The Regressed Young Master’s Guide to Living on Easy Mode

Chapter 21 : How to Resist Power (2)

"Is the food at the Little Demon Academy poor these days?"

"No! They give us a lot!"

The reason I came here today was to ask my hyung-nim for a small favor.

Because a mere student like me couldn't touch the vassals of the elders.

So, I was going to ask my hyung-nim to give them a warm word of comfort.

Even if they were the vassals of the elders' families, they wouldn't be able to ignore a request from the Young Lord himself to get along with his little brother.

Therefore, the current situation was completely outside of my expectations.

For the Heavenly Demon himself to ask me such a question.

"Is someone bullying you?"

Why is he asking so enthusiastically?

Could it be because the Little Demon Academy is one of the things he personally established? Thinking about it, it's quite understandable.

And if the Heavenly Demon steps in instead of the Young Lord, the matter will be resolved more easily.

Even if the elders were to retaliate directly later, they wouldn't be able to do anything if it was the Heavenly Demon's word.

"It's not bullying, but it feels like people in positions I can't touch keep getting involved."

"Who are you talking about?"

"For example, shall we say very high-ranking people?"

But after saying it, I couldn't help but feel that I had made a mistake.

There is no variable as dangerous as uncontrolled power.

If the Heavenly Demon just pokes at this incident and doesn't actively step in, I will become a political scapegoat for the high-ranking nobles.

'Right. The Heavenly Demon is a more dangerous existence than the elders. This should be ended at a controllable level.'

"Haha! It was just a power struggle between kids, but I talked them down and sent them away. There's nothing wrong now."

"I see. But being thin is another matter. Is the chef here?"

"Chung! You called?"

"Why did you only give the child this much food?"

"But I gave him twice the usual amount."

"Your eyes are useless if you have them but cannot see."

"I will bring the food right away!"

"The side dishes too."

"I will obey your command!"

"Lots of meat side dishes."

"I will carry it out with my life!"

After that, I had to eat three more bowls of rice, and I newly learned that 'a person can really die from their stomach bursting.'

Leaving the dining hall, I returned to the room I had stayed in during the vacation and lay down on the bed immediately.

As I was stroking my bulging stomach, the events from the dining hall earlier came to mind again.

'Does a person like the Heavenly Demon have that little to do.'

How can he watch everything I eat?

If it weren't for the Heavenly Demon, I would have just pretended to eat and left some, but I couldn't even do that. The good thing was that the Heavenly Demon stood up from his seat when I had almost finished eating.

'So I was able to leave the last bit.'

If not, I might have really died from my stomach bursting by now.

"Ugh! I can't move."

As I was thinking that I would become a pig within a month if I kept eating like this, the door slid open.

I rolled over on the bed to see who had come.

"Hyung-nim?"

"Little brother, may I ask you for a favor?"

If it was a request from my hyung-nim, not just one, but ten were possible.

"Of course. As long as it's not about eating."

"Haha!"

My hyung-nim, who was laughing, scratched his head as he looked at my bulging stomach.

"Father was a bit harsh."

As I watched him, my hyung-nim continued.

"It's okay. Father is not here right now. He said he had urgent business to attend to and headed to the Lord's Hall."

I immediately expressed my complaint.

"Phew. I really thought I was going to die earlier. It would have been a big problem if I hadn't come on an empty stomach. Ah! So, what is your request?"

"Well, could you have a duel with me?"

"A duel? Me with you, hyung-nim?"

"Yes. It has to be you, little brother, not anyone else."

My hyung-nim, looking at me, was the most serious I had ever seen him.

I replied.

"Yes. A duel is possible anytime."

* * *

The Lord's Hall.

At the unexpected summons, all the elders gathered.

Everyone was just looking at each other's faces.

A sudden order to convene all the elders.

This was the first time since the Blood Demon's sudden visit a year ago.

The elders were each drawing their own conclusions in their minds.

'Those Orthodox Faction bastards must have caused trouble again!'

'That Blood Demon bastard is surely acting up again! He's been strangely quiet for a while!'

'This must be something that needs to be decided urgently regarding the Divine Demon Tournament!'

The Heavenly Demon opened his mouth.

"Is the work these days going well?"

The work these days was the Divine Demon Tournament.

And the strategist, Noe In-mu, who was in charge of all matters of the Divine Demon Tournament, took the lead and answered.

"Yes. Everything is proceeding without a hitch. We have received almost all the lists of participants and factions, and the biggest remaining task is just waiting for the reply we sent to the Orthodox Faction for the purpose of friendship."

"That's a relief. The Divine Demon Tournament is the biggest event hosted by the Heavenly Demon Cult. There must be no mistakes."

The elders all replied, "Chung!" in unison. The sound was so loud that the Lord's Hall briefly trembled.

The elders thought that the Heavenly Demon was taking a special interest in this Divine Demon Tournament, and that was why he had called them together unexpectedly.

And that was understandable, because the meaning of this Divine Demon Tournament was special.

The average age of the participants this time is twenty.

The Divine Demon Tournament is held once every ten years, but last time, the wounds of war had not yet fully healed, there were not many participants, and even the participants' ages were young, so it did not receive much attention.

But now, after another ten years, it was no exaggeration to say that the number of participants in this Divine Demon Tournament was the largest in history.

Moreover, the number of participating factions was also the largest in history.

Also, this time, for the purpose of friendship, some invited guests from the Orthodox Faction were scheduled to come. Although it was still uncertain whether they would accept the proposal.

However, the elders' thoughts were unanimous that the Orthodox Faction would accept the invitation they had sent.

The reason was that from the Orthodox Faction's point of view, it was by no means a loss to take a look at the martial prowess of the talents who would lead the demonic path in the future.

And from the demonic path's point of view, this could also be a stage to directly show how strong we are.

Therefore, this Divine Demon Tournament could be of great benefit to both the orthodox and demonic factions.

Above all, it was a place to select the true number one rising star under the heavens.

Anyone related to martial arts could not help but be interested.

Of course, the one with the most interest was the current number one force under the heavens and the host of the Divine Demon Tournament, the Heavenly Demon Cult.

"But the reply from the Orthodox Faction hasn't arrived yet?"

"No, it hasn't. They are probably being cautious from their point of view. But in the end, they will have no choice but to accept."

"Hmm... then it wouldn't be bad to help them make a decision a little faster. Since the First Elder is dispatched to the south of the Yangtze, tell him."

"Please give your command."

"Tell them that the Orthodox Faction is also allowed to participate in this Divine Demon Tournament. Only one person. And if they win, tell them we will grant their wish."

For a moment, a silence fell over the entire Lord's Hall.

The Heavenly Demon leaned deep into his chair and spoke to the elders who were deep in thought.

"Why, are you not confident? What does the strategist think?"

"I believe it is an excellent decision. It wouldn't be bad to once again imprint our strength on the Orthodox Faction. Besides, if I were in the Orthodox Faction's position, I would never be able to refuse such a proposal."

"Then, it's decided. Now, for the next agenda."

The Heavenly Demon leaned his body forward from his reclined position and looked down at the elders, opening his mouth.

"Is there anyone who asserts their political position in a public place and intervenes?"

Flinch!

At that moment, some of the elders' bodies trembled very slightly.

"Of course, there is no such person, but if such a sign is detected from today onwards, I will personally punish them with my own hands. Understood?"

"Chung! We will obey your command!"

The elders gathered here today could tell at this moment. That they had been gathered unexpectedly solely for the reason just mentioned.

And that the Heavenly Demon had given them a warning and mercy at the same time.

'It's a warning not to get involved in the succession fight.'

However, from the elders' point of view, they had no intention of backing down so easily. For now, they would follow the Heavenly Demon's command as there was no particular justification, but for them, it was a matter of choosing their own master.

They had no intention of following blindly like a scarecrow for no reason.

* * *

My hyung-nim said.

"As the Divine Demon Tournament approaches, the elders seem to be very anxious."

That would be the case. The Divine Demon Tournament is the place to select the number one rising star of the demonic path or even under the heavens.

As I remember, the Divine Demon Tournament held this year is the largest in history.

The great interest in it is an inevitable factor due to the times and the timing.

Because everyone, regardless of orthodox, demonic, or heretical, is curious about who will lead the Great Demonic Era in the future.

"They keep saying strange things to me."

Tsk tsk. The old men in the back room with nothing to do are probably trying to use my hyung-nim for their own greed.

"So I told them that if they spout such nonsense to me one more time, I will cut off their heads."

As expected of my hyung-nim. For a Young Lord, such a sharp judgment is essential. A slight disappointment is that if it were me, I would have killed one of them on the spot so that they could never spout such nonsense again.

Well, as he gains experience, he'll do well on his own. Because he's my hyung-nim.

"Little brother."

"Yes, hyung-nim."

"I hope you have nothing to hide from me."

What is he suddenly talking about?

Screech. My hyung-nim draws his sword.

"If it weren't for you, little brother, I would still be living as a frog in a well. I would probably still be swayed by the elders' words. But not anymore. You, little brother, are the first person to show me that there are many paths in the world."

Goooo.

My hyung-nim raises his qi. Soon, the energy reached the realm of the Peak.

"Hyung-nim? What are you talking about now?"

"Show me your real skills. If not, I will never see you again, little brother."

My hyung-nim stomps his foot.

Pang!

Sand scatters in all directions.

My hyung-nim closed the distance and reached me in an instant. And he swung his sword. I reflexively drew my sword and blocked it.

Clang!

Sparks fly as sword and sword clash.

"Hyung-nim!"

No answer came.

Instead, the energy imbued in my hyung-nim's sword began to grow stronger. Soon, a dark red energy began to wreathe around the sword.

That meant only one thing.

Sword qi.

A skill that only those who have surpassed the wall can use.

My hyung-nim's straight eyes were on me. Those were not the eyes of someone who would sheathe their sword. If I stayed still like this, my body would surely be cut in two by the sword qi in front of me.

I finally raised my energy. The energy dormant in my dantian instantly filled all seven great meridians and six minor meridians.

I sent the overflowing energy of my body into the sword.

Woong woong!

The sword began to cry, and on my sword, a blue sword qi, different from my hyung-nim's, appeared.

And only a sword qi that had reached the Peak could counter a sword qi that had reached the Peak.

"As expected, you have also reached the Peak, little brother. No. Is it more accurate to say it like this? You had already reached it. Am I wrong?"

This time, I couldn't answer.

My hyung-nim swung his sword wide and pushed me away. My hyung-nim, who had put some distance between us, was taking a stance.

The Six Demon Sword Art.

My hyung-nim extended his sword straight out.

The first technique of the Six Demon Sword Art, One Demon Extreme Flash.

The simplest technique of the Six Demon Sword Art.

Therefore, it was the simplest and clearest.

To gauge each other's skills.

I could understand my hyung-nim's intention.

My hyung-nim was asking me now.

What is the extent of your skill?

My hyung-nim was someone who always kept his word since the old days. If I lie here, my hyung-nim will surely keep the words he just uttered.

I performed the same sword art as my hyung-nim.

The first technique of the Six Demon Sword Art, One Demon Extreme Flash.

The swords extended by each of us became points and advanced towards each other.

Soon, they became lines, and a red and a blue line were completed in the air.

The blue line had reached one person, and the red line had not.

Keuk!

I looked at my hyung-nim with a pained expression.

I looked with difficulty at my hyung-nim, whose shoulder had been pierced by the tip of the sword.

-Junior brother is indeed a genius. That's why it's right for me to leave. But I will definitely challenge you again, junior brother.

'In the end, is the same thing as back then repeating itself?'

This time too, my hyung-nim would surely leave.

* * *

As expected, my little brother was strong.

The sense of unease I had felt during training and the elders' words were true.

Rather, after confirming it, I felt relieved.

-How about we try piercing the minor meridians connected to the great meridians?

After reaching the Peak, I realized that there was not just one path in the world.

The sky I saw from inside the well was only about becoming the Young Lord.

But the sky I saw from outside the well was so diverse.

I realized that there was not just one path, one sky, in this world.

The Young Lord was no longer the only path for me.

* * *

Smirk.

My hyung-nim, whom I looked up at, had a refreshed expression, unlike my pained one.

"Now I feel relieved!"

He had clearly decided to leave. He had the same expression back then.

"Little brother. May I ask for a duel from time to time?"

"You're not leaving?"

"Why would I leave? It's just starting to get fun."

This was clearly a blatant lie.

My hyung-nim is a person with a strong sense of responsibility.

He would probably leave after finishing the Divine Demon Tournament he had decided to participate in.

My hyung-nim will go to the Blood Cult again, and a future like the one before my regression will surely unfold.

There is only one way to change the determined future.

To create a reason for my hyung-nim not to be able to leave.

'I will definitely make my hyung-nim the winner of the Divine Demon Tournament!'

My hyung-nim said to me.

"Little brother. May I ask for a duel again?"

I answered readily. No! Rather, it was what I wanted to say.

"Of course."

I will raise my hyung-nim's realm as much as possible until the Divine Demon Tournament!

The top instructor Yoo Jae-ha's limit-breaking plan!

In the midst of the piling misunderstandings, time passed quickly, and the day of the Divine Demon Tournament arrived.

(End of Chapter)