Chapter 18

“No, that’s not it.”

In front of the boundary stone.

Im Yeon and the escorts were dripping with sweat.

The reason was our fight with the madman.

We needed rehearsal to execute my plan.

So I was teaching them the required movements, but there were some snags.

The Peak-level Im Yeon and the first-rate escort could follow orders decently, but the two second-rates were lacking.

‘It can’t be helped.’

Realms are divided for a reason.

Peak, first-rate, second-rate.

Each tier differed starkly.

“Lend me your saber a moment?”

I took a saber from one escort.

I demonstrated directly for the two second-rates.

“Relax the wrist, keep the elbows tucked, lower your center. That’s the basics, you’re short on basics. I don’t ask for much. Just do two Sweep-Through-a-Thousand Troops and Mount Tai Suppressions.”

“I’ll bear it in mind.”

I handed the saber back.

Peeking this way, Im Yeon spoke up.

“You seem versed in saber arts as well, Young Lord.”

“Spying on me already?”

“N-not spying, admiring.”

“Spend admiration on training. The Seven-Demon Sword Art is simple, but you still need to get all seven moves down before we fight him.”

“Y-yes…”

She hurriedly turned and began thrusting her sword.

It was the Seven-Demon Sword Art I’d mentioned.

It was one of the many arts the Heavenly Demon taught me.

It contained only thrusting forms, but because it was extremely simple, it was easy to train.

It fit this situation perfectly, so I passed it to her.

And it wasn’t anything great.

“Alright, that’s enough. Let’s move to formation.”

We crammed for an hour.

It was short, but not overly so.

Anyway, the plan’s key was my command.

They just needed to be ready to follow it.

“It’s fine to stop practicing now. Let’s run a check.”

I did a final run-through on a few things.

First, I called the temporary call-signs for efficiency.

“Gap.”

“Yes.”

“Eul.”

“Yes.”

Im Yeon was Gap; the rest, in order of skill, were Eul, Byung, Jeong.¹

“Next—”

After checks, I led them to face the madman at ten paces.

I asked Im Yeon.

“Confident?”

“…”

“Even if you aren’t, say you are.”

She looked at me like, why ask then.

I ignored it and said,

“Just do as I say. That’s enough.”

“Understood.”

“Then let’s—”

“Um, Young Lord.”

“What.”

“Will you truly only command…?”

She asked with anxious eyes.

I’d said so when I explained the plan.

That I wouldn’t personally fight.

I’d claimed it was more efficient, but what was the main reason why I brought them here?

To save the Tranquil Frost Pill.

The madman was merely a gate.

More precisely, a means to summon the Valley Lord.

Win against the madman and add one more element, we can summon the Valley Lord.

Only then could I obtain the Demon-Gathering Stone.

“As I said, I’ll only command.”

“Yes.”

“Alright, then—”

“Y-Young Lord.”

“What now?”

“May I say something before we start?”

I looked at her.

Her face was set.

“Go on.”

“Thank you.”

She stepped before the escorts.

They were all stiff as boards.

It was understandable.

They were about to risk their lives.

“W-we are escorts dispatched to protect the Seventh Young Lord. Let us show no more disgrace!”

Simple, rough words.

But effective. Their spirit steadied.

‘Is this what they call moving?’

We’d only spent a few hours together.

Yet the green, awkward rookie captain had become a green, awkward captain who could rally subordinates.

That’s real progress.

If we nitpick, she shook the most, but let’s let that slide.

Anyway, she looked pleased with herself.

I tossed her a joke.

“No quote from the Escort Code Manual?”

“Ah—shall I?”

Okay, apparently it wasn’t a joke on her end.

“Never mind. My turn to say something.”

“You have words too, Young Lord?”

“I do, but for over there, not here.”

“Huh?”

I cupped my hands to my mouth, looking past where the madman stood.

“Hey! I am Baek Su-gyeong, the Heavenly Demon’s new disciple. I have graced Demon Valley with my presence!”

Done.

Hands behind my back, I stepped to the rear. Bug-eyed, Im Yeon asked.

“What did you just do?”

“I had words for someone.”

“You spoke staring at empty air.”

“No. Someone’s there.”

“Ah… right…”

Her voice trailed off.

From compulsive liar, this time she was looking at me as if I was a madman.

What does she take me for?

‘Actually, didn’t she ask if I was sane too?’

…It’s so clear what she thinks of me.

“Let’s begin. Reverse eight-character formation ². Wide front: Eul, Byung. Narrow rear: Gap, Jeong.”

They formed an inverted “8.”

“Advance three paces.”

The madman obeys the Valley Lord’s command.

The command was to kill whoever crosses the boundary.

When they crossed, he kicked off the ground at once.

‘Don’t get dragged along. Finish fast.’

The longer this fight, the worse for us.

His prowess far outstrips theirs.

Numbers will vanish in an instant, so we’ll be pressed instead.

I issued rapid orders.

“Eul, Byung. One step outward!”

They slid outward.

Long claws flashed at that spot.

Syuuk!

The claws meant to rip them only cut air.

“Gap, low-left to high-right! Jeong, low-right to high-left!”

Strikes from the rear rushed the madman.

He casually swept his left hand.

Chae-chaeng!

Just what did you do? Steel met claws and his claws were unscathed.

“Eul, Byung—fall back to position and press from his rear, Mount Tai Suppression!”

“Got it!”

“Gap, thrust the solar plexus. Byung, sweep low!”

“Yes!”

Brief as it was, the practice paid off. They all moved in sync.

Following my calls, they tightened the net.

The madman couldn’t respond properly.

How does it feel to be cut off a beat early every time?

‘Probably nothing.’

Truth is, he lacked reason.

He could only obey a very simple order.

Without reason, he couldn’t use martial arts. There was only monotonous motion.

And I was forcing predictable lines via their movement.

But how long would it hold?

Each clash of claw and weapon twisted their faces.

His raw power was hard to bear.

Hence the rush. To end it before variables appear.

“This time—”

Just as I went to give the next order—

He suddenly curled up.

‘There it is.’

“Everyone, back three paces!”

Saaaak!

Qi gathered on his claws.

Claw Qi.

As they retreated, he flung his arms out and spun like a top.

A force that would shred anything touched.

Powerful—but useless if it doesn’t land.

And big motions leave gaps.

I thundered orders.

“Eul, Byung, Jeong! Reengage and press with everything you’ve got! Gap, fall two paces and approach his rear!”

Eul might be able to take it, Byung and Jeong would not.

They’d likely drop their sabers soon.

But that was enough to hold his fleeting gap.

Chae-chaeng!

As expected, Byung and Jeong lost their sabers together.

But it was fine.

Im Yeon had already reached his back.

“Escort Im, now! Three-Six-Five!”

With my cry, her blade flashed.

The third form of the Seven Demonic Sword Art pierced his left wrist.

The sixth pierced his right, and the fifth shot for his throat.

Instinctively, he threw his torso back.

Unfortunately for him, Eul was there.

Eul’s saber scored his back, and blood sprayed.

Im Yeon’s tip did not miss.

“Don’t kill him!”

Spath!

Her blade halted at his throat.

A thin line of blood showed where the tip touched.

“Haa… haa…”

The spared madman, three escorts hemming him in, and Im Yeon panting with her sword forward.

This was a perfect win.

“Y-Young Lord! We did it. We subdued the demonic fiend! Waaa!”

She cheered at once.

The escorts rejoiced with her.

“He’s not a demonic fiend.”

“That’s right. Doing as you said, the demonic fiend was nothing. How do you devise such tactics… you’re a genius!”

What genius? Didn’t I say he wasn’t a demonic fiend? Why is she spewing nonsense?

Anyway, it all went as planned, so I felt good.

“Ah. There’s no time for this. We need to bind him. Bring rope!”

“No need.”

The madman had already gone still.

He stood motionless under the point, offering no resistance.

As if someone were controlling him.

“What in—”

As an escort muttered in confusion.

Dududududu—

The ground shook from the far side of the valley.

Something was charging in a billow of dust.

“Uh, uhh…”

Im Yeon and the escorts’ faces blanched.

What rushed in was a horde of madmen.

At least a hundred swarmed and ringed us.

The air seemed to freeze.

If one madman’s killing aura was strong, then what of a hundred?

Im Yeon and the escorts could barely breathe.

Their hands on weapons trembled.

The victory high was gone, and only fear remained.

“Y-Young Lord… did you foresee even this?”

She asked.

It was a question, but pleaded for a fixed answer.

I answered with a smile.

“Of course I did.”

“Truly? As expected of you!”

Her face brightened.

Relief washed in where fear was.

“I’m sorry, Young Lord. I nearly made a mistake again in not trusting you.”

“Realizing it now is enough. Escort Im, just watch. I’ll handle it.”

“Yes!”

Smiling, I faced the horde.

“The entry rite should be sufficient by now, so shall we stop?”

I said, sweeping my gaze over them.

“Heuk. Don’t tell me that the one you spoke to earlier is among them…?”

Im Yeon marveled again.

But the answer I wanted didn’t come.

‘Still feigning ignorance? Then I’ll come to you.’

I walked among them.

She made another “Oooh,” which I let pass.

I stopped before the most grotesque of them, an old madman.

Lifeless as a withered tree, his skin cracked like fields in a long drought.

They were too deep to be mere wrinkles. It was as if they were torn and mended hundreds of times.

“How long will you keep that up?”

At that, the old one, the Lord of Demon Valley, turned his head stiffly.

“…Quick on the uptake, aren’t you.”

“I tend to be.”

“A-as expected, Young Lord! To single out the enemy leader at once!”

“You knew of me?”

“More or less.”

“You truly know everything about Demon Valley!”

Ah, seriously.

It’s nice that you trust me, but this is overkill.

I can’t talk to the Valley Lord like this.

But he didn’t mind, and asked again.

“You said you’re Seol Yu-won’s disciple. Is that true?”

“Would I pretend to be the Heavenly Demon’s disciple? That’s suicidal.”

Though the Demon Cult does have such madmen, anyways.

“So that means you are.”

He murmured, meaningful.

Sensing something off, he snatched my wrist like lightning.

The wrist—where the pulse gate lies.

When seized, your Qi drains and you can’t exert strength.

That’s what he did to me.

‘That wasn’t in the script.’

He hadn’t done this in my past life.

So what’s this?

‘Either way, the outcome won’t change.’

I know him well.

I should calm Im Yeon so she doesn’t panic.

“Escort Im! Don’t be ala—”

—rmed.

Two more syllables—and I couldn’t.

The Valley Lord lifted me and shot into the air.

With her personality, if I were to get kidnapped like this and vanish, she’ll surely make a scene again.

‘Don’t start a pointless fight with them and stay put.’

I reached my free hand out, repeating it inwardly.

Maybe the thought reached her.

She reached out a hand like mine.

And.

“Have a safe trip, Young Lord!”

She waved, beaming.

As if this, too, were in my plan.

“Parting from the protectee violates the Escort Code, but you surely have your designs! We’ll await you!”

No, I actually didn’t foresee this.

It seems I gave her too much trust to cling to.

Soon, I vanished into Demon Valley’s darkness with the Valley Lord.