Episode 579: Return to the Demon Sect
Snap!
It happened in the blink of an eye.
Just moments ago, Baritan had held Lucidal’s heart in his hand, but now it was gone.
The event unfolded so quickly that Baritan wondered if he was dreaming.
“Didn’t our lord warn you about the dangers of overindulgence?”
The voice belonged to none other than Helmut.
He had appeared out of nowhere, holding Lucidal’s heart in his hand.
“You scoundrel!”
Baritan shouted, charging at him.
In that instant, Helmut unleashed a crimson aura.
Suddenly, Baritan’s movements seemed sluggish.
Helmut calmly channeled his power into the heart he held.
Sizzle!
In the next moment, the heart crumbled to ash and began to seep into Helmut’s nostrils.
By the time Baritan’s hand reached him, Helmut had already absorbed the heart completely.
Baritan’s eyes widened in shock.
An indescribable fury surged within him.
“You… you took what’s mine…!”
“It was never yours to begin with.”
Helmut’s icy gaze met Baritan’s, and a surge of energy exploded from Baritan’s body.
At that moment, someone stepped in front of Helmut, blocking Baritan’s path.
“If your candy’s been snatched, why not accept it like a true demon and step back?”
“What did you say?”
“Didn’t you enjoy the candy you took from me last time?”
The words were directed at Jakart.
Baritan’s cheek twitched.
Amidst the sudden turn of events, Neung Unpa watched with folded arms, intrigued.
Finally, Baritan let out a cold laugh and turned away, tossing his words over his shoulder.
“Well, finders keepers, I suppose.”
“Thanks for understanding.”
As Sabi Kang spoke, Baritan narrowed his eyes before walking away.
He wanted nothing more than to crush these bothersome insects right then and there, but he held back.
The Demon King was no easy opponent.
He would use them to his advantage and deal with them later.
Yes, eventually, it would all be his.
Though it felt like he had cooked a meal only for a dog to eat it, once the war was over, that dog would be his to feast upon.
Baritan left without a second thought.
**
The martial world was abuzz with excitement.
Though it had been a turbulent time, the latest rumors brought a rare glimmer of hope.
The news that the Demonic Palace had defeated a core army of the demons!
After killing Jakart, they had now taken down Lucidal.
Though the Demonic Palace had suffered losses, it was a streak of victories.
“The Demonic Palace is our last hope!”
“Who would deny it? Without Lord Sabi Kang, our world would be in ruins by now.”
“Ruins would be a blessing. There might not be anyone left alive.”
“True enough.”
In the tavern, people gathered in groups, eagerly discussing the Demonic Palace’s triumph over Duke Lucidal.
“Have you heard the latest rumor?”
“What rumor?”
“They say the Demonic Palace’s victory was thanks to a traitor among the demons.”
“A traitor? You mean that ‘Helmut’ fellow?”
“Well, he helped, but there’s someone else pretending to be on the Demon King’s side while aiding the Demonic Palace.”
“Really? Who?”
“I don’t know. But they say this demon has rebelled even in the demon realm!”
“Wow! Even demons have their own agendas!”
“That’s why we must unite as martial artists. There are still lunatics shouting, ‘Your Majesty the Demon King, we were wrong. Please forgive us.’”
“Ugh, those fools should all perish!”
“Exactly! It reminds me of that madman who said he’d forgive even if his daughter was violated by demons.”
Meanwhile, in a corner of the tavern, two figures quietly ate, listening to the chatter.
One of them wasn’t human.
It was Neung Unpa and Gu Yoon.
Neung Unpa smiled faintly.
“Rumors about Baritan are spreading.”
“Indeed. No matter how much the Demonic Palace tries to keep it quiet, rumors travel fast.”
Gu Yoon’s words made Neung Unpa chuckle.
“Perhaps it’s intentional, a strategy by the military.”
Gu Yoon merely offered a wry smile.
Neung Unpa knew that smile meant agreement.
His guess was mostly correct.
Baritan’s betrayal needed to be exposed to awaken the Demon King in the Black Castle.
Eventually, the Demon King had to be drawn out of the Black Castle.
Only then could they have a fighting chance.
The goal was to make the Demon King eliminate Baritan before the Demonic Palace.
Of course, it would be even better if Baritan took care of the Demon King.
Either way, one of them had to be removed through a strategy of using one enemy to defeat another.
And then the real battle would begin.
Ideally, Neung Unpa would be involved in this two-sided conflict…
“It’s a dilemma.”
Neung Unpa’s sudden remark made Gu Yoon tilt his head in curiosity.
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll have to throw myself into this chaos.”
Gu Yoon was inwardly surprised but maintained a calm demeanor.
“Why do you think that?”
“Because you don’t trust me.”
“I do trust you.”
“To do what? To obediently leave for the demon realm if I become the Demon King?”
“Isn’t that so?”
Neung Unpa and Gu Yoon’s gazes intertwined silently.
Neung Unpa chuckled.
“You’re quite something. Yes, I’ll leave. Without hesitation.”
Neung Unpa’s eyes swept over the bustling tavern.
His gaze seemed filled with a longing, as if he already missed this place, or perhaps a desire to have everyone under his command.
And whenever the name Sabi Kang was mentioned, his eyes flickered with a mix of jealousy and hatred.
Gu Yoon pretended not to notice and spoke in a calm voice.
“I will do my utmost to support you, my lord. To ensure you ascend to the throne of the Demon King.”
Neung Unpa nodded.
“Of course. You’re my strategist.”
Neung Unpa’s gaze turned to the window.
The sunset painted the sky in hues of red.
**
The sky was ablaze with the colors of sunset.
Mu Rang watched the sunset from a pavilion.
“It’s beautiful.”
A clear voice interrupted his thoughts, and he turned to see Mae Seolran approaching.
The aura emanating from her was extraordinary.
Mu Rang could tell.
She had grown stronger.
And she had matured.
There was a newfound grace about her.
It had been a while since he had seen someone change so distinctly.
Seeing someone transform positively was always a joy.
In that sense, Mae Seolran was always a pleasant presence for Mu Rang.
“You’ve changed.”
“The elixir from Lord Jin worked wonders.”
“I see.”
Mu Rang nodded.
He didn’t want to dismiss Jin Baek’s efforts, so he said no more, but his words weren’t just about her martial prowess.
She must have gained another insight while taking the elixir.
Mae Seolran took a deep breath, gazing at the sunset.
She glanced at Mu Rang and asked,
“Why is it that sunsets are so beautiful, yet they also feel so lonely?”
“Perhaps because we all know that beauty is fleeting. After it fades, darkness follows.”
“That’s true.”
“But that darkness will pass, and dawn will surely come. We live with hope as our staff.”
“You’re right.”
“All humans must remember. Despair and hope don’t come from the same direction. We often think despair is the end. But if we wait, hope will rise from the opposite side. In these trying times, people cry out in despair because they only seek hope in that direction.”
“It’s a bit hard to grasp.”
Mu Rang looked at Mae Seolran and grinned.
“That’s what knowing is. Knowing is like that. The moment you think you know, you actually don’t.”
Mae Seolran smiled silently.
The two of them watched the sunset in silence for a long time.
Sensing a presence, Mae Seolran turned to see Ong Gi-seung and Heuk-gwi approaching the pavilion.
The two men bowed to Mae Seolran and Mu Rang.
“Greetings to the Chief and the Lord.”
Mae Seolran asked with a welcoming expression,
“What brings you two here?”
She had been worried about them.
They had volunteered to sit out the operation against Duke Lucidal.
She wondered if something was wrong.
But seeing them together, she decided to ask.
Ong Gi-seung and Heuk-gwi exchanged a glance, then spoke to Mu Rang with serious expressions.
“We have something important to discuss with you, my lord.”
“With me?”
Mu Rang furrowed his brow, surprised, and looked at the two men.
Ong Gi-seung and Heuk-gwi exchanged another look, then spoke in unison, as if they had made up their minds.
“Yes.”
**
“Gasp!”
Count Jacock bolted upright in bed.
He clutched his forehead, panting heavily.
A terrible nightmare.
No, it was a prophecy.
“Damn it…! This can’t be…!”
Grinding his teeth, he tried to calm his racing heart and recall the dream.
His expression twisted into one of utter despair.
“What should I do?”
He was drenched in sweat, his entire body soaked.
“Maybe I should go see Adler and discuss this?”
But he quickly shook his head.
Adler was more close-minded than he had anticipated.
He didn’t have the confidence to persuade or make him understand.
“Is this why I’ve been feeling so uneasy lately?”
It was worse than he thought.
The ominous feeling wasn’t about the fate of the demons, but his own!
He got up from the bed and began to pace.
He seriously considered leaving the Black Castle immediately.
If he were to leave, where would he go?
“Damn it!”
After pacing for a while, he made up his mind and grabbed his coat.
No matter how he looked at it, leaving the Black Castle seemed the safest option.
There was no time to waste.
If a prophecy had come to him, it meant the disaster was imminent.
He needed to act quickly.
Just as Jakok was about to open the door, it happened.
“Gah!”
He nearly fell back in shock, almost landing on his rear.
To his surprise, standing right at the door was the last person he wanted to see.
“Where do you think you’re going at this hour?”
A deep voice resonated.
“Y-Your Majesty!”
Jakok quickly dropped to his knees, shouting.
The Demon King, Tarrant, gave a faint smile as he walked past him and sat at the table.
“Why so startled? Anyone would think I was some kind of ghost.”
“What could possibly startle me about a mere human?”
“So, you admit there’s a reason to be startled by me?”
Tarrant asked in a gentle voice.
But his eyes held a chilling menace.