Chapter: 441
Hunting for Ghosts.
This was the operation name bestowed upon them by that rascal Daeju. It seems he really lacks any naming sense.
That little brat just threw the main topic into the air and vanished like yesterday.
I can’t fathom why he pretends to be so busy.
I gazed intently at the entrance through which he had disappeared, my mind racing.
As soon as the magic that filled the room vanished, the mines released the breaths they had been holding.
“… Today isn’t just a joke. It feels like the pressure has increased.”
One of them started talking as if he was about to spill some tea. Hey, is this the time to gossip about me?
Without realizing it, I found myself listening with interest.
‘It’s obvious that only swearing is going to come out of this.’
If I were their boss, I’d probably have cut off the head of a brat like me; so how much worse must these guys be?
While I thought about that, I strained my ears to catch more.
“Why has he been getting stronger and stronger? Truly, our Lord is different.”
“Right? An old man like that backroom deity… compared to our great Lord, he’s just a measly snack.”
…Huh?
‘…What?’
As I eavesdropped, the conversation was veering off in a totally unexpected direction.
What are these crazy fellows babbling about now…?
“The Lord’s prestige should be spread even wider across the Central Plains!”
“Even if he doesn’t want it, it’ll spread quickly. There’s no way a bunch of sect guys can obscure the stature of the Great Lord.”
‘What.’
The more I listened, the more I felt like I was losing my sanity.
What on earth were these guys talking about?
‘…What is this?’
No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t make sense of it. The conversation was becoming more profound.
“A monster who burned the volcano sect down all by himself.”
No, he didn’t do it alone.
Since Cheonma took out major players like Maehwaseon, I was left to catch the remaining disciples.
“Not just the Hwasan Sect, but he also wiped out the Sacheondangmun all by himself.”
This was right after the forces of the Black Fiend and the Green King ambushed and the Black Flame Force followed up for support.
He merely approached Dokbi, who was totally exhausted, and finished him off.
‘What are these guys?’
The more I looked, the less I understood.
As the praises I’d never heard continued to flow.
I had to frown, feeling nauseous and my ears heating up.
In that moment, someone seemed to notice my expression and spoke up.
“It seems like the newbie doesn’t know much?”
“What…? You don’t know the prestige of the Great Lord?”
Displeased expressions formed on their faces, their eyes turning towards me coldly.
It felt icy. Each of their gazes was utterly sincere.
‘I’m going to lose it.’
This was unexpected. I thought they would look at me like I was a pile of dog poop, but what on earth were these stares?
“…So, you guys… I guess you really like the Lord?”
“The Lord is the hope of the Demonic Humans, it seems you’re unaware.”
“Looking at your age, it seems like you’ve just recently turned into a mine. How old are you?”
Um… How old should I say? I pondered for a moment.
“Twenty… two.”
I thought that would suffice.
“Twenty-two, have you overcome the wall?”
“Yeah… Sure.”
“At your peak age, and you’re still a monster.”
“…”
I had to stifle a few coughs in response to the mine’s words. It wouldn’t be easy for them to gauge my level considering I was forcibly restraining my energy.
While I was coughing nonstop, another mine came over to ask me something.
“Why did such a promising talent become a mine?”
“…Hmm.”
Why did I become a mine?
Why did the twenty-two-year-old Eight-leafed Maple end up as a mine…?
“…My family was ruined by those bastards.”
“Ah, revenge then.”
“Yes.”
My vague excuse didn’t seem to arouse suspicion from the miners. It was, after all, the most common and convenient excuse.
To charm these guys, cursing those opposing cultivators was a perfect tactic.
“…Those filthy sect bastards…”
“They pretend to be all nice and clean on the outside, but underneath it’s all rotten.”
“Don’t worry, youngest, the Great Lord will grant you your revenge.”
No, no, you lunatics.
Your Great Lord is too busy living his own life to care about things like that.
I couldn’t comprehend where this blind faith originated.
‘Even the title is now youngest.’
This kind of belief usually stems from being intertwined with the magic of the Heavenly Horse.
Being in a situation where betrayal was deemed impossible helped nurture this faith.
It seems this bizarre belief formed simply by being under the Heavenly Horse’s magic.
No matter how this brat behaves, he wouldn’t betray the Demonic Cult at the bare minimum.
It signified a sense of relief derived from that.
It’s amusing. A sense of stability among demonic humans.
I wondered if this was something Cheonma had started.
That… was something even he probably didn’t know.
What’s crucial in the end is…
‘Why do these guys like me?’
I just couldn’t wrap my head around it. I’ve only put myself in situations they should detest.
Why do they display such profound faith?
“…Hey.”
Just as I was about to ask about this, someone opened the door and stepped in. This time, it was Muk-kwon.
“Eight-leafed Maple.”
“What the hell… Daeju?”
“Eight-leafed Maple, can’t you hear me?”
“Ah.”
Just when I was about to continue speaking, I realized Muk-kwon was calling for me.
That’s right; I had mentioned whether it was Seven-leafed Maple or Eight-leafed Maple yesterday.
“…Did you… call?”
“Follow me.”
As soon as Muk-kwon appeared, the miners straightened their posture as if they were never loose.
The hierarchy was astoundingly well-established.
‘…’
I looked at this peculiar scene with a bewildered expression and decided to follow Muk-kwon for now.
Even as I moved, my face was wrinkled in confusion over the incomprehensible situation.
Following Muk-kwon, we emerged outside the main base.
We hadn’t strayed far from our strength. If anything, it felt like a position ready for vigilance.
Muk-kwon had come to patrol alongside me, but…
‘What a nuisance.’
I internally clicked my tongue at the sight.
It looked like he had come seeking information.
A mine of Muk-kwon’s caliber is patrolling?
There’s no way that an elite would bother with this.
“Eight-leafed Maple.”
“Yes.”
“You said you’re twenty-two, right?”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
“You’re quite young.”
If someone said they were five years younger than this, I’d probably faint.
I had to think along similar lines while looking at Muk-kwon.
‘Long time no see.’
While I found it annoying, it wasn’t bad to see Muk-kwon.
He was one of the more normal mines I knew.
If he hadn’t been a complete jerk at Hwangbo’s family, he wouldn’t have turned into a mine.
Muk-kwon was better suited to be called a martial artist than a mine until the very end.
That’s why my feelings were more of joy.
Of course, contrary to my emotions, Muk-kwon didn’t hide the gaze he had fixed on me, suspicious.
“Seems you’ve reached the Flower Realm, is that right?”
“Yes.”
At my light reply, Muk-kwon narrowed his eyes. He seemed pretty surprised.
If I had reached the peak, they’d be astonished, but Flower Realm would be a bigger shock.
‘Though it’s just in name. I can’t use my fire techniques, so it feels half-baked.’
It was already in an imperfect state; being unable to use the Gu Flame Wheel Technique meant I was even weaker.
“… At twenty-two, reaching the Flower Realm…”
Muk-kwon appeared genuinely astonished. If I heard it, I would also be totally blown away.
It’s no wonder he had gone to the length of keeping an eye on me.
And that implied something else was at stake.
“How could someone like you, as a martial artist, not have spread any rumors? That’s suspicious.”
Given his caliber, I should have been famous by now.
How could I just appear out of thin air like this?
A situation arose where both Muk-kwon and others were left with questions.
At this point, I was worried about it, too.
“In the past, I did gather some information on you.”
The Demonic Cult was relatively quick and accurate regarding information.
“Eight-leafed Maple… Not only specific sects, but not even where you lived was available.”
A chilling aura exuded from Muk-kwon’s body and gaze as he spoke.
Kuku…
I felt a significant weight on my shoulder.
“What exactly are you?”
“…”
An aura spread around my body. What should I do about this?
“Your name sounds like a pseudonym. Is your face the Infi Myeon-go (mærk called face of infamy)?”
As Muk-kwon reached out his hand, just before his fingertips grazed my face—
Grasp!
“…!”
I grabbed Muk-kwon’s hand.
“Why are you doing this?”
Just before Muk-kwon reacted, I flashed him a little smile.
Seeing that expression caused him to pause for a moment.
“Everyone has a secret or two, don’t you think?”
“Hah, do you honestly think there can be secrets under the name of our sect? Do you have any idea who’s above you?”
“At least not our seniors or the Lord.”
Kui—!!!
At my haughty tone, Muk-kwon tried to unleash his strength, but after hearing my following words, he couldn’t carry on.
“Only the Sect Leader is our heaven.”
He halted.
At the mention of the Heavenly Demon’s name, Muk-kwon’s movements paused again.
“The Sect Leader is already aware of my secret. Not only that, but he still sent me here.”
When such a situation arose, how should one resolve it?
It wasn’t hard to figure out.
As I did with the Demon Sword Master, if I embedded the Heavenly Demon’s name into every phrase, I’d be fine.
These culty bastards won’t dare defy that presence called heaven.
Moreover, in their eyes, I’d be the same.
“… Can you take responsibility for that?”
The Heavenly Demon knows everything. Even knowing that, he secretly sent me to the Black Flame Force.
Can you take responsibility for that?
“Yes. I stake my word on the Sect Leader that all I say is truth.”
I replied with a bright smile.
Responsibility? Why should I shoulder that?
“There’s not a shred of lie. I am the loyal servant of the Sect Leader.”
As I asserted this resolutely, Muk-kwon’s fierce aura softened somewhat.
There can be no deceit in the words of a mine who speaks in the name of the Heavenly Demon.
At least in that respect, I was relieved. It’s just fine for me to exploit the Heavenly Demon as much as possible.
This meant there was at least one escape route I could utilize in this manner.
“My secrets may remain my secrets, but I won’t do anything to inconvenience the main base. This also goes by the name of the Sect Leader….”
Boom—! Kwangwangwang—!
Just as I was about to say more, Muk-kwon’s fist whooshed past my side.
In the instant afterward, a horrific sound erupted from behind me, exploding wide-ranging chaos.
I didn’t even notice Muk-kwon launching that punch. These madmen are incredibly strong!
I thought about what kind of ambush this could be, so I looked at Muk-kwon.
“I understood your words, but don’t cavalierly speak the Sect Leader’s name. No one in this sect can summon them so easily.”
“…Ah, yes. My apologies.”
What a ridiculous display of loyalty.
I couldn’t help but smirk at that.
In the end, I was sure that your Lord didn’t even care about matters like this.
‘Let alone.’
This ghost hunt was no different.
The intentions of the Heavenly Lord, and the appearance of the Fallen Lord, it was clear he knew everything in advance.
Yet, knowing that, he planned to proceed with the operation so brazenly—he probably intended to meet the Fallen Lord.
‘In the first place….’
Even if it were a fight they couldn’t win, was it due to the loyalty directed toward the Heavenly Demon that they were going?
‘That’s impossible.’
I absolutely had no loyalty towards the Demonic Cult. Even so, there’s no reason to be engaged in such nonsense.
This time, my true purpose was none other than to diminish the strength of the Demonic Cult.
Crash—!
As dawn broke, the training ground was still filled with noise.
In the air, the outline of a golden sword flickered relentlessly like a substitute for the sun.
Beneath it, a woman with her hair tightly tied back was moving with sweat streaming down her body.
Swish—!
Contrasting the smooth movements of the sword, the end of the blade brought results that were sharp.
The sword wind whirled out, slicing through the air persistently.
Whoosh—! Shwick—!
As the woman moved, the swords hovering in the air responded in tandem.
I wondered if it was a technique called the Sword of the Seasonal Cycle, but it felt a little different.
Plop!
After a while of movement, a droplet of sweat fell from her chin, and the sword slicing through the air buried itself into the ground.
Clang—! The blade instilled into the floor, shattering the ground.
Then, at last…
Boom—!
The sword embedded in the ground glowed and exploded. The once pristine ground had turned to chaos.
As if leaving traces of destruction, the energies once swirling in the air were now widely dispersed.
Only once she verified that, was the woman finally able to release the breath she had been holding.
“…Hah….”
Just as she roughly tried to wipe away her sweat with her sleeves, someone approached her and offered a towel.
“Good job. Lady Swordmaster.”
At the call, the woman turned and stared at the man.
“…You must be busy, what brings you here?”
Though she could easily frown at his bedraggled appearance, her face remained calm and composed.
The woman addressed the man, “King Gar.”
At her call, King Gar let out a bitter smile.
The emotions flowing in his eyes were undeniably laden with pain.
“…There’s a task that you need to undertake, Lady.”
The guilt woven into King Gar’s voice was apparent.
He was trying with all his might to speak calmly but ultimately couldn’t manage it.
Requesting sacrifice from this delicate woman was still an impossible task for him.
Knowing that, the woman merely looked at King Gar and nodded silently.
“Let’s go.”
Spitting her words out briefly, the woman walked past King Gar.
The wind blew, causing her golden hair to flutter.
The seasons were gradually growing colder.
As always, the woman’s eyes remained icy and settled.
Tomorrow is a break!
Thank you for coming to the signing event. At first, only a few people showed up, and I thought it ended quickly, so I left my spot.
However, some others came afterwards, so I waited until 4 PM, just in case. Managed to squeeze out a few more moments.
I had to wear a hood because I suffer from panic disorder, so I apologize for that… chuckles.
Since this was my first signing, I only wrote my pen name and actual name.
Next time I get the chance, I will try to do something a bit different.
The preparation time was short, and I hastily got bookmarks done out of my own pocket. But I wonder if you’ll like them.
In the bookmarks, there are unpublished illustrations of Wieusara.
I hope you like them…!
Thank you. (_ _)
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.