Chapter 218
Chapter 218
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 218
Chapter Title: The Serpent's Head (11)
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“That is correct, my Lord.”
Cassia bowed her head respectfully.
There was no hint of deception in her eyes or voice.
Oh-jin clutched his head, his thoughts a tangled mess, and bit his lip.
*‘So… to recap.’*
The Heavenly Demon's Black Heaven is incomplete.
To complete it, he needs to kill and absorb the Star of Revolution.
However.
*‘That bastard Lee Shin-hyeok died a long time ago!’*
Oh-jin tore at his hair, screaming internally.
The moment he had first awakened Black Heaven, Lee Shin-hyeok, the one originally destined to be the Star of Revolution, had died.
*‘Wait, hold on, what does this mean then?’*
If both his and the Heavenly Demon's Black Heaven were equally 'incomplete'…
And only his Black Heaven, having absorbed the Star of Revolution, had become 'complete'…
*‘Then the Heavenly Demon’s next target is…’*
The color drained from Oh-jin’s face.
If the Heavenly Demon wanted to complete his incomplete Black Heaven, wouldn't his next target naturally be me, the one who absorbed the Star of Revolution?
“Son of a bitch!”
The harsh curse slipped out unconsciously.
He felt dazed, as if he'd been struck in the back of the head with a hammer.
The target of a transcendent being who created a Constellation himself was none other than me?
“M-My Lord? Is something the matter?”
“…It's nothing.”
Oh-jin took a shallow breath, trying to calm his pounding heart.
*‘Calm down.’*
On the bright side, as long as I'm alive, the Heavenly Demon's Black Heaven will remain incomplete.
Even if the Heavenly Demon comes after me, with my complete Black Heaven, I can defeat him…
*‘Can I? Really?’*
Against a transcendent who created a 'Constellation'.
Does a way to fight and win even exist?
“Hah.”
This is driving me crazy.
For now, he had to cling to the hope that the Heavenly Demon was in hiding, so much so that even Cassia, his own confidante, didn't know his whereabouts.
If the Heavenly Demon were to make a move right now, Oh-jin would have no way to deal with him.
“Have you found out who the Star of Revolution is?”
“I have yet to identify the Star of Revolution, my Lord.”
Cassia bowed her head apologetically.
“B-But if you give me a little more time, I will surely find them!”
“No, there's something you must do first.”
“Something to do…?”
Cassia tilted her head.
Oh-jin continued in a low, somber voice.
“Lately, some flies have been buzzing around.”
“……”
A cold glint appeared in Cassia's eyes.
She gently lifted her jet-black dress and bowed at the waist.
“I shall obey my Lord's command.”
Good.
Oh-jin clenched his fists.
Fight fire with fire, as they say.
If he could use her to eliminate the Musca faction, it would be like killing two birds with one stone.
“Then, my Lord…”
“I will return to Earth for now.”
“Ah.”
Cassia looked at Oh-jin with a hint of disappointment.
But it was only for a moment.
“I understand. Then I shall send my children with you to ensure a safe journey.”
Children?
Oh-jin tilted his head, looking at Cassia.
Cassia slowly raised her hand and snapped her fingers.
*Snap.*
*Rumble!*
As she snapped her fingers, the ground began to shake.
The earth split open, and from all sides, hideous demonic beasts revealed themselves.
“Grrrrrr.”
“Chitter, chitter.”
Dozens of demonic beasts.
He could feel that each and every one of them possessed a power rarely found on Earth.
*‘This is insane.’*
Oh-jin gulped, staring at the dozens of demonic beasts.
The ferocious beasts, no different from starving predators, were bowing their heads docilely, like gentle lambs.
*‘So this was Cassia’s ability.’*
The power to control demonic beasts.
Come to think of it, the mother beast that had charged at him so fiercely had started mutilating itself with its sharp legs the moment she gave the command.
*‘Does that mean all the demonic beasts in the Demon Realm are Cassia’s familiars?’*
Oh-jin looked at Cassia, his expression tense.
If she could control every demonic beast living in the Demon Realm…
She would literally be capable of destroying the world.
“Have you tamed all the demonic beasts in the Demon Realm?”
“Pardon?”
Cassia tilted her head as if she didn't understand.
Soon, she shook her head with a faint smile.
“Huhu. No, I can only tame the beasts that are outside the influence of the 'Kings'.”
Kings? What are those?
Like a king of demonic beasts or something?
*‘There’s so little information about the Demon Realm, I have no idea what she’s talking about.’*
In any case, all he needed to know was that Cassia couldn't control every demonic beast in the Demon Realm.
“These children will escort you comfortably to Earth, my Lord.”
A massive, lizard-like demonic beast crawled before Oh-jin and prostrated itself.
Oh-jin climbed onto the lizard beast, its scales gleaming.
“Is it uncomfortable?”
“A little.”
The scales were as hard as steel, so to put it mildly, the ride was not comfortable.
“But it's not unbearable…”
“Why are you still alive? My Lord said he's uncomfortable.”
Cassia tapped the lizard's head, her brow furrowed.
“Karrrrk!”
At her command, the lizard immediately bit its own outstretched tongue.
It gouged out its eyeballs with its sharp claws and scrambled its brains.
*‘What the fuck.’*
Oh-jin quickly jumped off the lizard, staring at Cassia with a look of utter disbelief.
A chill ran down his spine at her actions—ordering its death without a second's hesitation just because he'd said it was a little uncomfortable.
*‘She’s completely insane.’*
He was certain she would have ordered a person to die just as readily.
“Let's see~ which child would be comfortable for my Lord to ride?”
Cassia looked around, surveying the demonic beasts lined up nearby.
Her gaze fell upon one beast with the body of a lion, the tail of a serpent, and the head of an eagle.
“Come here, little one.”
“Grrr.”
The eagle-headed beast let out a low growl, approached Cassia, and prostrated itself.
She stroked the soft brown fur covering the beast's back, like an artisan crafting handmade furniture.
“Yes, you'll do.”
Cassia nodded, satisfied.
“Huhu. My Lord. Would you like to try riding this one?”
“…Alright.”
Oh-jin climbed onto the back of the eagle-headed beast.
The soft brown fur was like a cushion, making the ride much more comfortable than before.
“How is it?”
“It's good.”
“Oh, I'm so glad.”
Cassia beamed, nodding in satisfaction.
“How long will it take?”
“Hmm. The next rift is quite far from here… it will take a few days.”
A few days, huh.
*‘Still, at least I can get back.’*
And all I have to do is sit here, no effort required.
“I understand.”
“Aah... I wanted to spend a little more time with you, my Lord…”
Cassia looked at Oh-jin with wistful, pleading eyes.
“There will be other opportunities.”
“Huhu. You're right, aren't you? I shall see you again soon.”
Cassia took the edges of her jet-black dress in her fingertips and bowed respectfully.
Her elegant and disciplined posture seemed so natural, as if she hailed from a noble family.
He was curious about what kind of life Cassia had lived before meeting the Heavenly Demon, but…
*‘Now isn't the time to be asking about that.’*
He had to get back home to Ha-eun, Isabella, and Vega as quickly as possible.
“Then I'll be going.”
Oh-jin grasped the mane of the eagle-headed beast.
Its head was like an eagle's, but the fluffy fur around its neck, like a lion's mane, was perfect to use as a handhold.
“Purrrr.”
When he grabbed its mane, the eagle-headed beast let out a sweet cry and wiggled its body cutely.
It wagged its serpent tail as if trying to be affectionate.
*‘It’s kind of cute.’*
Was it because the beast he'd fought before was so hideous?
This beast he was riding on seemed even cuter by comparison.
*‘From now on, your name is Poppy.’*
Oh-jin gently patted Poppy's head.
“Oh, right. If you get hungry on your way, please have these.”
Cassia pulled a large sack from her shadow.
Inside were various kinds of potato chips sold in Korea, along with drinks like cola and soda.
“This is…?”
“I don't know if they will suit the palate of someone as noble as you, my Lord, but they are snacks that this humble servant enjoys.”
“……”
The image of Cassia munching on potato chips.
*‘I can’t picture it.’*
Oh-jin let out a dry laugh and accepted the sack of snacks.
“Alright.”
“Then, please travel safely.”
Leaving the bowing Cassia behind, Oh-jin began his journey back to Earth.
* * *
In a dark room.
A woman with luscious platinum blonde hair sat on her bed, hugging her knees.
“…Mr. Oh-jin.”
Isabella murmured his name, her voice worn out.
“I miss you, Mr. Oh-jin.”
With her face buried between her knees, clear tears streamed down her cheeks.
Before he entered the rift.
The kiss they had shared kept replaying in her mind.
If only she had been more careful then.
If only she had paid more attention.
By now, Oh-jin would be.
“*Hic… sob.*”
Her shoulders trembled slightly.
Isabella bit her lip, shedding sorrowful tears.
“I'm sorry… I'm sorry, Mr. Oh-jin.”
She should have been the one to stay behind.
From the start, she should have used her command to force him through the portal.
As she was crying endlessly, dwelling on irreversible regrets…
*Slam!*
The door was thrown open violently, and light flooded the dark room.
“M-Mr. Oh-jin?!”
Isabella shot up from the bed.
“Oh-jin, my ass.”
“…Ah.”
Seeing Ha-eun enter the room, Isabella slumped back onto the bed.
“I made food. Come and eat.”
“…I'm not hungry.”
Isabella turned her head away.
Ha-eun frowned and walked over to her.
“You haven't eaten a single meal since you got back.”
“I'm fine.”
“Fine? You look like you've wasted away.”
Ha-eun pulled Isabella, whose body fell limply from the bed.
“…Mr. Oh-jin.”
Isabella didn't seem to care that she had fallen to the floor.
Like a broken doll, she just stared into space with empty eyes, muttering Oh-jin's name.
“Hah.”
Ha-eun let out a deep sigh, then roughly grabbed Isabella by the collar and lifted her up.
“…Ms. Ha-eun?”
Only then did Isabella look at her.
“Brace yourself.”
*Smack!*
Ha-eun slapped Isabella hard across the cheek.
“…Ah?”
“Ah? What 'ah'?”
Ha-eun continued in a fierce, growling voice.
“Aren't you going to go save Oh-jin?”
“……”
Light seeped back into Isabella's empty eyes.