Toxin

“Uh… Your Majesty, could you please give me your sword first?”

“Oh, right. Disarming a criminal is a basic step, after all. One moment.”

As Raonhiljo handed the sword strapped to his waist to a soldier, he suddenly changed direction, slipping out of the soldiers’ encirclement, and in an instant, charged at the Black Martial Emperor, swinging the sword. The Black Martial Emperor reflexively stepped back, and Raonhiljo used that opportunity to grab my wrist. The soldiers, caught off guard, hurriedly launched an attack. Despite their numerical advantage, they were no match for Raonhiljo. The armored and armed soldiers fell away one by one. As Raonhiljo pulled me along, a fierce bullet stormed into the dirt ground, causing us to freeze on the spot. Through the hazy smoke, the Black Martial Emperor bared his teeth viciously.

“Let go.”

Raonhiljo shielded me behind him and firmly faced the enemy.

“I refuse.”

At that moment, something in the Black Martial Emperor’s eyes seemed to snap.

Without hesitation, he began firing at Raonhiljo. Raonhiljo pushed me away and threw himself behind a nearby tree. Bullets slammed into the tree trunk with deadly precision. The Black Martial Emperor slowly closed in, tightening the noose as he fired. Raonhiljo, meanwhile, agilely hid behind trees and the corner of the wall, steadily reducing the distance between them. In a flash, he lunged at the Black Martial Emperor, turning the gun barrel away with his sword and launching a fierce attack, forcing the Black Martial Emperor to split his attention. Raonhiljo’s sword became riddled with holes. His dangerous, almost acrobatic maneuvers left my hands slick with cold sweat.

Just as I was anxiously watching them, I faintly heard someone’s voice. Lowering my gaze, I saw Chieftain, who I thought was already dead, lying limp with his eyes and horns completely destroyed, his body riddled with holes. With his last bit of strength, his lips moved. I bent down close to his mouth to hear his words.

“What… What did you say?”

His broken, faint voice barely reached my ears.

“Your… mother… came to see… me… She asked if there was… an antidote… I told her… there wasn’t… I didn’t want… to tell… her…”

My mother had gone to him? I had never heard of such a thing. The Chieftain gave a faint smile.

“…It seems… we, father and son… have been thoroughly… captivated… by you and your mother…”

It was like a bomb going off in my mind. If my ears weren’t deceiving me, the Chieftain had… with my mother… Before I could even process it, he started coughing violently, spitting up blood. As he desperately moved his lips again, I strained every sense to catch his final words.

“…Poisonous plants… and antidotes… are often… part of the same… plant…”

His one remaining eye slowly moved, as if gathering all the strength he had left. Then, it stopped, gazing upward at something. For a moment, the sounds of gunfire, clashing swords, and the screams of people all disappeared. Only the sound of my racing heartbeat filled my ears. My trembling hand followed his gaze. There, I touched something hard and sharp—my white horn. My eyes widened, and my breath caught.

“It… must… be yours… Only… yours will work… Nothing else… matters… You must… escape…”

Before the Black Martial Emperor notices… Somewhere far away… somewhere his hands cannot reach… Run far, far away… Tears of sorrow, earned through years of hardship, welled up in the deep wrinkles of the Chieftain’s face. His one remaining blood-red eye stayed locked on my horn until the very end. The Chieftain fell completely silent. No sound of breathing remained. My face was drenched with cold tears.

Somewhere, the sound of metal clashing rang out. Despite bleeding profusely from wounds caused by swords and bullets, the Black Martial Emperor and Raonhiljo continued to relentlessly attack each other, determined to end one another. Raonhiljo blocked the gunfire with his sword, narrowly dodging the bullets. A bullet zipped through, slicing through Raonhiljo’s shoulder like a saw blade, causing blood to spurt out the other side. At that moment, the muzzle of the gun pointed directly at Raonhiljo’s forehead, and the trigger was pulled.

But the Black Martial Emperor’s finger froze momentarily. His body stiffened without warning. He clenched and unclenched his right hand, but it wouldn’t move as it should. The Black Martial Emperor quickly retreated and slung his rifle over his opposite shoulder. Just as he was about to fire again, Raonhiljo swung his sword downward. In one swift stroke, the blade severed the rifle’s barrel.

Before the broken piece of the rifle hit the ground, Raonhiljo dashed forward and stabbed the Black Martial Emperor in the shoulder. The Black Martial Emperor’s dark eyes bore into Raonhiljo. Then, as if it was nothing, the Black Martial Emperor grabbed the sword lodged in his shoulder and yanked it out. To everyone’s disbelief, he snapped the blade in half with his bare hands. Now armed with only the body of his gun, the Black Martial Emperor launched a furious assault on Raonhiljo, who fended off each strike with his half-broken sword. Once again, a fierce chase ensued. The relentless barrage of attacks finally drove Raonhiljo back against the fortress wall. At that moment, a powerful gust of wind swept through the area like a typhoon, sending everyone staggering. The eyes of the bodyguards, who had been watching from the sidelines, lit up.

“Eungryong?”

Barely managing to lift my gaze, I saw two massive eungryong flying toward us through the purple twilight. These creatures were far larger than the ones I had seen in the forest before. Their fierce faces were covered with iron helmets, and their backs were fitted with saddles large enough to cover several square meters. Riding one of them was Narsha.

That was when the tide began to turn. With their attention diverted to the eungryong, a few surviving captives took advantage of the distraction to make their escape. Soldiers rushed in to pummel and trample them mercilessly. The bodyguards, too, sprang into action. Usa drew his sword and leaped onto one of the low-flying eungryong, engaging Narsha in a rapid exchange of attacks as they probed each other’s defenses. Suddenly, Narsha pulled a cord, and the eungryong shot up into the sky. Usa lost his grip and tumbled down, rolling toward the edge of the fortress wall. Unsa and Pungbaek clicked their tongues in frustration before sprinting toward Narsha, but the eungryong was already high in the air.

“Your Majesty!”

At Narsha’s signal, the remaining eungryong swooped down. Raonhiljo, dodging a blow from the Black Martial Emperor, leaped onto its back. The wind kicked up by the two giant eungryong was terrifying. Corpses already strewn across the ground were sent flying into walls and trees, and soldiers were swept away, screaming as they were caught in the gale. Lying flat on the ground, I clung to the earth with all my strength when suddenly, someone grabbed my hand tightly. I barely managed to lift my head, and there was Raonhiljo, reaching down from the back of the eungryong.

“Quick, get on.”

His eyes were firmly locked onto mine. I couldn’t even begin to guess what he intended to do. Before I could say anything, he cut me off.

“Don’t ask because I have no idea what I’m doing either. Just get on.”

With one hand gripping my arm, he extended the other towards me. Blood dripped down his forearm, soaking into the hand that held mine.

“I could just ignore your decision and take you by force, but I’m injured, so if you decide to resist, there’s not much I can do.”

It seemed like he was telling me to come of my own will. Beyond Raonhiljo’s shoulder, the red sunset stretched endlessly. Amidst this storm of chaos, the air around him was strangely calm. My goal… right, I remembered now. The reason I came here, the reason I had to survive. My life’s purpose was to witness the end of the Black Martial Emperor. If I left now, all my efforts would be for nothing. My purpose? His future? And after that…?

“What are you overthinking for so long? Just come along already.”

Before I could sort out my thoughts, he pulled me up without hesitation. Something soft hit my hip, and his strong arm wrapped tightly around my waist.

“My lord…!”

Just as I was about to say something, he snapped the reins. The eungryong’s wings flapped, creating a massive whirlwind that sucked in the surrounding air with ferocity. Dust filled the air, obscuring my vision, and the courtyard became a chaotic scene of confusion and panic. In that moment, a low voice cut through the haze like mist.

“Bring them here.”

Despite the overwhelming winds, the Black Martial Emperor stood his ground, his eyes locked on us. Pungbaek handed him a new

rifle, and slowly, he aimed it at us, floating in the sky. His finger with deliberate purpose moved towards the trigger. His black attire and hair whipped violently in the wind, creating a fearsome sight. The clicking of the trigger echoed, like a countdown.

“I said, bring them here.”

He was like a demon drenched in blood. Raonhiljo stood unfazed, meeting his gaze.

“I’m taking them now. No need to thank me for watching over them till now.”

The Black Martial Emperor’s eyes flashed blue.

Bullets grazed Raonhiljo’s head and leg. Even with the rain of gunfire, Raonhiljo never let go of me. Narsha abruptly pulled the reins, causing the eungryong to change direction.

“Go now! I’ll catch up!”

“What are you doing?! Stop with the useless actions!”

“Just go! We’ll be out of range soon!”

Narsha’s eungryong charged fiercely at the Black Martial Emperor. At that moment, a deafening explosion erupted, nearly shattering my eardrums. Raonhiljo quickly pushed me down and shielded me with his body. I could hear bullets piercing the eungryong’s thick hide, followed by his brief grunt from above.

“My lord…!”

I tried to turn my head to check on him, but he pulled me closer, tightening his embrace.

“It’s okay. Don’t worry. I’m behind you. We’re fine…”

His soothing voice made my throat tighten with emotion. His voice, laced with pain, along with the faint scent of gunpowder and blood, sent waves of unease through my chest. The eungryong flapped its wings, soaring into the crimson sky. In an instant, we were far away from the land of despair.

Jincheonroe’s bullets screamed through the sky, but they couldn’t reach us anymore. Before I realized it, I found myself glancing back. Narsha was no longer in sight.

In the strange, fiery twilight, I saw him standing on the blood-soaked ground. The Black Martial Emperor, hair whipping wildly in the wind, was chasing us with a relentless determination. His cold beauty, cloaked in madness, was surreal, almost like an illusion. Horrified, I tore my gaze away and shut my eyes, blocking everything out. The fear that flooded every bone in my body was pure, unrelenting terror.

Suddenly, an eerie voice echoed in my mind:

***

“Ah… Mm… Your… Majesty… Ha…”

“You’re so wet here. The way your lips tremble like a flower bud, it’s as if you’re begging me to hurry and put it in.”

Raonhiljo slid his hand under her robe, gently caressing her ample breasts that overflowed from his grasp. He leisurely rubbed his member against her pubic area, and with each of her gasps, her generous breasts peeked out from beneath the disheveled robe. She was wearing nothing but the robe, which she had initially grumbled about when he requested it. However, the pleasure that hadn’t fully satisfied her earlier had now heated her up beyond recognition.

“Your Majesty… Ha… Mm… Hurry… Hurry, please…”

“Hurry with what? You want me to thrust in deep and stir things up? Or do you want to devour me quickly?”

She shot a sharp glance at the vulgar man, then nodded, panting heavily. Raonhiljo licked her slender jaw sensuously as if to praise her and slid his member into her hot interior. As she raised her hips, trembling uncontrollably, the tight grip of her inner walls made him exhale heavily as he quickly moved his hips. Her moans echoed throughout the room.

“Ah…! Hah… Ah…!”

While thrusting, he spread her legs wide. The traces of pleasure she’d already released clung to her thick pubic hair. It wasn’t a particularly beautiful sight, though his lips smiled while his eyes squinted slightly.

“Next time, how about you shave it? I’d like to see how it looks when my cock enters more clearly.”

“Y-Your Majesty…!”

She finally screamed, flushed red. Raonhiljo’s cheerful laughter shattered the air.

***

After the intense session, she caught her breath and sharply slapped Raonhiljo’s shoulder.

“Can’t you do something about your filthy mouth? Last time, you said my entrance was getting loose, and you made my poor child cry her eyes out! Even if this is a place where we sell our bodies, some of us are still delicate!”

“Is that so? I thought it was because you liked it so much.”

“When I first met you, I couldn’t believe someone like you even existed! Looking so refined, yet…!”

Raonhiljo chuckled as he rubbed his shoulder where her handprint lingered. Her name was Aran, a courtesan he occasionally visited at the most luxurious brothel in the capital of the Baedal Kingdom, Sinsi. The courtesans here were famed for their beauty, and Aran was the most popular among them. Having been a regular client for quite some time, they had a relaxed familiarity. After giving her a light kiss, he wiped himself down with a wet cloth. Usually, the courtesans handled the cleanup, but he didn’t like leaving that to them. After dressing himself, he left a generous amount of gold coins on the table.

“Leaving already?”

“I have to set out on a journey early in the morning. Sleep well.”

She sat up, naked, her expression visibly downcast.

“It’s okay. The money…”

“I can’t leave without paying. You worked hard dealing with a vulgar man.”

“It’s really okay. But when will you come again?”

It wasn’t just a polite question; Aran looked genuinely displeased. Her attitude was troublesome. Though fresh faces were appealing, he usually preferred visiting courtesans who knew him well. Like Aran had mentioned, many courtesans were put off by his crude talk, and it took time and effort to get them accustomed to him. Yet once they were, they often began acting possessive, thinking they had become his woman.

Aran, in contrast, had always been clean and professional, which was why he often sought her out. But recently, her attitude had begun to change. If that was the case, there was no reason to return to her. Without giving an answer, he left behind only a fleeting smile and exited the room. Outside, one of his drunken friends was dancing bizarrely with a courtesan. Leaving his friend behind, Raonhiljo headed back to the castle. After that, he never found out whether Aran had shaved her pubic hair for him.

***

On the day Emperor Sawara passed away and Garon was confirmed as the next emperor, Raonhiljo thought nothing more or less than this:

. Before the emperor’s death, the contenders for the throne were him and Garon. Those who didn’t know better often dismissed Garon as a frivolous playboy based on his appearance and behavior. But in truth, it was Raonhiljo who had a more carefree nature. He had no ambitions for power and was utterly sick of the palace’s endless intrigues. He had little desire for material things, nor did he care for what wasn’t his. He’d always believed that keeping things moderate, rather than putting everything on the line, brought far greater rewards. At least, that’s what he thought back then.

***

When Raonhiljo turned 25, it was the season when the autumn harvest had just ended, and the people’s granaries were full of grain. It was also when Garon was notorious for frequent wars with neighboring countries and imposing harsh taxes. Raonhiljo willingly chose the position of tax collector. Though it was a low-ranking post, it allowed him to leave the palace and enjoy the travels he so loved. His mother, normally gentle and quiet, had been the most strongly opposed. Despite her usual docile nature, she was well aware that in the brutal survival of the court, only power could guarantee one’s safety. Yet, as always, she respected her son’s wishes.

For two days, he visited large and small villages and tribes, collecting tributes. His next destination was Imae Village. As he approached the village outskirts, a stench beyond description hit his nose. It was the distinctive smell of raw meat, which the Imae Tribe consumed regularly. It didn’t particularly disgust him, but it was certainly something one had to get used to. Garon held a deep disdain for the Imae Tribe, but Raonhiljo, on the contrary, rather liked them. He liked their horns, their mysterious red eyes, and their healthy, bronze skin.

The members of the Imae Tribe, who had already received the news, came out to welcome the Baedal Kingdom officials. A dozen or so officials and soldiers unpacked their belongings at the specially prepared accommodations. Raonhiljo decided to inspect the village before resting from the journey. As expected, Wuga and three armed soldiers followed him.

“You must be tired; why don’t you rest? You can go alone if you prefer.”

“It’s dangerous to go alone. These people are so ruthless, they might turn on you at any moment. Who knows, they might even resort to cannibalism.”

Raonhiljo smiled faintly and turned his steps back.

“We’re the most dangerous ones here.”

***

The once-declining Baedal Kingdom now wielded a power that pierced the sky. The people, backed by their strong kingdom, flaunted their superiority with an arrogance that seemed boundless. But as one person laughs, another must cry. As Raonhiljo walked, young children running around saw him and scurried away in fear. Even the maidens chatting away turned pale and made way.

“See?”

He muttered to himself, offering a faint smile. Being from the Baedal Kingdom, he was accustomed to such attention. It was always filled with fear, tension, and hostility. Although he preferred not to attract uncomfortable attention, he had no intention of stopping his walk. He hoped merely to not be seen as food to them and continued walking.

“What’s this nonsense?! Are you saying I’m cheating now?!”

He stopped at the coarse expletive. In front of the butcher’s shop, a burly man and a smaller boy were arguing. It was more of a one-sided assault, with the boy standing firm against the man’s aggressive demeanor.

“Just a few days ago, it was fifteen nyang per kilogram, so why is the meat only half now for the same price?”

“So?! Are you saying I’m overcharging for a few pieces of meat?! I helped you not starve, and instead of being grateful, you treat me like a fraud?!”

“I’m paying the fair price, so what is there to be grateful for? Shouldn’t it be you who should be thankful?”

The boy’s voice had a strangely stimulating tone. Though still immature, it had an uncharacteristic maturity and calmness. It would have been nice to see his face, but his hair covered most of it, making it hard to discern his appearance. The butcher, speaking in an exaggerated tone, shoved the money into the boy’s hands.

“Oh dear~! A distinguished guest like you wouldn’t find our cheap meat to your taste, so don’t come here again! I won’t sell to someone so filthy, so take your meat back! Can’t you bring it out? Who do you think you’re teaching, you rootless mongrel?!”

The man raised his voice with veins bulging on his neck. But the boy neither accepted the money nor returned the meat. Raonhiljo frowned at the man for verbally abusing someone so much younger. The tribe members who were merely observing seemed puzzled. They all appeared accustomed to this situation.

“Does this mongrel not understand? I said hand it over!”

The butcher, unable to contain his rage, grabbed the boy by the collar and shouted at him. Raonhiljo, unable to watch any longer, approached to intervene.

“Hey. Stop it.”

When he roughly pulled the man’s hand away, the boy stumbled and fell to the ground. At that moment, the boy’s face was revealed as his hair was pushed aside. Raonhiljo involuntarily let out a gasp. The boy looked no older than seventeen. His black hair, which reached down to his lower back, contrasted sharply with his pale skin, red lips, and purple eyes. It was a strikingly intense combination of colors. The unexpected visual stimulus left him momentarily breathless. The boy, expressionless, picked up the fallen meat. The butcher clicked his tongue in disgust. An elderly man who had been quietly standing behind clicked his tongue in disapproval.

“Just ignore it. My lord. The boy is suffering from his karma. It’s a karma that prevents him from finding a place anywhere. A truly pitiable child.”

A truly pitiable child… The old man muttered, gazing into the void. Karma that prevents him from finding a place anywhere. Raonhiljo mulled over the old man’s words. It was clear at a glance that the boy was not a pure member of the Imae Tribe. He had heard that the tribe was very exclusive, with strong bonds among them, implying some form of implicit coercion and agreement. The old woman did not provide further details, and as an outsider, Raonhiljo had no intention of delving deeper. The moment he turned his head, the boy’s presence had completely vanished, as if he had evaporated. Raonhiljo stood there for a while, as if in a trance.

***

Whenever Raonhiljo visited Imae Village, he would often watch the dances of the dancers or the awe-inspiring fire display of Imae – a surprisingly amazing sight with flames as small as leaves flickering from fingers. The day after being treated generously by the Imae Chieftain, he began the official tax collection. He split into two groups: two Wuga members, five soldiers, and two Imae Tribe guides, setting out early in the morning.

“Such menial tasks could be handled by us.”

“No. Don’t worry about it. It’s fun.”

His enjoyment wasn’t an empty remark. It was quite pleasurable to see a home that had long been childless finally welcoming a baby, or to receive freshly laid eggs from an old woman, or to meet other tribes and hear about their simple lives. After touring the village all morning, they entered the last house. The thatched house situated behind a fence was far from the village and appeared incredibly shabby. Raonhiljo touched the dried soybean paste hanging from the porch pillar.

“Since you are from the Baedal Kingdom, come out quickly!”

When a soldier shouted, someone walked out through the shabby door a short while later. Raonhiljo froze with the soybean paste in hand. It was the boy he had seen at the butcher’s shop the previous day. The boy gave a stern look to the soldiers occupying the yard.

“As you can see, we have nothing worth offering. We barely manage to get by for a meal.”

“Then bring out any iron pots, cauldrons, or silver spoons.”

The boy sighed softly.