Chae Hyung-Seok lived in a very old neighborhood. The streets were so narrow that cars couldn't enter them. Tae-Sung’s Ferrari had no chance of navigating the narrow and winding uphill road due to its low chassis. The Cadillac Escalade following behind him was far too large to squeeze through the narrow streets. Thus, Tae-Sung had no choice but to walk up to Chae Hyung-Seok’s house with his bodyguards. ‘Wow... This sure brings back memories.’ As he looked around the neighborhood, Tae-Sung was reminded of his past. Back when he was caught in the trap that Chae Hyung-Seok had laid for him, he had fallen into ruin and struggled to survive in a semi-basement room in a neighborhood similar to this place. He still couldn’t forget that damp, moldy basement. He could still remember how the room would flood whenever it rained. That miserable little basement was once his home... “Where exactly is Hyung-Seok’s place?” Tae-Sung asked. “It is that one, Young Master. Do you see that old housing building? It is the second semi-basement unit.” As they made their way toward Chae Hyung-Seok’s place— “Hold on a second,” Tae-Sung said. He stopped by a tiny corner store that was an old mom-and-pop shop rather than a convenience store and bought one butter-grilled squid and three bottles of soju. Then, he resumed walking toward Chae Hyung-Seok’s house. When they finally arrived, Tae-Sung turned to his bodyguards and said, “Wait here. I will go in alone.” “Our duty is to ensure your safety, Young Master. We cannot let you go in alone.” “I’ll be fine, don’t worry.” “It is still out of the question. Chae Hyung-Seok is mentally unstable, so there is no telling what he might do to you. Meeting him alone could put you in serious danger.” The head of Tae-Sung’s bodyguards had served in South Korea’s Naval Special Forces, which was also known as the UDT or SEAL. On top of that, he had worked as a mercenary in conflict zones around the world, so he had real combat experience as well. He knew firsthand just how terrifying people could be when they were desperate, so he refused to let Tae-Sung enter the room alone. “No,” Tae-Sung shook his head. “But, Young Master—!” Despite the warning, Tae-Sung stood his ground. “I came here to talk things out with him. But if I show up with bodyguards, how do you think Hyung-Seok will feel?” “But your safety is more important.” “I know. But this time, I need to speak with him one-on-one.” “Don’t worry. Nothing will happen.” The head bodyguard took off the vest he was wearing and handed it to Tae-Sung. “Please, at least wear this.” “It’s a stab-proof vest.” In South Korea, where private gun ownership was illegal, stab-proof vests were far more practical than bulletproof ones. “Please wear it underneath your hoodie.” Tae-Sung followed the advice and put on the vest. He was not particularly eager to wear it, but he complied to alleviate the concerns of his bodyguards. “We will be waiting outside, young master.” Leaving his bodyguards behind, Tae-Sung stepped up to Chae Hyung-Seok’s door and knocked. Chae Hyung-Seok was sprawled out in his room when the sound of someone knocking on his door woke him up. Beside him lay a single coal briquette, an A4 sheet of paper, and a ballpoint pen. A life without dreams, hopes, or a future. Moreover, he couldn't bear the weight of the sins he had committed in the past, so he finally decided to take his own life. ‘Is it the landlord? Ah, it’s almost time for rent again. If I die here, it will be a huge nuisance, so I should at least go somewhere else...’ With that thought, Chae Hyung-Seok headed toward the door. “Who is it?” Chae Hyung-Seok asked. ‘Huh? Why does this voice sound so familiar...?’ Chae Hyung-Seok wondered, startled by the familiar voice outside the door. “No, seriously. Who are you?” If this were an ordinary apartment unit, then he could have easily checked through the intercom. However, this was a basement unit in an old building built over thirty years ago, so there was no such thing here. “Who the hell is it—” Left with no choice, Chae Hyung-Seok reluctantly opened the door to see who this strangely familiar voice belonged to. He froze in shock the moment he saw the person standing in the doorway. “Han... Tae-Sung...?” Chae Hyung-Seok muttered. Never in his wildest dreams could he have imagined that Han Tae-Sung would come looking for him in real life. Chae Hyung-Seok was so stunned that he could barely think. “H-How the hell... d-did you—” he stammered. Tae-Sung cut him off and said, “Can I come in? I came to see you because we need to talk.” He casually lifted the plastic bag he was holding, revealing a few bottles of soju and some dried appetizers. “Let’s have a drink and talk things out.” “I have nothing to say to you—” “Holy crap! Clean up a little, will you?” “What the hell is this? Ugh! This smells rancid!” Before Chae Hyung-Seok could even refuse, Tae-Sung brazenly pushed his way inside with brute force. Chae Hyung-Seok stood there, dumbfounded, watching as Tae-Sung looked around his dismal living space. Then, he thought to himself, ‘Well, I guess having one last conversation with him before I go won't be the worst thing...’ Now that he had come to terms with his own sins, the sight of Tae-Sung no longer ignited the rage that once consumed him. While Tae-Sung was meeting Chae Hyung-Seok in the real world... “What? His Majesty has become a demon lord?” Michele was at a complete loss for words upon receiving the reports from the Demon Realm. He thought Siegfried had merely taken a risk to rescue Metatron, so he never imagined that Siegfried would end up becoming a demon lord in the process. ‘What the hell is going on over there...?’ Michele was indeed curious, but for now, there was no way to find out more details about what was happening in the Demon Realm. ‘Just what kind of human being is he even?’ A normal human, even an Adventurer, would be greatly weakened in the Demon Realm. The high-ranking demons were said to be strong enough to easily surpass even the Masters, yet Siegfried had traveled alone to the Demon Realm, and he ended up becoming a demon lord in just a few days? It was truly mind-boggling. Michele would dismiss the story as complete nonsense if it were anyone else. Frankly speaking, a mere human going to the Demon Realm and becoming a demon lord was very difficult to believe. “I’m honestly at a loss for words...” Michele remained dazed for a long while before grappling with things and finally shifting his focus back to work. He had an overwhelming amount of work these days. The Middle Realm was embroiled in war. The five member nations of the Holy Alliance had launched an all-out attack not only against the Marchioni Empire but also against their neighboring countries. The Proatine Kingdom managed to avoid being drawn into the conflict thanks to being geographically positioned in the western region of the continent. However, the momentum of the Holy Alliance was so fearsome that the geopolitical landscape shifted drastically. Rumors were circulating that the Marchioni Empire was on the verge of collapse and that the Holy Alliance was poisoned to emerge as the new dominant power. Some of the nations that remained neutral joined the Holy Alliance and began attacking the Marchioni Empire. Given these circumstances, the Proatine Kingdom, which was obviously on the side of the empire, had no choice but to remain on high alert. “Damn it... Just hurry back, whether you’ve become a demon lord or not. Acting as the king’s regent has its limits...” Michele desperately hoped for Siegfried’s return to the Proatine Kingdom as soon as possible. The atmosphere was awkward. To be exact, Chae Hyung-Seok’s mood was extremely gloomy. He kept his mouth shut and remained silent. ‘Hm? Is that a will?’ Meanwhile, Tae-Sung’s eyes widened in surprise after catching sight of an A4 paper on the bed while looking around the dirty, moldy room. Of course, he just played it cool and didn't make it obvious that he had noticed something. ‘So he really was planning to die. If I had come just a little later, then it would’ve been too late.’ Tae-Sung let out a sigh of relief before casually striking up a conversation with Chae Hyung-Seok. “You’re pretty amazing.” “When I turned your character into a living totem, it was insanely useful. That buff you dish out is insane.” ‘Should I just kill this bastard?’ The fury that Chae Hyung-Seok had been suppressing rushed up in an instant. “What the hell did you just say, asshole?” Chae Hyung-Seok growled. Then, he gnashed his teeth and said, “My mood is already in the gutter, you son of a bitch. And now you come here just to make fun of me? Are you happy now—?” “Do you think I’m happy? After everything you’ve done to me?” Tae-Sung cut him off. Chae Hyung-Seok couldn’t retort. Only after hitting rock bottom did he finally understand Tae-Sung’s feelings back then. And he knew that such resentment wasn't going to disappear so easily. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ NoveIꜰire.net “That...” Chae Hyung-Seok muttered. Then, he forced himself to speak, “...I’m sorry.” For a moment, Tae-Sung thought he had misheard. He had never expected those words to come out of Chae Hyung-Seok’s mouth. “Wait, what? Can you say that again?” “I said I’m fucking sorry, you asshole.” “I finally get it now.” With that, Chae Hyung-Seok cracked open the bottle of soju Tae-Sung had brought and took several long gulps before continuing. “Damn it... I finally understand what you and the others felt now that I’m the one in this position... “To be honest, I still fucking hate your guts. But now that I’m , I don’t even feel that angry anymore. “You know what they say, right? Karma is going to get you one way or another... And I got exactly what I deserved.” Tae-Sung was genuinely surprised to hear those words. ‘So this guy... He really does regret what he did, doesn’t he?’ He thought Chae Hyung-Seok would never admit to what he did, but here he was, admitting and regretting his actions. “But what does it matter? What’s done is done. I can’t turn back time.” “And I don’t think I can fix all the shit I did. I’m completely broke, and I have nothing left now. So what can I do? All I can do is regret my actions.” With that, Chae Hyung-Seok took another swig from the bottle of soju. “I was a bastard back then, I admit it. But... Please, just leave. Don't mess with me anymore.” “What if I don’t want to?” “Then you can do whatever you want. Not like it will matter for much longer anyway, so I might as well atone for what I did and let you have your fun.” “Why? Are you planning on dying or something?” “Heh. No way.” Chae Hyung-Seok shook his head and chuckled. However, Tae-Sung saw right through his lies. After seeing that will, how could he not? “Hey, Chae Hyung-Seok. I can’t live without you anymore, man,” Tae-Sung said. “...What?” Chae Hyung-Seok blinked in disbelief. ‘Is this bastard crazy? Did he hit his head somewhere?’ Tae-Sung’s words were so unexpected that they caught Chae Hyung-Seok off guard. After all, if interpreted from another angle, what he said could sound very strange. “So don’t you dare die.” “What the fuck are you talking about?” “I live to mess with you. If you’re gone, who the hell am I supposed to mess with?” “You crazy son of a bitch!” Chae Hyung-Seok growled. He barely managed to put his pride down and apologize, yet Tae-Sung was sitting there and talking about continuing to harass him. Chae Hyung-Seok’s fury flared up. “I swear. I’m going to punch you right in the face if it’s the last thing I do before I die!” “What kind of... employee?” “Work for me. I’ll pay you enough to clear all your debts.” “What the hell are you saying?” “I’ll pay you a shit-ton of money. Work for me, earn my money, and pay off your debts to the banks,” Tae-Sung said. Then, he smirked and added, “Once you’ve settled your debts, you can use the money to pay back the people you screwed over.” “Ah...” Chae Hyung-Seok gasped, feeling suddenly dizzy. His head went blank and spun. Tae-Sung nonchalantly mentioned everything, but Chae Hyung-Seok knew the weight of those words. ‘Han Tae-Sung... Is this bastard trying to forgive me?’ Chae Hyung-Seok was shocked that his archnemesis, Han Tae-Sung, was extending an olive branch to him. He had never imagined, even in his wildest dreams, that Han Tae-Sung would be the first to offer him a helping hand.