Behind the mask, Extreme Evil Soma’s two eyes held sincerity.
When he said he would follow me no matter what order came down, it meant he would support me even if it meant defying the Heavenly Demon’s command.
The mere fact that he had said those words could cost him his life. To defy the Heavenly Demon’s orders meant death, regardless of rank or status.
Just now, Extreme Evil Soma had risked his life for me.
That was why my gaze and my voice trembled as I looked at him.
“This must be why. Why Father met you first among the Demon Venerables, Soma-nim.”
Extreme Evil Soma quietly gazed at me, then said something unexpected.
“I hope you do not make this matter one between father and son.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that you must not let this drive a wedge between the two of you. Instead, make it a matter between the Cult Leader and the Demon Venerables.”
Extreme Evil Soma was worried about the relationship between me and my father.
“Young Cult Leader, you must make active use of the Demon Venerables. I do not know about other matters, but if it is war, the will of the Demon Venerables is absolutely important.”
Because no matter how much of a Heavenly Demon he was, when it came to a war in which all our lives were at stake, he could not make the decision on his own.
“If more than half of the Demon Venerables oppose it, even the Cult Leader will have no choice but to withdraw his will.”
But would the other Demon Venerables really stand on my side as willingly as Extreme Evil Soma had? They would not. Even Blood Heaven Blade Demon had agonized over it and failed to reach a decision.
“I may have grown closer to the Demon Venerables, but making them go against Father’s will will be difficult.”
“Of course it will be difficult. Even so, if you are to fulfill your demonic path, Young Cult Leader, you must do it.”
I silently nodded and revealed my honest feelings.
“Because we’ve grown closer than before, it feels even harder. In the past, I would unleash my Divine Art of Flattery and practically bewitch them with all sorts of words, wouldn’t I? Now that feels a little difficult. Has the time finally come to return to the beginner’s mind of flattery?”
Even at my joke, the two eyes behind the mask remained serious.
“Do you think the Demon Venerables fell for that Divine Art of Flattery?”
“Did they not?”
Extreme Evil Soma spoke firmly.
“They fell for your sincerity, Young Cult Leader. The sincerity that was always there beneath that flattery and brilliance you speak of. Your demonic path, which tries to protect even a mere tavern owner. I believe they all fell for that.”
The reason he was speaking more than usual was surely because he was truly thinking of me.
“So you may be even more unrestrained. Whether it is flattery or coercion. Shout at them to follow you because your demonic path is thus and so. Do not worry about the Demon Venerables. Do not worry that you might burden them. If those people have made a decision, then they chose it because it was worth doing, and they must have made that decision because they could bear it.”
After a brief pause, Extreme Evil Soma added,
“There are eight of us. Even if we are wounded, the eight of us share the wounds. So do not hesitate. Draw that sword.”
The Extreme Evil Soma before my regression had not been this kind of person. And now I could see that such heat existed deep within his heart.
The heart that had wished to become my friend even until the very moment of his death must have stemmed from this very heat.
Soma, in this life, let us go together until the very end. Let us remain friends to the very end.
This was my answer to Soma’s heat.
I cupped my fist politely and conveyed my gratitude.
“Yes, I will keep it in mind. Thank you for your advice.”
Extreme Evil Soma also cupped his fist politely to me.
“I should be the one thanking you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Thanks to the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng you gave me before, my martial arts have risen by one level.”
“Ah, congratulations!”
I rejoiced as if it were my own achievement. No, I was happier than if I had achieved it myself.
And I could not accept even this gratitude.
“That achievement is probably not because of the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.”
After all, simply increasing one’s internal energy did not mean one’s martial arts would move on to the next level.
Many factors must have played a part. The Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng would have had an influence, but so would everything from the life-and-death battle he fought with me to the change in his heart that led him to bring a bed into his room and study the ledgers.
“My martial arts had been stagnant for a long time. It was extremely frustrating, but this time I broke through and rose. Thanks to that, there has been a great change in my martial arts as well.”
He was happy. Reaching the next stage from the level of a Demon Venerable was truly a difficult thing.
Perhaps this was what he most wanted to hear from me right now.
“I look forward to our next fight.”
As expected, Extreme Evil Soma’s eyes smiled brightly.
“Then I will take my leave.”
Before I left, Extreme Evil Soma emphasized one fact.
“If you wish to stop the war, you must absolutely make one of the Eight Demon Venerables take your side.”
“Who is that?”
The person Extreme Evil Soma had in mind was none other than—
“The Poison King.”
In truth, I had been thinking the same thing.
Because in war, the person who would inflict the greatest fear upon the enemy was the Poison King.
The moment war broke out, he would become the number one assassination target of the Martial Alliance and the Heretical Alliance. In reality, countless assassins and assassination squads would be mobilized to kill him.
Perhaps he would even be classified as an enemy who had to be killed before Father or me. That was how terrifying a being capable of mass slaughter like the Poison King would be.
I thought of the Poison King alone in the forest. Of him lost in his own world no matter what anyone around him said, staring at poisonous plants and venomous insects.
“He is the most difficult person to persuade among the Demon Venerables.”
Extreme Evil Soma’s eyes gleamed meaningfully as he said,
“That will likely be true for the Cult Leader as well.”
* * *
After leaving Extreme Evil Soma’s residence, I went straight to Drunken Dream Pavilion.
Meeting the other Demon Venerables was important, but more urgent than that was finding out Father’s true intentions.
Just what conversation had he had with the Drunken Demon?
Yeobin, whom I had not seen in a long time, greeted me warmly and guided me to Drunken Dream Pavilion.
“I am glad you returned safely, Young Cult Leader.”
“It was thanks to the Drunken Demon-nim.”
“The Drunken Demon-nim said so. That he gained much from this journey.”
“On this journey, I learned for the first time just how wonderful the Drunken Demon-nim is.”
When I praised the Drunken Demon, Yeobin smiled faintly.
I rode the boat she rowed and crossed to Drunken Dream Pavilion in the middle of the lake.
The Drunken Demon was sitting on the railing of Drunken Dream Pavilion, gazing at the lake. At times like this, I was reminded of Extreme Evil Soma, who had sat alone staring at a white wall.
Even from afar, I could tell he was drunk.
“He has been drinking continuously ever since he returned from seeing the Cult Leader.”
“Did he come back in a bad mood?”
“No, he is drinking because he is in such a good mood.”
The ferryboat reached the island like that.
When he saw me, the Drunken Demon waved his hand and shouted,
“You’re here? Come on up! My little brother!”
He shouted excitedly in a slurred voice.
When I went up to the pavilion, empty wine bottles were scattered everywhere. Even now, he was pouring wine into the Ice Palace Holy Cup and drinking from it.
“What is this rampage? Didn’t you promise that when you drank with that cup, you’d drink only one cup where you would have drunk two?”
“It’s a special day, so overlook it just this once. I feel so good that I can’t not drink.”
Had I ever seen the Drunken Demon in such a good mood before?
“Looks like your drinking session with Father was pleasant. Did you drink a lot?”
“Don’t even ask. We emptied all the wine in the Cult Leader’s Hall. I didn’t realize it while we were drinking, but once I came out of the hall, the intoxication hit me all at once. When I was with the Cult Leader, I was so nervous I didn’t even know I was drunk.”
I could imagine how nervous he must have been without even seeing it.
“It was your first time drinking one-on-one with Father, wasn’t it?”
“I’ve drunk with him a few times. I drank with him when I first became a Demon Venerable too. But back then, it was just a light cup or two. Or there were other people with us. This was the first time I properly drank with the Cult Leader.”
“How was it?”
“It was good. It was really good.”
“What did you talk about?”
“All sorts of things. The Cult Leader even remembered everything from when I was young.”
As if the memory alone pleased him, the Drunken Demon drank happily.
“The words that made me happiest were these. The Cult Leader said he felt at ease sending you out with me. Ah, I never knew the Cult Leader trusted me this much.”
The Drunken Demon truly looked moved. Had Father really begun managing the Demon Venerables? Or had he simply wished to spend time with the Drunken Demon?
“This is all thanks to you.”
“Why?”
“If you hadn’t accepted this Ice Palace Holy Cup, the Cult Leader would never have suggested we drink, and he suggested it because the wine tasted so good in this cup.”
“It might not be because of the Holy Cup.”
“No?”
“He might be trying to use this opportunity to make you Father’s right arm, you know?”
At that, the Drunken Demon shook his head firmly.
“That cannot be.”
“You never know.”
After a brief pause, the Drunken Demon said,
“I am not the kind of person the Cult Leader would like. The Cult Leader likes people like the Fist Demon or Blood Heaven Blade Demon.”
“Seeing how clearly you’re judging things, you’re not drunk at all.”
Because no matter what order Father gave, the Fist Demon was a person who would obey it without the slightest hesitation. That was the deep trust possessed by the man known as the Fist Demon.
The Drunken Demon stared at the lake for a moment, then abruptly asked,
“Why did you come here?”
He had realized that if I had come to Drunken Dream Pavilion when there were many Demon Venerables I needed to seek out, there had to be a reason.
Now it was time to throw a stone into this calm lake.
If I honestly stated my business, I would pour cold water over the Drunken Demon’s good mood. And it was not even something that had been confirmed yet. Should I just let it pass pleasantly?
There are times when, under the pretext of being considerate of the other person, one wants to avoid troublesome and uncomfortable situations. This was exactly one of those times. If I simply said nothing, we could pass it over with a smile. If I brought it up, things would become serious and faces would redden.
But it was precisely at such times that one had to think from the other person’s perspective. How would I feel if someone failed to speak honestly to me, claiming it was for my sake? Would that consideration not become a wound?
Putting myself in his position, I thought I would feel bad.
Setting everything else aside, the decisive reason for not telling him would be that I did not want to ruin your mood because you were so happy? That was not right.
And one more thing. If it were a secret no one knew, that would be one thing, but this was something Blood Heaven Blade Demon knew, and Extreme Evil Soma knew as well.
“Did you enjoy it enough?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m asking if you sufficiently savored Father’s affection.”
The Drunken Demon’s expression hardened slightly. He had realized that what I was about to say was related to his drinking session with Father.
“I’m sorry to spoil your good mood. But it’s something I have to tell you honestly.”
I conveyed to the Drunken Demon the essence of the conversations I had shared with the two Demon Venerables earlier.
“Nothing is certain yet. We’re only guessing at Father’s true intentions.”
After listening to the whole story, the Drunken Demon sank into thought for a moment.
“I thought carefully back on yesterday’s drinking session, but he did not mention a single thing about the part you are worried about. Nor did he ever hint at it.”
Then, as if he suddenly craved alcohol, the Drunken Demon downed several cups in succession. His expression said exactly this: Of course, there’s no way the Cult Leader would like me!
“We still don’t know the exact circumstances. He may have wanted to resolve the distance that had existed between him and you until now. Who can know what Father is thinking?”
As he filled his cup again, the Drunken Demon pointed out one fact.
“Still, one thing is certain.”
“What?”
“He told me to take care of you too. You said he said something like that to Soma as well.”
“He said it to you too?”
The Drunken Demon nodded. Father had asked someone to take care of me again?
“Could he have given up on Soma-nim and you entirely and acknowledged you as being on my side?”
At that, the Drunken Demon looked aggrieved.
“Why would he give up on me?”
“What? Hyung, weren’t you on my side?”
At that, the Drunken Demon’s expression turned serious as he said,
“Young Cult Leader, you must distinguish between public and private matters.”
It was half joke, half sincerity, but it felt closer to sincerity.
Yes, and how could it be only the Drunken Demon? No matter how close they had grown to me, how could they refuse Father’s command? There was absolutely no need for me to feel disappointed about this point.
However, I did want to know what the Drunken Demon thought on this occasion.
“Even if that order is an order to start a war?”
The Drunken Demon gave no answer. Did the Drunken Demon want to roam through the fog of the battlefield? Or did he want to drink here, gazing at that beautiful lake?
The Drunken Demon did not give a direct answer to my question.
“When I was dealing with those bastards who used the Self-Destruction Art this time, I had this thought. These pieces of trash are running wild without knowing how terrifying our cult is.”
I could tell that the Drunken Demon was speaking indirectly.
I want to sweep away everything that ought to be swept away.
Of course, that did not necessarily mean he wanted to start a war, but I could tell it also did not mean he wished to live his life gazing at this lake.
“So in the end, you’re on Father’s side.”
“What sides are there, yours and mine?”
“This time, I think it can’t help but become a fight between sides.”
Chwima drank without answering.
“When I see Father, I’ll be sure to tell him about your loyalty. I’ll say, Your loyalty to Father was stronger than our bond as brothers!”
At that, Chwima said in a dispirited voice,
“Do you think he’ll really be pleased?”
“What do you mean?”
“I think he might dislike it instead.”
“Why would Father dislike you saying you’ll follow him?”
Chwima drank again.
“The Cult Leader told me to take care of you, didn’t he? For all I know, he might be expecting me to side with you.”
Chwima looked at me and held out his cup. After drinking the wine he poured for me, I poured him another cup in return.
“If you know that so well, why are you doing this?”
“Why do you think? Because I’m a drunkard.”
Chwima had said there was no such thing as your side or my side, but I could feel it. He was someone who truly wanted to be on Father’s side.
Deep in Chwima’s heart, there was surely a desire to look good in Father’s eyes.
Father was that kind of person to Chwima—the one person before whom he wanted to appear better, the one person from whom he wanted to be acknowledged more.
I could not know where the source of that longing came from. Whether it was because of the misunderstanding he had held for so long, believing Father hated him. Or whether there was some other reason.
“Young Cult Leader.”
Since the playfulness had vanished from Chwima, I answered respectfully as well.
“Yes, Lord Chwima.”
“You must persuade the other Demon Venerables.”
“I will.”
After bowing politely, I added with a shout.
“I’ll do what! Brother, you’ve abandoned me too, so who’s going to take my side?”
“I’m sorry. I have no choice. He remembered a version of me even I barely remember myself.”
“Next time I leave the cult and come back, I’m coming to see you last again!”
As I grumbled like that and was about to rise, Chwima said,
“Thank you for telling me honestly.”
I looked into his eyes and answered calmly.
“Of course I should. You’re my brother.”
At my words, Chwima smiled in deep relief.
Yes, this was the heart of our relationship today. I had been honest with him, and he had been honest as well.
Honesty sometimes becomes a double-edged sword and hurts us, but we were people who handled blades better than anyone.
That was why, even if Brother said he would side with Father, we could still grow closer.
“Who’s next?”
Someone who might perhaps know Father’s true thoughts.
As I slowly walked down from Chwimongru, I clenched my fist.
“I’m going to try crashing into it from the opposite direction. I’m heading for the biggest, hardest cliff.”