Let’s Not Write A Novel Recklessly

CHAPTER 9 – ENTERING THE DEMON WORLD

Tae-ram’s stomach churned at the sensation of falling downward. The end of a long fall. When he forced himself to open his eyes, the inky black sky and saccharine earth stretched endlessly before him.

A colorless world, bereft of light, with an ominous aura. Tae-ram’s mind was jumbled with a mixture of fear and amazement. It was too vivid to be a dream, and somehow too real. This space resembled the illusion barrier of Kairan, though the atmosphere was entirely different.

As he slowly scanned the landscape, he heard footsteps and turned his head in that direction. A man with his heart ripped out was staggering toward him. It was an unbelievable sight. His breath caught in his throat.

“Lucias….”

Lucias, who was now right in front of him, spoke in a bland voice as he stood there, unable to do anything but stare.

“Here. Take it. It’s what you wanted, and if it’s not enough….”

A heart tossed around. Before Tae-ram could say anything, Lucias plucked out his eyeball. A muffled scream erupted from Tae-ram’s mouth.

“Stop… Stop it!”

“If that’s not enough, I’ll give you both my arms and both my legs…. I’ll give you everything I have.” 

“Don’t do that, Lucias!”

“You created me, and all things are yours.”

A terrible scene ensued, and Tae-ram could no longer get any words out of his mouth. He was on the verge of passing out when another being spoke through Lucias’ mouth.

“You can tell them everything and be comfortable. They’ll want to know, they have a right to know, don’t you think?”

The next moment, the man’s face changed to Fran’s.

“Tae-ram, I wanted to be born into a normal family, I don’t want to be a priest or anything.” 

This time, the man’s face changed to Kairan’s.

“It’s no fun being tied down to one man. Why did I fall in love with you? I wanted to be free to travel the world….”

The guilt he’d been trying so hard to ignore took shape and tormented him. 

“Stop! I don’t want to see it, I don’t want to hear it, please… Make it all go away!”

Tae-ram’s eyes fluttered open.

It was fluffy. He was in his now-familiar princess bed.

His whole body felt heavy, like he’d fallen into a swamp and just managed to climb out, and he had a throbbing headache. In a daze, he grabbed the glass of water next to his bed and gulped it down. The more he recalled the dream, one by one, the more he pondered.

Was it a dream? Was it something from the near future, or was it what everyone was really thinking…

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Tae-ram lifted his heavy body and slowly slid out of bed to open the door.

Se-ho stood at the door.

“Senior, can I come in?”

“Yes… Come in.”

Once inside the room, Se-ho stared at Tae-ram’s face, rummaged through his pockets, pulled out something, and walked over to him, wiping the sweat from Tae-ram’s forehead with a well-folded handkerchief.

“Why do you have such a bad complexion? Have you not slept?”

For a moment, Tae-ram didn’t know if he should tell Se-ho about his nightmare. Then he laughed it off. He didn’t want to worry Se-ho, who had enough on his plate. It also bothered him that he was still keeping the truth about Lucias a secret.

“I didn’t sleep well.”

“You didn’t sleep because you were worried about this?”

“It’s a farewell banquet, and it’s bigger than any party I’ve ever been to, so I’m nervous and can’t sleep.”

“You’re not a child, you’ve got a lot on your hands.”

Se-ho mumbled something nasty, but his touch was delicate and affectionate as he wiped the sweat from Tae-ram’s forehead.

“By the way, have you been carrying a handkerchief since you were in the original world?” 

“Yes. It’s an old habit.”

“…An old one.”

“Let’s just say it’s a classic one.”

Se-ho patted Tae-ram’s forehead gently. Tae-ram felt the pain of his brain splitting. 

“Dude, you’re attempting murder!”

Tae-ram rubbed his reddened forehead in frustration.

“Just this once, I’ll excuse the unnecessary talk from you, Senior.” 

“…Annoying. So, what’s the matter?” 

“You ask so quickly. Isn’t the farewell banquet coming up soon? I want you to enter with me.”

The king decided to organize a farewell banquet in place of the departure ceremony. It was supposed to be a small affair, but Tae-ram was sure it wouldn’t be. The thought of all the people who would jump on him already gave him a headache. Still, it would be different this time, with a group of people.

“Suddenly? You ignored me during the birthday party…” 

“I made a mistake back then. Lately, there have been fewer descriptions about the prince, and I’m worried.”

“That’s right. Amil has been shipping Fran-Tae-ram lately.”

“I think it’s a good opportunity to make sure the main character is in the right place, and I was worried about you….”

Tae-ram found Se-ho’s blushing and embarrassed mumbles cute.

“Yeah, let’s go together.”

* * *

“The third light of the empire, Prince Kirik Lu Persian, and the delegate of the gods, Han Tae-ram, are entering!”

The servant guarding the front of the banquet hall shouted in a loud voice, and the nobles inside all bowed deeply in unison.

From the ceiling, a steady stream of five-colored petals rained down. Whether it was an illusion created by magic or not, Tae-ram couldn’t help but wonder as he watched them disperse in midair before hitting the floor.

“Senior, don’t be mesmerized, stretch your back.”

Se-ho held out his arm toward him, and he placed his hand on it, feeling the muscles of his strong arm through his clothes, and he relaxed a little, feeling safe.

Eager stares poured in from all directions as they passed. Tae-ram couldn’t resist the pressure and whined to Se-ho in frustration.

“The stares are too much. They’re not just going to walk up to me like last time, are they? I was scared then. Today, I need you to protect me. Okay?”

“Okay. Let’s just go over there and sit down. It’s a formal but simplified departure ceremony. Don’t worry; it’ll be over quickly once the greetings are done.”

“Dude. I didn’t hear that. I thought it was just a banquet!”

“It’s less formal than the departure ceremony. Nothing difficult. When the king calls us, we just go up to the table and listen to the toasts.”

Tae-ram felt nervous again as Se-ho explained. 

“Nervous?”

Se-ho slowly squeezed Tae-ram’s shoulder, which had stiffened like a wax figure from the tension. The pressure was carefully controlled so as not to hurt, and Tae-ram felt both cool and warm at the same time.

“Let me know if it hurts too much.” 

“Okay, thanks.”

“You’re a nervous wreck, too, I didn’t realize that.”

Tae-ram found Se-ho’s smiling face more therapeutic than the massage. On the other hand, he felt ashamed and embarrassed, so he grumbled unnecessarily.

“What image do you have of me inside your head?”

“Were you the type to say whatever you wanted and act tough in your previous life?” 

“You!”

Tae-ram started to get up, but Se-ho held him down. 

“Be quiet. Our comrades are here.”

“We’ll see.”

“…At least you seem to have relaxed, I’m relieved.”

Thanks to Se-ho, Tae-ram greeted the group with a lighter heart. 

“Tae-ram. You’re here already.”

Fran, who was the first to approach, casually sat down next to him.

“That’s my seat!” 

“There’s no such thing.”

“I’ve been sitting next to him since yesterday!” 

“This is the kind of thing where the first one to act wins.”

At a loss for words, Kairan puffed out his cheeks. Tae-ram found him cute, but lately, it was becoming harder to tell whether Kairan was acting like an individual or a dragon.

“Then why can’t the prince give way? I wanted to go in with Tae-ram, but I held back.”

As he deemed it difficult to persuade Fran, Kairan’s next target was Se-ho. 

“I’m already seated next to Tae-ram. You and Fran can work it out.”

“Why are you dragging me into this? I legitimately acted first and got priority.”

“I don’t know about that. Either one of you gives way to me.”

“Funny. I am the prince of the empire. So don’t puke on what I decide.” 

“That’s funny, you haven’t even been crowned yet.”

“I’m the only one standing, and my legs hurt.”

Tae-ram let out a small sigh at the sight of the three of them. He was used to Kairan being a jerk, or Fran being obsessed. Add Se-ho to the mix, and it was a headache.

“Then I’ll let Tae-ram decide.” 

“Okay. Tae-ram, will you sit next to me?”

“You’re not even worth talking to. Tae-ram. You just have to ignore his tantrums.” 

“Tantrums? Then maybe you, the grown-up prince, can make a concession.” 

“Well, I’m the oldest by age….”

“Then you, Kairan, will have to give way.”

“No. By human standards, I’m still a young dragon.”

As Tae-ram was squeezed between the three, unable to do anything about it, a hand grabbed his waist.

“Whoa!”

It was Lucias, who quietly stepped forward and scooped him up, setting him gently down beside him, his eyes as wide as a rabbit’s when he was suddenly lifted out of thin air.

“Lucias, how did you get here?”

Lucias remained silent. It was Amil, appearing from behind, who answered his questions, a tray full of his favorite desserts in his hands.

“Let me tell you something, Mr. Tae-ram. I’ve only brought you what you like, but you can have as much as you want.”

Tae-ram reflexively picked up a brownie that had been cut into bite-sized pieces. The rich chocolate flavor was irresistible.

“Delicious. No, more than that, Amil. What’s going on? Why is Lucias here?”

“Lucias was hanging around at the entrance, so I brought him here. I saw him talking to Mr. Tae-ram the other day, and when I spoke to him, I heard he’s going to the Demon World with us, so he’s our new colleague, right?”

As soon as Amil finished speaking, the three of them rushed forward, eager to know.

“Tae-ram. Who is this, and is he going to the Demon World with us?”

“That’s all well and good, but why did he just pick you up like that? It’s annoying.”

“He’s quite an interesting soul, but… I don’t like him somehow.”

Tae-ram decided to introduce Lucias to the group before things got more complicated.

“This is Lucias. He’ll be joining us from now on, and I apologize for not telling you all beforehand, but he’s an experienced mercenary who has participated in expeditions to the Demon World.”

But the mood did not improve with Tae-ram’s explanation. The three glared at Lucias with wary eyes, but he remained silent. That seemed to irritate them even more.

“A mercenary? We can’t have someone who looks so suspicious next to you.” 

“That’s right. Is there anyone who can vouch for his identity?”

“I don’t see any emotion. I don’t know. I’ve never seen anything like this before. It’s suspicious.”

No. Let’s say Fran and Kairan are like this. But Se-ho shouldn’t be one of them. A cold sweat ran down Tae-ram’s back at the unexpectedly strong reaction.

“Lucias helped me when I was in trouble in the village, so he’s someone I can trust, and we’re all new to the demon world, and I thought we could use a guide.”

“The Demon World is dangerous, but with our skills, it shouldn’t be a problem.” 

“That’s right. Tae-ram, I’ll learn more offensive spells!”

“I’m not new to this! If it’s the Demon World, I can use my power freely!”

The three didn’t let their guard down despite Tae-ram’s persuasions. It was Lucias who crushed their objections, and he ended the situation with a single word.

“Do you want to make Tae-ram uncomfortable?”

The three were dumbfounded. They couldn’t hide their displeasure, but when they saw Tae-ram’s face relax, they couldn’t help but be convinced.

“Lucias. Thank you, that cleared things up.”

Lucias nodded wordlessly. What a reticent man, Tae-ram thought.

* * *

A while later, the king stood at the podium.

Although it was a brief ceremony, the podium was adorned with splendid decorations and flowers, not lacking in grandeur. After a brief greeting, the king called Tae-ram’s name.

Standing up from his seat, Tae-ram, somewhat awkward, took confident steps as he walked on the red carpet. The armed soldiers lined up in rows, guarding the path to the podium, presenting a majestic sight.

Tae-ram made it safely to the king’s presence. Everyone in the banquet hall held their breath and stared at the two of them. The eyes of hundreds of nobles and royalty made him nervous again. Tae-ram swallowed hard.

The king’s deep voice rang out in the solemn atmosphere.

“Do you swear that you will not back down in the face of any danger?” 

“Yes. I swear.”

“Are you willing to give your life to save more?” 

“Yes. I do.”

“In the name of Leon Lu Persian, I bestow the title of a warrior upon the stranger from another dimension.”

“I am honored.”

“Warrior, I wish you the best of luck on your long journey.”

The king’s proclamation was accompanied by a trumpet blast, followed by deafening applause and cheers. Everyone in the banquet hall bowed their heads to Tae-ram. With so many people looking up to him, he felt embarrassed and wandered away, unable to find a place to look.

When he turned his gaze back to their table, he saw Se-ho smiling fondly at him. There was a subtle warmth in his eyes that melted his body and soul, like the bonfire that had sustained him whenever he was tired from traveling.

Tae-ram liked Fran’s clean-cut smile, Kairan’s cute smile, and Lucias’ grave smile, but he found Se-ho’s smile the coolest and most relaxing.

* * *

After being dragged from place to place, Tae-ram finally made it to his room after all the events, only to run into Fran in the hallway.

“Hey, Tae-ram, it’s so nice to see you, even if it’s so late.” 

“I just happened to take all the credit, so I have to take responsibility.”

“I don’t think so. If it weren’t for you, our party wouldn’t have happened.”

“I didn’t do anything. What are you talking about?” 

“At least, with you, I was able to gain energy. Everyone needs a comforting presence.”

Looking at Fran’s beautiful smile, he felt his fatigue melt away. Tae-ram immediately understood what Fran was saying. Maybe a comforting presence is important.

“You look so tired. I’m sorry, I should have been there to ease your burden.” 

“Well, Fran was busy too, and I didn’t sleep last night, so maybe I look more tired.” 

“Oh no. Did you have a nightmare?”

At Fran’s worried gaze, Tae-ram smiled weakly. 

“Something like that. It was a dream I never want to see again.”

“You seem to have a lot on your mind these days. If you don’t mind, I’d like to share your burden.”

Soothed by Fran’s gentle voice, Tae-ram said what had been bothering him. He didn’t want to be absolved of the deception he’d been playing on everyone; he just wanted to hear Fran’s truth.

They wouldn’t have a chance to talk about this once they were in the Demon World.

“What if… what if your feelings were manipulated by someone else?” 

Fran thought for a moment, then answered with clarity.

“I don’t know, but would it really matter?”

“Well, if it’s all set up from the beginning, then it’s not real, and I think I’d feel bad, wouldn’t you resent the being that made it that way?”

“I don’t care if it’s real or fake.”

Fran’s eyes were serious and deep as he looked straight at Tae-ram. Tae-ram felt a strange sensation as if he knew everything.

“I find that comforting, and as long as you’re happy now, I don’t think there’s a problem.” 

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. I think I’d rather thank the being for that. Did it help at all?” 

“It helped me a lot, I’m sorry I said something weird.”

“It’s not weird. You can always ask me about it.”

“Oh… I guess I’ve been holding on too long. Let’s talk later.” 

“Okay. Good night then, Tae-ram.”

Fran leaned down and kissed the back of Tae-ram’s hand, very casually. 

“I hope you have sweet dreams tonight.”

“Thank you, Fran.”

Fran’s final goodnight kiss surprised him a little, but he went to bed feeling better.

The next day, Tae-ram had a nightmare.

* * *

A quick trip through the warp to the Demon World.

The sun was so black it was impossible to tell if it was day or night. A black, desert-like landscape dominated the view. Rough, uneven stone paths and gnarled branches stretched out haphazardly, giving the place an eerie atmosphere.

Tae-ram was not unfamiliar with the scene. It was too much like the places in his recent nightmares. His head felt dizzy and his stomach churned.

“Are you afraid of the demon world? Don’t worry. If a monster comes out, I’ll take care of it. I’ll carry you if you need it.”

Kairan stepped forward and took Tae-ram’s hand. It was a big hand, big enough to wrap around his own, and it felt so trustworthy. The softness of the hand felt strange, like a child’s.

“Thank you, Kairan. But we’ve only just arrived, so I’ll try to make it on my own for now.” 

“Okay. Just tell me if you’re having trouble.”

Despite his cheerful words, Tae-ram felt exhausted after walking for a while. No wonder, since he was mentally overwhelmed with no basic physical strength. His body felt heavy like he was carrying a lead ball. He inhaled deeply, his mouth burning from the acrid dust.

“Tae-ram. Are you okay?”

Fran steadied him as he swayed precariously. He didn’t have the strength to say thank you, so he meekly leaned into Fran.

“Do you have a fever?”

Fran’s hand touched his forehead. The cool, refreshing touch made him feel a little better.

“…Thank you for your concern.”

“You’re welcome. Would you like me to heal you first?”

“It’s okay for now. We don’t know what’s going to happen, you need to conserve your mana.” 

“Just let me know if you need anything.”

Tae-ram was walking away, leaning on Fran. 

“Lean on me. Tae-ram.”

Se-ho took the lead and pulled him into his arms. Tae-ram was dragged helplessly along like a flapping paper doll.

“What are you doing? Tae-ram is leaning on me.” 

“I’m taller and more stable than you.”

“No. The prince is too tall for him to be comfortable.”

“Stop it, both of you. Tae-ram is having a hard time, I’ll just hold him!”

Suddenly, Kairan bursts in and scoops him up. Tae-ram, who would normally have protested in embarrassment, sagged in Kairan’s arms like a soaked cotton ball. Tae-ram’s complexion was getting worse and worse, but regardless, the three of them began a tug-of-war over Tae-ram.

“Kairan. Put him down.”

“Yes, Kairan. He looks uncomfortable.” 

“No, no, no! He’s comfortable this way.”

Tae-ram was moved around like an object. They’d better shut up. He was annoyed, but he was powerless to break free of the three men’s grasp. That’s when his eyes locked with Lucias.

He looked as pitiful as he could and sent Lucias a desperate look for help. He stared at him for a long moment, then stumbled back to the chaos.

“No, I’m not handing him over this time.”

“Don’t get involved, Lucias.” 

“We’ll settle this between us, okay?”

The three of them worked together to keep Lucias at arm’s length, hiding Tae-ram behind their backs as they fought. Lucias continued his explanation nonchalantly.

“It seems that Tae-ram’s body, which is more fragile than a normal human’s, was unable to adapt to the dense concentration of demonic energy, causing it to overload. Unlike human energy, demonic energy is highly condensed. For those who have the ability, it doesn’t affect them much, but for those who don’t, it’s a hardship. If you can’t adapt, you may die, so you need to take appropriate measures.”

Lucias spoke calmly, but his words were frightening. The thought of dying made Tae-ram uneasy. Plus, it was a setting he didn’t recognize.

“I’ve never heard Lucias speak at such length before.” 

“That’s not the point right now.”

Tae-ram sympathized intensely with Fran’s plea for Kairan.

Is it because his senses are different from humans? Nevertheless, Kairan, he should focus on staying alive for now. This is not the time for trivial thoughts.

Se-ho, who had been listening to Lucias off to one side, asked him calmly. 

“Is there any way to make Tae-ram as comfortable as possible?”

“We can push all the human energy out of his body and fill it with demonic energy. However, I don’t know if his body can handle it. I’ve never seen a body so fragile….”

Tae-ram was grateful that Lucias hesitated because he was worried about him, but he was also embarrassed to have his glass body recognized. Still, it was better than begging and dying, he thought, forcing a voice that didn’t come out easily.

“…I’ll wait, please.”

Fran and Se-ho immediately rushed to Lucias upon hearing Tae-ram’s decision.

“Lucias, he’s not in danger, is he? If anything goes wrong, I will….” 

“If anything goes wrong, I will not forgive you.”

Amil and Kairan joined in. 

“I hope Tae-ram gets well soon.”

“I don’t like seeing him so weak.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll do my best to make sure he doesn’t get hurt.”

Tae-ram smiled weakly at the people who cared about him. 

“I’m fine.”

“Tae-ram. Hold my hand if you feel uneasy.”

“Don’t play games, Prince.” 

“Don’t worry. I’m sure everything will be fine, Tae-ram.”

“Lucias seems like a magician, able to control mana so delicately.”

The last remark was a bit of a worry, but Tae-ram managed to shake it off. 

“I need to concentrate, everyone, be quiet.”

“Lucias, please take care of me.”

“Okay. Just relax and lean into me.”

Lucias carefully placed his hand on Tae-ram’s forehead. A moment later, his fingertips glowed black. The light from his fingertips gradually spread evenly through Tae-ram’s body. Tae-ram couldn’t help but feel the strange sensation of alien energy moving through his body.

The others watched with half concern, half wonder. 

“It’s over. Get up slowly.”

Tae-ram felt his body relax.

“…I’m fine now, thank you.” 

“I’m glad. It’s been a while and I was worried.”

Lucias still wore an expressionless face, but there was a faint glimmer of relief in his eyes.

“Thank you for your concern….”

Before he could finish, Kairan interrupted. Fran, in a rare display of excitement, joined in. 

“Lucias, how did you do that?”

“My God, that’s amazing, using your healing powers like that.” 

“It’s not healing.”

“Then it’s magic, I want to try it, can’t you show me that squishy thing from earlier one more time?” 

“I want to know how it works too, can’t you do it one more time?”

Lucias was grabbed by Kairan and Fran and dragged away. He felt a little sorry for the two for forgetting about him, but he was glad that Lucias seemed to have blended in with the group.

“Senior. Are you sure you’re okay?”

Se-ho whispered in a low voice as he approached Tae-ram. His eyes darted up and down Tae-ram’s body.

“Stop looking at me. I’m fine.”

Quickly rummaging through his pack, Se-ho threw a small, light blanket over Tae-ram’s shoulders.

“At least cover up with this. You’ve been sweating a lot, so your body temperature must have dropped.” 

“Thank you. My body is so weak. Is this a sign of having the ‘fragile’ attribute?”

Despite Tae-ram’s efforts to smile modestly, Se-ho’s expression remained grim.

“I think it’s because you’ve been pushing yourself too hard. I should have been more careful, I apologize.”

“No, no, it’s not your fault I’m sick, it’s just me not sleeping properly because of a nightmare.” 

“Nightmare? I’ve never heard that before.”

“Well… That’s….”

“Tell me more. When did it start? I don’t think it’s just a nightmare.”

Tae-ram’s expression was colored with embarrassment at Se-Ho’s piercing gaze. There was a part of him that wanted to come clean. But he felt like he’d be saying something pointless.

“It’s really nothing, it doesn’t have much to do with you….” 

“Can’t you tell me?”

A heavy silence fell between Tae-ram, who couldn’t find an excuse, and Se-ho, who stared at him intently.

“Prince, as you ordered, I have found a good flat area to set up barracks!” 

It was Amil who broke the suffocating silence.

“I’m coming now. You follow slowly.”

Se-ho walked away, and Tae-ram let out a long sigh. He appreciated the concern, but he still hadn’t figured out what to do with Lucias.

And so the first day in the Demon World passed.

* * *

The journey seemed to speed up as Tae-ram felt better, but the monsters began to appear in earnest, slowing them down even more than before. A week passed, and the group still couldn’t escape from the beginning of the demon world. And today, monsters appeared without fail.

“Creep, creep, creep!”

A slime slithered toward Tae-ram.

“How dare you. Get lost.”

Then, with a wave of his hand, Kairan, who was beside him, dismissed the slime. For once, the group was calm.

“There’s another one behind us. Be careful, everyone.”

Before he could finish, dozens of slimes scurried toward them. 

“These are no ordinary slimes.”

“Their movements are suspicious. Tae-ram, don’t come forward.”

“Yes, yes!”

The slimes began to clump together, growing larger and larger. A giant slime, now nothing more than a clump, charged at the group. Fran quickly recited an incantation.

“Lord Lian. Block the movement of the enemy in front of us!” 

“Thwack, thwack, thwack!”

The giant slime was trapped in the circle of light that Fran had created. The slime struggled wildly to break free of the binding, and Fran strengthened the binding.

“Damn it, prince, what are you looking at! Don’t be a slug and get it over with. It’s hard to hold on!”

Fran shouted in irritation. 

“Don’t order me around.”

In a flash, Se-ho drew his sword and sent a purple blade toward the giant slime, and the slime that had been trapped within the circle disappeared cleanly. Just when he thought it was over, Amil, who had been scouting a short distance away, came running up.

“There’s an army of slimes coming from the back, and they’re huge!”

True to his word, the giant slimes, which must have numbered at least a hundred, were steadily advancing. Se-ho and Fran looked fed up, but they were ready for battle.

“Prepare to attack, everyone.”

“Prince, don’t order me around!” 

“I’ll join in!”

The three of them, Se-ho, Fran, and Amil, frantically dealt with the onslaught of slimes, while Tae-ram quickly ducked into the bushes.

“Give, Lian. Give me a spear to pierce the enemy!”

“Prince, I’m sorry! I missed some slimes that went your way! Be careful!”

“Alright! I’m fine, look ahead!”

“Oh, divine Lian. Annihilate the enemy before me with the club!”

“Fran, that won’t work. Better use defensive magic!” 

“Mr. Fran! The slimes have started spewing acid.” 

“May you be protected by the divine Lian!”

After some time, the number of slimes had been halved, and the three of them looked quite exhausted. Fran, who had been chanting nonstop, was half-voiced, and Amil and Se-ho were breathing raggedly, covered in slime corpses.

“I will breach one before we are surrounded. Amil, you assist me.” 

“Yes! Understood.”

“Fran. You find the weak point.”

“Alright. Oh, divine Lian, shine a light on the arrow within the darkness.” 

Fran looked disgruntled but meekly followed Se-ho’s orders. 

“That’s it, go!”

“Follow me. Amil!”

“Yes! Leave the back to me.”

Se-ho and Amil forced their way through where Fran was pointing. The remaining slimes were disappearing at a rapid pace.

Tae-ram thought that Se-ho and Fran seemed to work well together, as they had during the last hunt for the Green Dragon, and that they fought at every opportunity. 

Seeing the three of them fighting so fiercely while admiring them made him feel embarrassed and sorry for hiding.

At that moment, he heard Kairan’s calm voice.

“They’ve all become stronger, haven’t they? Demonic slimes are tricky, right?”

Tae-ram was about to chime in when Lucias, who was so quiet that his presence was barely noticeable, spoke up.

“Slimes in the Demon World feed on dense energy, so they’re larger than those in the Human World, and they’re more susceptible to magic because they harbor magical energy.”

“That’s right. Especially the prince. He’s probably the strongest of the humans.” 

“The priest is stronger.”

“Are you blind? The prince is stronger! In terms of destructive power, it’s the prince!” 

“In terms of overall power, the priest wins.”

Feeling that this was too much, Tae-ram finally interrupted their conversation. 

“Not that it’s any of my business, but why aren’t you two fighting?”

“I’m just giving them a chance because I think both the prince and Fran and Amil would be stronger if they rolled over a little bit, and I’m already strong.”

“I’m just being dragged along by this guy.”

“It’s not fun to watch alone, and Lucias is almost as strong as me!” 

“Still, the three of them are going through all that trouble. It wouldn’t hurt to help a bit, right?” 

“First and foremost, I have to protect you.”

“What?”

“I promised you, I’ll protect you.” 

“T-thank you.”

Tae-ram felt grateful but somehow uneasy about Kairan’s confident attitude. However, before he could say anything, the two resumed their discussion. Tae-ram wanted to slap the two of them in the face as if watching a martial arts match, but he had to let it go because he was just as much a spectator as they were.

As the Dragon Lord and the Demon King chatted away, the three who had dealt with the slimes returned. Kairan was napping on his lap, exhausted from his discussion with Lucias. Tae-ram wanted to pinch him on the cheek, but first, he was worried about the three of them.

“Are you guys okay? Are you hurt?” 

“No problem.”

“Thank you for your concern. Oh, and be careful, Tae-ram’s clothes will get dirty if you come too close.” 

“That’s food for the table, I’m so happy, I have to go set up the barracks, so I’ll go first!”

Amil’s last words gave Tae-ram chills, but he was glad that everyone was safe. Relieved, his eyes caught sight of Se-ho’s wound.

“Now, wait a minute, Prince, you’re hurt.”

Se-ho’s gait was awkward, and his left leg was bleeding. 

“Don’t make a fuss. It’s just a scratch.”

“Just a scratch? But you’re bleeding quite a lot from just a scratch. Sit here!”

Tae-ram forced Se-ho to sit down on a rock and pulled a potion out of the bag he was wearing. 

“This shouldn’t take long.”

Ignoring Se-ho, who whispered in a low voice only Tae-ram could hear, Tae-ram poured the potion on his leg. Se-ho winced involuntarily and let out a small groan as the cold liquid poured onto the burning wound.

“Ugh….”

“Look at that. It doesn’t hurt….”

“Anyone would groan if you poured it on them like that.”

“Silly. Don’t get used to pain like that. It’ll bring more trouble. You need to think about when we return. There’s no magic in our world.”

“It’s strange to hear you say that.”

Se-ho found it fascinating that anything resembling a plan for the future was coming out of Tae-ram’s mouth. It was a moment when he realized the change in Tae-ram since coming here.

“What?”

“I think you’ve changed a lot since you’ve been here.” 

“I don’t know, but you’re not insulting, are you?”

“Yes, you’ve changed for the better, and I’m a little happy about that.”

Tae-ram felt goosebumps on his skin at Se-ho’s unusually sweet voice. Was he out of his mind because he was sick?

“You say all that weird stuff and… You’re not really sick, are you?” 

“…If you’re done with your treatment, you can go.”

“You bastard. I’m going. Go. I was going to take care of Fran anyway.”

Tae-ram went to check on Fran this time.

“Fran. Are you in any pain, …Fran?”

He called out to him again, and this time, Fran looked at him. Fran’s expression seemed a little darker, perhaps due to his mood.

“I’m fine.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I must have been exhausted, I was in a daze for a while.”

“Well, it’s been a long battle, so you have every right to be tired. At least you don’t seem to have any visible wounds.” 

“Thank you, then I’ll be off, my clothes are dirty and I’d like to wash them.”

“Sure. Okay.”

Fran walked past Tae-ram. The odd look Fran gave him bothered Tae-ram for a moment, but he quickly put it out of his mind, chalking it up to tiredness.

* * *

An unfamiliar shadow watched from afar as the group went to rest. 

“Alas… My King. You have returned at last.”

Large horns sprouted from his head and a pair of black wings gave away the fact that he was no human. His glowing red eyes held too much madness for reverence.