Chapter 2
“Ugh.”
With a short groan, the Heavenly Demon opened his eyes.
“I actually lost consciousness…”
Even after mastering the Cold Soul Technique—a discipline said to steel one’s mind beyond human limits—he had blacked out. His mental strength was tougher than steel, yet…
“Not once since mastering martial arts have I ever lost consciousness.”
He looked around.
Clay-colored walls surrounded him.
Soft daylight leaked through a paper-covered wooden door.
“Where on earth am I?”
When he stood up, his head hit the ceiling with a thud.
The ceiling was far too low for someone nearly seven feet tall.
Creak—
When he opened the wooden door, he found himself facing a pile of strange objects.
The air was dim and musty. Judging by the smell and darkness, it seemed to be some kind of storage room.
After passing through a narrow passage, he emerged into a space flooded with light from above.
“Hmm…”
It was an immaculately organized office.
On a neat desk sat various items and books, and in the center was a round table surrounded by chairs.
“How curious. Is this the dwelling of a sorcerer?”
The Heavenly Demon gazed up at the dazzling lights hanging from the ceiling, then opened a transparent glass door and stepped outside.
Bwaaaaang!
At that moment, the sound of a horn rang out—and with it, a scene unlike anything he had ever seen before.
Smooth, polished roads.
Metal carriages racing at terrifying speed.
People walking by in strange, unfamiliar clothing.
“What… is this place?”
As he tilted his head in confusion, a shadow approached from the front entrance.
It was the girl he had seen last night in the courtyard of the hanok.
Carrying a large bag, she blinked in surprise when she saw him.
“You’re awake?”
“Are you speaking to me?”
“Who else would I be talking to?”
“How did I come to be here?”
“Oh, you wouldn’t wake up no matter what I did… I couldn’t just leave you there, so I let you sleep in the storage room.”
She pointed toward the building he had just exited.
“This is my store.”
Now that he looked closely, the hanok he remembered must have been her residence in the back, and the front near the entrance seemed to be a shop.
He looked up at the wooden signboard.
“Bokbok Interior?”
He didn’t know how he could read it—but somehow, the unfamiliar script made sense to him.
“What kind of place is this?”
“Can’t you read Korean? It’s an interior design store.”
“‘Interior design’? Never heard of such a thing.”
He glanced between the slender young girl and her tidy shop, then nodded solemnly.
“To already be the master of a shop like this—remarkable, young… maiden.”
Fortunately, he managed to swallow the word “mortar girl” before it escaped his mouth.
“I’m not a ‘maiden,’ okay? I’m actually pretty old.”
With an awkward smile, she pulled a business card from her pocket and handed it to him.
“If you feel unwell or something, call me. It’s kind of my fault anyway.”
“Your fault? What do you mean?”
“Well, um… you know, that.”
Remembering how she had accidentally struck his groin—twice—her face turned red.
“If it hurts later, just call me.”
The Heavenly Demon studied the business card and muttered,
“Jang Chaewon. So that’s your name?”
“I told you, I’m not a ‘maiden.’”
“Then… could it be you’ve reversed your aging?”
He examined her face closely—she looked no older than eighteen—and nodded gravely.
“I see… your internal energy must be truly extraordinary.”
Recalling last night’s events, his eyes narrowed.
“That must be how she shattered my Vajra Body…”
Everything about this world was shocking to him.
He’d thought he’d already reached the peak—yet here was proof that there was still a higher realm to climb.
“You’re seriously too deep into your martial arts fantasy,” she sighed.
“What do you mean?”
Looking at his bare chest and arms, she frowned.
“You can’t wear that outside. Aren’t you embarrassed?”
“This attire?”
He pointed proudly at his martial robes.
“This Robe of the Blood Battle Demon is a priceless treasure—the finest garment in the martial world.”
“What even is that?”
“It’s resistant to both fire and blades, and it automatically maintains a comfortable temperature for the wearer.”
He looked immensely proud, like a child showing off a toy.
“Right… anyway, since you’re up, you should get going.”
“Go? But didn’t you insist I stay last night?”
“That was when I lost my temper. I mean, how could anyone, no matter how strong, destroy a Spirit Tree protected by an earth spirit? There had to be another reason.”
“Wasn’t that tree valuable?”
“Oh, yeah… I almost forgot.”
She smiled and waved her hand.
“I had it insured. Damage from natural disasters is covered.”
“Hm.”
He didn’t understand half of what she said—but her bright smile told him the problem was solved.
“Very well. I shall take my leave.”
“Sure, take care.”
When the Heavenly Demon stepped out through the glass door, Jang Chaewon sat at her desk and powered on her laptop.
But something felt… off.
Glancing toward the window, she frowned.
“He’s still there?”
Sure enough, the Heavenly Demon was standing motionless in front of the store, staring around blankly—like a lost child.
“Wandering around half-dressed and dazed… tsk.”
Resting her chin on her hand, she sighed.
“With that size, he’s probably some kind of mountain goblin.”
Just then, the Heavenly Demon suddenly darted into the road.
SCREEEEECH!
Cars screeched to a halt, stopping in zigzags.
The Heavenly Demon merely looked around curiously at the angry drivers.
“Hey, you crazy or what?!”
“What the hell are you doing? Move!”
When the drivers leaned out to yell, his eyes flared with a crimson glow.
“Do you dare challenge this seat?”
At the sight of his wrestler-like build and murderous aura, the drivers instantly ducked back into their cars.
“Probably an Awakened.”
“Tch. There’s always some low-grade freak showing off.”
Muttering, they hurriedly drove away.
“What’s going on?”
Jang Chaewon ran out and grabbed his arm.
“Are you insane? You can’t just walk into traffic!”
Expressionless, he replied, “I was merely curious about those things.”
He pointed to the cars speeding down the road.
“Curious? About what? The cars?”
“‘Cars’… you mean self-moving carriages?”
He stroked his chin, deep in thought.
“I see. I understand nothing. Where is this place?”
“Wait, don’t tell me—you lost your memory?”
“Impossible. I simply have no idea where I am. Which way is the Ten-Thousand Demon Assembly Palace?”
“The what?”
Looking him over—his strange clothes, his towering frame—she blinked.
“Do you… work at a Chinese restaurant?”
“I don’t understand. What is a ‘Chinese restaurant’?”
“You know, where they sell jjajangmyeon. Do you work there?”
The Heavenly Demon stared at her, then suddenly burst into booming laughter.
“HAHAHAHAHA!”
The sound was so loud it shook the neighborhood.
“That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard in ages! Hahaha!”
“Yeah, okay. Whatever.”
She sighed. Staying near this guy was clearly a bad idea.
“Before I mastered martial arts, I did think of such things. Out of hunger.”
His eyes softened, as if remembering a distant past.
But the smile on his lips suggested it wasn’t an entirely painful memory.
His eyes are too clear for a madman, she thought.
“Hey… were you, like, just born or something?”
The Heavenly Demon flinched, staring at her.
“Are you in your right mind?”
“W-who are you calling crazy?! I just mean, you act like you don’t know how the world works!”
As she scratched her head awkwardly—
“Boss Jang! What’re you doing out here?”
An elderly man with a bent back stood nearby, blinking.
“Oh! Sir! Hello! What brings you here?”
“What do you mean, what? You said you’d send workers this morning! When they didn’t come, I stopped by while heading to the store.”
“Oh, right! But…”
She clapped her hands, then drooped her shoulders.
“The annex collapsed last night, and all the Spirit Trees got destroyed.”
“What?! The Spirit Trees? Then won’t you lose your store’s spiritual license?”
“It’s fine, I’ve got insurance.”
“I see. That’s good then.”
“I’ll send over some outside workers. Luckily, even human ones can handle this kind of job.”
As she spoke with a smile, she noticed the Heavenly Demon staring stiffly, sweat beading on his face.
“What’s wrong?”
“What do you mean? Can you not see the face on that old man’s back?”
He pointed at the old man’s head—where indeed, an old woman’s face rested peacefully, eyes closed.
“What about it?”
“There’s… another face on his head!”
“Oh, you’ve never met him before.”
Jang Chaewon grinned.
“That’s Elder Two-Faced Ghost. He reads fortunes for yokai and sometimes does divination.”
“‘Two-Faced Ghost’? You mean… he’s a spirit?”
“What? No, of course not—”
She stopped mid-sentence, staring at the Heavenly Demon.
Massive build, red-tinged eyes… if he had fangs, he could easily pass for a demon himself.
“You’re a yokai too, aren’t you?”
“Yokai?”
He blinked.
“I’ve been called many things by the righteous sects, but never that.”
“Then why are your eyes red?”
“When one masters the Extreme Divine Art to perfection, the Flame of Blood causes a faint crimson hue in the eyes.”
She gawked in disbelief.
“You mean… you’re human?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Oh, nothing! I just… thought you must’ve had a rough life.”
At her awkward attempt to change the subject, his eyes narrowed.
“Indeed. None have lived as fiercely as I.”
“Y-yeah. I can tell.”
She laughed uneasily, then blinked.
“Wait—if you’re human, how did you even get into my house? And how can you see Elder Two-Face’s other head?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I mean, if you’re human…”
“Hm.”
He frowned, clearly lost.
“I have no idea what you’re saying. Can you explain plainly?”
At that moment, the old woman’s face on the man’s head opened her eyes.
“…!”
The Heavenly Demon froze.
He had fought countless foes, but never one with two faces.
Her awakened eyes glowed faint blue.
“Let’s see… this one…”
She studied him closely, then clicked her tongue.
“Boss Jang, he’s no yokai. He’s a human from another world.”
“What?” Jang Chaewon blinked.
The old woman chuckled softly.
“He’s got a completely different aura from the humans here—and fragments of spacetime are still clinging to his face.”
“What are you saying?”
“Another world?” the Heavenly Demon asked, stepping forward. “Explain yourself, elder.”
The man’s front face clicked his tongue.
“What a harsh, desolate life you’ve led.”
He raised a finger. A soft green light glowed at its tip.
“Words won’t do. This will be faster.”
“What is that?”
With a flash, the light engulfed the Heavenly Demon’s face.
A blue orb appeared before him, and fragments of knowledge flooded into his mind.
“Urgh…”
He clutched his head as dizziness overtook him. His eyes glowed crimson again.
“What kind of sorcery is this?”
“It’s not sorcery,” the elder said gently. “It’s a spiritual bridge—a way to share what’s in the mind.”
He continued calmly, “Don’t resist. It’s nothing dangerous—just enough to help you understand this world.”
Meeting the elder’s steady gaze, the Heavenly Demon slowly nodded.
At once, the crimson faded from his eyes.
He began accepting the flood of knowledge pouring into his mind.
