Chapter 2

Years ago, a large-scale war erupted over religious differences between two nations. As more countries took sides, the battles grew increasingly fierce.

Eventually, even their own soldiers were sent to the front lines. After a long and grueling war, it finally ended, and the soldiers were able to return home.

Among them was Colonel Jin Chae-jun, who had distinguished himself on the battlefield. He returned to his homeland with a red gem hidden inside his uniform. He had found the gem on a corpse during the war, and it had captivated him at first sight.

Despite the chaos of flying bullets and falling bodies, he was mesmerized by the vivid red light emanating from the gem.
Beautiful.

I want it.

I must have it.

I need it.

This overwhelming desire was foreign to him, a man known for his integrity and modesty. Despite his heroic accomplishments and the praise that followed, he felt no sense of pride or duty.
He was tormented. His everyday life became monotonous and dull. Even the wife and daughter he had longed to see became mere nuisances.

He turned to heavy drinking and revelry, frequented brothels, and left bruises on his wife’s face when she wept and tried to stop him. Yet, there was an insatiable hunger and desire that seemed on the verge of exploding.

During these moments, he would gaze endlessly at the gem. Over time, he craved more base and vulgar pleasures.

Sometimes, he would lick the gem or cover it with his semen. Only the bright, piercing red light of the gem could calm him, while simultaneously tempting him with its allure.

One day, he realized that the light from the gem was gradually fading.

It was a fear more terrifying than death. He desperately sought ways to restore the gem’s light. However, it was impossible for an ordinary human to control an object with such otherworldly power.

As the gem continued to fade, he descended into madness. In the meantime, his wife committed suicide, and his daughter ran away from home. None of that mattered to him. He was solely focused on saving the gem.

There was no information about the gem in the world, and since it was unique, he couldn’t afford to handle it carelessly. If there had been multiple gems, or if it had been made of a material that could withstand damage or breakage, or if it were something that could regenerate like human flesh and blood, it might have been different.

If only it had been alive.

Yes, if it were alive…

Finally, his mind reached an inhumane conclusion. He stared at the gem in his hand. Though its light had dimmed, the red hue still flickered as it met his gaze. It wasn’t his idea. The gem commanded him to do it.

He did not hesitate. His loyal subordinates were already as mesmerized by the gem as he was. With the gem, any ruthless plan could easily win their support. He secretly secured researchers and a laboratory.

The subject for his experiment was decided the moment he conceived the idea.

“You crazy bastard…! Jin Chae-jun! I’ll kill you. Stop, stop…!”

Before becoming enchanted by the gem, he had experienced only one immoral moment in his life. He had felt unspeakable emotions for his beautiful, much younger cousin. Horrified by his own feelings, he buried them deep inside and never let them resurface.

But the gem uncovered desires deeper and darker than those.

When he learned that his cousin was pregnant, he believed it was fate arranged by the gem.

“Brother, please, I beg you. Don’t do this. Please, please…!”

He laid his heavily pregnant cousin on the experiment table. Forcing her tearful eyes shut, he felt a vague sense of impending success when the blade cut through her chest.
The gem shone with unprecedented brightness in front of the pulsating heart.

He agreed with his cousin’s accusation that he was no longer human.

Perhaps it was since the moment he disguised her husband’s murder as an accident, or even earlier, when he conceived the idea of fusing the gem with human organs.

He willingly abandoned his humanity.

As a result, a little girl with eyes as red as the gem was born a few months later

* * *

Wina blinked her bright red eyes as an incandescent bulb cast its light above her.

The man in front of her scrutinized her face, drenched in pale lighting. His expression was intensely cold.

When their eyes first met, there seemed to be a chilling light in his dark pupils, but it must have been her imagination.

Suddenly, his gaze fell to her lips. Her mouth, forced open during the examination, was stained with blood. His fingertip touched that spot.

The smooth texture of the leather glove reminded her of the merciless moment. As expected, the pressure on her wound increased.

When Wina didn’t react, he looked into her eyes as if nothing had happened, completely detached from the hand squeezing the blood out of her wound.

Just as she had heard.

A cold-blooded person, devoid of pity or tears. Someone for whom torture was a calling.

His long, slit-like eyes and sleek nose seemed like tools to ensnare. Shin Hae-Gon.

This man is Shin Hae-Gon.

Wina was sure, but she asked to confirm.

“Are you Shin Hae-Gon?”

Bo-Ryeong, who had been keeping her eyes closed, scowled instantly.

“How dare you, where do you get off using the lieutenant’s name so casually?”

As Bo-Ryeong raised her voice, Ju-Hyung pressed his boot down on her foot and muttered through his teeth.

“Calm down.”

Bo-Ryeong glared at Ju-Hyung in anger but then turned her gaze unwillingly. She saw the two faces barely a span apart, with Shin Hae-Gon even touching Wina’s lips.

Bo-Ryeong unconsciously clenched her fists, her nails digging sharply into her palms.

It was true, as everyone said: her face could ensnare even the soul when viewed up close.

Bo-Ryeong’s anxiety was evident on her face. Ju-Hyung sighed, finding her reaction pitiful. At that moment, Shin Hae-Gon straightened up. Bo-Ryeong bit her lip. Still staring at Wina, he spoke.

“Leave. All of you.”

The command dropped, and they responded crisply.

“Yes, sir.”

They exited the interrogation room without a word. Just before leaving, Bo-Ryeong shot Wina a look that felt like a burn on her cheek.

The door closed. With the sudden disappearance of the three, the interrogation room became eerily silent. Shin Hae-Gon sat on the edge of the desk and motioned with his chin.

“Come here.”

There was a gap of several steps between the desk and Wina. It seemed Bo-Ryeong had pushed her away while beating her earlier.

Bound tightly with ropes, Wina looked at him with difficulty. She then lifted her body, pushing her chair forward with her toes, but she couldn’t even move a step before tipping over and collapsing to the floor.

“Ugh…”

Wina squirmed helplessly like a pill bug that couldn’t right itself. Her hair, spilled all over the floor, shone excessively for an insect. Shin Hae-Gon’s eyes glinted with cruel excitement.

“Why did you get caught?”

Wina hesitated. She struggled to shake the hair from her face and lifted her chin. Starting from the tips of his military boots, her gaze traveled up to his face. The moment she met Shin Hae-Gon’s eyes, a chill ran down her spine.

It felt like drowning in pitch-black water.

Wina deliberately blinked slowly. Even when her eyes were closed, she couldn’t see any light from him. He was a perfect void.

“You tricked the entire search team underwater and escaped. Rolling down the mountain was a lie. You deliberately led us down a smooth path.”

Wina remained silent. Shin Hae-Gon moved away from the desk. Step by step, he approached, folding his imposing frame as he knelt in front of her, making her heart race.

“Why did you let yourself get caught on purpose?”

His hand buried itself in her hair and yanked her up. Her body followed, and as he pulled her head back forcefully, her neck bent painfully.

“Ugh!”

The grip on her scalp was excruciating.

His previously emotionless eyes now radiated a lethal energy. The murderous intent was so palpable it seemed to choke her.

“I ran away.”

Wina whispered painfully. Shin Hae-Gon toyed with her hair, pulling and shaking her head. Her skull throbbed.

“Ran away?”

His voice was dripping with disbelief. Wina, her vision swimming, looked directly at him. His eyes demanded an answer to why she had fled.

“Because I didn’t want to commit any more sins.”