’d been staying with Uncle and Heukgyeon in the Black Clan’s quarters.

“Did they bring me back?”

Yaaawn~ I stretched and rubbed my eyes. Even rubbing your eyes is hard when your hands are this tiny.

Just as I turned my head—

“Ack! M-Mommy!”

I nearly had a heart attack when I saw the man beside me. Please, not like this! I don’t want to experience cardiac arrest this way!

“W-What are you doing?!”

Crouched down, resting his chin in his hand, was none other than Uncle Heukbiwon. He smiled brightly with his ridiculously handsome face.

“Observing?”

His gaze landed on my curly hair, which he gently lifted.

“Why me?”

“Because you saved me~”

That smile… it gave me bad vibes.

I began to scoot my butt away slowly.

‘If I spring up fast, I can escape—!’

But I never got the chance. Before I could even get up, he grabbed me by the armpits with both hands.

“How sad~ if you run away. Hmm?”

His teasing voice echoed as he smiled sweetly down at me.

Why did his vibe feel completely different from when his eyes had looked murderous?

“What’d you even do, Uncle.”

“Everything~”

“Uncle.”

Say what you want, I’ll call you what I want.

I looked at him with an unamused expression.

“Gimme.”

“Give you? Okay, take Uncle!”

“Sand! I said give me the sand!”

“Ahhh, that—okay, okay, I’ll give it to you.”

No! I meant let me go! But even as I squirmed, he just grinned like a lunatic.

“Wanna take my son too? I’ll sell you both as a bundle.”

“No way!”

“…Right.”

Startled by the sudden voice, I turned my head.

There stood Heukgyeon, holding a tray. His expression was slightly sulky and hurt.

“I get it. You wouldn’t want me anyway.”

“No, it’s not that…!”

Why was I even explaining myself?

“Forget it. Eat up.”

My older cousin smiled coolly, as if he was just teasing. Uncle finally put me down as well.

Even though I hadn’t done anything wrong, I sat there awkwardly like I’d been caught stealing.

Why was I the one reading the room?

“Ahem, hope there’s no misunderstanding, Oppa.”

“Yeah, I won’t misunderstand.”

Heukgyeon pointed toward my bowl.

“If you eat all that, I won’t misunderstand.”

“…Really?”

So childish…

But I’m the mature one, so I’ll let it go.

“Fine. I’ll clean my bowl!”

I wondered why I got plain porridge while the others had heaping plates of meat, but…

Even the porridge had shredded meat in it, so I decided to let it slide.

“Did you know? The meat in our dishes is chicken, but the meat in the princess’s porridge is beef.”

“Cough!!”

“Father!”

I was busy trying to stop myself from choking, but it was already too late—grains of rice had sprayed onto Heukbiwon’s face.

“Wow, that was lively.”

Uncle calmly wiped his face.

“What are you saying to a kid?! That’s too much pressure!”

…Wait, was it true?!

“Come on. You gotta make it obvious if you want to be appreciated~ Right?”

Appreciation my foot. I almost choked to death.

“You’re both huge guys. Why not keep the beef for yourselves?”

I looked at my bowl. If I didn’t eat it now, my cousin looked ready to laser-beam me with his eyes, so I finished it all.

“But seriously, where did they get the money for beef?”

From experience, food here wasn’t exactly generous.

And these two hadn’t really interacted with the outside world in earlier timelines, so it was puzzling.

“We take care of the occasional weirdo for money, kid.”

As if reading my mind, Uncle spoke. I tilted my head, spoon still in my mouth.

“But you said you couldn’t go outside?”

So how’d you say we can’t go to the market?

“Ah~ that was a joke.”

…What?!

“Y-You tricked me?!”

Do you know how much I had to suck up to that man calling himself my dad because of that lie?!

“Sit. It was a metaphor. A lie. That’s just how Dad is.”

I sat down meekly, fuming.

“The Black Clan treats us like butchers. They only use Father when someone needs to be dealt with.”

Heukgyeon said it so casually that my expression twisted. What the heck…?

“So they kicked him out… but still use him when it’s convenient?”

Use him? I knew all too well how cruel the Black Clan could be to those without power behind them.

“Pus? Make him do it. Heukbiyoo. Gross. Just make him do everything.”

“Plague? Send him. He won’t even complain anyway.”

“Why go near death yourself? Send him. No one cares if he dies. He’s perfect for it—he’s insane anyway.”

I opened my mouth, then closed it.

“So it’s because of money?”

“Huh? Uh… and for Dad’s medicine.”

“The anesthetic, right.”

These two were awfully frank. It made it easier for me to speak freely too.

“If it’s for money, great! You don’t have to do it anymore. Not you, Uncle, and not you, Oppa!”

I pointed my tiny finger at both of them.

“Don’t bring in money anymore.”

“Uh…?”

“From now on, I will earn the money.”

“…”

Both men blinked in disbelief. I beat my chest proudly.

“I’m the oldest here.”

So just listen to me. I declared boldly.

A life that had regressed three times.

If they just listened to me, they’d find rice cakes in their sleep and money on the ground!