“But I can’t beat Yeon from the start.”
Danmokbi responded to my nagging with a pretty smile.

“So, you can’t leave me. Enduring the endless thirst is enough once. If Yeon leaves, I’ll wither away, suffering and eventually die.”

“Absolutely not!”

Even just hearing Danmokbi say such words felt painful. Danmokbi hugged me tightly as I replied loudly. Nestling his face in my shoulder, he patted my back and whispered.

“Stay by my side.”

“Darn it.”

Danmokso spat out a curse and turned away.

Danmokbi and Jegal Yeon had recently received a report about their growing closeness.

‘What is “De-myeon-de-myeon”?’

I couldn’t approach them closely enough to read Danmokbi’s reaction, but even from a distance, it was unmistakable. The affectionate couple holding each other closely were Danmokbi and Jegal Yeon.

‘Seeing them embracing like that, it seems they’ve already become a couple.’

Even if Jegal Yeon tried to use guilt as a weapon to probe into Danmokbi’s heart, the real issue was Danmokbi.

‘That clingy guy won’t let go once he’s in my hands.’

Anyway, he was the troublemaker in every situation. Danmokso kicked his foot.

‘How dare he betray me after all I’ve done for him!’

Danmokbi would find it absurd if he heard. However, Danmokso didn’t reconsider his thoughts.

From his perspective, it was genuinely an action for the sake of his son. Even openly favoring him, trying to kill off the complaints the son cherished. Even though that affection was ultimately for his own benefit.

“Hey!”

Danmokso stormed in, grumbling. Danmokchang, who was lying on the bed, tried to sit up with a pale face.

“Father.”

Jegal Yeon told him to lie down again, but Danmokso, seemingly indifferent to whether his son was sitting or lying down, came in, grumbling and poured out his complaints.

“You really are useless.”

“What?”

“I thought about making Jegal Sego take over Jegal’s debt, but that’s out of the question now. I don’t expect anything from you.”

Danmokchang was just as shocked by Danmokso’s words. With a surprised face, he said,

“No, Jegal Sego won’t just leave me alone.”

“He seems to have already fallen deeply in love with Danmokbi, but what are you talking about?”

“……!!”

Danmokchang stiffened. Even though Danmokbi and Jegal Yeon had mutual feelings, they still shared affection at this moment when he was lying down after a fall?

‘Why did she treat me so affectionately, wrapping me in a blanket and showing genuine concern, when…?’

Here, he was supposed to know that she didn’t have to love him, yet resentment overflowed like a poison.
It was when Danmokchang was exhaling in exhaustion, overwhelmed by his negative emotions.

Danmokso, without even checking the current situation of his son, stuck out his tongue.

“Ah, really, there’s not a single one of these kids that goes according to my wishes.”

Gazing sharply at Danmokchang, who already looked even thinner due to his injury, Danmokso walked out after kicking the door with his foot. His mind was filled only with his own safety.

While Danmokbi was away with his subordinates, Danmokso was greatly pleased. It had been a long time since he wielded uncontested power as the head of the family.

But Danmokbi returned.

“Now that Jegal Sego has people with him, he probably won’t be so reckless with me. But what should I do after they leave?”

Even after they leave, he wouldn’t drive them away immediately. Father needed to stay until the wedding ceremony, so he would keep an eye on them.

“But dragging it out until the wedding ceremony like this is also a problem. Jegal Yeon can’t possibly have good feelings towards me.”

No sharp idea came to him. Danmokso’s gaze turned toward one of the dark buildings with the lights turned off.

It was the building where the twins’ mother had once been imprisoned.

“If I knew it would turn out like this, I shouldn’t have let her go like that. I should have kept her tied up. Danmokbi probably wouldn’t have treated his mother so cruelly.”

Even his former wife was nothing more than a tool to Danmokso.

“Or should I try sealing the divine power again?”

In reality, when Danmokbi tried to drive Danmokso away, he attempted to summon divine power from the sacred mountain to gain strength.

The problem was that Danmokbi came at that time and ruthlessly slaughtered all his subordinates.

“But there are still survivors. There’s nothing I can’t do.”

As Danmokso had such thoughts, a stranger’s voice called out.

“Seems like you have a lot on your mind.”

Danmokso looked up. A young man with a messy complexion and short hair was smiling.

“I wonder if I can help?” It was Hyeonjoong.