Chapter Text
The realm of the demons was an empty and greyish place with barren lands, large boulders and dark lakes. In the center was a long stairway leading to the giant throne temple where the demon king, Gwi-Ma, perched and watched over the land with an iron flame. The thousands of demons plaguing the land acted like zombies, all lifeless, empty and with no other purpose but to do their king’s bidding.
It was a dreadful existence and anyone who experienced this wouldn’t wish this on their worst enemies. Yet there were a few demons who stood out from the rest.
One being named, Jinu. The songbird of the demon king as some had nicknamed him.
Long ago, Jinu had struck a deal with Gwi-Ma to give him the talent of music so he could pull himself out of poverty. With that gift, Jinu was given the most beautiful singing voice that would make even the heavens weep. When it was time to collect on his soul, Gwi-Ma decided to let Jinu keep his beautiful voice so he could sing him a song whenever he requested for all eternity.
Jinu was reluctant at first, but quickly realized he had no choice in the matter. He belonged to Gwi-Ma and was forced to follow his orders or just listen to him complain about humanity.
It quickly established that Jinu became one of his favorites. Not like this was a title that Jinu was proud of. One would think with the blunt favoritism the king had for the singer that other demons would grow jealous or resentful.
Well, that’s not really the case if you stuck around long enough. If anything, they gave a shed of pity towards Jinu as he was treated more like a toy for the king to fool around with until he grew bored. He enjoyed tormenting the songbird’s emotions, always in his head, his ears and whispering despairing things almost every second, minute, hour or day.
To have the demon king’s eyes on you was an entirely different and worst punishment.
When the other demons were not pitying the dark musician, they were admiring him for his eternal beauty and his lovely singing. Any chance he played, there would always be a crowd to gather around to listen, fawn, and lust.
Oh, how he was lusted after, yet none dared to touch the king’s favorite toy. Not without permission, at least.
If the king felt like sharing, Jinu would be treated like a precious object. A rare event only for those that managed to earn the fire king’s favor for doing a good enough job. If requested, Jinu would play them a personal song before they decide that listening wasn’t enough.
It was never enough. They had to have him. Make him bleed, make him cry, make him moan, groan, see how high his notes can carry and mark that beautiful skin.
At the very least those events had become rarer as each year passed by. The king’s army had become weaker because of the new heroes that called themselves Hunters. Somehow, someway, the humans have figured out a way to fight back from becoming a free meal for the greedy king. These Hunters have obtained a special type of magic that twines with their extraordinary singing voices. The songs they sang had managed to create a strong force field to keep back the darkness and brought some peace back to the upper lands.
They call it the honmoon and Gwi-Ma had tried and failed to break it in order to rain down his terror on the world again. His flames have dulled a little but his rage continued to roar throughout the under lands. Every time a group of demons comes back with news of failure to destroy the hunters, they are greeted with the awaited wrath of the king’s flames.
After the failures are reduced to ashes on the ground, Jinu would come in with a soothing song. He had become like a tamer to calm down the angry flames of the king so the other residents could have a bit of peace.
When not at his job, Jinu would isolate himself to a high up cave he found and claim as a humble home. To think, he traded his soul for an eternity of hiding away in a cave that was worse off than the crappy hut that he used to share with his mother and sister.
Jinu would laugh at the pure irony of it all if the memories weren’t so painful.
He shared this small cave with a large spirit tiger and a demon crow that always steals the small hats Jinu would make for the tiger. They didn’t talk but they were far better company than those of his fellow demons.
A good majority of them were too brain dead to hold up a decent conversation. Because of this, Jinu found himself lonely and an outcast amongst this demon realm with only a tiger, a crow and his beloved bipa to share his space.
One day in literal hell, Jinu soaked in a large, dark lake and minded his business while plucking at the strings of his bipa. He was recharging after a long day of gathering souls and singing for a heartless king. He just wanted a moment to relax and not think about anything.
However, that moment was cut short as he felt a presence had come closer towards him.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the infamous songbird of these parts.” A dark chuckle from above dare cast down on him. Jinu didn’t bother to look up as he tried to ignore them.
The other demon just chuckled some more as if amused at being ignored. “Not much of a talker, huh? That’s okay. You seem like the type that would make small talk awkward.”
Jinu resisted the urge to glare as he just plucked at his bipa some more and hoped that the stranger would grow bored, seeing that he was not taking their bait.
Oh, how wrong he was. Instead, he felt the guy walk even closer and not knowing if this was going to be an attack, Jinu finally looked back and put a face to this pest.
The other demon was much taller, largely built from how his biceps and pecks shaded out against his dark robe. His face was handsome as if chiseled from marble and his short hair was hidden under the same hat all reapers wore. Despite the purple skin and jagged patterns, the guy was beautiful and obviously knew this fact with the way he carried himself.
Jinu tried not to stare but it was too late, and the guy seemed to have read his mind as a cocky smirk crossed his lips.
“Try not to fall in love with me too quickly, magpie. Wouldn’t want to break the heart of the king’s favorite.” He laughed at his own joke, and it was the most obnoxious bellow to ever pierce Jinu’s ears.
The musician rolled his eyes as he stepped out of the lake, which gave the stranger a good look at the large tiger tattooed on his back. Water rolled off his bare torso, and his dark pants clung to his upper thighs and legs as he walked over to the nearby tree to fetch his robe he hung on a low branch.
He knew the other had watched every slow movement he made and stood there almost hypnotized. All that smug talk seemed to have escaped the other’s mouth. Jinu had felt a sense of victory at that moment as he redressed himself and took hold of his bipa once again.
Finally, he cast his sharp, golden eyes on the stranger with a hint of annoyance behind them. “Is there something you want from me?” He finally spoke.
The other reaper took a second to regain himself before speaking. That confident smirk was back while he casually shrugged his broad shoulders.
“I just wanted to introduce myself while I had this opportunity. It’s rare for you to grace the lower lands with your presence.”
Jinu did glare this time.
“In other words, you just came to gawk like all the others. I figured as much.”
He turned to retreat back to his cave when the other reaper quickly stood in his way. Jinu glared again and this time the taller one’s expression softened a bit that resembled some regret. It came and went so quickly that Jinu was sure he had imagined it.
“Hey, come on. It was just a joke. You’re way more sensitive than I imagined.” The other said and maybe it was not meant to be offensive, but Jinu took it as such.
The musician scowled, “You’re very rude towards someone you just met. Hasn’t anyone taught you to show any manners towards your elders?”
The demon smirked a little more, “Yeah, my mother but she also taught me to always be honest. Call out things how I see `em.”
He then held out his hand suddenly and added, “I’m called Abby around here.”
Jinu just stared at the outreached hand as if it were some foreign object. Abby still stood there and waited. Then Jinu just stepped to the side and simply walked around him. The other reaper didn’t follow, much to Jinu's relief.
Still, Jinu took a second glance back at Abby and watched him walk the other direction. When it seemed like Abby was going to look back, Jinu quickly teleported in a puff of pink smoke.
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There were whispers in the air about a hoard of new arrivals. Jinu managed to catch a snip of them as he made his daily walks.
From his perspective, it had seemed like Gwi-Ma had been at his best recruiting more minions for his ever-growing army of mindless soul gathers. The new reapers came in a variety of age, size and shape. All of them being just like Jinu once, tricked and manipulated into selling their souls to the demon king for foolish wishes. The new demons had looked around very confused and frightened by their new surroundings, especially with Gwi-Ma sitting on his high throne and belting out a loud, roaring laugh at their peril.
Jinu couldn’t help but feel sorrow for the fools. Obviously, none realized the gravity of their deals would have led to but nothing else can be done for them. Their souls were gone, gobbled up by the king like they were grapes plucked just for him.
It was a reminder of how dark and cruel the world can be.
Once the morbid curiosity of their recruits started to fade, so did the crowd as they slowly dispersed back to their dreary lives. Jinu remained as he watched the new demons a little longer. One had caught his eyes.
The reaper looks male and was the shortest of the bunch as well as looked the youngest, maybe late teens or early twenties. The most noticeable feature about him were the large eyes that were filled with tears as he kept calling out for his mother and father.
One of the older looking reapers in the group must have taken pity on him. She hugged the young man and must have whispered something comforting to calm him down. The newbies talked among each other before walking together further into the unknown realm. No doubt they had believed sticking together that they could survive this new life.
Jinu shook his head to himself. Such naive thinking. A repeated mistake that would soon be learnt by all recruits. There were no comrades or friends in this place. Everyone looks out for themselves out of pure survival. The only loyalty you should have is towards your demon king and that’s it.
Jinu’s ear had perked at some snickering nearby. Four larger demons were grinning to each other and exchanging menacing looks before following them.
Jinu pretended he saw nothing and walked away.
Later on, Jinu sat on the edge of a cliff and strummed at his bipa a little bit louder than usual. It was all he could do to drown out the echoing sounds of fresh new screams from down below.
You could have offered them your precious cave to hide in. Always the selfish one.
Jinu’s bipa played louder as he tried to block out the laughter inside his head.
A few days went by and Jinu didn’t see much of the new recruits together anymore. He heard a few whispers that some have gone into hiding while others were forced into becoming toys for the rougher cliches.
It’s their initiation into becoming one of us. Gwi-Ma chortled inside of Jinu’s head. Just like how you were trained.
Jinu lets out a short snort. “Funny because I recall being dragged into your royal bedroom and forced to stay there for a while. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you give anyone else a personal welcome like that.”
Well, you are a more interesting toy.
The musician made a mocking gleeful sound. “Wow. You sure know how to make a demon feel special, my king.”
Another day passes and Jinu spotted one of the recruits that caught his eye that first day.
He was surprised to see that the smallest one was still walking around intact. Though, his eyes were now different. They had hardened and were empty from any emotions, but the kid marched forward like a lone survivor. Whatever happened to that crying and innocent being was now replaced by an empty shell of himself.
The boy lasted longer than the others. Long enough for the other demons to give him a new name: Baby.
Demons weren’t good with names.
At first, Jinu tried to ignore the newbie as he wasn’t exactly the social type. Plus, the new brat seemed like a pain with how quickly he was to hiss and swat at anyone that tried to come close. Not like Jinu could blame the guy since demons like to prey on those weaker than them.
However, it was harder to not stare when he comes across the newbie again who is battered and bruised every day from defending himself from the wolves lurking in every dark corner.
A pinch of pity pulled at his dark heart. He watched as the short reaper limped towards a large boulder to sit behind and lick his wounds. The musician decided to walk over and check on the creature.
Immediately the reaper’s ears picked up Jinu’s footsteps and were on high alert. He leaped up and let out a low hiss while baring his small fangs as he stood with his arms up to show off his sharp claws.
It wasn’t that frightening, but Jinu had still treaded with caution. He didn’t want to start a fight when he came with good intentions. At least, an attempt at one. He wasn’t entirely sure how it would go but maybe his remaining conscience would be silent at it.
Jinu had stopped and just held out his hands to show he came with no malicious plans. At that time, he got a better look at the new reaper.
This young reaper had a rounder head with large eyes and small pupils. There was a gash across his button nose that was dried with blood. His right cheek had a bruise that was turning darker against his purple skin, and a busted bottom lip. Under his hat one can see messy black bangs. He didn’t look any older than 18 or maybe 19. His build was thin but he didn’t look malnourished, so maybe he came from a well-off family.
A family that probably was still mourning the loss of their missing family member.
A family that misses him…
“Easy. Easy… Can I heal your wounds?” Jinu spoke with a softer tone in hopes to calm the other down.
It didn’t work. The shorter reaper just hissed out louder and swatted the air as a warning. Jinu slowly kneeled down and reached inside the long sleeves of his cloak. The other watched every movement with heated hatred and a hint of fear. Jinu then slowly pulled out a small packet of crackers he swiped from a human stand.
The demon stared at it. His large eyes glanced back up at him and his lips drew back in a snarl. Jinu just places the packet on the ground and backs up to give him space.
A beat went by.
Then the reaper slowly took a step forward. And then another. He reached out carefully all while not taking his eyes off Jinu. On his part, Jinu just watches the crackers be picked up quickly before the other reaper scurries back behind his boulder.
Jinu felt a twinge of his lips pull back in a small smile as he hears the thin paper be ripped away and sounds of soft munching.
He stands back up and turns only to almost bump right into Abby. He jumps back in surprise and the two just look at each other. Abby had the nerve to look more confused.
“Why did you do that?”
It was a simple question with a simple answer. However, Jinu couldn’t think of one at that moment. Instead, he just stutters as if caught doing something wrong. Or weird. Did it look that strange? Maybe to the other demons who barely knew what kindness was anymore.
Before Jinu could defend himself, they both turned their heads to see that the newbie came out from behind the boulder. He slowly steps a little closer. The crumbs from the crackers stuck to his chubby cheeks and he was still chewing.
The guy had looked at Abby before back at Jinu. The latter had thought maybe he was going to beg for some more. He had no more as it was the only thing he took from that vendor.
However, that wasn’t the case, and Jinu had wished it was.
Instead, the guy’s head leaned back a little before lurching forward as he spit out a large loogie and it hit Jinu directly on the forehead.
The air stood still for a minute as the mushed up and wet food slowly dripped down Jinu’s shocked face.
Then the space was filled with Abby’s hysterical laughter as he bent over and held his sides. Tears were forming as he pointed at Jinu and then at the brat and then back at Jinu. Said brat gave a sinister grin as leftover drool dripped from his chin.
Jinu saw red as he started to chase after the rotten brat who ran much faster. It just made Abby laugh even harder as he watched it like a comedy show. Eventually, Jinu gave up and wiped the filth off his face once he lost track of where the prankster ran away to. Abby had walked over to him and patted his shoulder as a small gesture of comfort.
No good deed goes unpunished, as the saying goes. A chuckle echoes inside their heads.
He turned his head towards Abby and snapped, “Shut up.”
“I didn’t say that!”
“I know.”