Episode 16
Why don't you ever call for me?!
"Next."
No matter how much I think about it, I have no idea what he's thinking.
"Here it is."
I was being comforted by Chaechae and Jangryu, and badmouthing the slow-working Demon Sect members, when...
"The Young Sect Leader is summoning you."
An elderly, white-haired grandfather in silk robes of red and black, symbolizing the Demon Sect, came to find me.
'I thought the Young Sect Leader would be pissed off because of my advice and wouldn't call for me for a while... Why is he summoning me?'
"I think I should go see the Young Sect Leader."
"Okay, sorry I couldn't be of help."
"No, thank you for worrying."
Leaving the apologetic Jangryu and Chaechae behind, I followed behind the grandfather.
'But what does this grandfather do?'
He's not doing something messed up like using someone so old as a servant, right?
No, maybe it's possible if it's the Demon Sect.
I couldn't bear to watch a kind-looking grandfather being exploited.
"Grandfather, may I ask you one thing?"
"Please do."
At my question, the grandfather stopped walking and turned to look at me.
'No one's listening, right?'
I looked around to check that no one was there, and then asked in a low voice.
"By any chance, what kind of work do you do in the Demon Sect, grandfather? If you're doing something difficult or unfair, please tell me. I'll try my best to persuade the Young Sect Leader that exploiting the labor of a powerless old man is wrong."
At my words, the grandfather let out a hearty laugh.
Why is he laughing?
Is he in shock or something?
As I looked at him with a worried face, the grandfather finally stopped laughing.
"I'm Oh-haeng, an elder and secretary to the Young Sect Leader. I heard you joined us while I was away?"
The Young Sect Leader's secretary?
And a Demon Sect elder.
No wonder I thought the fabric was too luxurious for a servant.
Well, anyway, I'm glad he wasn't being exploited.
"Yes, I'm Seol. Oh, and you can speak informally. I'm not a member of the Demon Sect yet, I'm just temporarily working as the Young Sect Leader's attendant."
"I am comfortable this way. Don't worry about it, just treat me like I'm your grandpa."
...My own grandfather.
How can I think of a Demon Sect elder as my own grandfather?
"I-I'll try. For now, I think we should go to the Young Sect Leader!"
I gave him a vague answer to brush it off and quickly headed towards the Young Sect Leader's building.
* * *
Oh-haeng, who was watching Cheonseong disappear towards the building where the Young Sect Leader's residence was, smiled contentedly at her retreating figure.
"When the Heavenly Demon said he was raising a baby by himself, I was worried sick... But he raised her to be really sharp and sweet."
The contented smile on Oh-haeng's face disappeared in an instant as he muttered to himself.
"But..."
A deep worry settled on Oh-haeng's shadowed face.
"When will I be able to hear her call me 'Grandfather'?"
Oh-haeng had a new task.
* * *
Anyway, I got dragged over to the Young Sect Leader's place.
'I thought he was going to order me to do something big again...'
"Unroll those scrolls piled up there and hand them to me."
All he wanted me to do was to unroll the scrolls piled up on the right side of the desk where the Young Sect Leader was working and bring them to him.
'Can't he do this himself? It's not like it's a big deal.'
"Next."
"Here it is."
I sat down next to the Young Sect Leader and repeated the process of unrolling and handing over scrolls.
'It's way easier than fetching spring water or bringing him meals, but...'
There was one problem.
'It's just that I'm super bored because I have nothing to do.'
Until the Young Sect Leader is done with all the scrolls, all I can do is hold them open and wait. That's what I'm saying.
'Do I have to keep this up until all these scrolls are gone?'
Just thinking about it sucks.
I shuddered and peeked over at Jeok-un, who was working.
Snow-white skin and thick eyelashes.
Sharp-looking but warm red eyes.
Even his small face and distinct features.
He's a different kind of hot than my dad.
It'd be great if he wasn't so cold.
Looking at his blank face, I could see why the disciples freaked out just hearing the Young Sect Leader's name.
He threatens to kill people with that face, without even blinking.
"Looks like you've made some friends already."
I was in the middle of admiring Jeok-un's face when he opened his mouth, as if he had sensed my gaze.
"Huh?"
Surprised, I reflexively asked back, and Jeok-un continued speaking while keeping his gaze fixed on the scrolls.
"I'm talking about Jangryu and Chaechae. When did you guys get so close?"
"Well, we just bumped into each other and started talking, and it kinda happened."
"So you do know how to start conversations. I didn't know you could, since you only ever answer me when I talk to you."
What's going on? Is he trying to pick a fight with me or something?
"It's 'cause you're usually just ordering me around, Young Sect Leader, so I don't have time to chat."
"I think I gave you time to eat, too."
"If you give me time to eat, I'm gonna eat."
I told him what I thought without holding back, and the Young Sect Leader looked like he didn't know what to say.
"Fine, then you can do it now, since you don't have anything else to do besides unrolling the scrolls."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Try talking to me, like you did with Jangryu and Chaechae."
Why do you keep bringing up Jangryu and Chaechae?
Did Jangryu and Chaechae do something to piss off the Young Sect Leader?
"I can't treat the all-mighty Young Sect Leader as casually as Jangryu and Chaechae."
I thought I gave a perfectly plausible reason, but
"Jeok-un."
The Young Sect Leader turned his gaze from the scrolls to me.
"That's my name."
The moment I met his red rose-colored eyes, somehow I couldn't speak.
"While you're calling me by my name, I'll be your friend, too."
You really don't have to do that...
By the way, does Jeok-un mean 'red cloud'?
Somehow, it's the perfect name for the Young Sect Leader.
Even the fact that you can't figure him out.
"Even if I do, it won't be casual if I call you 'Jeok-un-nim'."
"Then call me casually, like you do with Jangryu and Chaechae."
How did I call Jangryu and Chaechae again?
'Chaechae, Orabeoni.'
'Jangryu, Orabeoni.'
The honorifics I used for them flashed through my mind.
Call the Young Sect Leader 'Orabeoni'?!
No way, never!
Anyway, the Young Sect Leader probably only said that because he didn't know I called Jangryu and Chaechae 'Orabeoni'.
Because I've never been with them in front of the Young Sect Leader in the first place.
He might freak out if he hears me call him 'Orabeoni' and tell me to forget about it!
I thought it was a good thing, and I smiled confidently.
"I call those two 'Orabeoni,' would you be okay with me calling you the same?"
Of course, he'll say no...
"Do whatever."
What? Do whatever?
Is he seriously telling me to call him 'Orabeoni' right now?
"Young Sect Leader, I think I misspoke..."
"Jeok-un, Orabeoni."
I hurriedly tried to change my words, but the Young Sect Leader took the initiative and demonstrated it himself first.
Why is he being so pushy?
Wasn't he normally indifferent to everything except his own work?
Why is he looking at me like he expects me to do it?
My sharp intuition told me.
That there's no way out of this.
This will only be over when I say it out loud.
Well, how hard can it be?
I called Jangryu and Chaechae that, too.
"Jeok-un, Ora... Cough!"
"......"
"My throat's a little scratchy. Ahem, Jeok-un, Ora... Keh!"
In my seven years of living as Seol, I realized.
That I'm allergic to saying 'Jeok-un, Orabeoni'.
"Could you maybe give me some time to adjust?"
"I'll give you until tomorrow."
Jeok-un didn't look happy about it, but he let it slide.
"Thank you."
Phew, I managed to dodge that bullet for now.
Maybe he'll just forget about it after a while.
"Let's stop here for today. Your throat doesn't seem too good, so go get some rest."
While I was bickering with the Young Sect Leader, I noticed that it had already gotten dark.
It's weird, I lose track of time when I'm with the Young Sect Leader.
Especially today.
"I'm outta here!"
I bolted out of the Young Sect Leader's place.
* * *
"What the heck is making him act like this?"
I glared at the Young Sect Leader's door and sighed heavily.
Soon, I averted my gaze, opened my door, and peeked inside, but Pippi was still not to be seen.
'Pippi, you'll come again today, right? Please?'
It's only been one day since I started spending the night in the Demon Sect.
I'm still not used to sleeping alone.
'I probably won't be able to fall asleep right away anyway, so I'll just take a walk around here before I go in.'
I was just heading out of the building, enjoying the nice breeze...
"Ta-da!”
