Chapter Text
“Kim Dokja, this is a terrible idea.”
“Come on, Sooyoung. He’s a demon-killing machine. We absolutely need him on this journey.”
They hid in the bushes, watching a man swing his sword with incredible force in the middle of the forest. Trees fell around him, and they felt the powerful wind generated by each strike.
“He’ll kill us before we even reach the demon king’s kingdom! Seriously!” Sooyoung turned to the woman beside her. “Yoo Sangah, you have to help me convince him. Our lives are at stake!”
Yoo Sangah shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I think Dokja is right. The elf is too important for us to pass up.”
“Ugh, FINE. Don’t say I didn’t warn you if he kills you later. How do you plan to convince him, anyway? No one’s bothered to ask because they want to keep their lives, unlike you.”
Kim Dokja didn’t reply. Instead, he stepped out of the bushes and approached the elf.
Kim Dokja was a wizard who was about to start a journey with his party to defeat the demon king. His party members included: Han Sooyoung the warrior and Yoo Sangah the priestess. Kim Dokja still felt something was lacking in his party so he intended to invite the infamous elf who was known as the Demon Annihilator to join them. Almost everyone avoided him, but few people knew that the Demon Annihilator was actually a kind elf, he just didn't want to have a deeper connection with humans so he pushed away anyone who approached him.
The man noticed him and stopped swinging his sword.
“You again… I’ve already told you I’m not interested in any friendship-”
“That’s not the reason why I’m here,” Kim Dokja said, clearing his throat. “Yoo Joonghyuk, will you join us on our journey to defeat the demon king?”
“I’m not interested,” Yoo Joonghyuk declined his offer instantly like usual. He walked away, likely searching for a new training area.
“Wait!” Kim Dokja followed him, “We need you! You are our only hope, Yoo Joonghyuk,” the man didn’t stop so Kim Dokja added the words that could be a two-edged sword, “You wanted to defeat the demon king, right? To avenge your clan?”
Yoo Joonghyuk halted. Kim Dokja saw this as a perfect chance to continue.
“I can promise you that we won't be easily killed! Please help us-”
Before he could finish, Yoo Joonghyuk spun around and, within seconds, had Kim Dokja by the throat. Seeing this, Kim Dokja’s party members all jumped out from the bushes, surrounding Yoo Joonghyuk with their weapons, but he remained unfazed. Kim Dokja clutched at the elf’s hand.
"You avoid us humans because we die too easily, don’t you? I know you've joined other parties before. You’re scared of losing another one."
"Stop pretending like you know me, human.”
“You didn't deny it, so that means what I’ve said was true,” he said cockily.
Yoo Joonghyuk tightened his grip, cutting off more of Dokja’s air. Breathing was harder now, but Kim Dokja didn’t back down. This was the only moment the elf was truly paying attention to him.
“I have a sight of the future, okay? I know we'll defeat the Demon King together. No one's going to die. We will be known as heroes. My- I mean, our statues will be made in several towns. And-” He choked on his words, pausing to gasp for air. Thankfully, Yoo Sangah cast a spell, allowing him to breathe more easily.
“Stop provoking him, Kim Dokja!” Sooyoung said out of concern. She hadn’t known that Kim Dokja could foresee the future, but she knew they'd lose him if the emotionless elf didn’t let him go.
“The point is, you need to believe in me—no, in us, Yoo Joonghyuk. Please, we can’t afford to lose anyone else to the demon. We’re on the same page, right? I have no doubt that you’ll eventually kill the demon king, but taking down a bunch of demons by yourself will take a long time before you even reach him.”
“My definition of a long time isn’t the same as yours, short-lived human.”
Kim Dokja could see a flash of sadness pass in the elf's eyes. He had never seen the elf up this close before. This was the first time he could see the detail of his face.
He was beautiful.
“That doesn’t really matter, does it? The longer you fight alone, the more people you’ll lose to the demon. Join us, Yoo Joonghyuk, please,” he pleaded desperately.
Yoo Joonghyuk sighed and finally released his grip. He turned away. “I’ll meet you tomorrow at the city gate in the morning. Don’t be late.”
Kim Dokja was overjoyed—he hadn’t expected the elf to actually agree. Han Sooyoung was just relieved that the tense moment had passed. Yoo Sangah, meanwhile, wondered if they had enough time to prepare to leave the town by tomorrow morning.