5. ……For the Second Time
2016.01.18
Shukri looked back. Under the moonlight, the Decarim stood in silence. Even though dozens of people were gathered, there was so little presence that it felt as if Shukri alone stood there.
After roughly counting with his eyes, Shukri confirmed that everyone had assembled without exception. Standing at the very front, he gave a light gesture.
“Let’s go. If we wait any longer, we’ll be late.”
However, contrary to his light gesture, the sigh he exhaled was heavy. What they were about to do was anything but ordinary.
Shukri glanced up at the moon for no particular reason, then down at the ground, and let out another deep sigh. Then he quietly added,
“Destination: Hashar’s palace, the banquet hall. Objective: the safe return of our master.”
The Decarim nodded at Shukri’s command. At that moment, one of them cautiously asked,
“Would it not have been better to prevent our master from going there in the first place, or to have accompanied her from the beginning?”
“Well…”
At the question, Shukri scratched his head once. His wheat-colored hair became disheveled. Looking at the one who had asked, Shukri said,
“A dog does not question its master’s orders.”
“……”
At his words, the Decarim fell momentarily silent. Ilsia was not only the King of Devaris, but also their master. The Decarim were a race that should have perished eight years ago.
However, the reason this wandering people, without a country, were able to settle together like this was because Ilsia had become their center. The sacrifices she had made along the way were something the Decarim understood better than anyone.
On that day, when the coronation was held in the middle of a barren desert with nothing but a crown woven from tree branches, the Decarim had devoted everything to Ilsia.
“This is something our master desires and acts upon. We merely offer our advice, and if she proceeds anyway, we follow.”
“That is correct.”
“And if we had said from the beginning that we would accompany her, would our master have been pleased?”
“She would have been saddened. She does not wish for us to be harmed…”
“Yes, that’s how it is.”
Shukri shrugged his shoulders.
“We simply go as if we know nothing from the start, and bring our master back safely.”
Then Shukri clapped his hands sharply to refresh the mood.
“Alright, enough chatter. We have no more time to waste.”
As Shukri slipped into the darkness first, the Decarim dressed in black followed one after another. The place that had held dozens of people was soon left with only moonlight cutting through the darkness.
The kiss came suddenly.
Hashar’s body visibly flinched. His hand gripped Ilsia’s shoulder with crushing force. Ilsia let out a strained groan—not from the pain in her shoulder, but for another reason.
“Ugh…!”
What is this monster?!
The moment their lips met, Ilsia barely suppressed a scream. As their energies intertwined, an overwhelming sensation surged through her entire body… something beyond description.
A shiver ran through her. Goosebumps rose, her legs trembled uncontrollably. Fear hammered at her entire body.
It felt as if she had been trapped in the center of a massive sandstorm that engulfed the entire desert. As though she would be stripped of everything by him, swept away and shattered to pieces.
“Hah…!”
Ilsia shoved Hashar away and caught her breath roughly, staring at him. Her red eyes burned intensely. Hashar slowly licked his lips.
Dark smoke poured steadily from his body. The unholy power within him had been pushed to the brink of losing control. Like a dam on the verge of bursting, it writhed, eager to break free.
Instinctively, Ilsia staggered backward. Everyone in the hall had stopped moving and were staring at Hashar.
Ilsia understood why. They weren’t truly frozen—they were unable to move, suppressed by Hashar’s presence.
Unlike the terrified people, however, Hashar was enjoying all of it. He closed his eyes and leaned his head back languidly.
“…Ha.”
A satisfied sigh escaped his lips. The black smoke emanating from him was far darker and denser than Shukri’s.
Danger… danger… danger…!
Her whole body tingled. Her mind screamed at her to run, to flee without looking back. But she had only stepped back a few paces. Her feet would not move any further, as if glued to the ground.
Hashar slowly straightened his head and looked at Ilsia. Black smoke coiled around her, forcibly drawing her toward him.
His large hand seized her small face. A low growl rumbled from his throat.
“Eight years ago, all of Devaris’s royal family was torn apart alive, and only one princess barely escaped.”
As he whispered slowly, goosebumps crawled across Ilsia’s skin. His red gaze was like a spear pinning her in place.
“I hear the Devaris royal bloodline has the ability to amplify power…”
“……”
“What do you think, Princess of Devaris?”
She had expected that the moment she came into contact with him, he would recognize her identity. But being so thoroughly toyed with was beyond what she had anticipated. She could not afford to be swept along by him any longer.
Ilsia brushed his hand away. Then she stared straight at Hashar and declared,
“I am not some princess! I am the King of Devaris.”
“Oh? The King of Devaris, is it?”
Facing Hashar’s amused expression, Ilsia spoke firmly, masking her fear.
“If you mock me again by calling me a princess… I’ll make you regret it.”
A low chuckle came from Hashar. Ignoring it, Ilsia continued,
“Don’t forget your promise to help me.”
Hashar raised his eyebrow slightly, realizing that his promise would be used for the Devaris people. Yet he showed no displeasure. Instead, he smiled pleasantly.
“Since I swore in the name of the Sultan, I suppose I’m bound to it.”
He was a man who remained endlessly composed no matter what happened. Even if a corpse dropped in front of him, he likely wouldn’t blink.
However, the enhancement of power through physical contact did not last long. She needed to hurry him. Ilsia, staring at his red eyes, stepped toward him.
Seeing her approach without retreating, Hashar narrowed his eyes. Truthfully, she was afraid of him. But now she could not show it. From the moment she declared herself King of Devaris, there was no turning back.
Just as he had done earlier, Ilsia brought her face close to his and whispered softly,
“And why you’re called a demon…”
A sweet fragrance flowed from her breath.
“Show me.”
Her seductive whisper was paired with a provocative gaze. Hashar licked his lips slightly, like someone facing a delicious dish.
“…How delightful. This is the most enjoyable moment I’ve had in a long while.”
Hashar slowly raised his arm. As he moved, the oppressive energy in the hall loosened slightly. At the same time, Ahad’s assassins quickly regained their senses and resumed action.
“He’s using unholy power!!”
A sharp shout rang out as a black dagger flew toward Ilsia and Hashar’s feet.
That was the signal. Daggers began to rain down like a storm. It seemed they intended to take him down before Hashar could fully act.
The tips of the daggers glowed white, blessed by the Caliph. The raining blades, tracing white arcs, were terrifying. There was nowhere to escape.
Yet Hashar showed no significant reaction. Ilsia, on the verge of shouting in frustration, was interrupted as Hashar’s hand moved as if dancing.
“……!!”
That alone was enough. The daggers that had been flying suddenly stopped midair, as though caught by invisible hands. Hundreds of them suspended in the air was a sight beyond awe—it was almost divine.
Kreeeiiing…
A sharp metallic scraping echoed. The daggers slowly rotated, their points no longer aimed at Hashar and Ilsia—but at the assassins of Ahad.
Then Hashar turned to Ilsia and asked casually,
“How many should we spare?”
“W-what?”
“To interrogate them afterward, we should leave a few alive.”
As if offering a generous favor, he continued,
“How many should I spare? I’ll save as many as you wish.”
Before Ilsia could respond, screams erupted.
“Aaaaagh!!”
Assassins closest to Hashar cried out. Ilsia had to suppress nausea at the sight. Their flesh had melted up to their ankles, collapsing onto the floor.
Black smoke. It had spread across the banquet hall floor. Filled with Hashar’s intent, it brimmed with killing intent, ready to erupt at any moment.
Hashar turned to Ilsia.
“You should answer quickly… or I might end up killing them all.”
At that moment, several assassins exchanged glances and rushed toward Hashar. But they couldn’t even get close.
Some of the suspended daggers shot forward, piercing them mid-charge. Like porcupines, their bodies were filled with blades, and they met meaningless deaths without accomplishing anything.
Hashar watched their deaths with a genuinely pleased smile. Now, intoxicated with bloodshed, he was in his element.
Ilsia realized that if left unchecked, he would wipe out everyone in the hall—guests and assassins alike.
The only one who could stop him now was Ilsia.
“E-everyone… spare everyone. But restrain them so they cannot move or take their own lives…”
As soon as she stammered the words, Hashar agreed readily.
“Very well.”
Dark smoke enveloped the hall ominously. The assassins’ ankles melted as they collapsed like puppets. The floating daggers flew into their mouths, gagging them like restraints.
Dozens of assassins were subdued in an instant.
“Your Majesty!”
Just as Hashar finished dealing with the assassins, the banquet hall doors opened. Alsned entered, followed by soldiers of Alshatra lined up behind him. Hashar spoke to him irritably,
“Alsned, I told you to wait until commanded.”
Alsned hesitated at the scene but replied anyway,
“I feared Your Majesty might kill everyone…”
At that moment, Ilsia realized she had been completely played by Hashar.
He had already prepared for this. The soldiers efficiently escorted the guests out and gathered the assassins in one place.
Ilsia had revealed all her cards while being deceived.
‘I’ve exposed my abilities for nothing!’
As Hashar spoke with Alsned, a voice echoed in Ilsia’s mind.
—Master!
It was Shukri, communicating through unholy power. Startled, Ilsia looked around. The message continued.
—There’s much to say, but we’ll discuss it later. This is the only chance to escape. Look at the ceiling.
How did he know I was here? Confused, Ilsia looked up. Shukri was perched among the chandeliers.
—Hashar’s power is too strong right now, so I cannot use my abilities repeatedly. We must succeed in one attempt.
Shukri gestured slightly, and black smoke rose from his hand.
—Lower your presence quietly, and keep your eyes on me.
Hashar was busy with Alsned and not looking at her. Ilsia cautiously reached out her hand into the air. Her body lifted slightly, rising slowly upward.
As she ascended, she drew closer to Shukri. He reached out to grab her—but with a faint rustling sound, the veil she was wearing slipped off.
‘Ah—my veil!’
As Ilsia gasped, the veil drifted down… and landed right on Hashar’s head.
“…?”
Feeling something fall onto his head, Hashar looked up—and their eyes met.
“……”
“Ah… haha…”
Ilsia gave him an awkward smile.
“Well… I’m a bit busy, so I’ll get going now, Hashar. See you next time.”
Hashar smirked and reached out his hand.
“As if I’d let you.”
Ilsia’s body jolted as she was rapidly pulled toward him.
“Aah!!”
Shukri grimaced and sent another message—not to Ilsia this time.
—Decarim!
At his signal, Decarim appeared from every corner of the ceiling. They exchanged signals quickly, then simultaneously slashed their forearms with blades.
A fragrant scent of blood spread instantly, and droplets of red fell like a sudden downpour.
The hall fell silent for a brief moment. Someone tasted the blood that had fallen near their lips, then shouted,
“It’s Devaris! It’s Devaris blood!”
With that single cry, the banquet hall descended into chaos.
Those who had just been paralyzed by fear disappeared, replaced by greedy figures scrambling like pigs, chasing the falling droplets. They had lost all reason.
To make matters worse, the blood that fell onto the assassins began to regenerate their melted ankles, writhing back into form. The scene was grotesque beyond words. Hashar’s gaze turned toward them.
—Master, now!
That brief moment of distraction was enough. Shukri swiftly pulled Ilsia into his arms and vanished in a swirl of black smoke.
“Tch.”
Hashar looked up at the empty ceiling too late. Once again, she had slipped from his grasp right before his eyes.
Staring at the vacant chandelier, he murmured slowly,
“…For the second time.”
