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Chapter 440: Regret (6)

Creeeeak.

“AHHHHHH!”

As the sun set and the moon emerged, a horrifying scream pierced the pitch-black darkness where not a single light was lit.

Crack-!

That was the sound of a leg breaking.

A demon rolled on the floor, howling while clutching its leg. It was obviously an abnormal situation.

And there was someone watching this chaotic scene, illuminated only by the moonlight.

“…”

On top of a high building, Muk-Gwon stood observing the unfolding chaos below.

Down below, demons were engaged in a fierce brawl.

It was hardly surprising. Those with low realms or who had recently turned into demons often lost control of their madness, leading to fights.

Besides, most of those who became demons were either from the Demonic Faction or had not-so-glorious pasts to begin with.

Unable to suppress their unique rage, they fought like that.

Many ended up dying, but then again, the Great Lord wouldn’t care.

However—

“AHHHHH…!! Damn it!”

“Shut up, you bastard!”

The current situation was a bit unusual.

Muk-Gwon observed with calm eyes.

‘Hmm.’

He noted the demons on the floor that were screaming.

‘They’re the Demon Sword Inspection Team.’

He had heard that the Sword Demon had sent some of their men to carry out patrol duty and keep an eye on the area.

He had also heard rumors that those demons were particularly low in quality. Seeing them like this from the very first day was unexpected.

If one belonged to the Black Flame Sect, they wouldn’t be doing such bothersome things.

‘Because of fear of the Great Lord.’

Unless they wanted to burn alive from their toes up, they wouldn’t act out unnecessarily like this.

Muk-Gwon frowned at the scene.

Normally, he would have stepped in to stop things from escalating.

‘…What is that?’

What should he call it?

Muk-Gwon found himself momentarily speechless at the spectacle before him.

Even if they were the weakest, they had surpassed the peak level.

They were the ones who would be noted for their mastery, which was why they had been summoned from the Black Flame Sect.

Yet here they were…

‘Being treated like toys.’

The new recruit they had brought today crushed three of them without a care.

“You bastard! Do you even know who I am!?”

“AHHHHH!”

“…”

Though it looked like a petty fight mixed with various emotions, the occasional movements displayed were frankly astonishing.

‘He’s controlling the demon energy perfectly.’

The new recruit, brought by the Deputy Lord, possessed strength far beyond Muk-Gwon’s expectations.

‘…I think I understand why the Great Lord ordered me to watch.’

Muk-Gwon had a vague idea of why his Great Lord had commanded him to observe the new recruit.

The Great Lord must have seen this kind of potential.

In the midst of it all, there was a small question.

“Running away? You’re running away? Not coming here? You’ll die if you get caught!”

“EEEEK!”

“You just made eye contact with me. Come here!”

“P-Please…save me!”

“…”

For some reason, he felt a familiar aura from this new recruit.

“Grrr….”

One demon, unable to endure the pain, fainted, frothing at the mouth.

As it looked like someone might genuinely die, Muk-Gwon began to form a plan to intervene.

‘It went against my expectations, but it doesn’t matter now.’

Just as Muk-Gwon was about to step in to stop the violence—

“…What are you doing…?”

A voice called out to Muk-Gwon from behind.

Immediately, he kneeled halfway.

Only one person in this place could make such a voice without him noticing their presence.

Without looking up, Muk-Gwon addressed the voice’s owner.

“…I greet the Deputy Lord.”

Step, step.

With his head bowed deeply, he prepared to offer his respects, and soft footsteps echoed beside him.

In the moonlit area, the Demon Sword Queen stood there, gazing down below.

Two demons crawled on the ground, and one was being mercilessly beaten by a young man.

“…”

The Demon Sword Queen silently observed that particular young man.

“…Muk-Gwon…”

“Yes, Deputy Lord.”

At her call, Muk-Gwon responded.

His head still remained lowered.

Muk-Gwon knew that she disliked making eye contact with anyone other than the Great Lord.

“…You…”

“Yes.”

“…”

Though Muk-Gwon patiently awaited her next words, he heard no follow-up question.

Wondering what was going on, he toyed with the thought of lifting his head just as—

“…No, it’s nothing….”

She uttered those words and disappeared again.

In the strange situation, Muk-Gwon felt a bit flustered but hid it well.

“Hey! Get a grip! Breathe, breathe! Ugh… it’s over.”

Hearing a voice from below, Muk-Gwon quickly stood up. Uh-oh, it seemed things had escalated while he hesitated.

Rushing down, Muk-Gwon recalled the events of the previous night as the Demon Sword Queen stood there, lost in thought.

While she was in a moment of wandering, the Demon Sword Queen had spread her senses wide open.

She didn’t trust others to begin with.

No matter how much they mentioned the Cult Leader, the Demon Sword Queen didn’t trust humans.

Especially young men of that age.

Her senses were so keen that, if she wished, she could feel everything within a vast forest.

She wouldn’t miss even the tiniest sounds.

Thus—

-So, you still like the moon.

She could not help but hear the young man’s voice, speaking to himself while blinking at the full moon.

‘…’

Remembering that voice, the Demon Sword Queen slowly moved her steps.

The sadness, longing, and unexplainable regret embedded in the voice were noticeable, albeit only slightly.

But now, what mattered more was—

‘I have to go see him.’

It was more important for her to visit the Great Lord.

A day passed, and it was daytime.

Perhaps because of the fight that had been filled with romance and friendship during the night (?), the residence was quiet, allowing for a good sleep.

Was it because he had nearly killed one demon for real? The stares from the demons were rather unsettling.

‘If Muk-Gwon hadn’t intervened, it might’ve been a bit dangerous.’

All the pent-up frustration from the last few days had exploded, and he had lost control.

He had let out a bit more power and knocked that one out of their mind.

They wouldn’t be able to walk for a while after waking.

‘Oh well.’

That was actually the extent of his reflection.

He had calmed down quite a bit.

Originally, he would have needed to get some satisfaction by taking something out right then and there.

‘I could’ve killed them without any issues….’

Probably.

He had realized that during the beatdown yesterday.

Those demons didn’t appear to be part of the Black Flame Sect.

From the feeling, they seemed to belong to the Sword Demon’s underlings. He could tell just by beating them.

These bastards wielded swords, but their fingertips were brimming with killing intent.

‘Those bastards are always like that.’

Given that the Great Lord was obsessed with slaughter and madness, most of his underlings shared that vibe.

There was a reason he would treat any Sword Demon he encountered like vermin to be exterminated.

‘Honestly, I just beat them up because I didn’t like them….’

But that was a fleeting memory from the past, so he let it slide…

Rolling his eyes, he surveyed his surroundings.

The demons that had gathered in the Great Hall last night stood in a line, not moving an inch.

They were filled with extreme tension.

‘Why are they so scared?’

Even while thinking that, he displayed a puzzled expression.

Suddenly, he exhaled a sigh upon noticing what he was wearing.

‘…I can’t believe I have to wear this again.’

The black martial robe known as the Cult’s attire.

It was a robe emblazoned with the emblem of the Black Flame Sect. Never in his wildest dreams did he think he’d don this trash again.

‘This is just too pathetic.’

Every time he woke up, he hoped maybe he had returned to his original time.

But after three days in this situation, he had to start accepting reality.

It was like this during the rewind too.

Recognizing reality took about three days for him.

Damn it.

‘…In order to go back, I need to do something.’

What I had to do was first realize what that “something” was.

Nothing prominent arose yet.

‘I need to find a chance to gather information.’

Though it was a sad situation for him to have to roll with the punches again, he had no choice.

Once it was in this state, the faster option was to feel it out and look for other methods.

Creeeak.

At the sound of a door opening, he straightened his posture.

Bam.

As the door swung open, a heavy presence filled the Great Hall in an instant.

He felt like if he relaxed, he would collapse right there.

‘Ah…so that’s why?’

Feeling that sensation, he understood why those demons inside were reacting like that.

Without that kind of tension, they would lose their minds.

‘That crazy bastard.’

He couldn’t help but curse the owner of that presence.

That bastard probably didn’t even realize he was exuding such an aura.

What a fool; if he had a lot of demon energy, he should at least have the decency to try controlling it.

Thud.

Heavy footsteps echoed through the Great Hall.

At the same time, the past him made his entrance.

Flaunting a dark-colored robe and purple eyes, he swept his gaze through the Great Hall.

Just watching him sent chills down his spine.

It was so embarrassing it felt like he might die from shame.

‘Dying from a shattered vase would feel quicker than dying from shame.’

No matter how he looked at it, this felt like the truth.

He looked incredibly stylish. Seriously, what was he thinking?

Trailing behind him were the Demon Sword Queen and six others, including Muk-Gwon.

They were the elite of the Black Flame Sect.

Thud, thud!

As soon as he appeared, the demons all knelt simultaneously.

Not wanting to lose out, he kneeled as well.

“I greet the Great Lord!”

The wide, lofty hall resonated with their voices.

The Mage merely continued walking silently, not caring about the loud exclamations.

Meanwhile—

‘Why the hell is he looking at me?’

He caught a fleeting glance from the Mage.

In this era, the only two reasons he looked at someone were: either they were a bothersome presence, or someone he’d kill soon.

It was clear he was considering both.

Hence, it was indisputable.

Regardless of the circumstances, he was marked.

Trying his best to ignore the gaze, he buried his face into the ground.

Creeeek.

The Mage, having shifted his gaze from him, ascended to the throne and sat down with a thud.

“…I’ve received a report.”

And he got straight to the point. His temperament was always urgent.

“The Heavenly Lord is reportedly roaming the vicinity.”

The mention of the Heavenly Lord stirred the atmosphere among the demons.

This meant that the tension that had been barely maintained during the past period could once again escalate into war.

As he listened, his mind began spinning.

‘The Heavenly Lord is in Sichuan.’

He had directly heard this from the Demon Sword Queen.

When he recalled the time he heard the Demon Sword Queen’s report…

‘Oh wait…no way.’

His eyes widened at the sudden realization.

He was aware that the Heavenly Lord was traversing Sichuan.

The reason he intentionally appeared in this area, despite the Heavenly Demon’s warning against involving the Three Eminent Beings, was to attract the attention of the demons by making his presence known.

‘So it was at this time.’

Putting the situation together, he finally understood the current timeline.

He sent a glance towards the Mage, thinking.

The reason the Heavenly Lord was drawing attention was none other than–

‘…To send that old man away.’

The Heavenly Lord aimed to have all eyes on him.

While creating an opportunity to send someone away, that was his ultimate goal.

In this case, the identity of that old man is—

‘Pejon (Master of the Martial World).’

Yes, Pejon.

It was a plan to deploy Pejon into Sichuan.

This meant that Pejon was on the verge of appearing and wreaking havoc in the area.

In his memory, Pejon had launched a surprise attack about seven nights after that report.

‘Damn it.’

Of all times for it to happen.

He could only clench his temples, suppressing a headache.

The problem wasn’t Pejon’s appearance. No, that was not it.

The reason he was thinking so intensely was different.

He bit his lip as he sent another glance at the Mage.

‘You already knew, didn’t you?’

He was aware of the Heavenly Lord’s presence before even receiving the report from the Demon Sword Queen.

Furthermore, he knew that Pejon would appear soon.

And yet that foolish bastard feigned ignorance.

Going by his previous expectations, he’d probably say something like—

“Don’t you know?”

‘…The order has been issued from the main sect.’

“The order has been issued from the main sect.”

He clenched his eyes shut at those unchanging words.

“We must show our intentions to the Heavenly Lord, who has ignored the Cult Leader’s commands.”

With a nonchalant expression, he glared at the demons with his purple eyes.

The demons, visibly quaking under his gaze, swallowed their saliva.

“From now on.”

Whether he knew it or not, that detestable bastard simply continued his monologue.

“We will begin the hunt for the Nomads.”

“Yes-!”

As the demons shouted in response to the Great Lord’s declaration, he couldn’t help but frown and bite his lip.

Indeed.

Every time he thought about it, he reached the same conclusion.

Struggling to escape memories from which he couldn’t flee.

In that respect, this world was truly hell for him.

 

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