Chapter 108: The Sovereign of the Forest

Two months later.

In a quiet residential area deep within Gangwon Province, an unfamiliar stillness lingered in the air.

A black SUV came to a smooth stop by the side of the road, its engine softly humming before falling silent. The driver’s door opened, and Yoo Jinhoo stepped out, his presence calm yet commanding as always. On the passenger side, Min-seo followed shortly after, closing the door behind her as she glanced around with a mixture of curiosity and unease.

“Oppa, why did you bring me here?” she asked, stepping closer to him.

Jinhoo didn’t answer immediately. His gaze drifted toward the seemingly normal neighborhood ahead—a place that, at first glance, looked peaceful. Too peaceful.

“I need your help,” he finally said.

Min-seo tilted her head slightly. “Help with what?”

Jinhoo began walking forward without another word, prompting Min-seo to follow behind him. Her eyes scanned the area carefully. The houses were neat, well-maintained even—but there was no movement. No people. No sound. It was as if the entire place had been abandoned… yet not truly abandoned.

“Why is it so quiet…? Where are the residents?” she asked, her voice lowering.

“They’re all fine,” Jinhoo replied calmly.

Min-seo frowned. “What does that mean?”

“They’re inside their homes. They just… don’t like our presence.”

“Huh? I don’t get it.”

“You will, once we meet the one in charge here.”

They continued walking along the empty road, their footsteps the only sound breaking the silence. Min-seo couldn’t shake the strange sensation crawling along her skin.

It felt like they were being watched.

“Oh yeah… Oppa,” she spoke again, slightly lowering her voice, “why are we wearing normal clothes? If these people aren’t ordinary humans, shouldn’t we be using different identities?”

Jinhoo chuckled softly.

“You’re right… but unfortunately, they are humans—well, mostly. Just a bit… different.”

Min-seo blinked. “Different how?”

Jinhoo stopped walking.

A faint smile formed on his lips.

“Did you notice?” he said. “We’ve been surrounded by fog this entire time.”

“Huh? Fog? I don’t see any fog.”

Jinhoo raised his hand and snapped his fingers twice.

Snap. Snap.

In an instant—

The entire scenery began to distort.

The bright sky dimmed. The clean asphalt road beneath their feet warped and cracked, transforming into muddy terrain. The neat houses faded away like illusions being peeled back, replaced by towering ancient trees and dense forest vegetation.

Min-seo’s eyes widened in shock.

“W-What is this!?”

“What you were seeing earlier was an illusion,” Jinhoo explained calmly. “A mist created to trap prey.”

Min-seo immediately shifted into a defensive stance. Blue lightning crackled in both of her hands, illuminating the dim forest surroundings.

Jinhoo raised his arm slightly, stopping her.

“Relax. They won’t be able to defeat someone like you.”

“Huh?”

“This is the territory of the Ifrani race.”

“The Ifrani…?”

“Yep. A forest-dwelling race. They’ve lived their entire lives in places like this… just like you once did before you met me.”

Min-seo’s cheeks flushed slightly at that.

Before she could respond—

Rustling sounds echoed from the trees.

Several figures emerged from the shadows, surrounding them in a semicircle.

Each one held a sword, pointed directly at Jinhoo and Min-seo.

“Stop right there! Don’t move, or you’ll lose your lives!”

They looked human at first glance… but there was one distinct difference.

On top of their heads were rabbit-like ears.

Jinhoo’s eyes narrowed slightly.

’Just as I thought… the Ifrani race. Mutated rabbit-humans born from the emergence of supernatural energy in this world. They learned to mimic humans… fight like humans… live like humans… and now they’re spread across the world.’

His gaze remained calm.

’And as expected… they’re aggressive toward humans.’

Min-seo’s lightning intensified, her body tensing.

Jinhoo immediately extended his arm in front of her again.

“Stop. Don’t provoke them. That’s why we came dressed like this.”

Min-seo hesitated.

“…Fine. I’ll hold back.”

The lightning in her hands slowly faded.

Jinhoo raised both hands slightly, showing no hostility, and smiled.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. May I speak with your leader?”

The Ifrani warriors didn’t lower their weapons.

“On what grounds do you wish to meet her?” one of them asked coldly.

“I want to meet Miss Sinly.”

The moment those words left his mouth—

The atmosphere shifted.

Their eyes widened.

“How do you know our leader’s name…?”

“I know her,” Jinhoo replied calmly. “But she doesn’t know me.”

Min-seo, standing behind him, stared in admiration.

She thought, Oppa really knows everything…

After a moment of tense silence—

They were escorted deeper into the forest.

Soon, they arrived at a massive ancient tree.

Inside it… was a throne hall.

The interior was vast, carved naturally from intertwining roots that formed pillars, walls, and even a throne at the far end.

Dozens of Ifrani surrounded the area, their gazes sharp, filled with hostility toward the two humans.

Min-seo walked slightly behind Jinhoo, her nerves evident.

“Relax,” Jinhoo said quietly. “They won’t harm you.”

Hearing that, Min-seo felt slightly reassured.

At the center of the hall—

Bathed in sunlight streaming from an opening above—

Sat a woman.

Her long white hair cascaded down her shoulders. Rabbit ears stood proudly atop her head. Her crimson eyes locked onto them with overwhelming authority.

Her posture was relaxed—one leg crossed over the other, her head resting lazily against her hand.

’Sinly Leurelia… the queen of the Ifrani. I’ve wanted to meet you for a long time. There were many things I wanted to ask… but now, things are different.’

Jinhoo’s gaze sharpened slightly.

’I want you as my ally.’

Sinly’s lips parted.

“Tch… kneel.”

BOOM—

An invisible pressure exploded across the room.

The ground trembled violently.

Every Ifrani immediately dropped to their knees, their heads lowered in submission.

Min-seo gasped.

Her body felt unbearably heavy.

“K-gh…!”

Her knees slammed against the ground as she was forced into a kneeling position.

But—

Jinhoo didn’t move.

He stood firm, completely unaffected.

Sinly’s eyes widened slightly.

’Empress is Dominance… a powerful ability. But unfortunately… you’re using it on someone who can copy abilities.’

A faint smirk appeared on Jinhoo’s face.

In the next instant—

A deep blue aura erupted from his body.

It clashed directly against Sinly’s crimson aura.

BOOM—

The ground cracked beneath them.

The air vibrated violently.

Sinly’s expression changed.

’This man… he can use an ability similar to mine… how interesting.’

A small smile formed on her lips.

Jinhoo spoke calmly.

“We should stop this, Sinly. There’s no benefit in continuing.”

Sinly closed her eyes briefly.

Then—

Her aura vanished.

Jinhoo’s aura disappeared as well.

The pressure lifted instantly.

Min-seo and the others gasped for air, finally able to breathe again.

Sinly stood up from her throne.

She walked down slowly, stopping right in front of Jinhoo.

“A fascinating man… what brings you here?”

Jinhoo met her gaze without hesitation.

“Why should I explain myself to someone who attacked first?”

For a moment—

Silence.

Then—

Sinly laughed.

“A bold one! I like that.”

She placed a hand on her chest slightly.

“My apologies. Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Sinly Leurelia, leader of the Ifrani.”

“Call me Indigo.”

Her eyes flickered with interest.

“Indigo… the villain everyone has been talking about lately. And yet, you came here without your mask?”

“I came with peaceful intentions. Not to fight.”

“I see… then forgive my earlier rudeness.”

’So this is him… the infamous masked villain. And yet… beneath that mask is such a handsome face. How intriguing…’

Sinly smiled faintly.

“So… what brings you here, Mr. Indigo?”

Jinhoo glanced briefly at Min-seo, who was slowly standing up again.

Then he looked back at Sinly.

“I came here to make you my ally.”

Sinly raised an eyebrow.

“An alliance?”

She tilted her head slightly, her interest clearly piqued.

An alliance… with a rising villain like Indigo.

A dangerous proposal.

But also—

An interesting one.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep