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Translator: uly
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Heavenly Demon Divine Cult Double Agent
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"Who are you?"
"It's fine, Third Brother. I..."
"Who are you?"
He gasped for breath. He lifted the corner of his mouth.
"The first time I met you, Third Brother, I had a thought. Even through that hood that hides your face so well, I somehow felt like I could talk to you."
"That's not what I asked."
"Third Brother, I was a bit of an oddball in the Divine Cult. No talent, but too nosy. I managed to get into the Demonic Studies Academy, but my grades were mediocre."
Seong Ja-myeong vomited blood. Phlegm bubbled up amid the gurgling sounds.
"If you can't achieve mastery with the sword, a follower eventually has to set it aside. Become a merchant, a farmer... haha... or take on odd jobs. Sure, you can make money. But can one person feed three mouths?"
"..."
"So after going around in circles, I chose this path. I barely passed and learned the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art. It's so shallow that it's embarrassing to say I learned it, but at least I have the minimum qualifications. I was assigned to Demon Valley, and now I'm here before you, Third Brother."
Seong Ja-myeong closed his eyes.
"Third Brother, do you hear the wind? My home was in a high place, even in that barren land. Winters were cold. Do you know how deeply cold pierces the bones, Third Brother?"
"...I know."
"That's a relief. You never talk about yourself, so I was a little worried. I wondered if you were some rich young master who wouldn't understand what I was saying. But it's good. If there's such a thing as coincidence, isn't this it?"
Seong Ja-myeong's voice gradually grew quieter.
"Third Brother, are you still there?"
"I'm here."
"As I said earlier, Third Brother, you're a rare person in the Divine Cult. That's why... I forced myself to talk to you. Do you know how long I searched for you with that first snake I caught in my hand? Haha. Of course, it's not affection. That couldn't be. I just wanted to repay the favor. Everyone else drew their swords when I approached, but not you. That made me so happy. In this hellhole, chewing on poisoned meat, to have someone I can open my heart to... isn't that a true blessing?"
"..."
"Third Brother."
"Yes."
"Third Brother... are you still there?"
"I'm here."
I took his hand.
The trembling was slowly subsiding.
"Third Brother, Demon Valley is a terribly cold place. But there's no wind sound. It's a shame. It would be nice if my soul could at least return home... but I don't think even that can escape."
I took off my outer robe.
And covered him with it.
"...Pfft. Third Brother, don't take it too seriously."
"Who did this to you?"
"What does it matter who? Third Brother, once you enter this place, you expect death. Whether it's in a year or now, it won't make much difference. But... but..."
The hand gripping mine tightened suddenly.
"Third Brother, how happy I was to have someone like you in here. In the Divine Cult, repaying kindness with kindness is so rare-do you know that?"
"...I don't."
"Then remember it from now on. Third Brother, people are vile creatures. Don't let them fool you. Third Brother... Third Brother..."
He pulled me close.
And whispered in my ear.
"Survive... for my share too."
I opened my mouth. Closed it, then opened it again.
Closed it once more. The corner of my mouth trembled slightly. But not wanting him to hear my wet voice, I cleared my throat lightly.
"...Ja-myeong."
"...Yes... Third Brother..."
"My name is Red Cloud."
"...Ha... ha... great... name..."
I whispered to him.
"I have a younger sister. She starved to death. But I wasn't particularly sad about it."
"...I see..."
"I would've reacted the same if my parents died. Ja-myeong, to me, family was like shackles. I couldn't even breathe while carrying them."
"I... am no... different..."
"Ja-myeong, I respect you. I respect the courage it took to walk into this place with those heavy shackles on your head as if it were nothing. What warrior could do that?"
I felt his breath fading.
"I don't regret telling you my story that first day. You were worth it."
"..."
"Ja-myeong, you can rest now. It's okay. You don't have to tell me, or whisper anything."
The hand I held fell limp.
His interrupted breathing did not resume.
I carefully laid him down. The ground was cold. So I placed my outer robe directly under him.
"This place is too low to hear the wind. Ja-myeong, I'm sorry I couldn't let you hear it. But..."
I placed the sword from my waist on top of him.
"I'll bring back some other sound for you."
I turned my body.
And walked into the darkness.
...
Roll call time came. Lanterns passed by.
"Number 20. Number 30. Survival confirmed."
As always, Number 20 rose to her feet. As soon as roll call ended, she tried to run into the forest.
But I blocked her path. I steadfastly endured the gaze from within her black hood fixed on me.
"Number 20."
"What?"
"I have a favor to ask."
I bowed my head.
"Do you know who killed Number 17?"
"...."
She looked me up and down as if I were some strange beast.
"Number 30, people die. In Demon Valley, they die even easier. People dying here isn't strange. It's commonplace to fight over a snake and stab each other."
"...."
"Whoever Number 17 was, if he's dead, forget it. Worrying about bonds in Demon Valley is the weird part."
"He was my friend."
"...."
"His death doesn't change that fact."
I bowed my head again. For him, I could bow a hundred times.
"Just tell me, and I'll repay you in any form."
"It's not worth it."
"I'll decide the value."
"No one will know you did it."
"I will."
She stared at me blankly.
"...You're stubborn."
"I've heard that a lot."
"Knowing won't help. You can't kill him."
"So you know who."
"Number 2. Probably him. He hunts humans sometimes. He was covered in blood yesterday too. Number 30, there's a lot in Demon Valley you don't know."
She nodded her head.
"The beasts in Demon Valley all carry a faint demonic energy. Eating them turns into blood and flesh. But only if cooked? No effect. You have to eat them raw to absorb it."
"...."
"But it's not just beasts. It's the same between people practicing the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art. Same condition. Rip and eat raw flesh."
...Come to think of it, it was missing.
Some of his spilled entrails, and the arm that had been severed-they weren't found nearby.
"There's a limit to how much you can take at once. The energy you can absorb is about one beast from inside."
One beast.
The weight of a life.
"...Just that?"
"Once you enter the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art, sooner or later we all touch demonic nature. We become blood-soaked killers, and the only way to control it is reaching a higher realm. We're all numb to killing. You know it too. You can kill without emotion anytime."
"...."
"Number 2 just finds pleasure in it. He fell to demonic nature faster than others, and as payment, he gets pleasure from killing. Number 2's fetish is famous. Anyone who's survived long here knows."
"Thank you."
"Let me tell you."
She crossed her arms and looked up at me.
"Number 2's martial arts are near first-rate. Not top of Blood Demon Squad, but not low either. Beyond your level."
"I'll handle that."
"...Tch."
She left. I grabbed her before she fully disappeared.
"I'll repay the favor."
"No need."
Number 20 vanished into the darkness.
"If you go after Number 2, you won't even get the chance."
...
Finding the guy called Number 2 wasn't hard. I remembered the number branded on his body. After roll call, as he moved, I followed.
I deployed Ghost Spirit Step, now somewhat familiar to my feet. With my skill just reaching the end of second-rate, there were limits, but I did my best to hide my presence.
Number 2 turned his head. I hid behind a tree.
He sensed something and picked up speed. I didn't chase him directly.
Instead, I looked at his footprints. The steps he took as he sped up were evenly imprinted.
A stability I couldn't imitate. She was right.
He was at least first-rate.
Around that level.
Could I win? Probably not. Just from Ghost Spirit Step, I could tell. Stable lightness skill means his body is probably solid too.
Unlike me, he might use Nine Heavens Blood Demon Sword. If he's learned parts I haven't, how should I deal?
I pondered. I wanted to kill him. At least before Seong Ja-myeong's body got torn apart by beasts, I wanted to drag his screams before the corpse.
With my current growth, how much more effort to beat him?
As I train, he'll train too. The moment I near first-rate, he might hit peak.
The gap stays the same over time. I'm not genius enough to close it quickly.
...But.
The more I think, the more excuses pile up.
I'm not rolling around here to make excuses.
I followed the footprints. Stopped thinking. Just followed my heart.
I saw Number 2.
Turning head. Hand drawing sword in response to killing intent.
"Survive... for my share too."
Ja-myeong.
You're right. I didn't come here to die.
I want to become like the Heavenly Demon. Survive long, stand before her gaze.
...But.
If all that requires turning away and running...
What meaning does it have?
If she turns to look at the barely dignified me, what meaning does the path I've walked have?
---Paang!!
I shot my hand. Ghost Hand One Demon, trained for months, clung to my fingertips.
But the enemy deflected the attack easily. He steadied his slipping form and asked me.
"What the fuck are you?"
Wail. Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art.
If the opponent is strong, wail louder. Even if mangled, tear into them.
Endurance shines only in pain. So what makes me shine now?
A friend's kindness.
The silence of the one who worried for my safety until death sealed his lips.
"Seong Ja-myeong's friend."
What did I learn martial arts for?
I...
"Red Cloud."
To not hide.
"You little shit."