Episode 502: The Return of the Demon Sect Leader
“What is it you wish to ask of me?”
Uk Cheong-pung tilted his head, curiosity evident in his voice.
After a long pause, Neung Un-pa finally spoke, his voice filled with contemplation.
“I have a feeling that if I wear this necklace, something will change within me. I can’t explain why, but I am certain I will become stronger.”
Uk Cheong-pung, sensing the leader’s intentions, responded firmly.
“Leader! You mustn’t. Just possessing such a sinister object is dangerous enough…”
“That’s why I’m asking you. If I lose my mind after putting on this necklace, I need you to stop me. By any means necessary.”
“Leader, the ancient sages taught us to avoid temptation from the start. This necklace is no ordinary object. Throw it away immediately!”
“Do you not see or hear the cries of our warriors falling helplessly?”
“Even so, we cannot use something we don’t understand! Please, trust this old man and discard it!”
“How long must we listen to their screams without doing anything?”
Unable to hold back, Neung Un-pa shouted, his eyes bloodshot with emotion. It was unclear whether it was due to the anguish for his dying men or an uncontrollable desire.
“Leader, we don’t know what side effects it might have. Please, heed my words.”
Uk Cheong-pung pleaded once more, recognizing the danger the necklace posed. Having calmed his mind, he could see the necklace more rationally than Neung Un-pa.
After a long silence, Neung Un-pa spoke with difficulty.
“Is that truly the right course of action?”
“It is, Leader!”
”…I understand. I must have been swayed by temptation for a moment.”
Neung Un-pa let out a deep sigh, acknowledging his lapse in judgment. He couldn’t deny that his desire for power had overshadowed his wish to save his subordinates.
‘Yes, if I can’t become stronger on my own, what’s the point? I shouldn’t rely on such a cursed object!’
Just as he resolved to throw the necklace away, a deafening crash echoed through the cave, followed by a series of violent tremors.
The tentacles in the distance thrashed wildly, colliding with the walls, floor, and ceiling.
Then, another explosive sound reverberated, and the tentacles began to retreat rapidly.
“Leader! It seems something has changed!”
“Let’s go!”
“I’ll lead the way!”
As soon as Neung Un-pa responded, Uk Cheong-pung dashed down the path the tentacles had taken. Neung Un-pa followed, his brow furrowed in thought.
‘That sound earlier was definitely the cry of a demon. Has someone defeated it?’
The cave shook again, and the demon’s wail echoed once more. It was clear—someone was driving the fearsome creature into a corner.
‘Who could it be…?’
Just then, a heavy thud resounded, followed by silence. Neung Un-pa and Uk Cheong-pung stopped in their tracks, exchanging glances.
‘Could it be…?’
In the distance, a cheer rose up.
“Waah! Lord Sabikang has arrived!”
“We can return alive now!”
“Lord Sabikang has defeated the monster! Hooray!”
“As expected of Lord Sabikang!”
Uk Cheong-pung’s face lit up with relief.
“Thank goodness! It seems Lord Sabikang heard the news and came!”
“Yes, it seems so.”
While Uk Cheong-pung ran ahead, Neung Un-pa came to a complete stop, clutching the necklace tightly.
‘Again with Sabikang…!’
The whispers from the necklace returned, but this time they were not sweet temptations. They were mocking, derisive.
Why hesitate like a fool?
Do you think Sabikang became strong without using demonic tools?
He, too, possesses items from the demon realm. Even the sword he wields is a demonic weapon.
He’s grown stronger with it, and he uses all sorts of demonic artifacts.
So why do you shun them?
Afraid of losing your mind?
Such a coward doesn’t deserve to be strong.
That’s all you are.
Grinding his teeth, Neung Un-pa listened to the cheers for Sabikang echoing in his ears.
‘Yes, even he became strong by using demonic artifacts!’
Resolute, Neung Un-pa placed the necklace around his neck without hesitation.
In an instant, he felt his entire body stiffen, gasping for air.
‘Did something go wrong?’
But that thought was fleeting.
“Aaaargh!”
A scream tore from his tightly clenched lips as his muscles and veins seemed to twist painfully. Dark red energy coursed through his veins.
“Ugh…!”
How long did he writhe in agony? His vision began to distort, showing mirages that flickered in and out of existence.
Eventually, the dark red energy flowing through his veins dissipated, and a sinister aura emanated from his body.
“Haah.”
With a deep breath, his mind settled. Opening his eyes, Neung Un-pa felt as light as a feather, energy surging through him.
‘Is this it…?’
It was truly exhilarating. Why hadn’t he used the necklace sooner?
Yes, Sabikang had been using it all along, hadn’t he?
“Heh heh heh!”
His low laughter abruptly stopped as he narrowed his eyes, sensing a shadow pass by.
In a flash,
He lunged, swinging his sword with blinding speed.
Slice!
In an instant, the shadow was cleaved in two, revealing a demon he had never seen before.
Soon, more shadows surrounded him.
‘You dare challenge me?’
His sword danced, and with each flash of light, death cries filled the air.
After the frenzied dance, the ground around him was littered with demon corpses.
“Haah, haah…!”
Panting heavily, dark red energy continued to swirl around him.
Sensing movement behind him, Neung Un-pa instinctively leaped.
“Where do you think you’re going!”
Just as his sword was about to pierce the shadow’s neck,
“Leader!”
A familiar, urgent voice reached his ears.
Recognizing the voice, Neung Un-pa halted, shocked to see who his sword was aimed at.
“Uk Cheong-pung!”
“Leader…? What on earth are you doing here…?”
“I… I was mistaken. My apologies.”
“No, it’s not just that…?”
“I said I’m sorry. I mistook you for a demon…”
“Leader! I’m not talking about me, but about those who have fallen here!”
Uk Cheong-pung’s shout made Neung Un-pa flinch and look around.
His eyes widened in horror.
‘What… what is this…!’
He staggered, covering his mouth with his hand.
The bodies strewn around him were not demons but the warriors who had joined the expedition.
Neung Un-pa slowly backed away.
‘How could this be…? Why? I was sure I was fighting demons…!’
His long, white beard trembled.
“Leader, are you alright? Did you truly do this to them?”
“No…! I didn’t…!”
“Then why are they here…?”
Uk Cheong-pung’s gaze fell on Neung Un-pa’s blood-stained sword, from which fresh blood still dripped.
Following his gaze, Neung Un-pa looked at his sword and shook his head in disbelief.
This couldn’t be happening.
It couldn’t be…!
Then,
‘Really? Did you truly not know they weren’t demons?’
A voice from the depths, indistinguishable from the necklace or his own thoughts.
‘I didn’t know. I truly didn’t. To my eyes, they were all demons…!’
As he thought this, Neung Un-pa suddenly recalled the moment he had swung his sword with wild abandon.
The thrill of slicing through the air, the ecstasy of cutting down his foes—it was intoxicating.
It had been so long since he felt such pleasure wielding a sword.
In a flash,
He lunged, swinging his sword with blinding speed.
Slice!
In an instant, the shadow was cleaved in two, revealing a demon he had never seen before.
Soon, more shadows surrounded him.
‘You dare challenge me?’
His sword danced, and with each flash of light, death cries filled the air.
After the frenzied dance of battle, the ground around him was littered with the corpses of monsters.
“Haah, haah…!”
His breath came in ragged gasps, and a dark, crimson aura swirled around him like a storm.
Sensing movement behind him, Neung Un-pa instinctively leaped into action.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Swoosh!
Just as his sword was about to pierce the shadow’s neck—
“Leader!”
A desperate shout rang in his ears.
Recognizing the familiar voice, Neung Un-pa snapped back to his senses and recoiled in shock when he saw who his sword was aimed at.
“Wook, the branch leader!”
“L-Leader…? What on earth are you doing here…?”
“Oh… I made a mistake. My apologies.”
“Mistake or not, this is…?”
“I said I was sorry. I mistook you for a monster…”
“Leader! I’m not talking about me, I’m talking about the ones lying here!”
Wook Cheong-pung’s voice rose in a furious shout, and only then did Neung Un-pa look around, startled.
His eyes widened in horror.
‘What… what is this…?’
He clamped a hand over his mouth, staggering.
The bodies strewn around him.
They were all warriors who had joined the expedition.
Neung Un-pa slowly stepped back.
‘This can’t be…! Why? I was sure I was fighting monsters…!’
His long, white beard trembled.
“Leader, are you alright? Did you really do this to them?”
“N-No…! I didn’t…!”
“Then why are they here…?”
Wook Cheong-pung’s gaze fell on Neung Un-pa’s blood-stained sword.
Blood, still warm, dripped steadily from the blade.
Following Wook Cheong-pung’s gaze, Neung Un-pa looked down at his sword and shook his head in disbelief.
This couldn’t be happening.
It was impossible…!
Then,
‘Is that so? Did you truly not know they weren’t monsters?’
A voice echoed from the depths of his mind, indistinguishable from his own thoughts or the whisper of the amulet around his neck.
‘I didn’t know. I truly didn’t. To my eyes, they were nothing but monsters…!’
As he thought this, Neung Un-pa flinched, his eyes widening.
He remembered.
The moment when he swung his sword with wild abandon!
The exhilaration of slicing through the air with his blade was intoxicating.
And the sensation of cutting through flesh was so thrilling, it bordered on ecstasy.
It had been so long.
Since he had felt such a rush while wielding his sword.