Toxin – Chapter 3

Author: nicotine

When I came to my senses, the sun was already high in the sky, and Oromun was nowhere to be seen. It seemed I had lost consciousness for the entire night. I found myself crumpled in a distant forest, far from the village. My buttocks were sore, and my exposed body was damp with a sticky substance. Moreover, a foul smell of semen emanated from my mouth.

“Ugh… Damn it…”

I groaned, holding my throbbing head and stood up. In that moment, the events from earlier flashed before my eyes. Without even realizing I hadn’t put on a single piece of clothing, I sprinted away like a lightning bolt.

After running aimlessly for a while, the village came into view in the distance. With every step, the strong scent of blood wafted through the air. It was eerily quiet, an ominous silence. As I turned around the slope and entered the village outskirts, everything froze in place. The houses were engulfed in flames, spewing fire and smoke so thick that nothing could be seen beneath. Gruesome corpses with severed limbs and spilled entrails littered the walls and ground. Countless bodies, entrails, and blood formed a sea, an eerie silence as if right after a giant storm swept through, with not even a whimper. It was the annihilated village of Ime.

How…! Could such a thing happen overnight? In just a few hours, an entire village…! Is this… possible? Is this really reality? Unable to believe the gruesome sight, I questioned it internally. However, the horrific scenes remained unchanged. The most bizarre thing was that all of them had their horns and eyes neatly cut off and removed. Each one was a symbol of Ime.

As if revealing a warning of repulsion.

As if it were a cruel amusement for a child.

“Ugh… Cough…! Cough…!”

Shaking my shoulders violently, I vomited everything. In a moment of dizziness, the first thing that came to mind was my mother in the thatched house.

Tap, tap, tap…!!

Although it was broad daylight, darkness engulfed everything. Bodies seen through the acrid smoke lashed at me like a whip.

Please… Please…!! Please…!!

In my rapidly racing thoughts, there was only one wish. The wind whistled sharply against my skin. Feet scratched and bled as they hit protruding rocks and debris. There was no judgment or shame, only the urge to get there quickly.

Amidst the seemingly endless smoke, the thatched house came into view. As soon as I entered the yard, I scanned the surroundings. There was no smoke, and everything looked clean. Being such a secluded place, it had gone unnoticed. Grateful for the makeshift arms that were rejected by the tribe, I hastily opened the door to my mother’s room.

“Mother…!”

Swish…

As I opened the door, a white butterfly, reminiscent of one I had seen before, fluttered in front of me with delicate wingbeats. The place where the butterfly landed was adorned with white horns, as pure as my own.

Horns cut so cleanly that my teeth trembled…

The starkly contrasting blood splattered on the wall, creating a vivid scene. It pooled and trickled on the uneven floor. Gathering the last bit of strength, I focused my vision. As I traced back the crimson trails, I discovered something small and round.

Perfectly trimmed crimson irises…

My hand began to shake as if the joints would shatter. The gaze, which moved laboriously, landed on the spot where my mother used to lie.

And my mother, entirely immersed in blood…

My mother, her horns and eyeballs brutally severed…

Haah… Haah…

Like the day-old fish that twisted my gut, I could hardly tell if it was my mother who barely breathed or me.

Suddenly, someone with blue hair appeared and wrapped my mother in a filthy cloth. The echoing voice resonated confusingly.

“Let’s leave from here. Let’s leave this village… and live.”

“And… when you come back tonight, let’s give you a name!”

The sound of rain pounded heavily, clinging to them like a pitiful plea. Don’t touch! Don’t touch! Don’t touch! I denied the reality even in the searing pain felt on the soles of my feet, convincing myself that it must be a dream. A hand emerged through the filthy cloth and pierced my vision painfully. Beaten by the local kids and returning to my mother’s embrace, someone caressed my head. The touch was too gentle and affectionate, causing tears to well up again. Fragile hands that I couldn’t even grasp for fear of breaking…

The once pristine ivory horn was brutally severed. Eyes that were as clear as a girl’s were gouged out. My mother’s demise was miserable. Mother… Mother…

A cry of anguish tore through the sky. Fiendish bugs devoured my small tree. As the world tumbled into a violently spinning darkness, consciousness was sucked away.

***

Water flowed into my parched mouth. Unconsciously, I licked and drank it. In a state where all senses had died, the only thing left was the sense of smell. A hand touching my forehead wiped away the damp hair. There was a familiar yet unfamiliar scent. The fragrance that always kept my mind clear. When I lifted my eyelids, trying to avoid descending into darkness, unexpectedly, a woman’s voice reached me.

“You can sleep a bit more.”

Struggling to sit up, she supported my back. In a strange room, with an unfamiliar face, there was a beautiful woman with long, flowing chestnut hair down to her waist. I tried to ask about the village, about what happened, but my throat felt dry, and no sound came out.

“You’ve been unconscious for about two days. Are you feeling better?”

“…”

“I heard about the annihilation of the Ime tribe and came down to see if I could help. We also recently survived an attack by the Black Demon King, barely leaving half of us alive. We’ll leave this mountain within a few days. It’s not safe here either…”

I later learned that they were the Sufia, the owners of the forest. When they came down after hearing the news, Ime Village had already been wiped out, with only about a dozen survivors. They mentioned that they buried the remains of the slaughtered Ime tribe and my mother at Harusan.

***

After that day, spending the whole day in the temporary shelter they provided became routine. As if there had never been a sense of self, I just sat there. The consciousness that floated on the surface never settled in the flesh.

Hot, so hot…

The flames that soared into the sky engulfed the once peaceful village. Uncontrollable heat rose, and for a long time, I was engulfed in flames. I poured out tears of blood like a child from ancient times. Unable to breathe, feeling my chest being torn apart, I would wake up to chills. When I awoke, I found myself standing naked in the forest, just like that day…

I had no recollection of how I ended up here. With my cheeks flushed, Sufia, who used to mend my clothes and comfort me, said that a wandering demon must have possessed me that day. If used by a wandering demon, one could roam anywhere and not remember anything, she said… and she mentioned something strange.

“It keeps getting cold… cold… Suddenly, it hugged a tree, saying bugs were eating it. Does that ring a bell? Anyway, it said something similar. Do you really not remember anything?”

“…Yes.”

“By the way, if it’s so cold, why throw away your clothes? It’s making my heart flutter.”

“I’m sorry. For causing unnecessary trouble every time…”

“What trouble? I’m thankful, actually.”

She laughed, clapping her hands. Naked in the forest… Since my mother passed away, I had been doing things I shouldn’t. Was I really being robbed of my soul by a wandering demon? Sitting there blankly, I realized that I was forgetting something. I tried to recall, but like something floating in the mist, it slipped away through the gaps in my consciousness several times. Since then, I had been found several times in the forest where my mother’s remains were, completely naked.

***

That day was an unprecedented heatwave, and all the creatures in the forest were exhausted. When I woke up in the suffocating tropical night, it was still before dawn. The clothes were damp with sweat, but I didn’t feel like changing. I got up and opened the thick log door; all around was packed with damp air and towering trees. The shadows were draped like hair, and there was nothing but the tomb-like silence without any signs. Sufia said she would come here soon, but it seemed like everyone had already left. I didn’t feel any sentiments like regret, but I at least wanted to thank Sufia, who took care of me.

I began to walk aimlessly. Pushing aside irregularly protruding trees, I heard a murmuring sound somewhere. In a clearing made in the dense bushes, various races, including humans, Sufia, Aria, Nati, gathered to complain about something. Among them, there were a few survivors of the Ime tribe, and Oroon, who had escaped death, was also there. The Sufia leader, who first vented his frustration, shouted.

“We faithfully paid taxes to the Baedal office every year, thinking we were safe! Is this not a proper stab in the back?! To be subjugated by an army of only twelve…! Do you think this makes any sense?!”

“The so-called war god of extreme brutality truly felt it this time. If we don’t cut off that sprout, it will continue to spread.”

“Yes…! How long do we have to passively endure his tyranny?”

Despite their guarded relationship, this gathering seemed different, united by the shared pain. They were talking about the tyrant Black Demon King, but it didn’t particularly cross my mind. Watching the dry scene and thinking it was unusual, I turned back to the temporary shelter.

“So, what do you propose we do about the Black Demon King?!”

“……!!”

The moment I heard that name, blood was drawn out of me all at once. And then, I realized the fact that I had been desperately trying to recall. The name that ruthlessly killed my mother and took away the reason I had to endure. A name that shook me to my core. The stagnant water began to whirl around.

“It’s impossible to oppose the powerful Baedal Office that pierces the sky now. The elite unit called Gu Ya is a problem, but the biggest obstacle is the Black Demon King, the mastermind.”

“They say the strange iron armor that the Baedal Office guys wear can’t be pierced even by spear blades. It’s not even comparable to poor leather. Also, I heard that the Black Demon King is developing a terrifying weapon. It’s not a sword, but it spews fire and shoots small stones; if you’re hit by those stones, your bones shatter, and your organs are torn apart, causing death.”

The leader of the Skullflower Tribe sharpened his teeth.

“They call it the ‘Scream of the Demon’ right away. We also suffered terribly this time. If we don’t surrender to the Baedal Office and raise a white flag, our extermination is only a matter of time. What do you intend to do, Ime tribe?”

Up until then, the Ime chief had been listening silently, then opened his mouth.

“He may have formidable military power, but he can’t run away like this for a lifetime.”

Oroon, who had become a fugitive overnight, also exploded in anger.

“Why are you thinking so much? Just go in and cut off his throat! Isn’t that what we should do?!”

The eyes of the leaders widened.

“No, well, then. Are you suggesting assassinating the Black Demon King? But…”

The air became so tense that it could be cut with a knife. Assassination… In an instant, the atmosphere surged like a rapid stream, causing chaos in the area. The Ime chief combed his beard and turned his head sideways.

“The chance of success in that is slim. Attempts to assassinate the Black Demon King have been numerous, but they have all ended in failure.”

“That’s right. We shouldn’t rush into it. There’s a saying that the Black Demon King is a monster. They say he can shatter the earth with a snort and summon lightning with just his gaze.”

“Well, Sufia tribe leader, have you ever seen him?”

“Well, I haven’t actually seen him, but I’ve heard it so much it feels like a nail in my ear. If he sets his mind to it, winning in a war is nothing for him.”

“Click… No, that’s not it! The lower body is like a beast with a tail attached, and the face of a horned ox with a snake’s tongue! He performs magic, takes out a person’s soul, then tears apart the enemy’s limbs!”

“Then, Chief Aria, have you seen him?”

“Well, I’ve only heard rumors, actually…”

The Nati Tribe leader, who took the form of an animal, sighed deeply.

“In any case, the possibility of success in a direct attack is almost nonexistent. There have been countless attempts to assassinate him, and many assassins have met their demise. You do know that not long ago, a hired assassin from the Golnaru Tribe was killed by the Black Demon King, right?”

“So, are we just supposed to sit back and keep taking hits indefinitely? Just because we’ve been hiding like this doesn’t guarantee safety for anyone!”

“But who will step forward?”

As Chief Aria vented his anger, they all fell silent as if it was agreed upon. It was a crucial matter for the survival of their tribes, yet there seemed to be no viable alternative, and no one was willing to step forward. If what they listed was true, then the so-called Black Demon King was a monster who couldn’t be touched even by a single strand of hair. My focus, deeply fixed in the void, wavered. Assassination. It was the best way to undo what had happened to my mother. In an instant, one fact that I had forgotten crossed my mind.

The reason my father passed away… That which took away my father’s life…

As if standing at the edge of a cliff, I hesitated to take a step forward. However, my lips were already opening.

“I will… go.”

Their gaze focused on me. I, who had been completely disregarded, emerged, and the eyes of the Ime tribe widened, and Oromun’s face distorted. They seemed suspicious if the voice had just come from me.

“What? Was that what you just said?”

“That matter, I will handle it. I will put an end to his life. Just let me meet the Black Demon King.”

The venom in Ime’s body, when mixed with other tribes, gradually poisoned the opponent, slowly devouring their life. Even recognizing that one is dying is not possible, until suddenly cells and blood vessels are corroded by the poison. And knowing this fact, only a few.

They scrutinized my noticeably thin frame and then burst into laughter.

“You must be out of your mind! How can you, who can’t even properly wield a sword, assassinate the Black Demon King, a monster, let alone in that state! Anyway, even undergoing assassin training is not something that can be done in a day or two! In any case, there’s no time to deal with someone like you, so just go away! Get out of here quickly! Pull this guy out!”

The commanders who received the order rushed at me and began to drag me away.

“I will go! Just let me meet him!”

Although I shouted defiantly, they paid no attention and continued their serious discussion. At this moment, there was only one determination driving the madness – the resolve to meet the murderer, to encounter the assassin who must be faced. It was unfair to have the breath cut off in an instant. Muscles and nerves gradually succumbing to poison, dying miserably, was the way it should be. And in the murderer’s final moments, I would return what he had done to my mother. However, despite my determination, my frail body was being pulled away by the commanders.

“Do you truly have confidence?”

The voice that emerged was that of Ime’s chieftain. All eyes turned to the chief. Though the chieftain’s face had aged suddenly after losing relatives and territory overnight, his gaze still exuded experience and wisdom. Looking at me, the chieftain spoke.

“Your father didn’t believe in that. But in the end, he had no choice but to prove it to himself.”

The chief glanced at me, seeking confirmation.

“Wasn’t that what you had in mind? Or did I misinterpret?”

Exhausted, breathing heavily, I felt the heat that had been building up in my head spreading throughout my body. Gasping for breath, I replied.

“Yes.”

The chief did not ask how he could see into my mind. Though his features resembled those of his son Oromun, there was a subtle difference. Perhaps the chieftain had a premonition that he might know about what his son had done to me.

“I heard that the concubines Black Demon King has taken so far were all women. Still, are you confident?”

“Whether I’m confident or not is my problem. All you need to do is allow me to meet the Black Demon King.”

Ime chieftain’s eyes darkened at my cold response. Bewildered by the conversation between the chief and me, everyone felt perplexed.

“What in the world are you talking about? Chief, you don’t need to deal with such a guy! Just take him away now!”

Although the commanders urged, this time I did not go along willingly.

“In any case, isn’t it in your best interest to stay alive? Whether you obey the Black Demon King or live hidden like this, if you’re exposed, you’ll likely face execution. There’s no need to fight against such a fate.”

Their faces twisted with vague terror. Indeed, they were those who hid behind someone’s skirt, only shouting with their mouths. Ime’s chieftain hurriedly raised his hand to stop them.

“The child is right. There is nothing worse than what we are facing now.”

“No, Chief! Are you really believing this guy now?! If we attempt something foolish and get exposed, then we might as well—!”

“Hah! Did this guy really go mad…!”

“That means I won’t act recklessly.”

With a venomous glare, I nailed them with a pointed look.

“I will do what you fear so much. Just bring him to me.”

I couldn’t predict how the Black Demon King, who detested Ime, would reveal his brutal madness. I might be beheaded in one stroke, or I could lose my eyes and horns. Either way, it didn’t matter. Since I had already surrendered my flesh and soul to the Monogus, it made no difference.

I thought it was raining. My face was completely soaked with the moisture that had been flowing down since earlier… Suddenly, through the blurred vision, I saw Ormun. He said that my mouth was hot and moist, making me go insane, that once my orifice tasted it, I would instantly become addicted and never be able to quit. Whichever way it went, it didn’t matter. I had already given my body and soul to the Monogus.

Perhaps it was time to let him taste it just once and make him unable to quit.

…That’s right?

The guy looked at me, his face contorted with the agony of a fly, then turned his head. At this moment, for the first time, I wanted to believe his words.

It might fail. However, I had nothing to fear now. I would return what I received. The poison coursing deep in my veins was raging for one purpose.