Devil’s Music

Chapter 204: Chapter 205: With Kiska part 2



In a daze, Kiska watched her grandmother's aggressive suppression and only intervened belatedly with a flustered attempt to stop her.

Holding a broom and wary of Geon, the grandmother finally apologized with an embarrassed face after listening to her granddaughter's lengthy explanations.

The old grandmother's sweeping wasn't painful, and Geon, particularly sensitive to his grandmother, just smiled and reassured her that he was fine, soothing her instead.

After the grandmother returned to her room, Geon, wanting some fresh air, went outside and sat on a rock in front of a cliff.

The night view below the cliff felt different from Nepal, but the air was just as fresh and refreshing.

Sitting on the rock and stretching broadly, Geon crossed his arms and got lost in thought about various recent events—helping Arthur, handling school matters, and Kiska's issues. He had put aside his musical research and contemplations for a while and now found himself pondering music-related challenges in front of the vast natural landscape.

"The anthem I handed over to Arsenal was a success, but there are still unresolved parts. Especially the afterimage of complementary colors... I can't even get a feel for it, and though I've figured out how to incorporate three colors, whether that's everything, I don't know. Does it really require bending to incorporate three emotions?"

Lost in his thoughts, Geon was viewed from afar by Kiska, who had come out looking for him, worried because he hadn't returned late into the night.

Relieved at the sight of Geon from the back as she stepped out of the house, she wore a cardigan and approached him.

The usual view greeted her as she opened the door, but now framed within the grand natural scenery, only Geon's back was different.

But that alone made the familiar scene feel overwhelmingly beautiful to Kiska, who tiptoed closer to Geon with a smile.

She had thought to play a prank, but seeing Geon so deeply engrossed in thought with a serious expression, she quietly sat next to him on the rock, taking care not to make a sound.

Kiska's eyes softened as she gazed at the seriously contemplating profile of Geon, which looked stunningly beautiful.

The person she had merely considered handsome was now beginning to appear different to Kiska, who was entering adolescence.

His wavy black hair just covered his eyebrows.

His thick eyebrows and long eyelashes, deep-set eyes.

Perfectly sized and beautiful black pupils.

A nose high enough to fit the word 'sharp'.

Lips that looked like they could bleed any moment.

A white face with smooth lines.

And below that, a softly protruding Adam's apple.

Kiska's youthful heart began to change. He was just a person she wanted to be with, someone she wanted to own, someone she didn't want taken away by others, almost like a real older brother.

Her heart pounded insanely as she looked at the deep-thinking profile of Geon, whose face turned slowly towards her, unaware she had approached.

"When did you come?"

Stunned, Kiska fanned her face, feeling the heat.

"Ah... It's, it's hot."

Smiling, Geon tidied up Kiska's bangs with a tender voice.

"Gregory told me. You've been into soccer lately, haven't you?"

Enjoying the pleasant touch, Kiska shyly nodded.

"Mmm... But the season just ended, so no games. I'm studying by watching highlights. It's a sport with a surprisingly deep history."

"That's right, it's been over a hundred years."

Even just sitting silently together on the cliff felt awkward for Kiska, who still blushed and asked.

"Have you heard about Arsenal?"

Lowering his hand from stroking Kiska's hair, Geon replied.

"Yeah, finished second in the league, semifinals in the Champions, and won the FA Cup."

"Yeah, it's been all the buzz. They say next season is highly anticipated."

"Hehe, yeah. Kevin keeps me updated after every game."

"The, the... watch?"

"Huh? What about the watch?"

"The, the watch... isn't there another model?"

"Oh, there will be."

"What kind is it?"

"Gretsch is a place with a long history, not just the White Falcon. There'll be sunburst and orange models for new custom watches, probably coming out in two months."

"Are they making women's watches this time?"

"Yeah, the orange model will be for women. I've specially ordered yours, so you'll be able to have a series of your own."

"Uh, uh, thanks."

As Geon placed his hand on Kiska's shoulder, he asked.

"Kiska, you're stuttering more than usual. Is there a problem?"

As Geon touched her shoulder, Kiska, who flinched, blushed even more and exclaimed.

"No, nothing at all!"

She felt fortunate that her flushed face was not

 visible in the dark, worry-free place, and she glanced at Geon, who was scrutinizing her with concerned eyes.

"It's really nothing."

"You seem to have a fever. Don't you have a cold?"

Geon placed the back of his hand on Kiska's cheek and then touched both her cheeks with his hands.

"It really seems like you have a fever."

Kiska placed her hands over Geon's and said.

"No... it's nothing..."

As Geon moved to touch her forehead, Kiska, with a firm grip, caught his hand and placed it back on her cheek.

"It's okay, just stay like this."

With no particular thoughts, Geon, feeling the awkwardness in the air, became flustered. Holding Kiska's hands forced to her cheek, he found himself with nowhere to look but around.

"Uh... isn't it a bit cold? Should we go in?"

"It's summer, what's cold?"

"Is it because it's night? Hmm."

"Let's stay a bit longer."

"Mmm..."

As Kiska continued to gaze into Geon's eyes, and he repeatedly avoided her burdensome stares, a slight passage of time unfolded between them, and Kiska finally spoke.

"What were you thinking about?"

"Ah... there's something I've been researching."

"What is it, tell me."

"Ah... haha, I like hearing you call me 'brother'..."

"Just tell me?"

"Ah... okay. Then let me just release your hand for a moment..."

Following Geon's words, Kiska released his hand, which she had been holding to her cheek, and quietly awaited his explanation. Feeling Kiska's warmth through his hand, Geon looked down at his hand and began.

"As I mentioned before, I was researching at the art gallery, and I saw a painting by Georges Seurat that was very helpful. With Abigail's help from the gallery, I read a paper where I saw the phrase 'afterimage of complementary colors'. I'm still researching how to apply this musically."

Kiska asked with wide eyes.

"Complementary colors? You mean two contrasting colors?"

"Yes, exactly. When you place two contrasting colors, a completely different color afterimage appears."

"Mmm... I see."

"Ah, now that I think about it, Kiska, you see colors in text, right?"

"Yes."

"Haha, now that I think about it, I see music scores, and you see colors in text. You're the only person who understands that about me."

"Yes, I like that."

"What do you like?"

"That you understand seeing colors. You're that person for me too."

"Ah... haha that, that's nice. Are you still reading a lot?"

"Yes, dad often buys me books."

"What are you reading?"

"Yesterday I read 'The Brothers Karamazov' by Fyodor Dostoevsky."

Geon's face stiffened. Kiska, who usually pestered him to read fairy tales to her, was reading a book even adults found challenging.

"Do... Dostoevsky?"

"Yes, I've read all his books now."

"Why read such books while still wanting fairy tales..."

Kiska, flustered for a moment, quietly said.

"Oh, I like falling asleep to brother's voice..."

If it had been like before, Geon would have just smiled and patted the cute Kiska's head, but now he was visibly flustered. He coughed and looked away at distant mountains, awkwardly avoiding her gaze. Kiska, noticing his discomfort, leaned her head gently on Geon's shoulder beside her and smiled blissfully.

Though he couldn't see her expression, feeling Kiska's head on his shoulder warmed Geon's heart, and he smiled.

Kiska, fiddling with Geon's fingers, suddenly remembered something and said.

"Ah! I think I read about that in a book."

Startled by Kiska looking up at him so closely, Geon pulled his head back.

"Uh, what?"

"That thing, the afterimage of complementary colors."

"Oh?"

Kiska, wrapping her arms around Geon's, said.

"Doctors wear green scrubs because of the afterimage of complementary colors. I read that when doctors spend long hours looking at blood, they become accustomed to the color red. When they look up and see another doctor or nurse in white, the complementary colors red and green swirl in their eyes, causing confusion and significantly reducing their concentration. That's why all the staff in the operating room wear green."

Geon, learning a new fact, just nodded his head.

"Mmm, so that's the hidden meaning."

Kiska looked up at Geon with wide eyes and added.

"But that book also said something else. White is a color where all colors are mixed, so the afterimage of complementary colors is distinct. People who need to avoid the afterimage of complementary colors should not use white."

"White?"

"Yes, white

. And... there was also a story about Eastern temples."

"Temples? You mean Buddhist temples?"

"Yes, Eastern temples appear mysterious and splendid because they use green and red, two contrasting complementary colors, making each other appear clearer and more distinct. The book also said that Eastern temples do not use white."

"White... white, you say."

Seeming to have gotten a hint, Geon's eyes sparked as he looked over the cliff.

Quietly watching Geon fall into thought, Kiska smiled again and leaned her head on his shoulder.

As the night deepened for Kiska, happy by just being beside Geon, the stars in Georgia's clear sky shone a warm light down on them, and the laughter of a joy-filled girl glowed beautifully.

Three days.

The time Geon spent in a rural village in Georgia with Kiska rejuvenated him after a period of exhaustive activity and research.

Though it was only three days, Kiska, brightened with happy laughter like girls her age, never let go of the hand she firmly held, always hooked into Geon's arm. Strolling around the village and shopping in small streams, the girl found every ordinary street she walked with her father to be beautiful.

In the unchanged streets and the unchanging scenery, only one thing had changed: Geon was by her side. Realizing how big a change it was, Kiska gripped her chest, her heart fluttering with growing emotions.

The time she wished would last forever eventually came to an end. On the day she had to return to the US, Kiska arrived at the airport in Gregory's car, frequently touching Geon's fingers with eyes full of unease and regret.

"Can't we stay a little longer?"

Looking down at the affectionate girl, Geon smiled and placed his hand on her head.

"I'll come back. I have commitments at school, and if I'm late, I'll fail. I can't even make excuses since I'm not attending classes."

"Umm… still…"

"Hehe, come back soon."

"Umm…"

Watching the two, Gregory coughed and looked at his watch.

"Ahem, isn't there still time before the flight? The coffee in Georgia is quite decent, how about a cup before you go?"

Gregory looked back at Geon who checked the time and nodded.

"Yes, we have time."

"Hmm, I noticed something odd about the car sound when I came, I'll get it checked at the center, so you two better head to the café first."

Quick-witted Gregory vacated the spot, and Geon, with a small laugh, offered his arm.

"Shall we go, lady?"

Arm in arm, Geon arrived at the café with Kiska, spending the last 30 minutes together.

Promising to call twice a day when he got back, and warning Kiska not to get too close to Seizuka, Geon checked the time was nearing for his flight and stood up.

"Shall we go then?"

Walking up to the gate with Kiska, who looked disappointed, Geon placed his hand on her shoulder.

"I have to go now."

"Okay…"

"Stay healthy, eat a lot, and grow taller. Got it?"

"Okay…"

"Let's hug."

Bending down, Geon hugged Kiska. Habitually, she raised her arms to wrap them around Geon's neck, giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"Really, you have to call often."

"Haha, I will."

After a brief farewell, Geon entered the gate, repeatedly looking back and waving his hand.

Until the automatic doors closed, Kiska, unable to take her eyes off Geon, waved her hand back repeatedly as Geon went through the departure check and boarded the plane.

Being in first class, he boarded immediately without waiting and checked his ticket for his seat number.

'A?39, that's by the aisle, right?'

First class wasn't divided into sections, so Geon quickly found his seat but was disappointed.

'Ah… I wanted to do some research during the flight… but there's someone in the adjacent seat.'

Seeing a tall, short-haired blonde man in a dark brown suit sitting in the window seat marked A?38, Geon stored his luggage in the overhead bin and took his seat.

After a brief eye contact, the man nodded slightly with a faint smile but soon turned away and closed his eyes.

'Phew, luckily he doesn't recognize me. Maybe he's not interested in music.'

Relieved that the man didn't recognize him, Geon took out manuscript paper and a pen from his small bag.

Staring at the blank manuscript, an announcement signaling takeoff reached Geon's ears.

Taking his eyes off the manuscript to check his seatbelt, he refocused on the paper after the seatbelt sign was turned off.

'As Kiska suggested, why not try using white? It's just an experiment, so don't think about feelings, just use green, red, and white.'

The movement of Geon's pen vividly colored the notes on the manuscript.

The notes started green, changed to red across the bars, and the last bar was filled with white. Staring sternly at the unbordered music score, Geon's expression turned serious.

'I can't get a feel for it at all. How can I mix these?'

Switching lines on the manuscript, Geon drew green notes with a red border and blended white using bending. Seeing the green and white notes evenly mixed with a red border, he folded his arms.

'I've already researched this far…'

As he continued to mark slides and bendings on the manuscript, Geon spent over five hours trying various methods.

Whether it was

 due to the prolonged concentration or the high altitude of the flight, fatigue set in, and Geon rubbed his eyes.

'Maybe keep using contrast… If I look at notes filled with red and then see white notes, um… I'm sleepy…'

Geon's head dropped suddenly. As the pen fell and rolled on the floor, a hand reached out to pick it up.

The short-haired blonde man next to Geon picked up the pen and looked down at Geon, who had fallen asleep leaning forward.

Peering through Geon's arms at the manuscript, the man slid the pen back and muttered.

"Hmm… I thought it would take another twenty years, but that was pretty fast."

The man then turned his head back and said,

"Isn't that right, Gamagin?"

Behind him, exactly at the seat behind Geon, a man with long black hair, sunglasses, and a black suit, his hands gloved and clasped, was watching intently.

"That's right."

The short-haired blonde man smirked and said,

"Don't worry, I have no plans to do anything yet."

Gamagin took off his sunglasses. His eyes flickered like blue flames as they fixated on the back of the blonde man's head.

"Not yet?"

The man glanced at Geon lying down and raised his arms.

"Ah, there might be a misunderstanding. I have no intention of harming the child."

Still glaring intensely at the man's back, Gamagin spoke up.

"The child has also received your abilities. Shouldn't we protect him, Caliel?"

Caliel's name came from Gamagin's mouth. Caliel, the angel who had come to Geon in his dreams to stir emotions, appeared beside Geon after a long absence. Adjusting his short blonde hair, Caliel chuckled.

"Haha, I'm just following orders from Lord Michael."

"Was there a message from Michael?"

"Um… a message? No, it was just an order."

"What kind of order was it?"

Caliel smirked and looked back.

"Why should I tell you about the affairs of angels?"

Gamagin closed his mouth and glared at him. It seemed he could launch an attack at any moment, but then he leaned back comfortably on the couch.

"Try if you must."

Caliel chuckled and turned his head to look at the long-haired blonde man's back in the seat in front of Geon.

"You seem confident. Well, with Paimon here, I wouldn't have a chance to do anything anyway."

Paimon, sitting in the front seat, turned his head and grinned.

"Caliel, long time no see."

"Yeah, it's been a while. Thanks to you, I've given rest to the souls of the crusaders you killed."

Paimon laughed, showing his fangs.

"Hehe, the number of our children you've wiped out isn't small either."

"Can the lives of angels and demons even be compared?"

"Hehe, that's your view. To us, the weight of a hundred angels might equal that of one demon."

"Phew, is the one sitting next to you Amdusias?"

Without turning back, Amdusias just raised his hand and waved.

"Hello, we're not exactly in a pleasant enough relationship to become acquainted."

"I'd prefer it if you didn't turn around."

Caliel waved his hand as he watched Gamagin's back.

"You must know we would appear if you approached the child. Why did you show yourself? Why did you come?"

Caliel glanced at a passing stewardess, then unfolded a newspaper and pretended to be distracted before speaking.

"Have you met Baal and Agares?"

Upon hearing the unexpected names of demons, Gamagin glanced around and then spoke.

"I've met them."

"Hmm, it seems they handled things well since there's no trouble."

"It's none of your business."

"Haha, is that so?"

"Tell me, why did you come?"

As Gamagin finished speaking, Paimon and Amdusias both turned to look at Caliel. The tension in the eyes of the two men focused on Caliel, who spread his palms and said,

"Ah, I didn't come to harm the child, relax. I just wanted to tell you something."

"What is it?"

With a pleasant smile, Caliel responded,

"Shiva visited Lord Michael recently."

Gamagin's eyebrows twitched behind his sunglasses.

"Shiva?"

Turning to face Gamagin, Caliel said,

"In the hidden ancient fortress in the Himalayas, Kusiyon appeared. Shiva came to tell Lord Michael about it. Actually, he first sought you, but you were meeting Baal and Agares, so it seems you missed each other. Eventually, he went to Lord Michael."

Gamagin spoke in a serious tone.

"If it's Kusiyon's fortress, are you talking about that fortress built

 by the madmen who followed him in the Middle Ages?"

"Yes, the one untouched by human footsteps."

Caliel took a breath and stroked his chin with a serious look.

"And yesterday, all angels active in the human world received a command from Lord Michael. 'Do not take your eyes off the child.' You demons should start getting nervous too."

Paimon raised an eyebrow and said,

"So, the angels will stand to protect the child?"

Caliel exhaled deeply and said,

"I don't like it much, but it's an order from Lord Michael. For now, two angels near the child will guard the front lines, but the opponent is Kusiyon. Those two angels can't stop him."

The three demons, now glowing in their seats, looked toward the Himalayas.


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