Chapter 310: That Bastard (2)
I hurriedly calmed my rising anger.
It was best not to act suspiciously in a place like this.
“Ah, it’s nothing. I just heard that someone from ‘that side’ had defected to our cult….”
“Hoho, so that’s already reached your ears?”
“Well, I am in a position where I’m supposed to hear such things.”
I exchanged brief glances and smiles with Cheon Jumyeong.
Cheon Jumyeong seemed to search my expression, but there was nothing he could glean from it.
“By the way, ‘Grand Duke’, I don’t quite understand what that’s about.”
Despite me continuing to speak informally as someone younger, Han Mubaek maintained his respectful posture with a slight bow.
“I heard rumors that you are soon to marry the Cult Leader. Congratulations on gaining such a beautiful wife.”
“…….”
The moment I heard that flattery, an indescribable feeling washed over me.
‘Congratulations on your marriage, Your Excellency, Demonic Faction Lord.’
‘Hahaha, thank you, Young Master Jin. It feels all the more special to receive congratulations from you.’
‘…….’
That memory from my previous life came rushing back—the day of Cheon Yura and Han Mubaek’s wedding.
As the representative of the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan, I had attended the ceremony and had exchanged words in a half-mocking tone with Han Mubaek at the time.
‘It feels all the more special to hear such congratulations from you.’
‘…….’
How would he interpret these words now?
Though he was smiling, he wasn’t giving any response.
I sneered slightly at the sight of him.
‘Of course. After all, you infiltrated the cult to steal my place in the first place.’
At Han Mubaek’s lack of response, Cheon Jumyeong’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Even though Cheon Jumyeong was politically opposed to me, in situations like this, he would naturally take my side.
Han Mubaek quickly replied.
“Ah, I was so moved by the Grand Duke’s words that I found myself speechless for a moment.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
Cheon Jumyeong narrowed his eyes further.
He was sharp enough to sense that something felt off about Han Mubaek’s behavior.
‘I hope he presses the bastard after I leave.’
That man would never be able to tell the truth anyway.
Turning his attention away from Han Mubaek, Cheon Jumyeong spoke to me.
“Well, I understand why you’d be concerned. But Han Mubaek made great contributions in rooting out the Heaven-Defying Society. Who would have guessed that Hwan Pyeong was actually a high-ranking member of the enemy?”
“…I see.”
While it was announced that the Heaven-Defying Society had been purged under the Cult Leader’s directive, the exact reasons had not been made public to the general members.
That was because the truth could shake the very foundation of the Six Great Demonic Clans’ power structure.
I shrugged my shoulders and replied.
“That must have been disappointing for you, Lord Cheon. If that had been made public, the entire Six Clans would have fallen into chaos.”
As someone aiming to become the next supreme leader of the cult, Cheon Jumyeong must have secretly wished for such disruption.
“Well, it was the Cult Leader’s command, so what could I do? I had no choice but to keep my mouth shut, powerless as I am.”
“And if you gained power, would you open your mouth then?”
“Hahaha, would it really come to that?”
We laughed together as our eyes met once more.
As expected, the one I needed to watch most closely in the cult right now was none other than Cheon Jumyeong.
‘This is going to be troublesome. Of all people, those two had to join hands….’
The combination of Cheon Jumyeong and Han Mubaek.
The two most dangerous men, whose ambitions ran deeper than the abyss, had climbed aboard the same ship.
The future of Yura’s reign seemed more uncertain than ever.
After that, Cheon Jumyeong and I spent some time exchanging reports and idle conversation.
“Well then, I’ll be on my way. I’ll be returning the position of Vice Pavillion Master Naming Hall soon.”
“Alright. I’ve needlessly taken up the time of such a busy man. You’ve done well all this time.”
“Oh, this is just the beginning of my struggles.”
I gave a light nod and turned to leave.
Strangely, I could feel Han Mubaek’s silent gaze piercing my back all the way until I stepped out of the office.
Even after my conversation with Cheon Jumyeong, I had to spend time visiting the Elders’ Hall and the Heavenly Demon Pavilion to report on recent events.
And after all that, I had hoped for some well-deserved rest…
But that hope was short-lived.
“Damn it. Not even a moment’s peace.”
The Cult Leader’s abdication.
The Young Cult Leader’s ascension.
And the circulating news that I had been chosen as the future husband of the new Cult Leader, Cheon Yura.
Because of this, visitors to the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan and the Naming Hall had exploded in number.
All of them came with the same purpose.
Most desperately tried to secure some connection with me.
But there were also quite a few who had come with a ‘different agenda.’
“Young Master, the head of the Hanwonsul Clan has come to see you.”
“…….”
“Someone from the Shinchangyang Clan is waiting….”
“…….”
“Lord Saber Demon has come to visit in person….”
“…Tell him I’ll be there shortly.”
I let out a deep sigh and got up from my seat.
The reason people like Saber Demon from the prestigious demonic families were visiting me was simple.
They were trying to convince me to take concubines.
In particular, Saber Demon had been persistently pushing for me to take a woman from the Pa Clan as a concubine ever since my duel with the Sword Demon.
“Hahaha! How have you been, little brother?”
Saber Demon greeted me with a hearty laugh as he shared drinks with Jin Gun-ak.
With tired eyes, I spoke to Saber Demon.
“I was hoping to get a bit more rest….”
“Hehehe, you’re no longer in a position to rest so easily.”
“Lord Saber Demon. Let me say it again—I have no intention of keeping any woman by my side other than Yura….”
“Ah, that’s not the reason I’ve come this time.”
…Huh?
“As if I would personally come all the way to the Jin Clan just to talk about concubines.”
‘…You seem to have way too much free time, though.’
Everyone knew that the affairs of the Pa Clan were currently being managed by Pa Seolyeong, while the head of the clan was known to constantly wander off, causing trouble for the Pa sisters.
Of course, I couldn’t say that out loud, so I just conveyed my opinion with a glance toward Saber Demon.
“It’s nothing serious….”
For some reason, Saber Demon paused for a moment.
“When you fought the Sword Demon, I noticed traces of your clan’s martial arts.”
“……!”
“And not just that. In your movements, I also saw traces of the techniques from the Ma Clan and the Jin Clan. As everyone knows, you inherited the techniques of the Reversed Clans, didn’t you?”
As expected, it was Saber Demon.
I had intentionally left some traces, but to think he had caught on so quickly.
“I subtly revealed it so that the Sword Demon would notice, but I didn’t expect you to see through it as well, Lord Saber Demon.”
I raised my hand in front of him.
Then, white flames shot up from my palm, starting to form the shape of a blade.
Flinch!
The Supreme Secret Art of the Extreme Pa Clan—Holy Saber Revering Heaven.
I had unfolded it right before his eyes!
Saber Demon’s eyes widened as if they were about to tear apart.
“H-How do you know the Holy Saber?!”
“Huh?”
Jin Gun-ak, who had been watching with great interest from the side, also stared at me in disbelief.
“Well, I’ve had quite a few fortuitous encounters lately.”
Among the martial arts I had learned from Ma Seoyeon and Pa Gooncheong, there were techniques that were considered lost at this point in time.
I cleared my throat slightly and proposed a deal.
“If the Extreme Pa Clan actively supports the Young Cult Leader’s reign, I am willing to return the long-lost techniques….”
“Let’s have a duel.”
“…Excuse me?”
Before I could even finish my sentence, Saber Demon’s eyes sparkled as he shouted.
“Whatever the case, let’s have a duel first! If seeing something like that doesn’t make your hands itch, you’re not a true swordsman!”
…It seemed there weren’t many true swordsmen left in this world.
“I can’t let that Sword Demon bastard have all the fun. Hey, Jin Gun-ak, got a larger training ground?”
“I’ll offer my personal one.”
“Kuhaha! That’s why I like you—we speak the same language.”
“Go easy on him. We can’t have the groom getting scars right before the wedding.”
“…….”
…No matter what I said, Saber Demon had clearly come with the intention of fighting me from the start.
And my damn father had no intention of stopping it.
After being thoroughly exhausted by Saber Demon, it was already evening.
“Young Master, I apologize for disturbing your rest….”
I glared at the head steward with a lifeless expression.
“Head Steward, if you’re truly sorry, can’t you just leave me alone?”
“I apologize even more for this, but someone from the Heavenly Thunder Corps is here.”
“…Heavenly Thunder Corps?”
“It’s Han Mubaek, the one they say assists Lord Cheon Jumyeong. He insists on seeing you.”
“Bring him in immediately.”
Flinch!
My sudden shift in tone made the head steward’s shoulders shrink slightly.
‘You’ve come crawling into the jaws of hell on your own.’
Whether I had power or not right now, it didn’t matter when it came to Han Mubaek.
I didn’t know what he was here for, but I had no intention of letting him walk out alive.
“Head Steward.”
“Yes?”
“How many warriors can you mobilize right now?”
The head steward’s face stiffened slightly.
Though he seemed to have guessed my intent, he quickly calculated and replied.
"Right now, three hundred. If you give me half an hour, I can gather up to a thousand."
He hurriedly continued.
“However, if we mobilize forces in the thousands, the Cheon Clan and the other Six Clans will surely lodge protests….”
“No need to go that far.”
I grabbed my sword and gave him my orders.
“Make sure not even a single ant escapes this place.”
The head steward, realizing what I was thinking, hardened his expression.
“…Do you intend to kill him?”
“If possible.”
“Picking a fight with the Heavenly Thunder Corps at a time like this is far from wise.”
“I know.”
I knew.
Even though Han Mubaek carried the title of traitor, killing someone who held the official position of Lord Cheon’s assistant would completely sever ties with the Heavenly Thunder Corps.
And yet!
For the sake of the future, it was better to kill him now.
“I will make preparations.”
Reading my firm resolve, the head steward nodded with cold sweat running down his face.
Not long after that—
“Hoho, how have you been, Grand Duke?”
Wearing a completely different smile than he had in the afternoon, Han Mubaek appeared.
He had come alone, without a single escort.
I fixed my gaze on him and spoke.
“You seem pretty relaxed. Does it not occur to you that you’ve walked into a death trap, First Order?”
“…….”
“Whatever reason you’ve come here for, you’d best give up on leaving alive.”
I slowly drew my sword, letting out a wave of killing intent.
“I’ve already decided to pay a great price just to kill you.”
He responded with an unreadable expression.
“So, you already knew.”
“Of course.”
There was no way I wouldn’t know.
“I killed Second Order, Han Muyeon, and Third Order Cheong Museong with my own hands.”
“Such delightful disciples they were to watch.”
“You’re not going to deny it? Good.”
I slowly advanced toward Han Mubaek.
“If you’ve got any tricks left—an Awakened Body or anything else—bring them all out. I can wait that long.”
After hearing my firm declaration, he suddenly started laughing, raising the corners of his lips.
“Kuhuhuh! Do you really think I infiltrated this place as a spy?”
“Am I wrong?”
“No, you’re right. However, there is one thing I must correct.”
Han Mubaek raised a single finger, smiling meaningfully.
“It’s true that I was sent here by the Grand Heavenly Lord. But I no longer have any intention of following his will.”
“…What?”
“From the beginning until now, I have had only one purpose for being here.”
The words that flowed from Han Mubaek’s mouth were completely unexpected.
“To kill Heavenly Researcher.”
Heavenly Researcher?
“The genius devil who created all the Awakened Bodies of this era, who realized the Divine Demonic Vessel and Heavenly-Slaying Star.”
I was left speechless by what he said next.
“I assure you. If Heavenly Researcher isn’t killed, the Young Cult Leader will eventually be devoured by the Grand Heavenly Lord.”