The gazes of all the Demon Venerables turned toward Geom Ujin.
It was the first time. The first time the words “how nice” had come from the Cult Leader’s mouth.
Could he have said it because he liked the rain falling outside? Surely it meant that he liked that they were all together.
The Demon Venerables exchanged glances, then looked at the person who had made this unbelievable thing possible.
Geom Mugeuk, the person in question, was looking out at the scenery his father was gazing at.
“The view of a riverside in the rain really is nice. I always feel better when I watch the rain like this.”
He had not said it expecting an answer, but Geom Ujin responded to his son.
“I like the rain too.”
“You do, Father?”
“Why are you so surprised?”
“I just thought you would say rain was dreary and unpleasant.”
A faint, wistful emotion passed through Geom Ujin’s eyes as he watched the rain fall.
But soon that emotion vanished without a trace.
The countless circles forming on the river, the smell of wet earth, the sound of rain striking the tent, the water mist rising in the distance. As all of these things came together, the spirits of those watching grew brighter.
Geom Ujin slowly turned his head and looked at the Demon Venerables.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon watching the rain together with the Ilhwa Sword Venerable, the Drunken Demon drinking with the sound of rain as his side dish, the Poison King who no longer avoided his gaze, the Soul-Subduing Demon Venerable who certainly exuded a young and vivid vitality, the Demon Buddha who moved between the Blood Buddha skilled in calculation and a Buddha who found the world easy, the Little Demon of Ultimate Evil who had already proven that his loyalty to his son was as pure as that snow-white mask, and even the Fist Demon, who would spring to his feet at the word “Let’s go” without asking where.
There had been a time when he had doubted and distrusted the Demon Venerables. Looking back now, there had been no reason for it at all. There had been a period that was inexplicably dark and gloomy.
But now, Geom Ujin trusted the Demon Venerables more firmly than anyone.
The Drunken Demon noticed that Geom Ujin’s cup was empty. He could endure anything else, but not this.
“Allow me to pour you a cup.”
“Let me drink from that cup again after so long.”
In the past, when Geom Mugeuk had returned after finishing matters with the Ice Palace, Geom Ujin had once drunk from the Ice Palace Holy Chalice.
The Drunken Demon poured wine into the Ice Palace Holy Chalice and handed it to Geom Ujin.
“It tastes good, as expected.”
“I shall pour you another.”
“That’s enough. You take a cup.”
As Geom Ujin poured wine into the chalice, he asked,
“What became of the wine essence in the Great Drunken Forest?”
Startled by the unexpected question, the Drunken Demon asked with surprise,
“You knew the wine essence had gone bad?”
Geom Ujin nodded. As expected, there was nothing within the cult that the Cult Leader did not know.
“After we repelled the Heavenly Killing Star, the wine essence became clear again.”
“That is fortunate.”
The Drunken Demon had thought the Cult Leader would regard using the corruption of the wine essence to divine the safety of the cult as superstition. For him to ask about it like this made him truly grateful.
Geom Ujin’s attention turned next to the Soul-Subduing Demon Venerable.
“How is your martial arts training going?”
“I am doing my utmost.”
Geom Ujin took a small wooden box from his robes and held it out.
“Take it.”
The Soul-Subduing Demon Venerable went to Geom Ujin and respectfully received it.
When she opened the box, what was inside was, astonishingly, a Demon Essence Pill.
“Take it with you and consume it.”
With a deeply moved expression, the Soul-Subduing Demon Venerable bowed politely.
“Thank you, Cult Leader.”
When she first received it, she had wondered if he was bestowing one upon all the Demon Venerables, but Geom Ujin did not grant any elixirs to anyone else.
Only then did she realize it. The Cult Leader had bestowed an elixir upon her alone. And in front of everyone, no less. So overwhelmed was she that the Soul-Subduing Demon Venerable’s eyes and face trembled slightly.
Geom Mugeuk was not one to let such a sight pass without comment.
“Is that an elixir bestowed only upon the Soul-Subduing Demon Venerable?”
Geom Ujin nodded.
“Why give it to just one person and make the other Demon Venerables feel left out?”
“Because I wanted to.”
Geom Mugeuk looked at the Soul-Subduing Demon Venerable and said,
“Soul-Subduing, it seems Father has noticed. That you were about to come over to my side.”
If she followed her heart, the Soul-Subduing Demon Venerable would have liked to make this joke.
—If this is how things are, I may have to reconsider becoming the Young Cult Leader’s first Demon Venerable.
Of course, she did not. She merely smiled faintly and looked down at the box containing the Demon Essence Pill with emotion.
Geom Mugeuk smiled and said to Geom Ujin,
“Why have you been hiding this affectionate side of yourself until now? I wondered why I was so full of warmth, but it turns out I take after you, Father.”
As Geom Ujin quietly gazed at his son, astonishing words flowed from him.
“You take after your mother.”
For a moment, Geom Mugeuk was startled. He had not expected his father to mention his mother in front of the Demon Venerables.
Not only Geom Mugeuk, but the Demon Venerables were equally surprised. Bringing this up was even more astonishing than his earlier words that this was nice, or his consideration toward the Drunken Demon and the Soul-Subduing Demon Venerable.
“Then I suppose I take after you in surprising people.”
He said it like a joke, but his father denied even that.
“That is not from me either.”
Geom Mugeuk could tell that his mother had often surprised his father while she was alive.
Geom Mugeuk conveyed what he had felt from his father’s eyes as he looked at the rain.
“It must have been Mother who liked the rain too. And you came to like it because of her.”
Geom Ujin did not say that was not true.
Since his father had brought it up anyway.
“What kind of person was Mother?”
Instead of answering, Geom Ujin turned his head and looked at the rain, which was now gradually beginning to let up.
The one who answered in his stead was the Fist Demon.
“The Demon Empress was truly a remarkable person.”
Geom Mugeuk looked at the Fist Demon. He was not someone who said pleasant things to curry favor with others, so his mother truly must have been a remarkable person.
Thinking about it, he realized that all the Demon Venerables except the Soul-Subduing Demon Venerable might have seen his mother. The Ilhwa Sword Venerable had clearly remembered her, after all.
Geom Mugeuk looked at the Ilhwa Sword Venerable. Her gaze as she looked down at her wine cup had deepened. She had said she did not like his mother. Why did the Sword Venerable dislike his mother? If she had been such a remarkable person.
Was it because he knew the Ilhwa Sword Venerable’s feelings? Though he seemed like he might say something, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon seated beside her said nothing.
Geom Mugeuk did not want the atmosphere to sink because of talk of his mother, so he immediately changed the subject.
“Now, now, returning to the fishing tournament, let us speak for a moment with the Demon Venerables who are the talk of the event.”
The first target was the Poison King.
“Poison King, you are currently in first place for the number of fish caught. How do you feel?”
The Poison King’s eyes poisoned him with the question, Must you really ask me that in a place like this? Then he answered calmly.
“This is the first time I’ve realized fishing could be this enjoyable.”
That answer was sincere.
“It wouldn’t have been enjoyable if you hadn’t caught even one, would it?”
As he said that, he glanced subtly at his father.
“Our father, who has yet to catch a single fish, would know that feeling best. Father, if you keep acting so relaxed, you won’t even win a thousand-year snow ginseng.”
It was the thousand-year snow ginseng he had decided to give as a commemorative prize for catching even one fish. It was almost no different from a participation award.
“You caught one by luck and now you are full of confidence.”
“I haven’t even started in earnest yet.”
“The same goes for me.”
For some reason, Geom Ujin was full of confidence.
“I will win the bet.”
Curious at his father’s confidence, Geom Mugeuk asked,
“Just who did you write down? At first, I thought you must have chosen yourself, of course, but you are far too relaxed right now. You didn’t really write down the Poison King, did you?”
At that moment, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon subtly cut in.
“You should have written my name.”
Geom Mugeuk spoke loudly again.
“Currently leading in the largest catch category, we have the Blade Demon. How do you view today’s fishing tournament?”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon said confidently,
“Do you want to win the bet? Then even now, ask the Cult Leader to change it to my name.”
Geom Mugeuk did not forget to tease the Demon Buddha.
“Likewise, Demon Buddha, who has yet to catch even one fish, please say a word.”
The Demon Buddha was still composed.
“It is about time the beginners’ luck begins to fade.”
“Then shall we go check?”
Before they knew it, the rain had stopped. As if the heavens had briefly bestowed a gift so they could all enjoy the atmosphere and dine together.
The riverside scenery after the rain was clearer and cleaner than ever.
“Now, the afternoon fishing tournament begins! Anyone who wishes to move spots may do so at any time.”
However, everyone went back to their own spots and cast their lines.
Since it was now afternoon, everyone focused on fishing.
Geom Mugeuk also stopped wandering around and fished standing in place. As if he truly possessed skill, the first fish of the afternoon was caught by Geom Mugeuk.
“Now I’m going to show you what I can do!”
Though he seemed excited on the outside, Geom Mugeuk’s mind was seized by one thought.
What did Father hate most?
Leaving aside this bet or the five-year promise, he was personally curious.
He could simply ask directly, but then he would not be able to hear an accurate answer.
Because that answer might have to be drawn from that pitch-black hole everyone carried somewhere in their heart.
What do I like most?
What do I hate most?
As Geom Mugeuk asked himself these questions, he cast his line forcefully toward the river again.
It seemed the fish had realized that the true match had now begun as well. They were caught more often than before, and the next fish caught had great significance.
“It’s a whopper.”
The one who caught the whopper was none other than Geom Ujin.
“It is the largest fish caught so far. You are finally showing your true skill! Congratulations, Father!”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon quietly went to where Geom Ujin was.
“You caught a big one. Congratulations.”
His words were congratulatory, but his expression was different. Is it really the biggest one? As he was measuring it by eye to see whether it was larger than the one he had caught—
Geom Mugeuk, who had arrived behind him at some point, said,
“It’s definitely bigger, isn’t it?”
“Doesn’t it look about the same?”
“It’s bigger. Definitely bigger!”
In truth, even to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s own eyes, the one Geom Ujin had caught was larger.
Geom Mugeuk said loudly to everyone,
“First place in the whopper category has changed.”
Geom Mugeuk suddenly flinched.
“Father, you didn’t write down your own name, did you?”
Geom Ujin gave an unreadable, strange smile.
“This is an emergency!”
Geom Mugeuk ran back to his spot and picked up his fishing rod.
“Now, this is no time to play. Fish, come to me!”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon, now pushed down to second place, grew even more anxious.
“You brat, if you make that much noise, all the fish will run away.”
The fish that fled went straight over and bit the bait the Fist Demon had cast.
A fairly large fish flopped at the end of the Fist Demon’s rod.
“Because Master’s hands are large, it looks small, but that fish is not small either. It’s the third largest.”
Even from a distance, Geom Mugeuk judged the sizes with ghostlike accuracy.
“Demon Buddha, it seems the beginners’ luck has not ended yet.”
Since the Demon Buddha had still not caught a single fish, an anxious gleam was radiating from him. At this rate, he truly might fail to catch even one.
Of course, he had not yet forgotten to imitate an enlightened high monk.
“One must not forget that fishing is a time to converse with nature and, furthermore, with oneself.”
“Please don’t forget that this gathering today is a fishing tournament!”
“Empty your mind, Young Cult Leader.”
This time, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon reeled one in. Had his intense desire to win been conveyed to the fish?
After that, he continued catching them one after another. In terms of whopper size, he was still in second place, but in number caught, he also rose to second place.
“Elder, if this goes well, you may take both ten-thousand-year snow ginseng roots!”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s eyes sparkled as he steeled his resolve.
On the other hand, after waiting all this time, when a fish that finally bit escaped with only the bait, the Demon Buddha at last exploded in frustration.
“You little bastards! I’ll wipe out your entire line!”
Geom Mugeuk laughed as he looked at the Demon Buddha.
“The Blood Buddha has returned.”
The Poison King exerted his beginners’ luck to the very end. Whenever the Blood Heaven Blade Demon caught up close, he pulled away; when he caught up again, he pulled away again.
The difference between the Poison King and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was only one fish.
The difference in size between Father’s whopper and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s was about a handspan.
As they caught and missed fish like that, the time they had set at the beginning came to an end.
A warrior from the Guard Hall came and said,
“It will soon be time to finish.”
At this rate, Father and the Poison King would win. From afar, the Little Demon of Ultimate Evil looked at Geom Mugeuk with worried eyes. Whose name did you write? Is it all right if it ends like this?
The atmosphere of the fishing tournament could not have been better, but responsibility would have to be taken according to the result of the bet.
If the Cult Leader had written his own name and won, they would have to grant that wish. Not only the Little Demon of Ultimate Evil, but the Demon Venerables were certain. That wish would undoubtedly be related to the unification of murim.
The guard warrior said loudly,
“We will count to ten from now and end the tournament.”
The Fist Demon stretched as if this tedious fishing was finally over. The Ilhwa Sword Venerable also murmured that this would be her last fishing.
Fishing was now far from the Soul-Subduing Demon Venerable’s mind; she was thinking of the Demon Essence Pill she held at her chest. Would she even be able to consume something so precious?
On the other hand, there were those for whom, even with only ten counts left, the tournament was not yet over. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon prayed inwardly.
‘Please! Just one last whopper! Even one small fry will do!’
He wanted to win and boast to the Ilhwa Sword Venerable.
The Poison King also stared at his float until the very end, trying to catch even one more.
Geom Ujin and Geom Mugeuk likewise did not take their eyes off their floats until the last moment.
The warrior began to count.
“Ten, nine, eight……”
It was at that very moment.
Fwoooosh.
A bright radiance began to shine beneath the water, then spread in all directions. Gradually, that light grew larger and clearer.
Pwaaaaaang.
A fish that had bitten the bait shot up into the air, emitting a crimson radiance. It looked just like a small dragon ascending to heaven.
“Whoa!”
The moment they saw the fish, exclamations burst from everyone’s mouths.
It was larger than any fish caught so far. Its size alone was enough to make the person who had caught it the winner, but it was not merely a large fish.
Golden pupils revealed themselves to the world, along with long whiskers; from its body it emitted a flame-like red aura, and every one of its scales bore the traces of long years. Its spread fins were dazzling, like a phoenix unfurling its wings.
Radiating brilliant light, the fish flung itself toward the owner of the fishing rod it had bitten.