Dehan stood in front of the main gate of the Daimon Count’s residence and swallowed nervously.
It felt different from the time he came here with the priests of the Northern Fortress Temple. Back then, he came to investigate them, but now…
‘I’m here to seek refuge.’
Dehan began to recall the reality he had been ignoring.
They were abandoned by the priests of the Northern Fortress Temple.
The reason was simple.
The priests of the Northern Fortress Temple feared that they would report the shameful acts committed there to the Pope.
‘So, they tried to kill us…’
How could people with such wicked intentions become priests? Or were they originally not like that, but once they gained power as priests, they changed?
Whatever the case, Dehan tried to push thoughts of the Northern Fortress Temple out of his mind.
But as soon as he did, the next reality came to him—the incident at the Central Fortress Temple.
The Pope and Shekina had an unusual conversation, and right after that, monsters appeared. Then…
‘A memory came alive that I’ve never experienced before.’
It sounded ridiculous, but there was no clearer way to describe what Dehan felt.
‘Shekina Daimon…’
What was that child hiding from him? And what was their relationship?
What kind of connection made his heart ache so much every time he saw Shekina?
He needed to find out. Only then would Dehan be able to settle his mind.
– They say there is a Fairy’s Spring in the Daimon Count’s residence.
– Bring it to me, and I will find all those who killed your family.
– You must know that the ones who killed your family are demons, right?
This was what the Pope whispered to him the last time he went to meet Shekina and the Pope.
Dehan knew the Pope’s words were a lie.
But… was it really a lie?
Could it be that the demons were the ones lying?
His mind told him to trust the Daimon Count’s family, the demons. Considering their past actions and Shekina…
But strangely, doubts kept creeping in. It felt as if someone was constantly shouting in his head, ‘Don’t trust them!’
It was a feeling of being manipulated, and Dehan had to stay alert at all times to resist it.
‘The Fairy’s Spring.’
He didn’t know what it was, but whether he gave it to the Pope or not, he wanted to see it with his own eyes. What could it be that the Pope desired so much? Was it worth that much?
Besides, keeping it could prove useful in the future.
It wasn’t the kind of thought a five-year-old child should be having, but Dehan wasn’t aware of his own oddity. After all, he had been ‘unusually mature’ since birth.
“D, Dehan?”
At that moment, he heard Yuriel calling him. Snapping back to reality, Dehan looked at Yuriel, who was wearing a worried expression.
“Ah, Sir Arthur is calling you. Were you deep in thought?”
“Ah…”
Dehan shook his head and answered.
“I’m sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment.”
“Oh, uh… it’s okay if it’s nothing serious…”
Leaving the still-worried Yuriel behind, Dehan walked towards Arthur, who stood a bit farther away.
“You called for me?”
Arthur smiled brightly and gestured for Dehan to come closer. When they were close enough for their shoulders and waists to touch, Arthur spoke softly.
“Did you tell Yuriel?”
He was asking if Dehan had told Yuriel that the Daimon Count’s family were demons.
Dehan immediately replied.
“No, I haven’t said anything.”
“Good. You did well.”
Arthur, still smiling, whispered to Dehan.
“Yuriel must never know. Understood?”
The way he said it… felt more like a threat than a suggestion.
Actually, it was a threat. Dehan knew this well, but he couldn’t suppress his curiosity. If he could erase his own memories, why was he hiding this from Yuriel?
“…Why?”
“Are you curious?”
Dehan nodded instead of answering. Arthur’s lips curved upwards.
“If that weak human finds out who we are, what will he choose to do… and what kind of punishment will I have to give for that choice…”
“……..”
“I don’t want to have to think about it.”
He was indirectly saying that if Yuriel found out the truth, he wouldn’t hesitate to kill him.
“Shall we go?”
Dehan felt the wickedness of the demons more strongly, and once again tried to ignore the voice in his head telling him not to trust them, as he began to walk forward.
To the demon’s lair, the Daimon Count’s residence.
***
“Ah, why is he wandering around so much!”
Shekina shouted in frustration.
It was because she couldn’t find First Elder Nord, who had been missing for a while.
Nord usually stayed outside the castle. But since Shekina’s party left the castle, and Lucart hadn’t been able to return often, Nord had decided to stay at the castle for a while, just in case something happened.
So, Shekina came to the eastern annex where Nord was supposed to be staying, but she couldn’t find him.
She had heard that Nord usually spent his late mornings tending to plants, so she went straight to the greenhouse. But she was told that Nord had just gone mountain climbing.
What mountain climbing, when he’s almost at death’s door?
Shekina briefly considered going to the snow-capped mountains to find him, but it was cold, and she figured if she waited, he would eventually return. So she stayed put and waited patiently for Nord.
However, even after a couple of hours passed, he hadn’t returned.
Shekina then heard that Nord had come down a different path, and she immediately rushed to the library where he was supposed to be.
“Is he some kind of *Hong Gildong? Appearing here and there in the blink of an eye.”
Luckily, Nord, who had been wandering around everywhere, was in the library.
Sunlight streamed through the large window. Usually, the region felt dim even at midday due to the clouds, but today it was unusually bright, as if the sun were shining directly down.
Maybe that’s why his bald head seemed shinier than usual.
Catching her breath, Shekina approached Nord. He was playing chess by himself.
“Is playing chess alone fun?”
Shekina asked as she looked at the white pieces on Nord’s side. Nord, as if expecting her, wasn’t surprised and answered.
“I was feeling lonely anyway. Come, sit down.”
It felt odd… but Shekina couldn’t turn back now, so she obediently sat across from him.
“You know how to play chess, right?”
“…….”
She almost responded casually that she did.
But right now, Shekina was just a three-year-old child.
She had never learned how to play chess, so she was supposed to say she didn’t know.
“No, I don’t…”
“Don’t bother thinking too hard. I already know everything.”
Huh?
“What do you know?”
Shekina immediately asked, and Nord laughed again.
“Shall we make a bet?”
He nudged a chess piece.
“If you win, I’ll tell you what I know.”
“And if you win?”
“You’ll have to tell me what you know.”
“But I don’t know anything.”
“That can’t be.”
Nord replied firmly and picked up a pawn.
“For example…”
He gazed over Shekina’s shoulder.
“I could tell you about that strange being you’re carrying around.”
…What?
“Ha ha. I may look like this, but I’m quite old.”
You can’t escape my eyes.
Seeing Nord’s smile, Shekina suddenly recalled the scenario from the original ‘game.’
Nord Daimon.
He was the only person, aside from Lucart, who shared the surname ‘Daimon.’
This man…
🍓 ;
*Hong Gildong, refers to a legendary figure from Korean folklore, similar to Robin Hood in Western culture. Hong Gildong is known for his extraordinary abilities, such as moving swiftly and appearing unexpectedly, as well as his sense of justice. The character is often portrayed as someone who helps the underprivileged by taking from corrupt officials or wealthy individuals.
In this context, comparing someone to Hong Gildong implies they seem almost supernatural in their speed and ability to appear suddenly in different places. It suggests admiration (or frustration) at how effortlessly they seem to move around, possibly to achieve some greater purpose.
*Likely implies that the speaker is older than they appear or that they have lived long enough to have considerable experience, wisdom, or maturity, despite their youthful appearance. The phrase often suggests a kind of modest understatement, where the speaker acknowledges their age in a lighthearted or humorous way.
