CHAPTER 7: The Hidden Face
"Uncle, regarding your condition... it would be wiser to choose people you trust to handle your therapy. Especially those who know how to keep a secret. It's best if no one else finds out about this. If the treatment fails... we'll both lose face."
Hideo Takumi looked at his uncle with a serious expression, his mind calm but calculating.
Hasashi burst out laughing.
"Even if the treatment works, I'm still not telling anyone! You think your uncle is a fool? You're worried this might draw unwanted attention, aren't you? But listen here—if you really can heal my back and legs, then both of us become the Takumi family's hidden aces! You think I don't understand that, you little devil? You're even using my crippled body as an excuse!"
Hasashi laughed heartily and pinched Hideo's cheek.
Then, a strange thought crossed his mind.
This boy… he used to be the nephew Hasashi cherished the most. But… how long had it been since they were this close? It felt odd, unfamiliar even, to see Hideo like this. Maybe it was because of the distance that had grown between them over the years. Maybe… just maybe… there was a different face hidden beneath the Hideo he thought he knew.
Hasashi's gaze lingered on Hideo's back as the boy turned to leave. Deep inside, something stirred. Excitement. Anticipation. He wasn't just looking forward to being healed anymore—he was eager to see whether his nephew truly wore a "hidden face."
His eyes softened.
"You'll walk your own path. Becoming a man doesn't always mean wielding a sword."
Hideo responded with a faint smile.
"I understand. I'm not someone who would kill recklessly."
Of course, in his heart, he added:
Even if I wanted to… I'm not strong enough yet.
After escorting his uncle back to his room, Hideo walked alone down the long corridor and turned toward the library wing.
The reason was simple: the previous young master of the Takumi family had a mind like mud—utterly empty of anything useful. So Hideo had to reorganize and rebuild his knowledge from scratch. At the very least, he needed to understand the internal affairs of the Takumi family… and the world around him.
"To make my move… I need to know where the pawns and kings stand on this chessboard."
That entire day, Hideo Takumi remained inside the library. He didn't leave once.
Meanwhile, in the Takumi family's main hall, Jun Takumi sat sipping tea as he listened to Old Pang—the head butler who had served the family for generations.
"Master Jun, after the Young Master left your study, he spent a long time speaking with Master Hasashi. From the looks on their faces… they seemed genuinely happy. It's a rare sight, considering their history."
Jun Takumi raised an eyebrow.
For years, those two had been like fire and oil—always bickering, never seeing eye to eye. How could they possibly be getting along? And Hasashi… happy?
"What did they talk about?"
He sipped his tea slowly, maintaining a calm façade.
"I'm afraid I couldn't hear, Master. With Lord Hasashi there, I didn't dare get too close. But it was clear from their body language—they were enjoying the conversation."
Jun Takumi frowned.
"This is… absurd."
He stroked his beard in thought, then let out a quiet, puzzled chuckle.
"The fact they can sit in the same room without clawing each other's eyes out is already a miracle. But chatting like old friends?"
Old Pang continued, "Afterward, the Young Master went directly to the library. He hasn't left since. I thought this was important enough to report immediately."
"What did you say?! The library?"
Jun's beard trembled from sheer disbelief.
"Are you sure you weren't mistaken? That little brat went into the library?"
"I'm absolutely certain, Master."
Jun nearly jumped out of his seat.
"Old Pang! You know what that brat might be planning? Don't tell me—he's trying to burn the place down?!"
"No, Master. He's really reading. Calm, focused… truly reading."
"Reading?!"
Jun Takumi shouted in shock, tugging at his beard as if trying to pull it off.
"Truly reading?!"
He paused, then took a deep breath.
"Alright… don't disturb him for now. But once he comes out, bring me every book he touched. I want to know exactly what he's digging for. Maybe… he's hunting for risqué paintings? If so, I guess that's fine. He's of age. But still… no one is to interrupt him!"
"Understood, Master."
Jun paced back and forth, muttering to himself before glancing up at the ceiling.
"Could it be… that brat's finally turning over a new leaf? If he's truly changing, I swear I'll burn incense and kneel to our ancestors myself."
Later that night, Old Pang returned carrying a stack of books that Hideo had read.
Jun flipped through the titles one by one:
"Current State of the Continents," "Continental Travel Logs," "Records of the Mountain Ranges," "Annual List of Notable Figures," "Catalog of Exotic Flora and Fauna," "Discussions on Continental Warfare," "Power Archives," "Job Manuals," "History of Fighters," "The Art of War"...
Jun Takumi's face shifted through a kaleidoscope of expressions—shock, delight, confusion, warmth. He laughed. He shook his head. He nodded. He even pinched his own cheek to make sure he wasn't dreaming.
It was said that Jun Takumi used up every facial expression he had left in life that night—and all because of one boy…
His grandson, Hideo Takumi.