Episode 540: The Return of the Demon Instructor
At the end of the long carpet, seated on the throne atop the dais, Tarrant narrowed his eyes and nodded faintly.
“So, that’s how it is? Hount was a traitor all along. I never suspected a thing.”
His voice sent a ripple of unease through the assembly of demons standing solemnly in the hall. For centuries, they had unknowingly harbored a nest of traitors within the Black Star, and the shame of it weighed heavily on them.
Aranius, who had been deeply involved in the recent operation and had entrusted Hount with a critical task, was particularly restless. His face was a mask of frustration.
“Damn it! Who would have thought Hount was in league with them?”
He had seen it as a perfect opportunity to eliminate the remnants of the rebellion and rid themselves of Helmut and Sabikang. But now, the situation threatened to backfire on him.
He needed to act quickly to avoid being unjustly implicated. So, he spoke up, saying something he didn’t truly mean.
“Your Majesty, though Sabikang is human, he has completely eradicated the remnants of the rebellion that have plagued our realm for centuries. Moreover, he exposed Hount’s treachery and dealt with him. His contributions are significant. Perhaps he deserves a great reward?”
Tarrant nodded and surveyed the demons.
“What do you all think?”
“We fully agree with Duke Aranius’s suggestion,” they chorused, each fearing the consequences might fall upon them.
Fortunately, Tarrant did not extend Hount’s betrayal to implicate others. Instead, he made a surprising announcement.
“Sabikang, you have resolved a long-standing concern of mine. Though you are human, your abilities command the respect of even the demons. I wish to bestow upon you the title of Count. What do you think?”
Sabikang’s lips curled into a slight smile as he replied, “I am deeply honored.”
“Good. Is there anything else you desire?”
Sabikang looked at Tarrant and spoke, “If it weren’t for Captain Helmut, I would have been in danger as well. I wish to have him as my retainer.”
The demons murmured among themselves. Helmut was known to particularly dislike Sabikang. They expected him to refuse the offer vehemently.
Yet…
“If permitted, I will serve Count Sabikang to the best of my ability,” Helmut said, surprising everyone by accepting Tarrant’s gaze.
Tarrant nodded. “Very well. I will recognize Sir Helmut’s contributions and allow him to reestablish the Helmut Knights. Additionally, I grant Sabikang the title of Count and a portion of the northeastern Muran territory.”
Sabikang and Helmut bowed in unison, declaring, “We pledge our loyalty!”
Tarrant looked at Sabikang with satisfaction. “Sabikang, you will need a new name. Hmm. How about Schwitz von Grental? He was a dear friend of mine long ago.”
The hall buzzed with whispers. Schwitz von Grental had been a grand duke and a close ally of Demon King Tarrant, sacrificing his life during Baritan’s rebellion. Bestowing such a name upon a mere human carried profound significance.
Sabikang bowed his head and replied, “It is a name that resonates with me. Thank you, Your Majesty.”
A subtle, unsettling smile played on Sabikang’s lips as he bowed.
**
Danlichu sat on the edge of a broken pavilion, quietly gazing at his sword. It was stained with blood and an unknown substance, yet it still emitted a cold, serene glow even as night fell.
“Tch, those guys aren’t budging… It’s like they’re under some spell. Can’t we just go and wipe them out now?” grumbled Yangbiung as he approached.
Danlichu twisted his lips slightly in response. “Let’s wait a bit longer. Lady Sa hasn’t given any specific orders yet.”
“If Lady Sa says wait, then we wait,” agreed Gwaedomuyeong, nodding. Sabikang’s reputation had transcended the ordinary, and even Yangbiung fell silent.
Sabikang had come here. The Lord of the Demon Palace himself. How he arrived was a mystery. It was the first time seeing him in person.
And yet…
“He toyed with that demon like a plaything.”
The thought was both awe-inspiring and terrifying. What if such a person were an enemy? The mere thought was chilling.
“Hopefully, Lady Sa will give us some orders before those guys attack again.”
“Let’s trust in Lady Sa,” Danlichu replied quietly, beginning to meticulously clean his sword. As the blade regained its sheen, he instructed one of his subordinates to fetch a whetstone and began sharpening it.
The swordsmanship of the Ilseong Sword Sect emphasized quick draws, making sword maintenance crucial. The effectiveness of the Meteor Sword Technique depended heavily on the sword’s condition.
The soft sound of sharpening filled the relatively quiet courtyard of the Ilseong Sword Sect. As Danlichu set an example, the disciples began to rise and sharpen their swords, preparing for any potential battle.
**
Meanwhile, in the secluded training chamber, an unexpected situation was unfolding.
Moorang furrowed his brow deeply, glancing between Sabikang and Helmut.
“This is maddening,” he sighed, exasperated.
He approached the motionless Sabikang, seated in meditation, and gently shook a bell.
Jingle, jingle…!
He had done this an hour ago as well. The Awakening Bell, meant to rouse consciousness. Yet Sabikang remained unresponsive, though his eyes flickered beneath closed lids.
But this was…
“Even more dangerous!”
Moorang felt a chill run down his spine. Why hadn’t he warned them from the start? Regret gnawed at him, but it was too late.
Sabikang wasn’t waking up. No, he couldn’t wake up. The time for him to awaken had passed.
There was only one reason Sabikang couldn’t wake up. He was completely immersed in that world, mistaking the conscious world for reality.
Normally, this wouldn’t happen. The conscious world is unfamiliar. But this time was different. The method Jonya used on Sabikang was nearly identical, causing him to become possessed by his past memories.
Helmut, too, was caught in Sabikang’s memory of him. The problem was that Sabikang needed to recognize that world as a conscious construct.
“He doesn’t realize it at all. This is a disaster.”
Being possessed by one’s memory is dangerous. Even Jonya avoided possessing his own memory, instead making Sabikang possess him.
Moorang felt cold sweat trickle down his back. If time continued to pass like this…?
The demons waiting outside were the least of his worries. Sabikang was in immediate danger. Helmut, too, was at risk. They could both become trapped in the conscious world, forever comatose.
The longer they stayed, the greater the danger. That’s why he rang the bell, but…
“It’s useless!”
Sabikang was too deeply immersed in the conscious world. The events in the demon realm had significantly shaped his current identity, making him sink quickly into that world.
“What now?”
He couldn’t keep ringing the bell. It would only build resistance. Initially, the sudden bell sound in the conscious world might seem odd, but repeated exposure would make it seem like a dream or hallucination. Eventually, the sound wouldn’t register at all.
The only solution was for a third party to enter Sabikang’s conscious world and awaken him. It had to be done quickly. If Sabikang became too immersed, he might not recognize the third party or even become hostile.
The question was…
“Who should go?”
Moorang stood up abruptly, pacing with an unusually anxious expression. He clasped his hands behind his back, looked up at the ceiling, and then down at his feet.
To an observer, it might seem like he was wasting precious time. But he knew that the more urgent the situation, the more he needed to think calmly.
Sending Danlichu wasn’t ideal. Though he was nearby and could enter the conscious world quickly, he wasn’t close to Sabikang. Sabikang, already immersed, might not recognize someone from the real world.
Moreover, Danlichu couldn’t enter as himself. He would need to possess someone in the conscious world. Ideally, someone familiar with Sabikang and the demon realm.
Of course, no human was familiar with the demon realm. But at least someone with a deep understanding of magic and mana.
Who could it be?
Two people came to mind. One was Sabikang’s closest ally, Maesellan!
Another candidate was Churyang, who had the deepest understanding of mana.
“Which one should I send?”
Moorang stroked his long white beard, lost in deep thought.
After a moment, he turned to look at Sabigang.
He had made up his mind.
He would send both of them.
If things went wrong, he might lose them all, but…
“If things go awry, there’s no saving this land. You know as well as I do, without you, there’s no hope for this realm. I hope you understand my decision.”
Moorang muttered to himself as he walked purposefully toward Sabigang.
To bring back Maesellan and Churyang from afar, he needed teleportation scrolls.
Moorang rummaged through Sabigang’s belongings and pulled out a bundle of scrolls.
Five in total.
One was a spare, just in case.
“At this rate, we’ll run out in no time.”
But what choice did he have?
Sabigang was on the brink of becoming a vegetable!
“I’ll be back in a flash!”
With those words, Moorang tore one of the scrolls in half.
In an instant, his figure vanished as if it had never been there.