The Support Ate it All-Chapter 574: Dang Family (2)

A silence lingered in the office for a while.

Then the Dang family head spoke in a dry tone.

“It’s been a long time.”

“Yes, Father.”

Dang Gyu-young’s tone was stiff too, unlike usual.

“How is it, living out there?”

“It’s been livable, more or less.”

“No difficulties.”

“No. And there won’t be, going forward.”

“Then that’s enough. Rest while you’re here.”

That short exchange was the end of their reunion.

They looked less like family and more like strangers.

Dang Gyu-young’s lips moved like there was more they wanted to say, but then they clamped their mouth shut and stepped back.

Next, the Dang family head’s gaze turned to me.

“I’ve heard a lot. It’s not just one or two people who’ve received help from you. Hyeseong Group, the Ruby Magic Tower... and my daughter as well. You’ve done her a kindness.”

“I did it because I wanted to.”

“I know. Even so, didn’t they all express their thanks in their own way? The Dang family can’t be careless about debts and grudges.”

“......”

“While you’re staying, if there’s anything you need, say so. Within the clan head’s discretion, I’ll accommodate as much as I can.”

“I’ll think about it.”

The Dang family head’s expression stayed bland, so I couldn’t tell if they were genuinely grateful, or if this was simply the family’s habit of putting debts and grudges first.

Still, if they were offering something, there was no need to refuse.

Lastly, the Dang family head looked at Seo Ye-in.

“The Dang family has had exchanges with Hyeseong Group now and then in the past. We’ve grown somewhat distant recently, but I don’t think it would be bad to strengthen ties again through this opportunity.”

“Thank you for having us.”

Seo Ye-in answered plainly, without the sleepy air.

Normally, she would’ve cut it down to something like “Confirmed,” or “Alliance,” but in front of an adult or senior, she at least shows minimum courtesy.

No matter how annoying it is, no matter how sleepy she is—she knows she’s effectively Hyeseong’s public face.

The Dang family head nodded.

“I was told a few more people will be visiting soon. Rooms have been prepared in the guest annex, so rest comfortably while you’re here.”

“Thank you.”

After that, the Dang family head made a customary meal appointment, then apologized that work was pressing and asked for understanding—effectively issuing a polite dismissal.

*****

After Kim Ho’s group left the office,

Dang Munhyeong—who was supposed to keep guiding them—stayed behind.

Their eyes were fixed on the clan head, who had returned to work.

“Brother.”

“......”

“Brother.”

“I’m listening.”

“How many years has it been since Gyu-young came back to the main house?”

“It’s been quite a while.”

“It’s been so long—couldn’t you have treated them even a little more warmly?”

The clan head, Dang Gunak, replied in an even tone.

“Didn’t I say it? They’re doing well, so that’s enough.”

“I remember you had more you wanted to say.”

Dang Gunak was silent for a few seconds, then spoke.

“I didn’t think it had to be now.”

“How long will you keep putting it off? Later, you might not even have the chance.”

“......That might be true.”

Silence pooled in the office again.

Then Dang Gunak spoke, almost like a mutter, calling their younger sibling.

“Munhyeong.”

“Yes, Brother.”

“...It isn’t easy. Being a father.”

“......That’s right.”

Dang Munhyeong answered with a sigh.

The worry in the two middle-aged men was only deepening.

*****

Ever since meeting the clan head, Dang Gyu-young’s expression had sunk heavily.

They even looked a little gloomy, so I asked carefully.

“Are you okay?”

“Of course I’m okay. I came here knowing it’d be like that from the start.”

But even as Dang Gyu-young answered as if they were fine, they quietly reached a hand toward me.

It was obviously asking me to hold it, so I did.

“......”

Maybe sensing the heavy mood for once, Seo Ye-in didn’t pull the usual “Me too, hand” move. She just watched.

How long did we walk like that, hands clasped?

The faint trembling that had been coming through stopped, and Dang Gyu-young regained their composure.

They tugged my hand and took the lead.

“Come on, you two. I’ll show you around the house.”

“It’s good to know what’s where.”

“Yeah. And I’ll point out where you can’t go.”

Any great family has places where outsiders aren’t allowed.

The classics are where the family’s treasures, secrets, and martial arts are kept.

And the top priority is martial arts.

Because if they leak, people can research ways to counter them.

The Dang family is even more closed off in that regard—

Their main weapons are poison and hidden weapons.

The moment an antidote is made, poison becomes useless.

And hidden weapons lose a huge chunk of lethality if the opponent knows and prepares.

Since it’s directly tied to the household’s survival, it’s only natural those things are protected with extreme seriousness.

Meaning if you wander into the wrong place, you’re in trouble.

They could throw you into the Thunder Prison, and in the worst case—

Eliminate all witnesses.

So we behaved and went along for the tour.

Dang Gyu-young kept holding my hand, and with the other hand pointed around as they explained.

The area around the Clan Head Hall mostly counted as “guest-prohibited places.”

Strictly speaking, even the Clan Head Hall itself did.

This was an exception only because we were special guests.

When we passed a cluster of small buildings, Dang Gyu-young warned us with a serious face.

“Don’t go there. Just pretend it doesn’t exist.”

Seo Ye-in stared that way.

Something sharp flickered in her gray eyes.

“...Traps?”

“Yeah. Lots of formation arrays too.”

Looks like veteran big-data instincts were reacting for the first time in a while.

If she really committed to it, she could probably break in—but there was no reason to.

And if something came up that we wanted, we could just cash in the blank check the clan head basically offered.

After that, the parade of “places you can’t go” continued.

Not here, not there...

As we walked listening to Dang Gyu-young’s warnings, we finally reached an area guests were allowed to use.

A fairly spacious training grounds lay before us.

“You can train here.”

“There’s no one. Must be for guests.”

“Yeah. The family has separate ones.”

There probably weren’t many other guests, so we might as well have rented it out exclusively.

Near the guest training grounds stood a row of clean, neat buildings.

Dang Gyu-young added,

“That’s the guest annex.”

“Looks like they did it up nicely.”

“Right? Let’s stop by.”

Since we’d be staying there through winter break, I was curious what it looked like inside.

So we all headed toward the guest annex—

And saw someone standing out front.

Two men in dark green martial robes.

Their appearances were near carbon copies, so they seemed to be twins.

A few years older than Dang Gyu-young, maybe.

We lowered our voices and exchanged quick words.

“Who are they?”

“My cousin-brothers.”

“Were you close?”

“......We used to be.”

Meaning she didn’t know ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) about now.

Maybe because of that, Dang Gyu-young looked a little tense.

The twin cousins watched us approach with hard, piercing eyes.

When we got close enough, one of them spoke first.

“So the cousin who ran away came back. It’s true.”

“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”

“No. We haven’t.”

The two men shook their heads at the same time.

Then they took turns grilling Dang Gyu-young.

“Even if you left the family, are you telling me you couldn’t show your face for years?”

“At least keep in contact.”

“We only heard you graduated just now.”

“First—congratulations.”

“But even so, I can’t help feeling hurt.”

Despite how fierce the tone sounded, the content was quietly affectionate.

Dang Gyu-young gave a faint smile and bowed her head.

“I’m sorry. I’ll contact you often from now on.”

“You’d better. How long are you staying here?”

“All winter.”

“Good.”

The twins nodded, satisfied.

Then their eyes shifted to our clasped hands—

And locked onto me.

Their expressions turned displeased on the spot.

Like their faces were saying, With a punk like this?

The Dang twins stepped in, one after another, and spoke in turns.

“My introduction is late. I’m Dang Ilbi.”

“I’m Dang Hanbi. We’re Gyu-young’s cousin-brothers.”

“And we’re Dragonslayer Academy graduates.”

They put extra emphasis on the word “graduates,” and the intent was obvious.

Either way, we greeted them politely.

“So you’re seniors. I’m Kim Ho.”

“I’m Seo Ye-in.”

Even as we exchanged names, Dang Ilbi and Dang Hanbi’s attention stayed pinned on me.

Their eyes glinted as they spoke in turns again.

“As cousin-brothers, there are a few things we want to ask.”

“They may be rather personal questions.”

“But if you have nothing to hide, they aren’t questions you can’t answer. What do you say?”

For them to come in this hard on a first meeting, they really wanted answers.

It was an attempt to cut off my retreat routes, but I had plenty of ways out.

I could draw a line and call it private, for one.

But right now, a head-on approach is better.

They were family, and they still seemed to be showing Dang Gyu-young goodwill, so it was better if I started with a good first impression too.

And like they said, I wasn’t hiding anything. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Except for the fact there were up to four.

After deciding, I accepted.

“Yes. Ask.”

The Dang twins looked at our clasped hands again.

“I can guess, but I want to hear it more clearly.”

“What is your relationship with Gyu-young?”

I answered smoothly.

“We’re in a relationship with a promised future.”

Dang Gyu-young looked like they were about to die of happiness.

Their lips lost all control and twitched upward.

When they couldn’t manage their expression, they turned their head away and stared off somewhere else.

In contrast, the twins’ faces stiffened.

“Are you serious?”

“You wouldn’t be ignorant of the weight of promising a future.”

“This isn’t a light mindset of ‘you can just cancel later.’”

I answered again without hesitation.

“I’m serious. And I have no intention of canceling.”

“Pffh-hh-hh.”

Dang Gyu-young’s shoulders shook violently as they faced away.

The twins exchanged a look, then glared at me.

“Fine. We’ll acknowledge you, at least a little.”

“But don’t misunderstand. What we acknowledge is only the relationship.”

“If you cross the line...”

“For example, if you engage in promiscuous behavior...”

As if building momentum, green light flashed in their eyes.

“...You’ll learn just how vicious the Dang family’s hidden weapons are.”

“Especially if something like that happens in the main house, it won’t be tolerated.”

“We’ll be watching, so keep it in mind.”

With their pressure surging as they demanded my response, I nodded slowly.

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

*****

The Dang brothers left, sending warm eyes to Dang Gyu-young and Seo Ye-in to the very end, while shooting warning eyes at Kim Ho.

As they crossed the Dang family grounds, Dang Ilbi glanced back toward the guest annex and spoke up.

“He’s pretty decent.”

“He’s got nerve, for sure.”

For someone who had only just finished first year, that Kim Ho was remarkably calm.

Even under their pressure, he hadn’t shrunk back at all—he’d said what he believed, straight.

“Even the ‘I’m serious’ part doesn’t feel like empty talk.”

“He kept holding hands the whole time. I thought they’d glued themselves together.”

“Did you see how happy Gyu-young was?”

“With how obvious it was, how could I not? It was just... unfamiliar.”

“They’ve grown up before we knew it. Us, and that kid.”

Remembering Dang Gyu-young from childhood—back when she’d been so cute—made a smile rise on the twins’ lips on its own.

Then Dang Hanbi wiped the smile away and frowned.

“But I’m worried. The elders didn’t seem pleased.”

“Seeing how some are already saying she should be expelled.”

“It feels too cold.”

“I understand their feelings, but she’s still blood. If they can’t welcome her warmly, at least...”

The two brothers let out low, heavy sounds together.

Having lived their whole lives under a family culture sensitive to debts and grudges, many in the household still held resentment toward Dang Gyu-young.

“Expulsion won’t go through. Not as long as the clan head is here.”

“But they won’t give up there, either.”

“So the next best method they’d think of is driving them out.”

Using every means to make Kim Ho’s group uncomfortable staying here, until they left the Dang family of their own accord.

Dang Ilbi and Dang Hanbi didn’t want to send their cousin away again, after finally reuniting.

“Can we stop it?”

“I can’t promise.”

“But we have to do what we can.”

They exchanged a meaningful look.