Toxin

It felt as though my skull was being pierced by kindling. The pain was incomparable to the slashed ankle—it was hell. The soldiers slammed my writhing head against the floor, holding it firmly in place. The sword dug deep into my nerve cluster once more. The nerves, a focal point for all sensations, delivered every possible agony vividly. The pain was so excruciating that I let out a bitter laugh. I think I may have smiled a little.

“Hurry up and tell me! What is the antidote?! Is it something like ginseng or a dragon’s reverse scale?! Or is it human blood?! A heart?! What is it?! What kind of filth have you done to His Majesty?!”

Her eyes, bloodshot with rage, were glistening with tears.

“Fine! Yes, I love him! I’ve gone mad with it!! How could I not be enchanted by him?! If I could save His Majesty, I would do anything! For over ten years in the palace, I’ve only had eyes for him! And just when I finally gained his favor, someone like you, a mere

, a lowly

like you…!!”

“Argh…! Ugh…!!”

Veronjubille clawed at my wrists with her nails. I bit my lip hard enough to stifle a scream. The soldiers’ restraint grew more violent, and I struggled with all my might. Veronjubille had already lost sight of her original goal, thrashing about madly. One, two, three times—the blade viciously tore through the base of my horns. The pain of each nerve snapping was so unbearable that I wished for death. The powder of my shattered horns scattered like snow, settling on the stench of blood that filled the air. Just as Oga’s hands began to blur along with the searing pain, the sword that was crashing down on my horns suddenly stopped.

“Aaagh…!!”

The sound of bones snapping pierced through my consciousness. A tall shadow loomed over our tangled forms. In an instant, everyone’s faces paled to a deathly shade. At the end of the shadow stood a tall man, none other than the Black Martial Emperor. Unsa and Usa, who had followed him, could not hide their shock. The soldiers restraining me froze before scrambling to bow, pressing their noses to the ground. The Grand Chamberlain hurriedly followed suit.

“O-oh, Your, Your Majesty…!! We, we heard you would be here tomorrow…! If we had known in advance…!”

The Black Martial Emperor slowly surveyed the soldiers, the blood-soaked room, and finally me, crumpled in a corner. His black eyes drifted over my wrists and ankles, soaked in blood, one by one. Veronjubille had already gone pale as death, paralyzed with fear.

“G-Garon, Your Majesty…”

The name’s owner didn’t even spare her a glance. Veronjubille’s face grew even whiter, her eyes darting wildly, unsure whether to hide or confess everything.

“I-I heard…! That wretched demon definitely knows, but he’s pretending not to! Your Majesty’s judgment is clouded by the poison right now! Please, leave this to me…!”

At last, the Black Martial Emperor’s gaze shifted to Veronjubille. He gently cradled her face, his voice low and languid.

“I didn’t know I’d worried you this much. You must have agonized a lot before going this far.”

Like a cat soothed by its master’s touch, she immediately relaxed, rubbing her voluptuous body against him, entranced by his soft voice, forgetting the cruel man who had twisted her arm earlier.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I was so frightened… I thought I’d go mad with worry. We must hurry and find the antidote…!”

His movement was too swift to follow. The hand entangled in his robes was severed in one clean cut. She didn’t even have time to scream. The sword swung again, this time toward her neck. Her head tumbled to the ground. The head, wrapped in her own hair, rolled grotesquely like a tangled thread. Limbs, wrapped in silk, fell before me. Her delicate arms and legs sprayed blood across the flesh of others, splitting the skin open in countless places. The swiftness and stillness of it all left no room for reality to sink in. The silence only shattered afterward.

“Argh…!! Aaah…!!”

The soldiers threw down their spears and fled. This time, a flash of light sliced through the Grand Chamberlain’s thick belly, white fat spilling from the gaping wound. Screaming, he crawled toward Unsa. There was no time to breathe. The air filled with the shrieks of fleeing soldiers, and flesh sprayed in all directions. One soldier, cornered, instinctively stabbed at the Black Martial Emperor’s arm. The dog that had bitten its master froze in terror. The emperor’s eyes flashed, and in that instant, the soldier’s head hit the ground. Vomit rose in my throat as I gazed at the mangled corpse. A ghastly hellscape of cries and dismembered bodies filled the room. In the now-silent chaos, I froze, not daring to breathe. His feet, stained with blood and guts, stepped closer.

“Bring the physician.”

The voice of the slaughterer was calm, tinged with mild excitement. Usa rushed out, leaving Unsa to haphazardly kick aside the scattered body parts before closing the door behind him. The Black Martial Emperor stood in place for a while. I, in a daze, stared at the sword glistening with blood and flesh. Its hunger, like a wild beast, hadn’t yet been sated.

I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the glassy surface—a pale ghost of a demon. I quickly wiped away the tears, more shameful than my bloodied state or disheveled hair. As I clutched the bloodstained sword, filled with pure malice, his hand lifted me in one motion. He placed me on a cushion, pulling my head to his sturdy shoulder. Beneath his open robes, a wound from a dog bite was visible. His ragged breaths remained uneven. Suddenly, the shackles that bound me were loosened. He wrapped fabric around my torn wrists and ankles, staunching the bleeding. The searing pain from the pressure burned through my nerves.

“Ugh…”

I let out a groan, clutching onto his robe. His movements were quick but deliberate. His face, cast in shadow, looked unusually tired. He must have overturned Hanaru Mountain. I’d heard he was supposed to arrive tomorrow, but he must have rushed here, desperate because of the antidote. Yes. You’re only human, after all—you must be afraid of death too.

Suddenly, he buried his fingers in my hair, tilting my head toward him. I froze. I thought he was going to kiss me. At that moment, I could only think that. But instead, his hand touched my horn. Every hair on my body stood on end. I hurriedly brushed his hand away. His gaze bore into my forehead. Instinctively, I covered my horn, shielding it from his scrutiny. The tip of my horn, now cracked and broken, still pulsed with the unbearable remnants of the agony.

How much does he know? Could he have already found out about the antidote? Chieftain said only a handful of people knew about it. Even for the Black Martial Emperor, it would be too unfair if he had already surpassed that. I don’t know. I don’t know anything anymore. My mind felt like soggy paper. He, who had been staring at me expressionlessly, sliced some liver and offered it to me.

“Open your mouth.”

The Black Martial Emperor pressed hard against my tightly closed mouth. I tried to swat his hand away and escape his reach, but he grabbed me and threw me down before I could react.

“I didn’t realize you were such a complicated creature. You spread your legs easily, yet assert your pride in subtle ways, even starving yourself for days out of some flimsy sense of honor. Is it because Raonhiljo satisfied you so well? Or was there some kind of special promise between you two?”

His gaze twitched with a cold blue glint.

“But stop provoking my imagination any further.”

He looked like he was about to explode. In an instant, his sword shot up. The cold gleam slashed past my ear, sending a terrifying chill down my spine from my head to my back. A suffocating silence followed. Slowly, I opened my tightly shut eyes, and as the darkness before me brightened, I gasped in horror. A small piece of flesh lay cleanly severed on the bedding—it was the Black Martial Emperor’s finger, the very same one I had bitten off earlier. That was the finger I had taunted him about. I stared at the severed finger, cut cleanly at the base, without moving. Without a hint of emotion, he picked up the bleeding digit and brought it to my mouth. The lukewarm sensation sent a shiver through me.

“This is a special gift. So open your mouth before I change my mind.”

I barely managed to move my eyes to look at him. His face grew icy in response. My jaw was forced open by his crushing grip, and as soon as the small piece of flesh entered my mouth, I felt my body go cold.

“No…!!”

I twisted violently and spat it out. I tried to crawl away desperately. A shadowy figure grabbed my ankle and dragged me back, pinning me down. I dug my nails into him, trying to bite, but he crushed my upper body and held my head still. His sharp, furious gaze pierced me.

“Has your taste changed? Or is there a particular part you want?”

“Ugh… No! I don’t…!! Let me go…! Let me go!”

“Just chew and swallow whatever I give you, or do you want to die?”

His breathing, agitated and wild, engulfed me like a raging tide. The eyes of the brutal beast before me had turned into a desolate wasteland. I was barely holding onto life.

Panting, my lungs felt ready to burst. The horrific pile of corpses around me filled my vision, and I nearly vomited from the sheer horror. Enough…! Enough…!! I shook my head frantically. The stench of blood was suffocating me. In this madness and decay, I felt as if I were losing my mind. My vision blurred, and I struggled to take in the metallic breaths that escaped my throat. His face hardened as he looked down at me. A large hand tilted my chin back, allowing me to breathe. He then backed away, loosening the pressure on me. Slowly, I opened my eyes, inhaling the air greedily as my breathing finally began to slow. He brushed my sweat-drenched hair aside and bit my lips, gently soothing the tender skin with his tongue. His movements were slow and almost regretful. As he steadied his breath, he spoke.

“I’ve called off the construction.”

I thought I’d heard him wrong. I had to have heard him wrong. After all, he had put so much effort into the construction for so long—there was no way he’d abandon his kingdom. I blinked in disbelief, staring at his lips. His tightly closed mouth opened again.

“The fortress won’t be built, and Hanaru Mountain will remain as it is.”

Just for that… just for something so small…

My lips moved meaninglessly. He gazed at me with his now-calm eyes.

“Once everything’s settled, I’ll see for myself what incredible treasure lies hidden there.”

There was no way… no way I’d go with someone like you. My jaw trembled uncontrollably. I swallowed the hot air rising in my throat and forced it down.

“Why…?”

Even though you know I’m a spy, even though you know I’m trying to kill you…

“I told you. I’ll do whatever it takes to get what I want.”

Open your mouth. He brought his finger, still stained with blood, toward my lips again. It blurred before my eyes. His slender eyebrows furrowed slightly when he saw me stubbornly keeping my mouth shut.

“I said, I’ve called it off.”

This time, I won’t be fooled. This has to be another one of his vile tricks to extract the antidote. It has to be…

“I said, it’s called off.”

His gaze twisted slightly in confusion, failing to understand my tears. His hand cupped my chin, lifting it as his eyes followed my tears—down my eyes, my cheeks, and to my trembling lips. His finger traced the path of my tears, wiping them away before suddenly pulling back. His eyes grew cold.

“Is this not what you want either?”

Hmm? His low voice asked, coldly observing my terrified expression. He wanted to see me groveling in fear, imagining the day when I’d be cornered at the edge of a cliff, begging for my life before the spirit of my mother. He wanted to exact his revenge thoroughly, without ever explaining why. Cruelly. Brutally. But he was so infuriatingly composed.

I already knew. When he took Jincheonroe, when I leaped from the cliff in madness, when Imae’s poison was revealed—I knew that he wasn’t always lying. The truth he revealed always came after I had fallen to the lowest point. He was a twisted man like that.

He had given up his kingdom.

His severed finger bled profusely. He had truly gone mad. There was no other explanation. If I had spoken of his tongue that day, would it have been his tongue lying there on the bedding instead of his finger? If I had said his leg, would he have become the one-legged emperor? If I had said his heart, his head, his eyes…

If I had said the stars in the night sky…

If I had said the pearl in the depths of the sea…

If I had said the shimmer of heat rising from the fields…

His blood-soaked hand blurred before my eyes. I brought his hand to my chest, trying to stem the flow of blood. His gaze lingered on my cheek for a long time. The blood continued to spill uncontrollably, and my body trembled beyond my ability to stop it. My entire focus was on his hand. He, too, was completely absorbed in me, both of us forgetting the original reason for our actions, lost in this moment. In this strange time, the only thing I could register was his cold, relentless gaze fixed on me, and the mingling of our breaths. And then…

“Your Majesty… you’re not in your right mind. You’re not… thinking clearly…”

He knew what would happen when our bodies intertwined…

With his other hand, he slowly and provocatively caressed my nipple.

The heat of his erection pressed firmly against my center, as if it were ready to penetrate at any moment.

“How could I not?”

His black eyes half-closed, filled with intense desire in the confined space.

“How could I not claim you?”

His deep voice spread over my lips.

If we… had not met under such twisted circumstances…

Tears quietly fell onto the hands intertwined between us. Those cold droplets echoed in my head, in my heart, and shattered the taboos we had set between us. I wanted to believe that the unsettling sound was just a byproduct of this surreal, dreamlike space.

I don’t even remember what I did after that. I pressed his hand tightly to stop the endless flow of blood and called for help. Someone rushed in, and though chaos ensued, the Black Martial Emperor remained indifferent. He stubbornly kept trying to feed me his severed finger. The blood continued to flow endlessly, and the severed finger grew paler and paler.

In the end, I gave in. I promised I wouldn’t refuse either meat or medicinal broth. Only after I had sworn this several times did the Black Martial Emperor finally hand his wounded hand over to the crying physician. The physician stitched the severed flesh with an odd treatment, and miraculously, the finger reattached itself.

The room, once filled with the dead, returned to a state of precise order. As one part of that order, I sat on the bedding, obediently eating the food offered to me. The Black Martial Emperor wielded a dagger, skillfully slicing the meat into neat pieces. His other hand, heavily bandaged, held the meat in place. Suddenly, I realized something I hadn’t been aware of before.

“Your hand… Is the paralysis better now?”

“As you can see.”

His precise, unhesitating movements as he sliced the meat were clear proof. He had been paralyzed, but now… Why? As I blinked in confusion, he offered me a thin slice of meat. I opened my mouth and accepted it without resistance.

“What will you build there?”

He pushed the meat into my mouth.

“Nothing. I’m going to leave it as it is.”

I chewed the raw meat, its texture rich and tender. I still couldn’t believe it. He had given up his kingdom, which he had worked on for so long, just like that. And the reason… was me. Unconsciously, I placed my fingertips on his bandaged hand. The warmth seeped through the bandage and into my fingers.

“Do you feel pain, Your Majesty? When your fingers are severed or when you fall from a cliff and your body shatters… Do you feel pain?”

The Black Martial Emperor raised his dark eyebrows slightly.

“Do you remember all the people you’ve killed? Whether they were from the Imae Tribe or someone else…”

He possessed a remarkable mind, so perhaps he remembered every soul that had perished at his hands with sharp clarity.

“For example… a soldier guarding some post, a court maid of a certain rank, or someone from some tribe…”

If you were truly human, if you had even the tiniest speck of guilt…

“Do you feel sorry for them? Do they ever come to mind…?”

His dark eyes settled on mine.

“What exactly are you trying to say? Don’t beat around the bush.”

“I just want to know.”

I want to know if you’re human too, if you might have emotions…

The Black Martial Emperor gazed at me with an impassive expression. As his tightly closed lips parted, his gaze suddenly shifted away. It seemed best not to continue this conversation right now. Today had been an exhausting day, and I just wanted to rest. The Black Martial Emperor didn’t press the matter further. He positioned my head against a thick pillow and made sure my injured hands and ankles were secured so they wouldn’t move.

He gently pressed my cheeks, opening my mouth so he could feed me more meat. His lips barely touched my cheek. He continued feeding me diligently, like someone determined to fatten me up. As if this simple act brought him the same kind of satisfaction he got from the thrill of killing. My heart, strangely unsettled, refused to calm down. He watched my lips as I chewed, then slipped his fingers into my mouth to toy with my tongue. As he savored the slickness, he spoke lazily.

“They say that if you give someone a name, their soul becomes tied to it. Is that true?”

I felt as if I’d been thrown into muddy water all of a sudden. His mocking words from not long ago flashed through my mind. It was only natural for my voice to turn cold.

“They say that if the one receiving the name rejects it, no matter what you do, it will never be engraved.”

The Black Martial Emperor looked at me with an unreadable expression.

“You’re strange. You barely flinch at any other kind of insult, but when it comes to names, you get so defensive.”

The life without even a name was a reflection of my misery and my vulnerability. It was a deep-seated resentment and longing. I wanted to ask if he could ever understand the pain of a life where even existence was denied—of having to finally accept and abandon the yearning for something one was never supposed to desire. How could someone like him, who had everything, ever know that kind of anguish?

“I no longer… desire anything. Being tied to someone’s soul feels unsettling. It may sound romantic at first, but if we could understand each other’s every thought and feeling, it would feel like being under constant surveillance. And if one of us ever wanted to part but couldn’t, that would be a nightmare for both. I imagine it would hurt when names are etched into the eyes. It seems eerie…”

I whispered quietly, only loud enough for myself to hear.

“I don’t need… anything like a name anymore.”

I repeated it like a vow, trying to convince myself, still unable to fully let go of that lingering attachment. I looked up at his steadfast face with determination.

“So don’t ever insult me with a name again. Next time, I’ll really bite you.”

He twisted his lips into a crooked smile.

“See, I told you, I’m scared.”

As Black Martial Emperor pushed a piece of meat into my mouth, I chewed, and then suddenly, he pulled my head close and sucked on my lips. His soft tongue swiftly snatched the meat from my mouth with precision. The chewed meat returned to me, now mixed with the taste of his teeth. I quickly chewed the meat with my sharp canines before he could take it back again. The sound of tearing meat blended with the unfamiliar taste of blood. His eyebrows twitched slightly in front of me. As the slow-moving flesh curled around my tongue, I gradually realized it wasn’t raw meat. I tilted my head slightly, avoiding his lips. His dark eyes locked onto me with an unsettling intensity.

“Your life is only spared as long as you behave within my realm. Outside of that, feel free to imagine the worst. Only the most brutal methods, the ones you can come up with. Whether you’re eating, sleeping, or with me inside you, imagine it constantly.”

His wet tongue traced the curve of my lips, sucking my lower lip hard. I stared at the flickering lantern as it swayed. It seemed as if its light would melt into my pupils. He barely separated his lips before asking.

“Can you eat more?”

I gasped lightly and nodded. Suddenly, a dark intensity flickered in his eyes. His saliva-coated lips gleamed with lust. Just as I thought he would give me more meat, he spread open my robe. He savored both of my nipples, licking up to my neck and jawline. His fully aroused member pressed against my entrance. He thrust in all at once. No! As I recoiled in shock, he pushed even deeper. Despite the Imae poison, he showed no hesitation. Anxiety washed over me. It was me who felt trapped, cornered.

What exactly was he doing to me? What were we doing right now? I couldn’t grasp anything, completely swept away by the sensations he gave me. His burning gaze pierced through me. The dark, deep colors only grew more intense. Like a spell, they spoke countless words.

“If you receive a name from someone else, I’ll gouge your eyes out.”

His fingers intertwined with mine.

“So just wait. I’m thinking…”

It was a blood-soaked warning. It was also a confession that tugged at the heart. His kisses, which melted my soul, poured down. For a moment, I saw a demon endlessly fluttering within his black pupils. Trapped in that space, the demon was crying. My tightened walls gripped him as if to melt him. His lower half, trapped inside me, shook violently. He concealed the secret of unreal pleasure and focused entirely on this toxic act. He craved and sought me as if it were the last time.

***

Even after the Hanaru Mountain issue was settled, Black Martial Emperor remained incredibly busy. Whether he was aware of it or not, he didn’t mention the Imae poison. However, something had changed after we returned to the castle. He, who had always been so leisurely, now had the sharp eyes of a bird of prey, constantly on edge, as if preparing for an unexpected ambush.

Black Martial Emperor, who had visited earlier in the morning, had left again to attend to official duties. Perhaps because of the injury to my ankle, he no longer shackled me. After drinking the medicine the court lady provided, I looked at my reflection in the mirror next to the bed. Unwrapping the bandages revealed the barely-attached white finger. As I gingerly touched it, a splitting headache erupted.

My mind was restless, different from the physical pain. Nothing could hold my attention all day. For some reason, Unsa had not shown himself for days. It was like the saying that something always goes missing when you need it most. Growing anxious, I eventually stepped outside. The soldiers immediately tried to follow me, but I promised to return quickly and left the palace courtyard. My movement was restricted due to my injury, and Black Martial Emperor’s warning weighed heavily on my mind, but there was something I absolutely needed to ask Unsa.

Why had I never confirmed the most crucial fact that started all of this? I had never doubted it, firmly believing it could only be him. But what if, by some one-in-a-million chance, it wasn’t? What if Black Martial Emperor hadn’t killed my mother…?

It was too risky to ask him directly. With the smallest clue, he would surely piece together the whole puzzle. Not yet. Not yet.

I passed several side gates and entered the palace courtyard. The glaring sun stung my eyes. It had been so long since I had stepped outside. From a distance, a group of officials was huddled together, discussing something.

“Didn’t I say this day would come someday?”

“His Majesty gave the right punishment! With the defenses strengthened, there’s no need to be so frightened. It’s just an egg trying to crack a rock.”

“Who said I was frightened?! I’m only saying that if the rumors are true, this won’t be an easy matter!”

“How in the world did they get their hands on that?! It’s a mystery!”

“Still, who would have imagined His Majesty would abandon the castle construction?! He hasn’t even given a reason, so who can we turn to for answers…?”

The two officials noticed me and fell silent. Casting uncomfortable glances in my direction, they quickly moved away. It had been so long since I had gone outside that I didn’t even know what was happening. The number of armed soldiers had noticeably increased, and like the guards at the palace, they carried Jincheonroe. I had heard it wasn’t given to just any soldier, so I found it curious. This strange tension was one of the changes that had occurred since Black Martial Emperor returned.

I turned and walked sporadically for a long time. I asked passersby about Unsa’s whereabouts, but they all shook their heads. As I walked, scanning the deserted pavilion, I faintly heard the sound of a scuffle. I turned my head and caught sight of two figures entangled behind the pavilion, partially hidden by the leaves.

“Move, move! You bastard! Not here… uh… ahh…”

“Hah… Then what am I supposed to do? I haven’t even gotten a glimpse of Hyung-nim’s body for days. And now that that clueless Pungbaek Hyung-nim is back, if not now… hah… what do you expect me to do when you’re trembling like this? Hnng…”

“Ahh… Stop…! Hngh…”

Unsa bit his lip, trying to stifle the moans threatening to escape. Usa’s hand was busy moving inside Unsa’s half-pulled-down pants, while he ravenously kissed his panting Hyung-nim’s lips. Usa’s movements became more urgent, and the wet slapping noises echoed through the pavilion’s corners. My brows furrowed on their own. Though I had urgent questions for Unsa, I figured it was best to wait. Just as I was about to quietly hide behind a pillar, Unsa’s eyes met mine, startled by the violent thrusts. His eyes widened in shock. With all his strength, he shoved Usa away and quickly fixed his clothes.

“Hey, Hyung-nim, please, just once… can’t you just…!”

“Shut up and fix your clothes properly.”

Despite his harsh words, Unsa’s reddened eyes betrayed his true feelings. Only then did Usa, noticing me, lazily adjust his outfit without much surprise.

“It’s remarkable how you don’t even bat an eye at scenes like this… quite like him, isn’t it?”

Ignoring his brother, Unsa approached me.

“You’ve overturned His Majesty’s grand construction project with a hunger strike. How do you feel?”

“…”

“The cost alone was enough to establish a small nation. All of it, now gone. The opposition from the ministers isn’t trivial, so His Majesty will be quite busy for a while. Though, it’s unlikely any of their objections will change anything.”

“I’m not well-versed in the ways of the world, but I understand that building a fortress requires a vast amount of resources.”

“Well, that’s a relief.”

Unsa exaggeratedly shrugged his shoulders.

“If you’ve had your fill of watching, go back to the pavilion quietly. Things are unsettled enough as it is.”

Looking at Unsa, I finally spoke up.

“I have a question.”

It wasn’t just about being surprised at the Emperor’s sudden decision. It was to reconfirm a fact I had never once doubted. To ask the witness of that night.

“When did His Majesty start killing the Imae Tribe like that? Gouging out eyes, cutting off horns… when he annihilated the tribe…”

“Why ask about that all of a sudden?”

I had heard that about a third of the Imae Tribe had their eyes and horns damaged. It seemed impossible that His Majesty handled such a large number on his own. Our house was in the most secluded area. If it had been one of the guards or a member of the Gwuya Nine Masters combat unit… My pulse quickened. I looked directly at Unsa again.

“Did His Majesty do all those things personally? Those rituals… Did you or others assist in it?”

“Us? Gouging out eyes and horns?”

“Yes.”

“Does it matter? What difference does it make who did it?”

It couldn’t be the same. How could I not feel the difference between someone being killed by a neighbor, who used to exchange friendly greetings, and being struck down with a curse or pelted with stones?

“Please, tell me.”

Unsa and Usa both stared at me without any change in their expressions. My heart raced faster. Finally, Unsa parted his thick lips to speak.

“Ritual or not, we don’t do such things to the dying. Even the dead deserve at least minimal respect. The soldiers feel the same.”

Ah… My tense shoulders relaxed. As I thought… Of course… There’s no one else but him who could do such a thing… Sometimes I foolishly forget. I forget the expression on his face, how thrilled he becomes when indulging in the slaughter. My fingertips trembled slightly.

“You’re really persistent. How many times do we need to tell you for it to sink in? Don’t attach grand terms like ‘rituals’ to it. If you’d seen the look on His Majesty’s face when he gouged out the Imae’s horns and eyes, you’d stop asking these questions.”

“How could I ever understand?”

Their cold gazes bore down on me as I replied in a frosty tone.

“How could I ever understand someone who skins, slices, and mutilates the living while enjoying it? How could I comprehend someone whose mind should never have existed in this world?”

Unsa’s eyes wavered momentarily before he nodded in agreement.

“So, why bring this up all of a sudden? Was there someone special among the Imae Tribe who was massacred?”

I stared blankly at the ground, speaking mechanically.

“When you lose your family, your kin… all in one night… it’s only natural, isn’t it…?”