Getting close to the gate, Raven did not wait for any form of welcome this time.
He raised his hand, and power surged through him. The heavy iron keys snapped instantly, clattering to the ground as if they were nothing more than brittle twigs. The gate creaked open on its own, responding to his presence.
The morning sun was still low in the sky, pale and uncertain.
Raven stepped inside and stood still for a moment, his eyes scanning the compound. Then he walked straight to the entrance of the house and struck the door with a sharp force. It burst open, slamming against the wall as he entered.
The sitting room appeared empty. Quiet. Too quiet.
Raven walked around slowly, his footsteps echoing softly against the floor.
"You still want me to burn this place down before you do what you always do?" he said aloud, his voice calm but filled with threat.
Instantly, the house shifted.
The emptiness vanished. The room returned to life as if nothing had ever been wrong. A maid passed through the hallway, moving naturally, as though the house had never been deserted.
Raven looked away from the maid.
At that moment, a woman descended the stairs, holding a glass of red wine. She moved gracefully, confidently, and sat down without lifting her gaze to Raven.
"Sae-byeok," Raven said, his lips curling into a slow, dangerous smile.
The woman glanced at him briefly, anger flashing in her eyes, then looked away again, pretending indifference.
Raven stepped forward, his voice steady but sharp.
"You abandoned a child who was barely five years old," he said.
"You left with his younger sister."
The woman stiffened slightly but said nothing.
"You stole your husband's greatest treasure—the Teojustin Pot—just to create what you called your fantasy," Raven continued.
"You wanted his life because he opposed you. Because he stood against your horrifying plans to create beings that thirst for blood."
The woman turned to him with a deadly glare.
"And you didn't stop there," Raven said, his voice rising.
"You went further. You unleashed an ancient seal that had been bound for years,groomed it and made it look like it has always been there,you unleashed that school. With your twisted magic, you summoned demons, fed them, shaped them, watched them grow."
He shook his head slowly.
"You called it your world of fantasy."
Raven stepped closer, fixing his gaze directly on her.
"You even possessed the power to change your appearance—to hide inside other human bodies," he said.
"You killed innocent people. Watched them die."
"Sae-byeok," he called again, his voice heavy.
The woman suddenly stood up and slapped him hard across the face.
Raven staggered back but did not fall.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. He wiped it away slowly and laughed—softly, bitterly.
"I have always been a good son," he said.
"And I was never taught to raise my hand against—"
He paused, breathing in deeply.
"I was never taught to raise my hand against my mother."
Tears rolled down his face as he turned slightly away.
The woman's expression did not soften. She stepped forward, her eyes cold.
"Jiho," she called.
Then she smirked. "Oh—sorry. Raven."
Raven laughed quietly.
So you know who I was all this while"
"I thought you had forgotten that name."
His eyes hardened.
"Where is my sister?"
"Where is Siwoo?"
The woman laughed.
"Your sister?" she said mockingly.
"Oh, she's doing very well. I raised her carefully. She has even more power than you."
She leaned forward slightly.
"Her mind-tracing ability surpasses yours," she added.
"And she doesn't know she ever had a brother."
She smiled cruelly.
"So don't waste your time trying to find someone who doesn't know you exist."
Raven moved slowly toward her, rage burning in his eyes.
"You wicked devil," he said.
"What is your gain in that school you unleashed—or should I say, built?"
He laughed bitterly.
"I never knew it was you all along."
The woman flicked her fingers, and a small flame appeared instantly. She hurled it toward Raven.
He dodged it effortlessly.
Raven smiled darkly.
"Oh, you really think you control everything?" he said.
"You even went as far as killing your own husband."
Anger surged through him. He closed his eyes and raised his hands, power gathering rapidly around him.
But suddenly, he stopped.
He took a deep breath. Slowly, his hands lowered. His breathing steadied.
He opened his eyes and looked around the house, then wiped his face gently.
"I could destroy you anytime I want," Raven said quietly.
"But I don't want that."
He looked at her, his voice breaking.
"I want to see my sister."
"I want to know her."
He swallowed hard.
"Please," he said.
The woman burst into a devilish laugh, then suddenly began to cry.
"Oh no!" she screamed dramatically.
"Leave me alone! He wants to kill me!"
At that moment, Jina and Jan rushed into the room.
I fixed my gaze on Raven, shocked by the scene unfolding before us. The woman clung to her act, trembling dramatically.
"Raven, what are you doing here?" Jan asked.
"What are you trying to do to her?"
"He wants to take Eunwoo away," the woman cried.
"And I said no!"
Raven turned sharply to her.
"You have Eunwoo?" he demanded.
I stepped forward without thinking and slapped Raven hard across the face.
The sound echoed through the room.
Raven turned slowly, holding his cheek. Then he lowered his hand and looked directly at me.
"I wouldn't be surprised if you die because of your ignorance," he said coldly.
"And when that happens, I'll be the one who sends the wolves to tear you apart."
There was a fury in his eyes I had never seen before.
Without another word, Raven turned and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
The sound rang through the house.
I stumbled backward, staring at the door he had left through, my heart pounding violently in my chest.
And everything fell into silence.