The Form of Gremory
Contractor Lee Serin.
***
When Lee Serin arrived at the restaurant and Jinseong finally showed himself, she broke into a sprint and began inspecting him from head to toe. She looked him up and down, stared into his eyes, crouched low to peer up at him, then leaned in so close it seemed she might press her nose against his body as she glared. After all that, she spoke.
“Whether viewed from afar or up close, it’s the same.”
Jinseong stood there, utterly bewildered by her behavior, until he caught the faint outline of a demonic shape turning toward him. Only then did he grasp the situation. The demon must have said something.
The shape was so hazy that, at first glance, it resembled heat shimmer or a landscape warped by steam. If you didn’t focus on it, you wouldn’t notice it at all; even if you tried, perceiving its true form was nearly impossible.
“Um… it’s the same… Huh? That’s not what you meant? No, I understand, but… I still don’t really get it…”
She could only see its vague silhouette, and even that appeared indistinctly, making it incredibly difficult to comprehend the entity. In truth, the Jinseong of the previous timeline had known that Lee Serin contracted with a demon, yet he never learned which one it was or what it looked like. On top of that, the chaos of World War III and the deterioration of his own body made even arranging a meeting nearly impossible. It was almost as if the heavens themselves refused to let them cross paths.
"Like attracts like."
"A small snake swims upon the back of the eye; thus shall my own eyes transform into those of a serpent."
One of his former mercenary comrades had once asked him:
Then you’ve never once seen your adopted sister’s demon? Aren’t you curious?
The man had the personality of a nosy donkey. He kept repeating how curious he was, pestering Jinseong to go see the demon’s appearance right then and there. But back then, Jinseong had simply brushed it off, saying that if they couldn’t meet, he would simply focus on his sorcery instead. Had there been an accident or death involved, he would have made the time to visit, but that wasn’t the case.
In the end, the people in this family lived safely and without incident until the day I died.
Jinseong muttered the words inwardly as he turned his sorcery-altered eyes toward where Lee Serin stood. Drawing upon the symbolic power of a serpent’s gaze, the demon’s form—previously hidden as it whispered advice to her—gradually revealed itself.
The first thing that caught his eye was a red hue reminiscent of rust forming on iron. It was a turbid, rust-like crimson that no amount of washing could cleanse. Under sunlight it refused to gleam; in darkness it edged toward a deep, almost blackish red.
Countless stiff-looking hairs of that same color covered its entire body like dense thorns. Only the camel-like head and tail possessed long strands of hair. The lengthy locks draped over its head like a virgin ghost bowing forward, making the creature look, at first glance, as if it were wearing a wig. The tail hairs, though long and rigid, moved up and down in defiance of gravity, writhing like snakes.
Its prominently bulging twin humps pulsed faintly, as though storing energy and radiating power. The mouth that opened to speak while gazing at Lee Serin contained a tongue made of pure gold. At the very crown of its head sat an ornate, splendid golden crown.
Now I understand what it is.
The moment Jinseong saw its form, he immediately recognized the name of the demon contracted to Lee Serin. A demon whose name changed depending on the culture. In some regions it was called Repena. In others, Gomori. But its most famous name was…
Gremory.
This transcendent being had created countless contractors throughout human history, yet it only ever formed contracts with women. A woman who contracted with Gremory could obtain wealth and power beyond imagination. The demon who could uncover every secret and treasure guided its contractor’s life in an undeniably positive direction. It accumulated riches to banish hunger, granted treasures that bestowed the strength to repel robbers, and used medicine and healing to prevent the sorrow of watching loved ones die meaningless deaths. Always acting as a friendly companion through life, it was an entity that hardly seemed worthy of the title “demon.”
If not for its single flaw.
Those who contract with demons often lack something.
Like other transcendent species, demons had their preferences. Just as humans had tastes when choosing pets—some favoring reptiles, others dogs, still others cats—transcendent beings each preferred certain types of humans. Angels and demons in particular showed a strong tendency to favor humans who were missing something. They enjoyed filling that void with what they themselves possessed.
Angels filled it with affection and dependence. Demons filled it with their own power. Either way, the contractor became happy. An angel’s contractor found happiness through subordination and reliance. A demon’s contractor found happiness as their life grew abundant through the demon’s aid.
Lee Serin would be happy as well. Even before Jinseong had turned back time, she had remained happy until the very end. In this life, too, she would be happy. The demon was both a precious benefactor that sponsored its contractor’s happiness and a lifelong partner.
“Hoo.”
Jinseong released his sorcery and sat down. He rubbed his slightly stinging, dry eyes until tears formed.
I have something to tell that fellow now.
Lee Serin, who had been conversing with the demon for quite some time, seemed to have finished as well. She sat across from Jinseong, her eyes darting restlessly. Perhaps she found it awkward to meet his gaze, or maybe Gremory had said something that still bothered her. Whatever the reason, she kept glancing toward where Gremory hovered, then at the door, then lowering her head to stare at the table—anything to avoid looking directly ahead.
How long that awkward silence lasted, no one could say.
Clatter.
“I’m here~ Huh? It’s just the two of you?”
Someone had entered. It was Lee Arin, the twin who shared the exact same appearance as Lee Serin. Unlike her sister, who had dressed neatly even for breakfast, Arin hadn’t bothered to brush her messy bedhead. She had merely splashed water on her face and shown up still wearing her pajamas. She looked like a lioness who had just woken up and was now prowling about.
She padded lightly over and sat beside Jinseong, then poked his shoulder repeatedly.
“Hey, hey. Big brother, big brother.”
When Jinseong turned his head, Lee Arin let out a small snort of laughter.
“It really has been a while, hasn’t it?”
Even as she spoke, she subtly avoided his eyes.
“What’s kept you so busy that you’re always out, staying overnight, then out again? At this rate I’ll forget what you even look like. Huh?”
Her grumbling tone might have sounded like she was picking a fight at first listen, but beneath the words lay a clear undercurrent of worry.
“You’re walking around reeking of money. It’s good that you’re earning it, but still… you know what I mean, right?”
After those words, the dining room fell quiet once more. Lee Arin had abruptly turned her head and begun twirling a lock of hair around her finger, while Jinseong, having nothing in particular to say, simply kept his mouth shut. As for Lee Serin, whether due to the heavy atmosphere or her own discomfort, she remained gloomily hunched over.
The deathly silence was finally broken by Lee Yanghoon and his wife and concubine. The trio that formed the family’s central pillar sat at the head of the table, dispelling the awkward tension. The previously silent Lee Arin began speaking to Lee Yanghoon and her mother. Once the entire family had gathered, the meal began.
And once again, silence descended.
It was the kind of silence born from Lee Yanghoon’s old-fashioned insistence on strict table manners, the dishes so heavy and luxurious they hardly seemed appropriate for breakfast, and his habit of calling any conversation during meals “ill-mannered.” Because of this, everyone ate in near-total quiet, careful even with the sound of utensils clinking, and conversation could only begin after the meal had ended.
Lee Yanghoon sipped the green tea that had been served alongside dessert and spoke to Lee Serin and Lee Arin.
“I heard your field training has been canceled.”
“Yes…”
Lee Serin nodded at his words, while Lee Arin responded half-heartedly, seemingly glad the training had been called off. Jinseong, however, looked at the three of them with open puzzlement.
The training was canceled?
The high school attended by the Lee Serin and Lee Arin sisters was Seoul Ability Specialization High School—commonly shortened to Seutego. It was a school specialized in developing supernatural abilities. A place where those who strengthened themselves through summoning arts, magic, or martial arts gathered in droves. Its curriculum focused on individual growth, and the education emphasized strengthening each student’s personal combat prowess and abilities. Naturally, field training carried significant weight. Students would subjugate evil spirits and malevolent ghosts, assist in arresting criminals, and help with government affairs—using their powers to contribute to society in various ways.
Around this time, the two sisters should have been scheduled to train at the police headquarters…
“Do not be disappointed. Rather, you should be grateful it happened early. If a major incident had erupted during your training, I would have been gravely worried.”
“Th… Yes…”
“According to the Guardian Association, the perpetrator was likely an extraordinarily powerful individual. If you had encountered such a heinous criminal during training, you might have suffered terribly. The cancellation of your field training is actually a blessing in disguise.”
At Lee Yanghoon’s words, Lee Arin’s eyes sparkled brightly.
“Really? Those stubborn old men said that much?”
“Watch your tongue! You haven’t even reached first-class level yet!”
“What?! This old fart! Did you buy some spiritual medicine or something before saying that?!”
“Spiritual medicine must be used to break through bottlenecks! I told you eating it recklessly would cause serious problems!”
“Then at least give me some private lessons!”
“The martial art you learned isn’t easy to teach privately either! Who told you to learn such a difficult style anyway…”
“Then at least buy me some tonic!”
“No… Ha…”
Jinseong watched their bickering in silence.
Guardian Association, Guardian Association.
What rose in his mind was the letter he had written in blood.
So they saw my letter. The Guardian Association has taken the bait.