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 [Chapter 209]

[Unwavering (3)]

Grandfather rarely talked about the country he was born in.

Although he taught about Japanese people's lives, culture, and language.

Grandfather tried not to talk about the family he was born into as much as possible.

"It was a good country. I was born into a good house and grew up without lacking anything. That's when I learned archery too."

But that was all.

Thinking about it now, grandfather probably tried to abandon everything he had in order to live as a Korean.

Even so, he sometimes muttered something in Japanese to himself...

That was all Hoshimiya Kaede remembered.

So she could hardly believe what she heard from Kaguya.

"Your grandfather was royalty?"

"His name was written in the Hoshinomiya family genealogy. Although they've undergone divine descent and remain a family loyal to the Emperor now, the Hoshinomiya name still wields influence throughout Kyushu. In a sense, you have the blood of the imperial family mixed in you, however diluted."

"Of course, since they're a family that underwent divine descent, they can't succeed to the Emperor's position. But you could become a person from a noble family with high authority, as an imperial in-law."

Kaguya added.

She drank her coffee.

Kaede couldn't even touch the coffee placed in front of her.

To think grandfather might have been Japanese royalty...

Kaede was just bewildered.

Kaguya even rented a separate room to talk with her.

Suddenly finding herself in a private meeting with Kaguya, Kaede fell into old memories.

If Kaguya-sama's words are true, he could have requested protection as a Japanese noble from the Korean government at the time.

There was no need to struggle unnecessarily...

Thinking about it, he was a strange person.

Grandfather could have risen to a high position with his own power if he wanted.

But grandfather refused that and lived a difficult life as a foreigner.

Well, if grandfather had revealed himself to be Japanese royalty, he probably wouldn't have met grandmother.

Perhaps the reason he didn't reveal his identity even when isolated in Korea where he couldn't communicate properly was because of grandmother.

That thought suddenly occurred to her.

It made her smile strangely.

It was then.

"I don't know much about China and Korea, but the situation in Japan isn't very good. My power and the royals can't perfectly cover all of Japan."

Kaguya opened her mouth.

Kaede looked at her.

She had expected this to some extent.

Would Kaguya really have made time for a private meeting just to tell her about her grandfather?

Kaede decided to listen to the main point.

"..."

And after hearing a long introduction.

Kaede could infer the purpose of Kaguya's request for a private meeting.

Sure enough, those words came out of Kaguya's mouth.

"So I'm asking you. We need the power of the Hoshinomiya family now. If it's alright, please lend me your strength."

"By lending strength, you mean..."

"I'm saying I want you to abandon your Korean nationality and come as Hoshinomiya Kaede of Japan."

"..."

"The Hoshinomiya family currently doesn't have a proper successor. Since that family probably doesn't want their line to end like this either, they'll welcome you gladly."

Naturalize to Japan.

Hearing those words, Kaede couldn't help but have complicated thoughts.

"If you become a Hoshinomiya person, money, honor, and authority will naturally follow. Furthermore, you'll be able to handle Kyushu as you please. I'll also allow it to the extent that it doesn't harm, as much as you help me."

Kaguya brought up the advantages Kaede could gain by naturalizing to Japan.

It was all attractive.

It was a situation where saying she wouldn't naturalize would be a loss.

"..."

Nevertheless, Kaede pondered.

In Korea, she had risen to this position after facing much discrimination.

But the stigma still existed.

Even if foreigners' authority increased, the stigma ingrained in people's perceptions would never be erased in a lifetime.

Can I really live happily in this country?

A country that doesn't reward as much as the effort put in.

That was Korea in Kaede's thoughts.

She wondered if it was worth fighting for people who implicitly didn't welcome her.

Then suddenly─

─What is Noh Eun-ha doing?

The Clan Lord is getting a strange sand bath because he got close to Baek-ryeon...

Noh Eun-ha could be seen through the window.

Ha Baek-ryeon was covering Eun-ha with sand, leaving only his face exposed.

The twins were playing pranks.

Kaede turned her head and stared at them.

'─I, we will become the standard for this country.'

An old memory suddenly came to mind.

When she finished middle school academy.

Noh Eun-ha had once discussed his thoughts with her.

At that time, Eun-ha spoke like that, and now he has really realized it.

Amazing guy.

If she had to describe Noh Eun-ha in one word.

Kaede would say that.

That's how amazing the divinity Noh Eun-ha showed was to her.

Ains and foreigners followed Noh Eun-ha and called him monarch among themselves.

Meanwhile, at that time she had asked Eun-ha what exactly the standard was.

Then Noh Eun-ha answered─

'─The person I will serve.'

A person who sheds tears at others' pain.

A person who knows how to consider others more.

A person who clearly points out what's wrong.

A person who endures firmly even when it's hard.

Therefore, a person whose heart aches when watching from the side.

Noh Eun-ha's standard was abstract yet strangely specific.

She didn't know then.

But Kaede knew now.

That person is Baek-ryeon.

Whether Noh Eun-ha saw the future or not.

That wasn't an important matter to Kaede.

The words Noh Eun-ha promised her then were more important.

In that sense, Ha Baek-ryeon, whom Noh Eun-ha wanted to serve, clearly met her standards too.

Of course, Ha Baek-ryeon was still young and had many naive aspects.

But that didn't matter.

No, that made it even better.

Doesn't it mean she can assist her in becoming an excellent Fairy?

'─I have to make the party members happy.'

All of that.

Would lead to Noh Eun-ha and her own wishes.

Not much time was left.

Until the world Noh Eun-ha spoke of is realized, and the day Ha Baek-ryeon becomes the Fairy.

She sensed it.

How could she go somewhere else when they were about to see the fruition of everything she and the clan members had worked for?

Therefore─

"─I'm sorry. But my homeland is Korea. My name is Hoshimiya Kaede, not Hoshinomiya."

"..."

"Grandfather must have thought the same, which is why he made his surname Hoshimiya."

Kaede could make up her mind.

She spoke with a relieved face.

Kaguya looked at her with a hardened face and sighed.

"Hah, if you say so, there's nothing I can do. It's really a shame. Both you and I could have had easier lives. But I can't say anything more to a Korean person."

"I'm sorry."

"No, I'm the one who's sorry for calling you like this. And today's conversation... You know, right?"

"Yes, I'll keep it to my grave."

"It doesn't have to be that extreme, but yes, please keep it confidential."

Kaguya lost interest in her.

Kaede observed her reaction and stood up from her seat.

"Hoshimiya-san."

"Yes, Kaguya-sama."

"Come visit Japan sometime. Although our intentions didn't match, you still have Japanese blood mixed in you. Your grandfather might have resolved to live as a Korean, but the fact that he insisted on keeping a Japanese name must have been because he missed Japan too."

"...Thank you for your consideration."

Will I ever go to Japan again?

I'm not sure.

But Kaede gratefully accepted Kaguya's consideration.

☆

"...How long has it been."

The past few days were hell itself.

As Samra Shipping went completely bankrupt, Oh Hae-in and Samra Group's direct descendants all lived with their blood running cold.

In such a situation, the only thing she could rely on was alcohol.

"Choi Jung-hoon, you bastard."

The cigarette smell was terrible.

She spent days smoking cigarettes without opening the window, sleeping on the bed when tired, and then smoking again or drinking alcohol.

The room was full of smoke, reminiscent of a raccoon den.

Oh Hae-in was irritated.

She found a new cigarette and put it in her mouth.

You cut off the tail when it's disadvantageous to you?

Even if it was a strategic marriage, isn't this going too far?

Oh Hae-in's anger boiled.

Choi Jung-hoon, a direct descendant of Galaxy Group, conveyed the position that Galaxy Steel and Devices had suffered damage this time.

Then he cut off all deals he had given to Samra Group so far.

The string was cut.

Furthermore, Galaxy was trying to absorb Samra Group in this situation.

All the funds Galaxy had quietly helped with so far came back as a noose around Samra Group's neck.

"Hah..."

Was it just Galaxy Group?

Other groups were the same.

Especially Sirius Group.

They were trying to put a leash on firmly on this occasion.

Samra Group had no choice but to negotiate reluctantly and minimize the damage as much as possible.

"But there's still a way."

Nevertheless.

She hadn't collapsed yet.

Although she had been smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol for days due to mental shock, she hadn't given up on thinking.

She opened her bloodshot eyes wide and searched for documents scattered around the room.

If this succeeds, we can survive.

No, it must succeed.

The document's name was as follows:

Northern Gyeonggi Development Plan.

As the Fairy Government was starting to finish conquering northern Gyeonggi to some extent, they planned to have groups participate to develop the north.

There were quite a lot of appetizing jobs.

It's not over yet.

Oh Hae-in cackled.

She laughed like a madwoman.

Meanwhile, she had to come up with a way to make the plan succeed somehow.

Just participating wasn't enough.

She had to find out how the groups would move regarding northern Gyeonggi development.

Therefore─

─Sirius Group's movements are important. If I can grasp Sirius Group's movements, I can infer the actions of Alice, Luminous, Hana, and Donghae Group too.

She needed information on Sirius Group.

And if she obtained it, although frustrating, Choi Jung-hoon would realize again that she had strategic value.

Therefore─

"─It would be more helpful if I knew Pandora Clan's movements."

The movements of Pandora Clan, which was receiving support from Sirius Group, were also important.

Players were an essential element in northern Gyeonggi development.

"Who did Sub-lord Joo Seok-hyun say he was in contact with before?"

She searched her memory.

She couldn't remember well.

So she decided to check Pandora Clan's register.

Eventually─

"─Found it."

The name was on the executive list.

The corners of her mouth turned up.

"<Gatherer > Lee Cheon-seo, is it."

☆

The Korea-China-Japan summit ended.

The three countries were able to gain parts that benefited each other while compromising.

Phew, it's finally over.

The 3 days felt quite long.

After having a match with Lao Chen, Eun-ha had to have matches with China's representative players one by one.

"You're the first man to make me pant like this."

"Ah, yes..."

<Yang Guifei> knew a little Korean.

The problem was that she only knew "a little".

Thanks to that, she would come up to Eun-ha and say strange things.

Each time, the faces of clan members or Ha Baek-ryeon looking at Eun-ha were strange.

Eun-ha felt unfairly wronged.

"Sigh, I came all the way to Korea but couldn't properly enjoy it before leaving. If only I could have a video call with Seo-hyeon somewhere..."

"Have a safe trip. I'll deliver the gift for Seo-hyeon well."

Anyway, everyone who finished their schedule packed their bags and left.

They departed for Jeju Airport and prepared to say goodbye and part ways.

Kaguya approached Eun-ha and complained.

"Alright then. Pandora Clan Lord. No, <Shiranui >-san?"

"<Shiranui >? What's that?"

"You'll find out later. If you ever have a chance to come to Japan, contact me. Bring Seo-hyeon along too. Then I'll make time even for a day to meet you."

"Yes, I'll definitely do that."

It wouldn't be bad to be acquainted with Kaguya.

Eun-ha shook hands with Kaguya.

Soon she took the Japanese people inside the gate.

"Let's go back now too."

Im Ga-eul said.

People nodded.

Eun-ha was about to turn his back too.

Why is she just standing there quietly?

Did she get attached to those people?

Then Kaede caught Eun-ha's eye.

She was quietly watching the departing Japanese people.

"Ugh."

Eun-ha put his chin on her head.

Kaede raised her head up and looked up with blank eyes.

"What."

"No, I was wondering why you kept standing."

"I was just thinking for a moment."

"What were you thinking?"

"You don't need to know."

"Really?"

"Let's just go. I'm tired."

"Okay, let's do that."

Kaede pushed away Eun-ha's chin.

Eun-ha rubbed his chin.

Soon he followed after her.

"By the way, the Chinese people were calling you <Divine Bow>."

"This is the first I'm hearing of it."

"You must be hearing it for the first time since you were playing with the Japanese people."

"<Divine Bow>... That epithet is too much for me."

"It might have been in the past, but isn't it okay to be called that now?"

Currently, Kaede's basic epithet was <Morning Star>, and she had several others.

Among them was <Divine Bow>.

But Kaede felt burdened by that epithet.

"I don't like being called <Divine Bow> just because I'm the only player who uses a bow."

"But you have the skills now too."

"I'm still lacking. And I like my current epithet too."

"People around say that epithet isn't good."

"Your epithet is the same. So do you think <Morning Star> is bad?"

"No, it suits you well."

"..."

"Morning Star. It's a pure Korean word referring to Venus. Even without that, there are sometimes people who lower your status saying you're a Japanese-Korean, but doesn't the epithet <Morning Star> prove your identity?"

<Morning Star> Hoshimiya Kaede.

Eun-ha liked that epithet.

Isn't it a word that expresses her identity well?

"Alright, if that's how you feel, add <Divine Bow> later. When that time comes, we'll promote it at the clan level."

"Don't promote it at the clan level, make people acknowledge it."

"That's good spirit. Do well."

In the previous life.

The time when Hoshimiya Kaede was truly acknowledged as <Divine Bow> was when she fought desperately against the bears.

At that time, the world saw her skills and acknowledged her as <Divine Bow>.

Eun-ha chuckled.

[End of translation.]