Chapter 84: The Last Leniency

The silver eyes, previously drifting in the air, settled precisely on Lee Sanghyeon. Lee Sanghyeon, his face a mix of indignation and bewilderment, vehemently asserted his innocence. However, as the dreadful sounds began anew, Lee Sanghyeon’s head bowed low, like a condemned man.

*Snap.*

“Ugh! Hup…! Cough!”

*Crunch.*

People’s faces turned ghastly pale. The Gate Manager’s jaw was already shattered beyond recognition, gushing blood profusely. The Gate Manager’s limbs flailed wildly, striking Lee Sanghyeon, who sat beside them, as they shrieked in agony and struggled desperately. They let out mangled groans and cried out, as if begging for their life.

Lee Sanghyeon’s fists trembled uncontrollably, like those of a person confronted by primal terror. Taeseongyeon tapped the armrest lightly before speaking again. This, perhaps, was Taeseongyeon’s final act of leniency.

“Next, it will be your turn, Hunter Lee Sanghyeon, so answer honestly. Only then can I even consider showing you some leniency.”

An armored hand, poised as if to reach out and clamp over his mouth, flickered at the corner of Lee Sanghyeon’s eye. Exhaling shaky breaths, Lee Sanghyeon’s body stiffened, like an animal caught in a snare.

Under that crushing pressure, the questions resumed. These were questions that blocked all escape and choked the very breath from him.

“Just how much of that paltry sum did you pocket, Hunter Lee Sanghyeon, for it to reach my ears? Tell me every detail. I’m quite curious about the extent of your greed, and why it’s causing such a ripple effect.”

Ultimately, Lee Sanghyeon squeezed his eyes shut and bowed his head. Only after a long, drawn-out silence did he finally vomit out the truth. His voice was a tumultuous blend of anger, indignation, and utter intimidation.

****

Although Han Dokyeom had been confidently dismissed earlier, he didn’t actually leave the CEO’s office. Instead, he lingered just outside. The only sounds emanating from within were the clanking armor of Taeseongyeon’s Hell Legion.

After a brief moment of pressing his ear to the door, he heard the approaching footsteps of multiple people. Uncharacteristically, he retreated to a corner, pressing himself flat against the wall.

Through the slightly ajar door, men with ashen faces, their backs hunched and shoulders slumped, shuffled out. The Gate Manager, barely held captive in their hands, was already unconscious, their eyes rolled back in their head.

Surprisingly, however, Instructor Lee Sanghyeon seemed unharmed. Though his complexion was anxious and somewhat frantic, there were no visible injuries.

Han Dokyeom waited for everyone to exit, then, seizing the opportunity in the brief lull, stepped into the now vacant CEO’s office. The day had already faded, and the office, instead of sunset hues, was now filled with the city lights streaming through the window.

Yet, a suffocating, acrid air still clung to the enclosed space. Han Dokyeom glanced idly into the air, then, chiding himself for such uncharacteristic behavior, let out a sigh.

‘Oh, to hell with it,’ he thought.

Earlier, his past acts of arrogance towards Taeseongyeon had flashed before his eyes, sending a chill down his spine and cold sweat trickling down his neck. But now, that memory seemed to have dulled, as if diluted or forgotten. Compared to the moment the Hell General had clamped the Gate Manager’s mouth shut, this felt calmer.

Moving with soft footsteps, he saw Taeseongyeon, deep in thought, leaning back in a chair with his chin propped on his hand. At Han Dokyeom’s presence, Taeseongyeon lifted his gaze. Their eyes met distinctly across the room.

“I sent you away quite a while ago. Why have you returned, Han Dokyeom?”

The slight crinkle at the corner of his eyes finally made him feel like Taeseongyeon again. Yet, the atmosphere around him was unusually heavy, like clothes soaked through, so heavy that Han Dokyeom felt he might drown if he approached.

‘What should I do?’

Han Dokyeom idly rummaged through his pockets. With another deep sigh, he casually approached and plopped down next to Taeseongyeon.

“Let me see your hand.”

Without a word, Taeseongyeon offered his hand. His large-boned hand brushed lightly, almost tickling, against Han Dokyeom’s palm. Han Dokyeom took the hand, flipped it over, and then pressed a bun he’d pulled from his pocket into Taeseongyeon’s grasp.

“This is something I secretly stashed away to eat later, away from Dali, but I’ll give it to you, Taeseongyeon.”

The bun, still in its wrapper with a cream design, rested like a small, crumpled snowball in Taeseongyeon’s hand. Perhaps because of the recipient’s large hand, it looked different than it had in Han Dokyeom’s.

“So, let’s just call it even for this whole situation with this, shall we?”

“You need to speak more clearly, Dokyeom.”

The hand that had placed the bread down now moved past Han Dokyeom’s shoulder, wrapping around his neck and gripping his chin. One of his shoulders sank deeply into Taeseongyeon’s embrace. Taeseongyeon gently lifted Han Dokyeom’s head, lowering his gaze and bringing his eyes close. So close that even faint breaths could be felt.

“Well… it’s like, a consolation and a favor, I guess?”

“It seems our Han Dokyeom is very worried that I might just kill that reporter.”

‘Knowing that, why even ask…?’

“Think about it, Taeseongyeon. How many reporters in this world would risk their lives to uncover facts and take the lead like that? And you might not know this, but such a reporter is incredibly adept at blocking malicious articles.”

“And yet.”

“So, wouldn’t it be good to have a capable reporter on your side?”

“Do you really think I wouldn’t have such a reporter on my side already?”

“……”

‘No, well… he probably does.’

Han Dokyeom finally averted Taeseongyeon’s gaze. A low chuckle fell upon Han Dokyeom’s nose. His trembling breath brushed against Han Dokyeom’s skin several times. Han Dokyeom pushed away from Taeseongyeon’s embrace, replying petulantly.

“Ah, just eat the bread. And hurry up and give me some consolation so I can leave.”

“Tell them to retract the article and back off while I’m still willing to overlook it. Counter-articles and official statements will all be released from my side, and I cannot compromise on that.”

Han Dokyeom’s startled gaze immediately fixed on Taeseongyeon’s cheek. Taeseongyeon’s cheek, stained by the night, cast a deep shadow, partly due to the dim lighting of the inner office.

Despite the seemingly generous words, Han Dokyeom inexplicably received a contradictory message: this leniency would be his last.

With a complex expression, he briefly replied, “Yes,” and turned his gaze. Suddenly, the Hell General standing behind the opposite sofa seemed to seep into Han Dokyeom’s vision. Its armor, flickering with flames, seemed to capture a piece of the night view.

A sense of déjà vu washed over him. The clanking noise of something emerging from the bushes echoed in his ears, and a scene, vibrating as if in a tremor, flashed through his mind.

Han Dokyeom, narrowing his eyes as he observed it, felt his chin forcefully tilted by Taeseongyeon’s hand. He turned his eyes, and Taeseongyeon’s silver eyes, dull and lowered, met his.

“…Why, what is it?”

“What could it be? You seem very interested in my summoned beast, Han Dokyeom.”

“Is there a law against being curious? I just found it fascinating, alright? It hurts, could you let go of my hand? Please just let go…”

Suddenly, a singular, isolated scene suddenly materialized in his mind. The vision was hazy, as if shrouded in fog. The image of neatly closed lips parting and drawing closer overlapped with Taeseongyeon’s face before him.

Han Dokyeom’s gaze slowly traced down Taeseongyeon’s nose. As his gaze slowly traced down to Taeseongyeon’s lips, Han Dokyeom murmured.

“…Taeseongyeon, stay still for a moment.”

He then grasped Taeseongyeon’s cheeks with both hands, his gaze still fixed on Taeseongyeon’s lips.

“Just for a moment, say ‘ah.’ Let’s converse with our mouths open.”

Pressing his thumb against the softly closed lips, Han Dokyeom lowered his gaze. The lips slowly parting made his heart pound. ‘It was a tongue… I think.’

Focusing intently, he peered between the lips, where a faint light illuminated the well-formed mouth, shining inward. A reddish tongue brushed against Han Dokyeom’s fingertip. The tickle made his fingertip twitch involuntarily.

Han Dokyeom furrowed his brow slightly, examining the tongue.

There was nothing… there.

The imprint that had appeared in his afterimage had vanished as if by magic; only smooth flesh was visible. ‘Then what was it?’

An imprint was an immutable symbol; it wasn’t a mere medium that could be hidden. Its location also remained unchanged. It was a symbol of permanence, not something that could simply be concealed.

‘Was I mistaken?’

His confusion was fleeting; realizing the arm pulling him closer, Han Dokyeom tensed his back muscles. Flesh brushed warmly against his fingertips. As soon as he furrowed his brow, their gazes locked.

Taeseongyeon’s eyes, previously murky with shadow, now bloomed with vivid color. A distinct brilliance shone within them. Yet, they remained unsettlingly calm, conveying an eerie sensation.

“Dokyeom, what has you so curious, hmm?”

“No, uh, haha… Don’t lick someone else’s finger, alright? No, I said don’t! Why are you so incredibly stubborn?”

The faint, lingering memory quickly dispersed, and only Taeseongyeon’s distinct form filled his vision. Though the feel of his flesh and breath on his fingertips wasn’t unpleasant, Han Dokyeom sighed and pulled his hand back.

“Ah, just eat the bread. And stop clinging to me so disgustingly.”

However, the moment Taeseongyeon’s breath brushed his collarbone, Han Dokyeom’s shoulders stiffened involuntarily. He quickly covered the imprint, but a thick finger, having slipped beneath his hand, powerfully pushed Han Dokyeom’s hand away.

“No, Taeseongyeon. Why are you so interested in someone else’s imprint? Are you actually insane?”

After a brief struggle, Han Dokyeom felt the thick thumb scratch beneath his ear, making his earlobe flush, and he had to instinctively lower his head. Taeseongyeon merely chuckled softly, as if seeking solace.

“It’s because I believe our compatibility, Han Dokyeom, is quite strong.”

‘Compatibility?’ Han Dokyeom swallowed a hollow laugh. Regardless of compatibility, this was merely the sordid instinct of those who bore the Devil’s Imprint.

📚 Also on NHV Novels

Wait, Let Me Explain! It’s Really Not What You Think!

FantasyHarem

Read Now →
Not interested