“You asked for time.”

He hesitated, adding cautiously as if fearing reproach like a timid child, “I thought it might be troubling if you knew I was here for no reason.”

“So, you ran away?”

“…Sorry. Actually, I could just endure it, but I was worried you might disappear.”

“Young master.”

The moment I looked at him, I felt like a fool for continuously contemplating. My ponderings seemed insignificant, as all the things I had done for Danmokbi felt futile when faced with her hesitancy.

However, watching Danmokbi hesitate while avoiding eye contact, I realized that all my worries were nothing.

‘That person looked at me so directly, and I kept looking elsewhere.’

I thought in terms of my perspective, imposing my idea of justice and being disappointed because things didn’t turn out the way I envisioned.

He wasn’t the overly compassionate and universally loved, just and righteous Danmokbi I had envisioned. But he also wasn’t the terrifyingly evil Danmokbi who only dreamed of sinister deeds, as depicted in the original work.

He was simply Danmokbi from the beginning.

Realizing this, the answer naturally came to me. I smiled wistfully and said,

“I won’t return to the original world.”

At my words, Danmokbi raised his head with a frowning face, as if asking what I meant. I lightly shook my head.

“I’m not going anywhere. Don’t worry, young master.”

“That’s…”

“And don’t pay attention to me anymore. My mind is made up.”

“How…?”

Danmokbi’s dark pupils trembled. I took steps toward him.

‘I was foolish. Trying to change this fate, even if I had to rewrite the novel.’

If I could provide a harmonious home and a gentle growth process to the person I love, it would undoubtedly be a good thing.

But could the Danmokbi I created by rewriting the novel, according to my tastes, truly love me, and could it be the Danmokbi I love?

“Because I love you.”

There was absolutely no way.

“Yeon-ah.”

Danmokbi’s trembling pupils shook in a different way than before. The tip of his thin eye tail turned red. Then, tears welled up in his eyes.

“Really?”

I cupped Danmokbi’s face with both hands. With a gentle smile, I confessed once again,

“Yes. I love you.”

Danmokbi silently pressed his face against my palm. After a poignant sigh, he slowly spoke.

“…Were you disappointed in me?”

Danmokbi seemed to think that I was disappointed because he had revealed his cruelty in front of me. I bit my lip.

‘When we first met, I explained how kind he had become.’

Even in my absence, he didn’t violate my command, it seemed.

‘It must have been very lonely.’
I felt that I had been too absorbed in my own thoughts and neglected Danmokbi. I squinted my eyes and offered a wistful smile.

“How could I be disappointed in you, young master?”

If I harbored such emotions, it would be an insult to Danmokbi.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know my own feelings well, so it took me a while to sort things out.”

“No, I was also wrong.”

“No, young master!”

As I apologized, Danmokbi kept apologizing too, and the conversation continued in a loop. It was when I was about to shout, “It’s my fault!”

Suddenly, Danmokbi hugged me tightly. Then, burying his face in my shoulder, he mumbled with a hesitant voice.

“Yeon.”

It was as if he was checking whether the person in front of him was really Jegal Yeon. At that sound, I also teared up. With a bitter smile, I patted Danmokbi’s broad back with both hands.

“Nowhere, I’m not going anywhere.”

“I was afraid you might hate me forever.”

Danmokbi clung to me like a dog burying its face in the owner’s shoulder, continuing to speak.

“I was afraid you might be scared to marry me, responsible for Danmokchang’s legs.”

“Me?”

“Yeon could do that. I started taking care of you out of pity, after all.”

“Well, I do have a sense of responsibility more than others, but…”

Thinking of marrying Danmokchang just to take responsibility for his legs! It shouldn’t go that far!

I lightly pushed Danmokbi away. He obediently moved away from me. I looked at him closely, gently stroking his eyes with my thumb.

“Young master might have been pitiful, but it’s not for the reasons you think. Back then, I lived like a stray dog. How could I dare to think of you pitifully?”

“But.”

The first time I approached Danmokbi was because I felt guilty for imposing an unhappy fate on him.

Unable to explain those emotions and my secrets, I brought up a different story. It was also a story that had to be told when facing him.

“I should be the one truly apologizing. I realized it now because I was dense. I was forcing you into the image I wanted, young master.”

“Not at all.”

Although it was a heartfelt apology, Danmokbi easily accepted my apology. He entrusted his face to my hands and replied.

“No need to apologize. I also want to become someone worthy of Yeon’s love.”

No, you just need to find someone who loves you as you are! Frustrated, I, despite it being my story, lectured Danmokbi like it was someone else’s tale.

“Don’t keep seeking approval like that! That’s not how you should behave in a relationship.”