[Chapter 48]
The objects around me began to waver as if they were alive. The desk, the cabinet, the sword, and the fan placed against the wall all started to flow down. It was as if they were melting under intense heat.
The floor also rippled like waves. It seemed impossible to execute any martial arts techniques in a place where even walking was difficult. (EN: Oh, the Mirror Dimension from Dr Strange !!! Good old times, these days the MCU is growing worse on quality)
The walls and ceiling were also swaying, and lines appeared like a checkerboard, distorting my vision.
The voice of the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme resonated deeply, like an echo in a cave.
"The world you lived in was an illusion. This place you see now is the real world."
Naturally, the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique activated. If I hadn't mastered it, my mind would have already started succumbing to him.
However, blindly attacking to escape this situation wasn't an option either.
The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme standing ahead was surely an illusion.
It wasn't yet the most powerful sorcery he could use, so I could still control the situation. Calming my energy, I spoke composedly.
"It's a world where I can save on drink costs. It's so dizzying, I feel drunk without even drinking."
Seeing me calmly joking when I should have already collapsed, the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme looked slightly surprised.
The next moment, I heard his whisper in my ear. It was a layered voice, like multiple people gossiping.
"The rumors were true. They say the Second Young Master has started to ascend, becoming a hidden dragon."
He was already by my side.
Whether the figure standing next to me was real or an illusion, I couldn't tell.
I thought I'd only know by cutting him, but I doubted whether I could actually strike him. Having such thoughts even before drawing my sword indicated that fighting him would be extremely difficult.
I fully understood why my father came to warn me.
Even with the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique activated, I was this disoriented. If he attacked now, how could I possibly defeat the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme?
I turned my head to look at the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme standing beside me. His face was so ordinary that it appeared extraordinary.
"I have no intention of ascending. I want to enjoy this world for a long time, thin and long. That's why I want to become stronger."
That was precisely the life the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme pursued. He survived to the end, thin and long. Before he died, he left many words, and the following was something he often said:
―I've spent my life striving to become stronger so that no one can kill me.
He was someone who truly cherished his life. The Heart and Soul Reaping Technique was also a twisted and horrible expression of that self-love.
The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme looked at me and sneered.
"What a splendid thought."
At the same time, the undulating around us ceased. The surroundings darkened, and then brightened again, revealing a change in the scenery.
The maddening space had disappeared, replaced by a vast plain. Just looking at it lifted my spirits.
The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme stood in the middle of the distant field.
I shouted towards him.
"It is truly an impressive martial art."
Normally, to annoy him, I would have called it sorcery or a trick instead of martial art, but I chose not to this time. In his world, it was wise to concede a point.
"It's a martial art that only I in this world can perform."
He spoke with pride. But that wasn't true.
The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader could also perform the exact same martial art. It was something I learned during the process of securing the Thunder Bell. The martial art they both learned had its roots in the Blood Sect's demonic arts.
"How about it? Wouldn't you want to live in such a world?"
Although he stood far away, his voice sounded as if it was right beside me.
"If you teach me, I would be grateful to learn."
Then, the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme instantly appeared in front of me again.
"You're more cunning than I thought. Trying to obtain the world's supreme skill for free."
"Thanks to that, you can have me, can't you?"
He looked into my eyes. His pitch-black pupils became as small as dots.
"I can see right through what you're thinking. You might fool an idiot like the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, but you can't fool me."
"What do you think I'm thinking?"
"You want to shake my hair and slap me. Saying this while you strike my cheek: 'You idiot, who do you think you are to not listen?'"
"Close, but not quite. 'You idiot, who do you think you are to kill people? Let's see your heart without a conscience!' How is it? A bit different, right?"
The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme didn't get angry. He exuded the composure of a strong man, confident he could kill me.
"As the Cult Leader's son, dying isn't easy, right? So, you want to die by my hand?"
"Of course not. Isn't it better to be living as a third-rate than end up being dead as the greatest of all time?"
This was also a saying often used by the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme.
His expression subtly changed.
The dots that were his black pupils returned to their original size, and he retracted his eerie aura.
The surroundings reverted to normal. We were once again facing each other in the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme's room.
"What I just showed you was merely a taste. If I wished, I could open a hellish place from which you could never escape for the rest of your life. Are you not afraid of me now?"
"I am afraid, I am. That's why I said I would persuade my father."
The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme stared blankly at me for a moment, then burst into loud laughter.
"Hahahahaha."
Contrarily to his deceiving appearance, his laughter was anything but ordinary. It was an eerie laugh that stirred the listener's mind and snaked through the ears like an oily slug, making my insides churn.
"With this, I have to acknowledge it. No wonder the Blade Demon was making a fuss to align himself with you."
As expected, he was keeping an eye on my relationship with the Blade Demon. Not only the Sword Supreme and Soul Reaper Demon Supreme but the other Demon Supremes as well.
"Well then, Young Master, you may leave now."
"For the sake of my father, please restrain yourself for a while! Then, I'll take my leave."
Threatening him with my father would be effective for two or three months.
"If you see me again, you will never return to this world."
Without responding, I walked out. Our verbal exchange had come to an end.
* * *
Seo Daeryong, who had been waiting outside, asked me.
"Did everything go well?"
"If it went well, it went well. If not, it didn't."
"I believe it was commendable that you sought a solution by confronting the terrifying Soul Reaper Demon Supreme head on. No one else would have done it. I think there is meaning in that."
Such comforting words from this dark and cynical guy.
"Are you very angry?"
"Do I look like it?"
"Yes."
"When I first saw the corpses, I was very angry, but now I'm okay. I've already made up my mind."
Seo Daeryong stared at me for a moment before continuing to walk.
"Aren't you going to ask me what decision I've made?"
"I've already heard it. It's the look you always have before you achieve the impossible."
I smiled awkwardly.
"That's why you're my right-hand man."
"You keep calling me your right-hand man, but isn't that person Lee Ahn?"
"Lee Ahn? She's not my right-hand."
"Then does that mean I'm your right-hand, surpassing her?"
He seemed slightly hopeful.
"You are indeed my right-hand, but you haven't surpassed Lee Ahn."
"What do you mean?"
"Lee Ahn is my heart, my heart."
"Now I feel bad about just being your right-hand." (EN : Do you really want to be in this guy's heart ? You already 'have' Jo Hyang…)
I laughed heartily, and Seo Daeryong laughed along with me.
"I'll buy us a drink today."
"Really? Are we finally going to the best tavern?"
"Flowing Wind Tavern."
I pouted, and Seo Daeryong laughed heartily.
"Alright, since our stingy investigator Seo is treating us to a drink for the first time in a while, let's call the left arm, the heart, and even the left wing to join us."
"The left arm must be Jangho, the heart is Lee Ahn, but who is the left wing?"
"You'll see. Let's go."
I strode ahead, then looked back at Seo Daeryong.
"Aren't you coming?"
Standing in the same spot, Seo Daeryong spoke with an apologetic expression.
"I'm sorry. This is all I can do for you. In my heart…"
"In your heart?"
He glanced at the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme's residence. His eyes seemed to say he wanted to drag the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme out by his hair. The passion showed that if he were stronger, he would have done it.
Our gazes intertwined in the air.
Lately, I had been relying quite a bit on this small, gloomy guy.
"I'll accept your sentiment."
"As you should!"
We left the Western Illusion Formation and headed towards the Flowing Wind Tavern together.
"Looks like it's going to rain."
Indeed, the sky was heavy with dark clouds, as if it would start pouring any moment.
"You picked a good day. With the rain, today's bar tab is going to be no joke."
"At the Flowing Wind Tavern, it's fine. Without women, there's nothing to spend money on."
"Ah… that's a sad story, isn't it? No, I can't let that happen. I'll pay for the drinks."
"The Second Young Master doesn't have any women either, right?"
"I have Lee Ahn, don't I?"
Seo Daeryong blinked, seemingly surprised that I mentioned Lee Ahn.
"She's your bodyguard. If that counts, then I have…"
"Do you mean that junior?"
Seo Daeryong's face turned slightly red.
"Not her!"
We secured the largest table on the second floor of the Flowing Wind Tavern.
"Welcome, Young Master."
These days, I was the best customer to the owner, Jo Chunbae. Thanks to the Underworld Pavilion branch, his sales had doubled. Not only that, but the rampant behavior of martial artists had decreased, making life more enjoyable for him.
"Don't worry today. There won't be any broken tables."
"Haha, what does it matter if the tables break? As long as no one gets hurt."
"Look forward to it. Today, this friend is opening his hidden stash."
"I'll make sure to serve you the best dishes."
Before bringing out the main dishes, Jo Chunbae brought out the alcohol.
For a while, we drank quietly without saying a word. Seo Daeryong was lost in his thoughts, and so was I.
The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme came to my mind again.
Thinking of him made my desire to kill surge, igniting a fierce determination.
If it were the old me, I wouldn't be drinking like this on a day like today. I would have run to the training ground and swung my sword tirelessly.
In my youth, whenever I faced setbacks, I poured all my heart and mind into overcoming those obstacles. Back then, I didn't realize that when a person is desperate, they can escape through effort.
But now, I don't do that anymore.
The more my anger rises, the more I try to remain calm. I now know that drinking with my people can make me as strong as training.
Then Seo Daeryong spoke.
"But I feel a bit strange today. My heart keeps pounding."
"Did you see a pretty girl? Where is she?"
As I looked around playfully, Seo Daeryong laughed.
"Even though you don't like women?"
"Who said that? I never said I dislike women."
"Is that so? I always thought the Second Young Master had no interest in women."
Women, huh. In my past life, I lived alone, so I was lonely, yet also not lonely.
"Are you lonely these days?"
"Just because you live alone, how can you be lonely? It's just boredom. Loneliness is a feeling you get when you're with someone, isn't it?"
"Oh! I'll have to use that line someday."
"Use it on that junior you like."
"I told you, I don't like her. Besides, we never meet."
"Should I assign you to the same team as her?"
"No, thanks. Relationships should develop naturally without outside interferences."
"See, you do like her."
"It's not that… never mind. I shouldn't have said anything."
He took a drink.
"Is your heart still pounding?"
"Yes."
"Maybe something fateful is about to happen today."
"No way."
Meanwhile, Jo Chunbae brought out the dishes.
At that moment, Seo Daeryong didn't know. He didn't realize what kind of change today's decision to buy drinks would bring to his life.
"Let's drink heavily today!"
Even though he can't handle his alcohol well.