C137
But he didn't have much time to think about the Blood Cult spies.
"Young Master...!"
The Left Guardian, who had just approached, looked at Cale with a desperate expression. He didn't have time to wonder how such an expression could appear on his straightforward face.
Cale opened his mouth to speak.
"Find out who it is!"
Raon's voice echoed in his head above the stunned onlookers.
-Understood, Human!
After hearing Raon's response, Cale instructed the Brain Demon.
"Push the people back!"
"Kughh-"
Meanwhile, the Heavenly Demon staggered, spitting out more and more black smoke.
"Yes, understood!"
The Brain Demon understood Cale's order to move away from the Dead Mana smoke. It was something he had already realized.
"Everyone step back and cover your mouths!"
"General Commander, what's going on?"
A middle-aged woman with a wrinkled face approached with a disgusted expression. She was the Pavilion Master of the Laws and Manners Pavilion
"Lady Pavilion Master, we can talk about it later."
The warmth disappeared from the Brain Demon's expression, replaced by firmness, which made the Pavilion Master of Laws and Manners frown. However, she struck the ground with the staff she held in her hand.
Bang!
A clear sound resonated throughout the hall.
With everyone's eyes on her, the Pavilion Master of Laws and Manners opened her mouth.
"At this moment, listening to the General Commander is the rule that fits the situation! How can you all be so indecisive?!"
With that, she left the pavilion and landed on the ground a short distance away.
The smoothness of her movements gave an idea of her martial prowess.
Behind her, the other Masters, the Masters of the Eight Factions, and the four candidates also left the venue, each in their own way, and formed a circle around her.
Seeing this, the Brain Demon smiled faintly at the Pavilion Master of Laws and Manners, but she huffed and looked away.
Instead, she sent a Sound Transmission.
-Is the Heavenly Demon in grave danger?
After all, the Pavilion Master Gong* cared for the Heavenly Horse. (*Note: The last name of the Pavilion
Master of Laws and Manners is 'Gong')
The Brain Demon managed to pick up on that.
-I don't know what's happening, but you're going to have to give me some kind of explanation for this situation!
But there was no time to listen.
"Kuugghh-"
The Heavenly Demon was different.
He was groaning louder than usual.
It didn't look like anything he had seen before.
His entire body was shaking, and black smoke was coming out of his closed eyes.
'Has he been hiding this appearance for so long?'
The Brain Demon hadn't been able to see the scene inside the pavilion surrounded by Sound Isolation Spell Formations, nor the Heavenly Demon in the center covered in black smoke.
Unknowingly, he felt a sense of urgency.
It was then...
"What are you doing?"
A slightly hoarse voice was heard.
"Huh?"
He made eye contact with Young Master Kim.
"You should also step back."
He told the Brain Demon and the Guardians, then grabbed the Heavenly Demon's arm.
"If you don't step back and breathe in this black smoke, you'll also suffer the consequences."
In reality, the Brain Demon didn't want to leave this place, but suddenly, the energy he sensed from Young Master Kim startled him awake.
A moderately tense and suffocating pressure. Confronted with that energy, reason returned to him.
"...Please."
Leaving behind those words, the Brain Demon retreated from the gathering place.
The Left and Right Guardians bowed their heads as they saw Young Master Kim's momentum growing stronger.
"We'll stay a little closer."
"Don't worry, we'll avoid the smoke."
The Left and Right Guardians responded simultaneously, then moved back toward the center of the pavilion and the crowd, raising their momentum as if to block their approach.
When even the hushed voices disappeared with that bloody momentum.
Cale spoke up when he felt the air around him calm down.
"Can you hear me?"
The moment he asked, the Heavenly Demon, who was the only one left holding Cale's hand, opened his eyes with difficulty.
There was black blood where white eyes should have been.
Cale stared at those eyes and said indifferently.
"Hold on with all your might; I'll take care of the black smoke."
Then he looked at the space for a moment.
"Raon, Soundproof Magic."
-All right, Human. The range will be full width!
"Good. And you still have plenty of Magic Stones, right?"
"Many!"
Raon spoke comfortably now that he had deployed the Soundproof Magic.
"Then create a wind to blow the Dead Mana away from the people."
"Understood!"
After hearing Raon's response, Cale looked at the Heavenly Demon and let out a mocking smile.
"What, feeling better now?"
As Cale shook his head, the wind began to slowly rise around him.
Crack. The sound of a Magic Stone shattering was heard.
It seemed that the Magic Stones used for teleportation earlier had exhausted their effectiveness.
Woosh...!
A gust of wind rose and began to trap the black smoke emanating from the Heavenly Demon, which was on the verge of spreading beyond the pavilion.
A whirlwind surrounded the pavilion. It wasn't a strong wind.
Like the gentle flow of a river, the wind drew a circle around the pavilion, trapping the black smoke inside and preventing it from escaping.
"Hmmm. I don't think you're doing a purification, are you?"
Seeing the Heavenly Demon nod slightly, Cale released his arm.
The Heavenly Demon staggered, but he didn't collapse.
Probably because there were people around him, he couldn't be seen collapsing.
Cale unleashed the Fire of Destruction.
Crack, crack-le.
With the sound of electricity colliding, the reddish-golden fiery blaze rose, focusing on Cale. Then, he spoke softly.
"Listen, there are at least two spies from the Blood Cult here."
Nevertheless, Cale didn't stop doing his work.
"Purifying all the surrounding air might make things a bit easier. However, we can't risk being discovered by enemy spies, so we'll proceed this way. The rest, I'll let you handle it, Heavenly Demon."
The moment he mentioned the spies, a flicker of emotion passed through the Heavenly Demon's eyes, but Cale didn't pay it any mind.
The Dead Mana smoke trapped in the wind would obscure the vision of anyone outside.
-Shall we burn it?
The Cheapskate asked.
"Um."
Cale responded briefly.
Fssshhh.
A stream of reddish-golden fiery blaze hit the wind.
It was as if a red beast jumped into a black swamp and devoured everything it found.
The wind that flowed like a calm river gradually changed from black to a bright pinkish-gold.
And with the change, gray ashes fluttered.
"Raon, let's do it."
"Understood, Human."
Following Cale's will, following Raon's will.
The fire and wind moved.
A reddish-golden fiery wind swept the Dead Mana smoke in the pavilion, consuming it, leaving nothing but ashes, and then rose into the sky and disappeared.
It was as if the Imoogi were ascending to the sky.
And gray ashes fell from the air, marking the path it had taken.
'I shouldn't fill the pavilion with ashes.'
Cale was satisfied that the wind had managed to sweep the ashes out of the pavilion.
-It's done! Easier than last time.
As the Cheapskate said, it was easier this time.
With his power unlocked to 72%, it was almost like taking a walk, with no sense of fatigue.
"Ugh."
A deep exhale was heard.
Cale could see the Heavenly Demon sitting down, catching his breath.
"Young Master Kim."
His voice sounded firmer but still tense.
"What?"
"I would appreciate it if you keep that fire burning."
Huh?
What does that mean?
"Your fire purifies the surrounding air. When I breathe it in, it calms the dark energies within me."
Ah.
Cale nodded and wrapped the Fire of Destruction with both hands.
"A bit more."
At the Heavenly Demon's words, Cale increased the output power without thinking.
His entire body was enveloped in reddish-golden fiery blaze, and he stood tall and imposing.
"Shall I come closer?"
Cale asked indifferently.
"Yes, I would appreciate that."
The Heavenly Demon responded with a voice that grew firmer as he spoke, and Cale moved to his side.
There was nothing more to do.
He couldn't break the Soundproof Magic, and he couldn't tell the people that they were already welcome here, not when the Heavenly Demon hadn't settled yet.
'Let's just stay put.'
Cale decided to simply stay silent, satisfied that the other Heavenly Demon hadn't appeared and that they had found two spies.
As the Soundproof Magic was active, he spoke freely.
"Raon. Did you find the Blood Cult spies?"
"Yes, I found them! There are two of them!"
Suddenly, Raon spoke in Cale's mind.
-Human, but I can't hear well right now! There are too many people talking in my mind! It's hard to distinguish them one by one.
Cale felt a strange sensation from Raon's action of speaking in his mind.
-Human, I'm talking like this because I feel it would be bad if the Heavenly Demon realizes that I can hear others' Sound Transmissions. Isn't it our secret weapon? If I'm wrong, I'm sorry!
Wow~
Cale sincerely admired Raon.
"Raon, you're a very smart Dragon."
-You finally understand? I'm a great Dragon!
I've grown smart and clever.
Suddenly, Cale could feel Raon's growth.
The same four-year-old kid who was so wary of Rosaline stealing his steak, now he was so big and unwilling to reveal our weapons to the Heavenly Demon!
Both his financial sense and personal growth were remarkable.
'It's probably thanks to Lord Sheritt or Eruhaben-nim.'
The financial sense is probably thanks to the allowance he gave him.
With a satisfied smile, Cale turned to the Heavenly Demon.
"I'll tell you about the two spies later, so you take care of the rest."
If it's the Heavenly Demon, he will manage fine on his own.
Cale nodded at the appearance of the Heavenly Demon with closed eyes and a slightly grim smile, and he contemplated deeply.
'Could there be spies in both the Justice Faction and the Carnage Faction?'
Perhaps he should investigate that.
More than that, judging by the fact that the Heavenly Demon suddenly had an attack or something, it seems the spies have some kind of technique or device to make the Heavenly Demon move like a Jiangshi.
As the Heavenly Demon stabilized, Cale's thoughts grew deeper.
At that moment, the atmosphere of the group waiting outside the pavilion was strange.
No words were spoken.
Just as Raon had mentioned, everyone was busy communicating through Sound Transmission.
Meanwhile, the Brain Demon clenched his fists tightly.
'...This is the power of Young Master Kim...!
The black smoke that plagued the Heavenly Demon. He was very aware of how deadly and fierce it was.
Young Master Kim's power to disperse it in an instant was astonishing.
"...General Commander."
The Dominating Aura Pavilion's Pavilion Master's voice was heard.
The elderly woman's eyes widened.
"...."
But she couldn't say anything even after calling out to the Brain Demon. Because she didn't know what to ask.
A member of the Imperial Family, favored by the Emperor and carrying a golden plate.
Young Master Kim Haeil.
It wasn't his real name, probably a pseudonym.
In any case, she had heard rumors that this Young Master Kim had a high level of martial skill.
But...
'This is not what I imagined.'
The Dominating Aura Pavilion Master's hand on the staff tightened.
"So pure and refreshing."
Her voice was heard by the Masters surrounding her, and their ears perked up.
Only the Heavenly Demon knew the exact level of martial arts of the Dominating Aura Pavilion Master, but everyone knew that her martial arts were the best among the Masters here.
They wanted to hear her evaluation.
"But it's wild, it's rebellious, it's free."
They thought of the wind and fire that Young Master Kim had created earlier.
The show he had created was beautiful, but the power it contained was too impressive to be called beautiful.
"His power certainly isn't ours, nor is it of the Carnage Faction or the Justice Faction. It is nature itself."
Caressing her staff, the Dominating Aura Pavilion Master couldn't hide her admiration.
People swallowed saliva or showed tension at the sight.
It was inevitable.
The only time she had acknowledged someone's power was when she had shouted at the top of her lungs that the Heavenly Demon should be elevated to the position of Successor.
The Law of the Strongest. The Supremacy of the Strong.
Only the Heavenly Demon was the most appropriate for it. She said he should lead the future and praised him emphatically, even better than the previous Heavenly Demon.
And those who witnessed her exhilarating performance couldn't help but feel nervous, as she now seemed to be saying the same, or even better, to someone else.
Young Master Kim.
He was even greater than they had realized.
'Mmm.'
Seeing all of this, the Brain Demon pondered for a moment and then closed his mouth.
'The Heavenly Demon said that Young Master Kim doesn't cultivate Martial Arts but possesses nature within his body.'
Perhaps he wasn't even Human.
He looked around and saw several people, maybe all of them, chatting and exchanging glances about Young Master Kim's Martial Arts, but he kept his mouth shut.
'He's a terrifying person.'
However, he looked at the Dominating Aura Pavilion Master with complicated eyes.
She had never referred to Young Master Kim's skills as Martial Arts. She had only talked about his power.
Maybe she made a similar judgment as the Heavenly Demon.
The Brain Demon recalled what the previous General Commander had said.
"Elder Gong, that woman is a monster, a monster. You have to be very careful. The moment you try to do something stupid, she will devour you."
However, Elder Gong truly admired Young Master Kim's strength.
'Indeed, you are the answer.'
The Brain Demon watched from afar as the Heavenly Demon's expression grew firmer and suppressed his pounding heart.
He then glanced at the four candidates who would lead the future of the Demon Cult.
Among them, the Heavenly Demon would be the chosen one, and they all looked at Young Master Kim with various expressions.
Even now, they couldn't take their eyes off him, who was enveloped in a bright reddish-golden glow.
Some seemed impressed.
Some seemed intrigued.
Some appeared confused or surprised.
Or...
'She seems completely stunned.'
With her mouth open in a dazed state, ready to let drool fall, as if a tiny thread of saliva was about to drop-
"Ugh."
... Yet, she didn't let the saliva drop.
Anyway, the Heavenly Demon looked at the eldest of the candidates, a candidate who appeared to be in her early twenties but was actually in her twenties.
The woman finally returned his gaze and wiped the drool from the corner of her lips.
'Wow.'
The Brain Demon felt a pounding in his head.
That woman. The fourth candidate. She was the future Heavenly Demon that the Heavenly Demon himself had chosen in his heart.
"Impressive..."
The Brain Demon pretended not to hear what she muttered.
Then he paused.
"General Commander. But why is the Heavenly Demon acting like this? Can you tell me now?"
The words were spoken carefully and quietly.
The Money Tree Pavilion. Pavilion Master Kee, the head of the Cult's Money Department, asked the Brain Demon.
Then, a strange voice came into his head.
It was a young voice.
-Little Brain Demon! Our Human, no, Young Master Kim told me to let you know! The guy you're talking to is a spy from the Blood Cult!
W-What?!
Just as the Brain Demon's heart was about to collapse...
He felt a strange sensation. It was a familiar and welcome energy.
He looked ahead.
"...Heavenly Demon-"
The Heavenly Demon, clad in a dark red aura, stood as usual, looking every bit like a governing existence.
In contrast, Young Master Kim gradually withdrew his reddish-golden light.
Just as the red sky disappeared and darkness descended.
It was as if the sun had set, and twilight had arrived.
The Brain Demon sensed immense anger emanating from the Heavenly Demon.
-
