Vi hugged Jermi, sobbing. Dont die.


    What? A chill coursed down his spine.


    What did she mean? This felt uncanny, like an unseen de hurtling towards them.


    Dont go.


    Huh?


    If you die like this, Ill be resentful for the rest of my life.


    Jermi then realized that Vi was talking to someone else.


    A vision?


    She seemed to be hallucinating, witnessing the death of someone precious.


    Did someone who was precious to Vi die?


    Her slender shoulders were shaking strongly. She seemed stronger than anyone else, but he felt her shudder as if her body was going to break.


    I wont die. Please. Open your eyes.


    I wont beg you to buy me pork cutlets.


    I wont bother you. Just, please open your eyes, please. Jermi realized what was happening.


    As her spirit affinity was extremely high, she seemed to be vulnerable to the fantasies shown by the spirits. Her powerful bloodline was a double-edged sword.


    Its okay, Vi. Im not dead. He patted Vi on the back, firmly believing that she would be able to pull through.


    What I can do now is hold her and try to help her out.


    It was surprising.


    Jermi never could have imagined that Vi would have a weakness like this.


    Who did she miss so much? Who was the enemy that she feared so much?


    His thoughts became a littleplicated.


    Didnt she say that she was found in the slums? Did her parents perhaps abandon her?


    It was said that she had stabbed a ve trader with a shard of ss on the day Duke Verratoux adopted her.


    Its not about being abandoned.


    Hearing Vis sobs, it didnt seem like she had been abandoned. If anything, it seemed that the person she was telling not to die was her parent.


    She might have been looking at her mom or dad at this moment.


    His heart felt a pang. Seven-year-old Jermi once had a crush on a girl. He went out to the Svon Street intersection every evening to meet her. The girl was blind, and that was where she made a living.


    Clink.


    A coin fell into her tin.


    Thank you.


    I have to go.


    Thank you.


    Im saving my pocket money and giving it to you.


    He kept his word, and each time, the girl bowed and repeatedly thanked him.


    Six months thus passed.


    Cant you say anything other than thank you?


    Thats


    He had always been dissatisfied, wanting to hear more. Frustrated, Jermi introduced himself only then, My name is Jermi. At this time, he was very nervous. Excited and overwhelmed even though he was just giving his name. But you dont have a mom or dad?


    I dont have any.


    Why?


    They threw me away.


    Jermi learned for the first time that there were parents who coldly abandoned their children. His heart hurt for her.


    After a year, he knew that her name was Man and that she was the same age as him.


    Why are you so nice to me?


    Why not?


    Filled with youthful innocence, he hadnt quite understood that he liked Man, so he couldnt say anything else.


    Thats because were friends, he decided to say.


    Man smiled brightly at the word friend. It was the first time hed seen her smile like that. Friend. Thats a good thing to hear.


    Right?


    Then stop following me now.


    Man, who turned eight, learned to polish shoes, and was able to earn for her own living expenses. She didnt have to beg anymore. That day, the two fought for the first time.


    Jermi got mad at her for refusing when he said he would give her some money, and Man shouted that she was no longer a beggar.


    That night, on a soft bed, Jermi bit his lips. Im annoyed.


    No matter how much he thought about it, he couldnt tell what he did wrong.


    The nannys words came to mind.


    Its not annoying, its heartbreaking, young master.


    After an hour, then two hours, he still couldnt sleep. The sound of grass bugs, which usually sounded like a luby, kept bothering me.


    I have to apologize tomorrow.


    Jermi wasnt truly aware yet of what he did wrong, but it didnt matter. All he knew was that Man was sad, and he had to fix it.


    Early the next morning, he stepped out to the Svon intersection, but she wasnt there.


    A day passed. Then two.


    Jermi became more and more impatient.


    After three days, he heard that a group of robbers had attacked the slums. The guards of the Storm Fortress were heavily reprimanded, and an investigation wasunched. An undercurrent of fury filled the air.


    Only then did he learn that his friend had been kidnapped by ve merchants.


    Please take me with you, dad! he cried, but to no avail.


    His father said that it was because it wasnt safe for him, being nine years old, but really, it was because he felt too strongly about the matter.


    Calm down and go into your room to meditate.


    This is a job for adults.


    Jermi was locked alone in a room for three days. And after a long time, he was able to hear from Man.


    She no longer lived in this world.


    Listless, he refused toe out of the room for a week.


    Meanwhile, a conversation with the nanny rekindled a fire in Jermi.


    There are many Mans in this world.


    What are you talking about? Theres only one Man.


    Even in ces with good security, such as the Storm Fortress, terrible things like this happen.


    Simr things happen countless times in this world.


    The second Man, the third Man, and the fourth Man. There were many Mans in this world.


    The young master has strength.


    He had inherited the blood of the storm sword, and he had already shown the qualities of an outstanding warrior.


    People also called Jermi a small storm.


    Those who have power enjoy a lot and live. You have to use that power for the weak.


    Why?


    Because thats the right thing to do. Its justice.


    Wont it be hard?


    What if many people felt the same way?


    Then the world would be sad.


    A noblemans duty is to protect others from that feeling.


    Jermi definitely felt it. Shocked that he would no longer be able to see Man agan, he made up his mind.


    He would do his best to prevent another such tragedy from happening.


    When a year passed by, Jermi took a sword and vowed in front of the tomb where Mans remains were buried.


    Im sorry I couldnt protect you.


    Since that day, Jermi had not shown any mercy to ve merchants. As soon as he found one, he killed him right then and there. As his reputation grew, Jermi was called the Relentless Storm.


    He recalled the old days as he watched Vi in his arms. He didnt forgive ve traders and parents who abandoned their children. In fact, he considered it his responsibility to ensure justice regarding those matters.


    Vis words kept ringing in his ears.


    Dont die.


    If you die like this, Ill be resentful for the rest of my life.


    Jermi had only ever seen Vis brilliance, her luck at being adopted by a powerful man.


    Now, his perspective had changed. He berated himself for not thinking about her life before.


    Had she not stabbed a ve merchant to death at seven years old? Had she not wandered around the slums at that time?


    Why did she have to fight on her own?


    There must have been no one to protect you.


    If there was someone to protect her, Man might not have ended up the way she did.


    The only difference was that Vi had been able to kill the ve trader. Still, if she had been protected by an adult, she wouldnt have had to hold the shard herself.


    its okay, he soothed.


    Dont go.


    Its okay, Vi. Ill protect you. He patted Vi on the back.


    She hugged him a little tighter, and he did the same.


    What you see is an illusion.


    Vi didnt hear that, though. In her head were ambnce siren sounds. Doctors in white robes running around busily. Paramedics in orange clothes. People shouting urgently in unfamiliar terms.


    And Kang Hanjun covered in blood.


    It was cold and scary. It didnt look like he would make it.


    Then, warmth. She felt something hugging her tightly, protectively.


    It was a warmth that she had never felt since she became Vi Verratoux.


    You were deceived by the fantasies of the spirits because you have too high an affinity with them. No one died. Its okay. Im next to you.


    Jermi made a resolution to not leave her side.


    You can ovee it, Vi.


    It was so dark that he couldnt see her face. Somehow, he was able to make eye contact.


    Youre not alone.


    Vi didnt have to fight alone anymore.


    At that time, she lost her parents and lived in a slum, but now she was Verratouxs princess, and she had him too.


    Were friends.


    Vis fantasies gradually began to subside.


    Even a small voice was heard.


    [Stop, guys.]


    [If you keep ying around, well disappear.]


    The yful illusions had a fatal w. Sincerity.


    [Whats with him?]


    [Our bodies are going to break.]


    The spirits could no longer y tricks.


    Jermis sincerity and desire broke the illusions of spirits. Before she knew it, Vi regained peace.


    Quietly.


    Actually, she fell asleep.


    Jermi sat still and patted Vi on the shoulder. Good night.


    The illusion seemed to be broken. When she wakes up, she would be Vi Verratox again. Not the little girl who lost her parents, but an iron-blooded princess.


    Footsteps arrived.


    So


    Jermi was very nervous.


    Vi, who had yet to wake up, was carefullyid down.


    He pulled out a sword. Who is it?


    What the hell is Korea?


    Words that Jermi could not understand continued.


    Then, youre Kang Hanjun?