Chapter 20: Willing to be Kind
Hyun-woo sank back into his cushioned chair with a quiet sigh.
He glanced up at Adrazelle, the powerful creator of Eden's Vault, the woman everyone called "Mother." She'd just taken a solid punch to the face from him, yet there she was, smiling like nothing had happened.
She's a total bitch, he thought, shaking his head inwardly. But after landing that hit, she somehow feels... less of a bitch. Still one, though. No denying that.
But man, that punch felt good. Satisfying in a way he couldn't quite explain.
What can I say? I'm a simple guy with simple dreams. (EN: O brother. You weird bro.)
"So, am I still welcome in Eden's Vault?" Hyun-woo asked aloud, tilting his head curiously. He wanted to hear what she'd say now, after everything.
Adrazelle let out an exasperated sigh, her silver hair shimmering under the soft glow of the floating orbs. "It's not like anyone can stop you," she replied, voice laced with a mix of annoyance and reluctant respect.
"Well, that's true," Hyun-woo admitted with a casual shrug. "But it's still polite to ask before entering someone's house."
He said it like he knew exactly how she'd respond, teasing her on purpose. It was his way of testing the waters, seeing if this ancient, god-like woman could take a joke after getting humbled, or if she was like those arrogant immortals in cultivation novels who killed you for breathing wrong.
While this banter went on, the others in the room were dead silent, watching like statues.
Ebonara clung to Hyun-woo protectively. Her black scorpion tail wrapped gently around his leg, holding him close. She listened to the exchange with a confused frown, eyes flickering between violet (for calm) and gold (for surprise). She was used to seeing Mother casual… but not this casual.
Medusa was in the same boat. She told herself she didn't care anymore, but her snakes hissed softly in doubt. If Hyun-woo could punch Mother like that and walk away unscathed, he could've killed them all days ago. But he hadn't.
Is he really different from other men? she wondered. And Mother… she nearly killed him with that barrier stunt. Yet now they’re joking?
Stheno, on the other hand, was just astonished. Sure, she was a bit attracted to the raw power Hyun-woo had shown, but mostly, she was shocked to see Mother bleed. A tiny red smear on her perfect skin? Unbelievable.
Doesn't that mean he could've easily snapped us in half back at the treehouse? instead of fearing him, she felt a spark of curiosity. Who is this guy, really? Strong enough to make Mother flinch, but chill enough not to brag?
And Euryale? She was just stupefied.
First of all, what the hell? And second, what the actual fuck?
This whole scene was totally out of control. Why was Mother acting like such a chill girl now? Euryale knew Mother was ancient and wise, always testing people in weird ways, but she couldn't comprehend why the dynamic had flipped so fast. And Hyun-woo… how could someone be stronger than Mother? Nobody was stronger than her. Not even the Inner Guardians.
"Asking for permission? You truly are an interesting man, Hyun-woo," Adrazelle's voice cut through the silence.
She leaned back in her tall, imposing chair, propping her cheek lazily on one hand. She fixed Hyun-woo with a look that mixed warm, grandmotherly fondness with the sharp amusement of an apex predator who had finally found interesting prey.
“Of course you’re welcome here,” she said, voice lilting with playful mock sweetness. “Stay as long as you like. Break as many walls as you want. Punch me again whenever the mood strikes you, I clearly deserve it.”
Her ancient eyes sparkled with dangerous mischief.
“Just try not to make too much of a mess in my nice, clean Vault, hm? I only had the crystal polished last century. Bloodstains are such a pain to get out.”
Hyun-woo rubbed the back of his neck, a small, crooked smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He leaned forward, mirroring her posture, elbows resting casually on the smooth obsidian table.
“Yeah, well…” he drawled slowly, voice light but teasing. “I’ll try to be considerate. Wouldn’t want to ruin your five-thousand-year interior-design streak.”
He paused for dramatic effect, then added with perfect deadpan innocence:
“But if you ever feel like yeeting another random guy into a death barrier just to see what happens… maybe give me a heads-up first? I bruise easy.”
Adrazelle’s laugh exploded. It was bright, delighted, and completely wild. It echoed off the white-crystal walls like music.
“Oh, you sweet summer child. Bruise easy?” She tapped one elegant finger against her cheek, where the skin had already healed perfectly smooth. “I felt that punch in my soul. You hit like a falling moon. Honestly, I’m almost tempted to ask for an encore just to feel alive again.”
Hyun-woo raised one eyebrow, unfazed.
“Careful what you wish for, grandma. Next time I might aim lower.”
Adrazelle dramatically clutched her chest with both hands.
“My virtue! My dignity! Completely ruined by a boy who probably can’t even tie his own shoelaces without help.”
Hyun-woo let out a short snort.
“Says the woman who got punched in the face because she thought ‘test subject’ was a valid career path for total strangers.”
For half a heartbeat they just stared at each other, these two stubborn, powerful people sizing one another up.
Then both of them cracked up at the exact same moment.
Adrazelle’s laugh was rich and musical, rolling through the chamber like warm thunder. Hyun-woo’s was quieter, a little embarrassed, but completely genuine. The sound bounced off the crystal walls and seemed to melt the last stubborn knots of tension in the room.
Sensing this, Ebonara’s deadly black tail finally loosened its possessive death-grip around Hyun-woo’s waist. She blinked rapidly, her eight gem-like eyes cycling through colors: violet for confusion → soft gold for relief → warm pink for quiet pride. A tiny, genuine smile tugged at her lips.
Stheno had both hands clamped over her mouth, shoulders shaking so hard her chair actually creaked. She looked like she was trying, and failing, not to burst out laughing from sheer nervous relief.
Medusa’s snakes were swaying gently, almost like they were humming along to the absurdity.
Euryale was frozen in place, green aura flickering in short, bewildered pulses like a broken lightbulb. Under her breath she kept whispering: “This is fine. This is normal. Everything is fine.”
Adrazelle wiped an imaginary tear from the corner of her eye and let out a happy, contented sigh.
“In all seriousness, Hyun-woo…” Her voice softened, though the mischief never quite left it. “You could have come in here swinging from the beginning. You didn’t. You asked. You waited. You gave me the chance to be better than the monster I sometimes am.”
She leaned forward slightly and met his eyes and really looked at him, ancient gaze locking with his steady brown one.
“That’s rarer than any power you carry. So yes. You’re welcome here. Not because you’re strong enough to force your way in. But because you’re willing to be kind even when you don’t have to be. That’s worth more than any barrier or throne.”
Hyun-woo dropped his gaze to the smooth obsidian table for a second, cheeks going a faint pink.
“…Thanks,” he muttered quietly. Then, almost shyly, he added, “And, uh… sorry about the face. I was pretty pissed.”
Adrazelle waved her hand like it was nothing.
“Pah. I’ve had worse. Much worse.” She flashed that sharp, wicked grin again. “Besides, if you ever get too comfortable around here, I’ll just drop you into the Abyss Lake for a nice, refreshing swim. Fair’s fair.”
Hyun-woo snorted, leaning back with a lazy smirk.
“Bring it. I’ll just slap your ass until you’re sorry.”
Adrazelle barked out a loud, surprised laugh, then froze mid-breath as the words registered. Her silver eyes narrowed playfully as she slowly turned her head to look at him. There was a new, very interested glint in her gaze.
“Boy… don’t get too bold now,” she purred, voice dropping an octave. “You think I’m that easy?”
Hyun-woo raised an eyebrow, completely unfazed.
“You know exactly what I meant.” He tilted his head, smile turning just a little mischievous. “Or… are you actually eager to find out?”
For one heartbeat, the ancient creator of Eden’s Vault looked genuinely caught off guard. A faint flush, barely noticeable, crept across her pale cheeks.
She cleared her throat loudly.
“Right. Enough family bonding for one afternoon.” She glanced around the table at the still half-stunned guardians. “I think we’ve all had more than enough excitement in this drafty council chamber.”
Before anyone could respond, she raised one elegant finger and twirled it in a small, graceful circle.
A soft flare of silver light bloomed.
The world folded neatly in on itself. Like someone had gently creased reality and smoothed it back out.
One blink later, the entire group was no longer in the vast white-crystal hall.
They were standing (and in Ebonara’s case, partially coiled) right in the middle of Medusa’s private quarters.
The room was cozy, smooth pale-gray granite threaded with silver veins, living roots pulsing faintly from the walls. Soft moss carpeted parts of the floor. Dried herbs and glowing crystals lined the shelves. A huge round bed grown straight from the living wood sat against one wall, piled high with furs and blankets.
Medusa blinked slowly.
“…Did Mother just get embarrassed?” she asked flatly. “And also… did she just drop us in my bedroom?”
Hyun-woo groaned dramatically and flopped onto the nearest cushioned bench. The second his back hit the soft padding, he burst out laughing, quiet at first, then louder.
“She was totally embarrassed,” he managed between chuckles. “The second I mentioned her ass, she panicked and teleported us out of there.”
Ebonara immediately curled around him like a warm, possessive blanket. Her long black tail looped twice around his waist, the venomous tip resting lightly on his thigh like she was claiming him all over again.
Stheno flopped down right next to him, grinning ear to ear.
“Bro. You punched Mom. Then you sassed her about her ass. I’m never getting over this. Ever.”
Medusa crossed her arms tightly over her chest, cheeks still faintly pink.
“…You’re all insane,” she muttered under her breath.
But she didn’t walk away. She stayed right there, leaning against the wall, snakes swaying lazily like they were listening to the chaos and secretly enjoying it.
Euryale stood frozen in the middle of the room, green aura flickering in short, confused bursts. She stared at nothing in particular and whispered to herself:
“This is fine. This is normal. Everything is fi…”
Her voice cracked just a little on the last word.
Seeing that he was not going anywhere, Ebonara finally uncoiled herself from around Hyun-woo, her long black tail uncurling with a soft, satisfied swish. She rose gracefully, eight gem-like eyes still sparkling with tiny pink hearts, and glided over to a low table where a crystal decanter of glowing purple liquid sat.
She poured herself a generous glass, the strange drink shimmering like liquid starlight, and turned, raising the glass high toward Hyun-woo.
“To my crazy beloved…” She paused for dramatic effect, tail flicking playfully. “…and to that stuck up Bitch, who just took a historic punch to the face!”
Hyun-woo nearly choked on air. He lifted an imaginary glass anyway, shaking his head with a helpless grin.
“Ebonara,” Medusa said flatly, already reaching for her own glass. She poured a deep crimson liquid that smelled faintly of roses and iron, probably some ancient Gorgon vintage, and raised it with perfect deadpan calm.
“You really need a filter. Like… desperately.”
She glanced around the room at the stunned faces, then added dryly:
“To not getting yeeted into death barriers anymore.”
That did it.
The room exploded into laughter.
Some of it was shocked and sputtering, some fond and warm, but underneath it all, a thin thread of lingering terror still hummed in the air.
Because let’s be real: they were all still processing the fact that Hyun-woo had just punched the literal creator of their world in the face… and walked away with nothing worse than a bruised ego on her part.
Stheno was laughing so hard she had to brace herself on the bench.
Medusa’s green aura flickered with tiny giggles despite her best efforts to stay composed.
Even Stheno's snakes were swaying in silent amusement.
They could joke, they could toast, they could pretend everything was normal now. But deep down, every single one of them (except Ebonara) was quietly terrified.
Terrified of what Hyun-woo could actually do if he ever stopped holding back.
Terrified of how casually he’d just humbled the most powerful being they knew.
And maybe, just maybe, a little bit thrilled that this ridiculous, pretty-faced boy with infinite strength and zero filter had somehow become part of their strange, dangerous family.
Ebonara, of course, was completely unbothered.
She plopped back down beside Hyun-woo, tail immediately looping around his waist again like it belonged there, and leaned her head on his shoulder with a content purr.
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Chapter 30 is now available on Patreon.