Chapter 36

It took a lot of resolve to turn on the clarification broadcast.

Anyway, I’ve never admitted that the person in that picture is me, right?

Still, with such deliberate intentions behind it all…

Now there’s one person in the world who knows the truth about it.

[Broadcast Title: I’ll Explain.]

I’m going for a direct breakthrough with this.

“That strange picture going around? That’s not me.”

End of broadcast.

“Phew.”

Clarification complete.

I’ve taken care of a major thing.

Now I can sleep peacefully at night.

I turned on the broadcast, gave my clarification, and ended the broadcast.

People who have my broadcast notifications turned on are probably seeing the “broadcast ended” message right about now.

And if they replay the broadcast, they can hear my clarification.

[Writer: Anonymous] [Title: Preposterous B, Are You Completely Insane?]

[Explanation broadcast lasted 7 seconds and ended lol

Is this even an explanation?]

-[What was the content?]

-[It wasn’t me in the picture]

-[This is a proper denial]

-[What kind of explanation is this? Come on, it’s a denial]

-[Denial? Wasn’t the Legend MomMY your mom… Could you be my father?]

-[This guy is also crazy]

-[That’s science for you]

-[Doesn’t seem to know what ‘explanation’ means lol]

Checking the forum, it seems like the message I wanted to convey got across.

[Writer: Anonymous] [Title: Wasn’t today the day for ranked broadcasts?]

[Turn the Legend’s broadcast on.

You have a Challenger match.]

Sorry, I’ll take a break today.

Oh right, Seol Family Holidays start tomorrow.

I have to go back to my parents’ house.

It slipped my mind because I was worried about the investigation.

So I’ll take a break for now.

[Writer: Anonymous] [Title: Breaking News) The True Identity of the Predecessor Discovered lol]

[Voice is fake, gender is fake, the picture is fake.

Everything is fake.

So, what’s the real identity of the Predecessor?

I’ve unraveled the amazing truth.

(Teamfight Arena Official Illusionist Illustration)

It’s the Illusionist all along.

Where are you looking? That’s just my afterimage.

Illusionist Predecessor Sol La, Heuuu]

-[You’re crazy lol]

-[Is this really true?]

-[Yeahyeah, surprising but true]

-[Is this Teamfight Arena lore?]

-[Anon, this is lore]

-[I knew it]

-[This woman only has strange viewers]

The Illusionist is a sexy female magic-user character who has a really curvy older sister look.

I can’t say her appearance had no impact on choosing her as my main champion.

The champion requires high difficulty and tricky playstyle, but that also plays a big role.

It’s just… I can’t resist curvy sisters.

“Why am I reading this?”

Anyway, looking at the general atmosphere, it seems like the clarification was successful.

It feels like the clarification was already done before I even started the broadcast, but…

Good is good, right?

“…Why does it feel like the more broadcasts I do, the less I can explain to my family what kind of broadcasts they are?”

Why is life throwing me so much shade?

“You chose this yourself,” you say?

What am I supposed to do about that?

Hmph.

Nothing in this world is guaranteed.

If something that shouldn’t be fine is going smoothly, that simply means someone is making immense sacrifices behind the scenes.

This was something Da In learned from his son.

Or rather, what used to be his son—his daughter.

“D-Daewa gyoshibaeyo.”

The daughter who had lived outside for less than a month seemed strangely awkward returning home.

She hesitated over the proper greeting between “Sil-rye hamnida” and “Daewa gyoshibaeyo,” finally opting for the latter.

“That’s my girl.”

“…”

His wife didn’t offer a greeting to her daughter, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time.

Da In nudged her with his elbow, prompting her to finally mutter an awkward “Eongseubnigga?”

This greeting indicated the deep rift that still existed between them.

“Let’s eat.”

Da In suggested a meal to alleviate the awkwardness.

“Where is Seol Yun?”

“She’s helping in the kitchen. She’s learning how to cook.”

“I’ll wash my hands and come.”

The couple headed toward the dining kitchen and sat beside the dining table.

In the separated kitchen space, the housekeeper and Seol Yun were busy.

The dining table was already set with various dishes.

Though they didn’t perform ancestral rites, it was now Seol Young’s favorite festival food.

Based on notes from the housekeeper who had worked for the couple for a long time.

…the couple didn’t know what their eldest child liked until they read those notes.

What a tragic fate.

Da In and his wife had two sons.

Eldest Seol Hoon and second Seol Young.

Seol Young was weak from birth, spending most of his life in the hospital, making the couple practically live there.

For the sake of their second son, who could pass anytime.

Their eldest was a self-reliant child who excelled at everything.

Hoon was so good at pretending to be strong that Da In failed to notice.

The simple fact that children need parental attention went unnoticed.

The wear and tear on Seol Hoon’s spirit during his lonely years.

Hoon may have been a prodigy in acting, or maybe they were all deceived, even themselves.

Could it be that the family’s continued existence was only possible through the emotional sacrifices of the oldest child?

The fact that Hoon, at an age when children cry and throw tantrums to seek attention, chose silence, lies, and let the younger sibling win.

Just infinite regret now.

Unbelievably, Seol Hoon and Seol Young both contracted an odd disease simultaneously.

A disease that changed one’s face, height, and physique.

A disease that flipped gender and constitution entirely.

Seol Young became healthier, and Seol Hoon shrank significantly.

Why it happened simultaneously is unknown. It’s a disease with many mysteries.

Da In thought.

To make their two sons, now two daughters, live happily, all traces of the past should be erased.

Fortunately, the state was highly cooperative, allowing clean identity adjustments.

So, the family of four moved to the U.S.

Due to the limitations of erasing traces domestically.

Three years passed.

In those three years, many things happened, and Da In finally understood.

Seol Hoon was bearing an enormous amount of pain, filled with deep scars.

He comprehended.

Knowing the burden of a patriarch.

Because he too carried the responsibilities of a man.

But his wife couldn’t seem to acknowledge this.

She couldn’t accept that her once excellent, flawless eldest son turned into a hikikomori who feared stepping outside.

She couldn’t view with kindness the child who dropped out of school and stayed locked indoors.

After washing her hands and concluding her conversation with Seol Yun, Seol Ah sat down.

Da In offered her a plate filled with crabmeat.

“Eat it.”

“I can unshell it myself.”

“Do you think your twig-like arms can properly break off a crab leg?”

“Well, it’s not like anyone can’t break a boiled crab leg.”

“Alright, just eat it. I’ll unshell it for you.”

“…It’s fine. Stop unshelling and eat yours, Dad.”

Da In worked busily with his hands.

Not to eat, but to unshell crab for his daughter who came home after a long time.

“How’s the new house?”

“It’s too big for one person. It’s wasteful, so maybe I’ll sublet and live in a studio instead.”

“Absolutely not!”

How dangerous are these times?

Setting aside a concrete jungle blooming with flowers like Seol Ah, how could she possibly live in a studio apartment or a goshiwon district? Criminal targets? Impossible! The well-guarded apartment complex where Seol Ah lives is the perfect place for her.

“Delicious. The crab.”

“Eat more.”

Da In offered the unshelled crab.

“No, you should eat it too.”

“I’ve eaten enough.”

A lie.

Da In hadn’t touched his food, only thinking about feeding Seol Ah.

For Da In, this year’s first crab would go to Seol Ah.

Stretching out his arm, Da In placed the plate of crab meat front of Seol Ah, who couldn’t move it back to her father because her arms were too short.

Not to mention, getting up mid-meal would cause a scene.

So helplessly, Seol Ah began eating the crab.

Da In’s lips twitched.

Seeing Seol Ah enjoy the crab made him very pleased, but as a father, he couldn’t show a ruffled expression.

‘Why is my daughter so cute? What should I do?’

Why are there so many daughters-doting dads but fewer sons-doting dads?

Perhaps this is some instinct engraved into human genes from the start?

Or something else.

“Alright! In the meantime, Seol Yun’s special doenjang jjigae is ready!”

The doenjang jjigae cut by a clumsy knife, the pumpkin and tofu weren’t exactly uniform.

But isn’t the most important seasoning in cooking affection?

“Elder sister first!”

Seol Yun came with a bowl and serving spoon and served Seol Ah’s doenjang jjigae first.

Next was mom.

Finally dad.

‘Here’s the burden of the man of the house!’

Though Da In and his wife both worked, Da In was much busier.

Thus, it’s natural for Seol Yun to serve mom before dad!

She has more affection for the mom!

The hard times Seol Ah endured as a child must’ve been worse!

So bear it up! Da In!

‘Delicious!’

Seol Yun will be a great wife.

Thinking that, Da In suddenly felt irate.

My daughter can’t be given to anyone!

Anyone who wants to take my daughters will have to duel with me and win!

“I’ll take my leave now.”

“…”

The wife went straight into her room without any conversation with Seol Ah, who had returned home after such a long while.

Seol Ah’s expression slightly darkened.

Da In felt disheartened.

Is reconciliation between them really so difficult?

“Aygoomoni, please bring some soju from the fridge.”

“Ye.”

Seol Yun turned 19 last year, but the U.S. drinking age is 21 or older, so she’s never drunk before.

Checking alcohol tolerance is necessary as she started a Korean university.

Seol Ah and Da In decided to teach Seol Yun how to drink today.

It’s safest to learn from family elders.

The world is filled with wolves. Everyone is out to hunt Seol Yun.

So, we can’t let her do anything reckless!

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