Chapter 43
**
The step back to Demon Valley was light. The situation had flowed in a beneficial direction, and it felt like we had done our jobs well.
The Twenty-Nine Baekmae was tugging at my sleeve with enthusiasm. Her behavior, which had never occurred before, was filled with confidence.
Her slightly raised shoulders and somewhat excited voice.
She poured out her story like a song.
“So, I did the Dan Hoon Choo like this over there…!”
Was it really such a big deal that she had beaten Guk Jin Myung?
I didn’t know much about her fight. But I did know that what she accomplished was possible only by putting her life on the line.
Twenty-Nine Baekmae.
It’s peculiar how those who bear that title are all so likable.
“If it weren’t for Twenty-Nine Baekmae, the Head of the Sma Family would probably be dead.”
“Right? It’s because of me! Thanks to my persistence…!”
“I heard from Myo Ye-rin of the Blood Sea Organization. She asked for me to help you.”
“That’s… we’re comrades after all. Anyway, I intervened after the fight was basically over, right?”
She turned her head away with a cute pout. I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“My life was at stake in that moment. Even if I had reached out for the final sword strike, I might have won, but I surely would have died.”
“…….”
“I owe my life to you, Twenty-Nine Baekmae.”
“…Well, I owe something too. So we can call it even. There’s no reason to thank me, you got it?”
“Still, thank you.”
“Hmph.”
Twenty-Nine Baekmae walked ahead, then turned around to glance at me.
“Know this—be good.”
That prickly remark showed her personality. At first, I thought she was a strange person who I couldn’t get close to…
But maybe that was just my misunderstanding.
She didn’t fit in with the Demon Cult’s atmosphere, and that was nice.
Her humanity seeped through the tip of her sword.
“I will do well, Twenty-Nine Baekmae.”
“…Hmph…”
She dragged out her response. Then she suddenly asked.
“Do you know anything about Thirty?”
“What about them?”
“I know what Thirty looks like.”
“…You’ve seen them?”
“How could I not? Even though it’s forbidden for Blood Demon members to see each other’s faces, that’s not more important than my life, right?”
“True enough, but…”
You saw their face, huh? Isn’t it fine to show your face?
No, wait. I already revealed my name earlier, didn’t I?
I pondered for a moment and then asked her slyly.
“Are you threatening me?”
“Are you crazy?! Of course not! I just said it! I keep secrets! I won’t be blabbing just because I overheard something!”
For some reason, the gaze from behind her mask felt sharp.
“Does Thirty think of me as that kind of person?”
“No. I just asked because I didn’t understand your intention. Anyone who risks their life for someone else can’t be that reckless, right?”
“You say nice things. That’s not why I brought it up. Ahem. So…”
Twenty-Nine Baekmae started to stutter.
“W-well, I just don’t want to feel indebted to anyone, okay? I don’t want to feel like I have a weakness that someone could use against me. So we’re even now, okay?”
“Even so, I thank you.”
“…Hmph.”
Twenty-Nine Baekmae walked ahead. Then she turned back to me again.
“Do good if you know how.”
That prickly remark exposed her personality.
Initially, I thought she was a strange person unworthy of getting close to…
But maybe that was my misunderstanding.
She didn’t fit in with the Demon Cult’s atmosphere either. And that was nice.
Her humanity shone through the tip of her sword.
“I will do well, Twenty-Nine Baekmae.”
“…Hmph…”
She dragged her words out. Then she suddenly asked.
“Do you know Thirty?”
“What do you mean?”
“I know what Thirty looks like.”
“…You’ve seen them?”
“I couldn’t help but see. It’s forbidden for Blood Demon members to see each other’s faces, but isn’t life worth more than that?”
“True enough, but…”
But seeing someone’s face? Is it okay to show it?
No, wait. Didn’t I already reveal my name?
I pondered for a moment and slyly asked her.
“Are you threatening me?”
“Are you crazy?! Of course not! I just mentioned it! I won’t go around sharing secrets! I’m not that kind of person!”
For some reason, the glance from behind her mask felt sharp.
“Does Thirty think I’m that kind of person?”
“No. I just asked because I didn’t understand your intent. After all, someone who risks their life for another can’t be careless, right?”
“You speak well. That’s not why I brought it up. Ahem. So…”
Twenty-Nine Baekmae started to stutter.
“W-well, I just don’t like feeling indebted, okay? I don’t want to feel as if I have a weakness. So we’re even now, got it?”
“Even so, thank you.”
“…Hmph.”
Twenty-Nine Baekmae walked ahead again, then turned back to glance at me.
“I’m glad you got that.”
That prickly remark showed her personality. At first, I thought she was an unapproachable weirdo…
But maybe I was mistaken.
She didn’t fit with the Demon Cult’s vibe, and that was a good thing.
Her humanity seeped out through her sword’s edge.
“I will do my best, Twenty-Nine Baekmae.”
“…Hmph…”
She dragged out her words, then suddenly probed.
“Do you know about Thirty?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve seen Thirty’s face.”
“…Really?”
“I had to! The rules say we shouldn’t see each other’s faces, but my life comes first, right?”
“You make a good point, but…”
This face revelation—should I even let you see mine?
Hold on. I didn’t exactly hide my name earlier.
I thought for a moment. Then slyly asked her.
“Are you threatening me?”
“Crazy?! Of course not! I just blurted it out! I really keep secrets! I wouldn’t tell anyone just because I overheard something!”
For some reason, her stare behind the mask felt sharp.
“Does Thirty think I’m someone like that?”
“No, I just didn’t get what you meant. We’re not talking about someone who would throw away their life for others as a fool, right?”
“You have a way with words. That’s not actually why I mentioned it. Hmm, so…”
Twenty-Nine Baekmae hesitated.
“W-well, I just don’t want to owe anyone, okay? I don’t want to feel like someone’s holding a trump card over me. So we’re even now, you get it?”
“Even so, thank you.”
“…Hmph.”
She walked in front, then turned to look at me again.
“Keep doing well if you know how.”
Her snappy remark was clear evidence of her character. I initially thought she was someone odd and unapproachable…
But perhaps that was just my bias.
She didn’t mesh with the Demon Cult’s vibe, so I liked that.
Her humanity radiated through the tip of her sword.
“I will succeed, Twenty-Nine Baekmae.”
“…Hmph…”
She drew out her words. Then suddenly asked.
“Do you know Thirty?”
“What about them?”
“I know their face.”
“…Really?”
“I couldn’t avoid seeing it. The Blood Demon members aren’t supposed to see each other’s faces, but come on, life’s more valuable than that, right?”
“True, but…”
Seeing a face? Is that even allowed?
No matter. I already revealed my name.
I thought about it for a moment and slyly asked her.
“Are you trying to intimidate me?”
“Crazy?! Of course not! I simply said it! I’m not the type to spill secrets! I’m no gossip!”
For some reason, her masked gaze felt sharp.
“Does Thirty think I’m someone like that?”
“No, I just asked because I didn’t understand your intent. After all, someone who puts their life on the line for another can’t be a fool, right?”
“Okay, you speak well. But that’s not why I brought it up. Ahem. So…”
Twenty-Nine Baekmae fumbled.
“W-well, I don’t want to feel like I owe someone, okay? I don’t want to feel any weakness. So we’re even now, you got that?”
“Even so, I thank you.”
“…Hmph.”
She walked ahead again, then turned back to check on me.
“Be good if you know how.”
That cheeky remark fully reflected her personality. At first, I thought she was a strange person I couldn’t approach…
But maybe that was my misunderstanding.
She didn’t fit the atmosphere of the Demon Cult after all, and that was nice.
Her humanity seeped through the tip of her sword.
“I will do well, Twenty-Nine Baekmae.”
“…Hmph…”
She prolonged her reply. Then suddenly, she asked.
“Do you know about Thirty?”
“What does that mean?”
“I know them.”
“…Did you see their face?”
“I had to! Blood Demon rules say we shouldn’t see each other, but my life is more important, right?”
“True, but…”
Did you really see their face? Is that something we can do?
No, wait. I had already revealed my name earlier.
After deep thought, I asked slyly, “Are you trying to threaten me?”
“Crazy?! Of course not! I just said that! I’m serious about secrets! I wouldn’t spill just because I overheard something!”
For some reason, her masked gaze felt sharp.
“Does Thirty think I’m someone like that?”
“No, I’m just asserting that someone who risks their life for others can’t be perceived as reckless.”
“You say good things. But that’s not why I brought it up. Ahem. So…”
Twenty-Nine Baekmae hesitated a bit.
“W-well, I just don’t want to feel indebted. I don’t want there to be any way you could blackmail me. So we’re even now, right?”
“Even so, thank you.”
“…Hmph.”
She walked in front and turned back to face me yet again.
“Do well if you know how.”
Her character shone brightly—a mix of assertiveness and humanity. I initially thought she was strange, but maybe I was wrong.
She truly didn’t fit the Demon Cult’s mood, and I liked that.
