Chapter 24

After Mantian left, the conversation continued without interruption. A harmonious atmosphere filled the house.

Those who couldn’t attend yesterday’s welcoming ceremony finally welcomed the new family member and shared various stories.

Yeonghwa is a clever child. Through a bit of conversation, she knows very well what the other person likes and how to win their heart.

The stepmother, Jang Chunhwa, who cherishes her second son who is unwell, praises Mantian for taking care of her so sincerely yesterday.

To the couple with a young daughter who is so adorable that it wouldn’t hurt even if she were in their eyes, she compliments the child for being cute and pretty.

She shares in what the other person likes and praises them. It’s a very simple way of speaking that easily wins the other person’s favor.

One might think she’s just flattering, but Yeonghwa’s sweet voice and elegant noble demeanor lend authenticity to her words.

Her mesmerizing, fiery red eyes shake people’s hearts and add persuasiveness to her words.

Although it had little effect on Mantian, who is twisted in personality and doesn’t take people’s goodwill at face value, analyzing hidden meanings, he was raised in a good-natured and kind household.

It was very effective on Jang Chunhwa and the couple, who naturally accept others’ goodwill.

Yeonghwa followed along with Jang Chunhwa’s cheerful recounting of Mantian’s various antics from childhood, smiling and chiming in.

“When he was ten, right? He stole the snacks I had hidden and ate them, so I tried to scold him—”

“Kukuku~ Can you feel the difference in speed? If you can catch me, then try scolding me. -That’s what he said.”

“Oh my~ How cute. So what happened?”

“Of course, I caught him and spanked his bottom. Then suddenly he started saying, ‘Mama~ Oresama made a mistake! Please forgive me, refu!!’—spouting nonsense. He was such a peculiar child.”

Though she spoke of him as a peculiar child and the hardships she endured, her eyes and voice were filled with honey-like affection for Mantian.

Yeonghwa, riding on the flow of honey, smiled happily and praised Mantian.

“Now he’s really cool and mature. When he was young, he was such a lively and quirky child. It’s fascinating.”

Though the compliment was to match the stepmother’s mood, calling him ‘cool’ was somewhat sincere. Based on what she saw last night, he was close to the ideal older brother.

‘Well… his face isn’t my type, though.’

She subtly turned her gaze and looked at the family head, Sima Bu, who was watching the happily chatting family with a pleased expression.

Thick eyebrows, a sharp jawline, a well-defined nose, and wolf-like amber eyes. Except for being lame, Mantian looked exactly like Sima Bu.

…That’s why she both liked and disliked it.

But ironically, when she looked in the mirror, she also saw resemblances to Sima Bu. It was unavoidable. It was natural.

Because—

A considerable amount of time had passed while they were talking. Jang Chunhwa got up first to take care of household chores she had neglected, and Sima Rang, still not fully recovered, returned to his room with his wife’s support.

Now, only Sima Bu and Yeonghwa remained. The laughter that had filled the house ceased, and the atmosphere changed.

A brief silence. After silently looking at each other, Yeonghwa was the first to break the silence.

She stood up, her red eyes flashing, and greeted him formally with a bright smile.

“It’s been a while, Father. Have you been well?”

Not like a relative, but as a true blood-related child.

The air around them sharpened because of one person. The kind stepfather was no longer there.

The fierce wolf who had shed the gentle sheep’s disguise. The head of the Sima family, Sima Bu, frowned with sharp eyes and quietly but strongly muttered.

“Let’s change locations.”

***

Sima Bu’s hidden private reception room. Protected by a barrier, it cannot be seen or entered without permission. Naturally, no sound leaks out.

“For a child who lost her parents to an epidemic, her personality seems quite bright.”

Yeonghwa responded to Sima Bu’s cold rebuke with a sly smile.

“Right~ That was the setting. In reality, both parents are alive and well. I slipped up.”

“…What do you think you’re doing by creating a non-existent younger brother?”

A low, beast-like threatening voice pressed Yeonghwa.

Yes. To Sima Bu, a younger brother never existed. The story that Yeonghwa was the daughter of a younger uncle was a lie from the start.

It was just a pretext to go to the Western Regions, a disguise for when Yeonghwa’s existence was revealed. That was the identity of the younger uncle who had never shown his face to the Sima family.

The sharp aura emanating from Sima Bu pricked her delicate and soft skin, but she didn’t lose her smile.

Even if everything was a mirage of lies, the ironically crafted fake smile was real. It was entirely Yeonghwa’s.

So she clenched her fist, dug her nails into her palm to maintain her composure, and smiled at Sima Bu.

“Father, if you don’t intend to kill your only daughter, please withdraw your aura.”

Sima Bu withdrew his fierce aura. But it wasn’t out of concern for Yeonghwa; it was because of the contract with Zoroastrianism.

“Since you’ve entered as an adopted daughter, I can’t help it in front of the family, but when we’re alone, don’t call me father.”

“If you don’t like being called father, should I call you Papa~?”

Annoyed by the Western term, Sima Bu frowned and coldly drew a line. He denied Yeonghwa’s existence. He crushed the existence that could disrupt the family’s peace.

“…You’re just one of the many seeds I sowed with a woman from the Baehwa Church’s flower maiden.”

“……”

“According to the contract, I’ll ensure your safety, but that doesn’t mean I acknowledge you as my child. So don’t consider me your father either.”

She knew. She had known for a long time that to her father… to Sima Bu, her existence was nothing but a thorn.

But she had hoped a little. She wanted to be loved by her father, by the family. She wanted something real.

Tears seeped from her wounded heart. So she smiled.

As she had always practiced in front of the mirror, she moved her facial muscles to make the onlooker think it was a beautiful smile.

“Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”

***

The Zoroastrian sect Yeonghwa belonged to was a wealthy sect filled with gold and silk, with strong warriors and numerous followers. But it wasn’t a normal place.

Yes, borrowing the words of the Central Plains people, it was the Demon Sect.

Fundamentally, Zoroastrianism values the three teachings emphasized by the prophet Zarathustra: good thoughts, good words, and good deeds.

People’s good thoughts, words, and actions come together to make others good, and the good people make others good. They repel evil.

Only human goodness can drive away Angra Mainyu. All the evil in the world, hostile spirits, beings opposed to the creator, the devil among devils.

But Yeonghwa’s sect didn’t do that. They sought another way.

That way was the advent of the ‘Saoshyant.’

According to the prophecy, in an unknown future, evil will descend, and the world will face destruction once. The world will burn, and the creator’s creations will be defiled by Angra Mainyu’s minions.

But it’s okay. If ‘evil’ descends, then ‘good’ will also descend.

A hero who walks out of the fire to save the world from Angra Mainyu’s minions, whose names are too fearful to speak.

The god of good, the existence of light and wisdom, the creator of all good things in the world, the apostle of Ahura Mazda.

A mythical hero who wields a burning sword to save the suffering and oppressed Zoroastrian followers, his name is Saoshyant.

Only by devoting oneself to Saoshyant can all the evil in the world be purified.

…Yeonghwa’s sect, with such an ideology, seriously or absurdly studied and interpreted the prophecies to hasten Saoshyant’s return.

And they reached an absurd conclusion.

No one knows when Saoshyant will descend. But Saoshyant will appear when the world faces destruction to save humanity.

So if we destroy the world, Saoshyant will descend.

…It’s truly ridiculous, a laughable syllogism taken seriously by the believers, who pondered ways to create a monster to destroy the world.

And the news spread through the sect’s palace that the descendants of Sima Yi, the monstrous wolf who had swept away the chaos of the Central Plains with force, wiped out the Zhao family in one night, seized the world, and then split it into sixteen pieces, plunging it into chaos, were seeking gold to revive their family.

What the Demon Sect wanted was the bloodline of the monstrous wolf to destroy the world, and what the Sima family wanted was gold to revive their family.

The contract was made, and the monster was born.

Burn good thoughts (fire), burn good words (fire), burn good deeds (fire).

A being to burn the world (flame) with the blood of the Baehwa Church’s saintess and the last remaining wolf.

The birth of Sima Yeonghwa (Sima Flame).