635 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

"Father-in-law. What brings you here...?" I never anticipated a sudden visit from my father-in-law. Where's the doctor? He mentioned the patient needed complete rest. Typically, only close relatives are allowed in situations like these. Well, to be fair, my father-in-law is practically family already, but still. A person needs some mental preparation. This feels like a bomb has unexpectedly dropped on me. "How are you feeling?" My father-in-law asked nonchalantly, staring at me sitting on the bed. "Thanks to your concern, I can at least move, uh...!" I attempted to stand to greet him but was promptly forced back down by an onslaught of muscle pain. "Don't bother trying to get up." He raised a hand to stop me, then silently gave a glance to Gilsan. Gilsan, don’t lose heart. Our brother-in-law hasn’t fully recovered yet, and a one-on-one conversation with the father-in-law might be overwhelming. Be a good friend and tell him to come back later. You can do it. Go ahead, say something. "Uh, Uncle-in-law. I have some errands to run! I-I’ll be leaving now!" Not that I expected much. Good grief. "Thanks." "N-not at all!" Gilsan made a face at the door, wishing me good luck, and dashed out as if he had hit an emergency eject button like a pilot. "I heard you’ve lost much of your strength." My father-in-law took a seat next to the bed, examining my condition as he spoke. "I thought it was just a day, but seven days flew by." "The doctor said if we had been any later, they wouldn’t have been able to guarantee your survival." Was it that dangerous? The time limit set by the Sanhasa Shrine wasn’t just about energy depletion but also the strain on my body. "Haha! I was wondering why I felt so lethargic even after taking medicine." I felt like I had been hit all over, like a novice who naively ran a marathon without any training. "......" "Father...?" Why the sudden change in expression? My father-in-law gazed at my condition, let out a deep sigh, and spoke. "What were you thinking?" "Sorry?" "Why did you make such a reckless choice?" The question from my father-in-law caught me off guard. Reckless choice? What does he mean by that? "Is it because I saved Jegal Sojeo?" "You are not just any ordinary Joseon man. You are the successor I found after decades, one of the only two sons of the Dang household, and a writer destined to bring great blessings to this world. What would have happened if you hadn’t come back alive?" "Haha. You're too kind." My laughter only made my father-in-law's brows furrow deeper. 'Why is he angry? I don’t get it.' I did discuss entering the Sanhasa Shrine beforehand, didn’t I? Is he mad because I sent Jegal Sojeo out first? It’s not like anyone but Hyangma could exit through that door anyway. Surely, he doesn’t think I should have foolishly exited with her in that situation. "Don't try to deflect with laughter. I’ve already heard everything from Hyang-i. You let Hyang-i escape through a door where only one of the two could exit." What did she say just now? "Oh... that’s true." I quickly pieced together the situation. ‘As expected of Jegal Sojeo! Perfectly wrapped up the story!’ Her domestic skills are blindingly impressive. Right. It's better to let them believe I sacrificed myself to let her escape than to complicate matters by explaining the main door and back door situation with the Sanhasa Shrine. "It was nearly a disaster. I thought you were someone capable of making cold, rational decisions like Jegal Seolok. Why did you make such a reckless choice?" Father-in-law, after careful consideration, I realize your tone isn’t one of reprimand. I smiled slightly to myself inside. Jegal Sojeo’s perfect setup. And my father-in-law ready to catch it. It was the perfect opportunity to score. "I promised to bring Jegal Sojeo back." "You also made me another promise." "Yes, I surely did." I nodded sincerely. "To hold hands with my daughter and together..." "Take full responsibility for Jegal Sojeo for the rest of my life." "......!" Father-in-law. The promise to take responsibility wasn’t just empty words. Your son-in-law treasures your daughter more than his own life. You see that, right? "Indeed, you are right, Father. If I had thought of the aftermath, it would have been right to let Jegal Sojeo go and escape myself. So many would have grieved if I hadn't survived. Possibly even bloodshed at its worst." "You risked it knowing the weight of your life?" His voice wasn’t burning with rage. It had a note of a gentle probe, withholding emotions amidst shaded rhetoric. "You can’t weigh love, Father." "Kang Yunho..." "Even if I abandoned Jegal Sojeo and escaped alone. In truth, it would not have felt like an escape at all." "Not an escape...?" I nodded with a smile at my puzzled father-in-law. "As the heir to Man-Geumjeon and the son of the Dang household, Ho-Pil might have escaped this world, but he with the black hair would have been inescapably bound forever." The survivor would have been an empty shell. Without a kindred spirit, living a life having lost one’s love cannot genuinely be called living. Grasping the intent behind my words, my father-in-law's eyes quivered. "Kang Yunho..." "Of course, I didn’t make the decision lightly. The shadow that enveloped Sanhasa Shrine after Jegal Sojeo left was honestly a little terrifying." The abilities of the Revenant, the words of the Sanhasa Shrine. I forced myself to stay positive, but the fear of death wasn’t absent. Speaking in a low tone, I muttered, "How... did you manage to escape?" Meeting a lover, childhood friend, fiancée, and wife all pointed to the exit, didn’t it? Obviously, it’s not like I could say that openly. Adopting the demeanor of a survivor freshly returned from war, I began to speak with hollow eyes. Now’s the time to embellish the story a bit. "As I stood in that world, there wasn't just a lack of an exit, but also an absolute silence where not even an entrance could be seen. Yet, I had the wisdom you taught me, Father." I used the opportunity to express some appreciation to my father-in-law as well. "Something I taught you?" "How to find your way when your heart wavers." There was something you did for me, standing against opposition on my behalf. "Honcheonmilijin..." Exactly that. Although it wasn't particularly related, it was about building emotional ties with him—creating a shared understanding between father-in-law and son-in-law. "I closed my eyes. After all, the world looked the same whether they were open or shut. Then I found it." "What did you find?" "My life's lighthouse. No matter how challenging the world might be, I could see the light pointing to where I should return." A lighthouse that shines a light on my path in the darkness. The problem is, I have about five of them currently. Having experienced Honcheonmilijin himself, my father-in-law would instantly grasp the meaning behind my words. As expected, he slowly nodded in agreement. "Indeed. When I ventured into Honcheonmilijin, I broke through by thinking of my wife." "Isn’t a man’s home where his loved one awaits?" We exchanged a mutual understanding through our gaze. Father, what do you think? Your son-in-law thinks of your daughter with such dedication. My father-in-law seemed a bit moved as he relaxed his stiff expression and let out a dry chuckle. "I've always thought you speak so eloquently." "Haha. I'll take that as a compliment. Even now, it feels surreal how I managed to return. But..." "......" I naturally shifted my gaze from my father-in-law to my trembling hand. My hand shook, unable to conceal the fear and dread that lingered within my chest after barely surviving such dire straits. Though I smiled like it was nothing, my hand quivered, betraying my struggle to suppress my emotions. "Even if a similar situation arises, my decision won’t change." In truth, I was merely acting to deliver these words. With a somber expression, my father-in-law observed my arm. Father, witness this. Your son-in-law pretends to be unfazed, but he was indeed scared. Yet, I risked my life to prove my point. This was my subtle appeal to him. "I’ve instructed the doctors to take good care of you. Make sure to take your medicine and rest well." Rising promptly, my father-in-law began to leave. "Are you heading back now?" I was prepared to receive his praise. Does he really have to leave like this? "Don't bother getting up." "Take care, Father." It seems I went too far. Too much embellishment perhaps. Feeling a pang of disappointment, I lowered my head in a bow. "......" "Father?" Why has he paused at the door? Contemplating something, my father-in-law turned back to look at me. "Next time..." "Yes?" "Next time, call me Father-in-law." I barely grasped the meaning behind his words until he had hurriedly left. --- Meanwhile. "Huh? Where is my husband?" In the head chamber of the Jegal family's residence, Jang Young-Young glanced around, confused at the absence of her husband, who should have been in the study, and asked her aide who was organizing documents. "Ma'am." "He was supposed to wait in the office. Did something urgent come up?" "Ah... That is..." The aide faltered before answering Jang Young-Young's question, realizing it was a difficult situation to tell the truth or lie about. "Did he sneak off to visit Hyang-i? I told him it was essential she stays at rest! Acting like a father indeed!" Too much fatherly love can be a bother. Even after all her efforts to dissuade him, he went secretly. With a touch of exasperation, she raised her voice, thinking about her foolish husband. "He didn’t visit Miss Jegal-hyang." "He didn’t go to Hyang-i? Then could it be...?" "He went to visit Kang Gongja." "I told him he could go once everything heals. Acting on impulse..." Jang Young-Young didn’t ponder too much about what her husband might have said to their son-in-law. From her husband's changed demeanor, she had already gathered enough. "He may be hard to gain trust from, but once he does, he remains loyal to his people till the end." "That’s my husband’s strength." Thinking fondly of her dependable spouse and admiring the head of the family, they shared a smile. "Is Jegal-hyang all right?" "Her fiancé returned, alleviating her worries, but she seems to have lost her tension and still spends most of her day asleep. I wonder when she'll wake up." Jang Young-Young spoke with a tone mixed with complaints and heartfelt concern for her daughter. "Any other issues?" "The doctors said she's merely sapped of energy like someone who’s traveled extensively. But she can't seem to regain full consciousness. Once she revives, we'll need to consult the elders." YW9peUx5cktZYXhyU2hzY1VsMkQ0WjZ3WFVTem9GVmswWTFPZDdGRW12OE45ZW1uOEgrdEliUkxGcCtJbjRIcg "I'm sure she’ll be fine." "Indeed. Then please tell him I stopped by when he returns." "Of course." Jang Young-Young turned away, musing over what expression her husband might wear upon his return. Meanwhile. "W-what on earth is happening?!" A perplexed voice rang out from the room of a woman who had been sleeping all day.