Chapter 1118: Scorched World.

“You’re staying?”

Father asked the question again. Hearing him, I nodded.

“Yes. I’m staying.”

“…What do you mean?”

“The literal meaning?”

“I’m asking if you think it’s right to go back, or right to stay.”

After hearing him, I scratched my cheek and said,

“Like I just said, it seems like the right thing to go back.”

“But?”

“It is the right thing. But I’m not going back.”

“…”

As I spoke more, Father’s expression crumpled. His face showed he didn’t know if going back was right or not.

No, how could I possibly explain this more easily?

“Let’s just leave it at that.”

“Are you saying Baek Dae-won will stay even if we go back?”

“Yes.”

“The reason?”

“Because I want to.”

Hearing that, Father’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

“If we’re going back, it’s an order. You can’t just stay because you want to.”

“Yes. I suppose so. But, well…”

I said it as if it didn’t matter much.

“What the heck, I’ll just disobey.”

“…”

I said it confidently.

My words made Father’s eyes turn scary. Seeing them, I flinched.

That was the same look he usually gave me when I’d really messed up.

“No… it’s not quite disobedience. It’s just how I feel.”

I found myself trying to backtrack. Hearing that, I saw Father’s gaze soften slightly.

“So, I can take it to mean that staying is the right thing, regardless?”

“…My thoughts?”

“What about Do Dae-won?”

Father asked Do-yoon this time. Hearing the question, Do-yoon flinched.

“Ah… I…”

Do-yoon stopped mid-sentence and looked at me. What was with that look?

“I think it would be good to stay.”

“…”

He looked at me and answered hesitantly, like he was reading my mind. What’s with this guy?

Why is he looking to me for cues? This is ridiculous.

“…”

Hearing this, Father fell into thought. After a brief consideration, he turned towards Mi Hyoran and spoke.

“I will stay.”

“Goo Gongja-nim…!”

Mi Hyoran’s eyes widened at Father’s decision.

“You’re staying…! Why…?”

“If you ask the reason, it’s simple.”

Father looked at Mi Hyoran with eyes that seemed calm yet intense, and added,

“Because I judged it to be the right thing.”

“B-but.”

“Hyoran, you go back.”

“N-ne…?”

At Gu Cheol-un’s words, Mi Hyoran froze.

“Go back…?”

“Yes.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“It is right for you to go back.”

“Ha…!”

Mi Hyoran opened her mouth as if to protest, but.

“Protecting you would be a hindrance.”

“…!”

Pierced by Father’s sharp words, she froze solid like stone.

Oops.

I didn’t expect him to speak so bluntly.

The surroundings froze at that sharp remark.

The atmosphere felt incredibly cold.

“…”

Mi Hyoran remained silent for a long time.

“…Fine, then.”

With a chillingly cold expression, she turned, grabbed the door, and opened it.

Deureureuk-! Kwang-!

She flung the door open and slammed it shut, quickly putting distance between them with her thudding footsteps.

“…”

Watching her, I glanced between the two, observing.

Mi Hyoran, clearly furious, bothered me. I was also curious about Father’s reaction.

“The primary agenda is concluded, so let’s move on.”

“…”

He didn’t seem to care at all.

Why is he so calm?

If anything, the others seemed preoccupied with worry, but.

“Secondly, regarding the situations that might arise if we end up staying.”

Father simply continued his story nonchalantly.

Mi Hyoran was forgotten just like that.

---

By the time the discussion roughly concluded, the sun had already set, casting a sunset glow.

“Then, as planned, we move starting from Jasi tonight.”

“Yes.”

“Understood.”

The story concluded with a reminder of the plan.

Only then did everyone leave the room and start walking.

Father seemed to be heading to his quarters. Only Do-yoon, So-i, and I came out of the room.

“Are you going back to your room?”

When I asked Do-yoon, he answered with slight surprise.

“Ah, yeah. Probably?”

His reaction was subtle, but I just nodded.

“Okay, then. I’ll head in a bit later.”

“Where are you going?”

“Ah, there’s something I need to check on,”

“…”

“…”

We made eye contact. I read his expression.

We both had the same look on our faces.

Roughly.

It felt like, ‘This guy really has no intention of telling me the truth.’

After we figured each other out.

Kkeudeok.

We both nodded simultaneously.

“Have a good trip.”

“Yeah. You rest well too.”

We both decided not to interfere.

Do-yoon disappeared into his room. After confirming that, I was about to make my move too when.

“Hey.”

“Hm?”

So-i called out to me. I looked over, wondering what it was, and she was staring at me with a strange expression.

“You know.”

“Yes.”

“What you said earlier. Why was that?”

“…Hm? Earlier?”

What did she mean by earlier? I asked again, wondering what she was referring to.

“What you said at the beginning. About not leaving and staying.”

“Ah. That?”

Only then did I understand. She must have meant when I said I wouldn’t return to Hanam and would stay, even alone.

“That? Well, it was literal.”

“Even if everyone else went back. Did you really intend to stay, even alone?”

“Yes.”

“Why…?”

“Why? Just because I wanted to.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes. Well, if I had to elaborate.”

I scratched my head. Honestly, it wasn’t something I particularly wanted to mention.

“It leaves a bad taste.”

The unpleasant feeling of abandoning the situation that happened because of me.

I just hated that.

I knew better than anyone that there’s no feeling as shitty as guilt. I didn’t want to leave even that small bit behind.

“…”

So-i’s reaction grew stranger at my words. Her eyes, already narrowed, narrowed even more definitively.

“…How unexpected. You seemed like someone who would never do that.”

“I hear that often.”

“What exactly are you? You’re a strange person.”

“I hear that often too. Are we done talking? Seonbae-nim.”

“…”

So-i didn’t answer. That means we’re done, right?

“Then, I wish you well. I’ll be going ahead.”

After offering a semblance of a bow, I started walking. So-i still hadn’t said anything else to me.

Confirming that, I moved my feet. My steps quickened slightly.

Can’t be helped.

Because there was something I needed to check.

---

I circled around the vicinity of a certain residence. It wasn’t a stroll; I walked around for quite a while.

‘Where is she.’

If I shot out my Ki sense, I could find her quickly, but I couldn’t do that, so I was searching on foot.

Where on earth could she have disappeared to?

What I was looking for here was none other than.

‘Where did Madam Mi go?’

Mi Hyoran. I was looking for her.

Her disappearing after saying that to Father bothered me a little.

Especially the expression she wore at the end kept snagging in my mind.

Even though I knew looking wouldn’t change anything, I deliberately moved forward.

It’s useless meddling. It really doesn’t suit me, but for some reason, I was doing it.

‘Maybe since coming to this world?’

If I had to pick people I found uncomfortable, Mi Hyoran would always be in the top three, yet.

Here I was, going out of my way to look for her. Even I found it strange.

The problem was.

‘Sseup…’

That she was nowhere to be seen, no matter what.

‘Could she have gone already?’

I wondered if she’d already gone back to Hanam after being told to leave. Honestly, if that were the case, it would be a relief.

‘She wouldn’t be in danger, at least.’

At least Mi Hyoran wouldn’t be put in danger. It would be beneficial if that were the case, but.

From my perspective, it didn’t seem likely. Considering Mi Hyoran’s personality, it might be possible, but.

‘…That was Madam Mi, not the current Mi Hyoran.’

The person I saw now was Mi Hyoran, much younger than Madam Mi.

She was rational and sharp, but her immaturity was noticeably prominent.

Seeing that, I didn’t think she’d just leave simply because she was told to.

‘Then where did she go?’

She seemed like she’d still be within the Clan grounds.

‘Hmm…’

Feeling frustrated, I scratched the back of my head.

‘Should I give up?’

I pondered. As I said earlier, finding her wouldn’t accomplish anything. So, I thought maybe I should just give up, but.

“…”

I clicked my tongue inwardly and finally stirred up a bit of energy.

Normally, I should have held back. Especially considering the Heavenly Venerable.

‘That old geezer.’

He must have had me in mind.

We’d already met once, and since someone like me had been recognized, he’d be wary of me no matter how secluded he was in the mountains. I wanted to get through this quietly if possible.

‘It’s bothering me.’

That expression she wore at the end.

It bothered me so much.

It was because it resembled the face she made when I met Madam Mi again in my past life, as a demon.

Seu-eueueu-

Energy flowed out. I released it, controlling it as much as possible. The Ki mixed into the air spread throughout the entire Namgung Clan grounds.

Tak-.

‘Found her.’

I found Mi Hyoran not long after.

But.

‘…Huh.’

Something was strange.

‘Why…’

I sensed a presence in a place where Mi Hyoran definitely shouldn’t be.

“…”

Although puzzled, I moved.

I leaped, closing the distance, and quickly reached my destination.

It was a place I’d been to before. A slightly dilapidated residence. The paths and buildings were unusually poorly maintained for a prestigious family known as the great Namgung Clan.

Passing by, I approached a door.

Deureureuk.

I flung the door open. At that moment.

“Wha-?”

“…”

“Oh my.”

Everyone inside reacted with surprise upon seeing me.

Mi Hyoran, her eyes swollen.

Namgung Hyung, frozen mid-action with chopsticks in hand.

Hyeon So-yeon, diligently carrying dishes, was visible.

Right.

This was Namgung Hyung’s quarters.

Madam Mi was, for some reason, in Namgung Hyung’s quarters.

And she had a mouthful of rice made by Hyeon So-yeon.