CHAPTER 522: EPILOGUE EARTH DEMON (19)

Creak.

When the sun was high in the sky, I moved toward the inn’s entrance.

Rustle.

As I swept aside the beaded curtain and stepped in, an old woman fanning herself looked at me.

For an inn, it was rather dim.

No wonder, the Red Lotus Inn, located near the red-light district, only opened at night like the other establishments.

“…Ah!”

The bleary-eyed old woman snapped to attention and stood up hurriedly.

Her curt face stiffened in an instant, so it seemed she had finally recognized who I was.

“Are you inside?”

“Yes, I’ve been waiting. Little one!”

“Yes.”

Just then, a young girl darted over from a corner.

She must have been prepared because they knew I was coming.

“I’ll show you this way.”

I followed the girl up the stairs.

Unlike the wide-open first floor, this area was packed with small rooms.

The girl pointed to a room at the edge.

“They’re here…”

I could guess why the girl hesitated.

Because mingled with the chatter from inside were the laughs of women.

“You may go now.”

After sending the girl away, I slowly opened the door.

Creak.

The room’s atmosphere was completely different from the quiet hallway.

“Caw!”

“Heh heh. What? You don’t like it because it’s daytime?”

“It’s not that… hohohot.”

Inside sat a tall, burly man and three women together.

Despite it being midday, the women were dressed seductively, and the table was laden with drinks and side dishes.

“…”

When I stood there briefly, the middle-aged man glanced at me slowly and rose from his seat.

His movements were full of ease.

As if standing before me was no great burden.

“Oh my, the fourth disciple has arrived.”

At his words, the women wore puzzled expressions for a moment.

Their gazes flicked between me and him as if trying to gauge the situation.

“Pleasure to meet you.”

“Ha ha. I was a bit distracted, hehe…”

Despite the awkward laugh, there was nothing polite in his demeanor.

Instead, a teasing arrogance was evident.

When I glanced at the women, he looked aside and said.

“You girls can leave.”

Rustle.

At his words, the women stood, adjusted their collars, and stepped outside.

After they left, the man smoothed his robe and spoke to me naturally.

“I am Jeong-yeon, vice lord of the Seventh Hall.”

“I am Earth Demon.”

“I know. We met from a distance at the courtyard not long ago. Please, sit.”

Jeong-yeon showed me the opposite seat and continued speaking casually.

“Ah, a distinguished guest was coming, and I couldn’t calm myself. So I took a light drink.”

“I understand.”

“Ha ha ha. You’re quite open-hearted despite appearances.”

He grinned and smoothly shifted the topic.

“But why have you come, fourth disciple? And why specifically ask to meet me of the Seventh Hall…?”

“I came to deliver a message.”

“I’m curious what it is.”

I smiled gently at him, then spoke slowly and clearly.

“I’m interested in the mission you received.”

“…!”

In an instant, his smug gaze changed.

His pupils trembled slightly as tension seeped in.

He had finally grasped my true intent.

“…”

A brief silence dominated the room.

The faint street noises outside the window heightened the tense atmosphere.

Jeong-yeon subtly adjusted his posture.

I noticed his shoulders tense slightly and his breathing change minutely.

Thud.

He grabbed the cup on the table and drained it in one gulp.

Then he spoke.

“You haven’t been here long enough to know.”

His low, piercing voice carried a subtle threat.

“Seventh Hall is neutral. Doesn’t matter if you’re the Clan leader’s disciple, threats or bribery are problematic but won’t be encouraged. Can you bear the punishment for breaking the rules?”

“That’s my responsibility. It’s not something you need to worry about.”

“…Ha. That’s true.”

When I pushed harder, he lowered his eyes for a moment, then refilled his cup.

Clink.

The sound of the cup sloshing added to the tension.

“You mentioned Heavenly Killing Star?”

Jeong-yeon drained his cup again and said.

“Heavenly Killing Star—the fatal constitution said to kill within twenty [years]. But I hear you’re a rare constitution who overcame it. Still, if in that state you surpassed the bounds of your suppressed power, what would happen next?”

“…!”

It was an outright provocation, almost an invitation to fight right here.

And in hindsight he had reason to be confident: being on the verge of becoming a Supreme Demon, from a Peak Demon, would surely bolster his pride.

No matter if I was the Clan leader’s disciple or a newly accepted one, he didn’t seem inclined to bow easily.

As a man who risked death for missions, his boldness was evident.

“If you’re so curious, why not test it?”

“What do you mean…”

I liked that.

His healthy curiosity would make my plan go more smoothly.

“Why? Isn’t now the perfect time?”

I leaned slowly toward his face and said.

His gaze followed my movement.

“A frail-looking face, an innocent air as if unversed in the world, and that cursed constitution called the Heavenly Killing Star… isn’t it worth wagering here?”

Jeong-yeon’s expression shifted strangely.

Arrogance no longer showed on his face.

Instead, a different kind of unease crept in.

Beads of sweat trickled down beneath his neck.

“Ha, I also want to live out my days. And you didn’t come alone, did you?”

He seemed to know as well.

He was probably referring to my bodyguards hiding nearby.

“I’m sorry, but you have only two paths.”

I leaned my torso forward slowly and looked him straight in the eyes.

The closer we were, the more I could see his pupils tremble slightly.

“Either fail the mission, or complete it.”

“What do you mean?”

There was still a hint of defiance in his voice, but his shoulders continued to tense.

“Your mission is to eliminate the Supreme Demon, Ma-gon, isn’t it?”

“…!”

A look of shock flashed across Jeong-yeon’s face.

I saw his eyes waver for a moment.

No matter how he tried to hide it, my gaze could not be deceived.

“In my position, whether I want to or not, I learn many things. And since you’re the Second sahyung anyway…”

Each of my words struck his nerves.

A stronger ripple of caution appeared in his eyes.

“He would think that by eliminating the Supreme Demon under the First sahyung, he could secure victory.”

“…!”

This time he reacted openly, unmistakably.

His face went pale as if everything had been exposed, a stunned look plain on him.

His lips trembled slightly, and cold sweat began to bead on his forehead.

‘You’re thinking hard.’

With his eyes and expression changed, his attitude would follow.

As the silence lengthened, his eyes narrowed.

He seemed to be calculating something complex.

His gaze drifted to the void, then returned to me.

A heavy silence hung in the room.

Only the faint street sounds outside and laughter from downstairs filled the tense moment.

And what broke the long silence was:

“I have a few questions.”

His demeanor had changed completely from before.

His arrogance was gone, replaced by cautious carefulness as he tried to assess the situation.

‘It’s obvious. I see your intent.’

To someone who’d seen countless people and lived many lives, it was painfully predictable.

I feigned ignorance and continued the conversation with composure.

“Speak.”

“Why bother telling me this?”

“…What do you mean?”

“If you intended to stop my plan, you could have dealt with me directly. I’m asking why you chose to tell me all this.”

In his position, it was a reasonable question.

If the aim was merely to thwart the new disciple’s plan, targeting him would have been the right move.

There was no reason to reveal my intentions to him.

“That’s not easy to tell.”

I stared at him and continued.

“To recruit you.”

“Eh?”

“Because of you.”

The bewilderment that crossed his face quickly shifted to a flushed look.

Even his brows flickered slightly.

“Then why do you want to recruit me?”

“Because gaining you lets me gain something greater.”

“So, what is that greater thing that requires me…”

“I can’t tell you that. But first, there’s one thing we must settle.”

I tightened my throat and told him.

“If I eliminate the Supreme Demon warrior you must deal with, would you swear loyalty to me?”

“…”

Silence fell again.

“Didn’t you hear me say I’ll take on the life-risking mission for you?”

A confused expression took over his face.

He was pondering my intent and whether such a thing was even possible.

He also wondered if it would harm the lord he served.

Even if no harm would come, it was too uncertain to pledge fealty to a stranger he’d just met.

“What reason would I have to do that?”

“Of course there is.”

“Yes?”

“You can preserve your life even if the mission succeeds, and if by chance it fails, I’ll take the blame for everything.”

“…!”

Judging by his reaction, my answer clearly carried weight for him.

He couldn’t guarantee a solo victory over the Supreme Demon, Ma-gon.

And even if this man did eliminate him, he likely believed he would die as well.

I offered to take his life risk instead.

Moreover, if we failed, it would look like the disciple attempted to strike the First Sahyung and was caught, so we’d absorb all the fallout.

In other words, it was a favorable arrangement either way.

“If you’ll allow me to be presumptuous…”

Jeong-yeon carefully chose his words, as if to confirm one last thing.

“You’ve already learned who I am and what mission I received, so I won’t belabor the point. But I have a few conditions to follow you. Will you hear them?”

“I’m listening.”

“The one who eliminates Ma-gon, the Supreme Demon, must not be a Supreme Demon warrior themselves. Do you understand that?”

“Yes.”

“And if there is a person who will eliminate him, I want to meet and judge them myself. Is that acceptable?”

There was anxiety in Jeong-yeon’s voice, but also cautious hope.

“Worried the plan might fail? You want to assess their skill first?”

“That’s right.”

I nodded.

Of course I understood his concern.

“Is seeing them in person enough?”

“…?”

Jeong-yeon’s eyebrows rose slightly.

He seemed to be trying to grasp my intent.

“There’s nothing as certain as fighting them yourself.”

I made one more proposal to him.

Surprise flashed across his face; his mouth opened slightly, then closed.

“Have them prove it directly. Since they’ve come this far.”