Ken slowly turned his head, his crimson eyes catching the golden glow of the setting sun through the window. The scenery outside rolled by peacefully, but his gaze remained cold and distant.
"What do you want?" he asked without even looking at her.
Seo Hanna raised an eyebrow, a sly smirk on her lips. She straightened up in her seat, crossing her arms and legs with elegance.
"You know, darling… Looking at the person you're speaking to is one of the basic rules of politeness," she said sharply.
Ken gave a faint smile, elbow resting against the window, his hand supporting his cheek.
"For someone who asked for permission to sit down and then did it without waiting for an answer… I'd say that's quite bold, wouldn't you agree?"
Ken Jinheon had never been much of a talker.
Even in school, he was extremely reserved, always keeping to himself. And on the rare occasions when he did speak, his words were deliberately ambiguous—leaving others to misinterpret them however they pleased. He didn't care. This attitude got him into plenty of trouble.
He never really explained himself in school or extracurricular activities. Absenteeism was his trademark. And when he did bother to show up, it was to sleep in class, always disengaged, indifferent, and detached from everything.
If he was here today, it was solely because of his mother, Heajin Jinheon. Otherwise, he wouldn't have bothered coming at all.
But the real reason why a student as undisciplined, indifferent, and disrespectful as him wasn't expelled from such a prestigious and strict high school, known for its discipline and decorum, was simple.
His monstrous talent.
He was extremely gifted, bringing many victories to the school in various competitions. His grades were outstanding—whether in sports, arts, or sciences. His performance in regular assignments and provincial exams pushed the school to turn a blind eye to his behavior.
Thanks to that, he was granted many privileges.
What could you say to Daechi High School's golden goose?
---
"It was you, wasn't it?" Seo Hanna said, her voice now sharper, almost hostile.
"You were the one I saw at the end of the hallway… near the stairs, in the station." she added, leaning slightly toward Ken, a dangerous smile on her lips.
Ken remained still, unmoved.
His gaze was still fixed on the passing scenery outside the window.
Elbow propped against the glass, wrist resting on his cheek.
"When Jae Sung was getting beaten and bullied in the hallway by Dan-Won and his gang, I saw you," she said, her voice slicing through the silence, tinged with anger.
"You were there. You could've helped from the very beginning. But you did nothing. You just watched, like a spectator, while those thugs tormented him."
She straightened slightly, her eyes burning with confusion.
"I don't understand why…"
Silence.
"Maybe you really do deserve your nickname… demon."
Ken finally turned to face her.
His piercing eyes met hers—his ruby red locked with her sapphire blue.
The jolt was subtle but undeniable. Seo Hanna shivered, visibly shaken, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks. She pulled back slightly, just enough to restore a comfortable distance.
"And why would I have helped him?" Ken asked calmly, his tone poised and detached.
"It would've only brought me trouble. Everyone knows how it goes: those who play the hero—those who try to stand up to bullies—end up becoming targets themselves."
His gaze never left Hanna, as if he were reading her, analyzing every nuance.
Then he added:
"Imagine an accident. A car teetering on the edge of a cliff. Someone is trapped inside. If they move, the vehicle falls. The only way to save them… is to take their place. To sacrifice yourself."
The girl kept her focus, ready to respond.
But Ken continued, his words like a blade:
"And you? Would you be willing to give up your life to save that person? No? I didn't think so.
So don't ask others to do what you wouldn't do yourself."
Seo Hanna froze, stunned by the complete reversal.
There was no way to argue with a point so heavy with truth. She stammered, grasping at logic.
"But… that's not… uhhh…"
She pouted—a reflex that only made her look more endearing.
She looked back up at Ken, both frustrated and resigned.
"Hmmmm~~ You really are a demon, after all."
A voice sliced through the air behind them, breaking the moment like glass.
"Hey, what are you two doing here? The ice princess and the demon king… What an unlikely pair."
Seo Hanna spun around, clearly annoyed.
She grimaced, a vein of irritation pulsing at her temple.
"Kim Seojun… I've told you a thousand times not to call me 'princess.'"
Her voice snapped.
"If you won't use my name, at least say 'president,' okay? Is that so hard?"
"But that's your nickname, isn't it?" he replied mockingly, clearly trying to provoke her.
"That's how everyone sees you: the smart, beautiful, popular one… Seo Hanna, student council president.
Honestly, I wouldn't mind if you started calling me by my nickname too."
Seo Hanna sighed in exasperation.
"You really shouldn't take those dumb nicknames students make up so seriously. They'll just start making up even more stories… You'd think they all believe their school life is a webnovel or something."
Kim Seojun was, along with Ken, one of the most popular boys in school.
In terms of looks, he had nothing to envy in Ken—blonde hair, blue eyes, incredibly handsome with an almost unreal presence.
He attracted both girls and boys—half student, half model, occasional actor, and also vice president of the student council.
His parents? Celebrities.
His father: a famous Korean actor.
His mother: a successful English actress.
Like Ken, he was a honhyeol—a mixed-blood—his strikingly Western appearance explaining much of his aura.
While Ken was known for his coldness, mysterious aura, and overwhelming talent—the very things that earned him the nickname "Demon King"—Kim stood out for his natural charm, open mind, leadership, and kindness.
This contrast earned him, almost ironically, the nickname "Hero."
Kim Seojun was the only one who seemed capable of challenging Ken. Every day, he would go up against him—though his attempts always ended in total defeat. Still, Kim never gave up. Tirelessly, he got back up and returned the next day with a new challenge—bolder, crazier, more impossible than the last.
Like a hero in an epic tale, he kept fighting relentlessly… waiting for the day he might finally defeat the Demon King.
---
"And Ken, I challenge you—"
"NO." Ken's voice cracked like a whip, sharp and firm.
"You've been skipping school for a whole year, and you still push me away like I'm the devil… damn demon," Kim whined, feigning heartbreak with theatrical flair.
"Don't mess with me," Ken replied, voice deep, brows furrowed.
"That's exactly why I chose home study. And even that didn't stop you—you came to my house, practically harassing me."
He turned his head away, visibly annoyed.
"Anyway… Kim, tell me: who is she? She sat down, accused me of things, and didn't even have the courtesy to introduce herself."
Seo Hanna jumped, clearly caught off guard, remembering her lack of manners.
She straightened up gracefully, back slightly arched with a natural poise that drew attention. Gently placing a hand on her chest, she said:
"I apologize for my rudeness. My name is Seo Hanna. I'm the student council president this year. I transferred last year, and since you weren't attending school at the time, we never got the chance to meet."
She added with a soft, sincere look:
"Nice to meet you."
Ken stared at her for a moment, impassive, then turned back to the window, returning to his usual position.
"There. You should've started with that."
But Seo Hanna kept looking at him, her head slightly tilted.
"Sorry, Ken. I've been meaning to say this for a while, but…"
She slowly reached toward him, her voice becoming more serious.
"The colored contact lenses you're wearing are against school rules. Please remove them."
"Tch…" Ken scoffed, frowning, still looking out the window.
But Kim stepped in, breaking the tension with theatrical flair:
"Ah… Dear Hanna… You don't know this, but our dear friend here was born with a rare and undocumented genetic mutation. His fancy lenses... they're not lenses at all. You see?"
He whispered it in her ear, like a secret.
Seo Hanna's eyes widened in shock.
Blushing, she quickly pulled her hand back, clearly embarrassed.
"Uh… I… I'm sorry. I… I didn't know." she stammered, visibly flustered.
She replied, her voice softer now, almost gentle.
Her gaze had warmed, eyes locked on his with growing interest.
A delicate smile—her most beautiful yet—graced her lips as her cheeks took on a rosy hue.
"But if those aren't lenses… then I have to admit: you have the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen."
Ken turned suddenly, startled.
He hadn't expected that—no sarcasm, no mockery… just pure, disarming sincerity.
But before he could answer, a young girl's scream of terror pierced through the train car.