Chapter 83

I furrowed my brow as deeply as I could. I just couldn’t make sense of it.

Seeing me like that, Gal So-ye gave a faint smile and began to elaborate.

“My Lord is often away. At least once or twice a year, he always sets out for the Central Plains.”

A memory I’d forgotten about suddenly surfaced.

Just as Gal So-ye said, the Heavenly Demon would occasionally disappear off somewhere.

And every time, I’d felt a sense of liberation, like I could finally breathe.

Back then, to me, the Heavenly Demon had been a literal fiend.

Even though he’d committed the atrocity of ordering his personal guards to spy on me to make sure I followed my training instead of doing their actual jobs, simply not seeing him had put my mind greatly at ease.

“That’s odd. Why would Master need guards? When he goes to the Central Plains, shouldn’t people be worrying about the Central Plains instead of him?”

At my question, Gal So-ye let out a low sigh.

She hesitated for a moment, like someone about to say something they shouldn’t, then opened her mouth.

“Whenever My Lord returns from his trips to the Central Plains, for a while…”

“For a while?”

“…he becomes weak.”

I snorted and asked back.

“How weak? Like, not-quite-able-to-destroy-the-Central-Plains-single-handedly weak?”

“So weak he can barely move.”

“…”

I stared straight at Gal So-ye.

How did that make any sense?

The Heavenly Demon, of all people, growing so weak he could barely move?

“I don’t enjoy telling tall tales.”

“I know that. I just can’t believe it.”

“I think the same thing every year.”

“Do you know why he becomes weak?”

“I don’t.”

Of course she didn’t.

The Heavenly Demon wasn’t the type to chatter on about his own issues.

‘Something’s off here.’

Why did he regularly head to the Central Plains?

And why did he always come back weakened?

As I sank into those thoughts, Gal So-ye continued, her expression full of concern.

“My Lord is this Cult itself. It is because he exists that the Divine Cult can exist as the Divine Cult. But he absolutely insists on traveling alone, and that worries me greatly. What if he runs into some lawless crowd from the orthodox or heretical factions on his way back? No matter that he is My Lord, no one can say what might happen.”

“Hmmm.”

I quietly folded my arms.

I understood her worries, but honestly, they weren’t necessary.

Because I knew that the future she feared would never come.

In any situation, the only one who could ruin the Heavenly Demon was the Heavenly Demon himself.

However, I couldn’t tell Gal So-ye what I knew.

She’d already suspected not long ago that I might somehow know the future.

So I decided to twist things a little instead.

“I don’t think I’d be much help. How’s a fledgling like me supposed to protect Master? It’ll be a miracle if I’m not just deadweight.”

“How very modest of you. Not what I’d expect from the person who killed the Hundred-Succession Heuk Clan Head.”

“That was just me finishing off someone the Clan Head of the Destructive Sword Son Clan had already beaten half to death.”

“More Little Demons can’t do such a thing than can. And above all, you possess a weapon called cleverness. I hold your wisdom in very high regard. Enough that I wanted to bring you into the Strategist’s Office.”

I cleared my throat.

It was because Gal So-ye was revealing that burdensome desire again.

‘I really need to draw a clear line here.’

It was time to let her know that if she made me uncomfortable, it would come back around to her too.

Putting on a deliberately serious tone, I spoke.

“So, you’re asking me to guard Master because you value my wisdom so highly, right, Grand Strategist?”

“That’s right.”

“Then are you saying Master doesn’t have wisdom? Even if his body weakens, his intellect doesn’t disappear.”

“…”

One of Gal So-ye’s eyebrows rose ever so slightly.

Then a voice that sounded almost resentful slipped between her lips.

“Wow, that’s hurtful. After everything I’ve done for you in every possible way, how could you angle for my assassination like this?”

“Hahaha, just answer the question.”

“Rather than answer, let me give an assessment. The way you fluster me is also a sharp edge of your wisdom, Seventh Young Lord. The more I see, the more I want you.”

“…Please stop. Seriously.”

In the end, I didn’t even get my money’s worth.

Seeing Gal So-ye smiling brightly, I wondered if she’d answered that way on purpose, knowing how uncomfortable her fawning made me.

Seriously, she really was something else for a Grand Strategist.

‘Still, seeing her smile isn’t all bad.’

On the face that was always steeped in exhaustion, there was, for once, a hint of vitality.

To think that she was a person who was capable of smiling like this.

‘…What would a trip to the Central Plains with the Heavenly Demon be like?’

Honestly, I wasn’t exactly eager.

He was already endlessly frustrated he couldn’t train me more, what would he do if we were stuck together all day?

He’d probably work me to death.

I spoke again, intending to turn her down once more.

“Besides, why would he take ‘me’ along when he doesn’t even bring his personal guards? Did Master say he’d accept this?”

“I did bring it up, but he refused.”

“Of course he did. Too bad. If the person himself doesn’t want it, how could I take on guarding him?”

“I’d like you to persuade him yourself.”

“You really think that stubborn man can be persuaded? I have my doubts.”

“You can do it, Seventh Young Lord.”

“Oh, come on. I’m not that special.”

“You’re the only one My Lord permits at his side.”

Gal So-ye fixed her jet-black eyes on me.

“I have served My Lord for years, but I have never once had a private conversation with him. Even when I give my reports, I stand at a distance. But what about you?”

Two emotions drifted in her voice and expression.

Bitterness and jealousy.

The Heavenly Demon had discovered her talent and given her the authority to do any work she wished.

For Gal So-ye, who regarded such a Heavenly Demon as her benefactor, it was natural to want a relationship that went beyond Lord and subordinate, to something more human.

“There’s something you’re mistaken about, Grand Strategist.”

“And what is that?”

“It’s not so much that Master only allows ‘me’ near him. I’m just the only one who actually walks up to him.”

“To me, the fact you ‘can’ walk up to him at all is proof you’ve been granted permission.”

She gave a light shake of her head, as if she didn’t want to drag this topic out any longer.

“So, what will you do?”

I fell silent, lost in thought for a moment.

As I’d said before, a trip to the Central Plains with the Heavenly Demon wouldn’t be easy.

Just thinking about it made my head throb.

Yet on the other hand, there were three reasons it wouldn’t be a bad idea to go.

First, Gal So-ye.

Granting her request and creating a debt might be useful later.

She was someone who could become a great source of strength to me.

Second, there was no end to the things one could gain in the Central Plains.

Using the knowledge from my past life, I could find rare elixirs to raise my internal energy, reunite with the beloved steed that had roamed the Central Plains with me back then, or make a fortune.

I didn’t know where exactly the Heavenly Demon would go, but I could build detailed plans around his route.

And the last point, the most important of all.

Ever since my regression, I’d been searching for the cause that would influence the Heavenly Demon’s Demonization, but I had nothing substantial yet.

And now, I had a hunch it might be connected to his trips to the Central Plains.

To inflict enough damage on the Heavenly Demon to hinder his movements, it would take far more than some ordinary blow.

Even if five of the Ten Great Masters of the world attacked him at once, they’d barely manage a stalemate at best.

That was why I felt I needed to see for myself what was weakening him.

Looking at Gal So-ye, I gave a firm nod.

“Alright. I’ll do it.”

“Ah. You’ve made a very good decision.”

Gal So-ye’s expression brightened noticeably.

“How much travel money are we talking? I’d like it to be generous.”

“There must be no lack for My Lord’s procession. I’ll give you one hundred banknotes, each worth ten taels of silver.”

My mouth fell open like a washbasin.

How much was that again?

“One thousand taels?!”

“Is that not enough?”

“If I say it isn’t, will you give me more?”

“No.”

“It’s plenty.”

What a windfall. I cheered inwardly.

The Heavenly Demon wasn’t picky about lodgings or food. As long as he got strong liquor on time, he’d have no complaints.

So we’d stay in cheap inns, eat plain noodles or something, and I’d save as much of the travel money as possible.

I’d make sure to use what was left very, very well later.

“Seventh Young Lord.”

“Yes?”

“Skimming off travel funds is embezzlement.”

“…Right.”

She was a Grand Strategist, alright.

Seeing right through my guts like that.

Though for some reason, it felt weirdly off. She’d doubted me just from my ‘expression’, hadn’t she?

I fixed my gaze and spoke.

“Grand Strategist.”

“Yes, Seventh Young Lord.”

“Not even a ‘little’?”

“…”

Her eyes turned as cold as the Heavenly Demon’s.

I hurriedly made an excuse.

“This isn’t exactly a normal job. I feel like I should at least get some hazard pay. I mean, I’m going all the way to the distant Central Plains with Master, with my life on the line. Don’t you agree?”

I even folded my fingers one by one as I spoke, and the look in Gal So-ye’s eyes softened a little.

“Now that I hear it, you do have a point. If it were me, I’d spend my own fortune just to go along, but you may think differently. In that case, I’ll carve off one-tenth of the travel funds and give you ten of the draft notes. How does that sound?”

“I’m absolutely fine with that! You really are someone I can talk to. But didn’t you just say skimming off travel funds was embezzlement?”

“It can’t be helped. The Cult’s budget is tight. Would you earn some as a Little Demon on our behalf?”

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.”

As I got to my feet, I added a few words.

“First, make sure Master doesn’t hear ‘anything’ about me from you.”

“You’ve already thought of a way to persuade My Lord?”

“Not exactly. I just think I need to catch him off guard. If he hears beforehand that I plan to go with him, no strategy I come up with will mean anything.”

“A strategy, even?”

“You know what Master is like.”

“That’s true.”

“Then I’ll be going.”

“Seventh Young Lord.”

Her voice suddenly turned particularly serious.

“Why are you dropping your voice like that? You’re making me nervous.”

“Please, I beg you to persuade My Lord.”

Gal So-ye offered a martial artist’s salute, movements crisp and disciplined.

Her worry for the Heavenly Demon came through loud and clear.

I wanted to tell her.

That I worried about the Heavenly Demon just as much as she did.

That I was the one struggling in ways no one would ever know, just to stop his tragic end.

So she should just trust me.

But I didn’t say any of that.

I simply answered with a salute of my own, tinged with a smile.

“Let’s head back to Hidden Cloud Pavilion.”

Leaving the Strategist’s Office, I spoke to Im Yeon.

She asked cautiously.

“Wouldn’t it be better to receive treatment at Ink-Needle Hall for a few more days?”

“I can just head over daily for treatment.”

When I returned to Hidden Cloud Pavilion, many people greeted me.

Not only Ak Mu-jin and the Longevity Ten, but even the servants and errand runners looked happy to see me, as if they’d grown attached over the past few months.

That night, I convened a meeting.

Present were myself, Im Yeon, Ak Mu-jin, and Hwang Seung-jong.

They were the core members of Hidden Cloud Pavilion.

After I explained the whole situation, Im Yeon’s eyes went round.

“So in short, you must persuade the Cult Leader, is that it?”

I nodded, and Hwang Seung-jong and Ak Mu-jin reacted one after the other.

“That won’t be easy.”

“…”

“That’s why we’re having a meeting. If you’ve got good ideas, let me hear them. Guard Im, want to go first?”

Im Yeon scratched her cheek awkwardly.

“In my view, the Cult Leader ‘must’ take guards along whenever he leaves the compound. The Cult Leader’s safety is the foremost duty of all the guards in the Cult, the fervent wish of a million cultists, and furthermore—”

“Could you just give me the short version?”

“I don’t know.”

The hand scratching her cheek drifted up to scratch the side of her head.

Looking dejected, she asked.

“But, Young Lord… you will be taking ‘us’ along, right…?”

“Nope.”

“That won’t do, Young Lord! Your safety is the fervent wish of roughly six thousand five hundred cultists!”

I drew in a breath through my teeth and tilted my head.

That number was oddly specific.

This time, I turned my gaze to Hwang Seung-jong.

True to his slippery nature, he immediately started scheming.

“The Cult Leader must have a reason for going to the Central Plains. We investigate that.”

“How?”

“We go see the Demon Eye Pavilion Master.”

“The Grand Strategist said she doesn’t know either.”

“No matter how high her post, you don’t actually believe the Demon Eye Pavilion Master would hand ‘all’ his information over to the Grand Strategist, do you?”

Hwang Seung-jong wagged his index finger left and right as he continued.

“The Demon Eye Pavilion is the Lord’s direct organization. Even if they share all other information, they won’t hand over his private matters. That’s an unwritten rule.”

“Sounds plausible.”

“Right?”

Watching him puff up with pride, I poured cold water over him.

“Listen till the end. It ‘sounds’ plausible, but it’s not practical. How are you going to meet him?”

The Demon Eye Pavilion Master was famous for maintaining strict neutrality.

Regardless of rank or status, it was incredibly hard to arrange a private audience with him.

Especially for a Little Demon whose every move stirred up sensitive reactions?

He would ‘never’ agree to a meeting.

Hwang Seung-jong wagged his finger again, like I only knew half the story.

“Nothing’s truly impossible. First we request a meeting through the Grand Strategist, then we ask my father to put pressure on him. If that doesn’t work, we bribe him with a huge sum, or dig up every last bit of dirt on him and—”

“Haaah.”

I let out a sigh.

This guy’s whole outlook was rotten.

Most importantly, he didn’t understand the Demon Eye Pavilion Master at all.

The Demon Eye Pavilion Master was the sort who wouldn’t bend his principles even with thousands of blades at his throat.

‘There’s nothing really usable here.’

With little expectation, I looked to Ak Mu-jin.

He was the only one left.

He finally spoke in his slow, low voice.

“Perhaps you should show him your sincerity.”

“My sincerity?”

“Speak your feelings honestly, Seventh Young Lord. Tell him you’re worried about him, and that you want to watch over him until the journey ends.”

What was this? It was such a fresh answer.

Honestly, it was an incredibly unfamiliar perspective for me.

To avoid being exposed as a regressor, to avoid letting slip that I was trying to stop the Heavenly Demon’s Demonization—

I’d always assumed I had to keep deceiving him.

And now he was telling me to speak the truth that I was worried about him.

‘…Maybe I really have been trying too hard to go the long way around.’

I placed my hand on Ak Mu-jin’s arm.

“Accepted.”

“Huh?”

“That’s what you’re going with?”

Im Yeon and Hwang Seung-jong looked puzzled, but I was certain.

There was no other way.

The Heavenly Demon wasn’t someone who’d fall for shallow tricks.

I cut through the deep darkness toward the Ten Thousand Demon Hall.

The Heavenly Demon was, as always, sitting alone on the bench in front of his quarters, draining a wine bottle.

I watched him in silence for a moment.

What was he thinking as he drank alone?

What kind of past did he have to make him always look that lonely?

“What is it?”

“Ah, I came to have a drink with you, Master. I couldn’t sleep.”

I grabbed one of the wine jars beside the bench and sat down next to him like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“I never gave you permission to drink.”

“Why are you nitpicking when it’s between us?”

“…”

In his eyes, I could glimpse a hint of regret, as if he were wondering how he’d ended up taking in a disciple like this.

Ignoring it, I took a big gulp.

“Kh. That’s strong, as expected.”

“What do you want?”

“I told you, I came to drink with you, Master.”

“State your business.”

His intuition was downright supernatural.

I set the wine jar beside me and thought about how to say it.

In the end, what slipped past my lips was a single simple line.

“Let’s go together.”

“Go where.”

“To the Central Plains.”

“…It seems Gal So-ye has been saying unnecessary things.”

“Yes. I heard everything. That you occasionally go to the Central Plains, and every time you come back so weak you’d lose against third-rate rabble.”

“That’s an exaggeration.”

“Either way, let me come with you.”

The Heavenly Demon’s brow creased.

Did my impudent tone bother him?

“Why?”

The pressure he gave off so naturally made me swallow dryly.

But pretending to be calm, I repeated the line Im Yeon had said to me earlier, just changing a few words.

“Because I’m worried. The Grand Strategist’s worried, and I’m worried. Shouldn’t it be the disciple worrying his master, not the master worrying his disciple? And don’t you know your safety is your disciple’s greatest duty and the fervent wish of a million cultists?”

“It would be faster for the sky to collapse.”

An arrogant line worthy of the Heavenly Demon.

There was a time I thought he was a god.

No, part of me still thought that way.

“Master. You are human too.”

In the end, the Heavenly Demon was just a person.

I had seen it.

The sight of a martial artist I’d believed perfect turning into a demonic fiend.

“Stop acting like you can handle everything alone. Sometimes you’re allowed to lean on the people around you. Like I do.”

“You lean on others ‘too’ much, that’s the problem.”

“And you refuse to lean on anyone, ‘that’s’ the problem.”

Our gazes clashed, neither of us giving an inch.

The Heavenly Demon fell silent.

That silence was more uncomfortable than ever, but I endured it and waited for his answer.

I believed that if I showed this much sincerity, it would get through.

“So, you intend to guard me.”

“Exactly.”

“You don’t have the qualifications.”

“Why not?”

“You’re too weak.”

I let out a hollow laugh, utterly dumbfounded.

“Master, do you not know who I am? I’m Baek Su-gyeong, the Heuk-Slaying Little Demon.”

Because of the string of incidents involving Heuk Jin-pung, I’d picked up more nicknames than I could count on my fingers.

One of them was the ‘Heuk-Slaying Little Demon,’ the Little Demon who had finished off the Hundred-Succession Heuk Clan.

“Arrogance is poison to a martial artist.”

“You saw it yourself. How I fought Heuk Jin-pung.”

“I saw it well. You struggled quite a lot against an opponent who was injured, mentally shaken, and already had one foot halfway into his coffin.”

“…”

Wow. That was harsh.

He couldn’t spare a single word of praise for someone who’d fought desperately to save his life, and ‘had’ to phrase it like that?

…Even if it ‘was’ true.

‘Talking isn’t going to cut it.’

“If I prove my skills, will you take me with you then?”

“And how will you prove them?”

“That’s for you to decide, Master.”

I spoke with full confidence.

Perhaps my confidence amused him, because the corners of the Heavenly Demon’s mouth faintly curled upward.