Chapter 12
“What brings the Second Young Master here?”
It was a middle-aged man who spoke first in place of the Heavenly Demon.
He addressed Jeok I-geon as he walked toward us.
Who is that?
Among those who dared to speak while everyone else knelt on the ground in reverence to the Heavenly Demon, few in the Demonic Cult could.
It was clear that the man must also hold an extraordinary status.
“It’s been a while, Master of the Ghostly Soul Pavilion.”
So, my guess was correct.
Within the Demonic Cult, there were many internal organizations, and the Ghostly Soul Pavilion was one of the most critical, dealing with information.
The head of the Ghostly Soul Pavilion, also known as the Ghostly Soul Pavilion Master, was considered the strategist of the Demonic Cult.
They read the power dynamics of the martial world and prepared for upcoming events, a position of utmost importance.
Naturally, this role required exceptional intelligence and a sharp sense of reality.
Currently, the Ghostly Soul Pavilion Master was a man named Gong Pae-cheon.
He was also the first person Jeok I-geon eliminated before ascending as the Heavenly Demon.
Jeok I-geon believed him to be the greatest obstacle to his domination of the Demonic Cult.
This showed just how brilliant of a strategist Gong Pae-cheon was and how loyal he was to the current Heavenly Demon.
“You’ve grown even more impressive since I last saw you. If I met you outside the city, I might not have recognized you.”
“I’m sure you receive daily reports about me.”
Jeok I-geon’s tone was cold, as if urging him to drop the pleasantries and get straight to the point.
Had their relationship been strained even back then?
Though I couldn’t see their expressions as my head was bowed, the tension between them was palpable.
“As the one who will lead the Demonic Cult in the future, it is my duty as the Pavilion Master to stay informed. I hope you can understand.”
“And this person?”
Jeok I-geon cut off Gong Pae-cheon’s excuse and asked bluntly.
“He is a spy from the Martial Alliance.”
“A spy?”
“Under a forged identity, he infiltrated the Blood Shadow Corps and operated there for the past five years. A few days ago, his cover was blown. I was considering how to use him to our advantage, but he caught on and attempted to escape, leading to some commotion.”
“I was told the Ghostly Soul Pavilion conducts thorough identity checks before allowing recruits.”
“That was my negligence as the Pavilion Master.”
Gong Pae-cheon humbly acknowledged his fault.
“More importantly, may I ask why the Second Young Master is here so late at night? Do you intend to personally execute this man?”
“I didn’t know he was a spy. I only intervened because my maid seemed to be in danger.”
“…Who seemed to be in danger?”
“This maid of mine. When I arrived after hearing the commotion, she was being held hostage by him. She even sustained an injury to her neck.”
Unconsciously, my hand moved to my neck.
Though the cut was shallow and had stopped bleeding, the faint pain made me grimace.
“You’re telling me you acted on behalf of this girl?”
The Heavenly Demon, who had been silent until now, suddenly approached me.
“……!”
I nearly screamed at the sudden movement.
The idea that the Heavenly Demon was standing right in front of me was hard to process.
Surely, he wouldn’t speak to me, would he?
Just being this close to him made me feel lightheaded. Talking to the Heavenly Demon? That was unthinkable.
But life has a way of going against your wishes.
“Raise your head and look at me.”
The Heavenly Demon ordered me.
Why is my bad feeling never wrong?
Trembling with tension, I moved my head slowly, almost mechanically.
“Look at me properly.”
When I avoided eye contact, the Heavenly Demon commanded me again.
Why did I need to look at him directly? It wasn’t like we were going to have a staring contest.
Though I wanted to retort, I dared not utter a word. I simply obeyed, lifting my eyes to meet his.
“……!”
My first impression of the Heavenly Demon, Jeok Yeo-gwang, could be summed up in one phrase.
A terrifying man.
As expected of Jeok I-geon’s father, his appearance was striking. However, his intense gaze overwhelmed me.
Just looking at him made me feel like a moth caught in a spider’s web.
Yet, at the same time, a strange feeling stirred within me.
Did he recognize me?
For a moment, when our eyes met, he seemed surprised, as if he knew who I was.
It must have been my imagination.
There was no way the Heavenly Demon would know someone like me, a mere maid.
“What is your name?”
Suddenly, the Heavenly Demon asked for my name.
Anxiety crept over me. No matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn’t think of a reason why he would want to know my name.
I wasn’t the only one puzzled.
Even Jeok I-geon and Gong Pae-cheon exchanged curious glances at the Heavenly Demon’s unexpected question.
Wait.
Where have I seen this person before?
As my gaze briefly passed over Gong Pae-cheon again, I felt a strange sense of familiarity.
Though this was supposed to be my first time seeing him, he seemed oddly familiar.
“Do you not have a name?”
When I didn’t respond, the Heavenly Demon’s tone grew a bit sharper. Only then did I regain my senses and immediately answer.
“My name is Shin Seol-ha.”
“Shin is it?”
“Yes.”
For some reason, my answer didn’t seem to please the Heavenly Demon, as a deep wrinkle formed on his brow. It felt like he had been expecting a different response.
“Master, do you know this girl?”
Gong Pae-cheon, the Ghostly Soul Pavilion Master, couldn’t ignore anyone who drew the interest of his lord.
If he wanted to, he could uncover everything about me, from my possessions to the number of undergarments I owned.
Becoming the target of the Ghostly Soul Pavilion Master was the last thing I wanted, and I tensed in fear.
“No. She just reminded me of someone for a moment.”
Thankfully, the Heavenly Demon’s interest in me faded as quickly as it had arisen.
He shifted his focus back to his son, summoning him.
“Jeok I-geon.”
“Yes, Father.”
“It is understandable that you stepped in to protect a maid. However, attempting to kill a fleeing spy was a mistake. Do you not see the importance of discovering what he stole from the Demonic Cult and what information we could extract from him?”
“I was thoughtless, Father. Next time, I will be more careful before taking action.”
“Very well. Regardless, you were the one who caught the spy, so you deserve credit. A suitable reward will be given to you.”
With those final words, the Heavenly Demon, Gong Pae-cheon, and the warriors left swiftly.
The spy, who had fainted at some point, was carried away on a stretcher.
Watching the scene unfold, I couldn’t help but recall Jeok I-geon’s remarkable power.
What would have happened to me if he hadn’t appeared when he did?
Although the event hadn’t occurred, I knew I wouldn’t have escaped unscathed.
In the worst-case scenario, I might have even lost my life.
The hostage-taker seemed less focused on escaping and more determined to take someone down with him.
Perhaps he had taken me hostage thinking I was weak and easier to handle.
In any case, I owed Jeok I-geon my gratitude.
It was surreal to find myself in a situation where I had to thank him for saving my life.
This was a scene that had never appeared in the original story.
Suddenly, I felt glad I had made him rice balls for dinner.
“Um, Young Master.”
Before I realized it, only Jeok I-geon, myself, and Senior Do-ae’s group remained nearby.
Although they hadn’t been cut by a blade like me, the three of them were teary-eyed, their faces pale from the fright.
Senior Ji-ae, who had fainted earlier after being hit by me, now had a large bruise forming.
“Thank you very much for today. I was only able to survive because of you, Young Master.”
“Do you even know what it means to survive?”
“…Pardon?”
“If his dagger had been coated with poison, you would already be dead.”
“Ah…”
But I had the Antidote Pearls, so I would have been fine.
Of course, I couldn’t say that aloud and instead offered an awkward smile.
Jeok I-geon glanced at me with an exasperated expression before abruptly turning away.
Was he annoyed?
Was I imagining things?
Both the Heavenly Demon and Jeok I-geon were incredibly difficult to deal with.
I couldn’t believe it had only been my first day as a dedicated maid.
Surely, tomorrow would be better than today.
But that hope was shattered early the next morning when the Heavenly Demon paid me a visit.
“How old are you?”
The Heavenly Demon began by asking my age, without any context.
And yet… why was that?
As strange as it sounded, there was an undeniable look of longing in his eyes when he gazed at me.
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