Chapter 347 – Namman’s Dog! (4)

This is the first time I’ve met Paeng Ojin since the wedding.

My father-in-law, whom I haven’t seen in a long time, looked impressed as he gazed at the living creatures, a pair of ducks and raccoons, in Paeng Soso’s arms.

“Wow… I didn’t expect you to bring living creatures as a gift. I’ll enjoy eating them, son-in-law.”

“What?!”

The raccoon, who sensed the danger, curled up into a ball and hid its head, trembling.

It wanted to hide, but it was in Paeng Soso’s arms, so it could only hide its head as a last resort.

Paeng Soso, who saw this, hugged the raccoon even tighter.

“Father, please. It’s impressive that you recognized it as a living creature, but I didn’t bring it here to be eaten.”

“What? Isn’t it a gift for this father who is suffering because he sent his only daughter away?”

“No. It’s a friend of Hong Unni’s that I met in Namman. It’s like a pet, so you can’t eat it!”

“Tsk.”

Paeng Ojin pouted as if he were sulking.

Since Nokrim was destroyed, he was probably the most bandit-like-looking uncle in the current central garden, with his lips puckered up like this…

But I understand.

If I had sent my daughter away like Paeng Soso, I would have felt the same way.

Of course, Paeng Soso, who was the person in question, couldn’t understand such feelings, and she made a disgusted expression.

“Ugh. Don’t make that weird face, Father.”

“…Raising a daughter is useless!”

Paeng Ojin, who was about to cry, glared at me and sharpened his teeth.

If it were in the past, I would have been intimidated by Paeng Ojin’s daughter’s foolishness… but not anymore.

I’ve become somewhat accustomed to it, and I have a secret weapon.

“Don’t be like that, Father-in-law. I’ll show you first when So-so has a grandchild.”

“Hmm. Since you say it like that, I’ll let it slide this time.”

Paeng Ojin coughed as he said the word “grandchild.” He’s such an easy person to read.

“Oh, and I have a gift for you, Father-in-law.”

“Huh? I was just kidding, but did you really prepare a gift?”

“Well… since it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, I didn’t want to come empty-handed. Just a moment.”

I took out a book and a small box that I had prepared in advance from my arms.

“First, this is a rare book containing the secret martial arts of the Paeng family in Yeonhwa’s world. So-so made it by only including the contents that are not in the Paeng family’s martial arts in this world.”

“…I see. The Paeng family’s martial arts in another world. I’ve been there myself, but I still can’t believe it.”

Paeng Ojin looked at the rare book as if it were fascinating.

But soon, he frowned and closed the book.

“Tsk. As expected, the living is too thick, and the intention is too arrogant… but the research value is sufficient.”

“That’s why I gave it to you. Here’s the next one.”

I opened the box next to me and handed it to Paeng Ojin.

“Hmm… I’ve never tasted a raccoon before, but this looks like it could be eaten.”

“What? No, this is just ginseng.”

“….”

“But it’s still top quality. It’s good for your body, so please take care of it, Father-in-law.”

“Oh… I see. Ginseng is also a valuable medicinal herb. Hmm.”

Is it because I packaged it too well? Or is it because the ginseng is of such good quality?

Paeng Ojin, who had mistaken the ginseng for a raccoon, awkwardly accepted the box.

“Anyway, I’ll eat it well. By the way, how long do you plan to stay here?”

“Well… probably about ten days?? It would be difficult to leave the Sa family’s residence empty for any longer.”

“I see. It’s hard to keep using the excuse of being newlyweds. Oh, if you need anything, just ask me, Sa Doryeon. I’ll take off my shoes and help you.”

“Thank you for saying that, Paeng Gaju. It’s very reassuring.”

“What for? Now that So-so has officially gotten married, we’re no longer outsiders. By the way, I heard the news, but did your eyes really recover? Congratulations on your enlightenment.”

“It’s all thanks to the blessings of the heavens and Second Madam.”

Sa Doryeon smiled softly and talked around the subject.

She had to let the people around her know that Sa Doryeon’s eyes had improved, but she couldn’t spread rumors that she had performed a miraculous recovery through some kind of folk remedy.

So she chose the typical cliche of helping each other in training and achieving enlightenment, and during that process, her eyes were healed.

It’s not uncommon for a part of the body, even if it’s a limb, to recover along with enlightenment, so no one suspected anything.

Anyway, while they were catching up on each other’s news and chatting, Hong Yeonhwa, who wasn’t interested in this kind of talk, was still holding onto the tail of the duck-raccoon in Paeng Soso’s arms.

“Eit, eit.”

“Quack! Quack!”

A bewildered cry that came out every time she pulled the tail. It was a sound mixed with a reprimand that seemed to say, “What if we get caught?”

“Don’t worry. I won’t eat you, so come out and meet your owner.”

“Quack?”

The duck-raccoon finally relaxed and timidly looked back and forth between Paeng Ojin and Hong Yeonhwa, as if asking if it was really true that they wouldn’t be eaten.

Paeng Ojin chuckled at the sight of the creature’s human-like behavior.

“I really won’t eat it, so don’t worry.”

“Hehehe….”

The duck-raccoon, which had been hiding in Paeng Soso’s arms, finally came out after hearing Paeng Ojin’s assurance.

It looked back and forth between Paeng Ojin and Paeng Soso a few times before lifting one of its front paws.

“Quack!”

“It seems to understand human speech, but it doesn’t seem to understand what we’re saying.”

“Oh, I just greeted it and asked it to behave.”

“…You understood that?”

“Well, of course. After all, I’m this little guy’s friend.”

“???”

Paeng Ojin gave me a puzzled look, as if asking me what that meant.

I shrugged my shoulders and answered for him.

“People who live near the Beast Palace in Namman form friendships with animals and consider them lifelong friends. That’s the general idea.”

“Hmm. I still don’t really understand, but I’ll take your word for it.”

I watched with curiosity as the duck-raccoon wandered around the study, and Hong Yeonhwa chased after its tail.

Then I spoke up cautiously.

“How’s the task I asked you to do going?”

“It’s going smoothly. Especially that crazy author who’s obsessed with Namgung Sae-ga’s sword. He’s practically dying to meet him.”

“He’s still the same, then.”

Paeng Ojin chuckled softly and sipped his tea.

What I asked Paeng Ojin to do was something I would never do under normal circumstances.

Inviting Namgung Sae-ga’s family to a public martial arts demonstration and asking a major martial arts sect to be a witness. It was the kind of thing only a sycophant would do.

But I had to do it.

If I were to live only in Hong Yeonhwa’s world, there would be no need for me to go this far. Over there, they worship Hong Yeonhwa as a living god, and I’m just a representative of the heavens.

That whole area is our territory, so there’s no need to show off our strength.

But it’s different here.

Even though I proved myself by defeating the Samaryeonju and showing that I’m a respectable martial artist…it’s not enough.

After Hong Yeonhwa’s true identity as a Hyeongyeong was revealed, I still feel like I need to do more. Like having a full-scale martial arts competition.

I need to build a fence…no, a fortress that no one can surpass.

Like how Odaesega created his own kingdom over many years, and how the Gupa Ilbang became the losers of a region.

Like how people tremble at the mention of their names.

I need to become that kind of existence.

Paeng Ojin, who knows my plan, smirked and raised the corners of his mouth.

“Are you planning to start a family?”

“No.”

“Then a martial arts sect?”

“Neither.”

“Then why, as a son-in-law, do you reveal yourself as a Hyeongyeong’s martial artist?”

After a moment of silence, I carefully chose my words before speaking.

“I will become the greatest in the world.”

A bold and audacious declaration.

“I will become the greatest in the world, Master. I need that reputation.”

“Is it for honor? Becoming the greatest in the world is a position that can make one greedy.”

“I don’t think so. It doesn’t matter to me.”

I looked around carefully.

Hong Yeonhwa was chatting with the duck-raccoon, while Paeng Soso acted as an interpreter.

Samamang smiled warmly, as if supporting whatever I decided to do.

Samayeryeong, who was hearing about my ultimate goal for the first time, looked surprised.

And there was also the child that was growing inside my women, although it wasn’t visible yet.

As if to capture this scene in my mind, I opened my mouth.

“As always, I just want to protect my people.”

Did my answer please Paeng Ojin? He nodded with a faint smile.

“Then do so. I’ll help you.”

“Thank you, Master. I feel like I’m always receiving help, and I’m sorry for that.”

“No need to apologize. If my son-in-law becomes the greatest in the world, then the Paeng family will also benefit.”

Paeng Ojin chuckled, as if he found it amusing. But then he suddenly widened his eyes and looked at me suspiciously.

“Wait a minute, son-in-law.”

“Yes? Is there a problem?”

“Well, it’s not really a problem, but…even if the Heavenly Demon is right next to you, can you really just call yourself the greatest in the world?”

“Don’t worry about that.”

I asked Hong Yeonhwa, who was playing with the duck-raccoon like a scarf.

“Yeonhwa, can I be the greatest in the world?”

“Hmm? If you want to, then go ahead. For me, just the name Heavenly Demon is enough.”

Indeed, Heavenly Demon is just as impressive a title as the greatest in the world.

I shrugged my shoulders and looked at Paeng Ojin.

“That settles it.”

“Ugh…”

Paeng Ojin looked dumbfounded, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

Meanwhile, Hong Yeonhwa seemed to have come up with a good idea during our conversation and bounced over to us.

“You, you!”

“Yes?”

“If you become the greatest in the world…I’ll be the greatest in the world’s woman!”

“Do you like that idea?”

“Of course!”

She looked excited and expectant, as if she couldn’t wait for what was to come.

Now that I think about it, the other women had similar expressions.

“The greatest in the world’s woman?”

“That…yes. It’s a very exciting feeling.”

“A mediocre prince becoming the greatest in the world…?”

The atmosphere was as if we were all dreaming.

In the midst of it all, the duck-raccoon let out a small cry.

“Quack!”

I still don’t know exactly what it means, but… I’m sure it’s a blessing for us.

That’s the feeling I got.