Lilim and the Demonic Beast ☆6
"Ah, I really don't like this."
Why on earth did Serin tell him to take care of someone like this? Seohyun was at a complete loss, unable to understand his younger sibling's mindset, and fretted over it.
"You're under Arjuna Master's protection… so I won't say anything, but someone like you suddenly claiming you want to live like a human is truly disgusting and pathetic. You've been sacrificing others freely for power and wealth, so what is this supposed to be? Honestly, it pisses me off, so I'd rather not see you in my sight. Or why don't you just go kill yourself?"
"What did you say?"
Seohyun bristled at Han Segeon's words, but Han Segeon ignored him and pulled out the used injectors and gun barrels.
"Cast a spell of recognition disorder on these barrels. Charge the injectors as well. How long will it take?"
"About a week?"
"That's quite a while."
Han Segeon pulled a bundle of old bills out of his biker backpack.
"I'll pay in advance."
"Oh my. You always do that, thank you. But Segeon, are you okay? We should… talk a little."
Kim Seonghee was worried because Han Segeon was avoiding Arjuna and staying reclusive. But Han Segeon shook his head. Clearly, the path he wanted to walk was different from Kim Seonghee's. That became evident after putting Serin in the position of Tetra Anax.
Ultimately, Kim Seonghee is a mage seeking stability in the world of the Moonlight Night. She was a resident of this world from the start, while Han Segeon was someone ravaged by it. If Han Segeon sought the destruction of the entire world, Kim Seonghee only needed to oust the tyrant and restore stability. After ousting the tyrant named Gordon, she was satisfied, drawing the line between herself and Han Segeon.
And now it's Seohyun?
Han Segeon clicked his tongue. Seohyun, or Isaka Berghenev, as a Lycanthrope of Siwon, was no easy opponent. For someone like him to be exploited under Arjuna for minimum wage was truly a sign of the times. The vampire society, once wielding absolute power, was collapsing, and the vampire hunters and the neutral mages opposing the vampires' dominance were growing stronger.
The vampire society, which had once boasted overwhelming strength, had fallen over the past few years, replaced by new emerging powers.
And at the center of it was Han Segeon.
It was a joyous thought. When he first became a vampire hunter, no one could have imagined that this young boy would become the center of such monumental events.
Still, he didn't like Isaka Berghenev. Even if his presence signified the weakening of vampire forces, there was no personal reason to like him. And the same applied to Seohyun.
"This is a far better chance to prove my own solidity than any part-time job. And you're holding back even seeing this brat."
Seohyun trembled with anger, pointing at Han Segeon. Han Segeon shrugged.
"In that sense, my patience is at its peak. From the perspective of a Lycanthrope, you're a cannibalistic monster; from a human perspective, a war criminal, a murderer, an undeniable piece of trash. And yet I tolerate having you in my sight—don't you find that surprising?"
"..."
Seohyun felt genuinely hurt. It was true that he had committed war crimes. Moving from one mercenary society to another and across battlefields, such acts were inevitable. But could he claim special circumstances to justify himself? Doing so would be something only a human piece of trash would do. Being drunk might cause a normally rational person to commit a crime, but for the criminal themselves to use that as an excuse is shameless.
War criminal, murderer, trash… Seohyun could not deny any of these, and arguing would only make him seem even more brazen. Yet, should he call Han Segeon a terrorist or a fugitive? That would be accurate, but indulging in such a crude verbal fight would reduce the argument to childish squabbling: "You were wrong," "No, you were more wrong…" Seohyun didn't want that. Despite living most of his life in the killing fields, he had a sense of dignity befitting the "Prince of Lycanthropes." He had deliberately numbed his sensitivity to survive as the king of beasts, but he did not want to lower himself to petty bickering to defend against Han Segeon's criticism.
"Seohyun, you're special. Being Lilim, assassins have been chasing you since childhood. How can anyone judge you by normal standards?"
Unable to bear it, Kim Seonghee defended him. It was kind, but… irritating. This situation itself was unbearably annoying.
"Ah…"
Seohyun covered his face with his hands, speechless.
How did it come to this?
What's remarkable is that this all happened on the very first day. For Seohyun, the Prince of Lycanthropes, to experience this on his first day at Arjuna… the future looked daunting.
☆ ☆ ☆
Han Segeon had originally intended only a brief stop at Arjuna, but he changed plans and stayed until after evening.
Tetra Anax had been newly appointed, but vampire hunters continued to arrive steadily.
Vampirism could almost be considered a blessing. For those facing death, it was a perfect refuge; even otherwise, superhuman strength and immortality were tempting for anyone.
Of course, it came at the cost of becoming a blood-drinking monster—but humans were already monsters. Humans harmed others to survive all the time. How different is a vampire sinking teeth into a human neck from a human pursuing only their own gain regardless of others' destruction?
Why do ordinary people unfamiliar with the Moonlight Night choose the term "vampire" to describe exploiters? In a sense, vampires can be considered more human…
Humans are cruel to humans.
And vampires are cruel to humans because, broadly speaking, they are also human. As a result, vampires continue to increase uncontrollably. Even if Tetra Anax imposes strict laws, humans eager to become vampires willingly transform. Among new vampires—or those who have lived too long and need companions—some voluntarily or involuntarily turn others into vampires. This is an unavoidable social cost of vampirism.
"Ah… Mr. Han Segeon?"
Someone approached Han Segeon, who sat in Arjuna in the evening, watching vampire hunters absentmindedly. A thin, hollow-eyed man in his forties, apparently a new vampire hunter, approached. Despite nearly a generation's age difference, he treated Han Segeon with respect, likely recognizing his seniority. This suggested that Han Segeon's status among vampire hunters far exceeded age hierarchies typical in Korean culture.
"And?"
"I recently lost my wife and child to vampires and became a vampire hunter. I… want to be like you."
"..."
At forty, starting as a vampire hunter… it might be too late. Unless he were a soldier, bodyguard, or martial artist, adapting would be extremely difficult even with the aid of psychedelic techniques.
Of course, if he witnessed his family's murder firsthand, his desire for revenge and rage would be beyond words. He would run toward destruction, even if hell awaited.
But humans cannot endure the medium of time. Many people become vampire hunters to avenge family, but eventually succumb to psychedelic doors, ending life as monsters or vampires themselves. Still, one cannot force him to live a normal life; for him, life and death are both hellish.
Han Segeon recalled how Sylvester and others might have looked at him similarly when he chose to become a vampire hunter, and he smiled wryly at the irony.
"Will you teach me?"
"..."
The man asked to become Han Segeon's apprentice. Other vampire hunters glanced at them. Allowing this would invite others to swarm too. Han Segeon shook his head.
"Sorry, but…"
Then another approached. Unlike the previous man driven by revenge, this one was consumed by greed. Desolation spread wherever one looked.
"Are you planning to lead group hunts? True demon hunters?"
"Group hunts?"
"Collecting all the vampire blood and flesh alone isn't easy, so let's separate hunting and collection teams. Of course, as the true demon hunter, you keep most of the rewards, right?"
He looked around; everyone nodded. They were like hyenas, scavenging the spoils after a hunt. Even if Han Segeon collected alone, much would be lost, so they proposed sharing.
'I had a good mentor.'
Han Segeon clicked his tongue at these hunters internally.
"Later… when necessary…"
Leading group hunts could be a huge asset, but he refused to commit. Still, there was no need to insult them.
'Any interesting information? This is why I didn't want to come. Everyone's attention is on me, but there's nothing useful.'
Han Segeon frowned at the undue attention from other hunters. Serin, now Tetra Anax, was embracing as many vampires as possible, but that only increased vampire hunters. Vampire incidents continued to rise—more than during Gordon's era.
As vampires traveled under Tetra Anax's protection, their previously suppressed impulses erupted. Like drunken, unruly tourists, desires long restrained by the tyrant Gordon surged.
'Is this your answer?'
Han Segeon wanted to ask Serin that. Of course, it wasn't her intent. As long as vampires deceive humans and reside in the cognitive darkness of Moonlight Night, this was inevitable. Even a benevolent king governing them rules over a kingdom of deception.
For Segeon, whose life had been stolen by their deception and greed, compromise was impossible. Even if a benevolent soul sat on the throne, his hatred roared all the louder.