Infinite System Inheritor Return From The Abyss

Shaun's eyes slowly opened, blinking several times as he adjusted to the light. He looked around the room, his gaze finally settling on Seojun and his mother. For a moment, his expression was blank, as if trying to piece together where he was and what had happened.

"W-where am I?" he croaked, his voice raspy and weak.

"You're in the hospital," Seojun's mother answered gently, moving closer to his bedside. "You've been unconscious for a few days."

Shaun's brow furrowed, confusion clouding his face. "The last thing I remember… I was fighting someone," he murmured, struggling to recall. "There was… darkness. But after that… it's all blank."

Seojun exchanged a quick glance with his mother. "You were in a tough fight," he explained carefully. "You took a pretty bad hit, and it seems like you lost consciousness after that. Don't push yourself to remember right now."

Shaun's eyes narrowed as he tried to dig deeper into his memories, but all he could see was a swirling mass of shadows and a feeling of desperation. He exhaled slowly, frustration lining his features. "I can't remember anything clearly. It's like… there's a fog in my head."

He shifted slightly, wincing at the dull pain in his body, then looked over at his nephew.

"Ah, it's embarrassing," Shaun muttered, a weak smile forming on his lips. "For my nephew to meet me in this state."

Seojun chuckled softly, leaning forward in his chair. "It's fine, Uncle Shaun."

Seoyang, Seojun's mother, stood up quietly after Shaun had woken up, her eyes soft with understanding. "I'll go call the doctor to check on you," she said, but Seojun knew she wanted to give them some space to talk. She gently squeezed Seojun's shoulder as she passed and left the room, leaving the two alone.

Once the door clicked shut, Shaun turned his head slightly, his expression somber. "Why aren't you angry with me?" he asked in a low voice.

Seojun leaned back in his chair, letting out a long breath. "A lot has happened, Uncle. I've seen and been through so much, I don't think I can get worked up over the things that happened in the past But, Uncle… I do want to know. Why did you leave us? Why didn't you help when we needed you?"

Shaun sighed heavily, his lips curving into a small, sad smile. "There are a lot of things you don't know about our family, Seojun," he started, his voice tinged with regret.

Seojun frowned, Does Uncle Shaun know about the system?

Shaun's face grew more serious as he continued. "Our bloodline… it's not like others. The women in our family have always carried a deep, unexplainable hatred toward men. I didn't understand it myself, but that's the reason I was distant... the reason I didn't help."

"Hated men?" Could it be because of our ancestor, the woman who was violated by the king? Could her hatred have reached us, even now?

Shaun sighed again, rubbing a hand over his face as if the memories pained him. "Before we moved here, we lived on Jeju Island. It was me, your mom, Grandma, and Great-Grandma. They all treated me horribly. It wasn't just neglect—it was like they couldn't stand my existence. I once asked Mom why they hated me, and all she said was 'No Reason, We just hated Men like you'...

I-I just don't understand why"

At that moment, Seojun's system chimed in.

[This is probably from Lady Yuna's hatred...]

Who's Lady Yuna? Stay with m _v _l _e _mp _y _r.

[She was the first host… the one violated by the king.]

Seojun's attention snapped back to Shaun as his uncle continued speaking, his voice trembling slightly. "They said they just used Men to give birth of a female. That's why we never knew our father, and why they treated me like I didn't matter."

Seojun's mind briefly flashed to his mother. Mom isn't like that, he thought. She's always whispered Dad's name with so much love, especially when she misses him…

Shaun's voice broke through his thoughts. "I'm sorry, Seojun. I know I should've been there for you. I let their hatred affect me… I let it make me bitter and weak."

"It's understandable, Uncle,"

Shaun's eyes darkened with a question he seemed almost afraid to ask. "Seojun… did Mom have a hard time when she was dying?"

Seojun paused, remembering his grandmother's final moments. "No, Uncle," he said quietly, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Before she died, she laughed and even made a joke. I think she enjoyed her last moments."

Shaun closed his eyes, whispering, "I'm glad." His voice trembled slightly, but the relief was clear.

After a moment, Shaun spoke again, his voice heavy with emotion. "You know, Seojun… I was always jealous of you. Even though they hated men, they loved you more than they ever loved me. I'm sorry I let that jealousy come between us."

There was a moment of silence, Seojun don't know how to react then Shaun laughed, but it wasn't the kind of laugh that came from joy. It was bitter, filled with regret. He shook his head slightly.

"I can't believe myself," he began, "Even though they hated me, like they wanted me to disappear, Seoyang—your mother—she gave me all the love I had been longing for from them. She was the best little sister… yet I hated her."

Seojun listened carefully, watching his uncle's face as the painful memories spilled out.

"Your mother almost acted like she was older than both of us, always looking out for me, always trying to make things better. If I could turn back time… I'd treasure Seoyang. I'd treat her the way she deserved. I'm just glad… glad that even after everything, she doesn't hate me. I think… the hatred toward men stopped with Mom. It didn't affect Seoyang."

Shaun's voice softened at the end, his face full of sorrow. "She's special, Seojun. Your mother is stronger than any of us ever were."

Seojun nodded slowly, his heart heavy with the weight of his uncle's words. "Yeah, Uncle. She really is."

Seojun then leaned forward putting his hands in his shoulder. "It's okay now, Uncle. Let's just forget the past… and focus on the present."

Just then, the door to the room swung open, and Alex and Alexa hurried in along with Seoyang and the Doctor. Alexa was the first to speak, her voice filled with relief.

"Uncle Shaun!" she exclaimed, rushing over to his bedside.

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