At last, Han So-young spoke up, her voice trembling with a sob.

“B-but… do you know something?”

She smiled—a smile both bright and tinged with sadness.

“…You just lied.”

Like a tragic heroine from a sorrowful tale, she said this and then spun around, dashing out onto the street, vanishing like the wind.

Gehenna lay on the bed bathed in soft, silvery moonlight, gazing out beyond the terrace. The night sky flowed quietly above, with a pale, pristine moon hanging faintly in the distance. Not a single cloud marred the view—it was so beautiful that she almost wanted to step outside and lose herself beneath the open night sky.

But instead of rising, Gehenna lowered her eyes gently. What met her gaze was far more heartwarming than the moon itself: little Suna, struggling and wriggling her way up onto Kim Soo-hyun’s chest, grunting softly as she climbed. Suna kept glancing sideways, worried she might wake him, and the sight was endearingly tender. Finally, she succeeded in climbing all the way up.

With a deeply satisfied expression, Suna nestled her head softly against Soo-hyun’s chest. She rubbed her chubby cheeks so hard they almost seemed to burst, as if the warmth of her father’s embrace was the best thing in the world. But when she noticed Gehenna watching her quietly, she shivered and blushed, her eyes narrowing shyly. Gehenna stifled a laugh.

Yet the smile on her lips wasn’t entirely happy. Perhaps it was because the inevitable farewell was drawing near. A complex mix of deep regret and an inexplicable guilt toward Suna welled up inside her.

Gehenna was enjoying her current life. Just being with Kim Soo-hyun was enough, and nothing really bothered her. But the fact remained: she had to return. There was a promise made from the start, and this world was not where Suna belonged. Above all, Hell needed a ‘king.’

Part of her also didn’t want to cause any more harm. Gehenna knew that her presence was slowly unraveling the relationships Soo-hyun had built over time.

Just yesterday was a perfect example. After she used her powers without permission, trouble had erupted. When Soo-hyun returned after seeing Han So-young off, he forced a smile and said he was fine, but his slumped shoulders and the occasional sigh pierced Gehenna’s heart.

…The thought of leaving was gaining momentum.

Of course, Gehenna had no intention of leaving empty-handed. People often say to those departing, “Take only the good memories and leave the bad behind.” But Gehenna wanted to do more than just take good memories—she wanted to leave some behind as well. And this wish wasn’t limited to just Kim Soo-hyun.

She wasn’t powerless, after all. Besides repaying the kindness she’d received, she had something to give in return.

“I’ll have to start preparing little by little once I open my eyes…”

With that thought, Gehenna closed her eyes calmly. She suddenly felt a pang of emptiness at her side and tried to slip into Soo-hyun’s arms, but Suna—who she thought was asleep—opened her eyes wide and glared at her, so she gave up.

“…This kid’s going to be a pretty tough king.”

Gehenna muttered softly and drifted off to sleep.

Later that morning, a little later than usual, Gehenna left the room, leaving a soundly sleeping Suna behind. She descended the stairs leisurely, heading toward the first-floor dining hall. She was about to put into action the plan she’d thought of in the early hours.

The sun hadn’t yet reached its peak, so the dining hall was relatively quiet. When Gehenna entered, conversations briefly paused before resuming busily. Thanks to her previous actions, the clan members’ anxiety had somewhat eased. The extreme wariness from the first day was gone.

Unbothered, Gehenna scanned the room and soon fixed her gaze on a slender woman occupying a corner table. She was deeply focused on some records, scribbling with a quill pen. Occasionally, she’d scowl and gulp down her drink, looking quite frustrated.

“Got a moment?”

“Ah, who is it?!”

“It’s me.”

“…Ah! Ah! I see you!”

Jeagal Haesol snapped irritably, then immediately switched to singing the last words in a playful tune. Her reaction was lightning-fast. She then opened her mouth with a casual air.

“Ah, that’s better. Singing really helps when you’re feeling stuck, you know?”

“…That’s quite a strange song.”

“Oh! Gehenna? Hello!”

“Hmm. First, what should I call you?”

Jeagal Haesol greeted her cheerfully, her smile blooming like a flower bud.

“I’m Jeagal Haesol, a primitive and barbaric transporter mage. A rather insignificant magician, really.”

“Oh? It’s good to know your place, but self-deprecation isn’t exactly charming.”

“…Hey, that was sarcasm, okay? I heard you insulted my transport skills.”

“Huh? Insult? How can stating facts be considered an insult?”

Gehenna snorted dismissively, and a few nearby people chuckled. Jeagal Haesol’s exasperated expression was almost too satisfying. Well, she had been quite full of herself until now.

“You… Haesol, what brings you here?”

“First, I’ll sit.”

“Please do, Haesol.”

“Hmm. That sounds weird somehow.”

“Oh, it’s just your imagination.”

“Maybe.”

Without asking permission, Gehenna took the records and quill pen. The pages were filled with archaic script, scrawled chaotically. But Gehenna paid no mind and began reading carefully, line by line.

Jeagal Haesol’s eyes twitched. She’d come outside to clear her head after her research stalled, only to be interrupted—and now invaded.

Not only that.

“Heh heh. Interesting idea.”

She sneered occasionally,

“Tsk.”

Clicking her tongue, shaking her head, she drew lines with the quill, wrote slowly, and even added some sketches. Jeagal Haesol’s pride was sky-high—she thought no one could surpass her in magic—and this felt like crossing a line, an unbearable intrusion.

…Though, she only thought this.

“I wrote it as simply as possible, based on human standards. Now choose: either control distance or time. Pick one. The idea’s good, but why be greedy when you lack the ability?”

Gehenna chided lightly, then handed back the records and quill.

Jeagal Haesol bit her lip silently, accepting them. The pages looked like a heavily corrected essay. Her eyes blazed with determination—as if saying, “Fine! I’ll see just how good you really are!” She read through the parts Gehenna had deleted, rewritten, or added. Secretly, she hoped to find something to criticize.

After a moment,

“……”

Jeagal Haesol’s expression slowly shifted.

“You wrote it in a human language I know, so of course I can understand it.”

Of course. Jeagal Haesol was well-versed in archaic language. But that wasn’t the point. Her face was turning from shock to disbelief—as if she’d been hit hard with a hammer. Eventually, she couldn’t hold back a strange moan.

It was only natural. No matter how talented Jeagal Haesol was, she was still human. And not even a native resident—an Earthling. So how could she not be amazed by knowledge passed down from a supreme being who ruled an entire world?

“Th-this can’t be… Is this really possible?”

Her voice was filled with awe.

“You’ll know once you try it yourself. I’m only giving you the essentials; what you do beyond that is up to you.”

“B-but why are you telling me this…?”

“I just thought it was admirable how sincerely you kept studying, even during meals. Keep striving.”

“……”

In truth, Gehenna’s real intention was to help Kim Soo-hyun, but she gave a plausible excuse with smooth words.

Jeagal Haesol snapped back to reality when she heard the soft scrape of a chair. Gehenna was standing up. Her eyes wide, Jeagal Haesol hurriedly rose as well. A thought flashed through her mind: she had to admit it.

“You’re pretty smart. Saying that means you understand…”

“Sis!”

Jeagal Haesol suddenly grabbed Gehenna’s hand, shouting. All eyes in the dining hall turned toward them.

“Uh, yes?”

“I’m sorry. Actually, I lied about one thing. I hid my real name. I’m really sorry. Please forgive me.”

“It’s okay. Your name doesn’t really matter…”

“My real name isn’t Jeagal Haesol. It’s… Jeagal Sol.”

“Huh?”

“When I was little, my grandfather said I wasn’t from this world. That he found me somewhere else and raised me. He also said I have an older sister. I remember it clearly. This is the first secret I’ve shared in 29 years. Haha.”

Jeagal Haesol muttered this at lightning speed. Her demeanor had changed completely. Her eyes sparkled as if she’d just discovered a priceless treasure.

“L-let go. What nonsense are you spouting all of a sudden?”

“Sis. Gehenna, sis. Just think about it carefully. When we were kids, there was definitely a younger sister named Gehensol who, due to unavoidable circumstances, had to be sent to another world… Sis? Where are you going? Sis? Siiis!”

If Gehenna had chosen Jegal Haesol as her target on the first day, then on the second day, her targets were Jung Ha-yeon and Sarah Jane. Since receiving their spirit stones, the two women had occasionally exchanged opinions and built a certain level of rapport.

That day was no different.

The only difference was that Gehenna had subtly inserted herself into their conversation.

At first, the two women were quite taken aback, but before long, they found themselves listening intently to what Gehenna had to say. It was inevitable—after all, the ‘Spirit Summoner’ class had never before appeared on the Northern Continent. Unlike typical secret classes, it wasn’t something you simply inherited and were done with. It was more like being an adventurer blazing a trail through a barren land with nothing but your bare hands.

Because of that, the knowledge Gehenna shared about spirits was like an oasis in the desert, a much-needed rain in a drought. And for Sarah Jane, it came with an unexpected gift.

The necessary and sufficient condition for summoning spirits is measured by affinity. Spirit stones help humans build this affinity, but it’s notoriously difficult to accumulate. Unless you take a miraculous elixir or stumble upon a rare opportunity, the only way is steady, consistent effort in daily life.

But Sarah Jane’s situation was tricky. Even if Jung Ha-yeon could immerse herself in water whenever she wanted, Sarah couldn’t just dive into fire the same way. At best, she could drape herself in layers of fire-resistant cloaks and get as close as possible. Gehenna solved this problem effortlessly—by using the power of the Calamity Fire. She wielded the divine fire’s power, which could be controlled according to the wielder’s will.

This wasn’t just any fire. It was the Calamity Fire of Hell, known as the ‘Final Flame’—the strongest fire there is. Comparing it to ordinary fire was an insult. Being able to raise affinity with a fire like this was a once-in-a-lifetime stroke of luck. It also guaranteed Sarah’s future growth as a spirit summoner. Even if Gehenna left soon, there was Kim Soo-hyun, who wielded the legendary ‘Primordial Flame.’

So Sarah spent her days wrapped in Calamity Fire, and this sparked a huge change among the Mercenary Clan members. When they realized Sarah wasn’t wearing a flower in her hair, they quickly understood something was going on.

Every combat user longs desperately to grow stronger. And Gehenna’s actions, which were as much about meeting and parting as anything else, hit exactly what the users wanted. Above all, that arrogant Jegal Haesol was now following her around, calling her ‘sis, sis.’ Jung Ha-yeon had returned to being a student. And Sarah Jane’s transformation spoke for itself. Wasn’t that enough proof of the situation?

Then, on the third day, more clan members than ever gathered at the Mercenary Castle. To be blunt, they probably came hoping to catch Gehenna’s attention.

But among the Mercenary Clan, there was someone who needed Gehenna’s help more than anyone else.

“Wooooooah!”

Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!

It was Vivian, who had just heard the news and was rushing over.

---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=

It’s shaking! Heart!