“That’s ominous. So did you bring your significant other too?”

“Ugh.”

It was meant as a tease to Jiho, but he, instead, narrowed his eyes and teased me. As I flinched, Jiho laughed like a cat and said,

“I met Jegal Min earlier. That man, right? The one who sighed heavily at the thought of meeting you.”

He already figured it out. Blushing, I spoke in a small voice,

“…Pretend you don’t know.”

“If I pretend not to know, what will happen? Father is already eager to break the leg bone club.”

“No, why is our father like that again?!”

Grandfather watched me with concern in front of Danmokbi, but did Father openly say such things? Feeling sorry to Danmokbi and somewhat embarrassed, as I mumbled with my lips, Jiho smiled mischievously and replied,

“You seem to be more affectionate because you know you’re really the daughter of your aunt. I understand that too.”

“Well, that’s obvious.”

I wasn’t unaware of Father and Grandfather’s feelings. My mother should have gone through a lot of hardship. Scratching my cheek with a forlorn face, Jiho smiled and said,

“I’m so happy. I always thought of you as a close sister, but it’s so nice to be recognized by an undeniable blood relationship.”

It was an unexpected story for me, who originally didn’t pay much attention to other people’s gazes. There wasn’t anyone at Jegalsega who treated me differently just because I was an adopted daughter. Stabbing Jiho’s arm, I asked,

“Did your emotions get richer while I wasn’t around? Did you miss me a lot?”

But the coming response was shocking.

“That could be possible. I’m going to be a mom soon.”

“Oh, okay… What? What did you say? A mom?”

Did I hear correctly? Is the Jiho in front of me going to be a mom?

I widened my eyes and asked,

“Are you pregnant?”

With my question, Jiho, looking cheerful, slightly raised his chin and replied,

“I got pregnant in the first place, so we got married. Didn’t you know?”

I didn’t know.

‘Was it a speeding marriage!’

Without even telling me that they were getting married! I felt unfair and kicked my foot in frustration.

“No, this person! Then you should have told me that you were in that kind of relationship! You surprised me at the wedding, and now you’re surprising me as an aunt?”

“You’re a bit slow, little one.”

Unbelievable. Unbelievable. Jiho still looked like a child to me, and now he’s becoming a mom.

While still looking at Jiho’s barely noticeable belly, I blinked my eyes.

“Will it be a daughter or a son? Either way, it will be cute, right?”

“Of course.”

When Jiho nodded proudly, a small sound like the buzzing of a mosquito was heard in my ear.

“Huh?”
It was an eerie and chilling sound. Startled, I lifted my head. Jiho, who was facing me, smirked.

“What’s wrong?”

I scratched my ear with my palm, furrowing my brows.

“I keep hearing strange sounds in my ear.”

“I didn’t hear anything.”

Did I mishear?

Since leaving the Blood Sect, my nerves seemed to have become hypersensitive. Furrowing my brows, I touched and fiddled with my ear. That’s when it happened.

“Wait a moment, Yeona. What are you carrying?”

Jiho brushed my back as if chasing away a bug. Then, he picked up a tiny black piece of paper. He thought it was just dust and casually picked it up with his bare hands.

“Huh? What is this? A paper doll?”

“……!!”

However, hearing Jiho’s muttering, I couldn’t be as nonchalant as Jiho.

At that moment, feeling a chill down my spine, I quickly bit the tip of my index finger, letting blood drip. Then, at a rapid pace, I wrote a character.

찢어질 렬(裂) – Tear.

Fortunately, the special material like the everlasting iron chain, as soon as I carved the command, tore into pieces and disappeared like dust.

Jiho, seeing me being engulfed in blue light to dispel the spell, furrowed his brow. She, too, sensed the ominousness.

“What was that? Why did you tear it apart so desperately?”

“That was…”

I wanted to say a lot, but I couldn’t. I didn’t want to cause unnecessary worry to Jiho.

“No, it’s nothing.”

Jiho will soon give birth. I couldn’t talk about such ominous things with such an impending joyful event. And it was obvious who the person persistently trying to talk to me was.

‘Blood Jung-hyuk.’

He must be watching me.

‘When will he keep teasing me like a jinbbang, and when will he keep staring and following me like this?’

Knowing that Blood Jung-hyuk was surveilling me using a paper doll, I shuddered. Even though the signal for bath preparation had been given, I couldn’t go to take a bath.

‘Now is when I need Baekho.’

But Baekho was still nowhere to be found, even after coming to Jegalsega.

‘He might have left because he didn’t like me.’

Even if you leave, at least say goodbye. I buried my face between my knees, feeling so upset. While doing so, a deep voice poured down from above.

“Why are you like this?”

It was Danmokbi.