Chapter 1181: Scorched World.

Right after my great-grandfather disappeared, becoming a mere ember.

I replenished the power I had used, then immediately returned to Gugga. When I returned, Gug Seongyeol greeted me urgently, as if he had been waiting.

“……And Father?”

“Well. He disappeared after fighting a bit. He wasn’t even his main body to begin with.”

“……”

Upon hearing he wasn’t the main body, Gug Seongyeol nodded. It seemed he already knew this fact.

“That makes sense. He wouldn’t be able to leave Singang freely.”

Singang.

At that word, I narrowed my eyes. I had heard that before.

‘Gugga’s true karma resides in Singang.’

Of all things, the Demonic Cult.

And not only that, but Singang was the very location where the Heavenly Demon established the Heavenly Demon Cult. For the karma that all Gugga family heads must bear to exist in that place…

‘What could possibly be in Singang?’

At least when I used to go in and out of Singang, nothing existed there besides the Demonic Cult.

Being mentioned so often, I couldn’t help but become intensely curious.

However.

‘For now…’

I set aside my curiosity; there was something I needed to figure out first.

“As he disappeared, he said he would properly return this time.”

“……”

When I mentioned the warning my great-grandfather left, Gug Seongyeol’s brow furrowed.

“……He said he’d return?”

“Yes. It seemed he intended to come back as his main body this time, not a mere remnant of consciousness.”

“……”

“From the looks of it, he seems to have decided that something must be done about me…”

He nodded as if in thought. What was important here wasn’t anything else.

Yes, the important thing was.

“Do you, the Family Head, think the same?”

“……”

Gug Seongyeol paused.

If my great-grandfather intended to come back to deal with me.

“What are your thoughts?”

What did the current Gug family head think? That was my question.

Would he also try to eliminate me as an enemy? If that were the case.

‘What should I do?’

It was a moment of contemplation. Had some affection developed in the meantime? As if.

That wasn’t why I was contemplating now.

‘Can I kill him?’

If I had to deal with him based on Gug Seongyeol’s choice.

Whether or not I could kill him right now. I had to consider that.

Gugga’s flame continues.

Furthermore, the ancestor currently acting as the master’s proxy in Singang. He could regulate the flame according to his will.

And.

‘It has nothing to do with me.’

Along with the increase in my rank, having gained the master’s power, I escaped his karma and became unable to have the flame stolen.

Therefore, it’s safe to say there’s no risk of the flame being stolen when fighting the ancestor, but…

‘Still, one-on-one is a bit much.’

He has clearly reached transcendence, not to mention he’s the former family head who used Gugga’s true secret technique called ‘Master Transformation’. Can I defeat him?

‘……It seems difficult?’

I haven’t even properly grasped the state of my own power yet. If I could use Baekyeom, which they called ‘God-Slayer’, maybe it would be different.

If possible, I thought it best to avoid combat.

Thinking thus, I stared intently at Gug Seongyeol.

“……That-“

He opened his mouth, looking at me. My choice would change depending on that answer.

Just as I was concentrating to listen to his words.

“Family Head.”

“……”

“……”

Both of us froze. The Chief Steward had appeared.

“The Madam is looking for you.”

“I’ll go now.”

Upon hearing Madam Jin was looking for him, Gug Seongyeol moved immediately. I still hadn’t heard the answer.

But I understood.

‘He’s going to postpone his answer?’

Gug Seongyeol must have shown me a sign that he wouldn’t answer right away.

‘Hmm.’

I couldn’t determine if he was an enemy or not.

Watching Gug Seongyeol move away without me, I thought.

‘I can’t afford to wait too long for his answer.’

Whatever his answer might have been.

I didn’t have much time for an answer.

---

When Gug Seongyeol moved. I moved with him. Because the Chief Steward hadn’t mentioned only Gug Seongyeol.

Madam Jin was looking for me too. Though puzzled by those words, I moved.

Her residence. I headed towards the small, well-decorated cabin.

“Madam.”

Arriving where Jin Yeonryeong was, Gug Seongyeol called out to her.

As the door opened, what was there was.

Jin Yeonryeong, demure as always, and.

“Oh, you’re here?”

Gu Seon, who was mentioned as my aunt.

Seeing those two people there, I was rather puzzled. I expected Jin Yeonryeong to be there, of course.

‘Why is she here?’

Gu Seon.

I was a little taken aback to see a woman who seemed quite mischievous.

“Sit down.”

“……”

Gu Seon casually gestured vaguely towards me. She pointed to a place to sit with her hand, as if it were her own home. Even with the Family Head present, she showed no particular courtesy. She truly was an uncanny person.

“……”

Still, I sat down as she instructed.

Gug Seongyeol naturally went and sat next to Jin Yeonryeong.

“Why did you summon us?”

It was a completely different, softer voice than when he spoke to me. It was always fascinating. That this person could produce such a voice.

However, unlike Gug Seongyeol’s voice, Jin Yeonryeong’s expression was somehow stiff.

“I wanted to talk once Cheol-un arrives… I don’t know if that child will come.”

“If it’s the Young Master, I’ll bring him.”

“Stay put.”

Jin Yeonryeong stopped Gug Seongyeol just as he was about to move.

“Don’t force him to come. That child must have his own thoughts. Especially in a situation like this, how confused must he be.”

“……”

“……”

As she spoke, Jin Yeonryeong looked back and forth between me and Gug Seongyeol. Seeing that gaze, I could roughly sense from their attitudes why we were gathered. It meant that it felt like trouble was brewing.

“Madam… that is…”

“This is entirely your responsibility.”

“No…”

Gug Seongyeol stopped mid-sentence and closed his mouth. A sense of injustice welled up in his eyes.

‘Uncle, looking at me now won’t help, you know.’

‘……And.’

More than anyone, I was the one who felt bothered and wronged. Being put in this situation when I was so busy, and all.

“I’m not blaming Cheol-un. That child must be the most confused right now.”

That’s not true.

I’m the one who’s truly confused.

Gug Seongyeol seemed to feel the same, hesitating before opening his mouth. After hesitating like that, he finally spoke.

“……How is your body?”

The only thing he managed to ask was about my physical condition. Then again, considering Jin Yeonryeong had been bedridden after the last incident, it was a reasonable question.

“I’m fine. That’s why I arranged this meeting.”

While answering, Jin Yeonryeong didn’t look at Gug Seongyeol. At that attitude, a clear shock registered on Gug Seongyeol’s face. To show such blatant shock on his face, he’s a person whose emotions are more intense than I thought. To be precise, it seemed to be only towards his wife.

‘They say he’s a fool for his wife.’

That guy is really something else. He seems a bit different from my father.

‘Father is far from being a fool for his wife.’

No, would that block of wood even know what love is?

“……”

I paused, thinking about it.

‘This is… well…’

I have nothing to say either. Because I didn’t know what love was either.

Just as I thought I might have inherited this trait from my father.

“Young Master Baek… no, child.”

Swoosh.

Suddenly, Jin Yeonryeong placed her hand on the back of mine.

“……Yes?”

“I’m sorry for making you feel like you had to watch your step.”

“……What?”

This was the most bewildering thing I’d experienced today.

‘What is this?’

It wouldn’t have been a problem even if Jin Yeonryeong had cursed me out right then and there. Of course, it wasn’t like I was guilty. If I were an unexpected love child, she could have done so. If anything, I was around the same age as my current father. If I suddenly appeared and became a member of the Gug family bloodline.

‘It could cause problems in the succession battle for the Family Head position.’

Naturally, I had absolutely no intention of becoming the Family Head. And since my father had already become the Young Master, there shouldn’t be a problem, but… From Jin Yeonryeong’s perspective, that might not be the case, so I should be an eyesore to her, but…

“It must have been very difficult…?”

“……”

Her eyes were filled with worry. Worry, pity, helplessness. Such delicate feelings gathered in her eyes and directed towards me. It was quite burdensome. It had been a long time since I’d felt such transparent and warm emotions, which made it even more so.

“……No, it’s not.”

“Don’t say that. I know you must have lived a difficult life, as if you were all alone in the world.”

“That…”

“Without a father. Having lost your mother first, how hard must it have been…”

“……”

She’s about to cry. I could see Jin Yeonryeong starting to cry. I froze.

She’s going to cry suddenly?

‘Oh no.’

What should I do about this? As I fumbled, unsure of what to do.

“Are you crying, Mother? Huh? Mom’s crying?”

Gu Seon’s eyes widened as she saw Jin Yeonryeong’s teary eyes.

“Why are you crying again? Looking at your skin, it’s so vibrant, you must have eaten well and lived well… Kyaaak!”

Gu Seon screamed. Because Jin Yeonryeong pinched her instep hard with her hand. Then, as if nothing had happened, she stroked my shoulder again.

“You’ve been through a lot.”

“……No. It wasn’t particularly hardship.”

“It was difficult because of your worthless father, wasn’t it?”

“Well… that.”

I did have some emotional distress because of my father. But it wasn’t Gug Seongyeol.

What should I do about this? The misunderstanding seems to be deepening. Moreover, her feelings seem so genuine that it’s hard to respond. I found things like this particularly difficult.

“……Um, Madam Jin. It’s not like that.”

I needed to say something, anything, and create some distance. Thinking that, I tried to speak, but.

“Don’t call me Madam Jin.”

“Huh?”

Jin Yeonryeong said to me with a determined look.

“Call me Mom from now on.”

“……Huh?”

I frowned upon hearing that. I answered immediately after hearing it.

“I’m afraid that won’t do.”

Even I thought my voice was too firm.