Chương 42: Grandfather

Ch 42 - Grandfather Reika's eyes widened in surprise before narrowing into a glare. Across from her, the girl with the black twin tails fixed Evan with an equally hostile stare.

"Evan Whitfield," she hissed.

"That's my name," Evan replied. Why did everyone keep saying it like it was a swear word? Had actual profanity gone out of style? Reika turned toward them.

"What are you all doing here?"

"We were just taking a walk and enjoying the scenery," Carmen said, resting a hand on her hip.

"What? Am I not allowed to stroll around my own home? And while you're here, I'd think twice before doing anything you'll regret. It would be rather unfortunate if I let your parents know about it, wouldn't it?" The girls exchanged uneasy glances before biting back whatever they had been about to say.

"We're leaving," the twin-tailed girl muttered. She turned on her heel, and the rest of her group quickly followed, disappearing from the rocky cove. As soon as they were gone, Hiroto cautiously stepped toward Reika.

"Are you—""Shut up," Reika snapped without looking at him.

"What makes you think I need your help? Just because you two beat me in that unfair match doesn't change anything. I'm still an A-rank, and I can take care of myself." With that, she brushed past them and left, leaving the three standing in silence. Carmen let out a long sigh.

"Well, that completely killed the mood."

"Who was that girl, anyway?" Evan asked. Carmen blinked.

"You don't know?"

"I don't make it a habit to memorize the faces of rich snobs, especially their kids." Carmen studied him for a moment before answering.

"That was Choi Song-hee, the younger daughter of Choi Group's Vice Chairman."

"Oh." Evan nodded. So another rich brat, and a particularly influential one at that.

"She's got some nerve picking a fight with Reika. She's not an Awakener, is she?"

"No," Hiroto replied.

"But her older sister is an A-rank."

"I see..." Evan murmured. So she thought having an A-rank sister and being the daughter of one of Nova Terra's most powerful families made her untouchable. Taunting the daughter of the White Wolf Guild Master took an impressive amount of confidence... or a complete lack of common sense. He glanced toward the path Reika had disappeared down and shrugged.

"At least we showed up before things got out of hand." Ring! Carmen's phone suddenly buzzed. She glanced at the screen before answering.

"Father? What's wrong?" She listened quietly while Evan and Hiroto exchanged curious looks. After nodding several times, she replied, "Okay. I'll let him know." Ending the call, she slipped her phone back into her pocket and turned to Evan.

"We should head back inside. Someone wants to meet you."

"Me?" Evan tilted his head. Without offering another explanation, Carmen led them back from the beach and into the mansion. Passing through the ballroom once more, she continued down a quieter corridor until they stopped before a pair of ornate wooden doors tucked away from the main festivities.

"We'll wait out here," Carmen said. Hiroto nodded in agreement. Evan hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open. As soon as he stepped inside, the bustle of the gala faded to a distant murmur. Plush seating surrounded low wooden tables, giving the room the feel of a private lounge. Reid occupied one of the armchairs. Opposite him was an elderly man who appeared to be in his seventies. His neatly combed white hair and lined face spoke of age, yet his dignified bearing remained unmistakable.

Dressed in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit with a crisp white shirt and dark tie, he rested his hands lightly on the armrests as his sharp eyes settled on Evan. Evan's gaze shifted between Reid and the unfamiliar old man. His brother wore a solemn expression, so unlike the relaxed smile he was used to seeing.

"Aren't you going to introduce us?" the elderly man asked. Reid's expression tightened before he spoke.

"Evan... this is Chairman Choi." The old man smiled faintly.

"Chairman Choi sounds far too distant," he said.

"You should call me Grandfather." Evan froze. Grandfather? His mind ground to a halt as if someone had shoved a wrench into a machine. Of all the things he had expected to hear tonight, that wasn't even remotely on the list.

"... Huh?" Chairman Choi let out a quiet sigh.

"So you really haven't told him anything."

"There was no reason to," Reid replied.

"No reason?" Chairman Choi repeated.

"Your father walked away from this family. He cast aside our surname and raised you under your mother's name, complete with Western given names. Yet no matter what he chose to call you, blood cannot be changed." Hold on. Could somebody stop time for a second? Evan desperately wished life came with a pause button because his brain was struggling to keep up. He and Reid were related by blood to Chairman Choi?

He had noticed their father looked Korean, but never once had it crossed his mind that he might have been the son of one of the most influential men in Nova Terra. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"If you're only going to insult Father," Reid said coolly, "then perhaps we should leave."

"Calm yourself." Chairman Choi's voice remained unhurried.

"Shouldn't you at least let your brother decide whether he wants to hear me out?" His gaze shifted to Evan.

"Come, sit down. It's been many years since we last met." Still trying to process everything, Evan slowly lowered himself onto the empty sofa, his eyes darting back and forth between Reid and Chairman Choi. Chairman Choi picked up the cup of tea resting on the table between them and took an unhurried sip before speaking again.

"Tell me, Evan. How has life been with only your brother to rely on?" Normally, Evan prided himself on being quick with words. This time, however, they refused to come.

"Ah... uh... it's been fine. My brother takes good care of me." Chairman Choi nodded.

"It couldn't have been easy. Your parents died in the incident ten years ago. So many people lost their lives during the Beast Wave and the Rift Outbreaks. I wanted to take both of you in, but circumstances prevented me from doing so. Your brother was adamant that he would raise you himself, despite being little more than a child."

"There's no need to trouble yourself over it, Chairman Choi," Reid replied.

"We've managed just fine."

"You have," Chairman Choi acknowledged.

"After all, you left the Outskirts and settled in District 20. But do you truly believe Director Shin's recommendation alone made that possible? Permission to relocate from the Outskirts into the Districts is not granted lightly, nor is securing a residence within the barrier." Reid inclined his head.

"Then allow me to thank you for whatever assistance you provided." Watching the two exchange calm but pointed remarks, Evan suddenly found himself wishing he had a bucket of popcorn. They were somehow arguing without actually arguing, and it was oddly impressive.

"Seeing how resistant you were to the idea of me taking you in, I thought it was better to give you both the space you wanted," Chairman Choi said.

"And I must admit, you did raise your little brother well. Then I heard you stormed into an Irregular Rift and awakened as an A-rank Healer. Not long after that, your brother was kidnapped and awakened as well."

"I assume you also had a hand in helping Evan enroll at Central Awakener Academy," Reid said.

"I did. It took quite a bit of convincing to get the headmaster to agree," Chairman Choi replied, leaning back against the sofa.

"I told him there was no harm in allowing an F-rank student to enroll. Evan is still young, and there are other F-ranks attending the academy, such as the son of the Thunder Wolf Guild Master. But then I received news that Evan had challenged an A-rank in a duel. You can imagine the kind of call I received from the headmaster afterward." Evan blinked. So this was partly his fault? He really hadn't expected his decision to challenge Reika to cause such a huge reaction.

"If you would please get to the point," Reid said. Chairman Choi continued, "My point is that I want to ask whether the two of you are willing to officially return to the Choi family. Regardless of your father's decision, I still consider both of you my grandsons." Evan's eyes widened. Return to the Choi family? One of the wealthiest families in Nova Terra? It felt as though someone had suddenly struck him with a hammer. Was this actually happening? Reid's expression hardened.

"Don't reject the offer so quickly," Chairman Choi said.

"You should both take time to consider it. Now that you have stepped into the spotlight, things will only become more complicated. You may believe you can handle everything alone, Reid, but the world of Awakeners does not work that way. Strength alone is not enough. You need support and connections." His gaze shifted toward Evan.

"And what about Evan? Do you truly believe he has had an easy time at the academy? An F-rank student among children from influential families and powerful guilds will naturally draw attention. Right now, the only protection he has is your reputation as an A-rank Healer, and even that is limited because you have no backing of your own. With the Choi family name behind him, things would become much easier." Chairman Choi let out a quiet sigh before adding, "That is all I wanted to say. You may leave now."

The two brothers stood and left the room. Following Reid, Evan remained silent as they made their way to a secluded garden away from the noise and crowds of the gala. Bathed in moonlight, the garden felt like a world apart from the celebration behind them, with only the rustling of leaves and the faint glow of lanterns filling the space between them. Reid gazed up at the moon hanging above them before finally speaking.

"Are you angry?"

"For what?" Evan asked.

"Because I hid something very important from you." Reid sat down on a nearby bench and patted the empty spot beside him.

"About… Chairman Choi?" Evan guessed.

"You were very young, so I doubt you would remember, but I met with Chairman Choi a few times when you were still little," Reid said.

"He and Father always argued whenever they met. He never approved of Father's marriage to Mother."

"Why? Because she wasn't from a wealthy family?" Evan asked.

"Initially, Chairman Choi approved of their relationship." Reid watched the fireflies drifting through the garden.

"Mother was a powerful Awakener back then, but after an incident during one of her missions, she lost her power." Lost her power? Evan frowned. Could the System have abandoned her? No, that didn't make sense. Something like that had never been recorded before. So what exactly happened?

"No amount of healing could fix her condition," Reid continued, a bitter smile appearing on his lips.

"From what I heard, Chairman Choi ordered Father to end the engagement, but Father refused. He left home, married Mother despite his disapproval, and they eventually had me."

"And then he cut off his support?" Evan asked. Someone as powerful and wealthy as Chairman Choi probably hated being disobeyed, especially by his own son. Reid nodded.

"Yes. With Mother sick and Father cut off from the Chairman's support, they were forced to leave the Districts and move to the Outskirts. That's where we lived for many years." And then the incident ten years ago happened… As a soul from another world, Evan couldn't exactly feel the same anger or grief Reid must have carried. Those two people weren't truly his parents, after all. But Reid… did he blame Chairman Choi for his stubbornness? Did he believe his grandfather's pride had indirectly led to their deaths?

Reid's sudden question pulled Evan out of his thoughts.

"Was it true?"

"What was true?"

"Did you get bullied at the academy?" Seeing the seriousness in Reid's eyes, Evan found it difficult to lie. His hesitation alone was enough of an answer. Reid's expression fell.

"I'm sorry. It's my fault. I was the one who forced you to attend the academy even though you were perfectly fine and happy living in District 20."

"Come on, don't say that!" Evan grabbed Reid's shoulder.

"I mean, yeah, I got bullied by those three idiots, but I handled it just fine! Seriously, they backed down the moment I threatened them with you. And it's not like I hate studying at the academy either. The food is great, and I even made some new friends." Evan tightened his grip on Reid's shoulder.

"And you should just ignore Chairman Choi's words. We've been doing fine without him all this time, so why should we suddenly crawl back and beg for his acceptance? That's ridiculous! Just ignore him, brother!" Yeah, why should the Legendary Demon Hunter have to lower himself for some old man whose greatest achievement was having a mountain of money? If Reid really wanted to, Evan was certain he could build the largest conglomerate in Nova Terra himself.

Reid smiled faintly and squeezed Evan's hand resting on his shoulder.

"Okay. I won't listen to him." Evan nodded. This was for the best. It wasn't like he was interested in joining some wealthy chaebol family anyway. After reading enough web novels, he already knew how messy those families could be. Staying away from them was probably the smarter choice. However, another thought suddenly crossed his mind. If he was Chairman Choi's grandson… Didn't that mean he was related to that twin-tailed girl, Choi Song-hee?