Myeongseong and Kokumin disembarked from the bustling ship with unloading cargo and disembarking passengers, once again using the Tōsaka authority for a first-class pass.
"Haa. I thought I was going to suffocate and die."
The experience of being crushed in the crowd of people trying to get off was truly horrifying.
'I can't die being crushed by fakes.'
That would be too hollow an end.
At Myeongseong's exaggerated struggle, Kokumin scolded him.
"Tsk. Even though we got off easily, you can't endure that brief moment. If you're a Tōsaka adopted son, always act with composure and elegance."
"Ha. Didn't you say the adoption process isn't even done yet?"
"Haa. The first thing I'll have to correct when we get home is your way of speaking."
Leaving behind the sighing Kokumin, Myeongseong briefly looked at the port bustling with mixed fakes. Moving arms and legs. People of all kinds wandering around with all sorts of expressions filled with joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure.
That wave. That human wave.
It was so like a real sea. So like real life.
"Ugh!"
For a moment, disgusted, Myeongseong hastily asked Kokumin.
"So are we going straight to the mansion?"
"No. There's a place to stop by first."
"A place to stop by?"
"First, we must firmly complete the adoption process, mustn't we? Only then will you become my son."
"Yes, yes. An adopted son, though."
"Tsk. I'm getting tired of saying it now."
Kokumin, walking to enter among the people like that. The moment Myeongseong tried to follow him, his body flinched and trembled.
'Huh? Why am I like this?'
Those countless humans. People of all kinds. That vitality. That reality.
At that realness, Myeongseong's stomach churned.
As if―――
'Is this the uncanny valley?'
―――I feel like I'll degenerate into those fakes.
*Tremble tremble*, his hands shook. As if he had Parkinson's, his hands shook. And cold sweat slowly broke out. Disgust. Or fear. The foam of some emotions bubbled and boiled his brain. So Myeongseong unknowingly ended up shouting.
'Huh?'
"Wait a moment!"
The trembling child walked over briskly and tightly grabbed Kokumin's sleeve. And the child let out a sigh of relief.
"It's okay. Let's go now."
Saying that, Myeongseong lowered his head.
Then what was visible was one stubborn child who seemed determined to walk holding only his (adoptive) father's arm.
Looking at Myeongseong relying on him, Kokumin felt absurdity and a very slight peculiarity (paternal affection). And Kokumin, who hadn't expected to feel such emotion himself, spoke.
"Looking like this, you really are a child…"
"Ah, geez! I said I'm 11!"
"The year has passed, so isn't it 12?"
"Then it's 12!"
"Ha! Hahaha!"
Looking at Myeongseong, who blushed and was flustered yet scowled as if not willing to give in, Kokumin laughed loudly for a moment and then firmly grabbed the hand of Myeongseong, who was only holding his sleeve.
"Huh?"
Briefly flustered by the warmth, firmness, and disgust, the Tōsaka guy pulled his hand.
"Yes. Let's go."
Don't let go of the hand.
"…Yes."
Bowing his head deeply, trying not to look at the crowd as much as possible, but holding onto the sensation of that hand without missing it to the end, Myeongseong answered softly.
-
How many minutes did Myeongseong walk like a duckling following Tōsaka with his head lowered?
"There. We've arrived."
Hearing the Tōsaka guy's voice, Myeongseong raised his head and soon exclaimed in admiration. No, he felt nauseous.
"Ugh! There are so many people (fakes)!"
Truly a city hall. Truly a government office, the dense crowd filling it visible from the entrance. Staggering as if hit on the head, Myeongseong somehow put strength into the hand holding Kokumin and barely endured.
"Tsk. Don't vomit so undignifiedly."
Looking at him, Kokumin uttered a remark that would be quite cold to a child (well, Myeongseong is 25, but his body is young) and walked toward the city hall.
Then that large crowd began to stir and shake.
"Huh! Look over there! It's the head of the Tōsaka family!"
"Huh? That wealthy noble?! Why is he at a government office like this?"
"But who's that kid?"
"Who cares! First, make way!"
The stirring was brief, and the crowd instantly split in half. It was like seeing Moses' miracle made of people.
At that amazing sight, for a moment Myeongseong's disgust disappeared and he exclaimed in admiration while sarcastically remarking to Kokumin.
"As I felt on the ship too, your power is impressive."
"This much is basic as the head of the Tōsaka family."
"My my, you're so~ impressive."
"Of course. Because I'm Tōsaka."
"Fuck. You don't let a single word slide?"
"Of course. Because I'm Tōsaka."
"Is Tōsaka omnipotent or something?"
"Naturally. Because I'm Tōsaka."
"Fuck!"
"Hahaha."
A surprisingly human-like response. A human-like conversation.
Myeongseong ground his teeth, and Kokumin enjoyed it.
Inwardly, Myeongseong found this conversation quite pleasant, and Kokumin felt a new sensation, a kind of pleasure.
Myeongseong found a bit of stability, and Kokumin found a new sensation, a feeling of finding joy.
As the two walked, grinding their teeth and laughing, and approached the reception desk at the city hall, the female clerk there was startled and greeted Kokumin.
"Oh my?! Mr. Tōsaka. What brings you to such a humble place…"
"I've come to complete an adoption process."
"Adoption?!"
The startled female clerk.
"This child."
Kokumin grabbed Myeongseong's shoulder and thrust him forward toward the clerk. When the clerk lowered her gaze, there stood Myeongseong with a sullen expression, arms crossed defiantly.
"A child I discovered when I went to the peninsula last time."
"A peninsula native? Then perhaps…"
At Tōsaka's following words, the clerk was surprised once again.
Covering her mouth as if afraid her voice might leak out even a little, her eyes rolled around before glancing at Myeongseong. A gaze gradually narrowing hazily.
"Then perhaps…. A Chosen…?"
'You fucking bitch?'
A single word that clearly reached Myeongseong's ears, even though she spoke softly.
The clerk's gaze, as if looking down from above (which she actually was), like looking down at something unclean (like a cockroach), made him feel dirty.
"Hmm."
Watching that appearance intently for a moment, Kokumin let out a subtle hum and continued.
"Yes. Didn't this child say he yearned for Japan and desperately wanted to follow? Seeing considerable promise, I brought him here out of kindness."
"Oh my! I see."
The hazy gaze, the expression gradually filling with disgust, was wiped away in an instant.
Was it consideration for the Tōsaka family's authority, or admiration as an imperial citizen?
The female clerk, with the previously furrowed expression gone without a trace, smiled broadly toward Myeongseong.
"What a praiseworthy child."
An expression as if looking at a truly commendable child.
"…Fuck. You two-faced bitch…"
'If it weren't just to return home, I would have smashed something. Fuck. I'll endure it because it's a fake world.'
Calming his inner nationalistic pride (?) for the greater cause, Myeongseong inwardly ground his teeth firmly.
"Hmm? What did you say?"
"You fucking Jappy…"
"Ahaha. It's nothing. He just said in his own language, you know. 'Thank you.' That's all."
Hastily cutting off Myeongseong's words, Kokumin glossed over it appropriately while laughing.
"Oh my! I see. What polite manners. Indeed, fitting for a child chosen by the head of the Tōsaka family."
"Hahaha. A child overflowing with talent and passion. Now, the documents…"
"Ah. Just a moment. Here they are."
"Thank you."
The female clerk and Kokumin exchanged pleasantries while filling out the documents.
Watching that sight, Myeongseong naturally felt like vomiting and couldn't contain his disgust.
'Playing along with each other, fuck, I can't stand to watch.'
It was truly disgusting to the point of wondering if this was the treatment received as a colonial subject.
Myeongseong reconfirmed that this world was truly a disgusting era filled with colonialism, imperialism, and nationalism.
'It's just a fake world, simulated virtual history.'
You could think of it as just realistic VR or something. But some inner Korean component (?) or some subtle patriotism boiled up. Something like a Korean instinct (?).
'No. Endure. This is a false emotion.'
This world is fake.
'It's just a world from an anime or game anyway.'
Everything is just a fake similar to a soap bubble about to pop at any moment.
This place is another world. He is a human from the real world. In the end, he is merely an outsider.
'But why am I angry?'
Then it's as if―――
'It's like I'm acknowledging this world as real….'
―――Acknowledging a fake human as a real human….
"Please sign here on the document and it will be complete. Head of the Tōsaka family."
"Thank you."
"Not at all."
"Ah, and."
"Yes?"
Kokumin spread his hand and brought it to the female clerk's head.
"―――.(Forget the fact that this child is from the peninsula.)"
"Ah…."
The female clerk had a blank expression for a moment, but soon regained her senses and smiled while bowing.
"Then, thank you for your work. Mr. Tōsaka."
"Not at all. Good work to you too."
-
After exchanging pleasantries with the clerk like that, Kokumin soon came out of the government office, and Myeongseong came out grumbling sullenly.
"So."
Kokumin looked at the sky briefly, then looked down at Myeongseong and asked with a smile.
"How do you feel? Tōsaka Myōujō?"
"It's really disgusting."
Myeongseong, sticking out his tongue as if about to vomit.
"Fuck. Enban Myeongseong. That I've changed my own surname. My surname, one of the two real things about me. The surname I received from my parents…"
If it weren't for the goal (greater cause) of returning home, he would have bitten his tongue and committed suicide immediately.
"What's wrong with the surname and name Tōsaka Myōujō?"
"I just hate it. Yes. Just because."
'This situation itself feels like a terrible nightmare.'
In this unreality, he discarded one of the only two real things remaining to himself (his younger body and his surname/name).
To go home.
No matter how resolved he was, that fact was terribly disgusting to Myeongseong.
"By the way, why do you reject the name Tokiomi so vehemently?"
"Ah, fuck! It's already shitty enough, don't even mention such a name!"
At the name that came from the Tōsaka guy's mouth, Myeongseong got goosebumps all over his body and shouted as if screaming while shuddering.
"Even if I die once, no, five times, I'll never use such a name! Save such an ominous name for later!"
'Even if I degenerate (?) into a specimen of the dregs of humanity, an inhuman, the pinnacle of heresy that is a magus, do you think I'd use such a name?!'
I don't want to die by an Azoth dagger!
"Save it for later…. Huh."
Briefly pondering Myeongseong's words, Kokumin. He asked back with interest.
"Is that perhaps future sight? Or prediction? Or something like prophecy?"
"Geez! Do you think I have Clairvoyance Rank A or something?! I just said it because I hate it! Just because!"
"Interesting. You know the concept of Clairvoyance too. On top of that, speaking as if you've participated in a Holy Grail War, attaching ranks. Are you truly an existence created for the Holy Grail War? My son."
"Ugh! Damn it!"
In a fit of anger, Myeongseong kicked a stone on the roadside. He ground his teeth firmly.
Having his surname changed was shitty enough, but every single thing from this bastard is a mix of experiments and bluffing to satisfy curiosity.
"Fuck, don't act like a mad scientist, no, a magus. Then I won't treat you as a father either."
"I already did a few times though?"
"Fuck! There won't be any from now on, so shut up!"
"Huh. A fussy son you are."
After grumbling for a while, Myeongseong asked about what happened earlier.
"But what did you do to that female clerk earlier?"
"Hmm? You noticed that?"
"It was obvious you used magecraft. A suggestion type, right?"
"Yes. Correct. A simple suggestion."
"What kind of suggestion?"
"Let's just say it's simple memory manipulation… to that degree."
"Ha! Seriously, you magi manipulate memories even for simple paperwork? Is this that concealment of mysteries or something?"
"One must be thorough as a magus, you see."
Kokumin smiled meaningfully. It was then.
*Sniff sniff*.
"Hmm?"
A fragrant and sweet smell brushed past Myeongseong's nostrils. When Myeongseong instinctively turned his head, he saw chicken skewers being sold on the roadside.
"Uh…."
*Drool*, saliva flowed at the corner of Myeongseong's mouth. For some reason, his appetite was stimulated.
'Now that I think about it, how long has it been since I had chicken?'
Myeongseong thought.
'Including the day I fell here, probably 10 days?'
"Do you want some?"
"Ah, no!"
Myeongseong shook his head side to side.
But his young body reacted to the smell of chicken (skewers) he was smelling after a long time.
"Then let's just go."
*Grab*.
"Um…."
Myeongseong inadvertently grabbed the Tōsaka guy's sleeve.
Myeongseong, hesitating like a child (his body actually was young), holding the sleeve and hesitating.
At that childlike appearance, Kokumin smiled faintly and asked leisurely.
"My son. What is it?"
"Um…."
"Do you want chicken skewers?"
A shape with a triumphant expression as if saying 'Dad knows everything.'
"Tha…that's not it but…."
"Oh?"
"W, wait!"
As Kokumin tried to move again, Myeongseong hastily (this time with both hands) grabbed Kokumin's sleeve.
"What is it?"
"So, um…."
"If you want something, say it properly. My son."
Kokumin stroked Myeongseong's head.
"Politely. With filial piety."
"Fu…ck."
"Now, now! You should refrain from cursing."
"You…!"
At that kindness, at that appearance of already acting like a father, Myeongseong finally couldn't hold on and bowed his head deeply.
"…se."
"Hmm? What did you say? I can't hear well."
"Bu…y, some for me. Father."
"Alright."
With a full smile on his face, Kokumin stroked Myeongseong's head with a benevolent smile.
'Fuck.'
He was betrayed by his appetite.
The mind of a 25-year-old adult was betrayed by his 11-year-old… ah, now 12-year-old body anyway.
At that humiliation. Disgrace. Insulting sensation, Myeongseong shuddered.
"Now. Let's go. Your father will buy you as much as you want."
"Yes, Father."
'I will definitely repay today's events.'
I won't forget this humiliation.
*Munch-!*
"――!"
As a side note, the chicken skewers were delicious.
-
Eating the chicken skewers deliciously and following Kokumin, before he knew it, Myeongseong had arrived at a large Western-style mansion.
"Wow."
Upon seeing the mansion, Myeongseong couldn't help but admire it.
The mansion was big. Even before entering the garden, he was overwhelmed by its majesty, by the size of the garden. The wide garden was being managed in real time by gardeners busily moving about.
The flowers seen here and there were seasonal flowers. But the meticulously crafted appearance seemed like seeing artificial natural beauty that was carefully designed. That contradictory beauty.
Not to mention the stone walls wound with ivy vines, the iron-barred gate of the huge main entrance itself seemed to show the might of Tōsaka.
Such a mansion—even in modern times, you couldn't easily see one outside of movies or dramas.
'Seeing it in person, the intimidation is real.'
Seeing it directly certainly gave a different impression.
"This is… the Tōsaka mansion."
"Yes. And now the house we'll live in together. Now, let's go in."
Myeongseong followed Kokumin into the garden. And as soon as they entered, a gardener keenly spotted Kokumin and came running.
"My, Head of the family. You've finally returned!"
"Yes. It's been a while. Togo. Your hard work as always is appreciated."
"Haha. Not at all. By the way, who is that child?"
"The adopted son I've taken in this time."
"Eh? Then you mean he's the young master?"
"Just know it as that."
Leaving behind the gardener astonished at the sudden existence of a young master, Kokumin and Myeongseong soon opened the mansion's front door and entered. And at the overwhelming splendor revealed, Myeongseong admired.
"Wow."
"Huh. Admiring again?"
"Seeing something like this, I can't help but admire it."
Splendor. The pinnacle of overwhelming wealth that can only be expressed with that one word.
Delicately crafted handmade glass chandeliers.
Renaissance art pieces hung in the corridors.
Rare porcelain placed here and there.
And even high-quality jeweled decorations glimpsed subtly.
"You're fucking rich. Father."
Indeed, Tōsaka.
Indeed, one of the three founding families.
"Basic cultivation as the Tōsaka family. They're all just side branches for magecraft."
"Ha. For magecraft, you'd buy out a whole city, wouldn't you?"
"Of course. If necessary."
"Ugh!!"
Meanwhile, as Kokumin returned, a maid with light platinum blonde hair who had been busily cleaning nearby (she was a real maid. A traditional maid wearing authentic British-style maid clothes!) was surprised and came running busily.
"Oh my! Head of the family! You said you were going to the peninsula, and you've finally returned!"
"Ah, Leah. Your hard work as always is appreciated."
"No. I'm just doing what's natural as a servant."
The maid, who showed humility for a moment, soon seemed to discover Myeongseong beside Kokumin and opened her eyes wide.
"Head of the family. That child…?"
"The adopted son I've taken as a child this time."
"Eh?! You haven't even taken a wife yet, and already an adopted son?!"
The maid, whether her name was Leah or something, was astonished upon hearing that.
"What about your future marriage path? Are you trying to block the Tōsaka family's future? This ancient family?"
"I have no such intention. I discovered a child with considerable promise and couldn't just leave him, so I adopted him out of kindness."
"Oh my. As expected of the Head of the family. So magnanimous!"
Stroking Myeongseong's head, Kokumin spoke.
"Anyway, know it as that."
It was just as they were about to pass by.
"Um, Head of the family. Then that child, no, that young master, is he perhaps from the peninsula?"
The maid's question suddenly cutting in.
Just as Myeongseong's expression was about to frown, before that, Kokumin spoke.
"No. A mainlander who was on the peninsula. I picked him up wandering the streets after losing his parents."
"How! Why is your heart so kind! As expected of the Tōsaka head!"
"Well, just a noble's natural duty."
"Kyaha! As expected of the Head!"
"Then, I'll be going. Ah, don't send anyone near the study area."
"Yes. Understood."
Leaving behind the bowing maid, Kokumin grabbed Myeongseong's hand and went up the stairs.
-
Myeongseong, who had been walking silently following Kokumin, soon couldn't hold back and asked.
"Why? Did you lie?"
"About what?"
"The fact that I'm Korean…. no, a Joseon person."
"Huh. This is something. Was our son a Joseon person?"
Kokumin laughed heartily as if Myeongseong's words were funny.
"From the start, you're not even a Joseon person, are you? An alien."
"...."
"But why you firmly recognize yourself as a Joseon person is truly curious."
As if, it seems like it was engraved that way, doesn't it?
Myeongseong remained consistently silent, and Kokumin, who had expected it, shrugged his shoulders. And then began walking one step ahead of him. As if hiding his expression.
That背影. That largeness.
It felt like, what should I say, like consideration, so a strange relief was felt.
―――So like a real person.
'Disgusting.'
Myeongseong's mood became dirty.
"Father. Are you perhaps a tsundere?"
"Tsun… what?"
"It's nothing."
Grumbling like that, Myeongseong for some reason clutched his itchy heart—his chest area.
'No.'
Don't think.
'Everything here is fake. Settings from a creation. Not real.'
Only I am a real human.
As he thought that, a shadow fell over Myeongseong's head.
When Myeongseong raised his head, he saw Kokumin standing quietly in front of him, slightly bending his knees and looking at him.
Kokumin reached out his hand and slowly stroked Myeongseong's head.
"Jin Myōujō. No, Eun Myeongseong."
Awkward Korean. But his own clear name.
"...."
"It might be hard to accept immediately, but don't avoid reality."
As if advising as an adult, as if advising a wandering wanderer.
A magus and an adult, Tōsaka Kokumin spoke.
"Whether you're an alien, a peninsula native, or not, you are the adopted son taken in by this Tōsaka Kokumin."
Stubbornly.
"Even if I brought you here out of interest in you, as part of an experiment, as a result I adopted you and made you my disciple. Therefore, you are my son and disciple."
Warmly.
"I will always protect you and guard you. So you too, maintain elegance and composure fitting of this Tōsaka."
Humanly.
"…Yes."
"Good. You're obedient. Our son is."
*Stroke stroke*.
*Whack!*
"But don't keep stroking my head!"
"Pfft. Truly, what a fussy son."
Myeongseong brushed away the hand of the Tōsaka guy stroking his head.
His chest was itchy. Trying to somehow stop this itch, this thought, Myeongseong quickly changed the subject of the conversation.
"But Father. You don't have a wife yet?"
"Not yet. I'm still active, you see. My son. Despite appearances, this body just turned twenty."
'Twenty years old in 1925…. Huh? Then that's fucking old, isn't it?'
"In this era, you're old enough to marry. But you still don't have a wife?"
"Hoh?"
Listening to Myeongseong's question with interest for a moment, Tōsaka personally answered.
"I'm a bachelor by principle. Of course, as an excellent womb, I'll take a wife someday."
"Fuck. That's so magus-like."
Kokumin's words that instantly cooled down some itchiness he felt, some emotion he shouldn't recognize.
"I'd rather you say it's magus-like. By the way, 'in this era'? Our son has a peculiar sense of era."
"...."
"Did you perhaps come from the future?"
"Ugh! No, so shut up!"
"My my. Such emotional state and excited expression. Our son, while being an alien, is truly human-like. No, was it engraved that way?"
"Ughhhh! First of all, I'm (really) human, so shut up a bit. Father. Fuck, don't you get tired assigning meaning to every single word?"
"Not at all. Your existence is quite a bundle of mysteries and, as a magus, a very interesting subject."
Kokumin grinned.
"Even such idle talk is truly interesting. It feels like discovering new facts one by one."
"…Fuck. That's so human-like."
'I want to punch a hole in my chest.'
Myeongseong was confused by that appearance that sometimes seemed magus-like, sometimes human-like.
"Yes. This father is human."
"For a magus…"
"Hoh? Our son sees magi and people as separate? Is there a clear distinction standard?"
"Ugh! Fuck, no!"
Like that, Kokumin and Myeongseong bickered for a while.
-
"Now, here's the study. Remember the location from now on."
"Whoa."
The study they arrived at after walking through the second-floor corridor was truly a sea of books.
Waves of bookshelves mixed with all sorts of old books and hardcover editions filled Myeongseong's view.
At a glance, enough books to number hundreds, no, thousands—a vast amount.
It was truly a feast of books that could be seen as the history or compilation of a family.
Leaving behind Myeongseong admiring the wave of books, Kokumin dug into the pile of books in the dustiest corner of the library and searched through it.
"It should be here somewhere…, aha! Here it is."
After searching for a while, fluttering dust, Kokumin soon pulled out an old book. A book pulled from the dust, covered in dust. Judging by the thickness of the dust, it seemed to be a book that had been buried for a long time.
No, not just dust. The book itself was simply old.
Yellowed discolored paper, a cover finished with thick paper closer to wood bark rather than a proper cover. Above all, the book bound with red thread…
"A medieval (Eastern) style book?"
"Correct. You got it exactly right. Our son is also rich in historical knowledge."
Kokumin brushed off the dust on the book and then blew on it, *whoosh*.
The thickly piled dust scattered with his breath, and the title soon revealed was.
"Hanja…?"
"Hmm? You don't know Hanja?"
"I don't know except for a very little bit."
Myeongseong didn't know Hanja, just as he didn't know Japanese.
"Huh…, truly strangely your common sense is inputted."
Looking at Myeongseong as if finding it absurd, Kokumin kindly pointed at the book with his finger and explained.
"This is one of the relics left by our ancient founder."
"Ancient founder?"
"Yes."
"The one who caused our Tōsaka family to transition into a magus family, so in terms of family, you could call him the middle founder."
Kokumin looked at the book with eyes full of pathos.
"The middle founder was someone who once regarded martial arts and magecraft as equal."
"You mean Tōsaka Nagato?"
"Yes. Hmm?"
At the middle founder's name suddenly cutting in, Kokumin was startled and looked at Myeongseong.
Myeongseong shrugged and spoke.
"Well, you know by now, right? That I know strangely many things."
'Anyway, all that fake father's words are woven with bluffing and clever questions. As someone currently dominated by a young child's body and emotions, still immature as a magus, no, I can't withstand it.'
He's already been caught on many things. And that fake father knows he's hiding many things too. On top of that, he's currently in a child's body. With a mind gradually assimilating to the body, he can only helplessly fall for that bluffing.
So.
'I say what I know preemptively. However, I don't say what I want to hide.'
I say what I can say preemptively, and swallow what I need to swallow. Then I should be able to hide the few secrets I really want to hide.
"Yes. As expected, you knew."
The momentarily flustered expression Kokumin made quickly straightened as if he had never been flustered, and he spoke leisurely.
"Huh, I guess you didn't expect this?"
"As if that would happen."
"Li, lies show all over your face, you know? Father?"
"No. My son."
Kokumin, not backing down and fighting back however he could. Sneering at him, Myeongseong spoke confidently.
"I know everything."
"Yes, I suppose. Even though you don't know Hanja."
Kokumin's counterattack suddenly cutting in!
"Fuck! That's enough!"
"Keuk!"
Myeongseong, hit in the solar plexus by a fact, convulsed!
At that pure child-like reaction, Kokumin burst out laughing.
"Keheu, yes. As our son said, the middle founder, no, our grandfather regarded martial arts and magecraft as equal."
"Yes, yes. The one who was chosen by Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg and became his disciple."
"Yes."
"His talent was versatile."
"Hmm?"
"That personality, that is, as a magus the promise was poor but the aspect of stubbornly moving forward was liked, so he was specially regarded as a disciple."
"Huh?"
"As Father said, he regarded martial arts and magecraft equally. And actually became quite skilled, right?"
"Yes. Huh. You really know everything."
"Not everything. Not everything."
"Right. Because you don't know Hanja."
"Fuuuck."
Myeongseong pouted his lips at Kokumin, who teased him to the end.
"So what's that book? The design drawings for the Jeweled Sword Zelretch?"
"No, you know that too…?! No, it's not the design drawings for the Jeweled Sword."
"Then what is it?"
"You don't know this?"
"Ugh, geez! I'm asking because I don't know!"
"No, I asked because you said you know everything."
"Ughhh! I don't know! I don't know! Satisfied?!"
"Keuk. Still childish indeed."
"Ugh! I'm a child!"
"Yes. An alien in the form of a child."
"And your son too!"
"An adopted son though."
"Uwaaah!"
"Hehahaha."
Myeongseong, heated up by Kokumin who didn't let a single word slide, banged his head on a bookshelf. Watching that, Kokumin laughed merrily. He laughed so much he almost shed tears and then continued.
"This is a book on Bajiquan authored by our grandfather."
"Huh?"
"A revised style of Bajiquan authored by our grandfather in his later years. A training method thoroughly modified from a magical perspective."
'Oh so that means.'
Mapo tofu?