The village lay silent beneath the cover of night.
Everyone was asleep, and the pale moonlight was the only source of illumination. Walking along a narrow road lined with broken huts and crumbling shacks, Liliya quietly made her way forward. In one hand she carried a small bundle, while a large bag hung from the other.
Suddenly, a man approached from behind with a knife in his hand.
"Hey, woman."
Liliya stopped and glanced over her shoulder.
"What is a girl like you doing out this late at night? And what's that you're carrying?"
As the man walked closer, a stray dog ran up and started barking at Liliya. Annoyed, the man picked up a stone from the ground and threw it at the dog. With a painful yelp, the animal fled into the darkness.
The man then pressed the knife against Liliya's throat.
"I won't repeat myself. Hand over that bundle and get lost."
Liliya didn't react at all.
The man frowned.
What's wrong with her? I've got a knife at her throat, but she isn't even scared.
Growing impatient, he grabbed the bundle and tried to pull it away.
"Just give it already!"
Liliya let out an annoyed sigh.
"I swear, why do idiots always find me?"
The man paid no attention to her words. He was too focused on the bundle.
What is this woman made of? I've been pulling with all my strength, but she won't let go.
His patience finally snapped.
"Are you giving it or not?!"
He thrust the knife straight into her chest.
Then he froze.
His eyes widened in horror.
There was no blood.
Nothing.
The knife had pierced her body, yet not a single drop emerged. It was as though there was nothing inside her at all.
The man's face turned pale.
"Y-You... what are you? Why aren't you bleeding?"
Liliya calmly placed her bag on the ground before grabbing the man by the collar.
"Tsk. I wasn't planning on killing someone like you tonight. My stomach is already full."
Her crimson eyes narrowed.
"But it seems you'll have to become my dessert."
Fear instantly overwhelmed him.
He struggled desperately to break free, using every ounce of strength he had, but it was useless.
Panicking, he pulled the knife from Liliya's chest and stabbed her over and over again.
Once.
Twice.
Ten times.
It didn't matter.
Liliya didn't even flinch.
Then the man noticed something terrifying.
From every wound he had created, small black tentacles slowly emerged.
They looked like strands of living darkness, resembling black smoke given physical form. They swayed gently in the air like shadows dancing in the moonlight.
The next moment, they shot toward him.
The tentacles pierced his body and began draining his blood.
The man tried to scream.
Tried to run.
Tried to resist.
But his strength was rapidly fading away.
No sound escaped his throat.
Within moments, his body became lifeless.
Liliya drank the remaining blood and casually tossed the corpse aside.
"That tasted awful."
The wounds across her body healed instantly.
Picking up her bag once more, she continued walking as if nothing had happened.
After passing through several narrow alleys, she finally stopped in front of a small house.
For a moment, she stared at it quietly.
Then she approached the door and carefully opened it without making a sound.
Stepping inside, she gently closed it behind her.
The house was completely dark.
Yet even in the darkness, Liliya could see perfectly.
As she walked forward, the wooden floor creaked beneath her feet.
The faint sound woke a little girl who had been sleeping beside a wooden dining table.
The child rubbed her sleepy eyes.
"Who's there?"
Receiving no answer, she asked again in her small, drowsy voice.
Still nothing.
Finally, she lit a nearby candle.
The moment the warm light illuminated the room, she saw Liliya standing there.
A bright smile instantly appeared on her face.
She hurried over and hugged her.
"Liliya big sister! You're finally back!"
She puffed out her cheeks proudly.
"I wasn't sleeping. My eyes were just closed!"
Liliya smiled softly.
"Really? Did you eat dinner? And is your father asleep?"
The little girl lowered her voice.
"Papa fell asleep. He waited for you for a long time, but you didn't come, so he went to bed. He has work early tomorrow..."
She looked down.
"But I didn't eat. I was waiting for you."
Liliya's expression softened even further.
"Then let's eat together, Aaru. You must be starving."
Aaru's face instantly lit up with happiness.
The two of them sat at the dining table.
Liliya placed the large bag on top of it before lighting four candles and setting them in the center of the table.
Aaru sat patiently, her eyes filled with anticipation.
Meanwhile, Liliya began taking food containers out of the bag one by one.
Each dish looked different from anything Aaru had ever seen before.
Delicious aromas filled the room.
Aaru stared with sparkling eyes as drool nearly escaped her mouth.
Liliya placed all the containers in front of her and smiled.
"My adorable little sister."
She gently patted Aaru's head.
"I brought all of this for you. There was a celebration at the place where I work, so I packed some food in advance."
Aaru immediately gave her a thumbs-up.
"You're the best sister in the world!"
Liliya couldn't help laughing.
"Alright, hurry up and eat before everything gets cold."
Aaru immediately began eating.
"It's delicious!"
While she happily devoured the food, Liliya went into another room and returned with some water.
As Aaru continued eating, she noticed that Liliya wasn't touching any of the dishes.
"Big sister, why aren't you eating?"
Liliya smiled at her.
"My stomach is already full. You eat as much as you want. My friends wouldn't send me home without feeding me first."
She picked up a piece of chicken and placed it into Aaru's mouth.
Aaru happily chewed it and swallowed it in seconds.
Seeing that, Liliya couldn't help but laugh.
Aaru continued eating.
Then suddenly—
Knock. Knock.
Someone knocked on the front door.
Both Aaru and Liliya turned toward it.
The moment the sound reached her ears, Liliya felt something.
Her eyes widened.
Fear appeared on her face.
Aaru looked at her in confusion.
"What happened, big sister?"
Liliya quickly forced herself to calm down.
"It's nothing."
A gentle smile appeared on her face.
"You just keep eating. I'll go check."
Picking up a candle, she slowly walked toward the door.
However, fear remained visible in her eyes.
It was as if she had sensed something she never expected to encounter here.
Liliya reached the door and slowly turned the handle.
She opened it just enough to peek outside.
The moment she looked through the gap—
Her eyes widened once again.
Standing outside was Yina.
The instant the door opened, Yina smiled.
"So this is where you've been hiding, little brother."
Liliya nearly panicked.
For a brief moment, she considered running away.
Then Aaru's voice came from behind.
"Who's there, big sister?"
Liliya immediately turned around.
"It's nobody. Just some friends from work."
She forced a smile.
"I'll go talk to them for a bit."
Aaru tilted her head.
"At this hour?"
"Yeah. I have to go back afterward anyway. Just finish your food while I talk to them."
Without wasting another second, Liliya stepped outside and closed the door behind her.
The moment the door shut—
Yina grabbed her by the collar and slammed her against a nearby wall before lifting her into the air.
Not far away, Yokzo, Yirina, Yonk, and Yeld silently watched the scene unfold.
"Y-Yina, please listen to me—"
Yina wasn't interested in listening.
"Listen to you?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"You should be inside the prison realm, not here. You escaped and came all the way here. What exactly are you doing? And what's with this disguise?"
"I'll explain everything."
Liliya struggled.
"But can you at least put me down first?"
Yina released her.
Liliya rubbed her neck and took a deep breath.
"Ahem... I'm just fulfilling that girl's final wish."
Yina looked completely unconvinced.
"Since when did you become such a good person?"
She folded her arms.
"Enough of this. Drop everything and come with us."
Liliya shook her head without hesitation.
"No."
Yina slowly raised one hand toward him.
"Oh."
A dangerous smile appeared on her face.
"Looks like I'll have to use force."
Liliya instantly panicked.
"Wait! Wait, wait, wait, wait!"
One of Yina's eyebrows rose.
"What?"
Liliya pressed his palms together.
"I'll do whatever you say, but not here."
Yina stared at him for a few moments before lowering her hand.
"Fine."
She turned away.
"There is a river nearby. Meet us there."
Her voice suddenly became cold.
"And if you don't come..."
She glanced toward the house.
"I'll kill the people you're protecting with my own hands."
After saying that, she walked back toward the others.
Liliya watched her leave.
Anger burned inside her chest.
She bit down on her thumb hard enough to draw blood.
Still, she forced himself to calm down.
Then he returned to the house.
---
By the time Liliya entered again, Aaru had already finished eating.
She was sitting quietly at the table, waiting.
The moment she saw Liliya, her face lit up.
Liliya sat beside her.
One hand rested on the table while the other supported her head.
She looked lost in thought.
Aaru immediately noticed.
"What happened, big sister?"
Liliya looked at her and smiled.
"Nothing."
After a brief pause, she continued.
"Your big sister has some work to do."
Aaru blinked.
"So I won't be able to come back for a few days."
The smile instantly disappeared from Aaru's face.
Liliya gently patted her head.
"Don't worry."
Her voice was soft.
"The moment I get some free time, I'll come back."
Hearing that, Aaru smiled again.
Liliya helped her stand and led her to the bedroom.
She tucked her into bed and stayed beside her, chatting quietly until Aaru eventually drifted into a deep sleep.
The room became silent.
Liliya stared at the sleeping girl for a long time.
Then she slowly stood up.
She extended one hand.
A small portal appeared beside it.
A bundle emerged from the portal.
With her other hand, she summoned a letter and placed it inside the bundle.
After that, she carefully set it beside Aaru's pillow.
Only then did she leave the room.
Reaching the front door, Liliya opened it and stepped outside.
The moment she left the house—
Her appearance changed.
The figure known as Liliya vanished.
In her place stood Dolt.
Dolt looked back at the house one final time.
Then he disappeared into the night.
The river shimmered beneath the moonlight.
Five Greater Demons stood waiting near the shore.
A few moments later, Dolt appeared.
Yina looked toward him.
"So you finally came."
She glanced at the other four before turning back toward Dolt.
"Listen. I don't know why you escaped from the prison realm, but we're here under the orders of the Demon King—"
"I don't care."
Yina blinked.
"Huh?"
Dolt's eyes narrowed.
"I don't want to hear your nonsense."
His voice grew louder.
"I'm not like you think I am. I'm nobody's servant."
Dark energy gathered around him.
"I am a demon."
His gaze burned with determination.
"And one day, I'll become strong enough to sit upon the throne where the Demon King sits."
The moment those words left his mouth—
Yina vanished.
Dolt froze.
A second later, she appeared directly behind him.
Leaning close to his ear, she whispered,
"How dare you speak against the Demon King?"
Dolt instantly jumped backward and landed in the middle of the river.
But Yina attacked immediately.
She pointed two fingers like a gun and swung her hand upward.
A blade of compressed air shot forward, splitting both wind and water as it raced toward him.
Dolt barely dodged.
The attack missed—
But the river behind him split into two halves for several seconds.
Yina calmly walked across the surface of the water.
"You think you'll defeat the Demon King and take his throne?"
She laughed.
"You're not even among the strongest creatures of the Dark World, yet you're dreaming of becoming Demon King."
Dolt clenched his fists.
"So what if I'm not strong right now?!"
He shouted at the top of his lungs.
"I'll become stronger!"
His voice trembled with emotion.
"And then you'll finally notice me!"
His eyes shook.
"You'll pay attention to me!"
Dark shadows surged around him.
"One day, I'll become so strong that nobody will even dare approach me!"
Yina's expression became serious.
"Are you joking?"
Her voice was cold.
"No matter how strong you become, the fate of the Demon King is decided at birth."
Those words pushed Dolt over the edge.
"Again!"
He laughed bitterly.
"Again and again!"
Everyone always looked down on him.
Everyone.
"But not anymore!"
Shadow tentacles erupted from his body.
Dolt charged forward.
The tentacles attacked from every direction while his fists followed right behind them.
Yina effortlessly dodged every attack.
Every punch.
Every tentacle.
Everything.
Dolt used the tentacles to distract her before suddenly appearing behind her.
The shadow tentacles pierced through her body.
A smile appeared on his face—
Then a voice came from behind him.
"That's exactly why I keep saying you're still a child."
Dolt eyes widened.
Yina was standing behind him completely unharmed.
She swung her hand once more.
Another blade of compressed air tore through the river and rushed toward him.
This time, he was too close.
There was no way to dodge.
Dolt quickly created a protective barrier.
But the barrier shattered instantly.
The attack struck him head-on.
The compressed air tore through his body and continued across the river.
Dolt vision blurred.
What... is this...?
My consciousness... is fading...
Darkness swallowed him.
When he finally opened his eyes again, he heard Yina speaking.
"Trust me. I'll convince him. He'll come with us."
Dolt slowly sat up and stared at his hands.
Yina noticed immediately.
"Oh?"
A smile appeared on her face.
"You're awake."
She walked over and placed a hand on top of his head.
"So?"
"What have you decided?"
Dolt lowered his gaze.
"You didn't leave me any other choice."
Yina gently stroked his head.
A warm smile appeared on her face.
"Honestly."
Her voice softened.
"You're my little brother."
She looked at him affectionately.
"How could I ever hurt you?"