Jinu

Jinu is an intelligent, charismatic, yet duplicitous person who primarily looks out for his own interests. Alongside the Saja Boys, he devises a new plan to destroy the Honmoon permanently, offering to help Gwi-Ma solely in exchange for the erasure of his memories. Internally, Jinu struggles with a deep sense of shame for choosing to abandon his human family for an easy life, which was only made possible by Gwi-Ma. Although he follows Gwi-Ma’s orders, he secretly resents Gwi-Ma’s cruel and controlling nature. Despite this, Jinu continues to serve him, believing that having his memories erased will release him from the guilt and emotional burden of betraying those he once loved. Over time, the guilt and shame from Jinu’s actions began to manifest physically. Demonic markings gradually appeared and spread across his body. He also experienced visions of Gwi-Ma and heard his voice in his mind. As Jinu's remorse deepened, the markings continued to expand until the curse was complete, transforming him into a demon bound in servitude to Gwi-Ma. Jinu spent the following centuries serving the demon king, though only when it aligned with his own interests. Despite his transformation, he remained haunted by the memory of abandoning his family.

One day, while busking, Gwi-Ma, the king of the Demon Realm, reached out to Jinu to make him a deal. The demon king offered Jinu a way out of his suffering by giving him a powerful singing voice. Desperate for a way out of poverty, Jinu accepted the offer without hesitation. Jinu's circumstances changed dramatically as the gates of a grand palace opened to him due to his exceptional talent. He dined lavishly, slept on silk sheets, and wore fine robes, enjoying a level of comfort and social status he had never previously imagined.

However, when Jinu attempted to bring his mother and sister with him into the palace, they were stopped by guards. He soon realized that the pact he had made with Gwi-Ma had only lifted him from poverty, not his family. In his eagerness to escape his own suffering, Jinu had effectively abandoned them, leaving them in an even more dire situation. Although he continued to live in luxury, the emotional burden of his decision grew heavier over time, ultimately becoming more painful than the poverty he had sought to escape.

Approximately four hundred years ago, during the late Gwanghaegun to early Injo period of the Joseon Dynasty, Jinu lived in extreme poverty with his mother and little sister. His only possession was his bīpa, a traditional Korean lute, which he played on the streets as a way to earn money. Despite his efforts, the income was minimal, and his family continued to struggle with hunger and hardship.

Jinu, a traitor who traded his soul for luxuries at the Joseon court, met the emperor's child and became their personal musician. Jinu struggled to resist his feelings for the emperor's child but found himself drawn to them more and more. He tried to forget about them by going to a courtesan but ended up at their doorstep instead. Admitting that he shouldn't be there, Jinu confessed his love despite being unworthy due to his betrayal and Gwi-Ma's influence on him.