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**

A cabin just like before. But within the settled silence, I couldn’t see the expected Ilma.

Standing there was a maid. As the Blood Demon Leader stepped aside, she quietly asked me.

“Blood Demon Member Thirty. Remove your mask.”

“The Blood Demon cannot show their face to others…”

“Remove it.”

The atmosphere immediately froze, as if to prove that she was no ordinary maid.

As expected, a formidable presence that far surpassed mine.

I complied for now. She gazed intently at my face.

“You have many scars.”

“What should I do…?”

“Before asking, there’s something you need to do.”

She grabbed my sleeve. With a blank expression, she led me away.

“There’s a smell coming from your body. Your clothes are also tattered. It’s all unacceptable.”

“Excuse me?”

“You’re about to go to the Majon (Demon Hall), where the Master resides. You cannot dirty it with your shabby clothes and foul odor.”

“……!”

It wasn’t merely a call from Ilma, but rather a summons from the Heavenly Demon.

I nodded at the weight of that.

“What should I… do?”

“All of it.”

What awaited us upon arrival was a hastily made bathtub and various fragrances. Additional clothing neatly folded alongside.

The woman placed her hands on my clothes. I flinched for a moment but followed her lead.

“Please show me your back.”

“…Isn’t this embarrassing?”

“This is part of my duties. It’s foolish to mix personal feelings into work.”

She meticulously cleaned my body, changing the water multiple times to wash off all traces.

I smelled delightful all over. My tangled hair was completely set free.

With my hair, which I had kept short to aid in martial arts, now neatly arranged, the feeling was quite strange.

Wasn’t it a symbol of my rough life?

In this state, I felt like I could be the young master of a wealthy family…

“It’s not the time to think of other things. Let’s change your clothes.”

I followed the woman’s words. The folded clothes fitted me perfectly, needing no adjustment around the waist.

In an instant, my appearance had changed. But that wasn’t all as the woman stood before me.

“I’ll teach you a simple etiquette.”

“Etiquette, is it…?”

“In the presence of the Master, no one can disrespect them. If you want your head to stay attached, I won’t stop you.”

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

Despite her harsh and aggressive tone, she diligently taught me one thing after another. Once the intensive training of nearly half a day concluded, the woman let out a satisfied sigh.

“Follow me.”

A carriage was waiting. Once on board, the horses began climbing a steep road after racing across flat land.

There was a path, but the terrain was incredibly rugged. Despite feeling like we were almost climbing a mountain, the horse ran tirelessly.

A noble steed, not a plain horse. This carriage looked high-end, fit for only VIPs.

I naturally tightened my posture, worried about not dirtying my surroundings.

The woman sitting across from me spoke up.

“From now on, we’re entering the secret passage of the Majon where the Master is.”

“A secret passage…?”

“A place known only to a few workers in the Majon. It’s very deep and the route is complex, so don’t lose sight of me. If you step into another area…”

The woman spoke coldly.

“You might wander there for a lifetime.”

“…….”

There might be some threat mixed in. But I found her expression too serious to dismiss.

I involuntarily turned my head outside the carriage. The steadily moving carriage soon stopped in front of an unknown cave.

A deep cave that seemed sticky and likely smelled foul.

As if it were the most natural thing, the woman took the lead with a lantern in hand.

“From here on, you must not speak.”

“Why not?”

“There are times when knowing is worse than not knowing.”

“…….”

Following her warning, I stepped forward. I tried my best not to lose track of the swaying lantern before me.

How long did I walk? The seemingly endless deep cave finally brought me to a door.

But that wasn’t the end. Even after opening the door, there were many complex hallways continuing on.

Silence. It was so quiet that only my breath echoed, creating a strange space.

“This way.”

The woman spoke again, this time taking my hand rather than my sleeve. As I moved along with her, the scenery around us suddenly changed.

From a grassy plain to a snowy mountain.

From the snowy mountains to a field blooming with flowers.

The rapidly changing scenery led me to new places every time I closed and opened my eyes.

Strange. This can’t be real.

It felt like I was walking in a dream…

“…Is this a formation?”

“Shh.”

“…….”

I sealed my lips amidst the unfolding illusions. As the surroundings changed colors, the only thing I could truly feel was the woman’s hand before me.

It felt like an endless space, and suddenly, the woman changed her direction. It was as if she remembered every aspect of this place, continuously turning along the path.

Walking and climbing. Walking and climbing.

At the end of that countless repetition, her last step echoed with a ‘tap.’

With that sound, the surrounding scenery vanished in an instant.

“…Huh?”

The voice I let out unconsciously echoed at the end of the desolate hallway.

As if everything had returned to proper order, she let go of my hand. She murmured in a whisper.

“Inside.”

What lay before me was a door. A door engraved with several patterns that were far from ordinary.

She opened the door, creaking as it vibrated, revealing only darkness beyond it.

The woman took a step back. As if her duty was complete, she gestured inside.

“Go ahead.”

“Is the guidance ending here?”

“You’ll understand once you go in.”

Following her words, I stepped forward. The moment I stepped inside, the door closed behind me.

Silence and calmness swallowed me once again. Yet among that, I sensed a familiar smell.

The scent of magic. It pressed down on me like a chokehold.

There it is.

Inside…

—She is there.

“…….”

I walked. Continued walking.

A straight path that seemed to have no end. Finally, I opened another door at the end.

The smell brushed my nose. An incredibly spacious room.

To my side was a transparent enclosure made of glass. Beyond that was…

**Water.**

“…….?”

An absurd sight. I peered through the glass.

There were fish. Even after rubbing my eyes and looking again, it was undoubtedly fish.

Strange. Isn’t it odd? A wall made of glass. It should be fragile, yet it filled an entire wall…

Wait. The fact that a lake is beside the room—what kind of bizarre arrangement is this?

“Looks like you’re mesmerized, huh, puppy?”

Laughter echoed. I turned my head.

A familiar figure stood before me.

“It’s been a while since we met. Isn’t that right?”

Those arrogant eyes, yet deserving of their air. The same beautiful and wondrous appearance as before.

I immediately knelt before her. The learned etiquette slipped out of my mouth.

“Long live the Heavenly Demon!”

“Quiet.”

“…Yes.”

Though I wanted to be courteous, I realized…

I hadn’t exactly been polite during our first meeting either.

I stood up. My heart raced fiercely, but I didn’t want it to show, so I took a breath.

Heavenly Demon, Cheon Soso.

She looked through the glass with those haughty eyes.

“What do you think? Isn’t it beautiful?”

“It’s fascinating.”

“Right? Who in the world would build a house on just water and glass? I was surprised when I first saw it as well.”

“Didn’t you create this?”

“This place has existed for generations. It’s the resting place of the Heavenly Demon. If one becomes a Heavenly Demon, they can visit this Majon anytime. This glass isn’t ordinary either. Those beyond it are all beings worthy of being called spirits.”

“…….”

“A living, moving treasure trove of elixirs. Among them are priceless things you can’t find anywhere else. All of that is what the Heavenly Demon calls the ‘Lake of Chaos and Yin and Yang.’”

She shifted her gaze to me.

“Should you get hungry, I can catch a fish for you.”

“I’m fine.”

“If you reject the food given by the master, can you call yourself a hunting dog?”

“…I will gratefully eat.”

“Good. That’s right.”

The Heavenly Demon began walking ahead. Crossing the room with a strange scent, she led me to the prepared food.

“I didn’t catch it myself, nor did I cook it, but I hope you enjoy it.”

“Thank you.”

I quickly finished my meal. She didn’t ask me anything.

She just casually continued talking as if she was enjoying her own meal.

“I like this flesh. Being trapped among the mountains means you rarely taste fish. Even if you’re near a river, it wouldn’t compare to properly raised fish, would it?”

“Indeed… the taste is excellent.”

“How about this? Try this one too.”

“Thank you.”

After finishing the meal, she offered me a cup of tea.

I drank it, but it was extremely bitter. Yet, she drank it as if she found joy in it.

“This tea removes the poisons from your body. Just drinking it can elevate you to a peak state. It means you can manipulate your energy freely.”

Peak state…?!

I endured and drank it all. As the bitter flavor spread throughout my body, I scrunched my face and noticed the Heavenly Demon shaking with laughter.

“Just a joke.”

“……”

“Your expression is amusing. Ah. Is that why you keep a dog? Surely, such tea wouldn’t exist. Silly thing.”

The relaxed Heavenly Demon grinned.

“Jeok-un. A gatekeeper. Yet now you’ve become a warrior who can be called such. What did you see and experience? Tell me everything.”

“Where should I start?”

“Everything you saw.”

“…….”

I opened my mouth and spoke of all that I had experienced. Although I spoke briefly, she shook her head in amusement.

“It’s no fun when years pass in just a few words, right? While I’ve been trapped in such a place, you must have seen much. The life of an ant is the most amusing. Did you struggle through something I could have easily dealt with? It’s the greatest pleasure from my perspective.”

“…….”

I detailed all my experiences to the grumpy Heavenly Demon.

Stories of receiving guidance from Ilma.

“Ilma? Hmm… really? Did she say something like that? The child who diligently lived without taking a disciple seems to have found enjoyment a bit late.”

The tale of entering the Demon Valley for the first time.

“The Demon Valley… I’ve heard of it. Isn’t that place set to a much lower standard? But still, the Demon Valley Lord exists at the center. Later, if you defeat him, you must tear open his belly and eat the inner pill. Drink as much blood as you can. It all is blood essence.”

Stories of Seongja Myung.

“Hm. Really? Sounds like something from someone lacking talent… but in the end, they went glamorously, creating a flame like you.”

The story of Twenty-Nine Baekmae, Eun Seol-ran.

“A disciple of Sma. I’ve heard of her. I’ve even seen her. That genius is extraordinary, huh? At a glance, her talent could rival that of the Heavenly Eight. Despite picking up the sword late in the Demon Valley, she reached the peak… Sma must’ve been grinning from ear to ear.”

The story of Maeng-cheon.

“Black Heaven Sect. A martial art I’ve never heard of. But if you think that highly of him, then he must be quite the decent man. After all, a man needs to have spirit. I too love those who build up their martial capacities. His axe must have been quite sharp.”

The story of Bing Baeksul.

“Oh. I heard. Ilma reported to me. I was a bit shocked to hear that she managed to handle the martial arts of the Seven-Other Court on her own. Usually, she’d bring it to me, you know. That overflowing affection for her disciple.”

The tale of Blood Demon Leader, ‘Jeok-un.’

“Hmmm… really? Sounds like he’s not totally lacking in talent. Seems like there are quite a few talented people in the Blood Demon Brigade.”

And even the stories of the Sma Clan and the Soul Stealing Sword.

“I heard that the Sma clan absorbed Cheonakmun. Apparently, the fallen clan is rising rapidly. As for the Soul Stealing Sword? I’m aware of that too. Did you receive that sword from him?”

The Heavenly Demon chuckled. Rising from the chair, she stood before me.

“How far have you learned the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique?”

“I’ve just begun my studies on the Overlord Demon Technique.”

“Really?”

The Heavenly Demon elongated her words and whispered an unintelligible language.

In that instant, all the energy in my body twisted.

“Guh?!”

“Stay still. Good. Let’s see… The Cheongeop has firmly rooted!”

As her essence whispered like a mother, it seemed like I responded to the call… but there’s still a rejection response present in you. Is it something that inevitably accompanies pain when trying to alter it?”

The Heavenly Demon pressed down on various parts of my body.

“Nonetheless… your body has settled to a degree. With this, you can likely put it to use.”

“What does that mean…?”

“Before that, I’ll ask. Jeok-un.”

She caressed my chin.

“Are you prepared to live as my dog?”

 

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