Chapter 10..
The man, flustered and unsure what to do, suddenly dropped to his knees this time, just as politely as he had been rude earlier.
“I am sorry for not recognizing you, deceived by appearances. Truly, you are the True-Name Shaman.”
He must have been very shocked—there was cold sweat trickling down his temple.
“But for a True-Name Shaman, I have never seen such clear energy from the Yin-Yang Bureau—no, I misspoke again…”
“It’s okay. Everyone makes mistakes.”
“Thank you for forgiving me.”
At my words, the man bowed his head even deeper in thanks. He was so overly polite that it made me feel a little embarrassed.
“I am Hye-yoon, the dormitory supervisor of the Western Hall that trains shamans. I greet Lady Dohee, the master of the True Name, returning after three hundred years.”
I couldn’t help but open my mouth at Hye-yoon’s sudden shift in attitude.
‘That was a really fast change.’
Suryun, watching the situation, smiled faintly. She must have decided it was time for her to leave.
“Then, may I leave Lady Dohee in your care?”
“Yes. We will serve Lady Dohee with our utmost effort.”
It felt sudden, but it was for the best. I had safely enrolled, and now it was time for Suryun to go.
‘So this is where I part ways with Suryun.’
Her voice trembled slightly, as if choked with emotion, as she entrusted me to Hye-yoon.
“Please take good care of Lady Dohee, the hope of our clan. Then, I will take my leave.”
Suryun bowed deeply, and Hye-yoon returned the bow.
“Not at all. Rather, thank you for bringing young Lady Dohee safely to us.”
Hearing that, Suryun turned to leave, then gave me the warmest smile I had ever seen from her and offered her final words.
“Lady Dohee, please stay well and safe. It was an honor to serve you, even for a short time.”
Before I could respond, Suryun transformed into a large crow with black-blue wings and flew away.
Even though we hadn’t spent much time together, I felt strangely empty. Maybe it was just because I had nowhere else to go and clung to her, but when had I gotten so attached?
‘Goodbye, Suryun.’
I waved toward the black bird growing distant when I suddenly felt someone’s gaze. Turning my head, I saw Hye-yoon smiling warmly. He cleared his throat and then dropped a thunderbolt of a suggestion.
“Normally, a True-Name Shaman uses a private room, but since Lady Dohee is still young, would you like to share a room?”
What?! What did he just say?
“No! I don’t want to! Dohee will stay alone!”
Absolutely not. No matter how young I looked, living with someone else would almost certainly reveal I was a girl. Then I’d have to say goodbye to a comfortable bed, three meals, and a safe place to stay.
“It’s my wish to have my own room!”
“Haha. Even at a young age, you are very dignified and know your own mind. Truly strong inside and out—those words seem meant for you, Lady Dohee.”
Hye-yoon’s admiring gaze felt unbearably heavy. All I wanted was a little more peace and survival.
“Then, today we’ll assign you a room and introduce you to the other children. Classes will begin tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
“If you ever feel uncomfortable, please tell me. I will help with anything.”
Wow, I didn’t expect this much kindness.
‘This must be because I have the True Name.’
I stared at Hye-yoon, and he asked:
“Why are you looking at me like that, Lady Dohee?”
Maybe because I was used to coldness and hatred, kindness felt overwhelming, even burdensome.
“Um… You don’t need to be so nice. Just a little is enough.”
After all, none of this truly belonged to me.
Affection that came suddenly without my effort could leave at any moment, and that made me anxious.
‘I’ve already seen it so many times—how quickly sudden affection can fade.’
People who saw only the good for a short while left just as quickly when faced with a small flaw.
It wouldn’t be any different now. The moment they found out I was a girl, all this kindness would vanish.
‘If that’s the case, it’s better they’re a little less kind.’
It would hurt less when it was gone.
“But Lady Dohee, this is only natural. You deserve even more.”
“Mm, no.”
“May I ask why you say that?”
To avoid getting hurt, the first rule was to keep distance. The second was to know one’s place.
Luckily, I knew mine here very well. And more than admiration, I wanted honest pity. Pity doesn’t fade as easily as admiration.
“Because Dohee is a crow.”
At that, Hye-yoon, who only moments ago had doubted me for being a mere crow, looked stunned. Then he flailed his hands.
“Lady Dohee, how could you say that…! No, no, that’s not what I meant!”
Not what he meant? But hadn’t he practically said that when we first met?
When I tilted my head in confusion, Hye-yoon, clutching his chest, stammered an explanation.
“I-I only doubted you because… as a True-Name Shaman, you seemed far too…!”
“Too… what?”
“Urgh…!”
When I widened my eyes, he flushed red to his ears and couldn’t continue. Finally, he dropped to his knees again.
“I’m sorry. It was my mistake.”
Why not finish what you started? I wanted to hear the rest, but Hye-yoon’s lips stayed tightly shut, leaving only my frustration behind.
Elsewhere
A head of crimson hair, large round amber eyes.
As he strode forward, sparks lit in his gaze.
“That crow brat is the new master of the True Name?”
Sharp eyes, a presence so fierce it made even onlookers feel weak.
The predator known as king above beasts—the eyes of a tiger.
Perhaps afraid those sharp fangs would turn on them, the surrounding clan members muttered nervously.
“That’s what they say!”
“How could some lowly crow get the True Name instead of you, Shihyeon?”
Until Shihyeon slammed his palm against the trunk of a nearby tree.
Crack—the tree splintered as if rotting from within, and everyone went silent.
“Shut up!”
A pale-faced child with drooping eyes, busy reading the room. Was that really a crow?
When Hye-yoon introduced that weakling, holding such a kid in his arms, Shihyeon’s blood had boiled.
‘This is the new True-Name Shaman, Lady Dohee. Everyone, take good care of her.’
‘What? Take care of her?’
A bitter laugh escaped him again at the thought.
Why had the gods chosen a crow over the heir of the tiger clan?
Had he not worked himself nearly to death? Was it not enough? Or perhaps effort could never win divine favor.
“Damn it!”
Anger and fury surged, his fists striking again and again, but only stones and trees fell.
The ruined surroundings made others try to placate him carefully.
“There must be some mistake. As the top student of the Western Hall, you should have received the True Name.”
“A crow becoming a shaman? Impossible. Right?”
Their words to calm him only fueled his temper more. It was clear they were just trying to keep him happy.
“Should we teach her a lesson? She might quit if we pressure her.”
At those words, Shihyeon looked at the speaker as if he were pathetic.
“You guys…”
“Huh?”
“Forget it.”
Swallowing his anger, Shihyeon held back the words on his tongue.
Wasn’t it ridiculous? Picking on a five-year-old?
‘Idiots.’
She was far too young to be worth such jealousy. And Shihyeon was sharp enough to see the truth.
The problem wasn’t the crow—it was the god who chose a crow. Yet, he couldn’t help resenting the one who bore the True Name.
“Shall we start right away? Rip up her textbooks, ruin her meals?”
“Yeah, yeah! She’ll cry and leave. Shihyeon, what about you?”
