Ming Soo's aunt stood with her back to him, frozen, as if turning around would shatter the fragile moment between them.
"So what you're saying... is that you and Mom were demons?" Ming Soo asked, voice low, eyes locked on the floor.
She hesitated. "Yes," she whispered.
He raised his head, the faint tremble in his voice betraying the storm inside. "And my father… he's a devil?"
"Yes," she said again, even softer this time. "One of the generals."
His hands curled into fists. "And the one who killed Mom... is someone called the Demon Slayer?"
Her voice cracked. "Yes."
Silence choked the room. Ming Soo inhaled sharply and stood up from the bed, moving like a puppet severed from its strings. He changed into a hoodie and jeans, each movement slow, mechanical.
She still hadn't turned.
He reached the door.
"Do you hate me?" she asked, her voice trembling.
He paused.
"Even if I lied," she said, "even if I hid everything from you… I did it to protect you. Because I love you more than life itself."
His hand stayed on the knob. He looked back, not with anger, but something heavier. Pain. Confusion. And the deep, buried ache of love denied.
"I don't know how to feel right now," he muttered. "But I know I don't hate you."
Then he opened the door and walked out.
She dropped to her knees the second it clicked shut. Tears spilled freely down her face. "You're not just my son," she whispered to the empty room. "You're everything. I promised your mother, my sister, I would keep you safe. But now I promise myself. I won't let anyone take you. Ever again."
Her crimson eyes began to glow in the dim room. Her skin shimmered, dark markings slithering down her arms as she transformed. Her voice grew colder. Fiercer.
"They think they can play with my family? I'll show them what it means to challenge a demon's love."
Downstairs, Lornad was half-watching a sitcom when Ming Soo passed by the living room.
"Ming, where to?"
No answer. Ming Soo just walked out, the door clicking shut behind him.
Seconds later, she descended the stairs in her human form. Her face was unreadable.
"Follow him," she told Lornad. "Don't let him see you. And if anything happens… don't interfere."
Lornad nodded once. A blink later, he was gone.
She closed her eyes. "I'm sorry, Ming Soo. Just this once, I'll use you. But only so they understand: messing with you is messing with me."
She vanished into thin air, the faint echo of her growl lingering in the space she left behind.
Seoul – Downtown, Late Evening
The neon lights of the city blurred past Ming Soo like static on a broken screen. He walked with no destination, just the crushing buzz of thoughts in his head.
If I ran, would they catch me? If I died… would I even stay dead? Am I human? Demon?
Was everything fake? The smiles? The warmth?
He looked up. Where even am I?
Would Seo-Yeon still hold my hand if she knew? Or would she scream?
Did Mom… did she kill people? Did Aunt? Did I already?
He let out a bitter laugh.
"I hate my life. And everyone in it," he muttered. Then smirked. "Huh. Never thought I'd say that out loud."
He stopped to look around, realizing he'd wandered into a part of the city he didn't recognize.
"Hey, young man. You alright?"
A man in his late 30s, casual jacket, warm tone.
Ming Soo blinked. "Not really."
"You lost or looking for someone?"
"No... just… messy day."
The man smiled sympathetically and flashed a badge. Police. "You sure? I can help."
Ming Soo stared at the badge for a beat, then nodded. "Thanks, but I'm okay. Just found out something about people I thought I knew. Turns out… I didn't know a damn thing. Not even about myself."
The officer nodded. "That's tough. I get it. I've had days like that too."
He glanced around, then leaned in. "Honestly, I'm dealing with something big myself. A trafficking ring. Kids under seven have been disappearing. We think it's organized."
Ming Soo's eyes widened slightly. "So you thought I was looking for someone?"
"Yeah. Gotta be cautious, right?"
"Why children?"
"No clue yet," he said, jaw tight. "But we'll find them. And when we do... they'll pay."
Silence stretched.
Then something sharp jabbed Ming Soo in the ribs.
A voice hissed behind him. "Don't move. Get in the cab ahead. Or the cop gets it."
The officer was still talking, clueless.
Ming Soo's eyes narrowed. Of course.
Without looking back, he stepped toward the cab.