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Heart Demon.
In martial arts novels, the term often refers to one’s inner darkness—being possessed by a demonic spirit when consumed by instinctive destructiveness or greed from great power, or falling into despair due to doubt and self-recrimination.
But having experienced it myself, I realized the word encountered fit better than possessed.
He spoke words that seemed to blame me, as if looking at his mother who had taken her own life.
I knew it was just an illusion of the mind, yet the shock was far greater than I had expected.
Afterward, I suffered from hallucinations for a time, and it took me a long while to regain my composure.
It’s okay… It won’t happen this time.
The reason my mother had been periodically kidnapped by unknown organizations, only to take her own life, was clear.
It was because of me—famous as the only one with awakened martial arts skills.
If I had simply concealed the fact that I had awakened, the chances of my mother being targeted would have dropped significantly.
I’ll inevitably become famous once my skills are known… but it’s unlikely my mother will be kidnapped because of it.
Even the largest groups rarely abduct a family member of a celebrity. Kidnapping isn’t just risky—it’s also unnecessary. Most groups prefer not to antagonize the powerful.
The reason my mother was taken… was because I was coveted—the only martial artist in the world. They were willing to risk everything.
Anyway, the important thing now: I must hide that I have awakened martial arts abilities.
Just lie… say I awakened an Aura ability.
I watched my mother making baby food while thinking about that.
Ding-dong~.
“Huh?”
The doorbell rang. My mother put down the vegetables, washed her hands, and checked the intercom.
[Jaehee, are you inside?]
[We came to play.]
“Oh, come in.”
Voices I remembered chimed through the intercom. She pressed the button, opening the front door.
Were they my mother’s friends?
“Huh? This guy…”
“Oh, is this Geonwoo? Did you bring him today?”
“Yeah. I picked him up this morning.”
They recognized me sitting in the chair. Of course—they knew my mother had a child.
“The child is so quiet. Doesn’t cry even around strangers.”
“I’m jealous… Our Ha-eun cries whenever she sees someone new. Oh, can I have Ha-eun sit here?”
“Of course.”
I froze when I heard the name.
…Ha-eun?
At that moment, the name Lee Ha-eun—Serenity’s real name—crossed my mind.
…They must just be namesakes.
I thought so, but…
“Huh? Geonwoo’s looking at me? The little guy already knows this lady is pretty…”
“Is this the type of woman our Geonwoo likes?”
“What? Ma’am?”
“No, you called yourself auntie too!”
They looked alike.
The woman who seated the baby named Ha-eun on the chair next to me was the one I remembered… Serenity.
…and this baby next to me…
“…Bbaa…!”
I watched, fascinated, as the baby excitedly interacted with her peer for the first time.
…Could this girl… really be Serenity?
She was still a baby, so she didn’t resemble her adult form, but if she grew up like her mother…
Serenity and I met as babies…?
No… I knew Serenity was my age, but I had never thought we were childhood friends.
More importantly—why hadn’t I known? Why hadn’t my mother said anything?
“Son, you know what? You and Ha-eun on TV even bathed together as babies.”
[Oh, really?]
[I don’t remember ever bathing with someone.]
[That’s right. Ha-eun’s family moved when you and Ha-eun were just over a year old.]
Then I remembered what my mother had said when watching TV before my regression.
…She did say something. I just hadn’t believed it.
…By the way, Isara…
If Lee Ha-eun and her family hadn’t moved, could I really have had Serenity as my childhood friend?
Of course, it wouldn’t be easy.
Adult circumstances dictated their move. I was just a baby. Their relocation would remain the same even after regression.
…Or so I thought.
“Geonwoo! Let’s play together!”
“Oh, okay.”
I accepted Lee Ha-eun’s hug. She and I were now five years old. Unlike before, her family hadn’t moved.
From what I overheard from adults, I can guess why…
I hadn’t done anything remarkable. I just treated Lee Ha-eun well when she visited. Eventually, she started expecting visits, and her parents decided not to move.
Wait… Only her father moved?
Before, perhaps her father had been transferred locally, prompting the family to relocate. But because Lee Ha-eun depended on me, they split temporarily, returning after six months.
I never imagined that letting a child play freely could snowball into something like this. But in the end, it worked out.
“Geonwoo. Hurry up!”
“Okay.”
I followed Lee Ha-eun, feeling lively.
And there was more that had changed since I turned five.
First, I had accumulated a small amount of pure internal energy in my body. It wasn’t much—only three years’ worth—but it was enough for now.
I can’t use Harmony Divine Art yet, but the normal method of exorcism is enough.
I could defeat ordinary adults with the internal energy I had accumulated… though not awakened ones. I lacked the power and my body wasn’t fully developed.
“Geonwoo, Haeun, it’s nap time.”
“Oh, yes!”
Kindergarten was convenient. Even if a five-year-old could overpower an adult, how often would that happen?
I was led by the teacher to the nap room, where blankets were spread.
…Nap time still feels awkward…
Of course, children need to eat and sleep, but nap time at kindergarten always felt strange. I never slept well in the first place.
“Good night, everyone~.”
The teacher turned off the lights after seeing all the children, including Lee Ha-eun and me, get into bed.
Even in darkness, I couldn’t sleep, staring at the ceiling.
“S…”
“……”
I noticed Lee Ha-eun had fallen asleep instantly. Perfect. I began my usual nap-time practice.
Great Circulation of Heaven.
Internal energy had accumulated in my lower abdomen during the small circuit, forming the foundation for the large circuit.
Unlike the small circuit, energy in the large circuit gathers before reaching the middle circuit.
I must not accumulate internal energy.
Before breaking through, I needed magical power, not internal energy. Magic power was required to use spells.
Unlike Harmony Art later, for now, gathering magic power to perform smoothly was more important. I collected the ambient magic in the air.
Magic scattered across the world due to the Black Fog…
It was less concentrated than the incubator’s refined magic and somewhat “dirty,” but acceptable.
I burned the impurities using Samadhi Evolution, a flame that incinerated precisely what I desired, leaving no trace.
The magic flowed through my blood vessels, through the Imdokyang vein and all eight extraordinary and twelve primal meridians.
All the gathered magic converged in my middle dantian, where I applied Samadhi Evolution.
I focused intently, careful not to burn anything I didn’t intend. Even in the dark, I remained aware, ensuring no other children woke.
Whew… quite a bit of magic accumulated today.
I smiled inwardly.
Click.
The light came on. Nap time was over.
The problem with the Great Jucheon… time flies while circulating energy.
I pretended to wake like the other kids, tossing and turning.
Now it’s time to play with toys, and then at three, take the bus home.
The schedule was predictable… except today.
Hwaruk…
“Ah…?”
“Huh?”
A small fire had erupted while children played with blocks—not a real fire, just someone accidentally using magic.
“Wow! Fire!”
“Ha-eun, how did you do that?”
“Huh? Well?”
It was Lee Ha-eun—who would later be called Serenity. She had awakened.
Awakening at five… is she the youngest yet?
Well, except for me, awakened at birth.
“Ha-eun! Carefully… turn off the fire, please.”
“Okay?”
“Don’t point it at anyone…”
Teachers scrambled after realizing Lee Ha-eun had awakened. Awakening at five was unprecedented, though some children awakened at six or seven. Kindergarten teachers were required to report awakenings to parents and government agencies, who would supervise until the child could control their abilities safely.
“Like this?”
“Oh… yes, that’s better…”
Fortunately, Lee Ha-eun could control her powers. Soon after, she and her mother left to have her abilities officially tested under government supervision.
