Chapter 149: Mask (3)

How could that bastard that have earned the title of Bandit King was still active twenty years later?

The reason was simple.

He had stolen the Heavenly Demon Sacred Sword—our cult’s sacred treasure stored in the depths of the Heavenly Demon Hall, and the sword that would later become Cheon Yura’s beloved weapon.

However, it hadn’t caused much of an issue at the time.

That was because the very person who stole the sword had immediately run to the Cult Leader and confessed exactly how he had managed to steal it.

Our Heavenly Demon, the Cult Leader himself, had laughed heartily at such boldness, pardoned the bastard’s sin, and even requested the Head of the Hidden Shadow So Clan not to kill So Cheon, saying his talents would be wasted otherwise.

Of course, immediately after leaving the Heavenly Demon Hall, the bastard got beaten to a pulp by So Munyak, like a dog on Boknal, and was dragged back home.

And there was a later tale that more than half of the Guardian Lions who guarded the Heavenly Demon Hall were purged in a bloody sweep…

Still.

‘Huh? Wait a second. Does that mean this bastard was one of the reasons the Guardian Order betrayed us?’

Even if So Cheon was an uncontrollable natural disaster, the Guardian Lions’ loyalty back then had undoubtedly been unshakable like steel.

If so many of them were purged in the aftermath…

“Wh-what’s with that scary look? Did I do something that wrong?”

This bastard really had a ghost’s sense for danger—he noticed my murderous intent instantly.

“…Hoo, it’s nothing.”

I shook my head.

The past was the past. What use was it to dig it up now?

But there were things in the present that I still needed to dig into.

“Just spill it. What did you steal?”

“……”

“My subordinates are writing up a report downstairs right now. If you confess before that comes in, I’ll consider leniency.”

Honestly, I was curious.

In my past life, I’d messed around with this bastard like we were glued together, having a grand time.

But there hadn’t been any incident during this time period where he stole something and got stuck with the flamboyant nickname Great Wind Demon Bandit.

‘Either something changed due to a butterfly effect, or an incident I didn’t know about got triggered.’

So Cheon hesitated, then asked cautiously.

“I-If I tell you, will you change my nickname?”

“I’ll consider it. If it’s possible.”

Maybe that gave him a glimmer of hope?

He muttered so quietly it sounded like an ant crawling into its hole.

“…Demonic Soul First Sword…”

Huh?

What the hell was that?

Just from the name, it didn’t sound like an item—it felt more like a title or epithet.

That was when someone else, more shocked than me, suddenly exploded.

“Have you gone mad, Young Master So Cheon?!”

“G-Gu Chil?”

Suddenly, Gu Chil popped out of nowhere and pointed a trembling finger at So Cheon?!

“Oh, Brother Byeok! It’s been a while!”

So Cheon recognized Gu Chil and bowed politely.

But Gu Chil didn’t bother responding and scolded him mercilessly.

“Do you have multiple lives?! How could you steal that?! No, it’s a miracle you’re still breathing! You actually survived and even got a nickname out of it, huh!”

Under that storm of scolding, So Cheon could only lower his head deeply.

But before that—

“Gu Chil, what’s this Demonic Soul First Sword?”

Even I, a former Inner Administrator, had no clue what that was. But Gu Chil did?

Gu Chil glared at So Cheon, let out a deep sigh, then turned to me.

“Young Master, are you familiar with the Demonic Soul Sword?”

“Hmm…”

I searched my memory for anything on the Demonic Soul Sword.

“Ah, the regulation sword of the Demonic Ghost Execution Squad?”

I vaguely remembered it was rarely used, only to execute fellow members.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“So what the hell is the Demonic Soul First Sword?”

Gu Chil answered my question with a hardened face.

“The Demonic Soul First Sword refers to the very first Demonic Soul Sword ever made. Not only is it forbidden for regular members, even squad leaders can’t possess it. Only the Commander of the Demonic Ghost Execution Squad is allowed to own it.”

“…Wait a second.”

I was starting to piece it together.

“Don’t tell me…!”

Seeing my expression, Gu Chil held his forehead and nodded gravely.

“The current Commander of the Demonic Ghost Execution Squad—Cheon Jumun, the Underworld King. It’s his personal weapon.”

My jaw dropped open.

I stared at So Cheon in sheer horror.

“You… How are you still alive?”

He stole the personal weapon of the strongest man in the Cheon Clan, second only to the Cult Leader?

Now I fully understood why Gu Chil had blown a fuse.

And why this bastard ended up with the nickname Wind Demon Blade Thief!

“Well… There were some circumstances…”

“When did you steal it?”

“About half a year ago?”

That would’ve been when I was still buried in the Thousand-Day Pass.

“You somehow survived and even cleaned it up, huh.”

If the incident had become public, I’d have heard about it even in the Thousand-Day Pass.

“Anyway! Please spare me! The Clan Head is furious that a direct family member turned out to be a thief!”

“…How about you just commit ritual suicide?”

Honestly, I felt more sympathy for So Munyak, who must be exploding in rage right now, than for this long-time friend.

“Never!!”

A thief in an assassin clan. Compared to that, me using a sword technique from the Reversed Heaven Clan while being in the Jin Clan felt far more acceptable.

“…Hoo.”

That this guy already had such skill at this point in time was impressive.

But thanks to his congenital thieving tendencies, I’d suffered a lot of indirect damage in my past life, so it was hard to feel sympathetic.

“I’ll try to get it approved higher up, but don’t expect too much.”

“R-really?!”

“Rather than Wind Demon Blade Thief… hmm, how about Flying Blade of Storm and Cloud?”

It felt a bit too light, missing that demonic touch…

“I don’t care! As long as it doesn’t have thief in it!”

Apparently, So Cheon didn’t care at all.

‘He’ll probably go back to the old one anyway sooner or later.’

More importantly, I had a hunch about who originally gave him that nickname.

‘Probably got rejected, right?’

Well, that part was out of my hands now. I could only wish him luck.

And so, the matter with So Cheon came to an end.

‘Hoo, I’ve wasted time for nothing.’*

Although it had been nice seeing him after so long, now was the time to focus elsewhere.

But just then—

“Uh, Yeomyeong.”

“What?”

“Wanna grab a drink together, for old time’s sake?”

Alcohol?

I blinked instinctively.

And without realizing it, my throat made a swallowing motion.

Gulp!

‘I… really haven’t had a drink in a while…’

Now that I’d wrapped up my time in the Thousand-Day Pass, the restrictions on drinking had technically been lifted.

‘But I’ve been way too busy these past couple of months.’

My life in the Naming Hall had been so intense that I hadn’t had a single drink since that time I got treated to one by Cheon Jumyeong.

“Well… I guess…?”

“Haha, that’s the spirit! My true friend, Jin Yeomyeong! You’re still alive and kicking!”

So Cheon and I were instantly back in sync.

It was absolutely not because I gave into temptation.

It was because I didn’t want to miss the breakthrough I had barely managed with the Hidden Shadow So Clan.

Seriously.

***

If there was one good thing about the Naming Hall, it was that it was located near Miok Fortress.

Miok Fortress. Tower of Demonic Heaven.

A place of some significance—it had marked the beginning of my regression.

“Wh-what? Are we even allowed here?”

As direct descendants of the Six Great Demonic Clans, I figured we’d go to a high-end tavern, but even So Cheon hadn’t expected we’d go straight to the Tower of Demonic Heaven.

“Tower of Demonic Heaven is reservation-only. No matter who we are, we can’t just walk in.”

He wasn’t wrong. Even before, one had to book a few days in advance just to step foot in there.

But—

“Don’t worry about it.”

I had a card up my sleeve.

As twilight fell, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, we made our way to the Tower of Demonic Heaven while enjoying the sight of lanterns being lit throughout the bustling streets of Miok Fortress.

The moment we stepped into the first floor of the Tower of Demonic Heaven, a man who looked like a chief administrator gave a courteous bow.

“Welcome, Young Masters. Do you have a reservation?”

“I didn’t make a reservation, but could you pass a message to the host?”

“What message shall I deliver?”

“Tell her that Jin Yeomyeong of the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan asks if he may drink at the Tower of Demonic Heaven today.”

“…!”

The thin-eyed manager’s eyes widened slightly.

“Please wait a moment.”

He quickly disappeared somewhere, then returned in less than half a minute.

“My apologies for the wait. I’ll guide you to the fifth floor. Please follow me.”

“Whew~!”

“F-fifth floor?!”

The last time I came to the Tower of Demonic Heaven with other direct clan heirs, we had only made it to the third floor.

Tower of Demonic Heaven judged its guests by status with absolute precision. Just getting to the fifth floor usually required a year of frequent visits and spending gold like water.

Following the manager’s lead, we climbed to the fifth floor.

And at the entrance stood a glamorous middle-aged beauty dressed in an elegant mix of black and gold, waiting for us.

“Welcome back to the Tower of Demonic Heaven, Young Master Jin Yeomyeong of the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan.”

I instantly knew—she was the host.

“Thank you for indulging my sudden request despite not having a reservation, Host.”

At that, the host covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

“Hoho, it’s only right to treat the one who has taken responsibility for my children with due respect.”

“Children?”

So Cheon, puzzled beside me, asked the question, but I had no intention of explaining.

The Three Demonic Youths.

The very ones the host cherished like her own children and pushed into the Thousand-Day Pass.

‘I invested so much into those guys—it’s only right she treats me like this.’

High-grade elixirs, the best martial arts, and even a fateful encounter at the Nine Moons Blade Hall.

Even if she didn’t know that the three were now cultivators who could manifest Sword Qi, she must’ve known that their lives had been completely transformed.

“If you have a preference, I’ll send in any of the girls you like.”

Honestly, this kind of treatment wasn’t something you got every day.

“Oh! Then I—!”

So Cheon’s face lit up as he was about to respond.

“We’re fine. Just bring quality drinks and food.”

So Cheon shot me a betrayed look, but it didn’t matter.

There would never be another woman in my life besides Cheon Yura.

I had to eliminate anything that could become a disgrace in the future!

“You… you’ve changed. Where did the playboy of the Jin Clan go…?”

“Well, the playboy of the Jin Clan… died once.”

He literally died.

Skull smashed by a burning beam.

“Hoho, what a shame. I was hoping to learn what kind of women our Young Lord prefers.”

The host smiled like she’d expected me to decline.

“And what would happen if you did find out?”

“Who knows? Maybe a terrifying woman might come to know… about your preferences~?”

“Could it be… that terrifying woman’s surname is…?”

“Well then, I’ll bring out the table. Please wait a moment.”

The host completely ignored my question and turned away.

“……”

Truly, she was a host not to be underestimated—worthy of running a top-tier brothel.

***

As we sat surrounded by empty luxury bottles, So Cheon spoke in awe.

“Yeomyeong, man… you can really hold your liquor now.”

With a pleasant buzz rising, I nodded while enjoying the aroma of the alcohol.

“Well, I’ve got internal energy now.”

If your internal energy was strong, you didn’t need to get drunk off your face just to enjoy drinking.

“Can’t believe the same guy who passed out after half a bottle of baijiu is now guzzling it down…”

“What did you just say, punk?”

We kept throwing insults at each other while downing drinks.

One bottle, two, three, four…

Until the moon climbed high into the center of Miok Fortress’s dark night sky, our drinking journey continued.

“Khh! This is great, really. Haven’t had a drop since the Clan Head tore into me…”

Different circumstances aside, I had to admit—it did feel good.

“Hmph.”

When more than ten bottles lay scattered around us, I slowly set down my cup and spoke.

“I thought you’d get to the point by now. Should I wait a little longer?”

With his cheeks flushed red and clearly tipsy, So Cheon blinked and asked.

“Huh? Get to the point? What do you mean?”

“Don’t play dumb after coming all the way here.”

I looked straight at So Cheon.

“You didn’t come to the Naming Hall just because of your nickname, did you?”

“……”

“Your real target… is me. Isn’t that right?”

The moment I said those words—

The cheerful mask So Cheon had been wearing up until now began to crack… as if it had never existed.

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