Gyeongbu Expressway.
On the road from Seoul to Busan, a black luxury sedan sped down the highway at dawn.
“President Tae.”
Sitting in the back seat is the president, Tae Chae-jin.
He cautiously began speaking to Taejo, who was ‘holding’ the steering wheel, looking at him through the rearview mirror.
“The Taeguk Watch is off.”
“……”
Taejo reached for the black box, turned it off, and then raised his hand to the vehicle’s air conditioning, generating magic power.
Crackling.
“Ergency situation, ergency situation. Ergency…”
As soon as the sound of electricity crackling was heard, Taejo stopped talking about the ergency and shut his mouth.
The vehicles on the road, including the presidential convoy, showed no signs of distress.
“If you don’t turn it on quickly, a national ergency will occur within five minutes.”
Tae Chae-jin chuckled and leaned forward as Taejo, holding the steering wheel, spoke.
“Then I guess I just need to say everything within five minutes. What’s going on with you?”
“Just, I heard such things after going up this ti. How about living as you from now on?”
“Are you serious?”
“Still thinking about it.”
“Hah.”
Tae Chae-jin chuckled at Taejo, who was still looking straight ahead, focusing only on the steering wheel and dashboard.
“Seems like just thinking is enough. I’d welco it. Maybe you should have done so earlier.”
“I’ll keep it a secret from Irin.”
“What if people suddenly notice the change?”
“If I say I’ve matured a bit, I can probably get away with it.”
“True. There’s no fixed ti for a man to mature. Still…”
Tae Chae-jin looked at Taejo with a sympathetic face.
“There’s a limit to how long you can keep it a secret.”
“Aren’t there secrets that must be kept secret for a lifeti?”
“Are you planning to carry it alone your entire life?”
“It’s sothing only I need to bear. Of course, as long as grandfather is still alive…”
“I wish I could take it all on myself. Tsk.”
The atmosphere grew heavier, but ti was running out, and they both remained silent for a mont.
“Your position will be difficult. The previous you caused too many troubles.”
“That’s okay. The past is just the past; I just need to adopt a new concept.”
“Do you have sothing in mind?”
“That’s a secret. I’ll show you later. But more importantly.”
Beep, beep, beep.
As soon as the speeding signal sounded, Taejo slowed the car to a steady speed.
“When I return to Busan, I’ll confess to my sister that I’ve decided to live as myself.”
“Are you going to marry?”
“If my sister wishes so.”
“I’ll really get to see grandchildren.”
“Great-grandchildren, rather.”
“Even though he’s your biological father and my biological son, just consider that guy as nonexistent. You are my son, and I am your father.”
“…Then.”
Taejo grimly smiled and pressed his foot back on the pedal.
“I don’t know if it will be a grandson or granddaughter, but I’ll leave the naming to you, grandfather.”
“…Alright.”
“It seems about a minute left…”
Taejo glanced nervously out the window, and Tae Chae-jin placed his hand on the turned-off Taeguk Watch again.
“Anyway, this position of being president…”
“Before turning it on, let say just one more thing.”
Taejo tapped the steering wheel with his fingers, steadying his voice.
“I intend to be patriotic.”
“…Huh?”
“From now on, what I’m about to say, it seems like others could hear it too…uh, ahem.”
Taejo blushed and started raising his voice.
“……Grandfather.”
The young man who had been respectfully addressing him as ‘grandfather’ disappeared, and a bright-voiced young man cautiously began to speak.
“I, I had such a thought this ti.”
“…What thought?”
“The saying that a hero had four wives.”
“What?”
“I thought choosing just one might be a sin in this world. Maybe I’m betraying my country.”
His voice was serious, still focused on driving, but the content gradually beca lighter and more frivolous.
“I was with four girls from a girl group in Gaeseong this ti?”
“…….”
“If they all retire within a year and have to go to the gynecologist, I can’t just pretend it never happened.”
“You….”
“If I take responsibility, that’s okay, right?”
Taejo briefly made eye contact with Tae Chae-jin through the rearview mirror.
“It’s not that I’ll discard them if they’re not S-grade. Raising a born child with love is fine, isn’t it?”
“Did you start thinking this after hearing about Snow White?”
“n tend to have it easier than won, especially in the realm of hero activities.”
“That’s tru…sigh.”
Tae Chae-jin turned his gaze out the window.
Beep-beep.
The Taeguk Watch went off.
A protective vehicle in the next lane quickly followed, and a window with heavy tint rolled down, revealing a middle-aged man with black hair pointing at the Taeguk Watch.
[Mr. President. Is there sothing wrong?]
“Nothing much. Just had a family eting.”
[…Understood. If there’s no major issue, the Taeguk Watch should be—]
“I know.”
[What were you discussing?]
“Do I need to report everything to you? Damn it, just hang up!”
Tae Chae-jin angrily closed the Taeguk Watch.
The car next to them slightly slowed down, while simultaneously, Taejo lightly pressed the pedal and increased the speed.
“Getting angry like that isn’t good for your blood pressure.”
“What raises my blood pressure is…sigh, it’s you, you rascal.”
Tae Chae-jin answered in a resigned voice, as if trying to suppress his anger.
“So, what prompted you to suddenly beco a patriot after diligently using the ‘traitor box’ until now? Huh?”
“Patriotism is national strength.”
“You’re not just saying that because you want to et different won, are you?”
“It’s not like that.”
Taejo firmly shook his head.
“If there’s a woman whom I believe could carry on my lineage, I want to take responsibility.”
“Four wives?”
“Could be more.”
“Oh no…”
“Taking responsibility is all that matters.”
Tae Chae-jin almost burst out with serious curses, but Taejo continued speaking without changing his expression.
“I don’t plan on having children recklessly, without responsibility. If a woman genuinely likes without any ulterior motives, and we share love that results in life, I would like to raise that life.”
“It wouldn’t just be one woman.”
“I saw in Arica, they say if you’re a capable alpha hero, it’s your born duty to spread your genes among several won.”
“That’s…! Sigh, no. Fine, if you say you’ll take responsibility, what can I say?”
Tae Chae-jin threw up his hands, then fiddled with the Taeguk Watch again.
He didn’t touch the cover part but frowned and quietly cleared his throat.
“…So, what do you need?”
“Yes. Nothing else… Can we get a law enacted?”
“The separation of powers prevents the president from enacting legislation.”
“But, you always say the opposition and governnt should work together for sothing aningful.”
“Does this have anything to do with national interests, S-class Hero Armored Taejo?”
Tae Chae-jin, chuckling respectfully, watched the president’s actions as Taejo awkwardly smiled and gripped the steering wheel tightly.
“With ability users increasing, we might be able to form a baseball team just with grandchildren.”
“You rascal, how many… ahem.”
Tae Chae-jin coughed and swallowed his words.
“Alright. What law do you need?”
“Limit polygamy to S-class heroes.”
“So ask to recognize adultery-induced births, others want polygamy legalized. So, how many wives do you intend to take?”
“Uh.”
Taejo clenched his fist tightly, then briefly looked down.
“As many as I can take responsibility for…?”
“Ha, haha. This way, all S-class will beco patriots.”
“The legal age for ability users was lowered to 17, wasn’t it?”
“That’s the legal age, but society’s ethics still say 20.”
“Anyway, they are adults.”
Taejo glanced at his black hair in the rearview mirror, then very cautiously opened his mouth.
“Grandfather. If Irin becos a patriot—”
“What the heck?!”
“…….”
“What kind of nonsense are you talking about! What’s that young one talking about patriotism for already! Do you think Irin is that kind of person?!”
“……So, if Irin becos a patriot, and there’s an S-class ability user involved, what do you think?”
“Who?”
“A man who can definitely take responsibility for Irin.”
“Who is it?”
“Uh…”
Taejo hesitated, then quickly spoke.
“What about a man like the Sephiroth Knights?”
“……Hmm.”
Tae Chae-jin, montarily angered, crossed his arms and tilted his head.
“……I can’t exactly say it first since you’re her brother.”
Tae Chae-jin stared ahead with wide eyes.
“Until dirt covers my eyes, it can never happen until Irin herself brings that man ho to live with for life.”
“……..”
The path of a patriot was long and arduous.
A break decided upon after a lengthy eting.
“Phew.”
I entered the hot spring again with the three won.
Not so much for bathing but for recovering magic power.
But.
“Sister. So, the teacher was telling Taejo how to handle several at once.”
“That makes sense. He did face several.”
“I miss those tis. Maybe we can gather like that again for the end-of-year party?”
Yumir, Yun Hye-ra, and Hyeon Se-rin chatting about the lee tired my ears.
“Just when I was filling up the mana orb to recover so mana…”
“It’s usual to chat while resting. Isn’t that right, Iseon?”
“…….”
Ah.
“Over there.”
At the pension.
“Called it a patriot party, and what is this…”
Yoon Iseon had co to visit.
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