Instead of heading toward the majestic archive library, Hades signaled for Dokja to follow him toward a hallway guarded by giant skeleton knights. They walked deeper, passing iron doors sealed with ancient spells, until they reached a Reliquary Room. This place did not contain books, but rather items possessing extraordinary power—objects too dangerous to be left in the hands of living beings.
"The Underworld's radar managed to catch its coordinates before it disappeared back into silence," Hades said while turning to his wife.
Persephone nodded slowly. She stepped toward a marble altar and picked up an object shaped like a black crystal ball surrounded by constantly rotating silver rings—a Spirit Radar.
"We call it the Dimensional Echo," Persephone said while touching the surface of the crystal; instantly, a holographic map of the human continent was projected into the air. "Look at this, Dokja."
In the center of the map, there was a red dot pulsing harshly. The frequency was very unstable, but its power was extraordinarily massive.
"That is the energy from the Eternal Abyss. Something that has reappeared after five hundred years." Persephone looked at Dokja seriously, "It is located at this red point."
Dokja stared at the red dot with eyes narrowing sharply.
"This radar records that the power is not just stagnant," Hades interjected, his voice sounding like a warning. "It seems it has managed to obtain someone to be its vessel. I only worry if that power from another world manages to merge completely with a greedy host; their greed will only bring two worlds—the demon world and the human world—to collapse."
Hades took a heavy breath, his voice echoing like the scraping of a tombstone. "You must understand one thing, Dokja. The Eternal Abyss is not something new. That entity has existed for millions of years, a dimensional rift whose power was unstable and tended to be ignored by the Gods because it was considered nothing more than a weak natural anomaly."
Hades stepped closer to the crystal radar, his pale fingers pointing at the timeline recorded there.
"However, six hundred years ago, everything changed. That abyss suddenly disappeared completely from our dimensional map, as if someone had swallowed it or hidden it. Then, a hundred years later—exactly five hundred years ago—that power exploded briefly. Very strong, very foreign, and enough to shake the foundations of the Underworld before it finally vanished again without a trace."
Persephone nodded, her beautiful face appearing tense. "That is why we are vigilant. This radar is the only instrument that managed to record that fluctuation five hundred years ago. However, Dokja... there is something more worrying."
Persephone looked at Dokja with a very serious gaze. "Two years ago, exactly when a mana shift occurred in the northern region of the Demon World, Hades and I felt a mysterious awakening. It happened so quickly and subtly that even the Underworld's most sophisticated radar failed to record its exact coordinates. It was a planned awakening, something far more controlled than the explosion five hundred years ago."
Dokja was silent, his glowing red eyes dimming in deep thought.
"So," Dokja murmured, his voice as cold as frozen ice. "The power that millions of years ago was just 'ordinary' has now evolved into something that can evade the radar of the Ancient Gods. And it is hiding somewhere in the human world."
"Correct," Hades answered firmly. "That abyss is no longer just a dimensional rift. It has found consciousness."
Dokja straightened his back, his black robe—resembling Hades'—seemed to flutter, blown by the cold aura he radiated. "If this radar managed to record the movement five hundred years ago, then I will use that data as a starting point. I don't care how strong the evolution of that abyss is now. I will drag it out of hiding."
Dokja looked at Hades and Persephone with absolute resolve. "I will return to the human world. If that vessel truly exists, I will personally ensure it is destroyed before it has a chance to take its first breath as a new god."
Persephone stepped closer, her trembling fingers touching Dokja's arm. Her usually calm eyes were now filled with a visible mist of worry. As a mother, her instincts screamed danger; she knew that a power capable of hiding from the radar of the Ancient Gods was not something that could be faced with just the military strength of the Demon World.
"Dokja-ya, must you really leave this soon?" Persephone whispered in a hoarse voice. "That power... it feels very hungry. I fear that if you get too close, it will realize your presence and—"
"Persephone." Hades' heavy voice cut off his wife's sentence. Hades placed his large hand on Persephone's shoulder, offering calmness. "Our son is no longer a little prince who needs to be hidden behind your cloak. He is the Demon King. He possesses the decisiveness and strength we bequeathed to him."
Hades then turned to look at Dokja. From between his fingers, he produced an ancient silver ring with a Black Ruby that glowed with a deep, thick dark-red light. The aura coming from the ring felt very massive, as if it contained the essence of the depths of Tartarus itself.
"Wear this," Hades commanded firmly. "This is a protective seal containing a portion of authority from me and Persephone. If you find yourself in a desperate situation that threatens your life, this ring will activate automatically, creating a dimensional shield that cannot be penetrated by any god. It will give you time to return here."
Dokja accepted the ring, feeling it cool the skin of his finger as he put it on. He felt the flow of power from his two adoptive parents flow into his mana circuit, providing a strange yet solid sense of security.
"Be careful, Dokja-ya," Persephone advised once more, her voice softening. "The human world right now is full of falsehoods. Do not let your eyes be deceived by what appears on the surface."
Dokja nodded slowly. His cold and stiff face softened for a moment. He stepped forward, giving a warm embrace to Persephone, then turned to Hades. In the embrace of his two adoptive parents, Dokja allowed himself for a moment to be a protected child before he had to return to being a cruel ruler.
"Thank you, Father... Mother. I will return with a definite answer," Dokja said coldly yet respectfully.
After releasing the embrace, Dokja turned. His black robe fluttered as he walked toward the dimensional gate prepared by the shadow servants. With one steady step, he left the calm darkness of the Underworld.
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A black vortex opened in the center of the main hall of the Demon World castle, exhaling the chill of Tartarus that caused the room's temperature to plummet instantly. Kim Dokja stepped out with the grace of a predator; his new black robes and the Black Ruby ring on his finger radiated an aura far more oppressive than when he had departed.
Han Sooyoung, who had been waiting restlessly with her arms crossed, immediately approached him. "Well?"
Dokja met Sooyoung's gaze with a sharp, cold stare. "I found it. They gave me this radar."
Hearing Dokja's no-nonsense tone, Sooyoung's expression turned serious. "So, are we leaving now?"
"Yes. Prepare your equipment," Dokja commanded firmly.
"WHAT?! Wait, are you serious Dokja? I was only guessing—"
"I am serious." He then turned to Jung Heewon, who stood tall near a pillar, her sword already unsheathed and ready to receive orders. "Heewon-ssi, you are coming with me. I need your destructive power if the situation spirals out of control."
"Ready, Your Majesty," Heewon answered with a disciplined, cold tone typical of a war general.
Before stepping further, Dokja looked toward Yoo Sangah, who stood on the other side of the room. Sangah looked worried, but she knew nothing could stop Dokja once the Demon King had made his decision.
"Sangah-ssi, I am entrusting the castle and the entire administration of the Demon World to you while I am gone," Dokja said, his voice softening slightly yet remaining authoritative. "Activate the high-level defense seals. Do not let anyone enter or leave without your written permission."
"Leave it to me, Dokja-ssi. Please be careful there," Sangah replied with a firm nod.
Dokja, Han Sooyoung, and Jung Heewon moved toward the secret teleportation gate. They wore traveling clothes disguised with high-level magic so that their presence as demonic entities would not be detected by the Cathedral's radar.
"Sooyoung, prepare the tracking radar calibrated with the data from the Underworld," Dokja said as they entered the magic circle.
With a dim flash of purple light, the three most feared figures in the Demon World vanished, crossing the dimensional boundary toward the heart of the human Empire.
The three figures landed silently atop a towering clock tower, not far from the luxurious residence where the party was taking place. From that height, they could see rows of lavish horse-drawn carriages and the flickering of crystal lights radiating from the grand hall's windows.
Dokja narrowed his eyes, his hand gripping the stone railing. "The coordinates are exactly here. That power is in there, in the midst of this crowd of rotten nobles."
Jung Heewon placed her hand on the hilt of her sword, her face tensing. "So, the vessel for that dangerous power is one of them?"
"This is troublesome," Han Sooyoung grumbled, chewing on a lollipop irritably. "We can't just burst in and slaughter everyone. If the Cathedral catches the scent of a Demon King in the middle of a noble party, it will trigger an opening of full-scale war prematurely."
While they were weighing their plans, their attention was diverted by a silver-plated carriage that had just stopped right in front of the side gate of the noble residence.
The carriage door opened, and three noblewomen stepped out with striking elegance. They did not wear cumbersome flowery gowns, but rather couture party dresses that were extremely tight, boldly hugging the curves of their bodies, with low-cut and open necklines. The fabric shimmered under the moonlight, giving a provocative yet classy impression—the type of clothing only worn by those with untouchable social status.
"Wow, look at that," Han Sooyoung whistled low, her eyes gleaming at how luxurious the fabric clinging to the three women's bodies was. "Did they really come to party, or to hunt?"
Dokja stared coldly, uninterested in human aesthetics. However, Sooyoung suddenly turned to face Dokja with a broad, cunning smile.
"I have an idea!" Sooyoung exclaimed, clapping her hands lightly.
"Speak," Dokja replied shortly, his voice cold as ice.
Sooyoung pointed toward the carriage. "We take their clothes, use high-level transformation magic, and enter through the front door as VIP guests."
Jung Heewon looked hesitant, her face flushing slightly. "Sooyoung-ssi, those clothes... are too revealing. I'm not sure I can move freely if a battle breaks out."
"That's the point, Heewon! No one will expect a great knight to be hiding behind a tight dress," Sooyoung replied enthusiastically.
.
.
After the three noblewomen were drugged into unconsciousness, Han Sooyoung and Jung Heewon swiftly dragged their bodies behind a row of lush cypress trees in a quiet corner of the garden.
With a quick motion, Han Sooyoung cast a spell. A thin purple light enveloped her and Heewon. In just an instant, their combat gear had changed into two luxurious gowns that were very tight and revealing, exactly like those worn by the women before. Heewon looked extremely uncomfortable, occasionally pulling at the neckline of her dress which she felt was too low, while Sooyoung seemed to enjoy her new role, fixing her hair.
Dokja stood in the darkness, watching his two companions with an unreadable, flat gaze. "Good," Dokja said coldly, his voice sounding absolute. "Your disguises are perfect. Now go inside, find the energy source, and give me a signal if you find something. I will watch and peep from out here."
Hearing that, Han Sooyoung, who was adjusting her earring, instantly froze. She turned toward Dokja with an expression as if she had just seen a demon eating vegetables.
"WHAT?!" Sooyoung shouted under her breath, her eyes bulging. "What did you just say? Peep from out here?!"
Dokja raised an eyebrow. "I will provide support from the shadows. My presence is too conspicuous if I go inside."
Sooyoung stepped forward, hands on her hips in front of the Demon King. "Don't joke around, Kim Dokja! You have to disguise yourself too, idiot! Do you think two people are enough to scan an entire hall that size?"
"I can use detection magic from here—"
"No arguments!" Sooyoung cut him off with a cunning smirk, her hands already preparing another transformation spell.
Dokja let out a long sigh, a sound of resignation rarely heard from the ruler of the Demon World. However, since this was for the mission, he finally allowed Sooyoung to do her work. Dokja closed his eyes, casting an illusion spell upon himself to perfect the disguise. His black hair, which was originally neat, grew long down to his waist, falling like shimmering black silk. He also applied an illusion to his chest to make it appear fuller and more voluptuous, adjusting to the anatomy of a noblewoman so that no one would be suspicious of his slender, masculine body.
Han Sooyoung smirked with satisfaction. "Now, let the magical cosmetic expert work."
With nimble fingers, Sooyoung created light particles that acted as makeup. She gave Dokja's eyes a sharp eyeliner touch to highlight a mysterious impression, as well as a dark red lipstick that matched his original eye color.
Dokja wore a deep, jet-black silk gown that absorbed the surrounding light. The dress featured a halter neck design that exposed his smooth, pale shoulders, while the back was open down to the waist. The cut of the dress was very tight, perfectly hugging his illusionary curves down to the thighs, where a high slit revealed his long legs. His long black hair was left loose, providing a lethal contrast to his porcelain-white skin.
Sooyoung chose the second girl's look with a dark purple gown featuring black lace accents. The dress was very short in the front but had a long tail in the back. The chest area had a bold push-up cut, decorated with obsidian gems. Her makeup was made very striking with plum-colored lips, giving the impression of a wild and unpredictable young noble.
Heewon wore a blood-red gown made of heavy satin. Although it looked feminine, the dress was designed so she could still move nimbly. The collar was high but had an open cut in the center of the chest. Her makeup was minimalist yet sharp, highlighting a cold yet enchanting knightly aura.
---
"Incredible," Sooyoung murmured while checking her reflection in her water magic. "The three of us look like a very beautiful disaster for the men in there."
Heewon could only sigh while trying to get used to her high heels. "I feel like I'm walking on eggs that are about to crack."
After ensuring the three noblewomen were sound asleep behind the thickest and darkest bushes in the corner of the garden, Dokja gave the final instructions. He picked up the three gold-plated invitation cards that had fallen from their small bags.
"Use their veils," Dokja commanded coldly.
The three of them immediately adjusted their disguises. Because the three women they had drugged were wearing mysterious thin veils—perhaps as part of the fashion trend for that night's party—Dokja, Sooyoung, and Heewon wore similar veils. The veils were made of a very fine transparent fabric, leaving only the eyes visible, yet they added a sensual and enigmatic impression.
"Move them to the empty wine cellar over there," Dokja said, pointing to a small building behind the garden. "Ensure they are not found until this party ends."
After dealing with the "original owners" of the invitations, Dokja took a deep breath, adjusting his posture to look like an elegant yet haughty noblewoman. He held the invitation card in his slender fingers.
"Let's go in," Dokja invited.
The three of them stepped toward the main gate with perfect synchronization. The gate guards, seeing the three women in tight clothes and mysterious veils, were instantly mesmerized but also aware of who they supposedly were. When Dokja handed over the invitation card with an elegant hand gesture, the guard did not even check their faces any longer.
"Please enter, honorable Ladies," the guard said, bowing deeply as if he knew the status of the people before him.
Having memorized the names of the unfortunate nobles whose identities they had taken—Countess Biche, Lady Aize, and Lady Roana—the three stepped inside with full confidence.
However, just as they set foot on the main hall's red carpet, the loud voice of the royal master of ceremonies thundered, cutting through the party's noise.
"THE EMPEROR'S NEWEST CONCUBINES, THE FUTURE RESIDENTS OF THE ROSE PALACE, HAVE ARRIVED!"
Instantly, every pair of eyes in the hall turned toward the entrance. The orchestral music suddenly shifted into a grand welcoming theme.
Dokja, Sooyoung, and Heewon instantly froze. Their bodies were as stiff as stones. The thin veils they wore seemed to become an incredibly heavy burden as they realized one bitter reality: the three women they had drugged earlier were not ordinary guests, but new concubines sent to satisfy the Emperor's lust?!
"What kind of situation is this..." Jung Heewon murmured, her voice trembling as she suppressed both anger and embarrassment.
Han Sooyoung swallowed hard. Cold sweat began to dampen her temples behind her purple veil. "This... this was not the plan. I swear I didn't know those three flirtatious women were concubines!"
Dokja did not make a sound, but the cold aura radiating from his body was enough to freeze the water around them. He turned slowly toward Sooyoung; his red eyes, disguised but burning, flashed sharply behind the black veil. That gaze seemed to say, 'If we survive this, you are the first person I will sentence to death.'
"Han Sooyoung," Dokja hissed in a low, terrifying tone. "If I end up having to serve that rotten man because of your idea, I will ensure all your wealth in the demon world vanishes overnight."
"I-I'm sorry! How was I supposed to know!" Sooyoung replied in a panicked whisper.
The situation became a thousand times worse when the Emperor stepped closer with a wide, sickening smirk. The smell of alcohol and sweat wafted as he stood right in front of them. He looked at his three "new concubines" with a gaze as if he were appraising expensive livestock.
"You're late," the Emperor said with a raspy chuckle, his voice sounding utterly disgusting to Dokja's ears. "But it doesn't matter. Seeing the beauty you radiate behind those veils... I think the wait was worth it."
Without warning, the Emperor released his hold on one of his old concubines. His rough, oily hand landed directly on Dokja's slender waist, embracing him possessively and pulling the "woman" in the black dress close to his side.
Dokja winced. His entire body tensed, his hands clenching so hard that his nails almost drew blood from his own palms.
"Come on, don't be shy," the Emperor ordered Sooyoung and Heewon, gesturing with his head. "You two, follow me to the main table. We will celebrate your arrival before the night becomes 'hotter'."
Jung Heewon, forced to walk behind them, whispered very softly with lips that barely moved behind her veil. "We're going to die, Sooyoung-ssi. If His Majesty doesn't explode right now, he will certainly slaughter us both after this party is over."
Han Sooyoung could no longer answer calmly. Her face behind the purple veil was as pale as paper. Her body trembled violently, not because she feared the Emperor, but because she could feel an incredibly thick aura of bloodlust beginning to emanate from Dokja's forcibly embraced body.
"I'm finished... I'm really going to be skinned... Heewon," Sooyoung muttered in despair. She glanced at Dokja's back, hoping for a miracle that could cancel this deadly situation.
The current Emperor, despite his disgusting personality, was undeniably a handsome man with a sharp facial structure and captivating charisma. That was why noblewomen from all over the country lined up to become his concubines.
The Emperor laughed proudly, feeling like he had won new "trophies." He still held Dokja's slender waist tightly as he stepped toward the center of the hall, where another pair of "main stars" was standing.
"Ah, Mr. Yoo! Come here!" the Emperor called out loudly, summoning Joonghyuk, who was currently being escorted by a beautiful silver-haired woman—none other than Lee Seolhwa.
Dokja, who had been looking down to contain his rage, instantly froze at the mention of that name. Likewise, Han Sooyoung and Jung Heewon standing behind him were stunned. They slowly looked up, and their hearts seemed to stop beating when they saw who was standing in front of them.
'What on earth...'
Dokja's red eyes, hidden behind the black veil, collided directly with the sharp golden eyes of Yoo Joonghyuk. A haunting silence seemed to pull them out of the hustle and bustle of the noisy hall. There, in the midst of the party's luxury.
Yoo Joonghyuk stood tall, wearing an impeccable and gallant noble suit. On his arm was the hand of the beautiful and graceful silver-haired woman, Lee Seolhwa. The sight was like a hard slap for Dokja.
For some reason, he wanted to laugh.
"Mr. Yoo, let me introduce my new flowers," the Emperor said arrogantly, his fingers squeezing Dokja's hip tighter. "And for you, my concubine, let me introduce the main star of tonight. The man who managed to capture the empire's beautiful doctor, Yoo Joonghyuk."
Dokja felt his blood boil. He stared blankly at Joonghyuk, a gaze that radiated an emptiness more terrifying than anger. The pain he thought had disappeared now throbbed again, this time feeling twice as sharp.
Joonghyuk was not okay. His jaw tightened until his neck muscles strained. He did not want this part of the plan to be known by Dokja at all. He didn't want Dokja to see him standing with another woman, but he was trapped in his own role. His sharp eyes seemed to want to scream at Dokja, yet his lips remained sealed to guard the great secret he carried.
'Kim Dokja...' Joonghyuk thought with suppressed desperation.
Dokja took a deep breath, trying to stabilize the mana beginning to surge within him. He bowed his head slightly, offering an icy formal greeting.
"Congratulations on your engagement, Mr. Yoo," Dokja's voice came out through transmission magic, sounding like the soft tone of a woman.
After that suffocating introduction, the Emperor laughed with satisfaction, completely unaware of the deadly tension frozen between the people in front of him. He waved his hand casually, giving an absolute order to his new concubines.
"Now, mingle. Show the world that my palace has the most beautiful flowers," the Emperor said before finally turning to greet other nobles.
Hearing that order, Han Sooyoung and Jung Heewon immediately acted. They knew this was the chance to escape the Emperor's reach and begin their search. With graceful yet planned movements, Sooyoung and Heewon stepped forward to Dokja's side.
Each of them took their "Majesty's" arm firmly yet gently, as if they were pampering a fellow concubine. Sooyoung threw a very fake sweet smile toward Yoo Joonghyuk and his fiancée as a gesture of leave-taking.
"We will excuse ourselves for a moment, Mr. Yoo and Countess Lee. We want to take our sister here for a stroll around the hall to ease her nervousness," Sooyoung said in a flirtatious yet polite feminine tone.
Heewon only gave an elegant nod while tightening her hold on Dokja's arm, as if protecting the Demon King from the hungry stares of the nobles there. The three of them then turned away, moving from the center of the hall with manufactured grace.
Dokja could feel how stiff Sooyoung and Heewon's hands were, as if they were holding a bomb ready to explode at any moment. Once they managed to slip to a safe distance amidst the bustling crowd of nobles, Sooyoung swallowed hard. She glanced at Joonghyuk and then back to Dokja with a pale face. "Dokja," she whispered in a tone of worry mixed with panic. "Should we just go back to the castle now? You know, I suddenly remembered that I forgot to make an important report about... the lollipop stock in the warehouse! Right, Heewon?!"
Heewon flinched, then nodded as fast as lightning until her earrings jingled. "A-ah, yes! That's right, Your Majesty! It seems the lollipop stock report is very crucial for the economic stability of the demon world, isn't that right Sooyoung-ssi?"
Sooyoung nodded eagerly until her veil almost slipped. "Let's go back, Dokja... no, I mean, Your Highness! let's save those lollipops together!"
Dokja stared at the two women beside him with a flat gaze, as if watching two amateur comedians who had stumbled onto the wrong stage. He took a long breath before whispering very softly, yet loud enough to make their hearts drop into their stomachs.
"I have found it. The owner of that power."
"WHAT?!" Sooyoung shouted spontaneously, causing several nobles near them to turn in surprise. Sooyoung immediately covered her mouth while pretending to cough gracefully.
Dokja remained as calm as the surface of a lake at night. He was not angry, but his aura suddenly felt incredibly heavy. "The two of you, go home now."
"WHAT?!"
"HUH?!"
They both exclaimed in unison, this time with even more disbelief. Dokja brought his face closer, his voice low yet as sharp as a dagger pressed against a throat.
"I will handle the rest. Go, Sorceress Han Sooyoung, and..." Dokja's eyes flickered toward Jung Heewon with a cold glint, "Captain Jung Heewon. Isn't this what you wanted?"
The emphasis on their official titles made them both shudder in horror. Unconsciously, they immediately released their grip on Dokja's arms as if they had just touched burning coals. The command was absolute; if Dokja invoked their titles, there was no room for negotiation or excuses about lollipop reports.
"Fine, we understand," Sooyoung murmured while pulling Heewon away. They gave a quick bow and instantly vanished behind the massive pillars of the hall, leaving Dokja alone.
Now, Dokja stood in a suffocating solitude. He glanced briefly toward Yoo Joonghyuk, who still seemed busy conversing with Lee Seolhwa—or at least, appeared to be conversing, though the man's eyes constantly locked onto Dokja's figure.
'So, the hero is busy being sweet?' Dokja thought cynically.
Without giving himself a chance to waver, Dokja turned his face away haughtily. He stepped away, leaving the glitter of the hall behind and heading toward the darkness of the garden, which was far more honest than the fake smiles of the nobles in that room.
. . .
Dokja stepped out toward the darkest part of the garden, where the crystal lights from the hall remained only as a faint, dim bias. Once he felt far enough from the crowd, he released his transformation magic with an elegant snap of his fingers. The black silk gown melted into mana particles, replaced by his grand black robes that trailed low, sweeping the dew-dampened grass.
He reached into his robe pocket and pulled out the radar stone. The object was no longer just flickering; it glowed a burning red, emitting a heat that almost blistered Dokja's palm. The light was stable and strong, pointing straight in one direction behind his back.
Without a hint of surprise, as if he had anticipated the presence of the uninvited guest, Dokja turned his body slowly. Before him stood a tall man with a very handsome face and a sharp jawline, the figure who had just been the center of attention at the party.
Dokja curled his lips into a thin smile full of sarcasm.
"My, Mr. Yoo, what brings you here?" Dokja asked, his tone as if they were merely strangers who had accidentally crossed paths. "Shouldn't you be dancing with that beautiful Countess?"
"Kim Dokja..." Joonghyuk growled, his voice low and laden with the emotions he had kept tightly suppressed.
Dokja smiled thinly again, his eyes watching Joonghyuk with a gaze that was hard to decipher. "Yes... what is it, Yoo Joonghyuk-ah?"
The use of his name, so familiar yet cold, acted like a spark for Joonghyuk. His patience was gone. Joonghyuk could no longer hold back as he directly grabbed Dokja's hand roughly, jerking the slender body until it crashed against his hard chest.
Before Dokja could utter another cynical sentence, Joonghyuk leaned down and directly kissed the lips of the man smaller than him. The kiss was not gentle; it was a kiss full of demand, hunger, and an anger that exploded from a longing and frustration that had accumulated for hundreds of years.
Dokja's eyes widened, his free hand clutching Joonghyuk's clothes as he tried to process this sudden assault. Joonghyuk's masculine scent, which he knew so well, invaded his senses, causing the defenses he had painstakingly built in the hall to suddenly waver.
'How dare you kiss me after flaunting your fiancée before my eyes,' Dokja thought with a rage beginning to boil beneath the forced kiss.
He was truly fed up. However, instead of pushing the man away, with a movement that was calm yet full of provocation, Dokja wrapped one arm around Joonghyuk's neck, while his other hand crept up to grab Joonghyuk's black hair roughly, pulling him to make their position even more intimate.
Dokja smiled into the kiss, a thin smile that felt like sweet poison. He opened his mouth, intentionally allowing Joonghyuk to deepen the kiss until their locking lips became hotter and messier.
"Mmh," Dokja groaned muffledly, though his voice sounded not like a moan of pleasure, but a challenge.
Even though his heart screamed because of the betrayal he had witnessed in the hall, Dokja chose to follow this mad game. They continued to kiss wildly, chasing each other's breath in an intense struggle of tongues. While still locked together, their feet moved instinctively, walking backward away from the open area toward a darker, quieter corner of the garden, completely hidden from the party lights.
Dokja's back finally hit the rough trunk of an old oak tree, but that pain drowned in the heatwave burning them both. The moonlight filtering through the gaps in the leaves created a dramatic silhouette on their interlocking faces.
Joonghyuk no longer held back. His large, rough hand cupped Dokja's jaw, pressing the man's cheeks to force his mouth wider, while his other hand gripped Dokja's waist with a strength that seemed intent on breaking his ribs. The kiss became savage; their tongues met and tangled roughly, creating wet sounds that echoed in the silence of the dark garden.
Dokja squeezed the hair at the nape of Joonghyuk's neck with trembling fingers, pulling the man's head to leave no gap for air between their lips. Cold sweat began to dampen Dokja's temples, and his lips, which were previously adorned with red lipstick, were now a mess, stained and swollen from Joonghyuk's merciless suction.
The kiss showed no signs of subsiding; instead, it grew hotter and more uncontrollable. Beneath the shadows of the silent trees, they seemed to be waging a war using lips and tongues. Joonghyuk tilted his head forcefully to the right, while Dokja adjusted by tilting his head to the left—a synchronization performed only to allow their tongues to meet even deeper.
The messy, wet sounds filled the silence of the night. Every time Joonghyuk's tongue swept the roof of Dokja's mouth, the smaller man let out a hoarse moan muffled in his throat.
"Nnghh... hah..."
Their lips were no longer just interlocking; they were devouring each other. The kiss was so wet that remnants of saliva were left at the corners of their lips and chins, glistening under the thin moonlight. Dokja gripped Joonghyuk's hair even tighter, pulling until the man's scalp tensed, as if he wanted to ensure Joonghyuk could never escape him.
Joonghyuk responded even more fiercely. He tilted his head again in the opposite direction, seeking a new angle to suck Dokja's tongue until the man went weak. Their chests rose and fell rapidly, clashing in an irregular rhythm of breath.
"Hah... Joonghyuk... mmpff..."
Dokja's moan was swallowed again as Joonghyuk gave an even more demanding suck, as if the man were trying to inhale all the oxygen from the Demon King's lungs. Dokja's swollen lips now looked very red and wet, truly a mess from the over-intense kissing.
Every time they changed the tilt of their heads, the friction of their skin and lips created a hot sensation that traveled down to the spine.
the hot interlocking of lips finally broke by force as both ran out of oxygen. They remained standing very close, their foreheads touching with heavy, ragged breaths, exhaling hot air onto each other's faces. A thin thread of saliva was visible between their wet, swollen lips, creating a very messy sight under the moonlight.
In the midst of that suffocating silence, Dokja suddenly let out a soft laugh. It was not a happy laugh, but a hollow one that sounded deeply pathetic, as if he were mocking how ridiculous their fate was.
Dokja lifted his trembling hand, cupping Joonghyuk's cheek with a cold palm. He stared directly into the man's golden eyes, searching for remnants of a soul he might still recognize.
"You... remember me, don't you? You remember every detail, Yoo Joonghyuk-ah," Dokja whispered softly, yet his voice sounded like a death sentence.
Dokja whispered in an incredibly low tone, his hand still cupping Joonghyuk's cheek. Joonghyuk's eyes widened instantly, his body stiff as if he had just been struck by lightning in the silence of the garden. He remained speechless, his tongue tied. There were millions of words he wanted to vomit out—about how he was forced to perform this engagement charade to destroy the Cathedral from within, about how he hid his power so the enemy's radar would not detect it, and about how he planned a future where Dokja would no longer need to hide in the darkness.
However, Joonghyuk remained silent. He looked into Dokja's red eyes, which were beginning to cloud over, and realized one bitter thing: if he explained everything now, Dokja would be dragged into his plan. He did not want Dokja to be burdened anymore. He wanted Dokja to remain safe in his castle, even if it meant Dokja had to hate him to death. It was enough that he alone bore this dirty burden.
Dokja withdrew his hand slowly, staring at Joonghyuk's face, which remained frozen without a defense. The pain had now turned into visible exhaustion.
"Let's end everything here, Yoo Joonghyuk," Dokja said with a trembling yet determined voice.
Joonghyuk looked at Dokja with a broken gaze. He wanted to scream, to pull the man back into his arms and beg him not to go. However, with all the cold logical considerations and for the sake of the man's safety, Joonghyuk finally closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, his gaze became as sharp as a sword, even though his heart was bleeding.
Joonghyuk nodded slowly. "Very well. Let's end everything here, Kim Dokja."
Hearing that answer, Kim Dokja was stunned. He instantly froze in place, his eyes wide in disbelief. That answer was completely unexpected. Deep in the most hidden part of his heart, a naive part of him still hoped Joonghyuk would deny it, would get angry, or at least give one ridiculous reason so he could stay. Until the last second, Dokja tried to deny that Joonghyuk was a man who would throw him away just like that. But until the end, Joonghyuk never told him.
'Truly a naive Demon King,' Dokja thought, mocking himself cruelly. 'Even after seeing him destroy my people hundreds of years ago, I still hoped he would explain that he didn't intend to do it.'
Hearing the direct confirmation from Joonghyuk's mouth, Dokja felt his entire world collapse without remnant. He had no more chance to defend his feelings. He felt very stupid, very weak, and very pitiful.
Dokja suddenly laughed softly, a mocking laugh directed entirely at himself. 'You are truly naive, Kim Dokja. Did you think you were the main character in his life? You are merely an old chapter he has already closed tightly.'
"I see," Dokja murmured with a voice that almost disappeared. "Thank you for this painful honesty, Mr. Yoo."
The atmosphere between them became so silent that the sound of the river flowing in the distance was clearly audible. Joonghyuk stared at Dokja's broken face, then with a slow movement, he reached for Dokja's cold, trembling hand.
He did not pull Dokja roughly this time. Joonghyuk leaned down, kissing Dokja's lips for the last time. The kiss was brief, yet laden with sadness and unspoken secrets. After releasing their lips, Joonghyuk stepped back and stood silent for a moment, swallowing all the emotions surging in his chest. He looked at Dokja, who now appeared shocked.
"Let's end with a good farewell," Joonghyuk said softly.
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That night became a silent witness to the remnants of the feelings they shared. In a small, hidden, and quiet cottage belonging to the Lee family, located not far from the calmly flowing river, the two lovers surrendered to their final desire. There was no longer a noble party, no longer the duties of a Demon King. There was only the two of them.
In the dimness of the cottage, lit only by the moonlight from the gaps in the windows, the two of them were submerged in an incredibly hot kiss. Their clothes were already off, scattered on the cold wooden floor, contrasting with their burning body temperatures.
Joonghyuk cornered Dokja against the wooden wall of the cottage, devouring Dokja's lips as if wanting to record that taste forever in his memory. Dokja responded just as fiercely, his hands gripping Joonghyuk's sturdy shoulders, letting his nails scratch the man's skin as a sign of their united pain and love.
The sound of ragged breaths and the wet smacking of their kisses filled the small room. Their touching skin felt like an electric current. Dokja let out a low moan as Joonghyuk moved to kiss his neck and shoulders, leaving red marks that would be the final souvenirs of this farewell night.
'If this is indeed the end, then let me be destroyed with you just for tonight,' Dokja thought while closing his eyes tight, letting the remaining tears of sadness flow and fall onto Joonghyuk's shoulder as they locked again in a deeper and wilder kiss.
'That's right, let's end everything...'
Under the canopy of the dark night, they made love with full desperation, as if dawn would never come to separate them forever.
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