The silence deepened. Even the hovering sword seemed to hold its breath.

  Qin Yue’s eyes widened in shock.

  It was not a refusal. It was not anger but pure detachment.

  It was a shock, pure and raw.

  Before anyone could react further, Lee Aseok’s hand slid toward the small fruit table beside him.

  From it, he picked up a slender knife, a simple blade used to cut fruit.

  Without hesitation, with a steady hand that betrayed no hesitation, Lee Aseok lifted the knife and pressed it toward his chest.

  The sharp tip hovered just above the fabric of his white shirt.

  Time seemed to slow.

  Before the blade could break skin, Mu Yichen’s hand shot out with lightning speed, grabbing Lee Aseok’s wrist.

  A quick, firm grip.

  “Enough,” Mu Yichen said quietly, voice calm but firm.

  The knife stopped.

  But not before a thin, red line appeared on Lee Aseok’s shirt.

  Blood seeped slowly, stark and vivid against the white fabric.

  The room erupted.

  Seo MinHyun leapt to his feet, eyes wide. “Holy crap! He actually tried to stab himself?! What the hell is wrong with him?!”

  Park Taegun’s face was unreadable, but his hands clenched into tight fists.

  Qin Yue’s eyes never left Lee Aseok.

  She stared deep into his face and saw something more terrifying than any battle she’d fought, the raw, desperate desire for death lurking behind his cold gaze.

  It shook her to the core.

  Lee Aseok’s eyes met hers.

  There was no fear.

  No pleading.

  Only a quiet, relentless emptiness.

  She had seen death before. Delivered it, even.

  But what she had seen just now, in Lee Aseok’s eyes, it wasn’t fear. It wasn’t despair.

  It was willful emptiness.

  A desire for death so cold and quiet, it had left her gut twisting.

  A healer was called in quickly, young, nervous, and clearly regretting their life choices as they approached the silent figure in the middle of the room.

  “L-let me check the wound,” the healer stammered as she reached toward Lee Aseok’s bloodied shirt.

  But before her fingers could reach the buttons, Lee Aseok’s hand shot out and gripped her wrist.

  His gaze lifted, slowly.

  Expressionless. Icy.

  “Don’t.”

  The healer froze in place like a statue, visibly trembling under the weight of that single word.

  Even Seo MinHyun, who had been mid-rant, quieted.

  Mu Yichen exhaled softly, already expecting this. He stepped forward and placed a hand on Lee Aseok’s wrist, gently prying his fingers off the healer.

  “She’s just doing her job,” he said calmly. “Let her.”

  Lee Aseok didn’t move. But he didn’t resist either.

  Only his eyes flickered, to Mu Yichen, then to the healer.

  A silent warning.

  The healer, with all the enthusiasm of someone disarming a bomb, quickly took his arms and began healing. Her hands glowed softly with mana.

  Mu Yichen stayed close, ignoring the piercing gaze Lee Aseok kept throwing at him.

  Seo MinHyun leaned toward Park Taegun and whispered, “Is anyone gonna talk about how Yichen is acting like Aseok’s boyfriend right now?”

  “Shut up,” Taegun muttered, eyes still on the scene.

  “He’s literally tending to him like a concerned lover,” MinHyun whispered again. “If this were a drama, this would be the part where the main couple stares at each other while sad music plays.”

  Taegun looked at him, deadpan. “You watch too many dramas.”

  “I live for them.”

  Back near the table, Qin Yue still hadn't spoken.

  Her eyes lingered on her son, who was now kneeling beside the very boy who had moments ago tried to drive a blade into his chest. Mu Yichen’s movements were calm, precise, gentle, even.

  She had never seen that look on his face.

  Not in training, not in battle, not even during the most ruthless missions he had endured under her guidance.

  And then..

  Their eyes met.

  Qin Yue and Mu Yichen.

  No words passed between them.

  Mu Yichen offered a small, helpless smile, brief, almost apologetic.

  Then, his expression hardened. His head tilted just a little.

  It was subtle, but it was unmistakable.

  Don’t interfere.

  Qin Yue’s fingers clenched around the armrest of her chair.

  She had come here today to challenge the holy sword’s choice. To interrogate Lee Aseok. To see for herself if the boy truly was worthy, or dangerous.

  And what she saw was both.

  But now she knows one more thing.

  Her son… had chosen.

  Not publicly. Not yet. Maybe not even consciously.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  But he had chosen to stand by Lee Aseok.

  And Qin Yue, who had trained countless soldiers, outsmarted governments, and led the most feared guild in the continent, knew when to retreat.

  She lowered her gaze. Just slightly.

  The healer finished and stepped back, visibly relieved to have her hands intact.

  Lee Aseok calmly took back his hands, as if nothing had happened. His face was unreadable.

  Then, without a word, he stood.

  The holy sword, which had been twitching and circling in the corner ever since the self-inflicted wound, floated anxiously toward him.

  It hovered near his side, buzzing with unease, like a puppy trying to make amends after doing something terribly wrong.

  Lee Aseok didn’t even glance at it.

  He walked out the room without a single look back.

  The sword hesitated in mid-air… then glumly floated after him, still keeping a small distance, like it was being punished.

  Mu Yichen stood slowly.

  No one said a word.

  Until..

  “I swear, he terrifies me more than any S-rank dungeon,” Seo MinHyun muttered, flopping dramatically into the nearest chair. “He just walks out after trying to kill himself and making the holy sword sulk like a wet cat.”

  “I thought you said he was kind of hot,” Taegun said without looking at him.

  “I never said kind of. I said very. But terrifying and hot are not mutually exclusive, okay?”

  Mu Yichen let out a long, quiet sigh.

  Qin Yue still hadn’t moved. Her gaze lingered on the now-empty chair Lee Aseok had vacated.

  So that’s the kind of boy her son had chosen to protect.

  One who would rather die than cause harm.

  And yet, one who carried death inside him like a shadow stitched to his spine.

  For the first time in years, Qin Yue felt uncertain.

  Because even she couldn’t predict where this path would lead.

  And more importantly… she wasn’t sure if she should stop it.

  Lee Aseok walked ahead of them like nothing had happened.

  The holy sword hovered behind him in clear agitation, circling him like a worried child that wasn’t sure if it was being ignored or punished.

  He didn’t acknowledge it.

  Didn’t look at the others behind him.

  Didn’t even slow his pace as he exited the Shadow Guild headquarters.

  Mu Yichen, Seo MinHyun, and Park Taegun followed in a tense line.

  On the way out, staff members paused, startled by the sight of blood on the holy sword’s chosen one. They stiffened and whispered behind their hands.

  “Is that… blood?”

  “Did the master of the Shadow Guild attack him?”

  “No way… right?”

  “Was it a duel?”

  Seo MinHyun dramatically waved them off with a grand flourish. “No autographs. Yes, he’s bleeding. No, it’s not a fight, he stabbed himself.”

  Gasps followed. Someone dropped a clipboard.

  Mu Yichen didn’t respond to the whispers. His attention was on Lee Aseok’s back.

  The bloodstain hadn’t spread, but it was still there.

  And the more he looked at it, the tighter something coiled inside his chest.

  By the time they got to the car, Seo MinHyun was already groaning as he slid into the passenger seat. “I’m emotionally exhausted. Do you know how hard it is to be this good-looking and mentally stable while sitting next to that guy?”

  Lee Aseok, in the back seat beside Mu Yichen and Park Taegun, didn’t respond. He hadn’t spoken since the healer.

  Mu Yichen sighed softly, eyes flicking to the stained white fabric again. “We should’ve changed your shirt first.”

  Lee Aseok blinked, as if just now realizing he was still wearing a blood strain shirt.

  Then he looked down, muttered, “…Annoying,” and leaned his head against the window.

  The holy sword hovered outside the window for a second before finally slipping through the top crack like a miserable ghost and hiding behind the headrest.

  The car drove on.

  Seo MinHyun spun in his seat. “Okay, I need to ask, are you actually insane?”

  Lee Aseok didn’t answer.

  “I’m not judging, by the way,” MinHyun continued. “I’m just trying to understand if I need to start carrying tranquilizers. Because the way you looked Qin Yue in the eye and said, ‘Kill me so your son can have the sword’...bro. Bro. What was that?”

  Still no response.

  “You didn’t even flinch when you stabbed yourself! You just..stab! Like you were poking a fruit.”

  “…It was a fruit knife,” Lee Aseok said quietly.

  The car fell into momentary silence.

  Then Park Taegun, seated calmly beside him, murmured, “He’s not wrong.”

  Seo MinHyun slammed the armrest. “Oh my god, don’t encourage him.”

  Suddenly, the car braked hard.

  The tires screeched.

  Lee Aseok jerked forward, except he never reached the front seat.

  Mu Yichen’s arm had already come across him, one fluid motion, pulling Lee Aseok against his chest.

  There was a faint thump of contact, but Lee Aseok didn’t resist, just blinked in confusion, head resting awkwardly against Mu Yichen’s shoulder.

  Across the front seat, Seo MinHyun’s head did hit the dash.

  “OW..!!”

  He clutched his forehead, glaring at the driver. “Are you crazy now?! What the hell was..?!”

  But then his phone started to shriek.

  So did Park Taegun’s. And Mu Yichen’s.

  Outside, a long, guttural alarm wailed through the streets..low and rising like a siren’s scream. Citizens on the sidewalks paused, heads snapping up.

  Lee Aseok slowly straightened up, looking toward the front window.

  His eyes caught on something that didn’t belong in the sky.

  A shadow.

  No.

  A wing.

  A massive, bat-like wing, slicing through clouds.

  And then..

  A screech echoed through the sky, shaking glass and making pedestrians scream.

  A Wyvern shot across the sky above them.

  It passed overhead in a blur of obsidian scales and glowing red eyes.

  Mu Yichen and the others were already out of the car.

  “Wyverns?” Seo MinHyun said, still rubbing his head. “Aren’t those only in A-rank or S-rank gates?! What’s it doing here?!”

  Park Taegun scanned the skyline, his tone all soldier now. “That wasn’t a typical break.”

  Above them, the sky cracked again with the deafening shriek of a Wyvern. The massive creature wheeled across the sky, its wings casting jagged shadows over the street. Around them, the city was in chaos.

  Civilians screamed and scattered. Glass shattered. Hunters tried to form groups, but panic had already taken root. Some had dropped their weapons.

  Others hesitated, unsure who to follow. Low-ranked monsters, scouts or strays from the gate, began crawling out of alleys and storm drains. The stench of sulfur and blood hit the air.

  Mu Yichen’s eyes darkened as he scanned the scene.

  Park Taegun had already taken out his shield . “I’ll sweep north and clear a perimeter.”

  Seo MinHyun cracked his knuckles with a sigh. “Great. Another heroic day for me. Remind me why I don’t charge per monster.”

  “You do,” Park Taegun replied dryly.

  MinHyun ignored him and strutted forward. “Alright, you sorry excuse for hunters!” he barked to the nearby crowd. “If you’re B-rank and above, get to the front! D and C, assist evacuation! And whoever’s still crying, I don’t care, move your feet or get out of the way!”

  His voice carried across the chaos like a whip. People flinched, but moved.

  Park Taegun was already giving silent hand gestures, breaking the shattered group of hunters into formations. His movements were clean, practiced, and ruthless.

  Meanwhile, Lee Aseok blinked.

  Still in the car.

  The window was rolled down slightly. Through it, he saw the chaos like one might see rain on a window. Distant. Mildly annoying.

  People ran and screamed. A man limped past, dragging a child. A hunter got slammed into a tree. Wyverns screamed overhead.

  Lee Aseok tilted his head slightly and blinked again.

  Then, without urgency, he opened the door and stepped out.

  The holy sword bobbed behind him nervously.

  He looked around, eyes quiet.

  So much noise. So much movement.

  So much suffering.

  A corner of his lip twitched. Barely. Almost imperceptibly.

  There was something oddly peaceful about watching people scramble to survive.

  Then..

  A warm hand wrapped around his wrist.

  Mu Yichen.

  “Come with me,” Mu Yichen said calmly, already pulling him toward a nearby building.

  Lee Aseok didn’t resist, but he also didn’t react. He let himself be dragged into the entrance of what used to be a bakery, now abandoned and half-shuttered.

  Mu Yichen pushed him inside, then glanced around. The door slammed shut behind them.

  “Stay here,” he said firmly, voice low but not angry. “Do not run around.”

  Lee Aseok looked up at him expressionlessly.

  “I won’t,” he said. “Too much effort.”

  Mu Yichen exhaled softly, then turned to the holy sword.

  “I don’t care if you understand or not,” he said, gaze serious. “Stay with him. Keep him safe.”

  The holy sword glowed slightly.

  Lee Aseok looked at the sword. The sword looked at him.

  Neither said anything.

  After a moment, Lee Aseok looked away, clearly disinterested, and walked over to the window to resume watching the chaos.

  Mu Yichen hesitated for a second longer, then turned and left.

  The door clicked shut.

  Lee Aseok sat down on a stool beside the dusty counter, resting his chin in his palm.

  Outside, the screams got louder.

  The holy sword floated beside him, gently vibrating in distress.

  Lee Aseok didn’t look at it. “Stop buzzing.”

  It froze mid-air, like a child caught doing something wrong.

  Lee Aseok returned his gaze to the window. His reflection stared back faintly. The glass was cracked.

  Another Wyvern passed overhead, closer now.

  “A-rank gate,” Lee Aseok murmured.

  That much was clear from the monsters and their behavior.

  But something was off.

  He narrowed his eyes slightly.

  There were too many dungeon breaks lately. Too frequent. Too sudden. And most troubling of all..

  “I don’t remember any of this happening,” he whispered.

  The bakery trembled as something exploded outside.

  Lee Aseok didn’t flinch.

  Even with the weight of memory pressing at the edges of his mind, blood, ash, a battlefield of fire, he couldn’t recall this event.

  Which meant something had already shifted.

  Still, he couldn’t bring himself to care.

  Outside, chaos raged.

  Hunters screamed, trying to hold formation. Civilians sobbed behind barricades.

  One Wyvern slammed into a building, knocking an entire floor down in rubble.

  People scattered.

  A child tripped. A low-ranked hunter tried to protect them but was struck down by a fireball from one of the lesser monsters.

  And yet, Lee Aseok remained seated.

  Watching.

  Waiting.

  Detached.

  He wasn’t bored. Not exactly.

  But he wasn’t engaged either.

  It was like watching ants fight over a crumb.

  “...Should I go out?” he asked the sword quietly.

  The holy sword glowed brightly in what seemed like hopeful agreement.

  Lee Aseok tilted his head. “But I don’t want to.”

  The sword dimmed, clearly disheartened.

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