The Heavenly Demon Who Reigns

A long line.

And if you followed the line all the way to the front, there was a magnificent gate.

That gate was the entrance to the main headquarters, the Cheonipmun.

"..."

Cheon Myeong was mixed in that line with his bamboo hat pulled down low.

The people who were lining up here now were all people waiting to pass through the Cheonipmun.

Beyond the Cheonipmun was where the main headquarters of the Demonic Cult truly began.

And if one did not pass through the Cheonipmun, it was generally impossible to break through the natural fortress of the main headquarters and enter, and it was considered illegal entry, so if that fact was discovered, one would have nothing to say even if one was immediately executed.

So Cheon Myeong was also lining up here now to enter the main headquarters.

Originally, with Cheon Myeong's status, he would have been able to pass through immediately without waiting like this.

But now, since he had to officially avoid his identity being exposed, he could not do so.

'This is the key.'

Cheon Myeong thought so as he looked at the gatekeeper guarding the Cheonipmun with his eyes hidden under the bamboo hat.

If he could just pass through this gate, he would be able to enter the main headquarters.

Then, he would be able to achieve his first goal.

He would have to think about facing Cheon Jin after passing through this gate.

"Soyeon Sang, you can do it, right?"

Cheon Myeong asked in a small voice, sticking close to Soyeon Sang's back.

Whether or not he could pass through the Cheonipmun without his identity being revealed this time was entirely up to Soyeon Sang.

Depending on what Soyeon Sang did from now on, it would be decided whether or not Cheon Myeong would be able to safely enter the main headquarters.

Since Soyeon Sang was well aware of that fact, he answered with a somewhat nervous face.

"...I know."

"If my identity is revealed to the gatekeeper here, the news will surely be delivered to the leader."

"..."

"We have to prevent that."

Being kicked out without even being able to enter the mountain was something this side also refused.

As Cheon Myeong gave another warning, Soyeon Sang nodded his head.

"...Leave it to me."

He would no longer do anything that was not helpful to Cheon Myeong.

In order to make up for what had happened at Yongmun Inn, Soyeon Sang was trying to be on his toes.

And a moment later.

The line in front gradually shortened, and it became Cheon Myeong's party's turn.

Swish-.

When it was his turn, Soyeon Sang held out something to the gatekeeper without a word.

What Soyeon Sang held out was a horn plaque.

It served as a way to reveal Soyeon Sang's identity within the Demonic Cult, and at the same time, it was also used as an entry pass to pass through the Cheonipmun.

"..."

As soon as he confirmed the horn plaque, the gatekeeper's face changed.

The second-grade mark was revealed there.

Since a status of second-grade or higher was a level that could pass through immediately without any other verification procedures, the gatekeeper couldn't help but be surprised.

"Second-grade...!"

"..."

"Y-you may pass. And from now on, you don't have to line up like this, you can just show us your horn plaque and pass through immediately."

The gatekeeper added a supplementary explanation and politely returned the horn plaque to Soyeon Sang.

And his gaze turned to Cheon Myeong and Mihwa, who had come with Soyeon Sang.

Since it was a natural procedure, the gatekeeper requested a horn plaque from the two.

However, at that moment, Soyeon Sang, who had already finished the passing procedure, suddenly cut in front of the gatekeeper.

"...?"

Why was Soyeon Sang suddenly cutting in?

Since he had already said that it was okay to pass, the gatekeeper looked at Soyeon Sang with a puzzled face.

"What's the matter..."

"These two are my party."

"Ah, is that so?"

Then I should finish the inspection as quickly as possible for their convenience.

He had thought that Soyeon Sang had blocked his way to request that, but Soyeon Sang was saying something completely different from the gatekeeper's expectations.

"So I will guarantee the identity of these two."

"What? What do you mean by that..."

"I would like you to let them pass."

In order to pass through the Cheonipmun, one had to present a horn plaque.

That was a rule of the Demonic Cult that had been maintained for a long time.

That's why, no matter how much Soyeon Sang guaranteed their identity, that rule could not be ignored.

What Soyeon Sang was requesting of the gatekeeper now was truly absurd.

"If you just finish the confirmation of the horn plaque, I will let you pass through quickly."

However, the gatekeeper had misunderstood Soyeon Sang's words.

Was the party that came with him not a person with a status of second-grade or higher?

The gatekeeper thought that that was why Soyeon Sang was saying this to him.

'I should just finish the confirmation of the horn plaque and let them in right away.'

Things like this happened from time to time.

And every time, the gatekeeper would let the party in after just confirming the horn plaque, even if they were not of second-grade or higher, depending on the situation.

Originally, for third-grade or lower, more verification procedures were needed.

But since this level of convenience could be sufficiently provided to a person with a status of second-grade or higher, it was not a big problem.

"It seems you've misunderstood my words."

"What?"

"I'm saying that even that confirmation is not necessary now."

"What on earth is that..."

No matter how high one's status was, the confirmation of the horn plaque could not be completely omitted.

Of course, if the opponent was a person whose identity was clearly guaranteed within the Demonic Cult just by showing their face, it might be a different story.

If not, omitting even the confirmation of the horn plaque was an act that went beyond the level of providing convenience.

That's why the gatekeeper couldn't help but show a troubled expression after hearing Soyeon Sang's words.

"No matter how much, that seems impossible."

"My party has lost their horn plaques."

"Then I will take measures so that they can be issued new horn plaques over there."

"..."

As expected, it's not possible to pass just by insisting like this.

It would have been nice if this was possible, but looking at the gatekeeper's gaze, Soyeon Sang judged that this was no longer possible.

'If I insist any more, a commotion will arise.'

The gatekeeper might draw his sword at Soyeon Sang.

The Cheonipmun was the only entrance to the main headquarters, and it was the place that visitors to the main headquarters would see first.

That's why the gatekeepers of the Cheonipmun were not simple gatekeepers, but were composed of skilled members of the cult, and they each had a great sense of pride in being the face of the main headquarters.

No matter how much it was Soyeon Sang, if not one or two, but a large number of gatekeepers rushed at him, he would not be able to handle it.

More than that, from the position of having to hide Cheon Myeong's identity, he could not let such a commotion arise.

"It can't be helped."

As Soyeon Sang suddenly muttered, the gatekeeper instinctively felt a threat and grabbed his sword with his hand.

However, at some point, Soyeon Sang had approached the gatekeeper so closely that their breaths could be felt.

The gatekeeper had no choice but to allow Soyeon Sang's approach before he could even draw his sword.

"I have something to say in secret."

Soyeon Sang said in a small voice, close to the gatekeeper's ear.

Then, the gatekeeper did not draw his sword and maintained his state for now.

And Soyeon Sang lowered his voice as much as possible and whispered in the gatekeeper's ear.

"I am a member of the Guardian Hall."

"..."

The Guardian Hall.

Since it was a place with a strong perception of being a direct institution of the leader, the status of the Guardian Hall within the Demonic Cult was considerable.

And the same went for the gatekeeper here.

Hearing Soyeon Sang's words that he was a member of the Guardian Hall, his two eyes couldn't help but widen.

"And I am currently carrying out a secret mission under the leader's orders."

"L-leader..."

The leader's orders.

That alone carried a considerable weight within the Demonic Cult.

That fact could be sufficiently known just by looking at the gatekeeper's reaction.

"During the mission, I am accompanying these two people."

"..."

"Since it is a confidential matter, I cannot tell you what the mission is. But I want to avoid the identity of these two being exposed for the sake of the mission."

This was not exactly a lie.

Soyeon Sang was currently carrying out a mission as Cheon Myeong's escort under Cheon Jin's orders.

Of course, the main point of the mission was a little different now.

He would have sufficiently kept the line of not impersonating the leader's name.

'Even if it's for the Young Master, my heart is not at ease...'

Although he was speaking calmly on the outside, Soyeon Sang was thinking so to himself.

Even if he had kept the line, wasn't he now forging by mentioning the leader's name?

If this fact was discovered, it was a grave sin to the point where it would not be strange to be executed immediately.

"..."

Taking all those things into consideration, Soyeon Sang was acting like this now.

All for Cheon Myeong.

What had happened at Yongmun Inn was also influencing Soyeon Sang's current actions to some extent.

'This time, I will definitely be of help to the Young Master.'

Thinking so, Soyeon Sang shook off the guilt that remained in his heart.

And he quietly said to the gatekeeper, who was standing still as if he didn't know what to do.

"Only you should know this."

"..."

"I ask for your cooperation."

When Soyeon Sang said that, the gatekeeper seemed to come to his senses and retreated slightly.

'W-what should I do?'

A matter related to the leader.

No matter how he thought about it, it was not something he could make a judgment on within his authority.

"I-I'll talk to the head..."

The gatekeeper said in a trembling voice.

Since it looked dangerous at a glance, he was trying to tell the head of the Gatekeeping Hall about this and shift the responsibility.

Since it was a matter related to the leader, the gatekeeper thought that only someone of the head's level would be able to take responsibility.

However.

"Didn't I tell you that only you should know?"

"..."

"You must not tell anyone. That goes for your superior, the head of the Gatekeeping Hall, as well."

When Soyeon Sang said that, the gatekeeper's face seemed to turn pale.

In the end, didn't that mean that he had to make a judgment here?

If the fact that he had let them in without confirming the horn plaque became a problem later, it meant that he would have to take responsibility.

'T-too dangerous!'

It might not end with just being kicked out of the Gatekeeping Hall.

But if the confidential mission ordered by the leader was hindered because of him, that could also be a corresponding problem.

No matter what he chose, he had no choice but to embrace the risk.

'Why did this happen to me...'

He had a bad feeling today for some reason.

To think there was a person like this in the line he was in charge of.

The gatekeeper regretted taking charge of this line, but it was too late to turn it back.

"We have to hurry, so decide quickly."

Soyeon Sang said, pressuring the gatekeeper as if he would not even give him time to think.

"...Pass."

In the end, the gatekeeper's choice was this.

Sending them away could end with just not confirming the horn plaque.

But what if what he said was all true and the mission failed because he didn't let them pass?

He didn't know what the mission was, but since the leader had ordered it directly and it was confidential, the gatekeeper thought that its weight was considerable.

Evil and the worst.

In the end, the gatekeeper decided to choose the evil, whose end he knew, rather than the worst, whose end he did not know.

"Thank you for your cooperation. And be sure to keep what I said."

Saying that, Soyeon Sang lightly tapped the gatekeeper's shoulder and passed by.

And Cheon Myeong and Mihwa also followed behind him and passed through the Cheonipmun.

"Not the skill of someone who has done it once or twice, huh?"

When they were some distance away from the Cheonipmun, Cheon Myeong said to Soyeon Sang with a light smile.

"...My heart is a little heavy."

"You did well."

Cheon Myeong knew the reason why Soyeon Sang was so gloomy.

That's why Cheon Myeong lightly patted Soyeon Sang's back and gave him some comfort.

"Thanks to you, we were able to just pass through the Cheonipmun like this, right?"

"..."

"Since you did well, now I'll have to be on my toes."

The audience with Cheon Jin.

There was still a mountain for Cheon Myeong to climb.

And it was a great mountain whose peak could not be seen.

(End of Chapter)