The Author's POV

Chapter 860

Epilogue — Effort's never betray you [2]

Tok—

"..."

The sound of the glass bottle tapping against the stone grave echoed in the quiet surroundings as Melissa stood there, consumed by her thoughts.

With a firm grip on the bottle, she took a small gulp of the liquid it contained, feeling its bittersweet taste on her lips.

Drip— Drip!

A cascade of juices trickled down the side of her mouth as she hastily withdrew the bottle.

"Haaagh."

She exhaled, her breath heavy and her cheeks rosy.

"You know…"

She started speaking.

"…I know full well that I need to let go of you. Let go of the memories that I keep on clinging to."

Her vision started to blur as she removed her glasses, allowing her emerald eyes to be exposed to the world.

"I just… I guess I still want an excuse to be mean. I grew to hate the world because of you, but at the same time, I grew to have fun hating the world. Not caring about others' opinions, pushing away those who tried to form connections with me, and, overall, embracing my inner cynic didn't feel so terrible."

Extending her hand, she gingerly placed the glass bottle atop the cold gravestone.

Tok—

"But there comes a point when enough is enough."

Melissa let out a weary sigh, blinking her eyes repeatedly as she adjusted to the altered clarity of her blurred vision.

"It's time that I let go of you and myself. I can't be like this anymore. I guess…"

She closed her eyes, raising her face toward the sky.

"…It's time for me to finally move on. So should you if you're listening to me. I still resent you, but you should learn not to give a fuck like me. So what if my life ended up shitty? In the end, I'm still what I am today because of you, and…"

A faint, enigmatic smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

"I don't despise what I've become."

Tok—

Once more, she tapped the glass against the gravestone as if bidding farewell before turning away and leaving the graveyard behind.

Strangely, as she ventured forth, Melissa sensed a newfound lightness in her every step, as though a burden had been lifted from her weary shoulders.

Pausing for a moment, she glanced back, fixing her gaze on the cemetery, her eyes drawn to the words etched into the stone.

===[Octavious Hall]===

A hero, a devoted husband, and a loving father.

===[2030 — 2073]===

"A loving father... pfft..."

She whispered softly, the words carrying a mix of pain and closure.

And with that, Melissa continued on her way, the weight of the past gradually dissipating with each passing moment, leaving her ready to embrace a future tinged with both scars and newfound resolve.

It was time she moved on and grew up.

***

*Puff*

Smoke filled the air as Jin took a puff of his cigarette. He lifted his finger and playfully manipulated the swirling tendrils, guiding them along the path traced by his fingertip.

By the time he was done, certain words formed in the air before him. 'IAD' was what it said.

"Hehe."

He couldn't help but chuckle as he gazed at the words before him. Taking a quick look beside him, he pressed his lips together, attempting to hold back his laughter.

'Indeed, there's no better fit than these words for her...'

"The fuck are you doing?"

A certain annoyed voice echoed beside him, and Jin's smile faded.

"Nothing."

With a wave of his hand, the smoke dissipated. Concurrently, Priscilla's eyes narrowed as she examined him intently.

"IAD?"

Her eyes squinted further.

"Why do I have a feeling it's related to me?"

"You're imagining things."

Jin responded with an air of casual indifference, raising the cigarette to his lips and inhaling deeply from the butt.

*Puff*

"That being said," he paused and turned to look at her with narrowed eyes. "What are you still doing here? It's been a year since the war has ended. Shouldn't you be on your way?"

A year had passed since the defeat of the Demon King, and numerous events had occurred at that time. Priscilla and her clan, having provided crucial assistance during the war, were granted the privilege to remain on Earth.

With that being said, most of the demons chose to depart Earth and return to their respective planets.

The same was for her father, the current Patriarch of the Sloth clan.

"Isn't it true that you're the designated successor of the Sloth Clan? I would assume someone of your stature would have numerous responsibilities. Why haven't you returned to aid your father?"

Jin flashed a smile as he uttered each word, though his intention was subtly hidden. In the most courteous manner possible, he was essentially expressing his desire for her to fuck off.

*Puff*

nonchalantly observed Jin at her side. "But what can I say? I'm starting to enjoy

"..."

response to her words, leaving him momentarily speechless. The subtle smirk on her face only served to

"Tsk."

He clicked his tongue.

'Ignorant, Arrogant Demoness.'

against

The way she stared at him made him feel exposed as if she had

her for a brief moment, he

"Actually, yes."

"Oh?"

Priscilla raised her brow.

a very ballsy human,

so I've been

a drag of his

"No, you haven't."

"Didn't you just now?"

"..."

"He."

good drag of his cigarette. It felt good

Priscilla's eyes narrowed.

bolder with each

door. "You

If she found him annoying, she had every right to leave

"Haaa..."

sigh. He missed the days when he could relax by himself without any interruptions. Now

himself, casting a resentful glance toward Priscilla. One that she

you looking

a sudden thought. 'She's kind of cute when she's

shudder, Jin quickly dispelled the thought away from his mind as he sat up straight. He had almost

Ding—!

"Hm?"

then, his phone

"Fuuuck..."

his grip on the device tightened. Priscilla, noticing his reaction, leaned over to catch a glimpse of what was

extending her hand to snatch the phone away. However, Jin swiftly moved his hand out of her reach and placed his

"Hey! Hey! Hey! Boundaries!"

best to push

Let me see," Priscilla insisted, unbothered at all by what Jin was saying

"Hey! Fuck stop!"

being a pussy, and let

"Over my dead body!"

to die

sofa as Jin made an effort to push Priscilla

in frustration, he quickly thought better of it. While he did say "over my dead

up, and

"No!"

"Fuck you!"

his legs or his head, Jin fought back

onto his arm. She continued her relentless

"Got it!"

Priscilla emerging as the victor. She successfully

faded from Jin's silhouette as he

a determined gaze, she looked at the contents displayed

for her

inserted the password. Immediately Jin's face changed, but Priscilla didn't care. She had known his

"Uh?"

the screen, her face turned strange, and

"S...seriously?"

to hold her laugh as her cheeks inflated and

"Pft... you... seriousl—pffttt."

"Stop laughing."

as he turned to glare at

pffftt... okay... pfttt," unable to contain herself any longer, Priscilla

of her eyes as she laughed hysterically, smacking her hand against

Ba Bam—!

phone back. Priscilla didn't even bother posing a fight as she let

"Hahahaha."

expression darkened with every second of

"Are you done?"

it proved to be a challenging task

"Hahahha...Y..pftt...eah."

when he saw this, and just as he was about to put this all behind him, Priscilla's mouth parted open. Her voice sounded strangely

starting to worry about your future. This is the fifteenth blind date you've rejected. Is there perhaps something wrong with... You know you can tell Grandpa if you have trouble with your reproductive organ. We live in an age where medicines and potions work wonders. If there's really a problem, I'll

"Shut up!"

top of his lungs, desperately attempting to halt Priscilla's relentless

"Hahahahahha!"

Jin's eyes, Priscilla continued to laugh uncontrollably, her hand once

Ba Bam—!

uhhh... can't br... uhhh...

laughter, her amusement

muttered under his breath, his frustration evident in his words.

fists. Never in his life did he feel so humiliated, not even during the time when Ren beat

all his efforts and contributions to the war, Jin found himself unable to escape the clutches of his grandfather. Be it before the war or after the war; he always tried to find a means to set

grandfather. On the contrary, his grandfather returned with even greater strength and determination,

so bad that Jin wasn't even sure what

just

looking for a relationship at the moment. He enjoyed

look

I can't b..reathe! Uhpp..

it's not

she remained here, his life would never be peaceful. He

this?" He unconsciously blurted out loud, covering his face with

was seriously starting to

"Don't be sad."

look at Priscilla, who was still

He glared at her.

"What would you know?"

his finger. He took a deep, leisurely drag, savoring

*Puff*

that

now... Don't

amusing, a small sense of sympathy crept into her. She couldn't help but shudder at the mere thought of her father subjecting

happen... she

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