“Huh, it was Ma Taryong who gave us the information?”
“Looks like it. For him to be the one to give it to the Second Disciple… I didn’t think of it.”
“This is quite shameful.”
On the other hand, the Eight Kings looked like they were going to die from embarrassment because of what they were about to do.
It was rare for Yupae to be pushed to the point of anger, and they were the ones who were suffering because of it.
They were called the incarnations of battle, but it was natural to be scared when someone above them was this angry.
It wasn’t even their fault, the responsibility solely fell on the Ghastly Troops.
“Still…”
“…Right, it is best we move.”
After they had gathered each other’s opinions, the First Demon King spoke to Yupae.
“Captain. We will head out first.”
“Well, sure.”
Fortunately his anger wasn’t directed to them and soon the First Demon King bowed.
Shhh!
Afterwards, he disappeared like a ghost.
Yupae looked at Yeorin with his anger still continuing to smolder.
“Captain. When I head back to the Sect, you will be reprimanded in a separate manner.”
“…”
“Answer me.”
“Yes. I understand.”
Her face which had turned red due to the shame couldn’t be hidden away.
She angrily glared at Seol-Hwi after answering, but he simply smirked.
Seeing her like that only felt more refreshing for him
However.
“Phew… How long will you be here? All of the Eight Kings have returned already.”
Yupae asked again.
Perhaps his anger had calmed a bit, as he spoke in a polite manner. However, there was evidence of anger still residing in his heart.
“We…”
“Captain, I will take care of them and bring them back to the Sect. You are surely not going to tell me that you want to escort them after what you just did right?”
Yeorin’s shoulders drooped in response.
“Yes.”
It was obvious that both sides would hate seeing each other.
The woman who had her plans smashed along with Yupae taking the side of her enemies, it was decided right then and there that nothing good would come from her doing anything here.
“Then, you should leave. I am sorry for this.”
“You should know.”
The members of Ghastly Troops collected each destroyed Kangshi.
Seol-Hwi touched his chest.
Phew.
If they had avoided even a single thing, then he would have been in a dangerous situation, possibly even dying again.
Even the system told him that fighting wouldn’t work. However, with Yupae here, all the enemies were heading back.
I was just lucky.
In a situation where he should’ve been proud about it, Seol-Hwi only felt himself go cold at the other possibilities that could have occurred.
This was a reminder to him that what seemed to be the best choices didn’t always bring the best results.
At times, even the worst possible choices would provide a thin lifeline which could be caught and taken advantage of.
“Shall we go?”
“Yes.”
As Yupae looked like he had more to say, Seol-Hwi nodded at his suggestion.
Wheik
Blew the wind.
As the darkness disappeared, dawn had finally arrived. Maybe because the fight had been too fierce, they had temporarily forgotten the concept of time.
Two men walked to a cliff together, and of them Seol-Hwi spoke as Yupae looked at the sky
“I owe you a lot for this time. I will definitely pay you back.”
“Payback… how?”
“…!”
Seol-Hwi felt a little nervous.
He thought it would be the common words of, “Paying me back for what? I didn’t do anything!” or something along those lines.
But instead he openly asked how.
So Seol-Hwi had to continue.
“What do you want from me?”
“You.”
“…?”
Waiting for the answer, Seol-Hwi went stiff when he heard it. Yupae’s words meant he wanted Seol-Hwi.
“…I guess you didn’t let this pass seeing Ma Taryong.”
“Of course I didn’t. Would I scold my subordinates for the sake of them harassing you? I am a greedy person.”
Yupae smiled, making Seol-Hwi feel sick.
It is more difficult to deal with people who openly say they are greedy than those who say they have no desire.
Thinking, Seol-Hwi said,
“Well, if I refuse…”
“I will not be silent. I’ll either kill you or your subordinates.”
He won’t take NO for an answer.
Seol-Hwi felt his mouth turn dry. The right hand of the Demon Lord not hearing the right words would bring trouble.
“As if. It won’t be like that. I am not that poor of a judge of character.”
“Really? Then what kind of person do you see me as?”
“A principled one.”
“Principled? Haha, if I was such a person, then I would have killed you. Isn’t this a time when all four disciples are struggling for power?”
“If we look at it in that manner, then help being accepted will be paid back. I think Mr. Yupae values the heart and intentions of others more than power. It is similar to aiming for a greater future rather than seeking short-term profit. I hear it like saying ‘I am good enough, I am more than enough’ to the self.”
“Kuahahaha!”
Yupae burst into laughter. He looked happy.
At least, after being rejected twice by the same man, normally no one would smile. But oddly enough, he didn’t seem so hurt.
Seol-Hwi knew how to please others while not crossing a line.
“I am not a very patient person.”
“…”
Seol-Hwi didn’t answer.
People who say this are usually the opposite. At least in Seol-Hwi’s experience it was like that.
On the other hand, because the person who spoke like he had no time had patience, this only worried him further.
“But your amazing rate of growth does make up for the lack of patience. See you next time, Captain of the Hidden Truth Corps.”
Because they are the persistent kind.
“Then, you are leaving… huh!?”
Seol-Hwi raised his head and sighed.
Obviously the man vanished. Quite skilled as he didn’t even notice any sign of them leaving.
Just how much would he have to grow to be able to move like that?
This is the Supreme Demon level?
Seol-Hwi raised his head.
He was still small and lacking…
Really, in many ways.
When Seol-Hwi arrived at the main Sect, his eyes turned red, and when his vision came back, he could see two others.
The place was the Earth Demon’s office.
“…I see.”
After receiving the report, the Earth Demon nodded his head.
“Pretty nice. Not bad at all.”
Ma Taryong’s actions of confusing the enemies by handing the information over.
Honestly, it wasn’t like his pride wasn’t hurt. Because the information was passed to the Second Disciple, a competitor, they would be able to further their reputation off of it.
But still, the Earth Demon fully understood the actions of Ma Taryong. Even so, there was no other way out of the situation.
Without the Earth Demon’s forces being used, the Second Disciple’s troops took a hit. And the result was good.
“And the captain of the Hidden Truth Corps.”
Cheol Gun-song explained what happened.
Seol-Hwi had rescued Ma Taryong. However, when the spatial movement was brought up, the Earth Demon’s expression changed.
Furthermore, when he heard that the order of Cheol Gun-song had been disobeyed and Seol-Hwi fought with the Ghastly Troops, his entire body trembled.
Finally, when the topic of Yupae coming to intervene came up, the Earth Demon’s face went stiff.
“Seol-Hwi had been in contact with Yupae? Since when?”
His voice showed that he was now on edge.
The right hand of the Demon Lord and second in power. Being in contact meant he needed to keep an eye on him.
“In the past it seems like he met when he left to provide assistance with the out of control Soulless. I think they met there.”
“I see.”
The Earth Demon’s expression softened a little, yet it felt like complicated thoughts were running through his mind.
The silence dragged on for an unknown period of time.
Cheol Gun-song finally revealed his intentions.
“Lord. I probably think this… he should be taken down.”
“Why?”
“Seol-Hwi made a risky choice. Without luck on our side, they wouldn’t have survived.”
“Risky, how so?”
“If he simply gave Songhwa up, they could have returned safely without creating a mess. But he took the risk for nothing. If we fail to pay attention to people like him, they will bring higher risks to us the next time.”
“Right. Give it to you so you can kill the subordinates who are on the same side as us. I will act like I didn’t hear anything.”
“No. That is…”
“Cheol Gun-song.”
When Earth Demon called to him softly, he bowed.
“Yes, my lord.”
“The path that we travel, is it one filled with flowers or one filled with thorns?”
“…”
“Is it not easy to answer? Right. It is a thorny road. Who will deny that? There will be a lot more troubles in the future.”
Shh
The Earth Demon stood up and he turned to speak.
“There will be tasks which are more demanding, tasks that are difficult to accomplish, tasks which require us to put our lives on the line. In that case, if not luck, then what do we rely on?”
“…”
“I want you people to do whatever it takes to live. Sometimes, even disobeying orders is fine. This is my sincerity towards the ones who have been thinking about me for a long time.”
“Lord…”
Cheol Gun-song could understand it. The three disciples on the other side, all three of them are enemies.
Since there is no clear winner, he was making sure that his subordinates will at least potentially be safe, even after his death.
“Haha, it is still interesting. Isn’t this the first time? The first time that my warrior has done something like this.”
“…Yes.”
Seeing the Earth Demon’s smile, Cheol Gun-song had a bitter one on his face.
Clearly, the man was standing out no matter how stupid his actions were.
As the Earth Demon said, it was the first time a subordinate under him had caused trouble like this.
“Can you call Seol-Hwi here?”
And with that, the vision ended.
When he opened his eyes, he was in front of the door.
“Hmm.”
Being suddenly moved like this was something he was familiar with, so he adjusted his clothes and moved to open the door.
But then:
<Do you want to save?>
This feels a bit…
Odd.
Be it good or bad, the fact that this appeared meant that something big was about to happen in the future.
It could be good or bad.
So Seol-Hwi couldn’t leave this and felt the need to record this.
□95th Heavenly Year. Chapter 2-1. Three Lives presented by the Earth Demon. ■98th Heavenly Year. Last day of 7th month. □98th Heavenly Year. Self Story_First escape mission (1)
Three places.
Seol-Hwi felt troubled as this was something he had to save for sure.
Even if it went to “start from the beginning” he might not get the three lives again.
Because there was a map he would have to get, a key item from the Supreme Pavilion Lord.
The second one…
That was also a troublesome one. He had saved weapons which weren’t easy to get. So he needed that.
Finally.
Seol-Hwi looked at the third.
This was when the whole tracking mission was being initiated. Having rescued Ma Taryong and bringing Songhwa to safety, it could now be overwritten.
<Time has been recorded.>
A short phrase appeared and it was saved.
Seol-Hwi doubted his eyes.
Time has been recorded.
<98th Heavenly Year. Self Story_Fateful day.>
Fateful day?
All he was feeling felt so right though his worries only deepened.
But, in a sense this wasn’t something he expected.
Right. Let’s see this through.
There was no other way out, so he opened the door.
“Here?”
Seol-Hwi entered with the greeting of the Earth Demon.
He didn’t offer anything much, but his bright face said it all.
“You have been through a lot.”
“No. Rather I was worried that I took unneeded risks due to my selfishness.”
“Well… sometimes, when in a difficult situation during a mission it is something that needs to happen. Usually one should stick to the mission but that isn’t always possible. There are times when you can act how you want depending on the situation.”
“Thank you. Next time, I will be careful to not do such things unnecessarily.”
Despite being a formal meeting, the Earth Demon looked generous.
He couldn’t figure out how the man was this smart.
“Right, come to think of it, did you not like it?”
“Uh?”
“Didn’t I tell you? To become my escort?”
“Ah…”
It was then that he remembered, that there was a time when he was offered to be an escort for Earth Demon.
“Haha. Seeing that you have forgotten you must not have been happy.”
The Earth Demon looked at Seol-Hwi and smiled.
He was happily accepting the situation which should have been unpleasant.
“Could it be like that?”
“Huhu, it is fine. So this time I will only be congratulating you for the work done.”
Seol-Hwi nodded his head. He knew this was to check how he felt about it.
“As of today, Seol-Hwi, you and your men will be appointed as my secret warriors.”
“…!”
At those words Seol-Hwi was fully taken aback.
“All the information which comes to you in the future will be classified and confidential. In addition, the position selected will be handed down. The people who help you and the tasks being given will be on a different level.”
He wondered what it was but… secret warriors.
No, this was a straight up appointment, no longer was it merely a request.
“Congratulations. Let’s do well in future.”
But fate had already moved.
As soon as he said it, text appeared.
<Congratulations. Achieved ‘Becoming the Earth Demon’s Secret Warrior’.>
After that, things which he never thought of happened.
And the difficulty that the Earth Demon spoke of came up.
He kind of figured out what it meant.
Due to the increase in difficulty, two of the three combat methods can no longer be used. Which of the three will you like to delete? ▶Turn based Lv2 ▶AI Lv2 ▷Simulation Lv2
The combat methods which have been such a great strength for him, now the text said that he has to delete a couple of them.
