Chapter 1208: Scorched World

“What is the secret?”

I swallowed a gasp at Father’s question. So, that was his objective after all? To ask that right after seeing me. I’d anticipated it, but hearing it for real made my thoughts pause for a moment.

“……I thought you’d ask a bit later, though. I didn’t expect you to ask right away.”

“Because there’s no need to drag things out.”

“No… well, I suppose that’s true.”

I laughed awkwardly. Does he really wonder about the secret that much? Then again, he must be curious, which is why he came to save me.

“Hmm.”

Then I should tell him. There’s no way to run away, anyway. The secret I was going to tell wasn’t complicated.

“Budaeju.”

“Speak.”

“As for me,”

I said calmly.

“I am not the child of the former Family Head.”

“…….”

Hearing my words, Father’s eyes narrowed.

“It’s troublesome that the misunderstanding has deepened, but regardless, I am not the child of the former Family Head-“

“Is that the secret?”

“Yes?”

“I already knew that.”

Father’s reaction was nonchalant. Huh? He already knew?

‘I thought he might have expected it.’

Was it not an expectation, but certainty? As I wondered,

“I asked if that was the secret.”

“……Ah, yes. This was the secret.”

I had told him what I considered a significant secret. But Father’s reaction was closer to mild disappointment.

“Then, I shall ask just one thing.”

A question? I wasn’t really planning on taking any. So I was about to say I wouldn’t take questions, but

Father spoke faster than that.

“You’re not the Family Head’s child, but you are of the Gu clan’s bloodline, correct?”

“…….”

“Answer me.”

“……Yes. That is correct.”

There was no point denying it; I had already been confirmed as a unique being. It was impossible to deny this.

“I see.”

Hearing my answer, Father nodded. Was this it? Unfortunately, it wasn’t.

“Then…… Baek Yangcheon.”

“Yes.”

“Were you the child of my younger brother?”

“……Yes?”

My uncle? My face contorted at the sudden question. Suddenly, my uncle? What uncle…?

I was puzzled. What was this talk of an uncle?

‘Wait, if it’s Father’s uncle…’

A person flashed through my mind.

‘…Isn’t it Baek Hwa Guild Leader?’

Surprisingly, the Baek Hwa Guild Leader, who was said to be of the Gu family’s bloodline. I recalled him. Someone who was originally part of the Gu family, but no longer was.

I had only met him once before.

‘Come to think of it.’

The conversation we had back then came to mind.

Didn’t he ask me if I knew what karma awaited me if I became the former Gu Family Head?

‘……’

Recalling that conversation, I understood now.

‘Did he know?’

The karma that came with becoming the Gu Family Head. And the true tasks to be done after the headship ended. I wondered if he had left the clan knowing all that.

The pieces were finally fitting together. Conversations I couldn’t understand back then were now clear.

However.

“…….”

How did the assumption that I am the Baek Hwa Guild Leader’s child come about? Just because I’m not the Family Head’s child, does he think I’m someone else’s?

Well, it’s not an incorrect guess, I suppose.

Still…

“Does that mean I’m Miss Mi’s sibling too….”

“So you know that my younger brother is the Baek Hwa Guild Leader.”

“…….”

Oops.

‘Damn it.’

I’d let slip something unintentionally. I shouldn’t have acted like I knew.

Shit.

I’d said the wrong thing.

“What I mean is…”

“You have a question about that.”

“Yes?”

“Mi Hyoran isn’t my younger brother’s daughter in the first place, so I don’t know why you’re bringing that up. What did you mistake?”

“……What?”

What is this supposed to mean?

‘Not his daughter?’

It’s a fact known to everyone in the Central Plains.

Everyone in the world knows that Mi Hyoran, the Baek Hwa Guild Leader, is the daughter of the previous Guild Leader.

‘Could it be that it hasn’t been revealed yet…?’

I wondered if that was the case. Or perhaps.

‘Is there something else going on here too?’

There was a definite possibility she wasn’t his daughter. Honestly, she didn’t resemble him either.

‘If she really was his daughter in the first place.’

Father’s marriage to her would have been a bit strange too.

The world was such a mess that I didn’t pay it much mind, but looking at it now, it certainly seems that way.

‘Madam Mi is not the Guild Leader’s daughter.’

I filed that information away in my mind.

Anyway.

“……I will not answer that.”

I decided not to bother correcting Father’s misunderstanding.

“……Hmm.”

At my words, Father’s expression changed slightly. In that moment.

Fwoosh-!

“……!”

A fist flew towards me.

WHAM-!

“Kkuhk!”

I blocked it hastily, but the impact sent my body flying back.

Kwagagag.

I barely managed to stomp on the ground, reducing the shock, but…

“Kuh….”

The sharp pain in my forearm was no joke. It was because I couldn’t parry and took the hit directly.

Why did he suddenly attack? Was it because I didn’t answer his question?

As I looked at Father in confusion,

“As expected.”

Father looked at me as if he knew this would happen and said,

“You. You’re in a state where you can’t use your energy.”

“…….”

I’d been found out.

“What happened?”

I swallowed dryly at Father’s words. To think he’d notice this.

“……Who knows.”

“Looks like you won’t answer this either.”

“I think I said I’d only tell one secret.”

“…….”

Father stared intently at me. Would he hit me again? If he hit me now, I couldn’t block it.

I could toy with someone like Yu Yeon or Namgung Jin, but Father’s level is a different story.

What should I do? As I hesitated, caught in thought,

“I see.”

Father suddenly turned his back.

Seeing that, my eyes widened.

“……Are you leaving?”

“Because there’s no need to stay any longer. There’s much to do because of what happened.”

Father also had work piled up due to the incident at Dogga.

“Rest.”

With those words, Father leaped away and disappeared.

“……Huh.”

I could only stare blankly at Father’s receding back. He really just left.

---

Another day passed. I came outside during the day.

Because I had something I needed to discuss with the former Gu Family Head.

“Excuse me.”

I entered the room. As soon as I did, I frowned. The temperature inside was higher than usual.

“Sit.”

Without answering the former Gu Family Head’s words, I sat before him. His worried expression seemed quite deep.

“It seems you’ve had a lot on your plate.”

“Thanks to whom.”

I asked out of concern, but I was met with a nagging tone. No, honestly, I wasn’t worried either.

Because I also had a lot to say.

“I was also on the receiving end, you know.”

“You suffered?”

He looked at me as if he didn’t believe me at all.

“You?”

“……What kind of look is that?”

Are you implying I let myself get caught on purpose?

No, that’s unfair!

‘Even though it’s partly true.’

Still, I felt it was too much for him not to trust me like that.

What’s more.

“I almost died too.”

I was trapped by Do-cheol’s technique. If it had continued, who knows what would have happened.

I tried telling him this, but…

“…….”

This time too, the former Gu Family Head didn’t seem convinced. The atmosphere made it clear he wouldn’t listen no matter what I said.

This is truly unfair.

Forget it. I knew better than anyone that there wasn’t a single trustworthy person in the world anyway.

“……Forget it. It’s pointless saying anything if you won’t believe me. So, what happened regarding Do-cheol?”

What happened to the captured Do-cheol? Hearing that, the former Gu Family Head spoke, his breath mingling with his words.

“He’s still being interrogated.”

“Interrogation…”

At those words, I looked at the former Gu Family Head with a strange glint in my eye.

“Family Head-nim.”

“…….”

“Do Gaju said something. That the curse inflicted upon them originated from the Gu family.”

At my words, the former Gu Family Head’s gaze focused entirely on me. His burning red eyes didn’t seem entirely warm.

“Do you know about this?”

I wondered if the former Gu Family Head knew about this matter. I asked him, but…

“Perhaps.”

“…….”

An ambiguous answer came back.

“This is truly vague.”

It wasn’t a ‘yes’ or ‘no’. The statement felt frustrating. Continuing the conversation seemed pointless.

I decided to just leave. As I thought that and started to get up,

“It’s hard to say. Maybe they did, maybe they didn’t.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Gu family hasn’t exactly been innocent, so just because I don’t know doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.”

“…….”

It meant he himself wasn’t sure.

‘It’s absurd, but I understand what he means.’

He means there were too many messes left by previous generations for him to deny it wasn’t the Gu family’s doing.

It seemed a bit irresponsible for a Family Head, but…

‘…He’s not wrong.’

As a person, I could understand.

That’s also why I couldn’t blame the former Gu Family Head any further.

“……So you are investigating it?”

“Yes.”

“And you’re saying you don’t know the details, Family Head-nim?”

“That’s correct.”

“……Hmm.”

I stroked my chin.

So, the Family Head claims ignorance.

‘Then.’

From my conversation with the Blood Demon, I could recall my immediate suspicions.

‘As expected.’

It seems the Blood Demon might have been involved. His reaction, and Do-cheol’s words…

And.

‘The matter with Cheonma…’

The incident with the Heavenly Demon who was there. Recalling it made my insides twist.

I forced myself to smooth my expression, which was starting to crease, and sighed.

“……Family Head-nim.”

“Speak.”

“Could you grant me one favor?”

“……?”

A sudden request. Just as the former Gu Family Head tilted his head in question,

“I… need to go into the Gu family’s underground.”

“…….”

Wrinkles formed between the former Gu Family Head’s brows.