Chronicles of the Lazy Sovereign Chapter 380

#380

Taejonbirok Volume 16, Episode 5

Chapter 88: The Lazy Man Cries (5)

Wi Jeong-han poured alcohol into the glass without answering.

The sound of rain was seeping into the dark room.

Wi Yeon-ho also didn't rush Wi Jeong-han. He seemed to think he'd speak if he waited.

No, perhaps the person who is most afraid of hearing the answer coming out of Wi Jeong-han's mouth right now is Wi Yeon-ho.

The answer I want to hear.

The answer you need to hear.

But it was the answer I least wanted to hear.

Perhaps because he knew Wei Yanho's feelings, Wi Jeonghan quietly brought his glass to his lips as if Wei Yanho was not in front of him and as if he had never been asked such a question.

My Adam's apple is throbbing loudly.

Wi Yeon-ho turned his head away.

It was difficult to face the truth before him, but it was equally difficult to witness his father in this state. His father had always been a man of dignity.

He was a man who had nothing to be ashamed of in the world and nothing to fear in the world.

He is a person who has lived by keeping the right path and agreement, so he does not need to bow his head to anyone.

It was heartbreaking to see such a person's shoulders slumped like that.

“Brothers…….”

Wi Jeong-han smiled broadly.

A little sadly.

“What does it take to become brothers?”

“…….”

"Jews? Memories? Agreements? Or maybe… blood ties?"

Wi Yeon-ho closed his eyes.

He didn't get a direct answer, but his father had already given his answer.

“Can’t we just bury it?”

“…….”

"There are some things in this world that are better left ignorant. And there are some things that are better left unnoticed. So…"

"father."

Wi Yeon-ho opened his eyes.

“I’m sick of you, hyung.”

Wi Jeong-han looked at Wi Yeon-ho quietly.

"It's been like that since I was little. My brother was good at everything. He excelled at everything. People around the world would applaud him, and point fingers at me."

A soft sigh.

A helpless sigh escapes me.

"I wondered if there were such people in the world. Actually, I didn't curse him because he was my older brother. If he weren't my brother, I would have gone around cursing him, calling him a worthless, inhumane bastard."

“That makes sense.”

Because excessive excellence invites jealousy.

"Just because I've gained one advantage over my brother now, I don't think I've surpassed him. Honestly, I don't think I could surpass him in my lifetime."

Wi Jeong-han listened to Wi Yeon-ho's words without saying anything.

I wonder if this has ever happened.

Wi Yeon-ho was a boy who didn't reveal his true feelings. Whenever serious conversations arose, he would shyly change his words and turn away.

That child is now revealing his hidden feelings in front of him.

"I've thought about that too. Why are that person and I brothers? Why do I have to live my whole life in that person's shadow?"

“…….”

"There were times when I got angry. There were times when I got annoyed. There were times when I wished they'd just disappear. But I couldn't hate them. Because we're brothers. Yes, we're brothers. And…"

Wi Yeon-ho kept his mouth shut.

Because if you're human, you'll know.

How much his brother cared for him. Sometimes, it seemed as if his care was excessive. He cared for him again and again.

"Father, you're right. There are things in this world that are better left ignorant. There are things that are better left uncovered."

"okay."

"But if that's the case, it should have been completely hidden. A secret that's been revealed even a little bit is no longer a secret. You know that, Father."

Wi Jeong-han sighed softly.

He'd spent half his life trying to keep that secret hidden, but having it exposed like this was beyond his capabilities.

“So, please tell me.”

Wi Yeon-ho spoke with hard eyes.

"Whether we're brothers or not, our relationship won't change. But at least I need to know the truth. I don't want to look at that person's face with that uneasy feeling in my chest."

Wi Jeong-han smiled bitterly as he watched Wi Yeon-ho speak with confidence.

'You're all grown up.'

Perhaps the person who most neglected Wei Yanho… and the relationship between Wei Sanho and Wei Yanho was Wei Jeonghan himself. The boys who had grown up in his arms were now leaving him and going their own way.

It is not in the best interest of the children to embrace them again and protect them.

'And maybe I'm not the one who'll solve this problem.'

Wei Yanho had grown too large to be confined in his arms. He was still an unreliable and insecure child, but wasn't that always the case for a parent?

It was time to admit it and let it go.

“I don’t know where to start.”

It was back to square one.

The only thing that had changed was that I now had the will to tell Wi Yeon-ho the whole truth.

“You and Coral are brothers. I guarantee that.”

Wi Yeon-ho's eyes wavered slightly. Wi Jeong-han was speaking with conviction.

But any hopes that might be there were dashed without a doubt.

“But we are not blood brothers.”

Weichan's eyes sunk deeply.

I knew it.

Things had come to this point, and I couldn't have been unaware of it. Even the most ignorant of people could have guessed it.

But hearing those words from the lips of a righteous man felt different. Even though I thought I had fully prepared myself, my heart sank.

“Brother…….”

What should I ask?

Why not?

Then whose child are you, brother?

or not…….

Who is not your father's child? Your older brother, or your grandfather?

I couldn't ask anything.

The moment those words left Wi Jeong-han's mouth, Wi Yeon-ho's entire body sagged like a wet cotton ball. His lips, as if made of heavy iron, refused to lift, and his eyes seemed lost.

'No?'

He and Wisanho aren't brothers?

That's funny.

Wi Jeong-han sighed, perhaps aware of Wi Yeon-ho's wavering heart. He reached out and grabbed the bottle, pouring it into Wi Yeon-ho's glass.

Slurp.

Wi Yeon-ho ended up laughing as he watched the alcohol rising.

Ah, so that's why.

So this is why people drink alcohol.

Because it makes me sad.

I drink because my heart aches more than the alcohol I feel in my mouth.

Wi Yeon-ho stared quietly at the glass full of alcohol.

His face is reflected in the clear alcohol.

Wei Yanho's face, reflected in the glass, wore an expression he'd never seen before. Was it the swaying alcohol that had caused him to become disoriented, or was it really Wei Yanho's expression? … Wei Yanho couldn't tell.

“I raised you both as my children.”

“…….”

"It's not because I thought it was necessary. It's because you are both my children. If someone were to ask me if you are my children, I would answer without hesitation."

Wi Jeong-han continued speaking bitterly.

“But if you ask me if there was a blood connection, I can’t say yes. That’s not true.”

"then……."

Wi Yeon-ho's voice became a little colder.

“Is that true?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You are the son of the Great Emperor of Hemp.”

“…….”

Wi Jeong-han did not open his mouth easily.

This was such a heavy task.

"So you took my brother? To raise him as the heir to the Great Demon Emperor? That foolish human just went along with it because it was good?"

“That’s harsh.”

“It’s severe?”

Wei Yanho's eyes were bloodshot.

“What’s so bad?”

“…….”

“So, if you say you’ll spare my life and then drag me away like that, who will thank you?”

“It’s better than being dead.”

“What is better?”

Wi Yeon-ho's voice was closer to a scream than a shout. No, it was more like a scream.

“Damn it! If you beg for your life like this, who will even bow down and say thank you?”

“Yeonho!”

"Father said it too! It's better to die with pride than to live a cowardly life. Are you saying I should be glad I survived by selling out my brother?"

Wi Jeong-han bit his lip.

"That's what I taught you. Yes, that's true. I told your brother too. Don't be cowardly, don't give in. Yes, your brother disobeyed my teachings."

“…….”

"But should I be angry at him for not following my teachings? No. I feel like bowing to him in gratitude. Thanks to him, we all survived. You, and Coral. As long as you live, there will always be a chance, a possibility. So…"

Wi Jeong-han said with a stern face.

"Jeonghyeop Sword… Yes, Jeonghyeop Sword. I can't throw away my children's lives for that meaningless nickname and a useless sword."

"but……."

“Aren’t you here?”

Wi Yeon-ho raised his head and looked at Wi Jeong-han.

"Your brother isn't dead. And he hasn't gone to a place of no return. Coral wouldn't have worried. You'll come to rescue him."

“……Who would go to save a man like that?”

Wi Yeon-ho clenched his fist.

'Who is blaming whom?'

You shouldn't resent it. You shouldn't get angry.

The cause was entirely his own. If he had defeated the Blood Demon King, this wouldn't have happened.

All of this happened because I was weak.

The master was right.

"Cooperation? Integrity? You're making a joke. The martial world is the law of the jungle. The strong take, and the weak take. Even that "cooperation" is ultimately nothing more than the generosity the strong can bestow upon the weak. If you want cooperation, you must become strong. If you want integrity, you must also become strong. Ultimately, it comes down to strength. The martial world is that cold. If you don't become strong, you will only be taken away. Everything. Be the one who takes, not the one who is taken. That's the best advice I can give you."

'Because I was weak.'

It was taken away because I was weak.

A chance to avoid begging for one's own life.

Brother.

And even the truth that should be buried.

'I have to get stronger.'

More and more, more and more.

So that no one dares to take it away from him.

Wi Yeon-ho slowly got up from his seat.

He had heard everything he needed to hear. Now, both he and Wijeonghan needed some time alone.

“Are you going?”

"yes."

“What should I do?”

“I need time to gather my thoughts.”

“Yeah, that would be good too.”

Wei Yanho slowly turned and walked toward the door. Standing before the door, he quietly opened his mouth.

"father."

"……okay."

“Until today, I never once thought that my brother was not my brother.”

“…….”

“At least my father was the best. So… no, I guess this will do.”

Wi Yeon-ho opened the door and went out.

Wi Jeong-han quietly poured alcohol into the empty glass.

Slurp slurp.

The only sound that could be heard was the sound of alcohol pouring into a glass, along with the indifferent sound of rain.

Depressedly.

A little bit depressing.