So? Did Someone Force You to Become the Heavenly Demon?

Chapter 27

For the first few days, I thought she was avoiding me because I was resting in the medical wing. And thanks to my Master working me like a dog, I couldn’t spare any attention to her.

Now, more than two weeks had gone by, and she still hadn’t visited.

“Could it be that the Hyeokryeon Family is preventing her from coming?”

Considering their consistent disapproval of her association with me, it was plausible that they had used this incident as an excuse to interfere.

‘Tsk. What did a child do to deserve this?’

Something didn’t sit right with me.

The incident stemmed from Eldest Brother’s outburst in the first place, that child didn’t do anything wrong. But meddling in another family’s affairs isn’t a wise decision either.

“Hmm.”

After pondering for a moment, I made my decision.

“I’ll skip review today. Prepare bathwater—I have somewhere to visit.”

I decided to visit the Hyeokryeon Family directly.

I wasn’t planning to cause a scene. Nor did I intend to demand they send her back to Windrock Palace or make similar complaints.

I simply want to visit as a guest and see the kid’s face before leaving. That much wouldn’t count as excessive interference.

After getting ready, I headed to the Hyeokryeon Family compound with Jin Hayeon and Gu Yang-mun.

As we walked, we were greeted by the martial artists and workers of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult who recognized me.

After a short while, we finally reached the entrance of the Hyeokryeon Family compound.

It felt strange.

I had taken Seon-ah’s visits for granted and now realized that this was the first time I was actually visiting the Hyeokryeon Family compound.

‘That little one walked this path every day to see me.’

While I was lost in such thoughts, the Hyeokryeon Family’s gatekeeper who recognized me offered a greeting.

“Greetings, Eighth Young Master. Please wait a moment while I announce your arrival inside.”

“Very well.”

The gatekeeper spoke with polite words but without a hint of warmth in his tone.

After waiting briefly, the gate opened and an old man came out to receive us.

“I am Hyeokryeon Hak, the steward of the Hyeokryeon Family. Allow me to escort you inside.”

Guided by the steward—a member of the family’s collateral branch—we proceeded to a pavilion within the estate.

“My lady. Young Master Il-mok has arrived.”

“Please come in.”

Thanks to the steward’s words and the voice from inside, I could tell who was waiting.

It was Lady Cheonghwa, Seon-ah’s mother.

The steward, having fulfilled his duty, stepped aside. Similarly, Jin Hayeon and Gu Yang-mun took positions beside the steward, suggesting they would wait by the door.

Though I felt like a civil servant about to face a problematic complainant, I strode into the pavilion with confidence.

After all, I was no longer a civil servant.

“It’s been a while, Eighth Young Master.”

“It’s been a while, Lady Cheonghwa.”

We exchanged brief bows with the same polite yet cold manner that characterized Lady Cheonghwa’s greeting.

“Please sit.”

Lady Cheonghwa motioned me to sit and poured tea into the cup from a teapot she had prepared.

After pouring tea into her own cup as well, Lady Cheonghwa asked.

“So, what brings you to visit our Hyeokryeon Family in person?”

Since she skipped the pleasantries and went straight to the point, I didn’t bother with them either.

“I haven’t seen Seon-ah for days, so I came in person.”

“You speak as if Seon-ah were your subordinate.”

“If Seon-ah is staying away of her own volition, I have no intention of making an issue of it. But if not—”

Her gaze sharpened at my reply.

“Are you suggesting that her own family is oppressing her?”

“Aren’t you?”

Lady Cheonghwa and I engaged in a staring contest for a while.

Eventually, as if deciding it was useless, she lifted her still-steaming cup and took a sip.

“That may have been true before, but it’s not the case now.”

“Then are you saying Seon-ah is staying away of her own volition?”

“That’s correct.”

Her unflinching answer made me frown.

Honestly, it was hard to believe.

Why would that child suddenly avoid me?

That little one who used to visit almost daily, calling “Brother! Brother!”

But starting an argument in this situation by saying ‘Don’t lie!’ would only lead to conflict.

“Then, could I have a conversation with Seon-ah?”

“Young Master Il-mok. Don’t you think you’re being too presumptuous with our Hyeokryeon Family, even if you are the Supreme One’s disciple?”

“I’m not going to forcibly take her away. I just want to exchange greetings as a guest and leave.”

As I replied, I also picked up my teacup and took a small sip.

‘Sss. How did she drink this?’

I winced at the bitter taste of the scalding tea.

But I kept my face neutral, refusing to flinch during this standoff.

Just as the silence stretched, a voice cut through the stalemate.

“Let him meet my granddaughter.”

“??”

I turned toward the sound—a man, transitioning from middle to old age, entered through a side door. I didn’t even notice his presence until he spoke. At his appearance, Lady Cheonghwa rose hurriedly, but he waved her back with a gesture.

“That’s enough, do as Young Master Il-mok wishes.”

“But, Family Head…”

Thanks to Lady Cheonghwa’s form of address, I finally realized who this man was.

The head of the Hyeokryeon Family and Lady Cheonghwa’s father-in-law. According to Jin Hayeon, he is Hyeokryeon Cheongang, one of the top masters within the cult.

Which meant…

“I pay my respects to the Hyeokryeon Family Head.”

Even if I was the Heavenly Demon’s disciple, this wasn’t someone I could treat casually.

“This is our first time meeting in person. I’ve heard much about you from the Supreme One and others.”

I wondered what kind of stories he had heard. Though I was curious, I didn’t get to ask as he continued.

“Go meet Seon-ah. I’ll have the steward guide you.”

Without waiting for my response, he turned toward the door I’d entered.

“Steward. Guide the Eighth Young Master to Seon-ah.”

His voice was heard loud and clear even from a distance as it contained internal energy.

“You may go now.”

At this clear dismissal, I gladly left the room.

My purpose was to meet Seon-ah, and I wanted to avoid a battle of wills with that old man.

While I might have managed something against Lady Cheonghwa, one look told me that engaging in a battle of wills with that old man would be suicide.

* * *

After Il=mok left, silence briefly fell over the pavilion.

And it was Hyeokryeon Cheongang who broke that silence.

“Don’t worry about it. We must keep our promise to the Supreme One, mustn’t we?”

“…Understood, Family Head.”

“Our agreement with the Supreme One lasts until the Eighth Young Master enters the Hall of the Demonic Way. If any problems arise with the child until then, or even after, we’ll act as pledged.”

After saying this, Hyeokryeon Cheongang turned his gaze toward the pavilion where his precious granddaughter resided.

Toward that pavilion where Il-mok was heading.

* * *

“We’ve arrived, Young Master.”

Guided by the steward, I knocked lightly on Seon-ah’s door.

Even a child deserves to have their privacy respected.

“Seon-ah.”

A rustle from inside hinted that she had heard and recognized my voice.

“D-d-don’t come in.”

“!!!”

Could it be that Seon-ah was really avoiding me?

‘Is, is this the kind of pain fathers feel when their teenage daughters push them away?’

That feeling when a daughter who used to follow you around saying “I’m going to marry daddy!” starts keeping her distance during puberty, saying “Really! Don’t come into my room!”

Though it felt like my old internal injuries were acting up, I forced myself to take a deep breath.

‘You never know. Maybe Lady Cheonghwa said something strange that made her avoid me!’

Barely enduring my internal injuries, I spoke again.

“Seon-ah, could you at least tell me why you’re avoiding your brother?”

“Be-because you al-almost died because of me.”

“Ah…”

Now I understood.

“Don’t worry. That wasn’t your fault, it was Eldest Brother’s men…”

I was about to say mental illness, but realizing there were people around, I quickly adjusted my words.

“He was mentally struggling. It wasn’t because of you.”

“St-still, I’m scared. I-I’m afraid you might get hurt or die because of me… So-so it’s better if we don’t see each other.”

I belatedly realized something was subtly different from what I had thought.

Suddenly, I realized my mistake. I’d assumed she feared my resentment. But no—she feared being the cause of my danger.

‘The side effect of the Blood Fox Crimson Claw Art was excessive obsession.’

It seemed that rather than being hated by someone she cared for, the thought of that person getting hurt or dying was more terrifying to her.

However, knowing this difference didn’t make a solution magically appear. After all, I was a civil servant, not a psychiatrist.

So I relied on what I knew.

“I’m coming in for a moment.”

Before Seon-ah could protest, I nudged the door open and slipped inside.

The room felt dim and heavy. Having apparently skipped meals and baths for days while suffering from nightmares, her hair was matted and her skin dry and sallow.

The sight of this child, looking more like a penniless hermit than a little girl, tightened my chest.

As I approached, she slightly averted her gaze like a wounded cat trapped in a dead end.

“Hmm. You said it’s better not to see me because you’re scared I’ll get hurt.”

“…”

“But you know what? Not being able to see you hurt me more.”

“!!”

Seeing Seon-ah flinch while avoiding my gaze, I continued speaking.

“Eldest Brother’s rampage was like a natural disaster. Sometimes in life, accidents happen even when no one is at fault.”

No one in the world fits perfectly with others. Even families who have lived together for decades don’t match perfectly.

Hurting each other with words or accidentally causing injury while living with friends, lovers, or family is something everyone experiences.

Despite this, we continue to make friends, family, and lovers. I had done the same.

“Hiding from people because you’re scared isn’t the answer. No, because such things can happen, we should stay together even more. Because we can’t endure alone.”

People cannot live alone.

In my previous life in Korea, there were people called room shut-in, who only stayed in their rooms.

But even they weren’t truly living alone.

Though their bodies were confined to their rooms, they were still living while communicating with others somewhere, whether through games or online communities.

“That time too, you ran toward that terrifying Eldest Brother trying to save me. I survived because you bought me time. If you avoid me and later hear the news that I died in an accident, would you be okay with that?”

“N-no!”

Finally, the little one cried out like having a fit and looked at me.

I smiled gently while stroking the matted hair of this wounded kitten.

“Then promise you’ll protect me next time. And if you’re in danger, I’ll protect you.”

After hesitating for a moment, the little one nodded while hunching her shoulders.

* * *

The next afternoon.

At the usual time, Seon-ah visited Windrock Palace again.

Unlike yesterday, with clean hair and skin.

“Hahaha! Welcome! I’m Gu Yang-mun, temporarily serving Young Master in place of Hayeon!”

At Gu Yang-mun’s booming greeting, Seon-ah ducked behind my legs.

“Hahaha. Such a shy young lady.”

Gu Yangmun—ever sociable except around Jin Hayeon—kept chattering until Jin Hayeon cut in coldly

“Must be nice, slacking off. Did you think this was playtime?”

“H-hmph! I have time because I’ve already prepared everything beforehand, unlike a certain rigid workaholic.”

As the two bickered, I settled back with Seon-ah, watching like it was a live rom-com.

Who needs TV or the internet when you can just watch a youth drama in real-time?

“Here. Ah~”

I fed Seon-ah a snack, enjoying the drama, until she tilted her head and asked.

“By the way, Big Brother. Does that uncle like Sister Hayeon?”

“…”

“…”

The Windrock Palace instantly fell into silence.

“Wh-wh-what are you saying!! Wh-who likes who!”

Gu Yang-mun, who had shouted as if having a fit, slightly turned his head to peek at Jin Hayeon and upon meeting her eyes that gazed at him like an insect, bolted out of the Windrock Palace.

“I-I just remembered something urgent so I’ll be leaving for today!!”

“…”

“…”

Looking around Windrock Palace which had suddenly become quiet again, I let out a light sigh and muttered.

“Now who’s going fetch my tea…?”