Dokkaebi.
That word brought many things to mind.
Every time I descended underground in this life—or even in previous ones—there was something I always heard.
"Little Dokkaebi."
Little Dokkaebi.
Something or someone had always called me that.
I never bothered to find out what it meant.
There was a reason:
"Don't pay attention to the names they call you."
That's what my father once told me.
But now…
"A Dokkaebi, huh…"
My ancestor referred to himself as a Dokkaebi.
Looking at his physical form before me…
A body almost fused with wood, and ears unnaturally sharp—sharper than any human's.
It was obvious: he wasn't human.
"…It doesn't feel right calling it a monster either."
I'd seen similar beings in the Myriad Realms.
Non-humans living in the volcanic lands(Hwasan from Myriad Realms) created by Shin Noya.
So I wasn't particularly shocked by his form.
But to realize that this was the origin of my bloodline…
It was surprising nonetheless.
I was never truly human to begin with.
This just confirmed what I vaguely suspected.
Still…
"So, in the end…"
"All of this is basically your crap, isn't it?"
It didn't matter whether he was a Dokkaebi or whatever else.
The fact remained that he was the source of everything.
Calling a human body crap…
"Who said your body was crap? I said what you did was crap."
My ancestor fell silent.
Because I wasn't wrong.
His actions led to the curse plaguing the entire Gu Clan.
Possibly even to the opening of the Demonic Realm Gate.
In a way, he's been paying the price ever since.
So if he's not crap, then what is?
On Gender and Inheritance
"Can only men become the clan head?"
The ancestor flinched.
That reaction gave me my answer.
"Seriously? Just look at me. The answer's obvious."
I didn't need to think much about it.
It had always been a question.
The tradition of having male clan heads existed for generations—
But in Gu Clan, that didn't fully make sense.
"Because my insane sisters were way more talented than me."
They were fierce and gifted women.
Even if Gu Ryeong-hwa was unpredictable,
Gu Yeon-seo and Gu Hee-bi were top-tier, even among late-generation descendants.
Yet I—someone considered incompetent—became sub-clan head.
So the notion that only men could inherit power?
That wasn't just tradition—it was something more.
"So it wasn't just some rotten custom, huh?"
It wasn't just outdated thinking.
There was something deliberate behind it.
Ancestor's Confession
"Sub-clan heads and clan heads must be men."
"Why?"
"Because I was a man."
"What the hell does that mean?"
"To carry the burden of my guilt and convictions, the successor's body and soul must closely match mine. Being of the same gender enhances that connection."
Ah.
So the vessel must resemble the origin to properly carry that burden.
That's why male heirs were essential.
"What a pathetic reason. As if life isn't hard enough, now I'm tangled up in this mess just for being a guy?"(LOL🤣)
"Damn it."
I sighed heavily.
The Body that Remains
"So, if this body remains, does that mean the Gu Clan's curse continues?"
If his physical form is the source…
"What if I burn it?"
-"If that were possible, I'd have done it long ago."
"So it doesn't burn?"
-"Gu Clan bloodlines are physically incapable of harming it. Even fire won't ignite in this space—it's against the will of the master."
I couldn't test it anyway—my power wasn't functioning.
The flames I inherited from my ancestor came from him.
So, naturally, I couldn't use those flames to destroy him.
Because becoming "Successor" meant inheriting his sins and responsibility.
"Then the current clan head can suppress flames at will because he inherited your power too?"
"Correct."
So all the power the descendants wielded came from him.
And with it, they could control the very flames others relied on.
"Damn it."
Nothing would be easy.
This meant we couldn't use flames to stop the current clan head if he appeared.
"So basically, I can't win while I carry the Gu Clan blood."
I clicked my tongue.
⸻
Attempt to Kill the Ancestor
"If I can't use flame, what about force?"
I approached the ancestor's body, reaching for his neck.
If I couldn't burn him, maybe I could break his neck.
He didn't resist.
Did that mean he didn't mind dying?
Just as I started applying pressure—
Thump.
A jolt ran through my hand.
It was repelled.
"Figures."
There was a barrier. Clearly something blocking me.
"Quite the guts, grabbing someone's throat without hesitation."
"It was a test. I knew it wouldn't work."
"Hah. You're funny. It looked real enough to me."
"…Heh."
I didn't deny it—because I meant it.
He wasn't really family to me.
Even if I resented him, there was no emotional bond.
"But honestly, didn't you want me to kill you?"
I knew he wanted that.
He wanted the sins to end.
And he wanted me to be the one to end them.
"Too bad. Didn't work."
⸻
On Why the Body Remains
"Why does this body still exist?"
"Because I poured my power into creating it. Your mother's power alone wasn't enough."
"So what does it mean that you 'poured your power in'?"
"Even in a fabricated world, Gu Clan power is unique. To replicate it, my essence was necessary. Even illusions need a real source."
So his body needed to exist to complete the illusion of this underground world.
That showed just how important his remains were to this constructed realm.
⸻
The Final Realization
"Why did you try to stop me from coming here?"
If all I could do was see, why stop me?
"Because it's a shameful secret. Something you didn't need to see—yet."
"But eventually, you'll have to. If you wish to take up the mantle."
I understood then.
"You wanted me to kill you, didn't you?"
He nodded.
To end the burden—his legacy of sin.
⸻
"Don't worry."
Even if he didn't want it, I'd do it.
Because I had to end this.
So I could live.
But first…
"I need to get out of here."
That was the only thing I could do for now.
"To do that…"
"I need to see my mother."
A clear direction was finally starting to form.