Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Why Won't You Call Me?!
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"Next."
No matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn't figure out what he was thinking.
"Here you go."
I was cursing the Demonic Cult members for dragging their feet on work—even with Chae-chae and Jang-ryu's encouragement—when
"The Young Cult Leader is looking for you."
an elderly white-haired grandfather dressed in fine silk robes blending the Demonic Cult's signature red and black came to fetch me.
'I figured he'd avoid me for a while after my advice bruised his ego... So why's he summoning me now?'
"I-I think I need to go see the Young Cult Leader."
"Yeah, sorry we couldn't be more help."
"No, thank you for worrying."
I left the apologetic Jang-ryu and Chae-chae brothers behind and followed the grandfather.
'But what does this grandpa do around here?'
Surely they weren't forcing a man his age into menial servitude? That would be downright immoral.
Then again... this was the Demonic Cult. Maybe they would.
I couldn't just stand by and watch a kindly old man get exploited.
"Grandpa, mind if I ask you something?"
"Of course, child."
He paused mid-stride and turned to face me.
'No one's listening, right?'
I glanced around, confirmed we were alone, then whispered,
"What kind of work do you do in the Cult? If it's grueling or unfair, tell me. I'll convince the Young Cult Leader that exploiting a defenseless old man's labor is wrong somehow."
The grandfather burst into hearty laughter at my words.
Why was he laughing?
Had the shock terrified him?
As I gazed at him with concern, he finally caught his breath.
"I'm Elder Five Elements, the Young Cult Leader's personal secretary. I hear a new face joined while I was away?"
The Young Cult Leader's secretary?
And a Demonic Cult elder to boot.
No wonder the fabric on his robes felt so luxurious—not exactly servant attire.
Whew, at least he wasn't being exploited.
"Yes, I'm Seol. Oh, and please speak casually. I'm not even an official Cult member yet—just a temp handling the Young Cult Leader's errands."
"This is how I prefer it. Treat me like your own grandfather, no need for formalities."
...My own grandfather.
How was I supposed to treat a Demonic Cult elder like family?
"I-I'll try! Anyway, we should head to the Young Cult Leader first!"
I brushed past the awkwardness with a vague reply and quickened my pace toward his building.
Elder Five Elements watched Seol Cheon-seong vanish toward the Young Cult Leader's residence. He directed a fond smile at her retreating figure.
"When the Heavenly Demon said he'd raise a newborn all by himself, I was worried sick... But look at her. Smart as a whip and pretty as a picture."
A warm smile lit his face for a fleeting moment—then vanished.
"But..."
Deep worry shadowed his expression.
"When will I hear her call me 'Grandpa'?"
Elder Five Elements had a new mission on his hands.
Anyway, I was promptly hauled off to the Young Cult Leader.
'Wonder what grand task he's got this time...'
"Unroll those scrolls piled up there and hand them to me."
That was it. Just fetch the stack from the desk and bring them over.
'Couldn't he do this himself? It's not like it takes much time.'
"Next."
"Here you go."
I settled in beside the Young Cult Leader, repeating the routine: unroll, hand over.
'Way easier than fetching spring water or multiple meals, at least...'
One problem, though.
'It's so mindless, I'm bored out of my skull.'
Until he finished every scroll, all I could do was stand there holding the open ones.
'Do I really have to do this until the pile's gone?'
The thought alone was torture.
I fidgeted, then sneaked a glance at Red Cloud, engrossed in his work.
Snow-white skin and thick lashes.
Eyes that seemed sharp but glowed with a warm red hue.
A small face with sharp, defined features.
Handsome in a whole different way from Daddy.
If only his personality weren't so curt.
That blank expression made it easy to see why his underlings trembled at the mere mention of the Young Cult Leader.
He could say something like "I'll kill you" with that face and make it sound utterly casual.
"Looks like you've made some friends."
I'd been admiring his face when he noticed my stare and spoke up.
"Pardon?"
Startled, I blurted a reflexive reply. Eyes still on his scroll, Red Cloud continued.
"Jang-ryu and Chae-chae. When did you two get so chummy?"
"Oh, we just chatted a bit whenever our paths crossed."
"Didn't realize you were the type to strike up conversations. You barely say more than yes or no in front of me."
What was this? Was he picking on me?
"You mostly just give me orders, so there's no room to chat."
"I gave you time during meals, didn't I?"
"That was time to eat the food you provided."
I laid out my thoughts bluntly, and the Young Cult Leader looked momentarily at a loss for words.
"Fine. Since unrolling scrolls is your only task right now, this is perfect."
"Perfect for what?"
"Talk to me. Like you do with Jang-ryu and Chae-chae."
Their names kept coming up. Had they done something to offend him?
"I can't exactly treat the esteemed Young Cult Leader so casually."
I thought it was a solid excuse,
but
"Red Cloud."
He shifted his gaze from the scroll to me.
"That's my name."
Meeting those rose-red eyes, my mouth went dry for some reason.
"Call me by name, and I'll be your friend in return."
There was no need for that...
Red Cloud—'red clouds,' huh? It suited him perfectly.
Even down to the inscrutability.
"Even then, I'd still call you 'Lord Red Cloud' respectfully. It wouldn't feel casual."
"Then drop the formalities. Call me like Jang-ryu or Chae-chae."
How did I call them?
'Brother Chae-chae.'
'Brother Jang-ryu.'
The pet names flashed through my mind.
Brother... to him?!
No way in hell!
He had no idea I used "Brother" for them anyway. I'd never been with those two in front of him.
Heck, he might even freak out and pretend he never suggested it!
Emboldened, I flashed a confident smile.
"I call those two 'Brother.' You okay with the same?"
Of course he'd say no...
"Sure, whatever."
What? Sure?
Was he seriously telling me to call him "Brother"?
"Young Cult Leader, I think I misspoke—"
"Red Cloud Brother."
I tried to backpedal, but he beat me to it with a demonstration.
Why was he so gung-ho about this?
Wasn't he usually indifferent to anything not his problem?
Why those expectant eyes?
My sharp instincts screamed one thing.
No escaping this. I'd have to say it aloud to end it.
Fine. How hard could it be?
I'd called the brothers that plenty of times.
"Red Cloud Bro... *cough*!"
"......"
"S-sorry, throat's acting up. Ahem. Red Cloud Bro... *hack*!"
Seven years into this possessed life, and I'd just realized something.
I was allergic to "Red Cloud Brother."
"Could you give me some time to get used to it?"
"Until tomorrow."
He looked annoyed but cut me some slack.
"Thank you."
Phew. Crisis averted—for now.
With time, he'd probably forget all about it.
"That's enough for today. Your throat sounds rough. Go rest early."
Bickering with the Young Cult Leader had made the sky darken before I knew it.
Time flew whenever I was around him, strangely enough.
Especially today.
"Then I'm off!"
I bolted from his residence like my life depended on it.
"What on earth got into him?"
I shot a glare at the Young Cult Leader's door and let out a deep sigh.
I peeked into my room next, but Bbi-bbi still wasn't there.
'Bbi-bbi, you'll come tonight too, right? I hope so.'
It had only been one night sleeping in the Demonic Cult.
I still wasn't used to being alone.
'Won't fall asleep right away anyway. Might as well take a stroll nearby first.'
A pleasant breeze greeted me as I stepped out the building entrance.
"Ta-da!"