Chapter 35: Intoxication (1)

After the man in the shadows departed, the Divine Guardian was lost in thought.

‘Skilled at manipulation, huh…’

Most would see that as a bad thing, but the ability to stir up a crowd was crucial. Especially for leading a religious group like the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, it was an invaluable ability.

The escort's opinion of the Eighth Young Master is that of a con man.

However, the Divine Guardian did not think so.

'If he were truly just a con man, the Heavenly Demon would never fall for it.’

The current Heavenly Demon wasn't some fool who'd get duped by a cheap con man.

If he were that kind of person, he wouldn't have risen to become the Heavenly Demon in the first place, and there would be no reason for them to move so cautiously.

The current Heavenly Demon's abilities were beyond doubt, and the faith in him within the cult was absolute.

That was why they were lying low, waiting for the time after the current Heavenly Demon's ascension.

Therefore, there could be only one conclusion.

‘His deceitful behavior must be an act to fool outsiders.’

When this thought struck the Divine Guardian, goosebumps rose on his forearms.

The fact that he possessed such calculations at the mere age of fifteen was astonishing.

‘He must be eliminated.’

For Il-mok, this couldn't have been a more frustrating misunderstanding.

* * *

The day after I returned to headquarters, my life went back to normal.

Or rather, I hoped it would.

“Why are you here again?”

When I asked Kwan Mu-yeol and Jang Hwi, who came to Windrock Palace early in the morning, the two men took turns answering.

"By order of the Supreme One and the Divine Guardian."

"From now on, we've been assigned as your personal guards."

Their answer reminded me of the time I was chased by my berserk Eldest Brother.

Indeed, guards seemed necessary to survive in this damned cult

But I hadn’t forgotten how these two had worked me like a dog before.

“You’re not planning to force me into another ‘training session’ like last time, are you? I already have enough training with Miss Jin and Master.”

“Back then, it was because of the Supreme One's decree that we had no choice but to do so.”

Jang Hwi stressed 'had no choice' in his reply, while Kwan Mu-yeol wore an expression suggesting the question wasn't even worth answering.

"We're simply here to protect you. We won't interfere with your affairs otherwise. Unless the Supreme One orders it, that is."

"Hmm. I'll trust you for now."

Ignoring the two escorts now stationed at the corner of Windrock Palace, I began my morning lessons with Jin Hayeon.

By the time I’d finished lunch and my martial arts training, I heard Kwan Mu-yeol’s voice at the entrance, followed by a lively, familiar one I hadn’t heard in ages.

"Young Master, you have a visitor."

"Big Brother!!"

I told him to open the door, and the second he did, a Seon-ah-shaped missile landed in my arms.

Was this how it felt to come home after a business trip and be greeted by your daughter running to hug you?

"Hahaha. Did you miss me that much?"

A genuine smile spread across my face.

Being surrounded by people who either wanted to monitor me or train me to death, and constantly dealing with Demonic Arts and cult doctrines, this moment felt like sweet rain after a long drought.

Spending time with such an adorable little one was my brief moment of happiness in this damned cult.

"So, did you do your homework while I was gone?"

Her bright, round eyes gleamed as she excitedly recounted her past five days.

“Yes! I can now pierce rocks with the Blood Fox Crimson Claw Art! Auntie said that with this level, I don’t even need to avoid the ribs, I can stab straight through to the heart!”

"I-Is that so?"

I wasn’t sure why her achievements sounded so brutal, but I let her chatter on, savoring the peace.

"Young Master, the First Young Master has arrived."

"Hahaha. Youngest! You there?"

This time, my Eldest Brother came to visit.

I patted Seon-ah's head, whose lips were about to pout, before standing to greet him.

I hated having my break cut short, but it couldn't be helped.

"Greetings, Eldest Brother. What brings you here today?"

As I spoke, I shot a quick look at Hang Geon standing next to him. What was he doing here?

“Hahaha! Master put me in charge of that school program you proposed. Now that I've achieved Transcendence, he says I need to learn about governing the cult, not just leading the combat unit.”

"Congratulations, Eldest Brother. It seems Master expects you to become the next Heavenly Demon. Hahaha."

"Uahaha! Isn't this all thanks to my little brother!"

My flattery seemed to work as Eldest Brother burst into hearty laughter.

"Anyway, that's why I’m here. Master sent me to collaborate with this fellow here and you. Our task is to organize basic martial arts training for children and compile teaching materials for each branch."

"It shall be done, my lord."

"I hear Hang Geon has pledged his loyalty to you. Since I'll be your lord, he'll naturally serve me as well. Hahaha!"

My head spun as I watched Hang Geon, who was now respectfully calling me 'Lord,' while my Eldest Brother rambled on and on.

But the visitors didn't end with those two.

"Young Master Il-mok, the Third Young Master has arrived."

Kwan Mu-yeol's voice rang out like a human doorbell in his usual monotonous tone, and soon after, Third Brother entered the hall.

Caught off guard by Eldest Brother’s presence, Third Brother quickly gave him a martial salute.

"Greetings, Eldest Brother.”

“Hahaha. It seems Third Brother also has something to discuss with our youngest!”

"Indeed."

After a brief greeting, Third Brother came straight to me.

"Youngest."

"Yes, brother?"

"Thank you."

"Pardon?"

What the hell was he talking about?

"This worthless brother of yours has made progress in his martial arts recently. It's all thanks to you for believing in me.”

“Ha… Hahaha… That’s… that’s all thanks to your own effort and talent, Third Brother. I didn’t do anything.”

“No. Thanks to you, I’ve been having fewer negative thoughts lately. I owe it all to you, Il-mok.”

“Ahem. Congratulations on your achievement, Third Brother.”

"Uahahahaha! Congratulations, brother! If I don't work harder, Third Brother might surpass me!"

Perhaps because Eldest Brother suddenly joined the conversation, shouts of "Congratulations!" erupted from all corners of Windrock Palace.

Jin Hayeon with her stoic face and Jang Hwi with his faint smile, chimed in as well.

"Congratulations!!"

Hang Geon was shouting at the top of his lungs, flattering my Third Brother as if he were a devout follower of the Cult.

'What's wrong with this guy?'

I get that he had a change of heart, but for a guy who was all about pride to turn into a total bootlicker overnight was really something.

"Congratulations."

Seon-ah peeked out from behind me and mumbled her congratulations.

She clearly said that out of courtesy, as her polite tone couldn't mask her sulking expression. She was clearly upset that our playtime had been interrupted.

Meanwhile, my Third Brother blushed and squirmed awkwardly.

"Ahem. Ahem."

While I was smiling wryly at the absurd sight, the human doorbell rang again.

"Young Master Il-mok, the Sixth Young Master has arrived."

"!?"

Now this was a surprise guest.

My Sixth Brother, afflicted by visual and auditory hallucinations from cultivating the Mad Soul Sword Art, shared no bond with me.

We hadn't even met since the last banquet.

But turning him away wasn’t an option.

“Greetings, Sixth Brother.”

As Jong-ri Chu entered, I greeted him with a bow, and he immediately greeted my other senior brothers.

“Greetings, Eldest Brother. Greetings, Third Brother.”

“Hahaha! Welcome! What brings you here, Sixth?”

Acting as if this were his house, Eldest Brother asked the question on my behalf.

"I heard Eldest brother and Third brother often visit our youngest here, so curiosity got the better of me and I came to see for myself today."

“Hahaha. Is that so? Oh, I forgot to mention, we're celebrating Third Brother's recent martial arts progress.”

"Congratulations, brother!"

Just as my Sixth Brother was quickly saluting the Third, the human doorbell went off. Again

"Young Master, Ouyang Mun of the White Tortoise Corps requests an audience!"

At this point, I wish everyone but Seon-ah would just piss off.

"Young Master! Hayeon! How are you~?"

Oblivious to the situation inside, Ouyang Mun's cheerful voice echoed from beyond the door.

“Sigh. Let him in.”

A moment later, the door opened and Ouyang Mun walked with a little box in his hands.

"Hayeon! Look what I caught this time..."

Ouyang Mun, who’d burst in all excited to show off a present for his crush, just stopped dead in his tracks like a broken puppet.

Then he snapped out of it and started scrambling to greet everyone.

"Greetings, First Young Master! Greetings, Third Young Master! Greetings, Sixth Young Master!"

Once the greetings were done, he flipped his social switch and immediately started chatting up a storm with my senior brothers.

"Congratulations, Third Young Master! I would be honored to witness your Shadowless Fourteen Moves! Hahaha.”

“Ahem. Hmm. W-Well, I wouldn’t mind showing you.”

As I watched these crazy bastards making a racket in someone else's home, I noticed my Sixth Brother smiling contentedly in silence.

“Are you alright, Sixth Brother?”

“Hehehe. This is much better than being alone in my quarters.”

"Is that so?"

"When I'm alone, I tend to see things that aren't there and hear phantom sounds that disturb my mind. But with eleven people gathered together like this, I don't see or hear any illusions."

"..."

I was speechless at his words and carefully checked the room.

After counting the people present, I cautiously said,

“T-There are only nine people here, Sixth Brother.”

Even including Kwan Mu-yeol outside, there were only ten.

* * *

Three brothers. Jin Hayeon and Ouyang Mun. Two guard warriors. Plus Hang Geon and Seon-ah.

Including Il-mok, ten people had gathered in Windrock Palace, their lively chatter causing time to pass in a blur.

At least the two guard warriors kept their mouths shut, but from Il-mok's perspective of wanting quiet rest, it hardly made a difference.

And that horrible time came to an end thanks to the human doorbell Kwan Mu-yeol.

"The Heavenly Demon Descends! Ten Thousand Demons Obeys! All Hail the Lord of Ten Thousand Demons!”

Two hours had passed in a flash, signaling the start of my training session with the Heavenly Demon.

With the Heavenly Demon's arrival, the visitors dispersed like receding tidewater, leaving only the sound of my relieved sigh in Windrock Palace.

“Let’s begin your training.”

Which meant I was about to be worked like a dog.

And while Il-mok was being worked to the bone by the Heavenly Demon.

"Hyah!

Back at the Hyeokryeon Family estate, Seon-ah practiced the Blood Fox Crimson Claw Art alone on the training grounds.

And from beyond the training ground wall, someone was watching her with a look of fond satisfaction.

'Hohoho. Perhaps in the future, my granddaughter might become the next Family Head.'

As a cult that revered martial arts, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was a place where even women could become family heads as long as they were the strongest within the family.

But Hyeokryeon Cheongang was unaware of what Seol-ah was thinking as she focused on her training.

Crack!

Seon-ah's nails pierced the heart of the wooden training dummy. She stared at her reddened nails, a thoughtful frown creasing her brow.

‘I need to become stronger… so I can stay by Big Brother’s side.’

Seon-ah might be young, but she wasn't stupid.

The child knew.

The people who took away her time with Il-mok were mostly those of a higher rank than her and Il-mok.

People like the First Young Master, the Third Young Master, and the Heavenly Demon.

That's why the child thought.

'I have to become strong. Stronger than anyone else.'

So that no one could dare interfere with her time with Il-mok.

Slash!

Seol-ah's fingernails drew a crimson arc, cleanly slicing the wooden dummy's head in half.

"Whew."

As Seon-ah regulated her breathing, the red energy lingering in her eyes and hair had grown noticeably deeper.

* * *

Late at night, when everyone was fast asleep.

The moon was behind the clouds, and Windrock Palace was painted pitch-black.

A pale white figure hidden in darkness moved like a ghost toward Il-mok's quarters.

It was an eerie sight.

The door opened and closed silently, leaving no trace of its passage as if it had never been opened.

And the shadow that had infiltrated Il-mok's room under the cover of darkness stared down at the deeply sleeping Il-mok.