Lucien was known by many names.

'To humans, he was a protector.'

'To devils, he was a nightmare.'

At just twenty-six, he had become the most feared devil hunter in the world. Cold, precise, and unwavering—he never hesitated, and he never failed.

Devils, to him, were nothing more than a threat that needed to be erased.

And tonight… he had been given another mission.

A remote village, hidden deep within a cursed forest, had reported strange deaths. No bodies left behind. No traces.

Only darkness.

Which meant one thing —A DEVIL.

Lucien moved through the forest with silent steps, his senses sharp. The deeper he went, the heavier the air became. Shadows stretched unnaturally, and even the wind seemed to avoid the place.

Then he felt it —An aura.

His eyes narrowed instantly.

It was powerful… but strange.

Not like any devil he had encountered before.

It wasn’t purely dark.

But it wasn’t human either.

Lucien followed it without hesitation, his grip tightening slightly. Whatever this was, it wasn’t normal—and that alone made it dangerous.

Step by step, the presence grew stronger… clearer…

Until he reached a small clearing.

And then—he stopped.

Under the shade of a large tree, surrounded by soft grass and scattered petals…sat a child.

A little girl not older than 4.

She was quietly playing with flowers, pulling at grass, completely lost in her own little world. A soft laugh escaped her lips as she held a flower up, admiring it like it was something precious.

Lucien stared. “…A child?” he muttered.

But the moment he focused— he felt it again.

That aura.

His gaze sharpened.

It was coming from her.

There was no doubt.

She wasn’t human. “…A devil’s child,” he said under his breath.

Yet… something was wrong.

There was no overwhelming darkness. No killing intent. No corruption.

Just… power.

Uncontrolled. Untamed. But quiet.

Lucien stepped closer, cautious but curious. “Where are your parents?” he asked.

The girl looked up at him.

Her eyes met his—calm, soft, almost innocent.

Too innocent.

She blinked slowly, as if trying to understand, then smiled.

“Zia,” she said gently.

Lucien exhaled softly through his nose.

Useless. “She can’t even talk properly…”

He glanced around the clearing. No signs of anyone else. No movement. No hidden presence.

Just her. Alone.

His grip tightened slightly. –A devil’s child… left unguarded?

That didn’t make sense.

For a moment, silence stretched between them.

Then Lucien turned. This wasn’t his concern.

His mission was clear—eliminate the threat in the forest. Getting distracted would only make things worse.

He took a step forward.

Then another. But something felt… off.

His steps slowed...He stopped.

A faint rustle of leaves echoed behind him as the girl continued playing, unaware… or perhaps uncaring.

Lucien closed his eyes for a brief second.

If he left her here, she would either die…

—or grow into something far worse.

His jaw tightened. “Tch…”

Annoyed, he ran a hand through his hair before turning back again.

“…You’re a problem,” he muttered.

He walked toward her once more.

Zia looked up instantly, her eyes lighting up as if she had been waiting.

Without hesitation, she reached out to him.

Lucien paused.Just for a second.

Then he bent down and gently picked her up. She was light—fragile.

Nothing like the power he had sensed.

“I’ll deal with you later,” he said quietly. “After this mission.”

Zia held onto his coat with her tiny hands, resting her head against his shoulder like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Lucien frowned slightly… but didn’t push her away.

And as he stepped out of the clearing—the forest grew even darker.

Because far beyond the shadows…

something had already begun to move.

The village stood in silence,not a single sound,not even the wind dared to pass through.

Lucien stopped at the edge of it, his gaze scanning every corner. The darkness here was different—thicker, heavier. The kind that didn’t just exist… but waited.

He looked down at the child in his arms.

Zia blinked up at him, still holding a small flower she had picked along the way.

For a moment, he said nothing.

Then he turned slightly and walked toward a spot just outside the village, near a large tree hidden behind broken stone.

He crouched down and gently set her there.

“Stay here,” he said, his tone low and firm.

She didn’t understand.

But she didn’t move either.

Just sat there quietly, playing with the flower in her tiny hands.

Lucien watched her for a second longer than necessary… then stood.

And walked away.

The moment he stepped into the village—the presence revealed itself.

Dark energy surged through the air.

From the shadows, the devil emerged.

Tall. Distorted. Watching him with a twisted grin.

Lucien didn’t waste time.

His blade was already in his hand.

The devil attacked first.

Fast.

But Lucien was faster.

He dodged cleanly, stepping aside as claws tore through the air. His movements were sharp, controlled—each step calculated, each strike precise.

He didn’t rush.

Didn’t panic.

He observed.

Adapted.

And avoided most of the attacks with ease.

Still—one hit slipped through.

A shallow cut across his arm.

Another grazing his side.

Nothing serious.

Nothing that would slow him down.

Lucien’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“…You’re weaker than I expected.”

The devil snarled and lunged again—but this time, Lucien moved forward.

One step.

One strike.

Clean.

Final.

The body dropped.

Silence returned to the village.

Lucien exhaled slowly, lowering his blade.

The mission…

was complete.

He didn’t stay.

Didn’t look back.

He turned immediately and walked out of the village, heading straight to where he had left her.

And there she was.

Exactly where he had placed her.

Zia sat quietly under the tree, still holding the same flower, gently turning it in her hands as if it was enough to keep her entertained all along.

Lucien paused.

“…You didn’t move.”

She looked up at him and smiled.

Like nothing had happened.

Like she had been waiting.

He crouched down again, his injured arm aching slightly as he reached for her.

“…You’re strange.”

But still—

he picked her up. Carefully.

The forest stretched ahead of them once more.

Darker and colder now.

Lucien walked steadily, though his body had begun to feel the weight of the fight. His arm throbbed faintly, and exhaustion settled slowly into his steps.

But he didn’t stop.

Not while carrying her.

Minutes passed.

Then—something changed.

The pain It didn’t disappear…but it softened.

His steps grew lighter.

His breathing steadier.

Lucien frowned slightly.

That shouldn’t be happening...not this fast.

His gaze lowered.

Zia had fallen asleep.

Her small head rested against his shoulder, her grip loose but secure, the crushed flower still held in her tiny hand.

Lucien’s eyes lingered.

And then—he noticed it.

That same faint warmth.

Subtle and quiet.

But there.

His expression tightened just a little.

“…So it’s you.”

The forest remained silent around them.

But for the first time since the fight—Lucien didn’t feel the weight of it as much.

And for reasons he didn’t understand—neither did the pain.

The forest stretched endlessly ahead.

Dark and silent.

But no longer the same.

Lucien walked steadily, his steps firm against the uneven ground. The wounds from the fight… were gone.

Not healing.

Healed completely.

His grip tightened slightly.

That shouldn’t be possible.

His gaze lowered to the child in his arms.

Zia was quiet again, her small fingers loosely holding onto his coat, her expression calm as ever.

“…You did that,” he muttered under his breath.

No answer. Just silence.

Lucien looked ahead again, his thoughts heavier than before.

A devil’s child.

That much, he knew.

But now—there was more.

Too much.

And before he could piece it together—the air shifted.

Sharp and cold.

Different.

Lucien stopped instantly.

“…No way.”

Light.

Faint at first—then growing.

A presence unlike anything in the forest.

Not dark.

Not corrupted.

Pure.

An angel.

A figure stepped forward, emerging from the shadows as if the darkness itself made way for it. Its gaze was steady, unwavering—

and locked directly onto Zia.

Lucien’s expression hardened.

“…State your purpose.”

The angel didn’t hesitate.

“Hand over the child.”

Direct and cold.

Absolute.

Lucien’s grip on Zia tightened.

So it wasn’t just him.

They knew.

“She’s not yours,” Lucien replied flatly.

“She does not belong in your hands,” the angel said. “She is a threat. She must be taken.”

A pause Lucien’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“…So you know what she is.”

The angel stepped closer.

“More than you do.”

That was enough.

Lucien exhaled quietly, his stance shifting.

His decision—

made.

“No.”

Silence.

The air tightened instantly.

“You would defy heaven?” the angel asked, its voice calm—but edged.

Lucien didn’t flinch.

“I don’t take orders.”

The moment the words left him—the angel moved.

Light surged forward.

Fast.

Too fast.

Lucien reacted instantly, twisting his body and shielding Zia as the attack tore past him, cutting through trees like paper.

He didn’t counter.

Didn’t strike back.

He knew better.

Fighting an angel head-on—

wasn’t something he could win.

Or something he was willing to do.

Instead—he ran.

The forest blurred around him as he moved, fast and precise, using every shadow, every turn, every obstacle to his advantage.

“Running will not change the outcome,” the angel’s voice echoed behind him.

Lucien didn’t respond.

His focus remained ahead.

On escape.

On distance.

On her safety.

Branches snapped underfoot, wind cutting past him as he pushed forward—

Then—a sudden movement from the side.

Lucien’s instincts reacted before his mind did.

He dodged.

A creature lunged where he had been a second before, crashing into the ground with a distorted snarl.

A demon.

Another one.

Lucien didn’t stop.

“…Not just angels?”

The realization hit instantly.

They were coming.

Both sides.

For her.

His grip tightened around Zia as he kept moving, faster now.

More urgent.

“She’s not just a devil’s child…”

His voice was low.Serious and certain.

“She’s something else.”

Zia remained quiet in his arms, her small form steady against him, as if none of this chaos mattered.

But Lucien knew better now.

This wasn’t coincidence.

This wasn’t random.

This was pursuit.

And for the first time—the situation became clear.

“…You need to be hidden.”

His gaze sharpened as he pushed deeper into the forest.

Away from everything.

Away from everyone.

“Protected.”

Because whatever she was—she wasn’t meant to fall into anyone’s hands.