Everyone sat around the seats on this floor.
First, the Dan sisters introduced themselves.
Unlike the composed greetings of her two older sisters, the youngest, Danyeon, proudly boasted of her new organization with vigor.
"Until today I was a wanderer, but starting tomorrow, I will be Danyeon of the Gwiyeongdae!"
Han Seol formed a faint smile. Upon arriving, he had introduced the tavern keeper, and now he introduced the wanderer sisters as friends. From the successors of the Murim Alliance and the Demonic Alliance to the tavern keeper and wanderers, the one who kept them all as friends was none other than Geom Mugeuk.
Jang Ho looked at Geom Mugeuk, asking with his eyes what was going on.
He had met the Dan sisters during the fight at the Jeong'an branch earlier, but he had never expected to see them here at the main hall.
Geom Mugeuk looked at Dana and spoke.
"My right arm has finally found half a wing."
That explanation was enough.
Instead of offering congratulations to Seo Daeryong, Jang Ho politely spoke to Dana.
"May I offer you a drink?"
"Ah, yes."
Jang Ho politely poured alcohol for the flustered Dana. It was the moment a woman who had lived as a wanderer received a drink from the Demon Lord.
"Welcome, sister-in-law."
At the word sister-in-law, Dana was surprised, and Seo Daeryong was even more surprised. It meant that he regarded him as a friend, and as a brother as well.
Only after that did Jang Ho politely greet everyone. By taking special care of Dana, he was showing courtesy to Seo Daeryong.
How could Seo Daeryong not know his heart? Seo Daeryong bowed his head to Jang Ho in greeting. Thank you, my Lord.
Next, Gang Dal greeted them. He still felt awkward in this seat.
Geom Mugeuk stepped forward and formally introduced him.
"Great Lord Gang saved three young ladies here. Thanks to that, countless lives could be saved."
Gang Dal was thankful to Geom Mugeuk. In truth, that choice had ultimately been one for himself. It hadn't been grand righteousness or a spirit of sacrifice.
But Geom Mugeuk didn't disparage his choice as merely lucky, instead evaluating it as more valuable than it actually was. In a world where everyone was busy cutting others down.
Geom Mugeuk gave Gang Dal a drink.
"Accept a drink from me."
"Yes, Young Cult Leader."
"The responsibility you now bear is extremely heavy. From now on, please uphold the laws and discipline of our cult well."
"I will guard them with all my loyalty."
When the drink poured by the Young Cult Leader passed down his throat, Gang Dal finally realized he was living a new life.
After Gang Dal's greeting ended, Cheon Sohui greeted them. Cheon Sohui was the one who had rushed over immediately upon Geom Mugeuk's sudden summons. She was someone who would run anywhere if Geom Mugeuk called, even if she wouldn't do it for anyone else.
It wasn't simply because she had become a successor thanks to Geom Mugeuk. It was because when she became the Fist Demon, he was the future Cult Leader she would serve.
"She is the direct disciple of the Fist Demon, and the one who will become the next Fist Demon."
Those who hadn't known her were all startled. How could they have known the next Fist Demon would attend this drinking gathering? Moreover, that the next Fist Demon was a woman?
The Dan sisters exchanged surprised looks. From the Demon Lord to the next Fist Demon. Was it okay for them to be in a place like this? Truly, ever since arriving at the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, it had been a continuous stream of surprises.
"And she is also my only little martial sister."
Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly as he looked at Cheon Sohui.
"Have you been well?"
"Yes, Elder Martial Brother."
She was supposed to call him Young Cult Leader in front of others, but because he had introduced her as his little martial sister at the end, she called him Elder Martial Brother.
No one knew how much she wanted to boast of being the Young Cult Leader's little martial sister. Today, because Geom Mugeuk had set the stage, she revealed the pride she had been holding back.
"Is Master well? I'm throwing a drinking party before even greeting him."
It wasn't as if the Fist Demon was the only one. Except for the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Ilhwa Sword Lord, he was in a situation where he hadn't met the other Demonic Venerables yet.
"Now then, let me introduce today's guest of honor."
Geom Mugeuk lastly introduced Han Seol.
"She is the Young Palace Lady of the North Sea Ice Palace."
Those who didn't know her were surprised again too. Since they were in the main headquarters of the Demonic Cult, one could expect to meet the next Fist Demon, but the next Ice Palace Lord?
"The purpose of today's gathering is to introduce my friends of the Central Plains to the Young Palace Lady of the Ice Palace."
At the words "my friends," both Gang Dal and the Dan sisters were inwardly nervous. Friends with the Young Cult Leader? It was an absurd notion.
"Furthermore, it is also a celebration of Great Lord Gang's advance to the main hall."
Geom Mugeuk's gaze moved from Gang Dal to the Dan sisters.
"It is also a celebration of the new lives of you three."
Next, looking at Cheon Sohui.
"It is also a place to have fun with my little martial sister after a long time."
Lastly, he looked at Jang Ho and Seo Daeryong.
"It is a place to attach my right arm and left arm to this body that has returned alive."
Geom Mugeuk raised his cup.
"Now, for today alone, let's put everything down and enjoy ourselves!"
After a vigorous toast, everyone emptied their cups. As Geom Mugeuk led the atmosphere, the drinking gathering heated up in an instant.
Geom Mugeuk filled Han Seol's cup and asked.
"What did you talk about with the Drunken Demon?"
Han Seol smiled an inscrutable smile. It was all stories about you—whose else would it be?
"We talked about alcohol, about a beautiful lake, and about a crazy person."
"A crazy person? Who do you mean?"
"There is such a person. Someone who makes me angry every time I see him."
When Han Seol stared at him, Geom Mugeuk could tell that person was himself.
"Don't believe a drunkard's words!"
At those words, Han Seol laughed.
"That's right. There probably isn't another crazy person as diligent as you."
Geom Mugeuk shook his head as if refusing to admit it.
"Do you know what I felt during this outing from the cult? I need to become more diligent. I had thought I was truly diligent, but this time I nearly died. I had forgotten for a moment."
Geom Mugeuk spoke, emptying his cup.
"That the enemy is always more diligent than me."
At the words that Geom Mugeuk had nearly lost his life, Jang Ho drank alone. It was upsetting. It was fortunate that he had returned alive like this, but if something had happened?
If only he could, he wanted to lead the demon army and assist Geom Mugeuk. It was only a shame that realistically, he could not.
Seo Daeryong silently extended his cup, and Jang Ho toasted with him. The frustration contained in Seo Daeryong's cup was similar to Jang Ho's regret.
Just as the atmosphere was slightly subsiding, Jo Chunbae came up with both hands full of dishes.
"Thank you for waiting."
"Oh, I was really scolded for wanting to eat the food our tavern keeper made."
"I've made it with specially prepared, fine ingredients, so please enjoy."
Geom Mugeuk stopped him as he tried to leave after setting down the dishes.
"Where are you going? It's been a while since we met, so you must have a drink before leaving."
"Oh my, no. How could I intrude in a gathering with such noble people?"
He waved his hands trying to step back, but was forcibly seated.
"There is no one more precious than the tavern keeper here. Now, sit and accept a drink."
"Let me pour for you first."
"Accept it."
Jo Chunbae received the drink with an expression of deep gratitude and drank it. Whether in good times or bad, this was the Geom Mugeuk who treated him without change.
Jo Chunbae was someone who had gone through all sorts of hardships while running a drinking business his whole life. He knew very well how difficult it was to treat someone without change like this. Even when there was an incomparable difference in status.
"The alcohol tastes too good."
Jo Chunbae politely poured alcohol for Geom Mugeuk.
"As expected, the alcohol given by our tavern keeper is the most delicious."
"I am truly glad you have returned safely."
"Oh, and I've set aside one bottle of alcohol, so drink it when you think of the tavern keeper's liquor."
"Oh my, it's fine."
"It's a chance to drink the alcohol bestowed by the Drunken Demon. Do not refuse."
"Thank you."
Han Seol watched Geom Mugeuk as if observing him.
Could it be that there was no pretense at all in all those actions? Was he acting now to show me? That he is such a broad-minded, inclusive person. Could he be pulling a con?
Even knowing it wasn't the case, she kept doubting. How could he be like that?
Suddenly, the Drunken Demon's words came to mind.
—Because I've thought about it dozens of times over.
Could those dozens of times have been only about wanting to live like this person? It must mean that he had doubted and doubted again whether it was pretense.
Leaning on the railing, watching Geom Mugeuk talking with Jo Chunbae until the very end as he went down to the first floor, she reached a conclusion.
Yes, it might be pretense. But that pretense is a pretense stronger than sincerity. No one's sincerity could ever keep up with that pretense.
Han Seol drank another cup.
Just then, her eyes met Dana's, who had been looking at her from the side.
Dana smiled and slightly bowed her head. It was an expression of how dare she make eye contact with the Young Palace Lady of the North Sea Ice Palace.
"Please accept a drink from me."
Han Seol poured a drink for Dana.
"You are my very first wanderer friend."
Dana was startled by those words.
"Friends? Those are undeserved words."
Han Seol knew that wasn't the case. Just looking at this gathering, that Seo Daeryong over there truly liked this woman, and Jang Ho treated her respectfully. And would that Geom Mugeuk be someone who would look down on others for being wanderers, or hold someone in high regard just for being a Young Palace Lady?
It was a place where what mattered was not what status one had, but what kind of person one was.
She looked at Geom Mugeuk. He had introduced her as the guest of honor, but the true host of this gathering was Geom Mugeuk.
That host was now talking with Cheon Sohui.
"Is it hard?"
He could tell from the burst of laughter at that question how hard it was for her. She was truly working herself to death. Because being told the successor had been wrongly chosen was something she hated more than death. And because it would be a disgrace to her master and Geom Mugeuk as well.
"I sometimes miss the late-night training sessions."
"Me too."
Come to think of it, it was the late-night training that had become the opportunity to get close to the Fist Demon.
"There will be a day when we gather again."
"Will such a day come?"
"It will definitely come."
For that day. To gather as they did today, laughing and chatting.
That was the reason Geom Mugeuk worked so hard.
Thus, the drinking gathering gradually ripened. Everyone drank with relaxed hearts.
It was something that normally couldn't happen, but for this gathering alone, it felt like there was some kind of guarantor.
If they were people invited by Geom Mugeuk?
It was because they had faith that these were people they could be relaxed with.
Then, Han Seol and Jang Ho's eyes met.
When greeting at first, he had given Dana a drink, but he hadn't yet given one to Han Seol. If it were the past, she would have felt slighted by such a trivial thing, but...
"Please accept a drink from me."
Now she offered the drink first.
"Thank you."
Jang Ho politely received and drank it.
"May I also offer you one?"
"Of course."
Jang Ho politely poured the drink. She could tell from his expression that he held no ill feelings toward her. He was someone who didn't try to look good to anyone, silently keeping his place. He had shown courtesy only for Seo Daeryong's sake.
If she hadn't offered him a drink, he would have been left with an uncomfortable feeling toward her, but simply offering a drink had changed the feeling toward a person.
If one accumulated these small things, one would become like Geom Mugeuk.
When she looked at Geom Mugeuk, he was not at his seat.
He was in an unexpected place.
At some point he had gone down and was drinking with the Hanbing Twin Swords.
Sahan and Sobing, who had said to never trust the Young Cult Leader, were laughing heartily at whatever they had heard.
Yes, the Drunken Demon's words were right.
'I can't live like you.'
She admitted it. No matter how much she accumulated, she could never become like that. Taking care of these people while also taking care of the Hanbing Twin Swords on the first floor?
Though she couldn't live like Geom Mugeuk, what she felt and learned was immense.
Enough to make her think that though she was a child when she left the North Sea, perhaps she would return as an adult.
When Geom Mugeuk returned to his seat, this time Danyeon came to his side and asked with a flushed, drunken face.
"You said it before, didn't you? That the Gwiyeongdae is the place where the Commander, the heart of the Young Cult Leader, resides."
"I did."
"What kind of person is the Commander? I'm so curious."
She had mustered courage with the help of alcohol.
Then Seo Daeryong answered instead.
"She is beautiful."
He had cut in with joy as the talk of Ian came up.
Danyeon narrowed her eyes and asked. She had asked what kind of person she was, but beautiful?
"How much so?"
It was the moment Seo Daeryong was about to excitedly say she could be called the world's greatest beauty.
Geom Mugeuk's urgent telepathic message flew in.
—Get a hold of yourself!
In an instant, Seo Daeryong's drunkenness vanished.
Seo Daeryong looked at Dana beside him and said.
"She's pretty, though not as much as Lady Dan."
Dana's face flushed slightly as she spoke.
"Please don't say unnecessary things."
Seeing her expression that wasn't displeased despite that, Seo Daeryong sent a telepathic message to Geom Mugeuk.
—I survived! Thank you!
—Letting your guard down means death!
Danyeon asked again.
"Then where is the Commander now?"
It was right when Han Seol, who had been listening beside them, was feeling that she missed her unni.
Squeak.
The tavern door opened and a person came inside.
Everyone's gaze turned there.
Jo Chunbae smiled happily upon seeing the person who entered.
The Hanbing Twin Swords looked in surprise. The person who entered was a woman, and when she stepped in, they had the illusion that the surroundings brightened.
Not only the three Dan sisters but also Gang Dal opened their eyes wide. They had never seen such a beautiful woman since birth.
Jang Ho and Seo Daeryong smiled brightly with expressions saying, she's finally here!
She was none other than Ian.
Her gaze had become even clearer and deeper, and her aura gave off a different feeling than before.
Geom Mugeuk could tell.
'She has finally achieved the Grand Completion of the Flying Heaven Sword Technique!'
The achievement of Grand Completion had bestowed upon her yet another new beauty. Now it wasn't just beauty; a strong, powerful beauty could be felt.
Ian looked up at Geom Mugeuk and spoke calmly.
"Commander of the Gwiyeongdae, Ian, has returned after completing her mission."
Her gaze looked upon Geom Mugeuk, Seo Daeryong, Jang Ho, and Han Seol.
Delight bloomed across her face. Ian smiled brightly and said.
"What, you're having this much fun without me?"