Toxin

When I stepped outside, it was just before dawn, and the thick darkness still blanketed the surroundings. Fortunately, there were plenty of places to hide within the castle grounds, so I managed to avoid being spotted by the guards. I combed through the open area, thinking I might have dropped it while supporting the Chieftain, but it was nowhere to be found. I couldn’t even remember when I had last had it on me. Where? Where could it be…?! Unfamiliar with the castle’s layout, my eyes darted around in growing panic. I moved carefully, staying out of the soldiers’ sight as much as possible. When I saw the forest in the distance, I ran without hesitation. Pushing through the thick brush, I retraced my steps from earlier. Even the lurking eungryong didn’t concern me at this point. Then, beneath the dark green bushes, I saw a white object. I rushed over and rummaged through the pouch—it was my mother’s white horn. Thank the heavens.

“Ha…”

A sigh of relief, which had been stuck in my throat, escaped as I collapsed to the ground. I had lost my senses coming all the way out here, but I needed to return quickly before anyone spotted me. Without catching my breath, I tied the pouch tightly to my waist and stood up. Suddenly, a wave of dizziness hit me, and I sank back to the ground. That’s when I noticed something dark and grayish peeking out from beneath the bushes. Upon closer inspection, it was the eungryong that had been killed by Jincheonroe earlier.

The decapitated eungryong lay with its red muscles and bones exposed, its body stiffened in death, sprawled out as if it were taking a carefree nap—if it weren’t for its shattered head. The hunger I had momentarily forgotten now roared back to life. Though the Imae Tribe mainly ate pigs and chickens, there had been times when my mother and I had considered that a luxury. On days when we were starving, we had even dug up and eaten live snakes. The eungryong was similar to a snake, with wings and legs, and it was much larger and thicker. So, it wasn’t something I couldn’t eat. Without hesitation, I picked up the eungryong.

Snakes typically have venom glands in their heads, but luckily, the eungryong’s head was already dismantled. There might still be traces of poison, but I had neither the tools nor the presence of mind to clean it thoroughly. I grabbed its tail, the farthest part from its head, and brushed off the dirt. Tentatively, I licked the eungryong’s tail. It felt cold and bland. I bit into the tip of its tail, tearing off a tough piece of meat and rolling it around in my mouth. It tasted similar to snake. As hunger gnawed at me even more fiercely, I bit into the tail again and started devouring it hungrily.

It was at that moment that the clouds parted, and a beam of moonlight shone through. I froze when I saw a figure standing just a few steps away, watching me. Even if the eungryong had come back to life, I wouldn’t have been as startled. The mysterious person was definitely staring in my direction. In the pale dawn light, I could vaguely make out a frown on his face. It was only then that I realized I still had the eungryong’s tail in my mouth, and I slowly removed it. I thought I should explain the situation to avoid any misunderstandings.

“I was just… trying to eat.”

The man didn’t respond. Was he a guard? Or an officer? The absurdity of my situation—gnawing on a eungryong corpse at dawn—made me want to laugh. I had snuck out of the stables, but surely no one would scold me for eating a dead eungryong. Just as I was about to stand up, still holding the eungryong, I saw it.

“…!!”

The shadow cast by the tree fell away, and in that instant, I dropped the eungryong as if struck by lightning. Standing under the swaying branches was the towering figure of the Black Martial Emperor. My blood ran cold, and my heart pounded wildly. Why was he here, alone, at this hour…? Every nerve in my body instinctively went on high alert, as if I had encountered a demon. The Black Martial Emperor looked completely fine, as if the wound he had received from the eungryong earlier had already healed. The crazed bloodlust that had filled his eyes during the day was gone, leaving only his characteristic boredom. His movements were languid, his eyes still drowsy, and the faint smell of alcohol wafting through the air suggested that he had actually been drinking this time. His slow gaze shifted from the eungryong’s corpse in my hand to my face.

“They say the Imae Tribe devours anything with eyes, even their own kind. Do you eat human flesh too?”

His voice alone sent chills down my spine. If eating human flesh were possible, I would’ve already torn into his flesh and gnawed on his bones. But I couldn’t let him sense any hostility—not until I got close enough. Struggling to suppress my murderous intent, I finally spoke.

“No. I’ve never eaten human flesh.”

The moment his brow furrowed, I wanted to bite my tongue. I should have said, “We don’t eat it,” not “I’ve never eaten it.” As I opened my mouth to correct myself, his voice interrupted me sharply.

“So, you’re saying you might eat it if the chance arises?”

“No. No matter how starved I am, I wouldn’t do such a thing. Our ancestors hunted only when they were hungry, and once they were full, they didn’t kill anymore. That’s the natural order of things. We may look different, but we feel pain and have emotions, just like humans.”

“That nonsense about being just like humans is laughable. It’s disgusting to see you creatures pretending to have a conscience, pretending to be human. Just thinking about being lumped together with monsters like you makes me sick.”

Gripping the eungryong in my hand tightly as if to hold back my rising anger, I responded, my voice sharp.

“The nonsense about Imae luring people with red eyes and devouring their hearts, or causing disasters, and the belief that our horns are used as medicine—those are all baseless accusations and superstitions humans made up to treat us like monsters.”

Like the Black Martial Emperor, where all sorts of rumors and speculations run rampant. Isn’t it humans who do things worse than beasts? You, you are none other than… the Black Martial Emperor.

Thank goodness for the darkness. It hides everything—the murderous intent boiling with deep hatred and anger, my expression—everything is concealed by the dark.

Through the chaotic flurry of falling leaves, the face of the Black Martial Emperor came into view. His cold expression was as frigid as midwinter, and his sharp features made that expression seem even more chilling. His battle-hardened body looked as solid as if it were clad in armor. His hair swayed gently in the breeze, and beneath it, his dark eyes, which held only shadows and ruin, emitted a strange light.

Whoosh…

The world covered by the pale dawn was deeper than the night itself. A gentle breeze whistled as it blew through my clothes, tangling in my sweat-matted hair. This dawn forest, where the boundary between night and day had vanished completely, was hauntingly dreamlike. Then, a voice, cutting through this surreal space, interrupted.

“Oh my~ Your Majesty! Where are you? Have you disappeared again?”

At the sound of a distant call, the Black Martial Emperor’s eyes turned toward the source. A group of people was making their way through the bushes.

“Oh dear~ Your Majesty~! If you disappear suddenly like this, what are we to do…? If you were to fall prey to that wretched eungryong, I might just bite my tongue and die!”

A plump servant rushed over, casting an anxious gaze at the Black Martial Emperor. Following him, the emperor’s bodyguard and several others trailed behind, and among them, a large figure suddenly emerged.

“What’s gotten into you, drinking like that? We’ve all exhausted ourselves searching for you.”

“…!”

I snapped my head up at the familiar voice. As the man’s silhouette came into focus in the early dawn light, I was startled once again. Though he wasn’t wearing his usual official robes, it was unmistakably Raonhiljo. Seemingly unaware of my presence, Raonhiljo approached the Black Martial Emperor and exchanged a few casual remarks. Judging by their tone, I guessed they weren’t just a lord and servant; they seemed closer. A servant who had spotted me pointed a finger and shouted.

“You there?! Why aren’t you staying quietly in the stables? What are you doing here?!”

As the servant yelled, Raonhiljo’s gaze shifted to me, and his eyes widened. I, too, was taken aback by the unexpected encounter. The Black Martial Emperor tilted his head slightly, gesturing toward me with his chin.

“I caught that monster. It’s a disgusting mutt, but once its guts are ripped out and it’s stuffed, it might make for quite a display.”

His tone was utterly devoid of humor. Despite the Black Martial Emperor’s chilling remark, Raonhiljo gazed at me without much reaction.

“Well, it’s unusual-looking, but it doesn’t seem disgusting to me at all…”

At the hint of amusement in his voice, blood rushed to my face. With everyone’s attention now focused on me, I felt like an animal trapped in a cage, being watched. My facial muscles stiffened, and I furrowed my brow in disgust. I stood, ready to leave. Behind me, the refined bodyguard shook his head in dismay.

“Both of you are mistaken. To me, this person appears as the savior who sucked the poison from His Majesty earlier today.”

Raonhiljo’s eyes widened at the bodyguard’s words.

“Poison? So this is the one who sucked out Garon’s poison…?”

“This person not only saved His Majesty’s leg but also protected the future heir. Yet here His Majesty forgets all about it and talks of turning them into a stuffed display. How should I think of such a ruler?”

“That’s right. It wouldn’t do to forget something like that.”

Raonhiljo replied to the refined bodyguard and then looked at the Black Martial Emperor.

“Garon, how long are you planning to keep the Imae people in the castle? If you treat the vassal states like this, other territories will only grow more defiant. Moreover, locking up the head of a nation in a stable doesn’t look good.”

“I merely placed livestock where they belong. Isn’t it the appropriate place for them?”

Does he have some terrible memory related to them? Or did someone in his family suffer some terrible fate at the hands of the Imae Tribe? Now I was beginning to wonder why he harbored such hatred and contempt.

“Of, of course, there can be no questioning the decree of Your Majesty, but wouldn’t it be merciful to release those people? In truth, there are already rumors spreading behind the scenes. N-not that they mean anything significant! No! Who would dare oppose Your Majesty’s wise decision? Anyone caught speaking nonsense should be executed by dismemberment, of course, but just in case… haha…”

The Black Martial Emperor raised an eyebrow as if deep in thought.

“I don’t like monsters roaming around my castle either. They’ve had enough fun, so send them away.”

“Th-then, when should we…?”

“Tomorrow.”

“…!”

His voice was as cold and final as a death sentence. Without realizing it, I lifted my head. At that moment, my eyes met the Black Martial Emperor’s. Send them away? What nonsense is this? If that’s the case, then the reason I came here, the fight to survive, everything I did, even sucking out the poison from a killer’s leg—all of it would be for nothing. Faced with this unexpected obstacle, my thoughts became a tangled mess. In desperation, I stared at the Black Martial Emperor, but his expression, shrouded in darkness, subtly shifted. Soon, though, his eyes filled with a boiling hatred, as if he were looking at something repulsive. I clenched my trembling fists tightly. Then, Raonhiljo spoke, sounding puzzled.

“By the way, didn’t that creature say it was going to paint Your Majesty’s portrait?”

The Black Martial Emperor turned his cold gaze toward me.

“I don’t remember permitting that…”

“What do you mean? You never allowed it?”

As Raonhiljo looked bewildered, the Black Martial Emperor frowned, as if hearing this for the first time. Raonhiljo glanced at me, and my face hardened. It was as if I had lied to him, but now wasn’t the time to explain everything. Grasping at the last straw, I looked at the Black Martial Emperor with desperation.

“I’ll cover my eyes. If my horns offend you, I’ll hide those too. Please, allow me to paint Your Majesty’s portrait.”

“No. There’s no need.”

“Aren’t you curious about how you look, Your Majesty…? Though I’m lacking in skill, I would like to show you your image.”

“I’m sorry, but I have no interest in that sort of vanity. You’re far too irritating for mere livestock.”

You’re the one worse than a beast. I swallowed the words that rose to my throat. There was nothing more I could do. With such a clear refusal, I had no reason to remain here. If I persisted too much, I would only draw suspicion. Even though I had come so close, was this really how it would end? No, if I died, I wouldn’t be able to accomplish anything. I had to be satisfied with this… for now… My lips moved slightly, but no words came out.

Just as I was about to give up and look away, I unexpectedly met the Black Martial Emperor’s gaze once again. I stared into those dark eyes, which seemed to reflect the last remnants of the night’s moonlight, but there was still no glimmer of hope. Or maybe, I couldn’t tell anymore. How was I supposed to read those eyes, devoid of any emotion? Without hesitation, the Black Martial Emperor severed our eye contact and walked out of the forest. The servant, puffing out his chest with arrogance, followed closely behind.

“Tsk, tsk…! Our Majesty is terribly shy and doesn’t know what to do when others stare! Then again, how could a lowly monster understand His Majesty’s deep nature?!”

The servant hurried after the Black Martial Emperor, changing his expression to one of servility. The silent bodyguards snickered at the servant’s behavior. The refined bodyguard looked puzzled and asked Raonhiljo.

“By any chance, do you know that Imae?”

Raonhiljo turned his gaze toward me and replied.

“This creature was supposed to paint my portrait. It’s unfinished due to some circumstances, though.”

“I see…”

The bodyguards bowed to Raonhiljo and soon stepped back. Raonhiljo raised his well-groomed eyebrows as he looked at me.

“So, I suppose we’re left to settle things between us? I can start as early as tomorrow.”

“Ah…”

It was absolutely, by no means, something I disliked. On the contrary, I really wanted to repay the debt I owed to Raonhiljo. But… the sense of defeat from all my plans falling apart made it hard to speak.

“Do you perhaps dislike it?”

The voice piercing through my thoughts brought me back to reality. Raonhiljo’s face was somehow stiff.

“N-no, not at all.”

I stuttered unusually, caught off guard by the unexpected question. My mind was already fully occupied with the Black Martial Emperor, who had long disappeared, leaving me unable to string together a proper response. Raonhiljo let out a faint chuckle.

“Then that’s good. It’s too early now, so come to my quarters as soon as the sun rises.”

“Your lordship’s quarters…?”

“I’ll send someone, so wait.”

“Yes.”

Raonhiljo turned to leave but suddenly halted, his gaze falling on the eungryong at my knee.

“That looks like eungryong… are you planning to make something out of its wings or skin?”

“No. I’m going to eat it for breakfast.”

I had just thrown that out casually, but when I saw Raonhiljo’s lips stiffen slightly, I realized I had misspoken.

“Ah, is that so? That’s… your breakfast. Quite…”

‘It looks… delicious…’ he muttered, his gaze not leaving the dead eungryong. Eating raw meat was nothing unusual for the Imae Tribe, but somehow, his stare was uncomfortable.

“Um…”

A woman who had been standing quietly behind him urged him to move. She wore a stiff official uniform and carried a sword, just like the guard from earlier, but beneath her uniform, her slender figure and calm eyes gave her an intellectual air. Who is she…? Before I could resolve that question, Raonhiljo spoke to me as he glanced at me again.

“Are you planning to sit there all day? Come with us.”

It was only then that I realized I was sitting in a pile of bushes.

“I was planning to sit a bit longer. Please, go ahead.”

Raonhiljo nodded briefly before turning around, adding as he walked away.

“I’ll send someone, so come immediately.”

‘Make sure to chew that thoroughly,’ he muttered, alternating his gaze between the eungryong and me. Then he left with the woman. If Raonhiljo’s quarters are outside the castle… I forgot to ask. After sitting dazed for a while, I also got up to leave.

Dragging my feet, I returned to the stable, where the Chieftain was asleep. I placed the eungryong on the clean floor and leaned my head against the wall. Though I had brought it, my appetite, which had been surging moments ago, had completely vanished. Had I underestimated the Black Martial Emperor…? No, had I been underestimating everything…? I closed my drooping eyes and swallowed the bitter saliva gathering in my mouth.

***

Eventually, the morning sun filtered through the stable window. The tribe members were overjoyed at the message that the Black Martial Emperor would send us away, and the Chieftain nodded silently. The inside of the stable, filled with an unpleasant smell, housed sleeping pigs in each pen, while in one corner, the Chieftain and tribe members sat deep in thought with serious expressions. To leave the city, the Imae Tribe had to go through formal procedures, so we were just waiting for the official to arrive. When I told the Chieftain about Raonhiljo’s offer, he seemed hesitant.

“Though we’ve had dealings with him during the monthly tax collections from Imae Village, it’s hard to say how much help a mere low-level official could be. It’s uncertain whether he’s someone who can approach the Black Martial Emperor.”

“But from what I observed, they seemed to be on friendly terms.”

“Well, if they were drinking together late into the night without any reservations…”

“Hmm…”

The Chieftain sank into deep thought. Just then, a loud noise was heard as the door swung open, drawing everyone’s attention. The Baedal Kingdom official standing at the door pinched his nose and pointed at me.

“You. Follow me.”

I wasn’t expecting to be called so early in the morning, so I hurriedly gathered my drawing tools. I quickly followed the official, and we arrived at an extravagant palace so dazzling it made my head spin. This confirmed that Raonhiljo indeed lived within the castle. Turning the corner and stepping through the entrance, I was greeted by a seemingly endless hallway. Towering pillars, rare ornaments hanging on the walls—it was so grand that even calling it majestic felt insufficient. After following the official again, we stopped in front of a door in the middle of the hallway.

As soon as the guards and court ladies stationed by the door saw me, they gasped, taking sharp breaths. A man then glanced at me with clear disapproval. He was a plump courtier. At his signal, two guards approached and began to search me. They confiscated everything they found suspicious, including my art tools and the bag containing my mother’s white jade brush. The moment the brush was taken from me, I felt a surge of tension.

“That… Please give that back.”

“You’ll get it back when you leave, so just hand it over.”

My curiosity about Raonhiljo intensified. Who exactly was he, that the security was this strict? With no other choice, I stepped inside, finding myself in a spacious room that couldn’t be taken in with just one glance. Although the atmosphere was different from the outside, it was cold and solemn enough to be oppressive. The plump courtier standing by the entrance gestured for me to sit. As I settled down and looked around, I couldn’t see Raonhiljo anywhere.

“Where is my lord?”

“Shh! Keep your mouth shut and sit properly! Just stepping into this place is an honor for your family! Then again, a lowly creature like you probably doesn’t even understand how gracious this is. Hmph!”

I couldn’t hide my confusion. I had assumed he was just an ordinary official who collected taxes, but maybe he wasn’t as low-ranking as I thought… My thoughts spiraled. At that moment, I heard the door open behind me, followed by brisk footsteps. I was about to turn my head to greet Raonhiljo, but the moment I saw who was entering, I was struck as if by a massive boulder. If my eyes weren’t deceiving me, that man was definitely…

“Oh, Your Majesty! Where have you been?”

The plump courtier dashed toward the Black Martial Emperor. Upon spotting me frozen on one side of the room, the Black Martial Emperor raised an eyebrow.

“What’s this?”

“Ah, Your Majesty! You ordered us to bring him, did you not?”

The Black Martial Emperor looked as if he had never heard of this before. The courtier began to sweat profusely.

“Did—did you forget, Your Majesty? This morning, while you were dining, you suddenly commanded that he be brought to you. The guards heard it too…”

“Did I?”

“Yes! Yes, Your Majesty! I wouldn’t dare lie to you! You definitely said so! I hurried to bring him here because I thought it was urgent, as you commanded during your meal!”

The Black Martial Emperor stared at me with an expressionless face. The courtier, sensing the tension, bowed deeply and quickly withdrew. After he left, the floor echoed with the sound of footsteps, and soon a pair of long legs stopped in front of me. The heavy silence felt oppressive. Bowing slightly, I stared at the emperor’s imperial robe. I had assumed this was Raonhiljo’s room. I had thought I would meet him, so how… Why had I been summoned here, and did he come up with this as some new form of amusement? Caught in this bewildering situation, I kept my guard up and racked my brain for answers.

Soon, the hem of the Black Martial Emperor’s silk robe brushed the floor as he crouched in front of me, assuming his strange, familiar posture. His gaze, locked onto the top of my head, was so piercing that it made my blood run cold. Suddenly, the Black Martial Emperor grabbed a fistful of my hair and twisted it violently, forcing my face up to meet his. His expressionless face, as if he were wearing a mask, filled my vision.

“What’s your purpose for approaching me?”

His gaze, like someone licking over an object, was filled with brutal boredom and malice. It sent chills down my spine, as if my head were about to be severed. The rumor that those who made eye contact with him died from heart attacks suddenly didn’t seem far-fetched. The nightmare of that day stirred within me, and I struggled to find my voice through the violent rush of adrenaline.

“To… to draw Your Majesty’s portrait… Ugh…!”

He accurately pressed on the spot where Jincheonroe had struck my arm, twisting my flesh. The pain felt like being pierced by an iron skewer, and my voice was crushed under the pressure.

“Tell me your real purpose.”

His slow, deliberate tone ignited a fire of anger deep inside me. Struggling for breath, like someone being strangled, I managed to force out a few words.