Chapter 0: Prologue

Sagyeol watched Yeowon throughout the entire company dinner.

Even as he casually conversed with the increasingly inebriated workers, his gaze remained fixed on Yeowon.

He had anticipated difficulty from the outset. Yeowon resembled an impenetrable fortress.

A fortress that permitted not the slightest breach to strangers.

Petty tricks were useless against such an opponent, and the risk of exposure was substantial.

Sagyeol made a decision: he would take a classic approach first.

‘First, I need to win their favor and earn their trust.’

He meticulously concealed his dark intentions and sharp fangs.

He frequented the hospital room until the door frame seemed worn, bringing various items and presenting only his benevolent side.

In retrospect, there was nothing that could have caused an issue.

Yet, the man vanished completely, as if mocking Sagyeol’s efforts.

The glass he held fractured. The pupil of a worker secretly watching him trembled.

Sagyeol pretended not to notice, lowering the cup beneath the table.

The memory twisted his gut anew. With a gentle smile to mask his irritation, he once more cast his gaze towards Yeowon.

“……”

‘What is that?’

Sagyeol, witnessing the scene belatedly, froze in bewilderment.

What on earth had transpired while he was momentarily distracted?

“Oh, look at how handsome he is with his hair up like this!”

“That long, flowing hair has always bothered me. Why don’t we just go get it cut short right now?”

“……”

“What? Why isn’t he answering?”

“He’s clearly drunk, why are you asking him anything?”

“Oh, is that right? Our Cheol-su is drunk, then!”

The man speaking was also inebriated. A nearby worker chuckled, as if pleased by the situation.

“Then isn’t this our chance? Let’s drag him off to get it cut while he’s out of it!”

“That’s a great idea!”

‘What’s so great about it?’

The man was dozing off, his bangs pulled up and tied in what was colloquially known as an “apple haircut.”

He looked utterly wasted to anyone observing. With his cheeks flushed red, he truly resembled an apple.

Sagyeol’s expression grew peculiar.

What he had desired when arranging this gathering was a certain ambiance. He had expected that with Park Myeong-seok and the workers’ help, merely lowering Yeowon’s guard a little would be a satisfactory outcome.

‘But a person resistant to demonic energy has no resistance to alcohol? Does that even make sense?’

It was perhaps natural for the thought to cross his mind: ‘Is this bastard not a returnee after all?’

Naturally, his fruitless efforts in Haram and Inos flashed through his mind. His mood sank.

The idea that Lee Hyun-su might have been right this time, too, made his stomach churn, making it difficult to remain calm.

While everyone else was somewhat intoxicated, one particular worker, having seemingly failed to pace themselves, suddenly raised a hand.

“Back in my day, I ran a huge business! Huh?! I had over fifty people under me. Managing people, that’s no ordinary feat!”

Sagyeol wanted to tell him to shut up. No, he decided to just do it.

There was no longer any reason to hold back.

However, someone else spoke before him.

It was Kim Cheol-su.

“That’s right. That’s right.”

He nodded his head. The apple stem on top of his head swayed along with it.

“Oh, our Cheol-su really understands!”

“Yes. I also had quite a difficult time leading my legions.”

The man smiled, his eyes crinkling. When Sagyeol opened his mouth, his true feelings spilled out.

“Hahaha, this is insane.”

‘He is a returnee!’

“Legions? What legi— ugh!”

Sagyeol sprang forward like a coiled spring, pushing the worker away. The worker, pushed without resistance, collapsed sideways onto the floor like a waterlogged piece of paper.

And then immediately began to snore.

The drunkards laughed boisterously. Only those who were slightly less inebriated tilted their heads, wondering if that was appropriate.

However, being merely less drunk and still having consumed alcohol, they quickly forgot about the sleeping man and resumed their own heavy drinking.

“My legions… the Demon Realm… *muffled*.”

‘Shut up, you apple-headed bastard!’

Sagyeol shoved anything into the drunkard’s mouth, which was flushed red with alcohol. It was a fried shrimp.

Fortunately, Kim Cheol-su, startled, began to chew the shrimp, seemingly finding it palatable.

This man was completely devoid of thought. A twitch developed at the corner of Sagyeol’s eye.

All his deliberations about traps or leading questions had been futile. Lee Hyun-su didn’t even need to return to Grisha.

The apple-headed bastard, drunk as he was, was clearly a returnee even if you watched him do a front flip.