Chapter 55
Chapter 55
『 Translator – Divinity 』
The people left in the public square continued to talk amongst themselves, wondering what all this was about.
The martial artists of the So Demonic Clan didn't think the words were true, but thinking they had to report it quickly, they hurried back.
The So Demonic Clan was one of the most respected families among the people of the Divine Cult. Never before had the So Clan been on people's lips in this way. But now, a preposterous rumor that Young Master So Jeon was a twin? And that his twin brother was alive?
Without knowing what kind of storm the news they were about to deliver would stir up, they just ran, thinking only that they had to get to the Family Head's Hall as quickly as possible.
***
It was a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
The Second Demonic Marquis, hearing the words from the Family Head who had suddenly stormed in, turned deathly pale and couldn't make a sound.
The Second Demonic Marquis, who had been wondering why on earth he had come unannounced like this, had just been slapped by the Family Head who had entered without hesitation.
She had been surprised by his intimidating approach at first, but she had never imagined he would come all the way and even lay a hand on her.
“What is the meaning of this!”
At first, unable to contain her shock and anger, she had even screamed like that. But listening to the words pouring from the Family Head's mouth, her mind went dizzy.
The Family Head, even as he was coming here, had wanted to think that it wasn't true. He had hoped the Marquis would give him a proper explanation.
He had hoped she would say it was just a rumor circulating in the marketplace. Even so, the moment he saw the Marquis, he couldn't contain his rage and had struck her, but seeing her expression, he felt his world was collapsing.
“Is that… really true? Are you saying you've been deceiving me all this time? For how long, for all that time. Are you saying you've been deceiving me for all that long time?”
However, before the Second Demonic Marquis could explain everything to the Family Head, the door opened.
The person who entered without even receiving permission was So Jeon. So Jeon had an even more shocked face than the Family Head. The sense of betrayal that appeared on So Jeon's face was beyond comparison to the Family Head's.
“Mother! What is the meaning of this! What are all these rumors circulating outside! Is it true? Were you meeting that bastard behind my back?”
The Second Demonic Marquis had never imagined that the people around her would all turn on her at once like this.
She couldn't even understand who had said such a thing.
‘Could it be that bastard Cheon Ha-seong? But there's no way he would know that fact. He saw Ga-woon here, but there's no way he would have known who he was.’
Then she belatedly recalled the words Cheon Ha-seong had spoken to So Ga-woon.
Hadn't he said it was strange that while people who had been to the Martial Arts Academy called him Head Instructor, the Young Master called him Cheon Ha-seong?
At the time, she had thought it was a trivial matter.
Was he really able to guess all of this just because he wasn't called Head Instructor and was called by his name without a title?
‘No. That can't be.’
In the meantime, the Family Head and So Jeon did not leave the Second Demonic Marquis alone. They pressured her relentlessly, asking what on earth had happened.
If it had just been the Family Head, she would have told the truth and asked for help. But with So Jeon also there, she couldn't just say anything.
However, as they say, misfortunes come in pairs.
At the moment she least wanted to see the Cult Leader, word came that he had arrived.
At that, the Family Head and So Jeon, who had been busy interrogating the Second Demonic Marquis, fell silent at once. They looked at each other with wide eyes, not knowing what to do about this.
The Second Demonic Marquis felt as if she might faint on the spot. It was so difficult to maintain her sanity.
When the Second Demonic Marquis did not answer, the voice of the warrior from outside was heard again.
The Second Demonic Marquis staggered to her feet, opened the door, and went outside. The Family Head and So Jeon, whose faces were just as pale as hers, followed behind her.
The Cult Leader came in, looking down on them all with his chin held high, his face colder than they had ever seen it.
A look of boundless contempt could be felt in his gaze.
Behind him, ten members of the Honor Guard followed in disciplined formation.
The Second Demonic Marquis recalled that the Cult Leader had never entered her room with so many escorts before.
“Cult Leader…”
The Cult Leader did not look at the Second Demonic Marquis who had called him, but at the So Demonic Clan's Family Head.
“What brings the Family Head here? Do you frequent the Marquis Hall?”
“No, Cult Leader. I just came to see how the Marquis was doing.”
“Is that so?”
Then he turned to So Jeon and asked.
“So Jeon, why are you here? Do you have business with the Marquis?”
“...No, Cult Leader. This son came to pay my respects to my mother.”
“Did you? It seems you give your greetings rather aggressively. I say this because I heard you from outside, and it sounded like you were cornering the Marquis. It seems the Marquis has done something wrong; what is it? If the Marquis has done something wrong, shouldn't I know as well? I had thought until now that the Marquis was a virtuous, wise, and thoughtful person. But seeing her being cornered so undignifiedly by the Family Head and her adopted son, was I mistaken?”
The Cult Leader spoke and leisurely went to a chair and sat down.
“Family Head, I have something I am curious about.”
“Please speak, Cult Leader.”
“Family Head, what do you take me for?”
“What do you mean by that…”
The Family Head of the So Demonic Clan felt as if he were standing on thin ice. It felt as if he took one wrong step here, the ice would break and he, along with his entire family, would sink.
So he tried to focus all his mental energy. And he tried to prepare his answers, thinking of what the Cult Leader would ask.
But when an unexpected question came out, he was bewildered.
“Family Head of the So Clan, I have asked you. What do you take me for?”
The Cult Leader just repeated his question and did not answer what the Family Head had asked.
“The Cult Leader is the Supreme One of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the lord of all its followers.”
“And to such a person, you nonchalantly told me to accept a woman who had given birth to another man's child as a Marquis.”
The Family Head felt his breath catch in his throat.
So Jeon's face was as pale as a white sheet, and it looked as if he would collapse at any moment. The Second Demonic Marquis's situation was even worse.
“Family Head of the So Clan, cut off your own head in this spot. If you do so, the So Demonic Clan will be able to continue its bloodline. What will you do?”
“Cult Leader! Please forgive me.”
There was no room for excuses, so he could only repeat those words.
“So you cannot kill yourself. In that case, I will not bestow any grace upon the So Demonic Clan either.”
“What does that…”
The Cult Leader looked at the Second Demonic Marquis.
“I ask you. What did you take me for? It seems you thought that after giving birth to So Yu-yang's child, you could deceive me and I would be an idiot who wouldn't know even if you adopted the child you bore. And that with the So Demonic Clan at your back, you could control everyone as you please.”
“C-C-Cult, Cult Leader!”
The Second Demonic Marquis, realizing the situation had changed rapidly in a way she had not imagined, knelt on the floor and struck her forehead on it.
“Cult Leader! I never intended to do so. It was the Family Head, blinded by the position of Marquis, who forced this humble one. This humble one never wanted to deceive you, Cult Leader. That is why I have always felt a great sense of guilt.”
“If your faults are revealed, would it not be me who is humiliated? So what would be the point of revealing your faults further?”
As he was speaking, the Cult Leader's hand had already moved.
He had just stood there and moved his hand once, but the heads of the Family Head, the Second Demonic Marquis, and So Jeon burst open.
“Summon the ones from the So Demonic Clan who are outside. I will strike down all their necks.”
At that, a few people hurriedly went outside.
Just then, Cheon Ha-seong, who had been escorting the Cult Leader with the Honor Guard from behind, stepped forward.
“Cult Leader, are they not martial artists of the Divine Cult, as well as martial artists of the So Demonic Clan? The Family Head did nothing to save his own family members, but how about you, Cult Leader, quell your anger for once in order to protect your own followers?”
At those words, everyone present flinched.
From their perspective, it seemed that would only fan the flames of the Cult Leader's anger.
“Then are you saying I should just endure it like this?”
“It's not as if you have to just endure it. Aren't the ones who truly deserve to be punished yet to be found? Don't you have to punish Young Master So Jeon's younger brother and Elder So Yu-yang?”
“You're right. You're right. I was about to go on a bloody rampage, leaving the ones who should die alone. I am ashamed, son-in-law.”
“You have endured for a long time, Cult Leader. And if you were to unleash that ultimate move from a moment ago in front of many people, I believe those who harbored arrogant thoughts towards you would change their minds.”
The Cult Leader thought about what Cheon Ha-seong had said. It seemed like it could be a pretty good method.
And it seemed like it would be very effective.
If they came to know that they would be no match for him even if they dared to attack, wouldn't some of those who had intended to do foolish things change their minds?
Perhaps he had been too moderate until now.
In truth, there was also a part of him that was scared. He had hesitated to reveal his skills at the thought that he was not the only one getting stronger, but that others would be getting stronger too. But now, it seemed there was no need for that. His confidence had grown to the point where he felt it was worth showing off at least once.
The people by his side were surprised that the Cult Leader was calming down instead of exploding further. The Cult Leader they knew would have continued to rampage for much longer, and that state should have lasted for a few more days. Once he went on a rampage, no one could stop him, and even Seo Hyo-eun would have been unable to dissuade him.
For that reason, they couldn't help but look at Cheon Ha-seong differently.
When the Cult Leader went outside with Cheon Ha-seong, a few of the So Demonic Clan's martial artists shouted with terrified faces.
“Cult Leader! Please do not punish us. We only believed what we heard from our family. And we were determined not to betray you under any circumstances. In fact, we did not obey the Family Head's order to go to the Central Plains.”
Wondering what that was all about now, the Cult Leader looked at the man.
“What is this order to go to the Central Plains?”
At that, the man who had been shouting loudly to somehow save his own life, flinched. However, as if realizing it was not something he could just gloss over, he spoke.
“The Family Head said that we must go to the Central Plains and rally the followers there. He said that if we can gather their hearts, in the future…”
At first, he had spoken because he had no choice, but as he continued, he seemed to lose his confidence, as if growing more afraid.
When he had first spoken, he had said it as if they had nothing to do with it and were innocent, but as he confessed, it seemed it was because he realized that knowing about the matter in advance but not reporting it was also a great crime.