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A hero turned villain.
It was how the world portrayed Kang Taehyun. From the moment his blood spilled on the land he’d relentlessly loved and protected, and his identity as the beloved child of the demons was revealed, all his goodwill and virtue were forgotten by the same people he had sworn to shield and fight for.
They said his blood poisoned the land, poisoned the people, poisoned the trust of the kingdom in him. And for that, the citizens suffered, carrying an unknown illness that came from the wrath of the Gods for putting honor and glory in the name of a demon’s kin.
And so they shunned him away from the kingdom. They labeled Taehyun as the Scum of the Era, a traitor, the devil.
The man who’d poured his soul and blood into defending their kingdom from evil was now the enemy in their narrative. Even his closest confidant watched on with little to no objection as he was ridiculed by the people he cherished.
Venerated Emperor of their land, Kang Taehyun’s closest friend and sworn brother, Choi Yeonjun, could only watch in silence as Taehyun left the borders of his kingdom, injured and broken.
Yeonjun never once tried to defend Taehyun. Instead, his gaze remained on the dying mortal body of his royal consort, Choi Beomgyu.
He begged Soobin to help his lover while turning a blind eye to his sworn brother of ten years.
“Soobin! Soobin, please,” Yeonjun pleaded with him, his voice tinted with desperation. He looked harrowed, so scared and troubled by the demise that had befallen Beomgyu. “You’re…you’re blessed by the Gods. You’re the Grand Priest! Surely, surely! You can do something about this, right?”
Soobin couldn’t stomach it. He averted his gaze, and Yeonjun grabbed his shoulders, forcing him to face him.
“You can save Beomgyu, right?”
Save Beomgyu? What about his people who were suffering from the same disease? When did his consort become his priority?
No, that wasn’t quite right. Soobin knew where his own resentment was coming from.
“Do you also think all of these are happening because of Taehyun?”
Was that the reason why you abandoned him?
Yeonjun paused, removing his hands from Soobin’s shoulders and taking a step back. A flash of anger appeared on his handsome face. “What? Why would you ask that so suddenly-”
Yeonjun cut himself off and answered again. “He’s the offspring of the most powerful enemy of the gods, Soobin. Yet, he didn’t even tell us anything about his real identity.”
“Maybe he didn’t know.”
“I wish that’s the case but that is simply impossible!” Yeonjun snapped, running a hand through his hair. Soobin took notice of the bags under his eyes, his slightly pale complexion, and his sunken cheeks. “He betrayed us, betrayed me, and now Beomgyu is suffering too…”
Soobin clenched his fists.
Betrayed us, betrayed me.
Taehyun betrayed them.
Taehyun who gave up his love for art, took the sword, and submerged his hands in the blood of their foes, all to devote himself to protecting the people and their Emperor. Taehyun who would smile and accompany Beomgyu everywhere his whims dictated, never once complaining even after that one time they almost lost their lives to ancient monsters after exploring too deep in the northern sunken cave. Taehyun who never failed to comfort Soobin whenever one of the high priestesses would admonish him for being too careless and brash, he would always encourage Soobin with his homemade sweets and even sweeter smiles.
That same Taehyun betrayed them?
Soobin could barely recognize Yeonjun anymore.
“You’ll choose your consort over our friend of ten years?”
“Choi Soobin!” Yeonjun yelled, but it was too late, Soobin had already made his way out of the throne room.
Perhaps if Soobin never received that letter, then he could’ve succeeded in fooling himself into thinking that Taehyun was the enemy, that their Taehyun was a traitor.
But the words in that small crumpled paper were already branded in Soobin’s mind, burnt behind his eyelids, constantly reminding him of his own helplessness and Taehyun’s foolishness even in his sleep.
In that letter, Taehyun promised him an antidote and a most likely goodbye.
He said that he would aid the people of their kingdom. He would atone for his sins and implore the heavens. If the disease came from the rage of the Gods, then they were also the ones who could reverse the curse they created.
The Gods were angered because of the honor and glory the people have given to him, a demon’s kin. In return, Taehyun would appease the skies by giving them his blood and life.
Taehyun could only pray that it would be a sufficient exchange for the survival of the people.
Soobin had cried upon receiving the letter, he had prayed and mourned. Taehyun gave himself five days. By the end of the fifth day, he should return near the hill they all used to frequent before, with or without an antidote, with or without a future ahead of him.
If he never returned, Taehyun requested Soobin to look after his beloved cat.
Soobin cried and cried until he had no tears to cry. He wanted to look for Taehyun, but couldn’t begin to guess where he went. He wanted to ask for help from Yeonjun, but Soobin could no longer reach him.
He was supposed to be blessed by the Gods. Why was it that it never felt that way to him?
The Gods were unforgiving, hateful, evil. If he couldn’t rely on them, then Soobin no longer needed them.
Soobin could only pray until the fourth night.
On the fifth day, he discarded his white robes and called the mercy of the devil.
On that very same night, Taehyun returned. He was lying on the snowy ground, underneath the sparkling stars and the hateful gaze of the Gods. Pierced by a thousand divine arrows, crimson pooled out of his wounds. Still, he was clutching tightly to a small fragile glass bottle.
Soobin rushed to his side, his own heart stabbed by needles, bleeding out tears of grief and sorrow.
“You’re…Soobin?” Taehyun asked, eyes unfocused, yet they still shone so much, reflecting the light of the stars above them. He could barely speak, or move. Soobin couldn’t even hold him close, afraid of injuring him further.
“I’m sorry, I can’t…can’t remember anything anymore, I…”
Soobin gasped faintly, his trembling hands gently caressing Taehyun’s face. A person who lost all their memories could only mean one thing; Taehyun had used up his entire life's worth of mana, he could survive and live, but he would never be able to use his magecraft anymore, and his memories would forever be lost.
“I’m sorry…” Taehyun repeated, eyes fluttering before slowly closing.
Soobin’s tears had frozen over before they could escape his eyes.
He glanced at the night sky and heard the laughter of the Gods ringing in his ears.
On that snowy hill, Soobin gathered Taehyun in his arms and made an oath, making the deities and the stars his witness.
Because the world had rejected Kang Taehyun, Choi Soobin would now reject the world.
Beomgyu would live, but not the people
Soobin would bring hell into their land, and both the gods and mortals would pay for their sins.
A hero turned villain.
That was how the people would come to address Soobin. But when did he ever been a hero? He never saved the doomed, never helped the sick. Soobin was destined to be a hero, to be the hope of the people. He was the beloved child of the heaven. And before those prophecies could come true, Soobin had tainted his hands with the lives he was supposed to save. He had become the worst evil humanity could imagine. He was no Scum of the Era, he was the End of the Era itself.
All for Kang Taehyun.
Taehyun was never the kin of the devil, it was Soobin all along.
And while the whole world incinerated, Soobin cared for Taehyun, diligently tending to his wounds, singing him healing melodies, and telling him his favorite tales of adventure and glory. He created a paradise for them, a sanctuary that belonged to them, a place where no harm would come Taehyun’s way.
Until one day, Taehyun finally opened his eyes.
Soobin held Taehyun in his arms coated with phantom blood and whispered. “Good morning, Taehyun.”