“General, it’s ready.”
Although he should have been arrested and imprisoned, Seo Ho-Jin was currently looking down with an icy gaze at the countless people bleeding on the floor. He said, “We cannot allow this country to be taken over by foreign powers.”
The subordinate nodded his agreement. He then asked, “What should we do with the survivors?”
“They’re traitors. Lock them up for now. All of them must be gathered and sent to the Samcheong Re-Education Center.” [1]
The eyes of the general who had been wheezing shone.
“Alright. Have you located the women he brought?”
“Yes.”
“Good. That’s good enough for now.”
“Don’t you think he’d go on a rampage? Even the international community might not stay still…”
"After everything that happened? Remember, he can never hurt us as long as we keep those women hidden in captivity. We’ll then have a truly overwhelming force in our hands," the general said, nodding.***
“Are you comfortable with everything?” Perserque asked Aeria while holding Red Ribbon, who was sleeping soundly after playing with all her might.
Aeria perked up her ears and smiled brightly, unsure of how to react.
"I’m so…”
“So?”
“I’m so happy… I wonder if I’m dreaming right now,” Aeria said with a face radiating happiness that she couldn’t contain.
Perserque smiled at Aeria’s answer. She was once again reminded that she had made the right decision. She knew that Aeria’s personality and presence would continue to bring immense peace to Davey’s life.
"If our child was alive..." Aeria muttered, patting her stomach with a bitter smile.
Davey had angered Goddess Freyja, so she had withdrawn the blessing she bestowed on Aeria. That was why the child, who shouldn’t have existed but was conceived because of her blessing, disappeared without ever seeing the light of day. So even though Aeria claimed to be happy and fine, she would still have to carry this pain for the rest of her life.
“But… are you really okay?” Aeria asked.
“Hmm?”
“E-even if I’m next to Davey…”
“I don’t do or agree on anything that doesn’t benefit me.”
‘But how could you benefit from me being next to him?’ Aeria wondered in her mind.
Despite the doubts that clouded Aeria’s thoughts, she received gentle pats on the head from Perserque. The gesture caused her eyes to widen, since it was similar to what Davey usually did toward her.
“I always feel sorry for you since you’ve lost Davey’s child. His first child… And I will apologize on behalf of Davey, who has been so indifferent.”
“Ah… Well… That…”
Although Perserque had undergone Metamorphosis, she was still unable to conceive a child, contrary to expectations.
If her artificial body produced a child, it would have been similar to Davey performing human transmutation. And so, there was a possibility that she would never be able to bear children in her lifetime.
Rinne had only been sitting still as if exhausted. But right at that moment, her blue eyes sparkled and she said, “Lady Per, I have detected a large number of movements.”
Right after she had informed Perserque, a smoke bomb flew toward them. Then it landed and rolled on the floor.
“What?”
Boom! Hisss!!!!
Heavy smoke immediately began to spread throughout the area.
Sff! Cough, cough!
Surprised by the unexpected attack, Aeria covered her nose with her hand. But the smoke screen was extremely painful for her, who had a sensitive sense of smell.
Once Perserque saw Aeria in pain, she instantly gathered her demonic force as quickly as she could.
But before she could use her magic, green-colored lasers flashed through the smoke screen and were immediately aimed at her, Aeria, and even Red Ribbon and Blue Ribbon.
Perserque’s expression then hardened once she realized what was happening.
Tap, tap, tap…
People wearing black special forces uniforms quickly came in and surrounded Aeria and Perserque, seemingly intending to subdue them.
This led Perserque to gather her demonic force once again. She knew that she no longer needed to think things through and hesitate.
[Stop this instant!!]
Her roar echoed in the room.
They were utterly naive about who Perserque really was. Many hadn't even known she was a demon, let alone that she was once a Demon King.
Whoosh!!!
Bang!
Right after stopping the people who had attacked them, Perserque slowly rose back to her feet.
The special forces soldiers had become frozen, unaware of the changes that their bodies had gone through. Although they had an excellent entry, their response to the situation was poor.
Then, with bright red eyes, Perserque said to them, “Such fearless beings.”
What followed right after her words was a black power erupting. It grabbed the members of the special forces and lifted them into the air.
“In the end, everything happens exactly as Davey expects. And those who overdo things don’t meet a good end,” Perserque said calmly as she walked toward them in an arrogant yet elegant way.
A strong wind then completely blew away the smoke screen that Aeria and the two sleeping children were suffering from.
Even though the special forces soldiers were wearing black goggles, it seemed like Perserque could still tell the expressions on their faces.
The Awakened were the only ones who could take down monsters, and they were adept at it. But that didn’t mean they were omnipotent or supermen. They were still vulnerable to bullets and bombs, and they weren’t strong enough to break the law and get away with it.
The man suspended in the air groaned, “Ugh… Urgh…”
Perserque approached him with a menacing smile. “Tell me…”
Aeria, who was lying on the floor, stared at Perserque. She then realized that she had never seen Perserque’s face have such a grim expression before.
“Did I seem like a joke to you? Did I look like someone you could take down easily?”
With her right arm stretched out in front of her, she flicked her fingers as though she was twisting her wrist.
Snap!!!
A clear sound was heard, and fear began to manifest. The members trembled at the tremendous and terrifying force they felt coming from behind her. The black power that the soldiers of the special forces felt earlier was not the same as the power Perserque was radiating at that moment. It was even more eerie and darker this time. Such a power was difficult to explain in words. It felt like their minds were being twisted and torn into pieces, as if they were staring into an endless abyss.
Snap!
The snapping sound echoed inside the room again, and the surrounding noise disappeared just as the colors faded away. “I’ve been hiding this from Davey as well, but... If there’s one thing I’ve realized in the three thousand years I’ve existed as a soul, it’s that anyone who touches my family needs to perish, even if it costs me my existence.”
It was just as Davey had anticipated. Despite being in captivity, Commander Seo Ho-Jin used his forces to come after them. It was also likely that they had gone to the president’s residence or Hyun-Ah’s house.
But even if this attack was already expected, Perserque still couldn't believe how they would betray another human, especially since they clearly knew Davey was busy fighting the Abyss and Malicious Spirits at the moment. And Perserque couldn't allow herself to overlook this matter.
She floated in the air and drew herself closer toward them. Then she slightly lifted a hand and waved it lightly and gently.
Crack!
Right then and there, the ground split, and black energy arose. It was the Abyssal Pit.
“Mon-monster…”
Perserque smiled brightly at the member of the special forces who was muttering in fear. Then she asked, “Do you think a monster would be disappointed to be called a monster?”
Crack!!
A black spear blade shot out from the black rift and pierced them. Then it pulled them into the rift, seemingly swallowing them up.
It was a virtual black pit—an endless Abyss that was created by the queen using her powers.
It was safe to say that there was practically no chance of surviving for anyone trapped inside.
Perserque, who had a proud and noble stance, gently waved her right hand with her left hand behind her back, sending everyone into the Abyss. Once she had gotten rid of them, she approached the only member of the special forces who was lucky enough to survive.
“Mercy is a good word. I want to do the same. But if you ever dare to target Davey, I will turn into the devil for him.”
Perserque was well aware that Goddess Freyja was very accommodating to those around Davey, including Illyna and Aeria. But she constantly kept Perserque in check, and it made her wonder if she perhaps knew the truth Perserque was hiding from Davey.
Her blood-red eyes flashed with intricate, ominous patterns of a demon that made it seem like there were veins in her eyes. She then said icily, “Wait at the bottom of hell. I will come and find you.”
Scrrsh!
A black hand emerged from the ground and grabbed the last member of the special forces.
"Ah… Ah… Aaaahhh!!!”
His fearful struggles were in vain. He was still dragged into the Abyss below, quickly disappearing from sight.
Perserque silently watched the spot where the members of the special forces had vanished. After a moment had passed, she then turned her head.
“Can you keep it a secret?” Perserque asked.
"Warning. Lady Per’s condition is determined to be quite dangerous. Master Davey’s correct diagnosis is…”
Perserque ignored what Rinne was trying to say and cut her off with a calm but resolute voice as she said, “Goddess Freyja once said in the past that there are truths that never change, no matter how many times you try.”
Davey had managed to change his side, but it would be surprising if the wise Goddess Freyja hadn't noticed it.
“In the end, one’s essence does not change. So, at least until then…”
***
“General, are you okay?”
“There are no failures in my book. I made that clear.”
The presidential residence had already been taken over. The Sacred Group, which had close ties to Davey, was forcibly detained, preventing them from carrying out their activities.
It only took overnight for South Korea to become fully militarized because the country was already showing signs of an impending military regime as the power of the military grew stronger. Meanwhile, the citizens were shocked. But they couldn’t speak out, for they were too afraid for their lives.
This takeover had been in the works for a long time. For the general, capturing not only Davey’s airship but also most of those he cared about was a significant achievement. He figured that he could take this opportunity to manipulate Davey O’Rowane as he pleased.
Although the general knew he would be playing with fire, he also knew that he could make a perfect weapon out of Davey if he handled him properly. It was, after all, impossible to retreat now. With Seo Ho-Jin already in control of the entire country, there was no longer any room for compromise.
The biggest advantage they had was that Davey was streaming overseas. That was why the general thought that as long as he secured the two girls who Davey considered his wives...
Rattle…
The room boomed with the sound of gunshot. The strange sound and eerie atmosphere triggered Seo Ho-Jin to leap out of his seat. But it didn’t take long for him to freeze on his spot.
On the couch in front of the desk he had occupied moments earlier, there was a girl sitting in an elegant posture. She took a sip of coffee, showcasing her elegant and breathtaking beauty, before finally beginning to speak softly.
“Provoking anger is a human trait,” she muttered calmly. Then she further went on. “Alright. Were you planning to control Davey by using me? Is that why you attempted to capture me while he’s away?”
“You... you…”
“It is truly a pity that you underestimated me,” she muttered bitterly as she rose from the couch and began approaching Seo Ho-Jin.
Seo Ho-Jin responded by quickly pulling out a pistol, which he then pointed at her.
“This country belongs to its people. It’s not for a foreign power like you.”
“Hmm. You don’t realize that I can read minds,” she replied calmly.
Then she gave him a smile that was so charming that Seo Ho-Jin paused for a moment.
“You think this country is yours, not the people’s.”
“...”
“Listen, the reason I came here is simple. I’m here to tell you that it’s easier if you give up. Don’t think about doing anything more. Davey will be coming soon.”
After saying so, Perserque disappeared.
Meanwhile, Seo Ho-Jin was left frozen in fear, unable to move for a long time. He was overcome with terror as the realization dawned on him that he was no match for her from the very beginning.
1. Samcheong Re-Education Center is a South Korean concentration camp set up in the 1980s under a military dictator. ☜
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