Toxin

It had been four days since escaping Naragaon Fortress. Despite the exhaustion from the arduous journey, sleep eluded me. I would drift into a light sleep only to wake up almost immediately, spending most of the night awake until dawn. The insomnia that had returned made my head throb.

I moved my tired legs and washed off the accumulated fatigue and sweat in the water before stepping outside. Approaching the bed to change clothes, I began to unpack my bundle. As I pulled out a clean set of clothes and prepared to repack the bundle, a blood-stained piece of paper peeked out from the very bottom of the neatly arranged clothing. Was it Raonhiljo’s? I didn’t want to meddle with someone else’s things, but the familiar look of the paper and the strong smell of blood oddly urged me to investigate. I carefully unfolded the paper, which had dried blood clinging to it.

As soon as I checked inside, I froze while holding the paper. The paper depicted Jincheonroe from various angles, with intricate details of the interior. It was unmistakably mine. The fact that Raonhiljo had brought this in the midst of all the chaos, and that he had intentionally brought it along, was hard to understand. As I stared blankly at the paper, I heard footsteps from a distance and quickly folded the drawing back into the bundle. At the same moment, the door opened, and Raonhiljo entered. He set down his heavy load in a corner of the room.

“Bored, were you? I was delayed because I had to find a horse. It’s one that’s less noticeable and still functional.”

“And the physician?”

“I visited there too. The wounds have healed quite a bit.”

“…Yes, that’s a relief.”

I glanced at the bundle where the Jincheonroe drawing was hidden as I leaned against the cupboard. Why did he bring that? Why… The questions hovered on the tip of my tongue but couldn’t be spoken. It was a taboo between us, an unspoken agreement of this journey. My lips stiffened involuntarily.

“Shouldn’t you be saving up for the long journey ahead? If you keep spending money like this, even on the room…”

“I felt like you hadn’t slept well for days, so I wanted to put you in a comfortable place.”

“I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about me.”

A man with the vigor of a powerful ink painting approached me as I sat by the cupboard. He enclosed me with his arms and leaned against the cupboard.

“You don’t look well. I bought some tea and scented candles that are good for insomnia. Can you let it go just this once?”

Even with his smile, I couldn’t feel at ease. I wondered how much turmoil was in his mind…

“My lord. This place…”

“Don’t like this room, do you? Then we can move to another one…”

“My lord…”

“People aren’t as sharp as you think. If you dress nicely and stay in such places, they won’t suspect you easily.”

“Still, there’s always a chance…”

“There’s no truly safe place anywhere. We need to leave early tomorrow morning, so you should get some rest.”

He seemed to have no concrete plans, but I knew he was acting within a thoroughly planned scope. However, imagining his reckless actions and the subsequent consequences left me with a feeling of despair as if I were rolling off a cliff. The anxiety was almost unbearable. What about Raonhiljo? Lady Yehui? Narsha? And the relatives? Narsha must have been captured by Black Martial Emperor. She would surely be dead. Even if she had miraculously survived, she would be subjected to horrific torture. In ways too cruel for me to imagine…! Climbing the steep hill, my breath became ragged. Unable to endure any longer, I broke our taboo.

“My lord… I am a spy. Do you know what happens to spies who are caught, how severe the punishment is? Your mother… and the knight…!”

Raonhiljo slowly withdrew the smile from his lips and caressed my cheek.

“What are you talking about? Narsha will be safe. She is much stronger than we think. And your mother is already in a safe foreign land.”

“Black Martial Emperor will find a way to locate her… If it’s him…!”

“No. He won’t find her because she’s hidden in a place completely out of reach. Narsha will escape safely and join us at the promised destination.”

No…! It can’t be…! I shook my head vigorously. This was merely our wish. A killer would never heed our wishes. And Raonhiljo? From a prince of Baedal Kingdom to a fugitive overnight. What about his status and secured future? It seemed that Black Martial Emperor would soon bring a storm of blood over the mountains. The fear I had been holding back surged like a tidal wave.

“It’s not too late even now. Just go back! If you apologize for the mistake, being a Hyung, even Black Martial Emperor…!”

Raonhiljo’s face gradually grew cold.

“I don’t want to do that.”

“Please! I’m fine as I am, so you should go back quickly. I don’t deserve for you to… abandon everything for me…! I’m… I’m…”

I had sold my body to Orumun for years. I had mingled countless times with Black Martial Emperor. I trembled at the pleasures he gave me. Regardless of the reason, the indelible stigma bound me. Raonhiljo enveloped my trembling cheek with his hand and met my gaze. His eyes were somehow angry.

“To think you saw yourself that way… Your mother would come back from the afterlife with a broom if she heard that. This is my choice. I’ve thought about it for a long time, and I have no regrets.”

Raonhiljo paused to close his lips and then looked directly at me again.

“I’ve never thought of you as dirty, not even for a moment. If you just come to me, I wouldn’t care what you look like.”

“My lord…”

I could only weep numbly.

“You’re… cold and transparent. Cleaner than anyone.”

His eyes had sunk to a depth that was hard to fathom.

“I want to give you a name.”

An eternal silence seemed to flow as if time had stopped for a moment. The air itself seemed to hold its breath. I could only blink at words that felt unreal. His gaze overlapped again.

“May I… give you a name?”

The voice, carefully carving each word, shook me more than any words I had ever heard. To be given a name… Did he even understand what that meant? For an Imae, having someone else give them a name was akin to a clear confession. It was as if two distinct spirits were bound together to feel one another… like an eternal soul bond. Yet now, this person was offering to give me a name.

“My lord… if that happens… with me…”

“I know. They say spirits become bound. That’s why… I wanted to give you a name. I wanted to inscribe a beautiful name on these violet eyes.”

With my eyes wide open, I could only shed tears. The moisture that fell from my eyes clung to Raonhiljo’s hand, which was resting on my chin. His expression reflected in my tears was slightly anxious and restless.

“Will you grant me this wish?”

His pleading eyes resembled the confession of a bashful young man. My whole body felt like it was covered in fever, and my throat burned. My vision blurred again. He was a person as honest and calming as a green forest. Being with him felt like a comfortable haven. It made me feel even more sullied. A mongrel, a left-over… the filth discarded in a clean forest, which shouldn’t belong there. It was better to leave the pure forest as it was, pushing it away and watching idly. Yet he had thrown everything away for me.

I… was hoping. I hoped he would inscribe a real meaning onto me, not just as a mongrel but as someone with true value… that someone would give me a name with all their heart… If, at the end of my life, someone offered to give me a name… and if it were now… if it were Raonhiljo…

Tears poured out uncontrollably. In my blurred vision, I could still see him waiting solemnly. My head was ringing, and I could barely make sense of things. I moved my wet lips but couldn’t say anything. It felt as if everything would scatter like a daydream if I spoke. I simply closed my eyes and nodded. Raonhiljo pulled me close, holding me tightly in his embrace. A low voice rippled over the nape of my neck.

“When we get out of here, let’s have the naming ceremony. Not in a street or an inn, but somewhere proper…”

He clung to me with all his strength as if trying to keep the fog from escaping. He promised it over and over, and I wept endlessly. Even at the edge of despair, he remained noble like bamboo. He called me pure. He said he would give me a name. It was a sacred vow I had never received before.

***

“Ha… ha… ugh… Wai—…”

“Ha… ha…”

Raonhiljo gently touched my upper lip with his tongue and sucked on my lower lip. He swallowed my saliva-soaked lips and lightly bit my tongue.

“Ha… your mouth… so slippery and soft, it feels like it will melt my tongue. Saliva flows endlessly like spring water…”

Except for the thin robe barely hanging on my arms, I was practically naked. He sucked on my hardened nipples and stroked my abdomen with his dry palm. His gaze wandered over my fully exposed upper body. He slowly traced my shoulders, collarbone, and nipples, which were tangled in my hair. I shuddered at his damp, intrusive gaze.

Raonhiljo hurriedly removed his clothes, leaving only his trousers. His muscles wrapped tightly in bandages wriggled with animalistic desire, and the focal point of collision was about to explode like a volcano. He explored every inch of my body with his hands and licked down to my waist and navel. He took my genitalia into his mouth, squeezed hard, and then applied pressure with his tongue to push it into the opening. My body arched from the distant stimulation. As he slipped his fingers into the opening, my inner walls vibrated, enveloping his fingers.

“Ah…! Haa… stop… my lord…”

I pushed him away in a hurry, but he wrapped his arms around my thighs, pinning me down. Each time his fingertips brushed inside, my waist convulsed violently. Because of his injury, I couldn’t wriggle hard, and I struggled to endure the stimulation he provided. In the end, I instinctively tightened my thighs, and the flesh inside bit down hard on his fingers.

“Ha… ha… there’s so much moisture in your soft inner flesh. It feels like I’ll swallow and suck it all up…”

Obscene words poured out. He continued to spout filthy and obscene remarks with such a pristine face. I never imagined he could be like this. The heat of shame rose rapidly in me. Raonhiljo, reaching his limit, urgently raised his body and positioned his genitalia at my entrance. Whether it was from his or my entrance, everything was soaked. His eyes, heated by desire, were intense. There was not a trace of leisure left in them.

“Will you call me master just once? Try saying, ‘Master, please take me,’ just once…”

I lifted my eyes sharply and bit my lips.

“Just once… hmm?”

Raonhiljo gently stroked my abdomen in rhythm with his irregular breathing. Sensual stimulation made my waist arch. My hair scattered in the air, sticking to my sweat-soaked body. Saliva glistened provocatively over my high-rising chest. Raonhiljo, panting heavily, pulled my head towards him and swallowed my lips in one go. The intense stimulation made my breathing uneven. The moment the sharpened tip of his weapon entered me, my body tensed up. Mixing bodies with another species leads to addiction. Raonhiljo was no exception. Suddenly, a face flashed across my dazed mind. It was an assault I hadn’t even anticipated. My momentarily dizzy head turned into a heavy fog.

“Ah, no…! That…”

I pushed him away in a panic and twisted my waist. His face, soaked with excitement from the intense reaction, had become stiff beyond recognition. For a moment, I lost my senses and completely forgot where I was and what the situation was. I let out a dry, raspy voice.

“My lord…”

Raonhiljo was aware of the symptoms of Imae’s poison because I had told him about it. And he also knew the precursor symptoms shown by the Black Martial Emperor… Raonhiljo gripped my hands tightly, and his aroused member lingered around my entrance as if it might penetrate any moment.

“Ha… ha… Can’t you just put it in and take it out for a moment? Just rub it?”

He turned his flushed face away. His lips moved, but he didn’t give an answer.

“Ha… this is maddening.”

He muttered harshly. Raonhiljo took my hand and pulled it down.

“Then at least do this.”

Though he pretended to ask for permission, his tone was more like a command. Raonhiljo immediately started rubbing his member against mine. His damp breath poured into my ear. My nape twitched involuntarily. As he thrust his waist aggressively, he thrust his tongue into my mouth and stirred it around. He rolled his tongue, sweeping strongly over the sensitive mucosa beneath.

The movements of his hands became more urgent. His member was rubbing against mine with such friction that it left traces of pleasure, but mine showed no reaction anymore. He seemed to be completely lost in intense excitement. As his abdomen touched my buttocks, his member stiffened. He desperately bit my lips and positioned his member at my entrance.

“Ugh…!”

Simultaneously, he ejaculated hot semen into my entrance. Raonhiljo, with a grimace, reached his climax and collapsed on top of me. The semen he expelled leaked through the gaps between his fingers. He caught his breath roughly, licking my chin, then glanced down and stared at somewhere. My member had been flaccid for a while. Knowing that I hadn’t climaxed yet, Raonhiljo repositioned himself. His now heated member rubbed against mine. As he frantically rubbed, he lost control again and tried to force the tip into the opening. I quickly stopped him, pushing him away by the shoulders. Raonhiljo grimaced, apparently having touched a wound, and I flinched in response.

“It’s too much for someone in my condition.”

“Then stop already…”

While I bit my lip in frustration, he placed his lips on my nape. A deep sigh melted into my skin.

“I need to find out about that damn antidote.”

***

Tonight, sleep eluded me for another reason. My chest wouldn’t calm down. Raonhiljo, with a serious face that made it hard for me to speak to him, scribbled something and pondered deeply before eventually falling asleep first. His solid chest, in a regular rhythm, touched and then left my shoulder. I moved my eyes to watch him, feeling distressed. I couldn’t fully accept his desires. The poison of the Imae kept coming to mind, and the Black Martial Emperor was evoked. Overwhelmed by the unbearable fear, I barely managed to regain my composure and found my body chillingly cold.

Raonhiljo dismissed my anxiety as if it was nothing. I was grateful he didn’t press or rush me. I always felt indebted to him. I wanted to repay him somehow, but that was not coming easily. I hadn’t yet spoken to him about the antidote. Once the opportunity was missed, it was hard to bring it up again. Even if there was an antidote, I couldn’t risk Raonhiljo’s life relying on it alone. I didn’t know how much to use or what would happen afterward. I quietly got up to avoid waking him.

The inn was quiet as all the guests had fallen asleep. I took a short walk in the spacious courtyard, looking out at the faint stars. The summer breeze brushed against my clothes and hair.

Even though I was on the run and heading towards an uncertain future, I thought it was fine to be in this state for now. I had staked everything on revenge, believing it was the only thing sustaining me. But now I had another reason.

What name should I give? What name… Was there something he had in mind? He seemed to be deeply contemplating earlier. Since it was a name I would hold for a lifetime, he would have to be cautious. I was half hopeful and half worried that, if my mixed blood meant the name wouldn’t be inscribed at all, I wouldn’t be able to create an Imae flame either.

The warm breeze eased the overheated body, cooling the intense excitement. The darkened leaves fluttered like a woman’s hair. A chilling sensation enveloped my entire body. If someone discovered me while wandering around, it would be a disaster. Just as I was about to end the short night’s walk and return, I heard a faint sound of footsteps on the leaves. My body stiffened, and I perked up my ears, but the footsteps disappeared.

Was it a person? A wild beast wouldn’t be here… I gathered the scattered laundry around me, covering my head and face with it. As I hurried along, the footsteps that had vanished quickly approached. I turned my head to find the owner of the footsteps, but the surroundings were pitch black, making it hard to find any sign of life.

As I cautiously took a step back and turned my body, I let out a scream when I confirmed the identity of the figure in front of me. Standing with the moonlight behind him was unmistakably the Black Martial Emperor. His eyes, burning with the will to live in the pitch-black darkness, emitted a chilling aura. His cruel mouth twisted.

I barely breathed like a decapitated corpse. I needed to flee, but my body, gripped by fear, wouldn’t move. I staggered my legs as I fled. Suddenly, I was grabbed by the nape and thrown roughly to the ground. Before I could regain my senses, Jincheonroe was shoved into my mouth, and I let out a scream without mercy.

My brain exploded, creating a burst of flames.

This time, a hot explosion consumed my insides. My ambushed body collapsed to the ground, and brain matter leaked from my shattered skull. The murderer stomped on the remains of my body, walking over and tearing apart my legs. A hot, blade-like object was driven into my opening. It lashed violently, pouring out something and then pulling away. The weapon spewed a viscous liquid, soaking my shattered body.

The killer showed no mercy and dug into my intestines again. My disheveled hair shook roughly before recoiling from the liquid spurting from the hole. Suddenly, through the blood-mixed vision, I saw a body sprawled on the ground. It was Raonhiljo with only his torso remaining. His arms and legs were strewn about on the dirt floor, so damaged that they were unrecognizable.

In that moment, a forgotten truth clawed at my spine. Orumun, and my mother… All those who had wanted to name me had lost their lives to the Black Martial Emperor. The murderer had killed them all.

The screams were swallowed entirely by the killer. The tongue embedded in his mouth sucked up flesh and blood. His eyes, red with lust and malice, bound me and twisted my waist savagely. The interior walls clinging to his member were mercilessly crushed. The killer gathered the flowing brain matter and chewed it savagely. Leaving his member embedded, he used a dagger to gouge out my eyes and severed my horns. His movements were as mechanical and thorough as when he executed Orumun, like a primordial crustacean…

In that moment, the killer’s semen exploded, spilling out in streams. The purple eyes, now rolling on the floor, witnessed the entire scene.

And then, the strangely flowing darkness.

***

“Hah…! Hah…!”

I breathed in the air with all my might. Gradually, the darkness that obscured my vision began to brighten. My mind, still trapped in the nightmare, slowly cooled. Was it a dream…?

It was too vividly suffocating and horrifying to be just a dream. When I looked over, Raonhiljo was in a deep sleep. I placed a finger on his nose and his regular breathing was disturbed. Hah… I let out a sigh of relief.

Trying to erase that vivid scene, I closed my eyes and opened them again, my vision accustomed to the darkness. I rose from bed to quench my dry throat. I drank water and headed straight to the bathhouse. I stripped off my sweat-soaked clothes and submerged myself in the wooden tub. Despite pouring water over myself to the point of peeling skin, my fevered thoughts still wouldn’t cool. I poured water over myself obsessively until a cold chill rose on my skin, finally clearing my mind. After thoroughly washing my sweat-soaked clothes, I collapsed on the spot, drained of energy.

It was definitely due to fear. It was just a matter of heightened sensitivity. Water dripping from my hair fell to the floor. I noticed my reflection in the damp floor. After days of inadequate sleep, my appearance had become even more haggard. It seemed that since escaping Naragaon Fortress, I hadn’t slept more than two hours a day.

Where could the Black Martial Emperor be now? How much tighter has the siege become? Have the next symptoms appeared by now? While recalling the bloody slaughter scene, I suddenly remembered a fact I had forgotten. I had expected that after shooting Jincheonroe at the chiefs, it would be my turn, but I was completely wrong. Even after dealing with the Chieftain and as Raonhiljo escaped with me, I had prepared for my turn, but…

The doubts that had been coiled in my mind kept rearing their heads. Though it was an absurd question, though it was truly far-fetched, what if I had held that position that day? Did the Black Martial Emperor truly intend to kill me…?

My thoughts branched into thousands and ultimately tangled without finding a destination. Beyond the open window, the black forest surrounding the inn came into view. The dark forest swayed in the wind, making mournful sounds. It felt as if he would emerge from somewhere in this dark space with his terrifying eyes. I jumped out of the tub, closed the window, and checked every possible opening to block all exits to the outside world. I ran and hid myself deep in the water again. But it was an even deeper and more ominous darkness. The tremors in my body caused the water to ripple anxiously. Another sleepless night had arrived.

The woman, retaining her mid-aged beauty, was exhausted. Tears ran down her cheeks.

Lost in reminiscence, the woman appeared delicate as a wet butterfly. She looked up, gazing with ecstasy at her still unfinished body.

Who is she calling? Who do you see me as?

The woman reached out and pulled down the trousers in front of her. Her wrists were wrapped with countless scars like adornments. Self-imposed marks, self-inflicted punishment. Her branded hand touched and desperately stroked her still unripe member. Her eyes gleamed with lust.

Is this what you want? Is this what you desired? You won’t get what you want if you don’t say it clearly.

In the whisper of poison, the agitated woman touched her breasts and groin while looking at the member in front of her. Her heated voice pleaded again.

If you want it.

The erect member was thrust into the gaping hole. The woman twisted her waist and shuddered.

The woman tore at her own chest and went mad with pleasure. The member that had been moving mechanically in and out of the hole pushed even more aggressively. The original act of creating a monster, what kind of monster will you create this time? The sound of retching breaths and the spurting of disgusting semen. The woman drooled and writhed. Her face, craving stronger pleasure, eventually crumbled into shock and confusion.

A large, hard, white object penetrated the shuddering woman’s hole. The once beautiful face of the woman twisted grotesquely. Her hands scraped the dirt floor. The harsh self-inflicted punishment wrapped around her wrists deeply. The clothing that had covered her white skin was soaked in blood. The woman’s eyes, stained with terror and horror, finally settled on something. At the edge of her gaze were two terrified monsters, twisted and misshapen, missing an eye and a horn.

The monsters’ arms and legs were severed again. The bloodstained blade of the sword clung to the flesh. Endless blood, resembling the monsters’ red eyes, flowed from the severed muscles and exposed skin.

The moist, sinister voice flowed.

The stench of blood pierced my nose and plunged me into a bizarre trance. Only the red eyes, driven by the desire for survival, slid toward the woman. Two black shadows assaulted the woman. Fierce bite marks were embedded in her ample breasts. Delicate bones and flesh were easily torn and consumed by the monsters. The sound of flesh and bones being chewed, the screams, echoed through the forest like a somber melody.

A personality numbed to any sensation, with its peripheral senses severed, only responds desperately to struggling and the strong smell of blood. The noble steed that led us into the forest and the now perfected body on it disappeared beyond the mist-covered forest. The blood-soaked screams shook the forest.

***

“Bring it.”

The moist, sinister voice echoed amidst the storm. Garon aimed his gun precisely at Raonhiljo’s back. Eventually, the hidden figure’s eyes turned toward him. The purple eyes, still trapped in fear and confusion, were at a crossroads. Garon clearly pointed out the way for the figure at the crossroads.

“I told you to bring it.”

Come here.

If he came by shaking off that hand, he would be willing to overlook the act of trying to steal Jincheonroe. This was the maximum concession he could make at this moment. The figure’s eyes trembled faintly but eventually averted their gaze and hid in Raonhiljo’s embrace. The menacing killing intent fell into a dying state for a moment. Taking advantage of that time, a giant reptile soared into the sunset like a sea of fire.

Without hesitation, Garon sprayed Jincheonroe and raced forward with a single focus. Just as he was about to aim again, the eungryong the woman was riding changed direction and obstructed his view.

The eungryong’s head shattered and fell at terrifying speed. After dealing with the obstruction, he quickly aimed at Jincheonroe again. But there was only blood-red sky, and what he was searching for had long since disappeared. He stared at the sky, tearing it apart with his gaze.

“Prepare the Heukryeong.”

The nearby soldier looked perplexed and glanced at the massive wound beneath his tattered clothing.

“Your Majesty, please… first, we need to treat the wounds…”

Before he could finish speaking, the soldier’s brain was scattered in the air. Through the misty haze of the gun barrel, his eyes trembled fiercely.

“I said to prepare it.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Usa ran off somewhere, and Unsa looked at the empty sky with a hum. The soldiers quickly assumed their positions and moved busily. The late-arriving Grand Chamberlain, pale with shock at the chaotic scene, kept his distance and fidgeted nervously.

“Oh, Your Majesty! You’re bleeding heavily! Quickly, take Your Majesty to the royal physician! No, bring the court physician at once!”

Amidst the bustling activity, the eungryong and the woman lying below the city wall came into view. As he moved, blood dripping from his shoulder fell to the ground. Upon approaching the woman and checking her face, his eyebrows twitched. It was the bastard’s pet.

***

“Ahhhhh…!”

The woman’s scream shook the courtyard. The torturer extracted all her nails and toenails with pincers and sliced her tender flesh into pieces with a sharp dagger. Despite everyone averting their eyes from the ear-splitting cries, no one dared to take a reckless gamble to rescue the woman. Her head, falling into the stagnant blood, lost its strength. Garon approached the woman and stomped on her bloodied calves. She thrashed her head, convulsing.

“Where did it go?”

The woman’s blood-smeared face was filled with primal terror.

“I don’t know… Today… My Lord’s actions… I don’t know at all… Ahhhh…!!”

Garon firmly crushed the woman’s broken arm under his foot. The sensation of bones shattering came through his leather shoe. The woman finally fainted, exposing the whites of her eyes. He clicked his tongue and nudged the woman’s limp neck with his foot.

“Gag her so she can’t commit suicide. Keep going until she confesses.”

“Yes…!”

At the torturer’s gesture, the soldiers moved the unconscious woman to somewhere else. A massive whirlwind swept through as a magnificent black dragon with an ornate saddle landed on the ground. He walked straight to the black dragon. Unsa, who followed, handed him a map. Unfolding it, Unsa reported swiftly.

“I have already sent the eungryong unit to search the vicinity. The areas My Lord used to travel frequently were Dongi Kingdom, Seonbi Kingdom, Gumo Fortress, and the continent… Seonbi Kingdom and Gumo Fortress were visited quite a few times, but the continent was visited only once. Those fleeing usually use familiar routes by instinct.”

Unsa glanced at his bleeding shoulder and added.

“By the way, Your Majesty, first, please get treated. If you continue like this, you will run out of blood soon.”

He stared intently at the map in silence. What route will he choose… Will he disappear into familiar places or move in the opposite direction as anticipated? Where is he going? How far will he go with what he has?

“He must still be within the control of the Baedal Kingdom. Determine the expected route and deploy forces in advance. Gather all bounty hunters. Send someone with a keen nose.”

“Understood. But first, please… get treated.”