Chapter 42

Yeonghwa’s eyes widen at the affectionate confession filled with love. The sound of their beating hearts resonates together.

“Do I need another reason?”

The playful voice, forced out to comfort her younger sister, tickles her heart.

She gazes at her brother’s rough lips, dried from the heat of the explosion. A vulgar desire wells up inside her—she wants to stand on her tiptoes and press her lips against his. She wants to surrender everything in his warm embrace.

…But she shouldn’t.

Because she is a filthy monster, and her brother is a shining hero.

A monster of the Baehwa Church, a saint destined to burn the world, just one of many discarded seeds, a dirty illegitimate child. No matter how she looks at it, she has no right to stand by her brother’s side.

She shouldn’t desire him. It’s beyond her station.

A monster’s role is to die by the hero’s hand, not to be loved by him. She mustn’t fall in love.

To sort out her feelings for her brother, she moves to escape his embrace. She places her delicate hand on his chest and gently pushes him away. But the hug doesn’t loosen.

“No. I won’t let you go.”

Instead, he pulls her closer. It’s always like this. If she takes one step back, he calmly takes two steps forward.

He closes the distance without understanding her heart, making it race, making her hope. He’s truly a selfish brother.

“…Why?”

Their bodies are warm, his affectionate voice is sweet, and her heart starts to beat wildly on its own. Her voice trembles. Tears that had welled up in her eyes begin to fall.

“Because I really like you.”

He’s truly vulgar and crude. Without a hint of shame, he pulls her roughly into his arms, whispering softly, his affection crashing into her.

“I told you before, I’m a sticky, greedy man. I never let go of what I like. So I won’t let you go.”

She looks up at the greedy wolf. Red blood flows from the wound on his neck. He’s been stabbed and cut everywhere, with no part of him left unscathed.

“Brother… you don’t know about me.”

“That’s right. I don’t know much. So tell me about yourself. Stay by my side.”

“…If you stay with me, you’ll get hurt again.”

“It’s fine. I’ll just apply some medicine. It’d be even better if you nurse me.”

His strong arms trap her, preventing her from escaping, but his gentle voice carefully opens the door to her heart. He enters the precious girl’s heart without permission.

No matter how hard she tries to push him away, he bounces back and charges forward, reaching the deepest part of her.

“I… I’m different from you, brother. I was born… to be sacrificed… to be killed… for the devotion of the Shaoshyant.”

Raindrops begin to fall from the darkened sky, covered by dark clouds. A heavy downpour pours down, chilling her body and heart. But it was only for a moment.

The sky is covered, shielding them from the rain.

“Then I’ll defeat that Shaoshyant or whatever it is. I’ll protect you.”

She looks at her brother, who raises his injured right arm to block the rain. It’s too much.

“Brother… you’re an idiot. A painfully obvious idiot.”

She can no longer control her emotions. The vulgar, crude feelings she had hidden deep within her heart burst forth. Tears pour out.

She throws herself into her brother’s embrace, gripping his back tightly with both hands. No matter what happens, she won’t let go.

‘My hero, my brother, my only Shaoshyant.’

A monster born for the incarnation of the Shaoshyant. Ironically, Zoroastrianism’s plan succeeded. Here, now, a Shaoshyant has been born solely for the saint destined to burn the world.

Other believers might protest, but to Yeonghwa, that no longer matters.

Her beautiful red eyes, filled with love, burn brightly.

***

“Jininsadaecheonmyeong (Do your best and leave the rest to heaven). In other words, ‘Mosa Jaein’ (Planning is up to humans), ‘Seongsa Jacheon’ (Success is up to heaven).”

The success or failure of a task is determined by heaven.

…This saying comes to mind because all I can do now is wait for heaven’s decision.

Swoosh— Swoosh—!

I watch the heavy rain pouring down from the small cave I found while catching beetles with Jang Sam-i when I was a kid.

‘…It’s really pouring like crazy.’

Running down the mountain is already draining, but running injured in the rain is suicidal. It’s not something a person should do.

So, I took shelter in the cave. Honestly, hiding here so calmly makes me uneasy, but there’s no other choice. It’s a lack of ability.

Still, the silver lining is that the rain will wash away the traces of me and Yeonghwa’s escape. Besides, only Jang Sam-i and I know the location of this place. There’s no immediate risk of being discovered.

I’ve taken down the pursuers and set off a signal by blowing up the warehouse. The enemy might find our location, but there’s no other choice. Informing the outside world is the priority.

Anyway, I’ve done everything within my current abilities. Now, all I can do is wait for the result. The dice have been cast.

…Personally, I hope Mukgangemong wipes them all out. Otherwise, it’s really hopeless.

“Achoo! Achoo!!”

At the cute sneezing sound, I reflexively turn my head to look at Yeonghwa. She blushes and quickly turns her head away. Her ears are red, so she must be very embarrassed.

Since it’s a family matter and a natural bodily function, she shouldn’t be ashamed of sneezing, right? But Yeonghwa is sensitive about these things.

A cold wind blows into the cave. The temperature has definitely dropped because of the rain. I glance at Yeonghwa’s trembling shoulders.

I wish I could start a fire, but without materials, I move behind her and hug her, sharing warmth.

“O-oh, brother?!”

“It’s cold. Let’s stay like this for a while.”

“…Okay.”

Fortunately, she doesn’t seem to dislike it. Leaning against each other, we listen to the sound of the pouring rain. A quiet silence fills the cave.

I look at Yeonghwa’s small back, wriggling slightly in my arms. Even though we’re both soaked, she smells nice.

Her cute ears, pretty nape, and well-maintained beautiful hair.

…Looking at Yeonghwa, I feel strange. I can’t help but find her adorable.

Even though I’ve never seen or heard of her before, my body naturally accepts her as family.

She’s actually my uncle’s daughter, so we share the same blood, but it feels different. It feels closer and more intense.

Unconsciously, my rationality recognizes Yeonghwa as a stranger, while my instinct accepts her as family, creating a sense of dissonance. The distance is confusing.

As I spend time lost in these thoughts, Yeonghwa suddenly fidgets and whispers in a trembling voice, but loud enough to be heard.

“Um… brother, were you serious about what you said earlier?”

“Huh? What did I say?”

I haven’t forgotten, but I’ve said so much that it’s hard to pinpoint.

“That… you said you’d stay with me forever.”

It wasn’t exactly that, but it was close enough. Since there’s no need to deny it, I nod in agreement.

“Of course I was serious. But why?”

“I… I’m not your real sister. Is that really okay?”

Yeonghwa brings up the fact that she’s Sima Family Head’s hidden illegitimate child, but Mantian interprets it differently.

‘…She’s still worried about being an adopted daughter.’

I steel myself. I push aside unnecessary worries. I hug Yeonghwa tightly from behind, her body trembling from the cold and anxiety. I whisper affectionately, like singing a lullaby.

“Then let’s make a vow in front of the peach tree.”

“…Huh?”

At the sudden statement, Yeonghwa’s eyes blink rapidly. But Mantian, already in motion, continues without stopping, crossing an irreversible river.

“Let’s swear to never betray each other, to cherish and protect each other, and to love each other like real family.”

“…Huh?!”

“We were born from different wombs, on different days, but let’s become real siblings through this vow.”

The vow of brotherhood in front of the peach tree, the Peach Garden Oath.

A well-known story, but the problem is that Yeonghwa is of mixed Western descent. She doesn’t know much about such tales.

…And most importantly, she’s a devout follower of Zoroastrianism, where sibling marriage is possible.

To Yeonghwa, Mantian’s declaration of the Peach Garden Oath sounds like a proposal to get married on a good day.

He threw a light jab to test the waters, but immediately received a full-powered straight punch to the jaw.

‘So, so… the child’s name could be a combination of our names… Hwacheon (Fire Heaven)? Manyeom (Secret Flame)? What should I do?! Ah, right! We should decide together…!!’

Her brain overloads, and her thoughts come to a halt. Her eyes spin.

Her body heats up, and she no longer feels the cold. The sound of her wildly beating heart drowns out the rain.