SSS-Ranked Demon Hunter: The Prodigy
Chapter 75: Her Eyes is What I’m Seeing

Chapter 75: Her Eyes is What I’m Seeing

I had a dream—one where all my closest comrades died one by one. I stood atop a mountain of corpses, surrounded by endless mist. Their dead eyes were fixed on me.

Sometimes, I could feel the thoughts of the dead. They wondered—would I avenge them? Would I carry out our shared duty? Would I remember them?

I haven’t forgotten a single one of you. Every person I’ve met along this path lives deeply within my memory.

This war has taken countless lives. It wears you down, killing the soldier from the inside out—until you become nothing but another tool for the front lines.

Forgive me... I can’t bear it any longer. No, I haven’t forgotten the duty of a soldier. But this war... it took everything from me.

The only thing I have left is the woman I love—the one who ran away with me, far from this broken world.

I love her, I treasure her... but why does my heart still ache to return to battle?

I awoke from the nightmare, drenched in sweat. I couldn’t remember what it had been about, but I immediately heard Hizumi’s labored breathing beside me.

She was dreaming too—no doubt haunted by her own nightmares. I wondered what they were about.

"Hizumi..." I whispered, pulling her closer. Her trembling vanished instantly, as if carried away by the wind.

I was happy—at least I could ease someone else’s pain. If she needed me by her side, then I would never leave.

A few hours later, she stirred. Hizumi sat on my lap, humming softly in my ear. I didn’t recognize the song, but her voice was comforting, peaceful.

The warm glow of the candlesticks bathed the room.

"What’s that song?" I asked.

"You probably wouldn’t know it. ’A Love Letter to You.’ It’s in English, so it’s hard to sing. But the meaning’s simple—someone sings it to the person they love most."

My sweet, brilliant princess. From the very beginning, I knew she was more than she let on.

"Hizumi, can I ask you something? Why me? You knew who I was from the start."

"...I wanted to give you a life. Not on a whim—when I first smelled you, when I saw you, I realized you had no idea who you really were. And I thought, maybe... maybe you could destroy this rotten world."

"Odd choice of words. You’d make a great villain," I joked.

She chuckled.

"Just kidding, love. It really was your scent. It was strange, like it didn’t belong to this world. That’s why it felt... different."

"Scent? Don’t all demons smell the same?"

"Not at all," she said, hugging her knees. "Over time, I learned to distinguish them. There were four. The fourth... his scent was unique too, but it reeked of power and malice. Yours, by contrast, is warm. Full of feeling. I bet these scents represent the soul of the one they came from."

"Warm and full of feeling... could a Duke truly have a soul like that?"

"...Maybe that’s why he chose you. Your scent was unlike any demon I’ve ever encountered."

"Still makes no sense. Dukes feed on humans during the Blood Moon. Why would one become an exile?"

"It’s just a theory."

She averted her gaze, sadness flickering in her eyes.

"That fourth scent... who was it?"

"Park Jisun."

"...Figures. No wonder he’s so strong. He’s the one we can trust with humanity’s future."

Her eyes locked onto mine, distant and heavy with worry.

"Kihyun, I’m scared. Scared that the monster inside you will wake up. We don’t know what it wants—or if it’s even your ally."

Her hands began to tremble as she clung to me. I gently stroked her hair, trying to calm her.

But then she started coughing—sharp, ragged breaths cutting through the silence. Out of nowhere, she seemed to be in pain.

"Hizumi!" I jumped, feeling her body shudder. "What’s wrong?! Can you hear me?"

Her pulse spiked. She was overwhelmed. I laid her down carefully.

Eventually, the fear in her eyes faded. She wiped away the shock with trembling hands.

"What’s happening? Are you sick? Hizumi, talk to me—I’ll do anything to help."

"It’s no illness..." she rasped.

"W-what?"

Her breathing steadied.

"Love, I think it has to do with your scent..."

"What do you mean? Could my demon blood really be affecting you that badly?"

"It’s not just the scent... I can’t believe it either, but whenever we touch, my whole body starts to ache. As if my essence is both rejecting and bowing to yours."

"This can’t be... Did I hurt you somehow? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?"

"I only just realized what it might be. It’s not your fault, love—it lies in our nature. I think your blood... it dominates mine. Maybe there’s some kind of demonic hierarchy out there! Please, don’t think badly of me..."

"How could I?" I said. "If anything, we need to understand this better. If we can find out what’s happening to you, we’ll find a way to fix it."

"My love..." Her eyes filled with tears. "I do love you... I truly do..."

She expected a different reaction from me. She was afraid that if she told me, I’d hate her. She had feared rejection—but I wouldn’t let her fall into that darkness.

We’d face this together, no matter what.

Later that night, Hizumi awoke suddenly, disturbed by a strange feeling. The room was dark. She glanced at the balcony—and saw me crouched near the window, watching something outside.

Footsteps echoed in the silence.

Rising from bed, she joined me and followed my gaze to the street below.

People in cloaks moved cautiously through the ruins.

"Stalkers," I whispered, eyes narrowing. "But what are they doing here? I thought those exiles only lived deep in the forests."

"Some of them venture into the city at night," she explained. "They scavenge supplies for their tribe. The Red Zone is still full of valuable things. Strange people... risking their lives to survive in wilds."

"Some do it for the thrill," I muttered. "Others have abandoned society entirely. To them, our lives are cages—and they’ve chosen the wild. But they’re brutal... They hunt and eat demons."

"We should be careful..."

My eyes sharpened—I caught a glimpse of two of their faces beneath the hoods. A girl. A boy.

"...They’re children?!"

There were only four of them. Armed, yes—but completely unaware of the dangers around them. I couldn’t just stand by.

"W-where are you going?" Hizumi called, startled.

"It’s too dangerous here. If a horde attacks, they’ll be slaughtered. I can’t let that happen."

Determined, I put on my boots and opened the door.

"But Kihyun... it’s not our responsibility..."

"They’re kids. Lost in this hell of a world. Hizumi, trust me."

Moved by my resolve, she sighed—then smiled.

"All right. But I’m coming with you."

Later that night, the Stalkers crept through the ruined paths of the Red Zone. They watched every step, avoiding the debris beneath their feet.

"It’s so quiet... Feels like we’re in a post-apocalypse," one boy whispered. "This job’s no joke. So... where’s that damn shopping mall?"

"Watch your step," muttered the tall man with them—the only adult.

The girl holding the flashlight looked down—her light flickered and died.

"Crap, my battery’s out."

"No worries," grinned the younger boy, pulling out his own. "I’ve got another one. Gotta do what you can for the family, right?"

"Th-thank you..."

They stepped forward again. When the flashlight swept across an abandoned building, the boy raised a hand—the signal they’d found their target.

Before them stood the old shopping center—forgotten by time, wrapped in moss, and echoing with silence.

They stepped inside, scanning their surroundings. The girl looked the most frightened, but she stuck close to the group.

An oppressive silence wrapped around the walls of that abandoned place, cursing their minds—like something wicked was bound to crawl out of the darkness.

"This place gives me the creeps," muttered the boy with the flashlight. "It’s so dark, not even the moonlight reaches in here. I swear, it’s like something’s watching us from every shadow... Total zombie apocalypse vibes."

Another boy slapped him lightly on the back.

"Don’t make it worse, Tiger Cub. Eunji’s already scared enough without your horror stories."

"Then why’d they even bring her along? I mean, I’m scared too, but come on—we can’t be serious all the time!"

"Still, the darkness is getting heavier..."

All four turned on their flashlights.

"Don’t lag behind, kids," the older one said. "The basement entrance should be nearby."

"Are we sure there are actually supplies down there? Maybe we should’ve checked the second floor instead. What if we split up?"

"That’s the worst idea you could’ve had, Tiger Cub. But honestly, not surprising coming from you."

After walking through a few darkened corridors, they finally found the escalator leading to the G-level floor. Below, it was pitch black—like a descent into the abyss.

"Even our flashlights can’t pierce that darkness..." the girl whispered.

"Eunji, do you think there could be demons down there?" one of the boys asked, his voice trembling.

She turned to look at him, noticing the anxiety painted across his face.

The oldest among them took the first step downward. The others had no choice but to follow. One by one, they descended into the unknown—uncertain of what lay ahead besides the supplies they so desperately sought.