Sect Master’s Guide to Babysitting

Later, as the slight bit of sunlight faded away, Heuk Cheon was patrolling through the hallways, checking if the windows were properly closed, that the doors was locked, and no curious child was wandering off in the night. He stopped at one door, hearing some kids snickering about. He opened it gently to see what was happening. 

Inside, he saw Ae-rin huddling on her bunk while hugging her knees. Su-yeon was sleeping deeply right beside her, clinging onto her newly patched up doll. Ae-rin's shoulder was shaking with quiet cries, and upon seeing it, something was happening inside the former demon lord's chest.

He slowly stepped in, as to avoid waking up the other children. "What's wrong?" he nudged her softly and asked as warm as he could. 

She hurriedly wiped her eyes, surprised she said. "I... I was just thinking about my mother," she admitted while her voice was trembling heavily. "She... she was gone before she and I could say goodbye to one another." 

Heuk Cheon didn't know what to do. Comforting someone, let alone a child, was something he had no experience in doing before. But the thought of doing nothing and walking away felt wrong to him. After a while he broke the silence, he kneeled down on one leg beside her bedside. "You are safe here, young one." he said awkwardly. "No one will be able to make you experience that type of sadness ever again."

Ae-rin hiccups. "That's... that is not all. What if... what if something happens again? Like another... war?." 

War. That was something Heuk Cheon was very familiar with. That word made the former demon lord's heart cry out in pain. He closed his eyes, remembering the destruction he had once unleased. After a second, he opened his eyes. Looking at the shaking child in front of him. "If another war does happen," he said warmly, "I will do everything in my power to keep it from touching you."

She looked at him with tears forming near her eyes. In the lantern's light, she was able to see the lines of his scar, the rugged look that was reminiscent of his violent past. And yet, there was a hint of sincerity in his voice. Slowly, she nodded. "Thank you." she muttered softly as she was lying back down.

Heuk Cheon gently got up, extinguishing the lantern with a low flicker. Before he left, he observed around the room making sure that there wasn't any wind that can enter and make everyone chilly. Ae-rin's breathing eventually slowed down, and then he made his way out. He ensured to close the door carefully so no one would hear.

Downstairs, the rest of the household was beginning to settle. Lee Jin-Ho was standing in the doorway, nearly asleep on his feet, while Do-won and Jung-soo was huddled up on a bench, tired from the day's events. Seo Ryung, was hanging around near the main chamber. He was polishing a wooden staff, an object that he could hopefully use in training the older children or if he needed to defend the Redwood Estate, if necessary. 

When Heuk Cheon joined them, no words were needed to show the tiredness, relief, and thickening tension all of them have felt. Redwood Estate was no longer just a crumbling building. It had become a home, and with that came responsibilities heavier that anything each of them had ever done before. 

Lee Jin-Ho while rubbing his eyes, remarked. "Wow, what a day it has been," he mumbled with sleepy eyes. "But, I am glad that they are settling in better that I initially expected."

Do-won was yawning and muttered, "At least none of them was trying to burn the kitchen down... well Chul-woo almost came close."

Jung-soo snorted. "That kid has got the energy of a million squirrels. Best of luck trying to keep up with him, demon lor-" he stuttered, realizing that Heuk Cheon was right there. "Uh... I mean, caretaker!"

Heuk Cheon raised a brow, but he let it slip pass without saying anything. As he was staring at the fading glow of the lanterns that brightened up the halls. "Try to get some rest, all of you," he said. "Tomorrow, we should have a routine. We need a system or structure in this place."

Seo Ryung grinned wryly. "What? A routine? With that many kids? Sure, Master. Let's hope it all goes well."

However, Heuk Cheon's expression stayed determined. He had experience leading armies before, bending entire sects and countries to his will. Maybe trying to deal with a handful of children was not so different. Although, a part of him thought that the brats was much more unpredictable than the warriors he had encountered.

Later that night, while the others was sleeping in there proper sleeping quarters, Heuk Cheon was once again roaming around the halls alone. Moonlight was beaming through the windows, enveloping pale silver patterns on the fresh new floors. He made his way onto the manor's courtyard. The cool air was refreshing after today's tiring events.

He stopped by a wooden railing that oversaw a small patch of garden. They had made sure it was cleared off of weeds just a couple of days ago, they had hoped to grow some vegetables for the children. It still looked raw and unfinished, but so did the majority of the Redwood Estate before they renovated and fixed it up. If they give it the time and care, it could possibly bloom, just like these brats.

Yet again, a fading movement was caught by his eyes, on the corner of the manor's courtyard, it was near the iron gates. He stopped, observing the darkness surrounding him. For a second, he thought that he saw a flash of a silhouette hiding in the shadows. By the time he blinked, it was gone. Was it just the wind? Or something far more devious?

His senses from when he was a demon lord started to rise, along with his adrenaline. We are being watched. He was almost sure of it. But after a long bit of waiting, no threat ever showed up. No intruder showed.

Calming down, he forced his shoulders to relax. If there was potential danger nearby, he would deal with it when it was time it showed itself. For now, Redwood Estate needs him there, relaxed and ready. He looked back towards the manor, taking in the soft sounds of the room inside, the kids were breathing peacefully, fading whispers of restless dreams, the noisy floorboards that had once surprised them all. It was odd, but it was peaceful.