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Chapter 441: Regret.

The no-good guy gave them the operation name for the Goblin Hunt. Seriously, his naming sense is completely useless.

That jerk just throws the main point out and then hides like yesterday.

I have no idea why he’s pretending to be so busy.

I glared at the entrance he disappeared through.

As soon as the demonic energy that filled the space vanished, the demons let out the breath they had been holding.

“…It’s not going to be easy today either. I feel like the air pressure is stronger.”

One of them opened his mouth as if starting a conversation. Oh, is it time to gossip about me now?

Before I knew it, I found myself listening with great interest.

‘It’s obvious it’s going to be nothing but curses.’

If I had to deal with someone like me, I might have already killed them, but I wonder how these guys would handle it.

While I was thinking that, I paid attention.

“How is it, you’re getting stronger every time. The Great Lord is different after all.”

“Exactly. An old back room like Heavenly Lord… to our Great Lord, he’s just a snack.”

…Huh?

‘…What did you say?’

As I subtly listened in, something unexpected was flowing in their conversation.

What the hell are these crazy guys talking about…?

“They should spread the Great Lord’s reputation throughout the Central Plains.”

“Even if he doesn’t want to, it’ll spread soon. The Righteous Faction has no way to hide the reputation of the Great Lord.”

‘What’s this?’

The more I heard, the more my mind was about to go crazy.

What are they even saying?

‘…What is it?’

I simply couldn’t understand. The conversation was getting deeper and deeper.

“A monster that burned down the Hwasan Sect all by itself.”

Not alone.

The Heavenly Demon took care of the major powerhouses including Maehwa Seon, and I just caught the remaining disciples.

“Not just Hwasan Sect, but he also wiped out Sichuan Tang Gate all by himself.”

This was right after the Sword Demon and Green King’s troops attacked, with the Black Flame Sect providing support shortly after.

I just approached the Poison Empress, who was completely drained of energy, and finished the job.

‘What the hell is this?’

The more I watched, the less I understood.

As praises I had never heard before kept flowing.

I found myself frowning at the nauseating feeling and the heat rising in my ears.

In the meantime, someone seemed to notice my expression and spoke to me.

“Looks like the new recruit doesn’t know much, huh?”

“What…?! Do demons not know the reputation of the Great Lord?!”

Did my dislike show on my face? The gaze of the demons turned coldly towards me.

Chilly. Each one of them had a genuinely serious look in their eyes.

‘This is insane.’

This was utterly unexpected. I thought they’d see me as complete garbage, but what are these looks?

“…It seems everyone likes the Great Lord, huh?”

“The Great Lord is the hope of demons. You don’t seem to know that.”

“Looking at your age, you seem like a rookie demon. How old are you?”

Um… how old should I claim? I pondered for a moment.

“Twenty… two.”

That should suffice for now.

“Twenty-two, huh? Have you crossed the wall?”

“Uh… yeah.”

“At that age to reach the Peak… that’s monstrous.”

“…”

I had to cough several times at the demon’s words. It wouldn’t be easy to gauge my level since I was forcibly hiding my energy.

As I kept coughing, another demon approached and asked.

“What made a promising young man become a demon?”

“…Hmm.”

Why did I become a demon?

Why did a twenty-two-year-old beak trigger become a demon…

“…Because my family fell to the Righteous Faction.”

“Seeking revenge then.”

“Yes.”

The demons didn’t seem to have any doubts about my vague excuse. After all, it was the most common and convenient excuse.

Anytime you want to charm these guys, slandering the Righteous Faction is perfect.

“…Damn Righteous Faction bastards….”

“Acting all nice and clean on the outside, while the back world is all like this.”

“Don’t worry, youngest, the Great Lord will grant your revenge.”

No, no, you crazy fools.

Your Great Lord doesn’t do that. He just ignores everyone because he’s too busy living his own life.

I have no idea where this belief comes from.

‘Even the title has suddenly become youngest.’

This trust generally comes from the connection made under the Heavenly Demon’s demon energy.

Being in a situation where betrayal is impossible helps nurture this kind of faith.

It means that under the Heavenly Demon’s energy, a sense of trust grows ridiculously.

No matter what kind of a jerk this guy is, he wouldn’t betray the Demonic Sect at least.

That’s what brings the sense of relief.

It’s odd. Finding tranquility among demons.

I even started to wonder if this was something the Heavenly Demon planned all along.

But, well, I wouldn’t know for sure.

The important thing is, ultimately.

‘Why do these guys like me?’

I couldn’t understand. There must have only been situations where they couldn’t possibly like me.

What’s the reason for their seemingly deep trust?

“…Hey.”

Just as I was about to ask about it, someone opened the door and came in. It was Muk-Gwon again.

“Paljeolyeop.”

“What the hell… the Great Lord.”

“Paljeolyeop. Can you not hear me?”

“Ah.”

Just as I was about to continue speaking, I realized Muk-Gwon was calling me.

Right, whether it’s seven or eight, I had said it like that yesterday.

“…Did you… call me?”

“Follow me.”

As soon as Muk-Gwon appeared, the demons stiffened up as if nothing had happened.

The hierarchy was absolutely astonishing.

‘…’

I stared at that with a strange expression and decided to follow Muk-Gwon.

Even while forcefully moving my feet, my expression remained twisted due to the incomprehensible situation.

Stepping outside with Muk-Gwon, we were not far from the main base.

We had hardly deviated from the main force. If you had to argue, we were in a position to take guard.

If Muk-Gwon had to take guard, he should have just come out with me.

‘How annoying.’

Seeing that, I clicked my tongue several times in my mind.

It looked like he had come to gather information.

A demon of Muk-Gwon’s caliber standing guard?

He wouldn’t be insane enough to have elites like him standing guard.

“Paljeolyeop.”

“Yes.”

“You said you were twenty-two, right?”

“Yes. Correct.”

“You’re young.”

He’d probably faint if I said I was five years younger.

I had to think similar thoughts while looking at Muk-Gwon.

‘It’s been a while.’

Though the intent was annoying, it wasn’t bad to actually see Muk-Gwon.

He was among the demons I knew who was the most normal.

If he hadn’t done those dog-like things in the Huangbo Clan, he wouldn’t have become a demon.

Even until the moment he dies, Muk-Gwon is more suited to be called a martial artist than a demon.

So, it was only natural to be glad.

Of course, despite my feelings, Muk-Gwon couldn’t hide the vigilance in his eyes.

“It seems you’ve reached the Transformation Realm.”

“Yes.”

At my light answer, Muk-Gwon’s eyes narrowed. He seemed rather shocked.

Even if you reached the Peak, it would be surprising, but the Transformation Realm? Even more astonished.

‘Still a half-baked state since I can’t use the flame, but it’s okay to think I’m weaker because of that.’

Since I was originally in an imperfect state, and on top of that, it’s even worse because I can’t use the Technique of the Flame Wheel.

“…At twenty-two to reach the Transformation Realm.”

Muk-Gwon looked thoroughly surprised. If I heard it, I’d have been shocked senseless too.

So, he sent Muk-Gwon to guard me.

And this also meant something else.

“How could someone like you not have any rumors surrounding you? That’s a question.”

At the level that should have been well-known for having the best late-stage talents of the age.

How could I just suddenly appear like this?

It was a situation that allowed Muk-Gwon and others plenty of room to question.

This was something I was worried about too.

“Recently, I gathered a bit of information about you.”

The Demonic Sect is rather swift and precise when it comes to information.

“Paljeolyeop… there’s no information from a specific clan nor even where you used to live…”

As Muk-Gwon spoke, a cold killing intent radiated from his body and eyes.

Gugugugu.

I felt an intense pressure on my shoulders.

“What exactly is your identity?”

“…”

Killing intent spreads around me. What should I do about this?

“It seems your name is a pseudonym. Is your face an Infinite Face Mask?”

Muk-Gwon stretched out his hand just before his fingertip brushed my face.

Tight.

“…!”

I grabbed Muk-Gwon’s hand.

“What are you doing?”

Just as Muk-Gwon seemed ready to react, I looked at him and smiled lightly.

Seeing that expression, Muk-Gwon hesitated.

“Everyone has one or two secrets, don’t they?”

“Hah, do you really think it makes sense to have a secret under the name of our sect? Do you have any idea who’s above you?”

“At least it’s not Senior or the Great Lord.”

Kugugugun-!

Hearing my arrogant tone, Muk-Gwon wanted to show his strength, but he couldn’t bring himself to do so after listening to my follow-up words.

“It’s the Great Lord alone that is above our principal.”

He froze.

When the name of the Heavenly Demon came up, Muk-Gwon’s actions froze once again.

“My secret, the Heavenly Demon already knows about it. Moreover, he sent me here knowing that.”

When a situation like this arose, how would one judge to resolve it?

It wasn’t difficult.

Just like I did with the Demon Sword Queen, I should weave the name of the Heavenly Demon into everything.

These scoundrels cannot oppose such a presence.

And in their eyes, I’d be no different.

“…Can you be responsible for that statement?”

That the Heavenly Demon knows everything, and even while knowing, sent me to the Black Flame Sect.

Could I be responsible for that?

“Yes. I swear on the Heavenly Demon, everything I say is the truth.”

I answered cheerfully like that.

Responsibility? Why would I take that?

“There’s not a single lie. I’m just a faithful servant of the Heavenly Demon.”

As I said that firmly, Muk-Gwon’s killing intent somewhat lessened.

As it stood, words spoken by a demon cradling the Heavenly Demon cannot be filled with lies.

At the very least, I’m thankful for this part. For me who could ruin the Heavenly Demon anytime, it meant that a breakthrough like this existed.

“My secrets are secrets, but I won’t do anything to harm the main base. This too is under the name of the Heavenly Demon….”

Bang-! Kwangkwangkwang-!

Just as I was about to finish my sentence, Muk-Gwon’s fist flew by me.

The next moment, a tremendous sound erupted behind me, exploding over a wide area.

I hadn’t noticed Muk-Gwon extending his fist. These crazy humans were incredibly strong.

Was this a sudden ambush? Looking at Muk-Gwon, he said,

“I understand your words, but don’t casually speak the Great Lord’s name. No one in our sect can easily call upon that person.”

“…Ah, yes. I’m sorry.”

Now, that was some pretty intense loyalty.

Seeing that, I couldn’t help but smile.

Those bastards’ Great Lord wouldn’t even care about such a thing.

‘Not to mention.’

The Goblin Hunt this time is the same.

Heavenly Lord’s objectives too.

The appearance of the Master of the Martial World is something that guy would have known beforehand.

Even knowing that, he would proceed with the operation, likely even meeting the Master of the Martial World face-to-face.

‘In the first place….’

Would he really be doing something that he couldn’t win?

‘There’s no way.’

I had no loyalty to the Demonic Sect. Yet, that doesn’t change the fact that I’m messing with their heads.

The purpose of my actions at this time is, after all, none other than reducing the strength of the Demonic Sect.

Crash-!

As dawn broke, the training hall remained noise-filled.

In the air, shining like the sun, golden sword auras moved continuously.

Underneath, a woman with her hair tightly tied back was sweating as she moved her body.

Swish-!

Unlike the smoothly moving sword, the results shown by the sword’s tip were sharp.

The sword energy erupting from the blade constantly sliced through the air.

Swish-! Swishswish-!

The sword floating in the air moved simultaneously according to the woman’s actions.

It seemed like it was the technique called Sword Mastery, but it was somewhat different.

Thunk.

After a while, a drop of sweat fell from the woman’s chin, and the sword that had been slicing through the air embedded itself into the ground.

Crash-! The ground shattered as the sword struck.

Eventually.

Boom-!

The sword embedded in the ground glowed and then exploded.

Due to that influence, the once clean-looking ground became a mess.

Leaving traces behind, the energy still spread widely through the air.

Only after confirming that did the woman let out a breath she had been holding.

“…Hah….”

Just as she was roughly trying to wipe away the sweat with her sleeve.

Someone approached her and handed her a towel.

“Well done. So Sword Sect.”

The woman turned her head at the call and looked at the man.

“…You must be busy. Why are you here?”

Despite the shabby appearance of the man, the woman’s expression remained calm, without a hint of disdain.

The woman called out to the man.

“Geol-Wang.”

Hearing her call, Geol-Wang smiled bitterly.

Deep emotions were clearly reflected in his eyes.

“…A situation has arisen where you must step forward, Young Lady.”

The guilt in Geol-Wang’s voice was clear.

He struggled to speak, but in the end, couldn’t finish.

It was still something Geol-Wang couldn’t bring himself to ask of such a delicate woman.

Knowing that, the woman quietly nodded her head without saying a word as she looked at Geol-Wang.

“Let’s go.”

The woman, having briefly spoken, walked past Geol-Wang.

The golden hair fluttered in the breeze.

The seasons were gradually turning colder.

The woman’s eyes remained as cold as ever.

 

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