"What do you think I am?"

When I asked what he thought my identity was, the leader reacted.

His body was still trembling, and most notably, the way he looked at me had changed.

Previously, his gaze had been one of mockery, as if subtly belittling me.

But now, it was entirely different.

His eyes held not only confusion but also a deep, profound doubt and an unidentifiable fear.

The sudden shift in demeanor was strange.

"Was what I just did so shocking?"

If I had to guess the reason for his change, it was probably what I’d just done.

But I didn’t quite understand it.

“What’s so special about this?”

At best, it seemed like a power similar to Dragon Speech.

Of course—

"Dragon Speech itself is an unusual power."

Just speaking words with infused energy to restrict someone’s actions—that was strange enough.

But for the leader to react this strongly, there had to be a deeper reason.

“What is it?”

I wanted to understand, but—

“You don’t know, do you?”

At the same time, I needed to take advantage of the present moment.

“You won’t figure it out.”

“...What are you...”

The leader was flustered. This wasn’t a moment to waste.

“Do you remember what I said earlier?”

I poured out my words, one after another, without giving him time to process.

“Do you want to stay where you are? Or... do you want to climb higher?”

“...”

The leader didn’t answer.

But that didn’t matter.

I knew his ears were wide open.

“I told you, I know people like you all too well.”

Eyes filled with desire.

People who didn’t care about methods or morality to achieve their goals.

Even if it meant defying heaven’s order or breaking their own beliefs,

people like that wouldn’t care.

And to me, this leader seemed to be one of those people.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense.

“If that weren’t the case, he wouldn’t have let me stand here unscathed.”

There was no need to gauge or calculate further.

If he truly doubted me—

he would’ve already reported me to Yusa or Mongmong, or at the very least, thought I was a threat and dealt with me by now.

But—

“He didn’t.”

He didn’t do any of that.

Which meant—

“He has expectations of me, or...”

He’s determining whether I’m someone who could help him achieve what he wants.

That meant the leader had desires of his own.

“I knew it when he dealt with Gubong.”

His so-called son was lying sprawled on the ground, and another had escaped.

Yet the man who called himself their father didn’t even glance at them—his focus was entirely on me.

Even though I’d just wrecked one of his sons, he still watched me and even mentioned giving me the position of the next leader.

“Is he insane?”

I thought he was genuinely crazy. Of course, since this was another world, I wondered if it might be some cultural difference.

But—

“Bullshit.”

Judging by Gubong’s reaction back then, that wasn’t the case.

It was just that this man was strange.

He had desires and didn’t care about methods to achieve them.

And then, I came into the picture.

To this leader, it seemed like I had something he needed.

In that situation—

“What if I show him something more?”

If I showed him something beyond what he’d anticipated—

What would the leader’s reaction be?

I already had a faint idea of the answer.

“You already know the method, don’t you?”

At my confident words, the leader’s brows furrowed deeply.

“...That...”

It was the right answer.

Even though I’d just thrown out the words as a guess, his reaction confirmed it for me.

“How far do you want to climb? Show me your ambition.”

“...”

The leader’s gaze wavered. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

The confusion lingering in his eyes faded, replaced only by hesitation born of ambition.

Now was the time.

“Listen carefully.”

Screech.

I leaned closer, meeting his eyes.

“This is me giving you a chance. Not just throwing you a lifeline.”

So you couldn’t avoid it.

“I’m offering you the opportunity to walk beside me. To be by my side.”

“...”

Grrk.

I infused my energy into my heart, causing it to pulse slightly.

It wasn’t just any energy—I had moved my demonic energy, and my eyes were probably glowing violet by now.

“...”

The leader didn’t answer. The silence was uncomfortable, but for now, this was enough.

I leaned back, stepping away from him, and added,

“The choice is yours. But.”

I didn’t forget to smile.

“I won’t give you much time to think about it. Make your decision by the next time we meet. Then...”

Srrrk.

I turned around and walked toward the door.

“I’ll tell you how I can make what you want happen.”

Grasping the doorknob without hesitation, I pulled it open.

Cheonma stepped out as if she had been waiting.

The people waiting outside looked startled and peeked inside the room, but—

since nothing seemed to have happened, it didn’t become an issue.

Creak.

The door slowly closed.

Even as it shut, the leader remained frozen, his expression rigid, silently staring at me.

Click.

The door closed completely.

“Hah.”

Finally, I let out the breath I’d been holding.

At the same time, I withdrew the energy I had scattered.

“Good thing it didn’t get noticed.”

I’d spread my energy everywhere, just in case something happened.

It was a relief I didn’t have to use it.

If things had escalated—

“...It would’ve been a nightmare.”

Not just troublesome, but a complete mess.

“With a General nearby, too.”

Mongmong.

Or Yusa.

The ruler of Yahwol must be somewhere nearby.

If things went south, I’d have been the one in trouble.

“...I managed to get through it somehow.”

This wasn’t my original goal.

But the outcome wasn’t bad.

The leader was now deeply mired in thought, which was a win. And besides—

“Judging by his face, the answer’s already clear.”

I was almost certain of what choice he’d make.

You could tell just by looking at him.

“Of course, I’ll prepare just in case... but still.”

Would he really choose differently?

I didn’t think so.

So—

“For now, I need to plan carefully.”

When the leader made his choice, I needed to have the solution he wanted ready.

That—

“I haven’t thought of it yet.”

For now, I had just bluffed my way through.

But I’d have to figure it out, starting now.

Though—

“I doubt it’ll be too hard.”

Because in the end—

I already knew the answer.

***************

I left the Black Clan’s estate and headed outside.

By then, the sun had long set, and the night was steadily creeping in.

The streets lit up as though awaiting the night, lanterns glowing warmly.

Oddly enough, the people seemed even more active than during the day.

“So these are the ones blessed by the night.”

The Moonlit Night Tribe—these beast-like humans were called the children of the night.

Perhaps they truly longed for the coming darkness.

I walked among them, observing my surroundings.

Of course, Cheonma was with me.

“...Hmm.”

I glanced at her. While she’d crafted herself ears, she still lacked a tail, forcing her to keep it hidden beneath her cloak.

She seemed utterly fascinated by the night market, constantly turning her head to take everything in.

Curiosity and wonder.

Her eyes were filled with those emotions.

Pure and serene. Like...

“...Wi Seol-ah.”

Wi Seol-ah’s gaze when she looked at me.

It was eerily similar, making me narrow my eyes.

I tried to ignore it and followed Cheonma’s line of sight.

“...What are you looking at?”

What was she staring at so intently?

I followed her gaze and spotted a street vendor in the distance.

Much like the food stalls of Zhongyuan, they were selling all sorts of unfamiliar dishes.

The sights were new, but the smells were enticing.

“...”

After glancing at the stall, I turned my eyes back to Cheonma.

She was still staring at it, unblinking.

Could it be...

“...Do you want to eat that?”

“Yes.”

“...”

Her bold response made me run a hand through my hair.

Not only did her face resemble Wi Seol-ah, but even her appetite? And now, of all times, she wanted food?

Feeling both annoyed and resigned, I sighed and led her toward the stall.

Why was I even doing this?

Even as I moved, I questioned myself.

Why was I acting this way?

The doubts kept surfacing, but my body kept moving regardless.

At first, I thought it was because she reminded me of Wi Seol-ah.

“What do you want to eat?”

“...Can I choose just one?”

“Of course. Do you have any money?”

“No.”

“Then what makes you think you get to choose? Pick one.”

“Alright.”

But watching Cheonma carefully pick her food, my thoughts began to shift.

“It feels wrong.”

It felt deeply wrong.

Just watching her made my insides itch.

It was as if something inside me was screaming—

telling me this wasn’t the way to treat her.

“Stop it.”

Stop it and do it properly.

That’s what the voice inside me was saying.

“What the hell does it mean, ‘properly’?”

How ridiculous.

If I were going to do things properly, I wouldn’t be doing this.

“I should’ve killed her already.”

From the moment I realized I could kill her, I should’ve taken her out.

I should’ve done whatever it took to get rid of her.

“What the hell am I doing?”

What was I doing here?

In another world, of all places, what was this nonsense?

“Buying food for Cheonma, of all people.”

Who would’ve thought there’d come a day when I’d do something like this for such a proud, arrogant being?

“...Tch.”

Clicking my tongue at the thought, I saw Cheonma flinch.

“...I’ll pick quickly.”

She spoke hesitantly, glancing at me as if gauging my mood.

“...”

Cheonma, gauging my mood?

The absurdity of it all made me want to grab my forehead and groan.

This wasn’t the time for this.

“...I wonder how the kids are doing.”

How was Zhongyuan faring?

The flow of time might be different, but it was still moving.

If they realized I was gone, I couldn’t even imagine how they’d react.

“I need to get back as soon as possible.”

I knew that, yet here I was, playing some ridiculous game with Cheonma.

“...Hah.”

A sigh escaped me, unbidden.

“That one.”

Cheonma finally pointed at something.

It was a skewer with something thick and chunky impaled on it.

It looked like meat, but I couldn’t tell exactly what it was.

“That one?”

“Yes.”

“One skewer, please.”

As soon as I spoke, the vendor quickly handed over the skewer.

I paid and gave it to Cheonma.

She eagerly reached for it, ready to take a bite, but—

“Out of the way—!!”

“Make way!”

Shouts echoed from the distance.

“What now?”

What was going on this time?

Looking around with a puzzled expression, I spotted a flag in the distance.

“Huh?”

Squinting, I recognized it.

I’d seen it briefly before, when I’d climbed to a high vantage point in Yahwol to survey the situation.

“Was it blue? Or another color?”

I vaguely remembered it belonging to one of the two noble families, excluding the white and black clans.

Which meant—

“Nobles.”

Those bastards were nobles.

Realizing this, I took a step back.

Even if they didn’t notice me, it was better to stay out of sight.

I waited at a slight distance for the carriage to pass.

The carriage moved through «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» the crowd and passed by where I was.

I watched it curiously.

“Not a horse?”

Surprisingly, the carriage wasn’t drawn by horses.

Instead, two massive wolves—beasts as large as horses—pulled it.

Growl.

The wolves snorted as they slowly passed, and the carriage seemed about to leave entirely when—

Screech.

The carriage came to a sudden halt right in front of us.

“...Hmm?”

I frowned at the carriage that had stopped out of nowhere.

I had a bad feeling.

“This can’t be good...”

My instincts were screaming at me.

Something bad was about to happen.

And then—

Creak—!

The carriage door opened, and out stepped a man with striking blue hair.

He was a sharply handsome man, the type that exuded arrogance.

The kind of person who’d remind you of Woo Hyuk.

As soon as he appeared, the surrounding crowd fell to their knees.

“What the hell is this?”

Confused by the bizarre situation, I struggled to make sense of it.

“Woman.”

The man finally spoke.

And he was looking at Cheonma.

“You’re beautiful. Become mine.”

That’s what he said.

And without thinking, the words burst out of me:

“What the fuck is this bastard saying?”