Chapter 1073

Tae-Sung and Yong Seol-Hwa ended up heading to a small bar nearby to have a quick drink.

“Seriously, my dad worries way too much over nothing,” Yong Seol-Hwa said as she guzzled down her beer.

“Come on, he’s just worried about you. Try to understand him, Seol-Hwa. You’re his only daughter, so imagine how anxious he must be when you're late. I mean, I’d be worried too if I were him.”

“Still... It’s not like I’m causing trouble or anything. I’m literally on my way home, and he’s going off on me as if I committed a crime.”

“

Haha...”

“And he even called you a wolf! A dog!”

“W-What? Really?”

“Yes! He did!”

Yong Seol-Hwa ordered another glass of beer and began chugging it again, showing that she was clearly upset.

“So what if you’re kind of a wolf? So what if you’re a dog?!”

“

Eh?!”

“I’m fine with that! If the person I like is a wolf or a dog, then so be it!”

“W-What are you even saying?”

“Who knows? Maybe I’m a wolf, too?” Yong Seol-Hwa joked, flashing a sly and playful smile.

“

Gasp!”

“Why? Are you scared?”

“N-No way!”

“Have a drink, oppa,” Yong Seol-Hwa said, offering him a glass of whiskey.

‘

Huh? What’s she doing?’

Tae-Sung found it odd that she was offering him whiskey while she drank beer. Then, he thought, ‘

Maybe she can’t handle whiskey? Yeah, that’s probably it.’

He decided not to question it too much about such things. He simply accepted the whiskey she gave him and drank without hesitation.

Tae-Sung had a strong tolerance to alcohol, so whiskey was not a problem for him. In fact, he could easily go through one or two bottles without breaking a sweat.

However, the problem was that Yong Seol-Hwa did not know that about him.

‘

W-Why isn’t he getting drunk?’

She started to feel like something was going wrong when Tae-Sung kept drinking without showing any sign of getting tipsy.

“You should stop drinking, Seol-Hwa. You’ve only had beer, but you’re already acting kinda drunk.”

“I’m not drunk.”

“

Hm?

”

“Have another drink, oppa.”

“Okay.”

And so, Tae-Sung kept accepting and drinking the whiskey she gave him.

‘

Ugh... I don’t feel so good. I think I’m going to throw up...’

Yong Seol-Hwa tried to match his pace and kept drinking, but eventually reached her limit. Even though she was just drinking beer and he was drinking whiskey, there was no way she could keep up with him.

In the end...

Thud!

Yong Seol-Hwa collapsed face-first onto the table.

“Seol-Hwa?!” Tae-Sung shrieked, flinching in shock after seeing her slump over. He was just starting to flush and was feeling slightly buzzed, but Yong Seol-Hwa had already passed out.

Tae-Sung couldn’t believe it, as he never really understood why some people couldn’t hold their alcohol.

But that wasn't what was important right now...

“W-What do I do now?

Ah...

I think I’m screwed,” Tae-Sung panicked while looking at her.

Now that she had passed out, he had no idea what to do next.

The reason he thought he was screwed was not because of Yong Seol-Hwa passing out, but rather, it was because of her father, Yong Tae-Pung.

He was almost guaranteed to run into him if he brought Yong Seol-Hwa home.

But what if he saw her in this state?

A chill shot down Tae-Sung’s spine.

Why?

The mere thought of running into Yong Tae-Pung scared him.

From Yong Tae-Pung’s perspective, seeing his only daughter returning home dead drunk and carried on the back of her boyfriend would definitely blow a fuse. However, he couldn’t just abandon her at the front steps when she was unconscious, too.

Then what if he took her back to his own place? That would be even worse.

They were not at that kind of stage yet, so bringing her to his house without her consent was just plain disrespectful.

“What do I do...?”

While Tae-Sung was pondering a way out of his dilemma, his chief bodyguard quietly approached him and offered some advice.

“Sir? I believe there is no other way out of this. You will have to take her home.”

“...Yeah, I guess you’re right. Her father’s probably going to be furious, but there’s nothing else I can do.”

With that, he picked up Yong Seol-Hwa and left the bar.

“

Tsk...

Honestly, what’s the point of raising your daughter with love? Just because she has a boyfriend now, she tossed me aside like I’m a piece of garbage...”

Tae-Sung heard a familiar voice that made him stop in his tracks, and that was the voice of none other than Yong Tae-Pung.

The Living Legend was walking into the bar with the other four Legends, just when he was about to leave with Yong Seol-Hwa.

‘

Oh shit!’

Tae-Sung realized that he was in deep shit.

It was then.

“W-What in the hell is going on here...?” Yong Tae-Pung stammered, his eyes going back and forth between Tae-Sung and Yong Seol-Hwa, who was slung over his back.

“S-So what happened was—!”

“Don’t tell me... are you trying to bring my daughter somewhere...?” Yong Tae-Pung growled while glaring daggers.

“Y-Yes, I was going to bring her—”

“To some nice place, right? You had the guts to do that to my daughter?”

“N-No! Absolutely not!”

“You got her completely wasted, and now you’re trying to take her to—”

“No! I swear that is not the case!”

“You bastard! To my precious daughter?! My daughter?!”

Yong Tae-Pung’s eyes rolled back as he foamed in anger and lunged toward Tae-Sung like a rabid beast.

“Hey! Calm down!”

“You don’t know the whole story yet! Listen to the kid first!”

“Somebody grab him!”

“Run for it, Tae-Sung! Get outta here while you still can!”

Park Gi-Don, Han Sang-Gi, Kim Han-Yong, and Kim Gi-Tae grabbed hold Yong Tae-Pung and yelled at Tae-Sung to run for his life.

‘

Damn it!’

Tae-Sung cursed. He felt so wronged and wanted to stay and clear up the misunderstanding, but that was not possible at the moment.

“Sir, you need to leave. Pronto.”

Even his own bodyguard advised him to run.

Why?

It was all because running away was the smartest thing he could do right now.

***

The misunderstanding between Yong Tae-Pung and Tae-Sung was finally resolved the next day.

“Dad! I told you! I was the one who passed out while trying to get him drunk!” Yong Seol-Hwa screamed at the top of her lungs when her father started badmouthing Tae-Sung as soon as she woke up.

“W-What did you say? So, you’re saying that... it was not Tae-Sung who got you drunk... but you?”

“That’s what I’m saying! I just wanted to stay out a little longer with him! That’s all! And besides, he was drinking whiskey while I only had beer!”

“...”

“

Ugh!

Seriously! He’s not that kind of person! You were being so annoying that I suggested we go have a drink!”

“I-I see...”

“I heard you were about to kill him yesterday without even letting him explain!”

“Well, that’s only because I saw him—”

“I understand how you feel, but I’m an adult too. And this whole thing was my fault, so you’re just putting me in a really awkward position if you keep blaming him like that, Dad.”

“

Haha... Hahaha...”

“At least call him and apologize. Or are you trying to ruin your daughter’s relationship on purpose?”

“N-No, of course not.”

Yong Seol-Hwa gently wrapped her arms around Yong Tae-Pung’s and said, “Please support me so we can keep growing our relationship in a good direction.”

“But Seol-Hwa...”

“I know you’re just worried about me because you’re my dad. But you know better than anyone that both he and I aren’t some immature kids.”

“That’s true...”

“So, just take a small step back and watch over us.”

“

Hmm...

”

Yong Tae-Pung went silent and deeply pondered what she said. Then, he finally spoke up. “Okay, sweetheart. I admit I might’ve gone a bit overboard this time. I’ll call him and apologize. Also, I won’t interfere with your relationship from now on, either.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

“Do you promise?”

“Yes, I promise.”

Yong Tae-Pung couldn’t help but concede to his daughter’s wishes. After all, even a proud father like him would lose when his beloved daughter had made such a heartfelt and sincere request.

***

Two days later.

“Are you awake?”

The one who greeted Siegfried the moment he logged in was none other than Saintess Janette.

“Where am I...?”

“We are in the Imperial Palace of the Proatine Empire.”

“Ah, I must have troubled you once again. Thank you.”

Siegfried sincerely thanked the saintess once again, just like he always did. If it were not for Saintess Janette, he would have had to suffer the severe side effects of using Demon Lord’s Descent skill.

“This is not the time for you to be thanking me.”

“

Huh?

”

“I understand why you are pushing yourself so hard, but...”

“...?”

“You have pushed yourself too hard this time. Your entire mana hall is riddled with cracks.”

“What?!” Siegfried was shocked at those words.

One’s mana hall was far more precious than their life itself. Using skills would be impossible if one's mana hall were broken, as there would be no place in their bodies to store mana or any other energy resources.

In other words, Siegfried would be reduced to nothing but an ordinary soldier relying on basic attacks in battle.

“My mana hall is riddled with cracks?”

“Yes. It’s like a spiderweb, so it wouldn’t be strange if it shattered into pieces at any moment.”

“What the hell?”

“You have two more chances at most. Even transforming once more could shatter your mana hall. And if you’re lucky enough to endure it once, then the second transformation will definitely destroy it for sure.”

“...!”

“You must not use that power anymore. Even transforming once could cause irreversible damage.”

“

Ha...

I got it,” Siegfried let out a sigh and nodded.

“Please heed my words carefully rather than just saying that you got it,” Saintess Janette said firmly.

Siegfried’s condition was so bad that she had no choice but to issue a stern warning this time.

“I want to stop too, but... There are too many situations where I have no choice but to rely on that power,” Siegfried replied with a sigh.

“Your Imperial Majesty...”

“I do not want to rely on it either. It hurts my pride whenever I have to depend on it just to win my battles. But what can I do? I’m facing more and more enemies that I simply can’t defeat without this power.”

Siegfried never really enjoyed using Demon Lord’s Descent. He knew better than anyone else that he would have to quit the game altogether if his mana hall ended up getting destroyed.

Why?

It was all because turning his character into a broken mess that could only dish out basic attacks was practically a death sentence to his gaming career.

“I understand. I will be as careful as I can from now on. I won’t use that power anymore... even if it kills me.”

“I am glad that you understand.”

“Yeah, it would be better to die and come back to life than—”

It was then.

“Your Imperial Majesty!”

Michele came rushing into the infirmary. He was breathless as he looked for Siegfried.

“What is it? Why the ruckus?”

“We have received very important intel from the rat!”

“The rat? Ah, do you mean Ragdoll IV?”

Ragdoll IV was Siegfried’s loyal slave and the only spy the Proatine Empire had within the Holy Alliance.

“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.”

“What’s up?”

“I cannot go into details here due to security concerns.”

“Got it.”

Siegfried immediately got up and followed Michele to a secret room.

“The rat reports that the Holy Alliance...”

“

Hm?

What did he say?”

“They have chosen Princess Verdandi as the vessel to summon the Chief Archangel, Lucifer. Also, they are planning to abduct her.”

Snap!

Siegfried heard something snap in his mind.

Fwoosh!

Then, a powerful burst of energy erupted from him.

“

Ugh!”

Michele groaned and grimaced in pain.

“Those bastards... how dare they go after my daughter...” Siegfried muttered under his breath, sounding enraged. He had anticipated that Verdandi would become a target one day, but now that the threat had finally become real, he found it difficult to contain his rage.

Verdandi was his beloved daughter, the apple of his eye, and the joy of his life.

And yet they dared to plot her abduction?

The mere fact that they even uttered her name was enough to make his blood boil.