She was a young girl, looking like she was in her mid-twenties, with long pink hair and a soft, childlike pale complexion. She was lying unconscious on the ground, apparently having inhaled a large amount of toxic gas.
Nathan approached her slowly, full of tension and caution — he hadn't been close to a human for many years.
He knelt down to check if she was truly unconscious or pretending, muttering to himself:
—
"Damn it, did she see what happened before passing out? I have no choice but to take her with me to make sure."
He lifted her gently in his arms and began walking out of the warehouse.
The girl slowly opened her eyes, but her vision was blurry and unfocused. She didn't understand what was happening around her. When she saw a strange man carrying her, fear filled her chest. In a weak, hoarse voice from the gas she'd inhaled, she whispered:
"What do you want from me? Let me go… I didn't do anything…"
Then she lost consciousness again.
Nathan looked at her with great frustration and said through gritted teeth:
"I don't know what I'll do with you, but I do know this — I'm not letting you go until I'm sure you didn't see anything that happened."
Just then, Chul came running toward Nathan and said:
"Sir, I did everything you told me to. They're all fine now — the paramedics took them."
Nathan closed his eyes and exhaled deeply.
"That's… a relief."
"Oh my God, but sir, who is this girl you're carrying?"
"That's a long story. I'll explain later. For now, we're going back to the mansion. Call a discreet, professional doctor and bring him here."
"Are you serious, sir?"
"Do what I said, and stop asking questions. Also, I told the garage staff to send another car two hours after we left — I wanted to go somewhere alone while you took the other car, but the situation's changed. Still, that second car works in our favor now."
"Understood, sir."
Nathan placed the girl in the seat beside him, fastened her seatbelt, and muttered quietly:
"What the hell am I doing? I hate women… and she's human too. Why am I cursed with this woman now?"
He got into the car and drove toward the mansion, his mind racing with thoughts:
"Should I just let her die and end this headache? But then I'd be no different from those damned demons I've spent all these years trying to destroy."
He glanced at the watch on his right wrist — it was almost 4 a.m.
When he finally reached the mansion, he hurried out, carrying the girl. Inside a large bedroom, Chul and the doctor were waiting with medical equipment.
"Sir, I brought the doctor as you ordered."
The doctor bowed slightly.
"I'm Dr. Park Sung-Nim, one of the best doctors in Seoul. I'll do everything I can to save her."
"Good. Do what you must."
Nathan gave Chul a meaningful look, signaling for a private word.
Chul approached and whispered:
"I told the doctor to forget he ever came here after he treats the girl."
"Did you let him see the mansion or the road?"
"No, sir. I blindfolded him the entire way until we arrived."
(Flashback — when Chul was carrying out Nathan's orders)
Chul muttered to himself:
"Seems like new events are about to shake up the master's life. I just hope this won't cause trouble for him."
He hurried off to find a doctor before Nathan returned.
He reached the parking lot and got into a black Porsche 718 Boxster. The car sped away like a streak of lightning.
"I'll head to a private hospital and check the list of top doctors there."
He entered the hospital and approached the receptionist:
"Excuse me, can you tell me the name of the most skilled doctor here?"
Chul's beauty was so striking that the receptionist couldn't focus on his words. She just stared dreamily at his face, playing with her hair.
Chul's tone turned sharp:
"Hey, I'm talking to you. I don't have time to waste."
She startled.
"Oh! I'm so sorry, sir — I spaced out. What did you need again?"
Chul locked eyes with her. She suddenly heard his voice inside her head, like he was speaking telepathically:
"I said, I want the name of the most skilled doctor in this hospital."
The receptionist spoke like someone hypnotized:
"It's Dr. Park Sung-Nim. He's the head doctor here, currently on vacation. He lives downtown, Sanyang Street, residential building 7, third floor, apartment 6."
Chul immediately left after hearing the address. The receptionist snapped out of her trance moments later, confused:
"What just happened? Did I… fall asleep? I can't remember anything. It's like I was dreaming."
Although the hospital was full of security cameras, none of them captured Chul — as if he were a ghost.
Chul arrived at the address within minutes.
"This must be it."
He entered the building, skipping the elevator and taking the stairs two at a time.
"Third floor… now to find apartment six."
He turned left and smiled when he saw the number on the door.
"Found you."
He rang the bell twice.
A man's voice called, "Who's there?"
Chul rang again.
"Hey! I said, who is it?"
The door opened.
The doctor froze at the sight of Chul — he looked unreal, like a mannequin from a luxury store, too perfect to be human.
"Who are you? What do you want at this hour?"
"I need you to come with me and treat a girl. Her condition is unstable."
"Who told you about me? And why at this late hour? I'm on vacation — no appointments right now."
He tried to close the door, but Chul stopped it with his hand.
"We'll pay you an amount you could never earn in your entire career."
"I said, I'm not taking patients right now."
"Eighty million dollars. Do we have a deal?"
"W-what? Did you just say eighty million dollars? How can I trust you're not a scammer?"
"Check your bank account."
The doctor pulled out his phone and opened his banking app.
"Oh my God… all those zeros… and the number five next to them… unbelievable. Fine, I'll come with you!"
Chul smirked darkly.
"I always knew money could solve any difficult task."
They went down to the car.
"Get in. We've got all the medical equipment ready. You just need to treat the patient once we arrive."
Chul then placed a white blindfold over the doctor's eyes.
The doctor, now nervous and trembling:
"What are you doing? Why cover my eyes?"
"For your own safety. It's better you don't ask too many questions."
Chul answered a call on his phone:
"Are the tools ready in the room? Good. We'll be there soon — the master is on his way with the girl."
(Back to the present)
"Well done today, Chul. You've handled everything perfectly."
"Oh, and about what I said earlier — forget it. I didn't mean it."
Chul smiled.
"I know, sir."
Nathan opened the door to leave, but found the mansion's servants eavesdropping behind it.
He frowned.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"We're sorry, sir! We were just curious—"
"No excuses. Anyone caught doing this again will face severe punishment. Understood? Now get out of here."
"Chul, stay here with the doctor until he's done. Then take him home. I'll change and rest."
"Yes, sir."
Nathan checked his watch — 6:30 a.m.
"Ugh, I've worked hard tonight. I need a hot bath to calm my nerves."
He went to his room like a corpse returning to its coffin.
Talking to himself, he muttered:
"I have to interrogate that girl when she wakes up. I hope she didn't see anything… but if she did — do I have to kill her?"
He opened the cabinet and took two antidepressant pills — part of his daily habit now.
"I've gotten used to taking these. I don't even know if they help anymore. I just hope they'll make me feel better someday."
He stepped under the steaming shower. The room filled with mist. The water was almost boiling, yet his pale skin didn't redden.
"Was it jealousy I felt when I saw that human girl? Is that why I'm uneasy around her? Do I hate her even though I've never seen her before — or did I crave drinking her blood to the very last drop?"
(One week later)
Nathan sat in a Victorian-style chair near the shaded balcony of the mansion, one leg crossed over the other, reading a book.
Footsteps approached sharply from behind.
"What brings you here so early, Chul?"
Standing behind the chair, Chul replied:
"Sir, the girl has awakened. She's standing here with me and wants to see you."
Nathan closed the book forcefully, placed it on the table, and stood up.
Turning toward them, he said:
"A whole week has passed… and you finally woke up."
Next.....