DTD 16

The train’s speed had slowed significantly. Yet, no announcement was made about any mechanical failure. The dimly lit interior quickly filled with uneasy murmurs. Just as I was beginning to suspect this was all part of his plan…

“Mom, look!”

A child’s voice, full of excitement, cut through the tense atmosphere. The boy pointed outside, and instantly, all eyes followed.

Boom, boom—!

With loud explosions, fireworks burst into the dark sky. Each dazzling explosion sent waves of colorful reflections rippling across the calm water below.

Of course. We were on a bridge over the Han River.

“Wow…”

In an instant, the atmosphere inside the train shifted. The contrast between the dimly lit interior, the brilliant fireworks, and the rhythmic clatter of the train wheels created an almost surreal scene. Some passengers even murmured that the conductor must have slowed down the train on purpose to let them enjoy the view.

But this wasn’t romantic, this was terrifying. Since everyone here was trapped on this bridge.

“Well, I’m busy, so I’ll be going now.”

A mischievous voice echoed in my ears. I immediately reached out to grab him, but he slipped away, disappearing into the crowd.

Just like that, a deadly game of cat and mouse had begun. Shoving past the people mesmerized by the fireworks, I pressed my phone to my ear.

“Hello? Simeon?”

As soon as the call connected, I spoke.

“I found him.”

[Where?]

My eyes flicked to the numbers above the doors between the train cars.

“Car 1853.”

[I’m on my way. I’m in Car 1253 now.]

There were six cars between us, and since the train was already packed, navigating through this many people would take time. Would he just sit still and wait? No chance. Someone was going to die in this train car.

When would it happen? How many would die? How would they die?

[Mr. Hajae? Are you listening?]

“…What?”

[If possible, try to corner him in the middle of the train. We can get off at the next station right away.]

At that moment, the door between the cars slid open. Over the sea of shoulders, I saw him. A small boy, slipping through the manual door and into the next car.

“I’ll try to keep him in the middle. I’m hanging up now.”

I rushed after him, pushing open the door. But as soon as I entered the next car, I saw him. He wasn’t running anymore. Instead, he was speaking to an elderly man sitting in the priority seating.

And then, when our eyes met, his face twisted in realization, and he vanished into the crowd again. I hesitated, then turned to the old man.

“Sir, are you alright?”

He blinked up at me, his already wrinkled face deepening in confusion.

“Huh? What?”

“Are you feeling unwell? Are you having trouble breathing?”

“What in the world are you talking about?”

His brows furrowed as he gave me a bewildered stare. Was he supposed to die, but something went wrong? Or was this a diversion?

“A kid was talking to you just now.”

“Oh, yeah.”

“What did he say?”

“He told me to live a long, healthy life. Haha.”

“…What?”

A soft giggle rang out in the distance. I turned my head sharply and there he was, standing amidst the crowd, hand over his mouth, and shoulders shaking in laughter. My teeth ground together. That little bastard was toying with me.

The next moment, he bolted, and everything else disappeared from my vision. I pushed through the crowd without hesitation. Shouts of protest barely registered in my ears. No one cared about the chase—everyone was still enthralled by the fireworks.

Car 1753…. Car 1653….

Rushing forward, cutting through the masses, I finally….

“…Got you.”

As he reached for the door to Car 1553, I grabbed him by the collar.

I yanked the manual door open and threw him into the narrow space between the train cars. Then, I slammed the heavy door shut. With a metallic clank, a tiny prison was formed. 

He tried to escape, reaching for the handle, but I pinned him down, shoving his shoulders against the cold floor.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

I straddled his small body and grabbed him by the collar. My voice dropped low.

“What the hell is your goal? Why are you doing things the others never did?”

Something felt off.

His pupils… They should’ve been goat-like, but they weren’t; they were perfectly round. His face was the same as before. Where was the mark of a monster?

I scowled, studying him when suddenly, tears welled up in his wide, frightened eyes.

“W-Who are you?”

“…What?”

“Why are you doing this to me? Huh? I-I’m sorry!”

His cries turned frantic, and he screamed for his mother. For a moment, I just… stared. Had he copied the face of a real child on this train?

What the hell was I holding onto right now?

“You…” 

I hesitated, and in that split second, he grabbed my wrist and twisted. Sharp nails—far too sharp for a human—dug into my flesh. My blood immediately started dripping onto the metal floor.

“Gah!”

As I clenched my teeth, swallowing back the pain, he smiled.

“So easy to fool. How did you even escape hell, little one?”

So that’s all the child’s form was—just a shell. His grip tightened, his inhuman strength keeping me pinned. The harder I struggled, the deeper his nails tore into my flesh. The sensation of skin peeling away sent a metallic tang flooding my mouth, but still, I refused to give in.

His smirk deepened.

“You’ll die no matter what. So why are you fighting so hard to live?”

His taunting voice dripped with amusement.

“Is it because of that human who escaped hell with you?”

“…Shut up.”

The moment I muttered those words, his pupils elongated into narrow slits.

“Should I kill him for you? Then you’d finally be free.”

Suddenly, my blood ran cold. My mind went blank, and my vision darkened.

From that moment on, I couldn’t tell what was happening. Like a machine, I pulled the knife from my back pocket and stabbed everything within reach. The sensation that traveled from my hands through my entire body was nothing like cutting through the thick hide of a monster. No, young flesh was much softer. Almost like boiled pork.

Thud, thud—! 

Each time the blade slid out, warm blood splattered against my cheek. Outside, cheers erupted.

“Wow, that’s beautiful.”

Voices dripping with awe buzzed in my ears like the flutter of wings. The click of cameras and the sound of children’s laughter grew louder, swelling into what almost felt like encouragement. As if they were telling me I was doing well. That I should finish the job—erase every trace.

I didn’t know how many times I’d stabbed it, but as my ragged breathing filled the silence and my hands finally stilled, my vision cleared. By then, the thing beneath me had been hacked to pieces, beyond recognition. And yet, those devilish eyes and that sickening grin remained.

“You can’t escape fate.”

It was the whisper of a demon meant to provoke me. I knew that. But knowing didn’t make it any easier to stop. My teeth ground together with a sharp, grating noise. I raised the knife again, ready to drive it down one last time.

Then, suddenly, the subway door swung open.

“Mr Hajae?”

A low voice snapped me out of my trance. The knife slipped from my grasp, clattering to the floor. Dazed, I lifted my head. A dark figure stood over me, watching in silence.

The moment our eyes met, Simeon didn’t hesitate. He removed his coat and draped it over my shoulders. His warning came back to me too late, and I scrambled for an excuse.

“Ah, I-I’m sorry. I was just trying to grab it, but then… I mean, it just—”

It said it would kill you. I swallowed hard, forcing down the rest of my words.

Simeon’s expression twisted into something unreadable, dark with restrained fury. Was he angry that I’d acted on my own? That I’d taken matters into my own hands? A flicker of unease stirred inside me. Above us, fireworks exploded in the sky, their flashes of light streaking through the dim subway car.

And in that moment, I saw it clearly.

The thing I’d been stabbing in a blind rage wasn’t a child. 

It wasn’t that at all.

It was my own hand.

“…What?”

I stared blankly at my shredded, bloodied fingers. Before I could fully process it, Simeon pulled me to my feet. Fortunately, the train was dark, and everyone’s attention was on the fireworks. If not, those gasps of admiration would have turned into screams.

Without a word, Simeon crouched down and wiped the blood off the floor with his handkerchief.

“Hide your hand in the coat when you get off.” His voice was calm, steady.

“But… it’s still—”

“It’s already dead.”

Simeon picked up the bloodied knife with the handkerchief and slipped it into his pocket. Then, as soon as we arrived at the next station, he pulled me close and led me out of the subway. He knew exactly where to go—avoiding cameras, slipping through empty streets—until we reached a door. Without hesitation, he unlocked it.

“This way.”

Had he called ahead? When we arrived at the Ark, Raphael was already waiting for us. Without a word, he guided me inside.

Simeon stayed by my side throughout the entire treatment, silent but tense, his expression carefully restrained. It wasn’t until Raphael left the room that he finally spoke. His voice was heavy.

“Did you use <Bloodletting Sword>?”

“…No.”

“Then what the hell happened?”

My lips pressed together like they’d been glued shut.

‘You’ll die no matter what. So why are you fighting so hard to live?’

‘You can’t escape fate.’

For a moment, my fear eclipsed my rage. It had to be meaningless, just words meant to break me. I’d never heard of demons having the power of prophecy, so it had to have been solely nonsense meant to scare me. That was all.

But no matter how many times I told myself that, a terrible sense of unease crept in.

“Are you listening to me?”

That everything was already doomed to fail.

“Sorry. I… don’t really remember.”

Even if <Divine Comedy>’s plan failed, it would be fine. I still had <Contradiction> as a backup, so Simeon wouldn’t inherit the curse. He wouldn’t die. No matter what.

Even if fate split into a hundred different outcomes, in every possible future…

Simeon would survive.

I would make sure of it.

A strange silence settled over the room. He clearly didn’t believe me when I said I remembered nothing. Well, if I were him, I wouldn’t believe me either. But what could I do? The matter was already settled, and there was no benefit in digging deeper, so I naturally changed the subject.

“But that thing… are you sure it’s dead?”

“You think I’d lie about that?”

“It’s not that… It’s just, with the other monsters, I actually saw them disappear.”

But this one—by the time I came to my senses, it was already gone. It had vanished without a trace. I hadn’t even been aware it was gone, mistaking my own hand for the monster and going so far as to stab myself. What if it had just put on another human skin and was hiding somewhere else? The unease had barely settled in when Simeon rolled up his sleeve and held out his arm.

“Look.”

One of his scars had disappeared. Only then did my anxiety finally ease.

“Alright. Then, I’m glad everything worked out in the end.”

The moment I said that Simeon’s face twisted in anger.

“This is what you call ‘worked out’?”

“There were no casualties, and the monster was taken care of. That’s all that matters.”

“But—”

“Simeon.”

I cut him off since I already knew what he was about to say.

“We’re so close.”

I carefully placed my hand over the scar, and at last, he fell silent.

All that worry about how long it would take to erase them had been pointless. Now, only one scar remained. I traced my fingertips over the largest, most prominent scar, the one closest to his wrist. This was the last one. Like a climber reaching the summit after an arduous ascent, I could just barely see the faint glow of the peak in the distance.

“Let’s finish this. There’s only one more left.”

At that moment, the door swung open with a loud bang.

“Hyung!”

Had the news already spread? Matteo, looking deathly pale, ran straight to my side and dropped into the seat next to me. Since he forgot to knock, Simeon would probably scold him for it later. But before I could even bring it up, Matteo grabbed my shoulders and frantically scanned me up and down.

“You’re okay, right? That bastard monster didn’t do anything to you?”

“That bastard monster is dead. Why? Do I look hurt?”

“No, not really, but…”

Matteo let out a deep sigh.

“The Guild Leader wouldn’t answer his phone, Yulia noona suddenly insisted we return to the Ark, and then even you, who at least picks up calls, suddenly couldn’t be reached. You have no idea how close I was to losing my mind.”

“Ah, I just didn’t have time to call. More importantly, are you okay?”

“I didn’t really do much. Just wandered around the platform, that’s all.”

“No, do you realize how much that actually helped?”

I patted the hands gripping my shoulders, and Matteo gave a pleased smile.

“Oh, also, sorry. You missed the fireworks festival because of me.”

“Hey, how’s that your fault? Blame that damn thing, not yourself.”

“Still. There won’t be another festival like that for a while…”

“There’s always next year.”

Next year.

That simple phrase made my heart plummet.

Of course. There was no ‘next year’ for me anymore. I could no longer buy time with excuses like ‘there’s still a chance’ or ‘just a little longer.’

“Then let’s go together next year.”

“Ah…”

“You’ll come with me, right?”

But lies—lies I could keep telling forever.

“Sure. I’ll be looking forward to it.”

Until the moment I die.

****

Matteo came and found me without warning a few days later. In his hands, he was carrying some sort of black bag.

“What’s this?”

“Open it.”

His face was filled with anticipation as he handed me the bag. I wondered what it was and why he, the giver, somehow seemed more excited than the person receiving it. I gingerly opened it and saw a long, rectangular box. My eyes widened when I saw the words written in bold letters on the box.

“A fireworks set…?”

I squinted, and Matteo laughed.

“Pretty awesome, right?”

“Yeah…… But why are you giving me this all of a sudden?”

“We couldn’t go to the festival. My girlfriend was also disappointed she couldn’t go with us. So, I bought this set for her, and while I was there, I decided to buy one for you, too.”

I didn’t know whether to be grateful or flattered that he thought of me. I opened the top of the box and found several long sticks inside. The colorful wrapping paper brought back memories.

“It’s been a long time…….”

When I was little, I’d go to the beach with my father, we would eat grilled clams and buy individual packs of these at the convenience store one by one and set them off. Back then, just sitting next to each other and watching those little fireworks explode in the night sky was so much fun.

“Thank you. I’ll try them out soon.”

“Normally, I’d go with you, hyung, but my girlfriend is clamoring to go out now that she’s not grounded anymore.”

“Of course. You two have fun.”

After Matteo left, I stared at the fireworks set for a long time.

Simeon said he had a meeting today, so he’d told me not to go out alone at night. But just because I was locked in my room didn’t mean <Divine Comedy> wouldn’t do anything. Also, it’s better to do things when you feel like doing them.

“I was bored, so this worked out well.”

Dressed simply and armed with only the black bag in one hand, I opened a door and left the Ark.

I emerged from a warehouse, and could already hear the sound of waves from afar inside the dark alley. When I turned on the map app, it said Eulwangri Beach. 

I was familiar with this place. 

After I came out of the main alley, I bought a lighter and two cans of beer at the convenience store. I walked to the beach, dragging my slippers, and even though it was fall, there were more people than I thought. 

I sat down in a relatively quiet spot, stuck two long firecrackers into the sand, and lit them. Soon, the fireworks exploded with a pop, pop sound. It was smaller and shabbier compared to what I’d seen through the subway windows, but it had its own charm to it.

“It’s quite nice.”

It was then, as I was sipping beer and enjoying the breeze—

“Excuse me…?”

I looked up at the sound of the voice, and standing there was a girl with long dark hair who looked to be around 20. Judging from her slightly red face, she appeared to have had a few drinks already. When I lifted my head, she smiled shyly and tucked her hair behind her ear.

“Do you have a lighter I could borrow?”

“Ah, yes.”

“I’m not a smoker, I just need one to set off some fireworks.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle, I secretly thought that it was cute how she’d answered questions that I didn’t even ask. I took out the lighter I’d carelessly thrown into the black bag and handed it to her.

“Here you go.”

“Thank you.”

I thought she’d leave, but she clutched the lighter and squatted down next to me.

“Do you happen to know any good restaurants around here?”

“No. It’s also my first time visiting this area.”

I smile awkwardly and look around. Of course, I’d been to many restaurants here as a kid, but they were probably long gone now. And, well…. Even if they weren’t, in these situations, it’s better to say you don’t know. 

But in response, she tapped me on the shoulder and smirked.

“Heeey, that’s a lie. You’re dressed like a local.”

“I just came here to drink by myself.”

“Ah, I see…..”

She seemed to regretfully drag out her words. She could have turned back, but instead, she stared at my face. Before she could properly sit down next to me, another girl approached behind her, and grabbed her arm, pulling her to her feet.

“Oh, you’re crazy. Really.”

“Ah, why are you interrupting?”

“Interrupting, where? If your boyfriend saw you right now, he’d be pissed.”

She must be her friend, seeing how she was slapping her on the arm like a nagging mom. I watched with interest, beer can in hand, until her friend met my gaze. The scowl on her face instantly dissolved, and she smiled.

“I’m sorry. My friend’s a bit drunk right now.”

“It’s okay. Enjoy yourselves. You can keep that lighter, too.”

As I nodded my head with a smile, her friend bit her lip and laughed. After that, she took her drunk friend back to where they’d come from. Since my lighter was gone, I couldn’t set off any more firecrackers. 

As I was watching others set off theirs, I suddenly heard a familiar voice.

“How disappointing. Master.”

“What’s disappointing?”

I asked absentmindedly, sipping my beer as Mujeong clicked his tongue.

“You sent away that maiden.”

“She was drunk.”

“It has always been said that a gentleman should not stop a lady who approaches him.”

“It seems there are a lot of rules I’m unaware of….”

I emptied the last drop of beer from the can into my mouth, crushed the can, and put it in the bag. I cracked open the next one and took a sip, feeling refreshed. 

It’s better to be alone, after all. For the first time in a while, I was enjoying my solo drinking time when Mujeong suddenly spoke up.

“Are you this way because you are thinking about the Second Lord?”

Phew—!

I almost spit out my beer at those words, as I quickly covered my mouth and coughed.

“No, why are you suddenly bringing up Simeon?

I opened my eyes wide and glared, right as a shadow appeared above my head. 

I glanced up, wondering if it was that woman again. But standing there blankly was the person who looked the most out of place on this beach full of mingling and romance.

“Why? Did something happen that I wasn’t supposed to see?”

I doubted my eyesight for a moment. I never thought he’d actually appear when I called his name.

“What are you… doing here? What about the meeting?”

“As soon as it ended, I went to your room, but… you weren’t there.”

Did he think I left because of <Divine Comedy>? So, without even changing his clothes, he came wearing the same suit and shoes he wore to the meeting? Imagining him wandering around the beach area in that outfit, I couldn’t help but laugh. 

Simeon frowned as he watched me laughing.

“Were you drinking?”

“Ah, a littleee. I drank a can and a half.”

Was that why I felt good? I gently shook the half-empty can and spoke.

“Don’t just stand there, sit down. You already stick out like a sore thumb.”

“…Don’t you wanna head back?”

“You came all this way, why would we head back so soon?”

The weather was cool, and the sound of the waves was calming. Hearing the sound of people playing made me momentarily want to forget about everything, even my inevitable fate. Even just for a little bit. 

“Hurry up.” I patted the seat next to me and urged Simeon to sit down.

“But what is all this?”

“Matteo bought it for me. I guess he felt bad that we couldn’t go to the fireworks festival. But if you think about it, it was our fault anyway… He’s really kind.”

“So you watched the fireworks by yourself? While drinking beer, too?”

“Yes. Why, do you think it’s lame?”

Simeon, who was looking at the firecrackers stuck in the sand, soon laughed lightly.

“It’s just so like you, Mr Hajae.”

So you’re saying it’s childish, is that what it is? I couldn’t ask any more questions because he kept evading answering.

“But you should have left a message when you went out.”

“I was planning to head back when the meeting was over. Usually, meetings with The Hunter’s Association take more than two hours.”

Now that I think about it, it seemed like it ended almost too early this time. The meeting had been a request for cooperation from a rift that opened overseas.

“Surely… you didn’t leave in the middle of the meeting?”

I thought he’d say no if I joked, but Simeon answered calmly for some reason.

“If I say yes, are you going to send me back there?”

“No. We can avoid it together.”

The corners of Simeon’s lips went up, which was nice and refreshing to see. Right then, a figure waving behind Simeon suddenly caught my eye. I frowned and squinted, before realizing it was the woman who’d come to borrow a lighter earlier. She was shaking her wrist like crazy, waiting for me to react, so I smiled back and waved.

“For dinner, then……”

Immediately, Simeon’s expression, which had been smiling just a moment ago, became stiff.

“What are you doing?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m asking what that was. Just now.”

What did I do? I rolled my eyes here and there and realized a beat late what he was talking about.

“Ah! I was just saying goodbye.”

“To who?”

Simeon immediately turned his head and looked in the direction of the woman. The back of his head now obscured my view, but somehow the air felt cold. I wondered if she felt embarrassed, suddenly being shot with a sharp glare.

Perhaps it was due to the darkness, but the women took one look at Simeon’s face and began to talk amongst themselves, hitting each other on the arm. Judging from their excited faces and the corners of their lips that were lifted up, it seemed that they all had the same taste in people’s faces. In the midst of all this, Simeon was the only one who was serious.

“Do you know each other?”

“A little……?”

At my vague response, his already blunt face twisted into a grim expression.

“What do you mean ‘a little’? You either know each other or you don’t know.”

“Oh…. Well, she asked to borrow a lighter. A little while ago.”

“Was that all?”

“She asked if there were any good restaurants in this area, but I told her I wasn’t sure.”

Simeon let out a hollow laugh as I obediently recounted the events of earlier.

“She didn’t ask for your number?”

“No, she didn’t. I heard she has a boyfriend.”

“Ha…… So you were disappointed when you heard that?”

“Why disappointed? She wasn’t my type anyway.”

I took another sip of my beer, muttering that she looked too young. Immediately, I felt a stinging gaze on the side of my face. I glanced over to see Simeon looking at me with a rather shocked expression. Was he staring at me because I said she looked too young?

“Why are you staring at me?”

“What’s your type?”

“…Why do you need to know?”

“So I can match it.”

“Hahaha.” 

I erupted in laughter at the words that came out without a single moment of hesitation. How come he hasn’t changed at all since then? In the past, when I said I liked older people, he muttered that he was mature for his age. What a funny guy. He couldn’t make light of it, and always brought it back to himself….. How could anyone hate someone like that?

“Don’t worry about it, just drink this and watch the fireworks.”

I held out my beer to him and nodded toward the night sky. But Simeon just stared at me, as if he was waiting to hear my answer. If you pick a fight with stubbornness, you won’t lose easily.

“I’ve had my mouth on it, so if you’re not the sharing type, it’s fine; you don’t have to drink it.”

When I went to draw back my hand, Simeon suddenly snatched the beer can from me. He gulped it down like someone who’d been stuck in the desert for days without water, but it was refreshing to see him enjoying it. He quickly finished the beer, crushed the can with one hand, and threw it into his bag.

“What’s this? You drink so well.”

I playfully hit his arm, which now looked more relaxed, and turned my gaze to the sky.

“Now, look at the sky. Don’t just work all the time, you need to take time to do things like this, too.”

Pop, crack—!

Even the feeble sound of cheap fireworks flying toward the sky sounded special. The light that disappeared in the blink of an eye, the size that was small enough to be covered with a hand, the memory that could be bought for only a few thousand won… why hadn’t I let myself enjoy it until now?

“What do you think? It’s pretty, right?”

“…Yes, it is.”

Right then, a more powerful firework burst across the sky.

“Ah, that one. That one is a little more expensive.”

Boom—! 

Even the sound of its explosion was louder. I pointed to the colorful fireworks and spoke.

“Were you watching?”

I quickly looked around, and my eyes met Simeon’s. I’d felt a gaze on me a moment ago, was it his? Even though the black night sky was filled with fireworks that people had shot up, he was only looking at me.

That time. On your last birthday together. It was the same when I took you to the cliff above the sea to show you the sunset. You were looking only at me, not at that beautiful burning red sky. 

What was so special about the face I see every day when I open my eyes? 

What was so good about it?

****

After the fireworks, the distance between me and Simeon strangely grew closer. It was strange. We hadn’t really opened up to each other. Looking at Simeon sleeping soundly, I suddenly had a thought. I wondered if maybe it was because of a lack of sleep that he was always so tense.

A silly thought, maybe. Regardless, tonight marks the end of my serving as his personal pillow.

“Where am I now…?”

I had awakened in an unfamiliar place.

Standing blankly in front of what seemed like a wooden hut, Simeon casually pulled out his phone and answered, as if accustomed to this.

“This is the Gwanggyosan shelter.”

“Gwanggyosan…?”

Thanks to <Divine Comedy>, we’ve ended up in all sorts of places. At least we’re in a secluded mountain area. I quietly accepted the dagger from Simeon and surveyed our surroundings. 

Soon, a rustling sound emerged from the bushes.

Gripping the dagger tightly, I turned around, and amidst the autumn foliage, a pair of bright yellow eyes gleamed.

“That’s…”

Black fur with white and blue stripes. Though the colors differed from what I knew, it was unmistakably a tiger. As it strode confidently out of the bushes, its muscular back rippled with power. Unlike any creature we’d faced before, its presence was overwhelming, causing my entire body to tense up instinctively.

Still, if Simeon used his ability, it would end swiftly, as always. 

But that complacent thought was short-lived.

“…Huh?”

The creature vanished before my eyes. Where did it go? As I scanned the area, I heard the crunch of leaves. Looking up, I saw it perched majestically atop a massive rock.

“There!”

I needed to strike before it disappeared again. I went to cut myself with the dagger, but Simeon urgently grabbed my arm.

“Wait a moment.”

“Why?”

Simeon always disapproved of me using <Bloodletting Sword> because of the wound I had to inflict on myself. Assuming he was trying to stop me again, I responded irritably. However, his gaze wasn’t on me but elsewhere.

“There’s another one.”

“…What?”

I froze and turned around, chuckling nervously. Indeed, there was another tiger. This one had white fur with yellow and black stripes. Though the colors were inverted, it looked identical and was watching us from the opposite side.

Damn. As if one elusive tiger wasn’t enough, now there were two.

“What should we do?”

“We’ll take them down one at a time.”

Simeon calmly extended his hand toward the white tiger. But as he closed his eyes to activate his ability, the tiger vanished into the moonlight. Losing his target, Simeon opened his eyes, scowling. The creature reappeared in the distance, wagging its tail mockingly.

“At that speed, it’ll vanish before we can even touch it.”

It was like a mirage—disappearing when approached. Yet, the crunching leaves under its paws confirmed its physical presence. There must be a way to defeat it. I gripped the dagger tightly, ready to summon <Bloodletting Sword>.

Then, suddenly…

“…What?”

Both tigers darted off in opposite directions. Without hesitation, I pointed to the one ascending the mountain.

“I’ll go after that one.”

Without waiting for a response, I chased after it. Keeping up with its incredible speed left me breathless. The white tiger would vanish and reappear under the moonlight, making it even harder to track.

After what felt like an eternity, I lost sight of it. Still, I pressed on, hoping to catch a glimpse. Eventually, I spotted its swaying white tail. I had to catch it… But first, I needed to take a breather.

Leaning against a tree, trying to calm my racing heart, Mujeong suddenly spoke.

“Master.”

“…”

“Master?”

What snide remark was he about to make now? I glared at him.

“I’m already exhausted. What is it?”

Without a word, Mujeong gestured toward the distant white tiger.

“I also can sense what is over there.”

Half-dead from fatigue, I muttered that I didn’t have the strength to fight. 

Mujeong, however, continued to stare intently in that direction. Curious about what had him so serious, I trudged up the slope. The next moment, my heart sank.

The white tiger stood with its fur bristling, scanning its surroundings with fierce eyes. And behind a nearby rock, not far from it…

“Why are they there…?”

Two people were hiding.

A middle-aged man stood clutching a boy who looked about elementary school age, holding him close in a tight, protective embrace. It was late at night, and I had wondered what they were doing deep in the mountains at this hour—but then I saw it: a large telescope lay toppled beside them, carelessly discarded.

So they’d come all the way up Gwanggyo Mountain to stargaze. Peaceful night, clear sky… They probably never imagined they’d run into a monster.

“Dad…”

“Shhh.”

The boy in the man’s arms was trembling like a stray puppy abandoned by a frozen river. It would’ve been better for everyone if the tiger had just passed them by, but it had already picked up their scent. Its nose flared, its head raised high. It had found prey, and it wasn’t about to let it escape.

The man must’ve realized it too. He swallowed hard as if making up his mind about something.

“Son.”

He gripped the boy’s shoulders, his voice low and steady.

“Remember that trail we always take on our walks? The one we were on today?”

“…Yeah.”

“You’re a big kid now, right? You can make it down by yourself, can’t you?”

The boy started to nod—then froze, eyes wide with fear.

“But what about you? Aren’t you coming with me?”

Silence. The boy clung to his father’s coat, trying to pull him along, but the man only smiled. His hand gently smoothed the boy’s round head. His eyes, damp and shining, didn’t once leave his son’s face.

Watching it unfold, I already knew what he was about to say.

“I’ll be fine. So don’t worry about me. Just run. Don’t look back.”

I laughed bitterly. Not because it was funny, but because it played out exactly how I expected.

“Why? Why can’t we just go together?”

The man wasn’t going to say what the boy needed to hear. Even if the two of them might’ve had a better chance running together, he would still choose to stay behind. It was simple math: this way, the boy had a higher chance of survival.

Yeah. That’s the thing about sacrifice—it always makes the most sense to the one making it, and it’s always the cruelest to everyone else.

“Dad… I’m scared.”

“Go. Now.”

“I don’t want to! I don’t want to go alone!”

The man finally raised his voice as he forced the boy away from him.

“I said go!”

Startled, the boy stumbled and took off down the hill, urged forward by his father’s push. And of course, the tiger didn’t hesitate. With a low growl, it bared its fangs and lunged after the fleeing child.

But right then…

Thwack—!

A rock flew through the air and struck the tiger clean on the back of the head.

“Over here, you bastard!”

It was the boy’s father. He’d picked up a flimsy branch from somewhere and was waving it wildly. He was trying to buy time, clearly. Sure enough, the tiger halted its pursuit and turned its head toward the man.

But to our surprise, it didn’t attack. Instead, it stared for a long moment, then disappeared into the moonlight without a sound.

“…What the hell?”

The man spun in circles, scanning the woods. He wasn’t the only one thrown off by the tiger’s sudden disappearance.

“You don’t think it’s gone after the boy instead?” I asked, uneasy.

“No.” 

Mujeong answered immediately, shaking his head.

“It’s still here.”

“How can you tell? Can you see it?”

“Not exactly. It is just… a feeling.”

I shot him a look, and Mujeong gave a nonchalant shrug.

“If you don’t trust me, you’re welcome to go check on the boy yourself.”

“…No, I believe you.”

To the tiger, humans without any awakened powers were easier than ants. So why vanish now? Was it being cautious? Expecting a trap?

If that was the case, then we couldn’t act rashly either.

The man, growing more desperate with each passing second, shouted into the woods, brandishing his stick like a sword.

“Come out! I said, come out!”

His voice echoed into the night, unanswered. I felt a twinge of guilt watching him flail like that. Sorry, but he was going to have to be bait for just a little longer.

Mujeong sidled closer, his voice low.

“So? Do you plan to just watch?”

“What?”

“It is strange that you have not yet jumped in.”

“I will. But not yet.”

We had to wait. Wait for it to make the first move—when it reveals itself to attack.

“Oh? You are using him as bait?” 

Mujeong chuckled. 

“What a bold tactic for you, Master.”

“Is it? I think I can keep him from getting hurt.”

All I needed was one clean strike when the moment came. No big deal.

Mujeong raised an eyebrow, half-amused.

“You speak like a man with confidence, Master.”

“Not confidence. Just faith… in your skills.”

Right then, a wind swept through the forest, rustling the branches overhead. For just a moment, the canopy parted and moonlight poured through—and I knew. Instinctively, I knew. That’s where it would come from.

I spun toward the man, shouting as I ran.

“Get down!”

He dropped to the ground, shielding his head with his arms.

The tiger lunged out of the moonlight, claws raised, jaws wide, aiming for his neck. But it was so focused on its prey that it didn’t even notice my blade until it was too late.

The crimson sword plunged into its side.

The pristine white fur, once so majestic under the moon, was quickly stained red. Wailing in pain, the tiger thrashed—but it never reached the man. With a final spasm, it disappeared again into the shadows.

“Slippery bastard.”

“It won’t get far now.”

Its strength was failing. We had to end this before it recovered—or worse, turned its attention back on the man. I glanced over my shoulder. The man stood trembling, eyes locked on me, slowly backing away.

“W-Who… who are you?”

“Go. Now.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll take care of the rest. Just run.”

He nodded quickly and bolted down the slope. Only once his figure disappeared into the trees did I adjust my grip on the sword.

“Just us now. Let’s end this.”

I spoke into the darkness, eyes scanning every shadow. The beast was injured. It couldn’t hide its trail anymore. Sure enough… there. Blood. Drop by drop, it fell in a slow, deliberate circle around me.

Drip, drip… Drip—.

The trail stopped.

“Mujeong.”

“I see it!”

I slashed the air above me, and though I hit nothing but wind, I felt it. The resistance. The weight. The impact.

The clouds passed over the moon, plunging the forest into pitch black.

And in that moment, a body appeared. Lifeless, already turning to dust, its throat slashed clean through. It hadn’t even had time to roar.

As the monster disintegrated, I noticed the telescope lying in the grass nearby.

“Oh. They left this behind… It looks expensive.”

“You could always return it,” Mujeong said.

“Me?”

“It could be a good chance to ensure his silence, also.”

Of course. That’s what you’re really after. I gave a short laugh and shook my head.

“Nah. He’ll come back for it eventually. Besides, even if you try to cover these things up, rumors always get out.”

I slid <Bloodletting Sword> into the dirt. The blade, once slick with red, quickly sank into the soil, disappearing without a trace.

“Thanks, Jeong-ah. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“My help?” Mujeong blinked.

“That plan was risky, and you knew it. If we’d been even a second late, that man might’ve died.”

I patted his shoulder, and he raised an eyebrow with a dry look.

“Truthfully, I did not want to save him.”

“…What?”

“Imagine choosing to die in place of your child. Does that not infuriate you? Once he is gone, what on Earth does he think will happen to his child?”

His scorn was sharp, but I knew it wasn’t really for the man. Not just him, at least.

I thought of Mujeong’s past, the one I’d seen in that dream. His father, Musui, had said the same thing to him once. Told him to run. And Mujeong had screamed and refused to leave him behind. That grief, that betrayal… he still carried it with him.

“How do people give up so easily?” Mujeong muttered.

“They don’t,” I said. “He wanted to live. More than anything.”

“Then why make the worst possible choice?”

“Because sometimes it’s also the best one.”

He sympathized with the child left behind. I sympathized with the father who chose death. So, of course, we’d never agree.

Mujeong stared up at the moon for a long time. Then finally, in a quiet voice, he asked:

“Then do you… want to live too, Master?”

My eyelids twitched.

He always caught me off guard like this, cutting straight through to my core. Maybe it was because he knew me too well. My emotions. My passing thoughts. My past. Even the flaws I tried hardest to hide.

It unsettled me… but sometimes, it felt like the only comfort I had.

“Yeah. I want to live. I’m human. Of course, I do.”

“Then don’t give up. Maybe, like that man…”

“I’ll get lucky?”

I smiled faintly.

“Jeong-ah. You know, don’t you? The thing threatening me… It’s not a monster. It’s not something anyone can swoop in and slay.”

Not even Simeon knows, but you do. You, at least.

I reached out and gently grasped his arm. He flinched.

“So maybe, even if no one else can… could you—even just you support my choice?”

I know it’s selfish. I know you care more about me than you let on. You probably wish I’d fight fate like your father did, instead of surrendering.

But this choice… this is the one I’ve spent nine years making.

So I need someone to tell me I’m not wrong. That what I’m doing, the road I’ve chosen, was the best choice I could’ve made.

So that when the end finally comes, I won’t be crushed by regret.

“Is that too much to ask?”

The question came with a faint smile, and at once, Mujeong’s face contorted with emotion. But he didn’t say yes or no. He only looked down at me in silence, his mouth set in a hard line. Just as his pale hand reached up as if to touch my cheek…

“Mr. Hajae?”

I turned toward the voice. Simeon was stepping out from the trees, concern etched into every line of his face.

“Are you all right?”

I let go of Mujeong’s arm as naturally as possible and answered.

“Of course. Did everything go smoothly on your end?”

Simeon strode over quickly and studied my face as though he didn’t quite believe me.

“Something happened, didn’t it?”

“Well… there was a witness. Or rather, a victim.”

I told him everything – what had happened, that someone else had been here, but Simeon didn’t seem interested in the details.

“Nothing else happened?” he asked, his voice sharper.

“No. Not really.”

His black eyes flicked past me toward Mujeong, as if trying to read the truth from him instead. But Mujeong didn’t even glance in Simeon’s direction. He simply disappeared without a sound.

Like ice water being poured into the room, the mood shifted, quiet and cold. Strange. Wasn’t this the moment for celebration? After all, the trial of Purgatory was over. Every single scar had vanished. We should be raising a toast.

“Oh, right. Let me see your arm.”

Before he could answer, I pulled up his sleeve. The final scar had completely disappeared.

“At last…”

How long and brutal the journey had been. I found myself staring up at the sky, caught in the swell of memory. That’s when a sudden gust of wind tore away the clouds, leaving nothing behind but the moon—bright, blue, and blazing. The moment that moonlight touched the earth, a strange voice echoed across the land.

[When the moon devours the sun, the gates of Heaven shall open to those who have absolved sin and reached the depths of Purgatory.]

A shiver crawled down my spine. My hand clenched into a fist without meaning to.

[In Paradise, you shall find the long-awaited answers you seek.]

This was it. The end.

[On the fated path that must now be followed.]

****

The eclipse was forecasted to occur in one week, which was when the gates of Heaven would finally open.

I still had two months left to live. But for some reason, it felt like next week would be the end. Without realizing it, I found myself looking around more often, taking in the scenes of the Ark as if it were the last time. Memorizing the faces of the people I might never see again.

Mujeong, apparently displeased with my mood, spoke with a hint of irritation.

“You’ve seemed oddly giddy lately, Master.”

“Really? I don’t feel particularly cheerful.”

“Then what would you call it?”

“I just think… once we return from Heaven, everything’s going to change. So I’m trying to prepare in advance.”

If my connection with Simeon is severed, what will that change? For one, it would alter the timing of his awakening. Someone else would become important to him instead. He would go through a loss, and only then would he awaken as an S-Class hunter.

“Honestly, I kinda hope Simeon never awakens.”

“Is that because you do not wish him to end up with someone else?”

Mujeong asked, clearly amused.

“Heey, come on. That would be incredibly selfish.”

I didn’t mind if Simeon finds someone else. In fact, I hoped he did. His childhood was already too scarred by the people he was forced to call family. He deserved someone kinder than me. Someone who could help him heal. But…

“I just hope he never has to lose them. Or if he does… that the pain is at least a little less.”

Nothing lasts forever. Not even love, sworn in eternity. So if goodbye is inevitable, let it hurt less. Let him be happier. Let him become stronger from it, and love and be loved all the more because of it.

“Oh… right. That means The Apostles might disappear too, huh?”

The Apostles had only ever existed to help Simeon complete <Divine Comedy>. Without that, it may vanish altogether. The thought of that made me feel guilty. Everyone had joined The Apostles in pursuit of their own goals, and now I was the one about to take away the very means of achieving them.

I let out a long sigh, only for Mujeong to scoff aloud.

“You appear to feel guilty about an awful lot, Master.”

“That’s why people should sin in moderation. You know?”

“I regret to inform you that I lack the capacity for guilt.”

“Lucky you.”

And then, the last change…

“You too, Mujeong. When you meet your next master, behave yourself, all right?”

Soon, I would no longer be the master of <Bloodletting Sword>. The thread connecting me to Michael, which had begun with <Codex Gigas>, would be severed. Everything I’d done as a hunter, all the rifts I’d entered, was possible because of Simeon. Once he’s gone from my life, Mujeong would vanish too.

“You listening?”

I nudged his arm. Mujeong frowned, irritated.

“You speak to me as if I am some kind of dog.”

“Well, it does feel a bit like I’m sending you off to a new home after raising you.”

I couldn’t bring myself to say it properly, but Mujeong had meant a lot to me. Just knowing someone else knew about the curse was a strange sort of comfort. And every time I was in danger, that sword saved my life more times than I could count.

“Thank you, Jeong-ah. For everything.”

“Please do not say such things.”

“Why not? Is it too sappy?”

I scrunched up my nose in mock playfulness, but Mujeong’s expression had gone icy.

“Once you change the past, none of this—this conversation, these words—will ever have happened. So what does it matter?”

“What are you talking abou—”

“You asked me to support your decision.”

Mujeong slowly shook his head.

“I apologize, Master. I cannot”

“…Jeong-ah.”

He knelt before me and placed a hand over his chest, enunciating every word with care.

“From the depths of my heart, I pray your plan in Heaven does not succeed.”

“You…”

I couldn’t even laugh. Couldn’t even process it. Why would he say something like that now?

Anger flared as I grabbed him by the collar.

“So what, you’d rather I spend the next two months choking on guilt, only to die and pass the curse to Simeon? Is that it?!”

Mujeong met my gaze evenly. His voice was quiet but steady.

“At least this moment will remain. And you would perish as my master.”

“I thought you wanted me to be happy.”

“If changing the past means happiness… are you truly certain it would make you happy?”

I couldn’t answer. My hand fell from his collar. Mujeong, instead, took my hand.

“There is still a chance an S-Class rift may open in time.”

“…But it probably won’t.”

“Then, at the very least, tell Second Lord Simeon everything and spend your final days in peace. I am certain he would rather share what short time you have left than be spared the curse.”

Hearing something so hopeful from Mujeong of all people… caught me off guard. I laughed quietly.

“You’re right. I’m sure that’s what Simeon would want.”

“Then why—?”

“Because I don’t want that! I don’t want Simeon to live the way I did.”

I was so tired of explaining this. I bit my lip and pushed his hand away.

“It’s over. Why are you trying to shake my resolve, too? Why…?”

When I first learned about <Divine Comedy>, I felt real joy. Finally, there was a way to lift this curse without passing it on to someone else. But after I found out the root of the curse was <Contradiction>, I let myself hope again—maybe we could destroy it together… Maybe we could both survive.

“Of course, it’d be better to destroy <Contradiction>. But who knows when the crack will open?”

We can’t just sit around waiting for an S-Class creature’s crack to appear. The only shred of good fortune is that once I lose my title as master, the crack for <Bloodletting Sword> would open. But even then, no one knows if it’ll appear a day before my death or three days. Not even Mujeong knew.

“I even thought about using <Divine Comedy> to return to the day before you and I met.”

I’d considered throwing <Contradiction> into <Bloodletting Sword>’s rift. But the time granted in Heaven was only 24 hours, and it took 72 hours for something to disintegrate in a rift. What would happen in the 48 hours I wasn’t present? Could I really just abandon it in there and leave?

“No matter how I look at it, cutting ties is the best option.”

“…Master.”

“Simeon just… had terrible luck. He had to meet me when he was at his loneliest, of all times.”

“……”

“No. It’s my fault. I’m the one who got attached. I knew I shouldn’t, and I still didn’t leave. I was the idiot who thought I could give someone my heart and then just take it back. You know what? That year, that one, perfect year of happiness became the one year I wished I could erase the most.”

I squeezed Mujeong’s shoulder tightly before he could speak, cutting him off.

“But now… I get a chance to make it right. Isn’t that the definition of happiness?”

If the plan in Heaven fails and I have to destroy <Contradiction> instead, I will stay in the crack with it. For as long as time allows. 

That’s when it hit me. When I counted every worst-case scenario and realized the one unchanging truth. 

Every possible future where we live together is filled with uncertainty.

“Can’t we somehow find a way to survive together?”

And still, I knew Simeon—he would choose that uncertain hope. 

But I won’t let myself fall for it. Just like Yuran Choi chose to enter <Contradiction>’s crack with my mother instead of letting someone else gamble with their life.

‘If I’m truly important to you, then don’t abandon yourself—not for my sake.’

If there’s even an extra 1% chance Simeon survives if I choose differently, then that’s the path I have to take.

“Jeong-ah. I don’t want to gamble with Simeon’s future.”

Isn’t it better to accept a certain end than chase a dream that will only shatter?

“Master.”

“…That’s enough.”

My head and chest felt like they were splitting apart. I could’ve vomited from the mess inside me. I squeezed my eyes shut and turned away. I didn’t want to see Mujeong’s face, especially when he looked so much like someone else.

I reached for the door. But just before I stepped out, a voice drifted from behind me, so soft it felt like it might dissolve into the air.

“I wish you could remain my master forever.”

And… I couldn’t bring myself to respond to that.