No Dark Secrets In This Book

Episode 46

“Once the roots of the World Tree are severed, they can never be woven back together again, but the desire to cut someone’s thread is just as strong. Even the idea of wanting to dominate fate…”

“…”

“Losing flesh doesn’t always mean death, and it can be defended with guardian talismans or charms, but those are expensive to properly prepare. Low-quality ones can’t block flesh, well, with your family’s wealth, it would be different…”

“I have no idea what you’ve been saying. Why are you doing this to me?”

Although I was curious about the setting she was revealing, it was too hard to listen any further. My liver was trembling. So when I asked her directly, Shin Myohan acted as if she was the one being wronged. 

“Stop pretending you don’t know. I’m the one who’s frustrated. Tearing flesh is on a whole different level from just grabbing a knife and killing someone. It ignores the laws of physics, restructures the elements, defies the Creator, and violates fate – it’s a crime of treason. Even shamans have to risk their lives. Are you really unable to be cautious even after experiencing the pressure of the origin?”

“So why are you saying this to me…”

“You submitted a request to our grandmother, didn’t you?”

Huh? 

Me?

“I’m not curious or asking about whose flesh you’re trying to tear. But no matter who it is, our family will never accept that request!”

…Ah, now I get it. That’s why our conversation kept going in circles. It seems Cassice Demillang submitted a request to the Shin family to kill someone…

‘I have no intention of tearing flesh…’

What’s the point of confronting the possessed about what the original body did…!

‘Uwaaah. Poor possessed, so wronged.’

Shin Myohan, you jerk. You’re getting slapped in Jongno and glaring at the Han River. If you got slapped in Jongno, throw a fit in Jongno. Think about how the person grabbed by the collar in an unfamiliar place feels.

Of course, since it’s the same person’s head, I understand you grabbing my collar too. But.

‘But it’s unfair-!’

Did I want to be possessed! I was living a damn good life! My hyungs adored me (rest omitted), it feels like just yesterday I was living promiscuously, but this damn possession ruined everything. Well yeah, if someone dissatisfied with life and wanting to escape suddenly gets possessed into another world, it would be awesome. 

‘But that wasn’t me!’

Being content with the present was my greatest strength. And I was satisfied with my current life! The reason I adapted well even after being forcibly possessed is because my strength was smoothly manifested, but when the original body’s history caused me to get grilled in the legendary indigestion incident, I was furious. No, I was appropriately angry, and later I was just sad. To the point my nose stung.

‘I miss my current life… receiving allowance from my hyungs and flattering my great-grandfather…’

But there’s a limit to escaping reality. Now that I’m possessed, this is my reality. Whether I become porridge or rice, I’m the only variable that can resolve this mess.

So what should I say?

Simply understanding and agreeing won’t make an impact. That level won’t be enough to cut off persistent suspicion, so let’s confuse her mind with something completely different.

What would be good? What should I say…

“Alright, I’ll give you a passing grade.”

At my words spoken without much thought, Myohan reacted fiercely.

“What? No, did you not understand what I said? I said I won’t accept your request-“

“Yes, you were talking about flesh, right?”

“Yes, so-“

In fact, my head was completely empty, but anyway, when I just smiled meaningfully as if I had something, Myohan stared at me silently, pondered something on her own, and then slowly opened her mouth hesitantly after a while.

“Don’t tell me, it was a test?”

That’s right, Shin Myohan. That’s it.

“A test to see if we would accept the request or not?”

“For me too, I despise the crow flocks that pick up dirty jobs without a second thought.”

Thank you so much for misunderstanding on your own…

While inwardly sending dozens of thank yous, I spoke cynically on the outside.

‘Staying true to the concept of Cassice Demillang…’

Emphasizing the arrogant and ruthless schemer aspect…

While I was passionately role-playing, Myohan had her eyes wide open.

“…You’re really arrogant, aren’t you?”

“For someone saying that, you don’t seem too upset?”

“No, how should I put it… I should be upset about being deceived, but it’s more mysterious that I’ve come to understand why Cassice Demillang is feared by all, so I don’t know what to say. Wait. Before that, can I hit you once? I suddenly feel bad.”

“Haha, you’re asking for permission?”

“…Can I say one thing, even if it’s presumptuous?”

“If it’s presumptuous to me, it’s better for your well-being to swallow it yourself.”

“Every single word you say is really annoying…”

Despite saying that, Myohan didn’t seem to be in a bad mood. Rather, she had a refreshing expression as if she had shed a heavy worry, to the point where even I was dumbfounded. 

Why are you happy that I played with you? But like an old insect shedding its old skin, she was genuinely smiling with relief and satisfaction.

“Since you’ve succeeded in gaining trust, I’ll have an employee submit the request later…”

“I’m glad. I was uncomfortable thinking you were someone trying to tear someone’s flesh, but you weren’t.”

“…Aha, from the rumors, it seemed like you could do anything, right? But don’t let your guard down. Because it’s the truth. Unfortunately, you don’t get to decide when you’ll be betrayed.”

“Still, it means you’re not someone who would do such a thing without hesitation. That makes me happy.”

“Oh my, are you looking down on me?”

“I just saw you as a slightly better person.”

Myohan said that with a smirk, and the guardian spirit who was preparing to leave while hiding its appearance, now revealed its form to be visible to those with opened spiritual eyes. He cheerfully waved at Cassice, but I ignored him, not forgetting that he tried to cut me.

Instead, I asked this.

“I’ve been curious for a while, and now that you’ve judged that I’m not a dangerous person, I’d appreciate a definite answer.”

“Alright, ask away.”

“I’ve been seeing your guardian spirit since earlier, does that mean I also have spiritual power?”

She spoke with a much more generous and relaxed face, as if she had calmed down.

“Actually, when you reach the pinnacle of magic, martial arts, Taoist magic, or shamanism, they all become similar. Those who are great in their own fields can become sensitive to the energy of other fields as well. In other words, when your senses become sensitive, you can feel all sorts of things. Your eyes may have become sensitive like that. Or you may truly have spiritual power.”

“So you can’t come to a definite conclusion?”

“Have you seen doctors make definite diagnoses? They all have to prepare excuses to avoid responsibility. Still, if I had to diagnose, I don’t think you’re a spiritually gifted person.”

“What’s the basis for that?”

“Compared to other Demillangs, you have fewer vengeful spirits in your blood, but you still have layers of accumulated grudges and generational curses. If you had proper spiritual power, you wouldn’t have been able to stay sane until now…”

Huh?

‘What’s this about now?’

Layers of accumulated grudges? Generational curses?

The Demillangs have that?

“The Demillangs…?”

I tried to hold back, but the words slipped out. I managed to stop midway, but anyway, whatever you say, I’m Cassice Demillang, so the pretend-to-know-everything strategy failed. Damn it! By the time I barely managed to unfurrow my brows, Shin Myohan looked a little surprised, making her thin eyes round.

“Oh, it’s actually not that serious. All families have some degree of it in their surnames. From things passed down from the past.”

“Ah.”

“Power dwells in things that are passed down. The more time passes.”

Oh, so that’s what it was.

This was information I already knew. In the original work, it was explained with the term ‘karmic debt that follows the blood,’ so when I heard about vengeful spirits and curses, I was momentarily startled.

Come to think of it, it makes sense. How could there not be karmic debt as old as a millennium following a family that has continued for a thousand years? Especially in a world where magic, psychic powers, and mysticism are all mixed together.

“That power can be positive or negative. But all acts done to achieve power inevitably harm something else. In that sense, the weight of blood that dwells in the Demillangs is immense. That’s why you chose blood magic, right? To use the ancient karmic debt in your blood as a sacrifice?”

“Yes, you could say that.”

“You’re the same in not giving definite answers.”

Myohan now seemed to be in a completely good mood. As if she felt a sense of closeness, she was smiling quite mischievously at me, while I was carefully considering whether to cut ties with her here since I had used her as much as I needed, or to maintain a not-so-bad relationship.

No, damn it. I hope she doesn’t treat me like a jerk. It’s not that I’m a jerk, it’s just that Cassice Demillang is a jerk, so I have to live up to that concept. And if you ask if there’s psychological resistance or suffering that comes with it, well, not particularly.

‘Because my personality is like that too. Hehe.’

I hope no one says what’s there to brag about while fake-laughing. It’s not easy to have a personality like Cassice or me!

I assert that it’s harder to have this kind of personality than to get into a top Korean university. I have no basis, but anyway, that’s how it is. I express my condolences that it’s not a good direction, but what can you do when you’re born this way?

While I was thinking that, I felt a presence beside me. It was too close. I thought I had gotten quite strong, but I couldn’t detect a presence this close?

“Don’t skip meals, I told you!”

But it was already too late to react. With a swoosh, my arm was grabbed. Argh, meals aren’t the problem right now! But fortunately, the other person was Ryuseong as expected. 

Because Ryuseong is the only trustworthy one among those skilled enough that Cassice Demillang can’t detect their presence!

‘…He is trustworthy, right?’