The warmhearted atmosphere quickly subsides at the news of the Cult Leader’s arrival. When nobody utters a word, Heo Gyeom says,
“This is a request from this old geezer.”
Blood Night Palace Leader answers.
“Go ahead.”
“I know everyone has mixed feelings about the Cult Leader. So do I. However, if the Cult Leader says he’s here to visit, it will be nothing more than that, so I hope nothing else happens here.”
Blood Night Palace Leader says to Gyo Young.
“You should go. Young’Er1, go stay inside.”
Gyo Young gets up without a word and disappears inside. Perhaps the leader’s tone was more serious than usual.
Then Blood Night Palace Leader looks at me.
“Leader, nothing good will happen if you run into him, so you should go in and rest. The members of Blood Night Palace and Elder Heo will take it from here.”
Blood Night Palace Leader is talking smack. You don’t get that many opportunities to see the Cult Leader up close.
“I can’t do that.”
‘I won’t allow it.’
At this point, I know better than anyone else that all the masters here can’t take him down even if they come at him at once. So, I have to stay and watch over this situation.
As Heo Gyeom said, he is only here for a visit.
Blood Night Palace says sternly,
“Then stay out of it. Please…”
“I’m a quiet person.”
Blood Night Palace lets out a short sigh. Perhaps she thinks that Blood Night Palace will be wiped out if she breathes the wrong way, but in fact, you couldn’t put it past the Cult Leader.
Then, the main hall door opens normally, sounding like a thunderbolt. Everyone, including me, stares at the main hall.
‘…….’
The Cult Leader, who appears from the main hall, has an unexceptionally large frame and blocks all the light coming from the outside.
Thanks to this, the interior of the main hall has become dark.
When the Cult Leader begins to walk in, the darkness in the main hall also disappears. His stride was neither slow nor fast, but strangely, it felt like he walked in after stopping time.
There is no way to express his behavior and expression.
Even though he’s walking normally, it seems like he is trampling on something as he walks. Words like arrogance and pride could not even come close to describe a human being like him.
‘Fucking moron, what a unique aura.’
This is my first time seeing the Cult Leader.
When I was invited to the Demon Cult, he was training in seclusion so there was no way I could have met him.
Heo Gyeom greets first.
“Welcome, Cult Leader. Forgive me for not being able to get up because of my poor health.”
When Heo Gyeom says he couldn’t get up, strangely, everyone else gets up from their seats.
When I insist on not getting up, Yong-myeong comes and takes the chair next to me and approaches the Leader.
Yong-myeong is deliberately blocking my view with his body, so I have to peek from the side and look at the approaching Cult Leader.
As if something was very funny, the Cult Leader was smiling ever since he entered the hall.
‘What the hell is he laughing about?’
Is he gonna get lucky if he smiles a lot?
I don’t know.
When Yong-myeong puts down the chair where one could sit and see Heo Gyeom in the eye and steps away…
Cult Leader sits in his chair and says to the visitors,
“Take a seat.”
As soon as Blood Night Palace Leader meets his eyes, she says,
“Hello, Brother”
Cult Leader nods and answers Blood Night Palace Leader.
“Our youngest has aged a lot too.”
“Yes, indeed.”
The rest of the people, except Blood Night Palace Leader, bow at the same time.
“Nice to meet you, Cult Leader.”
The leader, who is nodding, stares at me.
“…….”
I also move my head to look at the Cult Leader. Then I realize that I’m a nutcase. Why on earth did I smile as soon as I saw the Cult Leader? I have no idea why I’m reacting this way.
However, Cult Leader diverts his eyes off of me smiling, and looks at Heo Gyeom.
“Elder Heo, 111 years. You have lived a long time.”
Heo Gyeom nods.
“I’ve lived a long time.”
I scratch my ear with my finger. Perhaps the Cult Leader’s voice is mixed with inner Qi, it feels like blood is coming out of my ears. Maybe if he let out a lion’s roar in that voice, most of the people here would suffer internal injuries. His appearance alone is already tiring, so I try to calm my breathing and watch Cult Leader and Elder Heo.
Cult Leader asks Elder Heo,
“How do you feel to be at death’s door?”
Is this a question you should be asking a sick person? But I knew it wasn’t a joke after seeing the Cult Leader’s expression.
Heo Gyeom replies,
“I want to live longer. I still want to do so much. On the other hand, it’s a relief to think that I’m finally ending this painful life. However, I feel more regret than relief.”
Cult Leader nods,
“What makes you have such regrets?”
Heo Gyeom looks at the Cult Leader and speaks informally.
“It’s a pity that I couldn’t kill you with my own hands.”
Cult Leader shakes his head and lets out a laughter that sounds like metal clashing.
“That’s so like you. I learned all about assassins from you, there’s no way I would fall for it. You are not a sloppy teacher.”
As he is talking, Cult Leader looks up and down at Yong-myeong and continues.
“…You’re the last disciple.”
Yong-myeong answers with a slight bow.
“Yes, Leader.”
“No matter if you die or live, there is a high possibility that you will not be able to reach your master’s toes, so work harder than you are now.”
Yong-myeong answers dryly.
“I will keep that in mind.”
Cult Leader looks at Blood Night Palace Leader and says,
“Elder Heo raised me in hell anyway, so send him to the cult when the time comes. I’ll train him.”
Blood Night Palace Leader answers politely.
“All right.”
When I looked at Yong-myeong, his face had already turned pale.
Heo Gyeom asks in curiosity,
“What makes you come all the way here?”
Cult Leader says as if it were natural,
“I have to come to see you. I didn’t die after joining the cult. If I was about to die, you would come to the cult and see me, right?”
Heo Gyeom nods,
“Come to think of it, you’re right.”
Cult Leader really did come to see Elder Heo.
I watch the expression of the old manly senior and observe the Cult Leader’s expression at times. I could tell that there was a long history between the two that couldn’t be summarized in a few words.
Cult Leader smiles and looks at Blood Night Palace Leader.
“Without Elder Heo, I would’ve never become the Cult Leader.”
Blood Night Palace Leader nods,
“I agree. My husband also helped you out a lot, Brother.”
The other day, I heard Blood Night Palace Leader’s husband was killed by the Cult Leader. In response, the Cult Leader replies,
“He was an excellent man. If I hadn’t been greedy, I would have been the Left Hand or Right Hand. By the way, didn’t Sword Demon come to visit you? Don’t tell me he went into hiding like Young’Er when he heard I was coming.”
Blood Night Palace Leader replies,
“We contacted him, but he hasn’t arrived yet.”
Cult Leader asks with a grin,
“Is he still living shabbily, wielding a wooden sword?”
“I don’t know much about that.”
Cult Leader looks around and says,
“…Many people left while I was immersed in training. Looking back, I enjoyed myself the most when I fought with my successor. Nobody thought about leaving at the time. I had countless nights of falling asleep once every three days, and at times I was only able to get some shut eyes in five days. I was able to sleep because of Elder Heo. The assassin of assassins. Even when I closed my eyes, Elder Heo dealt with my enemies, but somehow I miss those times.”
Elder Heo smiles and nods a few times. He must be reminiscing about the past.
Cult Leader calls for Elder Heo,
“Elder Heo.”
“Go on.”
“Many people have betrayed me, but I have never betrayed anyone first. The same goes for you. Most of them left me after betraying their past promise.”
Heo Gyeom responds,
“Am I the same?”
The leader nods.
“You too. The common traits of the masters who taught me was to tell me not to put limits on growing stronger. But when I reached a certain point, they repeated the same thing over and over again. Do you have to go that far? That’s what you used to say to me.”
Heo Gyeom admits it without hesitation,
“I did.”
“Why did you do that? Why did you go against your words?”
Heo Gyeom replies with a tired look,
“It is because I’m human, Leader.”
“Then why didn’t you teach the assassins manners first in the cult? Did you do that?”
“I couldn’t.”
“What did you say to the people who wanted to survive?”
“I told them they have to be a demon to survive.”
The Cult Leader nods.
“I grew up believing that. That’s what I’ve been taught since I started walking, and one day, you said I couldn’t. I didn’t think it was insulting, but I was taken aback. If we hadn’t lived like demons, you and I would have already died to fight for the position. No?”
I look at Heo Gyeom in surprise for a moment.
Transparent tears were flowing from the eyes of the old manly senior. I can’t tell if it was regret or repent.
Cult Leader smiles at the tears.
“Is it because you’re old? You cry easily. You are…”
Heo Gyeom wipes away tears with his fingers and says,
“If I were to go back in time, I’d be living like a demon again. To survive, I didn’t have a choice. However, if I saw the leader gradually straying the human path over the years again… I’d still advise you not to do it. Cult Leader, people change.”
Cult Leader nods.
“That’s true. Because of your interference, I still couldn’t become the Greatest in the World. I can’t go any further considering the limitations. How pathetic.”
Heo Gyeom asks,
“Does the fact that having enemies infuriate you so much, despite being so powerful? Haven’t you already killed enough, considering how many people have died?”
“Thanks to the process we’ve gone through to survive, how can I stop when more and more people are trying to kill me? Your teachings don’t add up.”
A sigh naturally flows out of my mouth.
I think I know why the leader came here. I’m not trying to tell anyone this, but this is the state of the leader in my opinion.
He is a man with little humanity left.
He isn’t here to say his last goodbyes to Elder Heo, but to say goodbye to humanity overall.
The Cult Leader asks,
“Elder Heo, do you have a wish?”
Heo Gyeom looks at the Cult Leader and laughs with a nasally voice.
“You won’t grant it for me anyway.”
Cult Leader nods.
“I know what it is.”
Cult Leader gets up from his seat and stares at Heo Gyeom. Heo Gyeom nods and says,
“Goodbye, Cult Leader. Let’s meet in the afterlife when you die. Then I will resolve my regrets and apologize for teaching you wrong.”
Cult Leader shakes his head.
“You and I are on different paths now, so we won’t be able to meet in the afterlife.”
Only then did Cult Leader look at Blood Night Palace Leader and the people around and say,
“…Do your best. I will see you again.
I make eye contact with the Cult Leader for a moment. At that moment, Cult Leader smiles and asks me.
“Lee Zaha, you got something to say?”
He watches the world through an intelligence organization in the first place, so it wasn’t that surprising that he recognized me out of the blue.
I answer placidly,
“I’ll be working on it, so I’ll see you again at the right time.”
“All right, I look forward to it. Elder Heo will also have high expectations for you.”
When Cult Leader looks around the people again, everyone has to keep their mouths shut. Suddenly, Cult Leader looks around the main hall and says in a mocking tone,
“I don’t know why all the people who left the cult like the palace. The same goes for making it so elaborate that it looks good when you break it down.”
Leaving for the main hall alone, Cult Leader put his hands behind him and looks up at the sky outside. He blocks out all the light from entering the main hall, turns his head and says goodbye.
“Farewell, Master.”
I can’t see the Cult Leader’s face well due to the backlight, but as soon as he finishes speaking, it seems like he is smiling.
Heo Gyeom also says goodbye to the Cult Leader.
“Go back safely.”
Cult Leader answers casually as he goes down the stairs,
“Yes, it’s nice to see you. You die of old age. It can’t be helped.”
I stop my awe of the Cult Leader and check on Heo Gyeom first.
Heo Gyeom was breathing with his eyes closed.
When I looked at the others, everyone was still in a daze. Not just Blood Night Palace Leader but everyone else was having trouble catching their breaths. The owner of Moonshine Inn, the weakest of the bunch, was shaking his hands and feet like a person suffering from a cold.
“…Get a grip, the Cult Leader is gone.”
I slapped the owner of Moonshine Inn next to me on the cheek.
“Get a hold of yourself.”
“Yes.”
Everyone shakes their heads a few times at the loud smack. Worried about the old manly sunbae, I ask,
“Sunbae, are you alright?”
Heo Gyeom opens his eyes quietly and says with a bitter look.
“…I think my lifespan is reduced by a few days.”
‘Ah, shit.’
Should I laugh at this or not? I nod while pinching my thigh. I try to come up with an appropriate answer, but I can’t. It was the first time that someone joked about their lifespan in front of me, so I just joined the others in taking deep breaths.
“Haa….”
