Even if I receive only hatred from my beloved, I don’t care. It is preferable to receive the hatred of the one I love while eliminating the prey and the hatred of the one I cherish.

Judging by such thoughts, even if he spent a long time in Nix, he was still a person of Quan.

Quan’s way, Quan’s tradition, and Quan’s culture were much more familiar.

Because of that, it was even harder for him to endure jealousy.

Merem, as a vent, dealt with the assassin and sent a signal.

It was an order to clean up the bodies before she could see the dirty ones.

“!”

And at that very moment. A moment that would end with a single blink of an eye.

An oppressive vitality, chilling enough to make the back of the neck cool, overwhelmed them.

This was a type of energy he had never felt before.

Merem, who exactly sensed that she was being targeted before anyone else, showed no mercy.

“Get out and scatter.”

With a commanding order, the golden pupils contracted vertically. A blue band resembling waves rippled in his irises, which now shared the vision with the Elemental King.

Having quickly identified those who possessed a strange power, he clenched his outstretched hand.

Squish.

Then, from various places, along with short moans, friction sounds that seemed like something was forcibly shriveling echoed.

Without even trying to touch them once, they turned into jerky while still alive.

“What the heck is this?”

“Ugh!”

“Mom!!”

Since there were many assassins, there was chaos in the place where the guards ran late.

Some participants sat down in a daze, trembling until their consciousness left them.

Although it was a clean handling without a single drop of blood, they were making a fuss about something terrifying.

With a cold tongue, Merem opened his mouth to take Leornarda to a safe place.

“Leo. Stop it now….”

But Leornarda was not there.

Looking around in confusion, she was seen near the unsalvaged corpse, still in her servant attire.

She seemed extremely excited.

‘Bellipor!’

He knew right away as soon as he inhaled.

This was the scent of fear, like a deer that had just been grabbed by its neck.

It was also the fresh scent of minerals freshly dug from rocks, and the fragrance of young fern leaves swaying.

The primal scent of rawness.

Even among his brothers, the one who was the most arrogant and the one I took care of the most… My brother who hates me the most in the world.

Devil, Bellipor.

He sent an assassin who had buried his scent here.

‘But the devil can’t directly attack humans. Unless attacked first.’

That was the rule that made up the world.

Devils, Elemental Kings, and Gods. They were all beings different from mere humans. Therefore, when they exercised their will and power on Earth, there had to be a contractor.

‘You found a contractor, huh?’

Having searched through the assassin who had lost all body fluids due to the Elemental King and died, I grinned.

There were scars shaped like the Big Dipper on their palms.
“I heard that the assassination group boasts the highest commission fee in the world.”

Who could be the contractor of Bellipor, who can afford to pay here?

Is it my prejudice that makes Enrique and Helene come to mind first?

“Leo.”

Then, thick and strong arms embraced me from behind.

“Don’t look at dirty things.”

I killed them cleanly, and there was nothing dirty.

I, who was about to retort, realized a half-beat late that Merem called me ‘Leo.’

“Oh. Did you catch it?”

“From the beginning.”

“You knew everything and still teased me. That’s too much.”

“I hoped you’d pretend not to know.”

I followed Merem obediently.

After passing through the crowded crowd and going through a relatively quiet corridor, we climbed the stairs and arrived at the observatory.

No one seemed interested here, and the area around the giant telescope was empty.

“Your skills have improved a lot, Merem.”

Merem didn’t say a word during the whole way. Feeling awkward, I cleared my throat and praised him.

“There was nothing more to teach you. You even know how to use the power of the Elemental King freely.”

“……. ”

“The speed, accuracy, and situational judgment are impressive. I wondered how you grew up so well.”

Perhaps the compliment wasn’t that great?

Merem didn’t respond at all. He just leaned against the railing and stared at the distant sea.

I, who was scratching my cheek, sat on the railing precariously and covered Merem’s cheeks with my hands. Then, he squirmed his cheeks against my hand, making a cute gesture.

“Can I get a goodnight kiss?”

“It’s not bedtime yet.”

With only one eye slightly open, Merem, who had been looking at me, approached as soon as he got permission.

Tap.

After lightly touching my forehead, he looked at me with a deeply sinking gaze.

In his eyes, so dark and heavy, I realized.

‘The boy who blushed all over with a single kiss, from cheeks to ears and neck, is gone now.’

My heart made an uncomfortable noise, like something was turning strangely.