Chapter 722: I’ll Pick a Day That’s Comfortable For Me
“It was a joke.”
Amid everyone’s attention, Cha Iran spoke with a smile.
Their first mission couldn’t have been to attend a wedding as guests and kill someone there.
But to really send them as mere guests also didn’t make sense.
She thought that the word guest must have been some kind of code used within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
“I wasn’t joking, though.”
Cha Iran, who had been staring at Geom Mugeuk for a moment, asked with doubt in her heart.
“Are you really telling us to go as guests?”
“Yes.”
“And once we’re there?”
“Just go and give congratulations.”
At that, Lee Ahn asked with a surprised expression.
“Wait… is Pavilion Leader Seo getting married?”
When Geom Mugeuk nodded, Lee Ahn’s expression brightened. She already knew that Seo Daeryong and Dan Ah had been nurturing their love. Still, she hadn’t expected them to marry so soon.
Geom Mugeuk spoke to Cha Iran.
“What I said about it being a mission was just a joke. There’s a young lady who lived as a wanderer and later came to this cult. She’s getting married this time, but she has no friends here, so I’d like you all to be her guests.”
If one hadn’t experienced the kind of person Geom Mugeuk was, there would’ve been no way to take those words at face value. They would have thought there was some hidden meaning.
But now she knew. This Young Cult Leader was the kind of man who even cared about arranging guests for his subordinate’s wedding.
Cha Iran smiled as she spoke.
“You’ve never once attended a wedding as a guest for the bride, have you?”
Geom Mugeuk nodded. In his past life, he had attended a few weddings, but never once had he concerned himself with the actual ceremony. He had only gone to meet someone there or because attendance held some importance.
“The main character of a wedding should be the bride.”
With that, she turned to look behind her.
“What do you think? Do you think our girls can make the bride the true main character?”
Only then did Geom Mugeuk understand what Cha Iran was saying.
“My thoughts were shallow.”
He truly hadn’t thought that far. He had only thought that if these women went as friends, it would be enough.
Geom Mugeuk walked over to Dan Yeon, who was with the Tenebrous Ghosts Corps’ Yi Jo.
“Youngest lady.”
As soon as Geom Mugeuk pointed her out, everyone’s gaze focused on her.
“Yes, Young Cult Leader.”
Before, they could casually exchange jokes, but with everyone watching now, she couldn’t.
“Congratulations.”
“Young Cult Leader, thank you for taking care of my elder sister’s wedding.”
She realized it then. She had once spoken to her future brother-in-law, Seo Daeryong, about guests. It seemed he must have passed that along to Geom Mugeuk.
“Of course, I had to take care of it. Thanks to Lady Dan, this cult received great help.”
Geom Mugeuk made it clear that this wasn’t something born purely out of personal ties.
It was because she had contributed to the cult that he was showing such care! It was a gesture of consideration for the Dan sisters, who were building their lives within the organization.
At that moment, Unit Leader Seo Jin stepped forward and asked Dan Yeon.
“Youngest, why didn’t you say anything?”
“It was only decided yesterday.”
Seo Jin then spoke to Geom Mugeuk.
“Why worry about her not having any guests? We’re here.”
And then came a surprising remark.
“If the youngest is family, then she’s our family too.”
She meant it sincerely. At the very least, she thought of the Tenebrous Ghosts Corps, and especially the warriors of First Squad under her command, as family. Ever since becoming a unit leader, she had devoted her life to this cause.
But for Dan Yeon, it wasn’t quite the same yet. Though she was treated affectionately as the youngest, she hadn’t been with the organization long. For her, family still only meant her two elder sisters.
That was why Seo Jin’s words were both surprising and touching. Of course, she thought it was something Seo Jin was saying because the Young Cult Leader was present.
“Thank you, Unit Leader.”
Seo Jin looked at Geom Mugeuk and said.
“Don’t worry.”
At that moment, Geom Mugeuk recalled Seo Jin from before his regression. During the darkest, hardest times of his life, Seo Jin had always said those same words.
Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.
Yes, thanks to you, it did turn out fine. Thank you, my friend.
“With Unit Leader Seo here……”
Geom Mugeuk added with a smile.
“There was never any need to worry in the first place.”
* * *
“I don’t know if this was the right choice.”
On the table before Dan Ah lay a bouquet of flowers. Just a little while ago, Seo Daeryong had come and formally proposed with flowers in hand. Yesterday, when he had blurted it out over dinner, she had been too flustered to respond properly, but today she answered with acceptance.
“Congratulations, Sister.”
“What congratulations…”
Dan Ah glanced at her younger sisters. She felt oddly guilty about marrying before them. What should have been natural instead weighed on her with guilt.
She had never really intended to marry in the first place. Even if she were to, she had planned to see her sisters all married off first and be the last herself. She had even told them so.
But now here she was, announcing that she would marry first because a good man had come along, and she felt she had no face left to show them.
“I’m sorry to you both.”
Then the blunt second sister, Dan Bi, spoke to her.
“We’re grateful that you’re going, Sister.”
“What?”
“If you were left alone……”
The youngest, Dan Yeon, cut in quickly.
“If Sister never got married, that would be better for us.”
It was obvious her second sister had been about to say that being alone would make her a burden to them.
“But if you go ahead, then we can learn. How to have a wedding, how to spend married life, how to bear and raise children. You should experience it first and then teach us.”
At those words, Dan Ah smiled. When had that little one grown up enough to say something so thoughtful?
“There will probably be too few guests on our side.”
At her practical concern, Dan Yeon reassured her elder sister.
“Some comrades from the Tenebrous Ghosts Corps will come.”
It seemed likely that more would show up than she had just said, but she didn’t want to give false hope and cause disappointment later.
On the other hand, Dan Bi couldn’t guarantee even one.
“The ones from the Underworld Pavilion will be Pavilion Leader Seo’s guests.”
Dan Ah forced a smile.
“It’s fine, don’t worry about it.”
Though she said that, in truth it did bother her. It truly didn’t matter to her personally. She wasn’t the type to care about others’ eyes or to strive to make a good impression.
She had never once regretted or felt ashamed of living as a wanderer. Through that life she had saved many people, and it was thanks to that work that she and her two sisters had been able to live and eat until now.
The only thing that troubled her was Seo Daeryong.
She had no parents, and if she ended up with no guests either, she would surely stand out. Why would he marry a woman like that? She didn’t want Seo Daeryong to hear such words.
“I’m just worried I’ll be a burden to Pavilion Leader Seo.”
“What are you saying! Even if it weren’t Pavilion Leader Seo but the Young Cult Leader himself, you’d still be more than worthy. Maybe if it were the Cult Leader, that would be another story.”
Dan Ah quickly clapped her hand over her younger sister’s mouth at the outrageous comment. After all, back when they had first met at the tavern, it was Dan Ah herself who had picked the Demon Cult Leader as the most admirable person.
At that moment, Dan Bi pulled out an envelope she had prepared.
“Here, take this.”
When Dan Ah accepted and opened it, she found inside a considerable amount in silver notes.
“You’ll need to spend a lot, so take it. The youngest and I split it evenly.”
“It’s fine! I have plenty of money!”
Up until now, the money earned through hired tasks had been split evenly among the three.
But her younger sisters knew the truth. No matter how equally the money was divided and communal expenses were shared, their elder sister had always ended up spending much more.
They were old enough now to realize just how much those unnoticed, quiet expenditures added up.
“I really have plenty of money. So take it back. Save it well and use it for your weddings later.”
Of course, her younger sisters didn’t take it back.
“We’re still a long way from that. And when we do get married, won’t you help us then anyway?”
Dan Bi’s words were followed up by Dan Yeon.
“Sister, if you marry well and show us that you live happily, won’t that make us want to marry too?”
The very sisters she had dedicated everything to caring for were now saying these things.
“Sister, use this money so you won’t feel discouraged, and prepare properly!”
* * *
“You really don’t need to come anymore, you know?”
When Geom Mugeuk once again visited the dwelling of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, Seo Daeryong was just about to begin his training.
“Once training is done, I’ll need to set up a strategy with Daeryong.”
While Seo Daeryong was training, Geom Mugeuk wandered about idly, pacing back and forth, sitting then standing, pulling books out of the shelf and putting them back in, moving restlessly.
Perhaps finding the sight too distracting, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon fetched a practice saber from the corner and tossed it to Geom Mugeuk.
“Stop loitering and at least swing this around.”
“Why is this thing so heavy?”
Geom Mugeuk groaned exaggeratedly as though his arms would fall off after catching the saber.
“But even if one trains, shouldn’t it be in swordsmanship?”
“You think in our Southern Heavens Blade Family we’d train with those flimsy little swords that snap if you tap them? Not a chance.”
“My father also uses a sword, though.”
“The Cult Leader’s sword is heavy.”
Geom Mugeuk looked down at the saber. He could guess why the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had pressed it into his hands.
To stay away. To stay far from the Nine Calamities Demon Art.
Until Seo Daeryong’s training ended, Geom Mugeuk swung the blade in the corner. For the most part, he only stared at it—he had barely swung it a handful of times.
When training was over, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon asked him.
“Well? How was it?”
“It’s heavy. I’ve been wondering why it’s so heavy.”
The moment he heard Geom Mugeuk’s reply, a strange smile formed at the edge of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s mouth.
Seo Daeryong recognized what that smile meant.
It reminded him of what the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had said on his own very first day of training. When Seo Daeryong had remarked that the blade was heavy—
―Understanding that heaviness is both the beginning and the end of the saber art I teach.
Geom Mugeuk had grasped the essence of the saber art in an instant.
As Seo Daeryong looked at him with an expression of admiration—of course!—Geom Mugeuk showed an even more startling side.
“You met with Lady Dan before coming here, didn’t you?”
“How did you know that?”
“And you brought her flowers, didn’t you?”
Seo Daeryong gasped, eyes going wide.
“How could you possibly know that?”
“I’m the Young Cult Leader. Your Young Cult Leader!”
At that moment, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon picked up flower petals scattered on the ground, the ones that had clung to Seo Daeryong’s clothes before training. There were more than just one or two.
“Did you get into a fight with the flowers or something?”
At his question, Seo Daeryong finally realized how Geom Mugeuk had figured it out.
Naturally, Geom Mugeuk followed with a protest.
“No, but how can you go revealing the secrets behind my mystique and prestige like that!”
When the Blood Heaven Blade Demon ignored him and tried to walk inside, Geom Mugeuk quickly caught his sleeve.
“Now, Elder, please sit here for a moment. You should know exactly what your disciple has been up to.”
And so the three of them sat side by side in the training ground.
“Before coming to train today, he plucked a whole bundle of flowers. He went to Lady Dan and formally proposed.”
“And?”
“She accepted my proposal.”
Seo Daeryong’s face was overflowing with emotion.
“Congratulations. Among the three of us, you’re the first to marry.”
At the words “the three of us,” the Blood Heaven Blade Demon pulled an incredulous face, then soon let out a faint smile. Yes, once upon a time, he too had thought about marriage. Back then, he never imagined he would live alone until this age.
“I’m sorry for going ahead first!”
“Sorry? I’m the one who should feel sorry.”
“What?”
“Your right arm says he’ll open the Gate of Hell, and I’m not stopping him, am I?”
Yet for Seo Daeryong, it was nothing less than the gate to happiness.
“If it’s together with Lady Dan, then even hell doesn’t scare me.”
“You mustn’t ever later say things like, ‘Why didn’t you stop me then!’ and hold grudges! Young Cult Leader, you already foresaw this, didn’t you! You’re the one who knows all there is to know about the world! This isn’t fair!”
“I’ll never do that.”
Seo Daeryong then asked carefully.
“But even if I get married, I’ll still be your right arm, won’t I? Nothing between us will change, right?”
Geom Mugeuk looked at him intently.
“It will change. You’ll have to step down as my right arm.”
“Ah, there you go again, trying to joke.”
“You know full well how dangerous the position of my right arm is.”
What Seo Daeryong knew was that, in truth, the right arm was protected more securely than anyone else. The right arm should protect the body, yet he was always the one being protected.
“You can’t have both happiness and the right arm. You must choose only one.”
Seo Daeryong’s face crumpled as he got to his feet.
“Then I’ll go and tell her. That our love will have to wait for the next life.”
“What are you doing? You’re not really going.”
“I am. I’m really going.”
As Seo Daeryong dragged his feet in hesitation, Geom Mugeuk remarked to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
“His footwork is as heavy as that saber. He’s still standing in place.”
“He took two steps forward.”
“And then one step back.”
At that, Seo Daeryong, who had gone a little further off, came back again.
“No! This is too much! I can’t give up either one!”
Seeing that, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon shook his head with an exasperated look.
“What’s so great about the right arm position? Anyone would think it was a monthly salary-paying post.”
Then Geom Mugeuk added lightly.
“Come to think of it, wasn’t there once a certain someone who agonized over whether to be the right wing or the left wing?”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon pretended not to hear and gazed far off into the sky.
For Seo Daeryong, the position of right arm was more important than any other.
“I’ll try harder. So please, even after I marry, let me remain your right arm.”
He wasn’t joking. It held a special meaning for him.
Since he was serving as Leader of the Underworld Pavilion, he couldn’t travel the Central Plains together with Geom Mugeuk, and even if he could, he didn’t yet have the skill to truly assist him.
If even this role of “right arm,” which he insisted on claiming without fulfilling properly, were taken away, he feared his bond with Geom Mugeuk might be severed entirely.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon, with an expression that showed he understood well his disciple’s heart, remained silent, only looking up at the sky.
The playfulness disappeared from Geom Mugeuk’s face. With calm eyes, he spoke to Seo Daeryong.
“When you have a wife and children, that’s where your strength must go. A right arm who can’t even take care of his own family is one I don’t need. Take care of your family first, then me. Do you think you can do that?”
Seo Daeryong stared at him silently for a moment before letting out a sigh.
“That sounds like a very selfish right arm, doesn’t it?”
“That’s only because you don’t understand yet.”
“What do you mean?”
“An arm that takes responsibility for family is far stronger than one alone. Now you’ll truly become strong. The saber you wield will carry another kind of strength. That saber will never break.”
“!”
“And if the body were to cut off such a right arm despite knowing this truth, then it would be the body that’s selfish.”
Seo Daeryong gazed at Geom Mugeuk in silence before speaking in a low voice.
“That’s good then. A selfish body and a selfish right arm. I’ll cling to you to the very end.”
Even if it were to be cut away, he would first fulfill his role as a true right arm before being severed.
“Once a right arm, forever a right arm.”
Someday, he would sit his grandchildren on his lap and tell them stories about this man. There would be far too many to tell.
At that moment, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, who had been listening to their conversation, suddenly spoke up.
“I’ll act as officiant.”
Startled, Seo Daeryong leapt to his feet and stood before his master. With utmost respect, he bowed and expressed his gratitude.
“Thank you so much, Master!”
Given his master’s personality, he was not the sort to officiate anyone’s wedding. Seo Daeryong knew very well how great a resolve this meant.
“Have you chosen the date yet?”
“We haven’t decided yet. Master, please choose an auspicious day for us.”
“I don’t know much about that. Maybe the Chief Strategist or the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader would know better.”
At that moment, when Geom Mugeuk reached out his hand, a book the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had been reading floated up from the desk by the window.
The title was plain for all to see.
Asking the Will of Heaven
And beneath it, the subtitle.
How to Choose an Auspicious Day
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked at Geom Mugeuk with a helpless expression. He must have snuck a peek earlier when he was wandering in and out before training.
“It’s just coincidence.”
How could that be? Seo Daeryong was deeply moved.
“Master, I truly want you to choose the date for us. For that reason alone, we’ll live well. Please, I beg you.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon rose from his seat and walked back into the building, speaking as he went.
“I’ll pick a day that’s comfortable for me.”