Chapter 825: None of You Are in Your Right Minds
Eat first? In the middle of a life-and-death battle?
The very first thought that came to Hwa Moogi’s mind when he heard that was this—the same thought many who had encountered Geom Mugeuk had at least once.
‘Is he insane?’
Of course, he wasn’t.
‘There’s something behind this.’
He already knew the Young Cult Leader was no ordinary person.
What was even more astonishing, however, was everyone else’s reaction.
At the very least, someone should have looked dumbfounded or said, ‘What are you talking about in a situation like this?’ Out of the seven present, at least one person.
But instead, an entirely unexpected reaction emerged.
The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader rubbed his stomach.
“Now that I think about it, we’re hungry too.”
No one had eaten because Hwa Moogi had appeared just as Baek Jagang finished cooking.
Well, that Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had been spouting nonsense from earlier, so perhaps that was expected.
But then Baek Jagang spoke to Geom Mugeuk as if boasting:
“I learned some cooking from the Cult Leader.”
Why was the Unorthodox Alliance Leader saying that? So what—was he planning to cook now? The same man who had just been fighting moments ago?
Even more absurdly, the Demonic Cult Leader’s face showed a hint of pride upon hearing it.
With the Young Cult Leader’s arrival, it felt as if some switch had been flipped, and they had all become different people.
Those who had not taken their eyes off him for even a moment were now distracted, and their previously grim expressions had all brightened.
For the first time, the Sword King looked up at the sky, and the Poison King—who had been staring at him with abyss-like eyes—was now looking at a tree uprooted by the roadside.
‘You’re not seriously staring at the insect crawling out of its roots, are you?’
The common emotion they all shared was relief.
Even if the Heavenly Demon himself had arrived where the Young Cult Leader stood, it wouldn’t have brought this kind of relief.
Hwa Moogi felt both bewildered and curious.
‘What is this guy?’
He had heard from the Dark Palace Master that the Young Cult Leader influenced people, but he hadn’t imagined it would be to this extent.
Geom Mugeuk spoke to him again. He didn’t bother with meaningless threats like I’ll kill you after we eat.
“Even if you’re going to kill us, you should at least let us eat first.”
“Why should I do that?”
“There is a reason.”
Then Geom Mugeuk said something unexpected.
“Because this will be the last moment of your life that you will ever enjoy.”
“What?”
He thought it meant you’ll die here today—but it was the complete opposite.
“If you win and we all die, then this atmosphere, this feeling, this tension—this will be the last time you ever experience it.”
Geom Mugeuk’s expression had grown serious.
“Once we’re all dead, only those who tremble in fear and show loyalty will remain before you. More precisely, those pretending to be loyal. You’ll grow bored, unable to control your temper, killing this one and that one, slaughtering without restraint.”
He looked into Hwa Moogi’s eyes and added:
“But no matter how many you kill, your heart will never beat like it does today.”
“!”
Hwa Moogi’s gaze shifted from Geom Mugeuk to Geom Woojin behind him—the man he had been wary of throughout the battle.
Even without drawing his sword, it felt as if they had already fought a fierce battle.
Beside him stood the Fist Demon King, his fists still showing lingering desire.
Next to him were Jin Paecheon and Baek Jagang, then the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader and the Sword King, and finally, the Poison King at the back.
Yes—that was true.
A moment like today would never come again.
Standing before them, Geom Mugeuk smiled.
“So let’s eat.”
Strangely, Hwa Moogi felt persuaded.
Ever since the Young Cult Leader arrived, the tension had been slipping away.
“If you don’t want to eat, I’ll eat by myself! What, are you going to be petty about food?”
To attack now felt difficult—Geom Mugeuk was too intriguing.
In the end, Hwa Moogi nodded.
“Fine.”
He couldn’t fight properly in this deflated state anyway.
Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly.
“Alright, let’s go in.”
The moment he turned toward the Flowing Wind Tavern—
“Ahhh! What is this?!”
One wall of the tavern had collapsed, and the entire second-floor wall with the inscriptions had been blown away.
Geom Mugeuk spun around toward Hwa Moogi.
“You bastard, you broke that? Do you know how important that wall was?! This won’t do.”
He looked ready to draw his sword immediately.
“No matter how hungry I am, you need to be taught a lesson first.”
At his sudden change, Hwa Moogi also reached for his black sword.
‘You’re misunderstanding something.’
At that moment, Geom Woojin spoke flatly.
“I destroyed it.”
Silence fell.
Geom Mugeuk lowered his voice and spoke seriously.
“Well done. A wall that interferes with a fight should be removed beforehand. To be honest, I’ll say it now—everyone’s first writings were lacking. Since we’ve had practice, we can leave better ones next time.”
Before anyone could respond, he walked inside.
Geom Woojin followed, then Jin Paecheon and Baek Jagang, smiling.
Astonishingly, none of them even glanced at Hwa Moogi as they entered.
Only the Fist Demon King remained cautious until the end—everyone else simply walked in.
They just… left him behind?
Even seeing it with his own eyes, he couldn’t believe it.
‘These bastards!’
Just moments ago, they had been fighting over who was the hero and who was the villain.
And now—
He felt like nothing.
From protagonist to extra.
No—even less than that.
Just a nameless figure left standing alone.
…Well, even extras sometimes kill everyone in a story.
After staring at the tavern for a moment, Hwa Moogi finally stepped inside.
Inside, Geom Mugeuk looked around.
“It’s more damaged than I thought.”
Cracks ran across the remaining walls, and broken tables and chairs were scattered everywhere.
Looking up at where the second-floor wall had once been, he said:
“I once told the owner—if that wall were ever destroyed, that too would have meaning.”
Then Geom Woojin asked unexpectedly:
“Are you upset that I didn’t protect it?”
The tables, the walls—it had all been part of what his son wanted to protect.
Geom Mugeuk looked at him.
“You’ve already protected it.”
At Geom Woojin’s puzzled expression, he gestured toward the flames rising from afar.
“What I wanted to protect wasn’t the wall or the tables, but the owner and the people of this village. You already protected them.”
He met his father’s gaze again.
“They will never forget it. It was a wonderful decision.”
Geom Woojin simply looked at him.
The one who reacted was the Fist Demon King, a faint smile forming on his lips.
Of course, the Cult Leader had thought of his son while protecting the village.
“Even choosing this place for such a battle will be something the owner boasts about for life. Far more meaningful than anything written on that wall.”
The Cult Leader must be delighted.
“I’m glad there are still usable things.”
Geom Mugeuk brought an intact table and chairs to the center.
“Please sit, Father.”
Hwa Moogi stood at the entrance, watching.
‘Let’s see how far you go.’
Then Baek Jagang stepped forward.
“I learned some dishes from your father. Would you like to try?”
“Of course! How many people in this world can say they’ve eaten food cooked by the Unorthodox Alliance Leader?”
Baek Jagang immediately went into the kitchen.
“You’re lucky. The kitchen isn’t too damaged.”
“Should I look forward to it?”
“You should!”
Even if it tasted bad, he had an excuse.
‘Your father taught me.’
The same hands that wielded the Tyrant’s Heaven-Shaking Sword Art now held a kitchen knife.
He looked even more excited than when fighting.
“Anyone want to help?”
Geom Woojin stayed seated.
The Poison King turned his head away.
“I’d like to help, but I have no talent.”
The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader would only cause trouble.
The Sword King was injured.
Jin Paecheon was in no position to step in.
Then—
“I’ll help.”
It was the Fist Demon King.
He entered the kitchen.
The two who had just been fighting now continued their battle there.
Hwa Moogi watched.
‘None of you are in your right minds.’
The two who had just fought him had gone to cook.
If they were sane, they wouldn’t do this.
At the very least, shouldn’t they say—
‘We’ll finish this after eating.’
Do they really believe that Young Cult Leader can handle me?
Or did the Poison King poison them all?
Then—
Geom Mugeuk met his eyes.
“Come sit.”
When he didn’t move, he added:
“We don’t kill people while they’re eating. So come on.”
There was something dangerous about those eyes.
They made it sound true.
Hwa Moogi slowly walked over and sat.
Geom Mugeuk brought out alcohol and cups.
“It’s been a while—have a drink.”
He poured for his father first.
“I should’ve brought Lord Drunken Demon’s liquor, but we ran out.”
Everyone understood.
There had been a fierce battle elsewhere.
Then he poured for the others.
Finally—
He filled Hwa Moogi’s cup and held out the bottle.
“Pour me one too.”
Hwa Moogi stared at him.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m having a drink with my lifelong rival—for the first and last time.”
After a moment—
Hwa Moogi poured.
Geom Mugeuk raised his cup.
“To the Heavenly Killing Star.”
Everyone drank—except Hwa Moogi.
Then—
Food was brought out.
“It smells amazing.”
“Eat.”
They all began.
“Delicious!”
Baek Jagang smiled.
“Come again anytime.”
Hwa Moogi smirked.
‘There is no next time for you.’
Geom Mugeuk looked at him.
“Why aren’t you eating?”
He hadn’t touched his chopsticks.
Then—
Geom Mugeuk said something shocking.
“Actually, this is the second time we’ve eaten together.”