HKWM | Chapter 15

He was no longer the affable, easygoing figure I had first met, instead slowly kneeling and bowing his head deeply in a gesture of reverence.

“How did you know?”

“How could I not sense the aura of someone so exalted?”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

So, he was a demon worshipper after all. My brows furrowed involuntarily.

I had felt a familiar aura as soon as I arrived, but it wasn’t prominent enough to stand out. I had initially thought he was just a petty sinner, but seeing the mirror he brought out confirmed my suspicions.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The mirror seemed ordinary at a glance, but it was a typical means of communication used by demon contractors or worshippers. While many people possessed them, not everyone kept theirs as impeccably clean as the gardener, without a single smudge or speck of dust.
Given his appearance and the state of his home, it didn’t seem he would care to maintain just a mirror so pristinely unless it had a special purpose, especially since he didn’t tend to his own garden despite claiming to be a gardener. The fact that he brought out the mirror might have been intended to reveal his presence to me.

“Perhaps, have I disturbed your grace in any way?”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The gardener now acted with extreme deference, a stark contrast to his earlier demeanor, his forehead pressed to the ground as if he were addressing an emperor. His heart thumped so loudly from nerves it was nearly deafening.

“…Not really. I was just wondering why you’re here.”

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

“I am but a servant of the great ones, and I harbor no special intentions. I believe in receiving what is given with gratitude and ask only for your mercy.”

Why does he have to speak in such a convoluted way? It’s hard to understand…

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“Lift your head.”

“Pardon?”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I said, lift your head.”

The gardener hesitated briefly then slowly raised his head. I stared into his eyes, reassessing his soul. I didn’t sense the significant taint or burden that demons typically drool over, nor were there signs of a soul bound by a contract. He was definitely not a demon contractor.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

A demon contractor, as the term implies, is someone who has entered into a one-on-one pact with a demon, which requires the ability to withstand the demon’s energy and presence, a stringent condition. In contrast, a demon worshipper simply offers tributes to demons and receives favors in return, a role anyone can fill.

Weaker demons don’t bother with worshippers since finding contractors is easy for them, while stronger demons often have many worshippers, effectively as substitutes for contractors. Having numerous worshippers is also a way to extend their influence in the human realm and lessen restrictions.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

A worshipper isn’t as much of a concern as a contractor would be. Plus, the level of magical energy I felt was minimal, so he didn’t seem to serve any powerful demon. Mostly, his excessive groveling was off-putting.

‘I suppose as long as I’m here, he won’t be able to harm Noah. I’ve even made that necklace…’

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Even if he was a demon worshipper, it seemed Noah could handle him at this level.

Maybe because I kept staring at him, the gardener was sweating buckets, his face pale.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

“Is there anything I might assist you with?”

“That’s enough. Just keep quiet and manage your mouth.”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“I will keep that in mind.”

Realizing I intended him no harm, the gardener visibly relaxed and took a deep breath. Noting that he was no threat, I was about to leave when he carefully broached another topic.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“If you need anything while you stay, please seek me out. I will make sure you are comfortably accommodated.”

It seemed he wanted to ingratiate himself with me, perhaps sensing I was not as aggressive or brutal as other demons. Just as I was about to walk away without responding, he added something that made me stop.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

“About that boy who came with you earlier—where did you find him?”

“What?”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

“Of course, a grand being like yourself already knows, but if I may be so bold, he seemed quite exceptional. If you were to harvest his soul, it would surely be a delicacy fit for the great one. If you plan to use him as a sacrifice, I would assist.”

“Listen…”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I had always harbored doubts about my identity after becoming a demon.

Why had I become Wrath? Sure, being a demon is one thing, but wouldn’t Sloth have suited me better? My actions to date seemed more aligned with Sloth than Wrath.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes, thinking about it, our neighborhood where our child lives should be kept clean of trash.”

Only now did I understand why I was born as Wrath.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A single sentence from the gardener had triggered such intense anger that my vision blurred red.

“What do you mean…”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was a rage and bloodlust I had never felt before, even in my human days.

“It means I’m going to take you out, young human.”

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Negative memories linger in the mind longer than positive ones.

Considering how few happy memories one might count on one hand, what words could possibly describe a life burdened only with sorrowful, muddied thoughts?

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

“They say he’s from an orphanage.”

“What’s an orphanage?”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

“Where children without parents go.”

“Wow, so Hyunjin’s mom and dad are dead?”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“No, they abandoned him.”

“Why?”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“Don’t know, maybe they got tired of him begging for snacks?”

Those were the moments I had to pretend not to hear, whispered behind my back.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

“No, Hyunjin. This is problematic. I hired you out of pity for an orphan, but if you keep making mistakes like this, I can’t pay you!”

“I told you, it wasn’t my fault.”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“Oh, talking back now? This is why those without proper home training…”

The standards that seemed particularly harsh towards me.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

“Hyunjin, I’m sorry. Let’s pretend we never got engaged.”

“Did I do something wrong? Why all of a sudden…”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You always felt lonely with me, right? Do you even love me?”

All the times that felt unbearably lonely, regardless of what I did.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Would things have been different if I could easily forget them?

It didn’t take long to deal with the gardener and consume his soul. The rage that had blurred my reason seemed like a distant memory now that the gardener was dead and his soul consumed, my mind settling into profound peace.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

“What about magical energy…”

After ensuring even the smallest drop of blood was cleaned up, the surrounding area was so saturated with my magic that even a normal human passing by would feel the air was oppressively heavy. It was because I hadn’t controlled my magic while enraged.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

I waved my hand futilely—it was a silly gesture really. It wasn’t smoke; waving my hand wasn’t going to clear it. Absorbing the spontaneously released magic was as absurd as trying to smell all the perfume I’d sprayed until none remained. I decided it was best to leave quickly.

“It should clear up soon.”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Thinking of the magic that might have clung to my body, I walked home, mulling over the recent event.

The surge of intense emotion was something I had never experienced before. Being generally non-confrontational as a human didn’t mean I was ignorant of what anger was. I had simply chosen to overlook things, but never had I been so enraged.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

‘It wasn’t even something worth getting so angry about.’

The gardener had merely asked a question and hadn’t actually harmed Noah. My reaction was excessively dramatic.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

And from the moment of anger, I felt a power unlike anything before. The omnipotent, destructive force was undeniably mine. If it felt this potent in the human realm, bound by many restrictions, how much more in the Demon Realm? I could understand why the previous Wrath demons were so volatile daily.

Yet, what troubled me most was my attitude. Even though he was just a demon worshiper and thus not much help alive, I had killed a human and consumed his soul without any hesitation. It felt as natural as drinking water when thirsty, quite different from when I had consumed the souls of mercenaries.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“Yes, it’s nothing. I’m a demon, so it shouldn’t bother me.”

Muttering to myself as I entered the garden, the grass closest to me instantly withered to a black crisp from my magic.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I instinctively stepped back and tried to gather my magic, but it felt unusually rowdy. It seemed my magic wasn’t settling down easily after its near-rampage.

Concerned that entering the house might harm Noah, I considered stepping away for a while, but then the front door opened.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Jin, what are you doing out here?”

The moment I met Noah’s clear gaze, my tumultuous magic calmed down. His eyes, vibrant green during the day like a lively forest, deepened at night to the shade of moss thriving in the shade.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Looking at those calm colors, it felt as if the earlier incident had been just a dream, and a smile naturally formed on my face.

“How did you know I was coming?”

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

“I saw you from the window.”

“Let’s go inside.”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Waiting for me? Half-eaten skewers lay on the living room table. I flopped onto the couch and casually inspected the skewers. Luckily, they seemed fine.

“Do you like these? You seem to eat them almost every day.”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“Yes, they’re delicious.”

While I generally believed in minimizing snacks, Noah wasn’t one to skip meals even when snacking, and I thought it was good for him to eat whatever he liked for now.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Such a child, liking stuff like this.”

I poked his plump cheeks with my finger, causing a slight frown to form on his forehead.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Why do you keep calling me a child? I’m not a child.”

“You are. That gardener who cut your hair earlier? To me, he’s like a child too.”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I wasn’t sure of the gardener’s exact age, but he seemed to be in his mid-thirties at least. To immortals like us demons, humans are mostly just kids. I might be a 120-year-old “child” among demons, but in human terms, I’m as old as an ancestor.

“Is there a way to age faster?”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“Would there be?”

After ruffling Noah’s hair, I stood up. Now that his face was uncovered, I could freely touch it.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

“Phoras has his Imperial language exam tomorrow. Did you study a lot?”

“I don’t need to study to pass.”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Good for you. Let’s go to bed now.”

I chuckled as a sigh full of grievances followed me from behind.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

After making sure Noah was settled in for the night, I returned to my room and looked out the window. The patch of grass in the garden was still starkly dead. Staring at it, I couldn’t simply dismiss today’s events as if nothing had happened.

‘If Noah hadn’t come out, how much more might I have ruined?’

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was a distressing thought I didn’t want to entertain.