He was running, fleeing from something in a pitch-dark forest, lit only by the moonlight. In his hand was a chalice, which he was protecting with all his might. Whatever was chasing him behind, he had the willpower to do anything to keep that chalice safe. When he reached the edge of a cliff, he suddenly had to stop, his heart pounding and breath ragged. As the entity behind him got closer, he looked at the silver chalice in his hand. Delicately engraved and decorated with emeralds, it gleamed under the reflected moonlight. He had only one choice: either give up the chalice and watch the end of the world, or jump off the cliff, letting both his body and the chalice sink into the depths of the sea. The young man chose the second. His life was less important than billions of others. Without a second thought, he threw himself off the cliff.
Jungkook opened his eyes drenched in sweat and blood. His heart was racing, cold sweat covering his skin. Breathless, adrenaline coursed through his body, causing tremors. When he realized he was in his room and lying in his bed, his body slowly began to relax as he gently laid back down. Sunlight filtered through the window, touching his face as he closed his eyes, thinking about the nightmare he had just experienced. Since childhood, he had been plagued by similar dreams every night—always protecting a chalice with someone chasing after him. But this time was different; for the first time, the chase ended in death.
Lost in thought, the knocking at the door broke his concentration. Slowly getting out of bed, slipping on a shirt, he went downstairs to open the door. The enticing aroma from the kitchen distracted him, drawing him toward it before opening the door. On the kitchen table, he saw carefully prepared pancakes, which brought a smile to his face. Next to the plate was a note. Approaching the table, still shaken by the dream, he took the note and read the familiar handwriting of his father:
"I'm sorry, son, for leaving without waking you this morning. Have breakfast with the pancakes I made. There's food in the fridge for a few days, and I sent money to your bank account. I have to be abroad for a few months. Take care of yourself. I love you."
—Your Dad
Although his father's absence stirred a feeling of sadness, Jungkook understood why he had to work. After all, his father had coped with the absence of Jungkook's mother for years by burying himself in work, striving to give him the best life possible.
The door knocked again. Jungkook stuck the note on the fridge and went inside to open the door. Seeing who stood there brightened the morning a bit.
"Hyung, I didn't know you'd come by this morning," Jungkook said, hugging the figure before him. The boy with orange hair laughed, ruffling Jungkook's hair as he hugged him back. "Kook, you didn't expect me to let you walk to the faculty alone, did you? I don't want you to get kidnapped or killed."
Jungkook couldn't help but laugh at his protector's words. His close friend, who had been by his side since birth and dedicated himself to protecting him from every danger, had once again come to his rescue. As a child, Jungkook enjoyed this protection like a game, but now he felt a bit too grown-up for it.
"I'm not a kid anymore, hyung. You know that. Don't worry." He smiled at the orange-haired boy as he stepped back. Baekhyun, annoyed from this for a while, gave Jungkook a warning look. "You'll always be little to me, no matter if you're one or nineteen. And if anything happens to you, how will I explain it to your dad? You know his business trips sometimes last a whole year, right?"
Jungkook was stunned by his friend's harshness, unsure what to say. What surprised him even more was that Baekhyun knew about his father's trip before he did.
"We can discuss this inside while having a snack. Come on in. My dad made pancakes before he left; let's eat breakfast. Then we'll head out and get to school."
Baekhyun, sensing his friend's uneasy gaze, continued. Jungkook hesitated between telling or not telling about the nightmare but couldn't hold back his curiosity about how Baekhyun knew his father had left.
"I didn't tell you about my dad's business trip. How did you find out?"
Baekhyun hadn't expected the question and had no immediate answer, suddenly realizing he might have unintentionally raised Jungkook's suspicions. He looked at his friend's furrowed brows and then opened his phone, showing Jungkook the messages from his father. "Your dad messaged me early this morning to let me know. I came over as soon as I saw it."
Clearing his throat, Baekhyun continued, "Please don't look at me like that, Jungkook. Your dad's really worried about you, and since he knows how much I protect you, he chose to tell me."
Jungkook looked up at his fast-talking friend, realizing how much stress he caused, and decided not to question further. He closed the phone and smiled faintly. "I'm joking, hyung. Let's eat before we go to school, or we'll be late."
Baekhyun placed some pancakes on Jungkook's plate and took some for himself. Watching his friend dig in, Jungkook barely restrained his laughter at Baekhyun's refusal to skip school or eat without pancakes.
After leaving Jungkook's house to go to campus, they took the longer, quieter route, which was usually avoided. They used this path when they had things to talk about. Jungkook sensed Baekhyun had something to say.
"I heard a new anatomy professor is coming, kook."
Jungkook looked puzzled. "Who left?"
Baekhyun laughed at the question, knowing Jungkook would be so embarrassed he might run away. "You know the one—whenever she talks to a student, she leans way too close and has huge boobs…"
Jungkook quickly covered Baekhyun's mouth, annoyed by such talk, especially about a professor at their school. "I thought she taught well. Why did she leave?"
Baekhyun, sensing Jungkook might not want to hear more, still continued. "She can't come anymore because of some developments revealed while practicing anatomy with her husband."
Jungkook looked at him blankly. Baekhyun burst into laughter, realizing he needed to explain more. "They had sex, and she got pregnant, kook. How else can I explain it? Got it now?"
Jungkook, embarrassed, turned his head and stared at the road. These weren't his favorite topics, and he felt uncomfortable, so he preferred to end the subject.
Baekhyun, enjoying Jungkook's reactions, teased him all the way to school.
They took their seats in the lecture hall at the farthest back, out of sight. Though Baekhyun didn't like sitting in the back, he gave in because Jungkook didn't want to be noticed. Knowing Baekhyun's usual desire for attention, Jungkook didn't want to force him.
"Hyung, I know you don't like sitting at the back. You can sit up front if you want. I won't stop you, you know."
Baekhyun questioned if Jungkook was serious with such an offer. "What if someone comes during class, knocks you out, and kidnaps you?"
Jungkook was surprised by this fantasy. "Wow! I admire your imagination, but don't exaggerate, hyung. We'll be in class, and for someone to kidnap me, they'd have to open portals or something. That only happens in movies. You should take a break for both our mental health, please."
Baekhyun, trying to keep the conversation focused on himself, was satisfied with the change of topic, unaware of where Jungkook's next question would lead.
He moved his chair closer and looked at Jungkook's face before speaking. "Who said I watch fantasy movies?"
Hiding a mischievous smile, he waited for the answer.
"Isn't it obvious, hyung? You either watch fantasy or paranormal movies. Because you're acting pretty paranoid these days. Nobody's going to kidnap me. Relax."
Baekhyun kept the conversation on himself.
"No, I don't watch those either. I can even list what I watch if you want."
"Please do, hyung. Otherwise, I'll start suspecting you're schizophrenic." Jungkook crossed his arms, watching him.
"Schizophrenic is harsh. Let's just say I have an overactive imagination. Besides, what else can I watch? Adult content is more my area."
Jungkook blushed deeply at Baekhyun's openness. Realizing he'd rather not know such private details, he turned his back and distanced himself. "You're such a pervert, Baekhyun."
Baekhyun laughed, and a few people in the room turned to look, making Jungkook wish he could disappear. Yet Baekhyun wasn't bothered; he pulled his chair closer again.
"Earlier you were hyung, now Baekhyun, kook?"
Jungkook ignored him, turning forward as if nothing happened.
"Anyway, class will start soon. Pull your chair back and stay away from me, or I'll bite your mouth."
Seeing Jungkook's frustration, Baekhyun backed off.
Jungkook, feeling victorious for ending the topic, looked down at his notes and began to feel better. But the same couldn't be said for those in the underworld.
Countless demons had disappeared again. Despite the Hell Prince's efforts, no solution was found. Though unsure where or how they went, he was certain the angels were involved. The real problem was how to confront them, and his only option was very risky.
When the throne room door knocked, the prince snapped out of his thoughts. Remembering the new 'subjects' to be brought in today, he called out, "Bring them in."
He straightened on his throne and waited. A demon entered, saluted, and reported, "My lord… we have brought the ones you requested."
Respect and fear were the same when it came to the Hell Prince. That was the only thing allowing him to control his people. No one dared disrespect him.
Looking at the demon before him, the prince spared its life. "Bring them inside."
The demon, sweating from fear, left quickly. Seventeen people were brought in, lined up in a straight row and made to kneel before their new prince by the guards.
The prince inspected each slowly. Some were fallen, some guilty—though their crimes weren't according to their laws and all could be forgiven. The real ceremony was about to begin.
Facing the angels trembling with fear, he spoke, "Those of you who are angels, step forward."
Without protest, twelve stepped forward, looking at the five behind them with pity. They hadn't yet understood that only the twelve had a chance to survive. The five behind them had no guarantee of life even if they were here—they were naïve.
When the prince told the five they were pardoned, the angels didn't expect it. Then they realized the size of the threat before them.
Hoping it wouldn't last long, the prince took a sword brought by a demon, examined it, and placed it among the angels.
Everything was ready. There was no escape left for the angels.
"Tell me your best ability and drip your blood onto the sword. If the sword spares your life, so will I."
It took mad courage, but some among them had it, though they didn't know. Whether or not it mattered, at least they wouldn't die first.
The most confident angel stepped forward. "I can kill 40 people without blinking."
He stepped forward, cut his palm with the dagger next to the sword, and dripped his blood onto the blade. Time seemed to freeze as everyone watched. The moment a drop of his blood touched the sword, it turned to ash.
After this, the angels, who had signed their own death warrants, began making the greatest promises to the prince. Each promise turned to ash one by one. Only one remained.
But the Hell Prince's patience was running out. "Just drip your blood on the sword and face your fate. I'm tired of empty promises."
The last angel, sure of what he was offering, stepped forward. "My lord… I can make every dream you have come true."
As soon as his blood touched the sword, it turned to ash.
To relieve his frustration at no one passing the test, the prince called his closest friend, wanting to try the same on him. When brought, he told him the same and waited.
His friend was not afraid; his loyalty was absolute. He approached the sword confidently. "I will promise nothing. I will do whatever you command."
It was no false confidence or empty promise; the demon was sure of this. Cutting his palm with the dagger, he dripped his blood without hesitation.
The prince held his breath as the blood touched the sword.
The demon did not disappear.
It was the only thing that pleased the prince that day. He gave his closest friend, his ally, and lifelong companion a devilish smile.
The words that would start it all spilled from his lips:
"I have a very important task for you, Yoongi."