“So in the end, he reduced it to only four times the homework, eh?”

Grr, what do you mean ‘only four times’ daddy?! And what? He’s munching on the half potato that I got from Uncle Jim nonetheless!

“Dad! It’s still four times the homework!! And I have to get it to that old demon by tomorrow!!!”

Daddy took another bite of the half potato, effectively reducing its existence to one more bite.

Also, I can’t possibly say ‘Daddy’ in front of him, right...? It’s too embarrassing...

“It was either that or ten times the homework...It’s all because you ran away, Little Jean...”

Why do you look so disappointed, Uncle Jim?

“Never mind the homework,” Daddy said as he threw the last bite of potato into his mouth, “How come I only get half a potato?!”

Ahh, I bet Uncle Jim is about to tattletale on me! I’ve once heard the old demon say that the one who strikes first, is the one who wins the battle!!

“It was Uncle Jim’s idea!” I shouted before Uncle Jim could even open his mouth, “He told me that he’ll talk to the old demon for three potatoes! One for me, and two for himself!! I somehow convinced him to reverse the trade and give me two potatoes...”

“What?!” Uncle Jim rose to his feet, “What do you mean it’s all me?! Weren’t you the one who went all ‘He should feel lucky to even get half a potato’?!”

This...How dare he!

That exchange was between Uncle Jim and I, not something to be told in front of Daddy!

More so not in our own house!

Be it as it may, my Daddy is still a pretty important person in this village as its only doctor!

Daddy raised his hand with a smile, “Now now, this isn’t something to fret about. After all, both of you need to compromise here...Yes, I’ll be taking half a potato from both of you!”

“That’s not fair, dad!” I shouted as hard as I could, “My potatoes have nothing to do with this!!”

Suddenly, both Dad and Uncle Jim started laughing.

Why are they laughing, I don’t know.

Can it be that they’re laughing at me...?

“Now now, enough with the potatoes.” Daddy continued laughing and sat down.

Uncle Jim also sat down with a ‘thump’ and then said, “Did you hear, Raul. It seems that the Heavenly Sword Sect is going to start recruiting new stude--” Before Uncle Jim continued, he was interrupted by Daddy’s rather rough cough.

After that, he eyed me with the corner of his eyes, and heaved a sigh.

I then looked at Uncle Jim, who as if was being caught doing something bad, tried to change the subject as fast as possible.

“That useless son of mine, when is he going to help me with the farm? Don’t you agree, Raul, that he’s useless?”

I slowly digested what Uncle Jim said earlier, and my Daddy’s reaction. Can it be...

‘Heavenly Sword Sect’...

Can that it’s a school that teaches the way of the immortals?

“Dad! No, Daddy! No no, PAPA! I offer you all of my potatoes in exchange for a request!!!”

I immediately offered the uneaten potato--I already finished the half potato that I had to share with Daddy--and prostrated to Daddy.

“I want to join the school that teaches the way of the immortal!!!”

I heard a dry laugh and a sigh leak out at the same time. I think that the dry laugh belonged to Uncle Jim, while the sigh to Daddy’s.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

After Daddy heaved his sigh, he crushed my dreams so decisively that I felt that I had to prostrate to him if I didn’t already. He ruined a child’s dream with but a single phrase, how cool was that?

He uttered a solid, “I refuse.”

But it seems Daddy doesn’t know me well enough. He doesn’t know...that the more damage I take, the harder my retaliation is!

“Please!” I shouted again. “Please!!”

“No.”  Another calm, solid refusal.

“PLEASE!” I shouted again, as small tears began to escape my eyes.

I want to be an immortal!

I want to be...cool!

“No.” Another firm refusal.

“Now now...” Uncle Jim intervened. Oh god, is he going to further crush me...?

More tears escaped my eyes.

“I beg you, Daddy!”

This time around, Uncle Jim spoke before Daddy could refuse me any further.

“Now now, Raul...The Heavenly Sword Sect accepts students from the ages of ten to fifteen. How about this, since it’s my fault for bringing this up, I’ll also send my good for nothing son as well, maybe he’ll learn discipline there as well...”

After that, Uncle Jim’s voice went into a whisper that I couldn’t pick up.

After about two minutes of tense silence--I held the prostate in place throughout the period and perhaps only my sobbing went on in the room, but since that’s uncool let’s just agree that nothing was heard--My dad finally let out a long sigh.

“The Heavenly Sword Sect does not teach anything about immortals, and is but a sect to learn how to use the sword. Immortals are nothing but a myth, after all.”

“Please!” I uttered again.

“Even though it will only teach you how to wield a sword?” Daddy said, in a rather forced tone.

“Please!”

“Even though you’ll face a lot of hardship, and perhaps even a severe degree of bullying?”

“Please!”

“Even...” At this point, Daddy went silent. “...Even if there’s the slight chance, that you might die...?” He then continued painfully.

“Please!” I shouted again.

I want to be cool!

I want to be dazzling!

“...Alright. The recruitment period starts in half a year...I’m expecting you to be on your best behavior in school. Without an O.K. from Gerard, you won’t be going, alright?”

After I listened to this, I rose to my feet and jumped into my daddy’s embrace.

“Thank you, Daddy! I’ll make sure to live up to your expectations!!”

“I hope you really don’t...” Daddy muttered.

“Eh?”

“Nothing.” After that, Daddy patted my head gently as Uncle Jim sighed in the background.

“Oh well, at least that useless son of mine would be of use...If Little Jean were to ever pass their test, then my useless son would too. And if that’s the case, I can always have him protect Little Jean...Haha, this is a good opportunity to teach him a little bit of diligence as well...”

And with that, it was set that I’ll be going over to the Heavenly Sword Sect to be taught the way of the immortal!

...Oh wait, the way of the sword!

And hopefully, after I get cool enough, dazzling enough, I’ll be able to make a few friends!

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A/N: Wow, 13 followers already. Hopefully I won't disappoint.