Chapter 17 : Apology
Click—
As Seo Shinwon called his name, Namgung Il immediately sheathed his sword.
Even at this moment, Namgung Hae was still kneeling on the ground with his head bowed.
Although he looked quite pathetic, Namgung Il immediately turned and walked away as if it had nothing to do with him.
"I used it well."
Namgung Il said as he held out the sword to Seo Shinwon with both hands.
The words Namgung Il had said to him before the spar began.
He had lent him the sword simply because he was curious about the basis of that confidence... but Seo Shinwon had not expected him to actually win like this.
"Let me ask you one thing."
"...?"
"Have you really never held a real sword before?"
"No, I haven't. Why?"
Hearing that answer, Seo Shinwon was so dumbfounded that he was at a loss for words.
That appearance, as if he really didn't realize how amazing a statement he had just made.
Seo Shinwon now knew for sure why his gaze had been continuously drawn to Namgung Il.
'He really resembles that person.'
To think he would even resemble him in this nonchalant aspect... If he hadn't known that Namgung Il was a child of the Namgung Clan, he might have thought he was Do Yeoksan's hidden son.
Ah, or maybe not?
Such a handsome face could not have come from that person's genes, so that child was definitely of Namgung Jeongung's blood.
"Aren't you going to take it?"
"...?"
"If you don't need it, this sword will be mine from now on..."
Grab—
As Seo Shinwon quickly snatched the sword away, Namgung Il looked at the sword with a slightly regretful expression.
'That appearance is also exactly like that person.'
In the past, Seo Shinwon had lost more than one or two things to Do Yeoksan.
Perhaps because his roots were that of a beggar, Do Yeoksan had always been on the lookout for opportunities to steal his belongings.
"Seo Saengwon! It's cold, can you take off your outer garment for a moment?"
"Yes, here you go."
"Oh, this is nice. Is it okay if I wear it for a few days and then return it?"
"Pardon? Then what should I wear..."
"A man is fine with just that much!"
"But you just said it was cold and took my clothes..."
"Ah, I should go eat."
...Thinking about it now, why did I follow Do Yeoksan around so much?
Remembering the clothes he never got back, Seo Shinwon suddenly felt a surge of annoyance.
"Il-ah!"
Just then, Namgung Yeon appeared out of nowhere and approached.
As soon as she got close, Namgung Yeon examined Namgung Il's right arm, and she was terrified when she saw the blood still flowing from the sword wound.
Rip—
Without anyone having a chance to stop her, Namgung Yeon suddenly tore her own clothes.
The long torn cloth looked like a bandage at a glance, and Namgung Yeon hurriedly began to wrap the torn cloth around Namgung Il's wound.
"S-sister. What are you doing?"
"Stay still! I'm just giving first aid."
"...Pardon?"
Anyone would think he had suffered a fatal wound.
Although blood was flowing, it was just a slight scratch, so there was no need to make such a fuss.
"There, it's done. Now let's go to the healer and get it properly treated."
"I'm fine! This is the kind of thing that heals if you just put some spit on it..."
"What did you promise me this morning?"
A promise?
When Namgung Yeon suddenly said that, a certain memory came to Namgung Il's mind.
"...I said I wouldn't get hurt."
"Right."
"But this isn't even what you'd call getting hurt..."
"..."
"...I understand."
In the end, Namgung Il had no choice but to answer so.
No matter how shallow the wound was, it was true that he had not kept his promise with Namgung Yeon.
Namgung Il was now being dragged towards the healer, held by Namgung Yeon's hand.
"...Hah."
Seeing that, Seo Shinwon was slightly surprised.
To think that Namgung Yeon had such a side to her.
Namgung Yeon was a considerable celebrity even at the Flying Dragon Academy, where various geniuses gathered.
Of course, the name of the Namgung Clan and her martial arts skills also contributed to her fame, but what stood out the most was her beautiful appearance.
Namgung Yeon's popularity was so great that there was a rumor that all the male students at the Flying Dragon Academy had confessed to her at least once.
'Her nickname, Ice Flower on the Cliff, seems out of place.'
An ice flower blooming on a cliff. That was the nickname Namgung Yeon was called at the Flying Dragon Academy.
Just as the name suggests, Namgung Yeon at the Flying Dragon Academy had always shown a cold side, and she had never shown any interest in anyone who approached her.
For such a Namgung Yeon to actually be a sister who doted on her younger brother... If Namgung Il were to attend the Flying Dragon Academy in the future, it seemed he would have a considerable amount of trouble.
"Ah..."
Suseonghwa was still with a dazed face, her mouth agape.
Her son had lost to that woman's son.
In front of everyone, and she had even witnessed the scene herself.
'This can't be... No, this can't be!'
Why did she think she had arranged such an event?
The person who should be kneeling there now should be Namgung Il, not Namgung Hae.
But her son was kneeling, and that woman's son was receiving the cheers of the people... Suseonghwa felt that this moment was just a nightmare.
"Ahem—"
Just then, an uncomfortable cough was heard in her ear.
At that moment, Suseonghwa was startled and looked at where the sound came from, and there, Su Majin was turning his back and walking somewhere.
"F-father!"
Suseonghwa hurriedly called Su Majin and chased after him.
His steps stopped.
As Su Majin turned his head back, Suseonghwa felt as if her whole body was freezing.
"Father-in-law, where are you going?"
Just then, Namgung Cheong approached Su Majin and asked.
As a result, Su Majin withdrew his gaze from Suseonghwa and turned his attention to Namgung Cheong, and said in a voice that was clearly different from before.
"I'll be leaving first."
"Are you leaving already?"
"Yes, I've congratulated you on your birthday, so there's no reason for me to stay here any longer."
Saying so, Su Majin glanced at Suseonghwa again.
At that moment, her body trembled slightly like a child who had done something wrong.
Su Majin turned his body again and walked away after saying that.
"...!"
She couldn't let Su Majin go like this.
Of course, even if she chased after him, she wouldn't hear anything good, but if she just let him leave like this, the situation would only get worse.
In the end, Suseonghwa started to chase after Su Majin again.
Grin—
Seeing that, Namgung Cheong smiled quietly.
To think that Su Majin would be unable to hide his emotions and leave the place like this.
Namgung Cheong couldn't help but feel that this was just exhilarating.
'Moreover, the person who made Su Majin like that was none other than that child...'
Even he, the head of the Namgung Clan, could not rashly provoke Su Majin's mood.
But to think that Namgung Il had done it.
Namgung Cheong soon erased the smile from his lips and walked somewhere.
* * *
Namgung Il was being treated by a healer.
Next to him, Namgung Yeon was watching with an anxious expression.
Somehow, Namgung Yeon, who was next to him, had a more serious expression than Namgung Il, who was being treated.
"Healer, is my brother really alright?"
Namgung Yeon asked the healer.
How many times had she asked that already?
Just listening to that expression and voice, he felt as if he had some kind of fatal disease.
"Yes, miss. It's a shallow sword wound, so there won't even be a trace in a few days."
"...That's a relief."
Only after confirming several times did Namgung Yeon mutter as if she were relieved.
"It's all done."
"..."
"Don't bathe for a few days. It's better if water doesn't get into the wound."
"Ah... I understand."
To not be able to bathe for a while.
The wound itself was nothing, but the fact that he couldn't bathe was a little sad.
Creak—
Just then, the door to the room opened, and someone came in.
'Namgung Cheong?'
The person who came into the room was none other than Namgung Cheong.
Why had that brat followed him here too?
Namgung Il couldn't help but be puzzled by his appearance.
Bow—
As Namgung Cheong appeared, Namgung Yeon and the healer bowed their heads.
The same went for Namgung Il.
Approaching, Namgung Cheong looked at the bandage wrapped around his right arm and opened his mouth.
"...I'd like to talk to you two alone for a moment."
The two of them?
From the context, Namgung Il knew immediately that Namgung Cheong was now speaking to him.
Click—
A moment later, Namgung Yeon and the healer left the room.
An awkward silence filled the room.
It was the first time he had been alone with Namgung Cheong like this, so Namgung Il felt a rather strange feeling.
'This brat is my father?'
Namgung Il was still not used to that fact.
In the first place, wasn't it stranger to suddenly call a brat he had seen since he was a snot-nosed kid 'father'?
Just then, Namgung Cheong slowly opened his mouth.
"Is your wound alright?"
"Uh... yes, I'm fine."
"Yes, that's a relief."
"..."
Could it be that this brat was also worried about his wound and came here?
Why was everyone making such a fuss over a mere scratch?
He suddenly wondered what kind of reaction they would show if he caught a cold.
"To be honest, I thought you would lose the spar."
"..."
"But to think you would beat Hae, you've grown a lot while I wasn't looking."
Growth...
Hearing that, Namgung Il felt an indescribable sense of stuffiness.
'Your son even attempted suicide.'
In a way, it could be said that he was here now thanks to that.
But an anger that arose from a corner of his heart.
If Namgung Cheong had watched over him with a little more interest like now, this brat might not have made the extreme decision of suicide.
"Then you should have watched over me properly all this time."
"..."
"Before being a clan head, as a father, isn't that the proper way?"
Namgung Il said that and his heart sank for a moment.
He had blurted out those words in anger... but how dare he speak so disrespectfully to the clan head.
It might have been fine in the past, but in his current position, it was a rather presumptuous statement.
However.
"I'm sorry."
"...?"
When those words came out of Namgung Cheong's mouth, Namgung Il had a dazed expression.
To think that Namgung Cheong would apologize so readily.
Seeing that, Namgung Il thought that even though time had passed, the Namgung Cheong in front of him was the same person he had seen in the past.
'Yes, Namgung Cheong was this kind of guy.'
He was a guy who always accepted his mischievous pranks with a smile.
He had also always given alms to the beggars living nearby without showing any dislike.
For such a kind guy to neglect his son's death? It really didn't make sense.
"Still, unlike when I gave you the necklace, you seem to have become stronger now, so I'm relieved."
"...?"
"Continue to become stronger."
Namgung Cheong said that and turned to leave the room.
'...Necklace?'
The moment he heard that, only one thing came to Namgung Il's mind.
The necklace that Namgung Jeongung had given him in the past, and which was currently around his neck.
Since that was the only necklace he had, the necklace Namgung Cheong had just mentioned must have meant that.
'This... Namgung Cheong gave it to me?'
Through what route on earth was this necklace currently around his neck?
Looking down at the necklace in his hand, Namgung Il's question only deepened.
(End of Chapter)