Go on a date... with her?! What is she even saying?! Okay, wait—calm down. Stay sharp. She's just a colleague from the Association, that's all.
"Something wrong? Why'd you go quiet?"
"Ah, um… What kind of date are we talking about here?"
It must be some kind of business meeting. Obviously…
"A regular romantic date. Just you and me. A date."
She's insane! What kind of girl says stuff like that so casually?!
"You know how things are these days. It's hard to find someone special. You're a man, aren't you? So why'd you go silent?"
"W-what? I just… I don't even know how to respond."
"I'm kidding! Relax."
What's wrong with this girl? She's going to drive me insane!
"Miss Hizumi, please don't joke like that!"
"Oh, and here I thought you were inviting me! Look at you, mister stallion."
I cleared my throat and put on a serious face.
"That's not funny! So what kind of 'date' is it, really?"
"A rendevzous. I want to talk to you about a few things. Plus, we'll make it in time for breakfast. I haven't eaten all morning, you know."
"I see. If it's important… then I'm in."
"Perfect," she said, straightening her jacket.
Meanwhile, Association Chief Kang Su-won sat exactly where he had before, in the conference room. Standing beside him was his assistant—a calm, fair-haired man in his thirties.
The Chief's thoughtful gaze was laced with severity and conviction.
"What do you think," Su-won asked, "how well did the conversation go?"
"My Chief. I overheard everything from outside the room. I believe Lee Ki-hyun is still naïve. We need to pay close attention to Miss Mikage, and start surveillance on Sir Lee."
"You think so, Yuhwa? Then it seems our thoughts align."
"Of course, Master Kang. You think logically. At the moment, the best move is to bet on Sir Lee. He's potentially the most powerful weapon we have against the demons."
Won Yuhwa's voice was calm and steady, his eyes reflecting steel.
"I see…"
Su-won's thoughts began to wander.
Sir Lee, huh? He's no different from his father. Lee Yeon-ho had those same confident eyes—and I hated it. How quickly time flies… Young Lee, you claimed you were telling the truth about your battle with that demon… but I can feel it. You lied. If Yeon-ho had a son, does that mean…
A memory of my mother's gentle, charming face resurfaced in Su-won's mind. Her flowing hair, her soft lipstick, her rosy cheeks—she was the reason he was once a frequent guest at our house, before I was even born.
Placing a large hand over his head, he muttered:
"Yeon-ho, you piece of shit… Now I have to clean up the mess you left behind."
"Sir? What was that?"
"Pay it no mind, Yuhwa. But if… if he really has it inside him…"
Su-won stopped mumbling midway, though Yuhwa heard everything. He didn't fully understand it—but he was already piecing together theories.
Twenty minutes later, Hizumi and I had arrived at a small restaurant and were waiting for our food. We sat by the window.
A gentle breeze played with her long, brown hair, and her light-colored eyes were locked on me.
The waiter brought our breakfast, and we slowly started to eat.
"So," she pointed her finger at me, "you mentioned your fears. What was it like—your first encounter with a real demon?"
"Well… how should I put it…"
With everything that had happened, I still wasn't sure if I could fully trust her. She felt like a fox—clever, sly, ready to bite if I let my guard down.
"It was absolutely terrifying. Those things are becoming incredibly smart."
"That's my biggest concern," she nodded. "My job is to identify demons that have taken human form. My ability—my sniff—has been with me since birth. They say being unique like this is a one-in-a-million chance. Guess I hit the jackpot. But there's a price."
Her eyes froze on her coffee cup.
"Hizumi? Are you alright?"
"This job is brutal. Sorry, I spaced out. I need my glasses."
She took out a glasses case from her purse and put them on. They suited her perfectly—almost like they were made just for her.
"Just by pointing a finger and saying 'yes,' I've sent hundreds of demons to death. Evil or harmless, didn't matter. The stress from this job used to make me sick for weeks. My health's been deteriorating year after year. The first sign was my eyesight. I suppose… that's the cost of my gift."
I stayed silent, letting her speak.
"Sometimes… you even feel sorry for them."
"W-what? Why?"
"Because not all of them wish to harm us. But I've always been honest with the military. Even when they begged me for mercy, bound and crying in front of me, I still pointed. And then they were executed. They looked just like humans."
"That's horrible. It must've taken a toll on you."
"Not really. I was a patriot since I was a kid. Serving my country felt like an honor."
"And now?"
"Now?" she smiled faintly. "Now the smell of demons makes me sick."
So she told me. Just like that. A secret I'm certain she's never shared before. That's why we're here—in this quiet little restaurant, and not the Association's cafeteria. She trusts me. And besides, she thinks I'm human.
Human…
"Well, I shared my secret. Now it's your turn, Ki-hyun. I know there's something bothering you. And I doubt it's just about trusting others."
Her soft eyes drifted toward the window, where the bustling city outside came into view.
"Hm?"
"You're not being trusted, are you?"
Following her gaze, I noticed a man in an Association uniform and dark sunglasses.
"He was watching us… That man—he's from the Association!"
"Yes, Ki-hyun. Looks like you'll have to try harder if you want their trust. Now, tell me—what's eating you?"
"Well, I… During the battle with the demon…"
"The Icon of Death, right? That thing is an entirely new phenomenon. And clearly powerful."
"When I fought him, something awakened inside me. A strange voice told me to take his power. Then I heard a woman's voice. It happened while I was unconscious."
"Sounds like the demon gave you a real beating."
"But it felt real. Since then, I've gotten much stronger. I can feel demonic blood flowing through my veins."
"Wow… If only I had demon powers, maybe I could answer your question. But I don't think you should tell the hunters about this. You're one of a kind, after all."
"Hey, Hizumi… Am I really human?"
The girl didn't flinch. She didn't seem surprised or offended. She simply looked at me with calm eyes.
"Yes, Ki-hyun. You are human."
That evening, at Hwan Sora's home.
Her room was wrapped in darkness, lit only by the moonlight filtering through the curtains. She lay motionless on her bed, her lifeless eyes staring into nothing.
Her black hair lay scattered across the pillow in tangled strands.
This world shows me no mercy, she thought.
Again and again, she recalled the moment the child—once a demon—stood before her. Her comrade had pushed her aside to protect her, and the child killed him without hesitation or remorse.
That boy was human… I could never kill a child…
Sitting up, she leaned against the wall. She didn't know what to do anymore. She no longer had the strength to carry out her duty. Doubt had taken root in her heart.
She regretted the death of her comrade.
And those thoughts slowly pulled her emotions into the abyss.