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*

and relishing the cigarette, she nonchalantly observed Jin at her side. "But what can I

"..."

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

"Tsk."

He clicked his tongue.

'Ignorant, Arrogant Demoness.'

against what I

involuntarily, his gaze fixed on Priscilla. The way she stared at him made him

her for a brief moment, he nodded his

"Actually, yes."

"Oh?"

Priscilla raised her brow.

a very ballsy human,

so I've been

drag of his cigarette and leaned back against the

"No, you haven't."

"Didn't you just now?"

"..."

"He."

It felt good getting one over this annoying,

Priscilla's eyes narrowed.

bolder with each

like it?" Jin pointed towards the door. "You can leave. I

she found him annoying, she had every right

"Haaa..."

a long sigh. He missed the days when he could relax by himself without any interruptions. Now that she was here, he no

a mess," he muttered to himself, casting a resentful glance toward Priscilla.

you looking

at Priscilla's menacing glare, Jin had a sudden thought. 'She's kind of cute when she's angr—eh no, what the fuck am I

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

Ding—!

"Hm?"

his

"Fuuuck..."

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

me see," she demanded, extending her hand to snatch the phone away. However, Jin swiftly moved his

"Hey! Hey! Hey! Boundaries!"

his best to push her

forget about boundaries. Let me see," Priscilla insisted, unbothered at all

"Hey! Fuck stop!"

pussy, and let

"Over my dead body!"

you want to

in a brief tussle on the sofa as Jin made an effort

to pull her hair in frustration, he quickly thought better of it. While he

and

"No!"

"Fuck you!"

was his legs or his head, Jin fought back in an attempt to defend

proved to be persistent and agile, like an octopus latching onto his arm.

"Got it!"

Priscilla emerging as the victor. She successfully snatched the phone away from Jin's hand, triumphantly gaining control over

against the sofa, the color faded from Jin's silhouette as he started to contemplate his

the contents displayed on the screen, finally

her to reap

face changed, but Priscilla didn't care.

"Uh?"

screen, her face turned strange, and she looked at

"S...seriously?"

the fact that she was trying to hold her

"Pft... you... seriousl—pffttt."

"Stop laughing."

crumbled as he turned to

pfttt," unable to contain herself any longer,

down the sides of her eyes as she laughed hysterically, smacking her hand against the side of the

Ba Bam—!

phone back. Priscilla didn't even bother

"Hahahaha."

every second

"Are you done?"

best efforts to restrain himself, it proved to be a challenging task as Priscilla

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

Jin calmed down when he saw this, and just as he was about to put this

you can tell Grandpa if you have trouble with your reproductive organ. We live in an age where medicines and potions work

"Shut up!"

lungs, desperately attempting to halt Priscilla's relentless

"Hahahahahha!"

rage in Jin's eyes, Priscilla continued to laugh uncontrollably, her hand once again smacking

Ba Bam—!

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

fits of laughter, her amusement now hindering her ability to

breath, his frustration evident in his words.

in his life did he feel so humiliated, not even during the

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

the contrary, his grandfather returned with even greater strength and determination, making it clear that

had gotten so bad that Jin

I just go

thought made him sigh. He wasn't really looking for a

to look at his

can't b..reathe! Uhpp..

guess it's

here, his life would never be

to deserve this?" He unconsciously blurted out loud, covering his

was seriously starting to

"Don't be sad."

subtle bump on his shoulder and slowly removed his arm from his face. He turned to look at Priscilla, who was

He glared at her.

"What would you know?"

lit it using his finger. He took

*Puff*

understand the pains that I go

Don't

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

to happen... she wasn't sure what

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