novelraw Chapter 110 : Grandfather's Birthday Present (2)
Chapter 110 : Grandfather's Birthday Present (2)
[Ladies and gentlemen, we will now begin the celebration of Sword God Lee Un-hak's 72nd birthday. Would all family members and guests please give a round of applause with respect and reverence.]
The Sword God's birthday party began according to the famous MC's guidance.
[First, we'll have congratulatory remarks from Mr. Lee Jeong-su, the Sword God's eldest son.]
Lee Jeong-su, Yu-jin's father, the eldest son of the family, and unlike the Sword God, someone who had long walked the path of a businessman, read out his congratulatory message.
"Wow, there are celebrities too."
"I saw that uncle on the news!"
"Isn't that lady the representative of some guild?"
Yu-jin sat among her excited cousin siblings who were looking around and watched her father.
[...Next, we'll have the presentation of gifts from the children and grandchildren.]
At the MC's words, Yu-jin stood up from her seat.
"So, is that girl the possessor of talent rivaling the Sword Warrior, Lee Yu-jin?"
"The fighting spirit she exudes is truly extraordinary."
"The assessment that she stands out even among this year's first-year golden generation seems to be no exaggeration."
"Didn't she take second place ahead of Hwang Ji-su in the entrance exam?"
"That's right."
"By the way, hasn't the Sword Warrior raised his level once again?"
"It appears so to my eyes as well."
High-ranking officials from the Hunter and Execution Force sides expressed their admiration as they looked at Yu-jin and Lee Cheong-myeong.
"Ho ho ho, here comes my granddaughter."
The Sword God, a doting grandfather, smiled brightly at Yu-jin.
"Happy birthday, Grandfather."
"Yes, thank you for coming in person despite being busy with academy life."
"Not at all."
Yu-jin handed a well-wrapped gift to Lee Un-hak.
"What's this?"
"Would you like to open it?"
"Certainly."
The Sword God let out a small exclamation after unwrapping it.
"It's wonderful."
The Sword God nodded as he looked at the necktie with a deep green base, sleek lines, and moderate patterns.
"Hmm, such neckties are hard to find. You chose very well."
"Do you like it?"
"Of course. My granddaughter has an aesthetic sense just like her grandfather."
Yu-jin smiled with relief.
"I'm glad."
"How did you find such a necktie?"
"Su-hyeon helped me pick it."
"Oh."
The Sword God's warm smile slightly stiffened.
"Th-that's nice. You two seem to be good friends."
"Yes."
Seeing Yu-jin smile a bit shyly, a sword almost sprouted in the Sword God's heart.
'I swear to...'
"...Ho ho ho, alright. Let's talk more later. Go and enjoy yourself."
"Yes, happy birthday."
When Yu-jin returned to her seat, attention poured in from her father Lee Jeong-su, uncles, and aunts.
"My daughter! Aren't you working too hard? You've lost weight."
"The curriculum is quite rigorous. It's understandable."
"I heard you did great again this time? They say you caught a Ma-in from MK-1 all by yourself."
"Amazing, our niece. Might you become stronger than Cheong-myeong later?"
"Brother, I envy you. Having such a talented daughter."
"Our Yu-jin takes after her mother, not me."
"Hahaha!"
From a distance, Lee Ho-seung, who had been emptying his plate completely, approached while cleaning between his teeth with a toothpick.
"Hey, speak one at a time. The kid must be overwhelmed."
"Ho-seung!"
"So Ho-seung is here too."
"Please look after your disciple too. Aren't you focusing too much on blood relations?"
"Get yourself a talented niece and see if you don't want to dote on her."
"Aish."
Lee Ho-seung clicked his tongue.
"Yes, Ho-seung, you're working hard too. I heard you handled another big incident?"
"I'm still dying with the aftermath work. If it weren't for Master's birthday, I would've been working overtime on the weekend too."
"But with your personality, you would've run out making the excuse of father's birthday, right?"
"That's why I like Master."
"Sigh."
In any case.
With Lee Ho-seung, an EFAC Instructor and disciple of the Sword God, and Yu-jin, a cadet and the Sword God's granddaughter, gathered in one place,
The conversation topic naturally flowed to academy-related stories.
"Hey, unni. Then who's the strongest in the first year?"
Like an interest in idols, the cousin siblings who admired EFAC also rushed to join the conversation.
"Isn't it Jun-seong oppa?"
"No, it's Su-hyeon hyung. He caught Chu Jinhong, right? That Ma-in was supposed to be super strong!"
"But Jun-seong oppa uses psychokinesis, right? He wouldn't lose in a one-on-one!"
"That's because you don't know. Once the distance is closed, it's over!"
"Really?"
"Anyway, I think Ji-su unni is so cool too. Absolute Ice Freezing!"
"Isn't that Choi Mina noona awesome too? Her master is also an amazing archmage."
"You don't know anything. Lightning is the strongest. I heard A-yun unni also beat a Ma-in called Bird Master or something this time?"
"Well, well."
Instructor Lee Ho-seung chuckled seeing the little ones having their own serious debate.
"Those kids will be something to watch when they enter the academy later."
"...It might be better if they don't come at all."
Yu-jin expressed concern, saying they would only suffer mentally and physically if they were mediocre.
"But unni."
"Yes?"
An 8-year-old cousin asked Yu-jin with an innocent face.
"Are you dating Su-hyeon hyung by any chance?"
"...Huh? It's not like that."
Yu-jin was noticeably flustered.
"You said you picked Grandfather's gift together!"
"That's right! Doesn't that mean you'll get married later?"
"N-no way!"
"But at that level, you're not just friends, right?"
"That's right!"
The children's interest had shifted to the relationship between Yu-jin and Su-hyeon.
"...He's just a classmate."
"No way. Didn't you say you're the Class President?"
"That's right. And that oppa is the Vice President."
Yu-jin, wondering how these kids knew who the president and Vice President of her class were, cleared her throat.
"Kids, those are just formalities. There's nothing particularly meaningful..."
However.
Lee Ho-seung, who found this topic entertaining, smoothly poured oil on the fire.
"Hmm. If the president is the commander, then the Vice President is like a staff officer."
"Wow! Is it like a boss and a secretary? Su-hyeon oppa is the secretary!"
"This is totally a romance."
Seeing the completely chaotic siblings, Yu-jin flared up.
"Instructor!"
"Since we're outside, you can call me uncle like in the old days."
Yu-jin promptly complied.
"Uncle!"
"This kid."
Though he wanted to give her a knock on the head for that quick switch, Lee Ho-seung slipped away from the scene, conscious of the Sword God Lee Un-hak who was watching from a distance with a sharp gaze despite his hearty laugh.
"Then I'll be going."
"Where are you going!"
"Hmm."
And the Sword God, who had been listening to that conversation, cleared his throat.
With his hearing, he could easily hear what his grandchildren were chattering about in the distance as if they were speaking right next to him.
'Su-hyeon, Jeong Su-hyeon. So he's close enough to even help pick my gift?'
His feelings were rather complicated.
But the guests around him, unaware of the Sword God's inner thoughts, offered congratulatory words.
"A necktie chosen by Su-hyeon is really stylish!"
"Hahaha! Are you going to get a grandson-in-law at this rate?"
"I've heard he's a cadet with outstanding qualities. I'm envious."
"Ahem!"
Lee Un-hak, who had become very displeased, shouted.
"Marriage! That's a topic 30 years too early for our Yu-jin!"
"I-I apologize."
"Aish!"
Those who felt uncomfortable lowered their heads and thought.
'30 years is a bit...'
'The Sword God really loves his granddaughter intensely.'
'Well, if Yu-jin were my granddaughter, I might feel the same way.'
Meanwhile, Lee Ho-seung was on the balcony, having a conversation with the Sword Warrior Lee Cheong-myeong.
"By the way, Ho-seung."
Broad shoulders, thick calves, forearms full of blood vessels.
This man, who could be felt as strong just by looking at him, was the Sword Warrior Lee Cheong-myeong.
He was a genius with the greatest sword talent in the Lee family, already considered to have surpassed the Sword God's realm at the same age, and now evaluated as one of the best swordsmen in Korea, second only to the Sword God.
"What, elder brother?"
And one of the swordsmen called the strongest among the Sword God's disciples was Lee Ho-seung.
"About that friend Su-hyeon, what kind of sword talent does he have?"
He showed considerable interest in Su-hyeon, who received similar praise from both his disciple and niece.
"Ah, my dear disciple?"
Lee Ho-seung chuckled.
"You'd be surprised if you saw him."
"That good?"
"Didn't Yu-jin always brag to Master about him?"
"That's true, but I'm more curious about your assessment."
"What's there to say? That guy is just a genius."
Lee Ho-seung proudly listed the anecdote of Su-hyeon producing sword energy shortly after learning the sword, the surprise he experienced during their sparring, and his unique style of using a one-handed hwando while utilizing his left hand and both feet as main weapons.
"Quite a unique type of swordsman. Similar to you too."
Lee Cheong-myeong folded his arms and nodded.
Though they both learned swordsmanship from the Sword God, if Cheong-myeong was orthodox, Ho-seung had long pioneered his own style of swordsmanship.
"I thought so too, but it's not just that. Su-hyeon has his own style firmly established."
"I heard he's also good at hand-to-hand combat."
"Honestly, he's better in that area in terms of proficiency."
"Oh."
The Sword Warrior, who had been deep in thought with his arms folded, soon said.
"But it's not a very pure sword."
"Here we go again with the old-fashioned talk."
Lee Ho-seung clicked his tongue.
"That's your problem, elder brother. Your thinking is too rigid."
"Well, that's my path of the sword."
Lee Cheong-myeong, who brushed off his disciple's nagging with a laugh, said.
"In any case, if there's an opportunity, I'd like to examine that boy's sword once."
"If you're that curious, why not send an invitation?"
"Ho?"
Lee Cheong-myeong's eyes flashed.
"That's a good idea."
His gaze turned to Yu-jin, who was being bombarded with questions surrounded by her siblings.
"...I should also interrogate him directly to see if he's a boy who would do anything untoward to our niece."
"Oh my."
The Lee family's precious gem, Yu-jin.
Just as Cheong-myeong had the most brilliant talent in the Sword God's children's generation, the doting attitude toward Yu-jin, who shone most brightly in the grandchildren's generation, was like a genetic disease that manifested without fail in the elders of this family.
However.
"Yu-jin still has a long way to go."
"You shouldn't judge by your standards. And isn't Yu-jin better than you were in high school?"
"I wonder."
Lee Cheong-myeong's gaze as he looked at Yu-jin was deeply sunken.
"That's not enough."
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"Phew."
Yu-jin, who had her energy completely drained from being harassed by siblings, uncles and aunts, and having an interview with her grandfather, finally returned to her room and collapsed.
"I'm tired."
It was nice to meet family after a long time, but being the subject of so much attention was quite exhausting.
"......"
And.
The advice about 'sword' that she always received from her grandfather and youngest uncle on days like this weighed heavily on her heart.
Of course, she knew well about her grandfather's love for her.
She had respect and gratitude for him too.
But sometimes.
Yu-jin felt that such attention from her grandfather and uncle could be a burden and pressure.
'Grandfather wants me to reach the supreme realm of the sword, which even he hasn't reached yet.'
Even in her view, it was unimaginable that there could be a level above her grandfather's realm.
Yu-jin knew well that the Sword God's wish, lamenting the 'insufficient time' saying 'it would have been good if I had been given thirty more years,' was for the 'next generation' to fulfill his aspiration.
'It's suffocating.'
She picked up her phone and sent a message to Su-hyeon.
-Grandfather really liked the necktie
-Thanks to Su-hyeon
-Thank you
The reply came back quickly.
-That's good
-Rest well and come back safely tomorrow
Reading that short but considerate message,
Yu-jin smiled slightly.
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"I'm here."
The first thing Lim Eun-seo said when she saw me coming to her workshop was:
"Where's the souvenir?"
"......"
"You didn't bring any, right? Well, with all that chaos, you wouldn't have had time to think about my souvenir. No, I'm not saying this to be petty. I'm just a little disappointed, so understand, okay?"
"No, that's not it."
"It's not?"
I took out the large horn I had cut off during my fight with Jang Manchun.
"What's this?"
"It's the horn of a Were-Bison named Jang Manchun."
"Oh my goodness!"
Lim Eun-seo jumped up from her seat.
"A byproduct from a lycanthrope's body! This is precious!"
I handed the horn to Eun-seo, who was fidgeting and looking at me nervously, and she quickly snatched it.
"The demonic nature is, hmm, not present. The hardness is considerable. The color is beautiful and the size is impressive."
"Do you like it?"
"Of course! Only Su-hyeon would do this!"
I chuckled at the sight of Eun-seo, whose eyes were shining as if she had never been upset.
"It would be good to make a dagger or armor. And the remaining parts could be made into accessories like necklaces, which would be quite pretty."
After saying that, Eun-seo swallowed.
"Um, this is too good an item for noona to receive empty-handed."
Although it wasn't as rare and suitable as the Cockatrice's mud armor,
This was undoubtedly a good material enough to ignite the soul of a meister.
"You can use one as you wish, and make a weapon for me with the other."
"What? Really? Is that okay?"
"Yes. Please think of it as an investment."
"Wow, only Su-hyeon would do this."
Touched, Eun-seo's eyes sparkled.
"Noona will make anything for you. What do you want?"
Finally, the words I had been waiting for came out.
I took out a blade design from my chest.
"...?"
Eun-seo's voice lost confidence as she read the design and the requirements written on it.
An extremely complex and demanding order.
"Wait, to make this..."
"Would it be difficult?"
"I think I can do it, but hmm."
What I wanted was a sword that was robust yet elastic.
A sword that was light yet sharp, but must not break easily, and could be used for both cutting and thrusting.
For this, it was necessary to set a core made from a processed Were-Bison horn in the center of the blade, and attach an alloy next to it to achieve lightness and flexibility.
In terms of form and purpose, this could be called a new custom-made design different from existing swords.
"...This is quite peculiar. And complex. Who drew this design?"
"I did."
"My goodness."
Lim Eun-seo stuck out her tongue.
"What kind of childhood did you have?"
I shrugged my shoulders, avoiding the answer.
"Is it possible?"
"What do you take me for?"
Lim Eun-seo squared her shoulders.
"It seems like a huge hassle, but what the heck, noona will put in some effort."
"Thank you."
"But is this for you to use? It seems to have a different mechanism from the hwando you've been using?"
As expected of Lim Eun-seo.
She had a meister's eye.
"No, it's for someone else."
"Don't tell me it's for Lee Yu-jin?"
"Yes."
"...I'm jealous. Some people only touch iron and fire in the workshop, while others..."
Lim Eun-seo slumped her shoulders, her voice suddenly overcome with existential crisis.
"It's not like that."