Chapter 17
“Ajusshi?” (Mister?)
In this life, I have to get along with that man. I know that.
Still, I couldn’t hold back my temper, so I said it like that.
Though it wasn’t intentional, it seemed to have had a surprising effect on him.
The man who had been watching me for a while slowly rose from his seat.
‘Wow, he’s seriously tall.’
He was as tall as Heukbihu and Heukbirang. Though he seemed thin, maybe from not eating well.
His long hair fluttered in the wind.
“I asked who you are.”
His voice turned stiff. I rolled my eyes. Well, I already provoked him once.
Now it was about time to tell the truth.
“I’m your daughter!”
“…What?”
His handsome eyebrows lifted slightly.
He looked confused.
After a moment of seemingly slow contemplation, the man spoke.
“I… don’t have a daughter.”
Oh. As expected, a “disowning from the start” kind of dad. Surprising, even for him.
‘Well, I get it.’
He probably erased everything from his memory.
‘If we said it Korean-style, it’d be Alzheimer’s.’
Yes.
My father’s illness meant he remembered nothing.
Not parents, not siblings, not friends.
Not even his wife.
Not even his daughter.
In the first and second timelines, I didn’t know about my dad’s illness. I guess I didn’t have the chance.
In the third timeline, I ignored him out of spite, but while chasing down information, I learned what disease he had.
It was similar to Alzheimer’s on Earth—memory would deteriorate, and he’d often zone out.
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t remember.”
I spoke clearly, carefully enunciating the words I’d practiced over and over. I didn’t want to seem like a baby.
“If you gave birth to me, take resbonsility!”
“…Responsibility, you mean.”
Oh, he understands baby talk? Passed that test.
I coldly assessed my father’s state. He had clearly forgotten me—and he said he forgot Mom too.
“…Right. I did get married, didn’t I.”
A disowning dad and a zero-point husband. My late mom’s probably glaring from heaven.
“Haa…”
The man let out a lazy sigh.
He looked like he stepped out of a magazine spread, but to me, he meant nothing.
Just a man who abandoned me, and a patient suffering from a terrible illness.
“How annoying.”
His lethargic tone didn’t last long. He lifted his head.
“Fine. Let’s say that’s true.”
His red eyes, even redder than Uncle’s, briefly flickered with darkness.
“…But how can I believe you just from what you say?”
My body suddenly floated up.
I wasn’t surprised.
‘Wind magic user.’
I hadn’t come unprepared. In a previous life, I’d gathered fragmented knowledge about my dad.
And also…
Before coming here, I’d spoken with Heukbirang.
‘Your dad’s ability? Why are you asking me?’
‘Because I’ve never met him before!’
‘What? …How did you even survive until now by yourself? Does that even make sense? Hey.’
Uncle looked genuinely shocked by my words.
‘Jeez, is this really the time to be asking stuff like this?! Ugh, this is a headache. Why aren’t you asking Big Brother instead of me?’
Apparently, Big Uncle was in hiding, saying it wasn’t a completely safe period for him.
‘I feel uncomfortable around him.’
I had a gut feeling that if I brought up Dad around him, something uncomfortable would come out.
The more oblivious and less interested Heukbirang was the better choice.
When I threatened to leave if he wouldn’t tell me anything, he finally shared a few things.
‘Your dad manipulates wind. And… he’s ridiculously strong. About the same as Big Brother, maybe even stronger.’
He also confirmed what I already knew—that Dad had forgotten both Mom and me.
‘He probably remembers he got married, but just can’t recall the details.’
‘Tell me more about the illness.’
‘That…’
For some reason, he didn’t go into the illness. He just tousled his hair and told me to go see for myself.
Since I already knew the basics, I didn’t press further.
‘I don’t know. Just go see for yourself. But do you really have to go alone? If you really insist, I’ll come with—’
‘I’ll go alone!’
And now, here I was.
Dangling in the air by the scruff of my neck, staring at the man.
‘Wow, that’s really high.’
If I fell, I’d at least break some bones. I glanced sideways. There was a fairly large pond nearby.
‘Is that water clean?’
Just in case, I’d brought a water container. If needed, I could use that pond water for the test—but chances were, it wasn’t clean.
“You’re saying you’re my daughter?”
The red eyes focused on me.
“You have no resemblance to me, and yet you speak so shamelessly.”
That’s because I look exactly like Mom.
I think it was in the second timeline? I’d seen a portrait of Dad.
I’d thought then too: “Wow, we look nothing alike.”
“There have been plenty of others like you saying ridiculous things. Even recently. I guess people think I’m an easy target because I’m sick.”
His low voice was laced with sarcasm, sounding almost gentle.
“I don’t care whether you’re trying to con me or have some other hidden agenda.”
I felt my breath hitch as invisible pressure tightened around me.
‘Whoa, this pressure is no joke.’
I could even feel the wind slicing around me like blades.
But compared to the threats I’d faced in past timelines—
‘This is nothing.’
“…I’m not your father.”
You’re going to regret this.
“You’re trash!”
“Do you want to be thrown into the pond?”
I’d thought he might react this way.
Suppressing my instinctively trembling lips, I forced a smile.
Staring at the man who didn’t even blink, I smiled brightly.
“Want me to prove it?”
I was restrained but could still move my hands.
“Look, Daddy. I may look like this, but I’m a doctor and an herbalist.”
“…I’ve lived long enough to hear it all. A runt like you? Is this your mother’s joke?”
The man narrowed his eyes. Being a wind user, he might just blow me away and be done with it.
I was getting anxious. I’d gotten in my jabs—time to pull back.
“I didn’t lie. I said I’ll prove it.”
I grabbed my bag and opened it.
I’d prepared for many scenarios. Him not believing I was his daughter. Him threatening me.
“It’s not hard to prove we share blood.”
“…”
“A drop of blood. That’s all it takes.”
“…”
“Doesn’t it seem weird? Why would I come all the way here just to yell that I’m your daughter? If I had a real scheme, I’d have way, way better options!”
I glanced toward the western wing of the estate, then turned my head back.
“You think you were abandoned here.”
I saw a faint crack in his expression.
The man, who’d been staring at me, lifted his hand. Ffft, wind sliced by, and blood trickled from his finger.
“What’s next?”
Huh, he’s cooperating more smoothly than I expected?
‘I thought he’d throw a bigger tantrum.’
A bit flustered, I quickly held out the prepared test board.
“Here! Put your hand here!”
Now what do I do? I looked at the swirling wind, spinning like blades. Oh, right, that.
The moment I reached into the wind—
“What are you doing?!”
My body was yanked backward.
“Want to lose a wrist? If you want to die, do it on your own.”
The man’s furious face loomed.
I beamed at him.
“I need my blood too!”
I need to provide a sample too. Even if I get hurt, I can treat myself.
‘My injuries heal easily—it’s super convenient.’
And if he really meant to hurt or kill me, he would’ve already.
The man raised a brow in disbelief.
Whatever. I dropped my blood onto the board too.
‘Isn’t it great that they have paternity tests in this world too?’
With all the noble family bastard issues, it was actually more common than you’d think.
The only concern was whether Dad remembered this test…
‘If he’s not stopping me, he must still know at least this much.’
The herbal reagent I’d prepared quickly changed color.
“If it turns black, we’re unrelated. If it turns blue, we’re blood relatives.”
I held up the now-blue board for him to see, smiling.
“See? We share blood, don’t we?”
We just don’t look alike. But we’re father and daughter, no doubt about it.
So now, just accept it calmly and let’s start your diagnosis. Time to take your medicine, okay?
