I Became a Genius Swordsman in the Pretty Girl Game

“Well, if you look at the list of researchers affiliated with Shin Family, you’ll see that this person… Daughter, are you listening? Make sure you remember this clearly.”

“Yes, mother. I’ve memorized everything.”

I gaped at the scene unfolding before me.

Shin Se-hee and Shin Do-hwa had set up a separate place, conversing with each other in a businesslike tone.

‘What is this…?’

I glanced over at the other party members, wondering if it was just me who found this strange. Judging by their expressions, they seemed equally baffled by the situation, which reassured me that I wasn’t the only one who found it odd.

Especially Sophia, whose face displayed an indescribable, subtle expression.

Not long ago, Shin Do-hwa had requested treatment, claiming that the tightness of her skin due to burns was causing her discomfort. Sophia had immediately refused her brazen request. However, Shin Se-hee stepped in and pleaded on her mother’s behalf.

-Please, Sophia. Treat my mother.

-What? Wh-what did you say? You want me to treat her? J-Jin Yuha!

Since it was a request from Shin Se-hee, I reluctantly nodded in agreement.

But seeing Shin Do-hwa completely recovered, I couldn’t help but feel conflicted.

‘…This didn’t happen in the game. She didn’t even shed a tear when Shin Do-hwa died…!’

The hatred Shin Se-hee harbored for Shin Do-hwa was not something trivial.

Enduring prolonged confinement, psychological abuse, and physical torture—while her older sister Shin Su-yeon might have carried out these acts, at the top of it all was her mother, Shin Do-hwa.

Given Shin Se-hee’s nature, she would never forgive someone like Shin Do-hwa, and yet…

The two of them talking right now didn’t resemble enemies at all.

“The assets of the Shin Family family are spread out globally and managed through paper companies. There are major branches in China, the U.S., Japan, and the Philippines. The places you need to manage particularly carefully are…”

“Ah, we also established a paper company for our Utopia in those areas. It’ll be good to connect them for the purpose of funding evasion.”

“…It seems your time at the academy wasn’t entirely wasted. Alright, daughter, let’s stop here for now. I’ll send the rest of the materials within three days.”

“Yes, please don’t delay.”

Finally, the lengthy conversation between the mother and daughter came to an end.

And then, Shin Do-hwa glanced briefly in our direction before turning her back and walking silently out of the laboratory.

Click.

Click.

“……”

The party members could only stare at her departing figure with expressions that seemed to question whether this was really okay.

‘You’re really going to let her go like that…? Is this the right thing to do?’

Even if her plans had been thwarted, Shin Do-hwa was still the root cause of a disaster, someone who had tried to release thousands of chimeras into the world. And the things she had done up until now were far beyond the scope of forgiveness.

Honestly, I wanted to run out and capture Shin Do-hwa right then and there, but I held back because Shin Se-hee, who had the greatest grudge, remained silent.

Shin Se-hee stared intently at Shin Do-hwa’s retreating figure. I approached her and spoke.

“Shin Se-hee.”

Shin Se-hee slowly turned her head.

“Jin Yuha.”

“What the hell is going on?”

I asked, clearly needing an explanation. After a moment of dazed silence, she responded with an “Ah.”

“Oh, Jin Yuha, is it really that surprising to you that I was talking with my mother?”

“……Yeah.”

I nodded.

“Honestly, yes. Letting her go after even treating her wounds—what are you thinking?”

Then, Shin Se-hee suddenly let out a chuckle. I frowned at her reaction.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I wasn’t laughing at you, Jin Yuha. Please don’t misunderstand.”

“……”

“Jin Yuha, did Shin Do-hwa really seem so calm to you?”

Shin Se-hee asked me.

“…Wasn’t she?”

“If that’s how she appeared to you, then my mother succeeded. Of course, she couldn’t fool me, though.”

Shin Se-hee placed a finger on her lips, thinking.

“Jin Yuha, how do you think you would feel if you were faced with a situation where all your life’s work, to which you’ve dedicated your soul and time, was wiped out in an instant?”

A sudden question. Knowing that Shin Se-hee usually asked questions with an answer in mind, I considered it seriously.

‘My life’s work…’

I wasn’t entirely sure, but for me, it might be my sword. Ever since I ended up here, I had never once neglected my sword training. Honestly, if I had to go back and do it all again, I don’t think I’d have the will.

‘If I did it for ten more years and then lost it all in a moment…?’

I furrowed my brow.

“…I think I’d despair.”

Yeah, I would probably lose my sanity in the overwhelming sense of loss and despair. More than likely, I’d be consumed by rage and fall apart.

Shin Se-hee nodded as if she had expected my answer.

“Yes, that’s exactly it. That’s the state Shin Do-hwa is in right now—drenched in shame, humiliation, and unbearable despair. She’s desperately pretending to be composed. Pfft!”

“…Shin Do-hwa is in despair?”

“Yes, she’s only been holding on this long out of sheer pride and self-respect. I bet she’s probably screaming and banging her head against the floor and walls right about now.”

At that moment…

My keen senses picked up the voice of a woman.

─ “Aaaaahhhhh!!! Die! Die! Dieeee!!!”

A horrifying scream, as if it were being ripped from the depths of a soul.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

And the sound of something being savagely struck down.

‘It’s true…’

Shin Se-hee might not have heard it, but she smiled broadly, as if she had.

“Haha, isn’t this so amusing?”

“Even so, letting her go like that is leaving a potential problem behind… She could recover her strength and seek revenge later.”

“My mother? No way.”

Shin Se-hee shook her head as if the idea was absurd. I listened to her explanation with my mouth agape.

To Shin Do-hwa, the Shin Family family wasn’t just a clan—it was the sole achievement to which she had dedicated her entire life.

For this reason, the Shin Family family was more precious to her than her own life. She wouldn’t hesitate to sell her soul to a demon to maintain the family’s dignity. But if that family disappeared, she wouldn’t be able to endure it.

“…So my mother made a quick decision. She realized that handing everything over to me as intact as possible was the only way to preserve the Shin Family name.”

“…And after that?”

“She’ll probably die.”

“By whom?”

“Herself. My mother was already on shaky ground after losing to Chairman Lina. She endured the humiliation and hid in China to build a foundation, but now that she’s lost even that, what do you think will happen? She’ll obviously take her own life. But even if she doesn’t, I’ll make sure to deal with her properly, so don’t worry, Jin Yuha.”

“……”

Even as she spoke about her mother’s death, Shin Se-hee’s face remained calm. In fact, she seemed to think I was worried and added,

“Oh, do you think it’s too easy a way out for her? Well, losing the Shin Family family itself is a punishment that feels like a death sentence to her…”

At that moment, I heard a tearful voice nearby.

“Sasha… No matter what, how could you come to such a dangerous place! Didn’t I tell you to escape to somewhere no one could find you and survive? But how—”

“How could I leave you behind, Dad! How could I abandon you!!!”

The father and daughter clung to each other, sobbing as if their hearts would break. Shasha Fong and Yuwon were overwhelmed with emotion upon their reunion.

It was an ironic sight.

Shasha Fong and his father.

Shin Se-hee and her mother.

Both were family reunions, but they were complete opposites.

For a moment, I thought I saw a shadow of loneliness in Shin Se-hee’s eyes.

‘That’s what a normal family should be…’

I’ve never had a family, so I can’t fully understand that emotion. But I do know that what I’m seeing is a typical family relationship.

Not one where you speak of a parent’s death with such indifference, but one where you care for each other, willing to sacrifice everything for one another. I suddenly felt sorry for Shin Se-hee.

I grabbed her shoulders and pulled her into a hug. I stroked her head while holding her.

“J-Jin, Jin, Jin Yuha, Jin Yuha?!”

Shin Se-hee’s voice was startled by the sudden embrace.

“It’s okay.”

“W-What?!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be your family. A real family.”

I felt Shin Se-hee’s body heat up in my arms.

“F-F-Family?!”

“Yeah, not the kind of family that tormented you, made you lonely, and abandoned you in the end… But a real family who will support you no matter what you do, no matter what you say, even if the whole world turns against you.”

Gulp.

Shin Se-hee swallowed dryly.

“J-Jin Yuha, th-that, are you saying…?”

Just as Shin Se-hee was about to speak,

“…Hmph, I don’t have any family at all, and yet, the one with a family gets treated like that.”

From the other side, Kang Do-hee spoke with a disgruntled voice, her arms crossed and eyes narrowed.

“Sigh… It’s already been a year since I last saw my parents. Can’t anything be done?”

“That’s what I’m saying. I worked my bones off recharging magic stones and redistributing magic power on the way here, but as a supporter, being treated like a tool is a bit much…”

“I don’t have parents either.”

“I still live with my parents and even saw them before coming here… Is it a crime to have a happy family?!”

With that, the party members each threw in a word, starting with Kang Do-hee.

Meanwhile, Shin Se-hee, still in Jin Yuha’s embrace, bit her lip.

The atmosphere had been so perfect just a moment ago!!!

It was a fitting payback for the time Shin Se-hee had teased Kang Do-hee earlier.