Chapter 126

Chapter 126

The birthplace of Serpentism was a barren desert. In that desert, they were discriminated against even by fellow southerners and starved at the bottom of life. There, where even a drop of blood or a morsel of flesh was precious, cannibalism was a familiar custom.

"Kylios, what are you doing here?"

Bahan's voice came from behind Urich, sending a chill down his spine. Urich instinctively reached for a weapon only to realize he was unarmed and clenched his fist instead.

"Bahan, who's that woman with you? I'm lonely at night too, why didn't you share?"

Urich jeered, eyeing the shabbily dressed woman standing beside Bahan.

Creak.

Before Bahan could even respond, the door opened. Trikee, who was inside, rolled his eyes and looked at Bahan and Urich.

"What are you doing here?" Trikee asked Urich first.

"I smelled something delicious. Is that the fine food you promised to treat me with? If so, I'm very disappointed. I don't enjoy human flesh."

Trikee and Bahan exchanged glances at Urich’s sharp words.

The atmosphere turned tense. Urich looked ready to subdue the situation at any moment with his fists.

"There seems to be a misunderstanding, Kylios."

"A misunderstanding?"

Urich twisted a smile.

They were kidnapping babies to eat them. Cannibalism was not a problem for Urich. If it was necessary to survive in poor conditions, it was justified.

'But not in this situation.'

Cannibalism was a last resort even for barbarians. Eating their own kind was instinctively repulsive. Even in Urich's homeland, the act of kidnapping children to eat them was unheard of.

"Then what's in that pot?"

Urich pushed Trikee aside and entered the room. He reached into the hot pot and pulled out a boiled piece of meat. The faint form of a baby was still discernible.

"That is human meat, just as you thought."

Trikee did not deny it.

"Trikee, your actions don’t align with what you’ve been telling me all this time."

"Watch your mouth when you’re speaking to the Ark!"

Bahan grabbed Urich's forearm, glaring at him.

"A cannibalistic savior, how unique."

Urich shook his head. The sound of his neck cracking was audible.

"...did my child enter safely?"

The woman beside Bahan suddenly sat down, speaking. She clutched Trikee's clothes, weeping sorrowfully.

"This child will move on to the next world with me. We have become one," Trikee consoled the woman.

'Is the child she's referring to the one Trikee just ate? But I don’t sense any hatred from her.’'

Urich, confused, put the child back in the pot. Trikee gave Urich a reproachful look.

"You shouldn't have shown that to the child's mother, Kylios."

Trikee scolded with slight but obvious anger. Urich looked around, not understanding the situation.

Bahan left the room, supporting the weeping woman. Trikee sighed and sat back down in front of the pot.

Chew.

Trikee kept eating the human flesh. Despite almost vomiting, he forced himself to swallow the baby. Urich watched this scene from behind.

That was the kind of man Yanchinus was. A man like him could never love a woman. In fact, it seemed he didn't regard anyone but himself as human.

'Every man is his tool, every woman his toy.'

Damia saw through Yanchinus. Even in their intimate moments, there was no warmth in her under region, only coldness.

"Blonde hair shining like the sun, blue eyes brighter than jewels."

Yanchinus gently stroked Damia's hair as if he hadn't just hit her.

"You seem excited."

Damia opened her eyes half-heartedly. Life in the empire was more brutal than she had thought. She knew she was going to be used as a sexual object, but this was beyond that.

'Varca, did you know I would be treated like this? If you did, then you are already a great king.'

Damia thought of her one and only brother.

"Ah, I ran into an interesting man. You’d be happy if I told you who it was."

"An interesting man?"

Damia responded, hanging from the ceiling. Her arms were starting to ache as if they were only moments away from popping out of the sockets of her shoulders.

"Urich."

Yanchinus uttered the name and watched Damia's reaction.

'Urich.'

Damia concealed her expression, but Yanchinus had already noticed the slight twist on her face.

"A man you truly despise."

Yanchinus' smile widened, corners of his mouth almost hanging by his ears.

"It is in the past."

Damia replied calmly. She had once whispered in his bed before the emperor had revealed his true form, hoping to use him, not knowing it was Yanchinus' trap.

"I've given that man a troublesome task. If he does well, he deserves a reward."

Yanchinus slipped his hand under Damia's dress.

Rip.

The dress tore, revealing Damia's bruised body. It was clear evidence of their nightly activities.

"What if you were given to Urich? How would you cry then?"

"I am Your Majesty's concubine. To be given to such a barbarian would tarnish Your Majesty's honor..." Damia spoke desperately.

"Shut up. I simply want to see you cry in the arms of your archenemy. I don't care about the rest."

Yanchinus laughed. Just the thought alone excited him. His sadistic desires flared for the first time in a while.

Damia's face turned cold and hatred filled her eyes.

"That's the face I wanted to see. That's what whets my appetite. To hold a woman who truly hates me is a conquest for a man."

Yanchinus took out a knife and cut the rope connecting the ceiling, dropping Damia to the floor.

Thud.

Damia barely had time to gather herself before Yanchinus unleashed his desire upon her. Despite her body bruising from the fall, Yanchinus showed no consideration, choking her in his pursuit of pleasure to show that there was nothing more important than his own desire.

'A terrible monster who lives in the heart of the empire.'

Damia gasped for air. Her mind flickered between pain and pleasure, her head muddled.

‘I’m going to kill him someday.'