Chapter 6

6

“……”

In front of my house, a black Escalade was waiting.

The driver sent by my grandfather. It meant that he would take me away regardless of my will.

‘Well, it might be good to meet him once.’

I don’t know how long I’ll live as Rohan, but since I’ve decided to gather information for the time being, it’s right to meet my grandfather at least once.

“……”

We passed the Bay Bridge and entered Pacific Heights, one of the most expensive neighborhoods in San Francisco.

‘These mansions must cost around 40 billion won…’

I checked on my phone, and that was the case. Even without much knowledge, it was clear that it was an expensive area, but the scale was beyond imagination.

The atmosphere was so different from where I live. Just crossing one bridge, it felt like entering a completely different dimension.

“We have arrived.”

I got out of the car before the driver could open the door for me.

Grandfather’s house was a five-story mansion. Although the land in San Francisco is precious, so the garden wasn’t very large, the boundary between the outside and the house was clearly defined.

“Welcome.”

At the front door, another staff member greeted me. I followed her into the elevator and went up to the top floor, marked as ‘Penthouse.’

I felt intimidated by the opulence, which I had never experienced in my previous life, but I kept reminding myself that there was no need to feel that way.

“……”

But when I actually arrived at the penthouse, the scene that unfolded before me took my breath away.

The Golden Gate Bridge over the Pacific Ocean was visible at a glance. It was so beautiful that I stood there for a while, just admiring the view.

In my previous life, I had always loved natural scenery. Even though I didn’t have much, I often felt grateful for being able to live in such a beautiful environment.

‘Is that my grandfather? What a massive build…’

An elderly man in his mid-60s was leaning against a grand sofa. His stern appearance made me involuntarily take a step back.

“……!”

Grandfather must have sensed my presence, as he immediately stood up.

“Rohan! You came. It must have been a hassle, thank you very much.”

“……??”

Honestly, I had come with some preconceived notions, but my grandfather greeted me with a warmth that left me surprised.

He rushed over and gave me a tight hug, thanking me several times. The only downside was that he was so strong that I felt like my whole body was being crushed.

“You’re quite tall…?”

Standing at least 2 meters tall, Rohan, who was thin, would need about five of him to match the bulk of this man.

“Haha, so it’s true that you have amnesia.”

“Ah… Yes.”

“To be honest, I thought it was just another one of your outrageous antics, but Raymond vouched for you. He said Rohan has been studying hard…”

“Mr. Raymond, the principal?”

Amnesia is something you usually see in movies and novels, not in everyday life. As a result, no one around me believed it easily, but the fact that ‘Rohan’ had been studying hard was enough for my grandfather to accept it.

“Yes. That friend of mine was so excited, saying that you might become the best brain in Oakland High School’s history.”

“Ah… You must have heard about the GED test results. It was just good luck.”

“…Not only are you studying hard, but you’re also being modest? …Even with amnesia, can a person change so much? Have you really been examined by our family doctor?”

“No, no. I’m sure my memory will come back gradually, and I’ll return to my old self soon.”

“Good point. It would be a big problem if unnecessary tests or treatments improved your condition, so let’s just see how things go for now. Since you’re in good health…”

“Grandfather?”

Thud –

“Haha, just kidding, just kidding. When you’re young, it’s a luxury to make mistakes and act foolishly; it’s something you can only enjoy at this age.”

‘The tendency for a heavy hand is hereditary…’

My back was numb for a while after the hit. Grandfather watched me with a playful smile for a moment before asking.

“Do you know why I called you here today?”

“No.”

“When you went to high school, I made a promise to you.”

“……?”

“Seems like you don’t remember at all.”

He looked at me as if trying to read my thoughts, then stood up and went to the window.

“When you turn 18, I promised to pass on our family name, ‘Cromwell.’”

“Ah…!”

“You seem to understand how honorable it is to become a Cromwell.”

“No… I just reacted because it sounded significant.”

“……”

Grandfather’s eyes flickered intensely but he soon regained his composure.

“Being recognized as a member of the Cromwell family means you will receive the appropriate support. You will be gifted the same amount of assets as your cousins, and the family’s network will ensure you receive the best education and training.”

Hearing this, I couldn’t help but look around. I thought I wasn’t particularly materialistic, but being in this space made me realize that money wasn’t bad.

Grandfather seemed to read my desire and gently fanned the flames.

“Just by becoming a Cromwell, you will never lack for money in your life. If you follow the family system, you can live as an upper-class person for the rest of your life.”

Of course, there was a catch in such a sweet offer.

“What exactly does the family system mean?”

“Our Cromwell is not just a family but a kind of kingdom. To maintain and revitalize the kingdom, there are certain rules that must be followed. First, a family coach will be assigned to manage your diet and schedule thoroughly. You will have to move here and transfer to the private school your cousins attend. Additionally, you will have to follow various rules to maximize your potential.”

“And if I break the rules, I’ll be expelled from the kingdom.”

“Each family member is very precious and loved, but if they don’t follow the greater good, they must be expelled. A tree that fails to prune its branches will not bear fruit.”

I nodded silently.

“…So, my mother was a rotten branch?”

Given our living conditions and the way my mother talked about my grandfather, it was a natural conclusion.

“She wasn’t rotten, but to my daughter Diana, her small happiness was more important than building the kingdom. Personally, I support her choice very much.”

Grandfather spoke kindly, but in reality, she was probably disowned or treated as such.

“But that was your mother’s choice. Even though you have inferior blood, Cromwell is Cromwell. You have the same right to choose.”

Grandfather calmly explained the privileges of being a ‘Cromwell.’ He promised assets worth hundreds of billions and the family’s honor and power, which cannot be quantified in money.

“I won’t pressure you to decide immediately. You’ve had some bad experiences, and your memory isn’t fully restored, so I’ll give you time. But remember this.”

Grandfather still had a playful smile, but his words carried significant weight.

“The size of your potential is determined not only by innate talent but also by your efforts during this period. You are already far behind your cousins, and even with hard work, you might not catch up. The longer you delay your decision, the more…”

He didn’t finish his sentence, but I understood exactly what he meant.

‘You’re still a gem, but if you wait too long, it won’t be worth making such an offer.’

“I’ll think about it carefully.”

I bowed politely to Grandfather and left, but in fact, the decision was already made. The meeting with Grandfather just made it more firm.

*

After visiting Grandfather’s house, I continued my daily life as if nothing had happened.

I decided not to ask about the past between my mother and Grandfather unless she brought it up first.

– Didn’t Grandfather say anything else?

– No, he just asked about my health and exchanged pleasantries.

I vaguely brushed off the details of my meeting with Grandfather.

I thought about high school for a while but decided to continue attending after consulting with the principal.

– Since you passed the GED test, we can give you a diploma if you want. But if you aim for college, it might be better to focus on courses that are recognized by universities.

I originally wanted to experience a normal high school life, and the advantage of taking courses that would be recognized for college credit for the next three years was too good to pass up.

‘Besides, he said I have to join a sports club. Well, I wanted to try that anyway.’

Since I entered as a sports scholarship student, joining a sports club would allow me to receive additional scholarships.

I haven’t decided on a specific sport yet, but since it’s the beginning of the semester, I plan to try various options before making a decision.

– Wow, is he really studying?

– He’s back at school again?? What’s gotten into him…

During the course change period, I attended various classes to complete my schedule.

‘Surprisingly, there are some passionate teachers at our school.’

Finally, I checked the tryout schedules for each sports club and made a preparation plan to match.

‘So, I have about 4-5 hours of free time each day.’

I packed my schedule as tightly as possible to secure some free time.

In fact, I could dedicate more time if I wanted to. Study time, reading time, and time to mend family relationships could all be reduced to free up more time.

But since this is a bonus life, I wanted to do as many things as possible that I couldn’t do in my previous life.

My greed to not miss out on anything was strong.

‘Of course, that doesn’t mean free time isn’t important.’

I spent my free time most enthusiastically every day.

After meeting Grandfather, I had a very clear goal.

‘Our family needs money. If we had money, we wouldn’t be influenced by Grandfather unnecessarily.’

I’m not Rohan, so the assets Grandfather promised to pass on weren’t particularly disappointing. It would be nice to have, but it’s not mine to begin with.

My mother must have had her own reasons for breaking ties with Grandfather. There must have been something more important to her than money and fame.

But from her perspective, seeing her struggling children, her precious family, must have been painful.

‘That’s why she didn’t stop me when Grandfather called. She avoided saying anything negative, fearing I might develop a grudge against him.’

She clearly knew about Grandfather’s ‘offer’ but respected my choice. Poverty was terrifying, and breaking the cycle was not easy.

‘If we had money, it would ease my mother’s guilt towards her children and make our relationship with Grandfather cleaner.’

Having grown attached to my family, I wanted to be of at least some help to them. In fact, it was also very important for me.

“……”

Today, I sat at my desk during my free time.

A laptop would be ideal, but I settled for my phone.

‘After all, it’s the same if I dictate it by voice.’

I launched the voice-to-text AI app, [Dragon Breath], which I had downloaded a few days ago.

“It was a very nice day. The sky was clear, and a gentle breeze was blowing, perfect for a nap. Ding-dong – ‘Oh, just when I was having a good dream.’ I woke up to the doorbell. When I opened the front door, only a package was left.”

That’s how it started.

Like in my previous life, I began writing. I could use a keyboard since my fingers were fine, but out of habit, I continued to dictate by voice.

Technically, I wasn’t writing but ‘reading’ a work I had written before.

American Physical Genius 7