8
I did not like the word “for now,” but I didn’t question it.
“There is not much known about him, so I cannot say more.”
Idniss’s tone became heavier.
“The only confirmed things are that he has lived for a very long time… and that he is extremely powerful and strange.”
He fell silent.
I had nothing to say.
Just listening already felt exhausting.
I wiped my face and said:
“So to summarize… I have to kill a giant dragon, then capture an unknown super-strong demon… and after that, I have to fall in love?”
“Correct.”
“And I have to take that lover’s heart?”
“Correct. Good understanding.”
He smiled.
A fresh, innocent smile.
I should have realized it when I saw “SSS rank.”
Even SS quests were already hell.
SSS was on another level.
I groaned.
Then he suddenly asked:
“Are you going to quit?”
[You have been offered to abandon the quest. Continue? Yes / No]
I froze.
If I quit here, this small Demon King would have no future.
And he knew that better than anyone.
I clenched my lips.
I was angry—but not at him.
I swallowed it.
I sighed deeply and placed my hand on his head.
“I won’t quit. I’ll protect you until the end.”
[Quest continued.]
Idniss looked at me silently.
“Rest now. We leave at dawn.”
I left the room.
Reality
I ate simply.
After a shower, I came into the living room with a towel.
I wore briefs.
My upper body was bare.
No bra—never had one.
I looked out the window.
The sun was setting.
The city was turning orange.
A familiar view.
But strangely…
The sunset in that world felt more beautiful.
I leaned against the wall.
Even half-naked, I didn’t care.
“Even if someone saw me, they’d think I’m a guy anyway.”
Before, that kind of thought would hurt me.
I used to feel like the most miserable person in the world.
And maybe I was.
My world was very small.
I hugged my arms.
Even in warm sunlight, I felt cold.
“Fight.”
“Fight and protect me.”
It was the first time.
Fighting while protecting someone.
I didn’t notice it in battle, but now I realized—it wasn’t so bad.
Just a small change.
A small chick had entered my small world.
I dried my hair, went to my room, and turned on the game device.
I lay down.
And logged in.
Back in the Game
I opened my eyes.
Morning.
The window was open.
This one was made of rough wood.
But the view outside was far better than the city.
My tension eased.
This world suited me more.
I thought about checking on the kid—but decided not to.
He was probably sleeping.
And he had money.
He would be fine.
So I checked my inventory.
Weapons. Durability. Skills.
And I saw a problem.
“Most weapons are below 50% durability…”
No repair shop.
If durability hits zero, the weapon is gone forever.
“Damn… lazy habits.”
I closed the window.
No point worrying about what I can’t fix now.
Then I opened titles.
Then I saw it.
[Odin’s Eye]
SSS reward.
“Title change: Odin’s Eye.”
[Vision 6.0. Sensitivity +20. Special ability activated.]
“Ugh!”
My vision suddenly became too sharp.
Everything looked magnified.
I almost got sick.
It took time to adjust.
But once I did…
I could see things I never could before.
“If I adapt to this, I won’t fail sniper missions.”
This was strong.
But now close combat would be impossible.
Then I thought about the special ability.
Once per day.
What should I see?
I focused.
Simple thought.
What do I need to see?
The answer came immediately.
“Odin’s Eye… I will see the pursuers chasing Idniss.”
WHOOSH—
The world shifted.
My body felt pulled away.
Then—
Silence.
I was in the sky.
A sunset sky full of colors.
Beautiful beyond words.
I looked down.
Longterm.
And the inn.
Our inn.
“Why am I seeing the inn… instead of the pursuers?”
A bad feeling rose.
Before I could react—
I was pulled instantly to the 8th floor window.
Attack
Both rooms were open.
In one room—
Idniss was being attacked.
In the other—
A masked demon stood over my sleeping body with a knife.
“…What the hell?!”
I rolled away.
The sword stabbed the bed.
The attacker raised his hand.
“Title change: Silent Wind!”
[Vision 2.0. Agility +30. Sensitivity +20.]
BOOM!
The room exploded.
Glass shattered.
I jumped to the roof.
A shard hit my arm.
It hurt.
I clicked my tongue.
“You bastards…”
I almost used Gurza—but stopped.
Durability.
I switched to Phantom and Glock.
I fired.
Enemies were already climbing down the building.
I moved fast.
Shot.
Reloaded mid-air.
One by one, they fell.
“Where are you…”
I looked for Idniss.
Fighting without him was harder.
More annoying.
But the enemies were already thinning.
This would end soon.
I kept firing.
Then—
“Found him.”
A man was running, carrying Idniss.
“Stop him!”
“Move!”
I aimed carefully.
Bang!
Bang!
One bullet per head.
Then I aimed at the man’s leg.
Bang!
“Agh!”
He fell.
Idniss rolled on the ground.
My heart dropped.
“Your Highness!”
I ran immediately.
I checked him.
No major injuries—just scratches from rolling.
But something was wrong.
He wasn’t waking up.
“Your Highness! Wake up!”
Did they use sleeping poison?
I slapped his cheek lightly.
Then the injured demon shouted:
“Who are you?! No knight of Bellos is like you!”
Click.
Bang.
One shot.
He died.
I didn’t care anymore.
I looked at the sky.
Sun was setting.
I clicked my tongue.
“We can’t stay here.”
I picked up Idniss.
“We leave.”
I ran.
Through rooftops.
Through the city.
Then into the forest.
Finally, I stopped under a large rock.
I set traps.
“Stay here. I’ll set Claymores.”
“Why not just set them nearby like last time?”
“No. I might log out soon.”
“Log out?”
“I’ll explain later.”
I turned away.
But—
A small hand grabbed my clothes.
“Then I’ll come with you.”
I stopped.
I realized how weak I had been.
I sighed.
“…Fine. You stay with me.”
He sat next to me.
Then I lifted him onto my lap.
He didn’t protest.
He just looked tired.
Silence filled the forest.
Then—
A soft voice:
“That was the first time in my life.”
His voice was calm.
“I was treated like that by weak demons.”
“I couldn’t resist… even when I tried.”
I froze.
My anger burned.
But I stayed silent.
He continued.
“It felt like something inside me broke.”
“Not being able to do anything… is far more painful than I thought.”
My chest tightened.
I understood exactly what he meant.
Then I spoke:
“Being powerless is the worst thing there is.”
I hugged him tighter.
“It’s not your fault.”
“It is my fault.”
His answer was sharp.
His eyes were dark.
“In the Demon World, weakness is a sin.”
“I lost everything because I was weak.”
His voice cracked like glass.
I held him.
“That’s not true.”
“You did nothing wrong.”
Slowly…
His strength faded.
He leaned into me.
Then—
He fell asleep.
Morning
I woke up.
Forest ceiling above me.
“Your Highness?”
No answer.
“Idniss?”
Still nothing.
“Chickpea?!”
“You’re quite rude when you wake up.”
His voice came from above.
He was sitting on a rock.
Black hair moving in the wind.
“You really sleep like dead people.”
I frowned.
Was everything yesterday a dream?
I looked at him.
He was still there.
So it wasn’t.
