The Truth About Her Parents

At the words the truth about your parents, Han Se-hee’s small hands clenched tightly.

“Yes.”

She wanted to know the truth about her father and mother.

Even if it was something cruel, she needed to understand what had happened to them.

“Your parents were murdered. By their comrades.”

The truth she was told was brutal—that her parents hadn’t been killed by monsters but by their fellow hunters.

***

Han Se-hee’s appearance was still very young.

At eleven years old, it was natural. Her small frame and adorable features still hinted at the innocent child she was, far from the breathtakingly beautiful heroine described in the original novel who captivated countless hearts.

Her body hadn’t yet matured as a woman, so her current appearance made perfect sense.

Even though she was portrayed as the main heroine and childhood friend in the original story, right now, she was just a little girl.

“Among the heroines, only Moriya Yuka and Lee Ha-yeon had normal parents.”

The incident that had taken her parents three years ago wasn’t something I could have prevented.

At the time, I had been trapped within the rift and far weaker than I am now.

The only favor I could offer Han Se-hee now was to tell her who her parents’ killer was.

“Your parents were murdered. By their comrades.”

“...Is that true?”

Han Se-hee’s hands trembled as she asked.

“Yes, it’s the truth.”

The one backing my claim was Choi Kang-in. I had already shown him a visualized recording of that day’s events, making him a reliable witness.

Choi Kang-in’s name, as the leader of the Kangin Guild, was synonymous with trust in Korea. For Han Se-hee, who grew up in the Kangin Orphanage, his words carried even more weight.

Hearing Choi Kang-in confirm the truth, Han Se-hee clenched her small hands even tighter.

“Who was it?”

“It was someone named Pyo Woo-jae.”

“Uncle Woo-jae...?”

Han Se-hee seemed to already know of Pyo Woo-jae.

And that made sense. Pyo Woo-jae had been a comrade of her parents, Han Yeon-woo and Jin So-yeon.

Naturally, Han Se-hee would have known him. Which only deepened the sense of betrayal she felt.

Her face was filled with emotions of anger and hatred.

“In the original story, she was kind and gentle.”

Even now, her personality remained calm and composed, but her resentment toward her parents’ killer was immense, strong enough to make her visibly furious.

Watching her, I wondered what I would feel in her position.

“Hmm, I guess I’d be mad if someone killed Baek Hyung-won and Kim Yoo-jung. They’re mine to kill, after all.”

But those two were far too selfish to ever step into a dangerous dungeon together.

Unlike Han Yeon-woo and Jin So-yeon, Baek Hyung-won would have every escape route meticulously planned before even entering a dungeon.

“Thank you... for telling me.”

With a trembling voice, Han Se-hee bowed politely, her small frame showing surprising maturity for her age.

Even though the Kangin Orphanage had taken care of her, it was clear she deeply missed her parents, which had forced her to grow up too quickly.

Despite the possibility of her personality becoming darker, her kind nature in the original story, where she served as a healing presence, seemed to stem from her innate goodness.

“What punishment do you think Pyo Woo-jae deserves?”

I asked her in a gentle tone.

Surprised at being given a choice, Han Se-hee hesitated before carefully asking, “Do I really get to decide?”

“Yes. I could kill him for you.”

In a previous life, such words might have been considered extreme, especially in front of a child.

But in a world plagued by villains and monsters, where death was always close, such actions were often seen as necessary rather than overprotective.

“I... I don’t know.”

What came from Han Se-hee’s lips wasn’t a request for execution.

“I hate him... I can’t forgive him... I want him dead...”

But she trailed off, unable to finish her sentence.

Seeing her confusion and the tears welling in her eyes, I intervened before she could start crying. Calming a crying child was not one of my strengths.

“I understand. It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything.”

I knew what was bothering her.

“She’s scared of killing someone.”

The idea of someone dying, even a hated enemy, because of her decision, was terrifying to her.

“Then I’ll ensure he pays the price for his crimes. Unless you ask for leniency, he’ll face the punishment he deserves under the law. Is that okay with you?”

“Yes... I’m sorry. And thank you.”

Han Se-hee clasped her hands together and bowed deeply. Her long pink hair cascaded down as she lowered her head, a sight that made me feel a pang of pity.

As I watched her, Choi Kang-in’s knowing smile felt irritating.

“Stop smiling like that, old man. It’s creepy.”

“Haha! My apologies, young one.”

Seeing me take care of Han Se-hee seemed to have solidified Choi Kang-in’s determination to make me the successor of the Kangin Guild.

Confirming that I wasn’t indifferent to others appeared to be his greatest takeaway.

“Can I know your name, big brother? And... I’m sorry for not introducing myself earlier.”

Han Se-hee cautiously asked, then bowed to both me and Choi Kang-in.

She would have greeted him immediately under normal circumstances, but the sudden revelations about her parents had understandably distracted her.

“Haha, it’s all right. Hearing about one’s parents can do that. If anything, I’m the one who should apologize for not uncovering the truth sooner,” Choi Kang-in replied warmly.

“My name, huh...”

When Han Se-hee asked for my name, I considered giving her my alias, Kim Ho-jun.

But after some thought, I changed my mind.

“Can I call you Se-hee?”

“Huh? Yes, please do.”

“Then, Se-hee, can you promise me one thing? Until I give you permission, don’t tell anyone that you saw me or anything about me.”

Han Se-hee looked puzzled but quickly nodded, thinking it wasn’t a difficult request.

“Yes, I promise.”

“Thank you. Then I’ll tell you my real name.”

I undid the disguise I’d been using as Kim Ho-jun, allowing her to see my true form.

“Oh? Your hair color...”

Startled by the change in my hair and eye color, Han Se-hee soon realized that this was my real appearance.

“This is... your true form?”

“Yes. My real name is Baek Seo-jun, and I’m fifteen years old. For now, I’m publicly known as Kim Ho-jun.”

After revealing my identity, I reminded her of her promise.

“Keep my identity a secret, okay?”

“Yes, I promise!”

“Good. As for Pyo Woo-jae’s fate... you’ll see it on the news soon.”

“Okay! Thank you so much. Thank you... Hic!”

As tears finally broke free, I awkwardly patted her back to console her.

Ten minutes later, after she had calmed down, I returned her to the orphanage and headed home with Ramisa.

***

To Han Se-hee, Baek Seo-jun was a mysterious figure.

Not only was he acquainted with Choi Kang-in, the guild leader of the Kangin Guild, but he had also suddenly appeared in her life to reveal the truth about her parents’ deaths.

Moreover, he had promised to punish Pyo Woo-jae, the man responsible for killing her parents, and she eagerly awaited the news that justice had been served.

But the next day, she received an unexpected visit.

“So, you’re Se-hee? How lovely to meet you. My name is Kim Yoo-jung. My husband is the guild leader of the Baekho Guild.”

“I’m Han Se-hee,” she replied politely.

“Oh, my! What a well-mannered young lady! You know, my little Seo-jin is such a kind boy, but he struggles to get along with kids his age… Could you, our clever Se-hee, help him out?”

As a child from the orphanage, refusing wasn’t an option.

Led by Kim Yoo-jung, Han Se-hee found herself at the Baekho Guild, where she met a boy named Baek Seo-jin.

“So, you’re Se-hee! Nice to meet you!”

Baek Seo-jin greeted her with a bright, beaming smile.

“Yes, nice to meet you too,” she replied, though her voice lacked its usual energy.

Under normal circumstances, she would have smiled back, responding warmly with a promise to be friends. But now, she couldn’t bring herself to do so.

“Oh! You’ve already met our young master. How delightful to see you, Se-hee!”

Her gaze shifted, and there he was—the man who had killed her parents.

Pyo Woo-jae, wearing a smile as if nothing had happened, approached her with the same carefree expression.

Her chest tightened with a surge of anger and hatred.