Chapter 56

Several pieces of news slammed into the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult like a typhoon.

One was that the Seventh Young Lord had fought the Fourth Young Lord and cut off his arm.

Another was that he had perfectly carried out the new heretical cult suppression mission he had been assigned.

All throughout the morning, Divine Cult members inside and outside the main altar did nothing but praise Baek Su-gyeong.

But that was as far as it went.

From the afternoon on, completely opposite rumors swept through the Cult.

They accused Baek Su-gyeong of arbitrarily forgiving the apostates who had opposed the Divine Cult, of committing the outrage of bringing them into the main altar, and of filling the entire mission with acts of apostasy.

The content was similar, but the standpoint was completely opposite.

Divine Cult members were bewildered, wondering which story was true.

And Baek Su-gyeong, at the center of those rumors, was calmly eating dinner at Hidden Cloud Pavilion.

“Young Lord, is it really all right not to explain yourself? The rumors are far too ominous.”

Im Yeon asked.

She was restless, as if it were rumors about her that were spreading.

“There is no need. There is a place that will explain in our stead.”

“There is such a place?”

“There is.”

I gave a faint smile.

If rumors kept spreading that I was an apostate, the place in the most awkward position would be the Demon Inquisition Corps.

They had released me after judging my actions were not apostasy.

So the Demon Inquisition Corps would have no choice but to speak for my side.

‘Though the Elder Council Lord will not sit still either.’

The source of the negative rumors was obvious.

There was a man who was strangely obsessed with how others saw him. That was the Elder Council Lord.

He was extremely sensitive to public opinion.

The very fact that he had started these rumors was proof.

He believed that the more popular I became among the Demon Cult members, the more uneasy his own position grew.

Because if his misdeeds were exposed, my words would carry more weight than his.

‘He really is petty.’

For a man bearing the title of Elder Council Lord to stoop to such tricks.

How much power was he trying to cling to that he made such a spectacle of himself.

‘Well, it doesn’t really matter.’

If he wanted to play petty, I could answer in kind.

From that day on, the battle for public opinion became even fiercer.

The Elder Council Lord tried to drag me down by any means, but I did not just stand there and let it happen.

I borrowed the strength of Ju Ok-hwa, the best in the world at badmouthing others, and wore out my shoes running tirelessly between the Demon Inquisition Corps, the Disciplinary Court, and the Ghost-Face Unit Leader’s quarters.

As a result, the Demon Inquisition Corps declared that I bore no charge of apostasy, the Disciplinary Court decided to investigate the Elder Council Lord, and the Ghost-Face Unit Leader stepped forward to testify.

The ugly past the Elder Council Lord had desperately tried to hide began surfacing one by one, and his reputation plummeted more steeply by the moment.

It was deeply satisfying, but it was too soon to relax.

There was still something more important left.

‘Making sure Great Sahyung does not show his face at the Sacred Flame Festival.’

In my previous life, the Elder Council Lord had set the board.

He had insisted strongly that Great Sahyung should be granted first-class merit for completing a secret mission.

Great Sahyung had accepted it with a show of reluctant humility.

But would it happen the same way this time?

I did not think so.

Great Sahyung never took actions that did not benefit him.

It was an open secret that he and the Elder Council Lord were in the same boat.

But with the Elder Council Lord’s reputation scraping the bottom, it was unclear how much influence his words still carried.

If first-class merit were guaranteed from the start that would be one thing, but if not, Great Sahyung would not appear.

If he came for nothing, the Elder Council Lord’s mud might splash onto him.

‘…Enough. Time to sleep.’

Tomorrow was the mission evaluation for the Great Sacred Flame Council.

Time to stop thinking useless thoughts.

I lay down on the bed and soon fell asleep.

That night.

“W-What nonsense is this!”

The Elder Council Lord’s hand, holding the letter, trembled.

The letter sent by First Young Lord Geuk Mu-hyeok contained unbelievable words.

“Since the Cult is in turmoil, he will not show his face at the Sacred Flame Festival events for the sake of harmony and stability? Hah!”

For a moment, the Elder Council Lord felt his head spin.

Three days ago, Geuk Mu-hyeok had returned to the Cult in secret.

It had been to make a surprise appearance at the Great Sacred Flame Council’s evaluation.

He would be granted first-class merit, showing that he remained strong even after his long absence.

The Elder Council Lord also needed to show that his bond with Geuk Mu-hyeok was firmer than ever.

That had been the original plan, and the chance to raise the reputation that had fallen during this affair.

However, Geuk Mu-hyeok chose not to attend.

He had surely judged that being involved with the Elder Council Lord would gain him nothing.

‘That ungrateful wretch! After everything I did to raise you!’

The Elder Council Lord cursed Geuk Mu-hyeok at length in his heart.

Then he thought of the root cause of all this.

The Seventh Young Lord, Baek Su-gyeong.

Nothing had gone right since that brat joined the Cult.

‘Now that it has come to this, I have to at least deal with Ak Mu-jin.’

The Elder Council Lord rolled his eyes in a chilling way.

On the day of the Great Sacred Flame Council’s mission evaluation.

“Hooo!”

I let out a deep breath, finishing my circulation of energy.

Perhaps thanks to steady cultivation, the Nine Heavens Demon-Ascension Art was now on the verge of reaching the third stage.

‘This feels good.’

My cultivation was progressing well, and the overall situation was favorable.

Objectively, the Elder Council Lord’s faction could not even be compared to mine.

But my allies had each fought like a hundred men.

Jo Yi-gyeong issued a proclamation at just the right time, and the Ghost-Face Unit Leader willingly gave difficult testimony to get Ak Mu-jin released.

‘Ju Ok-hwa was especially terrifying.’

Her talent, perfectly suited for spilling other people’s secrets, shone.

She casually let slip the Elder Council Lord’s past to visitors at Ink-Needle Hall as if by mistake, and even mobilized the private information network she had built to turn public opinion against him.

It was a talent fit to be called demonic.

“Young Lord, we have finished preparing to depart.”

I dressed and set out for Ten Thousand Demons Hall.

When I arrived there before long, the Ten Thousand Demons Hall felt quite different from at the time of the Great Sacred Flame Council.

The gazes directed at me were far from ordinary.

It felt like far more attention was focused on me than last time.

I greeted several familiar faces and headed for my seat.

On the way, I came across a welcome face.

“Oh? The Elder Council Lord is here too.”

Surprisingly, the Elder Council Lord was present.

He must have grown a sheet of iron for a face. Did he feel no shame at all?

“……”

The Elder Council Lord said nothing and simply closed his eyes.

One could imagine the state of his insides.

‘Geuk Mu-hyeok is nowhere to be seen.’

In my previous life, he had arrived before the evaluation began.

As time passed, the empty seats filled one by one, but Geuk Mu-hyeok’s seat remained vacant.

At that moment, the Heavenly Demon entered.

“We greet the Lord of All Demons!”

Everyone knelt at the same time.

Inwardly, I let out a shout of joy.

Because I was now certain I had changed the future where Geuk Mu-hyeok attended the evaluation.

Unless he had lost his mind, there was no way Geuk Mu-hyeok would appear after the Heavenly Demon.

As I had expected, he must have judged there was nothing to gain.

And that meant.

‘I am now the leading candidate to bear the Sacred Flame.’

The evaluation proceeded quickly.

As before, Gal So-ye announced the achievements of each organization and clan with a very tired look.

“Now I will speak of the merits of the Little Demons. The strategists of the Military Affairs Department have evaluated them according to various criteria.”

At last, it was the Little Demons’ turn.

Since this was practically the core of the evaluation, everyone listened intently to Gal So-ye’s words.

“The Third Young Lord completed the mission to exterminate the demonic beasts in the Fire Spirit Grounds. Since the safety of the Sacred Flame procession route was successfully secured, it can be said he earned first-grade merit.”

“Ooh.”

Faces around the hall brightened or clouded over.

The ones who brightened were those with ties to Third Young Lord Gu Cheong-won, and the ones who darkened were the opposite.

Naturally, I was in the latter group.

“The Fourth Young Lord failed to complete his mission, so he has no merit.”

Heuk Un-hwi had not attended the evaluation.

The Patriarch of the Hundred-Succession Heuk Clan listened to the result with a calm face.

“The Fifth Young Lord, during the patrol mission in the border region between the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions, repelled one provocation from the Heretical Alliance. This too can be seen as upholding the Cult’s prestige, but considering the difficulty of the mission, he’s been assigned third-grade merit.”

Everyone, even the Patriarch of the The Violet Lightning Yuk Family, looked as if this were only to be expected.

It meant no one had placed any expectations on Yuk Ja-heung.

“The Sixth Young Lady successfully captured the Eternal Cama, the special offering for the Sacred Flame Festival. It is a precious tribute that will make the festival shine even more sacredly. She is granted second-grade merit.”

Perhaps she had hoped for more.

Wi So-rang let out a small “Eh?”

“Lastly, the Seventh Young Lord was tasked with eliminating the newly active heretical cult forces.”

A deeper silence than ever wrapped around Ten Thousand Demons Hall.

“The Seventh Young Lord disrupted the core of the Longevity Cult’s leadership, including its leader, Ak Mu-jin. In the process, the Cult suffered no losses. On the contrary, he reabsorbed those who had left the Cult in the past and contributed to the Cult’s expansion.”

Did it work?

“However, in light of existing precedents and doctrine, it is clearly an exceptional decision. There has also been great concern over the potential shock and latent danger that may arise from bringing key apostates back into the fold.”

Did it not work?

‘So what grade is it then?’

I was inwardly tense.

First-grade merit was the highest grade, so at best I could hope to break even.

If I also received first-grade merit, the choice after that would be up to the Heavenly Demon.

I did not want it to come to that.

I had a gut feeling he would not choose me.

“Thus, I will state the conclusion.”

“Gulp.”

I heard someone swallow.

Ten Thousand Demons Hall was so quiet that even such a small sound could be heard.

Everyone stared only at Gal So-ye’s mouth.

She continued.

“Outside the grades. In other words, first-class special merit.”

“…!”

The shocking announcement swept through Ten Thousand Demons Hall.

Everyone in my field of view either gaped or let out exclamations.

“Outside the grades… there has never been such a case!”

“With merit like that, of course you cannot put it in a grade. He basically brought an entire region under control.”

Even in front of the Heavenly Demon, people forgot solemnity and chipped in a few words.

There were also many who held dissatisfaction and doubts about my grade.

The foremost among them was, of course, the Elder Council Lord.

He was the first to bow to the Heavenly Demon.

“May this subordinate say a few words to the Grand Strategist and those present, Cult Leader?”

When the Heavenly Demon gave a slight nod, the Elder Council Lord spoke again.

“This old man has served in the Cult for decades, yet I believe I have never seen such an unconventional evaluation. First, I sincerely congratulate the Seventh Young Lord on his first-class special merit.”

For once, the Elder Council Lord was offering congratulations.

Judging by the trembling at the corners of his eyes, it was clearly not from the heart.

Even so, he spoke while pretending to be as composed as possible.

“However, it is a fact that there are several questionable points in the Seventh Young Lord’s merit. I naturally believe the Grand Strategist has judged fairly, yet as one who represents the elders of the Divine Cult, I believe there are matters that must be clearly addressed.”

This was exactly what you would expect from the Elder Council Lord.

He put on a seemingly concerned expression.

“In the process of dismantling the heretical group known as the Longevity Cult, I believe the Seventh Young Lord unintentionally committed errors. How could one trust and bring back to the main altar a man who once opposed our Cult and founded a heretical cult? I am deeply concerned that the still-world-naive Seventh Young Lord has been swayed by that man’s cunning tongue.”

He went on at length, but in the end it meant he disliked the outcome.

But that was not all.

There was clearly a hidden intent.

“What is it you are trying to say, Elder Council Lord? Please get to the point.”

Gal So-ye spoke with an expression full of fatigue.

“I will be brief. Measures regarding those who harmed our Cult and beguiled the Seventh Young Lord are urgent. They cannot be locked in the Demon Inquisition Corps forever. Rather, I believe we must use this opportunity to execute them and instill in all believers a warning never to harbor treacherous hearts.”

The Elder Council Lord must have been losing his composure.

There were already grim rumors about him and Ak Mu-jin, yet he was bringing up such words himself.

Whatever the case, what he meant was that Ak Mu-jin absolutely had to die.

“You are rather narrow in your view.”

I looked straight at him as I spoke.

“Anyone can make mistakes. If you seize and kill them every time, how many people would be left alive here?”

“That is a poor comparison. No one here would harbor treacherous intent.”

“You cannot know that. Do you think Ak Mu-jin wanted to be like that from the beginning? He was doing fine as Ghost-Face Unit Leader, so why? It could happen if he was betrayed by a ‘high-ranking figure’ in the Cult he trusted.”

I naturally took aim at the Elder Council Lord.

There was no one who did not know the rumors about him and Ak Mu-jin.

“That man always put his own ambition before the Divine Cult’s order. For such a one, choosing apostasy is only natural. Imagine how he must have reveled in luxury calling himself the Longevity Cult Leader.”

“Would a man living in luxury shove down five bowls of thin noodles like a fool?”

“What kind of absurd remark is that all of a sudden?”

I was more than willing to drag things into a dogfight for Ak Mu-jin’s sake.

It was not only because he served as a check on the Elder Council Lord.

I had seen his ridiculous memorial ritual of feasting on thin noodles every day in remembrance of his fallen subordinates.

For someone like that, I felt it was all right to give him a chance to change the twisted future and shake off the past.

“Do you know why Ak Mu-jin created the Longevity Cult? Because he could not take revenge no matter what he did, he decided he would rather burn the entire Longevity Cult to ash to sound a warning to the Cult. Of course it was wrong. He dragged other people in. But who was it that gave birth to the Longevity Cult Leader?”

It was you.

I did not take my eyes off the Elder Council Lord, as if my gaze were saying exactly that.

“Hmph, I do not understand why the Seventh Young Lord is so desperate to defend a rebel. Do you mean to release those rebels into the Cult no matter what?”

“You see it exactly right.”

“Look here, everyone! The Seventh Young Lord has been deceived and is harboring mistaken thoughts. Whatever else you say, they are no different from poisoned needles in a pocket. They will surely cause great chaos in our Cult.”

Quite a few people nodded vigorously.

Even if he had been caught up in bad rumors, it was not enough to erase the Elder Council Lord’s influence entirely.

And there were many who viewed Ak Mu-jin and his subordinates with suspicion.

Considering Ak Mu-jin’s deeds, it was only natural to think that way.

Buoyed by this, the Elder Council Lord went on triumphantly.

“You must understand now, Seventh Young Lord. Abandon the idea of releasing these dangerous men.”

How should I answer this?

I was just about to slam into him head-on.

The Heavenly Demon, who had been watching everything without so much as a twitch, opened his mouth for the first time.

“So the problem is management.”

With that one line, the Ten Thousand Demons Hall froze in an instant.

It was a remark without preface or follow-up, but there seemed to be no one who did not grasp its meaning.

The Elder Council Lord hastily lowered his body and answered.

“With apologies, yes, Cult Leader.”

“Then we need only appoint a manager.”

A manager? What did that mean?

Everyone looked at the Heavenly Demon with puzzled faces.

In the midst of this, the first to notice the Heavenly Demon’s intent was, as expected, Gal So-ye.

Her gaze, soaked in fatigue, turned toward me.

I was wondering why she was looking at me when.

“We can simply place Ak Mu-jin and the others under the Seventh Young Lord’s authority. The Seventh Young Lord can manage them, and if any problem arises, he can bear full responsibility. Would that not suffice?”

“…!”

I looked at the Heavenly Demon in surprise.

He had called it management, but I knew.

He had taken to heart what I had said to him. So not only was he freeing Ak Mu-jin and his subordinates, he was placing them in my hands.

“……”

An emotion rose up that was hard to put into words.

If I had to name the closest one, it was probably being moved.

That single line circled in the Heavenly Demon’s mind for a very long time.