At some point, Kang Minseong had expected this day to come. He had precious grandsons and granddaughters, and he imagined they would someday bring home a future son-in-law or daughter-in-law. He even hoped to see grandchildren of his grandchildren, if possible.
With that in mind, he took meticulous care of himself. He vowed to stay vigorous and healthy until that moment arrived.
Even so, facing the moment in real life was overwhelming.
“It’s been a while, Chairman.”
His granddaughter, Kim Suhyeon, typically confident but now sporting an uneasy smile, stood there. Next to her was the young man who saved her twice, Baek Seojin. They both showed up at his door without warning.
Strictly speaking, the two came here to avoid Irina. They had to stick to their excuse; otherwise, dealing with that crazy woman would be impossible.
Yet Kang Minseong didn’t know that part. In his eyes, it looked :
Ah, my granddaughter came to introduce her boyfriend to her grandpa.
‘So… he’s really Suhyeon’s boyfriend now, is he.’
He had half-expected something might happen eventually.
If a person helped someone in a dire situation, that someone naturally felt gratitude or affection. In this case, he hadn’t just helped her once, but twice, and he gave it everything he had both times. He even risked his life to stand up for her.
‘Of course our Suhyeon would be smitten. It makes sense.’
He glanced at Baek Seojin again. The first time they met, he was just an ability user with decent luck, or so it seemed. Nothing special. At least that’s how he felt in that moment.
But seeing him now, he realized he might have judged incorrectly.
He had grown in a short span, enough to impress even someone like Kang Minseong. Maybe his ability had only just blossomed, or maybe all his training was finally paying off. Either way, he seemed like a completely different person from before.
‘When I saw him at the hospital, he wasn’t on this level. Not even close.’
Watching him stirred the old swordsman’s curiosity. How far did this young man’s real skill go? He had lived through fighting Elders, faced hordes of villains, and kept growing at a shocking rate. Where was his ceiling?
“Huh? Ah, sorry. I got a little flustered. I never thought my Suhyeon would bring her boyfriend home this soon. Hahaha!”
“W-wait, no! It’s nothing like that, Grandpa! The Examiner just—uh, well, we came for dinner….”
Who would invite someone over for dinner if there wasn’t a reason, though? He might be old, but not so clueless.
Suhyeon’s face was bright red. If it were truly just a meal, would she blush like that?
“That boy. He’s completely head over heels, huh? Well, if he’s at that level, then he gets the stamp of approval as Suhyeon’s boyfriend.”
First of all, and most fundamentally—he’s an Awakened, just like Suhyeon.
Does Kang Minseong discriminate against non-Awakened people? No, that’s not the reason.
Men and women understand each other best when they stand on equal footing.
Awakened and non-Awakened can fall in love, sure—but it rarely ends well.
If the places they stand—and more importantly, the places they still need to go—are too far apart, conflict is inevitable.
And if that keeps up, they’ll eventually break up without ever truly understanding one another, leaving only pain behind.
So the fact that he’s an Awakened already gave him peace of mind.
And on top of that, his abilities as an Awakened are exceptional. He stood alone in front of an Elder. Took on a villain group by himself. And didn’t they say he made a name for himself during the Gate Incident?
“He was even treated with respect by Irina—that crazy blonde girl, wasn't he?”
Not long ago, he saw an article and let out a dumbfounded laugh. He couldn’t believe that crazy woman would actually pose for a photo like that—shaking hands. Irina, of all people. The same Irina who used to click her tongue in disgust just looking at up-and-coming talents.
And yet, unlike most young folks these days, he’s got a genuinely good character.
Why he insists on being an academy examiner—a position bound to stir resentment—he already heard the reason from Kim Suhyeon.
If his picky friend, Ma Hakjun, vouched for him, then the vetting’s already done. There’s no way he would treat his granddaughter poorly, or ever cast her aside halfway through.
‘And he saved Suhyeon three times—right, not just twice.’
He protected her from the Elder once, fought off those street ambush villains another time, and rescued her from the heavy negativity eating away at her mind. He was a benefactor in so many ways that “benefactor” didn’t go far enough. If Suhyeon liked him, there was no reason for Grandpa to object.
Still, there was one thing he wanted to address.
“You should’ve told me in advance. Then I could’ve prepared a better dinner.”
“Well, you know, I was in such a hurry to get here that I didn't tell you.”
“No, Mr. President. I apologized for coming so suddenly.”
“Nonsense. I’m happy to see you. If anything, I should thank you, young man, for how Suhyeon has changed.”
He summoned the house staff, telling them to prepare a feast fit for a truly important guest. Time wasn’t an issue, as long as the meal came out spectacularly.
“Chairman, that’s too much. We arrived out of nowhere, so—”
“Don’t worry about it. Actually, I need an excuse to keep you around a while longer.”
“What do you mean, exactly?”
“Your name is Baek Seojin, if I recall. Would you have a duel with me?”
Suhyeon was more flustered than Seojin, fretting that he might be offended. She didn’t want him to get the wrong idea.
‘…It’s the perfect chance.’
Yet, far from being upset, Seojin hardly seemed bothered.
Every time he faced a new opponent, he gleaned one or two of their strengths. He noted their mistakes so he wouldn’t make them himself. By acting as a Gatekeeper, he wasn’t just growing from daily routines; each opponent’s moves and decisions enriched him. The more formidable the foe, the more he gained.
“Oh, don’t get me wrong. I’m not forcing you. Call it an old man’s foolishness. Suhyeon’s been bragging about your accomplishments. If even half of it is true, it’s like you’re an S-rank.”
“Suhyeon said that? I’m embarrassed. I’m not sure I could handle someone at A-rank.”
He scratched his cheek. Then, after clearing his throat, he spoke again.
“All right, let’s do it, Chairman.”
“You and me, having a match.”
“Ohh. You’re really okay with that?”
“Yes. Feels like a good opportunity for me.”
“I’m not pushing. Let me be sure—are you accepting my request of your own free will?”
At that, Seojin crisply said yes. Pleased by such a forthright response, Kang Minseong roared with laughter. This young man was exactly to his liking. Yes, an ideal match for his granddaughter.
“Though, I do have one condition.”
“A condition? Certainly. Name it. Anything.”
“When you and I spar, I’d like Suhyeon to watch alongside us.”
“Oh? You want to show off your moves to her?”
In reality, it was about triggering his Gatekeeper trait. But Seojin knew there was no need to speak the entire truth.
“She grows stronger by watching as well, since she’s a genius.”
“Haha! Indeed, my Suhyeon is a genius!”
He unintentionally earned bonus points in that moment.
He never expected to spar with Kang Minseong. Truth be told, part of him worried about how risky it might be.
This was no average old man, but a veteran surpassing some A-ranks. Villains dreaded him, calling him the Sword Demon. He might have glimpsed an Elder’s power and witnessed Irina’s skill, but he had never fought them at full strength.
He did improve a lot lately, sparring with Lee Hyunwoo and Kim Suhyeon—both on a roll themselves. Still, he had ways to go. Challenging someone at Kang Minseong’s level offered benefits, but carried risks.
‘Plus, I can’t believe this place has a massive training arena as well.’
He felt like he’d stepped into a small college campus upon visiting the Kang estate. Ordinary rich people had a big house with a spacious yard. This property boasted entire clusters of large buildings. It almost felt like multiple clans merged into one.
“All right, let’s keep this simple.”
His gentle grandfatherly demeanor vanished the moment he gripped a sword. His face showed an entirely different energy.
- Activating The Third Eye
The Everlasting Sword
Even with the passage of time, his aura remains undiminished.
When wielding a sword, all abilities are enhanced.
Except in one particular scenario, he will never falter.
It was a simple trait, which made it all the more daunting. He gained a boost whenever he held a sword. That definitely suited Kim Suhyeon’s grandfather.
“You’re in a support role, right?”
“Yes, but I won’t ask for any help.”
No need to hold back or allow him extra moves. If he wanted to gain something, he had to pay the price, whether money, time, or, in this case, sheer fortitude.
Hearing that, Kang Minseong chuckled and clapped his hands. Then he readied his stance.
“Examiner, good luck!”
“Suhyeon, what about me?!”
“Hah, Grandpa good luck too!”
“Fine, fine! Ha ha ha!”
He was definitely a doting grandfather.
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