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**Chapter 1: The Demon King's Departure**

In the towering fortress that pierced the darkened skies, Jinwoo Seo, the ageless Demon King, stood amidst the oppressive silence of his throne room. The weight of his crown bore down on him, a constant reminder of his eternal sovereignty over the realm of shadows.

"I grow weary of this eternal darkness," Jinwoo murmured, his voice echoing softly against the cold stone walls.

Yuna, his steadfast servant, materialized beside him, her eyes reflecting concern. "Your Majesty, is something troubling you?"

Jinwoo turned to face her, his gaze heavy with the weight of countless centuries. "Yes, Yuna. I yearn for something beyond the endless cycle of power and conquest. There must be more to existence than this."

Yuna's brow furrowed in bewilderment. "But Your Majesty, you are revered as the most formidable ruler across all realms. What more could you possibly desire?"

"I seek liberation, Yuna. Freedom from this unending existence," Jinwoo confessed, his voice laden with a longing that transcended time itself.

Before Yuna could offer a response, a rift materialized in the fabric of reality, casting an eerie glow upon the chamber's darkened confines. Jinwoo's eyes widened in astonishment as he approached the swirling vortex, drawn by an insatiable hunger for the unknown.

"Your Majesty, where do you intend to venture?" Yuna asked, her voice laced with apprehension.

Jinwoo hesitated for a moment, his hand lingering inches from the portal's pulsating surface. "To seek what has eluded me for so long," he replied cryptically, before plunging into the swirling abyss.

The portal transported Jinwoo to a bustling thoroughfare in modern-day Seoul, a stark contrast to the desolate landscapes of his shadowy realm. He blinked in the harsh glare of the neon lights, his senses overwhelmed by the cacophony of human activity that surrounded him. As he sought to orient himself amidst the unfamiliar surroundings, his gaze fell upon a young woman with golden locks, her presence radiating a warmth that penetrated even the darkest recesses of his soul.

Hinata, her name whispered on the wind, captivated Jinwoo in a way he could scarcely comprehend. He approached her, his steps tentative yet resolute, as if guided by forces beyond mortal understanding.

"Excuse me, miss. Can you tell me where I am?" Jinwoo inquired, his voice betraying the uncertainty that gnawed at the depths of his being.

Hinata regarded him with gentle curiosity, her eyes alight with kindness. "You're in Seoul, South Korea. Are you lost?"

Jinwoo shook his head, a faint smile gracing his lips. "No, not lost. Just... searching for something."

Their gazes locked in a moment of shared understanding, an unspoken connection that transcended the boundaries of time and space. In that fleeting instant, Jinwoo knew that he had stumbled upon something infinitely more precious than the power and dominion he had wielded for countless millennia.

But little did he realize that his encounter with Hinata was merely the beginning of a journey that would test the very fabric of his existence, leading him down a path fraught with peril and uncertainty, yet illuminated by the boundless potential of love and redemption.

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