SSS-Ranked Demon Hunter: The Prodigy
Chapter 48: Solstice, Part 1

Chapter 48: Solstice, Part 1

How long have I been sitting here...

Idle. Thoughtless. Drowned in a sense of utter hopelessness.

These bars are killing me. Draining the very feeling of being alive.

"You could easily escape if you wanted. Why don’t you use your powers?"

The demon kept observing me in silence.

I wouldn’t dare. No matter what, I have to prove my loyalty. I’m not some demon, no matter what they all think...

"They saw you as a weapon. Now they’ve finally shown their true faces."

I don’t care. I must hold on to my humanity. I have to... I can’t give in...

The demon scoffed.

Just then, the door to my cell creaked open. A tall man in glasses stepped inside.

It was Jisun. He had come to visit me.

"Don’t worry," he told the guard. "I’ll handle this myself... Hey there, Kihyun."

I couldn’t meet his eyes. Out of everyone, only he and Minho had ever truly trusted me. I was so ashamed...

"There’s nothing to be ashamed of," he said, walking up to the bars. "Still sane? Honestly, if I were in your shoes, I’d be dead by now. You’re strong."

"Mr. Park... I don’t know what to say. Please don’t take this the wrong way—I’m not a demon."

"I know."

His words froze me.

"At least, you believe you’re human. And that’s enough for me to trust you. Listen, Kihyun, you need to wait for the official verdict. Kang Su-won will make the final decision. Whether you live or die depends on him."

"How are things outside...?"

"Everyone’s talking about your ability to summon wings. Tell me, Kihyun... is it tied to the nature of demon blood in you?"

"Yes..."

"Just as I thought. So, demon blood isn’t a divine gift after all."

"What do you mean by that?"

Jisun went silent. He knew we were being watched. He couldn’t risk saying anything that would damage his image or reveal the truth.

"Hizumi Mikage’s also imprisoned," he added, clouding my thoughts. "You two got along well. This all feels so bitter... If we had tried to befriend a demon earlier, maybe we’d have known the truth. Hizumi is being called a demon because of her perception to sniff. If our theory’s correct, things are about to fall into place."

"What? No... that can’t be. She’s behind bars too?!"

"Yes. Don’t worry, she’s not being tortured. I told her you were okay."

But he left something out. He knew she had been shot to confirm whether she was a demon. Her wounds had started to heal abnormally.

Jisun didn’t want me to worry more than I already did.

"Kihyun, just wait. I’ll try to get you out. But in return, prove that you’re loyal to humanity. You don’t have to hide being a demon anymore. What I really want to know is... which of your parents was a demon? Your father, or your mother?"

"I... don’t know. My mother was kind, gentle. Just an ordinary woman. My father... he hated demons. He was a hunter, after all."

"Damn... We backed ourselves into a corner trying to understand these monsters. And now we’ve only got more questions..."

He left shortly after, but told me not to lose hope.

Some time passed, and Minho visited next. As soon as he saw me, his face fell.

"Kihyun... you look like hell."

"Minho... glad to see you."

After a long, awkward silence, tears spilled from my eyes.

"I’m sorry," I choked out. "I failed you all. You trusted a demon."

"Don’t say that. I’ve never seen you as a demon. If anything, I’m glad I know the truth now. Even as a demon, you chose to protect people. You chose to be human. Tell me... your parents were really human?"

"Yes. Truly kind souls."

"I’m glad."

Minho gripped the bars, desperation clouding his eyes.

"Kihyun... you will get out of here. To be honest, the first time I saw you, you reminded me of my little brother... He was killed by a demon, and that’s why I became a hunter. I won’t lose anyone else. You reminded me of him, Kihyun. If not for you, I’d have forgotten what it means to protect others. So don’t you dare give up."

"Minho..."

"You will get out. I promise."

I believe him. I have to hold onto hope.

Even if it’s hard for me to keep my sanity right now.

Not long after, the director himself came to visit me. Opening my weary eyes, I saw Kang Su-won standing before me.

"Boy... what’s become of you..."

"Sir Kang. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have joined the operation."

"Don’t apologize. You’ve made me realize I should have treated you far better. You welcomed me as your leader, and I... I only saw a weapon. I’ll regret it for the rest of my life. That I couldn’t give a better future to the son of my old friend."

"Sir, are you crying?"

He hadn’t noticed the tears falling from his eyes.

"Maybe it’s regret. Boy, I’m sorry I couldn’t be a better leader for you."

"You’re not going to let me out, are you?"

My voice was calm—soulless. I had lost all hope.

"Until the council gathers, there’s nothing I can do. Your life now rests on their vote... I’m so sorry."

"Then what about Hizumi?"

"She won’t be released. They’ve locked her in a demon containment cell—for life. For treason against the state."

My dim eyes widened. I was speechless.

"W-What? But Hizumi... she dedicated her life to serving this country! How could they—?!"

"She’s a fully developed demon in human form. They believe she’s a covert agent. There’s no saving her."

"No... Hizumi..."

Why? Why did it turn out like this? She’d never betray the country!

Her soft voice... her smooth hair... her gentle eyes... Will I never see her again?

Hours passed. I lay curled on the floor, despair heavy on my chest. My eyes, aching, slowly closed as sleep pulled me under.

Memories surged forth. I was a child again, standing outside.

The wind carried the scent of the river. Greenery rustled beneath my feet. The sky glowed with summer light.

Two men stood ahead. One was my father, wearing a white shirt, his dark hair fluttering.

They seemed to be chatting. But... who was the second man? Why did he seem familiar?

He turned to me.

"Kihyun, have you seen Yeonghee?"

I saw his mature face and remembered. It was Kang Su-won.

"She’s in the house," I said, pointing to the wooden cottage.

"Ah, I see. I’m glad you two are friends."

Soon after, I locked eyes with a little girl in a white dress. Her pale hair, her delicate presence—even in dreams, I could barely recall her face.

Who was she?

"Kihyun," she said softly. "Wanna play tag with me again?"

"Sure! But you’re it, Yeonghee!"

I ran to the woods, and she chased after me.

"You can’t catch me!" I teased.

"Oh yes I can! Run as fast as you can!"

We laughed. A sincere joy shone on our faces.

Then, I tripped—not on the ground, but into darkness. The world vanished before me.

A sudden sound by the door jolted me awake.

My eyes opened slowly. I was still in the cell.

But this time, someone new had come. A girl stood by the door—someone I didn’t recognize, yet felt oddly familiar.

Short, pale-blonde hair. Porcelain skin. She looked at me with calm, observant eyes.

"Lee Ki-hyun. It’s nice to see you again."

I couldn’t speak. No words came. Of course, because I could’t remember her.

But when I saw her... something sparked in my heart again.

"I forgot to introduce myself. You probably don’t recall me. But we used to play together as kids. Hard to remember that, isn’t it?"

This... was the girl from my dreams?

"Yeonghee?" I said. Her eyes widened slightly, and a shy blush colored her cheeks.

"Yes. You really remember me?"

"I think I’ve seen you somewhere. It was during the Nightwatch operation."

"You did," she smiled. "I finally had a chance to talk to you in private."

"But... you’re the director’s daughter. Why would you be here...?"

"I wanted to see the infamous demon with my own eyes."

I looked away.

"And why?"

"I thought... maybe he needed my help."

Her warm voice stunned me.

"What...?"

Meanwhile, outside the Association.

An anonymous source had leaked confidential information to the media, exposing the truth behind the Association’s headquarters.

News headlines exploded across the net:

[The Demon Hunter Association Has Imprisoned the World’s Only SSS-Rank Hunter.]

Outrage spread like wildfire—among those who once called me a savior and even those who doubted me. Why had the Association hidden this? What would they do now? And what fate awaited humanity?

Somewhere in the Green Zone, Junho sat before a computer, scrolling through article after article. He’d tried calling me dozens of times—but I hadn’t answered for three days straight.

That anonymous whistleblower who lit the spark?

It was him.