Toxin

“Remember this. A wise person may fall for a trick but will overcome it, while a cunning person sees through the trick and pretends to fall for it. The Black Martial Emperor is known for being cunning, so you must never trust his words or actions at face value.”

“Yes.”

I will never trust him. I will never foolishly be deceived. Especially not by such a murderer. I vowed that next time, I would find a way to retrieve the Jincheonroe. I wanted to settle my dealings with the Chieftain as soon as possible and focus solely on achieving my own goals afterward. With the promise to meet the Chieftain again, we parted ways.

As I emerged from the forest, the scorching twilight covered the world. Just getting back to Naragaon Fortress would take considerable time. I also needed to stop by the armory, and Raonhiljo weighed on my mind. I needed to hurry. I quickly descended the winding forest path, pushing through the leaves, just as I reached a fork in the road. Suddenly, a shadow fell over me from behind, forcefully pulling me back. A repulsive voice clung to my eardrums.

“Long time no see, pretty one.”

I didn’t even need to check to know whose voice it was. It was a voice I never wanted to hear again. It made me feel sick to my stomach. Without a doubt, Orumun’s face dropped onto my shoulder. His smirking lips, covered in a grimy smile, looked as if he was delighted.

“You didn’t come even after the old man died, so I had to follow your trail. You used to catch on like a ghost back in the day, but ever since the

was destroyed, it seems your ears have gone dull.”

“L-let go…!”

He roughly threw me to the ground. Without hesitation, he pulled out his genitals and started rubbing them against my thigh, as if possessed. His inflamed, red eyes reflected the setting sun, making them glisten even more. His panting breath clung to my neck.

“Ha… ha… Did you think I’d let you go just like that?! You filthy Mongrel! Who will I devour this time… ha…!”

Orumun rubbed himself a few times before howling like a beast and ejaculating. I felt nauseous. I kicked him in the stomach and swung my feet. Despite the kicks, he was too absorbed in his own desires to notice. Holding his dripping genitals, he pulled on my hair. In the blink of an eye, he was erect again, forcing his way into my mouth. Orumun began to thrust wildly.

“Ha…! Ha…! I thought I was going to go mad as soon as I arrived here! Ha… huff…! Just seeing your face makes this thing go crazy…! Ha… ugh…!!”

As his member crushed my oral mucosa and tongue, I was about to vomit. I bit down hard, determined to sever it.

“Argh…!!”

Orumun writhed on the ground, exposing his whites. His genitals, covered in semen and blood, glistened with a color that made me nauseous. I wiped my lips clean and used a leaf to remove the semen from my clothes. A leech-like bastard. I was genuinely planning to cut off his member and make sure it could never function again. Orumun, in agony, clutched his genitals and groaned.

“…You, after doing that with me for two years… You can’t say you had no feelings for me, can you? I thought you had some feelings for me?”

He had set the trap first, but there were things I hadn’t escaped from myself. I had to sell everything I could. I moved toward him as if tearing off a trap from my foot. As I turned my body while deeply pulling down the hat that had fallen on the ground, he cried out.

“D-don’t go! Damn it…! I was wrong! Let’s run away and live together…! I can make you live in luxury if I set my mind to it! I’ll treat you well this time…! I’ll even give you a name! Ugh…! Since you made me like this, take responsibility! I really can’t live without you now!”

Orumun, now sweating and pleading, received a cold stare from me.

“Then just die.”

Ignoring the voice clinging to my neck shouting ‘No! Stop there!’, I left the mountain without looking back.

***

By the time I reentered the city, the sun had already set, and everything was darkening. Someone bumped my shoulder, snapping me back to reality. When I regained my composure, I was shaking uncontrollably.

“Oh… right. The materials…”

I went to the armory I had remembered from before and picked out some pigments and paper. As I left the store, I noticed a man with a sharp beard selling assorted items across the street. His stall was filled with bowls, women’s cosmetics, and various books—there was nothing he didn’t sell. I approached and quietly sat down in front of him. Among the scattered items, I saw a long pipe carved with various patterns. Unlike the usual pipes with a slightly curved part for tobacco, this one was straight and smooth. The entire pipe, including the tobacco bowl and water spout, was coated in platinum, making it quite unusual.

“Is this platinum?”

The man, fanning himself, answered casually.

“Platinum, my foot. How much would that cost? It’s just wood with a light silver coating.”

“How much is it?”

“Can’t say exactly. The price varies.”

“What’s the best one?”

“Of course, the expensive one is the best.”

I picked out a suitable one with my fingertip and looked at the man.

“Oh, shall I give you that one? It’s ten nyang. Originally it’s ten and a half nyang, but since you’re from outside, I’ll give you a discount~”

The man quickly changed his demeanor and carefully wrapped it in yellow paper. As I took the item and stood up, a small bowl of flowers caught my attention. It was truly a place that sold everything.

“What kind of flowers are these?”

“It’s a wildflower. Sir~ You only need to pay one nyang for this. Shall I give it to you?”

After a moment of hesitation, I extended the money in front of the man.

“Yes. Please give me this too.”

***

I had said I’d meet him in two hours, but much more time had passed. As I ran to the entrance, performers with musical instruments were parading down the street. The crowd had gathered to watch, making it even more chaotic. I pushed through the throngs of people towards the place where I had arranged to meet Raonhiljo. I caught my breath and scanned the area, but he was nowhere to be seen. I tightly gripped the small pot. He must have left by now. There’s no way he’d wait for so long…

Just then, before my eyes could spot him, my heart reacted first. Raonhiljo was watching the parade of performers from one side of the market. He wouldn’t have waited… The warm heat spread through my throat. He smiled with a childlike amusement at the clumsy antics of the performers. Had he been waiting here all this time? What had he thought during that period? What was he thinking now? Eventually, he spotted me struggling through the crowd. His broad chest exhaled a long sigh of relief.

“I was thinking of searching the market if you didn’t show up soon.”

Raonhiljo glanced at the hat I was wearing.

“It suits you well.”

I just stood there, dumbfounded. Seeing something in my eyes, he slowly set his lips into a firm line. He then approached me slowly. He raised his hand and brought it close to my cheek. I instinctively took a step back. His large hand hovered in the air before slowly descending.

“I always forget. You don’t like being touched.”

He turned his head and glanced at the performers. I wanted to say it wasn’t dislike, just surprise. But he was already looking elsewhere. Suddenly, a faint smile appeared on his lips.

“Since it’s already late, shall we have some fun before we go?”

Raonhiljo looked deeply into me, who had once again closed up. His thoughtful eyes fixed on me without wavering.

“Are you perhaps worried?”

I lifted my head abruptly. I was flustered because I knew very well who he was referring to.

“No, I’m not.”

I quickly shook my head. The thought of being worried about the Black Martial Emperor. Maybe it was understandable to be misunderstood? But just because such a thing happened in one night, it didn’t mean I was anything significant to the Black Martial Emperor. The Mongrel I despise wouldn’t suddenly be on par with my concubines overnight, and the murderer wouldn’t care if I disappeared or not. Right now, he was probably forgetting the taste of the meat he had just sampled and comfortably drinking with his concubines.

People brushed past me without a second glance. My eyes remained fixed on the ground. I had rinsed my mouth in the stream on the way, spitting out enough to make me nauseous. Yet, the smell of blood and semen seemed to linger in my mouth. Any slight opening of my mouth felt like this nauseating smell and all things foul would escape and taint him. It seemed like it would corrupt the fresh scent he possessed.

He was… different from Orumun.

“Commemorative jacket for the 30th victory of His Majesty the Black Martial Emperor! We also sell books depicting heroic tales!”

“Oh! I couldn’t buy it last time, so I’ve been eager for it. Give it to me!”

“I’ll take a book too!”

The voices extolling the faded victory echoed through the city. Admirers of the emperor crowded in without a moment’s respite, creating an atmosphere of a colossal empire that seemed impenetrable. I wanted to rest my exhausted body and soul in a clear forest. I wanted to swim in the middle of a pristine sea. Now the sun had completely set, and the merchants were beginning to light lanterns in their stores one by one. My eyes, resembling the clear forest, waited patiently for an answer. I bit my lower lip and nodded slightly.

Only then did his eyes curve pleasantly.

Engulfed by the gentle current of the crowd, I walked aimlessly. I was looking for a nearby tavern with Raonhiljo, who was complaining about hunger. He had persistently tried to take the burden I was carrying.

“Let me take that.”

“It’s alright.”

“You look tired. It’s worrying me.”

“It’s alright. I just didn’t get enough sleep.”

Raonhiljo clicked his tongue at my stubbornness but didn’t relent and took more than half of the burden. I glanced at Raonhiljo’s profile with anxious eyes. If there was any suspicion due to my absence, how would Raonhiljo handle it? Despite the uncertain actions over several hours, he would probably speak in my favor. Maybe I was using him. I had promised to keep things clear of entanglements. A weight heavier than the burden in my hands pressed down on my stomach.

“Ah, there it is.”

Following Raonhiljo’s gesture, I saw a cozy soup house across the street. We entered, found a suitable place to sit, and I removed the hat that had obstructed my view. The owner glanced at me with a peculiar look but took the order. Soon after, the soup was served, and Raonhiljo, apparently quite hungry, started eating the soup voraciously. Noticing that I hadn’t touched the food at all, he asked the owner to get some raw meat and fresh liver. Initially, the owner frowned at me, but after Raonhiljo handed over a generous amount of money, he quickly went and brought fresh meat.

Other patrons were wide-eyed at his attire, which seemed out of place. They guessed he was from a noble family, but it seemed they didn’t know who he was. Even the young women serving food stole glances at him, blushing. Seeing him, oblivious to the situation and focused on filling his stomach, I felt an urge to pull my hat down low to cover my face.

“I heard things weren’t this bad between us before.”

I glanced at Raonhiljo, taken aback by the sudden remark.

“Talking about you, if you had been born back then, life might have been easier than it is now. Those were times when people of all races mingled together.”

Unable to think of a suitable response, I nodded in agreement. The time Raonhiljo was referring to was so distant that I hadn’t even been born yet, and even if such times were to come again, it seemed irrelevant to me. Monsters who settled in lands untouched by human feet were criticized as backward creatures. Yet, those lands were rich in resources and fertile soil, making them targets for exploitation in no time.

I looked at Raonhiljo’s profile. His hair swayed in the muggy breeze, and the sweat on his smooth forehead was visible. His straight nose and honest mouth gave him a dignified appearance, but his long, slit-like eyes looked sharp. Beyond his striking appearance, one could immediately tell someone who had received immense love. He must have learned upright thinking within his mother’s affection.

If Raonhiljo became king, would such days come? The paradise-like world I had only seen in my imagination. A day when all life throws off its boundaries and lives harmoniously together. But reality was far from such imaginations.

I was also hungry all day, so I quickly devoured the raw meat. A strange gaze seemed to tickle my forehead. When I looked up, Raonhiljo was staring at me, eating raw meat while pausing from his soup. He gave an awkward smile and resumed his meal. I continued eating as well.

“It was like this when I first saw you.”

I looked at Raonhiljo while chewing the meat I hadn’t finished.

“When I first saw you, that is. When I went to collect taxes in Imae Village, you were buying meat from the butcher nearby. I thought you were from the Imae Tribe because you looked unusual, but it turned out you were mixed blood.”

If it was when I first saw him, it must have been about two years ago. I knew Raonhiljo came every month to collect taxes, but I didn’t remember when he started or where we first met. Seeing my unfamiliar face, Raonhiljo gave a faint smile.

“You had such peculiar eyes. I think that’s why you stood out more.”

“Perhaps because I’m different from the usual Imae Tribe.”

“It wasn’t just because of the color, but you looked like someone who would calmly accept the end of the world without any regrets.”

Raonhiljo chuckled and continued.

“I thought you were a funny kid, even though you were young. I was curious about what was going on in your mind, and I wanted to hear your voice. But I missed the chance several times. Even after that, and after that… you always kept your distance like a wary stray cat.”

The damp night breeze blew.

“You’re always like that. Whenever someone approaches a little, you take a few steps back. It seems like you would disappear without a trace.”

“Like mist,” Raonhiljo murmured softly as he gazed into the dim void.

“I am… not mist.”

His slightly weary eyes fixed on me.

“I’m not as weak as you might think, My lord. I won’t flee recklessly or be swept away.”

My mother always said that mixed blood inherits the strength of both sides, possessing a tenacious vitality that adapts well to any environment. I am a Mongrel with a vitality more persistent than anyone else.

“So, I will be far more resilient than someone like My lord, who is so obedient.”

I offered a slender smile as I made my point firmly. His deep eyes, fixed on me, slightly curved. I started eating again and noticed the wildflower pot by my knee. Hesitating, I extended the pot towards Raonhiljo.

“I picked this up while passing by. It’s nothing special, but I thought you might like plants.”

“To me?”

For a moment, Raonhiljo’s eyes widened in surprise.

“A wildflower.”

His lips curved into a smooth, graceful line that I had never seen before. Raonhiljo took the flower and gazed at it for a long time. If I had known he liked flowers so much, I would have given it to him sooner. After a while of staring at the flower, he resumed eating and abruptly asked.

“When will the portrait be finished?”

“About two months, I think. I will make sure not to slack off on My lord’s portrait either.”

“Oh, two months. Two months, huh…”

Raonhiljo frowned slightly. That two-month period was also the end point of my plan. I hoped to fulfill my promise with Raonhiljo within that time. That was the only way I could repay my debt to him. I made a mental note and focused on filling my stomach. Raonhiljo, lost in thought, absentmindedly ate while occasionally glancing at the wildflower.

***

After a quick meal, we left the soup house. With a bit of the money I had borrowed from Raonhiljo left, I bought some traditional drink as a treat. The bustling market was filled with dust kicked up by people, but there was much to see. To aid digestion, I decided to just walk around. Raonhiljo tried to stop me from putting on the hat, but it was even more uncomfortable.

At that moment, a group of about ten soldiers from Baedal Kingdom started stopping passersby and questioning them before quickly moving on. The sudden intrusion of the soldiers made people tense and hold their breath.

“What’s going on?”

I had no idea either. Raonhiljo, with his sharp eyes, watched them and then grabbed my shoulder, leading me in the opposite direction. As the soldiers disappeared in the distance, the market regained its usual vitality. In the center of the city, performers were still performing. People eagerly watched the rare entertainment, making the most of the spectacle.

“Ladies and gentlemen~! I will now begin the heroic tale of the Black Martial Emperor!”

As the elderly clown loudly struck the metal plate, all eyes focused on him. The young women with decorated hair stood on their tiptoes, trying to get a better view. Even the child who had been crying and throwing a tantrum stopped crying. Raonhiljo, for a moment, wore a bitter smile. Clowns in clumsy fabric armor performed tricks to draw attention. Among them, the most elaborately dressed clown, with a Jincheonroe made of wood draped over his shoulder, pretended to shoot at the enemy. The enemy fell one by one, screaming and collapsing. The crowd cheered and clapped wildly at every gesture of the Black Martial Emperor.

Wow—!! The audience gave a thunderous applause and cheers to the valiant clown. Coins rained down on the clowns. The middle-aged clown quickly gathered the money. No one hesitated or got upset when he suddenly thrust a bowl towards them; everyone willingly emptied their pockets as if offering tribute to their emperor. Soon, the bowl was overflowing with money like blood.

Why… why are they so devoted to such an emperor? My anger surged, making my vision blur. The faces of the clowns and spectators twisted grotesquely. My mind cleared slightly when a hand suddenly wrapped around my arm.

“Shall we leave?”

Raonhiljo stiffened his expression as he looked at me, pale-faced. At that moment, the clown came up to us, thrusting the bowl towards us with a broad grin, revealing his white teeth.

“Please, with your noble attire, be generous. My lord.”

“Oh, just a moment.”

Raonhiljo rummaged through his sleeves. Without realizing it, my gaze was drawn to the clown’s face. There was no trace of shame or regret for his begging situation. Why… My sharp voice burst out.

“Why are you so infatuated with the Black Martial Emperor? Do you really regard him with such reverence?”

Raonhiljo stopped his hand abruptly and looked at me. The clown blinked his confused eyes, then quickly responded with a broad smile.

“Of course, it’s natural to respect him! He commands lightning with his gaze and possesses miraculous power that shatters the earth. And he has never lost a battle, not even once, with 30 victories in 30 battles!”

“Hey~! You forgot one thing! He makes dozens of concubines scream every day! A great man who rules the world should at least be capable of that!”

A man nearby interjected, and everyone laughed. But their tone and expressions held no sarcasm. Instead, there was an excessive degree of blind faith and admiration. This was not someone who deserved to be worshipped like a god. If people knew the truth about the Black Martial Emperor, they would surely be horrified. I wanted to pour cold water on their enthusiasm. My lips trembled faintly.

“That’s a lie. The Black Martial Emperor is not the divine being you think he is. He is, in fact, just an ordinary person.”

No, he was a far worse monster. He was someone who should never have been born with the guise of a human. My voice grew sharper.

“He might be someone who treats his own bloodline as inferior and shows no mercy even to his loyal subordinates who have served him for a long time. How can you be so sure of him?”

The clown’s face gradually turned red and blue with anger.

“So what do you want to say?”

“Are you blindly worshipping and respecting someone without even knowing what kind of person they are? Disregarding human ethics…”

“Human ethics, my foot!”

The clown scoffed.

“In these chaotic times, don’t you know that if I don’t eat, someone else will? In this fierce world, if you become a solid shield and provide for the people, you are the greatest emperor, and that’s all that matters…?!”

“Committing sins that humans should never commit, just because of that…”

“You’re talking like a dog passing by! Where’s human ethics when you’re starving, and where’s patriotism? The country that feeds you well is truly your country, and the king who feeds you is the best, isn’t that right?!! No matter how benevolent a king or emperor is, who would care for a king who lets his people starve to death?!”

“Why are you causing a scene? Who’s making such a racket?!”