The darkness that obscured even a single step loomed over the Demon Realm.
The Demon King’s Castle, once obliterated beyond recognition by the Hero, had gradually been restored over time, revealing its solemn visage once more.
In that place, a demon unfurled its ominous black wings and flew towards the throne.
“Contact with the Crown Prince has been made, Tyrus.”
“Mm.”
At the demon’s words, a knight clad in black armor began to reveal himself next to the throne.
He cast a glance at the Demon King’s throne, then turned to the demon.
“What time?”
“2 AM. When the deepest night descends, the doors will open.”
“Understood. You’ve done well.”
Having conveyed his intentions, the demon nodded once and retreated.
And so, the knight was left alone in the audience chamber.
The Dark Knight knelt respectfully before the Demon King’s throne.
“Everything is for Mawangnim.”
The savior who rescued him from the decaying world.
The one who granted him the power for revenge; an irreplaceable benefactor.
Tyrus, the Dark Knight.
He would dedicate his life to fulfill the will of the Demon King.
The empire of weak humans would crumble by tomorrow.
They would vanish into terrible pain, their skin burned until not a trace remained.
But for now.
He had to persuade her first.
.
.
.
A gigantic Daejeotak stood in the empire.
Disguised, Tyrus had entered deep within the empire, stepping through the front door of the mansion.
Under normal circumstances, he would have been stopped by the guards.
But the guards defending the mansion’s entrance crumbled helplessly at the mere swing of the Dark Knight’s sword.
As Tyrus walked deeper into the mansion, a voice suddenly echoed from behind him.
“Have I become that easy?”
The Dark Knight hurriedly turned around, but her foot soared towards him even faster.
KA-BOOM!
With a gigantic explosion, the Dark Knight was sent flying into the wall.
Watching the forceful flight of the Dark Knight, Athena lethargically opened her mouth.
“What business does the Demon King’s dog have in this place?”
“……Cough.”
Slowly wrenching his body out of the wall, the knight let out a shallow groan.
Athena regarded him with indifference.
“I didn’t expect you’d come here looking for a suicide.”
“I came to negotiate.”
The Dark Knight wasted no time addressing Athena as he looked her in the eye.
Athena raised an eyebrow at his statement.
“Negotiate?”
“Yes. I heard you also dislike humans.”
Athena studied him for a moment, then a smile spread across her face, and she began to chuckle.
Before long, she had released a hearty laugh, looking at the knight with intrigue.
“Heh..! This is amusing. I never thought I’d hear a demon ask for negotiations.”
“Since it would ultimately lead to your defeat if you only have fun.”
“You are quite rational for a demon.”
Athena scrutinized the Dark Knight with a knowing smile, her eyes sparkling as she spoke to him.
“You…are a half-breed, aren’t you?”
“…..I didn’t come here for small talk.”
The knight interrupted Athena, withdrawing something from his cloak and presenting it to her.
Something that resembled a map and an object shaped like a key.
“What is this?”
“The key is to the treasure vault in the Demon Realm. It’s where all the treasures obtained from killing humans are stored.”
“Hmm… You’re giving this to me?”
“I heard you like jewels.”
Athena examined the key briefly, then carelessly tossed it away, looking at the knight with a calm voice.
“Well, I do like them, but it doesn’t pique my interest much. After all, I could just take it by force, couldn’t I?”
“…True. But you might not be able to do the same with this map.”
The mysterious map handed over by the knight.
Athena took a look at it, but it seemed encrypted, leaving her unable to decipher anything.
Despite that, her expression remained disinterested and indifferent.
“Is there some treasure hidden inside? Something like this—”
“The Dragon’s Nest.”
At the knight’s words, Athena’s body froze.
Moments later, a far more intense aura began to swirl around her.
“What?”
Despite the crushing pressure enveloping her, the knight did his best to maintain his composure.
“It’s a nest we discovered on a previous expedition. Recent evidence suggests dragons are still residing there.”
“…….”
“I heard you have a tremendous interest in dragons.”
For a brief moment, a flicker of desire sparkled in Athena’s otherwise indifferent eyes. A rare chance of excitement in her otherwise monotonous life.
Naturally, her interest took priority over everything else, and she wouldn’t let this fun opportunity slip away.
Gazing at the knight with a mischievous smile, she asked,
“What happens if you’re lying?”
“My legion that found the nest vanished without a trace. I have no intentions of toying with locations earned at the cost of their lives.”
Her laughter escaped her lips at the knight’s serious tone.
“Heh, quite impressive for a half-breed. You know I’m interested in dragons and brought exactly what I wanted. You’re better than the Emperor.”
The agreement to the deal was expressed through Athena’s words.
The knight felt a rush of relief, thinking he had succeeded.
“What are the conditions?”
Upon Athena’s inquiry, the knight quickly responded.
“For one day. For just that one day, do not intervene in our conflict. That is all.”
“Hmm…”
A tale that would make the Emperor clutch his neck in panic if he had heard it.
Athena stroked her chin, pondering something.
Time passed as she considered.
Then, with a playful smile, Athena proposed a new idea.
“How about this? Until I catch the dragon, if you kill the Emperor before I arrive, you win. If you can’t finish the fight before I show up, you lose. Sounds fun, doesn’t it?”
“To you, it seems only fun matters.”
“Then what else is there in this dull world?”
“….Alright.”
After hearing the knight’s response, Athena extended her hand for a handshake, and the knight, inexplicably filled with a certain unease, suppressed those feelings and took her hand.
“Then, good luck to you.”
With a playful grin, Athena said.
Though he felt as though he was being manipulated, the knight chose to accept it.
His aim was to fulfill the will of the Demon King—nothing else mattered.
Even Athena, as formidable as she was, wouldn’t be able to destroy the existence of dragons overnight.
Within that encounter, there would undeniably be enough blood and screams to fill the world.
Yet there was one thing that puzzled the knight utterly, the intention behind Athena, the human.
Despite possessing ample power, she remained inactive, an inexplicable hero.
“Do you feel nothing when your kin are slaughtered?”
Unable to contain his curiosity, the knight finally asked. Athena raised an eyebrow at his words.
For a moment, she looked at him with a puzzled expression, then let out a light laugh, casually replying.
“Not at all.”
*
“Why…”
Iris murmured, gazing absentmindedly at the heavens.
The world is burning.
That was the only thought that crossed Iris’s mind as she witnessed the scene unfold.
The moon looked particularly red today.
A monster of overwhelming size that instilled fear with just its presence.
The ominous atmosphere emanating from the demon descending from the sky.
Numerous undead invading the city.
The dawn of the empire, which had just been tranquil, transformed into a sea of fire in an instant.
Screams echoed from all around.
Valuable lives fading away could be heard.
Yet Iris remained powerless, staring helplessly at the sky.
‘Yeosin-nim… why must this tragedy unfold…’
Every day, Iris prayed.
She sacrificed her sleep, went hungry, and knelt until her knees hurt, pleading with the Yeosin-nim.
For the peace of a new morning to rise again.
To bestow mercy upon us humans.
To prevent pain from ever approaching again.
Pouring her heartfelt wishes into her prayers, she continued to rely on the Yeosin-nim.
But the only returned result was the desperate calamity before her eyes.
“Seongnyeo-nim! What are you doing here!”
As Iris turned in surprise, a Seonggis rushed towards her, gasping for breath.
“This place is dangerous! I’ll escort you to the command center!”
“I’m… I’m sorry.”
“There are wounded awaiting your kindness. Please extend your mercy.”
At the knight’s words, Iris shuddered momentarily.
Her body froze, unable to move, but she forced herself to shake off the paralysis and take a step forward.
Caring for the people.
It was her duty and mission as a Seongnyeo.
As her comrades sacrificed their lives to halt the Demon King, she too had to strive endlessly.
Thus, once more, the Seongnyeo walked forward, her vision clouded.
– You should live for yourself. No matter how hard you try for others, what comes back to you?
As Athena’s voice replayed in her head, Iris felt a shiver run down her spine.
“…For myself.”
To live for one’s self.
That was a tempting allure that felt extraordinarily sweet to Iris right now.
What Iris wanted most at this moment.
Reuniting with her comrades. And a peaceful rest.
After all her efforts, was it too much to think that she could live for herself just once?
That thought swirled in Iris’s mind.
As she lowered her vacant gaze, it fell onto her pure, white wrist.
On that pure wrist, the vividly pulsing veins revealed the life force flowing through Iris, rendering her unable to tear her eyes away.
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