Chapter 85
‘That kind of gaze… I’ve only ever gotten that from Grandma.’
But it didn’t feel burdensome.
Rather, it felt like a late but unexpected blessing.
Was this what they meant by blood ties?
That thought briefly crossed my mind.
“Yes, I’ll follow Grandfather’s will on that.”
“…Grand…father?”
Oh. Was this my first time saying it out loud?
Because I’d been calling him Grandpa in my head for so long, it just slipped out naturally.
Seeing Tak Joong-hak getting emotional over it made me feel a bit guilty.
“I actually have something I’d like to ask as well…”
In times like this, changing the subject was the best strategy.
“Ask me anything.”
“Who was my father? Grandma said she didn’t know either.”
Honestly, it wasn’t something I needed to know. This question was purely out of personal curiosity.
I simply wanted to know what kind of person Tak Seon-hwa’s husband—the biological father of this body—was.
And I was a bit curious about their romance too…
“I see. You deserve to know.”
After a brief pause, Tak Joong-hak finally spoke.
“Noh Jong-un. He was the head of Hyeonwol Hall at the time.”
Hyeonwol Hall was the intelligence organization run by the Tak Family.
Even in the original novel, whenever an intelligence group was mentioned, Hyeonwol Hall always came up as one of the best.
“He was someone I cherished.”
“He must’ve been a good person.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because my mother must have fallen in love with him.”
How many women in the Demonic Cult would dare reject a courtship from the Heavenly Demon?
Unless you had nerves of steel or were deeply in love with someone else, it’d be nearly impossible.
The fact that my mother did just that gave me a strange sense of pride.
“I see. If they had both lived, they would’ve made a beautiful couple.”
“Then, does that mean I’m now ‘Noh Seol-ha’?”
“No.”
Huh? No?
I was told my surname came from Grandma’s alias, Shin Geum.
Not from the fake identity Shin Won-pyeong.
Since Grandma had reclaimed her original name, I assumed I should do the same—but apparently not?
“I want to pass the Tak surname on to you.”
“…The Tak surname?”
That caught me off guard.
I’d heard that in modern Korea, a child could take the mother’s surname with mutual agreement—but I didn’t think that would apply in this world too.
“That was something Seon-hwa and I agreed upon while she was still alive.
Regardless of gender, the child would inherit the Tak name and succeed me.”
“…Don’t tell me you’re asking me to do that?”
The Tak Family already had a minor family head, Tak Mu-seong.
If he were to cast aside the nephew he raised just because he found his lost granddaughter, I’d be disappointed in Tak Grandpa.
“Of course not. Not now. I simply wish to give you the Tak name, as Seon-hwa desired.
Nothing more. I want you to live as freely as anyone.”
Ah, that made sense.
Relieved, I looked at Tak Joong-hak’s gentle smile.
I almost became the villain who stole my second uncle’s position as successor.
Not that I would’ve accepted, even if he asked.
“I’d like that.”
There was no reason for me to refuse the chance to carry the Tak name within the Demonic Cult.
The influence of the Tak Family within the cult was second only to the Heavenly Demon’s fame.
Now that it was known I was Tak Family’s descendant, I might as well go all in!
“Thank you.”
Geez. Anyone would think I just made some grand gesture of filial piety.
All I said was that I’d take the surname, and he looked so moved.
If I had to guess, Tak Grandpa’s MBTI was 100% capital F.
He was the polar opposite of Shin Geum.
Put the two of them together and you’d get a ton of fun interactions.
“I’ll let you know as soon as the announcement date is decided.”
“Yes.”
I’d answered lightly, but the more I spoke with Tak Joong-hak, the more the blood drained from my face.
I’d assumed it would be something simple—like a notice pinned to a bulletin board.
But it was much more than that.
He planned to invite people from both political and martial circles and formally introduce me in front of them—basically, a banquet.
As someone who hated the spotlight, could I really handle that?
I couldn’t back out after already agreeing.
I felt like crying, but at the same time, I didn’t want to disappoint Tak Grandpa.
After all, I was the granddaughter he found after losing his daughter seventeen years ago.
At the very least, I wanted to fulfill my duty before leaving the Demonic Cult.
That was the only thing I could do.
A few days later.
I visited Machonjeon to put the final period on this whole incident.
To Shin Seol-ha—no, Tak Seol-ha—he was someone akin to an enemy.
But to me, he was the master who had passed on the martial arts of the Demon Empress.
I hadn’t told anyone, but to me, the Heavenly Demon was a person of extremes.
So I had often thought about how I should face him the next time we met.
Neither Grandma nor Grandpa Tak ever brought it up, as if they had agreed in advance.
It probably meant they respected my decision completely.
Why had the Heavenly Demon summoned me?
I had always known we’d have to meet at least once, but it was sooner than I expected.
“He’s waiting inside.”
After walking for a while with a maid, I finally arrived at a door.
Phew!
I took a breath and stepped into the inner chamber.
“You called for me, Master.”
The Heavenly Demon stood at the window, his back to me.
He didn’t move, even though his senses had surely already picked up my arrival.
Then, slowly turning, he asked,
“Am I still your master?”
Of course.
Last time, he got angry when I called him ‘Heavenly Demon.’
Just from that, you’d think he had a contrary personality.
But his face looked awfully haggard since I last saw him.
He must’ve gone through a lot mentally…
That’s what happens when you do something so terrible.
Honestly, I wanted to scold him and call him a fool, but I reminded myself that he was still the Heavenly Demon.
“Then should I call you ‘Master’ instead?”
“You said you disliked that term.”
“Yes, Master.”
I’ll call you however you want.
At my unhesitating reply, a vein throbbed visibly on his temple.
“…!”
What the—?
Was this man… nervous right now?
His sharp eyes kept darting toward me.
Good grief. I never thought I’d live to see the day the Heavenly Demon was watching my mood.
Even watching it happen in real-time, it felt unreal.
“I heard you’ve taken the Tak surname.”
“Yes. I was told it was my mother’s wish.”
“…I see.”
The moment I brought up Mom, he visibly deflated.
So that’s the terrifying power of true love, huh.
As someone who’s been single since birth, I didn’t really get it,
but I had to admit—it was fascinating to watch.
“Grandfather is hosting a banquet. If you’re free that day, would you come, Master?”
“…Are you inviting me?”
“Yes. It’s a joyful occasion, so I thought it would be nice if you were there too.”
Ahh, I’m so soft-hearted.
Seeing a grown man looking so dejected didn’t sit well with me.
I wasn’t in any position to forgive him,
but since he was genuinely reflecting on his actions, I wanted to give him a chance.
“I thought… you would hate me.”
He had taken me as a disciple because I resembled the woman he loved.
Only to later find out that I was actually her daughter.
So, he was afraid I’d use that face to curse at him.
Oh man,
When will this guy finally pull himself out of this emotional swamp?
You were so obsessed—that’s why you made such a mess.
Tsk tsk.
Seeing the pathetic state he was in now, I couldn’t help but be exasperated.
“It’s not like I’m not angry at all.”
Even though I deliberately softened my wording, the Heavenly Demon flinched at my words.
“But I’ve decided to let the past be the past. I’ve been told you never wanted my mother to die.”
“That’s true! I never imagined Seonhwa would die!”
Yeah, yeah, I’m sure.
From what Grandma told me, my mom had a pretty intense personality.
If she was willing to abandon her entire family and run away from you,
shouldn’t you have at least seen that coming?
So naïve, really.
When I heard you tried to self-harm out of shock, I nearly collapsed from disbelief.
Let this be a lesson—love only shines when done with sanity.
“Then, would you come with me to visit my mother’s grave?”
“I—Can I really…?”
“If you don’t want to, forget it.”
“No! I do want to!”
I already knew he’d been pestering Gong Pae-cheon to find the grave’s location.
And that Grandma kept refusing, leaving Gong Pae-cheon awkwardly caught in the middle.
“Go to her grave and apologize. That’s the condition for me to remain your disciple.”
—
Read More at – GENZNOVEL.COM!!
PLEASE JOIN OUR DISCORD AND SUBSCRIBE THE ROLE TO RECEIVE LATEST NOTIFICATIONS!!
Click here -> https://discord.gg/S8c2kGVr2g
Comment