Only human

"Got no way to prove it

So maybe I'm blind

But I'm only human after all

I'm only human after all

Don't put your blame on me

Don't put your blame on me"

Sam Kka was second. He was literally thirty years late, according to Jin Woo, so he was technically somewhat weaker than the one who had been in the King's domain before him. They could both be called the losers of the demon world, where it seemed to be already gathered those who would not have reached their goal without Gwi Ma's help. Only Sam Kka and Sang Ho were different. They could not be influenced by the King as his direct subordinates, for they were 'descended'. In a nutshell, occasionally from the mortal world, souls who could not be assigned to a particular side of good or evil would fall into postmortem. Then the Gods, who are by their concept all-forgiving, instead of taking pity on these poor souls and providing them with peace, instead bring them down and nominally give them to Gwi Ma. Raven and Tiger were the "lucky ones" - the poor souls thrown to the Demon King because they were not ideal enough to be put to rest in life. The only plus in their situation was that due to the lack of a contract, they were not forced to obey every word of the King. But they still had to do it mostly. Gwi Ma mocked each of them in his own way, and with his usual sophistication gave them names that most appropriately pointed out what each of the souls had missed. Sam Kka, for example, was supposedly an incarnation of samjogo*, but instead of the symbolic three paws in both of his guises, he had three pairs of eyes, positioned underneath each other and a constant reminder of his demonic nature. Sang Ho, despite his outward friendliness and openness, sometimes bordering on childish naivety, did not talk about his past, whether it was his past life or postmortem. Sam Kka thought about the meaning of the tiger's name only after a dozen or four years of working together with his forced partner, and then he realised quite quickly that the guy had once been the object of a great mockery of Gwi Ma - only a true prototype of darkness could name a tiger demon by analogy with the great sanshin**. So they existed for tens and hundreds of years together - the raven and the tiger, two losers who received neither rest nor any powers. Not good enough to be favoured by the gods, and too right to become full-fledged demons. Those who had only been given the title of aides to Gwi Ma, the only one close to him who had kept his voice in all its glory. And also not given the opportunity to use their more or less human-like appearance if there was a single living person around. Another taunt from the King: «You didn't want to make a contract and side with me when you were human? Rejoice now, for now any of your former kin will see you only as demons.» Or don't at all.

***

— Hey, hey, hey, — the boy said as if playing with his own voice, pulling annoyingly, lying in a starfish pose and making an angel out of other people's feathers on his partner's bed, — Sam.... — Don't call me that. — That's your name, isn't it? — It's a nickname given in mockery. Just like yours, by the way,— the raven frowned unhappily as he saw a new pile of feathers fly into the air with another wave of his slightly tanned, bare arm. — I don't remember your real name anyway, so I don't see why you should take offence. — How can you be so indifferent? — Just like you're, — Sam Kka shovelled feathers out from under his bed, and a new fluff poured down on him without a grudge. The demon once again wondered how he hadn't gone bald with such an uncontrolled moult. — How long ago did you learn about the indifference? Who told you? — Jin Woo, — in retaliation to the tiger's naked torso flew a large orange, cut almost in half by a raven's sharp claw and oozing juice. Hearing the fierce hiss with which the offended partner flew off the bed, Sam Kka discreetly raised the corner of his mouth and began to rake the remains of the fresh nightmare from the sheets,— Speaking of which, a letter will have to be delivered in the evening. Can you handle it? — I'm getting dumber in that uniform, not dumber, — the blue tip of his fluffy tail thumped resentfully on the laminate floor. Sang Ho almost never sat humanely, as if he'd always been a cat or a monkey, always tucking his legs wide apart and resting his palms between them, as if he were about to straighten up and leap for his prey or search his tail for fleas. — Rumi? — You're just calling her by her first name now? Don't get attached to her just because she feeds you cat food. — I'm actually aware that you kept your hat on for almost 24 hours after she patched it up and beaded the chain. — I didn't. — I was also trying to attach a chain to the waistband of a hanbok. So Rumi can make you a new one, huh? — Stop your childish fantasy and stop eavesdropping, — she retaliated with a half an orange that flew at her partner, who was relaxing by the door. Sang Ho vanished as soon as he saw the citrus flying in his direction. Finally exhaling relaxed, the raven with his earlobes reddening rapidly, embarrassed by the guy's unfailing sincerity, began to make the bed, so that at the end he could carefully remove the beautiful beaded chain attached to the waistband of his clothes and put it under his pillow. Yes, he had become attached to this huntress even faster than a tiger. Yes, he was looking forward to Jin Woo's new assignment regarding following this strange girl more than he was eager for Hong Moon Gwi Ma's destruction. Yes, Sam Kka enjoyed spending time in Rumi's company, after all, she was not only a hunter but also a half-demon. She didn't care what she and Sang Ho looked like. The girl didn't hate them just because they stood on the other side. And she didn't chastise her for once again seeing the huge striped head of a lumbering tiger with a strange six-eyed bird in a hat peeking out of the flowers on the balcony. Even if Jin Woo's plan succeeded and Hong-moon fell and the huntresses disappeared from this world forever, Sam Kka would always remember the good-natured girl with the voluminous soft pigtail and the warm smile. And the raven was sure - Sang Ho thought exactly the same. After all, their differences are what make them so similar. They are losers. Nothing will change that fact. But Rumi was able to give them crumbs of that warmth that no demon in the world should ever receive. And for that, both of them will always be immensely grateful to her.