Chapter 23: Short Fuse (2)

Around noon the following day.

Seo Wan-pyeong was strolling through the grounds of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult with a gloomy expression. Sunlight fell across his gaunt face—pale from chronic insomnia, worsened by his paranoid delusions, and further drained by the nature of his martial arts, which leaned heavily on assassination. Seo Wan-pyeong winced, irritably raising a hand to shield his eyes from the intrusive rays. Yet…

'What pleasant weather.'

Despite his grim exterior, his mood was uncharacteristically calm. The recent improvement in his mood was undoubtedly due to Il-mok's influence. Whenever he started spiraling—getting lost in dark thoughts, beating himself up for messing up a job, or blaming himself for every little thing that went wrong at the Dark Shadow Pavilion—he’d go find his youngest brother.

The boy was extraordinary. He would come up with solutions that Seo Wan-pyeong couldn't easily think of, or repeatedly remind him that he had misinterpreted their Master's words. Recently, Seo Wan-pyeong had even started to entertain the positive thought that perhaps their Master didn't hate him.

He’d had moments where he felt like a complete moron for needing help from a kid so much younger than him, but...

"What are you saying, senior brother?! I’ve witnessed your incredible sword skills firsthand, and you’ve even granted me the honor of sparring with you! What I'm doing is nothing compared to the favor you've shown me!"

After hearing that from him yesterday, those thoughts were gone entirely.

And so, today too, Seo Wan-pyeong was heading to Windrock Palace as well. Not because he was feeling down, but because he genuinely wanted to go spar with the kid and teach him a few things.

As he was strolling through the cult's grounds, Seo Wan-pyeong's eyes caught sight of a familiar man.

"Greetings, Eldest Brother."

Wi Jin-hak, who had been pacing back and forth in the same spot like an anxious puppy, burst into a booming laugh at Seo Wan-pyeong's greeting.

"Hahaha! It's been a while since we've met like this in broad daylight, Third Brother."

His paranoia reared its ugly head and automatically translated his Eldest Brother’s words as, 'What's a gloomy guy like you doing in broad daylight?' But he quickly shook his head, forcing the negative thought away. It was probably just him.

'I should ask the youngest about this.'

Putting it aside, Seo Wan-pyeong asked his fellow disciple, "Is something troubling you, Eldest Brother?"

"There's a small problem with the Red Dragon Corps, and I'm pondering how to handle it. Hahaha."

Seo Wan-pyeong nodded at Wi Jin-hak's answer. "I see."

Just as Seo Wan-pyeong belonged to the Dark Shadow Pavilion and handled the cult's affairs, his Eldest Brother was part of the Red Dragon Corps. The difference was that while Seo Wan-pyeong was a mid-level official in the Dark Shadow Pavilion, Wi Jin-hak was the leader of the Red Dragon Corps.

“Honestly, leading the troops and crushing the skulls of those non-believer bastards is easy, but this situation is a bit complicated, so I’m scratching my head over it.”

An idea struck Seo Wan-pyeong as he watched his fellow disciple bursted into another bout of hearty laughter.

"Then, would you like to come with me?"

“Join you? Where to?”

“I don’t know the specifics of your trouble, but there’s someone who might offer wise counsel.”

"Oh ho! Now that sounds interesting!"

Without even asking who, Wi Jin-hak laughed like a fool and followed his junior brother.

***

Just like any other day, I was spending time with Seon-ahh and Jin Hayeon when—

Clunk.

The doors of Windrock Palace swung open, revealing two unexpected guests. Recognizing them, I quickly clasped my hands in formal greeting.

"Greetings to Eldest Brother and Third Brother."

I was being polite on the outside, but my brain was going a mile a minute.

'I can understand the paranoid senior brother coming every day now, but what brings the ticking bomb one here?'

As if reading my thoughts, the ever-paranoid Third Brother graciously clarified.

"Good to see you, youngest. Actually, I met the Eldest Brother on the way here, and hearing he had a concern, we came together."

"I see that's what happened."

While I responded reflexively, inwardly I was dumbfounded.

‘No, really, why would you bring a ticking time bomb to me for advice?’

Eldest Brother was notorious for his volatile temper due to practicing the Raging Demon Sword Art. While rumors suggested he was nearing Transcendence, the crucial point was that he wasn't there yet. In other words, one wrong phrase could detonate him.

But unaware of my inner thoughts, the paranoid senior brother suddenly said to the ticking time bomb,

"Eldest Brother, as you've probably already heard, our youngest here is quite brilliant for his age. Perhaps he might be able to solve your problem, so why don't you explain it to him?"

"Hahaha! Now that you mention it, Master did praise his wit! Well then, I'll explain."

With those words, Eldest Brother began to share his concerns without even asking for my opinion.

"Recently, the Vice Leader of our Red Dragon Corps was recognized for his achievements and promoted to become the leader of the Black Tiger Corps. The problem is, instead of bringing in a Vice Leader from elsewhere, Master told me to choose one myself. I have to pick the new guy myself from one of my current Squad Leaders.”

Okay, that was definitely a tricky problem.

'Having to promote just one out of many, huh. That's problematic in many ways.'

He must have been really stewing over it, because he just kept talking. "They each have their strengths and weaknesses, and since we've been together for so long, it's even more difficult. All the current squad leaders have been with the Red Dragon Corps since I first joined as Vice Leader. One has good skills but is too slippery, another is..."

He went on and on, ticking off the candidates on his fingers, and after what felt like an eternity, he finally wrapped it up. "Given this situation, what do you think would be best, youngest?"

I furrowed my brow, feigning deep thought.

Misinterpreting my silence, Seo Wan-pyeong encouraged me, "Just be honest. Even though Eldest Brother looks a bit intimidating, he’s a great man who listens to what people have to say."

"!!!"

I couldn't help but flinch at the Third Brother's fanning of the flames.

Did he just insult the living bomb just now?!

To my relief, Eldest Brother simply bellowed out a laugh. “Ahahaha! Yeah, I get that a lot! My face scares plenty of people!”

‘Okay, so looks are a safe topic. Good to know.’

But I wasn’t out of the woods yet, so I opened my mouth as cautiously as possible.

"I've thought hard about it, but honestly, I'm not sure either."

In truth, I’d decided this the moment they arrived.

‘Helping out here will only get me saddled with more work. No thanks.’

Whether it’s here or in modern-day Korea, it’s the same. Do a good job and you’ll saddled with more work so I chose to feign ignorance instead.

Between Master’s demands and Third Brother’s clinginess, I refused to volunteer for another headache.

The only risk was triggering Eldest Brother’s rage, but to my surprise, it was Third Brother who frowned bitterly—not the ticking time bomb.

'Why are you the one looking disappointed?'

Meanwhile, the actual guy with the problem wasn’t mad at all. He was just grinning his usual goofy grin.

"Hahaha! So even my youngest brother found this to be a difficult problem, I see."

And for some odd reason, the previously disappointed Third Brother even started to apologize on my behalf.

"Ahem. I'm sorry, Eldest Brother."

“Hahaha. What’ve you got to be sorry for? It’s my fault for being too dumb to figure it out.”

As Eldest Brother laughed boisterously, he turned his head to survey the surroundings and his eyes met with Seon-ahh's.

"Oh ho! If it isn't the little miss from the Hyeokryeon Family! I've heard you've been visiting our youngest brother quite often lately."

"I'm not little," Seon-ahh replied with an uncharacteristically pouty tone.

"Ahahaha! It seems the little miss is upset because this stupid older brother has stolen away her playtime with the youngest! Hahaha! What a cute little lady."

Maybe she was embarrassed he’d figured her out, or maybe she was just really ticked off.

Seon-ahh pouted and grumbled under her breath.

"Lord Wi is a dummy."

The moment Seon-ahh blurted out those words...

"Ahahahaha!"

A strange, inexplicable sensation came over me. Elder Brother’s laughter boomed like an idiot as usual, but I felt a chill run down my spine.

Then, Third Brother’s frantic voice transmission pierced my ear.

―Oh no! RUN. NOW!

"???"

As I shot the Third Brother a confused face, another voice transmission flew in.

―There is a reason why the Eldest Brother was only said to nearly achieve Transcendence! While he is no longer as volatile as his early days, he cannot tolerate being called stupid. It’s fine if he calls himself stupid, but others must NEVER call him stupid!

"..."

What the fuck is this?

It's okay for him to call himself stupid, but if someone else says it, he loses his mind? Fucking nutjob.

'That's right. This place was a den of lunatics.'

Even as I was processing this important fact...

"Ahahahaha! Did you just call me an idiot?"

Eldest Brother’s harsh laughter was getting louder and louder, and at the same time, violent energy waves began to erupt outwards from him.

And they were directed towards Seon-ah, who had provoked him.

Of course, Seon-ah was the precious daughter of the Hyeokryeon Family, a prestigious family even within the Demonic Cult. Even for the Eldest Brother, harming Seon-ah could cause problems. But if he were the type to consider such things before acting, he wouldn't have had an anger management issue in the first place.

As his maddened laughter grew louder, a gale of crimson and violent energy erupted from Eldest Brother’s body and lashed out at Seon-ahh.

Third Brother and Jin Hayeon flared their own energies, bracing themselves to stop Eldest Brother’s rampage.

"Young Miss!!"

A guard from the Hyeokryeon Family, who had been waiting beyond the walls of Windrock Palace, came running.

“I’VE GOT IT! THE SOLUTION!!”

I blurted out whatever came to mind first, trying to calm the situation.

The moment those words flew out of my mouth, Eldest Brother's manic gaze turned to me. The energy flared from his body still rampaging wildly. My chest tightened and my heart felt constricted, even the mere process of breathing became painful. I squeezed out what little internal energy I had and raised my voice.

“Promoting the Third Squad Leader to the second-in-command is the best course of action!”

"Why?"

As if his personality had suddenly changed, the Eldest Brother asked briefly, his eyes already half-crazed.

Why?

It was simple.

"You said he's the most meticulous with his work, so he can handle tasks in your place when you're absent or busy!"

In other words, he was the most suitable person to dump work on. After all, isn't it natural that when you choose the most capable person as your subordinate, it makes things easier for those above?

'Just like that damn team leader!!'

It was a solution that popped into my head because I was reminded of that team leader from when I was Seo Ji-hoon, the guy who pawned work off on me and ducked out even as I was dying.

Of course, if the Third Squad Leader were competent in all areas, there would have been no need for the Eldest Brother to worry in the first place.

"You mentioned his martial skills are the weakest among the squad leaders, but that doesn't matter! After all, you, as commander, can cover that with your strength. Therefore, the second-in-command should be chosen to complement your weaknesses."

The Eldest Brother who had been eerily listening to my argument in a manner uncharacteristic of a mad demon cackled eerily as soon as I finished speaking.

“KHAHAHAHA!!!”

Like a madman, no, true to being a madman, threw his head back and roared with laughter. Then, he eerily lowered his head and stared at me with eyes full of madness.

Sneer.

"So, you're saying… since I'm dumb, I should promote the smart Third Squad Leader to become second-in-command."

With those words, the ground beneath his feet exploded, and the living bomb charged at me while swinging a greatsword wreathed in swirling red energy.