RG 151

Song Ji-un, who had approached the King—classified as an S-class demon by the standards of this world—without fear, did not leave the mountain afterward.

After learning about Song Ji-un’s skill, the King found his presence lingering in her mind more and more. Upon quiet reflection, he resembled an old friend of hers—the upright knight who had once shouted he would go in her place. Perhaps because of that, every time they met, she began teaching him how to control his energy, along with various other things.

What started with just a few words grew into an hour, a day, then a week. Before long, the two spent every day together, speaking about much more than just skills. Around that time, Song Ji-un began calling the King “Teacher.”

The King learned that Song Ji-un had left home and come to the mountain in order to protect his only remaining family member—his grandmother. And Song Ji-un learned that the King had crossed into this world through a rift from another.

“Teacher, what is this…?”

“Since my disciple is growing so quickly, shouldn’t I give you something in return?”

It was the tenth year since they had met. The King handed Song Ji-un a blue cloak.

“I’ve always felt guilty for giving you nothing. Take it.”

“But this cloth…”

“It’s fine.”

The cloak had once been attached to the armor the King wore when she first fell into this world. She shortened it so that Song Ji-un—who often traveled down the mountain to save people and act as a guardian—could move more easily. She also used a jewel from the armor to fasten the clasp.

It was practically the only remaining object that still tied the King to her homeland, and she had personally mended it to give it to Song Ji-un.

Though Song Ji-un refused several times, he eventually accepted the gift with a sorrowful expression, unable to resist her firm insistence.

The King understood why he looked so sad. He must have believed she had given up hope of ever returning home.

In truth, he was correct. She had abandoned that hope long ago, though she had refused to fully acknowledge it until now.

After handing the cloak over to Song Ji-un, she gathered her remaining armor and jewels and sold them to an item merchant. With that money, she renovated a temple deep within the mountains. She had reached out to people she had met during her travels across the world for help with the renovations, and, surprisingly, every one of them remembered her and agreed.

Once the work was complete, the once-abandoned temple was transformed. It now resembled more of a home than a temple, and there, the King and Song Ji-un lived together as family.

The King often told Song Ji-un that now that he had mastered controlling his energy, he should visit his grandmother without worry.

But Song Ji-un shook his head each time. “I’ll stay just a little longer.”

“…All right. If that’s what you wish.”

In truth, it was the King who felt relieved by that answer. She dreaded the thought of being left alone on the mountain.

Time passed swiftly. In those peaceful days, twenty-three years had gone by since the King had fallen into this world, and fifteen years since Song Ji-un had come to the mountain.

It was then that the King noticed something strange: her own energy was clinging to her disciple.

At first, she thought little of it.

But the moment she witnessed the bodies of people rescued by the mountain keeper gradually freezing over, she realized it was no small matter.

She was a demon—her energy was fundamentally different from that of this world. The fact that her energy had adhered to Song Ji-un was by no means a good sign. And since she was not human, she alone could fully control her own energy. While Song Ji-un could control his own energy, he could not suppress the King’s energy. It constantly leaked out, slowly freezing the other humans around him.

“This can’t happen.”

The King grew afraid. She realized just how foolish she had been. At this rate, Song Ji-un would never be able to leave the mountain. He wouldn’t be able to interact or live among humans. He would never see his only remaining family—his grandmother—again.

“I can’t allow that.”

Had she not herself suffered the terrible agony of loneliness?

She had to erase the energy that had assimilated into Song Ji-un. She had to return him to how he used to be.

“I must fix this before my disciple’s blood relative dies.”

A newborn human could die in the blink of an eye—how much faster would an already aged human wither away? There wasn’t much time left. Growing desperate, the King descended the mountain in Song Ji-un’s place to search for a solution, since he could no longer face people for long.

But how could there be another case like Song Ji-un—a human who had lived with a demon for so long that their energies had intertwined?

No matter how hard she searched, she found nothing useful.

The King felt a despair similar to what she had experienced when she was first abandoned in this world. But this time, she couldn’t allow herself to spiral into hopelessness. If she gave up, who would save Song Ji-un?

It was during this desperate search—pulling in every scrap of information she could—that someone approached her.

“Are you looking for information on humans mixed with the energy of demons?”

“…Who are you?”

“Ah, I should have introduced myself first. My apologies. I work for a small research lab.”

A man wearing glasses handed over a business card and smiled gently. It was an ordinary enough smile, yet the longer the King looked at it, the more her mind grew numb and her judgment clouded.

Unthinking, she took the card and checked it.

Nox Bio…

“Here, take this.”

“What is this?”

“What else? It’s the information you want.”

Information? But it was just a jewel—a gemstone with a strangely vivid green glow.

“If you embed that into your forehead, the information will spread into your brain. Oh, you don’t believe me? Still, you should try it.”

“…”

“You’re desperate, aren’t you? Right?”

She wanted to shout that it was absurd—but her lips would not move. As if she had become a puppet with its strings pulled, the King accepted the gem the man offered and, with her own hands, embedded it into her forehead.

“This should be enough… The seed have already been sown across the mountain…”

Muttering contentedly to himself, the man disappeared from sight as the King stumbled away. Her legs moved on their own, carrying her back toward the mountain.

A strong winter wind blew through. All sounds around blurred, making it hard to hear anything clearly.

Soon, deep darkness swept over.

***

The King should never have accepted Song Ji-un. She should have only taught him how to control his energy and then sent him away. If she had done that, none of this would have happened.

No matter how long he had lived on the mountain, he was still human after all. He was a creature meant to live among other humans.

The King understood why Song Ji-un insisted on helping and saving the humans who climbed the mountain, even when she warned him they were dangerous. Despite her warnings, Song Ji-un would go to their aid with a bitter expression.

That was proof he was lonely. He didn’t seem to realize it himself, but the King, having suffered the same pain, could tell. She had to solve this problem before Song Ji-un was consumed by that loneliness. She wanted him to be able to meet his grandmother again.

Before it was truly too late… somehow…

“Ah, my divine power is finally working,” a strange voice broke through her thoughts. A warm energy brushed her forehead, and the pain that had been filling her head disappeared completely.

“I’m going to remove the gemstone now.”

The massive stake embedded in her head was pulled out. As the repulsive energy that had been gnawing at her brain vanished, her mind cleared. It was the first peace she had felt in so long. It was like finally escaping a long, endless tunnel.

“She won’t go berserk anymore.”

“Thank you so much, Hunter Cha Seohu.”

After the unfamiliar voice, a beloved, familiar voice spoke—Song Ji-un, his tone wet and trembling as if he were holding back tears.

“I don’t know how I can ever repay this kindness…”

“Oh, you want to repay me? Perfect! I actually have a proposal for you.”

“Huh?”

“Well, listen closely. Here’s what it is…”

As the quick, opportunistic response and Song Ji-un’s flustered reaction filled the air, the King’s consciousness began to fade again.

‘No, my disciple. The man before you is a fraud.’

Just from his voice, she could tell he was trouble. The King tried to force herself awake, but it was no use. As she groaned and struggled to fight off sleep, the conversation continued beside her.

“Is she sick? Why is she groaning like that?”

“Hm, good question. Let me try using more divine power.”

The warm energy touched her forehead once more, and this time, the King fell fully asleep, as if knocked unconscious.

***

When the King opened her eyes again, she was no longer in a cold cave. Instead of a hard floor, there was a soft, cushioned sofa. A warm, cozy blanket covered her. Sunlight streamed brightly through the window, and the scent of fragrant tea filled the air.

Maaaow.

A cat that had been standing triumphantly on the King’s body let out a lazy cry and hopped off the sofa. The King, still dazed as if dreaming, slowly lifted her upper body.

When she turned her head, a view of the outside world filled her vision.

The endless white snow and blizzards were gone, replaced by a lush green forest. The King wondered if she was still dreaming.

“Ah, you’re awake.”

As she sat staring blankly out the window, someone approached and spoke. It was the same voice she had heard before losing consciousness.

A man in pure white, looking like some decadent nobleman, casually walked toward her. The King frowned deeply when she saw him.

“Con artist.”

“Excuse me?”

“Are you trying to scam my disciple?”

“…Huh? Me?”

Behind the confused and head-tilting dandy, Song Ji-un, the disciple the King cherished so dearly, came running. “Teacher!”