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The investigation was nearly at its end.

To be honest, there wasn’t much to investigate.

Though the martial artist was searching the area here and there, there was nothing substantial to uncover.

Everything had already been cleaned up, so what more could be learned?

All that could be done was to endure the stench of blood while sorting through the corpses.

I searched with diligence, hoping to find something, but it yielded nothing.

‘They really cleaned up well.’

I knew they must have been quite angry, yet even amidst that, the level of detail was impressive.

It was a clear reminder of what kind of being the King of Demons truly was.

“That’s enough.”

At my words, the members of the Star Dragon and the martial artists halted their movements.

“It seems there’s no point in looking any further.”

“…”

Everyone seemed to agree.

There was nothing to reveal, no matter how thoroughly we searched.

“Did you find anything?”

“There are traces of something being erased, but nothing else is visible.”

“How meticulous….”

I searched through the Gyecheon Sect’s library and examined specific locations, but regardless of how deeply I dug through the branch or the main texts, there was nothing to discern.

At best, I could say that.

“I never thought… the former branch leader would be in cahoots with the Demonic Faction.”

That scoundrel who uses the name Mokri was confirmed to have teamed up with the Gyecheon Sect through some accounts.

It took some time to uncover, but I eventually found it.

“This must have been intentionally left behind by the Demonic Sect, right?”

“Since the information is already exposed, they likely thought there was no need to take it with them.”

“Then, why was there no mention of Il Cheonggeom?”

Il Cheonggeom, in alliance with both the Gyecheon Sect and the Demonic Faction, was also connected to the Demonic Sect.

I could even learn of this shocking fact directly from Il Cheonggeom’s own lips.

“Perhaps there was something the Demonic Sect needed to erase.”

“That’s a reasonable point.”

“Whatever it may be, since Il Cheonggeom has already spoken about it, there’s no need to dig further.”

Especially with the Heavenly Demon coming in directly to kill Il Cheonggeom.

Even if we lost the information, Il Cheonggeom’s confession had already made things clear.

“I can’t believe… the Great Lord of the Martial Alliance has been orchestrating such deeds from behind.”

“There’s no one to trust in this chaotic situation….”

Murmurs of dismay filled the air. Hearing this, I said.

“Enough chatter. Let’s wrap things up.”

“Understood…!”

At my command, the martial artists rushed to move. Watching them, I pondered.

‘There’s no one to trust…’

How true that was. In this world, there was no one to trust at all.

Let alone myself.

I returned to the branch. A day had already passed, and evening had once again arrived.

“Send a brief report, and since the people from the Tang Clan have come to assist, let the children rest.”

“Understood.”

“Reduce the number of night watch personnel by half, and I’ll inform the Tang Clan to adjust the timing.”

“Yes, I will follow your orders.”

Though it was just two days, it felt like an arduous march.

Though everyone was seasoned martial masters and the physical fatigue wasn’t an issue, the mental fatigue was another matter.

Everyone wore tired expressions on their faces.

I suspected that if we tried to push them any harder, it wouldn’t be long before they broke down.

Thus, I had to enforce a break time.

If we were going to keep pushing, we should at least provide this. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to keep using them effectively.

“Once the report is sent to the main sect, assistance will arrive, right?”

“Yes, it’s scheduled for three months from now.”

“Then, we won’t even be here when they arrive.”

Three months was more than enough time for us to have returned long ago.

‘That’s something they’ll handle on their own.’

The late investigation would merely serve as a show. I didn’t have high hopes for how the main sect would handle things.

“Since I’ve confirmed the basics, let’s call it a day. Everybody take a rest. I’ll inform the Holy Branch Leader that I’ll visit him after a brief intermission.”

“Understood.”

After delivering the word, I moved towards my residence.

‘In regards to the Poison King, I need to take care of that by the day after tomorrow…. And I also need to inform the Upper House about the Poison Heavenly Pill.’

Cheol Jiseon would have informed them properly, but I still needed to keep an eye on things.

‘As for the Beggar Clan… before the higher-ups learn of it, I should deal with those who pocketed some backdoor profits.’

There were some rumors circulating that had surfaced before the information reached the top.

Once the rumors spread, it was only natural that the upper echelons would move. It was right to clean things up beforehand.

‘The King of Demons seems busy. Nahi also has her schedule. Yet, I can’t trust Tang Deok for this task.’

That fool might just cause unimaginable trouble if left to handle it himself.

Which meant I’d need to send someone else…

‘Ah.’

One person suddenly came to mind.

That someone should be handling things in the western outskirts by now. I thought he’d be a perfect fit for this task.

‘Then, I’ll just send a letter later….’

What next, I wondered.

As I opened the door to my residence.

“You’re here.”

“…”

A chilling voice greeted me.

Raising my gaze, I was met with green eyes welcoming me in the dark of the night.

“You’re late.”

It was Tang Soyeol.

With her emotionless face, she welcomed me. I asked her.

“What are you doing here… No, since when have you been waiting?”

“It hasn’t been long.”

Not long, my foot. It felt like quite a while.

‘This is insane.’

My throat ran dry.

No matter how lost in thought I had been, I hadn’t noticed Tang Soyeol was in the room.

This meant that…

‘She truly had concealed her presence completely.’

Tang Soyeol had put in the effort to hide her presence completely.

And that implied she had set something up right from the entrance to my residence.

Whoosh–!!!

As our eyes met, a barrier manifested around us as if she had been waiting for that very moment.

An energy barrier.

It was clearly prepared to muffle sounds.

“You’ve worked hard today too.”

“…Uh… yeah… you too.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“Is that so? Why do you think that is?”

“I had something on my mind that made it impossible for me to focus on work. Ah, I’ll need you to scold me later for not doing my job.”

“…”

Who would say to her with such a fierce expression that they should scold her?

While I couldn’t muster the words, I swallowed them down internally.

“Are you aware that the Tang Clan Leader has come?”

“Yes, I’m aware.”

“Have you seen him?”

“No, should I go and see him?”

“…Oh. No, I was just asking.”

“Yes.”

“…”

“…”

Then the conversation came to a halt.

Though it seemed trivial, the thorns behind those words pricked at my throat.

It was a fear I hadn’t felt in a long time.

After a prolonged silence, she spoke.

“Prince.”

“Yeah…?”

Looking at me, Tang Soyeol inquired.

“Is there nothing you wish to say to me?”

“…”

I swallowed hard.

It was coming at last.

My throat instinctively tightened.

I had forgotten about this, having momentarily focused on handling matters.

No, I hadn’t forgotten; I had been desperately trying to ignore it.

– I won’t let it go.

Tang Soyeol’s words, asking if I was the Heavenly Demon.

And the mention of not letting it pass easily this time.

As I recalled that moment, my body slowly stiffened.

As I remained in the room with no candle lit, time stretched on.

– Haah.

A quiet sigh escaped her lips.

“Prince.”

“…Oh.”

As I struggled to find my words, Tang Soyeol added.

“Are you the Heavenly Demon?”

“…”

It was a confirmation, echoing with an intention to not let go.

My heart sank, trembling.

What loomed before me was the dimly lit room along with Tang Soyeol’s eyes.

She was gazing into me without so much as blinking.

It was a determination that I would be held to my silence should I choose not to answer.

“…Ah….”

What should I respond with?

What excuse could I possibly give? No, does it even matter what excuse I make?

Tang Soyeol’s conviction left no room for doubt.

While she appeared curious about my answer, it seemed as though she had already made up her mind.

At this moment, all I could do was make a choice.

Would I lie knowing Tang Soyeol understood the truth?

Or would I utter a painful truth I didn’t wish to admit?

That was all it boiled down to.

But.

‘How?’

How could I make that choice? My breath quivered in my eyes.

I could do nothing.

Unable to speak, I found myself standing there for quite a while.

At that moment.

Swoosh.

Tang Soyeol suddenly took hold of my hand.

“Prince.”

Her voice calling me was as calm as always.

“I don’t know what you’re afraid of, but.”

Though she wore an expression devoid of emotion, somehow, a faint smile danced on her lips.

“I actually like you much more than you think.”

“…”

“You know, don’t you? How I and we feel about you, Prince.”

We and I.

The alternating pronouns carried significant weight.

“If it were normal… I’d probably just ignore it or refuse to speak about it. But I didn’t want to ignore it this time since you took it too far.”

“…What did I take too far?”

What did I do to warrant this? Just as I found myself pondering.

“You hesitated to push me away, didn’t you?”

“…”

Upon hearing Tang Soyeol, my eyes widened.

Her words were spot on.

During the ruckus when I wore a mask, I hesitated when she charged at me.

Though I had managed to cover it up discreetly, could she have sensed it?

“It’s not just that I happened to notice. Normally, I wouldn’t catch on, but… I must have seen you too often.”

“…”

“So I was curious. Why are you standing there like that? What are you trying to achieve? It’s very unlikely you’re doing this for yourself, right? After all, you’re not that type of person.”

I wanted to deny it. This was all for me. I was much more self-serving than you think.

I wanted to say that, but.

“Thus, I wanted to ask.”

“What….”

“Am I really worthy of hearing this from you right now?”

“…”

“I wonder if the ‘us’ you carry deep within—a bit of it might be revealed to me. So I wanted to ask you.”

My mind went blank. It was the same Tang Soyeol I had come to know.

Her typically cold demeanor was nowhere to be seen.

“However, seeing your reaction now, it seems it’s still not the right time….”

The difference was apparent; I could sense a touch of hurt and disappointment in her expression.

“But it’s okay. It’s just that it’s still not the right time… I trust that one day it will be possible. So I’ll drop today’s inquiry. You don’t need to feel bothered by it.”

After Tang Soyeol had said her piece, she began to move.

As she walked past me, unexpectedly, she paused and spoke.

“Ah, just in case you’re wondering….”

I turned my gaze.

“I don’t care what you become, Prince.”

Her words pierced through me. My body moved involuntarily.

“In truth, I liked your face at first… but whatever it is now… um.”

I yanked Tang Soyeol into an embrace. Her small frame fit perfectly against my chest.

“Ah, no…!!”

Tang Soyeol’s body trembled in my grasp. Heat surged within my chest.

Surely, Tang Soyeol’s face would blush with warmth as well.

“This… uh… I mean… this is….”

“That’s right.”

“…Eh?”

“I’m saying it is what you think it is.”

“…!”

I couldn’t bring myself to call myself the Heavenly Demon, and yet I instinctively affirmed it, albeit indirectly.

Before I knew it, the words tumbled out of my mouth. Watching Tang Soyeol leave, my body reacted on its own.

“…And.”

I parted my lips. After a moment of hesitation, I said to Tang Soyeol.

“Just to avoid misunderstandings, I want to clarify: it’s not that I can’t speak because you’re a nobody.”

“Well, of course?”

If anything, it was the opposite.

“If I speak, I’m afraid you’d hate me.”

“What?”

“That’s just how much it matters to me.”

It struck me that she might be repulsed by what I was doing.

That fear had kept me from speaking.

That fear remained even now. I bowed my head.

Tang Soyeol glanced at me, her face flushed deep red.

What kind of expression was I making now? I didn’t know. I couldn’t even imagine what kind of expression I wore.

“So… right now, that….”

“Prince.”

Before I could finish my sentence, Tang Soyeol interrupted me.

With a face ready to burst, she smiled brightly.

“I love you.”

The sudden confession threw me off guard. It was completely out of context with the situation.

“…Huh?”

Yet, I couldn’t raise a debate. I lacked the strength to do so.

“You already know this, but I mean it sincerely.”

The moment her words reached my ears, my mind went blank.

Right, this was a fact I had known long beforehand. Not knowing it would have made me foolish.

But hearing it spoken changed everything.

As cold sweat began to drip, I lost track of my thoughts.

“How about you, Prince?”

Tang Soyeol asked me.

“What about you?”

“…”

Me?

‘I…’

I could feel my mind racing for an answer.

Having known it, I found it easy to retrieve.

It was merely a matter of whether I could voice it or not.

“I…”

Just as I intended to respond to Tang Soyeol.

– Do you know that?

Suddenly, a memory surged within me.

‘…What is this?’

It was a recollection.

Yet, I couldn’t pinpoint what it was about.

Furrowing my brows for focus, I heard a voice following it.

– What do you mean?

It was my voice.

However, it was a bit subdued, the tone carrying an unidentifiable laughter.

– I love you.

This time, it was a woman’s voice.

– But you probably wouldn’t know.

– I do know.

– You might know. But you wouldn’t know the details.

Had I lost my mind? I was recalling a conversation I had never participated in.

– I know well. Why would you think I wouldn’t?

– Because you wouldn’t.

– I can’t understand.

– It’s fine if you don’t. Just keep it in mind.

Her words were infused with a certain sorrow.

What in the world were these memories? Why were they surfacing all of a sudden?

As I focused, trying to understand my bewilderment.

– I… love you enough to do anything for you.

– …

– So, as someone receiving the love of someone as great as me, live your life in gratitude.

– That’s quite grand.

– Indeed. Because I am quite a grand and significant being.

– Your self-esteem is unnecessarily high. So, as someone receiving love from such a great being, what should I do for you?

– Hmm? There’s nothing in particular you need to do.

– So, you just want me to live my life receiving this love?

– I wouldn’t mind. Just that alone is enough for me. However, if you really want to do something for me.

I saw nothing. I couldn’t identify my surroundings or who was conversing.

All I could feel was the sound of their voices.

– Whenever I want, call my name.

– …That’s a peculiar reward. Is that really enough?

– It is enough. Because that is much harder than you think. To call me whenever you wish… is far more challenging than you anticipate.

– It doesn’t matter. I can do that at any time.

– Really?

The woman laughed.

– That’s nice. I’ll trust you, then… just that is sufficient.

– I can’t understand…

I chuckled at how absurd it was.

At that moment.

– You know.

The woman spoke to me.

– Would you call me now?

– Now?

– Yes. I want to hear it.

At that woman’s request, I spoke.

I unconsciously uttered that name.

“…Yeohwa.”

Such an ethereal-sounding name.

 

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