Episode 12
Kid Ghost
‘Who is it at this hour?’
Someone was knocking on my door.
‘The only one who knows I’m here is the Sect Leader, right?’
But is there anyone who would come looking for me?
Thinking that, I became very wary of what was beyond the door.
It’s not yet time for those guys from the Sichuan Tang Clan to be moving…
One of the reasons I hid my identity and entered the Demonic Cult was to prepare for the situation where the Sichuan Tang Clan members would target me earlier than in the novel.
‘I’m not the Cheon Seong from the original story. So it’s okay if the novel’s content changes.’
But I just entered the Demonic Cult today. No matter how fast rumors spread, it’s too early for it to reach the ears of the Tang Clan.
Anyway, if it’s not them who came to find me now, then?
Could it be… the Sect Leader?
No matter how I think about it, the only person who could come to this place is the Sect Leader.
What is he trying to order me to do, even coming to my quarters?
I briefly considered pretending to be asleep, but since I didn’t think the lonely feeling would go away even if I slept alone, I decided to respond to his call to change my mood.
“Is that you, Young Sect Leader?”
I put on an outer robe over my pajamas and opened the sliding door.
Then, a transparent beak popped out through the opened door.
‘…Wait, a transparent beak, could it be?’
“Pippi?”
“Ppi! Ppiik! (Whew, I'm beat from chasing you!)”
Pippi must have had as tiring a day as I did, as it collapsed onto the floor as soon as it entered the room.
“Pippi, where have you been?”
The moment I saw Pippi, I felt a huge wave of relief, like meeting someone from back home.
Overcome with affection, I scooped up Pippi, who had collapsed on the floor, and hugged him tightly.
“Ppiik! Ppik! (Hey! Too much affection! Let go of me!)”
I could feel Pippi struggling to escape from my arms, but I ignored it and headed to the bedding with him.
“I was dreading sleeping alone, actually! This is great! Come on, Pippi, let's share a blanket tonight!”
“Ppiik? Ppik-ppik! (Cuddle up? Gross! No thanks!)”
Pippi shuddered at the suggestion of sleeping together.
“I'm used to sleeping with my dad. I've never slept alone before. And this place...it's not home...”
When I made a gloomy face, Pippi, who had been kicking the blanket as if it would rather die than sleep together, obediently lay down, resting its head on the pillow.
“Ppiik ppik! (Don't forget, a bird needs his wings! I need my pillow!)”
“Okay! We can share a pillow, no big deal!”
“Ppiik! (Ack! My wings!)”
“Ah, sorry. It was a mistake.”
I must have accidentally laid my head on Pippi’s wings because I was too happy.
When I glanced at Pippi apologetically, Pippi held out its drooping wings in front of me.
“Ppik. Ppikbi! (Ow... I think you broke my wing! If I can't fly, it's all your fault! You hear me?)”
‘Seriously, this sharp-tongued bird!’
“Don’t exaggerate!”
I laughed happily and lay down in one blanket, holding Pippi in my arms.
Did Pippi’s presence give me stability?
Sleepiness gradually washed over me.
And so, I fell into a sweet sleep, holding Pippi.
* * *
“Hmm-nya…. Dad, the carrot is too big….”
“Ppik. Ppiik. (Man, you're a noisy sleeper.)”
While it was still dark, Pippi looked at Cheon Seong, who was talking in his sleep, disapprovingly.
‘Somehow, I ended up being held by this guy…’
Contrary to expectations that it would be very awkward or unpleasant, I felt an incredible sense of calm.
‘I've always been on edge, watching my back...’
Cheon Seong’s embrace was so comfortable that my stiff muscles melted away, leaving me feeling totally relaxed.
‘Besides, it’s familiar. I feel like I’ve slept this close to this guy sometime before.’
A strange image flashed through Pippi's mind.
A dark space, something wriggling.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
The sound of a heart beating rhythmically.
Pippi didn't know what it was, but it felt...warm.
‘I’m sleepy.’
Pippi drifted off to sleep, the comforting rhythm lulling him.
* * *
“Huff... Puff...! Young Sect Leader, I've brought breakfast.”
As soon as dawn broke, I was drenched in sweat from lugging breakfast up to the Sect Leader.
After waking up, I had been alone, unlike before going to sleep, because Pippi, who had slept on the pillow with me, had disappeared without a word.
‘I definitely slept together, but where did Pippi disappear to? Did it fly off somewhere?’
As I opened the door to look for Pippi, I saw the maids rushing around with breakfast.
"Oh, right, I'm the Young Sect Leader's servant here, aren't I?"
I better hurry before I get in trouble for being late with breakfast!
I went straight to the maids, received the breakfast tray, and moved it to the Sect Leader’s room.
I was sweating buckets.
But the Sect Leader's response was ridiculous.
“It’s too salty.”
The Sect Leader, who had picked up a side dish and eaten it, put down his chopsticks as if dissatisfied.
“Aren't you going to eat it?”
“No, I intend to eat. What you said yesterday really stuck with me. Gotta eat well to stay healthy and work hard, right?”
Then why'd you put down your chopsticks?
As I stared blankly at him, he stared back at me in the same way.
‘Just eat your food. Why are you staring like that? It’s making me uncomfortable.’
“Then take it back.”
“Bring what back?”
“A tray that I'll actually enjoy.”
‘Is he telling me to bring a new tray because the side dishes are a bit too salty for his taste?’
“All of this again?”
Carry this heavy tray back again and bring a new tray instead?
“Yes.”
I felt my anger flare, but the second I met the Sect Leader's blood-red eyes, I knew I had to back down.
Is he trying to torture me, or is it just my imagination?
Cheon Seong, calm down. If you get on his bad side, you’ll be kicked out of the Demonic Cult right away.
I just have to suck it up.
“Yes, sir. I'll get a new one.”
I gritted my teeth and carried the tray, which was as big as my body, to convey the Sect Leader’s request to the maids.
If I didn't have to hide who I am, I'd make mincemeat out of that guy!
The weight of the tray was killing me, and I glared at the Sect Leader, grinding my teeth.
“Do you have anything left to say to me?”
But what are the chances that I would make eye contact with him at that moment?
He usually doesn’t even glance at me unless he’s giving instructions.
Why did I have to make eye contact when I was glaring at the Sect Leader!
“No, nothing.”
I smiled awkwardly at him to smooth things over.
But he examined my face even more closely than before.
"You say that, but your face says something else."
‘Can this guy read minds or something?’
I avoided his sharp gaze and continued to speak as if I didn’t know anything.
"It's just...the tray is heavy. I was glaring at it."
“Am I a tray?”
But despite my efforts, the Sect Leader pointed to his face with his slender fingertips and asked.
“I'll be going then.”
Unable to find any more words to answer, I turned my back on him as if nothing had happened and quickly opened the door.
I could feel his eyes burning into my back as I carried the tray out, but I kept my cool.
‘Thankfully, he’s not saying anything more.’
The only thing that got to me was the way he was staring at me as I closed the door – I couldn't read his expression.
‘I was sure that I felt a little closer to the Sect Leader yesterday when I took care of his meal, but was I wrong?’
I'm never doing that again!
“I've brought the new meal... Huff...”
I conveyed his feedback on the side dishes and barely managed to bring a new tray.
Doing that twice in a row had me completely winded, and my arms and legs were shaking.
Still, I thought he would eat well this time, but.
“This is too bland. No flavor.”
“Yes? But you said it was salty a moment ago.”
“Again.”
And so, the third tray carrying began.
“Young Sect Leader, you son of a bitch….”
Words I never thought I'd say were pouring out of me.
‘Why did I have to open my big mouth and tell him not to skip meals? Now look at me!’
How could every single tray be wrong?
Unless he’s deliberately trying to torment me.
No, even if he's doing this on purpose, I have to put up with it. I have to stay hidden.
"Ugh... This is why you should keep your mouth shut."
And you need a decent boss.
Why did I have to end up as the servant to the pickiest guy in the whole Demonic Cult?
As I was cursing myself and struggling with the tray, the weight suddenly lifted.
“At this rate, you’ll die before the investigation results come out, you know?”
“You’re telling me.”
When I turned my head, I saw two red heads holding the tray instead of me.
‘Huh? The Gochujang Twins!’
Jangryu, the one with the long hair (unlike Chaechae), took pity on me and grabbed the tray.
Chaechae stood beside him, looking at me with pity – I was drenched in sweat.
“Why are you helping me?”
Weren’t these guys supposed to hate me?
Jangryu answered, looking a little awkward.
"It's bad enough to die young, but it's even worse to suffer like this before you go."
‘These guys! Why do they keep assuming I’m going to die since before?’
But I didn't say anything.
I could forgive them anything as long as they carried that tray!
“Thanks! I was just thinking that if I died, I'd come back as a vengeful ghost and haunt this place.”
"Leave us out of it! I'm terrified of ghosts!"
Chaechae shuddered as if he got goosebumps just from hearing the words.
“Deal. Just get it to that building.”
“Okay.”
Haha, naive guys.
I took full advantage of the situation and let the twins do all the work.
“If you have any questions, ask us. We’ll tell you before you die.”
Jangryu carried the tray with one hand and smiled kindly.
Seriously, I’m not going to die.
It feels strange because they keep saying I’m going to die, die, die.
But maybe I’ll need their help someday.
“Okay. I’ll definitely ask.”
"Hey, you are younger than us, right? You're talking to us like we're friends."
"Just leave it here. You guys should get out of here! You'll get in trouble if the Young Sect Leader sees you helping me."
Before Chaechae could start pulling rank, I quickly changed the subject and shooed them away.
“Okay, got it!”
“See you later, Kid Ghost!”
No, seriously, who are you calling a ghost?
I’m not dead yet, and I’m not going to die….
And so, the naive Gochujang Twins ran out of the building without looking back.
If he rejects the tray again this time, I might really bite the Sect Leader.
I gritted my small teeth.
Even that heartless, picky bastard wouldn't send it back again, would he?
I calmed my mind and entered the room where the Sect Leader was.
“I have brought the meal.”
I confidently placed the tray in front of him.
“The taste is alright.”
Fortunately, this time the seasoning suited his taste, and he didn’t tell me to bring the tray again.
Yes, passed!
I was cheering inwardly when,
“Here.”
The Sect Leader handed me a glass filled with water.
Is he telling me to drink it?
“Thank you.”
I was thirsty from carrying the trays, so I drank the water without hesitation.
“Kyah!”
I'd drained the glass.
He pointed to the glass in my hand with his eyes.
“Fetch water.”
