Jin Soojeong, her cheekbones sunken, lay sprawled on the floor.
The people of Jin Ga, so stunned they couldn’t even make a sound, were in utter shock.
Far in the distance, Jin Yuhee, sitting in the high seat of Gaju, stared in disbelief with her eyes wide open, her lower lip clenched so tightly it bled.
And at the center of it all, Jin Sejeong clenched her fists with a smile, feeling an overwhelming sense of accomplishment rising from deep within her.
It wasn’t because of the catharsis from overcoming the hardships and adversities she faced.
After her mother fell ill and her older sister’s life was at risk, and spending three years in exile before returning, only to overcome everything with her own strength…
No, that wasn’t the reason.
The reason Jin Sejeong was smiling had nothing to do with her tragic family history.
Hehehehe, everything went just as Woobin said!
Woobin is truly amazing.
If I tell him about today, he’ll surely praise me, right?
I did everything he told me, and I won perfectly.
Yeah, he’ll definitely praise me a lot.
He might even hug me, calling me cute…
Even though I don’t like being called a kid, if Woobin calls me that, I might not mind at all…
The reason she felt an overwhelming sense of achievement was simple: Yang Woobin.
On the last night they spent together, Yang Woobin had given her a lot of advice.
“Never lose in a battle of wits. If they mention the succession duel, push for it right away.
If they hesitate, make your expression as cold as possible and ask, ‘Are you scared?’”
His advice was so detailed, almost like he could see the future.
Though it seemed suspicious, Jin Sejeong trusted him completely.
Why?
Because Yang Woobin was someone Jin Sejeong couldn’t have any doubts about.
In her world, he was the only true friend she could open her heart to.
Following his advice without a hint of suspicion, this was the result.
“Phew, then. It’s my victory, right? Aunt.”
She had shattered Jin Soojeong’s dirty plot head-on and won the succession duel, proudly claiming the position of successor.
Jin Sejeong, eager to follow Yang Woobin’s advice on how to win the succession duel, walked toward Jin Yuhee, an ally of Jin Soojeong.
The closer Jin Sejeong got, the tighter Jin Yuhee’s fist clenched, and her inner rage grew fiercer.
This was all because of the 15-year plan Jin Soojeong had been executing since the day she was born, aiming to become the unspoken leader of Jin Ga, now ruined by a little kid.
“Declare it already. That I am the rightful successor of Jin Ga.”
As Jin Sejeong said this, only a few steps away, Jin Yuhee gritted her teeth and calculated whether she could strike her down in one blow.
But such a fantasy was nothing more than a delusion.
In front of everyone from Jin Ga, it was impossible to kill the direct heir who had earned the right to succeed through legitimate victory and strength alone.
“Is there a problem?”
Moreover, just before the duel began, Jin Sejeong’s words—delivered with a calm gaze and no sign of panic—made Jin Yuhee sure that someone was behind her.
The someone who had helped the kid, who had no choice but to flee to another family to survive three years ago, to bloom brilliantly into who she was now.
“…No, nothing like that. Since you won the duel fairly, I’ll declare it as the representative of Gaju.
From this moment on, Jin Sejeong is the rightful successor of Jin Ga.”
It was a forced declaration, clearly reluctant, a pitiful one-liner, but Jin Sejeong didn’t care.
What mattered to her wasn’t unnecessary flowery language but the title of successor to Jin Ga.
“Thank you. I will work hard to elevate the status of Jin Ga.”
Jin Sejeong bowed slightly to Jin Yuhee, offering minimal respect, then turned to face the people of Jin Ga, who were still in shock and unable to respond.
With a bright smile, as radiant as the sun, she raised her sword high.
“Wow, woooooo wwww—!!!!!”
She displayed an overwhelming confidence that only a true genius, who never doubted her talent or future, could show.
At the sight of her confidence expressed through the sword raised high, the people of Jin Ga finally realized that Jin Sejeong had become the successor.
They cheered in unison, excited about the bright future of Jin Ga.
“Heehee.”
In the midst of all the cheers and excitement, Jin Sejeong, showing her white teeth, smiled cutely, like a 13-year-old.
She wasn’t smiling because she had been acknowledged by everyone in the family.
‘Now that I’m the successor, I just need to wait. I’ll be able to meet Woobin again. When I do, I’ll surprise him! I’ll work hard until then.’
She was simply happy because she would be able to meet Yang Woobin again.
“Ahem, Sejeong?”
“Hmm?
Yes?”
“During your time with the Yang family, what happened…?”
After Jin Sejeong was chosen as the successor and smiled like someone her age should, Jin Yuhee relaxed and cautiously asked.
“What do you mean?”
“What happened during those three years to make you so strong?”
Jin Soojeong, whom Jin Yuhee had trained, was by no means weak.
She had been thoroughly trained as the second-in-command of Jin Ga to be able to rank in the top ten in the academy.
Yet, even though Jin Soojeong had suddenly used the family’s signature sword technique, Changryong Sip-ib Geom, Jin Sejeong had effortlessly countered it with just a light swing of her sword, defeating her in an instant.
That couldn’t be explained by natural talent alone.
Thus, Jin Yuhee believed that there was a master behind Jin Sejeong, which is why she asked her question carefully.
“Hmm…”
However, when Jin Sejeong responded, Jin Yuhee regretted asking.
“It’s… a secret…”
Facing the members of Jin Ga, who were convinced of Jin Soojeong’s succession, and Jin Soojeong herself, who had murderous intent, and even facing Jin Yuhee,
who opposed her as the acting head of the family, Jin Sejeong showed no signs of being intimidated.
Yet, when she hunched her shoulders and trembled slightly, it was clear to anyone that it was the behavior of someone terrified.
To think that, despite having grown so much, Jin Sejeong had a teacher who could make her fall silent when she returned to her family.
“Ah, I understand. If it’s a secret, there’s nothing I can do.
You’ve been through a lot with the homecoming and the duel, right? Go rest in your room.”
Jin Yuhee, an experienced superhuman who knew just how terrifying the reclusive figures of the superhuman society were, quickly retracted her words,
worried that she might inadvertently provoke trouble, and quickly left her seat.
Ugh…
What should I say?
How can I tell her that Woobin and I were sparring late at night, sweating together?
That would be too embarrassing…
Of course, Jin Sejeong was shaking and saying it was a secret because, as a teenage girl, she was embarrassed.
If this gets out, Woobin will never get married.
His reputation will be tarnished.
So this is a secret between Woobin and me.
Yep.
To a girl of her age, a secret shared with the boy she liked was incredibly precious, and imagining sharing that secret with Yang Woobin when they reunited, she headed to her room.
Thus, Jin Sejeong, with her feelings for Yang Woobin carefully hidden in her heart, became the proud successor of Jin Ga.
※
“Did you hear, young master? Miss Sejeong has become the successor of Jin Ga!”
“Really? That’s amazing. That kid’s something.”
“Hehe, the head of the family will be so happy when he hears this.
We’ve done such a great favor to the successor of Jin Ga.
This will bring a great fortune to our Yang family in the future!”
Well, that part doesn’t really excite me.
Listening to the lengthy praise for the Yang family about how investment is like buying at the ankle and selling at the top of the head,
I let it go in one ear and out the other while I began to rethink my future plans.
Now that our little kid successfully became the successor of Jin Ga, it’s certain we’ll reunite at the academy in seven years.
I now have a very reliable ally.
Sejeong.
Jin Sejeong’s existence wasn’t part of the original plan when I was reincarnated in this world, but having an ally from a prestigious family was a huge boon for me.
Of course, this might change the future I knew, but honestly, that didn’t matter to me, someone who was set in their ways.
If the future changes, then I’ll just clear it, it’ll be fun.
Anyway, I’m sure that little kid will diligently work hard and improve her skills, so…
I’ll have to make sure not to fall behind her.
I could reunite with her, and I was excited for the start of my real story at the academy.
Alright, in seven years, I’ll meet you at the academy, little one.
When we meet again, let’s meet as better versions of ourselves.
And with that, I made a firm promise to myself.
※
And then, seven years passed, and I turned 20.