SSS-Ranked Demon Hunter: The Prodigy
Chapter 79: Beyond the Edge

Chapter 79: Beyond the Edge

"W-What do you mean...? My father couldn’t have killed my mother..."

My head was spinning. Blood boiled in my veins from anger and confusion.

"Lee Yeonho was, in truth, a patriot of his nation. Long ago, when hunters first emerged, a rogue Duke came to the human world. His daughter—his blood heir—appeared before the mightiest among them, offering herself as a weapon to defend humanity from demons. Arinel, the strongest being born from a Duke’s selfish intent to defy his own kin."

Arinel... My beloved mother. Could you and father really have hidden such a truth from me... but why? Why did our family meet such a fate?

"Arinel was a remarkable person, loved by every hunter. When she revealed herself to the world, she was accepted. That only deepened her desire to protect the land. No ordinary person knew of her existence. And the only one who could color her world with hope... was the strongest man in history."

"Lee... Yeonho."

Mujin gave a silent nod, allowing me to process his words.

"What happened next?"

"She fell for your father’s unwavering resolve. Together, they were the most formidable weapon humanity ever had. Demons didn’t dare approach the Orange Zone, let alone the Green. But once they married, and you were born, Arinel stopped fighting. She became a loving mother."

His voice grew calmer, and his tone triggered old memories in me.

Memories from when I was an infant. I always loved when my mother held me. I would never let go of her finger, afraid that the light of such a radiant person would one day fade—and with it, my mother.

Seojun was quietly listening, lost in his own thoughts—perhaps remembering the faces of the parents who once raised him with warmth.

Mujin continued:

"Lee Yeonho never abandoned his duty. He understood that losing Arinel’s firepower would be a blow to humanity, but he never forced her back into war. Even if she was a brilliant warrior, who mastered every facet of her demonic blood... Yeonho loved her for her kindness."

"Then why... why do you say he killed her? It’s impossible. He loved her more than life itself!"

"Yes. But more than anything, your father wanted peace. And peace only comes one way: by eliminating everyone who threatens it. To him, ending the war meant everything. Over time, the Duke inside Arinel began to stir and demand release. He didn’t expect his daughter to choose motherhood over combat. Though your birth was foretold by fate, and your protection ensured the future of this land... the Duke had other plans."

"What does that even mean? Can’t you descendants of the Dukes live in peace without killing your own kin? What twisted logic is this?"

"Alas, the number of Duke-blood heirs grew out of control. With such growth, came hierarchy. Dukes now command their heirs through blood itself—literally enslaving their souls if they wish. But Kihyun, you... you are the sole heir of the Taurus Demon."

A demon’s heir... A child etched by fate. What the hell is going on...

Who can I trust if I can’t even trust my own memories? If what he says is true... Father, why did you do it?

"As Arinel’s soul grew weaker and her will to fight faded, she was overcome by the horror of the Taurus Demon. Even though it couldn’t escape on its own, it pressured her mentally, warping her memories and perception. In the end, your mother began to lose her mind."

"Why don’t I remember any of that?!" I snapped, jerking in my chair. "She was never sick! I always remembered her as kind and full of life!"

"What version of her do you remember? How old was she the last time you saw her clearly?"

His question caught me off guard. My memories were foggy. I froze.

"I..."

"The Duke was killing Arinel from within, tormenting her with despair and warping her feelings. But even then, your mother never stopped smiling at you. And so, your father made the hardest choice. He had to. Because if Arinel didn’t die... the Duke would come for you. You were a child—far easier to control. All the Duke had to do was wait for your awakening."

"You’re saying sacrifice was the only option?" I muttered, my troubled gaze sharp on Mujin. "I almost believed you. But your story has a flaw. How could the Duke possess me if my blood isn’t pure? My father was a hunter too—he had demon blood."

Mujin smiled faintly.

"No. Seems the Association has been lying to the world."

"What do you mean ’no’?"

"Your father—Lee Yeonho, the strongest hunter—was an ordinary human. With just two katanas, he cut down demons like he was purging a plague. War was his life."

No way... That can’t be true. Everyone knows a demon and a human can’t procreate.

But why... do I have such a terrible feeling?

Mujin smirked.

"I know what you’re thinking. And yes, biologically, a human and demon can’t produce offspring. But Arinel... she was a marvel of evolution. A demon indistinguishable from a human. Even her blood didn’t register, though her powers spoke volumes. The Taurus Demon was a genius—and his blood the pinnacle of all creation."

Which means... the Duke can manifest through me, because my blood is pure—and it belongs solely to him.

"Lee Yeonho ended your mother’s life for your sake—and the world’s. Had you seen her condition... the way a monster clawed out from inside her body... you’d have begged for death yourself."

My mother had nothing more precious than me. And my father... he let her go as if she were the enemy. Who do I hate more? My father... or my own existence?

No... It’s the Duke’s fault. He ruined our lives. And father just gave in—to ’protect’ this damned world. How dare you?! Was this world more important to you than the one you built with Arinel?

I was expressionless. I wanted to die.

There wasn’t a single reason left to keep living. This... was the bitter truth about my parents that I was never meant to know.

Honestly. It would’ve been better left a secret.

"Your father," Mujin broke my grief, "took the burden of the world upon himself and led the raid on the White Temple. A purgatory—the link between the human world and that of demons. The interrealm. Astaroth, the Demon King, resided there. Sacrificing his comrades, Yeonho entered the Temple and vowed to end the Dukes once and for all."

I didn’t care to hear more. I didn’t care what fate awaited him there. The light in my eyes was gone—only agony remained, consuming me from within.

"...As you see, your father never returned. And I, one of Astaroth’s last living heirs, can no longer sense him. He hasn’t answered me in five years. The fate of the greatest hunter and the Demon King remains unsolved."

Across the city, the same story was being told at the Hunter Association’s headquarters. Sashi stood before a solemn gathering, reading from a classified report compiled from the former director and the late doctor.

"Lee Yeonho," Sashi stated, "was known as the hunter in the white shirt. He could not wield Kuroen or Kenketsu. Because of his unmatched strength and volatile temperament, he was nicknamed the King of Chaos."

Reina raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

"But how did he kill demons without blood-bound weapons? You can’t slay monsters with a normal katana. There’s a clear inconsistency here."

"Who knows," Sashi began, but was quickly interrupted.

"He used Arinel’s power," Jisun interjected. "She had exceptional control over her blood. I’m convinced she replaced the need for Kenketsu. But even before he was linked to the Taurus Demon, Yeonho’s blades were... different. It suggests there was another hunter—someone else who crafted blood weapons for him."

"But who could that be?"

"...I don’t know. I never asked."

Sashi cleared her throat to refocus everyone’s attention.

"There is one more thing you must know. The Taurus Demon... has a twin brother."

A tense silence followed. Yeonghee’s thoughts spiraled inward. She could no longer deny that her father—a man she had once idolized—had orchestrated unspeakable horrors.

The next morning, Yeonghee woke up in a traditional hanok. Her first act was to step outside to wash her face.

The house was old, with a gently curved roof and beams of darkened pine polished by time. The air smelled of damp stone, bark, and blooming mint. From the edge of the veranda, water trickled from a bamboo pipe into a stone basin, each drop clear and cool.

The hanok stood at the foot of a wooded hill, veiled by forested slopes. They called it the "Foothill Haven"—a place untouched by demons. Birds sang in the canopy, dragonflies skimmed the surface of a mirrored pond. Here, time itself seemed to pause.

After preparing herself, Yeonghee slipped into the backseat of a car. Her bodyguard drove her to the Association’s headquarters. She walked the corridor in silence, until she stood before her father’s office.

She knocked once, then stepped inside—and stared at him with loathing.

Kang Suwon sat quietly, his gaze filled with resignation.

"Father... what does all this mean? The secrets, the human experimentation, the hunters... is it all true?"

Suwon looked ashamed. His throat tightened as he forced out the words.

"Yes. It’s all true."

"You’re vile. You and Dr. Kyongsoo destroyed so many lives... You’ve lost all sense of shame. How could you do this to me? You made your own daughter a hunter—a monster. You stole a normal life from me..."

Yeonghee broke into tears. Her voice trembled. She kept wiping her cheeks, but the tears kept falling. Seeing her so broken tore something inside Suwon.

"I have no words... Father. I don’t know what to believe anymore."

"I don’t deserve forgiveness. My daughter—"

"Don’t call me that."

"It was the only way to secure a future for humanity. If I hadn’t made that terrible choice, no one else would’ve dared. This was the only way to protect the Earth."

"You stepped over corpses. You murdered people. And for what?"

"For humanity."

"And what did it cost you? Do you even know?"

"I lost everything I cared about. I lost my family."

Her tears didn’t stop. The grief felt endless. Worst of all—she would carry this secret to her grave.

She no longer knew whether she should hate her father or mourn for him. Only her emotions remained.

And in this moment of vulnerability... she felt the desire to embrace her weakness, to grow stronger through it.

Meanwhile, Sashi informed Jisun of her decision to make a public announcement:

"We can’t keep this hidden anymore. Whether people accept it or not doesn’t matter. In times of mistrust, leaders must tell the truth."

"You sure they’ll let you?" Jisun asked, resting his boots on the table.

"Kang Suwon said he’s ready to bear the consequences. The concealment of truth, unauthorized organ transplants without consent... the list of crimes is long. No matter his intentions, his actions changed the world. We must find the rest of the conspirators and bring them to light."

"You really are a paragon of justice, huh? That must be exhausting."

"Yes," she replied, swallowing hard. "And I’m sorry that the world was buried in lies. It’ll take time for people to trust again—but with enough effort, I believe they’ll come to accept the truth."

"Hah. Do what you want. I guess this world will never be the same again."

Jisun turned his gaze to the window, thoughtful.

"In all of Earth’s history... have we ever truly been told the truth?"