Even if there are no traces, it would be best to assume that the mysterious force that annihilated the Baek family was the demonic cult. Although the estate disappeared, suspicions remained, and the existence of the spell cast on me could be used as evidence.

‘However…’

There is a cause for everything. This case should be no different.

‘Why did the Baek family incur the wrath of the demonic cult?’

Therefore, a fundamental question inevitably arose.

If my memory serves me right, the Baek family was a small to medium-sized clan, not particularly large. As my master said, they were affiliated with the righteous faction, but they couldn’t be considered a great noble clan like the Namgung or Tang families.

‘Was there some connection that Haheun didn’t know about?’

Enough for the demonic cult, which reportedly hadn’t been active for 100 years, to specifically target and annihilate them? No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t come up with a plausible reason.

‘What could be so special about a small clan.’

Moreover, there was something even stranger.

“But…”

As I opened my mouth, the adults’ gazes instantly focused on me. Amidst their complex looks, I hesitantly asked.

“Assuming they are indeed the demonic cult, why… did they only spare me? I knew nothing about family matters and hadn’t even learned martial arts. There must have been better candidates if they wanted to use someone, so why keep only me alive… and even cast such a spell on me…”

I couldn’t finish my sentence properly as I saw my master’s expression becoming increasingly devastated.

“…I’m sorry.”

“No, you don’t need to apologize.”

Though he said it was alright, his expression was still not good.

As my master then reached out and caressed my cheek as if dealing with something regrettable, I had no choice but to swallow the rest of my words.

It’s not that these newly learned facts aren’t shocking. But it wasn’t as painful as my master and the other adults here seemed to worry.

Strictly speaking, this wasn’t ‘my’ affair.

This was merely something that had happened to the original owner of this body I had possessed.

It was my business in the sense that I would suffer if it wasn’t resolved, but it didn’t mean I was deeply emotionally invested.

‘I don’t even remember the faces of the annihilated family members.’

But if I said that honestly, it would cause big trouble.

The head of Jemun-gak, who had been alternately looking at my expression and my master’s, heaved a deep sigh and spoke.

“This curse doesn’t simply control actions. It’s not something that can be controlled immediately after planting it either. It’s left to take root for a year or two, and only when it has completely permeated can it be moved according to the sorcerer’s will. However, once it has permeated like that, it can control not only actions but even emotions… Yes. Even saying this, I too don’t understand why they would go to such lengths.”

As his words concluded, the room simultaneously fell silent.

In the stillness, I thought carefully.

About the past that needed to be thoroughly investigated now that I had taken the place of the body’s owner, and about the future that might have disappeared due to making choices different from the original story.

The irrational obsession towards the master, the endless hatred towards Hahyun, the distrust towards the elders of the sect, and the behavior of not trying to tell anyone the truth despite being in so much pain.

All of those things…

Judging from the words of the head of Jemun-gak, everything was open to doubt.

Among these adults who showed such deep concern for their disciple, the reason why ‘Haheun’ couldn’t find stability and had to wander until the end was actually due to external interference.

‘But.’

When I thought this far, the problem returned to square one.

What on earth was it all for?

It was hard to think that the demonic cult would blatantly target Hwasan.

Because who could have predicted that none other than Hwasan’s First Sword would pick up a child from an annihilated family he met on the road and take them as a disciple?

‘The meeting was purely coincidental after all.’

I don’t know much about the demonic cult, but if they wanted to plant a spy in Hwasan, they would have used a more sophisticated method, being an organization.

The idea that they waited for such coincidences to overlap and events to unfold seemed worse than the worst plan, no matter how I thought about it.

Then what did they intend to use ‘Haheun’ for?

This was again back to square one.

‘The family is already annihilated without a trace, and I have no memory of it, so there’s no way to investigate.’

Logically, I should be the person who knows the most about the Baek family here. Since even I had no memory, no one could know if there had been any connection between the Baek family and the demonic cult.

“Anyway.”

At that moment, the Great Elder spoke up as if to change the atmosphere.

“What’s important now is something else. So, can you break that curse?”

“Hmm.”

The head of Jemun-gak let out a low sigh with a complicated expression at that question.

“It’s impossible after it has completely permeated, but since it hasn’t yet, breaking it should be possible. However…”

The head of Jemun-gak added with a deep sigh.

“I can’t do it. It won’t be easy either.”

His tone was bitter, as if he didn’t want to say such things.

“I told you. It’s a powerful spell. Isn’t it obvious just from hearing about it? I’m actually amazed that this child not only sensed something was off since last year but even realized its existence on their own. Normally, one would only realize something was wrong after it had taken root.”

“Is it that serious? No, so what needs to be done to break it that even you can’t do it? Especially when you know about it in such detail?”

“If knowing everything meant being able to do everything, would I still be human? Even you must have diseases that you know the treatment for but can’t completely cure. If I could do it, I would have done it immediately.”

The head of Jemun-gak frowned and after a moment’s hesitation, declared.

“This… can only be broken by the person themselves.”

As he said this, he turned to look at me. I opened my eyes wide. The Great Elder, who had turned to look at me along with the head of Jemun-gak, narrowed his brow and asked again.

“What? By themselves? Again, when just touching it nearly drove them to madness?”

“That’s why I said it won’t be easy.”

The head of Jemun-gak answered with a sigh, rubbing his forehead as if he had a headache. The room fell silent again. The head of Jemun-gak slowly raised his eyes, looked around, and then opened his mouth like a doctor announcing an incurable disease.

“We can help. But this can be seen as similar to attaining enlightenment.”

“Enlightenment, you say?”

“Yes. We can stand guard to allow concentration without worry, and burn incense to soothe the sensitized blood and energy, but breaking through the wall is something that must be done alone. To control someone means to grasp and manipulate their most intimate parts. That’s why those who use soul-controlling techniques are particularly despised. Unless using evil spells, it’s natural that no one can touch another’s inner self.”

As soon as he finished speaking, as if on cue, all the adults’ gazes turned to me.

They were looks filled with complex emotions – serious worry, anger at not being able to do anything, sympathy for me being in such a situation.

However, I…

Unexpectedly, among those complex gazes, I could read one fundamental emotion lying at the very bottom.

It was affection.

The feelings of caring for a disciple, or a sect member, and ultimately believing in the innocence of a sect disciple despite momentary doubts due to the fact that they were under a spell from the demonic cult.

‘…I see.’

I realized one fact.

Shapeless emotions don’t solve problems in practical terms. Instead, they can provide the strength needed to reach a solution.

That was a fact my family back on Earth had taught me.

The current me has lost the people who taught me that. But the place I thought was empty due to that loss was, in fact, already filled with a new family.

‘It feels a bit new all of a sudden.’

At that moment, I felt like I might be able to do it.

And I had to.

‘It’s something I have to resolve anyway.’

If I don’t, the me inside this body will inevitably… be ruined someday.

I briefly recalled the ‘Haheun’ I saw in my dream. Though it’s probably a future that has now disappeared, I didn’t want to let this body go through such things again.

So I was the first to break the heavy silence that had continued.

“Then I will do it.”

“…Heun.”

“I can’t live being controlled by others. If there’s a way, this disciple will somehow manage to do it.”

I suddenly looked around at the talismans surrounding the bed.

And looking straight at the head of Jemun-gak, I asked.

“Please tell me the method.”

A few days later, I sat alone in a small room located deep within Jemun-gak.

A heavy scent, not entirely bad but not quite pleasant either, filled the room. Hazy smoke rising from the incense burner obscured my vision.

‘They said it’s an incense that dulls the sharpened blood and energy.’

Even while blending and burning the incense, the Great Elder didn’t seem very willing. He said it was too strong an incense for children my age.

But sometimes even strong things can become medicine. Since my blood and energy have already been distorted once, suppressing their sharpness should be fine just this once.

Of course, I didn’t say that in front of the Great Elder. If I had, I’d obviously get scolded, so I kept my mouth shut.

In the quiet room where two candles flickered softly, I recalled the advice of the head of Jemun-gak.