Once upon a time, there was such a world.
A world where only a single gray tower remained—nothing else.
The sky was nothing but ash-gray, the land barren and lifeless, a desolate wasteland.
Everything stood still, as if time itself had frozen in this dull, dreary place.
No sign of life anywhere—an ancient world long dead.
Yes, that was the world.
That was the realm of Mu-gan Hell.
But there’s also a saying:
When night falls, the world that seemed on the verge of collapse finally meets its true end.
After a long, cold, and lonely dawn passes, and a new morning rises after thousands of years of waiting,
the world is reborn anew.
A place where the birth and death of kings intertwine.
That is the very essence of the Mu-gan Hell zone.
…So, if Kim Su-hyun could come to this hell, if he could see Mu-gan once more,
wouldn’t he be utterly amazed?
The sky, once all ash-gray, now glows with a soft twilight hue, faintly illuminating the world.
Where once there was no grass, majestic rock formations now rise, and the cracked, hardened earth flows with a rich, reddish glow.
But that’s not all. On the sheer cliffs, molten lava cascades like waterfalls, pouring down into a vast crimson sea that ripples powerfully below.
How could this be? No matter how much you look back, not a single detail matches the old landscape.
In short, the current Mu-gan zone paints a scene so breathtaking it could easily be called paradise.
“Hmm~.”
At the heart of this newly transformed Mu-gan zone, Gehenna took a deep breath.
As the clear, warm air spread through her body like melting silk, a satisfied smile naturally curved her lips.
After a moment, Gehenna dipped her legs lightly into the molten lava and began splashing playfully.
The sight was almost like a painting—utterly beautiful.
Her skin, touched by the gentle glow, was flawless and smooth; her hair flowed richly like the lava waterfalls themselves.
And now, with the added charm of motherhood—having given birth—Gehenna’s figure had softened and matured, her chest slightly fuller, radiating a sultry allure.
Time passed like this.
“This feels wonderful, Suna.”
After wading for a while, Gehenna slowly withdrew her feet and turned around.
Beneath the towering gray tower that pierced the sky, something small and solitary sat alone.
“How do you like it? Why don’t you come over here, where your mother is? It’ll make you feel so much better.”
The one she spoke to was a little girl, undeniably adorable.
She bore many resemblances to Gehenna.
Though not as full-bodied as her mother, her glossy lava-colored hair was neatly tied into twin tails that brushed her shoulders.
Her eyes shone a clear, intense ruby red, and her plump, rosy cheeks were so pinchable it was almost cruel.
Only her expression was troubling.
Despite her youth, her face was stern beyond her years, and she bit her small, full lower lip tightly, as if steeling herself.
Not only that, but her tiny hands were clenched into fists with such force it seemed she was ready to strike at any moment.
In other words, Suna was openly hostile toward Gehenna.
“Phew.”
Gehenna sighed softly, as if this was nothing new.
She had a pretty good idea why Suna was so prickly.
Back in the human world, Suna was always a bit aloof, but she did like her father.
When Kim Su-hyun was asleep, she would quietly climb up, nuzzle into his chest, and rest her face there.
Though she usually hated even the slightest touch from anyone else, she tolerated her father’s gentle caresses and kisses.
Yes, that was Suna.
If it ended there, Gehenna would have understood and even felt sorry for her.
It wasn’t wrong for a child to cling to her father, and Suna had been forcibly taken away before she could even properly see him—of course she’d be angry.
But the real problem was how twisted Suna’s feelings had become.
Gehenna still couldn’t forget that night.
While Suna rubbed her cheek against Kim Su-hyun’s chest until it was red, she kept glaring at Gehenna.
And then, with a smirk that was more of a sneer, she smiled while cradled in his arms.
It wasn’t a misunderstanding.
Suna had interpreted Gehenna’s secret escape with her as this:
“She ran away because she was afraid of losing her father to me.”
In other words, Gehenna wasn’t seen as a mother, but as a cowardly rival.
That’s why Suna glared at her so fiercely.
To sum it up, Suna’s current state was dangerously close to an Electra Complex.
A daughter’s affection for her father turning into rivalry against her mother.
If it worsened, it could even lead to murderous impulses.
This was no trivial matter.
There had already been a mother-daughter battle that destroyed an entire zone.
In many ways, Kim Su-hyun bore the greatest responsibility for this.
After the birth, Gehenna repeatedly warned him not to treat Suna like an ordinary child.
Because Suna was born bearing the king’s destiny, fundamentally different from a human child.
Anyone who had witnessed Suna’s birth would have sensed something strange.
Yet Kim Su-hyun paid no heed.
He doted on her, calling her cute over and over, lovingly caressing her, and letting her suckle whenever she wanted.
No wonder Suna misunderstood.
“Maybe she’s been marking him as her only companion ever since that ridiculous evil god protected her.”
Thinking this, Gehenna pressed her hand to her forehead and shook her head.
Though her delicate features briefly faltered, the gesture somehow seemed dignified.
Though the shadow of worry couldn’t be hidden from her face.
As they stared at each other for a long moment, suddenly, as if struck by a mischievous impulse,
Gehenna cupped some molten lava in her hands and flicked it toward Suna.
Splash.
The warm lava splattered lightly through Suna’s hair.
Seeing her wide, startled eyes, Gehenna stifled a giggle.
“Hehe. That was pretty cute just now.”
Thunk.
But before she could finish speaking, Gehenna’s head was suddenly jerked to the side by a sharp impact.
The Grand Duke’s face paled.
Rubbing her stinging cheek, she heard something small fall and roll away.
It was a tiny, bright red pebble—common throughout Mu-gan.
If it made a thunk sound, it meant it was thrown with full force.
“Ow! Did you really mean to kill me with that?”
“Boo.”
“You little! How dare the king act like this!”
“Buuu!”
Then—
“…Huh? Su, Su-hyun? You! How did you get here…?”
Gehenna, who had been scolding fiercely, suddenly widened her eyes in disbelief.
“!”
Hearing the name ‘Su-hyun,’ Suna was startled too and quickly turned her head.
Tap.
At that moment, the pebble she had thrown earlier suddenly bounced off the crown of her head.
“Huh?”
Suna instinctively covered the top of her head, blinking in daze.
Of course, there was no sign of Kim Su-hyun anywhere.
Looking back up, Gehenna was grinning slyly, as if she had just thrown something.
Suna ground her teeth in frustration.
“Well, well. What do you think you’ll accomplish by grinding your teeth like that? Who told you to mess around?”
“Eek… huh? Pa, pa?”
Just then, the furious Suna’s expression shifted to surprise, as if she’d noticed something.
Gehenna chuckled softly.
“Good learner, but too bad. You really think I’d fall for that…?”
At that moment, a clanking noise echoed from afar.
Someone was definitely approaching.
“Pa, paa!”
Suna stretched out her arm toward the sound, calling out desperately.
Then she tumbled down from the tower and began crawling, her face full of anguish.
It was a reaction Gehenna had never seen before.
“Huh, huh?”
Though she hoped it wasn’t true, Gehenna couldn’t help but glance over instinctively.
Thunk!
“Ugh!”
At the same time, Gehenna’s face dropped forward.
A pebble twice as big as before struck the back of her head.
She nearly fell but managed to steady herself, swaying unsteadily.
An awkward silence stretched between them.
After a short while, Gehenna slowly lifted her bowed head.
“…You.”
Eventually, Gehenna turned to look at Suna, her face faintly tinged with anger. Along with that, the unmistakable aura of a Hell Duke—an overwhelming presence no one dared challenge—pressed subtly against Suna.
But Suna just let out a quiet chuckle. Here was a supreme being wielding the power of terror itself, exerting pressure—and yet, she showed no sign of backing down. She simply regarded Gehenna with a look of mild amusement before suddenly straightening her expression.
“Grrr!”
At that moment, the entire realm of the Endless Hell trembled with an ominous vibration. After all, this was the place where the birth and death of kings were intertwined; Suna’s mood and will were reflected in full.
Gehenna sighed deeply once more and fixed her gaze on Suna.
Suna, in turn, glared back with her usual sharp eyes.
Just as the tension reached a breaking point, Behemoth hurriedly rushed in and suddenly slipped between them.
“Hey, hey, hey! That’s enough, enough! What’s going on now? Seriously? You just got back and you’re already fighting again? Hey, hey!”
“Step aside. I’m warning you nicely.”
“Please stop this. Don’t you remember last time? You two argued over something trivial and ended up wrecking the superheated zone! And what’s with the attitude toward the King? Have some shame!”
“What did you say?”
Gehenna’s voice rose sharply at the biting criticism. Sensing she might have gone too far, Behemoth cleared his throat awkwardly.
“Ahem! Well, it’s not like I’m wrong. And from what I heard, the Duke hasn’t exactly been doing a great job either…”
“You heard that?”
“Yes! I was summoned this time and heard everything! I even told the King’s father about it. He said, ‘If the King is angry, you should first find the cause and try to calm things down! You can’t just act recklessly like this!’ …Isn’t that right?”
“Ugh!”
Suna shouted loudly, pointing her finger sharply as if to say, “Exactly!”
And she was right!
That cowardly rival who dared call herself “mother” had the audacity to deceive and insult me by using my own father!
And for the crime of throwing stones and hitting me, she deserves to die a thousand times over!
I wouldn’t even have a word to say if my head were cut off right now!
Of course, these were words shouted only in her heart.
In reality, she said:
“Waaahh! Waaahh!”
Anyway.
Behemoth shook his skull in exasperation and carefully knelt before Suna.
“Ahem. Your Majesty, I am Behemoth of the Third Legion, the Pure Land. I hereby report my return.”
For Behemoth, this was an unusually respectful gesture. But Suna barely seemed interested, propping her chin on her hand and snorting dismissively. Her eyes were half-lidded until Behemoth pulled a blue orb from his cloak.
Then—
“Ah, Your Majesty, this is a gift. It’s a recorded message, apparently.”
“…”
“It’s a video message from the King’s father to you. I asked him strongly, and he agreed to send it.”
“Huh?”
The moment Behemoth finished speaking, Suna’s eyes snapped wide open. She snatched the orb as if it were a prize.
“Is that true?”
Gehenna, surprised, hurried over but was blocked by Behemoth.
“Oh? Gehenna, you can’t see it?”
“Can’t see it?”
“The King’s father said it must be shown to Suna first. And, you know, it’s one-time use.”
“Huh?”
“Meaning only Suna can watch it.”
“I don’t get it. What are you talking about?”
Actually, Behemoth had exaggerated a bit to make a good impression on Suna (though she was already completely focused on the orb). Gehenna frowned.
“One-time use? It looks like a semi-permanent recording orb to me.”
“…What?”
Behemoth’s voice cracked in protest.
But by then, Suna had already figured out how it worked and tapped the orb.
The orb glowed softly, projecting the face of a man.
“Suna.”
Kim Suhyun smiled warmly at her from the video.
“Suna~. It’s Dad. Peekaboo?”
His voice was softer than anyone would expect from the usual Kim Suhyun.
“Are you doing well in Hell?”
His greeting was phrased in a way that might confuse a religious person.
Still, the moment Suna recognized her father, her eyes instantly welled with tears.
“Yes, yes, my beautiful Suna. How are you doing there? Are you healthy? Eating well? Dad is so, so curious.”
“Baa, baa.”
“I’m really worried… Oh, and I heard you and Gehenna aren’t getting along well?”
“Huh?”
“I heard it from Behemoth. That you’re angry and Gehenna’s struggling. Is that true, Suna? Did that really happen?”
“Uuuuu…”
Seeing Suna sulk, Behemoth smiled with satisfaction. He had been skeptical about the “semi-permanent” claim earlier, but now it seemed perfectly normal.
“See! This is how it’s done. Is strength all that matters? Sometimes, a beast has to use its head.”
“Uh, uh-huh.”
“Well, I understand. The Duke has lived as a lone wolf for so long. Ha ha ha!”
“…”
Behemoth even slapped Gehenna on the shoulder, acting cocky. But since his words were mostly true and he’d brought a solution, Gehenna had little to say—only grinding her teeth silently.
“If Suna really did that…”
Then, Kim Suhyun’s voice continued.
“Dad wants you to know he’s doing his best.”
Just then—
“Huh?”
“Eh?”
“What?”
Suna, Behemoth, and Gehenna all exclaimed in confusion.
“Yes. Keep throwing tantrums, keep struggling. Dad’s cheering for you. Gehenna, you’ll have to suffer a bit. Seriously, how can someone be like that? Well, not really a person, but still. I asked them to tell you before I left, but you slipped away while I was asleep? Ah, thinking about it makes me mad again.”
“Ugh!”
Suna nodded vigorously, clearly sympathizing. Then, glaring at Gehenna, she pounded the orb with her fist as if to say, “Look at this!”
Meanwhile, Behemoth, now a skeletal knight, felt a cold sweat for the first time. Of course, it wasn’t real, but his spine tingled.
“Hooh.”
“D-Duke.”
“Hooh…”
“W-Well, you see…”
“Hooh…!”
“…”
His voice trailed off oddly, cold and bone-chilling.
Behemoth deliberately avoided looking sideways and thought:
‘Snap out of it! There’s still a way to survive.’
‘Yeah! Since it’s come to this, might as well switch to the King’s side…’
“Ah, Suna. Behemoth, be especially careful. They called you a brat, you know?”
“That—That bastard!”
Behemoth was outraged.
“Hooh…?”
Suna glanced at Behemoth, raising an eyebrow as if to say, “Pathetic.”
Kuaaaaaaaah!
At the same time, a power twice as strong as before surged through her bones. It was a clear message: “Watch this first, then we’ll talk.” Behemoth felt his soul nearly leave his body.
Meanwhile, Kim Suhyun’s voice continued.
“Anyway, Suna.”
“Though we couldn’t say goodbye properly, Dad is always thinking of you.”
“So I want you to know this for sure.”
“You know, Suna? Dad…”
At that moment—
“Dad loves you more than anyone in the world!”
Kwahhh!
Suddenly, a deafening roar echoed everywhere, like a volcano erupting.
No, it really was a volcanic eruption. A massive pillar of fire shot up into the sky, glowing faintly in the distance.
“W-What’s happening all of a sudden?”
“I don’t know. Seems like Suna’s emotions just exploded… Ah!”
Gehenna muttered quietly, then suddenly realized something. She glanced at the orb and saw Suna sitting stiffly on the orb’s pedestal, her face flushed bright red as if she’d been caught off guard by a sudden confession.
As the orb’s light began to fade, Suna swallowed hard and tapped it again.
“Dad loves you more than anyone in the world!”
Kwahhh!
“Dad loves you more than anyone in the world!”
Kwahhh!
“Dad loves you more than anyone in the world!”
Kwahhh!
“Dad loves you more than anyone in the world!”
Kwahhh!
Explosions after explosions.
It was utter chaos. Every time the video repeated, the volcano in the Endless Hell erupted wildly.
Amidst this fiery spectacle—
“Dad loves you more than anyone in the world!”
“Ahhh~ What is this~?”
Gehenna blinked in disbelief. Suna, overwhelmed, closed her eyes tightly, clenched her fists, and shook her head as if to say, “No, no, no!”
“Dad loves you more than anyone in the world!”
Could those words really sound so wonderful?
“Heehee~ Hehehe~”
A smile blossomed on Soona’s lips like a delicate flower. It was the first genuine smile she had shown since entering hell.
Then, crossing her arms with a smug look, Soona made Gehenna chuckle awkwardly.
‘I’m a bit hurt that my daughter comes before me… but well, I guess this counts as a resolution. Honestly, I never saw this coming.’
‘Good grief, you really are impossible.’
With that thought, Gehenna let out a light laugh. Of course, she didn’t forget to hold back Behemoth, who was trying to sneak away.
A little while later.
Sparks scattered from the erupting volcano began to dot the entire world. Like fireflies, the glowing embers danced and fluttered down gently. The world, which had been boiling like an active volcano just moments ago, suddenly calmed at the simple words that meant the most.
And that wasn’t all. The once scorching air softened, and the heavy atmosphere now carried a sweet scent, like cotton candy drifting on a breeze. The whole world felt as if it might just take flight into the sky.
In other words:
(Dad loves Soona more than anything in the world!)
At last, after the long winter night, true spring had come to the endless hell.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
…I definitely meant to keep this light.
I was aiming for something around 6,000 to 10,000 words,
but somehow, it ended up like this.
Honestly, I just wanted to write about so many things that before I knew it…
Yeah. I lost my pacing.
That’s on me. ^_ㅠ
I’m sorry, dear readers.
I’ll be taking just one day off on Sunday, June 28th.
Usually, I try not to take more than two breaks a month,
but I’ve been up for almost two nights straight and I’m exhausted.
Today, I just want to sleep as much as I can. (?)
Please understand. (__)