17
Ep 17
It wasn’t only the Sword Empress who witnessed that scene.
From partway through, the Little Heavenly Demon, Hong Yeon, had also been watching.
She didn’t fully understand how things had started,
But one thing was clear—
Everything revolved around Yujin.
She let out a quiet sigh.
No matter how much time passed, the world didn’t change.
A rising figure would always be trampled by jealousy.
He had simply been lucky to avoid it until now.
Normally, he would have faced it countless times already.
But—
Hearing his voice at the end made her frown.
“…Why?”
She questioned it softly.
“It doesn’t matter. Even if I’m abandoned, I’ll hold on again.”
She had heard rumors before.
But never had she been this curious.
Why would someone go that far?
Hong Yeon tilted her cup, brows furrowed.
Logically—
It made no sense.
They were nothing more than insignificant people throwing complaints from the sidelines.
Someone like the Sword Empress wouldn’t even care about such things.
Unless—
He was ignorant.
But he wasn’t.
That made it worse.
Hong Yeon hated meaningless actions.
Things without value.
And yet—
Something strange was happening before her eyes.
“….”
And the fact that he did it where no one could see—
That was another issue.
If it were in front of everyone, it would be different.
But in the dead of night?
No one would even recognize it.
He would only attract more hostility.
She couldn’t understand his thinking.
“…That’s what it means to love.”
Then—
His words echoed in her mind.
For the first time—
She found it… not bad.
Even if it was foolish—
If it carried conviction—
Then it had value.
She watched everything silently,
Until she finished her drink.
At first, she thought he was just acting out of wounded pride.
But—
“…I like him.”
A man who could handle that martial art—
“…He’s impressive.”
“…And handsome.”
The words slipped out.
She corrected herself.
No—
Strong.
Still—
For someone with demonic energy,
He looked too clean.
Most were disfigured.
“…Is he hiding it?”
A thought crossed her mind.
She would have to check.
Not out of personal interest—
Just to confirm.
///
The fight ended with them dragging Heonmu away in disgrace.
I was exhausted.
The backlash was starting.
The heat from using demonic energy still lingered in my body, even as the night air cooled around me.
Faint light cast shadows across the ground.
The surroundings were quiet.
Still.
My vision blurred.
The sky and ground seemed to blend together.
Each step felt heavy.
Like dragging iron.
My stomach churned.
“…This is bad.”
Until now—
I had barely managed.
But this was my limit.
My body was breaking down.
Using energy like this—
Was destroying me from within.
Even elixirs couldn’t fix it.
“…I’ve learned how to draw it out… but not how to control it.”
Once released—
It wouldn’t stop.
If I didn’t use demonic energy—
My strength dropped drastically.
With it—
I reached mid-peak.
Without it—
Barely stable.
Just like in the game.
“…Damn it.”
Sweat ran down my face.
Cold air filled my lungs.
Then—
“…?”
A figure appeared before me.
White hair.
Black robes.
A sharp, clear voice.
“So you’re the one who used that technique and didn’t come to see me.”
Hong Yeon.
The Little Heavenly Demon.
Dangerous.
Unpredictable.
Someone who could kill me on a whim.
“…That would be me.”
“You’re stronger than I expected.”
Her gaze was cold.
Piercing.
“…Why are you here?”
“You stole that technique, didn’t you?”
“…Do you have proof?”
“…Shameless.”
Her robe fluttered.
Her presence overwhelmed everything around her.
“…I came to confirm it myself.”
Before I could react—
She was already behind me.
I hadn’t sensed it at all.
…That meant only one thing.
I couldn’t follow her movements.
“…Where did you learn it?”
“…There are others who awaken demonic energy.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“….”
“That level of skill isn’t something ordinary.”
“…Then?”
“So I’ll check myself.”
Her hand touched my back.
“…!”
She froze.
“…Interesting.”
Then stepped back slightly.
“How did you use that technique perfectly… with so little energy?”
“….”
“Not telling me?”
“….”
“Then I’ll investigate it myself.”
—Thud.
Before I could react—
She knocked me down.
Her shadow fell over me.
“….”
She followed my gaze—
Then froze.
“…What are you looking at?!”
“…You’re the one who got close.”
She quickly adjusted her clothes.
“…Turn around.”
“….”
“…Only two people have seen this mark.”
She fixed her robe.
Her face slightly flushed.
“…Done. Move your arm.”
“…?”
Something changed.
The pain—
Gone.
My body felt lighter.
“…What did you do?”
“Nothing special. Just adjusted your pressure points.”
“….”
“And stop overdoing it.”
“…What?”
“Your training.”
“…?”
She let out a small laugh.
“…You’re completely insane.”
“…What?”
“You’ve gone this far for her.”
“…?”
“Mixing energy like that… you should have destroyed yourself already.”
“….”
“You’ve just been lucky.”
“….”
“Rest properly.”
“….”
“…You really did all that for Cheon Hyerin, didn’t you?”
“….”
What kind of ridiculous conclusion is that?