I've Been Waiting for You

"Phew... I guess I really have no talent."

Kim Yu-won muttered softly after mastering the heart method. Cheonha Yeon stared at him, doubting her own ears. There had to be some reason behind it, so she decided to ask.

"...Why do you think that?"

"It took me fifteen days to learn a heart method that others master in three. Doesn't that mean I'm talentless?"

His common sense was somehow off-kilter in places. He was oblivious to things anyone from the Murim world would know instinctively, yet at other times he displayed insight far beyond his years. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠The more she learned about him, the greater her interest grew.

She was about to explain that the more difficult the heart method, the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠longer it took to master, when a amusing idea struck her.

"Indeed. You have no talent. Of course, mastering a heart method on par with the Heavenly Demon Divine Art might put you ahead of your peers for now. But the moment you slack off even for a day, they'll catch up. You must never skip training."

Given his peculiar sense of normalcy, he might actually believe this nonsense. And sure enough—

"Yes. I won't bring shame to you, Heavenly Demon. I'll train diligently every day."

It was the first lie Cheonha Yeon had ever told—and the one that would change Yu-won's life.

"Good. I expect great things."

With a bright smile, she savored the moment she'd finally put one over on the cheeky brat.

For the remaining fifteen days, I trained under the Heavenly Demon. From the moment I mastered the heart method, brain energy invaded my body, making every circulation of demonic energy excruciatingly painful. But I was fine.

My stats were rising in real time, my belly was full, and watching myself grow stronger by learning basic martial arts from the Heavenly Demon was just too damn fun. Whether it was out of pity or whatever, she even gave me a rare-grade spiritual elixir, solving my absolute shortage of demonic energy once and for all.

"Status window."

The "30 years old" bit up front was meaningless now—gone. These weren't stats a mere seven-year-old could have. And seeing Mukroe Byeokryeok Singong shining brilliantly in my skill list made my chest swell with pride.

A genuine legendary skill. Among Earth's countless hunters, fewer than ten were said to possess one. Rarer than even an S-rank trait—and I'd acquired it just seven years into reincarnation.

'Ah... this is life.'

Yeah, with an S-rank trait like Five Lives, it had to hand out perks like this. Sure, I'd earned it by buttering up the Heavenly Demon relentlessly, but the trait had given me the opportunity.

'A skill I never could've learned without coming to the Murim world.'

My body still tingled annoyingly, but she'd said it would fade at 2 Stars. No choice but to train harder.

Hyeolcheonmu was a combat style that paired perfectly with any heart method, its grade matching that of the heart method itself. With Mukroe Byeokryeok Singong being legendary, Hyeolcheonmu benefited accordingly.

I wouldn't get arrogant over this absurd fortune. I'd refine it further.

'My goal is the Heavenly Demon.'

At least to stand by her side. That was my aim now.

Yu-won aced the Demonic Arts Academy exam, taking top honors. With talent acknowledged by the Heavenly Demon herself, legendary martial arts, and unyielding daily training to his limits—never missing a day, even if tricked—he surpassed those who'd started years earlier.

He didn't get complacent.

'As the Heavenly Demon said, I only won thanks to my superior arts...'

The thought of being overtaken the instant he stopped kept him vigilant. He approached every class with full seriousness and never skipped training during free time—not once.

The instructors grew oddly kind, and the highborn kids studying alongside him at the academy never picked fights, letting him focus purely on cultivation. Behind the scenes, though, discussions like this were unfolding.

"That kid... he's definitely the Cult Leader's disciple, right?"

One instructor broached it cautiously.

"My relative is the Sixth Elder... He said the ink-black lightning art is unique to our cult, and the manual's kept by the Cult Leader herself."

Another added credibility.

"I've watched the Cult Leader spar with the elders from afar. The moves that kid uses are identical."

Three men make a tiger. With three instructors convinced Yu-won was the Leader's disciple, word spread through the academy. Everyone thought the same.

'Don't touch that guy!'

The kids from the Eight Demonic Families and Twelfth Elder's sons, who'd plotted to punish the slave-born upstart for snatching top spot, scrapped their plans and turned meek as lambs.

Everyone Yu-won encountered at the academy either feared him or sucked up to make connections. In the end, he graduated top of his class with smooth relationships all around.

That planted the idea in his mind: Maybe Demonic Cult folks are kinder than I thought?

I'd worried about a school full of demons, but the Demonic Arts Academy was packed with surprisingly kind, good people. It really felt like those wuxia clichés—righteous sects full of villains, Demonic Cult full of the good guys.

"The academy top graduate chooses their post. Where do you want to go?"

The Chief Instructor, who'd always been kind during my time there, draped a golden badge over my shoulders and asked.

Top academy grads in the Heavenly Demon Cult could go anywhere they wanted. My answer had been set for eight years.

"I'd like to join the Heavenly Demon Guard."

Whispers of 'Knew it...' rippled around. The Guard was notoriously strict and grueling despite the prestige, so it wasn't popular. But everyone had expected me to pick it.

'Guess they've gotten to know me well.'

"Yu-won! Congrats!"

Cheers and whistles from my classmates as I descended the podium, golden badge in hand. Never happened back in Earth's school days. It was touching.

In the Murim world, fifteen meant adulthood, so the graduation ceremony ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠turned into a wild drinking binge. We all parted laughing.

Thus, I graduated the academy smoothly and was assigned to the Heavenly Demon Guard, receiving my uniform.

Gazing in the mirror while donning it, I saw my face—worn from eight years of hellish training at the academy.

'All that hardship really roughed up my looks.'

I'd been handsome once, but the academy grind had taken its toll. Anyway.

I shook off the silly thoughts, straightened the crisp uniform. Good clothes made me feel invincible.

First day reporting to the Heavenly Demon Guard. No way a newbie like me would be late—I arrived two hours early.

Someone might ask if two hours was overkill.

'It is.'

From experience, plenty of seniors showed up an hour early just to chew out rookies for being "late" and establish dominance from day one. Academy folks were nice, but this was the ruthless Heavenly Demon Cult. Better safe.

Plus, one more thing I was hoping for.

'Does she remember me?'

Just a month of training together. Academy top grad? They popped out one every year. No reason for special treatment.

Still, the human heart is sneaky. Deep down, I harbored: 'I hope she remembers me.'

Not skulking from behind like eight years ago—I strode boldly to the palace entrance where the Heavenly Demon resided.

With each step, my heart pounded harder. Guards saw my uniform and let me pass. I drew closer to her, one step at a time.

Finally, just one door away from her presence. A Heavenly Demon-level expert would sense anyone at the door instantly.

"Enter."

Her voice rang out, and I pushed open the door.

There she sat on the jade throne—unchanged from before, no, even more beautiful than back then.

I dropped to one knee and bowed my head, just as before.

"Demonic Path Conquers All, Ten Thousand Demons Submit! Kim Yu-won, newly enlisted in the Heavenly Demon Guard, pays respects to the Heavenly Demon!"

With my changed body, changed power, changed status, I faced her.

And the first words from the Heavenly Demon's lips.

"It's been a while, Yu-won. I've been waiting for you."

Her voice struck my heartstrings, set my chest racing—she remembered me.