novelraw Chapter 33
Chapter 33
Chapter 33
『 Translator – Divinity 』
A lavish interior.
A scene most difficult to witness in the Divine Cult was unfolding.
The Second Demonic Marquis had come to visit the Third Demonic Marquis's room.
The Third Demonic Marquis, as it was, had already guessed to some extent that things would turn out this way and had been mentally preparing herself.
The person who sent men to the Martial Arts Academy, killed the Head Instructors, erased the mnemonic verses of the Heaven-Shattering Will Art, and framed the Fourth Demonic Marquis for the deed.
The only one who could do such a thing would be either the Second Demonic Marquis or someone from her own side, and since she hadn't done it, it was all too clear that it was the Second Demonic Marquis's doing.
For that reason, the Third Demonic Marquis had sent a person to her family home early on to hear in advance how it would be best to handle this matter.
The Family Head of the Danmok Demonic Clan, thinking this could be a good opportunity, had told her that when the Second Demonic Marquis approached, she should not coldly push her away but try to secure the maximum practical benefit.
The Third Demonic Marquis had never even imagined that the Second Demonic Marquis would approach her with a smiling face, but now she was experiencing that rare event.
The ranking of the Marquises was the First, Second, Third, and Fourth, in that order. It was a recognition of who had become the Cult Leader's Marquis first, but while the highest-ranking First Marquis had not asserted her authority, the Second Demonic Marquis was different.
Thinking of what she had suffered at the hands of the Second Demonic Marquis, it was enough to make her shudder, so when the Fourth Demonic Marquis arrived, the Third Demonic Marquis made up her mind and gave her a taste of it. For that reason, she could never be close with the Fourth Demonic Marquis.
By that logic, she couldn't get along with the Second Demonic Marquis either, but somehow she had come to witness the strange situation of the Second Demonic Marquis humbling herself first.
“What brings you here, Second Demonic Marquis?”
“I went to my family home and they gave me some good tea that came in, so I thought of you, Third Demonic Marquis, and brought some. It's not easy to go outside when you're cooped up in the Marquis Hall, and how lonely must you be? Only people in the same situation would know that feeling. If I don't understand, who would?”
The Third Demonic Marquis sneered, thinking how well she could nonchalantly prattle such ridiculous nonsense.
The Second Demonic Marquis also noticed that the Third Demonic Marquis was being quite stiff. It wasn't as if she had come without knowing that would happen. For now, she had thought she should humble herself to some extent, but seeing her attitude, her true personality came right out.
“Third Demonic Marquis, it seems you already know, so I won't beat around the bush. I don't like you, and I didn't come here to spend time with you. I came here because of the incident where you had the Cult Leader's personal bodyguard aim for him. How dare you so shamelessly pull something like that. Fine. Since you seem to have already guessed, I'll tell you the truth. Just as you thought, we were the ones who orchestrated the incident at the Martial Arts Academy. But is that really such a big deal?”
When the Second Demonic Marquis spoke defiantly without averting her gaze, the Third Demonic Marquis flinched without realizing it. The power dynamic between the two had usually been established in this way. Moreover, there was nothing wrong with what the Second Demonic Marquis had said.
The Third Marquis had aimed for the Cult Leader, while the Second Demonic Marquis had only killed a few Head Instructors from the Martial Arts Academy.
Looking at the gravity of the matters, it was easy to see who had committed the more serious act.
“As a result, the Cult Leader was not injured and the Head Instructors died, so are you trying to argue that the incident at the Martial Arts Academy is more serious? The Cult Leader would definitely not think so, you know. He is merely waiting. And at a time of his own choosing, he will slowly tear apart the Third Demonic Marquis and the Danmok family.”
The Second Demonic Marquis even smiled as she spoke, as if the scene were vividly painted before her eyes. The Third Demonic Marquis's insides were boiling, but she had nothing suitable to say.
However, as if to show she hadn't come all this way just to tease the Third Demonic Marquis, the Second Demonic Marquis changed her expression.
“How about we set aside this useless power struggle for a moment? I believe the Third Demonic Marquis is not a thoughtless person and knows what the current situation is like. And when one is managing people from above, how can one manage every single thing their underlings do out of excessive loyalty? Isn't that right?”
“That's right…”
She was speaking as if what Gwak Won had done was a personal deviation. It looked as if she were creating an escape route for the Third Demonic Marquis and the Danmok Demonic Clan.
The Divine Cult was not the Cult Leader's personal property, nor could he rule it with his power alone. In some respects, the Demonic Clans, with their established factions and frequent contact with people, could be more advantageous.
But if the So Demonic Clan were to create such an atmosphere, it would be a lifeline for the Third Demonic Marquis and the Danmok Demonic Clan.
The Second Demonic Marquis had a face that seemed to ask, 'Even after this, are you going to continue being so arrogant, not knowing your place?'
“What do you wish to do?”
At the Third Demonic Marquis's words, the Second Demonic Marquis, having regained her haughty expression, spoke.
“In any case, wasn't it because the Danmok family also knew that the result would not be good if Cheon Ha-seong married Seo Hyo-eun that you stepped forward first? We must use some means, whether it's driving a wedge between the two of them or killing Cheon Ha-seong. Cheon Ha-seong has no faction. They say he couldn't even properly learn any noteworthy martial arts if not for the mnemonic verses carved on the walls of the Martial Arts Academy. And the Heaven-Shattering Will Art is a martial art that no one has ever mastered.”
“Did you destroy it because you thought Cheon Ha-seong could master it?”
It wasn't meant to pick a fight; she was just curious what he was thinking when he did it.
The Second Demonic Marquis spoke with a nonchalant face.
“Isn't it a bother to pull out a sprout after it's grown? When it's just about to sprout, you can just step on it and crush it to kill it. The Danmok family should also dispatch a few masters. Let's make it a joint surprise attack on Cheon Ha-seong. I do wonder if we need to go this far to eliminate a mere Cheon Ha-seong, but I believe it's best to douse the embers with plenty of water when you first see them.”
The Third Demonic Marquis also thought it wasn't a bad idea.
“Who will the So family send? Even if the Family Head finds it difficult to step forward himself, the elders will all come out, won't they?”
“There will be no need to send all of them, but I will make sure the mission does not fail.”
“Speaking so vaguely won't do. If our two families are to carry out this plan together, shouldn't it be more precise than that?”
At those words, the Second Demonic Marquis also nodded.
“How about each of our two families sends out five people who rank within the top ten in martial arts?”
“Fine. I trust you know how important this matter is, Second Demonic Marquis, so I hope there will be no penny-wise, pound-foolish decisions made by trying to conserve power.”
A fiery war of nerves erupted between the two.
“Let's have the person with the highest level of martial arts among those who came from the two families take command.”
At the Second Demonic Marquis's words, the look in the Third Demonic Marquis's eyes changed. It was because she thought that if such authority were given, she would have no choice but to send the strongest person from her own family.
The Second Demonic Marquis smiled inwardly, thinking that once again, things were going just as her second son had said.
In any case, who held the right of command was not an important issue. She had said that if she put it this way, the Third Demonic Marquis would surely want to take command and would send the masters of the Danmok Demonic Clan, and it seemed that was indeed what was going to happen.
A smile formed on the Second Demonic Marquis's face as she left the Third Demonic Marquis's room, but the Third Demonic Marquis herself did not know that fact.
***
Various changes came to the inside of the Divine Cult.
The most important was the change in the Honor Guard.
Many people in the Cult Leader's Honor Guard could not keep their positions. And the people arranged by Cheon Ha-seong newly entered.
People who had been candidates at the Martial Arts Academy but had to leave without passing through were now being summoned to become the Young Supreme One's personal bodyguards.
Their initial emotion did not last long, and they soon screamed in exhaustion from the enormous training volume. However, Cheon Ha-seong expected that they would eventually endure the entire process and stand tall.
And another change was...
“Son-in-law, is this the right way to do it?”
“I don't think so, Cult Leader. It seems too much force is going into it, and your speed is dropping. I think it's because you make many unnecessary movements. That seems to be a very bad habit, but it doesn't look like it's getting fixed.”
Even though his opponent was the Cult Leader, the habit of being a Head Instructor for nine years seemed to have become ingrained in his body, as it would often pop out.
The Cult Leader felt bad, but now he had gotten used to it and adapted without even realizing it. He hadn't wanted to get used to such things, but somehow it had happened.
It wasn't that Cheon Ha-seong thought lightly of the Cult Leader either; whenever he became aware that the tone he used with the candidates had come out, he would be startled and apologize each time.
As a result, days where apologizing had become a part of daily life were continuing.
“By the way, son-in-law. Who could that person be? I just can't understand who would have hidden that commentary on the walls of the Martial Arts Academy. Could it be that they had been hiding it all this time, hoping it wouldn't be discovered by anyone, and then, faced with the danger of being found out, they hastily hid it there?”
Cheon Ha-seong had also thought about it, but nothing particular came to mind.
“In any case, I don't think knowing who that person is is important, Cult Leader. Just because one has a martial arts manual or a commentary doesn't mean they are fated to master it.”
“That's right.”
These days, the Cult Leader was in a good mood.
The division and tension within the Divine Cult had been heightened to an unprecedented degree. He also hadn't clearly dealt with the incident where an assassin had dared to aim for him.
Although he had put out the urgent fire, it was a state similar to embers remaining, and Cheon Ha-seong knew well that the Cult Leader had intentionally left those embers.
If the Cult Leader had clearly punished the Third Demonic Marquis and the Danmok Demonic Clan, those who had escaped responsibility would have been able to raise their voices again and resume their activities. But since he didn't and just let time pass, they couldn't let their guard down.
And yet, they, who had dared to aim for the Cult Leader's life, could not step forward and ask for forgiveness themselves.
“By now, those bastards must be meeting diligently and putting their heads together, right? But is it really okay to be so unconcerned, son-in-law?”
“I am being very concerned, Cult Leader. That is why I am training so hard.”
The Cult Leader, at a loss for words, could only nod his head.
It seemed he had no choice but to now accept that Cheon Ha-seong was originally this kind of person.
***
Cheok Gyo-woon, who was heading to the Fourth Demonic Marquis's Residence, was also thinking that many things had changed here and there these days.
First of all, there were a great number of strangers among the people coming and going, but it wasn't just others who had changed.
He thought there was no one who had changed as much as himself and shook his head alone. He couldn't even imagine what kind of expressions the people who knew him would make if they knew what he had just done.
At the Martial Arts Academy, he had approached a candidate who was harassing a candidate from a common follower background and enacted justice. When he told him not to, the candidate from the Danmok Demonic Clan had stared at him as if dumbfounded.