Chapter 45
Chapter 45
『 Translator – Divinity 』
The warriors of the Secret Treasury were people who had given up all pleasures for the sake of the Demonic God and were in this position. Therefore, it was not strange for them to act this way.
To them, who did not spare their lives to do the Demonic God's will, it seemed that protecting Cheon Ha-seong now felt like their mission.
If they just decided to help Cheon Ha-seong, there would be no one more trustworthy than them.
The treasury guards were the purest people in the Divine Cult and only followed the Demonic God's will, so the Cult Leader was truly delighted by the situation.
It seemed that this might be a greater achievement than coming here and obtaining the inner core of the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp and the Azure Sky Stone Milk.
“If you really decide to do so, then I shall ask it of you.”
Cheon Ha-seong was bewildered, wondering if things could really turn out this way.
However, the treasury guards, thinking there was no need to hesitate since the Cult Leader had agreed, hurried.
A moment later, only the minimum number of four people needed to guard the front of the Secret Treasury remained, and everyone else had disappeared.
They all looked quite hurried at the thought that they would now be staking their lives to protect the Divine Cult's greatest martial artist.
***
While Cheon Ha-seong and the Cult Leader were spending a tense time at the Secret Treasury, a quiet conversation continued in the Second Demonic Marquis's room.
The Second Demonic Marquis told the young man before her everything the Cult Leader had said when he had visited, without leaving a single thing out.
The young man before her looked like So Jeon at a glance. The better one knew So Jeon, the more certain they would have been that he was So Jeon. However, the name that came from the Second Demonic Marquis's mouth was different.
“What would be the best way to handle this, Ga-woon-ah? It seems the Cult Leader has decided to make Cheon Ha-seong his successor. He pressured and intimidated me so skillfully that I couldn't even properly talk back while he was speaking. It was as if he were threatening me with a sword to my neck, with both my hands and feet tied. And yet, he had a smile on his face and spoke in an affectionate voice.”
The Second Demonic Marquis shook her head and spoke, as if just thinking about it gave her the chills.
At that, So Ga-woon wore an amused expression.
“The Cult Leader is not that kind of person, is he? He certainly has changed a lot. What could have possibly changed the Cult Leader so much, Mother?”
“I don't know either. The Cult Leader used to extremely dislike any talk of succession. He was to the point where he would surely punish anyone who said such things. But this time, doesn't it seem like the Cult Leader himself is stepping forward to make it happen? The inner core of the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp and the Azure Sky Stone Milk are not things the Cult Leader needs.”
“Hmph! How interesting. Isn't it a situation where we have to do as he wishes anyway? There isn't even the possibility of another choice, so there's no need to worry, is there?”
Although she knew he was right, that was not what she wanted to hear, so the Second Demonic Marquis felt upset and drained of energy.
“Are you saying I have to do nothing and just grant what the Cult Leader wants?”
At that, So Ga-woon shook his head.
“Why do you say we can't do anything? If we've given the Cult Leader what he wants, we should get what we want in return.”
“What are you thinking, Ga-woon-ah?”
At the Second Demonic Marquis's words, So Ga-woon smiled.
“We just have to demand it, Mother. Don't we deserve to receive it as well? Even if it's not a spiritual elixir on the level of the Azure Sky Stone Milk, ask for one that can increase internal energy by several decades. The Cult Leader won't be able to refuse.”
“You are mistaken. Haven't we already done something for which it is difficult to be forgiven by the Cult Leader? Therefore, this matter must be seen as the price for smoothing that over.”
“Even so, the inner core of the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp and the Azure Sky Stone Milk are too much. Even if we were the first to strike and the opponent retaliated, if the degree of retaliation is too severe, shouldn't we be able to strike back one more time?”
The Second Demonic Marquis seemed to be thinking about it.
“Even so, it would only be a spiritual elixir that increases internal energy by a few years' worth. At most, it might increase internal energy by about ten years.”
So Ga-woon thought his mother was pathetic. Didn't it seem like she was speaking without seriously considering how hard martial artists had to struggle to accumulate ten years of internal energy?
However, whatever he was thinking on the inside, on the outside, he did not lose his composed attitude towards his mother.
“First, just try asking, Mother. What is there to lose by doing so? Even in the worst case, it would just be a refusal and a few insults. But if things go well, then we will obtain a spiritual elixir.”
In the end, the Second Demonic Marquis also nodded her head.
“I understand. I will try asking. I didn't know you wanted a spiritual elixir.”
As the Second Demonic Marquis spoke with a sense of pity, So Ga-woon smiled.
“I want it, Mother. I want it so much I'd bark like a dog for it. I want it by any means necessary. Isn't that natural?”
Hearing those words, the Second Demonic Marquis felt even more heartbroken.
“This mother will take good care of you.”
More than at any other time, the Second Demonic Marquis's expectations for her son grew even larger.
This was even more so because the family had been humiliated by Cheon Ha-seong and shaken to its very roots. Now, So Ga-woon felt like the only person she could rely on.
“And you must solve one more problem.”
“What is it?”
So Ga-woon had also already heard about the incident Cheon Ha-seong had caused at the So Demonic Clan's residence.
It was an incident that had occurred after they had kidnapped Gi Mun-yong for no practical gain.
So Ga-woon had heard every single detail about what Cheon Ha-seong had done at the So Demonic Clan's residence. What he had said, who he had seen, where he had stayed, what martial arts he had displayed, and what his expression had been in each situation.
And among the information he had obtained was the fact that Cheon Ha-seong had smiled meaningfully while looking at his father, So Yu-yang.
When he heard those words, So Ga-woon felt as if his hair were standing on end.
As it was, he had been thinking that his biological father might one day become a hindrance to him, and now his worry was about to become reality.
“In any case, isn't there a promise you made with Cheon Ha-seong? Didn't he ask that our family's martial artists be allowed to die while doing something for the Divine Cult, rather than dying meaninglessly? If we only send unskilled people there, it will only increase our family's sacrifices, so it would be best to send the Eighth Elder.”
For a moment, the Second Demonic Marquis's shoulders rose and then fell. So Ga-woon saw it but pretended not to.
“Mother, you must think carefully. How many more miserable things must our family suffer due to your mistakes before you come to your senses? What do you take the Cult Leader for? You should consider it fortunate that you did not receive the Cult Leader's favor. If you had succeeded in gaining his favor, there is no way the Cult Leader would not have noticed your infidelity.”
So Ga-woon, unlike So Jeon, did not usually speak carelessly to the Second Demonic Marquis. That was why the Marquis had relied on So Ga-woon, thinking of him affectionately, unlike the cold and indifferent So Jeon. Now that such a son was suddenly saying something she had not expected, the Second Demonic Marquis couldn't help but be greatly flustered.
“Ga-woon-ah… How can you say such a thing?”
“Do you still not know what the family's situation is, Mother? Or do you think it doesn't matter to you what happens to the family? Do you think you can protect the Marquis Hall without the family? The Cult Leader made you a Marquis as the price for obtaining the power of the So Demonic Clan.”
The Second Demonic Marquis felt her face flush. It was because there wasn't a single wrong word in what her son was saying.
“Send a person to summon the Family Head and tell him. I do not think this is a matter to be postponed. And if you can, have the Eighth Elder die a heroic and wretched death there. Then wouldn't Cheon Ha-seong and the Cult Leader feel at least a little sorry? Right now, whatever we do will be nothing more than receiving punishment. But if it becomes known that the Eighth Elder died like that for the sake of the Divine Cult's followers, wouldn't the Cult Leader also change his mind?”
No trace of lingering attachment could be felt on So Ga-woon's face as he said that.
On the contrary, it was to the point of being chilling, as only a desperate wish for So Yu-yang to die quickly could be read from him.
“Must it really be done that way?”
“You are truly cruel, Mother. Do you think I enjoy saying such things? But if you ask me again on top of that, what am I supposed to answer?”
So Ga-woon spoke as if he were truly sad, and the Second Demonic Marquis felt sorry.
She didn't even think that So Ga-woon was skillfully manipulating even her own emotions.
“The Eighth Elder will also be happy to be able to play an important role for the family. When news spreads that the Eighth Elder has died and the people of our family are in danger, we create that atmosphere and send Cheon Ha-seong there. And then we lie in wait there and kill Cheon Ha-seong. We can't shed only our family's blood in that, so we will have to appropriately incite the Danmok Demonic Clan as well.”
So Ga-woon, seeing the Second Demonic Marquis in agony, softened his voice before he knew it.
“Mother, I am in agony too. Do you think it is easy for me to say such things? Other things are what they are, but it is truly difficult to see you struggling. However, it is something someone has to say, so I must present a solution.”
“Yes, Ga-woon-ah. You were always an affectionate child.”
“Mother, there is another way. But it would be better to carry it out in parallel with the first method. First is to appoint all the adopted sons of the Marquises as Young Supreme Ones. And then, we send the Young Supreme Ones to the Central Plains. The pretext would be to look after the lives of our cult's followers who are suffering in the Central Plains.”
At that, the Second Demonic Marquis was startled and looked at Ga-woon.
“What are you planning? Absolutely not. Are you intending to go there yourself?”
What the Second Demonic Marquis was thinking was that So Ga-woon was sacrificing himself for the sake of the family and his older brother.
Having heard such an extreme statement, it seemed a great worry, incomparable to her concern for So Yu-yang a moment ago, washed over her.
“First, please listen to me. If we can do that, we can also naturally send Cheon Ha-seong away. Doesn't our family have influence in the Central Plains as well? Therefore, the Young Supreme One from our family can receive the family's help, but Cheon Ha-seong will have to fight a lone, desperate battle without any aid.”
The Second Demonic Marquis was an intelligent person. She knew which of So Ga-woon's words she needed to pay attention to.
A Young Supreme One from our family, he had said.
He had not said 'me'.
Only then did the Second Demonic Marquis realize what So Ga-woon had in mind when he said that.
‘This child is thinking of using this opportunity to get rid of his older brother and take his place. At this time, when everyone thinks the family is in a crisis, this child has thought that this is his chance to finally break out of his shell.’