The Mountain Range Where the Dragon Sleeps
Thud!
Crash!
The goblet Asmodeus hurled with all his might smashed against the dark wall, creating a cacophony. The impact dislodged a torch from the wall, which fell to the floor and ignited a small flame.
Whoosh, crackle!
The fire quickly spread, illuminating the once-dark room. The demons standing nearby hurriedly tried to extinguish the flames, but when Asmodeus let out a furious scream, they immediately prostrated themselves, begging for forgiveness.
Watching the trembling demons, Asmodeus bit his lip in frustration. In truth, the demons before him were blameless. How could this situation be their fault? It was all due to Asmodeus’s own reckless ambition.
“That damned Lilith! How dare she, how dare she! Curse her!”
Even after throwing things and screaming, Asmodeus’s anger refused to subside. The more he thought about it, the more his rage grew, until he was tearing at his own hair.
There was a reason for the wrath of Asmodeus, the “Demon of Lust.” It was all because of Lilith, the “Queen of the Night,” the “Great Temptress.”
In the demon realm, the law of the strongest prevails. Only the strong survive, while the weak perish. By this measure, despite both being among the seven great demons, there was a clear difference between Asmodeus and Lilith. Just looking at the “Fourteen Demon Lords” they commanded made that clear.
A year ago, Asmodeus had two demon lords under his command (though he lost one recently due to an unfortunate accident), while Lilith had never had even one.
Yet, Lilith’s attitude towards Asmodeus had changed drastically. She treated him as an inferior, often publicly humiliating him during meetings.
Each time, Asmodeus held his tongue. He had no retort, as his own mistakes were too great, and Lilith’s words, though harsh, were true.
Of course, this didn’t mean the “Demon of Lust” was genuinely repentant. In public, he had no choice but to endure, but in private, he seethed with rage against Lilith.
“That wretched woman, that damned woman…! All she knows is how to spread her legs…! Curse her!”
Unable to contain his rising fury, Asmodeus grabbed another goblet, ready to hurl it into the still-burning flames.
Whoosh, crackle!
The dying fire suddenly flared up, swirling like a vortex and scattering embers throughout the room. As the last sparks faded, the room returned to its original, oppressive darkness.
And with it, another demon appeared.
“Having fun, Asmodeus?”
The voice broke the silence, and Asmodeus turned to see a demon leaning casually against the wall. His eyes widened in shock.
“S-Satan?”
It was Satan, the “King of All Demons,” the “Adversary.”
“When did you get here… and why…?”
Asmodeus’s eyes flickered with unease.
Despite his title, Satan rarely interfered with other demons. He didn’t care if they fought or waged wars, as long as they left him alone. In a way, he simply ignored them.
But recently, things had changed. Satan had started taking an interest in the affairs of other demons.
Though he hadn’t interfered yet, the seven great demons were growing anxious.
Satan, who had always been an observer, was beginning to move, which meant he had a “purpose.” And once Satan set his sights on a goal, he would stop at nothing to achieve it, even if it meant sacrificing other demons. This knowledge kept the other demons on edge.
After a long silence, Satan gently sat on the back of a prostrate demon.
“Ah, there’s an interesting rumor going around.”
“An interesting rumor?”
“Yes, Asmodeus… I hear you’re planning to sow your seeds in the Northern Continent again.”
“Cough, cough, cough!”
At Satan’s words, Asmodeus erupted into a fit of coughing. He quickly raised his head to deny it, but seeing Satan’s calm demeanor, he hesitated.
“Wait, wait. It seems you wanted to keep it a secret, but let me be clear. Whatever you’re planning, I don’t care. After all, we’re independent entities.”
“Well… that’s true. Then why bring it up here…?”
Satan didn’t answer immediately. He simply gazed at Asmodeus with a knowing smile, then bared his white teeth.
“Just… since we’re sharing the same pot for now, I thought I might offer a little help.”
“You’ve never been interested in others, whether to interfere or help… So why now…?”
“Oh, that’s true, Asmodeus. But… your situation hasn’t been great lately, has it?”
”…Curse.”
Satan’s words hit the mark, and Asmodeus fell silent. Satan, seeing the “Demon of Lust” in such a state, looked at him with a hint of pity and pulled out a cigarette.
As Satan lit the cigarette, Asmodeus spoke quietly.
“Satan offering help… Anyone would think it’s nonsense. Curse, curse!”
“Well… you can think of it however you like. As an opportunity, or just advice. Because the choice is entirely yours.”
“Opportunity…? Advice…?”
“The key is choice… Let me get to the point. I’m going to give you some information. From your perspective, it might not seem like much, but from mine, it’s an investment. Whether you accept it or not will change things.”
“Satan’s investment, huh…”
“Of course, if you don’t accept it, I’ll have to find someone else. Like Lilith, for example…”
The mention of Lilith was decisive. Until then, Asmodeus had been wavering, but now he looked directly at Satan, his eyes wide open. Though he still harbored some suspicion.
“Curse, curse. Satan, you’re saying some surprising things. I suppose I can at least hear you out?”
“Of course. But if you leak this information or reject it and act on your own… you’ll have to deal with the consequences.”
“Don’t worry, that won’t happen. Curse!”
“Good. Then…”
Satan paused, tapping the demon he was using as a seat. The demon, despite possessing immense power, didn’t dare raise its head. Instead, it seemed honored to be used in such a way, carefully crawling to avoid disturbing Satan.
Soon, Asmodeus and Satan were face to face, much closer than before.
“Before I get to the point, let me tell you an interesting story about the Northern Continent you’re planning to challenge again.”
“An interesting story?”
“A myth, if you will. Sometimes, looking into these can offer a new perspective.”
”?”
Asmodeus tilted his head, clearly puzzled. Satan chuckled softly, then exhaled the smoke from his cigarette. Leaning forward slightly, he interlocked his fingers.
“The myth is called the Great War… It’s the tale of a battle between dragons and humans that once ruled the whole plane.”
Satan’s voice, unlike before, was no longer chilling. It was low and gentle, almost sweet.
Unconsciously, Asmodeus swallowed hard.
The sun, peeking through the dense trees, was now setting in the west, preparing to disappear from view. The red hues of the sunset were deepening, suggesting that nightfall came quickly in the mountains.
The setting sun wasn’t the problem. What lingered in my mind was what Ansol had said just before we entered.
“Brother. It’s tonight. We have to find it by tonight.”
Ansol had insisted we find it by tonight. In other words, if we didn’t, Han-gyeol’s life, which had been hanging by a thread, might be lost.
Though I was anxious, I tried to remain calm.
The Mountain Range Where the Dragon Sleeps is vast and sprawling. Rushing around aimlessly would be the worst possible move. For now, all I could do was hope to reach Han-gyeol’s location safely before the night was over.
“If all else fails… I might have to rely on a miracle.”
After exhaling a shaky breath, I watched Han-gyeol’s unsteady figure as he staggered away. Despite the rugged terrain and the thick fog enveloping the area, he was resolutely making his way to where his soul seemed to belong.
Before long, we had passed the entrance and were fully immersed in the heart of the mountain range.
The dense thickets and towering trees scattered across the rough landscape were typical of any mountainous region, yet there was an unsettling beauty to it all.
Perhaps it was because the area had been untouched by human hands for so long, or maybe it was the persistent fog that lingered everywhere. And then there were the voices…
“I’ll kill you… I’ll kill you all…”
“It’s unfair… so unfair…”
The occasional eerie wails that drifted through the mountains created a chilling, ominous atmosphere. The more I heard them, the more uneasy I felt, though I kept my discomfort hidden. I wasn’t the only one feeling this way, after all.
“Hey, hey, Boseok… you know, this fog seems strange,” Vivian whispered.
“What… what did you say?”
“You heard those weird cries, right? They seem to come from the areas where the fog is thickest. And it makes me feel uneasy. What do you think, Boseok?”
”…I don’t know. I just feel like my senses are dulling… I’ll think about it, but please stop calling me Boseok.”
I overheard Vivian and Hanbyeol whispering behind me. I almost chuckled at the nickname “Boseok” for Hanbyeol, but Vivian’s words were not to be taken lightly. Having once lived as a spider monster in a similar mountain, her instincts couldn’t be ignored.
“Clan Lord, I also heard strange voices while passing through the fog. Crying, and voices saying it’s unfair…”
As I heightened my alertness, Sun-yuwoon, who had been walking beside me, quietly spoke up, having apparently heard the conversation as well.
I replied nonchalantly, as if it were nothing.
“I heard them too. I think it’s some kind of field effect.”
“A field effect, huh. I’ve been counting the intervals since we entered, and the sounds are becoming more frequent. I’m curious about their origin.”
“Who knows? It might be similar to when we explored the Frozen Forest. There was a great war in these mountains long ago, and it could be the restless spirits of those who died.”
“Restless spirits… but why would they appear? According to what you told Ansol earlier, humans won the war… unless it’s the spirits of dragons.”
I shrugged, genuinely unsure. My knowledge ended with the records of the dragon’s curse.
‘Perhaps it’s related to the dragon’s curse… or maybe there’s a story I don’t know.’
Sun-yuwoon nodded and fell silent. I cautioned Vivian and Hanbyeol not to draw unnecessary attention, then resumed following Han-gyeol.
After several more hours of walking, the sun had completely set in the west. The once-vibrant sunset had faded, replaced by the encroaching twilight.
The deeper we ventured into the mountains, the thicker the fog became, now spreading across the entire landscape. Han-gyeol’s figure ahead was barely visible, prompting some clan members to close the gap.
As we moved quietly, a particularly foggy area caught my eye. It was so obscured that even with heightened vision, I couldn’t see clearly. Judging by the circular arrangement of trees and bushes, it seemed to be a clearing.
Then it happened.
A faint breeze brushed my face, chilling me. I raised my hand to signal a halt. But Han-gyeol didn’t stop, disappearing into the clearing.
“Baek Han-gyeol…”
“Wait.”
I grabbed Sun-yuwoon’s arm as he moved to follow, shaking my head.
“I’m not sure, but something feels off inside.”
Sun-yuwoon closed his eyes, trying to heighten his senses, but soon shook his head, unable to detect anything.
Then, the fog from the clearing began to envelop us.
And at that moment…
“Jealous, unfair, jealous, unfair…”
“We fought so hard… how could this happen!”
The eerie cries returned, mingling with the fog. Judging by the sharp intakes of breath around me, I wasn’t the only one who heard them. I snapped back to attention, focusing on the clearing. The fog had thinned considerably.
In the darkness of the clearing, dozens of eyes, glowing a sinister red, were watching us.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
The part about the Dragon’s Sleeping Mountain Range is planned to span four episodes. As you saw today, the main focus is on the demons’ involvement and Suhyeon’s group uncovering small clues about the mountain’s oddities.
Have a peaceful night.
P.S. There are no updates to user information today. The next episode will feature battle content, so I’ll update the user information tomorrow.