CHAPTER 534: EPILOGUE EARTH DEMON (31)

Life is influenced by the environment in which one stands.

And it changes little by little according to thought and goals.

As one grows older, one asks oneself, “What kind of life will I live?”

As more time passes, it becomes “Who am I?” and eventually the fundamental question, “What is life?”

Then you begin to prefer familiar surroundings over experiences in strange places, and the most comfortable and joyful memories occupy the center of your thoughts.

My gaze now was directed to that very place.

I don’t know if leaving will be the terminus of my heart, but for now that direction felt right.

Of course, I had to finish everything before that.

I calmly assessed the current situation.

Two Supreme Demon Warriors of the First Disciple. I even eliminated Shi Ah-young, who possessed Supreme Demon warrior level martial prowess.

It was a fatal blow to the End Demon.

Now the only Supreme Demon warriors left for him were just two, including himself.

‘But it is not like the End Demon won’t withdraw like this…’

He is someone who had been accumulating strength in the main sect for decades. He surely has more hidden cards.

‘If Yu Pae comes over to our side it would be an easy resolution, but…’

In truth, that was not certain either.

What I saw in Yu Pae’s eyes was conflict, not resolve.

Could he betray the Demon Lord? Could he throw away years of built trust overnight?

‘Whatever it is, it will be decided soon.’

I decided to wait comfortably.

Even if Yu Pae refused my offer, the seeds of division had been sown.

Whether refusal or joining, they would be the ones to probe intentions first.

The First Disciple’s Supreme Demon warriors—Ma-gon, Hyang-gae, Shi Ah-young—key forces have been eliminated.

‘Suspicions about Heavenly Killing Star? Even better.’

There will be those who harbor doubts.

They will become even more confused.

Whether it was Heavenly Killing Star or not, that ambiguity would work to my advantage.

Thunk. Tik-tik.

Footsteps outside the door. Hasty and rough light footwork skills.

I rose from my seat leisurely.

“What happened?!”

Bang!

Fang Spirit kicked the door open and entered.

Her face was pale, her breath rough. As expected.

“What’s the matter?”

“You really… that…”

She stammered. Her eyes trembled violently.

“Looks like you’ve heard the rumors.”

“They say you killed Hyang-gae and Shi Ah-young— is it true?”

A piercing gaze. Suspicion and fear mixed together.

“Yes.”

I admitted it calmly.

For a moment her face hardened.

“You’re Heavenly Killing Star. So how…”

“Apparently I wasn’t Heavenly Killing Star.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Her voice trembled.

I spoke jokingly, but it didn’t seem that way to her.

“If that doesn’t make sense, could I still be alive?”

“So… that’s…”

“The important thing is…”

When I took a step forward, she stepped back.

She was uneasy.

“Don’t come closer.”

Her hand moved toward the hidden weapon in her bosom.

I smiled.

“I’m alive, and the situation has completely flipped.”

“That’s not the problem!”

Her voice sharpened.

“You deceived me! If the End Demon or the Demon Lord finds out…”

“I don’t care if they find out.”

She faltered at my words.

“What?”

“Whether Heavenly Killing Star or not, I eliminated three Supreme Demon Warriors. That alone is a sufficient threat.”

I spoke in a calm, confident voice.

“The troops they led also fled. If they had been certain, they would have fought. But they were afraid too.”

Fang Spirit’s expression turned complex.

Anger, fear, and a peculiar sense of relief crossed her features.

“You… what are you really?”

“I’m an ally of the manor. Just remember that.”

A long silence.

“Did you really persuade Yu Pae?”

“I made an offer. He will give an answer in three days.”

“Will he come?”

“He will. Otherwise it would be to his loss.”

At the confident answer, a smile finally crept onto Fang Spirit’s lips.

“You are… truly a scary fellow.”

At that moment, a strange change came over Fang Spirit’s face; fear turned to admiration, admiration to excitement.

Clap. Clap-clap. Clap-clap-clap!

The sound of applause grew. At first it seemed mocking, but seeing the corners of her mouth lift, she was genuinely delighted.

“Ahahaha!”

She burst into loud laughter, laughing until tears gathered at the corners of her eyes.

“This is it! Exactly this!”

She slapped the table.

A flushed face with excitement, sparkling eyes—like a child who had received a long-awaited gift.

“Wait….”

Then suddenly she began drawing something in the air with her fingers, calculating. Her eyes darted quickly.

“The End Demon has lost half his strength, the Demon Lord is isolated. If even Yu Pae crosses over…”

Her eyes sparkled as if she’d found the answer herself.

“I become the Cult leader?”

It was a light question, but housed complex feelings—an expression where expectation and burden crossed.

“Will you do it?”

She fell silent for a moment, tapping the table with her fingertips as she pondered deeply.

“Of course.”

She then raised her head, but quickly added, raising her index finger.

“But only for one day.”

“One day?”

“Yes. Just one day.”

She emphasized by wagging her finger.

“To step onto the Cult Leader’s seat and stand before everyone. That alone is enough. It’s proof of recognition.”

‘So that’s it.’

Recognition rather than power. That was her true desire. This was one reason the reclusive masters chose her. Her lack of ambition made her a safer choice.

“Why?”

She tilted her head at my indifferent reaction.

“Isn’t it good for you too? If you hand over the Cult Leader’s authority?”

“I have no interest in it from the start.”

“Then who will do it?”

I shrugged.

“I don’t know… perhaps someone among my subordinates?”

“Ha….”

She laughed in resignation but did not press further.

“Well, they’ll manage.”

She strode toward the door, then looked back. Her gaze flashed.

“Oh, and the fact that you’re not Heavenly Killing Star? Let’s keep that a secret just between us. It’ll be fun.”

“I think the other brothers already know?”

“Still. At least formally.”

She grinned and left through the door.

Her brisk footsteps echoed down the corridor.

I remained alone in the empty room, looking out the window.

‘Everything is finding its place.’

It was time to look around outside. I had to see how far the winds of change had spread.

----------------------------------------

I walked around the Hidden Troops’ pavilion and thought of one being.

A figure who originally existed in this world.

A god who could not contain his own power and created a new world.

‘He must be somewhere.’

But if he couldn’t be found, there was one reason: my actions may already have altered his fate.

The deaths of Hyang-gae and Shi Ah-young were such examples.

In the original history, they should not have died now.

The fissures I created were widening.

‘No. If he were that weak he could not have become a god in the first place.’

One strong enough to transcend worlds.

He would not be swayed by such small changes. He was surely watching somewhere, or stirring.

“Hah!”

“Chaa!”

Clang! Clink!

The sharp metallic sound of swords clashing. Under the moonlight, the Hidden Troops members’ harsh breaths filled the training ground.

The training intensity was higher than usual.

They didn’t stop despite sweating backs and trembling legs.

Probably recent news that could raise morale had come, making them train harder.

“When did you arrive?”

A low, deep voice. Heuk-gu approached and saluted. The sweat on his brow showed he’d just been leading training.

“Any unusual matters?”

“All is peaceful, but…”

He hesitated for a moment, his gaze sweeping the darkness.

“We are preparing for the unlikely. Recent rumors…”

He trailed off, but the meaning was clear.

The deaths of Hyang-gae and Shi Ah-young seemed to have sent ripples even here.

I looked around at the trainees.

Hidden Troops. Called my direct unit, but in reality it was ambiguous.

Espionage, combat, assassination—each a little, but nothing outstanding.

There was no reason to give elites to a tempo-limited Heavenly Killing Star.

That was exactly the origin of the Hidden Troops.

“That’s true, but we still prepare for the unlikely.”

“You once made a name in the Western Regions, didn’t you?”

Heuk-gu’s body stiffened for an instant.

Very few people knew of that affair.

“How did my lord…”

“Rumors were rampant.”

When I smiled meaningfully, cold sweat formed on Heuk-gu’s brow.

“You’re too kind. I was just lucky.”

His voice trembled—not from modesty but from unease.

“The elders favored you and put you in the Hidden Troops? Or they hated you…”

“Yes?”

Heuk-gu flinched.

“Just joking.”

I patted his tense shoulders. The muscles were stiff as stone, but soon relaxed.

“In the end it was for the best that you’re here.”

“It’s an honor. I will give my life in loyalty.”

I nodded and changed the subject.

“How is Sa Yu-kang doing?”

“Ah, that fellow?”

Heuk-gu’s expression brightened.

“It’s amazing. He absorbs knowledge like a dry sponge soaks water.”

It was sincere admiration.

“He was recently promoted to instructor with top scores in the command unit. Your judgment was correct.”

‘As expected, talent cannot be hidden.’

If it’s them, there was no need to worry.

Sa Yu-kang and So Ryeong both so.

They would grow naturally unless a special crisis arose.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Heavy footsteps shook the ground.

“Those are…”

“Could it be the Blood Killing Troops?”

“How did they get here…”

The training ground froze.

Ten shadows emerged through the darkness.

The man at the front walked with steady steps. The eyes of those following were full of killing intent.

Most here recognized them as the Demon Lord’s blade—the Blood Killing Troops.

“We pay respects to the First Disciple.”

The leader of the group stood before me and then knelt.

It was Yu Pae.

Those behind were likely captains of the Blood Killing Troops.

“Have you decided?”

I knew that the moment he came here, everything was already decided.

Still, I had to observe formalities.

“Yes.”

Yu Pae’s voice contained determination.

“I have betrayed the Demon Lord. I have already crossed the river.”

Murmurs.

At the word ‘betrayal’ the Hidden Troops members began to panic.

Yu Pae, no less, the Demon Lord’s blade.

Questions followed—did he betray together with the entire Blood Killing Troops to come here?

“Any regrets?”

“None.”

Yu Pae lifted his head. His eyes burned.

“It’s a choice for the main cult’s future. To prevent meaningless sacrifices.”

At that moment, one of the Blood Killing Troops members spoke.

“We agree as well.”

It was a low, rough voice.

“The Demon Lord has changed. He is drunk on blood.”

Another captain added.

“We fight for the main cult. Not for one person’s ambition.”

Their unity was firm. Yu Pae had succeeded in convincing them.

“We welcome you.”

A brief greeting, but its ripple was massive.

“The Blood Killing Troops is on our side…!”

“The balance has flipped!”

Cheers erupted here and there.

But I knew.

That the Demon Lord would not just take it lying down.

Punishment and retribution against the traitors would begin.

“Heuk-gu.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Order all Hidden Troops members to watch the First Disciple and the Second Disciple’s forces.”

“Understood.”

Heuk-gu’s gaze sharpened, the eyes of a warrior preparing for war.

In fact, for some unit movements, the Third Disciple’s subordinates would fetch good intelligence.

But when movements occurred on this scale, there were no more reliable spies than the Hidden Troops.

The night wind blew cold.

The prelude to war had begun.

And I stood at its center.