Chapter Text

Chapter 1 - 끝

Jinu opened his eyes, expecting to be greeted by the bruise-colored hues of hell and Gwi-Ma’s voice violating his thoughts—something along the lines of "Your suffering will be eternal for this betrayal" or "I will break you into a million pieces."

But nothing came. Only the sound of his own heartbeat pounding in his eardrums.

And an orange glow from the setting sun outside, so bright it nearly blinded him. Not because it was harsh or dazzling—it was soft, almost inviting—but because his body was still healing from last night’s trauma, his senses struggling to function properly.

He groaned and shut his eyes. The effort alone felt strangely immense. With even greater difficulty, he pushed himself up, bracing his weight on his left hand while his right massaged his temples and shielded his eyes.

He tried relying on his other senses. Smell—others were here. Demons. His partners. Abby and Baby. They were alive, but the faint scent of exhaustion and despair lingered in the air, suggesting they were just as drained.

His claws dug into the soft fabric beneath him. A bed. His own bed. How did we get back? His throbbing head only allowed flashes of memory:

Gwi-Ma’s deafening roar inside his skull.

The bone-shaking resonance as the Honmoon transformed into an iridescent, impenetrable wall.

And then—the crushing pain that followed.

It felt like being torn apart slowly, every muscle in his body taut as the strings of his bipa.

Through the haze of agony clouding his vision, he vaguely registered his friends collapsing into bestial screams, hearts racing, blood welling where claws sank into flesh.

"A fitting demise, after everything we’ve done," Jinu thought bitterly, teetering on the edge of madness.

Then—hands.

Soft, gentle hands gripping his arms, guiding him into darkness. Rushed whispers. Tears. His? Someone else’s? Or—

A click snapped him back to the present. A door opening. Faint, hushed footsteps. Curtains rustling. The sunlight’s warmth vanished from his skin—only to be replaced by a gentle touch.

"Jinu…? How are you feeling?" Her voice was a whisper, tender yet cautious, as if any louder sound might shatter him—or the others. And maybe she was right.

The same voice that had anchored him in his storm of pain, the one that had always lingered in the background during his idol life, caring for them. The assistant's name echoed in his mind, linking sound to face. And then, he dared to open his eyes again.

Slowly. Carefully.

It didn’t hurt as much this time. Darkness embraced him now, as welcoming as the sunset that had kissed his skin before fading. Becoming a recurring theme in my life, he mused darkly.

But what greeted him was another kind of light—one that didn’t fade.

Her eyes, ever watchful, ever worried, fixed on him. A quiet presence in his and the other demons’ lives, ever since she’d become their unofficial assistant manager. Always anticipating their needs. Perhaps the only human who didn’t annoy them.

"Like I spent a lifetime in hell," Jinu sneered, the madness still clinging to his voice.

"Interesting choice of words," she replied, her gaze dropping to his hands.

He followed her stare. Purple, marked skin ending in talons.

Shit.

Laughter burst from her lips, a wild glint in her eyes. Maybe she was the one losing it.

Behind Jinu, Baby groaned and unleashed a string of curses as he shoved Abby—still unconscious against him—and tried to push himself up on trembling arms.

"Fucking hell. What in the actual fuck happened? Why are you being so goddamn loud?" he hissed.

His glowing eyes locked onto the woman's figure with predatory intensity, struggling to process the sight: a human—a familiar one, but a human nonetheless—standing in the same room as three demons in their true forms.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. They needed to hide. They needed to kill her—

Then his mind erupted as memories flooded back. The pain was instant, as if reliving the agony all over again. His body, too battered to endure it, gave out—but before he could hit the floor, she caught him.

His vision flickered, consciousness wavering—then snapping back.

"Please, don’t push yourself. Rest," she pleaded.

Her voice, soft yet firm, tempered Baby’s fury. This was the closest he’d ever been to a living being—maybe the shock of contact stunned him into compliance. He stayed still, absorbing the warmth radiating from her body.

"I have so many questions," she admitted. "But the only one that matters right now is—are you okay?"

Baby’s mouth opened, then closed. Words failed him. Instead, he nodded. Yes. He’d be okay.

She smiled, pulling him closer, pressing her cheek against his silky hair. Her own heart raced.

Jinu, still stunned, wrestled with the pieces of this impossible puzzle.

First—they were alive.

Second—they were free of Gwi-Ma.

Third—a human was smiling at them, caring for them, even in their demon forms. A human who looked grateful they were alive.

What in the actual hell?

********

By the time Abby regained consciousness, the sky had darkened. His head throbbed, his vision swam, and his ears rang as if bells tolled inside his skull. He patted himself down—All in one piece, thank hell—then groped at his surroundings. Soft, silken sheets brushed his fingertips. His hand hit something solid, earning a muffled grunt in response—disapproval, probably, but he couldn’t trust his hearing. Not with that relentless ringing.

A hand clasped his, another steadied his shoulder. Slowly, the blurred shapes before him sharpened into clarity, and the noise in his ears dulled to a whisper.

“Welcome back, Abby.”

He blinked. Once. Twice.

On his left, Jinu—his demon brother—gripped his shoulder, keeping him upright. On his right, Baby simply stared, golden eyes unreadable.

And between them—her. A human. Holding his hand. The last face he expected to see in this state. Maybe he was hallucinating. He wouldn’t be surprised.

“Oh, Lady Assistant,” Abby slurred, then squinted. “Why are we in Jinu’s bed?”

Her lips curled—amused he remembered her, amused he looked more dazed than the others. At least the extra time unconscious had spared him their earlier delirium.

The room hummed with unspoken questions. She exhaled, gave Abby’s hand a reassuring squeeze, then released it. They were alive. Healing. That was enough for now. Time for answers.

“Let’s do this properly,” she said, voice steady. “I’ll answer your questions, you’ll answer mine. Honesty only. You first.” She nodded to Jinu, whose shock still painted his features.

“Why are we—” He cut himself off, thoughts crashing like waves. “No. What happened last night?”

“After the Huntrix sealed that flaming monster away, you three collapsed. Screaming. Clawing at your own skin.” Her voice faltered, as if the memory physically wounded her. “Blood everywhere—your wounds, your eyes, your noses. The crowd panicked. Smoke. Chaos. I ran to you. With the girls’ help, I dragged you here before anyone saw…” Her gaze flickered to their claws. “This.”

Jinu stiffened. “Where are the others?”

It was Baby who answered, voice razor-sharp. “They sided with Gwi-Ma.”

She looked away, pain flashing across her face. “They were already gone when I reached you.”

“Cowards,” Baby snarled, fists clenching until his claws pierced his own palms. Blood welled, glistening under the moonlight. They could’ve been free. Instead, they chose the easy path—the weak one.

“Baby.” Her hands closed over his, prying his fingers open. But as she reached for him, the light caught the deep gashes raking her inner arm—fresh claw marks, barely scabbed.

Abby seized her wrist, jaw tightening. The wound was vicious, the kind that burned for days. It needed treatment. Now. His eyes asked the silent question.

She understood.

“You three weren’t exactly cooperative in your… state,” she said lightly, tugging her arm back.

But now their senses sharpened, now they saw—the smaller cuts littering her limbs, the tang of blood clinging to her clothes, the exhaustion weighing her movements. She’d fought to save them and ignored her own wounds.

“Why?” Baby’s voice was raw. He remembered her carrying him—her ragged breaths, her trembling arms. “Why risk your life for demons who tried to doom the world?”

She blinked, then frowned, as if the question had never occurred to her.

“Because you’re worth saving,” she said simply, meeting each of their eyes.

The words struck like arrows.

Jinu clutched his chest, fingers twisting into his bloodstained shirt. His heart—gods, it hurt. Four centuries in hell had turned it to stone, or so he’d thought. Now it hammered, alive and aching, as if her words had cracked it open. His eyes flickered, light dancing like embers in a storm.

Abby choked—a laugh, a sob, he didn’t know. Disbelief. Confusion. Hope. Four hundred years, and no one had ever called him worthy. Useful? Yes. But redeemable? He hadn’t dared believe it. Tears spilled, tracing paths down his cheeks.

Baby stood frozen. His glowing eyes bored into hers, unblinking. A thousand thoughts, a thousand emotions, all tangled, all too much. Evil had been his mantle for so long he’d forgotten kindness existed. Maybe he’d never known it at all.

Her breath hitched at their reactions—had she misstepped? Were they still fractured from the madness? Unsure, she fell back on instinct: comfort.

Her hands lifted, slow as a whisper. She carded her fingers through Jinu’s hair, gentle. Brushed Abby’s tears away with her thumb. Then, hesitating only a heartbeat, she pulled Baby into an embrace, his forehead resting against her collarbone.

They leaned into her touch, starved for warmth. And in their hearts, silent vows took root:

“I won’t lose this light,” Jinu swore.

“I’ll protect her,” Abby vowed.

“I’ll slaughter anyone who harms her,” Baby promised.