Chapter 26 - Family Head Meeting (3)

Even if Seo Chang-woo had drawn his sword, there was nothing he could do here.

It would be difficult even if he had planned a well-organized coup, so causing a ruckus in such an agitated state was nothing more than a meaningless struggle. He would be suppressed within three seconds.

‘3, 2…’

Kwaaaang!

Just as I thought.

A sudden roar erupted, and the sword Seo Chang-woo held in his hand was shattered.

The one who broke the sword was, surprisingly, a single 500-won coin.

There was no need to think twice about who in the meeting hall could display such divine power.

The former head of the Muwon Sword Family, Han Byeong-cheol.

“Stop right there. It’s too pathetic.”

That old man's technique was fascinating to see again.

From the skill of compressing mana into a coin and striking with it, to the near-perfect mana control.

It was a technique that even I, in my Johan Raven days, would have needed some practice to be able to perform.

I slightly bowed my head towards Han Byeong-cheol to show my respect.

Even if he hadn't done it, someone else would have, but because he did it, the situation was resolved in the cleanest way possible.

Seo Chang-woo, having lost his will to fight, stared blankly at the ceiling with a devastated expression.

He might be regretting it.

Having so naively responded to his brother's summons.

Or at the very least, for not having prepared a coup for a 'what if' situation.

“What a foolish man!”

The one who lamented while looking at Seo Chang-woo was my father’s second older brother, Seo Hyeong-geun.

I knew well the meaning behind those words ‘foolish man’.

It meant that he handled things in such a way that it caused problems later.

In fact, it was Seo Chang-woo who had revealed his claws this time, but it wouldn’t be strange at all if it were Seo Hyeong-geun next time.

This damned household was full of figures who held grievances against the Main Family.

“Seo Chang-woo, and Seo Young-joon. Step forward.”

My father's stern voice, something rarely heard. The two culprits bit their lips, looking like two peas in a pod.

Seo Young-joon’s legs were trembling as he walked forward.

No matter how much a death sentence awaited him, his pathetic appearance was utterly disgraceful.

That’s why he shouldn't have done something that deserved death.

“Both of you, raise your heads.”

Even if they were brothers who shared the same blood, there was no way there would be leniency.

This father and son had crossed the line, by a long shot.

“...Big brother. No, Family Head.”

At the call of ‘Big brother’, my father Seo Joon-wook’s eyes trembled slightly.

Seeing this, my father was definitely not the type of person suited to be the head of a great family like the Haewon Sword Family.

His excellent character was beyond question, but the problem was that he was excessively sentimental.

For that reason, this occasion today was a harsh time for my father, and it would continue to be a harsh time.

Because the verdict he himself would pronounce would be a severe one that transcended the realm of sentimentality.

“Are you trying to ask for leniency?”

At my father's question, Seo Chang-woo let out a deep sigh and shook his head.

He had given up on everything along with his shattered sword.

“Please, just this boy! Please spare this boy who is still young!”

“What you and your son did was an act of trying to kill someone. And yet you ask me to spare him now. Don’t you think that’s too shameless?”

At my father’s words, Seo Chang-woo squeezed his eyes shut.

Seo Young-joon’s face had already turned deathly pale, and his whole body was trembling.

“What you two have done is deserving of death. There will be no room for excuses.”

“I was wrong!! I will live my life in atonement like a dog! So please, just spare my life!”

Seo Young-joon suddenly started wailing, with tears and snot streaming down his face.

“How cowardly. You too were a respectable member of the Haewon Sword Family until now.”

“Please spare me! Please spare me!”

Seo Young-joon began to beg for his life indiscriminately.

To think that a low-life like him dared to think of killing me, a hollow laugh escaped me on its own.

“Then I shall deliver the verdict. First, Seo Chang-woo and all his family members are excommunicated from the Haewon Sword Family in accordance with the family law.”

At my father's declaration, the meeting hall buzzed for a moment, but in truth, this was a foregone conclusion.

To aim for a direct descendant of the Main Family, of all people, was no different from a declaration of war.

If this were Kalia where I lived, the punishment would not have ended with excommunication but would have been the annihilation of the entire clan.

“Next, Seo Chang-woo.”

“…”

There was no leniency anyway.

Only the manner of death was in my father's hands.

“I will give you the opportunity to take your own life.”

This was the last bit of mercy that could be shown to a blood relative.

Seo Chang-woo squeezed his eyes shut and nodded.

The meeting hall buzzed again, but my father immediately calmed them with a gesture.

“You may leave a last will.”

I could feel the bitterness he must be swallowing behind that calm voice.

My real father, Billion Raven, had also been like that.

A fratricidal war. He too had suffered from the cruel twists of fate.

To see such a scene again after being reincarnated just felt strange.

“I will take my own life cleanly, so please, just this child.”

My father avoided his brother’s gaze and continued to declare the verdict.

“Seo Young-joon, your crime is worthy of death. You yourself must know that.”

“Please spare me!”

“Your father has decided to take his own life cleanly, and yet you wish to live?”

“I will live as if I were dead for the rest of my life!”

My father had already finished deliberating on the verdict before holding this family meeting.

The decision he had made in his heart would not be overturned.

Whatever punishment was handed down, it would be a conclusion that had already been reached.

“I acknowledge that beheading both father and son on the same day is a harsh act in light of heavenly principles.”

“Please spare me!”

“Therefore, for now, your death shall be substituted by your father’s suicide.”

“Th-thank you!! Family Head!”

“However, your dantian will be destroyed so that it can never be restored.”

“What??”

It was indeed a decision befitting the head of a prestigious sword family.

To punish with a sharp blade to make an example, but without going too far.

I had no regrets either.

My real target from the beginning was Seo Chang-woo, not Seo Young-joon.

With this, I was able to cut out some of the potential risk factors in the Main Family with a single stroke, and it also served as a stern warning against any rebellion that might arise in the future.

As for Seo Young-joon, even if he had saved his life for now, today’s cowardice would remain a lifelong shackle. He might even come to regret not dying today.

That is, if this guy was even human.

“From this moment on, everyone in Seo Chang-woo’s family will never be able to use the name of the Haewon Sword Family again. That is all. The verdict on you two ends here.”

No one raised any objections to the verdict my father had delivered so far.

Neither the council of elders of the Haewon Sword Family nor my father’s second older brother who attended the meeting today just listened to the verdict in silence.

The only procedure left now was the execution of the verdict.

Seo Chang-woo’s suicide and the destruction of Seo Young-joon’s dantian.

The two of them had their eyes closed, preparing for their end.

***

Late at night.

There was a summons from my father.

I thought there would be a meeting like this once the Family Head meeting was over.

All of this had started because of me. It was I who had started with Seo Young-joon and then linked it to Seo Chang-woo to escalate the situation.

“You don’t look too well.”

“Today, I tightened the noose on my own flesh and blood. Isn’t that to be expected?”

Although it was an execution according to the family law, he had personally ordered his brother’s suicide. And he had to watch it with his own two eyes. I felt I could understand his feelings to some extent.

His back as he sat on the terrace, gazing at the moonlight, felt endlessly lonely.

“Father, are you perhaps blaming me right now?”

“Me, blaming you, Ji-han?”

“Seo Young-joon is one thing, but my uncle fell into a trap I set. You know that too, Father.”

“He wouldn't have fallen into a trap if he didn't have a disloyal heart.”

“Still, a person’s heart is…”

“That’s not it. The important thing is the fact that he was a villain who tried to murder a direct descendant of the Main Family and my youngest son. There's only one thing I want to take issue with you about. The fact that you personally took a risk to root out the disloyal elements! That was a very rash action, regardless of the outcome.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t ever do that again.”

“Yes, Father.”

Then, a moment of silence followed.

Even after calling me, my father didn't have much to say.

He just gazed at the night sky, occasionally tilting his glass, and only asked me meaningless questions.

Perhaps my father just needed someone to be by his side.

Because the seat of the Family Head was always a lonely one.

“These days, it feels like every day is passing like a storm.”

“What do you mean?”

“It means that a lot of things have been happening all at once.”

“Are you perhaps talking about me?”

“I suppose so. Because a lot of things have happened surrounding you.”

A son who had suddenly changed. He must have been very confused starting from that.

Among them were some moving events, but the anxiety that came from the other side must have been much greater.

My father, Seo Joon-wook, tried his best not to show it and was considerate of me, but I could always feel his worry for me.

“Would you like a glass too?”

“Yes. Please give me one.”

“I think this is the first time. Originally, you, Ji-han, were unable to drink even a sip of alcohol.”

“I’ve recovered a lot now. So I will come to your study like this from time to time to receive a glass. Unlike my brothers, I haven’t had the chance until now, have I?”

“It’s very nice to hear you say that.”

I drained the glass my father had poured for me in one go and then filled his glass with alcohol as well.

And so, we, father and son, shared drinks under the moonlight for a long time.

It was the first time I had strayed from the path since being reincarnated into Seo Ji-han’s body.

Because until now, I had been focusing all twenty-four hours of my day solely on recovering my body.

‘Just for one day, well.’

Feeling that the lonely shadow cast over my father’s face was fading a little, it was a more fulfilling time than ever before.

“I heard from your second brother. Your progress in swordsmanship is much faster than expected?”

“It’s because the Haewon Sword Style is a very interesting sword style.”

“To feel interest instead of frustration, that alone is amazing. Even I felt a wall when I first learned this sword style.”

“I just want to learn the latter half of the Haewon Sword Style directly from you, Father, in the future.”

“Are you saying you will now covet the position of Family Head?”

“I am your son too, Father.”

At my words, my father showed a smile for the first time today.

Although it was a restrained expression, he was genuinely happy.

“Yes. That’s right. You are my son too.”

“Since we’re on the topic, there’s one more thing I’d like to ask of you, Father.”

“Speak.”

The time had come for me to achieve my first short-term goal.

The timing was very appropriate and exquisite.

“I would also like to form my own sword unit now. Just like my brothers.”

“You, Ji-han, a sword unit?”

“I know you think it’s too early. My dungeon experience is still shallow.”

“Yes. You’ve only cleared two dungeons so far, haven’t you?”

“But I have now learned the first half of the Haewon Sword Style and have become a proper successor of the Main Family. Dungeon experience is something I can build up over time, and if it’s a foregone conclusion that I will eventually form my own sword unit, then I don’t think now is too early. In fact, isn’t it true that I’ve fallen behind due to my chronic illness all this time?”

“That is true, but.”

Failing to get permission in an atmosphere like today would be proof that I was a fool.

Now was the time to bring out the decisive line I had prepared.

“Also, I believe the reason I was threatened with murder twice was largely because I didn't have my own force.”

Even I thought it was a great line.

Because the justification was clear.

As expected, my father's eyes wavered.

“...That could be true.”

“Since you have already allowed me to go to dungeons, I would appreciate it if you would allow me to have my own independent power for my own safety.”

At my words, my father seemed to be lost in thought.

At this point, the answer was set.

He would grant permission but attach conditions. Then I would just have to fulfill those conditions.

It probably wouldn't be too difficult.