Chapter 29

Sometimes, I hate how fast my brain works.

As far as I know, the only member of the Baehwa Church in our village is my cute younger sister, Sima Yeonghwa. And Mukgang said he came to kill the monster of the Baehwa Church not long after Yeonghwa arrived at our house.

If something unusual happens, it means there was some related event before it.

In terms of a manga, since a new character like Yeonghwa appeared, a related character like Mukgang also had to appear.

Mukgang’s words about coming to kill the monster of the Baehwa Church keep echoing in my head.

It’s not completely confirmed, but I suspect that “monster” might be a code name used by the secretive organization Mukgang belongs to for Yeonghwa.

…But why monster? What do they think of someone else’s precious daughter?

I want to say something, but if I do, it might reveal Yeonghwa’s existence, so I just make a confused face.

“If you ask me out of the blue if I’ve seen a monster, how would I know? You should at least describe what it looks like.”

This isn’t something I can solve on my own. I’ll just brush it off for now and go home to consult my father.

“Hmm, you’re right. My explanation was lacking. Sorry.”

“Well, no need to apologize. But a monster~ In this boring village, it’s quite an interesting story.”

While pretending to be calm, I’m racking my brain and trying to gather as much information as possible while planning to escape naturally. Suddenly, Mukgang’s eyes widen as he glares at me.

…Actually, he’s glaring at something behind me. Mukgang’s serious voice quietly resonates.

“The monster of the Baehwa Church takes the form of a beautiful girl. Yes, just like the red-eyed girl standing behind you.”

Goosebumps rise as my eyes widen in shock. My body and mind react instinctively, and I turn around.

“…Brother?”

Our wide, startled eyes meet. Yeonghwa, with her beautiful black hair tangled with thin twigs and leaves, looks at me with a bewildered expression, as if she got lost on the way.

“Even if she looks like a girl, she’s a monster that will burn the world. It’s dangerous. Step back.”

As I hesitate at Yeonghwa’s unexpected appearance, Mukgang stands up to protect me, facing off against Yeonghwa.

Wait a minute, this guy really says anything. I don’t know the backstory, but calling someone’s cute younger sister a monster~ It’s really annoying.

My head heats up. Since we’re already caught, I might as well speak up.

“She’s listening. Can you watch your words-”

Whoosh!!

“-please. …Huh?”

Before I could finish my suggestion, flames burst from Yeonghwa’s hands, engulfing Mukgang’s upper body.

Cold flames flicker in Yeonghwa’s eyes.

***

Only the Baehwa Church, the Sima Family, and other hostile sects like the Demon Sect know that Yeonghwa is the saint who will burn the world, a monster.

In other words, that guy is a pawn of another demonic sect.

Perhaps taking advantage of weakened security due to internal strife, he attacked the Baehwa Church’s palace, forcing Yeonghwa to flee to the Central Plains. He might even be an assassin from the Heavenly Demon God Sect.

…If so, my brother from the Sima Family is also in danger.

I glance at Mantian, who looks at me in shock. I swallow my bitterness. I suppress my emotions. I just look at the enemy and snap my fingers.

In honor of the Zoroastrian believers who died in cowardly attacks, I wear the mask of a monster to protect my foolish, crude, but kind brother.

I spit fire at the enemy.

Snap- Snap- Snap-

With each snap of Yeonghwa’s slender, pretty fingers, flames rise. They move alive, burning the enemy.

…But ultimately, Yeonghwa’s flames couldn’t harm Mukgang. The compatibility was bad.

Like swatting a fly, he brushes off the flames clinging to his body. There’s no injury. Only a slight scorch mark remains, showing that the fire had briefly caught.

“You haven’t grown enough to burn the world yet. I’ll cut you down now.”

Sitting at the center of the world, suppressing evil spirits and defeating all sorts of wickedness that torment humans, the guardian deity of the secretive sect.

The Immovable King.

The guardian of the world silently advances to kill the monster. He doesn’t evade or flee. He endures all attacks.

He kills the monster, protects the world, and saves people.

That is the role, oath, and belief of Mukgang, the guardian lion of the secretive sect, who bears the Immovable King on his back and heart.

The hero and the monster glare at each other. They close the distance to faithfully fulfill their roles. And between them, a boy intervenes.

Mantian hurriedly moves to block Mukgang, who is approaching Yeonghwa.

“Wait! Let’s talk instead of fighting!!”

If I leave it like this, something serious might happen, so I ignore the warning signals from my brain and force my legs to move.

A muscular man I just met today suddenly calls my younger sister a monster and tries to kill her, and my sister, like the flame alchemist Roy Mustang, snaps her fingers to unleash flames. I was momentarily stunned, but I do what I should have done from the start.

I hide Yeonghwa behind me. I don’t avoid Mukgang’s gaze and confront him. I share the malice meant for Yeonghwa.

Protecting my younger sister from a mysterious stranger. That’s what Sima Mantian, the older brother of Sima Yeonghwa, should have done first.

“What are you doing? It’s dangerous, step aside.”

The weight of his advice, filled with many meanings, presses down on me. But I don’t step aside.

Instead, I force a calm expression and speak, using my internal energy to resist the pressure.

“From what I see, you seem like a good person. Let’s talk instead of fighting.”

Mukgang frowns at my inappropriately calm words and scrutinizes my face. He agrees to talk for now.

“How do you know if I’m a good person?”

“Uh… aren’t you?”

“…I’m not sure.”

“Then you must be a good person. People who reflect on themselves are usually good.”

A faint smile appears on Mukgang’s lips at my words. Not because it’s funny, but because my actions are amusing.

While I smile and talk with a harmless face, I focus my internal energy on my legs and staff.

I gather dirt bit by bit, preparing to throw it and escape if things go south.

I’m ready to use my lightness skill to flee with my sister at any moment.

Considering the timeline… it’s admirable how I rack my brain to protect a child I just met.

He talks and looks like a slacker, but his resolve is unexpectedly strong. But is the being you’re trying to protect the same as you?

I never intended to harm Mantian from the start. Mantian is a person. Someone Mukgang must protect. I stopped approaching Yeonghwa purely because the monster might take Mantian hostage and harm him.

But contrary to Mukgang’s expectations, Yeonghwa wasn’t a monster. Or rather, she returned from being a monster to being a sister.

‘…Impressive. Are you protecting her too?’

Behind Mantian, red eyes flash. They burn with hostility several times greater than when her own life was at stake, glaring at Mukgang.

***

The back of a man who hasn’t fully grown yet unfolds before Yeonghwa’s eyes. The confident yet faintly trembling figure shields her from the enemy.

Not to protect a sacrificial offering for a hero’s devotion in a myth, nor because of a golden contract.

Just because she’s his sister. With that simple reason alone, he stands against an incomparably stronger enemy.

There’s no other reason. He stands purely to protect me.

It’s real. He’s really my brother. My only brother.

Even in this life-threatening situation, my face turns red. My heart races. A bell rings in my head.

As I’m about to lean on Mantian’s back, countless words flash through my mind.

The monster of the Baehwa Church, the saint who will burn the world, just one of many scattered seeds, a dirty illegitimate child.

…My excited heart cools down. I take a step back.

Not yet- not yet- not now. My brother doesn’t know about me. That’s why he’s protecting me. I can’t trust it. I want to be loved. But I’m scared. I don’t want to get hurt.

…But I still want to be loved. I don’t want to be hated. I want to be protected. I want to lean on him.

I want to keep my distance so he doesn’t see my ugly monster form. But I don’t want to be apart. I want to stay close and feel his warmth.

Contradictory emotions boil up. Stupid, crude emotions fill me. So I carefully grab his clothes to avoid being noticed by Mantian.

I act spoiled, relying on my brother’s kindness.

Just grabbing his clothes gives me a sense of connection and comfort. …If we’re together, I’m not afraid.

As a sister, not a monster, I fill my eyes with fire once more to protect my brother.