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Chapter 8: The Unforeseen Gathering

“Demon energy flows through. I was just confirming this.”

‘The Black Family has fallen.’

The leader of the Black Family.

The one once called Gu Bong’s Father has succumbed to the demon energy and turned into a demon.

When I first infused him with the demon energy, I was somewhat on the fence about it. But looking at his condition now, it seems to have taken effect.

However.

‘Not completely.’

I couldn’t tell the difference, but he hadn’t fully succumbed to complete subjugation.

In retrospect, I could say it was half a success?

Though he became a demon due to the demon energy.

His loyalty towards me doesn’t seem very high.

It almost feels like there’s not much of a mental difference? Typically, demons show high loyalty towards me.

Is it the Black Family that’s strange? Or are those from the Wolf Moon odd? I can’t tell.

‘In this case, I should test some more on others.’

I hadn’t really thought of using the demon energy much.

To be precise, I didn’t see a situation where I would use it.

What would I even need it for, coming all the way to another world?

Thinking like that, I hadn’t engaged in such actions.

‘Now is not the time to be picky.’

It was no longer a time to weigh each action. I had to use everything I had and finish things quickly.

“Does it work?”

“Yes. However, it’s not complete, just enough to fit a leash on him.”

Binding the physical body with the demon energy.

While a mental bondage was impossible, physically, it was achievable.

“Hmm.”

Upon hearing this, Noya made a peculiar expression. Watching that, I subconsciously glanced around.

No matter how crude and fierce Noya’s temperament was, he was still a master.

He had even been called a hero in the Central Plains, so he wouldn’t approve of corrupting others—

“Half done… I wish it had reached the mental level as well. Tsk tsk tsk. How can you fail at such a simple thing?”

I thought he would worry, but it seemed there was no need to.

“……”

“What’s with that look? Why are you staring at me with those eyes?”

“……I’m not.”

I shook my head slightly and cleared my throat.

“Anyway… Still, I managed to bind the physical body. Besides, the Black will likely come around on his own soon enough.”

The Black was ambitious.

It’s said that the most manageable types are the ambitious ones.

Especially, the higher the ambition, the more they crave a way to achieve it.

Such folks tended to be indifferent to the methods they used.

As long as they could, they’d stop at nothing.

Thus.

‘I showed my strength.’

Having displayed the unexpected power of demon energy, surely changes would occur in his mind.

I concluded this.

“So, mine’s mostly settled. How’s Noya’s situation?”

My side was fine. I had expected it would go well, and that prediction hadn’t changed much. But what was important here was the situation Shin Noya was eyeing.

‘Yusa.’

General Yusa. Right now, his situation matters more.

As I mentioned this, Noya wore a somewhat uneasy expression.

“Huh.”

“What’s wrong?”

“He said to talk more next time.”

“…Oh.”

That was cheerful news to hear.

It would have been troublesome if he had caused a ruckus saying he wouldn’t do it at all.

To say he would listen made me focus on Noya, who seemed strangely displeased.

What kind of expression is that?

As I pondered this question, I asked.

“What’s bothering you?”

To my question, Noya responded.

“There’s something a little off.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about Yusa.”

“Yes.”

“That guy has keen instincts.”

“I know.”

Yusa is known for his sharp instincts. Furthermore, I had a vague idea that he took pride in that.

However.

“No, it’s not just that.”

“Really?”

“His instincts stem from his power. Simply calling them good is insufficient.”

“…His power?”

Was it called gluttony?

A force that can devour anything.

The hungrier one gets, the more one seeks out food, and to find that food, one’s qi perception develops extraordinarily.

Additionally, the hungrier one is, the stronger they become and the greater their regeneration, but it requires a constant state of extreme hunger.

Tam can learn these details after devouring gluttony.

Also.

‘Tam can consume their powers too.’

The four who are labeled as generals all possess powers, and Tam can consume even those powers.

I initially thought it was only usable for dragons, but that’s not the case.

Once Tam absorbed Yusa’s power, it immediately informed me of the details.

Thus, I had some knowledge of Yusa’s abilities.

“So you’re saying that has something to do with the strange expression Noya’s making?”

If his keen instincts stem from his powers, I can understand that.

But what’s the problem? I asked Noya.

“Kid.”

“Yes.”

“Yusa’s keen instincts are sharp, and he’s far from being naive.”

There was a subtle hint of concern in Shin Noya’s voice.

“Didn’t he say at the banquet that it’d be better to use red next?”

“Yes.”

That was part of what I had instructed the Black.

After hearing that, I went to meet the Black, and Noya had gone to meet Yusa.

This was the result, and yet Noya seemed troubled.

“He targeted the red and Yusa heard that, but…”

“Yes.”

“Didn’t he fail to mention himself in the same breath? I wonder if he found that odd?”

“……”

Upon hearing Noya’s words, my brows furrowed.

Indeed.

‘Didn’t I tell him to speak?’

When I secretly met the Black to give an order, I hadn’t mentioned this matter when I said to share information.

‘If I were in his position…’

If I were in the Black’s shoes, I’d definitely have mentioned myself first, then drawn attention to the red.

‘What if the Black didn’t do that?’

What would the fellow think if he failed to do that?

‘……’

The Black doesn’t strike me as foolish, yet there’s no telling.

What if he found it strange, what would happen then?

If Yusa saw this as suspicious, would he seek out the Black? That could indeed occur.

In that scenario, some issues might arise.

‘Although I’ve corrupted him with the demon energy, if he uses the power of the name, he could break through it.’

If that power is indeed absolute, it could be dangerous.

Thinking about that, I momentarily fell into deep thought.

I contemplated scenarios where problems might arise.

I considered and reconsidered. Though the time was short, countless thoughts passed through my mind.

Despite pondering.

‘…Hmm.’

My conclusion remained unchanged.

“After all, the water has been spilled.”

The water had already been spilled.

There was no way to gather it back up. It wasn’t a situation for that either.

“Either way, I guess I’ll have to give it a shot.”

“What a comforting answer.”

“What do you think, Noya? If Yusa realizes something’s off, how will he respond?”

I envision the character of Yusa. While I don’t know much about him, if he’s someone who has at least glimpsed a hint.

‘Rather than revealing it right away…’

He would likely confirm first instead of immediately reporting back for his own position.

“Wouldn’t he check first?”

“He would check first.”

“……”

“……”

Noya replied with the same answer. Since our answers were the same, Noya wore a somewhat awkward expression.

Seeing that, I chuckled lightly.

“That fellow has ambition.”

The same as the Black. Ambition. He possessed quite the grand ambition. You could tell just by looking at his eyes.

How could I survive among such ambitious folks in the Central Plains? It wouldn’t make sense to claim I didn’t recognize that look.

“With ambition comes the search for hope. They’ll roll around madly seeking opportunities even in a mud pit; they wouldn’t just discard something without checking.”

Didn’t they say, “even when crossing a bridge, knock on it”?

It’s a saying reflecting cautious people.

In other words.

‘They won’t cross without confirming.’

Saying it in reference to Yusa might be a stretch.

But I thought it wasn’t too far off the mark.

‘If he doubts, he’ll check.’

And I just needed to ensure that doubt turns into certainty.

“So, when did he ask to meet again?”

“He asked to meet in half a time point from now.”

“Hmm.”

It’s not too far off.

‘The fact that it requires that much time means…’

If Noya’s concerns are right, he might be preparing something.

I felt a slight tension rise.

‘Half a time point…’

As I mentally repeated the time, I heard.

“And, kid.”

“Yes?”

“This time, you must go alone.”

“Yes?”

I narrowed my eyes slightly at that response.

“Yusa said it’s a condition that you go alone, and you’ll need to wrap things up around Hwasan soon too. I know it’s disappointing, but there’s no helping it…”

“No, I’m not disappointed. Why would you try to come again?”

“…Huh?”

“It’s fine now. I can handle it, so just go.”

“……”

Saying that so casually caused Noya’s expression to turn even stranger.

“Rather, you’ll be a hindrance now that you mention it.”

“……Uh, uh. Right.”

Even though I had said I couldn’t take him along, Noya’s expression was peculiar.

He looked slightly disappointed. What’s that about? I told him to go because I couldn’t help him, so why is he making that face?

“If you’re done talking, I’ll be leaving first. Just let me know the location and you can head back.”

“……”

At my words, Noya clicked his tongue as if somewhat flustered.

It seemed he had a lot he wanted to say, but in the end, Shin Noya said nothing.

After that, I obtained the location from him.

To my surprise, the meeting place Yusa suggested wasn’t in Yawol.

It was a forest located a bit away from the castle.

Noya said that’s where he wanted to meet the Heavenly Demon.

 

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