1183 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

"A weakness... for my father?" Could there truly be something as frail as a weakness in someone as steely as him? In all my years, I'd never seen or heard of such a thing. "Is she joking?" There's a high probability that Goo Seon is just spouting nonsense. From what I can see, she's not a typical person. Moreover... "...What would I do with that knowledge?" Even if I were to hear about my father's weakness from Goo Seon, it left me wondering why she would present it as a condition. Uncomprehending, I asked her, and she responded calmly. "As much as you seem to care for Brother, it looks like my little sibling is also interested in him. Isn't that so?" "...No." "Wow, a lie, huh? Seems my sibling isn't good at lying. Your face gives it away so easily." "...." "Why are you both so concerned with each other? Ah, do you perhaps want to become the head of the family?" "What a ridiculous thing to say. Even if offered, I wouldn’t accept." "I like your decisiveness... I was planning on dissuading you if you said yes. I have no desire to watch something so bothersome. But in that case, why are you worried about each other?" "I don't have a reason to explain." "That's also true. You're right, I don't really mind either way. What's important is that my sibling does care about Brother. Isn't that correct?" "...." Oops. My silence gave away the truth, and Goo Seon seemed to have already noticed from my reaction. "So, what do you think? Are you curious about Brother’s weakness? If not, tell me. I won't bring it up again." "...." She knew what I needed. Thus, she left the choice to me. 'Clever, isn’t she?' Typical of someone from the Gu family. She was quite shrewd too. 'A weakness of my father...' I pondered deeply. Was this worth contemplating? That was the crucial starting point. Fortunately, I didn't need much time for that. The answer was something I probably already knew. "...What do I have to do?" Might as well hear what she's proposing. At my words, Goo Seon smiled brightly. "It's nothing much." And Goo Seon took my wrist and led me forward. * * * Following Goo Seon, I arrived at Hyun, a place familiar from my childhood; possibly the only place I could venture to. The bustling crowd, the unique scent, and the vivacious atmosphere remained unchanged. Despite returning years ago, it wasn't much different from the place in my memories. Here, Goo Seon and I walked. "What did we come here for?" I had to follow her all the way to Hyun. "Just follow me for now." Goo Seon kept moving without explaining what we were supposed to do. ‘What is this really about?’ I wondered why we had come all the way here. If it were pointless, it would be a waste of time and I would have preferred to walk away. ‘Who knows how the great-grandfather will react.’ Time was scarce, particularly with the additional complications involving my great-grandfather. If they truly decided to act from Shingang, who knew how long that would take? ‘There's still so much I haven't investigated.’ The matter with Do-yoon, the situations on the frontlines, the vermilion tree I saw at Paeng’s... There were too many things to go over one by one. ‘Yet here I am, wandering around uselessly.’ Being dragged around by Goo Seon in Hyun irked me. ‘...Is this all part of reaching the right conclusion?’ The ancestor had said that whatever I did would benefit me, so I should just manage my time well. ‘Could being led here by Goo Seon be part of that?’ Could it really be? As we strolled for a while, someone called out. "Oh my, look who we have here!" Suddenly, someone on the street recognized us. "Isn't that young lady Gu?" "Oh, Ajeossi. Have you been well?" "We've been well. It's been a while since the young lady was out, no? And who's that..." "This one? My sibling." "Sibling...?" The skewer vendor looked at me. "Uh... There's a resemblance." The way he judged me was somehow irritating. "Did Lord Gu have another son?" "Oh, he’s a recent addition." "...Recently born?" “That’s absurd!” Her casual bombshell took me by surprise. "Could you please be quiet?" "Why? It's not a lie, so why hide it?" "You hide truths that are worth hiding, you madwoman." “Goodness. He's a bit particular, isn't he? Ajeossi, could we have some skewers?” "Oh... yes, of course! If it's for the young lady." He said as he handed over a skewer. Goo Seon accepted it with gratitude. "For the young master as well, here." "..." He handed a skewer to me as well. I cautiously accepted it. "He definitely resembles Lord Gu... hmm." "Right? I said he resembles our brother more than anyone. It's uncanny. Even looking at him makes my feelings sour." "What does that last part mean?" "It means looking like father is irritating." "...." "Stop talking and eat. Ajeossi's skewers are excellent." Goo Seon was already halfway through her skewer. When did she eat that much? Taking a bite, I found it undeniably delicious. "Ajeossi, here's the payment. Come on, let's go." Goo Seon paid and dragged me with her again. Thus began... Goo Seon's culinary adventure. Starting with skewers, she moved from stall to stall. We visited nearly every street vendor, leaving hardly any dish untasted. Stuffed to the brim, we kept eating. "When will you stop eating?" Roughly half a 'si'jin later, I asked, looking visibly tired. I never anticipated we'd eat this relentlessly. "Hmm?" Goo Seon responded as if it were a curious question, still munching on something. "Why? Are you full?" "It's not about being full." Due to the effects of the martial techniques like Tam and the Ma Do Tian Heuk Gong, I usually consume more than others. So, I wasn't particularly filled, but... "Half a 'si'jin of constant eating seems peculiar." “What exactly are you trying to achieve?” Did we come out just to eat? I couldn’t believe how much one could eat. Furthermore, ‘How does she know so many people?’ Since arriving in Hyun, people from all around recognized Goo Seon. It wasn’t just peddlers—local kids and even their parents were well-acquainted with her. Everyone was eager to acknowledge her presence. Lady Goo, Lady Goo. It was the phrase I heard the most while walking around today. ‘She’s well-connected.’ I thought her temper would make her unlikeable, but maybe I was wrong. “Lady!” Again. “Hey. Don’t run, or you’ll trip.” Goo Seon said nonchalantly to a child running towards us. “Dunduk. What’s that on your cheek?” She even knew his name. “I got hurt while playing sword fight with Manggu!” “This guy? You’re openly admitting you lost?” “No way! I won!” “You call that winning? Didn’t this sister tell you that whoever bleeds first is the loser?” “…I, I won though…” “Shut up. Here, eat this.” Goo Seon handed the child a snack from her hand. “Eat this and win next time, got it?” “Yes!” “Take one to Manggu too.” “Why give one to Manggu?” “If you give it to only one of you, Manggu will sulk.” “Okay!” The boy named Dunduk ran off happily. “He’ll trip again like that. Tsk.” As she talked, she picked and ate another snack. “…” Watching Goo Seon intently, “What are you staring at?” Noticing my gaze, Goo Seon turned to me. “Aren’t you a busybody? Do you know everyone around here?” “Pretty much.” Goo Seon didn’t deny it. “People are kind. It feels peaceful and nice here. That’s why I come out often.” “And you come out to eat like this?” “Exactly. Hence, I don’t have much pocket money.” She chuckled, a sound of trivial amusement. Listening to her, my expression changed. “What do you want from me? It’s not like you came just to show me this, is it?” Spending half a 'si'jin this way was enough. I demanded to hear the main point. “Nope.” Goo Seon shook her head lightly. “What?” “This is exactly what I wanted to show you.” “What do you mean?” “Isn’t this town lovely? I happen to like it.” “...And what importance does liking the town have?” What did Goo Seon’s affection for the neighborhood have to do with what she wanted from me? I couldn’t grasp it. In response to my confusion, Goo Seon spoke while looking away. “Couldn’t this make it easier to form a bond?” “…What?” “Since you don't really have anywhere else to go, why not just live with my sibling?” “...” What did she just say? My eyes widened. "It works out well, right? You don’t have any family, and I’m offering to be that family.” “What kind of ridiculous talk is this? You said you hadn’t been asked to do this by Lady Jin, so was that a lie?” “I didn’t lie. This is my own wish.” “I don’t understand. What good comes from me becoming your family? Do you want to claim a bastard as family?” "What strange things you’re saying." Goo Seon seemed just as perplexed. “A bastard means they aren’t family?” “…Huh?” “Just because you’re connected by blood doesn’t make you a family, and you can be family even if you’re not connected by blood. If you think of someone as family, they’re family. Why make it so complicated?” “You’re the one thinking about this too lightly.” “What good comes from saying I’m becoming your family?” I couldn’t decipher Goo Seon’s intentions. Why engage in such pointless actions? When I asked, she replied as if it were obvious. “There’s no need to overthink.” Goo Seon spoke in a matter-of-fact tone. “It’s no different from Mother.” “…What?” “It’s just better to have family around. I wanted a slightly obnoxious sibling over a boring brother. Just that.” Feigning nonchalance. As I observed her speak unpretentiously, a realization hit me. ‘Ah.’ I confirmed what I misunderstood about Goo Seon. I assumed she took after Gu Seong Yeol. ‘It’s not so?’ That assumption shattered. Goo Seon resembled... ‘Jin Yeon Ryeong.’ She was her mother’s daughter. Needlessly caring with an abundance of affection. Just a rough way of showing it. That’s simply who she was. ‘How bothersome.’ Indeed. ‘Like a sister.’ Whether in looks or personality. She was uncannily similar to Gu Yeon Seo. One of the people I least wanted to be around. They evoke the memory of those who had died for my sake. “Tsk.” I turned around. “…No thanks.” “Where are you going! Hey! Don’t you want to hear about the weakness?” “That’s unnecessary too. I’m leaving first.” I realized staying would do no good. Coming to Gu's felt like a mistake. I decided to ignore her and walk away. “So insensible.” Goo Seon scratched the back of her head. ‘It can’t be helped.’ I steeled myself. ‘Staying longer won't be good.’ Lingering would only complicate things. I should handle the piled-up tasks and wrap up my business with the Gu family. Strengthening my resolve, I left. * * * “What… did you say?” Later in the evening, Hyun So Yeon delivered some strange news to me. “Lady Gu is missing.” “…?” An unexpected turn of events.