Jeom So-i—whose real name was Jeong Dae-gwang—trembled before Lee Seong-jun, his knees pressed to the floor.
"I—I am a lowly being who dares meet the great Emperor…"
His voice quivered, barely coherent.
"I am so ignorant that I've yet to grasp the true dignity of Your Majesty, the Blood Emperor. I know no words can excuse my insolence… but please, spare my younger brother's life!"
Lee Seong-jun sighed lightly.
"I told you before—I have no intention of harming you or your family."
Jeong Dae-gwang blinked in disbelief.
"You truly forgive me?"
"Forgive? There's nothing to forgive."
Indeed, the man had done no wrong. But with Jeong Dae-gwang so shaken, Lee Seong-jun simply nodded.
"I forgive you. I promise, no harm will come to you or your kin."
Jeong bowed repeatedly, tears welling in his eyes.
"Thank you! I will carry the grace of Your Majesty for the rest of my life!"
"Before you do, calm yourself," Lee Seong-jun replied evenly. "There's something I need to ask about the Blood Empire."
"...Understood," Jeong whispered, trying to steady his breath.
From behind, Anna Ferris stepped forward, her expression sharp.
"From what I've heard… you're the Blood Emperor who conquered the Thousand Continents and ended the Demon War?"
"That's right."
"Then why don't the demons remember you?"
Her brows furrowed deeply. The war between the Demon Realm and the Thousand Continents had been monumental—an event impossible to erase. Yet the demons who invaded Earth knew nothing of it.
Lee Seong-jun crossed his arms.
"I've wondered the same thing. It seems… the timeline itself is distorted."
"Distorted?" Anna echoed.
"It's complicated," he said, and began recounting his story—from the final war, to his ascension, and the splitting of time and space itself.
When he finished, Anna's eyes widened.
"So… you literally tore apart space-time and returned to Earth?"
"In short, yes."
Anna gave a wry laugh.
"I knew you were special, but this is beyond reason."
She tilted her head, a teasing glint in her eyes.
"Then I'm the first to know this secret, aren't I?"
"You are. And the last."
"Mmm~ I like the sound of that," she said softly. "A secret between just us."
Her playful tone soon faded, replaced by seriousness.
"But still—this distortion in time and space isn't something we can ignore. A warped timeline means a warped world."
"I agree," he replied. "But there's something I need to check first."
Lee Seong-jun turned to Jeong Dae-gwang, whose fear had mostly subsided.
"You said that man, Jo Won-chang—the one who called himself the Great Demon—was part of the Imperial Army?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. He served in the Guard Unit responsible for Sochang Castle's security."
Lee Seong-jun's brow creased.
"The Imperial Guard…? Someone like him?"
In the Blood Empire's prime, recruitment was strict. Criminals and evildoers were purged before joining. It was the foundation of peaceful rule. Yet Jo Won-chang, a man who murdered and extorted, had been a guard.
"Something must have changed in the Empire…"
Jeong nodded nervously.
"The previous lord, Song Cheon-baek, was replaced by a man named Seo Chung-myeon. Since then, the army's been filled with scum like Jo Won-chang."
At that name—Song Cheon-baek—Lee Seong-jun froze.
"Song Cheon-baek… You mean the one they called Yumyeong?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. That was his nickname."
Lee Seong-jun's gaze sharpened.
A Shadowed Empire
'Something major happened in the Empire…'
If Song Cheon-baek had been replaced, then the Blood Empire he built might have fallen into corruption—or worse, usurpation.
Song Cheon-baek, once known as the Ninth Pillar of the Empire, was a genius strategist—his intelligence network rivaled that of the Eight Great Demon Sects themselves. There was no way such a man would be exiled to a remote city unless someone powerful forced it.
"Do you know where he is now?"
"He's imprisoned, Your Majesty. In the underground dungeon of Sochang Castle."
"Imprisoned? On what charge?"
"Rumor says treason…"
Lee Seong-jun clenched his teeth.
'That fool…'
He remembered clearly. Song Cheon-baek had been a brilliant boy from a nameless village, kidnapped by the Blood Cult and forced into servitude. Yet, under Lee Seong-jun's leadership, he became a loyal ally and helped found the Blood Empire.
When the Empire was born, Lee freed him—wiping away all records of his enslavement. But instead of returning home, Song Cheon-baek vowed to build a nation where no child would suffer as he had.
'He stayed true to his beliefs until the end.'
Lee Seong-jun's expression softened for a moment—then hardened with resolve.
"...Let's go," he said, rising.
"Go where?" Anna asked, though she already knew.
"To the lord."
Without another word, he ascended into the night sky, red energy flaring around him.
Anna smiled faintly.
"That's why… I can't help but fall for you."
Cruel to his enemies, but endlessly loyal to those he cherished. That was the man she loved.
"You're truly the best partner," she whispered, following after him into the sky.
The Corrupt Lord
Inside his lavish office, Seo Chung-myeon, the so-called lord of Sochang Castle, reclined lazily in his chair, counting the bribes he'd received.
"Ahh… nothing beats money."
His city's crime rates had soared, but his position was secure—his pockets deep enough to silence any criticism.
'Just a few more years of this, and I'll be promoted to a major city.'
Even the recent incident at the restaurant didn't concern him.
"Some ruffians causing trouble? Hmph. I paid enough for my men to handle it."
Rumors of the Blood Emperor's return made him laugh.
"The Blood Emperor, back from the dead? In this tiny southern city? Absurd."
He dismissed it as another fantasy—one of countless false sightings.
Until—
DING! DING! DING!
The alarm bells rang, followed by screams.
Seo Chung-myeon's smug face twisted in confusion.
"What's happening out there!?"
"Lord! Y-you must run!" shouted a guard from outside.
"Run? What nonsense are you spouting!?"
Then—
BOOM!
The mansion's doors vanished in an explosion of force, soldiers flying like ragdolls. Through the settling dust, a man stepped forward—eyes glowing crimson.
Seo Chung-myeon felt his blood freeze.
"Wh–Who are you!?"
The red-eyed man moved his lips slowly, his voice calm yet terrifying.
"I am the Blood Emperor."