novelraw Chapter 42
Chapter 42
Chapter 42
『 Translator – Divinity 』
“Are you that happy?”
At Cho Seok-myeong's words, Cheon Ha-seong couldn't hide his proud heart and answered immediately.
“Of course. They were unable to let their abilities sprout, but now they are finally displaying their skills, so how could I not be happy?”
“They all know your heart, Head Instructor. That's why they all work so hard, so as not to bring shame to your name. So I'm the only one benefiting. Thanks to that, I expect the overall power of the Honor Guard will rise significantly in the near future.”
“It will. You can believe that. I guarantee it.”
After talking for a while, Cho Seok-myeong suddenly tilted his head.
“Did you perhaps come to see me, Head Instructor?”
“Of course not. Aigoo, look at me. I meant to ask if the Cult Leader was here, but I've just been talking about other things until now.”
Cho Seok-myeong also laughed, finding it amusing.
“That's right. The Cult Leader is inside. It seems something good has happened.”
Just as he said that, the sound of laughter came from inside, and the door opened, with the Cult Leader and the Fourth Demonic Marquis coming out together.
Cheon Ha-seong felt a pang of pity seeing the Cult Leader's exaggerated laughter. Wasn't he doing this to win over even one more person in order to get the agreement of the Divine Cult's leadership and obtain the spiritual elixir?
Looking at the Fourth Demonic Marquis, it seemed she too had grasped the atmosphere and had decided to just go along with the Cult Leader's wishes.
To the Fourth Demonic Marquis, it might have felt as if all the recent events were the Demonic God specially looking after her.
When their eyes met with Cheon Ha-seong's, the Fourth Demonic Marquis gave a meaningful nod.
It was a gaze that was distinctly different from before.
When they had first met, the Fourth Demonic Marquis hadn't even thought of Cheon Ha-seong as her equal and had regarded him as a card to be easily used and discarded. But now, her gaze was filled with a deep trust and gratitude towards him.
Cheon Ha-seong also bowed his head, conveying a similar feeling.
The help he had already received from her adopted son, Cheok Gyo-woon, was significant. As his gratitude towards Cheok Gyo-woon piled up, it seemed that feeling was now directed towards the Fourth Demonic Marquis as well.
“What brings you all the way here again, Head Instructor Cheon? It seems you can't bear to be apart from me for even a moment.”
“I don't know how fortunate it is that you are not my rival in love, Head Instructor Cheon. If you were, you would have been a very powerful competitor.”
It seemed the two had now become close enough to exchange such silly jokes. In Cheon Ha-seong's opinion, this was likely the best their relationship had been since they first met.
As they were leaving the Fourth Demonic Marquis's Residence, Cheon Ha-seong asked.
“Did you have a good talk, Cult Leader?”
“How did you know I would be here?”
“Head Instructor Seo said it was likely. So I have come to escort you from now on.”
“That would be for the best. It's not like it would be good for others to know. I'm not on good terms with the Cheok Demonic Clan's Family Head, so originally, persuading him might have been the most difficult part, but things have turned out strangely.”
Saying that, the Cult Leader looked at Cheon Ha-seong.
Wasn't it Cheon Ha-seong who had quickly informed the Fourth Demonic Marquis of the incident at the Martial Arts Academy and saved her from a trap?
Looking back, it might seem like a small help, but if not for that help, the Fourth Demonic Marquis and the Cheok Demonic Clan would have been in very big trouble.
And if Cheon Ha-seong hadn't doubted the Chief Head Instructor's words at the beginning and created the right atmosphere, it would have been very difficult for the Fourth Demonic Marquis to turn the situation around.
Looking closely, Cheon Ha-seong had a knack for resolving matters in that way. It didn't seem like he used great force, but he had resolved issues by applying just the necessary force in a timely manner.
“Where will you go now, Cult Leader?”
“Where would be best to go first? The Second Demonic Marquis's Residence, or the Third's?”
“How about the Third Demonic Marquis's Residence? Since I know the conversation the Third Demonic Marquis and Danmok Muyeol had, wouldn't I be able to pressure them properly now? I am curious what kind of expression they will make when they find out that their entire plan to dig a trap to make others fall from behind has been exposed.”
“You truly are vicious, son-in-law. People who meet you should be very careful. A weak-hearted person like myself should be careful not to get involved with you.”
The father-in-law and son-in-law headed for the Third Demonic Marquis's Residence, chatting harmoniously. The conversation between the two was affectionate, but the moment they entered the Residence, their expressions changed in an instant.
It wasn't as if they had agreed to, but it happened as if they had planned it.
The warrior guarding outside was stopped by the Cult Leader's gesture and couldn't even announce them. For that reason, the Third Demonic Marquis greeted them without any preparation. Although she was greatly surprised inwardly, the Third Demonic Marquis received them as if nothing were wrong.
“Cult Leader, what brings you here…”
“Have I come to a place I shouldn't have? Why are you so surprised? Seeing you so surprised, doesn't it look as if you were caught plotting something bad with the Second Demonic Marquis?”
At the Cult Leader's smiling words, the color drained from the Third Demonic Marquis's face. She was so surprised her heart sank, but she tried hard not to show it. In the process, her facial muscles were practically convulsing from forcing a smile.
“Cult Leader, how can you say such a thing? This humble one is not even on good terms with the Second Demonic Marquis.”
“That's not something to be so sure about. There are many people in the world who would join hands even with an enemy for the sake of what they want.”
Cheon Ha-seong was in awe, watching the Cult Leader say such things without his expression changing at all.
“Marquis, you are a naive person, so others might think they can easily use you. Even if you say you were just listening to what someone else said and blindly followed along, it is difficult to escape responsibility. The position of Marquis is originally one with a lot of authority, so even a small mistake is bound to be followed by great responsibility. Therefore, even if someone comes and spouts nonsense, trying to conspire with you, you must not fall for it.”
“Of… Of course, Cult Leader. How could this humble one do such a thing? You do not need to have such worries.”
“I'm relieved to hear that. People in the same boat are the scariest. Even if the Second Demonic Marquis comes and says something, you must not be swayed. Think about having to strike you down with my own hands. You would be punished for committing a wrong, but what wrong would I have committed? Try to understand the feelings of a man who strikes down his own wife with his own hands.”
“...Cult Leader. How can you say such a thing? You can trust this humble one.”
Cheon Ha-seong couldn't hold back his internal admiration. Without even using martial arts, wasn't the Cult Leader strangling the Third Demonic Marquis with an invisible hand? It was to the point where Cheon Ha-seong was worried the Third Demonic Marquis might actually suffocate and die.
“If the Second Demonic Marquis comes and suggests attacking Head Instructor Cheon, you must not even listen to her. Do you understand? I am quite fond of Head Instructor Cheon.”
“Yes, Cult Leader.”
“Right. Right. I had other business, but I've just been talking about other things until now.”
The Cult Leader began to say that he needed to use two more spiritual elixirs.
If he had said that as soon as he entered the room, the Third Demonic Marquis would have tried to get as much as she could from the Cult Leader.
However, she had already been struck by the Cult Leader's preemptive attack and was so dizzy that she couldn't even properly hear what he was saying.
In the Third Demonic Marquis's mind, there was only the thought that she needed the Cult Leader to leave quickly so she could discuss the matter with others. So she didn't listen properly to what the Cult Leader was saying and answered perfunctorily.
The Cult Leader, already seeing through why the Third Demonic Marquis was acting that way, wore an amused expression.
“I am much relieved that you have given such a refreshing answer, Marquis. Then have the Marquis relay my words to the Family Head. I am very grateful that you have agreed to handle this troublesome matter for me.”
“...Yes?”
Only then did the Third Demonic Marquis realize that the Cult Leader had said something. Then, with an anxious face, she asked if he could please say it again.
The Cult Leader repeated his earlier words as if there were nothing difficult about it.
The Third Demonic Marquis was deeply suspicious as to why the Cult Leader was suddenly saying he would use the spiritual elixirs, but she did not dare to press him for details.
The gaze of the Cult Leader she was facing was so cold that it made her doubt if he was the same Cult Leader who had been conversing so affectionately and pleasantly just a moment ago.
“Understood, Cult Leader. I will relay it so.”
“Excellent. Then I shall be on my way. You do not need to see me out.”
The Cult Leader spoke as if he were being extremely generous, and the Third Demonic Marquis, saying she could not do that, followed him out.
As they left the Third Demonic Marquis's Residence, Cheon Ha-seong thought that he had learned a great deal in a short amount of time.
“You are truly amazing, Cult Leader.”
“Having my son-in-law with me gives me more strength. And my mind seems to work better, and I even seem to become more shameless. When my pride is hurt and I'm about to think of quitting, I look at my son-in-law and the thought that now is not the time flashes through my mind. To give my grandchild even one more thing, I suppose my pride doesn't matter.”
As he said that, the Cult Leader's face was full of smiles.
***
After about four hours had passed, the two people who went to find Seo Hyo-eun had triumphant expressions, as if they had returned from winning a war.
And they were itching to quickly tell her of their achievements so far. Cheon Ha-seong also had a lot he wanted to say, but he couldn't find an opening to speak.
The Cult Leader excitedly recounted what kind of face the Second Demonic Marquis had made when he went to her Residence after leaving the Third's and listened to his words.
Seo Hyo-eun was surprised, wondering if he had really done that, and the Cult Leader, pleased with her reaction, boasted about his achievements at length.
“Then can you really use the Azure Sky Stone Milk and the inner core of the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp, Father? You still have to persuade all the other leaders, right?”
“Even so, aren't they all from the prestigious Demonic Clans? If the Family Heads tell them to, who would dare to raise an objection? So it's as good as done.”
“Then how about you do it right now, Father? They might change their minds later. They might have agreed to do as you said in a daze, but their senses might return after talking with the people of their families.”
The Cult Leader had been worried about that too, so he looked at Cheon Ha-seong.
“Why… are you looking at me, Cult Leader?”
“Son-in-law, I think it would be best to do as Hyo-eun says. Let's get it over with first. What can they do when it's already been eaten? Will they tell you to spit it back out?”
“Is it really alright to do that?”
Cheon Ha-seong looked at the Cult Leader and Seo Hyo-eun with a face of half-belief, half-doubt. This father-daughter pair was truly dangerous. He didn't know if they had always been this reckless, but he had seen such sides of them often after he had come here.