Appearance of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 15

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 15
A large man wearing a black half-mask.
‘So this is the person….’
The one living with Yeon Woo.
Why has he appeared already?
“Demonic Sect Members.”
At the clicking sound of his tongue, Gwan Hyuk flinched, his body trembling.
“Neither adults nor children among them possess even a shred of decency.”
Unable to know what to do, Gwan Hyuk stood frozen with his sword raised, until Woon Hyun gave it a light tap, pushing it aside.
Gwan Hyuk’s blade flew back weakly, offering no resistance.
He stumbled backward, arms flailing as he took a step away.
An old man living with Yeon Woo.
‘A beggar, surely….’
If he were a beggar, then by status alone Gwan Hyuk should hold the upper hand. Yet the man before him was somehow beyond such casual dismissal.
No—rather, quite the opposite.
“Listen here.”
“Y-yes, sir…?”
Without thinking, Gwan Hyuk shifted the wooden sword behind him and clasped his hands at his back.
Even knowing the man was a beggar, he could not help but feel diminished in his presence.
“True Swordsmanship means understanding that you bear responsibility for every stroke of your blade.”
Woon Hyun took a step closer to Gwan Hyuk.
“Can you answer for your sword?”
Beneath the heavy, oppressive presence that towered above him, Gwan Hyuk swallowed hard once more.
“I… I….”
Should he make excuses? Should he evade responsibility?
Watching the boy hem and haw without answer, Woon Hyun exhaled a low sigh.
‘Yeon Woo….’
“Owwww— it hurts….”
He was whimpering about various places he’d been struck, though fortunately none of the injuries appeared serious.
Perhaps that was because his opponent had been merely a child, not yet ten years old.
Then it happened.
“Gwan Hyuk…!”
From the entrance of the Training Ground came Gwan Yun, the head of the Gwan Clan Estate, and the warrior who had come to fetch Yeon Woo. Both were running toward them.
Gwan Yun’s expression was filled with shock and alarm.
It was no wonder—Woon Hyun had been discussing an Assassin targeting Yeon Woo, when he’d suddenly uttered “Your son will kill me before any Assassin’s hand can,” and then vanished.
Soon after, word had come.
That Gwan Hyuk had dragged Yeon Woo to the Training Ground.
“What in the world is this…!”
Gwan Yun’s gaze swept rapidly across the disheveled Training Ground.
Two scattered wooden swords, a weeping Yeon Woo, and Gwan Hyuk on the verge of tears before the masked figure.
Having grasped the situation at once, Gwan Yun pressed a hand to his throbbing temples.
“Gwan Hyuk.”
“F-Father… that’s not… it’s not what—”
“Not another word. This is your doing.”
“……!”
“Take him to my chambers.”
“Yes, Master Gwan.”
The warrior who had accompanied Gwan Yun took Gwan Hyuk by the arm and led him away.
As he was pushed along by the warrior’s hand, Gwan Hyuk finally broke, his sobs bursting forth.
Watching his son thus, Gwan Yun turned and approached Woon Hyun.
Gwan Yun lowered his head in a formal bow.
“I apologize that such a matter has occurred not long after we made our agreement.”
“You must put your own house in order before attending to External Affairs.”
“I shall be more careful.”
Gwan Yun’s eyes fell to the ground.
Yeon Woo had by now clung to Woon Hyun’s side, clutching at his robes and watching Gwan Yun with wary eyes.
“Are you unharmed?”
“Don’t like your son.”
“I’m sorry. I should have been more careful….”
Since bringing Yeon Woo into his household, Gwan Yun had known that Gwan Hyuk harbored discontent with this decision.
He simply thought it was a decision made by the family and had no choice but to accept it—he’d never voiced his discontent and assumed he always would comply.
“I’ve been too complacent.”
“I don’t hate my son!”
“Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you. Shall I send you plenty of snacks?”
…….
Yeon Woo’s lips quivered.
But he’d made up his mind to sulk, and without answering, he turned his head away sharply.
Yet Yeon Woo was Yeon Woo.
For him, food was everything—he couldn’t afford to lose the chance to claim a mountain of snacks.
“Send them to the house.”
“Of course. I understand. I’ll send you plenty of the things you like.”
“But not dried fruit… I’m only eating that in your room.”
“Fine, fine.”
– Have an errand boy bring them to me.
Gwan Yun glanced at Woon Hyun.
– If he has snacks, it might even help with his training.
Oh.
That’s right—he’d asked to have meals and snacks reduced because of training.
Gwan Yun, having belatedly remembered the promise while trying to soothe Yeon Woo’s mood, replied awkwardly.
– I understand. If I do that, Yeon Woo’s feelings will….
– Send them. I’ll make sure to convey the intent clearly.
Gwan Yun gave a short nod and straightened his posture.
“Then I’ll return to the main residence. Please take care on your way back.”
“I’m counting on you to handle this.”
Gwan Yun gave a brief bow and turned to leave.
After he’d gone, Woon Hyun extended his hand to Yeon Woo, who was still pouting.
“Let’s head back now.”
Yeon Woo took Woon Hyun’s hand.
Right.
The two of them left the Training Ground at once.
Yeon Woo, thinking it over again and still feeling wronged, huffed all the way as they crossed through the estate toward the gate.
And just as they were about to step through the main entrance—
“Hey, Yeon Woo…!”
Someone came rushing over breathlessly.
It was Si Dong, Gwan Hyuk’s attendant.
Having sprinted across the broad courtyard to reach them, Si Dong bent forward deeply and gasped for breath.
Then, wiping away the sweat that dripped down his face, he held out a small pouch to Yeon Woo.
“You left this behind.”
Yeon Woo took the pouch.
“What is this?”
“The dried fruit you left with me. And….”
Si Dong glanced around and leaned in close, whispering.
“The thing we promised you.”
……?
Promised?
Yeon Woo opened the pouch and checked what was inside.
Oh!
The pouch held a handful of dried fruit and three pieces of dried meat.
Three—not the two they’d agreed on!
“You…!”
Yeon Woo looked at Si Dong with shining eyes.
“You’re a good one!”
Si Dong scratched the back of his head and laughed with a sheepish grin.
“It’s a secret from my master. If he finds out, I’ll be scolded.”
Right.
Yeon Woo took out one piece of dried fruit and held it out to Si Dong.
“Are you… giving this to me?”
“Yes. Eat it.”
“Then I’ll gratefully….”
Si Dong didn’t hesitate and took the fruit, quickly popping it into his mouth.
The outskirts of the Sipman Mountains, where the Gwan Clan Estate stood, were not a place where provisions came easily.
Only because the Gwan Clan had deep roots within the Ma Gyo could snacks be procured at all—and even then, such delicacies were precious luxuries for the estate’s servants.
That was why there were only easy-to-find foods like dried meat and dried fruit.
Smack, smack.
Yeon Woo, who had been watching Si Dong eat as though stealing glances, reached into his pocket and produced three more pieces of dried fruit, holding them out to him.
Si Dong’s eyes widened, and he looked back and forth between Yeon Woo and the fruit.
“I… I…”
“Go on. I prefer dried meat anyway.”
“Oh…”
Si Dong accepted them with both hands.
As he took the dried fruit, his hands trembled as if he were committing some crime.
Woon Hyun, watching in silence, gently caught Yeon Woo’s hand.
“Let’s go now.”
“Yeah. I’m coming—goodbye!”
Yeon Woo and Woon Hyun turned to leave.
They had taken only a few steps, leaving Si Dong still overwhelmed behind them.
“Wait, wait…!”
At Si Dong’s repeated call, both turned back.
Si Dong came running up with a patter of footsteps and spoke.
“It’s… it’s because our lord lost his brothers…!”
“Hmm?”
“H-he was very close with his brothers, but both of them suffered a calamity at Ma Ryong Gwan…and…”
“……”
“So, so that’s why! He wanted revenge! He said he had to uncover the truth about his brothers’ deaths and avenge them! That’s why he had to go to Ma Ryong Gwan…!”
Si Dong lowered his head deeply.
He was gripping the dried fruit that Yeon Woo had given him firmly in his breast.
“Our lord doesn’t dislike you, sir. He’s just been frustrated that he couldn’t go to Ma Ryong Gwan…that’s all.”
The truth was, he simply loved those his own age.
There weren’t many peers of Gwan Hyuk’s age in this remote region, and there was no one he could truly call a friend.
Because there had been a time when he was raised with affection from his brother, Gwan Hyuk’s loneliness was as vast as that empty space.
The reason he took along even a mere servant like himself on the grounds that they were peers was rooted in that same emptiness.
“I’ll try to speak well of you to him. I’m sorry, so sorry for today…!”
Si Dong bowed deeply at the waist.
After all, it was he who had dragged Yeon Woo to the Training Ground.
It was out of remorse for that—after being scolded by the head cook—that he had obtained more dried meat.
And now Yeon Woo had shared these precious snacks with him.
Four pieces, no less.
“I see!”
A bright, cheerful voice rang out above Si Dong’s head as he hung it in shame.
Si Dong hesitantly raised his gaze.
Pat.
Si Dong flinched, his body trembling slightly.
Yeon Woo pressed his hand to Si Dong’s shoulder and spoke.
“So that means the young master is a good person, right?”
Si Dong blinked.
“…Pardon?”
“I mean, you’re trying to say the young master is a good person, aren’t you?”
Yeon Woo’s head tilted gently.
Faced with those clear, innocent eyes blinking softly, Si Dong lowered his head deeply.
“…I…I suppose so…”
“Then that settles it!”
“…?”
Si Dong looked up.
A clear voice spreading beneath the blue sky.
“I forgive you! Yeon Woo has a generous heart!”
Eyes as pure and untainted as anything could be.
With Yeon Woo’s confident shout striking straight at Si Dong’s heart, he shone brighter than anything else in that moment.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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