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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: A Mother's Ferocity
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Uh, Mom? Mother?
"Bboojjijjoobbyoo, bboo-ah-bboobbyoo!"
You can't do this!
I protested, kicking my legs. But Mom just swept her hair back and smiled brightly.
"Our Gongja is pink."
No, Mom. I know they say real men wear pink, but!
"Bboobbyoojji, bboobba-ah, bboobba-ba-bi-ah!"
Blue is still the usual color!
Ansan-daek looked down at me. Then she flinched again in surprise.
"But he's a boy."
"Bboobbyoo-bbya-i-bbyoo!"
That's right!
"It's fine. Because Gongja is pretty."
"Um, well... He's still young."
Ansan-daek gave me an awkward smile.
"Ansan-daek, are you really not going to greet our Gongja?"
"Uh, um. Well, little one. No, Gongja? It's... a pleasure to meet you?"
"Bboo!"
Yes!
Ansan-daek's lips twitched. It was a subtle movement.
'What is this, ma'am...'
I stared blankly at her.
Ansan-daek casually glanced down and our eyes met. I smiled brightly and reached out my hand.
"Bboo-ah-ah!"
Ansan-daek's lips twitched again.
"Bboo-ah!"
Aha!
'So that's her smiling.'
She could just smile normally.
Resisting this cute face will make you sick, ma'am!
'The type to deceive herself. How refreshing.'
I expressed my interest by kicking my legs.
Ansan-daek said bluntly.
"Right. Little one. Your situation isn't great, but... I suppose you have to laugh."
Her tone was harsh, but her cheeks were slightly raised. As expected, her words and actions didn't match.
"Oh my, Ansan-daek! How could you say such a thing?"
"It's nothing, miss. He needs to know from the start. That he's not a direct blood relative of this family."
"Gongja isn't, but I am. And this has nothing to do with Seongjin Group. Gongja is my child. I'll handle my own shares."
Mom spoke firmly, but she didn't seem angry.
"Ansan-daek. Even if he's a child who can't understand, please don't say such heartless things. I'm worried our Gongja will get hurt."
"He's still a baby. What can a baby understand?"
I narrowed my eyes and shouted.
"Bboobbyoo-ra, bbyoo-byoo!"
I understand perfectly!
Ansan-daek looked down at me and said.
"Gongja. Still, you must know your place."
Mom immediately shouted.
"Ansan-daek!"
It was then. An unfamiliar voice came from behind them.
"Why? She's right."
Huh.
Ansan-daek quickly turned and bowed her head. Thanks to that, her chin rested on top of my head.
Ansan-daek hastily covered my eyes and ears with her arm. But as always in these situations, I could hear everything perfectly.
"I heard you brought home a mutt."
Wow. Is this for real?
'Calling a person a mutt...'
Is she possessed by Hitler or something?
I stared blankly at the person. The woman, with her hair tied up, laughed irritably.
"You know, miss, you really are something else. What kind of family are we? We're the owners of Seongjin Group. And you bring home a mutt with an unknown bloodline? Are you going to take responsibility if he's a bad influence on our Ma Jeok?"
Mom shielded Ansan-daek and me with her body.
"Oh my, sister-in-law. It's been a while."
There was a gap between Ansan-daek's fingers. Thanks to that, I could tell just by looking at her back. Mom elegantly swept her hair back.
"What brings you to the annex? Hasn't it been quite some time since you last came, saying it was dirty and messy?"
"Yes, it has been a few years. But with everyone gossiping about you picking up a mutt, how could I not come?"
"A mutt, you say..."
Mom crossed her arms.
"Is that a self-introduction?"
Wow. That was a direct hit.
I kicked my legs.
"Bboobbyoo, bbabbi, bba-bba-bba!"
Go, Mom!
"...Ah, miss!"
"What's wrong, sister-in-law? I'm well aware of your family's background. It's funny how the filthiest dogs are always the first to bark."
The shoulders of the woman with her hair tied up high trembled. I could see just how furious she was.
"Now, would you mind leaving, sister-in-law? I need to show our Gongja his room."
"...Y-you just wait."
"Oh my, sister-in-law! Do you know something? All those times you've told me to 'just wait'?"
Mom turned around and, with a face more beautiful than ever, beamed.
"I think it's been... about a hundred times?"
Wow. My mom is really strong, isn't she?
Mom turned back confidently and smiled at me. So this is what they mean by confident beauty.
I waved my hands and shouted.
"Bboobbyoo, bbya-bbya, bboobbya-ya!"
My mom! You're so cool!
It was just as Mom was about to take me from Ansan-daek. Suddenly, the woman shouted.
"...It's because you're so selfish and oblivious to your surroundings that Maru died!"
In that moment, I saw it.
The corner of Mom's eye twitching. A sleeping tiger having its whiskers plucked out...
'Maru... the child who had a mole on the sole of his foot.'
She said he passed away at a young age, right?
'Is that something you say to a parent who's lost a child?'
Are all chaebol families like this?
Mom turned around slowly, without a word. As if she still hadn't sensed the danger, the sister-in-law pushed it even further.
"Because you're so selfish, Mari knew better than to come to you. Isn't that right?"
Mom calmly crossed her arms and slowly opened her mouth.
"Sister-in-law, I have a bad habit."
Mom took a step toward her.
"When I hear someone barking like a dog, my fists tend to fly before my words do. You know my hobby is kickboxing, right?"
"W-what? Are you going to hit me?"
"If you're curious, go on and keep yapping. When someone says something that deserves a beating, you beat them!"
My mom is incredible.
"Bboobba! Bboobba-yoo-bba-ba!"
Perfectly cool!
"I-if you hit me, do you think Mother will just stand by?"
"Mother? You mean Madam Na Hwajin? Of course she'll stand by."
Mom rolled up her sleeves.
"I have a lot of money. More than enough for settlement fees. I'm Ma Sujeong, the third daughter of Seongjin Group."
"I-I'm the second daughter-in-law of the Seongjin family!"
"I know. But that's all you are, isn't it?"
I was past the point of admiration.
'An incredible person has become my mother.'
I looked up at the sky and muttered.
"Bboobbyoo-bba, bba-bba-ah-ah."
Oh, God, thank you.
"You, if you ever say Maru's name in front of me again, I'll beat you to a pulp. Got it?"
"Y-you're crazy!"
"For your information, even if I beat you senseless, our Madam Na Hwajin wouldn't bat an eye. That's the kind of person she is. So, get out of my sight, Lee Yugyeong."
Lee Yugyeong. I'll have to remember that name.
Lee Yugyeong backed away hesitantly before practically being chased out. Mom bit her lip and clenched her fists.
Just seeing that, I could keenly feel the sorrow of a parent who had lost a child.
A silence fell. The one who broke it was Ansan-daek, who was holding me.
"Ah, miss, a-are you alright?"
"I'm fine. She comes by every now and then to get on my nerves."
Mom put on a brave face and smiled sadly.
'No. That's definitely not okay.'
The moment I saw that, I made a decision.
'From now on, Mom's sorrow is my sorrow.'
"Bboobbyoo, bbi-ah-yoo, bbyoo-ya, bboo-ah-yoo!"
Mom, I'll get revenge for you!
Hearing my resolve, Mom's expression softened.
"Our Gongja, are you worried about Mom?"
"Bbyoo-ya-bbyoo-woo!"
Of course!
And as a bonus, I'll even get revenge for you.
'But can I use Love & Peace Coins for something like this?'
I immediately shouted.
"Bboobbyoo bbya-bbyoo bbyoo-ya-woo bbyoo!"
"Use Love & Peace Coin!"
What would be good?
'First, since she said such nasty things, I should pull out her tongue... no, is that too harsh? Right, make canker sores sprout on her tongue!'
This is really letting her off easy.
You know how they go easy on first-time offenders, right? Next time, there'll be no mercy.
"Bboobbya-pyoo, bboobbya, bboobbyae, bbyoo-yoo!"
Make three canker sores sprout on Lee Yugyeong's tongue!
<2 Coins are required to make 3 mouth ulcers appear on Lee Yugyeong's tongue for 90 days. Execute?>
Huh, that's really cheap.
'It's cheaper to get revenge? At this rate, shouldn't the coin's name be changed to Revenge & Killing?'
Well, whatever. Cheaper is better. I immediately shouted.
"Bbibba!"
Execute!
Wow, the price isn't a big deal either.
'Making the Sister healthy cost me a year of falling every ten steps!'
What is up with these prices?
Soon, my tongue began to sting. But three minutes was nothing.
I looked at Mom and shouted.
"Bbyoo-ya, bbyoo-bba! Bbi-yoo-yoo-yoo-bbya!"
Mom, I got revenge for you!
So, don't be too sad.
Mom held me in her arms. And let out a long sigh.
"Ansan-daek, today is the day our Gongja became my son."
"Miss."
"I'll say it again. Gongja is my son. He has no connection to Seongjin Group."
Mom patted my bottom.
"Let's hurry and show him the room. This is the room our Gongja will be staying in from now on."
Mom carefully crossed the hallway. I quietly admired the house while nestled in her arms.
'Wow...'
The first-floor living room was really spacious. And there was something else that surprised me the most.
'There's an elevator in the house?'
Ansan-daek pressed a button. Then, the wide elevator doors opened.
"Bboo-ah, bboo-bi-jji?"
Is this really a house?
Isn't this an apartment building? It looks like a multi-family home.
The elevator's interior was also extremely luxurious. Soon, the number indicated '3' and the doors opened.
'Ah, so this is where I'll be staying.'
As befitting a famous actress's home, every corner of the house was elegant and neat.
Mom stopped in the hallway and threw open a door.
"Gongja! This is your room!"
The housekeeper who followed us turned on the light. The room, with its shimmering light pink wallpaper, looked quite cozy.
'I was worried there might be... lace...'
Thankfully, that wasn't the case. I was worried it might be hot pink, but it was a modern shade of pink mixed with a subtle gray.
"What do you think, Gongja? Mom worked hard decorating it."
I looked around, taking it all in. Honestly, I was a little surprised.
"Bboobbya-bbya!"
It's huge!
Wooden furniture was lined up neatly. There were many expensive toys, but what caught my eye the most was a large bed.
'Why is there a bed?'
There was definitely a cradle for me too.
"Ah, this!"
Mom set me down on the bed.
'Is there a bed this low?'
It wasn't a typical bed. It was surrounded by a soft border, and the mattress had little bounce.
'Is it a bed for co-sleeping with a child?'
Just then, Mom said.
"Let's sleep together with Mom, Gongja!"
"Bboobba-bbo-yo?"
Really?
'Don't they usually... sleep separately?'
Mom stroked my head and said.
"Gongja. The truth is, Mom is a little busy. So, I want to be with you at least when I'm at home."
Ah. That's right.
'Come to think of it, the Ma Sujeong from my past life was an actress who worked like a horse.'
That's why her filmography was so diverse.
'She did action films, and I think she did sci-fi too?'
In particular, Ma Sujeong's portrayal of a tough female soldier in a zombie movie was not easily forgotten.
'Well, I can't do anything about her being busy with work.'
I waved my hand as if to say it was okay.
"Bboobbya-bbi-yoo-woo!"
It's fine!
Mom smiled back at me in response.
Mom held my cheeks with both hands and said.
"You're going to grow up big and strong here, okay? Our Gongja!"
"Bbyoo! Bba-ma!"
Yes! Mom!
Mom hugged me. A warm sensation washed over me.
'A truly good person has become my mom.'
I blinked.
'I don't really know what's in Mom's heart, but...'
I made another resolution.
'I'll be a good son, Mom.'
Filial piety, something I failed at in my past life. Although I don't really know how to do it, there was one sure method I knew.
'Should I start by collecting 30,000 coins?'
A whopping 30,000. Just how am I supposed to collect that many coins?
'No, first I need to think about the rules or patterns for collecting coins.'
With Mom as the target, I hadn't gained any coins at all. But when she finally made her decision and accepted me, I got a whopping 1,000 coins.
'What kind of rule is hidden here?'
