I instinctively gripped the hilt of the Seven Sins Sword at my waist. For some reason, it felt as if the forgotten Martial God were eavesdropping on our conversation.
I had many questions, but I started with the one that troubled me most. "What do you mean you could become a god right now?"
"It means exactly what it sounds like. I've accumulated a great deal of karma, and I've located the Pantheon of the Gods. I've met every requirement. If I set my mind to it, I could ascend right now.
"But I won't. If I became a god now, my divine title would only place me among the minor gods. There's only one god capable of slaying all demon kings, and that is the Martial God," he replied.
The Iron-Blooded Lord's indifferent gaze shifted toward me. "Luan, if you want to kill a demon king, you'll have to aim for the Martial God's throne."
I have no doubt this is true, but—
As if reading my thoughts, the Iron-Blooded Lord asked, "You are unwilling?"
I hesitated before nodding.
"Why?" he asked.
"I'm not sure," I admitted. "It just doesn't feel like my path. It feels as though it would contradict the martial principles I've built up."
The Iron-Blooded Lord said nothing, his silence thick with thought.
"Family head, is it truly impossible for a human to defeat a god? Please, consider it" My voice was firm. "How could a human defeat a god while remaining human?"
The Iron-Blooded Lord responded to my insistence with seriousness. He stroked his chin as if deep in thought, and after a while, he spoke. "To do that, there would need to be multiple opportunities."
"Opportunities?" I echoed.
"Yes," he answered. "Like having extra lives, the chance to try again, or the most absurd possibility—being able to turn back time."
A chill ran down my spine.
"A human would need such absurdity to challenge the gods. Even then, it would be a thorny path. It's literally the minimum requirement." The Iron-Blooded Lord studied me closely. "What's wrong with your expression?"
"It's nothing."
The back of my head tingled, as if someone had delivered a powerful blow. And somehow, it felt like that blow had come from my master.
Once again, I realized that taking a three-day rest had been the right decision. Without it, I would have sighed heavily right here.
How can the blessing be so good, defying the natural order and time? It's a power that everyone craves, I marveled inwardly.
According to the Iron-Blooded Lord, this was the minimum requirement when facing a demon king. After encountering one myself, I felt the same way.
Fine. Fine, then.
In the first place, I had never expected this to be easy. After all, it was the task my master had set for me. Whether it was a demon king or anything else, I just had to get strong enough to defeat them all.
The Iron-Blooded Lord said, "If you have any other requests, speak them now. As long as it's within my power, I'll grant them."
Speak them now... That meant the rewards for this achievement had to be decided here and now. I had no intention of relying on priestly exterminations forever.
I nodded, briefly considering my options before voicing the first thought that came to mind. "Are there any divine beasts in our family?"
I had discussed this with the Martial God before. They could help me build resistance to Dark Qi.
"Of course," he replied.
"Can you arrange a contract for me? I need a way to counter miasma."
"It isn't difficult." He nodded calmly and continued, "The Badniker family possesses five divine beasts: a green deer, a white rat, a gray sheep, a black snake, and a blue dog. Which one do you want?"
I hummed thoughtfully. The deer, rat, and sheep didn't appeal to me. If I had to choose, it would be the snake or the dog.
After a brief pause, I answered, "Snake."
The Iron-Blooded Lord regarded me with a slightly odd expression. "May I ask why?"
It wasn't that I liked snakes in particular—it was more a matter of elimination. "The deer, rat, and sheep seem too weak. I also don't like the color blue, so the dog's out."
He chuckled before suddenly saying, "I suppose you haven't met the librarian yet."
" Huh? Oh ... No, not yet. I had to join the training camp right away, so I didn't have much time," I replied, scratching my head. "By the way, is there really an underground library? There were no stairs leading to the basement in the main building."
"Of course, there is. However, it isn't accessible by stairs."
I was rendered speechless.
"Since you chose the snake, you'll meet it soon enough." His words held a deeper meaning.
Curious, I asked, "Have you also made a contract with a divine beast?"
"Correct."
"May I ask which one?"
"The deer, rat, sheep, and dog," he answered.
" Hmm , that means—"
"Yes. I've made contracts with all the divine beasts except the snake." The Iron-Blooded Lord's expression grew strange. "Ever since Black Fairy Kuset, no one from the Badniker bloodline has made a contract with the black snake."
Hearing this, I felt an overwhelming urge to take back what I'd said. But the Iron-Blooded Lord was watching me with what looked like expectation, making it hard to retract my words.
"I'm really looking forward to it," he remarked, then asked, "Do you have any other questions?"
Today's Iron-Blooded Lord seemed in a good mood today, with plenty of time to spare.
He seemed in a good mood today, with plenty of time to spare. So, I decided to ask everything I had in mind. "How's the demon king expedition going? I'm curious if there's been any progress."
I was referring to the Colorless Demon King subjugation expedition he'd mentioned at our last meeting. In other words, the campaign to take down Senior Brother He Lou.
The Iron-Blooded Lord shook his head. "it has been extended indefinitely."
"What?" I exclaimed.
"I told you before—the demon kings are always on the move. The Colorless Demon King relocated again."
He relocated again? Is it because we met in Hell? I wondered.
"Fortunately, we managed to track him..." The Iron-Blooded Lord's tone grew vague. "But of the first scouting party sent in, fifty elite members disappeared. Given the area, they're most likely dead."
"Where is that area?" I asked.
"It's the most forsaken place on the continent."
"Are you talking about one of the empire's Forbidden Zones?"
I was thinking of places like the Jewel Mountains or the Sinking Swamp.
Unexpectedly, the Iron-Blooded Lord shook his head. "It is dozens of times more dangerous than that."
A place that much more dangerous than a Forbidden Zone actually exists on the continent? I wondered.
He continued, "So, I'm sorry, but forget about my earlier suggestion. I don't think I can protect you there."
"Exactly where is it?" I pressed.
"I can't tell you. I've already given you a clue."
The clue was likely the phrase "the most forsaken place on the continent."
"You'll have to figure out the rest on your own. If you can't, then it's a place you can't even approach." He paused. "However, I can give you some advice."
"Advice?" I echoed.
"There is someone in the Imperial Academy who knows about the forsaken place."
"Who is it?"
"If I told you that, it would be meaningless," he replied.
I had hoped for a shortcut, but no luck. He was no pushover.
He went on, "If you can get in touch with him, you'll be able to gather valuable information. What you do with that information—whether you pursue the forsaken place or not—is up to you."
It was a solid lead, but there was a catch. "Isn't the Imperial Academy off-limits to outsiders?"
He nodded. "That's right."
"I'm already too old to enroll," I muttered.
Even if I weren't, I didn't have time to attend the academy.
I asked cautiously, "Would it be possible to bypass imperial laws with the Badnikers' power?"
"Impossible," he said bluntly.
"I see."
Unexpectedly, the Iron-Blooded Lord changed the subject. "How did the training camp go?"
"I placed third overall." I left out the part where I almost didn't make it.
"Then your path forward should reveal itself."
I wasn't sure what he meant, but I nodded. "Understood—for now."
"Anything else you'd like to ask?" His tone made it clear this was the last question.
I spoke slowly, more cautiously than ever before. "Did you know a priest had infiltrated this training camp?"
"That's right."
"Which means you allowed it to happen, without interference, in order to kill the priest."
"Correct." The Iron-Blooded Lord nodded calmly, offering no excuses.
"Delac was against this," Assad had said.
If I hadn't spoken with Assad before my regression, I would have mistakenly believed it was the Iron-Blooded Lord who had orchestrated everything.
"There must've been someone who pushed for that plan. Are they in a position beyond punishment?" I probed.
Assad's words echoed in my mind again. "Boy, you don't know anything about the Badnikers. The true power and secrets this family holds."
It was about a figure even the Iron-Blooded Lord couldn't challenge. Still, the faces of those who had died occasionally flashed before my eyes.
"It won't be easy," the Iron-Blooded Lord replied.
I had expected as much. In truth, I had only half-jokingly spoken those words in frustration.
He added, "But if you want that person to be punished, it will happen."
I looked at him in surprise. After a brief pause, I said, "Please."
"Yes." He gave a small nod, and that was enough. I knew better than anyone that he wasn't a man who made empty promises.
"It seems this conversation took longer than expected," he commented. "Since you'll be laying low for a while, I won't hold the deputy head ceremony. But everything I promised stands. More than half the Badniker family will follow your lead."
Though only half, considering the size of the family, it was a significant amount of power. Those I couldn't control would likely be from factions loyal to other siblings or those too high-ranking for me to handle as the deputy head.
"The graduation ceremony for the training camp is coming up," he continued. "Don't be late."
"Yes. Thank you."
"I'll contact you again."
"How come?" I blurted.
"You'll be receiving a gift soon," the Iron-Blooded Lord revealed.
He still had more to give?
The Iron-Blooded Lord saw my surprise and let out a quiet, rare chuckle. "You deserve it, so don't worry about it."
"Okay"
I fell silent as his gaze shifted back to Ainsburn. Not particularly interested in watching more of the torture, I left the cabin.
As I stepped out of the blood-soaked cabin, the evening sky was settling in.
I exhaled, thinking, We talked for a long time.
I didn't see Jane around.
Had he left already? It felt disrespectful to the employer, but considering his status as a collector, it made sense. They were likely the busiest group in the Badniker family.
At that moment, my stomach rumbled. " Ugh. I'm hungry."
I hadn't eaten since morning, and my stomach was voicing its complaints. I could go home for a meal, or maybe there'd be something at the graduation ceremony.
I glanced down at the Seven Sins Sword as I walked.
The Altar of a Forgotten God, the Martial God, and the Seven Sins Sword... I had planned to ask the Iron-Blooded Lord about them but hesitated. Now didn't feel like the right time.
At the very least, after reaching the Merak Stage.
Lost in thought, I made my way to the main house. After crossing the sparsely populated, gloomy garden, I passed through the fence and finally reached it.
Where will the graduation ceremony be held? I wondered. I could probably find out if I ask one of the servants along the way.
As I was scanning the area, I spotted a familiar back. That person is...
It was striking white—no, silver—hair. During the training camp, her hair had been tightly tied, but now it cascaded freely, looking even more voluminous.
I called out warmly, "Snowy!"
Seren jumped in shock, her eyes wide as she turned to face me, barely able to speak. She seemed far more startled than I had anticipated.
Ah, now that I think about it, she probably didn't know I was alive. From her expression, it seems neither Charon nor Hector had told her. How should I explain this?
Before I could speak, Seren's behavior took a strange turn.
" Uh, um, that is..." Flustered, she gave a half-curtsy, lifting her skirt slightly in an awkwardly aristocratic gesture that didn't suit her.
"Ah, h-hello...? You are... Young Master Luan...?"
I frowned. Her behavior was completely off.
"Or perhaps... ex-fiancé?" she added, her sharp eyes oddly lowered, her voice strangely soft, missing its usual bite.
I narrowed my eyes, observing Seren. Despite her familiar appearance, she seemed like a completely different person.
Who is this girl?