That day, Ji Kai stood before a demon—for the first time in his life. Whether before reincarnation or after, he had never faced such a creature. The moment was suffocating, heavy with pressure... and whispers of death.
After surviving—thanks to the demon's decision to spare him—Ji Kai carried Kim Nina out of the dungeon. The ordeal ended with the unexpected fall of the Golem King.
How? Ji Kai had no idea. His focus was entirely on stopping Nina's bleeding, which hadn't ceased—only barely contained.
As for the original mission that brought him to Gwangju, it was somehow completed as well.
As if the demon's appearance had been tied to it. Still, Ji Kai didn't dwell on that. He was once again... the center of attention.
When Ji Kai emerged carrying Nina's injured body, he sent an urgent request to the newly established Gwangju branch of the guild. They received the emergency case and did what they could until she was transferred to the main guild in Seoul.
Once in Seoul, she was placed in the emergency ward. Everything seemed to be going smoothly—until tension erupted.
« Where is that bastard?! Where's the scum who let my daughter lose her arm so easily?! Bring him to me! »
March 18th—one day after Kim Nina was returned to the guild for specialized treatment. Her family arrived: her father, Kim Jion, CEO of a major entertainment company in Korea; her mother, Park Lumin; and her older brother, Kim Tae Woo.
They turned the guild into chaos with their shouting and threats. After all, Kim Nina was the youngest daughter—the spoiled one, as everyone who knew them could attest. What happened to her ignited their fury.
« Mr. Kim Jion, I truly understand your anger over what happened to your daughter, but please, you must remain calm. This is a government institution and deserves respect, » said Vice Guildmaster Hwang Seo Ja—a refined, well-dressed man who always spoke in a measured tone.
He stood before Kim Jion's escalating rage, which showed no signs of subsiding.
« Mr. Hwang, you know well she's my only daughter. What happened was negligence by her teammate. All I want is to know who was with her, » Kim Jion's tone sounded like a simple request, but his oily expression made it hard to believe he came in peace.
This family... is absolutely insane.
« Very well... » Hwang Seo Ja sighed before continuing, « Miss, bring me the name of the adventurer who accompanied Kim Nina. »
His request was routine, his expression unchanged—calm and youthful despite his age.
The staff member had already looked into it, anticipating Kim Jion's demand. She was ready to answer, though visibly tense from the pressure.
« Sir, the adventurer's name is... Kim Ji Kai. A rank-D adventurer with a modest record. He only clears E-level dungeons and gates, making him an ordinary, unremarkable type. »
She delivered the information with as much composure as she could muster.
Upon hearing the name, Kim Jion's anger flared even more—not just because he believed Ji Kai was responsible for his daughter's condition, but because of something deeper: Ji Kai's family. The Ji family.
To Kim Jion, the Ji family were nothing but parasites—Japanese scum who had settled in South Korea. He had always been that way—blindly hateful toward Japan and its people. Now, he had a reason to attack the Ji family directly.
Meanwhile, Ji Kai was in the guild's elevator, holding a bouquet of flowers. His face showed exhaustion, fear, and silent dread.
What he'd been through had left him in a worse state than ever. He was caught between two threats: a high-ranking demon who could strike at any moment, and Park Yoon Suk—a man who might become a demon himself.
The worst-case scenario in Ji Kai's mind was facing both at once... which meant certain death.
When the elevator reached the sixteenth floor—the source of the commotion—Ji Kai saw the chaos unfolding.
Huh? It's noisy here...
Why is everyone crowded there?
Even Park Yoon Suk had wheeled himself out of his room. The situation was tense. Ji Kai approached cautiously.
« Mr. Kim Jion, what happened to your daughter was something she accepted when she signed the liability waiver for severe injuries »
« Her signature means she fully understood the risks of her profession. Therefore, you cannot blame Kim Ji Kai for failing to act—he's ranked below her, by the way, » Park Yoon Suk said, his expression unusually serious.
Me? Are they talking about me?
Ji Kai stepped into view. Park Yoon Suk turned and greeted him with his usual warm smile.
« Ji Kai, here to visit? Welcome. »
The moment Ji Kai's name echoed through the room, Kim Tae Woo didn't miss his chance. He lunged at Ji Kai, grabbing his collar with burning hatred in his eyes.
« You damned bastard! How dare you let Nina suffer?! Just like a filthy Japanese scum! »
Kim Tae Woo didn't waste a second—attacking Ji Kai with both words and fists.
« Tae Woo, please show some respect » Park Yoon Suk intervened, reminding him—despite the insult—that Ji Kai was Korean too.
Ji Kai understood the situation. The overweight man, the elegant woman beside him, and the slightly shorter young man—they were Kim Nina's family.
He understood their rage. What happened to their daughter was horrifying. Even he hadn't fully processed it.
« Kim Ji Kai, we haven't had a chance to investigate what happened in that gate you entered with Kim Nina. Can you explain what occurred? » asked Vice Guildmaster Hwang Seo Ja, his tone sharp—like an interrogation.
Should I tell them we faced a demon? Would they even believe it?
The strongest known adventurer in Korea hadn't survived a regular demon attack. How would they believe I survived... and she only lost an arm?
No—how would they believe demons exist at all? Their existence wasn't officially acknowledged until after Song Hyung Jong died to one.
« We encountered... Seong Bachio and Hyung Bin Hwan. Wanted criminals and rogue adventurers. During the fight, Kim Nina lost her arm when Seong Bachio struck her with his spear. »
Ji Kai lied. A bad lie, considering he knew the truth. Still, it was convincing enough for most—except Nina's family.
« Do you think we're fools? If her arm was severed like you claim, we'd see signs of a clean cut. Are you playing games with us, you Japanese bastard?! »
Kim Tae Woo didn't believe a word. He grabbed Ji Kai's neck and struck him—Ji Kai didn't resist.
« Kim Ji Kai, tell us the truth. What really happened in that dungeon? I suggest you cooperate » Hwang Seo Ja remained patient, though he clearly sensed the lie.
Park Lumin was on the verge of losing her temper too.
I'm the accused here. How can my words carry weight like this?
Ji Kai felt the same humiliation he'd once endured during his conflict with his cousin.
For a moment, he wanted to grab Kim Tae Woo and throw him across the room—or at least break his arm.
Ji Kai hated being humiliated. It was the one thing he couldn't stand.
« Ji Kai, you bastard. Why not just tell the truth? Are you scared now? »
Suddenly, the door to Kim Nina's room opened. She stepped out, clutching her IV stand, pale and barely able to stand. Yet she came forward—to reveal the truth.
« Kim Ji Kai couldn't save me. It was impossible. The one who did this to me... was a creature unlike anything we've ever known.»
She spoke firmly, gripping the IV pole with determination.
For a moment, no one knew how to react. All eyes turned to Ji Kai—stunned by Nina's unexpected entrance... and even more shocked when she mentioned the demon.
« Ji Kai, from your expression, I'd say you know something about the creature Nina described. Speak » Hwang's tone sharpened.
The situation had shifted—this was now about discovering a new entity within the gates. One powerful enough to do this... and intelligent, it seemed.
Ji Kai hesitated. What he was about to say would sound unbelievable—to people who had no idea.
« What Kim Nina said is true. She was attacked by an incredibly powerful creature. That creature is called... a demon. »
He finally said it. Then watched their reactions—exactly as he expected: shock, disbelief, stunned silence.
Demons were supposed to be mythical. That's what everyone here believed.
Even Park Yoon Suk was surprised.
But the fact that Kim Nina herself confirmed it... made it real. The tension in the room spiked.
« Kim Ji Kai, who are those beautiful flowers for? » Park Yoon Suk asked suddenly, pointing to the bouquet in Ji Kai's left hand—an attempt to ease the tension.
« Huh? » Ji Kai blinked . And then ...
He replied : « They're for Kim Nina. I came to visit her after hearing her condition had stabilized.» He raised the flowers slightly, his voice tinged with... quiet suffocation.
Kim Tae Woo didn't like what he heard—especially from Ji Kai. He tried to snatch the flowers and toss them, but Kim Nina's voice stopped him.
« Thank you, Kim Ji Kai. That's kind of you. You can give them to the nurse—I'll ask her to place them beside me in the room. And also... thank you for trying to face that... demon to help me. »
Her voice was weary, but the gratitude in it was unmistakable.
The first nurse took the bouquet from Ji Kai and thanked him gently, while the second guided Kim Nina back to her room.
As they moved, Ji Kai's gaze remained fixed on the place where her arm had once been—haunted by the memory of how the demon had torn it off and devoured it.
« Kim Ji Kai, I need you to report to the investigation office on the twenty-third floor immediately and provide a full account of the incident » Hwang Seo Ja said , gesturing for the guards to approach—just in case.
Ji Kai simply nodded, his expression unreadable. All eyes in the room remained on him as Kim Nina's family entered her room to see her.
And in that moment... Ji Kai realized something.
He wasn't okay.