SSS-Ranked Demon Hunter: The Prodigy
Chapter 37: The Unspeakable Horror

Chapter 37: The Unspeakable Horror

"All my life, I fed on hatred for humans. Ever since childhood, when my parents were killed during a human raid."

In Seojun’s memories, a flash of light ignited—through it, fragments of that day surfaced. That evening, a helicopter circled above their home.

Ten hunters descended from it and stormed into his family’s house. He was still a boy. His parents handed him a baby—his younger brother.

Gently stroking the baby’s head, his father said:

"Run, take Haebin and get as far away as you can. You can never come back here."

Tears streamed from his mother’s eyes. Just before the children left, she whispered:

"My little bunny, promise me you’ll always protect Haebin. Never abandon each other."

"Mom... but why? What do they want from us?"

"Run."

And Seojun ran.

When the demon hunters burst through the front door, he slipped out through the kitchen window and hid in the bushes to avoid the spotlight of the helicopter.

Cradled in his arms, Haebin began to cry under the towel.

"Shhh, don’t cry!" Seojun whispered, covering the baby’s face with the cloth. "They can’t see us. Mom... Dad... what’s happening?"

Inside the house, the hunters confronted two demons disguised as humans.

"You’ve hidden in the shadows for too long," one of the hunters sneered. "Tell me which one of you is the Demon of Hatred, and maybe—just maybe—I’ll spare the other."

"And I wonder," the father responded coolly, brushing his wife’s hand away as she tried to intervene. His hand twisted and mutated into beast-like claws. "How exactly do you plan to spare us?"

"Oh, maybe I’ll let one of you go, and send a thousand starving hounds to chase you down. Now wouldn’t that be a show."

"Sorry, but there’s no Demon of Hatred here."

The hunter paused thoughtfully.

"Fine, then I’ll just kill you both."

And so, the battle began. From outside, Seojun heard every crash, every grenade blast, every scream.

Then... silence.

His parents were slaughtered. Their severed heads were carried out by the hunters.

Seojun heard everything and imagined the horror within. He wanted to scream—but not a sound escaped.

"When the helicopter’s light turned the other way, I fled. I didn’t know where to go, or why they were killed. They lived like ordinary people. They didn’t kill, they didn’t eat. Only later did I realize the truth—they were murdered for the power they hid. A power that now lives in Haebin."

To survive and protect his baby brother, Seojun sought escape to the Orange Zone.

At a border checkpoint between zones, two guards stood watch. One dozed in a booth; the other stood near the wall.

Covered in dust and grime, Seojun crept behind the booth. He carefully laid the baby on the ground, then silently approached the standing guard.

The guards bore the star insignia of the Military Police—elite forces patrolling zone borders.

With a sudden leap, Seojun jumped onto the tall guard and wrapped his hands around his throat.

Rage burned in his eyes—their deaths demanded a price, and this was his only way into the Orange Zone.

Using all his strength, the boy snapped the guard’s neck. The lifeless body dropped like discarded trash.

Hearing the noise, the plump guard stirred, adjusting his cap.

In front of him stood a gray-haired boy holding a sharp knife.

"Tell me which button opens the gate, and you’ll die without pain."

The guard panicked. Reaching for the radio on his chest would mean instant death. Trembling, he whimpered:

"Please... don’t..."

Without hesitation, the boy slit his throat. The bloody guard died on the spot.

Looking around, Seojun searched for the right button. Each had labels—but he couldn’t read well.

"O-pen-gate... It must be this one."

"Hey." A deep voice broke the silence.

It was the guard whose neck Seojun had snapped. In one hand, he held the baby—in the other, a gun.

Seojun’s eyes widened in shock.

"H-how? I broke your neck—"

"Ah, that. Turns out I’m not so ordinary either. Just like you."

"You’re a demon? But why guard the border?"

"Let’s just say... this world’s rotten to its core. Demons have plenty of ways to slip through the cracks. And you? What are you doing in the Green Zone?"

"My parents were murdered," Seojun’s eyes flared with anger. "I want to survive—and fight—for my brother!"

"I see," the guard nodded, handing the baby back. "Then run. Don’t look back. When you reach Seongwan-gu, join the underground fights. At least you’ll earn some bread."

Seojun ran with his brother in his arms. He asked no questions—he searched for a way.

A path that would give him a chance to survive in a world filled with rot and betrayal.

He carved his way through the darkest corners of the city—working as a hired killer, a barista, and a fighter in underground demon brawls.

In one such fight, he faced a beast-like demon covered in fur. That was when he realized—demons could evolve not just from humans, but from multiple genomes.

For Haebin, he created a peaceful life—enrolled him in school, gave him clothes, even a dorm roof over their heads.

They had lived in that dorm for ten years.

"Brother, what do you do when you’re not home?"

"Hm?" Seojun scratched his head. "Well... I get stronger, kill my enemies, and eat people."

"What’s it like—eating people?"

That conversation had taken place the year before, but it lingered in Haebin’s memory because of the answer.

"How do you think it feels to defeat villains? Satisfying, right? Eating them is the cherry on top."

Haebin frowned.

"I hate that... It makes me sick just thinking about it."

"That’s our nature. That’s why I always tell you—eat when you’re hungry. Regular food won’t satisfy us. We’ve evolved—to eat humans."

"But... our parents lived like people."

"Exactly. And that’s why they’re dead. They trusted humans—and were exposed. That’s why I always say—don’t trust people. They’ll devour each other for pride and amusement."

"I don’t know. I think that’s true for everyone."

"No, Haebin. We’re victims of our ancestors. Humans called us parasites. And they kill us without remorse—because it’s normal."

That’s why Seojun decided—he would end this cursed cycle. The only way was to kill every human on the planet.

That’s why he joined Umbra, that served the Dukes of the Blood Moon.

Haebin had a friend named Mujin—a human.

They played together every day, carefree after school.

Sometimes Seojun watched over them, observing Mujin. Strangely, the demon felt no hatred for the child.

He figured it was because Mujin was just another victim of this broken world.

Even after Umbra’s failed mission, Seojun still kept watch.

"Brother Seojun!" the boy called out. "Haebin wants ice cream, but he’s too shy to ask. So I told you instead."

"Idiot. Haebin, don’t be such a girl. Let’s go—I’ll buy you two ice cream."

"Wow!" Mujin’s eyes sparkled. "You’re a really good person!"

"A good person, huh..."

That evening...

Seojun waited for nightfall. Starved, he went out hunting.

He wandered the dark alleys near home. His hunger clawed at his insides.

He spotted a couple entering a dead-end alley. He followed.

His eyes burned like a wild beast. Moments later, he killed them—and began devouring their flesh.

"Hey!" A familiar voice pierced the air.

The demon froze like a crocodile caught mid-strike.

"Brother Seojun? It’s me—Mujin. I saw you and came over."

The boy reached into his pocket and extended a handful of coins.

"Here! From my parents—thank you for being so kind."

Seojun was stunned. If someone saw him here... the police would eventually learn the truth.

Grinding his teeth in despair, he saw only one option—no witnesses.

"Mujin... perfect timing. Come here—I need your help."

"Okay!" the boy ran to him without hesitation.

What Seojun did next would haunt him forever.

The demon closed his eyes. He tried not to cry. But the crack of skull and spine echoed in his soul.

He cursed every god—for making that child the witness.

And in that moment, he understood—

He was Cain. The unspeakable horror that should never have come to light.