Chapter 13: My Temper is Even Worse
Chapter 13: My Temper is Even Worse
"The Demon Monarch. Name: Gu Cheon-yang. He is the younger brother of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, Gu Cheon-pa. It has been eight years since he ascended to the position of Demon Monarch. By successfully carrying out various dangerous missions, he has transformed the Demon Army into an elite force recognized by everyone in both name and reality."
Seo Dae-ryong was exceptionally well-informed regarding the Demon Monarch.
"So, he’s good at his job."
"That is correct."
"Can I see the whistleblower's report?"
"Yes, here it is."
He handed over the document.
The contents, written in a jagged script as if to disguise the handwriting, were incredibly brief.
— Serious corruption within the Demon Army. Requesting an investigation.
As I stared down at it for a long moment, Seo Dae-ryong asked, "Is something the matter?"
"Let’s imagine something. Suppose there’s corruption within the Huangquan Pavilion, and you find out about it." I looked at Seo Dae-ryong and asked, "Would you send an anonymous report?"
"I wouldn't."
Seo Dae-ryong’s answer came without a moment's hesitation.
"Right? Because it has nothing to do with you."
"No, that’s not why."
"Then why?"
"Because even if I sent one, nothing would change."
A certain sense of defeatism leaked from his nonchalant reply.
"Isn't your Huangquan Pavilion supposed to exist to change the Cult?"
"To be precise, we are the blade used by those who wish to change the Cult. We are not the ones leading that change."
"So the Cult won't change unless the higher-ups do?"
"I never said that."
However, his expression clearly said, 'Isn't that the truth?' Since he already radiated a gloomy aura, these cynical and pessimistic thoughts suited him well.
"Anyway, this person sent a report. They did it knowing they’d die if they were caught. You can tell just by how they tried to hide their handwriting. But why did they send it? Like you said, nothing is going to change."
Instead of the silent Seo Dae-ryong, Lee An stepped forward and answered.
"They probably didn't do it out of a sense of justice... perhaps they hold a grudge against the person committing the corruption?"
"That makes sense."
I nodded and handed the report back to Seo Dae-ryong.
"Regardless, we must find this person. If we look like pushovers, they’ll never show themselves."
"Yes, I agree."
"Well? Can you do it?"
"I have to. I’ve already received the order and come this far."
"I’m saying this is truly dangerous work. The Demon Monarch himself might be involved. Aren't you scared?"
"No."
"You know the investigator died last time, right?"
"I know. The investigator who died then was my direct senior."
"Ah, I see."
"He was the mentor who trained me."
A touch of sorrow could be felt beneath his calm words. Perhaps the reason he had memorized the information of every demonic practitioner in the Demon Army was that he wanted to avenge his fallen senior.
"Does thinking of him make you sad?"
"His death was far too futile."
"It wasn't a futile death. That death is what brought you and me here. And you should be scared. These people killed a Huangquan Pavilion investigator and even murdered their own comrade to silence them. In short, they’re people with nothing to lose."
"I don't want to be afraid of such filthy bastards."
His words made it certain. He wanted revenge for his senior. A great rage lay dormant within that small frame.
"Well then, shall we go investigate?"
As I prepared to leave the quarters with Seo Dae-ryong, Lee An followed close behind.
"Young Master! Please take me with you."
She clearly thought the investigation into the Demon Army was dangerous.
"No, this is official business. Take this chance to get some rest."
She needed to stay away from me for a while.
As Lee An watched us walk away with a worried look, she suddenly glanced around.
I had sent out a thread of Qi toward her back and lightly patted her head.
Don't worry, Lee An. I’ve walked a very long road just for days like this.
*
The Demon Dragon Courtyard, where the Demon Army resided, was located in the western district of the Main Cult’s outer court.
Befitting an elite organization, the building was massive and the facilities were top-tier.
When I arrived at the entrance of the Demon Dragon Courtyard with Seo Dae-ryong, two demonic practitioners blocked our path. True to the Demon Army's reputation for recruiting massive members, these gatekeepers were nearly twice the size of an average person.
"Where are you from?"
"I am Seo Dae-ryong, Special Investigator of the Huangquan Pavilion. Move!"
Seo Dae-ryong was small, but he had grit.
However, despite his intensity, the two practitioners weren't nervous or intimidated at all. On the contrary, they mocked him.
"Special Investigator? You don't look very special to me."
One of them muttered it under his breath as if talking to himself, but he said it loud enough for us to hear clearly.
Before Seo Dae-ryong or I could say anything, the other one quickly stepped forward.
"You cannot enter without permission from the higher-ups."
Seo Dae-ryong held out the investigation order for this case.
"The 'higher-ups' are right here. This is the order."
"Wait a moment. I’ll report to my superiors."
"We will meet your superiors ourselves. Move."
I just stood behind Seo Dae-ryong, watching how he handled the situation.
"I told you, you can't enter without permission."
"This order is the permission!"
Their voices began to rise.
"What kind of bullshit is this? If you've come here, you follow our rules."
"Bullshit?"
Without hesitation, Seo Dae-ryong mercilessly kicked the shin of the man blocking him.
Thwack!
"Urgh!"
The man clutching his shin raised a fist.
"You little brat!"
Seo Dae-ryong stood his ground and glared at him.
"You’re going to strike a Huangquan Pavilion investigator?"
The man didn't dare hit him. No matter how high-and-mighty the Demon Army was, assaulting a Special Investigator of the Huangquan Pavilion meant an immediate trip to the dungeon.
"Ugh, should I just beat this pipsqueak to a pulp and pay the settlement money?"
This was exactly the level of the Demon Army.
Then again, was it just the Demon Army? Countless demonic practitioners in the Cult lived according to their tempers without a second thought.
We have no Demonic Path.
Perhaps we did once, but by now, we have lost it.
There is no reflection on why the Cult must exist in the Murim or what it should pursue in the future. We are merely a collection of villains united by the misguided prejudice that violence and strength equate to justice and truth. If someone were to insult the Cult like that, I wouldn't be able to offer a single word of rebuttal.
Seo Dae-ryong raised his voice.
"Move!"
"I told you to wait until a superior comes!"
They didn't budge.
It was because of this reality that Seo Dae-ryong had said those words:
— Because even if I sent one, nothing would change.
The current scuffle involving that small frame perfectly illustrated the reality of the Cult.
After watching for a while, I finally stepped forward.
"Do you know who I am?"
Even though I stepped up, the momentum of the two men didn't waver.
"We know."
"I don't think you do. What if I told you I knew you were acting like this despite knowing who I am?"
As soon as I finished speaking, I mercilessly kicked the man in the groin. Since a kick to the shin didn't seem to solve anything, I aimed for something more vital.
Thud!
"Aaaaaaaargh!"
The man rolled on the ground, clutching his crotch.
"You’re talking about settlement money while I’m standing right here?"
My fist slammed into the face of the other startled man.
Boom!
His massive frame was sent flying in a single blow.
Seo Dae-ryong looked at me with a shocked expression. He apparently hadn't expected me to openly beat down members of the Demon Army like this.
"What are you doing? Lead the way."
"Yes, let’s go."
Seo Dae-ryong took the lead, and I followed behind him.
Word must have spread quickly, because before we could enter the main building, a group of demonic practitioners rushed out to block our path.
"Move!"
When no one moved, Seo Dae-ryong held out the order and shouted, "Can't you see this? You are officially obstructing a sanctioned investigation. Do you all want to rot in the dungeon?"
No matter how much he raised his voice, they only snickered; not a single one looked intimidated. Moreover, because of Seo Dae-ryong’s small stature, they looked down on him even more.
The crowd parted, and a man walked out.
"Just what kind of bastards are coming here to cause a scene?"
"I am Seo Dae-ryong, Special Investigator. State your identity."
"I am Go Dang, Leader of the Demon Army's First Division. Happy now, you little shit?"
At that moment, Seo Dae-ryong quickly sent me a Voice Transmission.
— This man is effectively the second-in-command. He is known as the most vicious man in the Demon Army.
Go Dang must have seen his lips twitching as he sent the transmission.
"Is this brat looking to die? How dare you use Voice Transmission right in front of me?"
Whether it was the guys at the gate or these ones, they were utterly insolent. The reason they ignored me was that the Demon Army was an organization that supported my brother. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon, the Demon Monarch's older brother, was also known to be my brother's backer. That was why they were ignoring me so openly.
"Squad Leader Go, I am a Special Investigator of the Huangquan Pavilion who has come here under official orders. Watch your tongue!"
Seo Dae-ryong remained dignified even in front of Go Dang.
I like him.
After seeing the trashy disciples of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the insolent Demon Army, seeing Seo Dae-ryong felt like my soul was being cleansed.
Go Dang glared, clearly displeased with Seo Dae-ryong’s attitude.
"Watch my tongue? And if I don't?"
"I will arrest everyone here for obstruction of a Huangquan Pavilion investigation and insulting an investigator."
"Arrest? Bwahahaha!"
As he laughed loudly, his subordinates joined in.
"Try it if you can!"
These were the kind of people who would have acted this way even if the Enforcement Martial Artists, who have the power to use force, had come along.
Seo Dae-ryong, unable to do anything more, turned to look at me.
It was time for me to step in again.
"Squad Leader Go, it’s been a long time."
I strode toward Go Dang and grabbed his hand as if to shake it with a delighted expression.
"When was the last time we saw each other? Was it at the last banquet? It’s good to see you like this."
In contrast to my friendly greeting, Go Dang’s expression was sour.
"I need to see the Demon Monarch urgently, so let’s stop the power tripping here and open the way."
With that, I began walking inside with him.
The path opened naturally, and Seo Dae-ryong and I walked in together, with me still holding Go Dang's hand.
His subordinates looked bewildered as they watched Go Dang give way so easily compared to his initial aggression.
We walked down the hallway and parted ways with Go Dang in front of the stairs.
"I’ll buy you a drink next time."
Because we had opened the path and climbed the stairs so easily, Seo Dae-ryong asked with a surprised face, "Did you know Go Dang?"
"No. Today was the first time I saw him."
"Then how...?"
"That guy’s going to have to eat with his left hand for a while. I broke his hand when we shook earlier."
"What?"
Seo Dae-ryong shouted, utterly shocked.
To hear that I had broken the hand of a Demon Army Squad Leader—and without showing a single sign of it—how could he not be shocked?
"I had no idea such a thing happened. But why didn't he order his subordinates to attack?"
"Then it would be revealed that he’d been bested, wouldn't it? His hand broken during a handshake? He couldn't show it in front of his subordinates, even if just to save face."
Of course, that wasn't the only reason. When Go Dang, his hand broken by the sudden surprise attack, tried to counterattack, I had quickly sent him a Voice Transmission.
— Keep acting up, and you’ll never use this hand again.
I had gripped his broken hand as if I were going to crush it completely. Since there was already a precedent of me crushing the arm of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s disciple beyond repair, Go Dang had been terrified.
"That foul-tempered Go Dang won't just let this go."
"And if he doesn't?"
"He’ll try to get back at you somehow."
"If he does, his head will be split open and he’ll die. That’s a prophecy."
Seo Dae-ryong looked at me with a new light in his eyes.
"Admirable, isn't it?"
"Your temper is... more than I expected."
"Why stop there? You were going to say it’s 'filthy,' right?"
"..."
"So you’re the type who can't lie?"
"That’s why I’m hated by many."
"One man's hatred can be another man's favor."
After staring at me in silence for a moment, Seo Dae-ryong changed the subject.
"The Demon Monarch’s office is on the seventh floor. Let’s go."
"Unnecessarily high. Let’s go."
And so, we walked all the way up to the seventh floor.