A Broad and Generous Heart
A towering man wearing a black half-mask blocked his path.
‘This man is…’
It was the one living with Yeon-woo. But why on earth was he here already...?
"Demonic Cultists, through and through."
At the man's sharp click of his tongue, Guan Hyeok flinched and stiffened.
"From the grown-ups down to the children, not a shred of benevolence or righteousness can be found among you."
Woon-hyeon gave a light, flicking tap to the wooden sword frozen in the boy's indecisive grip. Guan Hyeok's blade was thrown wide without the slightest resistance. Frantically lowering his arms, Guan Hyeok stumbled back a step.
An old man living with Yeon-woo.
‘They clearly said he was a beggar...’
If he were truly a beggar, Guan Hyeok ought to hold the superior station. Yet somehow, standing before this man, he could not bring himself to act insolent in the slightest. No, if anything—
"Child."
"Y-yes...?"
Without realizing it, Guan Hyeok pulled his wooden sword behind his back and clasped his hands behind him. Even knowing the man was allegedly a beggar, he could not stop himself from shrinking back.
"Any swordsman worth his salt must bear the weight of every strike he delivers." Woon-hyeon took a single step toward him. "Can you bear the responsibility of your sword?"
A heavy, suffocating pressure loomed over his head, forcing Guan Hyeok to swallow hard once more.
"I-I..."
Should he make an excuse? Should he deny everything? Looking down at the flustered boy who could offer no answer, Woon-hyeon let out a low sigh.
‘And Yeon-woo...’
"Waaaah, it hurts..."
She was whining, clutching at the sore spots where she had been struck, but fortunately she did not seem seriously injured. It was likely thanks to her opponent being merely a ten-year-old child as well.
Just then, an urgent voice echoed across the courtyard.
"Hyeok...!"
Rushing in from the entrance of the martial training ground were Guan Yun, the Patriarch of the Guan Clan, and the warrior who had been sent to fetch Yeon-woo. Guan Yun's face was pale with shock and bewilderment. Small wonder, given that while discussing the assassins targeting Yeon-woo, Woon-hyeon had abruptly declared, "She'll end up dead by your son's hand before any assassin reaches her," and vanished on the spot. Right on his heels came the frantic report that Hyeok had dragged Yeon-woo to the training ground.
"Just what in heaven's name...!"
Guan Yun's gaze swept swiftly across the disheveled training ground. Two wooden swords lay cast aside on the dirt, Yeon-woo was sniffling in tears, and Hyeok looked on the verge of bursting into sobs before the masked man. Grasping the situation in an instant, Guan Yun pressed a hand to his throbbing temples.
"Hyeok."
"F-Father... th-that's not what happened..."
"Hold your tongue. You are in the wrong here."
"...!"
"Take Hyeok to my quarters," Guan Yun commanded the warrior beside him.
"Yes, Patriarch."
The warrior escorted Guan Hyeok away. Guided firmly by the martial artist's hand on his back, Guan Hyeok finally broke into quiet, sniffling tears.
Watching his son leave, Guan Yun then approached Woon-hyeon. He bowed his head and brought his hands together in a clasp of greeting and apology.
"I have no face to show you. To think such an incident would occur so shortly after our agreement."
"It seems you ought to set your own household in order before meddling in external affairs."
"I shall take care that it does not happen again."
Guan Yun lowered his eyes. Yeon-woo had already scurried to Woon-hyeon's side, clinging tightly to the hem of his robes while glaring at Guan Yun with guarded eyes.
"Are you all right, child?"
"I hate your son."
"I am so sorry. I should have paid closer attention..."
Ever since Yeon-woo had been brought in, Guan Yun had known that Guan Hyeok harbored deep resentment over the decision. Yet because Hyeok had never openly voiced his dissatisfaction—presumably believing he had no choice but to abide by the clan's decree—Guan Yun had assumed it would stay that way.
"I was careless."
"I hate him so much!"
"I will grant you whatever you desire. Would you like me to send a mountain of snacks?"
"..."
Yeon-woo's lips twitched. Yet, thoroughly sulking, she refused to answer and turned her head away with a sharp huff.
Still, Yeon-woo was Yeon-woo. For someone to whom food was of paramount importance, squandering an opportunity to score a feast of treats was simply unthinkable.
"Send them to my house."
"Yes, of course. I'll send plenty of everything you like."
"No dried fruit, though... I only eat that in mister's room."
"Right, right. Of course."
‘Send them to me through the errand runner,’ Woon-hyeon transmitted secretly via qi.
Guan Yun looked at him in surprise.
‘A few snacks will serve as helpful encouragement during her training.’
Ah. Guan Yun remembered that Woon-hyeon had asked to cut back her meals and snacks for the sake of her training. Having made the offer in a rush to soothe Yeon-woo's tears, Guan Yun felt an awkward flush of embarrassment.
‘Understood. But what about Yeon-woo's temper...?’
‘Just send them. I will see that your intentions are made clear.’
Guan Yun gave a curt nod and straightened his posture.
"Then I shall return to the Family Head Hall. Please travel safely."
"See to the matters we discussed."
Guan Yun offered a brief fist-and-palm salute, then turned on his heel. Once he had departed, Woon-hyeon held out a hand to the still-pouting Yeon-woo.
"Let us head back."
Yeon-woo grasped his hand. "Okay."
With that, the two departed the training ground. Even as they crossed the estate grounds, Yeon-woo huffed and puffed in indignant fury the more she replayed the injustice in her mind.
Just as they were about to step through the main gates, a frantic shout stopped them.
"L-Lady Yeon-woo...!"
Someone was sprinting toward them at full pelt. It was the young attendant page serving Guan Hyeok.
Having sprinted across the vast courtyard, the page boy bent double, panting breathlessly for several long moments before them. Wiping away dripping sweat, he extended a small pouch toward Yeon-woo.
"You... you left this behind."
Yeon-woo took the pouch, tilting her head. "What's this?"
"The dried fruit you entrusted to me earlier. And..." The page cast a wary glance around before leaning in and whispering, "...the item I promised you."
"...?"
A promise?
Yeon-woo untied the cord to check inside.
"Ah!"
Inside rested a handful of dried fruit and three strips of beef jerky. Not the two they had agreed on, but three!
"You...!" Yeon-woo stared at the page with sparkling eyes. "You're a really good guy!"
The page scratched the back of his head, offering a shy, bashful chuckle. "Please keep it a secret from my young master. He'd skin me alive if he found out."
"Uh-huh, totally!"
Yeon-woo fished out a piece of dried fruit and held it out to him.
"A-Are you giving this to me?"
"Yeah. Eat it."
"Th-Then with gratitude..."
Without refusing, the page took the fruit and popped it eagerly into his mouth.
Here on the rugged fringes of the Hundred Thousand Mountains where the Guan Clan resided, procuring provisions was never easy. Even though the Guan family possessed a long lineage within the Demonic Cult, snacks were rare luxuries, even to the servants of the household. That was precisely why preserved foods like jerky and dried fruits were the best they could usually manage.
Munch, smack.
Watching the page wolf it down in the blink of an eye, Yeon-woo fished out three more pieces of dried fruit and offered them up.
The boy's eyes went wide as saucers, darting between the fruit and Yeon-woo in disbelief. "Uh, er..."
"Eat up. I like jerky better anyway."
"Ah..."
He cupped both hands to receive them. Holding the precious dried fruit, his fingers trembled as if he were committing some grand sacrilege. Watching the scene in silence, Woon-hyeon gently took Yeon-woo's hand.
"Let us be on our way."
"Okay! We're leaving, bye-bye!"
Yeon-woo and Woon-hyeon turned back toward the path. Leaving the deeply moved page behind, they had taken only a few steps when—
"E-Excuse me...!"
The boy's desperate call made them pause and look back once more. Pattering up to them on quick footsteps, the page blurted out, "The y-young master... he's only like that because he lost his elder brothers...!"
"Huh?"
"H-He was so close with his older brothers, but they both... met an untimely end in Demon Dragon Hall..."
"..."
"Th-That's why! He wanted revenge so badly! He said he had to uncover the truth behind his brothers' deaths and avenge them! That's why he was so determined to enter Demon Dragon Hall...!"
The page dropped his head low, clutching the dried fruit Yeon-woo had given him tightly against his chest.
"The young master doesn't truly hate you, Lady Yeon-woo. It's only that... he was so bitter about being denied his place in Demon Dragon Hall..."
Truth be told, his young master was someone who longed for friends his own age. On these remote outskirts, there were scarcely any children of Guan Hyeok's age, leaving him without anyone he could truly call a companion. Having grown up doted on by his older brothers, the void left in their wake had carved an immense loneliness into Guan Hyeok's heart. It was the very reason he kept a humble servant boy like himself by his side—simply because they were of similar age.
"I'll speak to the young master on your behalf and put in a good word. I-I am truly sorry for what happened today...!"
The page bowed deeply from the waist. No matter the circumstances, it was he who had caught Yeon-woo and ushered her into the training ground. Stricken with guilt, he had endured a harsh scolding from the kitchen cook just to sneak out an extra piece of jerky for her. Yet Yeon-woo had shared her precious treats with him in return. And not just one, but four whole pieces.
"I get it now!"
Above the page's head, hung low in guilt, rang a bright, cheerful voice. Hesitantly, the boy lifted his gaze.
Pat.
The boy jumped as a small hand firmly clapped down onto his shoulder.
"So what you're saying is that the son is actually a good person, right?"
The page blinked in confusion. "...Pardon?"
"The son! Aren't you trying to tell me he's a good guy deep down?" Yeon-woo tilted her head, her clear, innocent eyes blinking back at him.
Meeting that unclouded gaze, the page bowed his head again, his voice small. "...Y-yes, I suppose so..."
"Then that's all that matters!"
"...?"
The boy looked up. Underneath the clear azure sky, her ringing voice echoed with absolute certainty.
"I'll forgive him! Yeon-woo has a very big heart, after all!"
Those eyes were completely pure, devoid of even a speck of malice. Reflected in the attendant page's wide eyes, Yeon-woo thumped her chest with utter pride, declaring her benevolence with a radiance that outshone everything under the sun.