I Became a Genius Swordsman in the Pretty Girl Game-Chapter 261: The End of the Divine Family (3)

"So, if you look at the list of researchers affiliated with the Shin family, this person here... Daughter, are you listening? Remember this well." "Yes, Mother. I've memorized everything."

I stood there, mouth agape, at the scene before me.

Shin Se-hee and Shin Do-hwa had set themselves apart and were speaking in a businesslike tone, exchanging information.

‘What is this...?’

I glanced over at the other party members to see if I was the only one confused by the situation. Judging by their bewildered expressions, it seemed I wasn’t alone in my confusion.

Sophia, in particular, wore a complicated expression.

A little while ago, Shin Do-hwa had requested treatment, claiming that the burns were making her movements uncomfortable. Despite her brazen request, Sophia had immediately refused. But then Shin Se-hee had intervened and asked for help on her mother’s behalf.

"Please, Sophia, treat my mother.""What? W-what? Treat her? J-Jin Yoo-ha!"Reluctantly, Sophia had agreed, only because it was Shin Se-hee who asked.

Now, looking at the fully recovered Shin Do-hwa, I couldn’t help but feel conflicted.

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

Shin Se-hee’s hatred for her mother wasn’t something to be taken lightly.

She had endured prolonged confinement, psychological abuse, and even physical torture. While it was true that her sister, Shin Soo-yeon, had carried out most of the acts, it was Shin Do-hwa who orchestrated everything from the top.

Given Shin Se-hee’s personality, there was no way she would forgive her mother. Yet here they were, conversing as if they weren’t bitter enemies.

“The Shin family’s assets are managed through shell companies spread across the globe. We have major branches in China, the United States, Japan, and the Philippines. The locations you’ll need to pay special attention to are...” “Ah, our Utopia has also set up a few shell companies in those regions. We could connect them for better asset management.” “Hmm, it seems your time at the academy wasn’t a complete waste. Alright, daughter, let’s stop here for now. I’ll send the remaining documents within three days.” “Yes. Please make sure they’re on time.”

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the conversation between mother and daughter ended.

Shin Do-hwa glanced at us briefly, then turned on her heel and walked out of the lab without a word.

Click.

Click.

“...”

The party members watched her retreating figure, looking as if they couldn’t believe what had just happened.

‘Are we really letting her go like that? Is this right?’

Even though her attempt had failed, Shin Do-hwa was still the root cause of the potential disaster of releasing thousands of Chimeras into the world. Her previous actions were far beyond any form of pardon.

Honestly, part of me wanted to rush after her and stop her right then and there, but since Shin Se-hee, who held the deepest grudge, was standing still, I restrained myself.

Shin Se-hee, who had been staring intently at her mother’s back, turned slowly as I approached her.

“Shin Se-hee.”

“Yes, Jin Yoo-ha?” “What on earth is going on?”

I asked, needing an explanation.

She seemed lost in thought for a moment before responding with an "Ah."

“Oh, are you surprised that I was talking with my mother like that, Jin Yoo-ha?”

“Well, yeah.”

I nodded.

“To be honest, yes. Healing her and letting her go like that—what are you thinking?”

Shin Se-hee chuckled softly at my response, causing me to frown.

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

“...”

“Jin Yoo-ha, did Shin Do-hwa really seem calm to you?”

She asked.

“...Wasn’t she?”

“If she appeared that way to you, then she succeeded. But she couldn’t fool me.”

Shin Se-hee placed a finger on her lips, deep in thought, before speaking again.

“Jin Yoo-ha, how do you think you would feel if you were suddenly faced with the loss of everything you’ve spent your entire life building?”

The sudden question made me pause. But since Shin Se-hee always seemed to have a reason behind her questions, I thought seriously about it.

‘A lifelong achievement, huh.’

For me, it would likely be my swordsmanship. Ever since I arrived in this world, I hadn’t spent a single moment without practicing my sword skills. I’d dedicated myself to it so much that if I were asked to start over, I wasn’t sure I’d have the strength to do it again.

‘If I lost everything I’d worked for in an instant after ten more years of training...?’

I furrowed my brow.

“I think I’d be devastated.”

Yes, I would probably be so overwhelmed with loss and despair that I wouldn’t be able to stay sane. Most likely, I would be consumed by rage and spiral out of control.

Shin Se-hee nodded as if that was exactly what she was getting at.

“Yes, that’s exactly how Shin Do-hwa is feeling right now. She’s drowning in shame, humiliation, and unbearable despair. She’s pretending to be composed, but...”

“...Shin Do-hwa is in despair?”

“Yes, she’s someone who has lived her entire life on pride and self-esteem. That’s what has kept her going until now. But I imagine right now she’s somewhere, screaming and bashing her head against the walls in agony.”

At that moment, ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ I caught a distant sound with my heightened senses—a woman’s voice.

—Aaaaaaah!!!!! Die! Die! Dieeeeeee!!!

A terrifying scream that seemed to come from the depths of her soul.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

And the sound of something being violently smashed.

‘So it’s true...’

Although Shin Se-hee couldn’t hear it, she smiled as if she could sense it.

“Isn’t it amusing?”

“Even so, letting her go like that could be dangerous... She might recover and come back for revenge.”

“My mother? No way.”

Shin Se-hee shook her head, as if the idea was absurd. As she explained further, my jaw dropped.

For Shin Do-hwa, the Shin family wasn’t just a family; it was her entire life’s work.

It was something more precious to her than her own life. She would have sold her soul to demons to protect the family’s honor, but now that it was gone, she couldn’t endure it.

“So, my mother quickly realized that the only way to preserve the Shin family name was to pass everything on to me as intact as possible.” “And after that?” “She’ll probably die.” “By whose hand?” “By her own. She was already teetering on the edge after losing to Director Rina. That’s why she endured the humiliation and hid in China to rebuild. But now that even that’s been taken from her, what do you think will happen? She’ll end her own life, of course. And if not, I’ll make sure she’s dealt with properly, so don’t worry, Jin Yoo-ha.”

Despite discussing her mother’s death, Shin Se-hee’s expression remained utterly calm. In fact, she seemed to think I was concerned for some reason, and added:

“Oh, are you worried that it’s too easy for her? Well, losing the Shin family is punishment enough for her, like receiving all her penalties at once...”

Just then, a tearful voice interrupted.

“Sasha... How could you come to such a dangerous place! I told you, didn’t I? I told you to run to a place no one knows about and survive! So how could you—!” “How could I leave my dad behind! How could I abandon him!!!”

The father and daughter clung to each other, crying their hearts out. Sasha Pong and Yoo-won were pouring out their emotions without holding anything back.

It was a paradoxical scene.

Sasha Pong and her father.

Shin Se-hee and her mother.

Both were reunions between family members, but the nature of those reunions couldn’t have been more different.

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

‘That’s what a normal family looks like...’

I couldn’t fully understand that emotion since I’d never had a family myself. But I knew enough to recognize that this was what a typical family relationship should be like.

A family where you worry about each other, where you’re willing to give up your life for each other, not one where you discuss your mother’s death with a calm expression.

I suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for Shin Se-hee.

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I grabbed her shoulders and pulled her into a hug. As I held her, I stroked her hair.

“J-Jin, J-Jin Yoo-ha, Jin Yoo-ha!?”

Shin Se-hee’s voice trembled in surprise at the sudden embrace.

“It’s okay.”

“W-what...?”

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

I could feel the warmth of Shin Se-hee’s body rising as she remained in my arms.

“F-family...? You mean, like a real family?”

“Yes, not the kind that torments you, leaves you lonely, and fails you at the end. A family that will stand by you no matter what you do, no matter what you say, even if the whole world turns its back on you.”

Gulp.

I heard Shin Se-hee swallow nervously.

“J-Jin Yoo-ha, does that mean...?”

Just as Shin Se-hee was about to finish her sentence, a voice interrupted from the side.

“Hmph, I don’t even have a family, so is she getting this kind of treatment because she has one?”

Over there, Kang Do-hee stood with her arms crossed, narrowing her eyes in irritation.

“Sigh... It’s already been a year since I last saw my parents. Can’t we do something about this?”

“Exactly. Junior, I’ve been recharging the magic stones and redistributing mana the entire time on the way here. It’s a bit much to treat a supporter like a tool...”

“I don’t have parents either.”

“I-I live with my parents, and I saw them before coming here... Is it a crime to have a harmonious family?!”

Starting with Kang Do-hee, the other party members began to chime in one after the other.

Still in Jin Yoo-ha’s embrace, Shin Se-hee bit her lip.

The mood was so perfect just now!!!

It seemed that Shin Se-hee was getting a taste of karma for the time she had teased Kang Do-hee.