Chapter 2: Inner Administrator Jin Yeomyung (2)

“Could you seduce me a little?”

“…….”

Hmm.

Silence settled in the Grand Pavilion.

And it kept lingering in the air.

As I stood dumbfounded, mouth slightly agape, the Cult Leader frowned and shouted at me.

“Hey, when someone talks to you, shouldn’t you at least give a reply?”

“Ah, y-yes…”

Still trying to process what I had just heard, I slowly rubbed the area below my ear.

“Hmm. When did my ears get hit with a sound-based technique?”

“Shall I rip your ears off? At your level as Inner Administrator, you could probably survive even in this state.”

A terrifying killing intent burst from her body.

Goosebumps prickled across my skin.

“I apologize, Cult Leader. That was a slip of the tongue.”

The Cult Leader let out a soft sigh and spoke.

“That was a joke just now. Even if it’s our final meeting, I suppose I spoke too lightly.”

I chuckled quietly.

“I don’t mind if you speak lightly. No, I actually prefer it this way. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen this human side of you, Cult Leader.”

Flinch!

“R-Really?”

“Yes, it’s true.”

The last of the last.

Maybe her heart had softened with death so close at hand?

She seemed to have decided to cast off some of the rigid decorum between ruler and vassal.

“Haa, fine. From now on, there’s no need to call me Cult Leader. Speak casually.”

Did she think the weight of formal ranks didn’t suit the moment?

Well, the atmosphere had turned strange anyway.

Then… what should I call her?

“Hmm, then… Miss Cheon Yura?”

“…….”

“…….”

Once again, silence fell over the hall.

With just that one sentence, the Cult Leader’s face—and even her entire body—froze like a statue.

At that moment, I had no doubt she’d swing her hand to take off my head.

But surprisingly, her reaction was completely different from what I expected.

She slowly brought both hands to cover her mouth.

“That’s a bit… embarrassing.”

“…….”

For a brief moment,

I stared blankly at her.

Gone was the dignity and charisma I’d always seen—before me now was simply a girl.

‘She’s beautiful.’

It had been twenty years since I first saw her, and yet she hadn’t changed much, only grown slightly more mature.

‘No, that’s not right.’

As I shook my head, her voice continued.

“I’ve long since passed the age of thirty. The title ‘Miss’… doesn’t suit me.”

To be honest, she was closer to forty than thirty.

But pointing that out might literally get me killed, so I quickly swallowed the thought and changed the subject.

“I suppose I’m a little embarrassed too. I’ll just go back to calling you Cult Leader.”

“…Do as you like.”

That awkward, slightly strange air between us faded.

I let out a sigh.

“If I didn’t mishear just now… that means you want me to go after the title of Demonic Faction Lord, correct?”

“Interpretations can say more than the original words, but sure, let’s say that’s what I meant.”

For some reason, her tone sounded slightly displeased.

But I ignored that and asked her sincerely.

“Why go out of your way?”

“…….”

She gave no answer to that question.

“I’m confident I can stop Han Mubaek from becoming the Demonic Faction Lord. But becoming your partner… that’s a different matter.”

With wounded eyes, she spoke.

“Are you saying… you don’t like me?”

Even as she looked at me with a gaze full of pleading, I remained firm.

“To be honest, you know as well as I do that it’s near impossible.”

The moment those words cut deep, her face twisted in pain.

“Kh!”

“Love requires both people to want it. And honestly, thinking back to your days as the Young Cult Leader…”

How was anyone supposed to win your heart when you not only rejected men but smashed them into pieces?

“You were a tyrant no one could stop back then.”

She’d actually toned down after becoming Cult Leader and closing off her heart, but back then, seriously… whew!

“To be blunt, one of the biggest reasons Han Mubaek made it to Demonic Faction Lord was because he was the only one who could endure your temper, wasn’t it?”

“…….”

Her lips immediately jutted out.

Sure, the real turning point was the massive achievements Han Mubaek brought from outside—but what I said wasn’t wrong either.

I, who had the backing of a prestigious family, lost to Han Mubaek for a simple reason.

I’d been leeching off my family and had little interest in romance.

More importantly, I had no reason to cater to the temper of the ill-tempered Cult Leader.

She whipped her head away.

“Hmph. Forget it if you don’t want to. My pride as Cult Leader isn’t so low that I’d beg someone like you.”

Her pouty face practically shouted, ‘I’m sulking,’ and I let out an involuntary chuckle.

For some reason, she looked… rather cute.

“Who said it was impossible?”

As I softly laughed and shook my head, her eyes subtly turned toward me.

“Romance often starts when someone interested in love sparks those feelings in someone who isn’t.”

If both sides are interested, the relationship progresses quickly. If not, then time and effort are needed to move the other’s heart.

And yes, that process is likely to be described as desperate and pathetic nine times out of ten.

“For you, Cult Leader, that much effort is no trouble at all.”

“R-Really?”

Her expression lightened just a bit.

Even if a proper romance was impossible, at the very least, politically winning the title of Demonic Faction Lord was within reach.

But it didn’t seem like what she meant now was a political proposal for me to approach her.

‘Honestly… it’s not like I never had feelings for her.’

I spoke to her.

“If you promise me one thing, I’ll give it a shot.”

“What is it?”

“Swear that you’ll forgive me even if I speak harshly about your past. And if possible, tell me some of your weaknesses.”

“……Ha.”

She looked incredulous.

“You want me to expose the shameful parts of my past to someone like you?”

“If you don’t, I can’t guarantee I’ll succeed in courting you. And really, what does it matter? Is there even a reason to be proud at this point?”

“E-Even so…”

“Then forget it. I’m not the one who’s desperate here.”

Despite the absurd premise of talking about reincarnation, the Cult Leader earnestly listened to what I had to say.

Or maybe… it was just because she believed this would be our last conversation.

Perhaps because of that context, she narrowed her eyes and said,

“If even a word of this leaks out, I’ll stake everything I have to kill you, Jin Yeomyung.”

“Are you talking to your past self with that threat?”

“Shut up! I’ll say it once, so listen carefully.”

Despite us being the only two alive in this vast Grand Pavilion, she deliberately used sound transmission to deliver her message.

—……

“Oh.”

—……

“Uh, hmm!”

—……

“Ahem-hem!”

After about half a quarter of an hour of silent sound transmission, her face had turned red with embarrassment.

With a reluctant expression, I said,

“You really were something back in the day.”

“S-Shut up!”

Even with the experience of reincarnation, the grand saga of the Cult Leader’s youth left me speechless. It was that outrageous.

Of course, the issue was that it wasn’t in a positive direction.

“In any case, hearing about your stormy youth has been quite the revelation. I think it’ll help me later on…”

“Wait.”

Just when I thought she might finally be ready to kill me—

Her cold, stiff voice instantly turned the loosened atmosphere back to tension.

“It seems… our conversation ends here.”

“……!”

“Uninvited guests have arrived at the entrance of the Heavenly Demon Pavilion.”

In other words—

All of our defenses had been broken by the righteous Murim Alliance’s assault.

The Cult Leader slowly rose from her seat.

And with a strange smile, she asked,

“So? Should I at least make your final moment a comfortable one?”

“I’ll pass. I’d rather die with every detail burned into my eyes.”

“Fufufu… is that so?”

With those words, the two of us waited quietly for our enemies to make their grand entrance.

Not long after—

The thick entrance of the Heavenly Demon Pavilion shattered, and hundreds of martial artists flooded in.

“To think I would live to witness the fall of the Demonic Cult in my lifetime. What a glorious day this is.”

At the lead stood an old man with sharp features and a lean build, his eyes glaring our way.

“Is that the Sword Supreme Sage?”

“Yes, Cult Leader.”

The Leader of the Righteous Murim Alliance—Sword Supreme Sage Gwan Hyun.

But he wasn’t the only one to catch our eye.

With a fierce smile, the Cult Leader glared at the person standing beside him.

“So, my loathsome husband returns.”

My eyes followed hers.

And at the end of that gaze—

Stood the Demonic Faction Lord, Han Mubaek.

Grin!

Even I had to admit it—Han Mubaek was devilishly handsome, and he simply flashed his brilliant white teeth in response.

I couldn’t take it and snapped at the Sword Supreme Saint.

“Alliance Leader, do you even know who you’re standing next to right now?”

“Of course!”

The Sword Supreme Saint answered with confidence and stepped forward, shouting.

“The Heavenly Divine Dragon has endured disgrace for the glory of the Central Plains! The world shall never forget his achievements and sacrifices!”

“Ha.”

“Heavenly Divine Dragon?”

Both the Cult Leader and I scoffed at the same time.

To think that, even while operating as the Demonic Faction Lord, he’d been making connections with the righteous side—and even picked up such a grandiose title!

“Your talent for manipulation is astounding. I’m honestly impressed.”

To that, Han Mubaek turned toward the Cult Leader and shouted ‘righteously.’

“Demonic Grandmaster, Heartless Demonic Empress! It’s time you paid for all the sins you’ve committed!”

She cocked her head to the side.

“Funny. Isn’t it rich for someone who once fed me a poison so deadly even the Tang Clan recoiled in fear, to talk about justice?”

“Everything I did was for the Central Plains.”

“You mean for the Heaven-Defying Society.”

Flinch!

Though he had been standing tall under her mocking tone, Han Mubaek’s shoulders twitched slightly.

The martial artists behind him tilted their heads in confusion.

“Heaven-Defying Society?”

“What’s that?”

Even I had never heard the name before. But Han Mubaek, with a visibly guilty face, shouted in a panic.

“Alliance Leader, everyone! Don’t be fooled by the witch’s lies. She’s trying to sow discord among us one last time with her wicked schemes!”

The Sword Supreme Saint stepped in to cover for him.

“Hrmm. That must be it. The words of the Demonic Cult are not even worth considering.”

“R-Right!”

“Yes, if even the Alliance Leader says so…”

Only then did the murmuring from the rear settle down.

Unfortunately, the key the Cult Leader had thrown to reveal his true identity had been brushed aside without a second thought.

And Han Mubaek… continued to wag his snake-like tongue.

“The Cult Leader’s life is already hanging by a thread. There’s no need for a one-on-one duel. Just strike with your full force and finish it.”

“Hmm…”

The Sword Supreme Saint hesitated slightly at those words.

Capturing the Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult—who was already as good as incapacitated—by himself would bring him unimaginable fame across the Central Plains.

Greed tempted him for a brief moment, but, as a well-trained Taoist from Mount Wudang, the Sword Supreme Saint overcame it.

As the enemies formed a wide encirclement, I clicked my tongue inwardly.

‘Tch.’

If they’d insisted on a one-on-one duel, we might’ve had a chance.

A shame.

“The man beside her is the Inner Administrator of the Demonic Cult. Taking him down would be another great achievement.”

Damn it.

Han Mubaek now turned his attention toward me.

I drew my sword as I stood by the Cult Leader’s side.

It was a treasured blade my father had tossed to me—saying to use it in place of my younger brother, who had become the family head.

The Cult Leader also drew her sword—the Heavenly Demon Sacred Sword, a holy relic of the Cult—and pointed it at the enemies.

“I may be poisoned and weakened, but someone like you isn’t beyond me. I can handle this on my own.”

“You boast too much, Cult Leader.”

“Do I? Whether it’s boasting or not, you’ll see for yourselves soon enough.”

Hwaruk!

The Heavenly Demon Sacred Sword left her hand, radiating a dark flame-like demonic energy.

The expressions of the Sword Supreme Saint and others hardened instantly.

“She still had that much strength left?!”

And that wasn’t the end.

The sword split into twelve blade shadows and began circling around her.

“Heaven-Slaying Demonic Sword Art!”

If the Heavenly Demon Art was the greatest martial art of the demonic world, then the greatest sword technique was the Heaven-Slaying Demonic Sword Art.

The Sword Supreme Saint, now flustered, drew his sword and gave the order to attack.

“Golden Dragon Heavenly Sword Squad! Attack the minions of the Demonic Cult!”

“Uwoooooh!”

From behind the Sword Supreme Saint, the elite force of the Murim Alliance—over two hundred members of the Golden Dragon Heavenly Sword Squad—charged toward us.

And thus,

Our final, life-or-death battle began.

* * *

Drip! Drip!

The sound of blood dripping from the wounds all over my body stirred my fading consciousness.

‘Ah… damn it.’

I knew exactly what was happening.

The return of consciousness before death.

My body, having reached the brink of death, was burning its final ember.

‘The Cult Leader… is she…?’

Though she had been poisoned by all manner of deadly toxins and couldn’t even exert a fraction of her original power—

It became clear why the Central Plains had once called her the Grandmaster of the Demonic Path.

Unleashing the Heaven-Slaying Demonic Sword Art, she tore through two hundred of the Murim Alliance’s elite forces all by herself.

But I couldn’t witness it to the end.

Pathetically, I was taken down in mere seconds by Han Mubaek’s sword.

Crackle! Snap!

‘Something’s burning…’

The sound of splitting timbers and the acrid scent of smoke filled my nostrils.

My strength was gone. My vision blurred.

And through it all, a tired woman’s voice reached my ears.

“You still breathing, Jin Yeomyung?”

“Cult Leader?”

Instinctively, I turned toward the voice.

And I swallowed hard.

“I’m glad. At least I get to say goodbye before the end.”

The Cult Leader, Cheon Yura, smiled faintly.

But I couldn’t return the smile.

“C-Cult Leader…”

Her entire body was pierced with dozens of blades, including through her Dantian.

Her once neatly tied hair was matted with blood, undone and wild. Her once sharp yet graceful face was now slashed and mangled beyond recognition.

I gasped.

Is this what people meant when they said not even an immortal sage could save someone?

“They’ve retreated. I activated the self-destruction formation in the Heavenly Demon Pavilion, and they fled in a panic.”

“That’s… not the point, is it!?”

I used the last of my strength to push myself up and crawl toward her.

Watching me crawl to her, she spoke weakly but with a smile.

“Jin Yeomyung, you meant what you said earlier… didn’t you?”

“Yes, yes! I did. It wasn’t a lie. I wasn’t lying!”

I reached her side, sobbing as I cried out with everything I had.

“Then why are you crying like that?”

Cheon Yura slowly raised a hand and wiped under my eyes.

The tears disappeared for a moment—only for the smear of her dark blood to take their place.

I clenched my teeth.

“Still… I can’t help it. I’m sad.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I swear it. I’ll avenge you. No matter what.”

And I meant it.

The ‘reincarnation’ I earned as a special reward for saving the previous world—

I had originally intended to use it to explore a different world.

But now, I would use it for revenge.

Maybe she sensed my determination through the venom in my voice.

Cheon Yura looked relieved as she raised her head.

“Then… I’m glad.”

Even in this state, she asked playfully,

“You’ll… seduce me, right?”

“……”

I stared blankly at her face.

It sounded like a joke, but… no. In this moment, I knew she meant it from the bottom of her heart.

“Yes.”

“Good.”

Satisfied with my answer, she slowly closed her eyes, as if the strength had left her completely.

“I’m glad.”

And with that…

She moved no more.

And I, too, felt the final ember of life within me quietly flicker and fade.

Above our heads, the charred roof beams collapsed inward.

Boom!

This was the end of my life… in this world.

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