Chapter 16: The Heavenly Demon at His Feet

Hyeonwol was forced to sit comfortably in the chair in the reception room and fell into deep contemplation.

Why on earth was the protagonist, the Heavenly Demon at the peak of tens of thousands of demonic cultivators—Seol Cheon-yu—personally attending to him?

Whether Hyeonwol openly pressed his brow with a tired face or not.

This young protagonist had set Hyeonwol down in the comfortable chair before the table and was now kneeling before him, examining his sworn brother’s ankle with consistently devoted attention.

Hyeonwol no longer had the mental capacity left to be surprised.

He dazedly looked down at Seol Cheon-yu’s actions, as if to say, ‘Do as you please.’

The sparks had long since flown to the Wolsigak executives, including Yoon Je-eun, who had been waiting in the reception room.

Even more so because they already knew Seol Cheon-yu’s identity.

Why on earth had their head been carried here by that Heavenly Demon?

And what was this extremely devoted attitude?

Only Kang Ryun, who had somewhat adapted to this strange situation since three days ago, wore an expression of resignation similar to Hyeonwol’s.

“Sworn brother, which ankle is uncomfortable?”

“…The right one.”

Those around them, flustered, shot Hyeonwol glances seeking guidance, but at a complete loss for words, he merely watched Seol Cheon-yu’s actions, muttering to himself.

I don’t know anymore either.

This too shall pass if I just endure it….

Before Hyeonwol like that, Seol Cheon-yu, with careful yet respectful hands, wrapped around Hyeonwol’s right ankle and pressed lightly.

Beneath Seol Cheon-yu’s black martial arts robe sleeves, his white hands with distinct knuckles moved gracefully.

Hyeonwol stared blankly at him, then, feeling a small pressure, couldn’t help but flinch.

However, Hyeonwol soon wore a puzzled expression.

Because at the same time as a sharp pain shot up through his ankle, he also clearly felt a distinct clear energy flowing into his body.

As if belatedly noticing, from the moment he had been carried in Seol Cheon-yu’s arms—though Hyeonwol himself was truly embarrassed to the point of madness by this expression—this kind of clear energy had been seeping from him.

The cool and refreshing sensation created an illusion as if he had immersed himself in a summer valley stream.

Soon, Hyeonwol realized that the energy he had felt when pulling Seol Cheon-yu’s hand in the marketplace the other day was also like this.

It was clearly different from the characteristic refined internal power that martial artists cultivate.

Though strange, it was a curious sensation that didn’t feel repulsive, and his puzzlement grew.

…If not for a certain action Seol Cheon-yu continued after checking Hyeonwol’s reaction, Hyeonwol might have been able to continue this elusive speculation.

Seol Cheon-yu began to remove Hyeonwol’s shoe and even pull down his sock!

“No, wait…!”

“I apologize, sworn brother.

I’ll examine you for a moment.”

Hyeonwol, who had been resigned, startled and began to fidget again.

Though he had memories of living as a modern person in the distant past, he had already been accustomed to this world’s conservative lifestyle for decades.

Exposing his bare feet to others had been virtually nonexistent except when receiving bathing service as royalty, and that awkward sensation was beyond imagination.

The coolness of the air touching his foot made his entire body tense up.

As Seol Cheon-yu’s touch was added, a strange ticklishness even arose.

Looking up at Hyeonwol, who had become awkwardly posed while conscious of him, Seol Cheon-yu spoke seriously.

“It’s this swollen, how could you just leave it?

You must have been in much pain….”

“…Well.

……I thought it was a light sprain and let it pass….

It’s my fault.”

It’s not my ankle that’s in pain, it’s my heart!

Suppressing the urge to shout that out, Hyeonwol, with various emotions surging, merely wanted to bury his face in his hands.

As the head of Wolsigak and a prince of the empire, to be seen in such a state.

Even though the Wolsigak executives around were personally close to him, it was a matter of his pride.

Moreover, Seol Cheon-yu was….

Hyeonwol decided to stop thinking.

With steadfast reason, he managed to smile awkwardly and feign composure.

Hyeonwol’s red, swollen ankle was in such poor condition that even those unaware of the situation could see its severity at a glance.

Honestly speaking, it wasn’t that his bones or ligaments were severely damaged.

If they had been, he would have received proper treatment long ago.

Even if left like this, he wouldn’t become unable to use his leg, but because it was ‘that’ Seol Cheon-yu personally holding his ankle with a serious face, it appeared even more extreme.

As the Wolsigak people also became greatly worried, Hyeonwol realized they too had been swept up by Seol Cheon-yu.

But it was already too late to manage.

Yoon Je-eun, with a flustered expression, dazedly opened her mouth.

“Head, how on earth did this happen….

It doesn’t seem like you were just injured recently.

Anyway, rather than this, we should treat it first.

Head of the Medical Department, do you happen to have any gold wound ointment now….”

“I have it.”

As attention gathered at the firm voice, Seol Cheon-yu gestured to his subordinate, who had been standing quietly.

Seol Cheon-yu’s subordinate brought the bundle he had been carrying all along and laid it out on the reception room table.

Everyone, including Hyeonwol, who saw its contents, wore puzzled expressions.

There was a small box that appeared to be gold wound ointment, but besides that—it was full of packages seeming to contain all kinds of medicinal ingredients.

Setting aside the situation, there was no way to guess why on earth Seol Cheon-yu had brought such baggage in the first place.

Hyeonwol stared at the child smiling gently before him with eyes demanding an explanation.

“Aseol, what on earth are these?”

“Didn’t this younger brother say before that I would prepare medicinal tonics for hyung?

Due to lack of time, I haven’t been able to produce the finished product properly yet, but besides that, I brought some medicinal ingredients that might help with recuperation first.

I would be happy if you would accept them, though insufficient.”

…Medicinal tonics?

So that wasn’t empty talk?

Whether Hyeonwol’s mouth fell open or not, Seol Cheon-yu continued explaining.

“And, at that time as well, hyung’s gait seemed a little uncomfortable…….

With a dubious mind, I brought a plaster said to be a special treatment for injuries, and though my heart isn’t good that my guess wasn’t wrong, I’m glad I can provide belated treatment at least.”

Hyeonwol barely overheard the head of Wolsigak’s Medical Department, who had stealthily approached the table, glancing at the medicinal ingredient packages and murmuring in a dazed state, “No, just what kind of spiritual beast’s inner core is this….

Good heavens, this couldn’t be wild ginseng?

Wait, just how many more of these things are there….

If you add them up, the price….” etc.

He couldn’t hide his burdened expression.

The naturally arising grateful feelings and the absurd sentiment of ‘this much?’ mixed, making it hard to decide his attitude.

At this point, Hyeonwol had no choice but to clearly realize the seriousness of the situation.

What on earth does he want from me to be this devoted?

That protagonist!

In the original story, he was a guy who even subjugated Demonic Cult elders he needed to win over by force first….

No, I should view the original story separately now.

But still, can a person be this different?

“…To have such an undeservedly devoted sworn younger brother.

How can I even thank you….”

“You flatter me.

It’s just my pleasure to be of help to you, brother.”

A smile, blooming like a scattering of wildflowers.

As the hearts of all onlookers melted, Seol Cheon-yu opened the medicine box and, with his ever-careful touch, began to apply the ointment to Hyeonwol’s ankle.

Though his movements and gaze were seemingly simple and monotonous, the tenderness inherent in the act itself gently stirred the hearts of those watching.

However, those who suddenly realized that the one performing this act was none other than that Heavenly Demon had to suppress the goosebumps rising on their skin for an entirely different reason.

Hyeonwol neither knew nor wanted to know the feelings of the Wolsigak members, who were newly developing respect for their head.

He was too busy scrutinizing what implication might be in Seol Cheon-yu’s actions.

Hyeonwol first thoroughly discarded the original story’s descriptions and began to empathize with the various situations the young Seol Cheon-yu he knew might have experienced while growing up.

Then, despite his deliberation, the conclusion led to one thing.

…If a child who survived alone walking a thorny path had memories to use as a mental refuge, what would those be if not human warmth?

If one of those warm memories was with Hyeonwol himself, then it made sense that Seol Cheon-yu would act so familiarly right after reuniting.

Like the old man who had given Seol Cheon-yu his dead son’s name, Hyeonwol too was someone who had given him a name to live by in this world.

Perhaps, instead of the now-dead old man, he was trying to pour his heart out to Hyeonwol.

Of course, the matter of the Blood Cult and the unusual situation of a transaction between orthodox and demonic forces coexisted as problems… but still.

Having gone through a reasonably plausible assumption, Hyeonwol could calm his mind much more comfortably as he watched Seol Cheon-yu gently wrap his foot with clean cloth after applying the ointment.

If things were as he thought, there was no need to attach great significance to Seol Cheon-yu’s actions.

Not because Seol Cheon-yu was the protagonist, but as a person with righteousness, Hyeonwol didn’t feel like pushing away a child seeking human warmth.

“It’s done now, sworn brother.

As long as you apply the ointment frequently from now on, the injury will heal quickly.”

“Having you personally attend to me like this already feels completely healed….

I understand, so please sit comfortably first.

I’m embarrassed to be treated like this as the host.”

As Seol Cheon-yu, smiling, rose and sat across from Hyeonwol, Yoon Je-eun quickly had someone bring out refreshments.

It was already a bit late to open a serious conversation, but what did it matter?

Hyeonwol calmly brought the teacup to his lips and took in the young man sitting like a painting before him.

“…By the way, you really have good observational skills.

Though I say so myself, that young friend over there is quite skilled as a guard, so I was careful not to show it.

I kept quiet because I disliked unnecessary commotion, but it came back double.”

“My lord…

Are you saying you can arbitrarily decide whether to show signs or not?”

Hyeonwol, covering the sound of Kang Ryun grinding his teeth behind him with a cough, quickly continued.

“Anyway, having learned such high-level martial arts at such a young age, I can clearly see how much you must have suffered.

Aseol, shouldn’t you be taking better care of yourself with these tonics?

Precious things like these should properly be enjoyed by younger people.

If you don’t take care from a young age, you’ll suffer even faster later….”

Hyeonwol, unconsciously uttering words that weren’t those of a young person, grabbed his senses and trailed off.

Even as a polite refusal, it would sound excessive.

Still unable to escape his daze, he had made an uncharacteristic slip of the tongue.

Noticing his gaze clouded by the returning self-loathing, Seol Cheon-yu burst into small laughter.

“Haha, truly, sworn brother, you are….

Always so soft, what shall I do?

This younger brother is taking good care of himself, so please accept it comfortably.”

Meanwhile, the Wolsigak members watching this situation with open eyes couldn’t bring themselves to laugh.

Because watching Seol Cheon-yu’s attitude toward Hyeonwol, they felt an unusual intuition turn into conviction.

And simultaneously, they could also tell that the Heavenly Demon was greatly mistaken—love-blinded—about their head, the head of Wolsigak.

With a love-blinding layer dozens of sheets thick!

Soft?

The head of Wolsigak?

That Hyeonwol?

If they heard this, the people who would foam at the mouth numbered several in this room alone, and adding all of Wolsigak and the imperial palace officials, it would exceed hundreds?

No, adding ordinary soldiers including the Northern Iron Cavalry commander, the number would be thousands… tens of thousands…?

The faces of the Wolsigak members, filled with the desire to correct Seol Cheon-yu’s misconception, only paled.

Yoon Je-eun took the lead and openly grabbed her forehead.

There was absolutely no way to predict where today’s negotiation would flow.