Chapter 297

Sometimes, small quarrels happen over trivial things. But often, in hindsight, they usually turn out to be insignificant.

Something similar happened to Byeol today, and she argued with a friend at daycare. The reason was very simple. According to her daycare teacher, Ji-Hye, Byeol got upset after only receiving two sausages during lunch. She broke into tears and called the lunch duty friend “stupid” and “a dummy.”

“From what I heard, Ji-Hwan just wanted to get Byeol’s attention

,

”

Ji-Hye had explained.

It was a typical case. Boys often teased the girls they liked to get their attention. But there was no way Byeol could have understood that. All she knew was that while everyone else received three sausages, she only got two, and that made her furious. In the end, Ji-Hye mediated, and the two made up. However, Byeol was still sulking.

While it was important to teach her that name-calling was wrong, forcing her to write a reflection paper immediately wouldn’t be good for her emotions. So, for now, Do-Jun decided to grill thirty mini sausages for Byeol.

When the mouthwatering aroma filled the kitchen, Byeol, as if she had never been upset in the first place, waddled over excitedly.

“Sausages!”

She happily devoured the sausages stacked high on the plate her dad had made for her. With each bite, fragrant juices exploded in her mouth, making her smile like the happiest child in the world. By the end of the meal, the sausages, kimchi, and fried eggs were all gone.

After placing the dishes in the sink, Do-Jun handed her three sheets of paper. Byeol looked around nervously, realizing she couldn't escape. Resigned, she sat down at the dining table.

***

Reflaction Payper

“I fot with a frend today. And I sayed bad words. I wont do it again. I promis.”

Byeol blinked as she looked at her reflection paper. This wasn’t good. She had already run out of things to write. Frowning, she erased what she had written and began filling in details—what time she woke up, what snacks she ate in the morning—carefully adding every tiny event of her day.

Seeing this, Do-Jun smirked and started doing the dishes.

***

Wei Zhongqi was visiting Do-Jun, and the two sat chatting together.

“How are things over there lately?” Do-Jun asked.

Hearing the question, Wei Zhongqi paused as if pondering something. By “over there,” Do-Jun, of course, meant the Deep Realm. He wasn’t particularly invested in it. This was just his way of casually checking in. Wei Zhongqi understood that well.

“It’s peaceful,” Wei Zhongqi replied.

“That’s good to hear.”

“Although, if it’s anything noteworthy... There was a brief clash between Imfelheim and Baal at the Valley of Annihilation. No one knows why, but thankfully, it didn’t escalate into a major battle. According to Imfelheim, Baal retreated.”

“Hm.”

“Knowing Baal, I doubt he actually ran away. I think he just wasn’t fully prepared yet,” Wei Zhongqi explained.

Imfelheim and Baal were both ranked first on the Deep Realm’s ranking board. Their rivalry dated back to the Great War; they were enemies in the truest sense. Although the Transcendents and Solomon’s Demons were inherently hostile toward each other, Imfelheim and Baal were especially notorious.

Before Do-Jun arrived, Wei Zhongqi had been deeply anxious about the possibility of another Great War breaking out, but now, just knowing that Do-Jun was there gave him a sense of security.

He said, “Imfelheim knows exactly where Baal’s stronghold is, so he could attack at any time. But he seems to be holding back, still training. Honestly, once either of them completes their war preparations, a bloodbath could break out at any moment.”

A bloodbath. That was a word Do-Jun hadn’t heard in a while.

Back when he was in the Central Plains, he had witnessed countless bloodbaths. During his weaker days, he had even been caught up in them time and time again. Of course, once he rose to the rank of Heavenly Demon, such wars had come to an end.

A faint tapping sound made Do-Jun look toward the dining table. Byeol, still holding her pencil, was dozing off in the middle of writing her reflection paper. Her small hand gripped the pencil tightly, tapping it against the table in rhythm with her nodding head.

“She must be bored,” Do-Jun said.

“Seems that way,” Wei Zhongqi agreed and chuckled. “Come to think of it, Imfelheim has been wanting to see Byeol...”

***

The Deep Realm was truly a mysterious place. Compared to the other floors of the Core, it was at least dozens of times larger. And considering its still-uncharted regions, its full scale was unfathomable.

Byeol was sitting inside a thatched cottage, happily eating kimbap.

“Hmph. Wei Zhongqi, I don’t really like kimbap that much... but since you made it, I guess I’ll eat it. For you,” Infelheim said, sounding unwilling.

He had rushed over the moment he heard that Byeol was visiting, and Wei Zhongqi had personally prepared five rolls of kimbap for him and Byeol.

With the still unfamiliar chopsticks, he clumsily picked up pieces of kimbap, often squeezing too hard and causing them to burst apart.

“Imfel, do you not like kimbap?” Byeol asked.

“Huh?”

“If you don’t like it, I’ll eat all of it.”

“W-wait! I never said I didn’t like it!”

𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Wei Zhongqi chuckled.

***

In the end, the two of them finished eight rolls of kimbap together. Lying on the floor with full bellies, they sprawled out to rest.

Byeol was staring blankly at the wooden ceiling when suddenly, she shot up from the floor and pulled out the reflection paper from her bag.

“What are you doing?” Imfelheim asked her curiously.

“I have to wite my wefection paper. If I don’t, I’ll get in twouble.”

“Reflection paper...?” Imfelheim stiffened.

He had heard countless terrifying rumors about reflection papers from Wei Zhongqi and Kiriel, but this was his first time seeing one in action. To him, a reflection paper was one of Earth’s greatest punishments.

“What could you have possibly done to deserve that?” he asked, aghast.

“I fought with a fwend. And... I said bad words. So now I have to write a wefection paper.”

“You have to write one if you get into a fight...?”

Byeol nodded.

Of course, Do-Jun didn’t enforce this rule for every fight. But in this case, since she had used insults, she was expected to reflect on her wrongdoings.

Seeing her nod, Imfelheim turned pale. “What if I... fought someone?”

“Then you have to wite a wefection paper.”

Imfelheim’s leg started trembling. He was currently in an ongoing feud with Baal, and it wasn’t long ago that they had fought at the Valley of Annihilation. But now, fearing punishment from the King of Earth, he zipped his lips shut.

“Ahem. I see.”

Byeol narrowed her eyes at him. He was avoiding eye contact. Suspicious.

“Did you fight, Imfel?” she asked him.

“Uh... n-no?” Imfelheim let out a forced cough.

Then, in the most robotic, unnatural voice, he muttered, “Ahem. I just remembered something urgent I need to do.”

And with a flash, he disappeared.

***

Solomon’s Altar was an impenetrable stronghold that only the strongest of Solomon’s Demons could claim.

Imfelheim dashed toward Baal’s citadel at an unmatched speed. The demon legions guarding the fortress unleashed torrents of demonic energy against the intruder, but Imfelheim easily evaded them. Entering Baal’s stronghold alone was an act of pure recklessness, yet such concerns didn’t cross Imfelheim’s mind today.

Baal had no physical form. Imfelheim could sense his presence on the throne, but there was nothing visible to the naked eye. He strode forward slowly along the grand corridor. Solomon’s Altar was a sacred domain where lesser demons dared not tread. As a result, only two beings occupied this space: Imfelheim and Baal.

With a loud crackle, an unseen wave of demonic energy surged toward Imfelheim.

At that moment, a radiant white cloak appeared before him, fluttering in the air and dispelling the encroaching darkness. The demonic energy, unable to reach him, completely dissipated. This was the Cloak of Morian, one of the Hidden Skills bestowed in the Deep Realm.

After consuming the Hidden Piece known as the “Holy Grail,” Imfelheim had reset his skill set, acquiring only Hidden Skills. This made him the strongest ranker, along with Baal, in the entirety of the Deep Realm.

“Are you here to put an end to our battle?” Baal’s voice resonated.

“That wouldn’t be such a bad idea. But no, I’ve come to talk about something else.”

“Something else?”

“Do you know of the King of Earth?”

A gleam flashed in Baal’s unseen eyes. Light flickered briefly in the empty space.

Though Baal had never seen him in person, he was well aware of the King of Earth. His reputation was widespread, and news had already reached Baal’s ears. Several of his own legion commanders had fallen to the King of Earth.

“I’ve heard of him,” Baal said.

“Do you plan on fighting him?”

“One day, our paths will cross. And you as well. You, too, will face the King of Earth. He is descending upon the Deep Realm at an alarming speed. That moment will mark the beginning of the Great War. The Usurper’s Hourglass has long since stopped flowing.”

Only one planet remained: Earth.

So far, Earth had not succumbed to Encroachment. But should the King of Earth descend into the Deep Realm, everything could change. A war over the throne. This time, the King of Dimensions would finally be decided.

“I came here today to tell you that I have no intention of fighting you,” Imfelheim said.

Hearing that, Baal quickly did the math. Imfelheim had mentioned the King of Earth and stated that he wanted to stop the fight between the two of them.

Baal reached a single conclusion. “So you propose an alliance to kill the King of Earth together?”

“What? Are you out of your damn mind?! You’d better be careful throwing words like that around! Even the Overlord calls the King of Earth ‘Master,’ and you think we should kill him? Wow... you must have a death wish.”

Imfelheim sighed and began explaining the situation as Byeol had told him.

***

“All done!”

Byeol clenched her tiny fists in triumph, having neatly filled out all three pages of her reflection paper. She carefully folded the pages and placed them in her daycare backpack before slinging it over her shoulders.

Just then, Imfelheim, who had disappeared earlier, reappeared.

“Ahem. Byeol, are you heading home?” he asked.

“Yup. Where did you go, Imfel?”

“I had some business to attend to.”

“Oh, okie.”

“Byeol, I have a favor to ask. Will you do it for me?”

Byeol nodded eagerly.

“When you get home... tell the King of Earth this.”

***

Byeol looked absolutely adorable with her small daycare backpack snugly strapped to her back. As soon as she entered the house, she toddled over to Do-Jun, proudly holding up her reflection essay for him to see. Beaming from ear to ear, she giggled as she watched his reaction.

Do-Jun smiled as he read through the pages, then lifted her high into his arms.

“My sweetheart.”

Byeol buried her face against his chest, rubbing against him as if she had missed his warmth.

“Did you have fun today?” Do-Jun asked her.

“Yup! Oh, and... Imfel said he’s not going to fight Baal anymohe. He won’t say bad words either!”

“Huh...?” Do-Jun tilted his head in confusion. Where did that come from?

“He also asked if he can not do the wefection paper.”