Chapter 12

Beware of Old Men

“Hey, walk properly.”

“I am walking properly.”

What is this bastard complaining about? I’m walking just fine, yet he has to pick a fight for no reason.

...If we’re being precise, my legs are trembling so much that I’m practically leaning half my weight on him as I walk, but that is not my fault. It is because that old man is way too scary-looking.

On top of the power and wealth he possesses, Chairman Shin Ilseong also has an enormous amount of life experience. Even though he has only lived one life, the old man is more than thirty years older than me, and I’m just shy of fifty if you combine my previous life too.

In other words, no matter what we competed in, this is a game I could never win. Of course I’d be intimidated, right?

When we reached the head seat, Woojin bowed.

“Grandfather. I brought Yua.”

Grandfather nodded as he looked at Woojin.

“Yes. I’ve heard that you usually take good care of Yua.”

“Haha... yes.”

“I’m always worried and heartbroken because Yua has no mother or father, but it is reassuring that at least you stay by her side.”

Aagh, suddenly hitting me with the dead-parent attack!

“Not at all. It is only what I should do as her older cousin.”

“It is unfortunate that you are the only one who does what should naturally be done.”

As Grandfather said that, he swept a cold gaze around the room. Even without looking, I could feel the other cousins who had become targets flinch.

Honestly, this is freaking amazing. This pressure. Is this the martial art of an old man who survived in the martial world until age eighty-seven?!

“Um... the other cousins do have a pretty big age gap with her. They’re adults and they’re busy too...”

“Hmph, busy or not, they cannot spare even a little time for poor Yua? It is not as though they live far away either. They all live close enough to trip and hit their noses... Woojin, you are kind-hearted, so you defend them. In truth, they are disgraceful brats.”

More praise. This bastard is going to burst from praise today.

Still, old man. Do you really have to say it that harshly?

“Woojin, you may return to your place now. I need to speak with Yua.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

As though his job was over now, Woojin tried to gently let go of my hand.

At that moment, I reflexively gripped it tightly.

“Huh?”

I had kept my head lowered since earlier, so I could not see Woojin’s face, but I could clearly feel his confusion.

Please do not let go.

If you let go of this hand now, I’ll have to stand all alone in front of that tiger of a grandfather.

Unable to say it aloud, I simply tightened my grip.

A fully grown adult desperately clutching the hand of some high school brat and refusing to let go. I knew exactly how embarrassing this looked, but—

I’m absolutely not letting go. Survival comes first.

“Woojin, you may simply stay beside her. It seems Yua relies on you terribly.”

“Yes.”

“Phewww.”

Only then did I realize that I had not been breathing.

“Hey. My hand hurts. Hold it more gently.”

“You’re a stone golem, Oppa.”

“I told you, I’m not going anywhere. How long are you going to keep holding on?”

“Dunno.”

“What are you even saying.”

While Woojin and I whispered and bickered, Grandfather’s voice began again.

“Yua.”

“...Yes, Grandfather.”

“Raise your head a little. If you keep looking down like that, I cannot see your face.”

“...”

“Why are you so afraid? This old man loves you very much.”

Well, I suppose that is true. It is only natural for grandparents to love their grandchildren.

But I still remember how you were roaring at people earlier.

When I barely managed to raise my head, I saw Grandfather’s face wearing an unexpectedly gentle smile.

“Come a little closer. This old man’s eyes are getting dim. Let me see your face properly.”

I timidly took one step forward. Woojin, who was holding my hand, matched my pace.

“Ah.”

“What is it?”

Seen up close, Grandfather was far scarier than from a distance. How can a face this terrifying exist in the world?

When I worked at the company in my previous life, I had no idea this man was so scary. Chairman Shin Ilseong standing at the podium for his New Year’s address had simply seemed like a dignified but benevolent elder standing impossibly high above us. In front of employees, he always maintained that refined attitude.

Though it is shocking that he worked people that hard while acting like that. Well, to be fair, most workplaces were like that back then.

Grandfather suddenly reached out with a wrinkled hand and gently stroked my head.

I flinched in surprise at first, but the touch was unexpectedly gentle, and I quickly calmed down.

“You’ve grown a lot since the last time I saw you. I can see your mother in you now.”

“Yeees...”

“I’m sorry this old man is so busy that I cannot visit often.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Unless there was some event like this where we saw each other, I did not meet Grandfather very often. If I had to name occasions, there were holidays like Lunar New Year and Chuseok...

Since we lived so close, he did stop by our house every few months to see my face, but even then, thirty minutes was about the longest.

And the person he mostly spoke with was Ms. Sejin, so it was extremely rare for me to be questioned this closely from such a short distance.

“So. How have you been spending your days lately?”

How have I been spending them?

I lie in bed looking at my phone, read comics, and at night I stream while pretending to be a vampire, Grandfather.

...Obviously, I cannot say that.

“Just... I’m doing well.”

Grandfather stared at me for a moment, then spoke with something like a sigh.

“Yua. There is one thing I feel sorry about.”

Huh? What?

“After your mother and father passed away so early... and you were left alone at such a young age. This old man pitied you so much that I wanted to give you everything.”

...This sounds like a very familiar routine.

“I told you to do whatever you wanted, and that you did not have to do anything you disliked. If you hated school, then you did not have to go. I told you simply to live comfortably.”

That is true. That is why I’ve been able to live this comfortably and recklessly. Grandfather, I really am grateful for that much. Sincerely.

“But.”

Grandfather’s voice grew a little heavier.

“Lately, I have come to regret that.”

Regret?

“I wonder if I let you run too free. Whether, under the excuse that I pitied you, I instead prevented you from learning how to live properly as a person.”

Hmm.

To be honest, by this point I was already letting about half of it go in one ear and out the other.

Adult nagging is all pretty much the same, isn’t it? Live like a proper person, take responsibility, blah blah blah.

So I nodded appropriately and slowly shifted my gaze toward the ceiling.

Ooh, look at that chandelier.

It’s huge and dazzling. How many decorations are hanging from that thing? Even the bulbs have all these crystal-looking pieces packed around them. Since it belongs to Shinil Hotel, it must obviously be expensive. If one of those fell, it could crush a person to death. How do they even clean it? Do they climb up a ladder and polish every single piece one by one? How much does the person who cleans that get paid per day—.

“Yua. Are you listening?”

“Gasp. Yes. I’m listening.”

Grandfather stared at me.

Did he catch me spacing out?

But instead of scolding me, Grandfather smiled somehow sadly.

“How can you be so utterly without greed?”

“Greed?”

“Other children are desperate to have even one more thing. But ever since you were little, even if I said I would buy you something, or asked if you wanted to go somewhere, you were always indifferent.”

“Ah...”

“That has always bothered this old man. I could never figure out what you liked, or what you wanted.”

“Yeees...”

“So, Yua.”

Something about this atmosphere feels ominous.

“This old man has made a decision.”

“A decision...?”

“I will send some people to your house.”

???

“You should properly learn the things children your age learn as well. Not halfheartedly like you do now. Studying, etiquette, how to socialize with people. From now on, you will be properly evaluated, so learn them one by one.”

“P-Properly?”

“Yua, answer honestly. You are not properly participating in your current lessons with your private tutors, are you?”

“Eeeh...”

Private tutors do come to teach me under the name of homeschooling.

The problem is, I have never properly listened to a single lesson.

Since I was born as the granddaughter of a chaebol family, I have no need to work, and I already built up common sense through my experiences in my previous life.

So I had just been killing time and doing other things during the lessons—

And now he is saying that will no longer work. On top of that, etiquette and socializing. In other words, the days when I could survive by doing everything halfheartedly were over.

“And from now on, go outside a little more. Meet children your age, and see the world. You cannot stay shut inside your house all the time.”

Gah!

I cannot stay home all the time? Grandfather, staying home all the time is wonderful. Outside is crowded, noisy, and exhausting. Just look at this birthday banquet. I am already completely drained right now—.

I wonder if you know what MBTI is.

“I will discuss your schedule with your guardian and arrange it.”

With those words, I felt my final line of defense collapse.

A schedule? You are going to force appointments into my precious life of loafing around? That sacred time I spent fused with my bed, swiping through my phone, is going to be filled with a timetable someone else made?

No. Anything but that.

The lessons become real, I get dragged out of the house, and my free time fills up with schedules. Every one of Grandfather’s words drove into my ears, and I could hear my peaceful shut-in life shattering into pieces.

“It is all for your own good. Do you understand?”

“Um, well. Grandfather. I’m already doing perfectly fine as I am—.”

“What good is doing fine while trapped inside your tiny little world? Listen to me.”

“...Yes.”

I’m doomed.

“Good. Now go and rest.”

I bowed and turned back with Woojin.

After walking a few steps, I realized something.

My legs, which had been trembling so badly earlier, were now moving perfectly normally according to my will.

Now that I had actually gone through it, I had not even been scolded. It had simply been a kind(?) notification. I guess the tension had drained away. Why was I so terrified earlier?

“Huh.”

The next moment, I noticed something else.

Woojin was still tightly holding my hand.

My face suddenly grew hot.

A fully grown adult walking around while clutching the hand of some high school kid. Now that I thought about it, I was so embarrassed I could die.

“Hey! How long are you going to keep holding my hand?”

“...What?”

When I sharply yanked my hand away, Woojin stared at me in disbelief.

“No, you were the one who wanted me to keep holding it—.”

“Shut up! Who said that!”

“You did, just now.”

“Dunno! I don’t remember!”

I spun around and hurried toward the corner with quick little steps. Behind me, I could hear Woojin muttering in disbelief.

“At times like this, you really are just a kid.”

Shut up. I have lived almost fifty years if you round up.

— — —

After the birthday banquet ended, inside the car on the way home.

I sprawled beside Ms. Sejin and stared blankly out the window.

Too much happened today. I’m seriously exhausted.

It felt like something huge had happened, but it still had not sunk in. What exactly did he mean by sending people? Just how terrifying would it be for him to arrange my schedule? I understood it with my head, but it had not reached my heart yet.

“Well, somehow it’ll work out.”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing.”

It is not like everything is going to change starting tomorrow. Grandfather may have said that, but things like this take time before they actually get moving. Hiring people, making schedules, preparing everything. Common sense says it should take at least a few weeks.

Right. I still have time.

When I get home, I should sleep first. Wake up after a nap, stream at night... and then think about what will happen from now on.

“Miss, welcome back!”

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss!”

“We look forward to serving you!”

“Huh?”

The sight that greeted me the moment the front gate opened was—

A whole crowd of unfamiliar people standing in the yard, all bowing toward me at once.

The house that had always been quiet and peaceful, with only Ms. Sejin and a few commuting servants coming and going.

Was now packed with complete strangers.

“Huuuh?”

Grandfather.

You are way too quick to act.

My and Ms. Sejin’s small(?) precious hoooome—!