Chapter 24: A Face Too Familiar

At Hyeonwol’s reaction, as if he had encountered someone he knew, Yoo Seo-han was bewildered and couldn’t hide his flustered expression.

Seol Cheon-yu also narrowed his eyes slightly, observing Hyeonwol’s demeanor.

“Sworn brother, what is the matter?”

Hyeonwol, who hadn’t been able to take his eyes off Yoo Seo-han’s face, soon skillfully composed his confused expression.

Yoo Seo-han… that name was definitely in Hyeonwol’s memory.

In the original story as he remembered it, among the siblings staying as guests of the Demonic Cult, the older sister Yoo Seo-ryeong had seen through the young Seol Cheon-yu’s potential and taken an interest in him, helping him in many ways, which led to her younger brother Yoo Seo-han also developing goodwill toward the protagonist.

However, in the original development, during the Blood Cult’s attack that became the catalyst for Seol Cheon-yu’s emergence into the martial world, Yoo Seo-han would lose his sister and survive alone, thereafter formally becoming Seol Cheon-yu’s subordinate to avenge her.

He had thought he might meet him someday, but Yoo Seo-han’s face was so different from what Hyeonwol had imagined.

More precisely, it was because he knew that face that he momentarily fell into confusion.

“…No.

I apologize, you resemble someone I know….

You said your name is Yoo Seo-han?”

“That is correct.”

“By any chance, who are your family members?”

Hyeonwol approached Yoo Seo-han and asked with a serious expression.

Yoo Seo-han, thoroughly flustered, glanced sideways at Seol Cheon-yu’s mood and then, startled, had to look away.

Why was his lord in such a bad mood?!

Seol Cheon-yu’s complexion, like a bitter winter wind, was terrifying even to Yoo Seo-han, who had thought he’d grown quite accustomed to it.

He wanted to run away from this place immediately, but that was impossible for pitiful Yoo Seo-han, and he had no choice.

While trembling inwardly, he diligently searched his memory and stammered an answer to Hyeonwol’s question.

“My… both parents are still alive, and I have one older sister…?”

Yoo Seo-ryeong was alive?

Though blinking in surprise, Hyeonwol quickly rationalized that the original story had changed so much, this could be possible.

In the current situation, before the Blood Cult’s criminals could properly reach the Demonic Cult, Seol Cheon-yu had already hunted them down and pursued them.

That Yoo Seo-ryeong, a wise and capable talent, was alive was fortunate both in terms of strength and righteousness, but for Hyeonwol, something more important than her life or death existed right now.

He quickly asked his next question.

“Then, by any chance, do you have a relative named Yoo Nan-jeong?”

Yoo Seo-han, rolling his eyes, hesitated as if his memory wasn’t precise and answered.

“I’ve never met her personally, but I vaguely remember the name.

From a family my father cut ties with when he entered the martial world…

I’ve heard she’s my only paternal aunt, but how does the Head of Wolsigak know of her…?”

Hyeonwol’s eyes widened.

If this was true….

Then Yoo Seo-han was none other than Noble Consort Yu’s nephew!

The moment he saw Yoo Seo-han’s face, Hyeonwol had to calm his greatly surprised heart at features so strikingly similar to his half-brother Hyeon-won, Noble Consort Yu’s biological son.

A subordinate?

What kind of twist was this, that the nephew of the Blood Cult’s backer was with the Demonic Cult leader Seol Cheon-yu?

But Yoo Seo-han’s complexion and answers revealed him to be an inexperienced young man who couldn’t possibly hide anything.

Hyeonwol found features in Yoo Seo-han before him that resembled Hyeon-won but were slightly softer, and observing his even more youthful, aggrieved eyes intently, he continued his questions.

“Your father?

When exactly did he sever ties with the family?

Where is he now?”

“Th, that is.”

“I apologize for continuing to ask so abruptly, but this is important, so please forgive me for not observing proper etiquette.

I have absolutely no intention of harming you or your family in Wolsigak’s name, so please answer comfortably.”

“No, not at all.

I’m just puzzled….”

Yoo Seo-han was at his wit’s end, trying to choose his words while watching Seol Cheon-yu’s mood.

But due to the powerful telepathic message immediately flying in from Seol Cheon-yu, even his escaping wits were forced back into place.

[You know what will happen if you don’t answer properly, right?]

“I heard my father left the family thirty years ago!

He’s currently in seclusion training, so even I don’t know exactly where he is!”

“That’s so.

Thank you.”

Hyeonwol was a bit surprised when Yoo Seo-han abandoned his hesitant attitude and answered quickly, but soon continued his thoughts without minding.

It seemed Yoo Seo-han currently had no connection to Noble Consort Yu’s side.

However, how should he interpret the fact that he was under Seol Cheon-yu’s command, of all places?

Hyeonwol felt intuitively.

In the bloody incident of his previous life, the faction that had let Seol Cheon-yu into the palace was none other than the Blood Cult, the Demonic Cult’s rival….

And the connecting link might be Yoo Seo-han, associated with Noble Consort Yu.

Controlling his complicated feelings from this new information, Hyeonwol closed his eyes tightly then opened them.

Despite new concerns arising, he showed nothing on his face and smiled as he spoke.

“Thank you for answering my rude questions without reserve.

While you stay at Wolsigak, I’ll ensure you have no discomfort, so please feel at ease.”

“…It was merely the proper response, so please don’t concern yourself.”

Hyeonwol, returning the bow to Yoo Seo-han who lowered his head with a somehow pale complexion, couldn’t help but know where this obedient attitude came from.

Of course he’d be respectful to his lord’s sworn brother.

Hyeonwol turned his head toward Seol Cheon-yu, who had been silently listening to the conversation.

“My personal questions ran long and made you wait.

So, will this young hero be joining us for tea today?”

“No.”

“Ah.”

A quick and firm answer returned, startling the listeners.

Seol Cheon-yu raised the corners of his mouth beautifully and continued.

“He has tasks I’ve assigned him, so today he’ll just briefly greet sworn brother and then immediately set to work.

Another time, perhaps.”

“Th, that’s right!

This subordinate will take his leave now!”

Of course, there were no particular tasks Seol Cheon-yu had assigned, but Yoo Seo-han intuitively realized that ‘another time‘ would probably never come.

He quickly retreated and dashed out through the passage they had descended.

Hyeonwol couldn’t even offer parting words at his swift movement.

Blankly watching where Yoo Seo-han had disappeared, he raised one eyebrow slightly and turned his gaze to Seol Cheon-yu.

Facing the consistently beautifully smiling face, Hyeonwol could only laugh dejectedly.

What would you call this?

Possessiveness?

…What’s so special about that candy that he’s still hung up on it even as an adult?

As expected, the psychology of fervently desiring in adulthood what one missed in childhood seemed universal.

Hyeonwol, once again feeling the familiar wistfulness toward the young Seol Cheon-yu and the one before him, patted the child’s shoulder.

“…Sworn brother, why are you doing this?”

“I have my reasons.”

Though it was an infinitely kind gesture that he could only welcome, Seol Cheon-yu couldn’t purely be happy about it.

Because from Hyeonwol’s expression, he noticed that his sworn brother was misunderstanding something again.

Nevertheless, Seol Cheon-yu merely smiled without a word.

Whatever his feelings, just having Hyeonwol’s eyes directed purely at him was enough to satisfy him.

“Come, Aseol.

Let’s go up as well.

I’ve already told them to prepare tea in the Head’s office.”

Taking the lead with light steps, Hyeonwol opened a door leading to a different path than the one Seol Cheon-yu and Yoo Seo-han had descended and moved forward.

After navigating through a rather complex passage and climbing several sets of stairs, Seol Cheon-yu realized they had emerged above ground in Wolsigak’s inner courtyard, on the opposite side from where he and Yoo Seo-han had entered.

It was a place Seol Cheon-yu had visited several times while staying at Wolsigak.

Recognizing it, taking in the overly familiar structure of the buildings, he was almost certain but opened his mouth to confirm with Hyeonwol.

“This is… close to the Head’s office.”

“Yes.

Through underground passages like this, you can quickly cover long distances—convenient, isn’t it?”

Hyeonwol answered calmly and walked leisurely, but Seol Cheon-yu’s expression was uncharacteristically uneasy.

Strictly speaking, this underground passage was practically Wolsigak’s secret passage.

And openly revealing the path directly connected to the Head’s office, the very heart of the organization, to Seol Cheon-yu, the Demonic Cult leader, was something anyone would find astonishing.

Seol Cheon-yu, wiping the smile from his lips, couldn’t help but ask.

“…Do you truly trust this younger brother?”

That sudden question, lacking context, sounded impulsive.

However, Hyeonwol, turning back to face the child who had stopped walking, noticed Seol Cheon-yu’s expression tinged with extremely reasonable concern and smiled mischievously.

He felt genuinely unfamiliar with this.

“What is there to trust or not trust at this point?”

Until now, the unconventional interactions between Hyeonwol and Seol Cheon-yu, which could be characterized as orthodox versus demonic, had mostly been Seol Cheon-yu’s own doing.

Just yesterday, he had thrown himself bodily to protect him, and now he was suddenly concerned with common sense—how could Hyeonwol not laugh?

Reading that Hyeonwol truly thought nothing of it, Seol Cheon-yu, while feeling relieved, couldn’t help a slight bitterness rising.

…If only he were a little more wary of me.

If that were the case, perhaps he could face Hyeonwol calmly and brazenly even while harboring these feelings.

Seol Cheon-yu still couldn’t precisely identify the emotion he was feeling.

The longing that frequently visited him during the time spent increasing wounds on his body in the snowy mountain, and during the struggle to find his place in the Demonic Cult.

But he knew it couldn’t be pure longing.

When he left the snowy mountain, he hadn’t even realized that, but after many more days had passed, he had grown enough to understand at least that much.

Wistfulness, impatience, affection, admiration, yearning.

And guilt mixed with loss amid the restlessness.

What should he call this longing, a mixture of all those things?

What was the cause of this emotion storming in his heart?

He had thought that meeting that person, Hyeonwol, would provide answers.

…But.

“……Sworn brother.”

The coolness of the autumn wind pierced through his clothes.

Hyeonwol silently nodded toward his sworn brother, who somehow wore a forlorn expression.

“I thought facing the source directly would give me clear answers, but instead, I feel even more lost in a labyrinth….

What should I do?”

Another incomprehensible question.

Hyeonwol quietly observed Seol Cheon-yu’s impassive expression, his still endlessly youthful face, and spoke calmly.

“Wouldn’t you just keep confronting it until you see clearly?

I thought my sworn brother was someone so remarkable that no one could imagine him failing to find the answers he seeks by facing things directly.”

At that response, Seol Cheon-yu’s eyes widened slightly, and a brief silence, carried by the wind, naturally lingered between them.

Though Hyeonwol surely didn’t know what kind of permission his words implied, Seol Cheon-yu, feeling his heart beat a little faster, had to speak.

His slightly choked breath was nearly imperceptible, buried in the sound of the wind.

“…That must be so.

I will not disappoint sworn brother’s expectations.”

An autumn afternoon.

A warmth like the sunlight, neither hot nor cold, again filled his face.

Meeting those beautifully curving eyes, Hyeonwol thought blankly.

‘That age is when self-reflection is intense, but… is his puberty late?

I don’t know what the problem is, but his self-esteem seems unusually low…

Still, it might be fortunate that there’s an adult who can encourage him—me….’

Completely unaware that he might be digging his own grave.