Chapter 143: The True Identity of the Four Elders (2)

“Ha, haha… hahahahaha….”

How does it feel, facing your own dark past head-on?

I didn’t know who had written this book, but I could at least tell they were a chivalrous warrior upholding truth and justice.

“I have no idea… what you’re talking about.”

Oh? You’re going to endure this?

I continued reading the next part aloud.

“A year later, the previous Young Cult Leader returned. But this crazy bastard didn’t come back alone—he had the Saintess of the Blood Cult with him, calling her his bride—”

“That’s enough, junior brother.”

In an instant, Cheon Jeonmun’s voice changed into that of the Cult Leader I knew.

I immediately bowed before Cheon Jeonmun and lowered my head.

“I greet the Cult Leader.”

***

The Poisonous Demon Lord, Cheon Jeonmun.

It hadn’t been long since I realized he was the Cult Leader.

At first, there was nothing suspicious about him.

Even in my past life, he had operated as a member of the Seven Elders’ Assembly. He hadn’t directly intervened in the Cheon Clan’s civil war, but he had been moving with considerable energy.

Still, for someone supposedly just an elder of the Cheon Clan, the authority and information he wielded were far too dangerous.

Especially when he casually revealed information even other elders didn’t know, it left a strong sense of unease.

I became certain of his identity when I got hold of this booklet inside the Research Cave.

The Poisonous Demon Lord of the Cheon Clan, Cheon Jeonmun… was actually the Cult Leader’s alternate identity.

In other words, he was what you’d call a “side account”!

Crack! Creak!

I didn’t know what kind of Bone-Contraction Technique he had mastered, but Cheon Jeonmun’s body grotesquely twisted for a moment.

And soon enough, he returned to the appearance of the Cult Leader I knew—Cheon Taejong.

No, to be precise…

He looked younger?

‘This isn’t just in my head. He really does look younger than before!’

Even if the Cult Leader had reached a state of reversing aging, could he really regress in years like this?

While I pondered that question—

Cheon Taejong, now fully restored to his Cult Leader form, opened his mouth.

“Looking back, I suppose I did leave quite a few clues.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

In truth, he’d practically told me outright.

“From the start, the fact that someone with both eyes used the alias ‘One-Eyed Poisonous Demonic Warlord’ was suspicious.”

“Well, yes, I suppose it would be.”

If one interpreted “One-Eyed Poisonous Demonic Warlord” as referring to the Cult Leader’s hidden identity, it kind of made sense.

“So? What’s your reason for dragging out this embarrassing truth of mine?”

The Cult Leader smiled faintly as he subtly threatened me.

“If it’s some petty reason, I may be quite furious this time.”

His words were undoubtedly threatening, but I realized he wasn’t truly angry.

Because the one who had placed this book in my hands in the first place… was none other than the Cult Leader himself.

There were plenty of reasons I could offer, sure.

But there was only one thing I needed to say to the Cult Leader right now.

Thud!

“Cult Leader.”

“Speak, junior brother.”

With my head bowed to the floor, I got straight to the point.

Even if it might cost me my life in an instant!

“Please give me your daughter.”

“…What?”

Cheon Taejong’s expression froze.

Prepared to lose my head at any moment, I grit my teeth and pressed on.

“I’m asking you to give me the position of the Demonic Faction Lord.”

***

The Cult Leader had no intention of marrying Cheon Yura off to me.

But for some reason, he changed his mind and gave me a chance through this incident.

He hadn’t said it directly, but since I had seized that opportunity, I had to firmly seal it now.

“You wish to become the Demonic Faction Lord.”

I raised my guard to endure the pressure I knew would soon come from the Cult Leader.

My condition was poor, and my Dantian was nearly empty.

If I faced the Cult Leader’s presence barehanded like this, I really could die.

However, surprisingly, the Cult Leader didn’t show any anger.

He simply looked curious as he asked me,

“Why are you so obsessed with Yura?”

“…What do you mean?”

“What you’ve done up to this point goes beyond mere ambition.”

Of course it did.

I didn’t want Cheon Yura for power.

I turned against the Cheon Clan, stormed the Pa Clan’s territory, and risked my life against the strongest demonic swordsman.

Even after learning the truth, I hadn’t backed down from my feelings.

“Obsession, madness, love and hate. Those are the emotions you’ve shown toward Yura thus far.”

I quietly listened to the Cult Leader’s words.

“Looking at how you’re risking your life now just to gain her… it’s clear.”

“Yes, I am risking my life to make this request of you.”

“That’s why I’m curious. What sort of relationship did you form with Yura to make you so obsessed?”

Of course, I couldn’t tell the Cult Leader about my past life.

But I could at least clearly state the feelings I held now.

“I love her.”

“……”

“I do not intend to make her into a solitary, supreme ruler.”

“……”

“I will make her a Cult Leader loved by all. Even if that goes against your will, Cult Leader.”

At the ruins of the former Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden, Han Muyeon of the Second Order once rebuked me.

He said what I was doing was treason.

He warned that if the Cheon Clan found out, they’d tear me to pieces.

And now…

I had revealed that treacherous heart before the peak of the Cheon Clan—the Cult Leader himself.

Before the absolute being who sought to mold Cheon Yura into the next supreme ruler.

“A supreme being of compassion, is it?”

I didn’t know what expression or thoughts the Cult Leader was wearing right now.

But in the same calm tone as always, he continued speaking.

“If I were to interfere, what then?”

“I would dare to defy the heavens.”

In that moment, I gave up on surviving.

“Even if the mongrels of the Heaven-Defying Society come charging in—be it the Ten Heavenly Lords or whatever—I will slaughter them all with these hands and raise the Heavenly Demon Cult to solid ground.”

I raised my head and met the Cult Leader’s gaze.

“So please, trust me and give me your daughter.”

***

I didn’t know anymore.

I’d made plenty of impulsive decisions before.

But never had I thrown myself into something so completely, swept away by a surge of emotion like this.

How would the Cult Leader respond?

“Kuh!”

My desperate plea, made at the cost of my life—

“Kuh, kuhuhuh!”

—was answered with the Cult Leader’s laughter.

“Kahahahaha! Uwahahahahaha!!”

No, this wasn’t laughter—it was a full-on outburst of mad laughter.

Rumble…!

Can the mere sound of a person laughing make the heavens and earth tremble?

Right now, the answer was right before my eyes.

“Graaaaaah!”

“Aaaaagh!”

From every direction in the Iron Steed Prison Cave came screams and groans of agony.

Even the guardian warriors and my subordinates in the distance were crouched on the ground, covering their ears and shaking violently.

Tremble, tremble!

I had expected it, but the Cult Leader’s presence was still far beyond what I could withstand.

No—at this point, I wasn’t even sure that I could face him even if I were at my peak.

The Cult Leader’s wild laughter lasted for nearly a full minute.

“Kuh… huhuhuhu… you’re interesting. Truly interesting, junior brother.”

“I didn’t say it to amuse you, though.”

“Haha, I know! But what can I do if it’s amusing? Puhehe…”

Surprisingly, the Cult Leader didn’t seem displeased.

But I couldn’t lower my guard. That expression could turn at any moment, like flipping a hand.

“Junior brother.”

“Please speak.”

“Do you know why I wish to mold Yura into a solitary supreme being?”

I answered without hesitation.

“Because you believed that only an unwavering, iron-blooded sovereign could endure the chaos to come.”

“…You know me well. And yet, despite that, you still intend to defy me?”

Again, I didn’t hesitate.

“Because I know it’s the wrong answer.”

For the first time, the Cult Leader’s expression changed.

“The wrong answer?”

Indeed, it was the greatest mistake in the world.

To create a lonely supreme sovereign, the Cult Leader had chosen Han Mubaek—someone Yura had never even met—as the Demonic Faction Lord.

That alone was maddening.

He had destroyed the support base that should have stood behind her through the civil war within the Cheon Clan.

Above all, Cheon Yura’s nature itself didn’t suit that image of a ruler.

Seeing something in my eyes, the Cult Leader let out a rare sigh.

“You truly believe that.”

Now—this was the turning point.

If the Cult Leader stuck to his will, I would lose my head.

If he accepted even a sliver of my resolve, then I would live.

And the result—

“You really are a harmful creature to Yura.”

‘So I failed?’

While I closed my eyes, bracing for the Cult Leader’s judgment—

He spoke unexpected words.

“The reason I want to shape Yura that way… Your explanation is part of it. But more than that, it’s because I don’t want her to repeat the flow of history.”

I slowly lifted my head at that.

“What do you mean?”

“Historically, every Heavenly Demon met a tragic end because of their romantic relationships.”

“…?!”

What was that supposed to mean?

As I blinked in disbelief, the Cult Leader continued with a bitter expression.

“The Second Heavenly Demon and the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden Yoo So. Myself, the Third Heavenly Demon, and that woman from the Blood Cult. And… even the First Heavenly Demon and the Great Commander of that era.”

What?!

Did he just drop something impossible to ignore?!

“I feared Yura would follow the same path. Especially because she has the qualities to succeed the name of the Heavenly Demon. Even if it sounds like some ridiculous fate theory… I can’t help it.”

“……”

Honestly, looking at it from a result-oriented perspective… the future history had indeed unfolded just as the Cult Leader predicted.

The Demonic Faction Lord he had paired with her—Han Mubaek—ultimately destroyed Cheon Yura’s life.

On top of that—

[I hope your ending will be different from ours.]

Back when I was training in the Demonic Soul-Spirit Merger Flow, the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden Yoo So had said those words to me.

I hadn’t thought much of them at the time, but now they weighed heavily on me.

‘So Yoo So and the Second Heavenly Demon didn’t end well either.’

I mean, if she remained as a lingering soul for hundreds of years in that distant Eastern Sea Fortress… you could definitely piece things together.

“Above all, the fact that you’re learning the Heavenly Record Demonic Sword made my resolve even firmer.”

My eyes widened.

“Huh?”

“The sword created to slay the Heavenly Demon. That sword art, reappearing after centuries—what clearer sign could there be?”

“……”

This… this came back to bite me like this?

Master?!

Masteeeeeer!

I found myself cursing my master, who had taught me the Heavenly Record Demonic Sword.

Well, I wasn’t truly blaming him—after all, it was my own choice.

Still!

“But it’s true that your words have stirred something in me.”

Was this deceit? Or sincerity?

While I was still pondering that—

The Cult Leader dropped a bombshell of a statement.  

“If you don’t cross the line with Yura, I won’t particularly interfere with whatever else you do.”

“……!”

“But, if you truly wish to be with Yura.”

If I wish to?

The Cult Leader didn’t speak right away but paused for a moment.

Why stop in the middle of a sentence like that? My heart sank.

“Then prove your worth to me.”

“If you say ‘worth’…”

I had already proven my martial prowess by standing against the Sword Demon.

But this worth he was referring to now was clearly not about martial strength.

“The worth that you won’t repeat the tragedy of the previous generation. The worth to lead the next generation of the Heavenly Demon Cult. And… the worth to make Yura happy.”

I could feel the will behind his words—he would allow no room for compromise.

“The deadline is five years. Can you do it?”

It was disgustingly abstract, and terribly difficult to prove.

But I had to do it.

That’s what my reincarnation had been for.

“I assume refusal won’t be tolerated.”

“Of course not.”

If I said I couldn’t do it here, I’d lose my head on the spot.

I knelt on one knee and placed my fists together.

“I will prove I am worthy—no matter what.”

“I’ll be watching.”

With those words, the Cult Leader turned around.

Surely, today’s events had been an enormous concession on his part.

“Um, but… if I may.”

“What now? I’ve felt this for a while, but you do tend to add unnecessary comments.”

“My apologies. But this is something I must ask.”

With a solemn expression, I called out to my future father-in-law’s back.

“If I do cross the line with Lady Yura… what happens then?”

“…….”

The moment the Cult Leader mechanically turned his neck at those words—

…I learned, for the first time, that the Cult Leader could wear the expression of a wrathful demon.

“Do you want to know?”

“…….”

“Shall I tell you?”

“I’ll decline.”

The killing intent laced with the Heavenly Demon’s sincerity… was simply too horrific and terrifying.

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