The World’s Strongest Daughter.

Kong Hye-sun’s POV

♪~♬~♩

While humming and organizing notes to give to Ji-hwan.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and someone barged in, starting to chatter loudly.

“Hello! Our ‘family’ members!!! This is Mi-ju! Today… I’m going to show you our family house a bit!!”

A high-pitched and frivolous voice, it was Kong Mi-ju, the 12th oldest sister out of 44.

“Oh, unnie? What’s this all of a sudden…”

“Hye-sun! Quickly greet our ‘family’ members!!!”

She had been messing around the house lately, saying she was filming a vlog, and it seemed like she had finally found my room.

“Come on, quickly.”

“…Ah, hello?”

When I greeted her in surprise at the camera that approached right in front of me, Unnei smiled satisfactorily and put her arm around my shoulder.

“Everyone, can you see? She is one of the few pink-haired members in our family! Oh my, just look at this hair texture, I’m so jealous!”

“…Hey, unnie, don’t….”

I slightly shrank back at unnie’s touch as if she found me irresistibly cute, stroking my hair.

“But this cute child is in situationship these days… Can you believe it? It feels like she was crawling around just yesterday, and she’s already doing this!!! We unnies couldn’t even attend school, seriously…”

“S-situation… Th-that’s not it, we’re just friends!”

Mi-ju smiled brightly, pinched my cheek, laughed heartily, and ran away.

I know it’s her way of expressing affection, but sometimes, it can be a bit annoying when she’s like this.

“…Seriously….”

Come to think of it, today is the day Yu-mi unnie, who went on a business trip overseas, returns.

She said she was in charge of quite an important sale. Did it go well?

I should make a delicious dinner for unnie who worked hard.

***

The top floor of the central building of the academy.

Shin Dae-yong, Chairman Jeong Nan-do’s secretary, looked around and briskly knocked on the door of the chairman’s office.

Shin Dae-yong, anxiously waiting for permission to enter, hurriedly opened the door the moment permission was granted from beyond the door.

Bam-

“What is it?”

Facing Chairman Jeong Nan-do, Shin Dae-yong bowed slightly and approached him, clearing his throat and speaking.

“…There was a call from Gangwon-do.”

Gangwon-do.

The moment the word ‘Gangwon-do’ came out of Shin Dae-yong’s mouth, Jeong Nan-do’s eyes widened.

There was only one place that would call from Gangwon-do.

The housekeepers sent to Ju Yeon-hee’s house.

Jeong Nan-do put down the report he was reviewing with a thud and glanced at Shin Dae-yong.

“Did Yeon-hee cause some trouble?”

“N-no, sir…. It’s just that a suspicious person came to visit.”

“…Hmm?”

Shin Dae-yong immediately calmly explained the contents of the report.

Some young woman appeared, claiming to be an acquaintance of the deceased ‘Min Seong-jae,’ requesting a meeting with Ju Yeon-hee. In the ensuing meeting, she broke the window and escaped as if a fight had occurred.

Then….

“…What? A fight?”

“…Yes, it seems to be someone from the Salvation Cult.”

Jeong Nan-do was startled and hurriedly took out his personal cell phone to call Ju Yeon-hee.

But after a few rings, the call was cut off.

It meant Ju Yeon-hee deliberately ended the call.

Looking at the disconnected call, Jeong Nan-do thought.

It was highly likely that the ‘Salvation Cult’ had made a move to take Ju Yeon-hee.

To confirm, he was about to call Ju Yeon-hee again.

Ding-

The cell phone rang briefly.

“…Hm?”

It was a message from Ju Yeon-hee.

[Master, don’t try to eat me raw, show your sincerity.]

“Ha! I called because I was worried, and she really takes her master lightly….”

As Jeong Nan-do was about to reply with a dumbfounded laugh.

Ding-

Another message arrived.

[If your sincerity is worse than the cult, I’ll have no choice.]

“….”

It was a blatant threat.

A threat to send Yoo Ji-hwan’s information quickly, or else she would betray him.

“Salvation Cult….”

The Salvation Cult guys seemed to have tried to take the ‘Sword Empress.’

If the Salvation Cult had made a move, they couldn’t just sit still either.

Jeong Nan-do left a message saying he would try his best, and as he took out a new cigar,

“…Send the initial data.”

“…Yes, understood.”

After Shin Dae-yong, who received the order, disappeared,

Jeong Nan-do sucked on the lit cigar and thought.

“Phew….”

He felt sorry for Yoo Ji-hwan, but it was an inevitable choice.

***

Yoo Ji-hwan’s

Before I knew it, it was Friday.

I’m in deep contemplation right now.

“Ji-hwan, what’s wrong…?”

“…Huh? No, nothing… By the way, the bread is delicious.”

“R-really? That’s a relief….”

Seeing Kong Hye-sun smiling shyly, my worries deepened even more.

Since Min So-yeon pointed this out, I have been trying to keep a little distance from Kong Hye-sun while being conscious of her.

However…

“J-Ji-hwan, if it’s okay, could you help me with practice just for today…?”

“…Huh?”

“The test is next week, and I’m a bit anxious…! I think I can do well if you watch over me….”

She glanced at me with a shy look.

Before I could distance myself, Kong Hye-sun kept slowly approaching, making it difficult to push her away.

“…Okay, I’ll help you.”

“…Th-thank you….”

Seeing Kong Hye-sun giggling as if she were so happy to hear that I would help, I felt a mix of emotions.

This is driving me crazy…

Before, I just thought she was cute and left it at that, but now that I think about it, accepting her one by one could hurt her, making my heart feel heavy.

The best thing would be for me to clearly draw the line and express that I don’t have any romantic feelings.

But the thought of being rejected right away and getting hurt stopped me.

But if I keep accepting her, it will eventually grow into a bigger wound.

… Isn’t there a good way?

As a father with a daughter the same age as Kong Hye-sun, if my daughter were crying because of a man, I think my heart would ache terribly.

She should only smile for a lifetime, and I don’t want to see tears flowing from those beautiful eyes.

Moreover, considering her age, it’s practically her first love.

First love lasts a lifetime, whether you like it or not, and I have to shatter that precious memory with my own hands!

Isn’t it too cruel?

“…Haa….”

The moment I unconsciously let out a sigh with a suffocating feeling.

“…J-Ji-hwan. If you’re having a hard time, talk to me…! Even if I can’t help you, I’ll carry some of the burden with you….”

Kong Hye-sun spoke to me as if comforting me, tapping me with a cautious touch.

“…Thanks.”

To think I have to trample on the heart of such an angelic child with my own hands.

…Let’s try to find a way somehow.

If I really can’t find a way… then I’ll have no choice.

Making that firm decision,

“What’s wrong…?”

“…Nothing.”

I looked at Kong Hye-sun, who spoke to me with a tilt of her head, and felt slightly discouraged.

This is a big problem…

Before I knew it, the seat next to me had become her designated seat.

It was so natural that even I took it for granted.

The farther apart the bodies are, the more distant they become, and the closer they are, the closer they become.

At this rate, not only will the current situation not be maintained, but it will also worsen.

But suddenly avoiding the seat could also hurt her deeply.

At that moment, when I was wracking my brain and lost in thought.

Suddenly, I felt a sharp, stinging gaze.

“….”

When I slightly turned my head to look, as expected.

Min So-yeon was glaring at me, biting her lip tightly.

Seeing her look at me with sharp eyes reminded me of Ju Yeon-hee when she was young, so I avoided her gaze.

After the painful morning classes ended, where I couldn’t do this or that,

“…J-Ji-hwan…. P-please be gentle…!”

“…Okay.”

Combat practice time had come.

Right after class started, I joined Kong Hye-sun’s side, leaving Min So-yeon behind.

Her friends still found me burdensome and avoided the spot, so naturally, I had no choice but to train with her alone.

Just in case, I asked Min So-yeon if she wanted to join us, but…

“Get lost.”

I was met with verbal abuse.

We did a few rounds of mana stone training and combat practice, but Kong Hye-sun’s combat abilities were weaker than I thought, so it took quite a bit of effort.

“…S-sorry…. I’m weak….”

“…No, it’s okay. Your mana capacity is sufficient, so you’ll improve quickly with a little practice.”

Her ability is spirit arts.

Since her ability is still weak, she can only handle low-level spirits, but even those aren’t for combat, so it took a while to find a way.

After dedicating most of the afternoon to her, I could finally join Min So-yeon, swinging her sword alone.

“…So-yeon, I’m here….”

“Hmph.”

I felt slightly embarrassed by her reaction of ignoring me and snorting.

Despite boasting that I would prioritize her, I poured most of my time at the academy into Kong Hye-sun.

It was a situation where I couldn’t make any excuses.

At that moment, as if the emotion was put into the sword Min So-yeon was swinging, the sound of cutting through the wind began to be heard.

Whoosh- Whoosh-

It sounded dull and emotional, like she was swinging recklessly rather than using swordsmanship.

Realizing the danger, I hurriedly forced myself before her and blocked the sword.

Clang!

The moment the slightly condensed mana and the sword collided, the sound of metal clashing echoed.

Even though she clearly saw me there, she swung her sword without hesitation.

This is driving me crazy…

“…Get out of the way.”

At her action of trying to swing her sword again as if I was a hindrance, I hurriedly moved the sword slightly and spoke.

“…S-So-yeon. Let’s practice for the test… Ugh!”

Clang!

“You’re not moving?”

Wow, seriously, how can she resemble her even in this?

Seeing her swing her sword without hesitation just because she’s a little dissatisfied, I once again realize how terrifying genes can be.

“…So-yeon, I’m sorry for disappointing you. But I have my own obligations, so I had no choice.”

It was a bit of a poor excuse, but it was the best I could do.

She glared at me with narrowed eyes, then sighed as if there was no other way and slightly lowered her sword.

“…So what are you going to do now? Did you see her expression? She looked so happy she could die.”

“…I have my ways.”

Actually, I don’t… I’m still thinking…!

As I continued making poor excuses and trying to appease Min So-yeon.

“…Come early in the morning tomorrow.”

Huh? Tomorrow?

“…Tomorrow?”

Then she glared at me.

“Aren’t we studying for the test?”

Uh oh…

I have a part-time job tomorrow.

It’s the day I meet my wife.

Eat me raw- Taking advantage of someone or exploiting them without proper consideration or preparation.