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#33
“Savor this view today,” Han Dokyeom instructed. “Tomorrow, we’re heading back to my cramped apartment.”
Approaching Agon with a towel, Han Dokyeom began to briskly dry his wet hair. Agon immediately turned towards him, his puckering lips brushing against Han Dokyeom’s neck.
The warmth of Agon’s lips against the Seal was hotter than Han Dokyeom had anticipated. He gently took Agon’s cheeks, pulling him away for a moment.
“Say ‘ah.’ Just ‘ah.'”
As a Dagon, Agon was a monster with biological limitations in producing sound, incapable of linguistic communication. The ability of
When Agon opened his mouth, his teeth were noticeably sharper than a human’s. Where a uvula should have been, only a gaping black void existed, flanked by gill-like slits that repeatedly contracted and expanded with each breath.
Dagon utilized these gills to convert water into oxygen. They were a species that, like humans, breathed oxygen to survive, yet paradoxically, they thrived underwater.
The moment Han Dokyeom released his grip on Agon’s cheek, Agon circled back to the vicinity of Han Dokyeom’s Seal. As if seeking permission, he grazed it with his breath, then pressed his tongue against it, licking.
‘He was sucking on it so much earlier, so why is he only eating now?’
“Haa… Fine, eat. Just eat.”
With a resigned sigh, Han Dokyeom finally set the towel down. Instantly, sharp teeth scraped against his skin, pushing the Seal upwards. It was a ravenous feast, as if Agon had starved for days, despite it only having been a single day.
****
Every media outlet was flooded with articles solely focused on the “Red Gate” incidents involving Han Yuseong. Han Dokyeom had seen so many photos of Han Yuseong gracing the front pages that the man now felt as familiar as a neighbor.
Han Yuseong’s much-discussed whereabouts had been transformed through various briefings into a heartbreaking narrative. It claimed he had secretly accompanied another instructor to observe their training process, purely for “auditing purposes” as an instructor himself, only to be swept into the Red Gate.
Indeed, stories in this industry could be fabricated in an instant, so what couldn’t be achieved, especially by a powerful and renowned guild like Sahyeon?
Of course, none of the briefings given on the beach constituted an official statement from the Sahyeon Guild. Soon, the Sahyeon Guild would schedule a press conference or interview to release all consolidated information. Until then, all circulating rumors were mere conjecture.
****
Gazing idly at the passing scenery outside the car window, Han Dokyeom rested his chin in his hand and spoke languidly.
“Get your head down properly.”
[The demon Orias of ‘Lemegeton’ assures you not to worry, claiming they are doing very well, and dutifully bows their head.]
[The demon Orias of ‘Lemegeton’ sweats profusely, asking where else one might find such an obedient demon, and if it isn’t time to forgive them.]
‘What utter nonsense. He says that, but who doesn’t know he’s probably just licking his front paws?’
“Quiet, and do it right.”
Currently, Han Dokyeom was en route to Seoul in the car of Hunter Shin Yiseok, who had guided him to the hotel two days prior. Today, Shin Yiseok had personally escorted Han Dokyeom into the car, citing that Han Yuseong had left him in charge. It was truly a touching display.
The previous night, as Han Dokyeom was calling for a staff member to handle his laundry, Hunter Shin Yiseok appeared as if on cue, procuring two sets of new clothes. These were garments of such high value that Han Dokyeom had never even seen them before. They were likely paid for by Han Yuseong and approved by Taeseongyeon.
Consequently, Han Dokyeom now found himself adorned in expensive, perfectly fitted clothes, riding in a luxurious car towards Seoul like the scion of some wealthy conglomerate. With Agon joining him, it felt like a glorious homecoming.
The problem, however, was Orias. The demon, who had been completely silent for two days, reappeared the moment Han Dokyeom entered the car. From that point until now, Orias had been ‘bowing their head’ and undergoing ‘mental training’ at Han Dokyeom’s command.
‘Why does this bastard keep disappearing and reappearing whenever there’s an opening?’
Most divinities typically clung to their contractors, but Orias repeatedly vanished without a trace, only to reappear, using ‘work’ as an excuse. There was no demon with such a peculiar trait in the original story; it was utterly baffling.
Moreover, there were certain points that absolutely needed to be addressed. Things, for instance, concerning the original ‘Han Dokyeom.’
Orias, having lived alongside ‘Han Dokyeom,’ would undoubtedly have noticed that the ‘essence’ was amiss when Han Dokyeom took over this body. Not only had the personality and behavior changed, but the acquired knowledge was different too.
Yet, Orias had merely brushed it aside with a few suspicious glances, as if it didn’t matter.
How could that be possible?
Orias was a divinity who cherished ‘Han Dokyeom’ more than anyone. From the moment Orias became engrossed in ‘Han Dokyeom’s’ story and decided to become his strength, they became the sole divinity to watch over ‘Han Dokyeom,’ determined to see the end of this game and assist him.
For such an Orias to be unconcerned by a ‘Han Dokyeom’ who was not truly ‘Han Dokyeom’?
That was truly a laughable notion. It implied either another unknown circumstance in this world that Han Dokyeom was unaware of, or that this world was not a direct transfer of the original story.
Whenever Han Dokyeom discovered subtle discrepancies, this thought grew clearer. Taeseongyeon’s altered personality, the enigmatic Orias, and even Han Yuseong, whose future had once been utterly bleak.
One thing was certain: Orias, with their frequent absences, definitely had something going on.
****
“Are we heading to Gwanak-gu, as you mentioned?” Shin Yiseok inquired.
His thoughts momentarily interrupted, Han Dokyeom answered calmly. “Yes, you can drop me off at the location I specified.”
Shin Yiseok simply nodded briefly without further comment. Suddenly, as Han Dokyeom watched him in the rearview mirror, a thought struck him, and he asked, “By any chance, do you know what Guild Leader Taeseongyeon likes?”
“I don’t understand your intention, sir.”
“It’s nothing serious. I’m just planning to give him a gift and wondered what would be suitable.”
It was not, strictly speaking, a gift, but a bribe. Han Dokyeom might soon have to seek out Taeseongyeon directly to ask for a favor, and this gift was a preparatory measure.
Shin Yiseok glanced at Han Dokyeom in the rearview mirror, seemingly understanding his meaning.
“While I don’t meet with the CEO often enough to say for certain, I have heard recently that he has been working to the point of sacrificing sleep. Of course, he was always a busy individual, so others might not think much of it. However, his aides, who see him up close, apparently found it excessive. As rumors spread, it even became a joke that his ‘qi’ was depleted, leading everyone to send him health supplements.”
“So, it’s just a baseless assumption, isn’t it?”
Shin Yiseok didn’t bother to deny it. After all, S-class Hunters possessed unimaginable stamina. They were the type who could operate for ten days without sleep and still be perfectly energetic.
“I’m merely suggesting that preparing health supplements might be a small token of goodwill.”
‘Does an S-class really need tonics?’ Despite the thought, Han Dokyeom simply nodded vaguely, bringing the conversation to a close.
Soon, the car entered a familiar neighborhood lined with villas. It came to a gentle stop by the roadside.
“Thank you for the ride. Please drive safely, Hunter Shin Yiseok.”
“Yes.”
Though curt, the reply conveyed respect. Han Dokyeom took hold of Agon’s arm, who had been sitting quietly watching the scenery outside, and pulled him out of the car. Agon’s firm muscles subtly rippled beneath his shirt. Agon, who once stood over two meters tall, had shrunk in stature to fit his new human form.
Even so, he remained a towering figure, well over 190cm. His proportions and balance were flawless, making him stand out even from a distance.
Han Dokyeom held onto the sleeve of the Agon, who was gazing down at him intently, and headed towards the alleyway lined with villas. However, a hand suddenly shot out, gripping the back of Han Dokyeom’s neck and pulling him closer.
As Han Dokyeom lifted his head to ask what was happening, Agon tilted his own head, licking along Han Dokyeom’s jawline and sniffing intently. He wrinkled his nose several times, seemingly displeased by the scent of the new clothes.
“He’s always so sensitive to smells…”
[The demon Orias of ‘Lemegeton’ states that Dagon possess an excellent sense of smell and that water intake is crucial for their species.]
“Oh, right. Aren’t you supposed to be bowing your head?”
[The demon Orias of ‘Lemegeton’ carefully flattens the ground and bows their head again.]
Han Dokyeom had considered stopping for groceries, but after Orias’s words, it seemed better to take Agon home first. He turned his steps towards the house. After traversing about three hilly sections, with both uphill and downhill slopes, a familiar gray villa came into view in the distance.
‘Cloud Villa.’
“I’ll save up money soon and move us somewhere bigger, so bear with it until then. Just so you know, our bathroom is no bigger than a chicken coop.”
Pulling the silent Agon, Han Dokyeom entered the building and familiar found the basement stairs. Even in the daytime, with no windows nearby, the stairwell was plunged into darkness. However, as Han Dokyeom descended, he froze, stopping three steps from the bottom.
Han Dokyeom’s eyes wavered as if caught in a storm. ‘W-what is this?’
“W-wait a minute.”
Leaving Agon, Han Dokyeom swiftly ran back outside the building to confirm the villa’s name. ‘It’s Cloud Villa, alright?’
He practically sprinted back and looked down the stairs, but the bizarre sight before him remained unchanged.
[The demon Orias of ‘Lemegeton’ slightly lifts their head and looks forward, asking what the problem is.]
A moment of silence descended. But it was fleeting, as fervent words began to fill the air.
[The demon Orias of ‘Lemegeton’ covers their mouth!]
This time, Han Dokyeom also clapped a hand over his mouth.
‘What in the world is this?!’
The scene unfolding before him: among the three closely spaced doors, the central front door was no longer as he remembered it from half a month ago. The house door had been ripped off. So much so that the chaotic mess inside the room was clearly visible.
It was Han Dokyeom’s house.
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