Chapter 5 - 1

Kim Dokja returned to his throne in the demon world with steps so calm they were almost silent, as if the violent tremors that had struck his soul last night had been locked away in the deepest black hole. He crossed the cold palace corridors with an aura that had frozen once more, causing subordinate demons to bow deeply without daring to look at the face of the king, who appeared far flatter than usual.

Upon reaching his private pavilion, Dokja headed straight for the bath. He removed his disheveled and stained clothes one by one, letting them fall to the floor like worthless trash. Under the dim light, his body showed a sharp contrast; his pale white skin was now covered in purplish-red marks.

His slender hips still felt sore, and between his smooth inner thighs remained the remnants of last night's fluids, which had begun to dry and feel sticky. Dokja stepped into the bathtub, the water of which had been sprinkled with rose petals. As the warm water touched his skin, he closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the sting in his opening, which was still slightly gaping and swollen from the diameter of Joonghyuk's dick hammering him without mercy.

Dokja soaked his body in the bathtub as the water began to turn murky from soap and the remnants of bodily fluids. He spread his white thighs wide, exposing the messy sight behind his groin. Dokja's vagina looked pitiable; the labia that were usually a beautiful pink were now heavily swollen, a deep purplish-red, and still gaping wide.

With breaths that began to pant, Dokja joined his middle and index fingers, then thrust them into his wide-open hole.

"Mm.."

Dokja winced softly as he began to insert his two slender fingers into his chafed opening. A sharp sting immediately bit at his nerves. Beneath the warm water, he could feel how loose and hot his interior was. Every time his fingers moved to stir, the remnants of Joonghyuk's thick, milky white semen overflowed from his womb, creating murky clumps on the surface of the bathwater.

A very wet and dirty squelch sounded as his two fingers parted his chafed labia. Dokja gripped the edge of the tub with his left hand, trying hard to suppress the moans that wanted to overflow from his throat. However, the sting mixed with the lingering stimulation from last night kept him gasping, his chest rising and falling rapidly.

He reached deeper, trying to extract the fluid settled there. The red, gaping hole was forced wider by his own fingers, revealing the inner flesh that still throbbed with trauma. However, because his womb sat so deep due to the brutal pounding last night, Dokja's fingers could not reach the very end.

"Hah... hah..."

Beneath the surface of the clear water, his fingers moved wildly in and out, stirring the inside of his drenched vagina. Every time he pulled his fingers out, clumps of Joonghyuk's thick white semen were dragged out with them, clinging between the gaps of his fingers and creating murky trails in the rose water.

"Hah... why... is there still this much...!"

Dokja grew more frantic; he pushed his two fingers even deeper, trying to scrape the remaining fluid settled at the base of his opening. His deep red vagina was forced to stretch continuously by the rough movement of his fingers, showing the pink flesh inside that was swelling even darker. Dokja felt the slippery, hot sensation of the remaining semen mixing with his own natural lubricant. Every time his finger pressed a sensitive spot that was still swollen, his body jerked and his mouth opened wide without sound, leaving only heavy, lustful breaths behind.

Despite his attempts to clean himself thoroughly, his fingers still could not reach the deepest part. The drenched and slippery texture of his opening made it difficult to get a grip. Dokja continued to complain, his face flushing crimson with cold sweat pouring down, creating the image of a Demon King being humiliated by the remaining seeds of the man who had betrayed him.

---

Dokja lowered his head further, letting his wet black hair cover his face, which was flushed deep red from shame and lingering lust. He positioned himself in a wider crouch until his swollen, maroon labia were fully exposed beneath the water's surface. With ragged, broken breaths, he again forced his middle and index fingers in simultaneously.

Squelch!

He tried to push his fingers with all his might, thrusting in until the base of his palm pressed against his sensitive vulva. However, no matter how hard he tried, he still could not reach the base of his womb. Joonghyuk's seed had been sprayed so deep and with such strong pressure last night, causing the clumps of semen to settle far behind the cervix, which now felt tightly closed and difficult to penetrate with his fingers.

"Nngh... Ack"

Dokja groaned in frustration. Every time he pulled his fingers out only to push them back in, his deep red vagina was pulled and gaped wide, showing the dark hole that constantly vomited milky white fluid.

His fingers scraped at the rough, hot vaginal walls, trying to drain the fluid held there.

Panting with his chest rising and falling wildly, Dokja finally realized the futility of it. His womb had swallowed Joonghyuk's seed whole, locking it in an area unreachable by his hand. The sight of Dokja stirring his own drenched, red, and gaping hole inside the bathtub truly destroyed his dignity as a Demon King.

Dokja finally pulled his two fingers out of the deep red and stiffly throbbing hole with a wet plop sound. He gave up. No matter how hard he tried to scrape, Joonghyuk's seed was planted too deep, staying in an area his fingers could not reach. With breaths still heavy and broken, he rinsed his body once more with clean water to remove the remnants of soap suds and the murky rose water now mixed with semen.

He stepped out of the bathtub with trembling movements. His pale, smooth legs looked very weak, almost unable to support his own body weight. Dokja did not have time to dry himself perfectly; warm water mixed with remaining fluids still dripped heavily from the gap of his open thighs, wetting the cold marble floor with every step.

Dokja immediately grabbed a clean white towel, wrapping it tightly around his waist to cover his genitals, which were still throbbing stiffly and swollen. He could no longer stand to see his shattered reflection in the bathroom mirror. With steps still slightly trembling, he walked toward the large wardrobe, taking a plain black robe thick enough to hide every red mark on his skin.

His body felt very heavy. Every rub of the robe's fabric against his still-sensitive nipples and chafed neck made Dokja wince softly. However, extreme drowsiness and fatigue began to take over his senses. He walked slowly toward his large bed covered in dark silk.

In the demon world, time moved much slower than in the human world. Although he had only spent one night there, here he had a long time to rest his body, which had just been heavily bombarded by Joonghyuk. The night in his residence felt very quiet and cold, a sharp contrast to the burning heat that had scorched the wooden cottage a few hours ago.

Dokja collapsed onto the bed, not caring that his robe and hair were still slightly damp. He curled up, pulling the blanket up to his chin. The overwhelming fatigue made him unable to think further about Joonghyuk's betrayal or the tattoo he had erased. All he wanted was to close his eyes and disappear for a moment from this bitter reality.

Beneath the blanket, his hands unconsciously cradled his lower abdomen, which felt slightly warm and full—the place where Joonghyuk's seed began to settle quietly. Dokja finally fell asleep in the darkness of the long night, letting his body attempt to recover from the emotional pressure he had just endured.

. . .

Far away, the atmosphere at Mia's house felt much warmer yet busy. Mia, Joonghyuk's sister who was now growing into an adult, seemed overwhelmed looking after Biyoo. The little baby, who somehow possessed seemingly endless energy, continued to crawl actively across the thick rug, chasing small light orbs reflecting in the room.

A neighbor from next door, a friendly middle-aged woman who was also the person Joonghyuk asked to watch over Mia and Biyoo, was always at their side during the day.

"Oh, this child is truly active, Mia. Her legs are strong, just like her brother's," the aunt said with a chuckle as she caught Biyoo, who was about to pull the tablecloth.

Mia smiled slightly, though her face looked a bit tired. "Yes, Auntie. She hasn't been still since this morning. I'm confused about what other toys to give her."

Just as Mia was about to lift Biyoo into her lap, a faint golden light suddenly appeared in the air right in front of her face. The light spun in small circles before forming a very neat, small scroll of paper. This was low-level communication magic that only Yoo Joonghyuk used specifically for his sister.

Mia's eyes sparkled for a moment, though a hint of worry was also tucked away. She immediately reached for the tiny letter.

"Ah, from your brother?" the Aunt asked, noticing the arrival of the letter.

Mia nodded slowly. She opened the scroll carefully. Inside were only a few lines of writing in Joonghyuk's very firm and stiff handwriting.

'Mia, my business will be busy for the foreseeable future. Take good care of yourself and that child. Do not open the door for anyone except Seolhwa or the people I send. I will finish everything soon.'

Mia squeezed the letter softly against her chest. Her feelings were mixed. She had no way of knowing the state of affairs in the capital because this place was very limited in information. At that moment, Mia looked at Biyoo, who was now laughing innocently while pulling the ends of her hair, making her conflicted heart melt slightly.

. . .

Three days had passed since the mysterious return of the Demon King to his territory. Kim Dokja went about his days with a routine that seemed normal to the inhabitants of the demon world, yet the aura he projected was far colder and more untouched than usual. As a king holding absolute authority, he behaved very casually, yet every word he spoke was unquestionable law.

Several times he skipped the meetings of the demon noble council without a clear reason. However, not a single high noble dared to judge or even question his absence. The thick aura of dominance around his throne was enough to keep those power-hungry demons silent in fear.

In his spare time, Dokja walked toward the grand library of the palace. His black robe swept the cold marble floor as he traversed the aisles of bookshelves that towered to the ceiling. There, amidst the scent of old paper and ancient magic, he felt slightly calmer than he did upon his throne.

"You've disappeared from the meeting again, haven't you?"

A sharp voice broke the silence. Han Sooyoung was sitting leaning against one of the large tables with one leg up, seemingly chewing on a lemon candy while flipping through pages of an ancient manuscript.

Dokja did not answer immediately. He took a thick book from the shelf without looking at Sooyoung. "They will only talk about boring things. My presence will not change the fact that they are still a bunch of insects afraid of me."

Sooyoung snorted softly, her eyes narrowing as she noticed Dokja's face, which appeared very pale despite his ice-cold expression. "You look more terrible than usual. Have you really recovered from... your business in that human world?"

Dokja fell silent for a moment, his fingers stroking the book cover with a stiff movement. Memories of the wooden cottage and the disappearing tattoo flashed briefly, but he immediately suppressed them.

"I am fine, Han Sooyoung. Do not ask unnecessary things," Dokja answered flatly, his voice cold enough to freeze the air around them.

Sooyoung merely shrugged, but her eyes remained on Dokja's movements. She sensed something was being hidden by the man, something much larger than a mere emotional wound.

Han Sooyoung placed her ancient manuscript roughly on the table, creating a thud that echoed through the silent shelves. She propped her chin up, staring at Kim Dokja's straight back, which looked very stiff beneath his grand black robe.

"Oi, there's one thing that's been bothering my mind since the chaos at that damn engagement party," Sooyoung said in a probing tone.

Dokja remained silent, his hands still pretending to trace the rows of book titles in front of him, though his mind was not truly there.

"I tried to look for that god baby. You know yourself that I have a sharp intuition."

"What do you mean?"

"Don't pretend you don't know; I know you left that baby with Yoo Joonghyuk when you were stranded in the human world before."

"And? What is the connection?"

Sooyoung pursed her lips, "Stupid Kim Dokja, as long as I was at that party, I didn't see that baby once!" Sooyoung said.

"I asked several servants at the residence of Yoo Joonghyuk's fiancée, but strangely, not one of them knew about that baby," Sooyoung continued, narrowing her eyes.

Dokja's hand movements stopped instantly. His body froze in place.

Right. That baby.

During his time in the human world to investigate the abyss of eternity, Dokja had been so completely drowned in his own emotions that he had forgotten the existence of the small life he had previously left with Joonghyuk.

"You do not know anything, do you?" Sooyoung rose from her seat, stepping closer with a demanding gaze. "Do not tell me you spent the entire night with Joonghyuk without asking about something that important?"

"What?! How did you–"

"Shh... I know everything."

Dokja exhaled upon hearing Sooyoung's words; he turned his body slowly, his face returning to an emotionless state. "I did not ask," Dokja answered shortly, his voice as cold as ice.

"Hah? Are you joking?" Sooyoung snorted in disbelief.

"The situation at the time did not allow for talk of other matters," the spark in Dokja's eyes dimmed for a moment. "And besides, what business is it of mine now? Yoo Joonghyuk already has his own path. Meeting him just to ask about that would be a complete waste of time."

Dokja clenched his fists beneath his robe. Finding out about that baby meant having to deal with Yoo Joonghyuk again. And for Dokja, meeting the man whose status was now nobody to him was the thing he wanted to avoid most in the entire universe. He did not want to see Joonghyuk's face; he did not want to smell his scent.

"Do not discuss it again, Han Sooyoung. That baby is Joonghyuk's business, not mine," Dokja stated firmly before walking away from the library with an increasingly grim aura, leaving Sooyoung still staring at him with full suspicion.

Dokja had already stepped forward to leave the room when Han Sooyoung's next sentence hit his back like a dagger striking its target.

"I did not say I do not know where she is, Kim Dokja."

Dokja froze. His heavy black robe stopped rustling, and the air around him seemed to freeze instantly. He did not turn around, yet the tension in his shoulders showed how much those words affected his focus as the Demon King.

"What do you mean?" Dokja asked, his voice remaining low and cold, though there was a faint tremor he could not entirely hide.

Han Sooyoung walked around, stepping casually until she stood right beside Dokja, observing the side profile of the pale Demon King's face. "You know my ability to sense mana fluctuations, do you not? Though faint, I can recognize traces of mana that have once come into contact with me. Especially mana that... well, I do not know why, but that baby has mana quite similar to yours."

Dokja frowned, finally turning his head slightly to look at Sooyoung. "Similar to mine?"

"Yes. Similar," Sooyoung smirked thinly, but her eyes radiated seriousness. "After I researched how you ended up in the human world, I knew that baby was the one who moved you through space in an instant, and it was not entirely with her own power, but she also used your power," Sooyoung explained. "Dokja, that is quite strange for a god baby who should reject your demon power; because of that, I was a little interested. I researched it a few days ago and I felt it in the human world. However, the energy is very dim."

Dokja felt his heart thud loudly. He remembered the moments he gave his mana protection to Biyoo before the chaos occurred. It turned out that trace remained, and the observant Sooyoung had managed to track it. Truly a terrifying woman.

"Why are you only telling me now?" Dokja hissed.

"Because I wanted to see how long you could pretend not to care," Sooyoung replied curtly. "The place is hidden with very strong protective magic. I do not even know where the location is. It seems that bastard is not playing around in hiding it."

Dokja fell silent, his thoughts spinning wildly.

Mia and Biyoo.

Right...

Joonghyuk had once mentioned that he would travel North to see his sister.

'Is it there...?' Dokja thought.

The Demon King now took a long breath, trying to dispel the remnants of worry that had surfaced in his heart when thinking of Biyoo and Mia. However, he immediately discarded it all; he must not be tied to them again. With a sufficiently calm face, Dokja said in a serious tone, "As long as Joonghyuk's sister is with her, that baby will be fine. At least there is someone who truly cares by her side."

Sooyoung stared at Dokja sharply. "And you? You will just leave it be?"

Dokja turned his body, his black robe rustling with his elegant yet stiff movement. His face was now completely clear of emotion, resembling a cold porcelain mask. "Joonghyuk's business with that baby is finished for me. And my business with both of them also ended that night."

Dokja spoke that sentence as if he were passing a death sentence on his own feelings. He determined in his heart that he would no longer look back.

"I have more important business here as the Demon King than thinking about the fate of a baby or an unimportant man," Dokja asserted.

Without waiting for a reply from Sooyoung, Dokja walked away with the thick book he had chosen in his arms. His footsteps sounded firm and arrogant on the stone floor, carrying a cold aura that enveloped the entire hallway. He would not go looking for them. He would not ask again.

. . .

In a secret room hidden deep beneath the foundations of the Great Cathedral, flickering candlelight created long shadows that danced on the stone walls. Pope Anthony, a man of mature age who radiated a calm but dangerous authority, sat at the end of a long marble table. His hair, beginning to gray at the temples, did not diminish his sharp and alert gaze.

Before him, several church officials and the most loyal holy knights sat with tense faces. The great loss they experienced a few days ago still left a gaping hole in the papacy's grand plan.

"The report has not changed, Your Holiness," said one of the elders with a trembling voice. "The energy coordinates we locked onto the Demon King and that god baby are severed. We have searched for several days, but they vanished from our magic radar as if space and time around them were folded by a power we do not recognize."

Anthony joined his fingers in front of his face, his eyes staring blankly at the magic map which now only displayed darkness at the last point their subjects were seen. "So, exactly when they were in that remote cottage, they disappeared?"

"Correct, Your Holiness. We do not know what happened inside that cottage. We only felt an incredibly unstable mana surge, a mixture of thick dark energy and pure holy light, before everything became totally silent. When the search team arrived there, the place was already empty. There were only faint and foreign remnants of a magic scent."

Anthony snorted softly, a sound containing suppressed anger. Their most valuable asset, the god baby, and their greatest enemy, the Demon King, had escaped surveillance at a crucial moment. The cathedral's plan to control the empire was in total ruins.

"The connection between the Demon King and that baby... it was not a mere ordinary protection," Anthony muttered in a low, threatening tone. "If they disappeared simultaneously, it means something happened that changed their soul resonance. That Demon King must have done something heinous to our god baby to hide their existence from the eyes of the church."

A holy knight stepped forward. "Should we deploy holy warriors to the border, Your Holiness?"

"Do not be reckless," Anthony cut him off sharply. "If we move too overtly, the empire will catch wind of our plans. For now, focus the search on the remnants of that Demon King's trail. He must have returned to his world to recover. And if the baby is still with him, then we must prepare for a true war."

Anthony stood up, his heavy papal robes rustling on the stone floor.

"Find them," Anthony commanded with a cold voice that echoed throughout the room. "Bring back that god baby, and bring the Demon King's head to me. I do not care how much blood must be spilled to atone for this failure."

Pope Anthony leaned his back against the grand chair, a thin smile laden with cunning curling on his stiff lips. He looked at one of his loyal followers standing closest to the shadows.

"What about our offering to the Emperor? Has the empire received the supply of women we prepared as concubines?" Anthony asked in a tone that sounded like holy concern.

The follower nodded quickly, a smile of full understanding appearing on his face. "Yes, Your Holiness. Most have entered the palace in the last few waves. The Emperor seems to be greatly enjoying the 'gifts' from the church. He appears less and less in council meetings and spends more of his time in the inner pavilion."

Anthony chuckled lowly, a sound that felt hollow in the vast room. This was his grand plan. By supplying choice women who had been specially trained to charm and pamper the Emperor, he was slowly making the supreme leader of humanity lose control over his state duties. The more the Emperor drowned in worldly pleasures and ignored his people, the more the people would turn to the church. Anthony wanted to be viewed as the only moral pillar and a true leader more honorable in the eyes of the world than the crumbling Emperor.

"Good. Let him be drunk in their embrace until he forgets how to hold a sword or a pen," Anthony said coldly. "Then, how many more remain here?"

"Only two women left, Your Holiness. They are the best, still inside the Cathedral dormitory, undergoing final purification before being sent to perfect the palace's destruction."

"Ensure those two women do not have a single flaw," Anthony ordered.

Anthony nodded with satisfaction, his fingers wearing a gold ring set with a sapphire stone tapping the arm of his mahogany chair. His smile now more closely resembled the grin of a predator that had cornered its prey. With the Emperor sinking further into lust, control over the military and law was slowly shifting beneath his desk.

"The last two women," Anthony muttered, his voice heavy and authoritative yet harboring a chilling coldness. "Where are they now?"

"They are in their respective rooms in the east wing of the cathedral, Your Holiness," answered one of the congregants with a head bowed deep. "They have been purified with holy water and fragrances for three full days. Their condition is perfect to be offered."

Another congregant emboldened himself to look up, staring at the Pope's face which, despite being over forty-five years old, still maintained a firm jawline and mature handsomeness. His face did not appear to age; instead, it looked more dignified with his incredibly sharp gaze.

"Will... will the holy ritual be performed tonight, Your Holiness?" the congregant asked in a whispering voice, as if afraid the cathedral walls would leak their dirty secret.

Anthony rose from his seat, his pure white grand robes with silver thread embroidery rustling as they touched the floor. "Correct. Tonight is the climax. Before being sent to the palace to corrupt the Emperor's mind, they must first receive a 'blessing' from me so their souls are entirely bound to the cathedral's commands."

The pope now stepped out of the basement, traversing silent corridors lit only by wall torches. His firm footsteps led him toward a row of secluded rooms in the east wing. There, the chosen women were confined to be prepared as charming concubines.

He stopped right in front of one of the sturdy teak doors. Without knocking, Anthony opened the door. Inside the room filled with the scent of frankincense and roses, a young woman in thin silk clothing that was nearly transparent appeared to tremble as she saw the tall figure of the Pope enter.

The teak door closed with a soft, final thud, followed by the sound of a key being turned from the inside. In that room, there was now only Anthony and the young woman who had just turned twenty-five. The woman stood with fingers joined, her large eyes staring at Anthony with a mixture of fear and blind devotion.

Anthony stepped closer, letting the candlelight highlight his firm and handsome facial lines. He did not look like a man about to commit a sin; he looked like a savior to that woman.

"Do not be afraid," Anthony's voice flowed very heavily and soothingly, a tone he had practiced for decades to incite souls hungry for certainty. "You were chosen not only for your beauty, but because the purity of your soul will be the key to the salvation of us all."

The woman swallowed, her voice trembling. "Is... is this truly the last ritual, Your Holiness?"

"Correct, the holy ritual." Anthony touched the woman's shoulder, his warm fingers slowly creeping up to her jaw. "This is the final blessing. With this ritual, you will be inaugurated as the holy right hand of the church, and remain a holy person even if your body is touched by that lion bastard. Therefore, you will receive a blessing directly from me tonight."

Anthony's sharp gaze locked onto the woman's eyes, hypnotizing her with promises of status and eternal protection. The woman, who had just entered adulthood and was still very green in the matters of the papacy's dirty politics, finally bowed her head. She began to believe that giving her body to the Pope was a grand, holy sacrifice.

"I... I am willing, Your Holiness. If this is indeed for the glory of the church," she whispered faintly.

Anthony smiled thinly, a very cold smile of victory. "Good. Remove your clothes. Let us begin this purification process."

With trembling movements, the woman removed the thin silk cloth covering her body, letting her firm and smooth skin be exposed to the cold air of the cathedral room. Anthony stared at her with a look that showed no gratitude at all, but rather a lust for power veiled under a religious mask.

He began to lead the woman onto the wooden bed that had been prepared. There, beneath a fairly large statue of a god hanging on the wall, yet nothing could stop the Pope from his actions. He implanted his magic influence through every touch, ensuring that after tonight, that woman would become a doll who would only hear his voice.

.

.

.

Several days had passed since the tense night in the demon world library and the dark ritual beneath the Cathedral. The sky above the imperial capital was now adorned with beautifully exploding fireworks, marking the peak of the Empress's birthday celebration.

The main hall of the palace had been transformed into a sea of gold and jewels. Grand classical music flowed, filling every corner of the room occupied by state officials, high-ranking nobles, and knights wearing their ceremonial armor.

In the midst of the crowd, heavy yet rhythmic footsteps drew the attention of many eyes. Yoo Joonghyuk stepped forward with his chin raised, wearing an imperial knight's uniform that fit his sturdy frame perfectly. On his left arm, Lee Seolhwa appeared elegant in an ivory-white gown, her fingers resting gently upon her fiancé's arm.

Joonghyuk's status was no longer that of a commoner to be overlooked. The full support of the Lee family and his extraordinary achievements on the training grounds had solidified his position as one of the empire's strongest swords.

"You seem very tense, Joonghyuk-ssi," Seolhwa whispered in a soft voice only he could hear. "Try to enjoy this atmosphere a little."

Joonghyuk only responded with a low grunt. "This place is too noisy."

Although he stood there as Seolhwa's fiancé, Joonghyuk's mind was not truly in the hall. His sharp eyes continued to scan the surroundings, a predatory instinct that never died even in the midst of luxury.

At that exact moment, the royal trumpets sounded. The Emperor entered the hall, but the sight presented made the previously formal atmosphere turn slightly awkward for the nobles who still upheld their dignity.

The Emperor walked unsteadily, his face flushed from the influence of alcohol. On either side of him, two beautiful women in very daring clothing clung to him like parasites. The ruler laughed loudly, ignoring the cold gaze of the Empress seated on the throne.

"Look at our leader," whispered a noble near Joonghyuk in a disparaging tone. "Rumor has it they were sent from a renowned brothel on the outskirts, but some say they are mysterious gifts to entertain His Majesty's heart."

Joonghyuk narrowed his eyes. He did not care about the Emperor's romantic scandals, but something bothered his senses. When one of the concubines turned her head to whisper something into the Emperor's ear, her long hair shifted aside.

Joonghyuk's pupils contracted instantly.

At the base of the woman's neck, faint under the light of the crystal lamps, was a small symbol that looked like a burn mark but possessed a very intricate pattern. It was an ancient tattoo—a soul-subjugating magic seal used only by certain circles deep within high-level orthodox magic.

'That seal... it could not be from an ordinary brothel,' Joonghyuk thought.

The energy radiating from the tattoo felt very familiar—something cold, rigid, and smelling strongly of pungent frankincense. Joonghyuk remembered the aura he often felt near church environments, but this time it was far thicker and dirtier.

Seolhwa, noticing the tension in Joonghyuk's shoulders, turned slowly. "Joonghyuk-ssi? What is it?"

Joonghyuk immediately controlled his facial expression. He did not want to involve Seolhwa in this dangerous suspicion, at least not in a place as full of ears as this hall. He loosened his grip and looked at Seolhwa with an unreadable gaze.

"It is nothing," Joonghyuk answered shortly. His voice returned to its flat tone, hiding the storm beginning to brew in his mind.

Grand waltz music began to fill the room, inviting couples to descend to the center of the dance floor. Joonghyuk extended his hand toward Seolhwa, a stiff yet authoritative movement as a knight and her fiancé.

"It seems the music has started. Let us dance, Seolhwa," Joonghyuk said.

Seolhwa was slightly surprised, but a soft smile soon bloomed on her lips. She accepted Joonghyuk's hand. "Certainly, with pleasure."

They stepped toward the center of the hall. Beneath the sparkle of crystal lamps, Joonghyuk led Seolhwa in a spin following the rhythm. His movements were steady and elegant, yet his eyes remained sharp, occasionally glancing toward the throne where the Emperor still appeared preoccupied with his two concubines.

From a distance, the nobles whispered in admiration at the sight of the knight and the great physician as a couple.

After the dance round ended, Joonghyuk led Seolhwa toward a resting area on the side of the hall that was slightly quieter. A servant promptly brought two glasses of drinks on a silver tray. Joonghyuk took one, but he did not drink it; his eyes remained alertly fixed on the movements around the emperor's stage.

Just as Seolhwa was about to sip her drink, a group of nobles approached. They were led by Baron Vant, a portly middle-aged man wearing a grand sash from the Western region. Behind him, several loyal followers trailed with faces full of curiosity.

"Ah, our Prideful Knight and Miss Seolhwa!" Baron Vant exclaimed in a deliberately loud voice. "It is truly a refreshing sight to see the most compatible couple in the empire tonight."

Joonghyuk only gave a slight nod, while Seolhwa offered a polite, formal smile. "Good evening, Baron Vant. You seem very spirited tonight," Seolhwa greeted kindly.

"Of course, beautiful Miss Seolhwa!" The Baron laughed, then turned to look at Seolhwa with a glimmer of slightly excessive admiration. "I hear your clinic is growing rapidly. The empire is truly lucky to have a physician as great as you. Even my wife has not stopped praising the herbal medicine you provided last month."

Seolhwa chuckled softly. "You flatter me, Baron. It is simply my duty."

The Baron's followers began to join in, crowding Seolhwa and Joonghyuk with various questions about health and her beauty, making the atmosphere around them very noisy with noble small talk.

As the dinner banquet continued, Joonghyuk slowly rose from his seat. "I need some fresh air," he said briefly to Seolhwa without waiting for an answer.

He stepped out, his cape rustling on the marble floor, leaving the noise of the hall toward the silent balcony. Under the dark night sky, Joonghyuk gazed toward the north—the direction of the border where Mia and the baby were hidden.

The first step of the rebellion had been planted; he had successfully secured the support of several elite knight units who felt insulted by the current state of the palace. Now, he only needed one trigger to blow apart this entire rotten structure.

Joonghyuk stepped away from the crowd of the party, traversing the shadows of high pillars toward the darkest and quietest area of the palace garden. There, behind the thick vines covering an old pavilion, a woman was already waiting, leaning against the stone wall.

She was Uriel. Her appearance was very deceptive; her face was exquisitely beautiful with a gaze that seemed pure, as if she were a daughter of a prominent family. However, in reality, Joonghyuk had found this woman in the midst of a noble family that had gone totally bankrupt. Through the power of the abyss of eternity, his Sage Eyes were stronger than ever, allowing him to see the extraordinary potential hidden behind Uriel's seemingly fragile frame. She was a perfect instrument of war, sharp and deadly.

To Uriel, Joonghyuk was not merely a commander. She looked at the man with a glow of sincere adoration, considering Joonghyuk as a captain or an older brother who had saved her from the pit of destruction.

"Captain, you arrived faster than I expected!" Uriel said in a low but enthusiastic voice. She immediately stood straight, placing her hand over her chest as a sign of respect.

"Forget the formalities. What is the situation?" Joonghyuk asked without preamble.

"Communication lines to the border are still clear. I have placed several shadow units at blind spots unreachable by the church knights. Mia and the baby are safe; no cathedral spies have managed to cross the boundary line we created," Uriel reported efficiently.

Joonghyuk gave a small nod, a bit of the burden lifting from his shoulders upon hearing news of Biyoo and his sister. "Continue to watch them. Do not let a single sparrow fly over that area."

Uriel smirked thinly, revealing a bloodthirsty side that contrasted with her beautiful face. "Of course," she said, before being swallowed by the shadows.

Joonghyuk looked back at the darkness of the night. With Uriel holding control of information in the field, he could be slightly more at ease. Now his focus was ensuring the next stage of this rebellion proceeded without a flaw.

Yoo Joonghyuk was in no hurry. Rebellion was not merely a mob's rage, but the art of breaking the opponent's bones one by one without them realizing when the pain began. Day after day he passed with a mask of perfect loyalty, while behind the scenes, his network of informants began to reach the darkest corners of the empire.

Through careful mediation, Joonghyuk finally managed to gain the trust of Lee Hyunsung, a man of sturdy build with integrity that was difficult to shake. Hyunsung was actually a sincere figure, but his disappointment with the corruption of the military and the palace led him to choose to lead a network of informants operating in a guerrilla manner. After seeing the cold determination in Joonghyuk's eyes, Hyunsung decided to hand over the most crucial reports he had been keeping closely guarded until now.

. . .

That night, inside his spacious and silent private room, Joonghyuk sat in front of a campfire that crackled softly. There was only the dim light from the dancing flames, reflecting sharp shadows on his stiff face. In his hand was a scroll of paper from Hyunsung containing records of the Pope's secret activities.

Joonghyuk's eyes narrowed as he read the report line by line. Anthony, the holy leader adored by the people, turned out to have a habit of frequenting high-end brothels in the slum districts under a very neat disguise.

Joonghyuk threw the scroll onto the side table, then leaned back while staring at the burning fire. A low, cynical chuckle escaped his throat. A sound of laughter that contained no joy at all, but rather deep contempt.

"The Emperor and the Pope... it turns out you are no different," Joonghyuk muttered softly, his voice sinking among the crackle of burning wood. "Is this why those concubines have that tattoo..."

At that moment, his mind drifted far away, piercing through the fog of time toward memories of 600 years ago. Those memories were still very fresh, as if they had only happened yesterday. He remembered his old comrades from the past—people who fought alongside him but were eventually destroyed by lust and greed, later betraying him. One of his comrades who was once so thirsty for women now seemed to have passed that disgusting nature down to his descendants who currently held power, both in the palace and in the church.

"Rotten blood will always bear wormy fruit," he hissed.

He felt sick. This human world seemed to spin in the same vicious circle. Disgusting rulers and religious leaders who sold sanctity for pleasure. To him, they were all just trash that had to be cleared from the face of this earth.

Joonghyuk reached for a small piece of wood and stirred the embers, letting sparks fly into the air. In that silence, Dokja's face reappeared in his mind. Kim Dokja, the Demon King who, although appearing cold and cruel, at least never hid behind a disgusting mask of hypocrisy like these humans.

"A little longer, Kim Dokja," Joonghyuk whispered with a gaze that grew sharper and more fiery.

He then took the report and threw it into the campfire. He watched the papers containing Anthony's disgrace burn away, becoming ash that flew with the night wind. What Anthony was doing truly helped him execute his plans faster, allowing him to proceed with the next step without the need to labor over creating false rumors, because the real ones were already available.

Joonghyuk only needed to observe a little longer, gathering every piece of evidence of their depravity, until when the time came, he would not only overthrow them but also ensure they would find no peace even in hell later.

A soft knock at the door broke the silence of the room. Without needing to turn, Joonghyuk already recognized the rhythm of the approaching footsteps. The door opened slowly, revealing Lee Seolhwa entering with an elegant step but a facial expression that appeared far more tired than usual.

One month had passed since they decided to form this secret alliance. In that short time, the dynamic between them had shifted from merely a formal engaged couple to comrades-in-arms sharing secrets.

Seolhwa walked toward the large wooden table near the campfire, then placed a stack of new documents there. She did not speak immediately, but instead pulled up a chair and sat next to Joonghyuk, letting the warmth of the fire touch her pale face.

"Have you read the latest report from Hyunsung-ssi?" Seolhwa asked, her voice sounding heavy.

Joonghyuk glanced at her briefly. "About that brothel?"

Seolhwa nodded, her fingers clenched tightly in her lap.

"Initially, I did not want to believe that the man who provides blessings to the people could be that low," Seolhwa said while staring at the dancing flames. "But the evidence is too real. Forgive me, Joonghyuk, but I accidentally read some of the information from Hyunsung-ssi on your desk."

Joonghyuk only snorted cynically. "The current Pope is a descendant of Verydion, one of our comrades who betrayed us 600 years ago." Joonghyuk then handed over a scroll of information he had obtained from Hyunsung, giving it to Seolhwa.

Seolhwa, seeing the scroll, accepted it stiffly, and when she truly learned everything, she was completely stunned. The silver-haired woman turned, staring at the hard side profile of Joonghyuk's face. "Then... Is it..."

"That is the goal," Joonghyuk cut her off flatly. "He wants this empire to fall by making the emperor like that, and then under the guise of the great pope, he will act as if he is the savior of many so that he can build his own kingdom upon its ruins."

The atmosphere in the room became very cold even though the campfire was still blazing. Seolhwa felt an extraordinary pressure; she now realized that she was not just helping Joonghyuk seize the throne, but they were in the middle of a war against a monster wearing the face of an angel.

"So, what is our next step, Joonghyuk-ssi?" Seolhwa asked with a demanding look.

Joonghyuk remained silent for quite a while, his eyes returning to the fire. In his head, he began to align Seolhwa's report with Uriel's movements in the field.

"We wait a little longer," Joonghyuk said softly yet with emphasis. "Let him feel that his secrets are safe. When he feels he is at the peak of his victory, that is the most appropriate time to pull the ground from beneath his feet."

Seolhwa took a long breath, trying to adjust to the cold atmosphere that always enveloped Joonghyuk. The silence between the two of them felt very thick, interrupted only by the crackling of the wood being consumed by the fire.

After a few moments, Seolhwa emboldened herself to step into the sensitive territory she had been avoiding.

"Are you still in contact with that Demon King?" Seolhwa asked in a tone that sounded like a colleague's curiosity, yet her eyes radiated deep anxiety.

Joonghyuk did not answer immediately. He remained silent for a long time, letting the reflection of the fire dance in his dark pupils. His large hand clenched over his knee, as if holding an invisible weight.

"Our relationship is over," Joonghyuk answered coldly, his voice sounding like metal scraping.

Seolhwa nodded in understanding. She stared at Joonghyuk with a thin smile laden with hidden meaning, then asked in a softer voice.

"If this plan succeeds and the cathedral falls, and our engagement continues to the level of marriage... are you truly willing to do it, Joonghyuk-ssi?"

Joonghyuk appeared stunned for a moment. He furrowed his brow, turning toward Seolhwa with a look that showed pure confusion. "What do you mean by that?" Joonghyuk asked back, his tone containing no enthusiasm whatsoever.

Seolhwa explained calmly that an alliance without a holy oath before the people would easily falter after the revolution was finished. Their marriage would become a symbol of new stability for the shattered empire. However, Joonghyuk instead turned his face toward the darkness of the window, avoiding eye contact completely.

"That will be very difficult to do," Joonghyuk said without providing further reason.

Seolhwa smiled, finally giving a stale laugh—a forced one. "That was just a joke, Joonghyuk-ssi. Do not take it too seriously," she said while beginning to tidy up the documents on the table.

Without a single word to comfort or soothe Seolhwa, who seemed slightly offended by his blunt rejection, Joonghyuk immediately stood up. He walked away, leaving the room just like that, his black cape billowing in the night wind. He did not care about the woman's feelings at this moment; his mind was too full of bloody plans.

Joonghyuk only stared coldly at the closed door after Seolhwa's departure. He did not think for a second about the woman's feelings or try to digest the intent behind her marriage proposal. To him, Seolhwa was merely an important piece in this game, and human emotion was a useless variable in his plans.

He sat back down at his large desk, spreading out a map of the empire that was now covered in black ink scribbles.

His chosen people, soldiers disgusted by the emperor and citizens oppressed by imperial taxes, were already scattered at various strategic points. They had begun to spread negative news about the emperor's concubine scandals. The fire of dissatisfaction had begun to spark in every corner of the markets and taverns, only waiting for the right gust of wind to become a massive blaze.

"Next, the cathedral..." Joonghyuk muttered quietly.

However, Joonghyuk would not be in a hurry. He knew that patience was the key to destroying an enemy as powerful as Anthony, who currently held great popularity among the people of the Empire. He would wait until all the pieces were in position, until the people truly reached the boiling point of their anger over the revealed facts.

While waiting, he ordered Hyunsung and his subordinates to remain in the shadows, ensuring there were no information leaks. He wanted this attack to be a strike so decisive that none of them, neither the Emperor nor the hypocritical Pope, would have a chance to beg for mercy.

. . .

Five months had passed in suffocating tension, and now the awaited time was almost here. Only two weeks remained before Joonghyuk's entire revenge plan would be detonated. During that time, the corruption of the palace and the cathedral had reached its peak, exactly as Joonghyuk had calculated.

The next day, Joonghyuk stood in Seolhwa's private laboratory, which was filled with the aroma of medicinal plants and sharp chemical fluids. He stared at a row of small bottles containing a thick, deep purple liquid.

"Has everything been sent safely?" Joonghyuk asked, his voice low and heavy with emphasis.

Seolhwa nodded slowly while tidying up the remaining materials she had used. "Yes, the medicine has begun to be mixed into their drinks gradually."

The medicine Seolhwa created was no ordinary poison that immediately stopped the heart. This was a much more torturous concoction, a masterpiece made from highly toxic forbidden plants.

"The ingredients will begin to react tonight," Seolhwa continued, her eyes fixed on the empty bottle in her hand with a cold gaze. "They will not die now. But they will begin to experience nightmares that feel incredibly real. Massive hallucinations that will blur the line between reality and madness."

Joonghyuk took a deep breath, a dark satisfaction radiating from his face. "Good. I want them to suffer before I truly take their lives."

Their mental destruction was the perfect opening for Joonghyuk's sword, which would swing in one week. Joonghyuk stared at the small bottles with an unreadable gaze. This plan was mature. Seolhwa's hallucinogenic medicine would not be given randomly, but aimed directly at the two main targets: the weak Emperor and the greedy Pope Anthony.

"Tonight is the party to commemorate the heroes of 600 years ago..." Joonghyuk said, glancing toward the window displaying the preparations for a grand feast at the palace. "Everyone will be drunk. That is the best opportunity."

Seolhwa agreed with a nod. "Correct. Alcohol is the best conductor for this potion. Its bitterness will be masked by the high-quality red wine they usually consume. I have ensured our servants will pour it into their private bottles."

She explained that the effect would not be instant. "The effects will appear gradually over the next three to four days," Seolhwa continued. "Initially, it will only be mild headaches, but the climax will occur exactly when you start the rebellion. They will be trapped in delusions so terrifying that they will not be able to distinguish what is real and what is not."

Joonghyuk smirked thinly. The Queen's birthday celebration, which should have been full of joy, would be the beginning of the mental ruin of those rulers. While the entire palace danced and laughed, the poison would begin to flow in the blood of the Emperor and the Pope, waiting for the right time to explode.

. . .

Night arrived. Lantern light decorated the palace corridors and orchestral music began to echo. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the party, bottles of the finest wine were circulated. Without them realizing it, every gulp taken by the Emperor while laughing with his concubines, and every sip of holy wine drunk by Anthony in the corner of the room, was an invitation to endless madness.

Two weeks left. Time continued to tick, and Joonghyuk was ready to see this world burn.

The commemorative party that night truly became a sickening display of luxury for Joonghyuk. The palace hall was filled with the shimmer of jewels and the fake laughter of nobles boasting of their influence. In that sea of people, the presence of Yoo Joonghyuk and Lee Seolhwa became the main magnet.

Although everyone knew Joonghyuk did not come from an old noble clan, no one dared to underestimate him. The man's striking handsomeness, with firm facial lines as if carved by a god and a deep gaze, made every woman in the room, even the wives of high nobles, steal glances at him.

"Lord Joonghyuk, it is truly an honor to see you here," said a Countess with a fan covering half her face, trying to flirt with her gaze. "The empire feels much safer since you have been by the palace's side."

Joonghyuk stood tall beside Seolhwa, his hands clasped behind his back in a perfect military stance. He maintained his professionalism. He bowed his head slightly, giving a very stiff yet polite formal greeting to the public.

"The security of the empire is our order's top priority, Madam," Joonghyuk replied with a heavy, cold voice. His gaze was fixed forward, not even slightly tempted by the Countess's wink.

Seolhwa, standing beside him, rested her hand gracefully on Joonghyuk's arm, emphasizing their status as an inseparable couple. The noblewomen who saw this could only sigh in envy; they admired Joonghyuk's extraordinary handsomeness, but they also knew the man currently belonged to Seolhwa, and more than that, he was the sharpest shield the Emperor possessed.

The commemorative party became a stage for Yoo Joonghyuk to show his new position. Since his engagement to Lee Seolhwa, his status was no longer merely that of a commoner or a nameless mercenary. For the smooth execution of this grand plan, Joonghyuk had joined the soldiers through Seolhwa. Five months had passed, and his position was now exactly within the empire's elite guard order.

Thanks to his extraordinary fighting abilities and unmatched aura of leadership, he was quickly appointed as the Commander of the Emperor's Guard. This position gave him unlimited access to the heart of the palace and legitimacy in the eyes of the nobles. Now, he stood there wearing the grand black commander's uniform with gold accents, adding an impression of power and mystery.

The Emperor, who already seemed a bit unsteady from laughing too much, signaled to Joonghyuk. "Commander! Come here! Let us toast to eternal glory!"

Joonghyuk glanced at Seolhwa, a silent code that the moment they had been waiting for had arrived. With calm and authoritative steps, Joonghyuk walked toward the Emperor, ready to witness the beginning of the ruler's destruction through the glass that was about to be raised.

The Emperor rose from his throne with a slightly staggering movement, lifting a golden chalice high into the air. His face, flushed from the earlier alcohol, looked very excited.

"My army, loyal nobles, and my beloved people!" the Emperor's voice echoed throughout the hall, cutting through the orchestral music. "Tonight is a grand night, a night to commemorate how the heroes once drove the demons from our territory! Servant! Pour the best wine from the palace's deepest cellar for everyone! Let us drink together for the glory of the empire!"

Hearing that command, the servants moved nimbly, filling the crystal glasses of the guests with a deep red liquid that had a very strong aroma.

Joonghyuk remained standing in a respectful stance as Commander, but his heart was as cold as ice. He saw how the Emperor's glass and Pope Anthony's silver glass were filled to the brim. That wine was the most expensive kind, but who would have thought that expensive wine had been mixed with Seolhwa's masterpiece of poison, ready to work in the coming days.

"For the glory of the empire!" the nobles shouted in unison while raising their glasses.

Joonghyuk raised his glass, but only touched his lips to the crystal rim without drinking a single drop. His eyes locked onto Anthony, who was smiling kindly while sipping his wine elegantly.

After the toast, the Emperor finished his wine in one large gulp, followed by a sickeningly loud laugh. Seolhwa, standing slightly behind Joonghyuk, lowered her head, hiding her cold gaze. To her, this was no longer about medicine, but a delayed execution.

The party continued with increasingly wild dancing, while the poison began to flow quietly in the bloodstreams of the two most powerful people in the room.

After the dance session ended, Pope Anthony stepped gracefully through the crowd. His clean white robes stood in contrast to the darkness of Joonghyuk's Commander uniform. He approached with a very convincing fatherly smile, holding his silver glass which still contained a little of that poisoned wine.

"Commander Yoo Joonghyuk," Anthony greeted in a low, authoritative tone. "Seeing you standing here, beside the Emperor, makes my heart much more at ease. You are the sword this world needs to fight the darkness."

Joonghyuk gave a formal salute, his body steady like a rock. "You flatter me, Your Holiness the Pope. I am only doing my duty."

Anthony laughed softly, a laugh that sounded very sincere yet full of manipulation. He stepped closer, closing the distance as if they were old friends sharing a secret.

"Duty is a noble thing, but a man with strength like yours must have a further vision," Anthony whispered. His sharp eyes stared at Joonghyuk, trying to find a gap behind that cold face. "Tell me, as someone who is often on the front lines... have you ever heard anything or discovered the whereabouts of that missing Demon King?"

Joonghyuk kept an expressionless face, even though a burning anger resided in his heart.

"I know nothing, Your Holiness," Joonghyuk replied flatly.

Anthony nodded slowly, looking slightly disappointed but not giving up. He placed his hand on Joonghyuk's shoulder, a gesture that for others was a great honor, but for Joonghyuk felt like the touch of a snake.

"A pity. That Demon King is a stain on this world, Joonghyuk. He took away our god baby, the holy hope of humanity," Anthony said in a tone made to sound sad. "Listen to me, Commander. If you can find them... if you can bring the head of that Demon King to me and return the baby..."

Anthony paused his sentence, his eyes flashing with a terrifying ambition. "I personally will guarantee your future. This throne... the current Emperor has begun to weaken. If you do such a great service for the church, I can ensure you get a position far higher than a mere Commander. You could have power equal to a king."

Joonghyuk simply followed the flow, pretending to consider the offer so that Anthony felt he had successfully instigated him. "That is a very significant offer, Your Holiness. I will remember it if I find a trail."

Anthony smiled with satisfaction, feeling that he had gained another strong piece on his side. Then he continued his nonsense with an increasingly fiery tone, as if delivering a sermon from a pulpit. He brought his face closer to Joonghyuk, his eyes wide with forced hatred.

"You must understand, Joonghyuk. That Demon King is not just an enemy; he is a vile creature with no soul. He seduces humans with his deceptive face, but inside there is only rot. He is a parasite stealing holy light from that baby for his own interests. Truly disgusting, isn't it?" Anthony metaphorically spat through his words. "A creature like that does not deserve to breathe under the same sky as us."

Joonghyuk stood frozen. His hand behind his back clenched so hard that his nails turned white. Every insulting word from Anthony's mouth felt like a needle prick testing the limits of his patience. However, he maintained a perfect stiff mask, not letting his emotions explode in the middle of the hall.

As the tension peaked, Lee Seolhwa appeared from the crowd with an elegant step. She immediately slipped her arm into Joonghyuk's, providing a soft, calming pressure that also served as a signal to leave immediately.

"My apologies if I am interrupting this valuable conversation, Your Holiness," Seolhwa said with a very professional, sweet smile. "However, I must take my fiancé now. There are some noble colleagues from the southern region I very much wish to introduce to him."

Anthony nodded in understanding, still with remnants of ambition in his eyes. "Of course, Miss Seolhwa. Do not let them wait."

Before walking away, Joonghyuk bowed slightly to give a formal Commander's salute. However, when his head was close enough to the Pope's ear, he whispered something in an incredibly low and cold voice.

"Your face looks so pale tonight, Your Holiness. Do you feel alright?"

Pope Anthony was stunned for a moment, then he laughed heartily—a laugh that sounded a bit hoarse due to the alcohol starting to flow through his system. "Ah, you are very observant, Commander. Perhaps it is only due to the exhaustion of preparing the thanksgiving prayers for the empire. Thank you for your sincere concern."

Joonghyuk pulled back and offered a thin smile—a very faint predatory smirk that could only be interpreted as a farewell sign to a man already sentenced to death.

"Of course. Take care of your health, Your Holiness. I will surely catch that Demon King and bring him to you," Joonghyuk said before turning and leaving with Seolhwa.

As they moved out of Anthony's hearing range, Seolhwa whispered without changing her facial expression. "You just gave a farewell greeting to his sanity, Joonghyuk-ssi."

Joonghyuk did not answer, but his eyes remained fixed forward, imagining how in the next three days, Anthony's pale face would no longer be caused by alcohol, but by the screams within his own mind.

.

.

In the domain of the Demon King, shrouded in a calm aura of darkness, Han Sooyoung stepped firmly through the cold stone corridors. In the strategy center, Gong Pildu and Jung Heewon were already waiting for her with neatly arranged stacks of documents.

"Today's report," Jung Heewon said while crossing her arms over her chest, her fire sword sheathed at her waist occasionally sparking with a reddish light. "The entire outer territory is in a stable condition. Security forces found no suspicious movements from the humans or the church. For these past six months, our territory has been completely clean of intruders."

Gong Pildu snorted, tapping his finger on a territorial map filled with symbols of his defense towers. "They would not dare. After what happened at the border last time, anyone with a brain knows that entering here is equivalent to suicide. All automatic fortresses are on condition level one."

Han Sooyoung received the files, her eyes quickly scanning every line of information. "Good. Do not let there be even a single gap. Although things have seemed calm for these six months, remember that we do not know what they are actually planning."

After finishing the exhausting bureaucracy and defense matters, Sooyoung decided to look for Kim Dokja. She knew her friend usually spent time at the peak of the highest tower, the place closest to the purple sky, to meditate or simply avoid the noise of the palace.

Sooyoung climbed the seemingly endless spiral stairs, her robe sliding over the stone floor with an echoing sound. Finally, she stepped onto the last stair toward the tower peak, breathing slightly heavily. Her hand still held the stack of files from Gong Pildu that she had not yet finished. However, when the balcony door swung open, the sight that greeted her was not the man she was looking for.

There, in the middle of the vast tower balcony, were only Shin Yoosung and Lee Gilyoung in their small dragon forms. Both appeared to be preoccupied with playing, running after each other and occasionally rolling on the stone floor, ignoring the strong wind blowing from the purple sky of the demon world.

Sooyoung froze for a moment, her eyes narrowing sharply as she realized the chair Kim Dokja usually occupied was completely empty.

"Where is he?" Sooyoung asked, her voice sounding like suppressed thunder.

The two small dragons stopped playing simultaneously. They turned toward Sooyoung with innocent faces. Gilyoung flapped his wings slightly, while Yoosung returned to her human form and offered a guiltless smile.

"His Majesty is away for a moment; he said there was urgent business to settle outside," Yoosung answered in a very relaxed tone.

Hearing that, Han Sooyoung's face immediately turned a deep red. She felt as if she could feel the vein in her temple throbbing violently. The next second, her high-pitched scream echoed throughout the tower peak, perhaps even reaching the ground floor of the palace.

"HE DISAPPEARED AGAIN?!?" Sooyoung screamed while frustratingly messing up her hair. "THAT BASTARD TRULY! WHERE EXACTLY DID HE GO THIS TIME?! DOES HE THINK I AM HIS PRIVATE SECRETARY?!"

She began pacing back and forth on the balcony while continuing to grumble madly. "Kim Dokja! If you get caught by the cathedral order or kidnapped by that jerk Yoo Joonghyuk again, I swear I will not fetch you! Just let yourself be locked up there forever!"

Seeing Han Sooyoung's explosive reaction, Shin Yoosung and Lee Gilyoung did not feel afraid in the slightest. On the contrary, they exchanged glances and began to giggle softly. To them, seeing Sooyoung angry because of Dokja's antics had become routine entertainment in this boring palace.

"Why are you laughing?!" Sooyoung barked while pointing her finger at the two children. "You two are just the same! You should have watched him so he would not disappear!"

Gilyoung turned back into a human and stifled a laugh while covering his mouth. "But Sooyoung ahjumma, Ahjussi said that if you grumble like this, it means you care for him very much."

"CARE???" Sooyoung asked pointedly, though her face now looked even more chaotic due to exhaustion and emotion.

Han Sooyoung continued to rant atop the tower, but beneath her explosive anger was a layer of genuine worry. She knew Dokja was not someone who would run away without a plan, and that was exactly what made her anxious.

What was her foolish friend planning out there all alone...

. . .

Meanwhile, far from the bustle of the demon palace, in a small village located right on the border line that intersected with human territory, Kim Dokja stood under the shadow of a large tree. He no longer wore his grand white robes of state. Instead, he was disguised as a foreign adventurer with simple yet tightly covered traveling clothes. The thin mask he wore only revealed his firm jawline and his deep black eyes.

For the past four months, Dokja had built an identity as a wanderer who frequently stopped by this village. In the eyes of the villagers, this foreign man was a very dangerous figure, knowing that a stranger was an unusual thing for that village since no outsider had visited for several years. Moreover, the wanderer had a cold nature, rarely spoke, and his facial expression was frozen like ice. The adult men in the village tended to keep their distance due to the strong aura radiating from him, but for the two small figures in front of him, Dokja was everything.

"You have come again, Big Brother Adventurer," Yoo Mia said in a tone that tried to sound mature and serious.

The little girl stood with a straight back and hands on her hips, trying to imitate the authority of her brother, Yoo Joonghyuk. Although her face looked curt and serious, the spark in her eyes could not lie; she was happy to see Dokja's presence. In her arms, she carried a beautiful baby girl who was now nearly two years old.

Biyoo. The god baby who had once been the center of conflict had now grown very healthily. Her cheeks were rosy and her eyes were round and bright. Upon seeing Dokja, Biyoo immediately struggled slightly in Mia's arms, her tiny hands waving toward the man.

"Ba... ba! Baaa!" Biyoo babbled with clear, joyful laughter.

Dokja, who had appeared so terrifying to the villagers, slowly approached. He knelt before them, making his height level with Mia. The cold expression he showed to the outside world collapsed instantly as he looked at Biyoo. Although he did not smile much, his gaze softened in a way that was starkly contrasting.

"Has she been a trouble to you today, Mia?" Dokja asked in a low but attentive voice.

Mia gave a small snort, though she allowed Dokja to take Biyoo into his arms. "She has been constantly pointing toward the path since morning. It seems she knew you were coming. She would not eat her porridge if I did not bring her out."

Dokja held Biyoo very carefully, as if the baby were made of the most fragile glass. When Biyoo's small fingers touched Dokja's cheek and pulled at his mask slightly, the man just stood there letting her. Biyoo laughed heartily, feeling triumphant for successfully bothering the adventurer everyone else feared.

"Naughty child," Dokja murmured softly, yet he actually brought his face closer so Biyoo could reach his hair.

The villagers watching from a distance could only whisper in amazement. "Look at that, that dangerous man... how can that baby like him so much?"

Dokja ignored all the whispers. A cold wind blew strongly, carrying snowflakes that began to fall more heavily in the continent that was always covered in ice. Yoo Mia pulled her coat tighter, then looked at Dokja, who was still patiently holding Biyoo.

"Big Brother Adventurer, the snow is starting to fall very hard. I have already lit the fireplace and warmed the room inside," Mia said while gently pulling the edge of Dokja's cloak. "Come in. It is not good to let Biyoo be exposed to this cold wind any longer."

Dokja hesitated for a moment, but seeing Biyoo's cheeks starting to turn red due to the freezing temperature, he finally nodded. They walked toward a sturdy wooden house, the place Yoo Joonghyuk had chosen as the safest hiding spot on the border.

Upon arriving at the door, a middle-aged woman with a motherly face came out to greet them. She was the nanny whom Joonghyuk trusted deeply to watch over Mia and Biyoo. The nanny initially looked wary, but upon seeing the tall figure in front of Mia, her expression softened.

"Nanny, this adventurer has come again. May he come in for a moment to warm himself? The snow outside is very bad," Mia requested in a polite but firm tone.

The nanny observed Dokja. Although the man looked cold and expressionless, she could see how Dokja cradled Biyoo, full of protection and sincere affection. She had seen this foreign man stop by the village several times, and for some reason, her heart told her this man was not a threat.

"Of course, Young Lady. Please come in, Sir Adventurer. It is an honor to host you after all this time you have only stood under that tree," the nanny said while opening the door wide.

Dokja stepped into the warm house. The aroma of firewood and herbal tea immediately greeted his senses. This was the first time he had actually set foot inside their residence after months of only monitoring from a distance.

He seated himself near the blazing fireplace, while Biyoo immediately crawled down from his lap and began to play happily on the warm fur rug. Biyoo repeatedly turned toward Dokja while laughing, as if showing off her wooden toys.

"Drink this, Big Brother Adventurer. It will warm your body," Mia said while handing over a glass of hot chocolate. She sat across from Dokja, watching him with a searching gaze very similar to her brother's. "My brother said that strangers who do not talk much usually hide many secrets. But Biyoo likes you very much, so I guess you are not a bad person."

Dokja accepted the glass, letting the warm steam touch his face. "Thank you, Mia."

Mia then sipped her drink slowly, her sharp eyes continuing to observe Dokja, who looked very relaxed in front of the fireplace. "Does Big Brother Adventurer have plans to settle in this village? You have been going back and forth here for four months," Mia asked in an inquiring tone.

Dokja shook his head slowly while staring at the dancing fire. "No, Mia. I cannot stay here. There is another place I must protect."

"Oh..." Mia only muttered shortly. There was a note of disappointment she could not entirely hide from her voice. She had begun to grow accustomed to the presence of this foreign man who always brought peace to Biyoo.

As the air inside the house grew warmer, Dokja felt a bit stifled. He slowly removed his thick coat, leaving only the thinner traveling clothes underneath. At that moment, Mia's sharp eyes caught something. She put down her glass and stared straight at Dokja's stomach.

"Your stomach is getting bigger, Ahjussi!" Mia exclaimed without preamble.

Dokja was stunned for a moment. He looked down, seeing his stomach which had indeed begun to protrude noticeably beneath his clothes. He rubbed the area with a very gentle reflex movement, then offered a thin smile to Mia. "Is that so?"

Mia did not stop there. She shifted, sitting right next to Dokja on the fur rug, staring at the man's stomach with great curiosity. "You are pregnant, aren't you? Do not keep it a secret from me. In our world, a pregnant man is quite reasonable because we live side by side with things that are not impossible. Magic and the blessings of gods can do anything. Though yes... pregnant men are rare..."

Dokja looked at Mia's serious face, then turned to Biyoo, who was busy crawling near them.

"Promise me one thing, Mia," Dokja said with a very soft voice. "Do not tell this to anyone. Not even to the nanny, or... to your brother if he comes to visit."

Mia nodded firmly, her face looking proud to be trusted with a big secret. "I promise. I will not tell anyone."

Dokja took a deep breath, finally letting his shoulders relax slightly. "Yes, you are right. It is six months along now. And so far, only you know about this, Mia."

Mia's eyes sparkled; she seemed very amazed. She tentatively reached out her small hand. "May I touch it for a moment? I want to greet the little sibling."

Dokja guided Mia's hand to touch his firm yet warm stomach. At the same time, he felt a small kick from within, as if the baby was welcoming its little aunt's touch. Mia gasped, her lips forming an 'O' shape in surprise and happiness.

"It moved!" Mia whispered enthusiastically. "Do not worry, Ahjussi. I will take care of you and your baby too, just as I take care of Biyoo."

Dokja felt his heart warm, a sense of peace he rarely felt flowing through his chest. He leaned his back against the soft wooden chair, his eyes never leaving Biyoo, who was now busy tugging at the ends of Mia's hair. Technically, the main reason Dokja frequently visited this border was mana. Yoo Joonghyuk's mana. Dokja needed Yoo Joonghyuk's mana for the survival of his fetus, which was why he had no choice but to go to this region—a region filled with the fluctuations of Joonghyuk's mana.

"Mia," Dokja called softly, "have there been any strangers dressed in white wandering around the village lately?"

Mia looked up, her face looking a bit annoyed. "You mean those priests and holy knights? They always come every few weeks. They circle around the border forest like dazed people, then leave again with confused faces."

Dokja nodded slowly. In the early days of his disguise, he often saw groups of priests who seemed to be from the cathedral coming to this area. They looked as if they were searching for something very precious, perhaps Biyoo, or perhaps himself. However, every time they tried to approach the coordinates of this house, they always ended up circling in the same spot, as if the path refused to be traversed.

When Dokja investigated the remnants of energy surrounding this house, he immediately realized it. There was a high-level magic barrier embedded there. The mana forming that shield felt very familiar against his skin—sharp, strong, and full of an unshakable aura of dominance.

Yoo Joonghyuk's mana. That was how he ended up routinely going to this region secretly, while also maintaining the survival of the fetus inside his womb.

"They will not be able to enter, Ahjussi," Mia said while stroking Biyoo's head. "My brother said this house is the safest place in the entire continent."

Dokja only offered a thin smile hearing that. "Your brother is indeed a very cautious person," Dokja replied briefly.

He looked back at his own six-month-old stomach. Joonghyuk's magic protection in this house was so warm, as if Dokja was also being protected within it at this moment. There was an awkward sense of security creeping into his heart, a feeling he should not have toward the man who might one day become his great enemy again.

Dokja sipped his hot chocolate slowly, letting the steam touch his face. Behind that calmness, his mind was in turmoil. Since the first time he set foot in this region, he had realized that this area was not just soil, wood, and stone. Everything was submerged in the density of Yoo Joonghyuk's mana.

That mana was everywhere. For some reason, the scent provided a very familiar sense of comfort for Dokja, something that had subconsciously drawn his steps back here for the past four months. Yet he hated the fact that he felt at peace under the protection of the man who had put him in such a difficult position. A feeling of tightness began to creep into his chest, mixed with suppressed anger. He felt as if he were being betrayed by his own body.

Dokja's gaze then fell toward his stomach. His firm conviction began to waver as another thought arose. Maybe it is not me, he thought while stroking the surface of his protruding stomach. Maybe it is this baby who feels comfortable because it recognizes its father's mana.

Thinking that the fetus within him responded to Yoo Joonghyuk's mana so peacefully made Dokja feel even more resentful. He felt trapped in the webs woven by that man without him realizing it. Feelings of anger and longing battled within him, creating a suffocating emotional turmoil. Dokja took a long breath, trying to dampen his irregular heartbeat so it would not be noticed by Mia. He had to continue looking like an ordinary adventurer.

"Ahjussi? Why has your face become paler?" Mia asked suddenly; she stopped playing with Biyoo and looked at Dokja with concern.

Dokja placed his empty glass on the wooden table. He forced a perfect flat expression. "It is nothing, Mia. Just a bit of dizziness from the cold weather outside."

Biyoo, who seemed to sense Dokja's unease, crawled closer and placed her tiny hand on Dokja's knee. The baby looked up, her large eyes staring at Dokja with a glow very similar to Yoo Joonghyuk's gaze when the man was being soft.

Dokja closed his eyes for a moment. It was very difficult to hate someone when proof of that person's existence resided in his womb at the same time.

. . .

After Biyoo had truly fallen into a peaceful sleep, Dokja slowly rose from the fur rug. With movements very careful not to make the slightest sound, he carried the baby to her warm cradle. He covered Biyoo gently.

Dokja then turned toward Mia, who was still watching him from the chair near the fireplace. He adjusted his coat, which now felt a bit tighter around the stomach, covering the secret he carried in his womb.

"I must leave now, Mia," Dokja said with a very low voice, almost like the hiss of the snow wind outside.

Mia stood up, her small face looking very serious as she walked Dokja to the doorway. The cold night air immediately pierced through as the door opened slightly, blowing a few snowflakes into the room.

"Be careful, Ahjussi," Mia said with an emphasizing tone. "Remember, you are not just carrying yourself now. Take good care of that little sibling in there."

Dokja was stunned for a moment hearing the sincere concern from Joonghyuk's sister. He nodded slowly, giving a small, elegant bow before stepping out into the freezing blizzard.

"I will return," Dokja whispered.

Just as he stepped away from the light of the house, Dokja's body slowly began to fade. Not like someone walking away, but like particles of light and ash blown by the wind. In an instant, the adventurer's figure vanished completely from sight, returning to the realm of darkness that served as his throne.

Mia remained standing in front of the closed door, staring at Dokja's footprints which were beginning to be covered by new snow.

. . .

As soon as Dokja re-materialized his body from fragments of ash on the tower balcony, he was immediately greeted by a very thick aura of hostility. Han Sooyoung stood there with her arms crossed, her face looking very sour under the purple moonlight.

"You have finally returned, very busy 'Demon King'," Sooyoung said with a heavy tone of sarcasm.

Dokja did not answer immediately. He only straightened his robe and walked past Sooyoung with steady steps, his face returning to its original setting: cold, serious, and untouchable. However, Sooyoung did not let him go just like that. She stepped in to block Dokja.

"Stop associating with those humans at the border, Dokja. And more importantly..." Sooyoung lowered her voice, her eyes darting sharply toward Dokja's stomach. "You are carrying another life in there. Do you know how risky it is if your identity is exposed?"

Dokja remained silent, his gaze fixed forward as if considering the scolding to be mere wind. Seeing that cold reaction, Sooyoung took a heavy breath, her anger slowly subsiding into an exhausting frustration.

"Hah... fine. I know why you keep going back there even if you do not want to admit it," Sooyoung muttered while massaging her temples. "Biologically, a pregnant demon needs to feel the essence or mana of the man who is the baby's father. Your body naturally seeks Yoo Joonghyuk's mana so your baby remains stable. So I understand why you keep stealing time to go to that house."

Sooyoung leaned her back against the stone wall, her face turning a bit more serious. "All territorial matters are safely under control, but there is one thing you must hear as a warning—please take me there as well. And one more thing, just go there and do not interact with anyone. Yoo Joonghyuk has officially become engaged to another human."

Dokja paused for a moment. A gripping silence enveloped the balcony for a few seconds. However, when he spoke, his voice remained stable and clear, without a single vibration of emotion.

"I decided all ties with Yoo Joonghyuk a long time ago, Sooyoung-ah," Dokja said calmly. He stroked his stomach slowly from behind his robe. "I am only taking the remnants of his mana for the needs of the baby in my womb. This is purely for the health of this child, not for myself. What he does in his world is no longer my business."

Sooyoung stared at Dokja intently, trying to find a gap of a lie in those black eyes. However, she only found a cold emptiness. Sooyoung finally exhaled in relief. She was the only person in the demon world who knew the secret of this pregnancy, and she did not want to see Dokja destroyed by nonsensical feelings.

"It is good if you realize your position," Sooyoung replied while starting to walk away. "If you need help holding back the overflow of mana when your baby reacts to the commotion in the human world, call me." The demon woman approached; she reached into her robe pocket and pulled out a small relic shaped like an obsidian stone carved with ancient seals. As a genius demon sorceress, she had spent weeks creating this object.

"Wear this," Sooyoung commanded while handing over the relic. "You left this in your room; quickly disguise the existence of your baby. Your pregnancy is starting to look quite prominent now, Dokja. If you continue walking with a stomach like that, even the foolish Gong Pildu will notice it soon. This relic will create an illusion that makes your body appear normal in anyone's eyes."

Dokja accepted the cold object and immediately hung it around his neck. In an instant, a thin dark aura radiated, making the protrusion behind his white robe seemingly disappear visually.

Sooyoung observed the change, then she took a long breath while leaning her hip against Dokja's desk full of documents. She stared at her king with a look of pure amazement she could no longer hide.

"I still cannot wrap my head around it," Sooyoung muttered, her voice containing great curiosity. "How could Yoo Joonghyuk actually get you pregnant? And when exactly did all that happen?"

Dokja remained silent. He did not give a single answer; his eyes remained fixed on the files on the desk as if the stack of papers was the most interesting thing in the world. His face remained serious and cold, creating a very thick wall for anyone trying to dig into his past.

That question truly left Sooyoung wondering. How could the two most dangerous entities in this world be involved in a relationship that produced a life? However, seeing Dokja's closed-off attitude, she knew she would not get an answer tonight.

"Whatever," Sooyoung said finally while standing straight. "Just think about your health. I am going back to my tower to rest. My head aches thinking about this ridiculous secret of yours."

Sooyoung then walked away, leaving Dokja alone in his silent room. Once the door was tightly closed, Dokja slowly placed the document in his hand. He rubbed the obsidian relic on his neck, then his hand moved down toward his stomach, which now looked normal thanks to the magic illusion.

'When did it happen?' Dokja thought, repeating Sooyoung's question in his heart.

He closed his eyes for a moment, and the memory of the night under the red moonlight, the night where everything changed, flashed back very clearly. That pain and longing reappeared, but Dokja immediately suppressed it deep down. To him, there was now only one goal: ensuring this baby is born and leaving no trace whatsoever for Yoo Joonghyuk.

.

.

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