Become Overpowered CEO of Hero Clan

Become Overpowered CEO of Hero Clan – 140

The sky was filled with the hues of twilight.
The soft red of the setting sun was painting the quiet village.
As he walked along the alley, the cool early evening air brushed past his face.
Dew glistened on the tiles forming the boundary of the hanok, and the light seeping through the cracks of the gate illuminated the path.
On the wooden veranda, martial artists who had set aside their swords and spears gathered, chatting joyfully about the day’s events with faces as pure as children.
Huuuung.
The voices of people welcoming the evening were carried by the gentle breeze. Occasionally, the clinking of teacups and teapots delighted the ears, and from a three-story building that combined modern design with the elegance of a hanok, the sounds of dinner preparation could be heard.
Meanwhile, deep within the village, past the simple garden of trees and flower beds, a dinner table was set in a room inside a low-walled house.
The blue-eyed young man seated at the head of the table surveyed the twelve dishes laid out before him and nodded slightly. He seemed pleased with the spread.
In contrast, the woman sitting across from him was busy nervously glancing around.
As she reached for her utensils, she cautiously asked,
“Um… should I leave?”
“Why? Just eat.”
“Oh, okay.”
The young man and the woman of indeterminate age busily picked up rice and side dishes, putting them into their mouths. Kimchi, seasoned vegetables, japchae, radish salad, braised short ribs, and grilled squid—all sorts of nutritious dishes disappeared in the blink of an eye.
However, a short distance from the table, opposite the young man, was an awkward scene that contrasted sharply with the pleasant mealtime.
An elderly man with white hair was kneeling, his head bowed like a sinner.
The young man, having nearly finished his bowl of rice, asked curtly,
“What are you doing?”
“…I’m sorry.”
“If you’re going to eat, eat with us. If not, leave. Choose one.”
“What do you mean?”
“The duel with the Sword Emperor was a friendly match by mutual agreement. The live broadcast was also something this child and you suggested, which I accepted. What’s the problem?”
“I failed to recognize a great senior. I…”
The elderly man listed his offenses, including not addressing the young man with honorifics, demanding respect for the family head by invoking family law, and more, never once lifting his bowed head.
“The Elder Council has decided to honor you as a celestial being above our family’s laws. I, in my foolishness, have offended you, and as an apology, I wish to offer a treasure that allows you to command the Baek Family up to three times. I humbly beg for your forgiveness for my rashness and for the family’s.”
The elderly man’s voice trembled as he conveyed his sincere apology. However, despite his plea, the young man’s expression remained indifferent. Instead, he put down his utensils and furrowed his brow.
“Fine, just leave. You’re ruining my appetite.”
“Since that is your wish, I will take my leave for today.”
The elderly man backed out of the room and respectfully closed the sliding door behind him. His face was filled with worry as he left the hanok.
“Sigh, what have I done?”
Walking along the moonlit dirt path, the elderly man’s shoulders slumped, looking utterly drained of strength.
Meanwhile, the woman, who continued eating with the young man, also had a face full of concern.
She busily fiddled with her smartphone before speaking in a bright voice.
“Wow! The views are skyrocketing. People are really happy, saying you’re the world’s strongest hero now. There are tons of comments about supporting the Harmony Clan and being proud to be Korean!”
“Is that so? Looks like I’ll be even busier.”
Munch munch.
The young man glanced at the woman’s smartphone briefly before focusing back on his meal.
He seemed uninterested in the public’s reaction.
Relieved by his apparent disinterest, the woman let out a small sigh of relief and picked up her utensils again.
There were still plenty of side dishes left.
Having finished his bowl of rice, the young man spoke towards the door.
“Another bowl of rice, please.”
That evening, Isaac finished three bowls of rice with ease.
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***
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The elderly man who had sought Isaac out to apologize, Grand Elder Baek Mu-hyul, did not appear at Myungnyundang, where Isaac and his companions were staying, after that day.
The Elder Council had decided it was better for him to stay out of Isaac’s sight.
The Sword Emperor Family treated Isaac, who had visited as a guest and healer, with caution and respect. However, Isaac himself seemed indifferent to their attitude, focusing solely on gathering information about Baek Hwa-ran as he roamed around the family grounds.
Gradually, the family members became captivated by Isaac’s lack of concern for authority and his tireless efforts to treat the family’s painful affliction, Baek Hwa-ran.
The sight of the invincible hero, who had even bested the Sword Emperor, displaying professional dedication for a mission left a significant impression on the martial artists of the family, who valued justice and integrity.
Isaac, who had unknowingly earned the respect of the martial artists for both his combat prowess and professional spirit, enjoyed a grand feast the next evening with the fully recovered Sword Emperor and his family.
The children were enthralled by Isaac’s embellished tales of exploring the underworld, and they couldn’t hide their excitement throughout the feast, delighted to converse with him.
After the feast, Isaac and Seo Eun-ha returned to Myungnyundang, where the family usually hosted esteemed guests, to further study and strategize about Dream Dive.
Time flew by in a whirlwind, and soon it was the day of the mission.
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***
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Sigmund Freud.
An Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis.
It seemed odd to study psychoanalysis for purifying demons, but…
His seminal work was considered a bible for purifiers.
[The Interpretation of Dreams]
The book Seo Eun-ha had fallen asleep reading was open on the desk.
I used mnemonic techniques to memorize the contents of the book.
‘Interesting.’
The book covered the sources of dreams, their psychological characteristics, and the relationship between dreams and mental illness.
Concepts like the subconscious, narcissistic restoration, and psychological inner truth were thrown around, making it harder to understand. It felt like reading the original English version would be easier than the translation, indicating the depth of the book.
Difficult books often had that characteristic.
Swoosh.
The sliding door suddenly opened.
Seo Eun-ha, with a bare face and damp hair, was vigorously drying her hair with a yellow towel.
“Oh, you’re awake?”
“Yes. How’s your condition?”
“Very good! I slept well last night.”
Seo Eun-ha’s stress level was at 30, a fairly stable figure, down by 4 from the previous day. It seemed she had managed to relax.
‘I can trust her with Baek Hwa-ran.’
Purifying the minds of animals, especially humans, was different from purifying the negative energy of materials or weapons.
It was extremely difficult. That’s why there were only a few renowned professional purifiers in the industry, and their fees were no joke.
Among them, Dream Dive was a particularly troublesome task, involving entering the patient’s dream to directly remove trauma. This process often led to major accidents if the purifier’s mental strength was exhausted during the operation.
For instance, the purifier’s ego could get trapped in the patient’s nightmare.
‘There are a few purifiers who ended up in a vegetative state because of that.’
In some ways, entering the dream of a patient with a broken mental barrier was as dangerous as a disaster site.
That’s why the commission fee was a record-breaking 100 billion won.
My name value probably accounted for more than 50% of that premium.
Previously, Eun-ha’s father had proposed the same commission with a down payment of 10 billion won and a success fee of 40 billion won.
It was essentially outsourced to Seoul Seongsan Hospital, where many professional purifiers were gathered.
‘Come to think of it.’
I wondered how Eun-ha was getting along with her parents. She seemed to be quite affectionate and playful when she was with her grandfather.
It bothered me that the hospital director hadn’t asked about his daughter back then.
‘Now isn’t the right time to ask.’
Of course, I wouldn’t speak without thinking. There’s no need to ruin the mood of someone who’s feeling good.
Besides, what kind of team leader pries into the personal family matters of their heroes? Even if I’m curious, I shouldn’t cross that line.
“Hwa-ran once said something to me.”
Standing in front of the vanity, Eun-ha began applying skin lotion while initiating the conversation. She must feel quite comfortable around me now. She’s not the type to be so casual in front of just anyone.
‘Her favorability is quite high.’
The average favorability of the first squad had surpassed 80. Seo Eun-ha’s score was 77, which was still high.
With all the support I’ve provided, from elixirs to hero suits, this level of favorability is justified.
“What did she say?”
“She said adults are scary. You know, those overbearing parents. The Sword Emperor Family must have been even worse.”
Overbearing parents. And the Sword Emperor Family.
A plausible storyline began to form.
“Are you suspecting child abuse?”
“I can’t be sure. But, well, I had a tough time too. Early education was mandatory, and I had to be the top student in school. My future career was set as a doctor since kindergarten, so…”
This was something I had overlooked.
The information handed over by the Sword Emperor Family didn’t mention anything unusual about Baek Hwa-ran. She was described as a bright and cheerful child who got along well with adults.
‘Nothing is certain yet.’
Child abuse isn’t something to be taken lightly.
The Sword Emperor Family, known as the strongest family in East Asia, probably didn’t raise a child with the Sword Emperor’s bloodline in an ordinary way.
They likely provided her with the best of everything, including the rare elixirs and pills that only those with golden spoons could receive.
She was probably handed a wooden sword as soon as she could walk, at the very least by the age of five.
“Now that I think about it, Hwa-ran and I had completely opposite situations. She struggled with sword training, while I wanted to be a hero instead of a doctor.”
I ended up hearing her painful family history directly from her.
There seemed to be something off with the data received from the Sword Emperor Family.
‘Even if I speak cautiously, it seems like she’s convinced.’
Seo Eun-ha said she was Baek Hwa-ran’s childhood friend.
They must have shared their deepest thoughts with each other.
‘There’s a possibility here.’
Could a young elementary school child even express to the family elders that training was hard or that they didn’t want to fight monsters? Even if they mustered the courage to speak up, they’d probably be scolded for being weak.
“They say no parent can win against their child. You became a hero after all.”
“I’m known for being stubborn.”
The prodigal child of a doctor’s family proudly flashed a victory sign.
The hearts of parents who tried to dissuade their child from becoming a hero and the heart of a child who wanted to fulfill their childhood dream.
It’s hard to say which side was right. In the end, Seo Eun-ha becoming a hero was undoubtedly a good thing.
I responded to Eun-ha’s playful gesture with a faint smile and then pointed out the key information.
“Anyway, you’ve shared some important information. The demon might have exploited that part.”
“Really? Did I help?”
“It’s a point worth considering. But don’t jump to conclusions. Misinterpreting the situation could be dangerous.”
“Yes.”
Eun-ha efficiently continued her preparations for going out. She could have done it in her room, but she seemed to prefer the living room. She even hummed a tune.
As I quietly read my book, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.
The sight of her preparing to meet friends was not unlike that of any other college student.
“Why?”
“Nothing.”
It’s a good thing I’ve grown stronger.
Despite being idolized as a goddess by others, she was still just a child.
It’s hard to imagine that this girl, who seemed like a younger cousin, was the hero Seo Eun-ha, who had undergone a second awakening and reached 10-star strength.
If I hadn’t been reincarnated into this world, what would have happened to my kids? Would they have survived? Or would they have been thriving in another clan?
“Won’t the hairdryer be too loud?”
If she knew that, why didn’t she dry her hair in her room? There were plenty of outlets there.
“It’s fine.”
“Okay.”
Whiiir―.
Her wet hair gradually dried. With my senses heightened to a 5-star level, I noticed every little detail.
‘Isn’t her hair looking a bit dry?’
Her hair, fluttering under the dryer, didn’t look as healthy as before. I might need to suggest changing the salon the kids go to.
Growl.
An embarrassing stomach growl was drowned out by the sound of the hairdryer.
The breakfast menu at Cheonmigwan, a must-visit place in Baek Family’s territory, was budaejjigae.
I urged Eun-ha, who had spent a full 30 minutes on her makeup.
“Let’s eat breakfast. It’s budaejjigae.”
“Wow~! That sounds delicious. Let’s go quickly.”
Her clapping and high spirits were somewhat ominous. One high-tension member in the team, Seong-ah, was enough.