CHAPTER 523: EPILOGUE EARTH DEMON (20)

We left the inn and headed straight to the back of the building.

This wide area, like a courtyard where carriages would briefly wait, was completely empty, perhaps because it was morning.

Except for one person.

“That man is…!”

Deputy leader of Seventh Hall Jeong-yeon reacted quickly at the sight of the person sitting alone on a wooden chair in a corner.

Jeong-yeon could not have failed to recognize the figure, bathed softly by the morning light on his grey robe.

“The one to replace me… is the Supreme Pavilion Lord?”

The Supreme Pavilion Master, said to be the foremost among the Five Pavilion Masters, was there.

“One of that caliber seems fitting, does it not?”

For Jeong-yeon, two conditions were necessary.

A proven warrior capable of killing a Supreme Demon warrior, and someone verified to perfectly take over his role.

The Supreme Pavilion Lord was one of the few people who met those strict conditions.

“I came running when summoned.”

As I approached slowly, the Supreme Pavilion Lord stood from his chair and bowed respectfully.

“I hope nothing happened?”

“Yes. However, the person beside you is…”

“He’s the secret weapon of the Second Sahyung, raised to eliminate the First Sahyung’s Supreme Demon warrior.”

“…!”

For a moment, the Supreme Pavilion Lord’s curious gaze turned to Jeong-yeon.

“What do you think? Would someone like the Supreme Pavilion Lord be a match for a man called Ma-gon?”

Jeong-yeon scanned the Supreme Pavilion Lord up and down in silence for a moment.

The Supreme Pavilion Lord.

Publicly, he was one of the Five Pavilion Masters within Demonic Cult, supposedly not commanding a very large force.

But his real influence was considerable.

He was someone whose decades of experience, career, and political savvy were rated higher than many Supreme Demon Warriors.

His martial prowess was by no means negligible.

As a warrior who had reached the Peak Demon realm, some judged that if he dedicated himself to training, he could well reach the Supreme Demon level.

‘If he fights with life-and-death stakes, he might be able to take down Magon…’

“That is quite convincing.”

Jeong-yeon nodded.

However, he seemed puzzled by the fact that someone under the First Disciple was cooperating with the Fourth disciple.

He must have heard rumors.

“Then shall we spar now…?”

“I don’t think that’s necessary. He’s not a stranger.”

Jeong-yeon answered calmly, not even considering testing skills against him.

“Is there another condition?”

At my question, Jeong-yeon’s eyes met mine steadily.

“Even if I accept the proposal, I have no intention whatsoever of entering under the fourth disciple or cooperating with him.”

His voice was firm.

“Very well, do as you will.”

“Yes?”

“Do that.”

“…Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

When I replied casually, it was he who became flustered.

Jeong-yeon’s eyebrows twitched slightly; he hadn’t expected that answer.

‘Just as I thought.’

Persuasion sometimes means presenting an extreme demand first, then letting the desired option seem reasonable.

He had fallen for that technique.

“I’ve never given you a reason to follow me.”

I continued slowly.

“In that case, how could I order you to follow me? Do as you said. Of course, we’ll deal with that fellow.”

Jeong-yeon fell silent for a moment; my response was apparently unexpected.

“Anything else?”

“…”

I asked calmly again, but Jeong-yeon remained silent.

A confused look showed on his face.

Was my reaction different from what he expected, or did he have no further conditions prepared?

After a long pause, he finally spoke.

“If Ma-gon is killed, the First Disciple will surely investigate the cause. Are you prepared to take the full brunt of that backlash?”

A clash between Supreme Demon warriors is almost a declaration of war, but in power struggles it’s somewhat tolerated for a Peak Demon warrior to eliminate a Supreme Demon one. ŔΑ₦ǒＢЕs̈

Within the Demonic Cult, it’s treated as a kind of ‘incident’—a humiliation for having been bested by a weaker person, or a matter of responsibility and incompetence.

But tolerated does not mean ignored.

The First Disciple will seek the root cause and, sooner or later, hold that party accountable in some manner.

Jeong-yeon was asking whether I would avoid responsibility during that process.

“Of course not. Traces are bound to remain somewhere. You know the Supreme Pavilion Lord’s poison martial art, do you not?”

Jeong-yeon nodded.

The moment he saw the Supreme Pavilion Lord involved, he seemed to roughly predict how events might unfold.

“One last thing…”

There was gravity in his voice.

“I’m curious whether this decision will put the Demon Lord in a difficult position.”

It was a reasonable concern from his perspective; if the Demon Lord would be harmed, he had no reason to cooperate.

I glanced up at the sky for a moment, then spoke.

“Before answering that, I’ll ask you one thing. Whose man are you?”

“…Huh? Of course I’m the Demon Lord’s man.”

“Before the Demon Lord—whose man are you?”

“…?”

Jeong-yeon hesitated briefly; his gaze wavered before he seemed to decide and replied.

“I’m a person of the Demonic Cult.”

“That’s right.”

I nodded.

“Not only you, but I as well. We live for the prosperity of the Demonic Cult.”

I paused and watched his reaction.

“To be frank, there are many variables. My choice now won’t immediately harm the Demon Lord; it might even help. But what happens afterward will vary greatly depending on my capabilities.”

I stopped speaking for a moment and met Jeong-yeon’s eyes.

“It could be good or bad. But I can say this: my decision now is for the Demonic Cult. To prevent countless sacrifices…”

I paused briefly, then spoke more decisively.

“It is also to prevent the First Disciple’s desire to unilaterally become the sect leader, something the Demon Lord desperately wishes to stop.”

To rearrange power without sacrifice and along the natural course.

That was the path I pursued in this life.

Of course I could shake everything with my power, but that would go against the natural flow.

Above all, I might lose any chance to find Jang Dal somewhere in this world.

Jeong-yeon fell into deep thought with a stern expression. I didn’t rush him and waited quietly.

Then he muttered to himself in a very low voice.

“…You’re very different from the rumors.”

I turned to look at him. Jeong-yeon then bowed politely in proper etiquette.

“People called you the Heavenly Killing Star, weak and powerless, lucky to have been chosen by the sect leader; they said you’d be the first to be eliminated in a succession fight. But… seeing you in person, those were nothing but baseless rumors.”

There was no forced flattery in his voice.

“Recruiting the Supreme Pavilion Lord, who had been a loyal subordinate of the First Disciple, is no small matter. And knowing my secret mission precisely—such hidden capability must be remarkable.”

Jeong-yeon glanced at the Supreme Pavilion Lord standing beside me, then turned back to me.

“Succession disputes, naturally, depend on a person’s capability. How could I blame you for everything that follows?”

He stepped forward, bowed deeply and respectfully; there was no arrogance or suspicion left in his gesture.

“Knowing my true identity and, to be honest, finding a reason to refuse is harder. I will… accept the proposal.”

“The deal is sealed.”

I nodded with satisfaction.

In truth, Jeong-yeon’s options were limited.

Unless it directly harmed the Demon Lord, he had little reason to refuse.

If we eliminated Ma-gon and broke the First Disciple’s power, it would actually benefit the Demon Lord.

If we failed, it would be even better for them.

The First Disciple’s wrath would fall squarely on me.

“A man named Ma-gon will visit our Seventh Hall in fifteen days. I’ll gauge and inform you of the meeting place and when he’ll be alone.”

“Good. I’ll send someone you can trust—contact them and it will be handled.”

“Understood. I’ll be going first then; I’ve already taken too much of your time…”

“Indeed.”

Jeong-yeon bowed briefly and stepped back.

He gave the Supreme Pavilion Lord a meaningful look, then disappeared from the spot.

Once he was gone, the Supreme Lord stepped forward cautiously and spoke.

“Is he the vice leader of Seventh Hall?”

It was a question about the mission he’d been briefed on before meeting Jeong-yeon today.

He watched the direction Jeong-yeon had gone with an expression of interest.

“Yes.”

“Can we trust him?”

“Why—what are you worried about?”

“Didn’t he say he wouldn’t openly cooperate with us? It’s unsettling.”

“Do you not understand what that implies?”

“Yes?”

The Supreme Pavilion Lord looked puzzled, and I answered with a smile.

“Think about it. The vice performs missions in secret. What would such a person do if his mission isn’t finished?”

“Hmm…”

After a moment of thought, the Supreme Pavilion Lord seemed to realize and widened his eyes.

“He’ll go find another Supreme Demon warrior.”

“Exactly.”

I nodded and added an explanation.

“He intended to continue his mission from the start. Since we’re offering to take over, he judged he could just seek the next target. That’s why he accepted our proposal.”

“Cleverly taking our help while making a decision that benefits the Second Sahyung. But my lord—”

“…”

“In that case, nothing really changes for us, does it?”

“No. It already has changed.”

“Yes?”

“There is such a thing.”

I gave a short chuckle at the Supreme Pavilion Lord’s puzzled look.

As he pondered, he asked again.

“Do I have to fight this Ma-gon alone?”

“Who said you’d be alone?”

“As you mentioned earlier…”

“There’s one more. The Black Swan Commander I brought.”

“…Ah!”

The Supreme Pavilion Lord opened his eyes wide.

His surprise was not mere astonishment at the plan’s execution.

He had discovered the secret weapon of the Second Sahyung who had been acting in a secluded temple, and the actions that followed had deeper meaning.

Putting aside the persuasion of Jeong-yeon, to aim weapons at the enemy using both his former subordinate under the First Disciple and the Black Swan Commander, who had ascended to the peak of the Peak Demon realm, was significant.

Even if this were exposed later, the First Disciple would find it difficult to pin responsibility on us.

He was thinking one, two, no, three moves ahead.

“Then return. I have things to do.”

“Ah, very well.”

At my words, the Supreme Pavilion Lord bowed politely and turned to leave.

After watching him go, I stretched slightly.

“The urgent fire is out… Shall we go see Eight Kingly iron Demon Warriors now?”

The second of the three who could be swayed with the token.

It was time to meet those I had encountered several times in my previous life.