The Support Ate it All-Chapter 523: It’s Easier to Ask Permission Than Forgiveness

Silence drifted through the room for a while.

Then Hong Ye-hwa asked in a trembling voice.

“...No, right? You’re just saying that, right? If you had any sense, you wouldn’t be that irresponsible.”

“I-I’m not just saying it? I really did it?”

“You’re crazy. Crazy. You must be out of your mind, out of your mind...”

Hong Ye-hwa muttered, clamping a hand over her ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ mouth.

A storm of shoulder-and-back smacks was bound to pour down any minute, so Hong Yeon-hwa hunched up and awkwardly raised a guard.

‘M-Mad? You mad? C-Come at me!’

This time, she meant to fight back with everything she had.

But instead of attacking, Hong Ye-hwa pulled out a communication crystal orb and called someone.

After a few rings, the screen filled with Hong Yeom-baek—the sisters’ father.

Daughter—! The sun must’ve risen in the west! You called first, and you’re done call—

“Dad!! Do something about her! I think she’s actually lost it!”

Hong Ye-hwa pointed furiously at her little sister, her face crumpled like she was about to cry.

She was the club president and two years older, but something this big was a first in her life.

She couldn’t handle it, so she’d used the rare Parent Card.

The bafflement that rose on Hong Yeom-baek’s face wiped away the joy that had been there a moment ago.

What are you talking about? What did Yeon-hwa do?!

“I’m so stressed because of her!”

Then Hong Ye-hwa started listing everything that had happened up until just now, mixing in complaints the whole way.

Then Hong Ye-hwa started listing everything that had happened up until just now, mixing in complaints the whole way.

Including the two bombs her little sister had dropped.

Including the two bombs her little sister had dropped.

When he got hit back-to-back with ‘She says she’s not becoming the Ruby Magic Tower Master!’ and ‘She says she Bonded with Kim Ho!’, Hong Yeom-baek couldn’t hide his shock.

And then he flared with furious anger.

Wh—at—!! Bond—!!

“She just went and did it! Without telling anyone, just between them!”

I’ll kill that little—!!

Somewhere along the way, the way he addressed him had already changed from “prospective son-in-law” to “that little bastard.”

He was just about to shout that they should drag the bastard in front of him at once—

When the last thread of reason yanked Hong Yeom-baek back.

‘...Strange. That friend wouldn’t do that.’

Kim Ho’s face flickered through his mind.

It felt like the man carried a hundred serpents in his belly—so slippery that even he, a Magic Tower Master, couldn’t fully read what he was thinking.

Hadn’t even the Witch of Depletion been taken in by that mind, making a fatal mistake?

And that Kim Ho, doing something as important as sovereign bonding without any discussion?

To anyone’s eyes, the losses would far outweigh the gains.

‘There’s definitely something missing, or something that needs correcting.’

So Hong Yeom-baek forced his anger down and asked in a calm voice.

Daughter, did you really form a Bond?

“...”

Under her father’s and sister’s stares, Hong Yeon-hwa rolled her eyes this way and that.

Then she decided.

‘Just... be honest...’

If she made it bigger here, there was a high chance it would hurt Kim Ho.

And then getting permission would be even harder.

Hong Yeon-hwa squeezed out what courage she had and opened her mouth.

“Well... actually, I didn’t. Not yet.”

“What? You said you did, like, two seconds ago.”

“You kept saying no... so I got stubborn...! That’s why I said it.”

“Hey. Seriously. You... wow.”

With a throbbing ache at her temples, Hong Ye-hwa grabbed the back of her neck.

No wonder it felt off—she’d been tricked.

She almost snapped something back, then let out a deep sigh instead.

“Ugh. I don’t care anymore. Dad, you handle it.”

After burning her one-time Dad Summon, there was no reason for her to make the hard decisions herself.

Hong Ye-hwa switched into spectator mode.

And Hong Yeom-baek kept asking in that same calm tone.

Daughter.

“Yeah.”

Are you truly fine with giving it up? The dream you’ve had since you were little.

“...I’m fine. Really.”

If you follow that friend, no matter what ending you meet, are you confident you won’t regret it?

“Yeah.”

For a while, Hong Yeom-baek looked at Hong Yeon-hwa in silence.

Had his daughter ever worn a look that firm?

At least, not in his memory.

Maybe she’d grown up when he wasn’t looking.

Nodding faintly, he felt something wistful tug at him.

...All right. Let’s do that.

Hong Ye-hwa’s eyes flew wide in shock.

She’d stepped back expecting him to persuade and soothe her—yet the exact opposite had happened.

“No, Dad! How can you allow this?!”

What good is it to seat a child who’s already left in her heart as a Magic Tower Master?

If you force her, she won’t work hard like she used to.

Others won’t be able to trust and follow her, either.

At that point, it was better to find another proper candidate.

“Fine, let’s say that’s true. But what about the Bond? Isn’t it too early?”

I know you’re doing this because you’re worried about your sister. I’m not saying I have no worries at all.

“Exactly! What if it goes wrong later?!”

You can tell just by looking, but I don’t think that friend is someone who’ll be easily broken. He’s the kind of man who’ll live very, very well for a very long time.

Hong Ye-hwa agreed with that, so she didn’t argue.

Hong Yeom-baek continued.

There’s a saying about sovereigns. Between a sovereign and their vassals, there exists a strange attraction that constantly pulls them toward each other.

“...”

If it’s something you can’t avoid whether it’s early or late, then as family, shouldn’t we respect her own will at the very least?

“...Okay.”

Hong Ye-hwa answered weakly.

She wanted to keep opposing it, but at this point, the matter was already out of her hands.

Hong Yeom-baek looked back to Hong Yeon-hwa.

Still, I need to see that friend’s face at least once. As her father, I can ask for that much, can’t I?

“Ah... yeah. That’s fine...”

Hong Yeon-hwa nodded slowly.

While I was training at the training center, a message came in.

[Hong Yeon-hwa:(sneaking puppy emoji)]

[Hong Yeon-hwa:(watching-the-room puppy emoji)]

[Kim Ho:How did it go?]

[Hong Yeon-hwa:It went well, but....]

[Hong Yeon-hwa:Dad... wants to see you....]

[Kim Ho:Then I should. I’m coming.]

Since it was something we had to pass through at least once, I set the appointment and headed to the Ruby Magic Tower clubroom.

Hong Yeon-hwa came trotting out to meet me, and Hong Ye-hwa greeted me with her usual gentle smile.

“Welcome.”

But even while she worked hard to manage her expression, her complexion was dark—like her mind was anything but simple.

Soon, we entered the president’s office, used the prepared crystal orb, and contacted the Ruby Magic Tower.

Hong Yeom-baek appeared and spoke first.

It’s been a while.

“I hope you’ve been well.”

Yes. Let’s keep in touch often.

Normally, he would’ve laughed with a hearty guffaw, but right now he held himself in a heavy, subdued posture.

His feelings were probably just as complicated as Hong Ye-hwa’s.

Hong Yeom-baek got straight to the point.

You intend to form a Bond with Yeon-hwa.

“That is correct.”

I’ve already heard the details. I don’t intend to oppose it. However....

“...”

I want you to understand, at the very least, that Yeon-hwa gave up many things to follow you.

“I will do my utmost to give her far more than that.”

Good. It seems you’re prepared. I’ll trust you.

We exchanged words for a while longer, and Hong Yeom-baek finished by telling me, “Come to the Ruby Magic Tower.”

Before, it would’ve been in the tone of “Drop by when you have time,” but this time, it was a tone that meant I had to come.

Second year was going to be busy, moving from place to place.

The call ended.

Hong Ye-hwa let out a deep sigh, then issued an order to expel guests.

“Both of you, get out.”

“Sis....”

“I have a lot to do.”

She pulled out a stack of documents and thumped them onto the desk on purpose.

None of it looked urgent, but it seemed like she wanted to force her eyes onto something else.

In times like this, it was better to give her time alone.

We bowed our heads and left the clubroom.

Meanwhile, Hong Yeon-hwa kept walking but still kept glancing back at the closed door.

“...”

“Bothering you?”

“...I feel bad. Sis is only like that because she’s worried.”

Hong Yeon-hwa understood why her sister had opposed it so fiercely—but in this one matter, there hadn’t really been another choice.

If she backed down even a step, the Bond would’ve been pushed back by a long time.

I offered calm advice.

“Talk to her again when she cools off. She’s like that now, but later she’ll support you.”

“Yeah. I will.”

“Shall we go?”

“...”

Hong Yeon-hwa nodded and trotted after me.

Before long, we stopped and faced each other in a quiet alley with few people.

“You’re ready, right?”

“Yeah.”

[Using ‘Bond’.]

FWAAASH—

A shining crown sigil floated up.

Hong Yeon-hwa stared at it with fascinated eyes, then gave a small nod like she was telling me to continue.

The sigil flared even brighter and fired thin blue lines at us.

FWAAASH—!

▷Bond[3/3]

Dang Gyu-young

Seo Ye-in

Hong Yeon-hwa

“...!”

Hong Yeon-hwa looked a little moved.

She’d pushed through opposition and gotten what she wanted.

It was a notification with nothing much in it, yet she couldn’t tear her eyes away.

I figured I’d leave her like that for now, so I waited silently, then asked when she finally looked my way.

“Where did your sigil appear?”

“Mine is... here...?”

Hong Yeon-hwa brushed her red hair aside.

A small crown sigil was visible where her collarbone rose toward the side of her neck.

Maybe she found it fascinating too—she pulled out a hand mirror and slowly stroked it.

I turned so my shoulder would be easy to see.

“Pretty normal. Mine’s here.”

“Then Dang Gyu-young and Seo Ye-in are...?”

“Better to ask them directly. It’s not polite for me to say.”

In truth, Dang Gyu-young’s sigil location was still shrouded in mystery.

Even in the Poison Python Abyss I’d asked a few times indirectly, and every single time he’d dodged the answer like a ghost.

Pushing aside the question of just where it could be, I spoke to Hong Yeon-hwa.

“Anyway, that finishes the Bond. What are you doing now?”

“I’m going to finish my research....”

“You said it was almost done?”

“Mm. If it goes well, before we enter the next dungeon....?”

“Yeah. Work hard.”

I was just about to move—

When a familiar voice came from somewhere.

“Excuse me.”

Hong Yeon-hwa and I turned our heads at the same time.

Song Cheon-hye was standing there.

It looked like she’d spotted us while on patrol.

She approached with a suspicious expression.

“What are you doing here?”

“Why do you care?”

Hong Yeon-hwa frowned immediately.

Song Cheon-hye kept her face official and flicked her eyes around the area.

“It’s because this isn’t somewhere students usually are. I’m confirming you’re complying with school rules.”

“We were just talking.”

“Here?”

“Yeah. Does the place matter?”

“Of course it matters.”

“We don’t care about that.”

“...!”

The two stared each other down for a while.

Then something caught Song Cheon-hye’s eye.

“What is that?”

“What is what?”

“The thing on your neck.”

Judging by the way she pointed to the side of Hong Yeon-hwa’s neck, she’d noticed the Bond sigil.

It was mostly hidden by hair, but she had a sharp eye.

Contrary to the expectation that she’d be caught off guard and stumble over her words, Hong Yeon-hwa was overflowing with composure.

She nodded at me like she was showing me off, then tugged her lip into a smile and tossed out a short line.

“You don’t need to know.”

“...!”

Then she ignored Song Cheon-hye and greeted me again.

“I’m going.”

“Yeah. Get back in.”

Song Cheon-hye stared after the red hair as it grew distant and let out an empty breath.

“What the hell....”