novelraw Chapter 51 : The Trap (1)
Chapter 51 : The Trap (1)
I don't remember how many times I lost consciousness. I would faintly come to, and then immediately lose consciousness again.
After repeating this about five times, I was finally able to speak.
"Water!"
"Water?"
"Water!"
"Hwi-a! He wants water!"
Finally, my will was conveyed. That's a relief. And there was still one more thing to ask for. No! This was the real thing.
"Fire!"
"Fire?"
"Fire! Off!"
"The fire is off now."
When I looked outside, it was daytime. I said again.
"Not that fire, the fire on the floor!"
"Aha! The firewood!"
Phew... now I can finally be liberated from this place that is like a lava hell.
I drank the water that the child named Hwi-a had brought and barely got up from my seat.
"How many days have passed?"
"One day!"
I was surprised that only one day had passed when it felt like at least a week had passed since I had fainted, and I checked my side where I had been stabbed with a sword. A bandage was wrapped around my torso.
The moderate pressure and the fact that I felt almost no pain told me that it had been treated quite delicately.
"Did you do this?"
"Seol-a did the treatment. I wrapped the bandage!"
I had fallen from the Heavenly Demon Mountain cliff.
That meant that this place was below the Heavenly Demon Mountain cliff, but I had never imagined that there would be a place like this below the cliff.
And that children were living here.
"Are you guys living here?"
"Yes!"
"That's right!"
Seeing the dried grass and dried rabbits nearby, it seemed that they had been living here for quite a long time.
"Mom, Dad?"
"They're dead!"
"They're dead!"
The atmosphere suddenly became solemn.
"Um... I'm sorry."
"It's okay!"
"That's right!"
I said to the two children.
"Will you come with me?"
"She said we can't leave here!"
"Who?"
"There is. A slightly mean-looking aunt."
"I don't know who that aunt is, but since you saved me, I should at least repay you. I'll ask again. Will you follow me? If you follow me, I'll at least provide a place for you to stay."
"Then, you have to tell my sister too!"
"That's right. If we stay here, the aunt lets us meet our sister once a month."
"That's not a difficult thing for me either. If you follow me, I'll let you see her more than ten times a month. By the way, who is your sister?"
The two children answered at the same time.
"It's Murong Seryeong!"
"It's Murong Seryeong!"
It was a name I knew.
* * *
The three spies of the Orthodox Faction were found as corpses. And on Heavenly Demon Mountain, where the traces were followed, along with the traces of a rather fierce battle, the 3rd rank of the 10th unit was found dead with his face peeled off.
And so, the incident seemed to be concluded without finding any particular points.
But the forces of the Heavenly Demon Cult did not disperse from Heavenly Demon Mountain and were still searching for something.
Seeing that, people knew that they were looking for the secret manual for the manufacturing method of the Heaven-Shaking Thunder.
The Heavenly Demon Hall.
The Heavenly Demon, Hyeok Sa-wol, said to the elders who were bowing their heads.
"Explain this situation."
No one readily stepped forward.
Rumble!
A huge energy enveloped the entire Heavenly Demon Hall. Sweat began to bead on the elders' faces all at once.
"I'll ask again. What happened to his whereabouts?"
The energy that enveloped the Heavenly Demon Hall began to press down on their shoulders at the same time as the question. But no one answered.
The secret manual for the manufacturing method of the Heaven-Shaking Thunder?
That was not even in the Heavenly Demon's interest.
The identity of the three spies of the Orthodox Faction and the 3rd rank of the 10th unit, who was presumed to be a traitor of the Heavenly Demon Cult, and the mastermind who might be behind them?
The Heavenly Demon Cult had always been subjected to someone's envy and jealousy, dark plots and schemes.
Of course, this matter was also being investigated separately in the dark, but it was somewhat insufficient to be seen as a reason to appease the Heavenly Demon's anger.
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
At the intensifying pressure, the elders all knelt down. Except for the strategist, they were all masters who had reached the Demonic Zenith, the elders of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
And the Sword Demon had recently gained enlightenment and had reached the entrance of the Demonic Zenith.
Even such a Sword Demon was now doing his best to just keep his head from being buried in the ground.
The strategist's head was already touching the ground.
"Have you all become mutes? How can the elders of the Heavenly Demon Cult not find a single child!"
That's right. The real reason the Heavenly Demon was angry now was not because of the inside story of the incident, but because of the disappearance of Yoo Jae-ha, the designated Young Lord.
Rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble!
At the even more intensifying pressure, some of the elders thought that they would lose their lives like this. The strategist had already lost consciousness and was foaming at the mouth. It was obvious to anyone that if this continued, the strategist would die of suffocation.
Just then.
Bang!
The gate of the Heavenly Demon Hall opened wide. To open the gate of this place where the Heavenly Demon and all the elders were gathered without permission was, of course, a capital crime worthy of giving up one's life. But this time was an exception.
Because the one who had opened the gate was the current Young Lord of the Heavenly Demon Cult and the Heavenly Demon's only bloodline, Hyeok Wol-sang. He immediately knelt down to the Heavenly Demon and paid his respects.
"Chung! Hyeok Wol-sang! Please forgive me for daring to commit a rudeness to the Heavenly Demon. The student Yoo Jae-ha has just returned."
At that moment, the elders felt the energy that was pressing down on them disappear in an instant.
"Where is he?"
"He is in the Ten Demon Hall."
The Heavenly Demon, who had been here just a moment ago, was gone.
The Young Lord, Hyeok Wol-sang, smiled at the still dumbfounded elders and said.
"You have all worked hard. Please go in and rest now."
The elders quickly ran towards the strategist. The strategist's eyes were already rolled back.
"The strategist is not breathing!"
* * *
At first, I had just thought that the Sura Cult was being the Sura Cult. I knew that the Sura Cult's inferiority complex towards the Heavenly Demon Cult had overflowed since before my regression, and it had by no means lessened.
But the more I thought about it, the more suspicious it became.
Before my regression, Yang So-pyeong was the Young Lord of the Sura Cult. He was destined to become the Lord if he just stayed still.
That's how much Yang So-pyeong's ability was beyond doubt.
But after my regression, Yang So-pyeong was spouting nonsense about being a substitute or a fake.
One could think that the Sura Cult Lord was disappointed in Yang So-pyeong for not winning the Divine Demon Tournament and had taken away the position of Young Lord, but Yang So-pyeong was, strictly speaking, a remarkable person.
A rare remarkable person at that.
Even in the Divine Demon Tournament, if his opponent hadn't been me, Yang So-pyeong would have easily won the Divine Demon Tournament.
And now, he was even a master of the Demonic Zenith.
To cast aside such a talent?
Unless the Sura Cult Lord had dementia, it was an impossible thing. If there was someone in the Sura Cult who was more remarkable than Yang So-pyeong, it would be a different story, but if there was such a person, I would have known before my regression.
So, for now, there was no basis to deny Yang So-pyeong's words.
So, when Yang So-pyeong's words were taken as the truth.
I made a few hypotheses.
If Yang So-pyeong was really a substitute put forward by the Sura Cult.
Then the main character would be doing something somewhere else to achieve a true purpose. And that something would most likely be the destruction of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
This was a danger that the Heavenly Demon Cult was always receiving, so it could be said that it was not a big problem.
Even if that someone existed, they would be crushed by my junior sister anyway.
However, the second hypothesis is a bit dangerous.
It's the case where Yang So-pyeong is a substitute put forward by a place other than the Sura Cult.
The three brothers of the Orthodox Faction had stolen the secret manual for the manufacturing method of the Heaven-Shaking Thunder from the Nine Demon Treasury.
Since this was something that had also happened before my regression, it could be said that it was not very strange.
And before my regression, the three brothers of the Orthodox Faction had received a mission from the Orthodox Faction. This part was clear. Because it was a part I had read myself in the incident report of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
But in the incident of the three brothers of the Orthodox Faction that happened after my regression, Yang So-pyeong of the Sura Cult was involved, not the Orthodox Faction. And Yang So-pyeong knew the meeting place, which only the three brothers of the Orthodox Faction would have known, and the exact time they would appear.
How did Yang So-pyeong know about the Orthodox Faction's affairs in advance?
Was there some kind of contact between the two?
No way!
The Orthodox Faction are guys who would give up their own lives if it were related to the Demonic Path.
As someone who had experienced their suicide attacks countless times before my regression, I can affirm that the Orthodox Faction guys are a species that would rather die than cooperate with the Heretical or Demonic Factions.
Then how did Yang So-pyeong know?
Did he intercept the information in the middle? That could be, but then the Orthodox Faction guys would have known. They would have changed the meeting place and time.
This hypothesis is really ridiculous... but really, I think it's really ridiculous!
The people involved in this incident can be seen as roughly three groups.
Yang So-pyeong of the Sura Cult, the three brothers of the Orthodox Faction, and the 3rd rank of the 10th unit of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
Beings belonging to three organizations that can never coexist.
There was only one way for them to coexist.
For example, let's assume there is a third force.
Let's say that that third force has formed its own forces in the Orthodox Faction, and also in the Heretical Faction, and in the Heavenly Demon Cult, the Blood Cult, and the Sura Cult.
And if they were to share information among themselves through some method, they would be able to know about the Heaven-Shaking Thunder secret manual, which is one of the top secrets of the Heavenly Demon Cult that the Orthodox Faction would not know, being in the Nine Demon Treasury, and also the date of the maintenance of the formations of the Nine Demon Treasury, which is once a year, and also who would be on guard at that time. And they would be able to inform the Orthodox Faction of that and coordinate the time to steal the Heaven-Shaking Thunder.
Haha! It's so absurd that I'm about to laugh. Do you think this makes sense?
The current Heavenly Demon Cult is enjoying its greatest golden age in history.
There is a force that the Heavenly Demon Cult does not know about?
And in terms of influence alone, it could be said to be greater than the Heavenly Demon Cult.
It shouldn't make sense... but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense, which is the problem.
And there were a few times like this even before my regression.
It was a matter that was being carried out in secret, but the Orthodox Faction guys would appear like ghosts.
At that time, I had just thought, 'They're persistent guys,' and had let it go, but now I think that might not be the case.
For now, looking at the revealed situation, it could be said that the purpose of the third force was to kill me.
In fact, Yang So-pyeong, who was assumed to be their force, had tried to kill me twice.
Could it be that my death before my regression was also because of them?
The third force tried to kill me, and at that time, my junior sister came to save me?
Nah. This was too much of a stretch.
On the contrary, if my junior sister was the third force and had come to kill me, it would make sense.
Of course, this was also a ridiculous hypothesis. If that were the case, I would have known before my regression.
But since there is a one in a million chance, it would be right to judge it as pending for now.
What is certain is that if it becomes known that I have returned alive...
There is a very high possibility that they will try to kill me again. And the target that shows such an action will be the person of the third force.
'At that time, I'll be able to know for sure who it is.'
The people I can trust at this point are the Sword Demoness, the Mad Demon, and the Demonic Brain, whom I have known since I was young.
I should also be able to trust the people who had died before my regression. Because if they were their own forces, there would be no reason to kill them.
Even so, it's only about my hyung-nim.
The case of the Heavenly Demon is unknown, but what is certain is that if the Heavenly Demon, who is no different from the number one in the world, is a member of the third force, the martial world should be considered to be over. But on the contrary, it's not strange to see that because the Heavenly Demon exists, the third force is not coming to the surface and is active under the surface.
Then, for now, the Heavenly Demon is also pending, just like my junior sister.
By the way, why are they trying to kill me?
Before my regression, I was a cripple with no dantian, and after my regression, I haven't done anything that would make an enemy of anyone.
It's unfair. I thought everything would go well if I just reached the Demonic Zenith, but was my dream of living a simple, honey-sucking life so difficult to achieve?
I had gained a great enlightenment upon reaching the Demonic Zenith. Perhaps it should be said that I had reached the Demonic Zenith because of this enlightenment.
That was the ultimate definition of a honey deal.
The ultimate honey deal is to enjoy a life based on freedom without being mindful of anyone!
And things like having a lot of money, a lot of women, a lot of friends, etc., are just additional factors.
I had finally reached the Demonic Zenith I had longed for!
And at the same time, I had made my own ultimate definition of a honey deal!
And I had become able to live a life where I didn't have to be mindful of the Heavenly Demon and my junior sister!
Only the days of enjoying life were left... I had to live with the lifelong anxiety that an unknown enemy was aiming at the back of my head and might strike at any moment.
The worst-case scenario was if the Sura Cult had already been taken over. This meant that the third force had to be seen as having the ability to kill even a master of the Soul Detachment realm.
Above all, they are the ones who use a master of the Demonic Zenith like Yang So-pyeong as a pawn.
It was right to assume that their forces were at least at the level of the Sura Cult.
Well, all these assumptions so far could be nothing more than my own delusions.
But it could also be true.
I'll know if I check from now on.
If the third force really exists, they will move after confirming that I have returned alive, and if not, there will be no movement.
The matter so far will be concluded as simply Yang So-pyeong's grudge.
Don't tell me their force's name is the Chaotic Heavenly Society or something. Haha! No way!
After returning to the Heavenly Demon Cult, I was now in the Ten Demon Hall, eating the food I hadn't been able to eat for a while.
"More duck meat!"
"Here you are."
"Thank you, Chief Steward."
"One more bowl of rice!"
"As expected of the head maid!"
"The young master must be very hungry! Chef! One bowl of rice here! No! Bring the whole pot!"
"Soup! Not the red one! The milky bone broth! Half meat and half cartilage! And two pinches of salt! And noodles inside! Enough to slurp three times!"
"Milky bone broth, two pinches of salt! Three slurps!"
"Cough, cough! Water, water!"
"Here is water."
"Phew, I'm alive. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
And so, when I had finished five bowls of rice, two bowls of spicy beef soup, and three bowls of bone broth, the door of the dining hall opened, and the Heavenly Demon and my hyung-nim rushed in.
My hyung-nim spoke first.
"Little brother! You're safe!"
Now that my stomach was moderately full, I finally came to my senses. I feel like my stomach has also grown since I entered the Demonic Zenith.
"Yes. I was attacked by a traitor, but I have returned alive like this!"
My hyung-nim is definitely on my side.
Right after, the Heavenly Demon spoke.
"That's a relief. It's really a relief!"
"Thank you for your concern."
"No! It's enough that you've returned alive. Don't worry and rest well. I will take care of all those involved in this matter. But there is something to celebrate. You have finally reached the Demonic Zenith."
"It was just luck."
"Yes. Leave the rest to me and rest well. And stay in the Ten Demon Hall for the time being until the matter is resolved."
"Yes. Thank you for your consideration."
"I'm just doing what I have to do."
The Heavenly Demon is pending.
What would happen if I were to tell the Heavenly Demon about Yang So-pyeong and the Sura Cult now?
If the Heavenly Demon is a member of the third force, he might just kill Yang So-pyeong and cut off the tail of the third force. Then, I would have lost Yang So-pyeong, who is the only one with a connection to them at the moment.
I decided not to tell the Heavenly Demon about Yang So-pyeong.
The Heavenly Demon and my hyung-nim left the Ten Demon Hall to take care of the remaining work.
I headed to the room prepared in the Ten Demon Hall.
From now on, time would solve it.
At dawn.
Creak.
I woke up to the sound of the door opening.
The presence I felt was my junior sister.
My heart began to pound.
"Senior brother. Are you sleeping?"
Yeah. I'm not sleeping.
My junior sister is pending.
If my junior sister is related to them, she will try to kill me.
Swoosh.
My junior sister draws her sword.
"Senior brother. Are you really not sleeping?"
Yeah. I'm not sleeping, but I'm scared.
(End of Chapter)