The west branch of Padoka Market quaked at the news of the God of youth coming to visit with his youngest daughter.

While it is nothing out of the ordinary for them to deal and transact with big shots, it was like a national emergency when a God himself visits their continent to specifically shop in their establishment. The whole market was tossed and turned over, derived of eyesores and was made sure to be spotless. Every nook and cranny was thoroughly rubbed clean, local residents swore they almost gone blind from just taking a glance at the place.

The whole market was barred and closed down on this day, specially reserved for the Jangs. Ever since the day started, employees and shopowners remained lined up in front of the market's gates, in wait of the rumored glowing carriage.

Alas, it didn't disappoint. The conspicuous carriage could instantly be seen even from afar—and it glowed so bright as it descended down, one could say that the sun itself had gone down in their humble abode. Each made a mental note to devote an extra hour of praying each day starting from now.

The door of the carriage opened, and out came a handsome deity carrying a fairy-like child.

Everyone was left either gaping or frozen in awe. Was it really okay for them to witness their arrival? The sight of the two people with pure holy power running in their veins was too oppressing for Tanla like them.

The seven-foot tall God approached the head of the west Padoka Market, who's known as Sir Franco. Franco was a Tanla who has the longest and most dexterous tail, so he stood out among the other Tanla. He wore a specially tailored suit for this specific day, boasting gold details and beige patterns, colors that represent the God of youth and the holy power itself.

"Lord," He bows his lowest, before standing straight—with fists discreetly clenched behind him in nervousness. "Welcome to our humble market. Would looking around interest you, or would you like to immediately proceed to the main building?"

"Let us proceed to the main building," Hibis says, as he looks down on the stout man.

"Understood."

"Also, leave the rest behind." The long-haired God looked over to the other employees and shopowners lined up. As his gaze swept over them, natural instinct made them flinch and look down, avoiding eye contact.

"U-Understood." Sir Franco gulped, before taking out a small, box material and gently set it on the ground.

A sudden bright ripple emerged, forming into a thin slit-like hole, before expanding. It faintly revelead a fully-furnished waiting room, and Yun couldn't help but raise her brows in amazement.

A portal?

Sir Franco waited beside patiently for the two esteemed customers to enter first. Hibis had to lean down to fit his whole self through, and Yun looks back to see the other man follow, the portal closing behind him right after.

Cool. It's just like passing through a doorway. But...

"Why didn't we just teleport..." words sputtered out of Yun's mouth before she could even think about it. She paled afterwards in regret.

Luckily, this father of hers didn't seem to mind her chatter, and answered casually. "You don't have a Yothagou. Naturally, you can't process and absorb mana to use on teleportation."

"I can't use any magic?"

"You cannot use your holy powers, yes,"

So I'm basically crippled without them?

Yun nods, hair bouncing lightly on her head. "When will I have a Yothagou?"

"Seems like the young miss is a lot more eager than I thought!" Sir Franco chuckles, as he began to tinker with the lock of a metal door with his necklace. Once successful decoding said lock, a loud click was heard in the room, and Sir Franco stepped back and let the door open by itself.

Four people walked out with their heads lowered, as if they were walking to their deaths. There was a small boy, a small girl, a teenage boy, and an adult man. The atmosphere with all of them was just somber, and Yun couldn't help but feel bad.

"The finest Yothagou we have." Sir Franco came over to the little boy and grasped his shoulders, making him jump a little.

"This one was caught in hiding with his older brother." He says as he looks at the adult man beside him who had a dark expression on his face. "Both of them are masterless by the way. Seems like they were born and raised without our knowledge."

He then moved over to the teenage boy, who had a blank expression, as if he had already given up all hope in life. Sir Franco tried to tidy his hair, but it still remained dirty and unruly so he gave up and wiped his hand at the side of his shirt.

"This one once had a master, but his master died, so he turned himself in." After explaining the short backstory of the teenager, he then went to the little girl, the last person to be advertised.

"What do you think about this one? Looks like she's the same age as young miss." He laughs, before squeezing the cheek of the unresponsive child. "Quite adorable too."

"What's the matter?" Unexpectedly, Hibis had noticed Yun's reluctant expression. 

How to explain the feeling? It just feels like what they were doing was wrong. Isn't this slavery?

"I'm thinking," she just says.

Ever since living in this world, not only her culture—even her morals are challenged everyday. Unlearning and then once again learning everything might just be the way to go, because she just can't keep getting surprised like this.

Yun eventually decides to be ignorant and treat this selection like an adoption of a pet.

The adult man was an adult man. Truthfully, he was too intimidating to be around with forever.

The teenage boy was a bit too... lifeless. He's like a man deprived of brain that could feel and express emotions. Yun wanted to cultivate good feelings with her Yothagou, how could she with someone resigned.

As for the little girl... she was indeed the most pleasing to the eyes, but something just feels off about her. Her stare at her, the overall vibe that she lets out... goosebumps just grace Yun's skin whenever she could feel the little girl watch her. Gut feelings were never wrong, and so this time, she doesn't take a chance.

"I'd like to take a closer look to the boy." she finally says.

Someone who seems to be a bit docile and harmless.

The gaze of the adult Yothagou on her hardened, veins on his temple visible—but she doesn't seem to mind. She was set down by Hibis, and she immediately went over to face the boy.

She was taller than him, and so she looked down on him. From the view point of the boy, it looked frightening, and tears immediately formed at the corner of his eyes.

"I can give you a better life." She says, making it loud enough for his brother to hear. "You won't worry about hiding anymore. You won't worry about dying.

"Won't you come with me?"

The boy stared at her dumbfounded, but still couldn't talk in response. He glanced at his brother, seemingly awaiting for his decision. Following this, Yun also looked at the adult man.

He had his thick brows furrowed, looking like he was indeed seriously pondering about what she had said.

Sir Franco couldn't help but bite his inner cheek and sweat bullets. Is the young miss really waiting for an answer from this lowly being? His eyes carefully glanced at the God of youth, who had his expression blank. But Franco couldn't help but overthink and see it as a look of impatience.

"Y-You know that if you don't get picked, you get to be fed to the market's beasts, right?" He says, further adding fuel to the fire.

And this made the adult man flinch and look at the market head in horror. He then looks at his brother, the pitiful look he's had on, and his lip trembled.

After a while, a small voice came out from his lips. "...you go."

"Brother—" The curly-haired boy was still about to argue, but the older man could only shake his head with a sad smile.

Having finally understood, more tears fell from the boy's eyes, and he says meekly, "I'll come with you."

"Alright, good." Yun smiles.

As the boy steps forward, Yun was about to ask her father on how to make this Yothagou hers...until a strong feeling of hunger swept over her body, and she suddenly lost control. She pounced on him like a wild dog, eager to maul, eager to devour. The boy was terrified out of his wits, screaming and thrashing around, but the strength of the girl on top of him was inhumane, and kept him pinned on the ground as her face went closer.

Golden liquid came out from they boy's mouth, entering hers like a heavy-flowing stream from a lake. Even though a part of her was disgusted, Yun sucked this golden liquid like a thirsty man stuck in the desert, and continued to do so for the next few minutes.

Such a horrible sight to see for Yothagou. The little girl had a pale face, and the older brother was long ago knocked out by the stout market head after trying to break free from his restraints in hopes of protecting his younger brother.

Yun drained every single drop until the boy's skin wrinkled and withered, eventually turning into dust that disappeared in the air.

She was finally satiated. The soul-binding had finished.

She didn't feel weak, in fact, Yun had never been this uplifted before. It felt like she had boundless stamina and had more energy than before, but she still couldn't help but collapse in a kowtow to the ground.

Yun felt like vomiting.

"Finished?" Hibis was suddenly beside her, and she could't help but feel more sick to her stomach.

Such casual words... as if I hadn't just murdered someone.

"Y-Yes."

Hibis took note of his daughter paling and having sweat on her temples. He gently scooped her up to his arms, and threw a cold look at Franco.

"We're leaving."

•••

Yun woke up a few hours later. She scanned her surroundings and found that she was once again back in her room—only this time, instead of the sun, the moon was the one shining bright outside her room's huge glass windows.

I can't believe I really fainted after that.

Maybe it was the mental exhaustion. Such a horrible visual was too much for her afterall. But to fall asleep in that man's arms...

"Nayun! You're awake,"

She looks at the owner of the hand holding hers, and wasn't surprised to see Hideon sitting beside her.

He was looking at her with an aggrieved expression, looking as if he was wronged while she was away.

"I can't believe I was left alone," He says in a voice that was close to crying. "I wanted to follow you once I woke up, but nobody knew where you and father went... I am so sorry, Nayun,"

Nayun could only pat his head in a form of appeasement, used to his antics. "We went to a market faraway... and I got a Yothagou."

Hideon paused. It seems like time froze for a split-second, the temperature dropping as fast as light, before his hand on hers tightened, and his expression was ugly.

"What?"

It's not the first time she saw this expression on his, but today, it somehow manages to be a lot more terrifying. She slowly backed away until her back hit the bed's headboard, and Hideon still kept advancing towards her.

"Why did you get one? Are you crazy? " He says in a loud voice, almost deafening her.

"How can I use magic..." she defends herself, but she was still violently shaken by this brother of hers.

"Call it out! Call. It. Out."

"Call what out?" her nails dig to his hands on either of his shoulder, but his grip only tightens, making her wince.

"CALL IT OUT!! "

"Tell me how!" Stop hurting me!

Tears pooled her eyes and began falling uncontrollably. At the sight, Hideon snapped out of his deranged state, before pulling her close to him and into a suffocating hug.

"I am sorry, sister... brother was just mad..." He also began to tear up, feeling genuinely bad about what he just did. "It's just that you're so stupid, you could lose your life again.."

Yun emptied her tears for awhile, and when they finally calmed down, she wiped her snot on his dress shirt in spite before pulling away.

"Brother, I don't seem to understand what you want to say earlier."

"?"

"Call what out?"

"Ah, that," It was his lack. He had forgotten that his sister had lost her memories, and that she probably forgot everything about summoning her Yothagou.

"You can summon your Yothagou by closing your eyes and picturing a door. You then open that door. On the room behind that door lies your Yothagou."

Yun frowns. Seeing her still confused, Hideon proceeds to explain further.

"Yothagou lives inside of us. Sister Janet taught me that in order to call them out to our world, we need to open the door inside of us."

Yun blinked, before she reminisced. The look on the face of that boy was unforgettable, and will forever be engraved to memory. That look of horror, dread, and sadness as his entire being was sucked dry by her.

So he's still alive...

Yun took a deep breath, before closing her eyes and pictured a door in mind.

A door made of thick oak logs.

 Behind this door, will she really be able to see that boy again?

If she could, she'd like to apologise. For scaring him... for picking him.

She reached out for the handle, and pulled it open.

"..."

"...you bastard."

Yun opened her eyes, only to see Hideon jumping on a frail little boy and proceeding to throw heavy punches to his gut.