The Author's POV Chapter Epilogue — Effort's Never Betray You [2]

Tok—

"..."

Echoing through the serene environment, the clink of the glass bottle against the stone tomb resounded as Melissa remained there, deep in her reflections.

Gripping the bottle tightly, she sipped a bit of its contents, tasting the bitter-sweet flavor lingering on her lips.

Drip— Drip!

"Haaagh."

Her breath came out heavily, cheeks flushed with a rosy hue.

"You know…"

She began to speak.

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

Tears blurred her sight as she took off her glasses, revealing her emerald eyes to the open air.

"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."

She reached out carefully, setting the glass bottle on top of the chilly gravestone.

Tok—

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

A tired sigh escaped Melissa as she blinked several times, getting used to the fuzzy view without her glasses.

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

Her eyes shut while she tilted her face skyward.

"…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 subtle, mysterious smile curved her lips.

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

Tok—

She clinked the glass on the gravestone once again, like a final goodbye, before she turned and departed from the cemetery.

Oddly enough, as she walked ahead, a fresh sense of ease filled Melissa's steps, as if a heavy load had lifted from her tired shoulders.

She stopped briefly, looking back at the graveyard, her gaze settling on the inscription carved into the stone.

===[Octavious Hall]===

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

===[2030 — 2073]===

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

Her whisper held a blend of hurt and finality.

And so, Melissa pressed on, the burden of the past fading bit by bit, preparing her to face a future marked by old wounds and fresh determination.

It was time for her to move forward and mature.

***

*Puff*

Smoke wafted through the air while Jin drew on his cigarette. He raised a finger, playfully shaping the drifting wisps, directing them to follow his fingertip's trail.

When finished, words appeared in the smoke in front of him: 'IAD'.

"Hehe."

A chuckle escaped him as he stared at the smoky letters. Glancing quickly to his side, he bit his lip to stifle his laughter.

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

"The fuck are you doing?"

An irritated voice rang out nearby, wiping the smile from Jin's face.

"Nothing."

The smoke vanished with a flick of his hand. At the same time, Priscilla's eyes narrowed sharply as she scrutinized him.

"IAD?"

Her gaze intensified.

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

"You're imagining things."

Jin replied nonchalantly, lifting the cigarette to his mouth for a deep drag from the filter.

*Puff*

"That being said," he hesitated, then eyed her closely. "What are you still doing here? It's been a year since the war has ended. Shouldn't you be on your way?"

A full year had gone by since the Demon King's downfall, with many happenings in that period. Priscilla and her clan, key helpers in the conflict, earned the right to stay on Earth.

Nevertheless, the majority of demons opted to leave Earth for their home planets.

Her father, the Sloth Clan's Patriarch, had done the same.

"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 smiled while speaking, his true motive veiled politely. In the politest way, he was basically telling her to leave.

*Puff*

"Hmmm, can't argue with that," Priscilla muttered, puffing out a cloud of smoke as she lounged against the couch they both occupied. She shut her eyes, savoring the cigarette's taste, and casually eyed Jin next to her. "But what can I say? I'm starting to enjoy my time here. If I were to return, who would I have the pleasure of annoying?"

"..."

Her words made Jin's face twitch, rendering him speechless for a second. That sly grin of hers just made his irritation grow stronger.

"Tsk."

His tongue clicked in annoyance.

'Ignorant, Arrogant Demoness.'

"Have anything against what I said?"

A shiver ran through Jin as he locked eyes with Priscilla. Her piercing stare left him feeling bare, like she'd peeked into his secret thoughts.

After gazing at her shortly, he gave a nod.

"Actually, yes."

"Oh?"

Priscilla arched her eyebrow.

"You're a very ballsy human, aren't you?"

"And so I've been told."

Easing back, Jin inhaled deeply from his cigarette and reclined on the sofa.

"No, you haven't."

"Didn't you just now?"

"..."

"He."

A smirk crossed Jin's lips as he took another long pull from his cigarette. It was satisfying to finally one-up this bothersome, ignorant, arrogant demoness.

Priscilla's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"You're becoming bolder with each passing day."

"Don't like it?" Jin gestured to the door. "You can leave. I won't stop you."

He hadn't invited her to stick around with him. If his presence irked her, she was free to go anytime. He wouldn't hold her back, and truthfully, didn't care to.

"Haaa..."

A deep sigh escaped Jin. He longed for those solitary relaxation moments without disturbances. With her around now, such calm times were gone.

"What a mess," he grumbled under his breath, shooting Priscilla a bitter look. She shot one right back.

"What are you looking at?"

Jin met Priscilla's fierce scowl, and a random idea popped into his head. 'She's kind of cute when she's angr—eh no, what the fuck am I thinking about?'

Shaking it off with a jolt, Jin straightened up fast. He'd nearly slipped there for an instant.

Ding—!

"Hm?"

Right then, his phone buzzed.

"Fuuuck..."

Jin's face fell as he read the phone message, his fingers clenching the gadget hard. Spotting his shift, Priscilla peeked over to spy the screen.

"What is it? Let me see," she ordered, reaching to grab the phone. But Jin yanked his arm back out of range and pressed his palm to her cheek.

"Hey! Hey! Hey! Boundaries!"

Jin yelled, shoving her face away with all his might.

"No, forget about boundaries. Let me see," Priscilla pushed on, ignoring his protests completely as she shoved closer.

"Hey! Fuck stop!"

"Stop being a pussy, and let me see!"

"Over my dead body!"

"So you want to die that badly?"

A quick scuffle broke out on the sofa while Jin tried shoving Priscilla off.

Frustrated enough to yank her hair, he reined himself in fast. Sure, he'd said "over my dead body," but dying wasn't on his agenda.

"Give up, and let me see!"

"No!"

"Fuck you!"

Jin threw everything into the fight—legs, head, whatever—to guard his phone.

Yet Priscilla stayed tenacious and quick, clinging like an octopus to his arm. Her unyielding grabs kept coming for the phone.

"Got it!"

Ultimately, Priscilla claimed victory in the fray. She wrested the phone from Jin's grasp, seizing full possession with glee.

Slumped on the sofa, Jin paled as life choices flashed through his mind.

Her eyes firm, she checked the screen's message, at last fulfilling her aim.

Now she could claim her prize.

She powered up the phone and punched in the passcode. Jin's features twisted instantly, though Priscilla paid no mind. She'd cracked his password ages ago.

"Uh?"

But seeing the screen, her expression grew odd, and she glanced at Jin, who averted his eyes.

"S...seriously?"

Her puffed cheeks and red face showed she fought back giggles.

"Pft... you... seriousl—pffttt."

"Stop laughing."

Jin's face darkened further as he shot her a glare.

"Oh... pffftt... okay... pfttt," Giving up the fight, Priscilla burst into wild laughter. "Hahahahha!"

Tears trickled down her cheeks from her hysterical laughter, her palm slapping the sofa arm in sheer delight.

Ba Bam—!

Watching her laugh uncontrollably soured Jin's face even more as he bent forward to grab his phone back. Priscilla put up no resistance, handing it over while still giggling away.

"Hahahaha."

Priscilla's ongoing laughter made Jin's expression grow stormier by the moment.

"Are you done?"

Jin fought to contain his irritation. No matter how hard he tried to hold back, Priscilla's mocking chuckles while pointing at his phone made it incredibly difficult.

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

At last, Priscilla reined in her hysterics, slowly settling down as her grin disappeared. Seeing this calmed Jin too, and right when he thought to forget the incident, her lips parted again. Her tone came out unusually low and gravelly.

"Jin, Grandpa is really 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 search throughout the entire continent for a cure. You can trust Grandpa on that. I'm well past my prime and would like to see a grandchild; please take some time to reconsider. I'm really worried—"

"Shut up!"

Jin bellowed at full volume, frantically trying to cut off Priscilla's endless mockery.

"Hahahahahha!"

Brushing aside the fury in Jin's glare, Priscilla kept cackling wildly, her hand slapping the sofa anew.

Ba Bam—!

"I... uhhh... can't br... uhhh... eathe!"

Priscilla wheezed amid her laughing spasms, her hilarity now blocking normal breaths.

"Suffocate," Jin grumbled quietly, frustration dripping from his tone. "Damn it."

His fists tightened hard. No humiliation in his life had hit this deep—not even Ren's beating at the Lock.

For all his sacrifices and war deeds, Jin couldn't break free from his grandfather's grasp. Whether pre-war or post-war, the old man relentlessly plotted blind dates for him.

Jin's past refusals failed to discourage his grandfather at all. Instead, the persistence ramped up fiercer, signaling no way out from what loomed ahead.

Things had spiraled so far that Jin had no clue how to handle it.

'Should I just go to one?'

That idea drew a heavy sigh from him. Relationships weren't on his mind right now. He cherished his calm life—sort of...

He glanced over to his left.

"Ahh... I can't b..reathe! Uhpp.. help!"

'Eh... I guess it's not that peaceful.'

With her sticking around, true peace stayed out of reach. Another sigh escaped him.

"Just what did I do to deserve this?" He muttered aloud without thinking, draping his arm over his face as he slumped back, head lolling on the sofa.

Deep life reflections were setting in for him.

"Don't be sad."

A soft nudge tapped Jin's shoulder; he gradually lifted his arm from his face. Looking at Priscilla, he found her staring back with a grin she barely held in. Clearly, she battled fresh urges to laugh.

He shot her a fierce glare.

"What would you know?"

Dipping into his cigarette pack, Jin pulled one out and lit it quick with his finger. Drawing a long, relaxed puff, he blew out the smoke while relishing it.

*Puff*

"You wouldn't understand the pains that I go through every day."

"Hey, come now... Don't be so extra..."

A trace of sympathy colored Priscilla's words. The scene cracked her up plenty, but a bit of pity seeped in too. Just picturing her father pulling the same stunt sent a shiver through her.

If that ever happened... she had no idea how she'd cope.

"Oy!"

"Give up."

Grabbing a cigarette from Jin's pack, Priscilla mimicked him by igniting it and inhaling lightly. Lounging on the sofa, she fixed her eyes on him, curiosity suddenly lighting her gaze.

"Hey."

"What?"

Jin kept his eyes away from her. Priscilla didn't mind and pressed on anyway.

"Say," she pressed her lips together, gaze dipping briefly before lifting again. "Is what your grandfather said true? Does your—"

"It works just fine."

Jin cut in before she could complete her sentence. Exhaustion gripped him so tightly that he skipped glaring at her, lazily pulling another puff from his cigarette.

"As I said, I'm just not interested."

"Hmmm."

Priscilla narrowed her eyes, inspecting Jin meticulously from head to toe.

'A shame,' she reflected silently, eyeing him with close attention.

A nearer look forced her to admit his handsomeness was unquestionable. Actually, he outdid most demons she'd met over her life and likely stood among the absolute best in appearance.

Such a striking appearance wasted on someone behaving like a eunuch.

Really a waste.

Her head shook again.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Jin questioned, twisting his head toward her. The obvious pity in her stare left him uneasy.

"Have you truly never thought about going on those blind dates?"

Rather than respond, Priscilla posed the question nagging at her most.

"I'm sure you'd have no trouble finding a partner if you went there. Unless..." Priscilla's eyes narrowed once more, mischief sparkling within. "...You have someone you already like?"

"..."

Not uttering a sound, he averted his gaze from her.

"Eh?"

Priscilla froze at Jin's abrupt quietness, her smile vanishing swiftly.

"You... don't tell me you actually have someone you like?"

Surprise laced Priscilla's voice, showing her real shock. She never dreamed this fool in front of her could feel romance for anyone.

'Who could it be?'

Curiosity surged through her fiercely, pushing her to discover who held Jin's affections.

"What does it matter to you?"

From the side of his eye, Jin shot her a quick look as he spoke.

"No, but," Priscilla's lips pressed together, suddenly rendering her speechless.

'Exactly, why should it concern me?'

While pondering, Priscilla realized it wasn't her affair at all. She had no reason to care about this.

Yet, a strange discomfort stirred inside her unexpectedly. Though hesitant at first, the itch of ignorance bothered her, drawing her irresistibly toward the secret.

"Actually, to be honest, it doesn't really matter to me, but I'm suddenly curious. Just what type of person can make someone like you fall for them?"

Excuses poured from her lips, yet they rang partly true.

Truthfully, Priscilla pondered what sort of individual could stir Jin's emotions. Over their shared year, no one had seemed able to spark such feelings in him.

To her, he seemed emotionally numb, akin to a eunuch.

Imagining someone piercing his cold exterior only heightened her intrigue.

"Well, to be honest. I'm not sure anymore."

With a shoulder shrug, Jin hinted faintly at opening up to Priscilla.

Obligation aside, an odd pull encouraged him to share. After a year together, he'd apparently bonded somewhat with this clueless, haughty demoness.

"What do you mean you're not sure?"

"It means what it means," Jin replied, his gaze dropping slightly. "There was a time when I used to like her, but now..." He raised his hand to rub his chin's underside. "...I'm not so sure anymore."

That person was Melissa, no doubt. There had truly been a period when love for her burned in him.

It was part