CHAPTER 218: SERPENT’S HEAD (11)

Cassia bowed respectfully. “Yes, my lord.”

No sign of deceit could be detected in her eyes or voice.

Kwon Oh-Jin clutched his head and bit his lip from the chaotic thoughts washing over him.

Okay... let me get this straight.

The Heavenly Demon possessed an incomplete Black Heaven, and he needed to kill the Heaven-Defying Star to complete it.

That bastard Lee Shin-Hyuk died ages ago! Kwon Oh-Jin screamed silently and practically ripped at his hair.

He had killed Lee Shin-Hyuk, who was supposed to be the Heaven-Defying Star, when he first activated the Black Heaven.

W-Wait, then what does that mean?

Both of them possessed the Black Heaven, but Kwon Oh-Jin’s Black Heaven had absorbed the Heaven-Defying Star.

Then, the Heavenly Demon’s next target is...

Kwon Oh-Jin’s face turned pale.

If the Heavenly Demon was still trying to complete his Black Heaven, he would naturally target Kwon Oh-Jin next as the one who had absorbed the Heaven-Defying Star.

“Holy shit!” Kwon Oh-Jin cursed out before he realized it.

It felt like a hammer had smacked the back of his head. The transcendent being who supposedly created Celestials would target him.

“H-Heavenly Demon? What is it?”

“It’s nothing.” Kwon Oh-Jin slowly inhaled and tried to calm his racing heart.

Calm down.

On the bright side, the Heavenly Demon’s Black Heaven would remain incomplete as long as Kwon Oh-Jin remained alive. Even if the Heavenly Demon came after him, Kwon Oh-Jin had the complete version. He could win, right?

Can I win, though? Seriously?

Could he really win against a transcendent being who created Celestials?

“Haaa.”

This is driving me nuts.

For now, he hoped for the Heavenly Demon to remain hidden. Even the most loyal follower, Cassia, didn’t know his location. Kwon Oh-Jin wouldn’t stand a chance if the Heavenly Demon started moving now.

“Have you figured out who the Heaven-Defying Star is?”

“I’ve yet to identify who they are, my lord,” Cassia said apologetically and bowed again. “B-But if you just give me a little more time, I promise I will find the Heaven-Defying Star!”

“No. There’s something else that needs to be done first.”

Cassia cocked her head. “Something else?”

“Lately... there’s been flies buzzing around,” he coldly said.

Cassia’s eyes gleamed with a cold, sharp light. She gently lifted her black dress and bowed.

“Your wish is my command, Heavenly Demon.”

Perfect.

Kwon Oh-Jin clenched his fist.

Fight poison with poison, right?

He wouldn’t even need to move a finger if he could use her to wipe out the Musca faction.

“And you, my lord?”

“I must return to Earth for now.”

“Ah.” Cassia looked at him with a tinge of disappointment, but that didn’t last long. “I understand. Then I will send my children to escort you safely, my lord.”

Children?

He looked at her with a puzzled expression.

Cassia slowly raised her hand. With a snap of her fingers, the ground shook violently.

Rumble!

The ground split open as ferocious demonic beasts emerged from every direction.

“Krrrr.”

“Khrrk, krrrk.”

He could tell that each demonic beast was far stronger than anything on Earth.

What the actual fuck?

He nervously swallowed at the monstrous horde. The demonic beasts that looked like wild, starving animals bowed obediently like tame lambs.

So this is Cassia’s ability.

The power to control demonic beasts. Now that he thought about it, even the mother demonic beast that had attacked him began harming itself the moment she gave an order.

Does that mean all the demonic beasts of the Demonic District are under her control?

Kwon Oh-Jin nervously looked at Cassia. If she could truly control every demonic beast in the Demonic District, then she could quite literally bring the world to an end.

“Have you tamed all the demonic beasts in the Demonic District?”

“Sorry?” Cassia cocked her head as if wondering what he was talking about. She faintly smiled and shook her head. “Hehe, no. I can only tame the beasts that don’t fall under the rule of the king.”

What king? Like the king of demonic beasts? I barely know anything about the Demonic District, so how am I supposed to understand what she's saying?

At least now he knew that she couldn’t control every demonic beast.

“These children will escort you safely back to Earth, my lord.”

A massive beast shaped like a lizard slithered up to Kwon Oh-Jin and lowered itself flat on the ground. He climbed onto its glistening, scale-covered back.

“Are you uncomfortable, my lord?”

“It’s a little uncomfortable,” he said. With scales as tough as steel, calling it rideable was generous. “But it’s not unbearable.”

“Why are you still alive? Didn’t you hear the Heavenly Demon say he was uncomfortable?”

Cassia frowned and tapped the lizard’s head with her finger.

“Karrrk!”

At her command, the lizard bit down violently on its own long tongue. Then, it gouged out its eyes with its razor-sharp claws and tore into its own brain.

What the fuck?!

He quickly jumped off the beast and stared at Cassia in disbelief. Just one casual complaint from him, and she had ordered it to die without hesitation. A chill ran down his spine.

She’s seriously messed up.

Even if it had been a person instead of a demonic beast, she probably wouldn’t have hesitated to give the same order.

“Now then, let me find someone more comfortable for our Heavenly Demon to ride.”

Cassia looked around at the gathered demonic beasts. Her eyes landed on one with the body of a lion, the tail of a snake, and the head of an eagle.

“Come here.”

The eagle-headed beast growled and obediently approached, lying flat before her.

“Grrrr.”

Cassia gently stroked the soft brown fur along its back like a master craftsman inspecting fine furniture.

“Yes. This one is perfect.” She nodded in approval. “Hehe. Would you like to try riding this one, my lord?”

“Alright.”

Kwon Oh-Jin climbed onto the eagle-headed demon beast. Its soft brown fur cushioned him like a pillow, making it far more comfortable than the lizard before.

“How is it?”

“It’s much better.”

“Oh, I’m so glad to hear that.” Cassia smiled and nodded, clearly pleased.

“How long will it take?” he asked.

“Hmm. The nearest rift is quite far from here, so it’ll take a few days.”

That long? Still, I should be grateful that I’m even able to return.

Plus, it wasn’t like he had to walk the whole way. He could just sit still and enjoy the ride.

“Alright.”

“I was hoping to spend more time with you, my lord...” Cassia looked at him with longing eyes.

“There will be another chance to see me.”

“Hehe, I’m sure there will be. I will see you again very soon, my lord.” Cassia curtsied, lifting the hem of her black dress with both hands.

Her naturally elegant movements looked practiced as if she were a noble. He couldn’t help but wonder what kind of life she had lived before meeting the Heavenly Demon.

But now’s not the time to be asking that.

He had to get home as fast as he could. Song Ha-Eun, Isabella, and Vega were waiting for him.

“I’ll be leaving then.”

He grabbed the demonic beast’s mane. Despite its eagle head, it had a thick lion-like mane around its neck, making it perfect to use as reins.

“Grrr,” the demonic beast gently roared as he gripped it.

It bounced playfully and wagged its snake tail like a puppy.

It's weirdly cute.

This one looked cuter because the other demonic beasts looked so grotesque.

From now on, your name is Poppy.

Kwon Oh-Jin gently patted Poppy on the head.

“Oh! Please eat this if you get hungry on the way.” Cassia pulled out a large bag from the shadow.

It contained all sorts of Korean snacks like potato chips, cola, Spright, and more.

“What is this?”

“It may not suit the refined taste of someone as great as yourself, my lord, but they’re my favorite snacks.”

I can’t imagine her munching on potato chips.

He chuckled and accepted the bag. “Alright.”

“Have a safe journey, my lord.”

With Cassia bowing low behind him, Kwon Oh-Jin began his trip back to Earth.

***

In a dark room with the lights off, a woman with platinum-blonde hair sat on the bed and hugged her knees.

“Mr. Oh-Jin,” Isabella whispered his name wearily. “I miss you, Mr. Oh-Jin.”

Tears silently slid down her cheeks as she buried her face between her knees. She kept recalling the kiss they shared before she entered the rift. If only she had been more careful, if only she had paid more attention, then maybe he would still be...

“Hic... sob.”

Her shoulders trembled as she bit down on her lip and cried.

“I’m sorry... I’m so sorry, Mr. Oh-Jin.”

It was supposed to be her who stayed behind. She regretted not commanding him into the rift from the start, whether he wanted to or not. As she wallowed in regrets that she could no longer undo, the door burst open and light spilled into the pitch-black room.

Bang!

“M-Mr. Oh-Jin?!” Isabella shot up.

“Oh-Jin, my ass.”

“Ah.” Isabella sank back onto the bed after seeing that it was Song Ha-Eun.

“I made food. Come eat,” Song Ha-Eun said.

“I’m not hungry.” Isabella turned her head away.

Song Ha-Eun frowned and approached her. “You haven’t eaten a single thing since you came back.”

“I’m fine.”

“Fine? You look half dead.”

Song Ha-Eun yanked her arm, and Isabella weakly slid off the bed.

“Mr. Oh-Jin.”

She didn’t even care that she had fallen off like a broken doll. Her empty eyes stared at nothing as she softly murmured his name.

“Haaa.” Song Ha-Eun deeply sighed, grabbed Isabella by the collar, and lifted her.

“Miss Ha-Eun?” Only then did Isabella look at her.

“Bite down hard.” Song Ha-Eun slapped Isabella across the face.

Smack!

“What?”

“Don’t what me,” Song Ha-Eun fiercely said. “Are we not going to go save Oh-Jin?”

The light finally returned to Isabella’s empty eyes.