Chapter 575: The Return of the Demon Instructor
Baritan sat in his chair, opening and closing his palm repeatedly.
“This isn’t right,” he muttered, his voice tinged with dissatisfaction.
Hount, standing nearby, asked cautiously, “Is something the matter?”
“I absorbed the evil god of Jakart, but…”
“Were you unable to fully absorb it?”
Baritan nodded silently.
In battles between demons, if one demon kills another by ripping out their heart, they can absorb the evil god that protects their opponent. However, fully absorbing it is another matter entirely. The evil god must be compatible with the one already protecting you.
There are three possible outcomes. The best case is absorbing the opponent’s evil god completely, making it your own protector. The second is absorbing it in a way that strengthens your existing evil gods, which can happen if they are of a similar nature. The worst case is failing to absorb the power, resulting in its complete disappearance, which occurs when the gods are incompatible.
This compatibility is unknown until the attempt is made. It’s beyond human logic, residing in the realm of the divine. You have to try to find out.
Unfortunately, the evil god of Jakart wasn’t quite compatible with Baritan’s. As a result, he managed to absorb only one of the gods, while the rest vanished. Even so, Baritan was still protected by six evil gods, a number not to be underestimated. Typically, a duke is protected by up to six, a grand duke by seven, and a demon king by twelve.
Yet…
“It’s still not enough to face a demon king.”
Therefore, he needed to make the most of Sabigang. It’s incredibly difficult for a demon to eliminate a demon king. But sometimes, an unpredictable human like Sabigang can succeed where others fail. It’s akin to how, occasionally, a human becomes a dragon slayer, defeating a dragon when even other dragons cannot.
This unpredictability is humanity’s only weapon. And right now, Sabigang was the one who might wield it.
Just then, a demon knight approached Hount with a message. Hount frowned slightly before turning to Baritan.
“Sabigang has proposed a secret meeting.”
“For what purpose?”
“It seems the Neungun faction will be involved.”
“The Neungun faction…?”
Baritan’s expression briefly showed surprise before he burst into laughter.
“Ah, the cunning of humans is truly remarkable. So that’s how they want to play it.”
He narrowed his eyes and nodded.
“If that’s the game they want to play, we should join in.”
A cold wind swept across his cheek as he stood at the edge of the cliff.
Deungbu-hyung looked down at the sheer drop below, clouds drifting beneath his feet.
He drew his sword from his waist. It was a black blade, as dark as night, aptly named “Guihondo,” the Ghost Blade. Even at a glance, it was clear this was no ordinary sword.
Not long ago, he would have drooled at the sight of such a weapon. But now, it was just a sword. No matter how precious, a sword could never be a treasure. A tool for harm, even death—how could it be a treasure?
Reflecting on it, he realized how futile his past obsessions had been.
The wind blew again, as if agreeing with his thoughts, gently yet firmly caressing his cheek.
Suddenly, the sword hummed, vibrating in his palm. Deungbu-hyung flinched and looked at the Ghost Blade again. This was a first for him. He had handled many famous swords, but none had resonated so deeply without even channeling energy into it.
Gripping the hilt, he felt an urge to swing it, to cut through anything in his path. But he took a deep breath, calming his racing heart.
“Let’s part ways. It’s time for a clean break.”
The sword vibrated again, as if understanding his words. It was a curious sensation, but he shook his head.
“I’ve decided to let go of my desires. You’re a remarkable sword, but you’re too much for me. I hope you find a worthy owner. I need more time to cultivate myself.”
The sword hummed again, almost petulantly, but Deungbu-hyung just smiled warmly.
“Thank you for your reluctance. Let’s start anew from here.”
He looked out at the distant clouds, the sword still vibrating in his hand, but he paid it no mind. Instead, he murmured softly.
“Thank you, Lady Sa. You’ve taught me so much. But this sword is too much for me. Don’t be too disappointed. I’ve chosen to be reborn, and I trust you’ll understand.”
With that, he lifted the Ghost Blade.
The sword hummed fiercely, but Deungbu-hyung didn’t hesitate.
With a swift motion, he released the sword, watching as it pierced through the clouds and plummeted into the abyss below.
A strong wind blew, and with it came a sense of liberation. In that moment, he realized how freeing it was to let go of desire.
“Hahaha!”
Deungbu-hyung laughed heartily, feeling lighter than ever.
After descending the mountain with ease, Deungbu-hyung began walking slowly to recover his inner strength. A small town lay just ahead.
As he walked, a carriage approached along the road. He stepped aside to let it pass, but to his surprise, it stopped just ahead.
As he drew closer, the carriage door opened, and a plump man stepped out, eyeing Deungbu-hyung’s attire before speaking.
“Are you a martial artist by any chance?”
“I am.”
“Ah, that’s fortunate. Could I ask a favor?”
“What is it?”
The man pointed to the roof of the carriage. “Could you pull out that sword for me?”
“A sword?”
Deungbu-hyung looked up, startled to see the Ghost Blade embedded in the carriage roof.
“How did that sword end up there…?”
“That’s what I’d like to know! It just fell from the sky, nearly giving me a heart attack while I was napping inside. Since you’re a martial artist, could you please remove that ominous thing from above my head? I’ll reward you, and you can keep the sword.”
“You could probably pull it out yourself…”
“No matter how hard I try, it won’t budge. It’s like it’s stuck in a rock.”
With a resigned sigh, Deungbu-hyung agreed. “Alright, I’ll do it.”
“Thank you so much! I won’t forget this kindness!”
Deungbu-hyung leapt onto the carriage roof and grasped the sword’s hilt.
It slid out effortlessly.
“You couldn’t pull this out?”
It seemed odd. Even a child could have managed it with a little effort.
The sword hummed, as if greeting him warmly.
Deungbu-hyung paused, recalling something Sabigang had once said.
“The Ghost Blade has a way of choosing its master.”
“Could this be what he meant?”
The sword hummed in agreement.
As Deungbu-hyung easily extracted the sword, the carriage owner rushed over, bowing repeatedly.
“Thank you, truly! You pulled it out so easily! May I ask your name?”
“I’m just an instructor who teaches children.”
“That’s a noble profession. Here’s a token of my gratitude.”
“I don’t need it.”
Despite his refusal, the man insisted, pressing a hefty pouch of money into Deungbu-hyung’s hands.
After the carriage departed, Deungbu-hyung looked at the Ghost Blade in his hand and sighed deeply.
“Why do you follow me? I’m not your master. No matter how much you cling, it won’t work. Let’s not drag this out. Let’s part ways for good.”
With that, he tossed the sword into the forest.
Even with a gentle throw, the Ghost Blade sliced through the air, disappearing into the trees.
Seeing the scene before him, Deungbu-hyung paused for a moment, admiring it, then continued on his way with a lighter heart.
“Let’s move forward with a truly unburdened mind now.”
**
In the stone chamber of the southern summoning grounds of the Demon Palace, Duke Lucidal sat on the throne, tapping his fingers on the armrest.
A shadow silently emerged beside him and reported, “As you instructed, we monitored Neungwoonpa and Baritan. We’ve discovered evidence of their secret dealings with the Demon Palace.”
Lucidal’s eyes gleamed with interest. “So, they were plotting something after all. I had my suspicions about Baritan, but Neungwoonpa is a surprise.”
A subtle anger simmered beneath his expression. Was there some inherent trait of betrayal in these half-blood demons? Even Helmut had remained loyal to the Demon King for centuries, yet Neungwoonpa, newly turned, was already conspiring?
Humans, he thought, are truly untrustworthy.
The shadow continued, “If they join forces and attack, it will be difficult to fend them off immediately. Perhaps you should inform the Black Fortress.”
Lucidal nodded. “Of course, I’ll inform them.”
He was not one to be overconfident. Caution was his nature. That’s why he had remained in the southern summoning grounds, keeping a close watch on Baritan and Neungwoonpa, rather than hastily attacking the Demon Palace. Only if they showed no signs of treachery would he consider striking.
But now…
“They’ve been caught far too easily,” he mused with a wry smile.
“Report to the Black Fortress immediately and prepare reinforcements to deal with the traitors—”
At that moment, the chamber doors burst open, and a demon knight rushed in.
“Reporting! The Demon Palace is launching a surprise attack on the summoning grounds!”
“What?”
Lucidal frowned, and another demon knight hurried in, kneeling as he shouted, “Reporting! Marquis Baritan and Neungwoonpa are leading their forces, a hundred thousand strong, to assault the summoning grounds!”
“What is this?”
Even then, Lucidal remained seated, questioning the reports. But the next knight’s news made him leap to his feet.
“Reporting! The gate to the Black Fortress is not functioning!”
“Damn it!”
With a furious punch, Lucidal shattered the throne into pieces.