Episode 008
“There was a prophecy from Manhye Su-sa!”
After sending all his subordinates away and leaving only the two of us, Blood Demon Ranbi spoke.
“The Heavenly Killing Star is born with uncontrollable madness. When it rises to the highest position under heaven, that madness will reach its peak—and destroy everything!”
I listened to the prophecy to the end and calmly nodded.
In Absolute Young Master, the villain—Heavenly Demon Ak Gunhwi.
He was originally a madman of the Heavenly Demon Cult, known as the Mad Demon, but he started a rebellion, killed the former Heavenly Demon Hyeok Ilse, and took the position himself.
The strongest under heaven.
That was who Ak Gunhwi was now.
But he had a weakness—an incurable madness. That was what Blood Demon was talking about.
Blood Demon spoke in a heavy tone.
“Right now, the Heavenly Demon pushed the power of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art to its limit on the Night of Defying Heaven. Because of that, his madness has reached its peak, and he has fallen into qi deviation. If this continues, the cult is finished!”
No. That’s wrong.
The story of Absolute Young Master is just beginning.
Ak Gunhwi will somehow recover from qi deviation. And then everything will begin.
Then Blood Demon suddenly changed his tone and shouted seriously:
“However, there is one thing that can suppress the madness of the Heavenly Killing Star—the blood of the Heavenly Saint Star!”
My eyes widened.
The blood of the Heavenly Saint Star!
‘So that’s why they called me a sacrifice!’
My mind raced.
‘If I hadn’t reincarnated into this body…?’
The original child would have been dragged away and used as a living sacrifice.
Only then did I realize—
‘This body might actually be a real Heavenly Saint Star.’
In the original story, Ak Gunhwi probably recovered thanks to the Heavenly Saint Star’s blood.
‘But now I’m in this body.’
And I had no intention of dying as a sacrifice.
I narrowed my eyes and crossed my short arms confidently.
“Blood Demon Ranbi!”
He gritted his teeth.
“Hey! Heavenly Saint Star! Aren’t you being too rude? Am I your friend?!”
I ignored him and continued:
“The Heavenly Demon’s madness… I know how to stop it!”
He grumbled.
“If you knew that, would the entire cult be running around in confusion like this?!”
This was it.
This was my chance!
‘So they still don’t know how to suppress his madness!’
In Absolute Young Master, Ak Gunhwi eventually finds a temporary way to control his madness.
It happens later, when Hyeok Murin reaches a certain level and enters the martial world.
I crossed my legs and shouted:
“The Heavenly Saint Star knows the method!”
Blood Demon’s eyes widened in shock.
“What?!”
He jumped down from where he was sitting and quickly crouched in front of me, matching my eye level.
“W-what is it?!”
I moved my lips slightly. He leaned his ear closer.
I whispered:
“I won’t tell you.”
“What?! Why not?!”
I snorted.
Of course I wouldn’t tell him.
The method wasn’t even that hard—and honestly, it had nothing to do with the Heavenly Saint Star.
If I told him now?
He might kill me immediately to take all the credit.
So instead, I said:
“It’s a secret of the Heavenly Saint Star.”
Then I looked around.
We were surrounded by a wide forest.
The method I needed… was probably there.
I raised one finger.
“One hour!”
“What?”
“I need time to prepare.”
Then I pointed toward the forest.
“What I need is over there.”
Blood Demon narrowed his eyes.
“You want to go into the forest alone? You’re not thinking of running away, are you?”
I narrowed my eyes back.
“If I run… can’t you catch me?”
He snorted loudly.
“One hour? Even if a tiny acorn like you rolled away for three days and nights, I could find you instantly!”
“Then give me one hour.”
“Hmm…”
He hesitated, but only briefly.
Finally, he nodded.
“Fine! I’ll give you one hour. Go prepare!”
Inside, I cheered.
Outwardly, I spoke boldly:
“Just trust the Heavenly Saint Star!”
* * *
I ran through the forest like crazy.
I wasn’t worried about getting lost. After one hour, Blood Demon would find me anyway.
I just kept searching.
But—
nothing.
‘Huh? It’s not here? When you need something, it always disappears! There were so many behind the village…!’
I looked around the dark forest in despair.
‘I should’ve asked for more time! Two hours! If I ask now… he’ll get mad, right?’
I slapped my forehead in frustration.
Then—
a soft breeze carried a sweet scent to me.
I lifted my head toward the wind.
And—
“Found it!”
There it was.
At the edge of a cliff, glowing white in the darkness—a blooming tree.
‘I knew there’d be at least one!’
It was a wild pear tree (sanri).
A smile spread across my face.
I quickly ran over and snapped off a small flowering branch.
The moment I held it, I felt relieved.
‘I’m saved!’
I tucked the branch carefully into my waistband and covered it with my clothes.
Then—
“Grrrr…!”
Of course.
My bad luck wasn’t over.
A black wolf stepped out of the bushes.
I quickly turned to run—
but another wolf blocked my path.
“Ugh…!”
I stepped back slowly.
Behind me—was the cliff.
Wolves in front. Cliff behind.
The worst situation.
The two wolves lowered their heads and slowly approached.
‘What do I do?’
My mind went blank.
I had tried so hard.
I survived the cruel Yu family.
I survived the massacre.
I tricked the terrifying Blood Demon.
I even found the method to save the Heavenly Demon.
But—
how do you beat wolves?
I trembled and curled up.
The wolves moved closer.
Then suddenly—
one wolf shoved the other with its snout.
The other didn’t back down.
“Grrraah!”
They started fighting each other.
One bit the other’s neck.
The injured wolf fell—
toward me.
Its large body slammed into me, and I was thrown into the air.
“Aaaah!”
I shut my eyes tightly.
‘I’m going to die!’
But—
strong arms caught me.
A familiar voice echoed faintly.
“One hour is up.”
It was Blood Demon Ranbi.
A loud explosion.
The dying cries of the wolves.
But I didn’t have the strength to open my eyes.
My consciousness faded.
His laughter rang in my ears.
“Heavenly Saint Star… I hope you found the method. This was your last chance.”
And I lost consciousness.
* * *
Rattle, rattle.
The sound of carriage wheels continued.
My body shook slightly.
Someone picked me up.
“…the Heavenly Saint Star…!”
Everything sounded distant, like underwater.
“…the madness is getting worse…”
“…at this rate, everyone…”
“…quickly, bring the sacrifice…”
Voices faded.
Someone placed me on a cold floor.
Silence.
‘Is it over…?’
I was about to fall into deep sleep—
when—
I heard the sound of chains.
Clink.
Clank.
Something heavy being dragged across the ground nearby.
