The Order to Kill

“You said you could do anything, didn’t you?”

Do Jiwan asked me as he crossed his long legs.

The way his eyes slowly swept over me made it seem like he was testing just how far I could endure.

‘This vicious bastard.’

The time I had spent catering to his moods flashed before my eyes like scenes from a lantern parade.

It had been thirty thousand years since I started life as an angel, but I had never encountered someone this ruthless.

‘Sigh, I was way too naive.’

Though he now sat there pretending to be a neat and ordinary human, Do Jiwan—the arrogant man before my eyes—was the host of evil destined to become the Demon King in the future.

There was no way such a vessel of evil would be kind and gentle, yet I had chosen to see the world far too beautifully.

‘“If he were given another chance, maybe the future would change.” Honestly. What a waste of thirty thousand years.’

As I grumbled inwardly, Do Jiwan, who had been waiting for my answer, grew irritated at my silence.

“Shin Jiho.”

“Ah, yes. Hyungnim.”

His irritation wasn’t anything crude like throwing a tantrum.

He simply called my name in a refined tone and frowned slightly.

Was it just my imagination that even that carried elegance?

“Yes, if it’s your command, Hyungnim, I can do anything. Aren’t I your dog?”

I rubbed my hands together like a fly and laughed servilely.

Do Jiwan stared at my face in silence.

No emotion could be read from his clear eyes.

He was truly a difficult opponent.

Do Jiwan slipped his hand into the box he had brought and pulled something out.

It was a fist-sized puppy, trembling at the unfamiliar surroundings.

Judging by its condition, it didn’t look like he had picked it up off the street.

“Here.”

“Yes?”

He handed it to me.

While it had been too frightened to move in his grasp, the moment it settled into my arms, it began wagging its tail and acting cute.

As I stroked the puppy—whose entire body seemed to scream that it had been terrified of Do Jiwan—he said something shocking.

“Kill it.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said kill it.”

Kill what?

This puppy?

At first I couldn’t comprehend it and simply gaped, replaying his words in my mind—then I jolted in shock.

Kill it?

This poor thing?

I lowered my gaze and met its moist, anxious eyes.

It whimpered softly, looking uneasy in this strange place.

How could anyone tell me to kill something like this?

‘As expected of the vessel of evil….’

When my hesitation showed, Do Jiwan spoke.

“You said you’re my dog. If another dog stays by my side, you should bite it to death. Looks like it’s about to take your spot.”

“But… it’s so small. Wouldn’t biting it just once be enough?”

I would rather gently nibble its tiny nose.

Or kiss its belly and blow raspberries on it.

When I said I would be his dog, I meant I would be his loyal subordinate—not his pet.

“You don’t want to?”

Despite giving the order, I hadn’t moved.

The interest in his face began to fade.

He only kept me around because of that interest.

If it disappeared entirely, he would cast me aside.

And then my plan would completely fail.

‘Damn it… he doesn’t even know someone’s trying to save his life right now…!’

I felt wronged.

Truly wronged.

When everyone else wished for his death, I alone argued that he deserved another chance.

Because of that, I had descended from the heavens.

And this ungrateful black beast was asking me to commit murder.

‘Sigh, he doesn’t know the future. It can’t be helped.’

In the end, I had to act before I was thrown away.

“Understood. Hyungnim, I’ll step outside for a moment.”

“Why?”

“Ah, I can’t kill it here. Wouldn’t want to offend your eyes.”

I laughed obsequiously, tense in case he stopped me.

But since I was obeying, he seemed unconcerned with the details.

Holding the tiny puppy, I stepped behind the building and leaned against the door, letting out a wail.

“Waaah! What do I do, baby? How could I ever kill you!”

“Kki-ing! Kkaeng!”

Pressing our faces together, the puppy and I rubbed against each other for quite some time.

If I were still the angel I once was, I might have obeyed without blinking.

But after entering a human body and learning emotions, I could no longer remain rational.

As I pondered what to do, someone caught my eye.

I rushed toward her without thinking.

“Excuse me!”

“…Yes? Me?”

“Yes! Noona!”

The woman looked bewildered at being called “noona” by a stranger.

I asked her,

“Do you like dogs?”

“Yes… I do.”

“Are you allergic?”

“No.”

“Then would you consider raising one?”

“Well… maybe someday?”

Though awkward, she answered my questions.

I thrust the puppy into her arms.

She looked at me, startled.

“Would you raise it?”

“What? This one?”

Its tail was already spinning like a propeller.

I pulled out my wallet and emptied all the cash inside.

“Please buy supplies and food with this. And get vaccinations.”

“Wait a second—”

“I’m really sorry. Please take good care of it!”

Live well, baby!

Before she could stop me, I dashed back inside.

It was hard to part with it, but I couldn’t take responsibility.

I had already bet my angelic life on taming one mad dog.

When I returned, Do Jiwan alternated his gaze between my face and hands.

“The body?”

“…I threw it in the trash.”

“Your hands are clean.”

“I couldn’t dirty myself before coming back to you, Hyungnim.”

He gave a faint smile at my answer and gestured for me to sit.

His bodyguard placed iced Americanos in front of us.

‘Ah, if there’s one good thing about the human world, it’s this.’

The sharp chill cleared my mind.

Why didn’t heaven have this?

As I sipped through the straw, the bodyguard approached again.

“Guild Leader.”

“Mm.”

“Pffft!”

Seeing who came in with him, I spat out my drink.

It was the woman I had entrusted with the puppy.

“She has been brought.”

“Leave.”

It didn’t look like she had come voluntarily.

Her complexion was pale.

The bodyguard took the puppy from her arms and handed it to Do Jiwan, then escorted her out.

Only Do Jiwan, myself, and the dejected puppy remained.

He placed the puppy on the table.

“You said you killed it.”

“……”

“You said you threw it away.”

I couldn’t meet his eyes.

The puppy trembled and leaned against me.

Seeing it too frightened even to whimper made my blood boil.

‘What did this poor thing ever do!’

I glared at Do Jiwan—and was surprised.

Instead of anger, his expression was calm.

“What?”

Even as I glared, he showed no irritation.

Only curiosity.

I had expected fury, so I felt both flustered and relieved.

At least he didn’t seem ready to cast me out.

“I…”

“……”

“I can’t kill it! Waaah!”

“Kki-aeng! Kkaeng!”

“It’s too cute to kill!”

“Ki-wooong!”

Emotion surged as I cried along with the puppy.

I can’t kill it!

But I also didn’t want to be thrown away.

Watching us, Do Jiwan let out a disbelieving laugh.

“Ha…”

“You can’t throw me out! I have nowhere to go! I gave all my money away asking her to raise it!”

I’ll have to survive sucking on my fingers!

As an angel, I didn’t need food.

But as a human, missing meals was unbearable.

And without a way back to heaven, being cast aside meant watching the world’s destruction helplessly from Shin Jiho’s body.

Clutching the puppy, I clung to him.

One of his eyebrows rose.

Thinking he was about to get angry, I cautiously rolled my eyes.

He sighed.

“Let go.”

“Please don’t throw me away, Hyungnim!”

“I won’t. So let go.”

At once, I released him.

He let out a hollow laugh and extended his hand.

But before I could react, his finger flicked my forehead.

“Ahh!”

Too much!

Do Jiwan wasn’t an ordinary person.

As a high-ranking Hunter, his strength was monstrous—I thought my skull had split in half.

I glared up at him, but he ignored me.

“Take good care of it from now on.”

“…What?”