Even in front of the Demon Lord's office, there were those who blocked our way.
"We cannot let you pass without a prior appointment."
"This is an official investigation. Step aside."
"We cannot do that."
No longer wishing to watch the bickering between Seo Daeryong and the demon soldiers, I held out the warrant Seo Daeryong was carrying in front of the demon soldiers.
"Can you see what emblem is drawn on this warrant?"
It was an official document, so the symbol of the Heavenly Demon was engraved in the background.
"Blocking this warrant is not blocking us. It is blocking the Cult Leader."
At the mention of the Heavenly Demon, the demon soldiers flinched. I was probably the first to mention the Heavenly Demon while showing the background of an official document.
"You may look down on us, but you must not look down on this, correct? Am I wrong? Why? Will you look down on the Cult Leader as well? Shall I report that?"
"N-no!"
"Never, my lord."
Then a voice called out from inside.
"Show them in."
The demon soldiers opened the door, relieved.
Seo Daeryong must have felt it. That he should have done this with the gatekeepers earlier. Though he would have found it hard to speak of his father, he ought to know that the authority of the Heavenly Demon exists precisely for moments like this.
"Come in, young master."
Demon Lord Gu Cheonyang was a man of average build, yet he possessed an aura overwhelming enough to suppress even the bulky demon soldiers.
But compared to his older brother, Hyeolcheon Doma, he fell short. Though the face and gaze were similar, the ominous flame seen in Hyeolcheon Doma's pupils was absent here.
"It is harder to meet you than our own father."
"It seems our children have committed a discourtesy. They are inherently ignorant, so please understand."
"Seeing them rush out in swarms to pick fights, they appear to have nothing to do. You ought to make them read some books."
"Must they not be ignorant to be brave?"
"That is an old saying. These days, the knowledgeable ones are braver. They plan operations well, and they know what must be done."
"It seems I have fallen behind the times as I have aged."
Even amid this brief exchange, we were engaged in a contest of auras. The Demon Lord, worn slick by the internal politics of the cult, accepted my words without a flicker of emotion.
"But why has the young master taken responsibility for this investigation?"
"It seems Father intends to punish me."
"Punishment?"
"I made some mistakes during a hunt."
"Ah!"
The Demon Lord made a face of understanding. Upon hearing that I had been sent as an investigator, he must have entertained all manner of suspicions about the intent.
"Then why was this investigation by the Yellow Heaven Pavilion initiated? Did an anonymous letter fly in as before?"
He acted nonchalant, but the Demon Lord was inwardly tense. It might have been different for another organization, but the Yellow Heaven Pavilion was not a place one could simply gloss over. The Yellow Heaven Pavilion was a place that, once guilt was uncovered, would execute judgment according to established law.
"I cannot share details related to the investigation."
"Surely between us, you could tell me that much?"
To use the words 'between us' so shamelessly. Truly, one needed at least this level of brazenness to stand at the center of internal factional strife.
"I shall be honest with you, my Lord. Yes, an anonymous letter arrived."
"I thought as much."
To be frank, Seo Daeryong, seated beside me, looked at me. His eyes asked, Are you going to tell him everything? My eyes answered, It's fine. We can tell him everything.
At this exchange of glances, the corners of the Demon Lord's mouth rose. Such actions would appear clumsy in his eyes, which was rather a favorable situation for me.
"I heard that when an anonymous letter arrives, the Yellow Heaven Pavilion must dispatch an investigator unconditionally. This was my first time learning of it."
The Demon Lord naturally asserted his innocence.
"When one stands in a position leading ignorant and coarse demon soldiers, one inevitably suffers all manner of slander."
"I rather believed such things would not happen. Does slander not require one to use one's head? If they are as ignorant as you say, would they even think to submit an anonymous letter?"
"Ignorant men possess extraordinary greed. Even you must be careful. When ignorance and greed combine, things that should never happen do indeed occur."
I did not lose my smile even at this veiled threat.
"I shall conclude the investigation as quickly as possible, so please understand should it cause any inconvenience."
The Demon Lord's slightly stiffened expression relaxed.
"Inconvenience? Are we such people? This is hurtful."
"Is it not a fact known to all that Lord Hyeolcheon Doma supports my elder brother?"
"That may be true, but a brother is a brother, and I am I, am I not? I support our young master here."
I burst into a hearty laugh at this blatant lie.
"Haha. Your words alone are reassuring. Well then, I look forward to these next few days."
"They will provide you with lodging when you leave."
As I rose to depart, the Demon Lord added a remark.
"Be careful. I say this because I am truly worried for you."
"Like the previous investigator who was murdered?"
"Surely the Cult Leader did not send our young master here to die? Pay no mind to my worries."
"Haha, your words alone are reassuring. Then I shall take my leave."
I exited the office with Seo Daeryong. Feeling my nape burn, I surmised that his expression had likely gone completely rigid.
'Then you had better be careful. For it seems Father sending me means that either you or I is meant to die.'
* * *
Chief Military Advisor Sama Myeong watched as Cheonma Geom Ujin tended to his sword.
"You have drawn the Black Demon Sword after a long time."
The Black Demon Sword was one of the Four Great Swords of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
The finest sword was the Heavenly Demon Sword worn by the Heavenly Demon himself, followed by this Black Demon Sword. The third was the Evil Spirit Sword, and the last was the White Flower Sword.
The treasured swords each possessed unique natures. The Black Demon Sword was wild and destructive, the Evil Spirit Sword carried a dark and malevolent energy, and the White Flower Sword was gentle and noble in character.
"Did you draw it to bestow upon the young master?"
For a moment, Geom Ujin's hand paused before resuming its work.
"If that rascal has the fortune, he will take it."
Sama Myeong could guess. If Geom Mugeuk handled this matter properly, he intended to gift him this sword.
"It will not be easy for the young master to deal with the Demon Lord."
Sama Myeong did not understand the Cult Leader's decision this time. While Geom Mugeuk's recent movements had been somewhat unexpected, he had not thought him capable of facing the Demon Lord.
"There have already been reports of clashes with the demon soldiers. Perhaps passing through the Small Heaven Grotto may instead prove to be a poison."
That very confidence could lead him to ruin matters. He was still young. Too young, in fact, to face that seasoned Demon Lord. Thus, Sama Myeong was certain that this Black Demon Sword would return to the depths of the treasure vault.
"This is a matter I should have handled personally."
Through the incident where the previous Yellow Heaven Pavilion investigator was murdered, he had learned.
That the Demon Lord had either recruited the Lord of the Yellow Heaven Pavilion or was holding a weakness against him. The Lord of the Yellow Heaven Pavilion had covered up his subordinate's death without a proper reinvestigation. Therefore, rather than leaving it to the Yellow Heaven Pavilion, he had intended to resolve it through the Tongcheon Pavilion he commanded.
Then Geom Ujin spoke unexpected words.
"That lad said it. That we have lost the Demonic Way."
For a moment, Sama Myeong flinched. Those words were a discourtesy not only to the Heavenly Demon, but also to Sama Myeong, who served as the cult's Chief Military Advisor.
More than displeasure, unease took precedence.
"Is that why you sent him?"
These words were no different from asking, 'Is that why you are sending him to die?' Sama Myeong had not yet directly witnessed or felt Geom Mugeuk's changes, so such thoughts were natural.
"If he made such a grand declaration, he must show it through his actions."
These words, too, sounded to Sama Myeong thus:
'If he acted so arrogantly, he must take responsibility.'
Sama Myeong watched in silence as Geom Ujin carefully wiped the blade. Despite sending his own flesh and blood toward death, Geom Ujin showed not a hint of agitation.
"So the lost Demonic Way... he will find it himself?"
"It seems so."
"Given the young master's recent conduct, he may be worth expecting once."
Geom Ujin remained silent, focusing solely on tending to his sword. After watching for a moment, Sama Myeong took his leave.
"Then I have matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave."
Sama Myeong bowed politely and departed. Walking across the red carpet, he glanced back.
Geom Ujin seemed uninterested in Geom Mugeuk's life or death, yet the hand tending to his sword held more devotion than ever.
'Could it be? Does he believe the young master will handle the Demon Lord?'
Normally, he never easily revealed his inner thoughts, but this time, more than ever, he could not fathom what the Cult Leader was thinking.
Sama Myeong walked on.
When he reached the end of the red carpet, Sama Myeong reached this conclusion:
As expected... the Black Demon Sword would return to the treasure vault.
* * *
In the room the demon soldiers guided us to, we wore dumbfounded expressions.
"This is too much."
The room they provided had not been cleaned in the slightest. Dust filled every corner, and there were even cobwebs on the ceiling.
"I do not understand. No matter how much the Demon Lord supports the Eldest Young Master, Young Master has come in person..."
"In their eyes, I am someone who will be pushed out and disappear in the succession struggle anyway. And what does it mean to be pushed out in a succession struggle? It means death. And that's not all. If they befriend me, they risk being purged alongside me."
I pointed at Seo Daeryong and drew a line across my own throat with the edge of my hand. If you befriend me, you too will be cut down, but Seo Daeryong did not seem particularly concerned.
"No matter what... would they truly dare do this, even for the Cult Leader's sake?"
"You know it well. That Father pays no mind to such things. Rather, he watches with interest. And this room is likely not the Demon Lord's doing, but rather an order from that Godang fellow."
"That narrow-minded wretch holds a grudge..."
"He is only shortening his own lifeline. Don't forget my prophecy."
"At any rate, I shall clean. Please wait outside."
"Let's do it together."
"That would not be proper."
"What is not proper?"
Seo Daeryong and I cleaned the place together. Perhaps finding it strange that I cleaned with my own hands, he glanced at me several times. If he knew how much hardship I had endured in my former life, he would realize that this trifling cleaning amounted to nothing for me.
After we finished cleaning together, Seo Daeryong went and fetched clean bedding.
"Will you truly sleep here?"
"Yes."
"May I ask why?"
"We must find the one who sent the anonymous letter. The longer we remain here, the more chances they will have to approach us."
"Then I shall stay. Young Master, please return to your residence and sleep."
"If you sleep alone, some pervert might break in at night. What if a pervert who goes mad for small-bodied men enters?"
I said it as a joke, but Seo Daeryong took it in earnest.
"Then let us sleep together."
"What if I am that pervert?"
"I, too, shall reveal my hidden heart."
For that taciturn fellow to make such a jest, a cold wind seemed to whistle between us.
"I am hungry. Let's go get some food."
When we left the room and exited the building, the First Seat Godang was waiting at the entrance. A bandage was wrapped around his broken hand.
I greeted him cheerfully, feigning ignorance.
"High Seat Godang, have you eaten? If not, let us go together. Oh, your hand is injured. How did that happen?"
Godang glared at me like an enraged beast. Not even a mortal enemy would look so fearsome. He had probably intended to deliver a cold warning, but at my irksome reaction, his face flushed red with anger.
"Young Master, I shall not forget your cowardly act."
He believed I had ambushed him and broken his hand. If he failed to realize that the outcome would have been no different without a surprise attack, then every scheme he attempted against me from now on would be a precarious tightrope walk over death.
"What do you mean?"
When I played dumb, he ground his teeth.
"There are those who occasionally delude themselves. That a noble status means a blade will not pierce their stomach."
"Can you even hold a blade with that hand?"
"We shall see. Whether the blade drops, or the intestines drop."
Despite this curse that crossed the line, I smiled and waved him off, and he left huffing.
"Are you not provoking him too much?"
"He provoked me first."
"Pardon?"
"He was the one waiting to threaten me, and he was the one who said he would stab me in the stomach."
"Now that you mention it, that is true."
"Because he is a villain, because that is the kind of man he is, we understand villains with all sorts of excuses. I think that is pathetic. Why should we understand villains? We should apply stricter standards. Far harsher than for ordinary people. They ought to walk with heads bowed, yet this villainous bastard must be desperate to die."
As if in complete agreement, Seo Daeryong nodded his head vigorously.
"Now that we've laid eyes on someone who spoils the appetite, let us eat the most expensive and delicious food."
"Yes."
"You might react a bit more enthusiastically when I say I'm going to spend money."
"Apologies. I do not take pleasure in eating."
"How would you enjoy anything? Go eat noodles."
"Yes."
Truly, Seo Daeryong had a small appetite.
Seeing him leave half of that expensive dish, I resolved that next time I would simply buy him noodles.
When we returned after eating, we stared blankly at the bed for a moment.
A pair of dead crows had been thrown onto the bed.
Seo Daeryong, whose eyes were already gloomy, grew even gloomier.
"I shall have to fetch new bedding."
"Before that, pick those up and follow me."
"Why?"
As I strode out of the room, I said,
"We need dead crows more than live ones."